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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

News

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Dying and the law: the Dignity SA case explained Editor: Mareike Pietzsch Production and Design: Andisiwe Juta Registered office: Riverbank House 1 Putney Bridge Approach Fulham SW6 3BQ. 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

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| Judge Fabricius’s order, in the case of Robin Stransham-Ford, may have begun a process towards South African law’s recognition of a right to die with dignity

by Timothy Fish Hodgson, groundup On 30 April Judge Fabricius of the Pretoria High Court handed down an order in the case of Robin Stransham-Ford.

Stransham-Ford was a 65-yearold man who was dying of prostate cancer. He had asked the court to determine whether a doctor could legally assist him to end his life.

Although, because of the urgency of the matter, a full written judgment will only be provided by Judge Fabricius in the weeks to come, the judge’s order indicates that Stransham-Ford had at most a few weeks to live and was “suffering intractably” and should therefore be permitted to end his life with the assistance of a doctor. This order which Stransham-Ford, supported by Dignity SA, asked Judge Fabricius to make, was opposed in court by the Department of Justice and Correctional Services, a Christian lobby called Doctors for Life and the Health Professions Council of South Africa.

Validating the urgency with which Judge Fabricius treated this matter, Stransham-Ford passed away peacefully, but unassisted while under the care of medical professionals and in the presence of his family in the early hours of this morning. He never got to hear of or benefit from the Court’s ruling.

Up until Judge Fabricius handed down this order yesterday, it was clear that assisting a patient to take his or her own life was illegal in terms of South African law and could potentially open doctors up to civil claims, criminal prosecution and disciplinary action from within the medical profession.

In 1999 President Mandela had tasked the South African Law Commission with investigating assisted dying. The Commission, which was chaired by former Chief Justice Ismael Mahomed, published its findings which included two different options of positions which

would allow a terminally ill person to be assisted in the process of dying.

These findings, which included draft law, were not seen as a priority and have not since been debated in Parliament. Recently former Archbishop Desmond Tutu has come out in support of assisted suicide and “the dignity of the dying”.

Stransham-Ford, a former advocate himself, had approached the Pretoria High Court urgently, assisted

by Dignity SA, an organisation which campaigns for “the right of terminally ill, chronically suffering people to choose the time and place of their death”. This right, Dignity SA argues is grounded in the constitutional rights to life, dignity, bodily and psychological integrity and to be free from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

Parliament’s failure to pass a law to protect these rights is in Dignity SA’s view a violation of its obligation to respect and protect the rights in the Bill of Rights and therefore in conflict with the Constitution.

The case appears to centre on Stransham-Ford’s right to have his inherent human dignity respected and protected. Human dignity is also a foundational value upon which the entire Constitution is built. The right to live with dignity, according to Dignity SA, includes the right to choose to die with dignity.

Judge Fabricius’s order gives an indication that it is a combination of some of these rights and other provisions of the Constitution detailing the state’s obligations upon which his decision is based. He finds that the crimes of “murder or culpable homicide in [the] context of assisted suicide by medical practitioners, insofar as they provide for an absolute prohibition, unjustifiably limit [StranshamFord’s] constitutional rights” to

dignity and bodily and psychological integrity. His judgment is therefore likely to acknowledge a right to choose to die with dignity and have professional medical assistance in doing so.

Although Judge Fabricius, according to news reports, appears to be attempting to limit the scope of the influence of this decision, it is a decision which will have far-reaching implications. In the order itself the judge notes that this decision is not to be interpreted as endorsing the proposals contained in the Law Commission’s 1999 report or the draft law which accompanied it. The judge was also careful to include in his order a proviso that although, doctors may have in terms of the order, been legally permitted to either administer a “lethal agent” to Stransham-Ford’s or provide him with a lethal “to administer himself”, no doctor is “obliged to accede to accede to [Stransham-Ford’s] request”.

In making this order, Judge Fabricius is filling a gap which the law, in the absence of the finalisation of the Law Commission’s 1999 process, has left open. Whether or not the expected judgment is appealed to a higher court, which seems likely, a ruling that our legal rules are unconstitutional and require development in terms of the Constitution will ultimately require the confirmation of the Constitutional Court.

The order, if confirmed, will provide some much needed clarity for both terminally ill patients about their options in ending their own lives and doctors in assisting them to do so.

Previously there have been many situations in which doctors have felt ethically obliged to assist suffering patients to end their lives despite the

serious risk of criminal prosecution.

Unlike Stransham-Ford, other members of Dignity SA, short of legal options to acquire assistance in ending their suffering, have taken matters into their own hands. In August last year, Inkhata Freedom Party Member of Parliament, Mario Oriani-Ambrosini, a friend of Stransham-Ford’s, who was in the final stages of terminal lung cancer took the decision to shoot himself in his room in Cape Town.

Most recently, Avron Moss, a 49 year old Capetonian paediatric neuropsychologist and patron of Dignity SA, went to the extraordinary length of illegally importing lethal drugs from Mexico and then ensuring their effectiveness by having them tested using a testing kit sourced in Australia to ensure that he could take his own life. His final statement to Dignity SA before taking the drugs and ending his life was: “That healthcare professionals cannot assist [terminally ill patients], and that these patients are forced to buy questionable medication to end their lives from unscrupulous websites, or suffer the terror of having to shoot or hang themselves, ought to be abhorrent to any caring professional … The relevant law in South Africa actively perpetuates suffering, in conflict with our Constitution and with Human Rights, and is indefensibly unjust.

All caring health care professionals ought to be actively involved in campaigning to change the law.”

Judge Fabricius’s order, and the anticipated judgment, mean that although Stransham-Ford died unassisted and before the order was handed down, he may have begun a process towards South African law’s recognition of a right to die with dignity.

3

thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

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South African Airways bans the transport of hunting trophies on all their carriers

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

| No more lion heads and leopard skins for those who seek to plunder Africa’s eco resources as SAA takes a hard line against hunters

by Gerhard Jacobs It’s a leap in the right direction and conservationists have hailed SAA as a beacon of action among major corporations.

Our local carrier, and the largest in Africa, has put a total block on hunting trophies, meaning no SAA passengers will be allowed to take their hunting trophies home with them.

Tim Clyde-Smith of SAA says: “Hunting of endangered species has become a major problem in Africa and elsewhere with the depletion to near extinction of wildlife that once roamed in prolific numbers. SAA has taken the step of banning all transportation of animals killed in hunting activity as a result.”

“In consultation with key authorities, SAA will no longer

[●] Photo by wikimedia.org

support game hunters by carrying their trophies back to their country of origin. The vast majority of tourists visit Africa in particular to witness the wonderful wildlife that remains. We consider it our duty to work to ensure this is preserved for future generations and that we deter activity that puts this wonderful

resource in danger,” he said.

“We are actively involved in and supportive of preservation of African wildlife including rhino preservation, regeneration and anti-poaching activities. This is a logical extension of our approach.”

Wits SRC president reprimanded for "racist and offensive" comments

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| Wits vice-chancellor Adam Habib has called Wits SRC President Mcebo Dlamini’s Facebook comments about admiring Adolf Hitler "racist and offensive in the extreme".

Dlamini has been asked to "stand down" as SRC president

by Katy Scott University of the Witwatersrand SRC president Mcebo Dlamini commented from his Facebook account on 28 April saying: “I love Adolf Hitler”.

Dlamini posted the statement in a comment thread below an image he posted comparing modern Israel to Nazi Germany captioned: “In every White person there’s an element of Adolf Hitler…”

When contacted about his comments, he told Wits Vuvuzela that he admired the German leader for his “charisma” and “organisational skills”.

He explained in an interview that the Hitler elements he was referring to were “hate … racism … power mongers …. colonisers”.

His comments were met with an outcry from the Jewish community on campus, to which he responded by saying: “I am puzzled and shocked by the response from the white community…” he told News24.

