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SA IN TALKS TO BRING BACK
VISA-FREE UK TRAVEL SA govt to negotiate UK visitor visa conditions: stringent security measures and international best practice now make our passports among ‘world’s safest’ by STAFF REPORTER
SHOULD all go according to plan, South Africans may once again be able to visit the UK without requiring visas. The South African government says it is sufficiently confident of the security of its passport system that it has approached British authorities to negotiate the possible reinstatement of South Africa’s visa-free status. The UK revoked this status in 2008 after rampant corruption in the Department of Home Affairs saw officials issue passports to criminals and asylum seekers, increasing the risk of suspected terrorists entering the UK via South Africa. After a British court heard that at least 6,000 illegal Asian immigrants had been smuggled into the UK on South African passports, SA shot to the top of the British government’s visa ‘hit list’. Immigration experts said at the time that the ‘Green Mamba’ was “no longer worth the paper it’s written on”. This change has affected thousands of South Africans, who for the last five years have had to pay for costly visas to come on business trips, holidays or to visit family here. However, Home Affairs directorgeneral Mkuseli Apleni said on Friday that the Cabinet had decided to renegotiate visa conditions for South African travelling to the UK after expressing satisfaction that the Department of Home Affairs had taken “drastic steps” over the last five years to root out corruption,
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Oscar Pistorius out on R1m bail until 4 June trial | p2
After several days in court and many new revelations in the murder case against Oscar Pistorius, the magistrate decided to release
A Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World - An interview with Johnny SUGAR MAN WINS OSCAR: ‘Searching for Sugar Man’, which tells the story of American folk singer Rodriguez who was massive in South Africa but practically unheard of in the rest of the world, won best documentary at the 85th Academy Awards on Sunday night. Rodriguez, pictured performing at the Roundhouse last year, has just finished a nine-date concert tour in South Africa. Photo by Christine van der Merwe.
clean up the national population register and redesign the security features of passports. “We now have one to the world’s safest passports that cannot be forged. The process of issuing passports is more credible and has stringent checks and balances to ensure applicants are genuinely South African,” Apleni told Business Day. He said South Africa had followed best international practice
to monitor travellers’ movements at all its entry and exit points. At OR Tambo International Airport the fingerprints of every traveller using a South African passport are checked against the national population register to ensure that the passport holder is in fact a South African citizen. The measure has led to the arrest and detention of a number of people with fraudulently acquired South
African passports. Apleni said this had eliminated the problem of people leaving South African shores as South Africans and landing in Europe with a different identity, which posed “a serious challenge for immigration officials there and compromised South Africa. “We also check that passengers’ names and passports correspond so that we are sure of visitors’ identity and the purpose of their visit.
On 27 March Johnny will become the first ever solo South African act to perform at the Royal
SA Power 100: Jonny Steinberg | p11 The South African author and lecturer in African Studies at Oxford University will be speaking at the SA Chamber of Commerce 1st Wednesday
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Oscar Pistorius out on R1m bail until 4 June trial
Pistorius was released on bail on Friday after a week of bail hearings in relation to charges of murder against him by OLIVIA WAINWRIGHT
AFTER several days in court and many new revelations in the murder case against Oscar Pistorius, the Magistrate Desmond Nair decided that he would be released on bail of R1 million. This was announced in the courtroom at 4.23pm local time, just under two hours after the proceedings began. Pistorius is scheduled to be back in court for his trial on 4 June at 8.30am. Upon payment of an initial R100,000 he must be released with the following conditions: He must surrender all passports, refrain from applying for any passports and refrain from entering any airport He must surrender all firearms and refrain from possessing any firearms He may not talk to any witnesses for the prosecution Pistorius will have a probation officer and correctional official from the date of release until the conclusion of the case. He must inform the official of all his movements and ask for permission for any journeys outside Pretoria. He shall give them a phone number and must be contactable day and night. he must report to the Brooklyn police station between 7am and 1pm every Monday to Friday. He must not be charged with an offence of violence against women He must not use drugs or alcohol. He must not return to his home and must not make contact with any residents of his estate except the Stander family. The court proceedings on Friday 22 February started with Nair explaining why television
recordings of the court case had not been allowed. He offered a run through of what had already happened in the case, giving both Pistorius’s version of what happened on the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed, as well as the prosecutions argument offering descriptions from Pistorius and other witnesses. Pistorius wept as Nair again described the fact that friends had said he and Steenkamp were very much in love. Nair went on to define bail. He gave reasons why bail may not be offered, for example if the accused was likely to flee the country. Nair argued that the opposition did not offer enough evidence of Pistorius’s previous alleged violent outbursts. They also failed to offer evidence that the public would be outraged with Pistorius’s bail. Nair said part of the reason Pistorius has been given bail was due to his detailed version of events which was given to the court soon after he was accused. The case of the shooting of Steenkamp in the early hours of Thursday 14 February by Pistorius had its first hearing on Friday 15 February. On Thursday 21 February, a week after the alleged murder happened, the case faced a hurdle as the investigating officer Hilton Botha was removed from the case due to prior attempted murder allegations against him. The evidence he had given to the court as the prosecution was also found to be innacurate. This meant proceedings were slower than ideal, however Botha has since been replaced by Lieutenant General Vineshkumar Moonoo.
