The South African 25 February - 3 March 2014 by The South African

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25 February 3 March 2014

Issue 554

election confirmed amid confusion on HOW TO vote abroad | As the 7th May 2014 date is made official, much confusion remains over the complicated system of how to make sure you get to vote ahead of the SA general elections. We’ve tried to demystify the process for you

by staff reporter President Jacob Zuma has signed a proclamation setting 7th May 2014 as the date for the National Assembly elections in South Africa. The proclamation is intended to be published in the Government Gazette today, making it official, binding and final. The situation, however, for South Africans voting abroad remains somewhat convoluted for many expatriates to follow. If you are voting abroad, please be advised that you have 15 days from today’s announcement’s date (25th February 2014) to notify the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of your intention to vote abroad, and select the foreign mission at which you intend to vote. This can only be done online. Once the election date has been proclaimed by the President and published in the Government Gazette, please go the IEC website (www.elections.org.za) to notify the IEC of your exact voting intentions. You will find the applicable link under the menu item entitled “For voters”, which you can find on the top menu. Click on the dropdown menu point entitled “Voting outside South Africa (VEC10)” on the website and look for the section entitled “Notify us of your intention to vote abroad (VEC10).” You can then proceed to complete and submit the VEC10 online. Please note that this link will only be available from the proclamation date (25th February 2014) for a period of 15 days, so time is of essence if you want to ensure your

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ONE MAN, ONE VOTE: after a long battle to change the Electoral Act, all South Africans living abroad can now participate in general elections; but the system of registering remains complex and discouraging for many

vote will be counted. Once the IEC have confirmed that you are eligible to vote, it will send you an email or text message to let you know if and when you can vote at the foreign mission you selected. You can submit a VEC10 form online even if your registration application has not been

fully processed yet, and you are still waiting to hear word from the IEC. However, you must be a registered voter by the time the voters’ roll is certified (which is usually within a few days after the President officially proclaims the election date) in order for your notification to be successfully processed.

The VEC10 can only be completed and submitted online using the VEC10 system on the IEC website. You may want to ask a friend or family member for assistance if you struggle with getting to grips with the online platform, as it is the only way of ensuring that you can partake in the elections.

INSIDE:

p2 | Rainbow party launched for the rainbow nation p3 | South African teenager wins Ryan Seacrest competition p9 | Top Ten African festivals for your bucket list Please be advised that if you already are a registered voter in South Africa, but are not intending to be in the country for the 7th May polls, you will still be required to fill out the VEC10 form online to be able to vote at your respective foreign mission. Once you have submitted your VEC10 online and have received an email or text message from the IEC indicating that you do indeed qualify to vote abroad, you will be able to vote at the foreign mission you selected on the day that the election is held. When you finally get to vote for the 7th May elections, remember that voting abroad usually takes place only on a specific date (usually 7 days before election day in South Africa) and only during the times indicated on your confirmation. Under no circumstances will votes be accepted on any other date, so make sure that you are available at the time indicated in your email or text message. Do not forget to take your green, bar-coded South African ID book, smartcard ID, or valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) with you on top of your valid South African passport or temporary passport when you finally go to vote at the foreign mission indicated on the confirmation sent to you. Despite the complicated system, more than 4,000 votes are expected to be cast abroad, with the High Commission in London being the foreign mission with the highest number of registrations worldwide.

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| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

Elections 2014

Result of by-elections ramps up campaigning ahead of May polls | The short version of events: the ANC wins and the DA loses in a number of by-elections held across South

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Africa earlier in the week. But the long version of the story rather exposes how neither party can claim a victory

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by sertan sanderson The opening match of the election season resulted in a winning lead for the ANC; out of 10 by-elections held in six provinces across South Africa, the ANC managed to snatch up six seats in total while the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), got the remaining four. However, what may look like a closely contested match here may rather hint at an increasingly dissatisfied

electorate trying to identify the proverbial lesser of two evils. The ANC, clearly in a celebratory mood following this beneficial outcome, said that the party “welcomes the results of the by-elections results. We are making significant inroads in areas previously held by the opposition evidenced by, amongst others, our decisively overwhelming win.” The ANC did win unexpectedly in two of the wards that were

contested. However, considering that the overall balance sheet in the ten contested seats barely managed to give the ruling ANC a marginal lead, the focus will remain on the big campaigns ahead of the 7 May 2014 polls for both parties, as this year’s general elections are poised to be the most interesting since South Africa’s transition into democracy 20 years ago. The DA, on the other hand, can’t really celebrate any win either – despite one of the closest margins the party has ever held over the ANC in any political contest across the country; since two of the six seats that went to the ANC had previously been held by the DA, the results felt more like a decisive defeat than a perceived 40 per cent share of the result. However, not all hope is lost for either of the parties. The surprising outcome of the byelections also hints at some room for a grey area, especially in the case of KwaZulu Natal, where the ANC managed to snatch up Durban Ward 48 (Phoenix), after former DA councillor Shunmugam Roy Moodley

had defected over to the ANC. However, in neighbouring Ward 49, a fellow DA defector to the ANC did not manage to sway the vote in his favour. Ronnie Veeran lost Ward 49 to DA candidate Danovan Pillay. ANC KwaZulu Natal secretary Sihle Zikalala nevertheless welcomed the result: “The victory is the reflection of a continuous increasing support of the ANC among all racial groups in our country. This re-affirms the support many Indian, coloured and white communities are giving the ANC,” Zikalala said. Sizwe Mchunu, leader of the opposition DA in KwaZulu Natal, however said the by-elections result was proof of the dynamic nature South African politics were beginning to take on, especially in his home province. “As we said before, elections in the province are fast becoming a two-horse race between the DA and ANC,” said Mchunu. The by-elections were called following the death of four councillors, the resignation of three and the eviction of another three from their respective parties.

Rainbow party launched for the rainbow nation

| As all of Cape Town appears to be preparing for its annual Gay Pride celebrations this weekend, LGBTI issues in South Africa begin to take on a more political dimension with the launch of a gay political party

by sertan sanderson As the 7 May general elections start to draw near, South Africa’s political landscape seems to be taking on bold new colours from across the party-political continuum. One of the new additions into this vibrant fold is the Equal Rights Party, which is fully dedicated to promoting the interests of gays, lesbians and other alternative lifestyles in parliament. “South Africa has one of the most beautiful constitutions that guarantees the rights of the people who are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, et cetera. But in reality, it doesn’t work well,” said Equal Rights Party spokesperson Michael Herbst. Despite legal recognition through South Africa’s progressive 1996 Constitution and widespread acceptance of homosexuality in major urban areas across the nation, gays and lesbians continue to face many difficulties in Mzansi, which sometimes even escalate into violence, torture, and instances of murder. Various campaigns and publicity events try to highlight these ongoing human rights abuses but fail to halt further attacks for good. Most prominently, cases of “corrective rape” continue to resurface in South Africa,

plaguing scores of lesbian victims across the country, especially in the formerly disadvantaged communities. However, anti-gay sentiments are also rife among white middle-class groups, as “gay cure” initiatives spill over from South Africa, travelling all the way into Europe. “We need a voice in parliament to protect women from being raped because people want to cure them from being lesbians. We need someone in parliament when boys are bullied at school because they are thought to be gay,” explained Herbst. His party is hoping to get at least one seat in the National Assembly under South Africa’s proportional representation (PR) system; there are four parties represented with one seat each in the current parliament under this arrangement, with several other parties also hoping to get into parliament under the PR system. South Africa is the only African nation that allows same-sex marriage as well as other equal rights to gays much to the disapproval of its neighbouring countries, all of which have various degrees of restrictive legislature towards homosexuality, particularly Zimbabwe with its own, draconic anti-gay legislation. African nations that outlaw

homosexuality outright, such as Malawi, Uganda and, more recently, Nigeria, are directly targeted by the Equal Rights Party’s foreign affairs policy arm, as the party is not limiting itself to only focusing on domestic affairs affecting lesbians and gays. Nigeria’s recently introduced anti-gay legislation is a particular bone-of-contention for many gay activist groups, especially in SA. As trade ties between Nigeria and South Africa continue to strengthen, most recently with SA Tourism opening an office in Lagos last month (its first African location), South Africa is starting to find itself in an increasingly unique – and sometimes isolated – position in

regards to supporting human rights, often attracting undeserved scorn from its African neighbours. With Uganda also about to sign new anti-gay legislation banning all homosexual encounters into law, South Africa may soon become a first port-of-call for desperate many asylum seekers trying to escape oppression on grounds of their sexual orientation. However, homosexuals across SA also fear a change in South Africa’s progressive constitution, which currently favours gay rights and penalises all manner of discrimination, as calls for constitutional reform are being made even from within the ranks of the ruling ANC.