“If indeed the Israelites hate Hitler so much… why are they emulating Hitler in that they are subjecting the Palestinian children to discrimination, segregation and human indignity?”

He continued to explain that power had corrupted Hitler just like it has corrupted Israeli prime minister

Benjamin Netanyahu, former US president George Bush, and former UK prime minister Tony Blair. “He started killing people when he was already in power,” he said.

“I’m deciding to look at the good Hitler stood for. He rebuilt the country, the economy, the infrastructure, he uplifted the spirit of Germany.”

In an interview with eNCA, Dlamini said that “all white people they are the same, they are racist and they are full of hate” and that a black person can’t be racist as black people have been subjected to oppression and torture for centuries by white people.

The SA Union of Jewish Students called Dlamini’s Facebook comments anti-semitic and unconstitutional.

“It’s absolutely disgusting that in light of the recent xenophobic attacks… he [Dlamini] turns around and starts marginalising certain groups which is counter to what our government is pushing and Africans [as a whole],” national chairperson of the SAUJS, Natan Pollack told News24.

Wits vice-chancellor Adam Habib called the comments “racist and offensive” in a statement.

“The Facebook posts and subsequent comments are racist and offensive in the extreme,” Habib said of Dlamini."They make disparaging

remarks about various communities and assume a similar characteristic among all white people.

Disturbingly, they valorise a racist autocrat who was responsible for the murder of millions of people.”

Habib apologised for Dlamini’s comments and stated that he will be “referring Mcebo Dlamini for investigation to see whether disciplinary charges should be brought against him in this regard”.

Habib further said that: “Valorising such an individual is utterly unacceptable and especially dangerous in a climate where we are experiencing xenophobic attacks. It violates the fundamental values of Wits University.”

On 4 May, Habib announced, via a statement, that Dlamini has been removed from office with immediate effect.

Habib explained that his decision was not based on Dlamini’s Facebook comments, but that the decision followed charges that were laid against Dlamini and for for which he was found guilty by a Student Disciplinary Committee.

The statement read: "In February 2015, Mr Dlamini was found guilty of misconduct by a disciplinary panel and given a sentence of, inter alia, one year suspended exclusion in respect of each charge against him."

[●] Nicky Oppenheimer. Photo by JOHN D MCHUGH/AFP/Getty Images

Two South Africans make it into the top 20 on UK Rich List | Two of our finest South African businessmen have cracked 17th and 19th place in the Sunday Times Rich List

by Katy Scott While Ukrainian businessman Len Blavatnik took the top spot in the Sunday Times Rich List this year, two South Africans have made it into the top 20.

South African-born Swazi business magnate, Nathan Kirsh, came in 17th, with a personal wealth of £5.06bn (R93bn).

He beat South African businessman

and philanthropist, Nicky Oppenheimer and family, who took 19th position with £4.55bn (R83.6bn).

Six other South Africans made the list: 1. Donald Gordon (123rd) 2. Douw Steyn (160th) 3. Manfred Gorvy (262nd) 4. Vivian Imerman (286th) 5. Mark Shuttleworth (608th) 6. Richard Gnodde (707th)

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Community

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Jill Ritchie wins the Giving Back award | The Giving Back award was awarded to Jill Ritchie at the South African Chamber of Commerce UK Awards in London.

Ritchie shares a few thoughts on donating to non-profits or charities I consult and advise on fundraising between the UK and SA, but not exclusively.

South Africa has 135,000 registered non-profits and last year, the corporate sector alone (not trusts, governments, or individuals) but the companies of South Africa donated R8,2 billion.

Over 50% of these funds were for education. Everyone gets that is our crisis. From little children in crèches to post graduates in bursaries, that is our biggest problem in South Africa.

by John Cole-Morgan At the South African Business Person of the Year awards, hosted by the South African Chamber of Commerce in London, the Giving Back award was awarded to a business leader who has excelled in promoting corporate support for charities. The judges were looking not only at their own contributions to charity, communities and environments but the level of corporate responsibility the nominees have within their organisations.

The South African was able to chat briefly with Ritchie after she received her award.

Do you have a specific type of charity you love working for?

It is incredibly hard to choose a favourite but education is closest to my heart. The biggest crisis that we have in our country at the moment is unemployment. If we can educate our people, they will employ themselves and the state won’t have to house and medicate and so forth. We need to educate our people. I serve on a council for one of South Africa’s universities and it breaks my heart, we have over 50,000 students as the vast majority of families cannot afford to send them to university.

What can be done?

The government does a substantial bit in terms of bursaries. But governments have budget limits.

Just by donating money to a student to be educated, you only ever have to do that once. An educated person will work and look after themselves and in South African tradition you

[●] Photo by Ronel van Zyl

will educate your family and your extended family. Because in the broader sense family isn’t the same in South Africa as it is here in London.

Family goes on and on and on.

I had the most precious moment the other day at a graduation. The woman sitting next to me was quite flustered, looking at the sea of graduates, who all looked the same in their outfits.

When I calmed her down and got to the bottom of it, her daughter was graduating but she was illiterate.

She couldn’t find her daughter, she wanted to take a photo of her daughter because we were sitting in the front row, and she couldn’t work

out when her daughter was coming up and couldn’t spot her among the 800 students. I told her it’s in the program and then I picked up from her body language that she could not read. And in one generation her daughter was graduating with a nursing degree. That is the stuff that happens.

Are you based more in London or South Africa?

I come and go between the two.

It just depends on what I am doing.

I will have five or six trips here or two or three that are longer. I run a business and my clients and customers are non-profits: from little charities like sports clubs, universities, etc.

Say someone has R500 they would like to donate to a charity, what would you say is the best way to give those funds?

I would suggest that everyone instinctively knows the causes close to their hearts. For some people it’s the elderly, for others it's animals, or the environment, or a specific disability. People know the sectors they care about. People might have had someone in their family or close to them affected by an illness or something. Find an area that you care about and try and make a difference.

You can volunteer. You can give money but you can also give your time and share your expertise and wealth of knowledge. You can give young graduates with no experience an internship.

You can make a difference.

There have been reports in the past that only a staggeringly portion of funds donated goes towards the charity. The funds instead cover administration costs, salaries and exclusive corporate offices. Is there a

mechanism for people to look more closely at the charity and how they are using the funds you are donating?

The financial affairs of every non-profit organisation, or charity depending where you live, have regulatory bodies governing these organisations. All financial affairs of the non-profit or charity should be available on their website. If they are not showing their financial affairs transparently, I would avoid them. It is perfectly OK to ask the charity you want to support how much are they spending on running costs. The rule of thumb is not more than 10% of the donations received should be spent on running costs.

People should be unafraid to ask questions, don’t just write out the cheque and send it off without checking things first. By simply sending off £10, you are a partner in the charity you are donating to, and you have the right to ask questions and even attend meetings if you want to.

Do you see a difference in donations between donations made in the UK and those in SA? In South Africa, we have such diversity between very rich and very poor. I think the UK has a longerstanding culture of giving and while South Africa has its very generous corporate and individual donors, it is still finding its feet in that area.

GJ's Sports Bar owner wins New Business of the Year award | The New Business of the Year award was awarded to Eugene Zietsman at the South African Chamber of Commerce UK Awards in London. Zietsman shares a few stories about how he got it right

by John Cole-Morgan

have much patience.

Eugene Zietsman started GJ’s Sports Bar in Wandsworth with two people and no experience in the hospitality field. Having trained as an accountant and having worked in that field until fulfilling his dream of running a sports bar, Zietsman certainly has made it work.

The South African chatted with Eugene Zietsman after he won his award at the South African Chamber of Commerce UK Awards ceremony last week. Zietsman is very charismatic and had some unique answers that had us all laughing. There is no doubt that his incredibly amiable personality attributes to his businesses success.

Your biggest success?

