The South African, issue 617, 19-29 May 2015

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Mali band gets ready to blow fans away at the WOMAD festival

[●] Read more on page 6 SA photographer wins award at London’s Food Photographer of the Year competition

The play ‘Klippies’ by Jessica Siân explores an adolescent coming of age story in Jozi

My travels in India: Exploring New Delhi

| Over 6,000 images were entered into the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition

| The place is Johannesburg. The year is 2014. And it’s a hot, hot summer

| The sun is only just peeking over horizon but I’m already exploring the streets of New Delhi. The golden hour, after sunrise, is a great time for viewing architecture of India’s capital

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NEWS

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TRAVEL

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| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

News

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

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

SA photographer wins award at London’s Food Photographer of the Year competition | Over 6,000 images were entered into the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition

The paper used to print this publication has been sourced from sustainable forests (farmed trees). Please reduce waste by recycling your copy or passing it on to others.

The printed opinions of advertisers and writers are theirs and not necessarily shared by Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Unless otherwise stated, copyright of all original materials is held by Blue Sky Publishing Ltd.

Seen our new website?

THE South African features a brand-new design on its website THESOUTHAFRICAN.COM. Keeping up with the latest news from Mzansi is now even easier with this user-friendly and stylish design.

Catch up with the latest sports news, read up on current events, find a recipe for dinner, learn about the latest events for the expat community and be in touch with your South African heritage more than ever before.

Sandy Cadiz-Smith The competition has 20 categories, which range from “Food Bloggers” to “Cream of the Crop”.

The distinguished panel of judges included Michel Roux and Jamie Oliver’s photographer, David Loftus, who were tasked with choosing the best of the best.

Australian-born David Griffen was the overall winner for his evocative image ‘Smoked Wings’ taken in a Kuala Lumpur market. It also won the “Food in Action” category South Africa’s Ian Thomas was the winner of the "Bring Home the Harvest" category – a look at images of gathering food. His portrait of a fisherman carrying a huge yellowtail on his shoulders has a touch of nostalgia in it.

Thomas says: “Archie McCallum was an adventurer who settled in Plettenberg Bay in South Africa.

Years ago I saw Archie with a huge yellowtail slung across his back. The image stayed with me, haunted me.

Recently I met Nicholas Plaatjies, his great grandson, also an expert angler. Here he imitates his famous ancestor.”.

[●] "Smoked wings" by David Griffen Category: The Phillip Harben Award for Food in Action

[●] Photo by Ian Thomas Category: Bringing Home to the Harvest

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Kirstenbosch plants and flowers impounded at Heathrow ahead of Chelsea Flower Show

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| Kirstenbosch Gardens saw a slight setback before this year’s Chelsea Flower Show as their plants and flowers were impounded at Heathrow Airport

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by John Cole-Morgan Last week Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens designers David Davidson and Raymond Hudson hoped to win their 34th Gold Medal in the Chelsea Flower show.

It seemed that these hopes were in disarray this weekend when the plants and flowers shipped from South Africa for the display were impounded. Carol Klein, a renown UK gardener and an exhibitor at Chelsea for 17 years, reported on BBC that the plants and flowers for the Kirstenbosch show garden were impounded at Heathrow airport and were only delivered to the Chelsea Flower show grounds on Sunday

morning, 17 May. According to the Kirstenbosch Facebook page, the flowers were expected on 14 May at 08:20GMT having flown overnight from South Africa on 13 May. Nothing has been reported about the state of the plants and flowers.

Klein said, when asked to comment about the stress of exhibiting at Chelsea, “The [stress is high] especially on this last day, just before you are judged. But the real drama of the whole show is that Kirstenbosch, the wonderful South African garden, has only just gotten their plants. They were impounded at Heathrow and they are just unpacking and putting the final touches.”

The South African team from Kirstenbosch were determined that the show garden would be ready for 8am on, 18 May, when judging commences.

Klein went on to say: “Everyone was getting ready to roll and help them”. Klein was ready to set to work and pitch in if needed to help the team from Kirstenbosch.

South Africa will have to wait to see if these delays affect the chances of Kirstenbosch winning their 34th Gold medal or not, but we hope a night full of coffee, hard work and sweat was enough work to help them clinch gold.