thesouthafrican.com | 25 February - 3 March 2014 |

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South African teenager wins Ryan Seacrest competition

| 18-year-old Filipa Carmo da Silva makes her way into audiences’ hearts around the world, coming up first in Ryan Seacrest’s coveted online competition – ahead of Jedward! by sertan sanderson success and thinks of her may hold for her. While the South African singer Filipa Carmo da Silva celebrates her victory in US media superstar Ryan Seacrest’s online singing competition. Filipa came up first out of 26 after five rounds of voting in his online talent search event. Filipa’s heartfelt cover of the One Direction hit “Story Of My Life” achieved over 75,000 hits on YouTube and came first-place in Seacrest’s competition, taking her online audience by storm. The polished music video produced for the contest in late 2013 features the 18-year-old singer performing at an airport hangar, ‘Pearl Harbour style’ (as per press release), complete with inspired art direction that evokes the spirit of the 1940s and 1950s. The camera obviously loves Filipa, as she serenades her absent beau on the tarmac. “I just wanted to share on that platform. I wanted it to seem professional and better than a bedroom selfie thing.” Filipa is thrilled about her

SA custody battle puts UK court in the dock | A mother from Mpumalanga celebrates her win over an international custody battle, as the High Court in North Gauteng publishes a blasting report on how her case had been handled recklessly especially by the British authorities involved in the case

by sertan sanderson An unnamed mother from Middelburg, Mpumalanga, had been challenged by her 5-yearold son’s Zimbabwean father last March to return the child to the father’s care in the UK, where he had been residing as an illegal alien for several years. The British authorities ruled in favour of the father and issued a court order accordingly, making the custody battle a costly case for international law, which the mother of the child could not afford. The responsible South African court order never endorsed the British application, but the child’s future remained in jeopardy until a final decision could be handed down. The boy’s mother had argued that

it would not be in her son’s interest to move back to the UK to the care of an unemployed man, who was residing in the country illegally and facing deportation. When the mother, who legally was the still sole custodian of the child, had voiced this objection by filing a counter-application to set the UKissued court order aside, problems began to amass. South African authorities insisted that an inquiry should be launched to investigate the matter. The relevant authorities on the British side of the custody battle failed to honour the minutiae of this inquiry, largely due to a lack of proactive cooperation on part of the father’s advocate. The South African court eventually awarded full custody to the mother under South African law, once it became apparent that the case had not been taken seriously enough in the UK. Reasons for this lack of cooperation are suspected to lie in the fact that the father had wanted to keep a low-profile to be able to remain in the UK illegally and not be picked up for deportation. The report by the high court

criticised the handling of the custody case in both jurisdictions, but especially the UK, as follows: “The health and happiness of an innocent child was potentially jeopardised and both the court and the respondent (the mother) were put to unnecessary trouble and inconvenience. The respondent was caused unnecessary distress and forced to incur unnecessary costs… all through the neglect of officers of the court employed by organs of state to properly fulfil their professional obligations. It is only fair that the applicant be ordered to pay all of the respondent’s costs.” The relationship between mother and father had grown sour soon after their son’s birth in 2008. The unmarried couple, comprised of a South African woman and a Zimbabwean man, eventually split after British authorities had rejected their joint asylum application. Following years of living in squalor while depending on government benefits, the mother had returned to South Africa in 2012, with her young son in-tow. Registered as the sole custodian of the child, she had not expected any legal battles to follow.

incredible win as her biggest professional move to date: “Winning this competition has been the highlight of my career so far and to have the support from the media and public both in South Africa and overseas has been mind-blowing.” She has just recently been accepted to study at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts in Cape Town following her recent matric in Pretoria, and is looking forward to a long music career ahead. “It’s so incredible. I was competing against guys who have fan bases!” Among Filipa’s competition was the Irish pop-duo Jedward, who only managed to come in secondplace after her – though this may say more about Jedward than about Filipa. With her popularity going through the roof, Filipa’s been going from one TV appearance to the next, celebrating her new-found fame and looking forward to whatever the future

online contest may not yield to such long-lasting results as the popular “Idols” franchise and other similar competitions often do, Filipa’s career is still bound to benefit from the exposure and attention coming from her victory – and deservedly so; not every performer succeeds with the talent competition circuit. It was Seacrest’s production company that had approached the young starlet in the first place to try to get her involved in the competition: “I was a little sceptical at first, but we looked into it and saw that it was legitimate,” Filipa said. Filipa’s campaign was solidly promoted through Seacrest’s platforms ahead of Sunday’s win, further endorsing the importance of emerging South African talent around the world. Other than being known for being the poster-face of American Idol, Seacrest’s media empire also includes a global radio broadcast, which is also available on-air on local stations in South Africa as well as the UK.

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| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

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You spin me right round, baby, right round by staff reporter

The Starfish Greathearts Foundation’s annual charity “spinathon” attracted a sizeable crowd at the Pedal Studio in Putney last week to raise money for children affected by HIV/ AIDS across southern Africa. The 24-hour sporting event managed to raise more than £6,000 for children orphaned or made vulnerable through other effects of the disease. More than 2,5 million children have been affected by losing family to HIV/AIDS, with South Africa still having the world’s highest number of infections. The round-the-clock fundraising event attracted people from all walks of life – not all of whom

were fitness buffs; in fact, some attendees had never even entered a spinning studio before. But as the pictures show, everyone was a good sport for a very good cause. Starfish Greathearts has been doing vital work for over ten years now to improve the lives of children affected by the disease, which has cost more than a quarter of a million lives in South Africa alone. In some SA provinces, such as Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal, the rate of the population infected with HIV is close to 25 per cent. Starfish Greathearts will also be putting on a breakfast run and picnic event on 16th March 2014, which you can sign up for online at http://www.starfishcharity.org.

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South African star rising in Hollywood | If you haven’t heard of Stelio Savante yet you had better listen up, as this South African is conquering Hollywood by storm By Marianne Gray South African-born Hollywood actor Stelio Savante will be starring in an upcoming film about the life of legendary movie director Sergei Eisenstein. The biopic entitled Eisenstein in Guanajuato is directed by Peter Greenaway, who just won a BAFTA award earlier this week for his outstanding contributions to British cinema. Greenaway’s film touches on many aspects of Sergei Eisenstein’s life during his two week stay in Mexico during the 1930’s. The movie is currently being produced on-site in Guanajuato with Elmer Back, Luis Alberti, and Lisa Owen starring

Photo by Karin S. De Boer

Make like Pharrell then #GoPostal | Have you been clapping your hands because happiness is the truth? Do you think there is more to happiness than necking beer? Excellent, me too.

By Jen Smit I have a new job description: happiness evangelist. I didn’t plan it, but when a friend asked me the other day how I was, instead of the usual ‘fine thanks’ I found myself answering that I had become a happiness evangelist. This clearly amused my friend who suggested I get some new business cards posthaste. I haven’t gone quite so far but I admit, I’ve rather warmed to the term. It’s not just Pharrell The pursuit of happiness has always been a core human endeavour but I can’t help but feel like we’re taking it particularly seriously at the moment. We may have stifled a few giggles back in 2010 when Prime Minister David Cameron announced his £2 million plan to measure the nation’s happiness but when Gretchen Rubin – best-selling author of The Happiness Project – finds herself alongside the likes of Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington and Barack Obama in the Top 10 most followed participants in LinkedIn’s Influencer programme, and Pharrell