I drink more than my customers do! So I drink one for each one they drink. It is detrimental in one regard but at least I drink at cost price.

Your online bio says you have no experience whatsoever in hospitality ? What was your biggest shortcoming?

Inexperience and patience. I don’t

What did you find to be the biggest difference between working in South Africa and London?

Firstly, in South Africa and Dubai, I only did accounting and financial management work. Over here, I had to learn political correctness.

In South Africa, we say what we want, we do what we want and we carry on with our lives. In London, you have to be careful what you say, what you do and how you treat people. The health and safety rules are not something you mess around with. There is also a little bit of a cultural difference.

Well , your award says you must be doing something right?

We are doing okay! We are getting there.

What are your plans for the future?

I am buying VW transporter buses to shuttle people from train stations to and from my bar. Every Friday and Saturday night, I have a captive audience of people because I have a late licence, and if they need to get home there is no public transport at that time of night. So, they have to take black cabs or night buses. I will charge them £5 from Earlsfield to Wandsworth but when you arrive at my bar you get a free beer, so the transport will only cost you £1. At the end of the evening, the service offers to drive you to the main hubs like Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Putney and the surrounding areas.

Amongst other things, I have five bedrooms in my bar upstairs which I

[●] Photo by Ronel van Zyl

am busy converting.

It seems what you might have lacked in hospitality experience you have made up for with your accounting background. Being able to see the basic nuts and bolts of the figures must have helped tremendously?

It has been trial and error, with

regard to the hospitality operations.

I don’t ever work behind my own bar. I manage the bar, I manage the business on a higher level. I pay the bills, I do the marketing, I do the strategising, I do all those things. But I have managers who manage the bar the way I want it managed.

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thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

Opinion

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Chef Petrus Madutlela wins Rising Star of the Year award | Petrus Madutlela started from humble beginnings and was awarded the South African Chamber UK Award for the Rising Star of the Year last week

May Day: a proud history | It was International Workers' Day on 1 May. GroundUp explains the history of this holiday in South Africa

by Leonard Gentle, GroundUp

[●] Photo by Ronel van Zyl

by John Cole-Morgan Petrus Madutlela grew up in Mothotlung, a township near Pretoria, cooking for his six siblings as his parents worked long hours. After school he accepted a job as a kitchen porter at Peacanwood Golf & Country Estate, training to become a chef.

In 2007, Madutlela represented South Africa in the ‘Concours International des Jeunes Commis Rôtisseurs’ where he came fourth.

In 2010, Madutlela won the title of “Unilever South African Chef of the Year” and in 2011 he won the coveted “By Invitation only South African Chef of the Year” award.

Madutlela relocated to London a few years ago and began working at the Savoy as a Chef de Partie and competed in the BBC Masterchef in 2013: The Professionals. He is described by Michel Roux Jr as having a superb palate and the “ability to light up an entire room on entry”.

If those aren't enough accolades, Madutlela represented the World Association of Chefs Societies as a member of the international chef “Dream Team, presented recipes at the World Hospitality Competition in Dubai, and is head chef of The Hengist Restaurant in Aylesford.

Madutlela was asked to serve on the judging panel of the 2014 "The Ultimate Braaimaster" reality TV series in South Africa and has recently been asked to join the team for the upcoming 2015 series.

What is your favourite dish to cook for yourself?

I would make myself chicken. I love chicken. The next thing would be fresh bread with butter and tea.

You are doing so many amazing things at the moment. You are judging the Ultimate Braai Master again.

Yes, we have done the first series already and tomorrow I am flying back to South Africa, which will be nice to see my mom and dad. It will also be nice for me to bring an award back and say “Look what I am doing over there”.

Your parents must be so proud of you!

It is good. I am happy that it is not only for me but for them too.

How long are you going back for?

We are filming for two months all over South Africa, so we only chose the best spots in South Africa.

May Day was an old Northern hemisphere festival celebrating the beginning of Spring – with all its connotations of a new life and the end of the cold dark winter.

Of course it was the poor, the labouring classes, the peasants who most felt the change from winter to spring as they didn’t have mansions and castles to keep them warm during winter. And the beginning of spring also meant the beginning of sowing new crops for their livelihoods later.

But May Day became a political struggle of the working class when in 1886 workers marched in Chicago in the USA to Haymarket Square demanding a reduction of working time to eight hours.

When a bomb was thrown at the police they began to shoot at the crowd of workers, killing many.

And after the Haymarket massacre the police blamed anarchist agitators for the bomb and arrested them and then, subsequently, hanged them.

This will resonate with our experience at Marikana in 2012, when police gunned down workers, then arrested survivors and accused them of murder, and then the workers’ call for R12,500 became rallying slogan for other struggles.

The slogan of the May Day workers was “8 hour work, 8 hour rest and 8 hour play” – a vision that went way beyond the notion of “trade union demands” – and struck at the heart of the capitalist system of exploitation – across the spheres of production and reproduction – and the notion that the working class only exists to be exploited and not to have “play” – pleasure, love, and ultimately, political power.

It was in broader understanding of this that the First International – a forum of Left parties, trade unions, workers clubs and societies, grouped around the idea of

What has been your biggest failure do you think?

It’s funny because I don’t look back. I don’t do history. People say you have done amazing things. It doesn’t really click. I don’t see it. It is like I was born today. Tomorrow is a new day and I am always looking for something new to do.

I feel that I have not achieved what I wanted to. I am happy that I can impart the knowledge to the community at home.

Growing up, only now do I realise I didn’t have role models.

We don’t have role models. If you look at television you have bad role models. We need to teach young kids, to go to university, study and become a ground breaker,

South Africa, it has so much potential. The people now seem to be selfish. Everyone wants to be rich, wants to have this and wants to have that. For me, I am happy if I am working overseas. People who are doing what they are doing because they are so passionate and they want to change the world, or do something big, that’s what we need.

You are right, there are not many good role models out there..

If you think about the country

In your industry there are many ways you are able to brand things and make a lot of money.

Yes, there in this industry you can

[●] Photo by Flickr.com/SolidarityCenter

socialism, decided to proclaim 1 May as International Workers’ Day. In the US, the state followed the Haymarket massacre and the killing of the 4 activists, by refusing to grant an eight-hour working day. From the 1920s May 1 was declared America Day, then War Day (in celebration of the World War 1 victory) and even Patriots’ Day after World War 2.

Meanwhile, as a sop to the trade unions, a day was chosen in August for a holiday and called Labor Day – which is still the case in the USA today.

In South Africa of course 1 May is not the beginning of spring but marks the shift towards winter – so there is no natural sense of optimism associated with that day.

Nevertheless the impact of the international socialist movement and the demands associated with May Day led to trade unions in SA and the early Communist Party of SA celebrating May Day from 1919 onwards. But these were initiatives of whites, and in the minds of these organisations only whites were workers and black people were simply either Chiefs or uncivilised Natives.

It took the rise of black movements of workers and peasants like the ICU to impact on

political life and force changes to the thinking of some trade unionists and CPSA individuals to make them begin to organise multi-racial trade unions in the 1930s and to have May Day have the beginnings of a meaning for the black majority of the working class.

When COSATU was launched as a radical movement in 1985 it embraced May Day. So the Apartheid regime of P.W. Botha did the same trick as the US government – tried to subvert the revolutionary nature of May Day and the revolutionary possibilities of trade unions by having an “official” state-recognised Workers’ Day at another time and not on May Day. So COSATU decided to fight to have May Day a public holiday, and on 1 May. Ever since we have had two competing visions of May Day and of the working class and trade unions. One is about May Day being about “labour issues” and trade unions as just another interest group in society, and the other is about radical transformation for society as a whole.

Words by Leonard Gentle, director of the International Labour Research and Information Group.

This article originally appeared on GroundUp.com.

be rich, no problem. But for me, now, it has to come down. I want to be good at what I am doing. One day, I remember, I was home and I used to buy the Sunday Times. Inside they featured a story about top chefs.

