The South African, Issue 512, 30 April 2013 by The South African

www.thesouthafrican.com

30 April - 6 May 2013

Issue 512

FREEDOM VS SECRECY: ‘THE FIGHT’S NOT OVER’

p3 | 11-year old Asanda Jezile: Britain’s Got Talent singing and dancing

by FLAMINIA GIAMBALVO

p11 | BP to invest more than R5 billion in South Africa’s next-generation clean fuel production

In the same week as South Africans at home and abroad celebrated our 19th year of democracy, the passing of the ‘secrecy bill’ leads some to fear that our freest days are already behind us It was somewhat ironic that two days before Freedom Day, the anniversary of South African democracy, the National Assembly passed the controversial secrecy bill in parliament. The much criticised Protection of State Information Bill, dubbed the secrecy bill, will increase the government’s power to restrict access to information and impose hefty fines and jail terms on whistleblowers and journalists who publish information the government classifies as secret. The legislation was passed on Thursday by 190 votes to 74 after a three-year battle in parliament during which it was modified several times due to complaints that it would unduly restrict freedom of the press. During Thursday’s debate Siyabonga Cwele, the state security minister, told parliament that the bill would “strengthen democracy while balancing transparency and protecting our national security and national interests.” The bill came under attack from opposition members, media groups and human rights campaigners. The South African National Editors’ Forum said President Zuma had the option of referring it directly to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in South Africa. It said the changes to the bill made by the upper house of parliament late last year had improved the legislation in “important ways”. “But they do not go far enough” said a spokesperson for the group. “The bill still has the potential to be used as an instrument

UK Immigration • UK Visas • Permits • EEA visas • Residency • Citizenship • Appeals • Sponsorship Licences South African Immigration

INSIDE:

p5 | Brixham International Pirate Festival raises the Jolly Roger this weekend

BRAAI THE WAY: South Africans from London and as far afield as Oxford, Essex, Berkshire and Cornwall gathered in Wimbledon Park on Saturday for an informal braai to celebrate Freedom Day. Photo by Heather Walker. See more pics on www.thesouthafrican.com/photos

of secrecy in a democracy that can only thrive in a climate of openness, he added.” The most notable amendment to date has been the addition of a public interest clause which offers protection to journalists and whistleblowers. However, Murray Hunter, a spokesperson for the Right2Know human rights group campaigning against the bill, said “Our legal advisers warn

that it contains loopholes. At best, there is ambiguity over whether whistleblowers are protected.” More worrying still, according to Right2Know, the definition of “espionage” remains unclear. “There is a real fear that this bill can’t tell the difference between people publishing information for social justice reasons and those doing it for private gain or with

malevolent intent.” “This fight is not over,” said Lindiwe Mazibuko, parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance. She argued that the proposed law had been “tabled within the context of a revived securocrat state”, noting the secrecy around the Marikana mine massacre and use of public funds on Zuma’s homestead upgrade.

0845 074 0514 info@bic-immigration.com www.bic-immigration.com

The Leading Name in UK Immigration

Third Floor, Cutlers Court, 115 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BR

Ref No. F201000144

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com

News

UCT-UK Alumni reception set for 15 May in London Editor: Heather Walker Production: Brett Petzer Registered office: Unit C7, Commodore House, Battersea Reach, London SW18 1TW. Tel: 0845 456 4910 Email: editor@thesouthafrican.com Website: www.thesouthafrican.com Directors: P Atherton, A Laird, J Durrant, N Durrant and R Phillips Printed by: Mortons of Horncastle Ltd

Blue Sky publishes the following titles:

The paper used to print this publication has been sourced from sustainable forests (farmed trees). Please reduce waste by recycling your copy or passing it on to others. The printed opinions of advertisers and writers are theirs and not necessarily shared by Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Unless otherwise stated, copyright of all original materials is held by Blue Sky Publishing Ltd.

Official media sponsors of the following organisations:

by STAFF REPORTER

THERE will be two University of Cape Town Alumni events in London in May: Tuesday 14 May: Mies Julie performance Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price invites UCT Alumni to join him at a performance of Mies Julie. The Baxter Theatre’s smash hit has received unprecedented acclaim and numerous five star reviews. The production, written and directed by the multi-award winning Yael Farber, tells the story of a ruinous night of passion between a Afrikaans farmer’s fiery daughter and a poor Xhosa servant on a dry, remote Karoo farmstead. Tickets: £35 [includes bestof-house seats plus pre-show drinks and canapés with the Vice-Chancellor] Venue: Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9RL RSVP uct.alumni.uk@tecres. net to order tickets and request payment instructions Time: 6.30pm Pre-show drinks and canapés 7.30pmTalk by the CEO and

Artistic Director of Baxter Theatre, Lara Foot 8pm-9.30pm Show

Wed 15 May: Annual UCTUK Alumni Reception with Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price and guest speaker Lord Hoffmann Distinguished UCT alumnus Lord Hoffmann attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. He was called to the Bar in 1964 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1977. After a time as a Judge of the High Court (Chancery Division), he was elevated to the Court of Appeal and served as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1995 to 2009. Most recently he has sat as an arbitrator in disputes concerning property, intellectual property rights, and international law. Fishmongers Hall houses one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. It has enjoyed an unbroken existence of over 700 years, adapting to the challenges of changing times. Fishmongers’ Hall was destroyed by the Great

Fire, rebuilt twice thereafter and then devastated by bombs during World War II but restored to its former glory. It has won an outstanding reputation, not just among its City neighbours but much further afield, for offering superb surroundings, delicious cuisine and discreet but first rate

service. Tickets: £40 [drinks and canapés will be served] Venue: Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge, City of London, EC4R 9EL Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm RSVP uct.alumni.uk@tecres. net to order tickets and request payment instructions

NB INFO... Rand rate £1 = R 13.93

Our Team Each week we profile one of the many writers who contribute to The South African.

Jeremy Kuper Twitter: @jeremykuper

Jeremy Kuper is a journalist and editor of Gateway to Africa. His work has appeared in a number of publications including The Guardian and Mail & Guardian.

LEADING THE WAY: South African High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Zola Skweyia, and Deputy High commissioner Bongiwe Qwabe at the annual Freedom Day reception at SA House in London on Friday. Photo: Heather Walker.

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

News

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

SA and UK to strengthen cultural exchange

by STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH Africa and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the arts and culture sector between both countries. South African Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile and British Commissioner Dame Nicola Brewer signed the MoU in Pretoria this week. Minister Mashatile said in 2005 they signed a Statement of Intent on Bilateral Co-operation, followed by the signing of a Film

Co-production Treaty in 2006. He said as a result of the Treaty, eight films have been certified and co-productions involving South Africa, Canada and the United Kingdom have been developed. “We are also pleased that as a result of our interactions on the cultural front, thirty South African curators were trained at different museums in the United Kingdom since 2006,” he said. In 2010, Mashatile also led a South African delegation to the United Kingdom on a fact finding

mission to establish a National Skills Academy for the Creative Industries in South Africa. The following year, the department launched a project to support South African playwrights which was done in partnership with the British Council, Sustained Theatre from the UK and Wits University. Through the MoU, the two nations’s relations will specifically focus on: sharing experiences intended to promote and develop the creative industries in both

our countries; establishing links between arts festivals in both countries; collaborating between artists and arts institutions, and artistic exchanges as well as joint publications. Brewer announced that together with South Africa the UK will host the South Africa-

United Kingdom Seasons concert. Brewer said this will provide an opportunity to celebrate the two nation’s achievements and to use culture to strengthen further development for both South Africans and the people of United Kingdom. - SAnews.gov.za

11-year-old Asanda Jezile: Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation

WE WILL TAKE YOU HOME/ONS DOEN DIE GROOT TREK HUIS TOE...