thesouthafrican.com | 26 February - 4 March 2013 |
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SA has been tarnished, no matter
the outcome of Oscar Pistorius case
Oscar’s account of events effectively affirms the very worst fears over South Africa’s high crime rate. In order to protect oneself, not only is it necessary to live in a guarded gated community, with dogs and electric fences, but one must also be personally armed. With the eyes of the world on this international hero, and the tragedy surrounding him, the reputation of South Africa’s legal system seems unlikely to emerge untainted
by CAROL FREEMAN
THE bail application of Oscar Pistorius has been followed internationally with a fervour and fascination reserved only for celebrity. Described as an ‘emotional rollercoaster,’ if made into a Hollywood film, it might be rejected for being implausible. At this point, only one thing seems certain: there is very little of which we can be certain. However as this real life soap opera plays out internationally, it appears to be concretising the worst stereotypes associated with the country. According to Pistorius’s defence team, he woke in the middle of the night and heard a noise which he thought to be a burglar. Conscious of the high crime levels in South Africa, and the threats made to his life personally, Pistorius, who slept with a gun easily accessible for protection, took immediate and lethal action in an attempt to protect himself and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp who, again according to his affidavit, he believed to still be in bed. This account of events effectively affirms the very worst fears over South Africa’s high crime rate. In order to protect oneself, not only is it necessary to live in a guarded gated community, with dogs and electric fences, but one must also be personally armed. This account asks us to consider the terror and anxiety Oscar would have felt, waking up in the middle of the night, hearing a noise, and then shooting through a closed door out of fear of what was on the other side. This account paints a bleak picture of South Africa and its people. The prosecution’s case is that is that, following an altercation, Steenkamp
locked herself in the toilet to protect herself against her boyfriend, at which point she was murdered. Domestic violence in South Africa is so prevalent, that but for the celebrities involved, such a case would usually receive little attention. Activists throughout South Africa are rightly using the attention drawn internationally to this case to shine a light on the gender violence endemic in the country. It has been widely reported that this was also a cause close to the heart of Steenkamp, who
was due to speak about abuse on the day she died. Unfortunately, again this does not show South Africa in its best light. Finally, the investigation of this case has been thoroughly undermined by the cross examination of Hilton Botha by Pistorius’s defence council. Basic checks such as calling Netcare and the complex security to ascertain whether Pistorius’s account of the events could be verified were not undertaken. It comes as a particular blow in the court of public opinion to discover that the policeman investigating the case has himself been charged with seven counts of attempted murder. The various leaks to the press do little to instil confidence in the investigation either. The facts of this case are certainly not yet clear, and commentators like myself know better now than to pre-empt the trail. We can only hope that as in an episode of CSI, the forensic science once processed will be able to establish the facts one way or another. Unfortunately, with the eyes of the world on this international hero, and the tragedy surrounding him, the reputation and international standing of South Africa seems unlikely to emerge untainted.
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| 26 February - 4 March 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews
Have you been spotted?
The Art of Turning a No into a Yes
by GRANT MOWATT
Kurt Won, co-founder of SalesPartners UK and an award-winning coach and trainer, gave an entertaining and interactive talk on ‘The Art of Turning a No into a Yes! How to handle any objection, from any person, anywhere!’ at this month’s Breakfast Indaba business network. The Breakfast Indaba offers a one-minute business presentation by each business present, hosted by the South African Chamber of Commerce. Book at southafricanchamber.co.uk.
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It’s a Cruel Crazy Beautiful World – An interview with Johnny Clegg
On 27 March, Johnny Clegg will become the first ever solo South African act to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. The music legend spoke to us ahead of his forthcoming one-off UK show - A South African Story. by RYAN MIZZEN
IT’S not every day that you get to interview a truly inspiring South African singer, songwriter, dancer, activist, anthropologist, business director, honorary doctor and French Knight. In fact few people can lay claim to those titles. Yet Johnny has earned all of them in an extraordinary career spanning decades. Johnny is regarded as South Africa’s biggest musical export and it is clear to see why. The profound meaning within Johnny’s music originates from his deeprooted understanding of Africa’s people and the challenges they face moving forward. You have won many awards over the years including a French knighthood. What achievement are you most proud of? For me it’s the fact that I can walk in my own country and people recognise me for things that I did in the early days, which were the tough times in the ‘80s. That constant source of validation by my South African compatriots is the greatest honour. Recently I got the Ikhamanga award, the highest award a South African can receive from the government. That was a really nice moment because it contextualised what I have been doing over the years. Who has served as the most important inspiration in your life? I am one of those kids who grew up and had so many different mentors, so I latched onto different people at different stages of my life and saw things I liked and wanted to emulate. My mother was very important in my life. She encouraged the musical side and my crossing over the racial segregation line. She had a very open world view. Zulu migrant workers who shaped my life [include]; Sipho, Bafazana, Dudu and Charlie Mzila, who first taught me the Zulu guitar. These were very powerful warrior symbols and role models, who taught me the warrior value system; to keep going, to hang in there and not give in. There were inputs in
my life from many different people and I am writing a book at the moment and they are all filtering through. You once recommended a book on The Scatterlings Club fan site entitled; The Seven Daughters of Eve, about how we can trace our origins back using DNA. What makes this such an important book for you? We have evidence that Africa was the cradle of mankind and that the first original Homo sapien sapiens left this continent around 170,000 years ago and travelled to the rest of the world, populating the planet. So fundamentally everybody is a scatterling of Africa, which is what that song [Scatterlings of Africa] is about. That book was the first real detective story around population genetics, about how Europe was populated by seven original mothers whose mother came from Africa. It was the first scientific proof that the oldest human genes are African. As an anthropologist, what are your views on religion and evolution? I am not a religious person; I am a spiritual person. There are logical premises and logical reasons why we should have a moral order, a social contract and a legal contract with one and other. The idea that there has to be some punitive spiritual overlord, who is going to punish us if we don’t do the right thing is really a 19th century idea. You have invested in an IT recycling company. What attracted you to this particular investment? I came out of an activist background and this gets those old activism juices and muscles going. It’s also very enjoyable to make a green buck; to know that the business you are generating your income from is actually contributing to the planet’s welfare. What environmental issues are of greatest concern to you? I feel this is a holistic problem. I don’t think that you can fragment
the environmental issues into compartments. The planet is a living organism with so many interlocking systems that all affect each other. What are your views on climate change, and do you think enough is being done to tackle the issue? Societies and governments have a delicate balancing act to maintain; to reduce their environmental impact, but on the other hand to supply employment, energy and infrastructure. The real concern for me is that the South African government has not allowed independent energy producers to come on board with alternative energy. Do you have any plans for a new album or a long-awaited biography? I am working on a biography at the moment. I have also been working on a musical based on my life story. We hope to have the musical out next year, which is very exciting. I am also involved in a film project based on the life of John Dunn, who operated during the Anglo-Zulu war and became the first white Zulu chief with forty Zulu wives.