Marco Pierre White and all the big boys were there, and I looked at it and I said, one day I want to be among them. I am not there yet, but one day, I will say yes I am there. Now it is time to start working.

In the townships, there is not one chef that has gone out and done amazing things. It doesn’t matter

where you come from, you can be from a tin house. But if you really want something and have a passion for it you are going to have to go out and get it. You are going to have to go out, keep going. You are going to have research, read books, ask questions and learn from other people. Don’t be arrogant, you will always learn from other people. I learn from my team that I work with and we discover a lot of things. You also discover yourself. When you develop from other people it is a reflection of yourself.

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Meet SA globetrotter David ARE YOU

| South Africans do great things in London. David Ballington went from managing comedians to working as the Duty Manager at the Jewish Community Centre

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NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS

by daVid WilKins ediTed by naTanya herzsTein 5:34:45 PM

THOSe who visit the renowned Jewish Community Centre in London, also known as JW3, will probably run into the centre’s duty manager, David Ballington.

Originally from South Africa, Ballington regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty to make visitors welcome, including once spending an entire evening pushing a blind skater around the temporary ice rink.

His journey from Bartletts to working at the Jewish Community Centre is a fascinating one. Born in Bartletts, a small agricultural area outside of Johannesburg, in 1970, Mr Ballington left South Africa in 1994. “Those were exciting times for South Africa with a lot of political change was happening…”, he says.

“I’ve been back since and although the country’s the same, the social atmosphere is very different.”

Did the struggle affect you personally?

Well, I grew up on a farm and it was very insular. you couldn’t even see your nearest neighbour and because of South Africa’s social structure, you didn’t initially realise anything [was] amiss. But as I became more aware of society around me, I began to realise that something was seriously wrong with the way society was organised. [One time on a holiday] in Greece, I was chatting with another tourist. We were chatting quite amicably until she asked me where I was from.

Upon my reply, she said, “Oh I’m from South Africa,” and she got up and walked away.“There was a lot of international protest regarding white South Africans at the time. There

was a lot of animosity towards us because the political situation was obviously wrong.

Why did you leave South Africa?

Initially, I went to Amsterdam. I had a school friend who was living in Amsterdam who suggested I come stay there. Two weeks later, I packed up and enjoyed it so much I stayed for eight years. I did lots of different jobs but one was working for a company called ‘Radical Rehousing’ [which was] producing a lot of DJ’s who were in the dance scene.

They put together lots of different dance events, record launches and DJ events. It was great fun! Then I moved to Belgium and worked as a PA for an American stockbroker, and then to France where I worked in live entertainment… And then I moved to the UK. At first, I worked in Dingwalls, a live music venue in the heart of Camden, with live music, lots of different acts and comedians. I got into doing a lot of work with comedians, which I really enjoyed, and became a show manager for jongleurs comedy. I still do the occasional show with them which is really great fun!

Wasn’t JW3 a bit too different following that? not at all! JW3’s very diverse and there’s always something different going on. There’s everything from live music, comedy, live theater… this place never stops. It adds a new dimension to what I was doing before. This place has the theater, social and learning aspect.

It’s a fantastic environment that is absolutely beautiful.”

Do you meet many South African expats?

Funnily enough, I’ve met [the]

most South African expats since being in London here at JW3.

Of course, I’ve met fellow South Africans before and I’ve had family members over. But my biggest contact with South Africans has been here, and that’s really weird.

Why is that?

There was and still is a large Jewish community in South Africa.

A lot of people from that community have British or european roots and when things changed politically in South Africa, they moved to London.

And naturally the came to the community centre.

So are you Jewish or South African first?

Well it’s a duality I suppose.

There’s a large Jewish aspect in South Africa and a large Jewish community there. But the religious aspect has never been the principal aspect of my life, my family are very free.

Have you experienced the stigma some Jews say South Africans attach to them because of the State of Israel? not really. I’ve always been fairly liberal in my thinking, and as far back as I can remember the Jewish community in South Africa was always extremely liberal with their political views. They were very much on the left and extremely sympathetic to people who were subjected, and I’m afraid that I am shockingly apolitical.

How has South Africa changed while you’ve been away?

There’s been a lot of progress and a lot of building. For example in Bartletts, you couldn’t see anything for miles when I grew up, and now there are housing developments and even a shopping centre. I don’t

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thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

Community

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Ballington from London’s Jewish Community Centre recognise the area I grew up in. And the feel of people in the streets is different. There are two sectors in the population now. You’ve got the older generation who grew up under Apartheid and know the struggle, and then you’ve got the younger generation who’ve never known that and only know about it from history books. They’re known as the ‘born free’ and they’ve got a far more relaxed attitude to life, which is fantastic to see as that will engender a harmonious, united future for the country.

So are complaints of a high crime rate and corruption too pessimistic?

It’s a pessimistic view of the country, but in many respects it’s true. A huge sector of the population, black and white, have nothing – no money [and] no prospects – and the natural migration towards crime high crime rates come from that.

Will you go home in the future to help fix this?

No. I’m enjoying London, I have a Scottish heritage, my family are Scots and I don’t envisage going back to live in South Africa in the near future. I love living in London, and I love what I do here.

You’re unmarried now, but if you have a family would you want them to know South

Africa?

Absolutely! When you look at the country, the Cape and the coastline, it’s absolutely stunning. I would like my future family to experience that, but I would choose to stay in the UK. The JW3 building The JW3 is an award-winning community centre to serve the Jewish population in London. The centre includes a café, auditorium and screening room, classrooms, exercise rooms, a nursery and offices for the organization itself. All these facilities are accommodated in a flexible three-storey pavilion set away from the busy Finchley Road that runs along the east side of the site, creating an intimate, sheltered outdoor space that allows the building and its occupants to literally breathe.

JW3 aims to bring together the organisation’s many and diverse activities into a single building – a meeting point for Jews and non-Jews alike. The building is culture driven, and its schedule incorporates both user requirements and a long- and short-term events.

To accommodate its wide-ranging activities, the building has been designed as a pavilion with a high degree of flexibility. A room that hosts a dance class for 40 people in

the morning may need to be used for an intimate book group of just ten people later that day.

The JW3 is designed to be a place of action – of creation and output, rather than consumption of culture – and robust, quality materials have been chosen to support the various activities, from a crèche for 75 children to a cinema, demonstration kitchen and dance studios. A multi-purpose hall with retractable bleacher seating and semi-sprung floor provides event space for 300 guests at seated events, and the theatre and auditorium supports performance types such as dance,

spoken word and theatre.

Locating the services to the rear has resulted in a level of flexibility on each floor, through devices such as folding walls or simply by leaving large flexible spaces open – allowing lighting and soft architecture to define the use and time. The pavilion articulates the front of the building, providing privacy for the residents behind and a conversation between the activities ongoing in the building and those in the courtyard.

Simple but effective chimneys provide ventilation and permit-free night cooling and the positioning of windows primarily on the

piazza elevation controls heat gain and encourages inside/outside permeability. The floor plates and core are arranged to optimise flexibility so that each space can be used for a multitude of activities according to the centre’s own programming.

The building has been designed to be easy to navigate, accessible to all, and very environmentally-friendly, with natural ventilation, a brown roof to encourage biodiversity, rainwater harvesting and solar panels. JW3 achieved a BREEAM excellent rating.

8 reasons why summer in London is totally awesome | It’s just about summertime in London, and the living sure is easy. Here’s a quick reminder of just how awesome it can be

[●] Stock image via Shutterstock.com/pcruciatti

by staff reporter Despite what the world thinks of London and its dreary weather, a clear sunny summer day in London is actually pleasantly common.

As the sun comes out, and stays out for that much longer, so Londoners begin to relax a little more and soak up the best of what London has to offer. As an expat, summer is when you discover or remember that London is alive and it’s why you came.