Williams’ Oscar-nominated pop anthem to happiness becomes the music sensation of the year, you kinda have to sit up and pay attention. Last month I wrote about JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out – which stems from society’s growing fascination with mindfulness, cited as one of the top trends for 2014 by J. Walter Thompson, one of the world’s largest marketing communications brands. But what is mindfulness if not an attempt to live happier lives? Too often it takes a disruptive experience to remind us of what is important in life and what makes us happy. Certainly this is what happened to me recently and is what inspired my almost fanatical research into the concepts of love and happiness. The two key takeaways – if you’ll excuse the lapse into corporate speak – are that 1) happiness takes discipline and 2) you really do get what you give. Find your fun One of the most interesting questions The Happiness Project required me to ask myself was really very simple: what is fun for me? It’s harder than it sounds. But Ms Rubin has a clever trick for those struggling with this; she says to think back to when you were ten because chances are the things you found fun at age ten are still the things you will find fun now. When I was ten I collected writing paper, thrilled in the exchange of handwritten letters with multiple pen-pals and could happily while away whole afternoons reading. Not much has changed then. Except that today most of my correspondence takes place virtually. And while there is nothing wrong with that, I do sometimes long to luxuriate in carefully chosen notepaper and to come home to the rarity of an actual letter in my actual physical mailbox. So, as part of my personal pursuit

of happiness I have decided to #GoPostal. And yes, I am fully aware of the common definition of this term but I am taking it back and turning it positive! I have rediscovered the joy of the postcard and now keep several in my bag at all times, just in case the urge to send one strikes. And for Valentine’s Day this year I have sent no less than 30 personally designed handwritten cards to dear friends scattered across the world. I find the mere sending of these little papery fripperies ridiculously fun, but it’s the reaction of the recipients that has really made me smile – and want to spread the happiness further. #GoPostal If you’re wondering why I bothered with the ubiquitous hash tag above, it’s because I would like to extend a little challenge to you all. Last time I checked the #NekNomination craze – and its effects – had been covered by various media including the BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail, Sky News, Metro and, indeed, www.theSouthAfrican.com. I have made no secret of the fact that I find the whole thing utterly appalling. In justifying his participation a friend of mine said he liked the idea of being able to connect creatively with friends though beer. Well I’m saying grab a pen, go old-school and connect creatively with friends via paper – #GoPostal. It may not have the same philanthropic value as the excellent hijacking of #NekNomination by do-gooders, but it’s quick, easy and guaranteed to make someone smile. And if you must social mediafy it (certainly not a requirement!), take a pic of you sending your letter/ postcard, post it online with the tag #GoPostal and when it reaches its destination the happy recipient can post a pic back. It’s not rocket science, but then neither is happiness.

opposite Savante. It is scheduled for theatrical release later this year. Stelio Savante’s last role back in South Africa was for the 2012 family drama Where The Road Runs Out. But local audiences may rather be familiar with his work – as well as his face – from his performances in several primetime TV shows like Ugly Betty, Law & Order SVU, Criminal Intent, and The Sopranos as well as his part in A Million Colours (winner of two SAFTA awards). Former Capetonian Stelio Savante is fast gaining in popularity in the United States, especially since producing and performing the lead role in the

9/11 play 110 Stories, in which he starred opposite the likes of Samuel L Jackson, Susan Sarandon, Katie Holmes, Neal Patrick Harris, and Cynthia Nixon. Savante has also just finished wrapping filming opposite Jim Caviezel for an upcoming episode of J.J Abrams’s CBS hit show Person Of Interest, and will be featured in a supporting role in the upcoming sex-trade thriller Selling Isobel, starring opposite Matthew Marsden and Amber Benson. It appears that there’s no holding back for Savante’s fast-rising star, as Mzansi’s place in Hollywood is firmly growing beyond the girl from Benoni.

| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

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Recipe| Smoked salmon trout and scallops on spiced potato and fennel cake

| Smoked salmon trout on sweet spiced potato and fennel cake with seared scallops, Apple Sours veloute and pickled cucumber – a recipe from chef Dominique Faict Maldon sea salt and black pepper by staff reporter

Smoked salmon trout on sweet spiced potato and fennel cake with seared scallops, Apple Sours veloute and pickled cucumber A recipe from Dominique Faict, Formerly Santé Wainelands Hotel & Wellness Centre Serves 2 160g smoked salmon trout (preferably from Franschhoek) Potato & fennel cake 100g potato, washed and cut into julienne strips 15g bronze fennel leaf 20g onion, cut into thin slices ½ teaspoon fennel seeds 15g butter Maldon sea salt and black pepper Preheat oven to 180˚C. Place all the ingredients in an ovenproof dish. Roast in the oven until the potatoes are soft. Scoop out and press into two round 6cm moulds and shape into cakes, crushing the potatoes slightly. Seared scallops 6 scallops, cleaned and roe removed 15ml olive oil

Heat the olive oil in a nonstick pan. Dust the scallops with Maldon sea salt and pepper. Wait till the pan is very hot before adding the scallops. Sear the scallops on each side for 15-20 seconds.

Sour Apple veloute 80ml Sour Apple schnapps Place the Sour Apple schnapps in a saucepan, bring to the boil and reduce for five minutes. Pickled cucumber 6 tablespooons rice vinegar 6 tablespoons water 6 tablespoons sugar 50g cucumber, washed and sliced into thin strips Place the vinegar, water and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool for five minutes. Add the cucumber to the saucepan and let stand to cool. To assemble Place warmed potato cake on plate and smoked salmon on top. Put three scallops per plate on top of the salmon. Drizzle Sour Apple veloute around the salmon. Place cucumber strips on top of the scallops.

Brothers in aprons

| It is not the food nor the judges on ‘MasterChef South Africa’ that get

me rushing home on weekdays. Ordinary South Africans at their best is what gets me. And the tears, rivers of them plopping into the sauce as the contestants battle to stay in the game Marco’s minions created art, and

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Vat nou vir Fanie, and Minnie, and Tumi and Gawie and John. Add some eggs, flour, warthog and sushi. And some lekker spices. Ban politics and grudges. Find a venue that will make the mouth water, add sun, wine, space and mom’s favourites – timer, and it’s the love kitchen. MasterChef South Africa should be a compulsory subject at school, in the boardroom and at home. It has all the drama, angst and goosebump -induced heart flutters that will leave you breathless. It will leave you asking: why they hell don’t they just give everyone an apron? Ok, it may not be as slick as some of the other MasterChef editions (thinking Bondi Beach nation) but what transpires every night is just how flipping great we

South Africans really are. None of that reserved, professional stuff. Man, there are emotions flying all over the room. Blood, plenty of sweat and shorts. Sommer walk in with slip slops and don the apron – just love that. Marco would have had a total fit if his contestants were that relaxed about cooking gear. And the tears, rivers of them plopping into the sauce as the contestants battle to stay in the game. Comparing once more, those professional Aussie guys tried to drum up sympathy with soppy stories and you went, nah…good try, but when these lads and lasses tell you a bit about their backgrounds, man, you just know they are not talking k*k – struggling mommies and daddies, all wanting a better life (you know the drill) and you believe it, you sit at the edge of your seat, wishing the Euromillions will find your bloody numbers and you can buy them ALL the restaurants of their dreams. Totally gutted when they send someone home and darling next to me has the quick dabbing of the eyes, hoping no-one will see. Honestly, most of the food presented looks pretty boring.

I am still looking for anything close in this competition. Early days I know, but it is not the food, or the ‘interesting’ judges that get me rushing home on weekdays. Ordinary South Africans at their best is what gets me. Not the usual brochures; dancing girls and Mufasas. No daily cartoons of pathetic politicians actually doing anything but their jobs. These are ordinary South Africans; mothers, video store workers, IT specialists and teachers, caring about each other. From townships and trendy suburbs, taking those prejudices (so you thought only white folk knew how to make Hollandaise sauce sort of thing) and putting the assegai right to the sticking point of ‘difference.’ Maybe there are still a few in Orania battling to come to terms with it all, but as this is one of the few South African programmes to make it global, it is the most refreshing and positive advertisement going right now. Heart pounding, mouth dry… jislaaik I just love those guys. No mystery here… give everyone an apron and it’s Care Bear heaven. The perfect rainbow cake.