Daughter of South African musician carries on the family tradition as she performs flawless version of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’ on Saturday’s Britain’s Got Talent show by HEATHER WALKER

ASANDA Jezile, the 11-yearold daughter of South African expats Prudence and Luyanda Jezile, could be the one to beat in this year’s Britain’s Got Talent contest after wowing the judges and audience in her audition which screened on Saturday night. The London schoolgirl performed a flawless version of Rihanna’s ‘Diamonds’, complete with diva dance moves, earning her loud cheers of appreciation and a standing ovation from the crowd. The four judges were just as impressed by her pitch-perfect voice. David Walliams called her ‘phenomenal’ while Simon Cowell commented, “I’ve never seen anyone with such stage presence

for an 11-year-old. And you have the best smile I have ever seen.” Alesha Dixon said, “I cannot believe my eyes, your voice is incredible, you were like a little diamond.” Asanda beamed as each of the judges gave her the thumbs up to go through to the next round. As she joined her proud parents backstage she was asked by a stunned Ant, “Where did that come from?” She replied, “My parents” – and that would be correct! Her father Luyanda is an accomplished singer, who only the previous day performed on stage at the Freedom Day reception at South Africa House in London. The Jeziles have lived in the UK for 14 years. Asanda now has more than 6,000 Twitter followers – follow her @AsandaJezile

• Excess Baggage/Boxes/Cartons • Part Container/Groupage • Complete Households/Cars • Comprehensive Insurance • Customs Clearance • Vehicle Documentation • RO - RO (Roll on - Roll off shipping)

tel 0844-8730078 or 01394-332020 UK BASED OFFICE WITH OUR HEADQUARTERS IN RSA

www.southafricanremovals.com

Community

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in London

by HEATHER WALKER and IJE NDUKWE

THE great and the good were out in force at the glittering Zimbabwe Achievers Awards held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington last week. Winners included Fikile Dube who claimed the award for outstanding achievement in fashion, entrepreneur of the year Byron Fundira and companies such as KCare Nursing Agency also received the top prize for their role in society. Read a review of the event on page 13.

Win a ÂŁ25 Spur meal voucher

Visit www.ukspur.co.uk to locate your nearest Spur

If you have been spotted in the circle on this page please email your address to editor@thesouthafrican.com and your voucher will be posted to you.

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Community

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

Ahoy me hearties! Get ye doon to the Brixham International Pirate Festival

The International Pirate Festival in Brixham offers the perfect escape – a weekend in Devon and the opportunity to dress up as a swashbuckling buccaneer! by STAFF REPORTER

APART from being refugees from justice or just plain gold diggers, pirates have always dreamed of fortunes in far-flung lands – something many South Africans living in the UK can identify with! Then there’s the freedom of the open sea, the swashbuckling outfits and the love of a good party – who doesn’t dig pirates? And on 4 and 5 May, you can join in the fun at the fifth annual International Pirate Festival in the picturesque South Devon port of Brixham, once a haven for smugglers. Brixham is one of the few working fishing ports left in the UK.

The OPTIMIST

KAREN DE VILLIERS

A reason for Optimism

MARNA gave me my one and only shiner. Sonja was in the army with Marna. Ilsa comforts Sonja after the death of her husband. Marna too is a widow. Then there is Barbara, confined to a wheelchair. Jenni, her sister, toasts her on her 50th birthday and tears are passed around the table. Bev, the catalyst of our reunion, stays quiet, ever pleasing, ever wanting everyone to be happy. There are two things that happen when the wine flows. Not trickles, but flows like the Berg river after a storm. Women vent, in the nicest way.

Situated on the English Riviera, south of Torquay, it was where the first trawlers were developed that enabled fishing further out to sea, and more sizeable and profitable catches. Much of each catch went to London and other major cities. It became quite a wealthy port with a genuine reputation for its fish, and the courage of its fishermen. Today it is much smaller but still has a sizeable fishing fleet. Brixham’s cliffs contain many old caves and tunnels (no longer usable) and the narrow, steep streets and alleys were once the route for smugglers escaping the excise men. William of Orange (soon to

be King William) first stepped on British soil from his home in Holland here in Brixham on his way to London to claim the throne. The International Pirate Festival therefore has special significance for the port, and is a major community driven event. This year Brixham will resound to raucous “aarrring”, music and laughter, as cultural activities take place across town and the streets fill with songs of the sea, old folk songs and country music. Other activities include energetic reenactments by pirates from the Isle of Wight and the group The Queens Rangers. The full-size replica of Francis Drake’s ship the Golden Hind

They never brag or blame but roll their lives out like fluffy clouds. They are enticed to impart the years missed with others and then the secrets come out. I said nothing, having ‘platsed’ my life to all for the past four years. My move to London, my move to London…wail, wail, whimper… I did think I would embellish my daily life with a touch more drama, just for theatrical effect, only the stories that spilt onto the table were darker than my tales of laundry. The second, and most delicious part of a reunion, is the ‘Do you remember?’ stage. Giggling begins, then chins begin to wobble with glee until the tears are happy blobs of nostalgia; childhood truancy, women in the SADF (it did happen!), babies, husbands (oh pour the wine). Decades of ‘lappies’ built into a new, warm quilt. My point here is: we have all been dealt a deck of cards. As children the king is our ego, followed by the Queen of Hearts to be filled and broken. Jack our dreams of the future. We deal, play, win and lose. It is only when we see those held by others that the ego, the heart and the

dreams that are our own are put into perspective. How often do you truly try to see things from another’s point of view? As children we were each other’s lifeblood, growing up in a small town where parents chucked you out into the sun and whistled for your return at sunset. We had to make up our own games, explore our own imaginations and more importantly trust each other. As youth tumbled into adulthood, time to call and care became less important. New families or adventures took priority. We forget our parents are getting old, our nannies are gone, and then, this past weekend, we were in one room. So much and so little has changed. I wonder if the children today, consumed more with digital media than the forming of actual friendships will have the memories to toss about with the Chenin in their later years? Can they talk of riding bikes and swimming in rivers; of skinning their knees and playing hospital? I find that sad. We left, cathartic and optimistic. We have loved, sobbed, said many a goodbye; but all the more secure, knowing that we had each other all over again. Formidable women.

in the harbour will feature as a platform for piratical demonstration of gunfire, swordplay and cannon firing. It is true, apparently that Captains Morgan, Tench and other famous pirates dressed in an exaggerated manner to ape the cultures from which they came. Brixham has so many captains, one can only guess at the size of pirate fleets. From the simpler to the similarly sumptuous their female partners (wenches or doxies) equally look the part. To see a large part of the Brixham population dressed up in pirate fancy dress for two days is extraordinary, said festival spokesman Richard John.