1. Londoners get their mojo back (And are generally in a better mood.) As the sun radiates warmth on London, so Londoners radiate warmth on one another. Cheeks are rosier and smiles are brighter and the clothes are sexier.

2. There are sneaky spots where no wallets are required Other than museums and galleries,

you can fill up your days without emptying your pockets at outdoor theatres, open-air concerts, festivals and pop up markets all over the city.

3. There is world-class entertainment on every corner And we’re not only talking about the traditional theatre. London is brimming with open-air film screenings in summer.

4. Drinking becomes an outdoorsy habit Pubs spill out onto the streets and pubs’ beer gardens shake off their winter coats. In order to cater for the demand, pubs tend to pop up along the Thames too.

5. There are 100 miles of canals to explore Everything slows down to a perfect pace when you take time to promenade or cycle along one of London’s quiet leafy canal paths that shimmer in the sun. Oh, and those

outdoor beers again.

6. Picnics in the park never get old London’s parks come alive in summer, with green lawns inviting lazy picnicers and a whole host of drinking activities and other sports.

7. There’s a festival to suit everyone’s taste Lovebox, London Wonderground, Calling Festival, the Coronation Festival, Hackney Wicked Festival, British Summer Time, Kew the Music, Jabberwocky, South West Four, the City of London Festival, On Blackheath, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the list goes on.

8. Late sunsets and early sunrises There’s so much more to fit into a day, and so many opportunities to take in the splendour of London’s sunsets.

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Opinion

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Goodbye Cape Town, and hello London!

| My first impressions of my new home London: “A new adventure has begun. I have no beard, short hair and have arrived in London for a fresh look at the world”

[●] Photo by www.flickr.com/Nikos Koutoulas

by Timmy Hancox British Airways carried me from Cape Town safely, although their seat dimensions suggest they have never seen a tall person before and are more interested in accommodating travellers no taller than 5’8″ and with a waist of 30mm at best. The gentleman next to me quickly tucked into as many bottles of red wine as he could negotiate and then fell asleep. Together with the other chap at the window, the three of us appeared to attempt

synchronised spooning in one direction or another so that our legs didn’t jam into the seats in front.

This was all well and good for the middle man after his vino, although he didn’t have as firm a grasp on personal space as I’d have liked.

I arrived at my destination, wandered my way through Heathrow, picked up my giant backpack and headed for the famous London Underground…

With a massive backpack, a laptop satchel and a biggish hand-

carry, I was generally observed as somewhat of a leper by the rushhour commuters, who were carrying no more than a cup of coffee and a free newspaper. It may have been mostly tabloid rubbish, but I did like seeing how many people were reading a paper (besides the man next to me for a large chunk of my journey and a ‘youth’ with stupid haircut). I quite enjoyed the novelty of effective public transport despite my excessive cargo.

Two tube changes to different lines and then a short bus ride and I’d made it to my mate Cole’s flat. The Council Houses aren’t especially appealing from the outside, but it was cosy with nice fittings and after a long trip I thought it was great. A key taped under the letter box was waiting for me.

After freshening up and enjoying a cup of tea, I strolled down to the shops. I probably looked a little lost inside, peering at the goods and their prices closely to get a grasp on the new currency and what to expect.

I also applied the universal rule of seeing what a can of Coke costs as a marker. I grabbed a sandwich and a Toffee Crisp and waited for the man at the till. I waited all of about

20 seconds and the teller apologised that the old lady in front of me had meant I’d had to wait. I found this very odd, but also amusing that he was worried I might have been upset that I’d had to wait.

Later on I set off on foot to orientate myself with my new surroundings.

Here are a few impressions after walking around Clapham: 1. London is quite big.

2. Only idiot Africans like me cross the road without checking if it’s a designated crossing area.

3. I heard a few foreign tongues and several variations of what I assumed was British English.

4. Lots of tattooed people.

5. I saw a man carrying a box that read Pioneer DJ. I found this amusing and ridiculous. Probably because of my own distaste for DJs and the idea that any of them are pioneers, in any way unique, special, talented or anywhere in the vicinity of being able to call themselves musicians.

6. I did enjoy the big grassy common with joggers, dog walkers, men standing around smoking and drinking cans of beer, people sitting on benches listening to music and

a couple, moms and dads riding bikes with their kids and in one case a couple taking their two toddlers for a walk. This was a bit silly, as both parents had a child with a leash attached so that they couldn’t run off more than a metre – even the dogs had more freedom than that!

7. I wondered about trying to be as observant as I could. There were rows and rows of very pretty little houses, quaint looking little shops and pubs and a good energy to the city that is very multicultural. I never felt threatened for a second, there were no car guards or bergies or any kind of beggars. I did feel people were looking at me occasionally, as I stared big-eyed at everything and didn’t have a tattoo, so I took out my cell phone to help me blend in. I don’t have a British sim card, so unless taking a picture this was otherwise a pointless exercise, but it seems to be the norm to wander about with your smart phone in your hands.

Finished sitting around as Harry No Mates and Cole and I had dinner together with an beer I found in Sainsbury’s called Black Sheep Ale.

How do the UK elections work? | The closely contested nature of the UK’s upcoming elections means that, for once, the phrase that ‘‘every vote counts’’ is probably true

by Kameel Premhid But how does the UK’s political system differ from South Africa’s and how does that affect how you vote on election day? Given that South Africans, and nearly all other commonwealth citizens, will be allowed to vote on 7 May – if they registered – these questions are particularly important.

Firstly, it’s important to realise the UK uses the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system whereas South Africa uses proportional representation (PR).

PR is simple enough to understand: a party wins a proportion of seats equal to the proportion of votes it wins at the election. Ten percent of the vote, then, means ten percent of the seats available. FPTP is slightly different: the country is divided into multiple seats. The election, then, is fought in individual seat like in the UK. It requires that the person with the highest number of votes – not necessarily the majority among all votes cast in the seat – gets elected.

After all the seats are declared,

the parties tally up and the party with a majority of seats – or, as happened in 2010, the one best able to put together a coalition to form a majority – becomes the government.

South Africans will recognise this kind of electoral contest as being similar to how ward councillors are elected.

Seats, or constituencies, are generally drawn up in a way that balances three factors: population size, geographical size, and numbers of voters. While boundaries try to create a degree of equality across all three, that is not always possible – there are more smaller urban constituencies than rural larger ones because of how many people are found in high concentration cities as opposed to the countryside.

Secondly, this difference is important in how you consider voting as it brings competing interests into play. When you vote, you vote for your local MP. Apart from their political identity – which informs their positioning on national issues – they also play a more direct

role to the constituency they serve.

And, although it is ideal for the two roles to match, sometimes your community may better be served by the person with whose politics you disagree.

Why is this important? In FPTP, candidates win seats by winning the highest number of votes relative to their challengers. They do not have to win a majority. This means that in many seats (including my own of Oxford West) had the voters of the two nearest losing parties voted together then the sitting MP would lose. This kind of tactical voting is a another consideration in addition to the issues/localism divide.

In my case, I will tactically be voting against Nicola Blackwood, the Tory MP for Oxford West seeking re-election because she is more socially conservative than I am on issues of gay rights and abortion. Even though I think a Toryled government would best for the UK’s economic recovery, I know the chances of voting Blackwood out are high as she only won her seat by 173

[●] Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

votes. Of course, this is not always the case and many voters in other constituencies, even if they voted tactically, have no hope of getting rid of their incumbent MP. These are the seats where the sitting MP/party has a huge majority and are likely to lose.

These are just some of the

challenges that voters in the UK, including South Africans living here, have to face. Considering the fragile economic situation and the genuine sense of uneasiness in the world, how we vote and why we do it is more important that ever. And every vote really does count.