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BBC visits ‘white slums’ in part 1 of ‘Reggie Yates’s Extreme South Africa’

| In a new three-part documentary, BBC presenter Reggie Yates decides to live in three very different South African

communities, including a white squatter camp, the Cape Flats and a Pentecostal church by staff reporter Twenty years since South Africa’s first democratic elections and in the shadow of Nelson Mandela’s death, BBC presenter Reggie Yates gets up close and personal with three very different communities in contemporary South Africa. By living among them for a week, what will he discover about the extremes of this misunderstood country in the 21st Century? In the first episode of Reggie Yates’s Extreme South Africa, Yates spends a week in South Africa’s largest white squatter camp, Coronation Park, outside Johannesburg. During apartheid, South Africa’s

white population of approximately 4.6 million became relatively prosperous. Today, however, some charities claim that up to 400,000 of them now live below the poverty line on account of affirmative action legislation, with many shacked up in small, makeshift camps, although these figures remain hotly disputed. Yates gets to grips with the uncomfortable question of whether young white South Africans are now the ones being discriminated against by being on the wrong side of affirmative action. The BBC had aired a controversial news report last year entitled “Do white people have a future in South Africa?” which attracted criticism from

various political groups. In the second episode, airing on Thursday 24 February, Yates spends a week in a brand-new hospital in the Cape Flats, struggling to cope with the victims of knife attacks and assaults. The following week he spends time with the charismatic and controversial Prophet Mboro, adored by the thousands of followers in his megachurch, as he tries to discover whether a multi-millionaire ‘king of bling’ with 30 flash cars can really be a messenger from God. The first episode of Reggie Yates’s Extreme South Africa airs tonight, 20 February, on BBC Three 9pm to 10pm.

Latest Bell’s whisky advert a South African tearjerker

| Another inspired ad campaign hits South African screens – it depicts the intricate steps undertaken by an illiterate elderly man learning to read; while keeping his motivation for embarking on this difficult journey hidden until the very end publication Business Insider,

by sertan sanderson

Creativity seems to run in South African blood, and must be thicker than Pinotage in the case of ad execs, as the most recent campaigns for TV commercials have sufficiently proven. Bell’s Whisky is taking SA ingenuity in the advertising sector to a whole new level with its latest campaign, hitting a very South African nerve and making a profound statement about more than just an alcoholic beverage from Scotland. The new TV ad entitled “The Reader” documents the intricate steps undertaken by an illiterate elderly man, who is slowly overcoming his obstacles and learning to read; while keeping his motivation for embarking on this difficult journey hidden until the very end. At this point of the plot, the efforts of the greying man are revealed to be well-deserving of a tumbler filled with Bell’s whisky – while the audience will probably want to reach for a box of tissues. “Give that man a Bell’s,” echoes the message at the end of the ad, which chronicles the motions that our protagonist has to go through in order to connect with the aspirations of his high-flying son as a successful writer. The inspirational campaign, thought up by the King James agency in Cape Town, has already been internationally recognised in media circles for its groundbreaking storytelling elements and simple style techniques while achieving over a million hits on YouTube within the first two

weeks of its posting. Among its accolades, the US industry publication Adweek hailed the campaign as “more heart-warming than most of the Super Bowl commercials,” referring to the recent American Football finals event, which is one the biggest highlights on the American broadcasting calendar. “Scotch whisky brand Bell’s and ad agency King James might just lift your spirits with this

South African ad with an elderly man struggling to overcome his illiteracy so he can celebrate a family milestone,” says David Gianatasio from Adweek. The long-established whisky brand from Scotland has been gaining popularity on the Saffa market, extending its core brand value of “acknowledging exceptional achievement” into all strata of society. The celebrated ad campaign is part of an ongoing

drive to strengthen the message of this brand identity while also championing for literacy – an impressing feat, tied into a tearjerking storyline. “This touching story of perseverance stays true to the values and spirit that the Bell’s brand has become known for,” explains Bell’s Brand Manager Thandeka Ngqumeya. The advertising campaign was also recently celebrated by US

which hailed it as the “most inspiring ad of the new year.” “Slowly but surely, the man’s reading improves, and the ad delivers its extraordinary emotional payoff – right as the music hits its stirring crescendo,” reads the enthusiastic review. The innovative television ad was launched at the beginning of February, and is being broadcast across South Africa on DStv as well as on free-to-air channels.

| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

Community

New documentary tells story of Afrikaans-speakers in Argentina | A teaser for the documentary feature film “The Boers at the End of the World” has sparked interest for the unique linguistic conundrum that is Afrikaans, raising questions about the prospects of its survival around the world by sertan sanderson Have you ever thought about travelling to South America, hoping to rely on your Afrikaans language skills to get around? It may sound like a ludicrous idea, but you’d be surprised at how this suggestion for a guaranteed adventure of a lifetime may just work – it has worked for a select few people for over a century now. Just watch the upcoming documentary film, The Boers at the End of the World, which follows the lives of Afrikaner families, who have settled in the small Argentinian town of Sarmiento after the Anglo-Boer Wars, as their numbers are beginning to dwindle dangerously close to single digits.

The Boers at the End of the World, directed by South African filmmaker Richard Finn Gregory, tells the story of the few remaining Afrikaans-speaking descendants of erstwhile Boer settlers in Argentina from the early 1900s. There were 600 Afrikaner Boer families, who left South Africa over a century ago to move to the remote corners of Patagonia in Argentina. Feeling threatened by British rule following the Second Anglo-Boer War, they set their sails to go southwest and ended up in the uneasy but beautiful terrains of South America’s southern tip – an oil-rich region, which they then helped to develop over the decades. Their close-knit community

has managed to survive to this day, having thrived to numbers of several thousands at one point in this booming region; but their ancestral language may now be on the verge of virtually dying out, with the last few practitioners of Afrikaans barely surviving today. Second and third-generations are reluctant to use die Taal, an unfamiliar language to them, which – according to the younger generations – only pertains to their grandparents. Many of the younger residents of Sarmiento only speak Spanish and know little about their forefathers’ struggles. They may have learned about their culture from family anecdotes, but it’s near impossible to keep old customs (now dating back centuries) alive – especially when there are almost 5,000 miles between Argentina and Cape Point. “As soon as I heard this story, I knew it was an amazing one,” says director Richard Finn Gregory. His film follows fascinating characters like Enriqueta van der Merwe, as she plays “Suikerbossie” on her accordion, and shares that she has never visited South Africa in her life. Other locals tell how they were zealously trying to enlist in the Argentinian military to fight the British during the Falklands War in 1982, as hatred towards the former colonial power still appears to run quite deep and to cut even deeper. Some of the characters even begin to tear up, as they meet other South Africans from outside of their own community for the first time in

their lives, feeling overcome by an acute sense of profound nostalgia. It is rare these days that people allow themselves to feel nostalgic about die Afrikaanse Taal anywhere else. South Africa’s unique language invention, blended together over the centuries as a Germanic kitchen tongue under constant exposure to rich and numerous cultural influences, is no longer deemed ‘fashionable’ with its status as the official language spoken by the former white minority government in all its oppressive manifestations. School advisers even tell children to shy away from learning “the dead language” and opt for one of the African tongues such as isiZulu or isiXhosa instead. Despite challenging all political correctness, Afrikaans has become a trademark of South African

culture globally, as much as braai, boerewors and biltong – and the few Boer people of Sarmiento, never having lived anywhere near Africa, will probably fight for their language and customs to survive as much as their ancestors fought the British during the Anglo-Boer Wars. This tiny contingency of people in rural Argentina, whose very own survival is tightly interlinked to the endurance of the uniquely South African language, may not care whether this struggle will result in defeat or not, as painful ideas of sacrifice and isolation have always run deep in the veins of “The Boers at the End of the World.” Richard Finn Gregory’s film project has largely been realised by crowd-funding and is expected to be released next year by The Good Work Picture Company.