Johnyy Clegg performing at The Forum in 2010. Photo by Ryan Mizzen
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Do you have any plans to bring the musical about your life to the UK and Europe? Very big plans! Finally, what can the audience look forward to when you bring A South African Story to the Royal Albert Hall on the 27th March? It’s a story about how I began my journey and got involved with Zulu culture. It looks at how that transformed my life, affecting my future as a musical anthropologist/ world musician and my relationship with the Zulu community. It’s got video, stories, anecdotes, dancing and a lot of visuals. It’s a high energy multimedia show! Wednesday 27 March - Tickets are £35 to £60. Get yours from the Royal Albert Hall: www. royalalberthall.com Read the full interview with Johnny Clegg on www.thesouthafrican.com
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| 26 February - 4 March 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews
Gillian Slovo: An exile’s story Gillian Slovo, novelist and daughter of Joe Slovo and Ruth First, spoke to Jeremy Kuper ahead of her talk at Rivington Place in London.
by JEREMY KUPER
How did your writer’s journey evolve? I started writing detective novels, I wrote five and the very beginning I started just to see I could do it. I had never written a diary, I never thought of myself as somebody who was writer. And I was sitting with a friend who also had some time on his hands, and we were talking about the fact that we both liked reading the same kind of crime [novels], which was the hard-boiled crime of the American cities, Chandler and Hammett. Nobody had really updated it to the modern world and the English detective novel was stuck in the country house and we were all city dwellers and we decided to just see if we could do it. I also thought it was easy to be a novelist. I find it much harder now that I am a novelist.
Then two things happened to me, one was that the very thing that had attracted me to writing crime which was plots, which made me feel safe, because it constrained my narrative, began to get on my nerves, because it prevented me from going into character. And at the same time my mother was killed [by a parcel bomb]. What that did to me was make me realise that my crime novels were set in North London where I lived, and South Africa had just sort of become another country. It was nothing to do with me. The murder of my mother made me realise it didn’t matter how much I pretended South Africa had nothing to do with me – because of what my parents did – the choices they made and the place they had in trying to change the country, I couldn’t actually escape that.
So I wrote my first book set in South Africa, which was called Ties of Blood. It was about two families, one black one white, who lived through most of the developments in 20th century South Africa and it examined did people make the choices they made. And it took me to South Africa in my head, because at that point I couldn’t go. You grew up in North London? Camden Town, in fact if you go to Lyme Street where we lived, there’s a blue plaque now to Ruth and Joe, and Madiba came and opened it actually, it was wonderful. How did it feel to be in exile? I was 12 years old, I was suddenly in a place that looked, smelled and acted differently, I think I experienced what many people do who move country. And not necessarily from their own choice. And I was on the crux of adolescence, so I tried to adjust. The first time I went out on my own, I found I couldn’t cross the road, because I was a white South African kid. All right, I didn’t have a protected life, but I’d never taken public transport in my life, so I tried to adjust to England and it took a while. I think what I also tried to do was forget South Africa… too painful, too messed up. Then I started writing about it after Ruth was killed. I also joined the ANC and I became more active and more interested in South African politics. And also if you write about a place you have to know it. So I did a lot of work on South Africa’s history. And ironically when I went back to South Africa in 1990, I realised that I knew more about South Africa’s history than most South Africans who stayed there because of course I wasn’t subject to censorship in England. I had this experience when I went back in 1990, which was twofold. One is a real feeling of familiarity with the landscape, with the sky, with the way sunsets were, with the smell of the place, things you don’t know that you’re absorbing when you’re a kid. A feeling of really that this is home, even though I hadn’t been there for most my life. And the same time a feeling that this country deprived me of my adolescence – because as an adolescent what I was dealing was adjusting to a new country, rather than finding myself. It was a kind of strange familiarity, and also because I think South Africa was pickled in aspic during the apartheid years.
7
thesouthafrican.com | 26 February - 4 March 2013 |
Entertainment
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The OPTIMIST
KAREN DE VILLIERS
From Africa, with a kick: MampoerShorts e-books
BY STAFF REPORTER
EXPLORE the pleasures of a new kind of reading with some of SA’s most provocative writers. MampoerShorts are crisp, punchy South African ebooks, aimed at discerning readers here and abroad. Distilled by some of the country’s most engaging writers, MampoerShorts will fascinate, stimulate and inform. Shorter than printed books, concise enough to be read in a sitting, but long enough to tell the full story. Priced at $2.99 each, they can be read on iPads or Android tablets, Kobo, Kindle, Gobii, phones, Macs or PCs. If you’re into Apps, check out our new iPad and iPhone App which makes it faster and easier to buy MampoerShorts by using your existing Apple account. Download the App free from Apple’s App Store. Click on a book cover inside the App, type in your Apple password, and you’ll be reading the Short in less than two minutes. Coming out soon, a similar App for Android devices at mampoer.co.za. Get to know your cricket heroes like you’ve never imagined possible… Bearded Wonder: the secret life of Hashim Amla Who is Hashim Amla? A devout Muslim whose calm suggests a man thoroughly at peace with himself, Amla is perhaps the most intensely private of South Africa’s sports superstars. Firdose
Moonda, ESPN Cricinfo’s South Africa correspondent, sits down with Amla, his teammates and members of the Proteas’ support staff to tell the story of Amla’s rise and rise.
Full Circle: what the Proteas learned from Tendulkar Can we say that Sachin Tendulkar taught the Proteas how to bat? Not all by himself. But his influence has, nevertheless, been immense. From Hashim’s quiet adulation and hunger for greatness, to Jacques’s precision, the great Tendulkar has helped shape South Africa’s game. Tom Eaton brings you an entertaining history of South African cricket’s relationship with Sachin Tendulkar. Our most popular MampoerShorts include: Gorilla in the Room by Anton Harber Billionaire expat Koos Bekker is famous for having refused to take a salary or benefits. Yet this year, his shares could earn him a billion rand. In this MampoerShort, Anton Harber provides the first ever inside look at how Bekker operates, what makes him such a visionary manager, how he handles crises, and what his colleagues think of him. The Great Trek: Afrikaner Immigrants in Australia by Fred de Vries ‘Bloemfontein on
sea’ or ‘Perthfontein’: the city has a thriving South African community - Chamber of Commerce, restaurants, NG churches, shops full of rusks and wors - and all of them have one thing in common: they all left SA, and in so doing they paid a price. In a valuable edition to the growing literary trail of the South African diaspora, Fred de Vries explores how immigrants who can’t shake off Africa are forever rigtingbedonnerd.