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Arts & Entertainment

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Experience the first Afrikaans music festival and family day this summer in Belgium | Come and have a great time with family and friends and listen to your favourite Afrikaans singers at the first ever Afrikaans festival and family day. We bring South Africa to Belgium, all you need to do, is get here!

and culture in Europe. Hoping to welcome people from all over the EU to support and join in the fun at this unique festival. Not just fellow South Africans, but all those who have a soft spot for the country or its inhabitants.

by Staff Reporter On 18 July 2015, in Kortessem Belgium, Rooi Bokkie Sokkie Events vzw brings you some of South Africa’s greatest artists to perform at the w. The main artists are none other than Bok van Blerk and Riana Nel, both performing with their live bands, and other singers include Willem Botha, Leah van Niekerk and newcomer, Jacqueline Tolken.

Organised by South Africans for South Africans, the Kasteellopperjolle festival is the first of its kind in Europe. This live concert will take place in the lovely little country of Belgium, which is a mere 460 km from London. You and your mates can easily trek by car and arrive festival ready in roughly five or six hours, by Eurostar in about three hours and by airplane in under one. If you prefer the latter options, keep in mind, you’d have to rent a car from the station or airport, which can be done from as little as 20 Euro per day.

The festival is located on the grounds of a stunning little castle, which is not as easily accessible via bus or train than it would be carpooling with friends or family.

With the Kasteellopperjolle festival, Rooi Bokkie Sokkie Events vzw aims to promote the Afrikaans language

All festival goers can expect to indulge their appetites with #ProudlySouthAfrican as the food and baked treats will be made by South Africans, using their secret recipes from home. There will be books, CD’s, Dvd’s, souvenirs, biltong and droëwors, not to mention South African wines for connoisseurs who would like to sip on a taste of home.

Expect entertainment for all ages, and some extra volunteers to help keep an eye on the little ones while mum and dad catch up with friends and enjoy the day. Kids can venture around to the jumping castles, face painting and games stations as well as satisfy their sugar high with fluffy cotton candy, sweet slush puppy and creamy ice-cream… Basically everything their little hearts could possibly desire The gates open at 11am and the music is set to kick off around 1pm.

Jacqueline opens, followed by Leah, Willem, Riana and Bok. There will be short breaks in-between for people to get drinks etc. The bar and stands remain open all through the day, and at least another hour or two after the show.

And did you know that the 18 July

falls perfectly in the summer holidays!

A great excuse for a weekend away in the beautiful Limburg region of Belgium, famous for the lovely woods and fruit farmers. Festival goers keep in mind that there're also many different options for accommodation in the area, such as Hotels, B&B’s or camping sites (www.soetedal.be).

Look around in the area of Kortessem, Tongeren, Sint-Truiden, Hasselt, Maastricht (Dutch border) .... mainly in South Limburg. If you need help finding accommodation or anything else, simply send us an email as we’d love to help.

The address of the festival is Kasteelstraat 16, Kortessem, Belgium.

Use this address to plan your route and find the closest accommodation.

Remember, there are very beautiful cities in the neighbourhood such as Sint-Truiden (Roman museum), Genk, Hasselt and Maastricht, (the Netherlands, all within 20-30 minutes from the festival. If you're not ready to head back home and you are looking for secondary vacation sites after the festival, why not cross the German border to Aachen, which also has a lovely historical city centre.

Or Maastrich just across the Dutch border? Or you could visit some of the many other Belgian cities, like Brussels, Bruges and Antwerp.

You decide, but just make sure you hit up the festival OK! www.kasteelkapperjolle.be www.facebook.com/ RooiBokSokkieEvents

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Food

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Cooking with Chef Petrus | Lamb burger with salsa verde | Lamb is perfect for burgers. Ideally, choose mince that’s not too lean as the fat makes the burger really succulent

by Petrus Madutlela This salsa verde recipe is packed with flavour from the aromatic herbs, salty anchovy and tangy lime. My three year old son loves it, especially with sausages or fish fingers! As a chef, I finely chop all the ingredients by hand, but if you’re short on time, blitzing in a food processor will takes seconds and the result isn’t bad.

I serve these topped with sour dough croutons, with a salad on the side, but of course you can choose to go down the traditional burger bun route if you prefer.

This recipe serves four people.

Burger ingredients: 500g lamb mince 1 tbsp finely chopped mint ½ onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 75ml soya sauce 1 tsp ground cumin Salt and pepper to taste Green sauce ingredients: 1 tbsp capers 1 clove garlic peeled and chopped 2 anchovies, finely chopped Small bunch of mint, leaves only Small bunch of basil, leaves only Small bunch of tarragon Handful of flat leaf parsley Juice and zest of 1 lime 75 ml extra virgin olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

To serve ½ sourdough loaf Olive oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed Salt & pepper Or alternatively, burger buns, lightly toasted Method In a large bowl, use your hands to mix all the ingredients for the lamb burger. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Divide into 4 even portions and hand mould into burgers.

For the sauce, finely chop the capers, garlic, anchovies and herbs and put them into a bowl. Stir in the oil, lime zest & juice. Season to taste.

To make the croutons, pre heat your oven to 180°C, std 200°C gas 6. Cut your loaf in half and cut the crust off the part you are using for croutons. Tear the bread into approx 2cm chunks.

Add the oil, seasoning and garlic to a large bowl. Toss the bread in the oil mix.

Place the bread chunks on a large baking sheet & bake for 15 mins, turning half way through, until golden brown.

Fry, griddle or braai the burgers over medium heat for about 4 minutes on each side.

Serve with salsa verde, a sprinkling of croutons and a salad.

Meet my friend Benedict | Introducing the history behind our favourite brunch dish and a few tasty twists and tips for making Eggs Benedict… by emma cullen If you hadn’t heard, this Sunday is Eggs Benedict Day. Well, in my view every day should be Eggs Benedict Day, but it’s worth taking a moment to consider this most beloved of dishes.

The thought of it conjures images of lazy brunches, holidays and pure indulgence. It’s a creamy, dreamy dish that holds a fond spot in most people’s hearts and it’s a staple on most breakfast menus. But where did it come from? Turns out our dear old Benedict has a bit of a shady past.

No one really knows where the dish originated, but there are three strong contenders to the title. I suggest you pick your favourite from the below.

1. One of the strongest contenders to the creation of Eggs Benedict is attributed to Delmonico’s Restaurant.

This was the first public dining rooms to ever open in the United States.

According to the history books, during the 1860s, a regular patron of the restaurant, Mrs. LeGrand Benedict, demanded something new to eat for lunch. She discussed her needs with Delmonico’s Chef Charles Ranhofer who came up with Eggs Benedict.

He has a recipe called Eggs a’ la Benedick (Eufa a’ la Benedick) in his cookbook, The Epicurean, published in 1894. Eggs à la Benedick describes toasted halved muffins topped with a round of cooked ham an eighth of an

inch thick and of the same diameter as the muffins one each half. A poached egg was to top each toast and then “cover whole with hollandaise sauce”.

2. The second claim to the first Eggs Benedict comes from Commodore E.C. Benedict via a twisty tale that appeared in the New York Times in the 60s. In 1967 a man called Craig Claiborne wrote a column in for the magazine about a letter he had received from Edward P. Montgomery, an American then residing in France. In it, Montgomery claimed Eggs Benedict was created by Commodore E.C. Benedict, a banker and yachtsman, who died in 1920 at the age of 86. Montgomery included the original recipe, stating that he had been given it by his mother, who had received it from her brother, who was a friend of the Commodore.

3. The third claim lies within the pages of Elizabeth David’s 1950s book French Provincial Cooking she describes a traditional French dish named œufs bénédictine, consisting of brandade (a purée of refreshed salt cod and potatoes), spread on triangles of fried bread. A poached egg is then set on top and covered with hollandaise. Some believe this is one of the original recipes.