South African dancer plays with fire | Inspired by the idea of fire, South African choreographer and dancer Hubert Essakow introduces his latest dance-drama ‘Ignis’ to London audiences – one of the best events to experience in London at the moment

By Marianne Gray Currently on stage at The Print Room in Notting Hill and starring actress Sara Kestelman as well as a trio of exquisite young dancers, this clever one-hour show, created by Hubert Essakow, is turning into a combustible force to reckon with. A dance theatre experience inspired by all notions of fire, the powerful show started its life as a dance duet in Essakow’s living room, which a composer friend of his saw and loved – and the rest is history Choreographer Essakow, 42, who is the nephew of one of South Africa’s most famous boxers, Hubert Essakow’s, is a former Royal Ballet soloist and a celebrated international

contemporary classical choreographer. Born in Potgietersrus (now Mokopane), which was part of the Northern Transvaal then (now Limpopo Province), Hubert Essakow has had his work performed all over the dance world from Japan to South Africa. “Dance is so big at the moment,” he says, “There is also an awful lot of raw, burgeoning talent in South Africa. They really need good teachers and the encouragement and I’d like to go and do just that very soon.” “I wasn’t supposed to be a ballet dancer,” he recalls, “but a friend of my mother’s used to look after me as a kid in Potgietersrus, and would take me with her to collect her little daughter from

dance class. I was an only child and coming from a Russian/Latin background, it didn’t seem weird that I wanted to dance. But I was terribly bullied at school. Guys just didn’t dance, least of all in Potgietersrus!” When his family moved to Johannesburg, Essakow studied classical ballet at the Johannesburg Arts School in Braamfontein, later winning a ballet competition, which brought him all the way to England. Later on he would spend ten years working for the Royal Ballet in London until he became a top soloist. IGNIS runs until March 1st, 7:30pm Monday to Saturady, 3pm Saturday matinees at The Print Room in Notting Hill.

thesouthafrican.com | 25 February - 3 March 2014 |

Travel

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Why we love to party: the Top Ten African festivals for your bucket list

| One of the best things about Africa is the fact that we sure know how to throw a damn good party and have a jol. We’re going to prove that there is no better place to get your groove on than at one of these Top Ten African festival events. All that remains is for you to book your ticket and get ready to dance, boogie and mingle like atmosphere in September, jazz legends to West Africa for what bira to classical piano can be heard playing from every joint in town. There are dance shows and stage plays as well as big bands and solo superstars of the calibre of Oliver Mtukudzi and Ishmael Lo. The diversity of the line-up and the quality of talent at this event have turned HIFA into one of the biggest festivals in Africa. Zimbabwe’s capital city is on the rise, becoming one of the most vibrant cities in Southern Africa to visit, so you’ll have lots to discover while you’re there. More info on: www.hifa. co.zw

by sertan sanderson Sauti za Busara WHERE: Stonetown, Zanzibar WHEN: February East Africa’s biggest music festival takes place at the perfect location: the historic Old Fort in Stonetown. It also features the coolest line up: artists are exclusively African and represent many of the continent’s diverse musical influences from traditional beats to contemporary sounds. The island’s legendary singer, BI Kidude (who passed away in 2013) was the only permanent fixture at the event. South Africans who previously have featured include Thandiswa Mazwai, Kwani Experience, and Tumi and the Volume. There have also been musicians from Mali, Senegal, Cape Verde, the Comoros, Sudan and Reunion Islands. The festival is held over four days and features over 30 artists, before ending with an unforgettable afterparty at the picture-perfect Kendwa beach. Sauti za Busara’s location is truly one of the most beautiful places in the world, and makes this a must-have festival experience. More info on: www.busaramusic. org Fespaco WHERE: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso WHEN: February/March Burkina Faso’s Ouagadougou may perhaps be one of the sleepiest capital cities in West Africa, if not the world. But once every two years, the unassuming town becomes the most important place to be at for all film, television and entertainment professionals from the Dark Continent. They all meet to showcase their work, celebrate each other’s achievements and – most importantly – to party with lots of panafrican film and screen enthusiasts. In short, it’s become known as the best-kept ‘secret’

festival on the continent. The 44-year-old festival spans over a week, and is packed with film screenings, cultural exhibitions and lots and lots of parties. What this festival may lack in razzle dazzle it sure makes up for with the welcoming spirit of the Burkinabe, making Fespaco the most soulful experience you can have while catching up with Africa’s silver screen giants. More info on:www. fespaco-bf.net Bush Fire WHERE: Ezulwini, Swaziland WHEN: May Ezulwini valley in Swaziland comes to life each May with the sound of music echoing from the landlocked kingdom’s most recognised music event. The festival is held at the ominous-sounding “House on Fire”; people sit on the floor in a relaxed atmosphere and enjoy live jams from the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi, Johnny Clegg, Oliver Mtukuzi, Vieux Farka Toure, and Freshly Ground. Do yourself a favour and learn about the less wellknown bands as well while you’re here; they’re likely to be tomorrow’s big stars. You can also volunteer to work at the festival if you want to be part of this growing event. The best thing about Bush Fire is the fact that Swazi people love to party, but bear in mind that there is such a thing as too much “sex, drugs & rock ‘n roll”. More info on: www.bushveld.com Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) WHERE: Harare, Zimbabwe WHEN: May Africa’s most comprehensive festival has a six-day programme filled with theatre, dance, music, street performance, spoken word, craft, visual arts and even circus acts. During this time, Harare transforms into artist’s dream – music ranging from traditional

Festival Sur Le Niger WHERE: Segou, Mali WHEN: February Set on the banks of the legendary Niger River in Segou, outside Bamako, this festival lives up to its promise of combining the best of Malian music, culture and tradition, aimed at giving revellers an exceptional 24-hour programme. Day time activities feature art exhibitions, Griot minstrels and street parades. The night belongs to Malian and regional stars performing on the banks of the incredible river. Around town, there are drumming sessions, musical performances and traditional dancing. Local bars tend to put on unofficial after-parties until sunrise. The event spans over five days but will give you memories to last a lifetime. More info on: www.festivalsegou.org Lake of Stars WHERE: Lilongwe, Malawi WHEN: September This event brings together the best of African musicians from all over the continent. Having celebrated 10 years of history, this festival is the absolute highlight on the Malawian social calendar. The festival aims high by trying to “develop new ways to enhance and promote the music, culture and tourism of Malawi.” It is truly one of the most magical events in Southern Africa and helps Malawians gain international recognition in the world of music, from afro-pop to reggae. The festival is happy to also welcome volunteers, which might be a cost-effective way to start exploring Malawi, as locals are world-renown for their hospitality. More info on: www.lakeofstars.org Sal Festival WHERE: Santa Maria, Cape Verde WHEN: September This is a little known but incredibly magical festival that is held on the streets around Santa Maria beach in Cape Verde each year. Locals and tourists flock to Cape Verde to witness the carnival-

where the rich and vibrant culture of the island nation is celebrated with a music festival of note that goes well into the night and lasts past sunrise the next morning. Bonfires on the beach and camping in the open-air further enhance the experience of this incredible event, which feels so much more like being in South America than a traditional African fest – due largely to the rich Portuguese heritage of the country. Visiting this festival would also give you the ideal excuse to spend some actual time exploring Cape Verde on a nice holiday perhaps; with a beautiful year-round climate, what’s holding you back? More info on: www.capeverde.co.uk

Fez Festival of World Sacred Music WHERE: Fez, Morocco WHEN: June Built around a central theme each year, the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music attracts heavyweights of African music from Johnny Clegg to Youssou N’Dour, all set amidst stunning, traditional Moroccan design. This is an incredible destination that truly excites all senses. The sounds that are emitted from this celebration of music are unlike any of the other festivals on this list; they invite you into entering a realm of inner reflection and contemplation rather than focusing on outward enjoyment. An interest in spirituality is probably key to this experience, whether you are a mystic, a shaman or a whirling dervish – or just simply a seeker on a journey. From this great location you can also begin to travel into pretty much every corner of the country, making this unique festival of holy sounds the best starting point for many more discoveries in Morocco. More info on:www.fez-riads.com/fesfestival-of-world-sacred-music Saint Louis Jazz Festival WHERE: Saint Louis, Senegal WHEN: May/June This event brings international

is basically a massive jamming session. In fact, it is the single most important jazz event in Africa each year. Past participants have included such greats as Herbie Hancock and Joe Zianul, and future acts are bound to impress as well. It is the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in Africa’s unofficial jazz capital; if you close your eyes you might actually think that you’ve landed in New Orleans amidst all the beautiful colonial-era architecture and the elegant sounds coming out of every nook and cranny. The best way to round this experience up is to first enjoy the four-day festival and then book yourself on a nice cruise down the Senegal River. This way you’ll get to see the rich landscapes of this much-overlooked African country and learn about its rich culture and history as well. More info on: www. waawsenegal.org/saint-louis.html Afrikaburn WHERE: Karoo Desert, South Africa WHEN: April/May This festival is something else. Is it music? Is it art? Is it some sort of “pow-wow”? Who knows? This self-styled celebration of creative expression takes place in the middle of nowhere in the Karoo desert and culminates in the burning of a giant man-statue – the highlight for every festival goer. With a parade of “mutant vehicles” and other arts installations, there’ll be endless sensory input to overwhelm your mind. Inspired by the “Burning Man Festival” in the United States, Afrikaburn creates an entire improvised tent-city built on ideas of artistic expression and alternative realities; a world where anything goes. Driven by a sense of community, Afrikaburn is ideal for those, who would like to witness an alternative reality for a few unforgettable days. Are you ready for it? More info on: www. afrikaburn.com