But there’s more… Explore Jozi’s most popular rub and tug in Fifty Shades of Jozi, learn about SA’s latest campus craze where students go on all-night study binges by Snorting Rit like cocaine, meet the insane half-leopard, half-man who searches for Africa’s most elusive leopard in Unspotted, get the story behind the reasons why SA Jews are Hating Goldstone, take a hard look at the SAPS’ use of violence and brutality in Marikana and the Doctrine of Maximum Force, or think about why Black anger, white obliviousness serves to shield the ANC and JZ from criticism.
I need a name change MY first memory of hatred and violence must have been when I was about eleven or twelve. The news at lunchtime was the sentencing to death of two men who had murdered my grandfather. In 1995 we buried my father-inlaw, murdered on his farm. His killers are now free. Now the world is gripped by the killing of a young woman by a South African Olympic and ParaOlympic athlete. He slept with a gun next to his bed and a machine gun by the window. Such is the monster in our country. We keep weapons close for fear of being attacked. We live in a constant state of alertness and fear, yet we speak of freedom. No-one is free if fear prevails. Equally disturbing is the infectious need to know the details. When violence happens, it seems that so many are gripped by the trauma of it all. We want to know exactly what happened, how it happened and some sick part of our psyche is awakened by the headlines. Shock is soon replaced by a sadistic desire to get to the heart of the story. We need instant gratification, and now Twitter is giving us the gory details with instant effect. Do we thrive on violence? Of course we do. Our daily lives are proof of this. Reading the papers; playing video games that take us into worlds of rape and mayhem. Nothing like a good old ‘skop, skiet
and donner’ movie to keep us on the edge of our seats. We are accessories all, indulging in the dark side yet seemingly so surprised by it all. Voyeurs of man’s inhumanity to man. And I am so sickened by the truth of it within me also. South Africa is sick. No amount of tourism, rainbow nation talk and blind, optimistic faith is going to make one iota of difference if people with weapons are out there, and before you say it happens everywhere, maybe it does but that changes nothing. South Africa is sick. It is a violent and bloody place to be and until the boil is lanced, it will not heal. I have said it. I am saying for every person murdered and raped in my country. They should not be a news item but a reason to rebel against this violent society that is governed by a corrupt government, a struggling police force and chaotic education system. And us. For every time we savour a story about crime, we give silent consent
to the perpetuation of it. Bishop Tutu once said that one cannot reason with someone who is quite prepared to die. Perhaps that is the sadness of South Africa. When you have nothing to live for, taking a life and losing yours is a moot point. Perhaps I will be more optimistic tomorrow, when something good comes out of my country. But such stories are so seldom given the space they deserve. Instead we reach for another version of hate and indulge in the ruined lives of others. And then we talk of nothing else for a while.
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Positive CPI Results help Rand recovery
The Rand and the gold price decoupled many months ago and now it is the turn for the Rand and equity markets to decouple as equity markets retreat after posting all-time highs. by RUTH LAATZ-REINEKE
BETWEEN 18 and the 22 of February one Great British Pound fetched between R13.55 and R14.76. One Euro fetched between R11.73 and R11.87 during the same period. One Dollar ranged between R8.85 and R8.88. “The Rand and the gold price decoupled many months ago and now it is the turn for the Rand and equity markets to decouple as equity markets retreat after posting all-time highs‚ yet the rand continues to strengthen‚” according to Mark Kalkwarf of the Iquad Group (Fin 24). The Rand was steady against the Dollar at the start of the week. It was however weaker than the R8.80 resistance level it broke last week. The Rand was slightly stronger in afternoon trade, but overall trade on Monday was
quieter as the US markets were closed for a national holiday. The Rand to lost ground against the Dollar in midday trade on Tuesday‚ as the market reacted to news of labour unrest at Anglo Platinum’s Siphumelele mine in Rustenburg. Wednesday saw the Rand trading stronger against major currencies, following renewed confidence out of Germany and CPI figures for January coming in below expectations. South Africa’s CPI came in below expectation at 5.4% year on year in January‚ after measuring 5.7% year-on-year in December. The Rand lost ground on Thursday following news that the third round of US quantitative easing could end earlier than previously thought. Friday however, saw the Rand slightly firmer against major
currencies in midmorning trade. The currency was steady amid a lack of new drivers. The Rand weakened early on Monday and looked likely to come under more pressure this week if domestic economic data comes in weaker than market expectations. GBP / ZAR: 13.43 EUR / ZAR: 11.71 USD / ZAR: 8.87 Correct at 07:48 GMT 25/2/2013 Note: The above exchange rates are based on “interbank” rates. If you want to transfer money to South Africa then please register/login or call us for a live dealing rate. Make use of a Rate Notifier Brought to you by
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New bill clarifies SA’s foreign investment policy
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THE latest draft of South Africa’s Foreign Investment Bill would cover how the government will reimburse foreign investors in case of expropriation, said Xavier Carim, director-general of the international trade division of the South African Department of Trade and Industry last Friday. The bill will be presented by the Department of Trade and Industry to an inter-ministerial committee over the next few months. The former bilateral investment treaty, which is now being replaced by the proposed bill, will be scrapped. The South African government has in the past been accused of ambiguity in its investment
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policy and has been criticised for a perceived lack of public debate over foreign investment in the country. This planned bill is intended to lay down the framework within which foreign investment in the country would take place, hence making the entire process a lot more accessible to both investors and the public. Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies also stressed that the new model was not structured to withdraw protection but to improve the already existing regime. The proposed bill would ensure that all foreign investors who were treated differently under the different treaties are now treated consistently.
Hope for families and couples affected by new UK family migration rules The change in minimum income threshold required to sponsor the settlement of non-EEU family members has been challenged in court.