South African billionaire Christo Wiese buys UK fashion retailer New Look | South African tycoon, Christo Wiese, has agreed to buy 90% of New Look.

This follows his recent purchase of Virgin Active from Sir Richard Branson

by Katy Scott Christo Wiese’s investment firm, Brait, has agreed to pay £780 million for 90% of UK clothing retailer, New Look. In April the firm signed a deal to buy Sir Richard Branson’s 80% stake in the Virgin Active fitness chain for £682 million.

Brait already owns a stake in British frozen food stores chain, Iceland, and 87% of South African cake flour maker, Premier Group.

After buying Virgin Active, 73-yearold Wiese said that Brait had a further $2 billion to spend.

The South African, who hails from the Northern Cape, sold his business, South Africa’s biggest retailer Pepkor, to Steinhoff International Holdings in 2014.

Wiese is South Africa’s fourthrichest man and Brait’s largest shareholder, with 35% of the investment firm’s shares.

CEO of Brait John Gnodde commented on the deal: “New Look is an attractive investment opportunity for Brait – it is a market leading brand, with a strong track record of double digit EBITDA growth, solid Cashflow conversion, international reach, and the potential to grow rapidly in a number of geographic markets including China.

We have been highly impressed with the management team and look forward to partnering with them,” he said.

Two private equity firms, Permira Holdings and Apax Partners, own the majority of New Look since they

bought the chain in 2004. 65-yearold Tom Singh, who founded New Look in 1969, owns 22 percent of the business. Singh and the current management of the Company will acquire the remaining 10 percent of the company.

New Look’s CEO, Anders Kristiansen, CFO Mike Iddon and CCO Roger Wightman will remain with the Company.

“We are delighted to have announced this transaction,” said Kristiansen. “Brait have a track record of long-term and supportive investments – they give us the perfect platform to continue our strategy of growing the New Look brand in the UK, Europe and China.”

The transaction values New Look at £1.9 billion.

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| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Veldt is Glasgow’s go to South African hang out

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| A little hidden haven in the streets of Glasgow, Veldt Deli is a wonderful find on the Great Western Road

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If we gave you £280, how would you spend it? £280 is the average saving made by each household that switched energy supplier in our February 2015 collective switching campaign.

Join together with fellow readers and we will negotiate a new energy tarrif for your homes.

Sign up today for free and with no obligation It is better together.

Follow the simple steps at

www.thesouthafrican.com/expatsunited and if you do not have access to the internet, please call: 0800 048 8166 What is collective switching?

The Expats United Collective Switching Scheme is run in association with iChoosr Ltd, the UK’s leading experts in the field and The South African. We gather together thousands of households and use the group buying power to negotiate deals which you might not get access to on your own.

Recent tariffs have been market leading and not available direct from the supplier or via comparison services. So don’t miss out on your opportunity to save in a safe and easy way via Expats United.

NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS

By john cole-morgan Tucked away on Glasgow’s busy Great Western Road, is a small, but incredibly authentic South African gem of a cafe. Veldt is providing not only Boerewors rolls, but treats to make the most homesick of us feel a little closer to our motherland.

What this cafe lacks in size , it certainly makes up for in heart. The service is sadly not from fellow Saffas, but is efficient and friendly.

The ghost pops on sale are in date – sadly an issue at other stores – and the lemon twists beckon from their chillers to remind you of hot sunny days in South Africa.

Even the book shelves host a South

African element. The Old BarnBookery has provided a selection of second hand books, which visitors to Veldt can buy, and the proceeds are used to a help fund libraries for schools within South Africa. Nothing warms the heart like a second hand book and knowing by buying it, you will also be buying a fellow countryman/woman a book back home. That warmed me more than the Boerewors roll!

The small downside, is that this cafe does obviously need to cater for its predominantly Scottish customers. The location is a busy one and the rent cannot be cheap, and no matter how much Mrs Balls they sell, you can’t exclude the tastes

of the majority of the people who live around your business. To that end the menu is a mixed bag with a few South African options and traditional Scottish tastes. The coffee is exceptional and from a Glasgow independent coffee supplier called “Glasgow Independant Coffee”.

The cakes are tasty. The bread was a touch dry as was the wors, but Mrs Balls sorted out that tiny complaint.