Highlights • A walk along Buccaneers Way or Blackbeard’s Trail • Cannon and gun firing • Music with Mariners Away, Swash Buckle, Hornswaggle and more • Harbour skirmish • World Record Pirate Conga attempt – dress up and join in • Fancy dress competition • Transport from London • Make a weekend of it and take in the sights of the Devon area. Trains to neighbouring Torquay and Paignton leave from London Paddington. National Express buses connect Torquay and Paignton to London. More details on www.brixhampiratefestival.co.uk

LONDON’S MOST POPULAR SOUTH AFRICAN BAR AND RESTAURANT Contemporary STYLE and safari chic serving delicious South African cuisine. All day DINING with a choice of inspired bistro menus, bar snacks, canapés, pre-theatre and a la carte. Great COCKTAILS, plus a superb wine list, many served by the glass. For information or bookings: E: bbar@rchmail.com T: 020 7958 7000 www.bbarlondon.com 43 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W 0PP Monday-Friday 11am-11pm

/bbarlondon

/bbartweet

and restaurant

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com

Entertainment Brandpunt CONRAD BRAND

The 1st of May is Rhino Mayday! VANDAG slat ek hom in Engels sodat dié beriggie die Engelse publiek sal bereik. Dié week is Brandpunt, Burning Point – Sterk Wees! On 1 May it is Rhino Mayday in London when Save the Rhino International and

The Grant Museum of Zoology will host a dedicated day for anyone with an interest in conservation. Field experts will give talks on their specialised subjects. This focused effort could not be at a better time as rhino poaching seems to have crossed the Atlantic. With the shocking news this week that four rhino heads were stolen from Ireland’s National Museum, not for their beauty, but for the 3kg of ‘gold’ stuck to each, one has to wonder how long it will be before news reaches us about the first organised rhino poaching in the UK. I started my investigation and was shocked to learn that less than a month ago two wildlife reserves,

Port Lympne and Howletts in Kent, were placed on high alert after a tip-off by the police that international syndicates have moved their aim to target British wildlife parks for easier poaching of rhino. Has rhino poaching now crossed the ocean? If so, be prepared to see organised gangs relentlessly, ruthlessly killing these gentle animals, feeding a stupid Asian craze. News of poaching will not be on another continent, thousands of miles away, no, it will be headlines in the UK. Please therefore support the Rhino Mayday. It is not too late to learn more and make a difference. Visit their website for more info and to book your seat. www.savetherhino.org

Chocolatestudded Cape Malva Pudding

THE dessert is a lighter version of the local sticky toffee pudding and is a speciality from Cape Town. The sublime sweeter tastes of the sponge are offset by the addition of the imported bitter chocolate and marry well with the coffee custard or vanilla pod ice cream. The serving style is simple yet elegant, albeit a traditional comfort food. Y=4 portions

Sponge: 80ml Whole Milk, 100g Double Zero Flour, 160g Granulated white sugar, 1 pinch Salt, 8g Bicarb of Soda, 2 Whole Eggs, 30g Smooth Apricot Jam, 15g Melted Butter, 15ml Red Wine vinegar, 120g grade 7 chocolate (for studding) Method: Sieve all dry ingredients. Make a well and add the eggs. Add the melted butter, jam and vinegar. Add the milk. Reserve to one side. Line a greased and floured baking dish (Deep). Bake @ 200c for 30 minutes. Remove briefly from the oven and stud the sponge with the chocolate pieces. Return to the oven for a further 10 minutes.

Syrup: 200g Granulated White Sugar, 140g Butter, 80ml Water, 80ml Milk, 320ml Double Cream Method: Bring to the boil in a separate pot. Reserve to one side. Pour gently over the hot sponge, and leave to soak for approx 20 min. Chill until set. Divide into four portions. Coffee custard: 2 Egg yolks, 25g Castor sugar, 125ml double cream, 125ml whole milk, 50ml espresso Method: Whisk the egg yolks and sugar over Bain Marie. Heat the milk and incorporate into the egg. Return the mixture to a saucepan and cook over a low heat until thick. Allow cooling. Reserve to one side. Assembly: Fresh Blackberries, Picked mint sprigs, 4x caramel baskets When reheating, caramelise the Malva in oven (220c) for 6-8 minutes. Serve warm with a small pool of coffee custard or rich vanilla pod ice cream (pictured). Garnish with fresh berries, mint and sugar basket (optional).

A London music and dance evening with top SA jazz and classical artists The Masikhule Project presents an evening of world and South African music and dance featuring Mervyn Africa, Njabulo Madlala, Lerato Zwezwe, Mulrado DC and a few surprise guests by STAFF REPORTER

PIANISTand composer Mervyn Africa has been one of the great names of African jazz for the last 30 years, known for his brilliant technique and ability to create sumptuous improvisations and compositions, drawing from his rich cultural and musical background. Lerato Zwezwe is an aspiring singer-songwriter who is sharing the stage with established greats at just 18. Njabulo Madlala is a highly accomplished opera singer who has studied at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice. A winner of countless music prizes, Madlala is a firm audience and critics’ favourite. Date: Sunday 5 May 4.30pm Location: United Reformed Church, Allen Street, London W8 6BL Admission Fee: £10 To reserve your place please send

email to: masikhule@hotmail.co.uk or call Elsa on 07890 588646 or Adrienne on 07789 657951 All proceeds go to the Lorraine Poswa Mzimkhulu Pre-School in Libode, Eastern Cape, South Africa

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Entertainment

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

Freshlyground: Taking us to the Dance

Ahead of Freshlyground’s London tour this weekend, Matt van Niftrik interviews Zolani and Kyla-Rose about the band’s incredible global success, their latest album Take me to the Dance, and their creepy new video… say ‘you need to do dance, you need to do electronic.’ We approached this album very differently from our previous albums. We wrote our own ideas and brought them together over the internet. We were recording stuff at home, on our own and then adding them to a Dropbox, picking them up adding something else, putting them back in the Dropbox. Zolani: We wanted to inject something different. We’ve been together 11 years now and things can become stale. I think with this album everyone’s had the chance to shine individually.

by MATT van NIFTRIK

THE Skype icon bounces up and down on my toolbar. That ring I’ve been waiting for since last week. “Just hold on, I’m gonna get Zolani on the call too.” It’s KylaRose Smith, violist and vocalist for the seven-musician tapestry that makes up Freshlyground. Within seconds Zolani Mahola’s unmistakeable voice glides out of my laptop speakers. This is the second time I’ve interviewed them. The first was almost a decade ago. I was 14 and a presenter on KTV, following an autocue of questions for a little known band that had just broken into the SA music scene with an album called Nomvula. Fast forward to 2013 and the band is a household name. They came home from their tour of the United States in March with a number one spot on the US iTunes World Music Charts for their latest album Take Me to the Dance, a number one on the CMJ World Music Charts, a ’Voices of the Next Generation’ Shared Interest award presented in New York City and two London gigs lined up for May. This album left an indelible mark on me – this was something else, a new sound, a new vibe. A heady mix of the traditional Ground sound – bass heavy kwaito and twanging African guitar,

linking effortlessly with anthemic dance beats and the beautifully smooth, honest lyrics that flow from somewhere raw within the band. Having just teamed up with American producer Steve Berlin, Freshlyground are clearly aiming at something big with the new album. How do you guys feel about all the success and honours you received in the States?