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BY JP Breytenbach IN July 2012 the UK Home Office introduced stringent new immigration measures that impacted adversely on the lives of many families and couples, both British and foreign. This rule change introduced a minimum income threshold of £18,600 to sponsor the settlement of a non-EEA spouse, partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner. The threshold increases for
any children sponsored. The Administrative Division of the High Court in Birmingham heard the challenge to the new family migration rules (MM and Others v Secretary of State for the Home Department) on 5 February – 9 February 2013. We are now awaiting a decision by the High Court and will keep clients posted as soon as more information is available. In the interim, Please let us know
if you have need any further information. JP Breytenbach Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com
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thesouthafrican.com | 26 February - 4 March 2013 |
Business: Gateway to Africa
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Wired up to the Nigerian connection Nick Durrant, Director of Bluegrass Digital, talks to Jeremy Kuper, editor of Gateway to Africa, about the opportunities, challenges and cultural differences of doing business in Africa by JEREMY KUPER Describe your business. BLUEGRASS Digital tends to focus on partnering with agencies. We are a digital agency, so we basically develop websites, content management systems, web mobile applications, social or Facebook applications – broadly we call ourselves a digital production agency. What’s the difference of doing business in Nigeria compared to Britain or South Africa? I suppose doing business in the UK – and I spent 15 years there – is somewhat more [of] a trust-based environment. A handshake and a nod and you know you’ve done the deal, so to speak. In SA there’s slightly less trust. Going into Africa, it probably just gets worse in terms of doing business, so in terms of contractual arrangements and making sure you get money up front, those are all important. What most people have done is won a client which has then led them to have to set up some infrastructure and generally that client has grown into the neighbouring territory. That’s how a lot of the smaller companies have done it…It’s all about collaboration.
What kind of market research do you typically do for African projects, and how does it differ from doing business in SA or the UK? It’s been really talking to businesses. I mean in South Africa a lot of companies – there are a few in Cape Town – have only clients in Africa. In fact there’s one company that has only one client, in Nigeria, and that’s all they service, and they do it from Cape Town, and they fly out there to do the meetings and that sort of thing. Our strategy is to work with partners where we can, and then to use them to get African business. So the knowledge gathering has been an ongoing process, through talking to businesses that have been there before. So there’s been quite a bit of discussion and the work we’ve done remotely. We haven’t had to be there on the ground. We’ve done a handful of projects in Nigeria already. The quality of
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You’re paid in US dollars when you work with Nigeria? Certainly in Nigeria, everything is US dollar-based. I’m involved in a pitch there in Abuja with a client who is one of the largest pension fund administrators in Nigeria, and everything was US dollar-based. From a spending perspective, budgets are generally pretty decent in those parts of the world. People pay for luxury goods, and they’re used to importing even staples, so everything can get quite expensive.
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the work we deliver is the same for anyone. We have to work out how we’re going to get more of that work, and grow that African channel. You’re spotting this gap in the market, which possibly exists because of a lack of trust, and because of negative perceptions about doing business in Africa. Are these new frontiers that are just opening up? Why has nobody explored them before? I think we shouldn’t forget that there are plenty of big companies in those territories already – international brands that have been in there for years probably. The big corporates moved in there years ago, but I think there’s a lot more business for the smaller businesses. In a way it’s growing fast, but in a way these are early days still. There’s still a lack of knowledge, and therefore, fear. But those who don’t get in soon will miss the boat.
12:38:51
Nick Durrant (Image: Anneli Marinovich)
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CMY
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Gold Fields spinoff Sibanye Gold to sink or swim
New outfit by Gold Fields, Sibanye Gold, receives JSE and NYSE listings by STAFF REPORTER SIBANYE Gold, a new outfit created by Gold Fields, the world’s fourth largest gold mining company, listed on the JSE and NY stock exchanges today. Sibanye Gold will hold most of Gold Fields local South African assets, but uncertainty remains on the market as to whether these shares will do well following a calamitous year for South African gold mining. “Without a doubt everybody is speaking about the risk associated with mining in South Africa,” said Percy Takunda of Imara SP Reid, a Joburg-based brokerage firm.
“American asset managers have very strict social mandates that they have to fulfil when they put in the money and many will not touch unionised companies or sectors.” Gold Fields is selling off two of their three South African mines, both were hit by wildcat strikes during last year’s unrest. By selling off these and other assets in the guise of Sibanye Gold, what is left of Gold Fields could become a more attractive prospect to investors. Analysts believe that other mining companies could follow this example set by Gold Fields if this sell-off succeeds.
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thesouthafrican.com | 26 February - 4 March 2013 |
Business: SA Power 100
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Jonny Steinberg
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Matimba Mbungela Vodafone - Regional Head of Organisation Effectiveness and Change
Author and Lecturer in African Studies at Oxford University Born: Johannesburg Education: Doctorate in political theory from the University of Oxford Books: Midlands (2002), The Number (2004), Thin Blue (2008), Three Letter Plague (2009), Little Liberia: An African Odyssey in New York (2012)
by CALI MACKRILL
JONNY Steinberg is the author of several books about everyday life in the wake of South Africa’s transition to democracy. Two of them, Midlands (2002), about the murder of a white South African farmer, and The Number (2004), a biography of a prison gangster, won South Africa’s premier nonfiction award, the Sunday Times Alan Paton Prize. Steinberg’s books also include Three-Letter Plague which chronicles a young man’s journey through South Africa’s AIDS pandemic, Thin Blue (2008), an exploration of the unwritten rules of engagement between South African civilians and police, and Little Liberia: An African Odyssey in New York, about the Liberian civil war and its aftermath in an exile community in New York. Steinberg has a doctorate in political theory from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is currently a lecturer in African Studies at Oxford. In your books you cover quite high profile issues including AIDS, murder and prison gangsters to name a few. These are high profile issues which tend to be covered quite hysterically in the media; does this affect the way that you write? Not particularly, they are covered in the news but I don’t write in an attempt to necessarily dispel stigma created by the media. I write
in order to help me understand certain issues and because of a desire to learn more about the place where I’m from. I want to relay this to the readers whilst telling a good story at the same time. How long have you been living in the UK? On and off since 1995 but this time around I’ve only been in the UK for about a year. How do you do research for your books? It took place over a long time, for example during my research for The Number I went to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town, I was there for about 9 months, and when Wentzel was released I stayed with him in the ghetto where he lived for another 9 months. My research was about being on the ground for a long time. For Little Liberia: An African Odyssey in New York, which is about an exiled community living in a housing project in New York, I took a similar firsthand approach to the experience, going to the housing project every day and spending a lot of time with the people there.