Business

| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

South Africa can sell beef to Europe and beyond after 3-year export ban | South Africa has now been declared free of foot-and-mouth disease after a three-year ban on beef exports that cost the industry nearly R10 billion the key job drivers due to its high by staff reporter

After three-years of a costly ban on South African red meat, the country can now resume its exports of beef to European markets, it was confirmed on Wednesday. This follows a decision by the International Animal Health Organisation (OIE) to declare South Africa free of foot-andmouth disease. But authorities said they would continue to ensure that the required measures were fully implemented in the disease control areas of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. “While welcoming the decision,

I have directed the department to develop medium and long term interventions to bolster our biosecurity controls and ensure we maintain this status,” Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told reporters at a briefing in Cape Town. She said the ban, which became effective from February 2011, had cost South Africa and the industry up to R3 billion annually in lost exports. Agriculture remains crucial to South Africa’s economic growth and the country’s New Growth Path identifies the sector as one of

job creation potential. Joemat-Pettersson today announced a series of measures to maintain South Africa’s foot-andmouth disease free status. The department will, among other things, coordinate the compulsory community service of graduates, who will be closely monitored, and the first group will be on the field during 2015. Up to 27 mobile clinics have been supplied to several provinces. These are fully equipped vehicles fitted with operating theatres and will bring veterinary services to rural areas. Joemat-Pettersson said the department was also working with provinces to establish a livestock identification and traceability system in foot-and-mouth disease areas. “This will allow us to track and trace every animal in contaminated areas with each animal receiving a uniquely coded, tamper-proof tag,” the minister said. She said young scientists were being recruited by the Agriculture Research Council to undertake

post graduate studies and research, which will build the country’s capacity to deal with foot-andmouth disease. National Treasury has also agreed to fund the construction of a veterinary institute at a cost of R500 million.

Foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects clovenhoofed animals like cows. The disease is prevalent in the Kruger National Park because of the buffalos which are permanently infected. –SAnews.gov.za

Expat families: What will happens if my marriage breaks down whilst living in UK?

| International Family Law Specialist David Hodson answers your questions on issues that affect an ever increasing number of families who live and work abroad by staff reporter Q: My wife and I were married in Cape Town fifteen years ago and have been living and working in London since 2005. We both had fantastic jobs in the City and have done very well for ourselves financially whilst living in the UK. Sadly our marriage has not been as successful. My wife has recently said that she wants a divorce; do we have to go back to South Africa in order to get divorced or can we divorce here? A: You do not need to get divorced in the same country in which you were married. The English courts can deal with any issues concerning a marriage which took place abroad as long as you can show a sufficient connection with England (known as “jurisdiction”). However the South African courts may also be able to deal with the divorce and related financial matters too. You should take advice as to which country is better for you. It is important to tread carefully in these circumstances – divorce and any financial claims following the breakdown of marriage can be a complicated area for international families. Financial outcomes following divorce vary dramatically from country to country. Whereas

England has famously gained a reputation for being the “divorce capital of the world” because of the generous financial awards spouses can receive, other countries can make much less favourable awards to former spouses. There may be other factors to bear in mind. Different countries vary in the time proceedings can take, the extent of enquires into the financial circumstances of each party, the laws relating to sharing pensions and overseas property and how easy it will be to enforce any court decision. Q: So issuing in one country rather than another can matter a lot? A: Yes, it may be much more advantageous for proceedings to take place in one country than another. You need advice from a specialist lawyer to help you to compare the likely outcomes in each country and to choose where best to issue. Q: Is it different if we have connections with another EU country? A: Yes, within Europe the decision as to where proceedings will take place comes down simply to who issues proceedings first. Outcomes around Europe differ even more

than England-South Africa so issuing first is of the essence! Q: South Africa has binding Marital Agreements. What is the position in England? A: Although not yet binding in law, they are often treated as binding and the English court will follow their terms if they are deemed fair and they provide reasonably for the needs of each. David Hodson, is a Partner and dual qualified English and Australian lawyer at The International Family Law Group LLP – a law firm specialising in international family law matters based in Covent Garden, London. To speak to David or his team at The International Family Law Group call 0203 178 5668, email david.hodson@iflg.uk.com or visit www.iflg.uk.com

thesouthafrican.com | 25 February - 3 March 2014 |

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Homecoming Africa Expo arrives in London in March

| The African continent is ready to take-off and contend on a global scale, but may require further leadership and skills. As more and more Africans are preparing to return home, the Homecoming Africa London Expo will tell you how to best go about it. by staff reporter Over a two-day weekend of the 15th and 16th March 2014 at the Olympia Conference Centre, the Homecoming Africa London Expo hopes to demonstrate the advantages of returning home, focusing on professionals from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda and Kenya. There will be showcases on jobs, property, schools, products, services, investments and entrepreneurial opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as career exhibitors from a host of multinational corporations out on recruitment drives. Many

recruiters seek out homecoming candidates for lucrative positions with the range of international expertise, global relationships and local knowledge that prospective employees can contribute. Partaking companies include Barclays Africa, Standard Bank Group, KPMG, Deloitte, ThoughtWorks, Bain & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Diageo, The Foschini Group, Ecobank, Group 5, American Tower Corp, Food Concepts, African Health Placements and many more. Workshops on relocation, property, investing, entrepreneurship, and careers will

also be available at the event to update, inform, educate and inspire those in the global diaspora on various issues relating to African business, economics, politics, as well as highlighting future scenarios in the political landscapes of Africa. A number of high profile guest speakers will also attend the event and talk about their own inspirational homecoming journeys plus practical advice on careers and relocation. The Homecoming Africa London Expo aims to provide help, advice and information on making the homecoming phase easier, and takes place in London on an annual basis.

Evidential flexibility

| The UK Court of Appeal has overruled the case of Rodreguez in January 2014. This crucial case concerned evidential flexibility in Points Based Immigration cases by staff reporter THE implication of this ruling is that it is now more important than ever to ensure that all the necessary documents are provided in the specified format at the application stage for a permit or visa, as it is not possible to submit further documents at an appeal stage. As a result of the Court of Appeal decision, the Home Office are under no obligation to request further documents in order to decide on an application. It is thus crucial that every visa application is planned and checked

thoroughly by a person with the necessary expertise and experience in the field of immigration. Furthermore, seemingly irrelevant or incorrect detail or omission on a visa application can lead to a visa being turned down. Visa applicants should therefore take the utmost care to ensure they are making use of reputable immigration firms or consultants, in order to prevent the frustration of a visa being turned down, not to mention the time and expense involved in re-applying or filing an appeal.

For more information, please contact our offices at info@bicimmigration.com or phone us in London on 0845 074 0514. JP Breytenbach Director of BIC, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited. www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com

Rand strengthens but outlook still uncertain

by Courtneigh Humphriss Last week Thursday, the bias in favour of the Dollar gained ground against other major trading currencies. This sent the US Dollar to its lowest levels so far this year. Fuelled by recent

rhetoric out of the Fed confirming a steady tapering of quantitative easing (QE), there has since been a turnaround in the momentum of the Dollar. The Rand remains protected by less-resilient US data (steadily released since last week), but there is foreseeable risk for the Rand over time, due to the US Dollar being a strong catalyst for the Rand’s strength. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has raised rates and may be forced to raise them again at least one more time in the near future. South Africa’s real interest rates are now negative and this will affect capital flow. Meanwhile, the UK services industry is reflecting an optimistic outlook after Britain’s services rose to their highest levels since 1998. The Eurozone’s Consumer Price Index data is set to be released today, which may see a turn in the Rand’s standing against major currencies. Midweek, we will see data out of the UK and the