Zolani: It’s cool. Awesome, really, really awesome. But the tour was fun and it’s great that the whole iTunes thing came out of that. On Take me to the Dance there’s that same honesty, but also a new sound on it. Is this a departure from what we’re used to? Kyla-Rose: Our sound is our sound. It’s a sum of its parts and Steve [Berlin] certainly didn’t come in and

Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny: tragicomic tale of love and an AK47

Where does Johnny Boskak fit in the new South Africa? Is he a white trash dinosaur? Or is he the last cowboy hero in boots and blue jeans? What we do know is that he’s on the road, looking for love, redemption, an AK47 and the quickest way out of Secunda… by STAFF REPORTER

FRESH from his run of White Men with Weapons at Tara Theatre in Earlsfield, Greig Coetzee returns in May with his acclaimed show Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny. Written and performed by Coetzee and directed by Garth Anderson, Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny comes to Tara Theatre from Thursday 16 to Saturday 18 May. This Edinburgh Fringe First Award Winner is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Combine Shakespearean verse and American rap to write a South African Natural Born Killers using Johannesburg slang, and you might come up with Johnny Boskak – a tragicomedy, love story, quest for faith and a car chase from Durban to Secunda to Hillbrow to hell and back again. The show tells the story of Johnny and his journey through the seedy, sexy underbelly of modern-day South Africa. Caught between a jailbait femme fatale and the demon truck-driver who hounds her, he

makes his way through bars, truckstops, all-night take-aways, sleeping at roadsides, shooting pool, and dodging bullets. The very physical performance is complemented by music specially composed by South African guitar wizard, Syd Kitchen. Sadly, Syd passed away in March 2011, but his music still rocks on in Johnny Boskak. Coetzee’s powerful script is brought to life with haunting projections of South African landscapes. “Savagely funny” - The Stage “One of the most complete small-scale experiences on the Fringe – poignant, funny, clever and significant.” The Scotsman “Coetzee kicks up a storm with this dazzling display.” The Guardian Greig Coetzee has worked as a writer, director and performer and has written for television, radio and theatre. His work has received numerous South African Theatre Awards. He has received two Scotsman Fringe First Awards as

well as The Stage Best Actor Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. His BBC Radio 4 drama, Banana Republic, received a Sony Radio Academy Award (2005). Book tickets on www.tara-arts.com

The creativity and expansion of the music is all there, but it looks like it’s spread into your music video as well. The video for the title track is a little spooky, I won’t lie, but in a good way. (Both laugh).

It felt like a Die Antwoord or Spoek Mathambo - was this a conscious decision? Zolani: Yes it was. It definitely was. The video is a kind of homage to Pieter Hugo. It was fun to do. Your most recent successes have been international, but do you still consider yourselves an African band? Zolani: I don’t think it’s ever been about where we come from, it’s about the music. I’m an African living in the world and we’re a band making music in the world. Zolani’s final statement makes clear that Freshlyground are representative of South Africa and Africa as a whole. A nation, a continent striving together to make something in the world. Buy tickets to Freshlyground at Jazz Cafe on 4 and 5 May at Ticketmaster.co.uk

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Business: Gateway to Africa

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

Page proudly sponsored by

Trade & Investment

BP to invest more than R5 billion in Southern Africa

BP has just announced plans to invest in excess of ZAR 5bn in South Africa and Mozambique over the next five years in new and on-going infrastructure upgrade projects to improve business efficiency and assist Government’s objectives to enhance energy security and enable the transition to cleaner fuels by STAFF REPORTER

DURING a visit to South Africa, Iain Conn, BP Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Refining and Marketing, said that BP was committed to pursuing operations and investments across Africa. In Upstream, BP is pursuing opportunities in Angola, Algeria, Namibia, Libya and Egypt. In Downstream, beyond the announcement about South Africa, BP is also making investments to improve and upgrade the fuel import infrastructure in neighbouring Mozambique. In South Africa, an investment of close to R5 billion will be spent on various projects across the BP Fuels Value Chain including refinery, terminal and retail network assets. This is a sign of BP’s growing confidence in the South African economy as an attractive investment destination especially after the adoption of the National Development Plan as the road map for the country. Conn stated that around half the investment will be spent in upgrading and modernising the refinery infrastructure at Sapref, a joint venture with Shell. The infrastructure upgrade will primarily be to comply with South Africa’s proposed clean fuels Nedbank Golf Challenge print requirements. In February 2013, the South African Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan undertook to announce the support mechanism for biofuels and upgrade of refineries to encourage South Africa to produce cleaner fuels which are environmentally friendly. “We anticipate that the remuneration mechanism will be finalised shortly as we have already started to invest in the project and our intent is to be ready to produce clean fuels in 2017,” said Conn.

BP’s retail network will benefit from the announced investment which will improve customer experience. The conversion to a “best in class” convenience retail offering, in partnership with Pick n Pay, will see 120 Pick n Pay Express stores opened in the next five years across South Africa. Coupled with improvements to the BP Express convenience offering, the fuel forecourts will be upgraded with a standardised look. Conn emphasised that BP’s commitment is not only about the capital and commercial investment. BP has been at the forefront of transformation over a number of years. In 2001, BP became one of the first companies to form an empowerment initiative and this has resulted in cash pay-outs

to BEE shareholders to the tune of R300 million. Subsequently, Masana, a joint venture between BP and its BEE partners, was formed in 2005. This has been one of South Africa’s empowerment success stories which has doubled its growth since inception. A longstanding support for skills development and quality education continues to be at the cornerstone of BP’s involvement in high school enrichment programmes, artisan to PhD support programmes, and general industry skills development for the previously disadvantaged. BP continues on pioneering the transformation journey with the latest hydrocarbon (crude oil) procurement initiative which invited and encouraged local previously disadvantaged enterprises to participate in a tender process.

BP in South Africa 547.25bbl/d - SA oil consumption (2011) 169 000 bbl/d - output of SAPREF refinery, (joint Shell/BP operation) in 2012 30% - SAPREF share of SA total production 20 700 - number of BP petrol stations worldwide 4600 - number of petrol stations in SA, of which BP has 500+ 85,700 employees - BP’s worldwide total, of which 1000+ in SA

USD 11.816 billion - BP’s global profits in 2012 ad(Page 1

9/7/12

12:38:51

CMY

This is the day to change lives Make things happen; register to play today. www.sagolfday.com Nedbank Limited is incorporated with limited liability in South Africa (no.1951/000009/06) and its London branch is registered in England and Wales (no.BR001334), and whose registered address is 1st floor Old Mutual Place, London, EC4V 4GG. Nedbank London is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority (FSA Register number 204684).

South Africa leads the way with banking reforms

New South African reforms allow companies to be registered within one day of opening a bank account by STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH Africa is trying to lead the field in its latest reforms on the ease of doing business. It has now become the first country in the world to allow companies to be registered within one day of opening a bank account. This move was taken in collaboration between the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and First National Bank (FNB). This ground-breaking initiative will start in May and will be piloted by FNB to ensure that the system is operated correctly. Other banks in South Africa: Nedbank, Standard Bank and Absa have all been invited to take part, but do not have the required systems up and running yet. As part of the initiative South Africans will now also be able to electronically file intellectual

property applications on trademarks, designs and patents. According to Business Day: “All these initiatives are aimed at expediting the process of company registration, a vital element in the ease of starting a business which historically has been a long one in South Africa compared with other countries.” Another collaboration between the Home Affairs Department and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is trying to create a more integrated service to provide exchange and verification data that would allow SARS to register a company and register it for VAT at the same time. CIPC Commissioner Astrid Ludin said the move was to make it easier for entrepreneurs to interact and do business with the South African government.