In total I was there for two years, when you cooperate with people over a long period of time they’re more receptive to your research. Do you have any plans for future books? I’m in France at the moment just finishing my latest book about a Somali man in South Africa who got caught up in the xenophobic violence there in 2008. It’s a story about his life which covers all sort of things: xenophobia in South Africa, the difficulties moving across the African continent without papers, Somalia itself, amongst over things.
SA Chamber of Commerce: First Wednesday with Jonny Steinberg Join Johnny Steinberg and other leading members of the expatriate business community at the SA Chamber of Commerce’s monthly networking opportunity. These convivial evenings are structured around a presentation by thought leaders and public intellectuals on issues of concern to the capital’s South African businesspeople. In the wake of a disappointing State of the Nation address and the
How long roughly does it take you to write a book from having the idea in the first place through to writing the book and getting it published? It varies but usually about 18 months to two years.
Quentin Tannock Chairman and Founder of CambridgeIP
launch of Mamphela Ramphele’s new party platform, Steinberg’s talk, on ‘The future of South African politics’, promises to be intellectual soulfood in the midst of a difficult year for South African politics. Date: 6 Mar 2013 Time: 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM Venue: Deloitte, 2 New Street Square London Bookings can be made athttp:// southafricanchamber.co.uk
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Do you return to South Africa often and what’s the biggest difference with the UK? Yes, at the moment my work and research is in South Africa so I get to return quite a lot, about every 3-4 months. The poverty in South Africa is the thing which strikes me the most when I go back because it surrounds you wherever you go.
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Will you ever return to South Africa permanently? It’s too early to tell at the moment, I already spend a good proportion of my time in South Africa and probably will into the foreseeable future. After that I don’t know, I don’t like to plan too far ahead.
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on our website: TheSouthAfrican.com/Business/SAPower100
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Business: News
| 26 February - 4 March 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews
South African Airways certified as 4-star airline for 11 years in a row by STAFF REPORTER
SOUTH African Airways (SAA) has been awarded the 4-Star Airline ranking for 2013 by Skytrax, the independent global airline rating organisation, for the 11th year in a row. The 4-Star Airline ranking recognises continued quality improvement in South African Airways onboard product and service, together with a number of changes to the home base airport customer experience in terms of product and service levels. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said, “South African Airways have maintained quality levels throughout the past year and are delivering a solid product and service standard to their customers, making their 4-Star ranking welldeserved. The Skytrax Star Ranking
audit examines more than 800 areas of product and service delivery, across all areas of the airport operations and the cabin experience, and demonstrates that South African Airways passengers can look forward to a high quality of product and service. Skytrax Star Ranking provides an accurate and independent guide for travellers around the world, and 4-Star is a most respected category for an airline. South African Airways has been ranked at 4-Star Airline status for a number of years, and we are delighted to see that they retain this status for 2013.” These views were echoed by SAA’s Customer Service Executive, Suretha Cruse who said, “Rankings and accolades such as this one from Skytrax reconfirms that our focus on
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strategic objectives will ensure that we eventually become a fully-sustainable business that can compete successfully in the global airline market in the near future. We humbly accept this honour but we are also cognisant of the fact that there is an opportunity for improvement.””.
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thesouthafrican.com | 19 - 25 February 2013 |
Zimbabwe Community
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Western Union awards Africa and Zim promotion prizes
Mugabe’s plans for 1980 Zim military coup revealed by SERTAN SANDERSON
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe is alleged to have plotted a coup d’etat with Russian aid in 1980 to serve as a back-up plan to gain control over South Africa’s northern neighbour. Telegrams from No. 10 Downing Street dating back to February and March 1980 suggest that Mugabe was also highly implicit in widespread voter intimidation to ensure his victory in the historic 1980 polls. The declassified documents reveal that former South African foreign minister Pik Botha contacted then-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, stating grave concerns about the rise of the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) and Robert Mugabe’s impending run for election. With intelligence briefings suggesting Mugabe’s willingness to opt for a military operation in Zimbabwe if he were not elected into office by popular vote, Botha feared that violence might spill over into South Africa, which at the time was run by the National Party. With Britain supporting Mugabe at the time and starting to arm ZANU as a sign of defiance against South Africa’s apartheid regime, Botha also sought Mozambique’s communist leader Samora Machel‘s intervention to avert any possible clashes. Machel reportedly acted as an intermediary to calm the tensions, but international relations between South Africa and Zimbabwe remained cold for many years after the diplomatic stand-off. Mugabe’s chief opponent at the time, Joshua Nkomo and his militant Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), were reportedly also facing daily intimidations, with no fair elections possible to be held in at least two key provinces. Mugabe won the election in the end and
Pik Both, 1980
never had to resort to gaining power by overthrowing the government, but it is debatable to what extent the 1980 elections were fair and square. Nkomo and his ZAPU party later united with Mugabe’s ZANU in 1987 to create the ZANUPF, following the genocide of at least 20,000 civilians during the Gukurahundi massacres, which had erupted out of disputes between the two rivals. Tensions between the government and its citizens have been on the brink of escalation ever since.
Margaret Thatcher, 1980
Petra Lovgren, left, hands over a prize to Patrick Da, centre, and Bintou Berthe, right
by STAFF REPORTER
THE Western Union Company, a leader in global payment services, announced the grand prize winner of its Africa and Zimbabwe money transfer promotion. The competition, which ran from 5 November to 31 December 2012, gave Western Union consumers the chance to win cash prizes by transferring money home. There was one winner each day for both Zimbabwe and Africa, with 112 winners in total over the promotional period. Consumers who sent two or more transactions were entered into a draw to win an impressive £2,500, with two lucky winners bagging the jackpot. To celebrate, Western Union invited selected winners to a prizegiving ceremony in London’s West End on 19 February. Petra Lovgren, Marketing Manager for
Western Union’s UK, Ireland & Nordic operations, commented, “During the evening, we got the chance to meet and chat with our winners. We also had a chance to introduce our new ‘Have you heard’ African pricing campaign, whereby consumers can send up to £100 to Africa for £4.90.” Bintou Berthe, one of the Super Prize winners from the Ivory Coast who sent two transactions during December, was the lucky winner of the £2,500 grand prize, said,“I’m so happy, I could not believe it! I always send money back home to my family in Africa, they need my support. I trust Western Union; it is a convenient service and money arrives reliably and on time.” Thanks Mutange, who sent money using the Next Day service to his family in Botswana, said,“ I will take my family out for dinner this
Friday. Western Union is one of the most convenient companies when it comes to sending money home. All you need to do is go down to a Western Union Agent and your family will receive the money the next day or in minutes..” Patrick Da, who sent to a loved one in Burkina Faso and won £100, commented, “This makes me feel proud. I am just going to send the money back to my family. I was just trying my luck. Just for fun.” If you want to be in with a chance of winning VIP tickets for one of this games, it’s simple. Just make your way down to any Western Union Agent location anywhere in the UK between now and 1 April 2013 and complete a Western Union® Money Transfer. Promotional terms and conditions apply. To find out more, go to your local Western Union location.