Whatever its history; when it comes to Eggs Benedict it’s all about the perfect poach – here’s how to get that

runny, creamy yolk with minimum fuss.

Two tried and tested methods to the perfect poached egg There’s more than one way to poach an egg, but whichever method you choose it’s really important to have the freshest eggs possible – this will have the biggest impact on the quality of the poach. A super easy method is to fill a saucepan of boiling water (really, no more than 2 to 3cm high).

Just pour water from a kettle and then reduce the heat so you see tiny bubbles rising to the surface. Pop your eggs into a cup and then gently

slide them into the water. Heat your eggs in the pan for two minutes, while carefully spooning some of the water over them while they cook. Then use a slotted spoon to gently remove.

Another really quick and easy way to poach numerous eggs at once is the clingfilm method. You simply oil a bit of clingfilm and line a small cup with it. Crack your egg into the clingfilm and then tie it together at the top and drop into a pan of softly boiling water.

If your eggs are at room temperature, cook them for two to three minutes.

When you pull them out all you need to do is cut the string and serve – perfect!

Your alternative Benedicts Vegetarian Eggs Benedict There’s no way veggies are missing out on this staple brunch treat.

Most eateries offer Eggs Florentine (substituting spinach for the ham) as a veggie alternative, but there are many ways you can re-make the Benedict to suit your preference. Perhaps use some grilled asparagus and a slice of beef tomato or a few roasted peppers before topping with your perfectly poached eggs and creamy hollandaise.

You could even go all out and slather creamy avocado on your toasted muffins with a sprinkling of chopped nuts.

Vegan Eggs Benedict For a dish made predominantly from dairy and meat, you might think vegan Eggs Benedict an impossible task, but trust me it can be done. You only need a little imagination.

Start using the veggie option above for inspiration, and replace the ham with your favourite choice of vegetables from asparagus to peppers to mushrooms. You could even make use of the plethora of vegan faux bacon on the market instead. You could go for the traditional vegan egg substitute and plump for tofu topped muffins.

For more: foodanddrinkguides.co.uk

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thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

Travel

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LONDON, 15-17 MAY 2015 CAREERS IN AFRICA RECRUITMENT SUMMIT Apply by 30th April at careersinafrica.com for the best opportunities in South Africa [●] www.flickr.com/ Frank Kovalchek

THE BRIGHTEST SOUTH AFRICAN TALENT MEETS THE BIGGEST BRANDS FOR THREE DAYS OF NETWORKING, INTERVIEWS AND HIRING. FOLLOW US @CareersinAfrica

[●] Siena from above. Photo by Sandy Cadiz-Smith

[●] Torre Pisa. Photo by Sandy Cadiz-Smith

A tempting taste of the gorgeous Tuscany region | Here's to discovering many delights beneath the Italian sun

by Sandy Cadiz-Smith Pisa serves as the perfect gateway to Tuscany. Sitting on the banks of the River Arno, it’s home to the famous leaning tower and over twenty historic churches, including those of the Piazza del Duomo.

It’s one of the few cities that looks exactly like it does on a postcard and you’ll find a warm welcome, great food and easy access to the rest of this stunning region by road and rail. Central Tuscany is even more beautiful than you can imagine.

Rolling hills, forests, vineyards and horizons that seem to go on forever.

It’s the ultimate get-away-from-it-all destination with plenty to do and see and amazing food and wine to savour. Including truffles which you can hunt for yourself in the dense forests of Chianti.

We joined our tartufaio (truffle hunter) and his talented dogs on a hectic trample through dense,

hilly terrain in our search for an elusive bulb of deliciousness. Search successful and treasure in hand, we headed for a local restaurant to tuck into an array of truffle dishes prepared using our bounty and absorb the stunning views. Life doesn’t get better than this.

Take time to visit Siena, a pictureperfect medieval town built on three hills. With buildings in hues of orange, hilly, winding streets and beautiful architecture it’s an easy place to lose yourself in.

The town is most famous for the Palio di Siena, a daredevil bareback horse race, which takes place in the main square, the Piazza del Campo.

When the race’s not on, the legendary square, which is shaped like a shell with a scalloped edge is still a hive of activity, packed with restaurants and bars – perfect for people watching and a refreshment break from exploring Siena’s many slopes.

The uniquely beautiful San Gimignano is a short bus ride away.

This town of towers rises high on

another hill and has breathtaking views of the Tuscan countryside.

Legend has it that in 63BC, two brothers escaping trouble in Rome built two castles here which later developed into San Gimignano.

Since then, there have been plenty of ups and downs, with prosperous agricultural times until the plague of 1348 killed two-thirds of the population and it fell into a long period of decline. That’s some plague!

San Gimignano now survives on agriculture (that most expensive of spices, saffron, has been grown here for centuries) and of course the millions of tourists who visit every year.

Don’t leave without sampling the ice cream (boldly advertised as the best in the world) – tasting the beautifully crisp local white wine, Vernaccia, and investigating all the delicacies abounding in the fabulous food market. It’s the only way to make sure that you’re indulging in all the flavours of Tuscany.

#careersinafrica

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Business

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Rand volatility and the Dollar | In the past few weeks, the Rand has been fairly volatile due to a number of influencing factors discussions related to industrial growth. On a lighter note, eskom’s never-ending maintenance on power stations seems to be shedding the load, as the country experienced fewer black outs throughout the course of last week.

Weaker than expected US first quarter economic data affected

by 1sT conTacT Chief among these factors is the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that seemed to lead the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, even though it was intended to focus on

financial markets and boosted the Rand up to a three-week high against the US Dollar. The softer data release means that the US Federal Reserve is likely to keep any plans to raise interest rates on hold for a little longer.

The Pound sterling to the South African Rand was trading higher

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a possible effect on the GBP-ZAR relationship. Going forward, analysts have listed South Africa as one of the emerging markets most likely to be affected by the eventual US monetary tightening.

New UK Visitor Visa rules | The UK Home Office has recently overhauled the UK visitor visa rules.

The changes were introduced on 24 April 2015, with the aim to make it easier for business people and performing artists to enter the UK

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visit.

neW visitor visa rules were introduced on 24 April 2015.

Apparently, the changes were made in light of continuous complaints from British business leaders that the previous visit visa process were too cumbersome and a hindrance to economic growth. As South Africans are regarded as visa nationals, they are required to apply for a visit visa before flying to the UK. It is thus important that South Africans living in the UK make their family and friends back home aware of the new visit visa rules, should they consider visiting the UK. There are now four types of visitor visas to the UK, depended on the reason for the visit.

�Marriage Visit Visa This visa is for persons who are getting married or entering into a civil partnership in the UK, or if they want to give notice of such. In order to qualify you will have to be 18 years or older, and be in a genuine relationship.

The visa is granted for six months.

Standard Visit visa Marriage/Civil Partnership Visit visa Permitted Paid Engagements Visit visa

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Transit Visa.

A visitor may enter and leave the UK on multiple occasions, provided the visit visa is still valid, and endorsed as a dual entry visa.

If the visit visa is endorsed as a single entry, the visitor will only be allowed to enter the UK once.

An important feature of the visitor visas is that a person is required to leave the UK at the end of the visa, and that a person cannot ‘live’ in the UK through frequent visits. you will also have no access to public funds, and may not switch to any other type of visa, whilst in the UK on a tourist visa.

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Standard Visit Visa The standard visit visa is basically for persons who want to visit the UK for tourism purposes and to visit family and friends. It can also be used for business purposes, or to take part in sports and creative events.

This visa is issued for up to six months.

It is also possible to apply for long-term visit visas, if you travel to the UK regularly. These visas are valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years, but you are only allowed to stay a maximum of 6 months during each

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mid-week, however it was a fairly quieter week in movement for the pair. On Thursday morning, the Rand was especially stronger against the weaker Dollar trading at USD-ZAR: 11.83. The strengthening of the Rand was short-lived when it dropped against the dollar by as much as 1.6% on Thursday.