Business: News

SA drinks giant Distell buys Scottish whiskey maker for £160m by STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH African wine and spirits producer Distell has signed a deal worth £160 million (about R2.2 billion) to acquire Scotch whisky producer Burn Stewart Distillers Limited from Scottishbased CL World Brands Limited and Trinidad and Tobago-based Angostura Limited. “The strategic purchase of the fully integrated producer of both blended and single malt whiskies will allow Distell to capitalise on the continuing global growth in whisky consumption and give it access to scarce blended and single malt stocks from prime whisky-producing regions in Scotland, while also enhancing its global footprint,” Distell said in a statement on Monday. The acquisition follows a 2007 equal partner venture between Distell and Burn Stewart to co-own and market three Scotch whiskies in sub-Saharan Africa – Bunnahabhain, Black Bottle and

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com

Scottish Leader. These whiskies are sold in over 60 countries and are selling well in developing markets. The deal includes three single malt whisky distilleries, a blending and maturation facility, a bottling hall, a dry and finished goods storage site and in-house marketing and distribution. All whisky currently in maturation is also included in the deal. “Our acquisition of Burn Stewart is a very significant development for Distell from a strategic perspective but also given the rich and proud history and heritage of the brands involved,” said Distell Group managing director, Jan Scannell. “Bunnahabhain, the Burn Stewart Distillers’ flagship single malt, is made on Islay, considered one of the most prestigious whisky locations by connoisseurs. There are only eight distilleries on the island, so we are extremely fortunate to acquire this very highly-ranked brand.”

Burn Stewart is headquartered in East Kilbride near to Glasgow. It operates a sales and marketing branch in Taiwan, the world’s fourth-largest scotch whisky market by volume. It also has a majority stake in a spirits distribution arm in the US. Distell said the acquisition would provide a springboard into emerging markets such as Taiwan. “The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) data shows that the global whisky market has been one of the fastest-growing drinks segments and after vodka is the world’s biggest spirit category by volume,” Distell said. “Consumption has risen across both developed and emerging markets, notably the UK, the US, as well as Latin America, Eastern Europe, many parts of Asia and in key African markets.” The deal is the second major global spirits acquisition since the 2009 purchase of cognac brand Bisquit from Pernod Ricard.

Children joining parents in the UK

BY STAFF REPORTER

WHEN preparing an application for the admission of children to join parents in the UK one previously had to carefully consider the ‘sole responsibility’ and ‘serious and compelling family or other considerations which make exclusion of the child undesirable’ tests. Recently the law and the interpretation thereof have changed and a more child centred approach in immigration law has to be followed. This means not only putting the best interests of the child front and centre, but also making

sure that the voice of the child is heard. The sole responsibility test has become less important and lawyers can now argue the best interests of the children in Entry Clearance cases. JP Breytenbach Director of Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Ltd For more information or to apply, please send an email to info@bic-immigration.com or visit www.bic-immigration.com

Rand reaches best level in 7 weeks BY STAFF REPORTER

WORLDWIDE TAX SOLUTIONS

Is your tax situation a mess? Allow WWTS to clean up for you! A World Wide Tax Solution Company is the answer to all your tax problems and needs.

Trust us with your business The 1st South African-owned courier servicing UK and SA

Official Supplier to

• Timed deliveries available for those ultra-critical courier shipments • Website track & trace on your shipments - proof of delivery • A commitment to customer service with experienced staff • Best Courier in its class PMR Award from 2006 to 2013 • Official Supplier to South African Rugby.

Our vast self-owned network in South and Sub-Saharan Africa has over 20 branches and 600 staff

WWTS CAN OFFER:  Administer and enforce laws of taxation within the UK and Internationally  Advice and consult on all matters of taxation  Accountancy Services and Formation of companies  20 years South African tax experience

Contact: Teresa Tel: 07789952025 Email: teresa@worldwidetax.co.uk Website: www.worldwidetax.co.uk

Call Globeflight now on: +44 (0) 208 7970000 Or book online: www.globeflight.co.uk Globeflight (UK) Limited Unit 16 Britannia Industrial Estate Poyle Road Colnbrook Berkshire SL3 0BH United Kingdom Email: salesuk@globeflight.com Email: ukcs@globeflight.com Web : www.globeflight.com

THE Rand started the new week on the back foot against the Dollar, weakening in early morning trade. This came after continued bouts of labour unrest in both the mining and transport sectors. Wednesday saw the Rand break through resistance of R9.20 to the Dollar, to trade at its strongest levels so far in this week. News that SA electricity supplier Eskom was expecting electricity to be extremely tight this winter continued to put pressure on the Rand. Thursday brought with it positive movement in the markets, as the Rand strengthened to its highest level against the dollar in more than a week, supported by improving precious metal prices. By noon on Thursday, the Rand had reached its best levels in 7 weeks against the Dollar. “The firmer precious metal prices are providing a solid underpin while the PPI data reduces interest rate cut hopes‚” said Mike Keenan‚ analyst at Absa Capital. The Rand fell for the first time in four days on Friday, after South Africa’s central bank said increased borrowing and accelerating inflation risk sending bond yields higher. GBP / ZAR: 14.07 EUR / ZAR: 11.84 USD / ZAR: 9.06 Correct at 08:23 GMT 29/4/2013.

Note: 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 to send you alerts when the Rand exchange rate reaches levels you are looking for. Brought to you by

Call 0808 168 2055

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Business: SA Power 100

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

Prof Tamar Garb

Read interviews with other SA POWER 100 achievers on our website: TheSouthAfrican.com/Business/SAPower100

Professor of Art History at University College London

Education: BA (Art), Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, 1978 MA in Art Education, Institute of Education, University of London, 1980 MA, Art History, Courtauld Institute of Art, 1982 PhD, Courtauld Institute, 1991 Career: Appointed lecturer at the Courtauld in 1988 and at UCL in 1989 Promoted to Durning Lawrence Professorship in History of Art in 2001

by JEREMY KUPER AND FLAMINIA GIAMBALVO YOU attended Michaelis – the best known South African art college, but also an institution with a segregationist past. What were your memories of those days? Michaelis was an extraordinary place to be in the 1970s – it was very privileged [but also] a space to think about art and politics. [There] I met the man who would become my future husband - a student of colour. So I remember it not only as the art school I attended, but [as] part of the South African education establishment which was segregated and I was trying to negotiate a cross-colour relationship which was very dangerous. I came here thinking that I was going to come to the great London University where the level of debate would be so extraordinary … and the other teachers... didn’t [even] know where I was coming from. It took me years to realise that nothing was better than what I had learnt at Michaelis.

How did you feel coming to the UK as an exile? I suppose we [my husband and I] were exiles in a sense that we couldn’t go back together but … I certainly wasn’t living here in exile waiting for the revolution so that I could go back. I cut [off] South Africa and I reinvented myself. I was ashamed of being a white South African; I didn’t want to be identified as one. I learnt French, then did another Masters in Art History and became very involved in feminism and the women’s movement. I started writing about gender and sexuality. I lived between France and the UK because my PHD was on women artists in France in the 19th century, and my first book in 1986 was about women impressionists. If you would have asked me in 1985 whether Cape Town was a beautiful place I would have said no, it’s a hideous place. I just repressed it. It was only many years later that I began to feel open to embrace my South Africanness.

Most people assume that if you were white and privileged Cape Town was a great place to grow up in - however, in an extract, you state quite the opposite. Why is that so? I was painfully aware of the broader political issues, but also felt impotent and frightened. I wasn’t a brave person. I wasn’t one of these people who were storming the barricades. [I grew up in] a white suburban home with the old cliché of the nanny, who was my best and only friend. At the same time the nanny’s children were around, but [I] couldn’t go to the shop with them, go to the beach with them or ride the bus with them. [Moreover] the whole beach culture was a tyranny for most teenagers. If you were an intense, intellectual, serious girl in this macho sport-obsessed racist culture it was horrible. That’s my memory of growing up in child in South Africa - feeling uncomfortable in my own skin.