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| 26 February - 5 March 2013 | thesouthafrican.com
Travel
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Clockwise from top left: Mt Pirin (image: Flickr/Patriotbg); Lake Vacha (Image: Flickr/Geguskov); one of Bulgaria’s Eastern Orthodox churches; Quayside scenes; Roman ruins at Plovdiv.
Putting Bulgaria firmly on the map We visit exotic, sunny and suprisingly cheap Bulgaria - the ideal city break or summer holiday destination. by LAURA CHAY ATTWELL
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SUMMER came late to London last year, and in serious need for some warm weather my housemate and I decided to go on a mini break. But where would we go? We decided on Anywhere. Anywhere exotic. And hopefully cheap. Oh, but most importantly, wherever we go, it couldn’t be raining. We didn’t think we were being too fussy. Cheap. Not raining. Exotic.But huddled around our laptops later that rainy London afternoon, we discovered that it’s actually not that easy to find an Anywhere that meets our specific three point criteria. France was too expensive, Spain – wasn’t there a song about the Rain in Spain ? Italy… maybe. No. We had both been before. Then we noticed that there were cheap flights going to…where’s
that? Bulgaria? Neither of us had considered that one before. So yes, we figured that Bulgaria would qualify as exotic. Weather wise? No predictions of rain at the beginning of July and to put the cherry on the cake, the weather report predicted that it would be ‘hot and sunny’…Bingo! Bulgaria it would be! We landed in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. The city sits right in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula and historically, it has been through the hands of the Greeks (it was ruled by Alexander the Great for a little while), the Romans, the Ottomans and the Russians. Sofia is a great city to experience – the place is packed with architectural gems from every chapter of the country’s history. Besides the very grand Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, I really enjoyed
the St Nikolai church, it has a little green roof with golden trimmings and aqua blue tiles and a water fountain outside. It’s peaceful and pretty and named after St Nikolaithe-miracle-maker – quite an appropriate name I think. Just around the corner is Vitosha Boulevard which is very modern and European – with chic street cafes and designer shops, that kind of thing. I found it quite enthralling. There are roses planted everywhere, and in the hot sun the sweet scent fills the air; it almost seems like the flowers are melting from the heat of the day. All around the city there are large sweeping trees with jasmine plants twisted around their trunks. Speaking of roses, if you’re a fan of rose water, Bulgaria is one of the world’s biggest producers – there are ‘rose shops’ selling everything from rose perfume to rose flavored jam, tea and chocolate. It’s also worth knowing that there are fresh water springs dotted around the city, we didn’t need to buy any mineral water at all. Also, wifi is amazingly available in most public areas, and absolutely free.I will finish this by saying that if you’re at a loose end, go to Bulgaria. We did, and we loved it. And to top it all off, this was the first holiday that cost me less than I had budgeted for.
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thesouthafrican.com | 19 - 25 February 2013 |
Sport
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Ruthless Proteas complete series sweep Debutant Kyle Abbott highlighted South Africa’s enormous bowling depth picking up 7-29 in Pakistan’s first innings – the second best innings performance by a South African bowler on debut after Lance Klusener picked up 8-64 against India in Kolkata back in 1996. This season’s five home Test victories have made for one of the Proteas’ best seasons ever. by JEREMY BORTZ
THE Proteas ended off their spectacular Test season with another commanding victory in the third and final Test played at Centurion, beating Pakistan inside three days by an innings and 18 runs. Not only have the Proteas won all five home Tests this summer, but they have dominated the majority of those as the results indicate: ● An innings and 27 runs ● An innings and 193 runs ● 211 runs ● Four wickets ● and at Centurion, an innings and 18 runs. None of the matches went to the fifth day, the opposition was outclassed in all departments and the 5-0 summer means the Proteas now enjoy a 10 point lead over second-placed England atop the International Cricket Council Test rankings. Debutant Kyle Abbott highlighted South Africa’s enormous bowling depth picking up 7-29 in Pakistan’s first innings. This is the second best innings performance by a South African bowler on debut after Lance Klusener picked up 8-64 against India in Kolkata back in 1996. Winning the toss and choosing to bat on a pitch that definitely offered something to the bowlers,
the Proteas did not have it all their own way for the first two sessions being 201-5 at tea. Once again it was Hashim Amla who anchored the innings, eventually falling just eight short of what would have been a very well deserved hundred, before vice-captain AB de Villiers
Barbarians vs Fiji 2-for-1 rugby tickets now on sale by STAFF REPORTER
THE eagerly anticipated Barbarians vs Fiji rugby clash next season has been set for Saturday 30 November at London’s Twickenham Stadium. In announcing the fixture this week, the Barbarians are also offering an attractive 2-for-1 ticket deal that is sure to be popular with rugby-mad fans who wish to book their seats for what promises to be a feast of rugby next autumn. Tickets, which are available now via Ticketmaster online or telephone 0844 847 2492, are priced at : adults from £20; juniors from £10. One most celebrated matches ever played by the Barbarians was back in 1970 when Fiji shocked the rugby world by demolishing a starstudded Barbarians’ team containing legendary names such as Edwards, Duckham, Bennett, Slattery and JPR Williams by 29 points to nine. Now two of the most attackorientated teams in the game are set for a rematch. Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer Manasa Baravilala said: “The year 2013 marks the centenary
of the game in our country and we are honoured to be invited to celebrate this landmark with another game against the famous Barbarians. “Our great victory 40-odd years ago was a major stepping stone in enhancing Fiji’s profile. Our opponents then had some of the biggest names in the game but we had our own heroes that day like George Barley, Pio Tikoisuva, Jona Qoro and Isimeli Batibasaga who became stars overnight. “The challenge next November is to again showcase the best of Fijian rugby against the Barbarians.” Barbarians v Fiji at Twickenham, Saturday 30 November 2013 (kick-off 2.30pm) Tickets available from: www. ticketmaster.co.uk Prices: Adults from £20; juniors from £10 & special 2-for-1 offer
and Vernon Philander put on 129 for the seventh wicket to ensure South Africa posted a large first innings score. Vernon Philander eventually fell for a Test career best 74 while de Villiers went on to record his 16th Test century (121) before the Proteas were all out for 409.