Eurozone, which could make for an interesting trading week. GBP (Gross Domestic Product) data will be released on Wednesday, followed by more consumer data out of the Eurozone on Thursday. GBP / ZAR: 18.2031 EUR / ZAR: 15.0358 USD / ZAR: 10.9454 NZD / ZAR: 9.0725 Exchange rates as of 08:00 (GMT), 24 February 2014 :: Note: The above exchange rates are based on “interbank” rates. If you want to transfer money to or from South Africa then please register/login on our website, or call us for a live dealing rate. Make use of a Rate Notifier to send you alert when the South African exchange rate reaches levels you are looking for. Brought to you by

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| 25 February - 3 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Foreign companies shy away from Mzansi as CPI rises | A recent Bank of America poll shows a worrying trend in investment, as

stability in emerging markets is widely considered the most important factor for future investments 6 per cent upper target range in stagnation on the Chinese market,

by staff reporter The economic prospect for South Africa doesn’t seem to look too promising, as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated to 5.8 per cent year-on-year in January, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). This rate was 0.4 per cent higher than the corresponding annual rate of 5.4 per cent in December 2013, while market expectation had been for CPI to come in at 5.7 per cent year-on-year. Stats SA also stated that prices had witnessed an overall increase by 0.7 per cent between December 2013 and January 2014, blaming the problem largely on ongoing rand devaluation. “The latest figures highlight the inflationary pressures emanating directly from the weaker currency as the monthly rise mainly stems from higher food and fuel prices. Despite little evidence so far of second round effects, inflation is likely to continue rising, breaching the Reserve Bank’s

the second quarter of the year and remaining above 6 per cent for a few months after that,” commented a Nedbank economist on the trend. Nedbank analysts expect the Reserve Bank to raise the repurchase rate by 50 basis points at its next Monetary Policy Committee meeting, which is scheduled for 25 - 27 March. However, the central bank is expected to keep rates steady until the second half of 2015 due to the weak economy and more settled markets, hoping to keep borrowing trends steady. None of these figures, however, seem to resound too well with foreign investors, as investment in South Africa has also been slowing down accordingly amid growing concerns about long-term stability for the local economy. Downward trends in the developing world on the whole add to the pessimistic picture painted for prospective investors in South Africa, including

which pumps billions into the South African economy. According to a Bank of America (BofA) survey carried out monthly on behalf of its investment bank division Merrill Lynch, investors seem to shy away from emerging markets, especially South Africa, over concerns about over-stretched equity valuations on the Johannesburg stock exchange. John Bilton, European investment strategist at BofA (Merrill Lynch), said that the ongoing weakness of the rand was of chief concern among all considerations, adding that there may be a silver lining on the long run: “What it is punished for is the weakness persisting in the commodity market. That said, remember South Africa actually has a number of high-quality companies. When we see a period of de-risking in global markets, South Africa oddly enough is one of the emerging market countries that can do a little better because of its low beta.”

Over R1 billion in small business funding approved

| Thinking of returning to South Africa soon? The time might be right, as new

government grants are being rolled out, especially for black-owned businesses by staff reporter The Small Business Finance Agency (Sefa) has approved funding of over R1 billion for small business development in South Africa over the last two years, Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel said in Pretoria on Friday. “Sefa is less than two years old and it has already approved funding in excess of a billion to small business,” Patel said at the launch of the Godisa Fund, a R165-million partnership between Sefa, Transnet and the Anglo American corporation, which will provide funding to small black-

owned businesses that are, or could become, suppliers to Transnet. The minister said that the government was investing roughly R200-billion a year in expanding South Africa’s infrastructure through new capacity in transport, water, energy, ICT and social infrastructure. “This is the moment to ensure that young entrepreneurs are given support, that we expand the base of enterprises and create new job opportunities. The R165-million Godisa Fund is one element of a number of measures now being implemented across government to expand the

economy and small businesses.” Sefa, a subsidiary of the stateowned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), was formed from the merger of various small business funding agencies in April 2012. The announcement comes following President Jacob Zuma’s message at the opening of the State of the Nation address earlier this month that South Africa will enter a new “radical phase” of economic transformation over the next five years to address poverty, unemployment and inequality, aimed at ensuring “that the owner of the economy is deracialised.”

thesouthafrican.com | 25 February - 3 March 2014 |

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Zimbabwe makes history at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi

| Granted, Zimbabwe’s only entrant to the Winter Olympics, 20-year-old Luke

Steyn, did not manage to win any medals; but he added the tropical country to the list of Winter Olympians the same year that neighbouring South Africa could embarrassingly not manage to muster up a single entrant to compete by sertan sanderson

Mugabe celebrates 90th birthday lavishly amid looming economic crisis

| Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe turned 90 years old last week - without any signs of relinquishing power any time soon did not miss the opportunity to by sertan sanderson

Robert Mugabe, who has been in power in Zimbabwe for 34 years continuously, celebrated entering his nonagenarian age last week by having 90 balloons released in Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare. Mugabe wasn’t present to witness his actual birthday last Friday, as he was recovering from a cataract eye surgery in Singapore at the time, but he made sure that he was back in the country to attend the spectacles organised over the weekend. During a speech, the ailing statesman said that he didn’t feel like he was 90 but rather like 9-year-old boy. In total, an estimated $41 million were spent on the birthday celebrations, attracting criticism that the cash-strapped country should rather spend its resources differently. Displays of a giant, 90-kilo birthday cake and the slaughtering of 90 cows in commemoration of the event further fuelled disapproval, as the country might be on the brink of another bout of widespread starvation following recent floods across its plains. The think-tank “Human Rights Watch” publicly criticised the lavish birthday bash in a report, saying it would be inappropriate at a time “when the country is faced with the disaster of flooding and a crumbling economy”. However, the divisive leader was nevertheless hailed across his country, with children and adults alike joining in on festivities, all dressed in the imperative ‘revolutionary’ red. According to Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, more than 45,000 people had gathered at the stadium in Harare alone, in anticipation of the big event. Leaders from neighbouring countries, including an ANC delegation from South Africa, were also present at the occasion. An hour-long speech was broadcast throughout Zimbabwe as part of the leader’s birthday commemorations; in it, Mugabe

stir up controversy by repeatedly referring to Zimbabwe’s colonial past while also heavily condemning “unnatural acts” in reference to ongoing changes in legislation in the country with regard to homosexuality. “God made men and women so they can bear children,” said Mugabe, adding, “we don’t accept homosexuality here.” Despite such staunch antipathy to all things gay, Mugabe’s colourful party nevertheless managed to unfold in all the colours of the rainbow. The controversial birthday festivities happened to coincide with several other milestone events in Zimbabwe last week, making the celebrations a bittersweet affair, perhaps even for the Mugabe household. Among other things, the EU had lifted a number of sanctions on the struggling nation earlier in the week, which had remained imposed on the country for years, making the regime now more eligible for international trade and aid. However, not all diplomatic ties were fortified during the past week, as Zimbabwe deported a former US politician and entrepreneur for outstaying his welcome amid widespread controversy. Former U.S. congressman Mel Reynolds was evicted from Zimbabwe following allegations of overstaying his visa and running up unpaid hotel bills to the tune of almost $25,000 - although the real motivation behind the move is rumoured to be possession of pornographic material, which is strictly illegal in the country. Ongoing media reports about allegations of massive corruption in many of Zimbabwe’s state enterprises must have further soured the contentious leader’s 90th birthday celebrations, as the question on everybody’s mind whether they may support Mugabe or not - remains: How much longer can he go on?

Zimbabwe has a new national hero - or at least a new national treasure. Luke Steyn waved the Zimbabwean flag proudly at the Winter Olympics in Russia’s Sochi as one of only three participating countries from Africa. 20-year-old Steyn was the first Zimbabwean to ever compete in the Winter Olympics last week, qualifying in the discipline of Men’s Giant Slalom in alpine skiing. He reached the finishing line in 1 minute 32.20 seconds during his first run and 1 minute 34.35 seconds during his second run, crossing the finishing line barely 21.26 seconds after the US gold medallist Ted Ligety. Steyn only managed to come in on 57th place (out of 72) while still representing Zimbabwe proudly. Following his race, the young Olympian tweeted: “Tough conditions today, but overall not bad! Went from bib 90 into 57th position and know I can improve! Thanks everyone for the support!” Considering that there has been no snow in Zimbabwe for over 50 years, Zimbabwe’s participation in the sporting event as southern Africa’s only nation is almost a miracle in its own right. Despite training in Switzerland, France and Colorado over the last weeks (and indeed years), Luke Steyn is quick to confirm that Africa is his home

and that there are no two ways about it, saying, “Africa is in your blood.” Amid all the controversy surrounding the Olympic events in Sochi, from culling stray dogs to limiting LGBT human rights, Steyn’s story has been celebrated widely as a great achievement that stood out on the international stage. News teams from around the world have covered the exceptional story of the young sportsman, who has single-handedly written history as his country’s first-ever Winter Olympian, spinning it as a narrative marked by defying the odds. Steyn hopes to inspire fellow Zimbabwean in the future to also look into competing in winter

sports by setting an example for others. “The response has been incredible,” Steyn said. “There are a lot of barriers there for winter sports, but it would be nice to see some other guys come out.” Steyn was born in Zimbabwe but moved to Switzerland as an infant, where he learned skiing and became competitive at it. He divides his time living between the UK and Colorado, where he trains almost year-round for future competitive events - whenever he isn’t business studying for his degree in business management. Watch out for this young man in the 2018 Winter Olympics to be held in South Korea.