Sir Jeffrey Jowell

Everton Midfielder and former Bafana Bafana captain

KCMG QC

So, how did your interest in South African art come about? I was invited to curate a show on contemporary South African art in 2005 and that was the first time I thought, wow that might be an interesting thing to do! I knew people like William Kentridge and Vivien Koorland and had gone to [art] school with people like Marlene Dumas etc. While working on that show I realised that there was a deep history of fascinating photographic practice in South Africa in terms of the antiapartheid movement and struggle

photography, ethnographic photography etc. When I finished that show, I developed a proposal on contemporary South African photography that I took to the V&A. They liked the idea and agreed to do the show. And your New York showing? Now I’m showing in New York at the Walther Foundation. [The show] looks back at 19th century photography and ethnographic photography. “Distance and Desire” runs at the Walther Foundation from 22/3 to 18/5.

accounting tax advisory wealth mortgages forex offshore law nationality

GAIN A PROFESSIONAL EDGE FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS Sable offers an impressive portfolio of professional services. We have over 25 years of experience advising individuals, contractors and small businesses who have international interests and connections.

Could you tell us more about your PHD on French women artists and the portrayal of women in French art? The late ‘70s and early ‘80 [were a time ] when feminist debates were very vivid. The whole of art history was being transformed by thinking on hidden women artists of the past. I got very involved with that and wrote a book called Bodies and Modernity, which [looked] at the ways in which gender informed the representation of men and women. [This interest] is also how I got my position teaching at University College London. In those days nobody inside the departments taught about women artists.

sable services Accounting Tax Advisory Wealth Mortgages Forex OFFSHORE Law Nationality

Sable Group

Castlewood House 77/91 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1DG t: +44 (0) 845 094 3990 info@sable-group.com www.sable-group.com

Sable is a group of professional service companies. Sable Accounting Limited is a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 03517738. Sable Private Wealth Management Limited is registered in England & Wales, number 04305265, Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

44057

BULLET BIOGRAPHY Early life: Cape Town

Steven Pienaar

www.sable-group.com

Business: Classifieds

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

ACC & FINANCE

Use accountants that do more than ‘crunch’ the numbers... let us help grow your business Company formations and Secretarial Services Business planning & development • Management support • Team training & development • CFO/ FD Services • pay only for time required by your business • Compliance Services • Accounting Services • Profit improvement programs • Taxation planning • Personal and Corporate • Contracting solutions

Call Exceed UK now for a no obligation discussion on +44 (0) 870 060 0996. www.exceeduk.co.uk

SPORT

Cricketers wanted

Old Camdenians CC require players for the coming season.

FOOD & DRINK NO1 SOUTH AFRICAN SHOP Lots of lekker stuff for a taste of home. Including fantastic biltong, droewors and boerewors. 5 Marlow Drive, St Catherines Hill, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 2RR. The shop is about 2 miles north-west of Christchurch town centre and 6 miles north-east of Bournemouth town centre. There’s loads of free parking and the shop is easy to get to from the A338. Tel: 01202 496041 10’ish to 6pm 7 days a week. www.no1southafricanshop.co.uk THE CHICHESTER BILTONG COMPANY www.biltongcompany.co.uk The best of British from a friendly bunch of South Africans who made Sussex our home. But there was one thing we couldnt live without from our native land..Biltong! So we made our own using traditional recipes handed down through generations. We only use the finest prime British beef! Get our “readers 10% EXTRA FREE” offer by using the VOUCHER CODE ‘SA10’ CRUGA Home of CRUGA biltong. Cruga’s factory shop offers a full range of South African and Zimbabwean groceries plus boerewors, droewors and of course biltong. Tel: 01908 565 432 Email: biltong@cruga.com Web: www.cruga.com Address: Tilers Rd Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, MK11 3LH

CAMBRIDGE & VILLAGES Toft Shop – Village Shop & Post Office With a South African section selling all your favourite tastes from home! Pop in and pick up your treats – Biltong; Boerewors; Koeksisters; Rusks; Sweets; Chips; Groceries etc. Web: www.ToftShop.co.uk Tel: 01223 262 204. CB23 2RL FOODS4U LTD Visit the most comprehensive online South African range. A secure and user friendly website awaits. www.foods4u.co.uk or email: sales@foods4u.info Tel: 087 087 45009. Fax: 087 087 45002 KALAHARI MOON The Southern African Shop in Bristol. Wide range of stock including excellent boerewors and biltong. Centrally situated, friendly service. Connecting South Africans. Tel: 0117 929 9879 Address: 88 - 91 The Covered Market. st Nicholas Market, Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1JQ Email: Info@kalaharimoon.co.uk Website: www.kalaharimoon.co.uk SUSMAN’S BEST BEEF BILTONG CO LTD If you’re missing home give us a call, supplying you with all your favourite South African products and more. Phone: 01273 516160 Fax: 01273 51665 Web:www.biltong.co.uk Email:sales@biltong.co.uk

SERVICES

Based in Mill Hill, we have three Saturday league sides. Sunday and mid-week matches.

Visit: TheSouthAfrican.com/move-to-australia In association with

Join us now for nets. Call Barrie 07811839658

BREYTENBACHS IMMIGRATION CONSULTANTS LTD: UK & SA Immigration Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants specialises in UK and SA Immigration. We pride ourselves on our reputation for excellence, fast results and friendly personal service. Registered by the OISC to level 3, you can be assured that your case is in safe hands! We can assist you with: • All Points-based Immigration matters • UK Visitor visas • Tier 1 / HSMP • Tier 2 / Work permits & Sponsorship • Tier 4 / Student Visas • Dependency, unmarried partner, civil partner visas • Ancestry Visas • Indefinite leave to Remain / Permanent residency • British Citizenship • Appeals • English Language Tests • South African Immigration Prices have been set competitively with you in mind, enabling you to receive expert advice at affordable prices. We have a No Visa – No Fee policy on our Immigration services! Contact us today for best advice and peace of mind! Visit www.bic-immigration.com, or Email us on info@bic-immigration.com

IMMIGRATION

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Zimbabwe Community

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

Glittering awards ceremony celebrates the best of Zimbabwe Annual Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in London toasted the successes of Zimbabweans at home and abroad

THE great and the good were out in force at the glittering Zimbabwe Achievers Awards (ZAA) held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in Kensington on Saturday night. Glamour was the order of the night at the annual dinner gala held in one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. Floor length gowns embellished with diamante and sequins proved a favourite for the ladies as the audience watched leaders within the Zimbabwean community being honoured. Conrad Mwanza, CEO of the ZAA, says the awards gala presents an opportunity to bring together the Zimbabwean community as one and celebrate their achievements. He told TheSouthAfrican.com, “You hear the negative news about Zimbabwe but what about the good things about Zimbabwe? What about the people who do amazing things? Let’s focus on

the negative things but let’s also celebrate the people who are doing well.” Gabriel Machinga, the Zimbabwean ambassador to the UK , told the 400-strong crowd that, “Like wine you become better and better with age,” referring to the country’s growing pool of talent. Winners included Fikile Dube who claimed the award for outstanding achievement in fashion, entrepreneur of the year Byron Fundira and companies such as KCare Nursing Agency also received the top prize for their role in society. There were many moments when the excitement was palpable. As the nominees for Radio Presenter of the Year were read out the audience began chanting “Belinda, Belinda!” repeatedly – seconds before Zimnet’s Belinda Magejo was announced winner. She excitedly claimed her award shouting, “I can’t believe it took you three years to give me this!”