It was the bowlers who once again turned the screws on the opposition, dismissing Pakistan for 156 and, in their follow-on, 235. In addition to Abbott’s match figures of 9-68, the third best by a South African bowler on Test debut and the best for South Africa since readmission,
Dale Steyn picked up five wickets to surpass White Lightning’s 330 Test wickets and become the thirdhighest wicket-taker for South Africa behind Shaun Pollock (421) and Makhaya Ntini (390). The win, South Africa’s sixth successive, extended their unbeaten run to 15 matches. It was also Graeme Smith’s 50th as captain, a world first. “It has been a very special summer at home with some incredible milestones for myself and the team,” Smith told reporters. “To be able to achieve something today in winning 50 tests with a special group of cricketers is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. This is the best team I have played in as a South African cricketer, we have all our bases covered,” Smith said. “Part of that is the maturity and professionalism with which they approach every match. If you are even 10 percent off in your game it can affect the result, but the guys gave it everything again.” De Villiers was named man of the series after his century and 11 catches in the first Test, his vitally important half century in Cape Town and another hundred here. The Proteas now have a six month break from Test cricket before heading to the UAE in October for a return series against Pakistan.
Port Elizabeth outdoes Pretoria continued from page 16 plenty of analysis following that win but one thing that bears focusing on is the fact that there was such a strong crowd there to support the new boys. Much has been made in recent rugby chatter about the unfair removal of the Lions from the competition but you can’t argue with the loyalty that the Port Elizabeth population has shown their side. As South Africans we laughed at the poor attendance of the Aussie derbies, but the Cheetahs match against the Sharks was watched by less than 15,000 people, whereas the Kings match was watched by more than double that. Given the flagging attendance at Lions matches, it was a fair call to give the Eastern Cape a side in the competition. Easy to say that, though, when it’s not your team that has been dismissed. They couldn’t have asked for a better fixture to get their campaign off the mark. The Western Force,
though not an altogether bad side, were probably the most likely candidates on which the Kings could spring a victory. The Eastern Cape boys were in spirited form, and went a long way to showing the importance of cohesion in a team. This is a squad who were introduced to each other only months ago, but already showed they are eager to fight for one another on the field. The only possibly small negative that you can highlight from their win is that now they’ve shaken their nonthreatening sheepskin, so expect the giants of the competition to pitch up and make their lives difficult for the remainder of the tournament. Here’s hoping for more big things from this team though. Finally, as avid followers we immediately turn our attention to the next batch of fixtures, and the one that stands out from a South African perspective is the Stormers’ visit to Kings Park to take on the Sharks. The Stormers
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will be smarting from their pedestrian outing in Pretoria, and will be looking to adjust the direction of their campaign with a win in Durban. The Sharks were very impressive in the opening quarters of their game against the Cheetahs, but even with the lead looked quite troubled when under pressure in trying to close the game out. As always the game is going to be difficult to pick. The Sharks pack easily outmuscled their counterparts on Saturday, and that’s an area of the game where the Stormers have traditionally struggled, but both sides boast backlines with great experience coupled with very exciting youngsters. The South African derby will be the hardest to predict of the whole weekend. I’m going into my shell for this one, I’ll give you my pick on Friday – it’s hard to silence your heart in these matters. Anyone else willing to stick their neck out early in the week?
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26 February - 4 March 2013
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SUPER RUGBY
WEEK 1: P.E. OUTDOES PRETORIA
This weekend’s Super Rugby fixtures saw the Southern Kings score a surprise win, while the Stormers limped to a disappointing loss. by KEITH MOORE
THE talk in the lead up to the weekend’s Super Rugby action was purely concentrated on the Bulls match against the Stormers and how that game was going to outshine every other over the weekend. In reality the game barely outshone the work day, as the Stormers limped to a disappointing loss in fairly average fashion. Schalk Burger had spoken in the week before the match of the Stormers’ desire to capitalise on their attacking chances, but the team from the Cape did nothing of the sort on the day. I have no doubt that this is a small glitch in what will otherwise be a knock-out phase campaign for the men in blue, but that performance will have left plenty to discuss on Monday morning. One of the focal points of the match-up was that elder statesman Morne Steyn would be facing one of the up-and-coming flyhalfs looking to usurp the Francebound points machine for the Bok flyhalf jersey. For the past couple of seasons there has been mass outcry about Steyn’s inability to do anything other than kick a ball and how much South African rugby desperately needs a running flyhalf. Sadly Elton Jantjies
(admittedly only one of three youngsters potentially taking the mantle) did precious little for his claim to the Green and Gold; he missed goals – important goals and easy goals. Gone are the days of Percy Montgomery carrying the kicking tee, leaving the Springboks with the luxury of picking a running flyhalf with less of a boot. We need a flyhalf who will run the game but kick the all-important goals when it comes time for it, and Jantjies wasn’t up to it on the day. Just like the Stormers, I expect him to bounce back; hopefully it was an issue of jitters which he will overcome as the season progresses. The other South African derby saw Pat Lambie square up against Johan Goosen in Bloemfontein, a contest which the Natal boy seemed to edge. Both looked fairly comfortable and were the two frontrunners (of the weekend) for that jersey, but there is plenty of rugby to be played before the Boks assemble, so Jantjies has plenty of time to impress Heyneke Meyer. The surprise result but unsurprising media glutton of the weekend was the Southern Kings’ win in their first ever outing in Port Elizabeth. There will be continues on page 15
Flip van der Merwe of the Bulls wins the ball during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers from Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
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