What to look out for this week?

The UK Parliamentary election on Thursday will cause a stir in financial markets and we can expect

26/03/2015 11:31

Permitted Paid Engagements Visit Visa This visa is basically for persons visiting the UK to do specific paid work, without having to apply under the points-based visa system. It is a short term visa, and only valid for a period of up to one month. There are strict criteria about what is allowed and not allowed whilst in the UK. Transit Visas With transit visas you have to differentiate between whether you will be going through UK Border Control or not.

If you are only changing flights, not leaving the airport, and not going through the UK Border Control, you can apply for a Direct Airside Transit Visa. It is only valid for up to 24 hours.

If you have to go through UK Border control, e.g. get a connecting flight, you will have to apply for the Visitor in Transit Visa. With this visa, you will be allowed to stay for up to 48 hours.

If you are travelling to the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, you will need to apply for a UK Visitor Visa.

Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants have a number of affiliate offices in South Africa that are able to assist South Africans with their visit visas to the UK. They will also be able to give more advice to persons who have to conduct business in the UK, on what they will be allowed and not allowed to do. www.bic-immigration.com or info@ bic-immigration.com

13

thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

Business: Classifieds

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| 5 —12 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Sport

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Thompson and Smith break record at SA Rowing Championships | As was expected, Olympic and World Championships team-mates, James Thompson and John Smith, easily won the men’s pair race on Sunday

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by hpc, uniVersiTy oF preToria In doing so, Thompson and Smith also broke the course record that has been on the books for quite a few years.

However, after the race they made it clear that they did not consider their performance to be very special.

“It is always good to get your name into the record books and, hopefully, our record will stay intact for a few years. But we have to be realistic.

Our winning time of 6 minutes and 23 seconds is nearly 18 seconds off the world record of 6:05.36 we set at last year’s World Championships in Amsterdam. So there is still a lot of hard work that awaits us if we want to be competitive in international regattas,” Smith (Tuks/hpc) said.

Thompson (Tuks/hpc) described their race performance as merely getting the job done.

“We both started to feel flat about halfway through our race. We had raced the single sculls just three hours before and our ‘tanks’ were empty.”

Actually it has been a good morning for Thompson. He managed to beat Smith in a single sculls race for the first time in two years.

The Olympic and World Championships team-mates really had a go at each other. They basically rowed neck and neck during the first 1500 metres. With about 250 metres to go, Thompson put in a sudden spurt of acceleration which enabled him to get ahead of Smith to win in 7 minutes 2.80 seconds. Sizwe ndlovu timed his finish to perfection to pip Smith by a few metres for the second position (7:07.20), with Smith finishing third (7:07.50).

“John has obviously been a bit offcolour during the past week, so I was happy to strike. Winning the title is rewarding, but in the bigger scheme of things I think the fact that John and

I were able to really push each other to the limit means that we are both becoming faster and faster for when we team up again to race in the men’s pair,” Thompson said.

Smith was gracious in defeat.

“It is never nice to lose at a South African Championships, but I am fine with it. James has definitely been in form over the past week and he deserved to win. I have not been at my best, but it is no excuse. I just need to up my game and come back stronger.

In my mind I know that am capable of performing better.”

On his WhatsApp account Smith posted something about having rest days. When asked about it he responded by saying: “Rest day! That is why nobody will remember your name. People keep asking me when we as rowers take a break or go on a holiday, but for now there is no chance of doing so.

If you want to be the best, you have to train every day. There is no two ways about the fact that consistent training is the most important aspect in the quest for success. We will take a holiday for three weeks after the World Championships and after that we will resume our training. I can count on my one hand the number of days I took off so far this year.”

Shaun Keeling and David Hunt won the men’s pair-race in 6:39.90, with Vincent Breet and Jonty Smith finishing second in 6:48.10. The Zimbabwean, Micheen Thornycroft, who is training with the Tuks/hpc rowers, won the women’s single sculls in 7:41.80, with Ursula Grobler second in 7:44.80 and Kirsten McCann third in 7:49.20.

Grobler and McCann teamed up to win the lightweight women’s double in 7:02.50. naydene Smith and LeeAnn Persse won the women’s pair in 7:23.00.

15

thesouthafrican.com | 5 —12 May 2015 |

Sport

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Over 400 teams at Spring O2 Touch Leagues | With touch rugby becoming more popular than ever, it's about time you signed up so you can see what it's all about by in2Touch This week we saw the start of all our O2 Touch London Spring leagues in action with venues in Regents Park, Clapham Common, Surrey Quays, Hyde Park, Richmond, Putney and Wandsworth.

There was some hot touch action on the fields and some even hotter action in our after match pub venues.

Spring O2 Touch Leagues hit record numbers.

This years O2 Touch Spring leagues have surpassed all previous O2 Touch League team numbers with a record number of over 400 teams getting involved on the fields!

This is a fantastic result and really confirms that touch is one of the fastest growing team sports around.

With the Rugby World Cup this year and Rugby Sevens making its debut at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, we are sure these numbers will only sky rocket over the next few years Which team has the best team name? Win an O2 Touch Rugby Ball We have many great and wonderful team names that some of our teams come up with. Some we can write here, while others we almost certainly can't! Some of out favourites are: Ralph Wiggums Wingmen, Hoof Hearted , Hot Custard, Bar Studs, Hakuna Ma Toucha and yippee Try yay!

Have you got a better touch name for a team? If you think you have, send it in to london@in2touch.com

and the best two names submitted will each win an O2 Touch Rugby ball.

Touch quote of the week The quote of the week comes from one of our individual players, Catherine Sharp, who joined a team never having played touch before: "At first I was really nervous putting my name down on the website as an individual to join a team, having not even touched a touch rugby ball before! I needn't have worried as the O2 Touch venue manager, Mike, was so welcoming and introduced me to my teammates who all turned out to be great fun. We had two 20 minute games and it turned out that I wasnšt quite as terrible as I thought I was going to be. My team mates and referee helped me with some of the rules and I really enjoyed it! I am really glad I have joined the team and now we are looking to hopefully winning a few matches."

Get involved If you would like to sign up either as an individual or a team then you can send us an email to london@ in2touch.com or have a look on our website, www.in2touch.com/uk for more information about the O2 leagues in London. There is still time to get your teams into the O2 Touch Spring Season or even enter as an individual, if you are not part of a team as yet.

SPORT Page 14

SA ROWERS BREAK RECORD AT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Page 15

OVER 400 TEAMS AT SPRING 02 TOUCH LEAGUES

issue: 615

5 - 12 May 2015

South African Super Rugby see-saw ride continues

| The Vodacom Bulls are back at the top of the South African Conference, taking over from the DHL Stormers who came up short in Bloemfontein on an exhilarating Saturday of Vodacom Super Rugby

[â—?] PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA: Lappies Labuschagne of the Bulls during the Super Rugby match between Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions at Loftus Versfeld on 2 May 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Photo Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

by sa rugby union

THe weekend started on a disappointing note for the Cell C Sharks in Dunedin though. After a solid start for the visitors, the Highlanders turned on the heat and

eventually beat the Durbanites by 48-15 in their opening tour match Down Under.

Saturday saw two cracking local derbies, both won by the home teams.

First up, the Toyota Cheetahs

caused a minor upset when they won their third successive home game against the DHL Stormers in Bloemfontein, by 25-17.

The home team outscored the visitors by three tries to two and thoroughly deserved their fourth

win of the season. It was also only the third time in 14 matches that the DHL Stormers could not score any log points against the Toyota Cheetahs.

The final match of the weekend was a proper humdinger in Pretoria,

where the Vodacom Bulls beat their neighbours, the emirates Lions, by 35-33. A total of seven tries were scored as both sides went hammer and tongs against each other for the full 80 minutes.

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29/03/2012 14:00