Business owner Carol Nyazika who won the award for Personality of the Year helps African women in Zimbabwe and the UK to build businesses for themselves. She said people don’t always understand the effort that goes into creating a successful company, but she feels the ZAA helps to make people more aware. “They’re important so that people acknowledge what other people are doing [and] all their hard work.” Mwanza says this is what the ZAA is all about. He says the highlight of his evening was watching Councillor Joy Lagunda collect the Lifetime Achievement award. “To me that is more important than anything else – bringing people who are not normally known but doing amazing things into the limelight.” He continued, “It’s more important to recognise those people who came before us...and to acknowledge the people that have led us.”

Portrait genius Craig Wylie exhibits five hyperreal paintings by STAFF REPORTER

PLUS One Gallery’s current exhibition follows Zimbabwean artist Craig Wylie’s mastery of the genre of portraiture, and his ongoing explorations in pushing its boundaries to the limit. The work on show at the gallery juxtaposes his signature massive painted portraits, with small pencil drawings which mirror in miniature the painted images. Through the inherent

difference of the mediums, Wylie remind us that the real is never in stasis. The artist was born in Masvingo in 1973, studied Fine Art at Rhodes University in and has lived in London since 1998. CRAIG WYLIE: 5 PORTRAITS 17 April – 13 May 2013 Plus One Gallery 89-91 Pimlico Road, London, SW1W 8PH www.plusonegallery.com

1st Contact Visas

Contact us to discuss your eligibility and all your options! Have all the visas changes left you confused? 1st Contact Visas have the skills, knowledge and experience to take all the hassle away. We have helped thousands of people move around the world, be it to immigrate, travel or work.

We offer a full suite of visa and immigration services: > Indefinite Leave to Remain > Tier 1 Extensions > Tier 2/Work Permits > Ancestry Visa and Extensions > Student/Tier 4 Visa Extensions > Spousal/Partner/Fiancé Visas > EU Registration and Residency > Naturalisation and Registrations > British Citizenship Status Traces

0808 141 1620

www.1stcontactvisas.com/sa tier1sa@1stcontact.com

44052

by IJE NDUKWE

44052_Visas_South_African.indd 1

1st Contact Visas are regulated and authorised to provide immigration advice/services by the Immigration Services Commissioner number F200100004.

29/03/2012 14:14

Travel

| 30 April - 6 May 2013 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Left: the fertile and well-watered uplands around Galilee are intensively cultivated (Image: Flickr/IsraelTourism); right: café society in Safed (Image: Flickr/IsraelTourism).

Glorious Galilee, land of milk and honey

Galilee is the nearest thing to a tourist paradise in the parched Near East, a verdant area of rolling hills and forests ideal for hiking and biking along Israel’s so-called Gospel Trail. Jesus Christ spent three years preaching hereabouts, and history and archaeology abound in this lush region that was the Old Testament land of milk and honey

CLASSIC TRAVEL www.goclassic.co.uk

PRICES INCLUDE ALL TAXES (gauranteed)

Cape Town Durban Gaborone Harare Jo’burg Mauritius Maputo Windhoek

540 620 699 495 499 719 640 720

Accra 465 Cairo 310 Dakar 499 Douala 440 Entebbe 470 Lagos 485 Lusaka 550 Nairobi 439

Bue.Aires Chicago LA/SFO Lima New York Rio Toronto Vancouver

MORE FLIGHTS/HOTELS Tel: INSURANCE & CAR HIRE

640 469 499 525 419 565 399 449

Auckland Bangkok Bejing Dubai India KUL/SING Pakistan Sydney

829 489 449 329 489 519 499 839

0207 586 1234

by JOHN BURKE

TRAVELLERS to Israel tend to stay in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, if not sunning it down by the Dead Sea or Red Sea. Very few relax on the unspoilt Sea of Galilee – also known as Lake Tiberias or Kinneret – that has an almost oval circumference of 53 kilometres. Yet the surrounds are the nearest thing to a tourist paradise in the parched Near East, a verdant area of rolling hills and forests that are ideal for hiking and biking along the so-called Gospel Trail. Jesus Christ spent three years preaching hereabouts, and much history and archaeology abounds in this lush northerly region that was the Old Testament land flowing with milk and honey. There is at least one hotel on a kibbutz at the lake’s top end, but the only resort lies halfway along the western shore. This is Tiberias, named after a Roman emperor, but built by pleasure-loving Herod in AD 20 to exploit what are still 17 hot springs with a hundred minerals. Besides historic buildings too (one houses the tourist office), Tiberias is ideal for reaching seven religious sites as well as cruising on the blue lake aboard Holyland Sailing’s replica of a wooden boat from Christ’s time. Above the road to Kozarem is the Mount of Beatitudes with a church, while a side-road leads to another church at Tabhga that has its own fishpond to mark the miracle of loaves and fishes. Here too is the Chapel of Peter’s Primacy, and then a lakeside restaurant is situated halfway along the remaining 4km to the Franciscan compound at Capernaum whose ruins include a synagogue and St Peter’s house. It is only 16km along the shore back to Tiberias, and halfway is Migdal, the razed birthplace of Mary Magdalene, where construction of a

Catholic study centre has uncovered yet another synagogue. One stone bears the oldest known carving of a menorah, the seven-branched lampstand that has become Israel’s national symbol. Northbound buses leave from Tiberias bus station, while Nazareth Transport covers the 24km westward to Israel’s Arab capital, where Muslims and Christians outnumber Jews. Its centre is the hometown of Jesus, where the sights include yet another Franciscan church as well as one enclosing the well where the Greek Orthodox believe Mary saw the archangel. Bus 431 goes hourly via suburban Cana, the place of Christ’s first miracle, so sweet red and dry white wines in souvenir bottles (25 shekels / £4.49 / ZAR 62) are sold in a lane next to the Catholic church. Protestants, however, make up the majority being born again at Yardenit which is just 12km south of Tiberias (three bus routes) on the River Jordan, because this was where John the Baptist performed his ministry. The immersion area, on Israel’s second-oldest kibbutz, adjoins Manna Restaurant where stewards serve a biblical meal washed down with Galilean wine for 130 shekels / £23.38 / ZAR 322. Otherwise, pilgrims pay only 36 shekels / £6.53 /ZAR 92 for bathrobe, towel, shower and baptismal certificate. Coachloads, especially from Africa, are (re-) baptised at Yardenit; anyway, it is possible to make a Galilee day-trip (270 shekels / £48 / ZAR 672) from Jerusalem 193km away. Egged’s bus No 835 from Tel Aviv, which is slightly nearer, takes two hours to Tiberias, and costs 42 shekels / £7.55 / ZAR 104 – slightly more than a shared taxi. All transport, including bus 962 from Jerusalem, skirts Tabor, the deemed Mount of Transfiguration with another Franciscan church on what

is the highest point in Israel. Backpackers might note that hostelbookers.com represents several hotels and hostels in Tiberias (among 22,000 worldwide) without charging fees. The favourite is Panorama where singles, with tea-maker and bathroom, cost 150 shekels / £27 / ZAR 375, besides which there is a communal kitchen. Panorama is on central Hagalil Street, only 50m from the lake, and a few doors away from Emily’s Boutique with singles at 467 shekels / £84 / ZAR 1,158; it boasts a small pool and a breakfast buffet with sixty hot and cold dishes. “We get many Jews from Jo’burg”, says the manager, Itzhak Madan. Tiberias may be full during festivals like Easter and Passover, besides which only Arab shops, banks and buses are available on the Sabbath, starting before sundown on Fridays. Remember too that security is paramount (there is a 700km barrier between Israel proper and Palestinian territory) so do not photograph anything military, even the armed servicemen and servicewomen who throng bus stations! Finally, if you ever want to enter Islamic countries hostile to Israel with the same passport, carry no evidence of your visit – not even a luggage label or a Jordanian stamp at the Allenby Bridge crossing. On request, your passport will not be endorsed at Ben Gurion airport, from where the train to Tel Aviv costs 15 shekels / £3 / ZAR 37 or a shared taxi to Jerusalem 62 shekels / £12 / ZAR 154. The flight from Luton by easyJet takes five hours, and by booking early off-peak a return ticket might come down to £162 – marginally more from Manchester. In-flight food costs extra, and the exchange rate at Luton is poor.