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New to London? In2Touch is a great place to meet people and potentially more | With blue (well, mainly blue) skies and sunshine taking over England’s capital last Sunday, who could think of a better way to kick off the 2014 Winter League? Along with a fantastic opportunity to have a run around on an otherwise ‘lazy day’, the Winter League is just the beginning of a year of social activity in the In2Touch World by staff reporter The kick-off to another whirlwind year, touch isn’t only an awesome way to get fit and have fun, it is also a great way to meet new people. Whether you’re on the look out for some new friends, or the new special someone, In2Touch has proved itself to be quite the matchmaker. Shooting those cupid arrows, never overstepping the mark - touch has a subtle way of bringing people closer together. With most people involved in touch there for a good laugh and a good time, it’s the perfect opportunity to snag yourself a sporty minded guy or gal. Former England Women’s captain,

SA ladies score medals – in tug of war championships

| South Africa may excel at many sports, but who knew that we had one of the world’s best competitive women’s tug-of-war team? By Sertan sanderson The national women’s indoor tugof-war team have managed to score a bronze medal in the annual World Indoor Championships in Ireland. The win follows a previous bronze medal less than a year ago at the 2013 World Games in Colombia. After arriving safely in Ireland for last weekend’s championships, the team was weighed in for two categories: 500kg and 540kg. The open club competition took place on Wednesday, but the SA team’s main target was scoring at the 540kg division over the weekend, in which it succeeded as “the Best in the West”. Team spokesman Lesley Carstens says the team had settled in well after enjoying some rest and before getting down to business for the weekend. “After 24 hours flying, we arrived at the Breaffy Woods Hotel in Castlebar in County Mayo in Ireland on Monday afternoon.”

“Our fitness coach Pieter Laubscher took the ladies for a lengthy stretching session to stretch all the stiff, travelling muscles, and then they all went for a long jog just to help with acclimatisation. They also inspected the sports area where they will be competing, which is on the grounds of the hotel.” “It was a thrilling final. We were also officially heralded as the Best in the West, a wonderful acclamation from the other countries involved in this specialised sport.” On their way to victory, the SA team beat Switzerland, Spain and England – which qualifies as a major improvement for the team after not having won a single medal at the previous World Games in 2009. The ladies will have to take on world-champion China if they want to make gold in the future; at this rate of success it might just be possible in the next championships.

Anna Stibbs, met her now husband, the England Open Men’s playmaker extraordinaire Mike Stibbs, on an England Squad training weekend. “We wouldn’t have met otherwise, unless you are a believer in fate”, smiled Anna. Fate (and the ability to throw a good long ball) drew Mike straight away to Anna. Good looks, and an even better step, how could he resist? These two can now be seen tearing it up at our Clapham Common Sunday league, playing for Gurus mixed. With moves on and off the field, touch duo ‘BenSu’ are two Aussies who had to come across the pond to find their shared love of the game. Well known England coach and player, Ben Smith, couldn’t

resist the amazing Susan Kidd’s touch ability to score. Fast, fit and the undeniable best half scoop in the game, Suz has definitely been awarded a few touchdowns by Ben. As the saying goes, couples that train together, stay together. Touch can also be held responsible for igniting flames between England player, James Robinson, and his England mixed open manager, Aussie girl, Jessica Powell. Meeting while at the infamous European touch competition, GIF, just outside Paris; Jess has definitely since schooled James on the way the Aussies play. These two are London living, and ready to take on the Spring and Summer In2Touch fixtures.

Love can also be found in the funniest of places. Taking a coaching session for In2Touch, another Aussie/English combo was formed when England Mixed player Luke Profke, met new player to the game, Kat Osborn. Coaching her on some new moves, Luke just couldn’t resist the way Kat picked up the game with natural ability. The next night out planned will see off a successful April Shootout. With a mobsters and flappers theme, this night will surely have a few tongues wagging. With many coaching sessions and social nights planned, you just don’t know, this may be your year to nab yourself a touchy.

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25 FEBRUARY - 3 March 2014

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Sublime Steyn fires Proteas into victory

| The Proteas have recorded many memorable wins in their climb to the top of the ICC Test

rankings but this incredible victory must rank right up there with the very best in history

by jeremy bortz

THE Proteas were thrashed a week earlier at SuperSport Park and at 11/2 on an overcast first morning, after winning the toss and electing to bat, one was decidedly nervous. This side is not the number one ranked Test team for nothing, though, and like so often in the past, they would fight tooth and nail. Admittedly it was a slower pitch but the batsmen showed great application, patience and commitment to post 423; uncontracted Dean Elgar, who wasn’t afraid to take it on the body and also left very well, scoring a fine 83, AB de Villiers recording his 19th century and JP Duminy finally going past 1,000 Test runs, top scoring with 123. Too often Morne Morkel has lacked aggression. On a hostile Centurion wicket, he should have been as unplayable as Johnson but he just didn’t look up for the fight. This time was different as he bowled magnificently all innings, extracting steep bounce off a docile pitch. He would eventually end with three but deserved more. Wayne Parnell was also superb, taking two in his first three balls, before an unfortunate re-occurrence of an old groin injury ended his comeback Test. Vernon Philander also picked up three to hand the Proteas a huge 177

run lead midway through the third day. They refused to let Australia back into the match and led by Hashim Amla’s 21st Test century, and fifth against Australia, set the visitors a mammoth 448 to win just before lunch on day four. The more pressing issue was time, though, and with rain forecast for all of day five, the Proteas had 73 overs to remove the weather from the equation. A bowler down, they started flat and Australia were cruising at 126 without loss midway through the afternoon session. Once more, though, they refused to give up and as the band continued to play, Dale Steyn reminded us all why he’s the number one bowler in the world. Steyn had looked out of sorts all series but with the ball reverse swinging, he produced a sublime spell of 3 for 10 in four overs to turn the match. He accounted for Michael Clarke with a fine out-swinger, brilliantly caught low-down by Faf du Plessis at a very close second slip, before trapping Steven Smith first ball with one that swung in and then demolishing Brad Haddin’s middle stump. At seven down, it wasn’t clear if the extra 30 minutes, allowed where umpires feel there could be a result, would be given. The drama was just beginning, however: off the last

| Dale Steyn at his fiery best reminding the spectators why he’s the world’s top Test bowler

scheduled delivery of the day, de Villiers took a brilliant low catch diving full stretch to his left and Australia, it seemed, were 8 down. Extensive replays would show, however, that the ball had bounced just in front of the diving de Villiers and so it remained seven down. Nevertheless, the umpires granted the extra time. Steyn would deliver once again, trapping Ryan Harris with a reviewed umpire’s call LBW,

before a piece of magic from Alviro Petersen, standing at mid-off, ran out centurion Chris Rogers with a direct hit as he tried to put Peter Siddle on strike to face JP Duminy. Australia were nine down but light and time was fading fast. It was left to Dean Elgar to bowl the final over as Smith has been told he couldn’t bowl Steyn. St George’s was on its feet and with the third-last ball of the day,

Nathan Lyon was trapped LBW. Replays showed there was an inside edge but Australia had no reviews left and it was all over. In an incredible Test match, Australia had lost 10 wickets for 90 runs, including nine in the final session, and the Proteas won by a 231 runs. The teams now make their way to Newlands for the third and final Test, which begins on Saturday. It is going to be a humdinger.

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