thesouthafrican.com | 30 April - 6 May 2013 |

Sport

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

SA sports trio receive silver National Orders on Freedom Day Among those honoured with the Order of Ikhamanga were Olympic swimmer Chad le Clos, Paralympic sprinter Ilse Hayes and football legend Kaizer Motaung by STAFF REPORTER

Heineken Cup dream ends for Saracens

Saracens lose 24-12 to Toulon in wrenching Heineken Cup semi-final in front of 25 000-strong Twickenham crowd by KEITH MOORE

AHEAD of Saracens’ semi final clash with Toulon over the weekend the big billing was the experience of Jonny Wilkinson coming up against the youthful enterprise of Owen Farrell. In the end it was Wilkinson who came out on top with the superior points tally to give his team a 24-12 win and a place in the final of the Heineken Cup. An array of South African talent and World Cup winners were on display at Twickenham in front of a crowd of 25,000 people as the two teams sought a maiden appearance in a Heineken Cup final. The game was tight and, as predicted by many before kickoff, decided by the respective boots of the kickers. Saracens Director of Rugby, Mark McCall, said after the game that he felt his team was in the game right up until the closing stages. “The game was a tight affair and the scoreline doesn’t necessarily

reflect or say that.” he said, “When it was a three point game, or at times a six point game, we had a couple of opportunities deep in their 22. We couldn’t take those opportunities, or sustain enough pressure and the game just got away from us in the end. But for 65 minutes there was nothing in it.” “The most important thing as a club we talk about is growth and progress. When I look back 14 months at what happened in the Clermont quarter final, when were we were second best by miles in the game; it wasn’t that way at all today. We did a lot of good things today.” said McCall after the game. “I felt we went toe to toe with Toulon; we were every bit as good as they were in a game that could have been won by either side. So if we are looking for signs of growth and progress, it’s plain to see we are improving.” The leader of the North London side was upbeat about his team’s season overall.

“We mentioned in the changing room that the season not over yet. We’ve got an awful lot to play for; we’ve got a very important game against Bath next week, and we have a guaranteed home semi final to come up. So we’ll get over this result in the next few days, and we hope to end what has been a very good season so far on a positive note.” Though Saracens will rue the missed opportunity, the end of the European campaign means they can now turn their focus entirely onto winning the Premiership. They certainly seem to be the team to beat in the domestic competition, and will be looking drive home the dominance that has seen them launch into top spot, well ahead of the chasing pack. Saracens will play a South African invitational Barbarians team at the Honourable Artillery Company, in the heart of the City of London, on Thursday 16 May. Buy tickets on www.saracens.com

THREE South African sports stars received National Orders awards at a ceremony on Freedom Day, Saturday, 27 April. The awards are the highest that the country hands to its citizens and foreign nationals who have contributed under the theme “Mobilising society towards consolidating our democracy and freedom”. Among the 33 people honoured were Olympic gold medal swimming hero Chad le Clos, Paralympic athlete Ilse Hayes and football legend Kaizer Motaung. All three received the silver Order of Ikhamanga, awarded to citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport. In announcing the awards the Presidency motivated the following: “Chad le Clos: For his excellent achievements on the international swimming stage, especially at the London Olympics in 2012, thus placing South Africa in high standing globally in the field of aquatic sports. “Ilse Hayes: For her courageous and relentless pursuit of excellence and incredible physical endurance. “Kaizer Motaung: For his achievements as a committed and dedicated footballer and his

outstanding contribution to the development of young football talent in the country.” South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) CEO Tubby Reddy said all three had “contributed in a significant manner to the landscape of South African sport. The Presidency has honoured these three individuals who have all contributed immensely to their chosen fields. We are especially delighted to see that the hard work of these three hasn’t gone unnoticed and we offer our heartfelt congratulations and good wishes for the future,” Reddy said. This was the 19th investiture ceremony since the inception of the National Orders, contributing towards unity, reconciliation and building the nation. Members of the silver order of Ikhamanga may add OIS after their names on ceremonial occasions.

SPORT

30 April - 6 May 2013

SPORTING LEGENDS HONOURED BY SA PRESIDENT P15

SARACENS’ HEINEKEN CUP DREAMS DASHED

NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS

P15

www.thesouthafrican.com

BULLS SNATCH LEAD Waratahs coach claims referee’s bias led to their loss against the Blue Bulls – or were the Aussies just sore losers?

by KEITH MOORE

THE Blue Bulls recorded a clinical 30-19 win over the Australian franchise the NSW Waratahs at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, giving them a clear lead at the top of the South African conference. Flyhalf Morne Steyn, set to leave the club at the end of the season for a French stint, amassed a personal tally of 25 points to give his side the win. Leading 12-5 at the break thanks to four penalties, the Bulls were finally able to breach the Aussie defence with second-half tries from Steyn and the livewire Francois Hougaard. Waratahs coach Michael Cheika was seething after the match, disappointed with referee Francisco Pastrana’s officiating. The irate Aussie said that while Pastrana’s performance with the whistle did not cost them the game, it robbed them of valuable momentum. “I am very disappointed with the officiating, the communication, the language, the ability to decipher and the correct decisions,” Cheika said. “We made plenty of mistakes as well mind you, but even with all those mistakes we were still dominating the attack side of the game.” Bulls captain Pierre Spies was not in agreement with Cheika’s interpretation. “I think the officiating was good tonight both ways. Some calls might have been questioned but it was consistent,” Spies said. “I felt the referee was easy to speak to and easy to listen to and he was clear in his descriptions but when the result goes your way you are always happy.”

Francois Hougaard of the Bulls spreads the ball during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Waratahs at Loftus Versveld (Photo by Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The speedy loose forward was full of praise for the way the Waratahs played. “They came here with a mission and they made it really difficult for us in the beginning, I thought we couldn’t get proper reward in the first half and we built that innings by going for the posts,”

he said. “Last week against the Kings our attack was fluent and everything was great but this week was different playing against a hungry defensive team which made it a dogfight to get points on the scoreboard.” Though it was a dogfight, Spies’

men managed to wrestle the advantage away from the Sydneybased visitors, and cement their spot at the top of the South African conference. A narrow win for the Stormers, a domestic with for the Cheetahs and a loss for the Sharks ensured that the fight for South African supremacy

remained strong. As noted recently, just 4 log points separate the top four teams in the SA conference. In the New Zealand section there are 7 points between the top team and the fourth-place team, and in Australia that gap is an enormous 20 points.

Your essential contacts list All the services you need for living and working in London from the Financial, Migration and Tax Experts > Kickstart & UK Bank Accounts > Money Transfers > Tax Refunds > Accounting & Limited Companies > Visas, Migration & Immigration > Travel Clinic > Umbrella Payroll

0808 141 2305 0808 141 1688 0808 141 2325 0808 141 2271 0808 141 2252 0808 141 2322 0808 141 1698

41346

www.1stcontact.com/group 41346_Grp_SAfrican_BkBanner_2012.indd 1

29/03/2012 14:00