The cafe was a welcome surprise, totally unexpected in the Scottish heartland. I strongly recommend you seek out and support this it is incredibly spot.

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The perfect African coffee experience at the London Coffee Festival | After an hour at the London Coffee Festival, it is clear that what you have been drinking all your life, and loving, is a poor imitation of what is actually available to you Even the milk you use can change the flavour of your coffee. So that creates even more food for thought about our daily cup of happiness.

The flavourings Everything from the standard sugar syrup to every extravagant flavour you could possibly imagine was here at the London Coffee Festival to sample and delight in.

[●] Photos by LondonCoffeeFestival.com

by john cole-morgan The global tea trade has historically been dominated by Asia and the coffee trade by South American countries. A visit to the London Coffee Festival will debunk this myth and show how Africa continues to be at the forefront of growing these important products for the rest of the world.

The London Coffee Festival was held in East London at the famous Old Truman Brewery.

Most casual coffee drinkers have been happily sipping on a Mug & Bean cappuccino or their usual Starbucks blend. After an hour at the London Coffee Festival, it is clear that what you have been drinking all your life, and loving, is a poor imitation

of what is actually available to you.

If only you knew what your coffee experience could be.

The coffee experience at the festival, to so many exhibitors, is precious and pure. It reminds one of the tea ceremonies of the Far East. (Not the macchiato blends we take for granted whipped up in sixty seconds or so.)

The elements to make the perfect cup are so multiple it is any wonder why we settle for the simple and ordinary. But, embarking on a journey to see what else it available, and venturing out to try something new, will certainly make you care more about your morning cuppa.

The water First thing to consider is the actual water you use. Brita had a very clear display of water that was both filtered

and unfiltered. Several exhibitors were trying to raise awareness of the water crisis in Africa and parts of their profits were going to help the Project Water Fall for this purpose. The topic of the water we use is as important as it is obvious. Many London homes have hard water with traces of lime.

This would clearly affect the flavour of the tea or coffee you drink. The different options for your home were all here at the festival to be explored.

The cup The type of cup you drink your tea of coffee out of is as important. The paper and plastic mugs change the flavour of the drinks while ceramic cups don’t. The various exhibitors have incredible mugs of all different kinds to suit every taste.

The milk

The beans The glorious beans. Trying to summarise the enormous topic of coffee beans in a few words is impossible. The flavour differences.

The intensity. The colour. All of these vary so substantially.

The Black Sheep Coffee company were some of the most impressive at the festival. They are a young firm starting in 2013, but they have made coffee trendy. Using beans from Ethiopia, their range is a strong contender. The one product that struck home was their cold coffee brew.

Bottled in a bottle not dissimilar to the small Old Brown Sherry bottle, I only imagine taking this to work and causing a stir with it on my desk in the morning!

Union Hand Roasted Coffee company ensures ethical farming and fair trade across their range.

Their farmers, many based in Kenya, are well paid and their practices are ethical. Here is another firm supporting African farmers.

African coffee beans are used by the massive companies too. Starbucks has used African beans for years, but their exclusive range, which is only available in seven areas, reflects the power and flavour of African beans.

The London Coffee Festival sees Starbucks bring their R range and allows guest a free sample of five incredible drinks from this exclusive range.

If you are more of an instant coffee person, fear not. There are huge advances in that field too. The days of granulated coffee beans might be a thing of yesteryear. Press’d have launched their brand new product at the London Coffee Festival. A bottle a little larger than the size of a sweetner dispenser holds a concentrated liquid to make 16 cups. Flavoured as columbian, caramel or vanilla you simply squirt a small amount into the cup, add water or hot milk and viola, instant coffee as you have never tasted it before.

The Coffee Brewer company also seem to be on the cutting edge of change at the festival. A new range of brewed in the bag coffee is available with beans grown in Kenya. The concept uses real coffee, and you brew the coffee in the bag. Making it somewhat akin to a coffee Sippy cup.

The coffee machines to make your coffee are not forgotten. The grinders.

The espresso makers. The roasters of the beans. Everything is on display and the exhibitors are just waiting to

show you how it all works and what makes their product different to the others. Just talking to them helps expand your knowledge of coffee making. Rocket have incredibly beautiful classic machines. Many of these devices on show might overwhelm a London kitchenette, but this will not be a problem when tasting the results.

The one gadget that was most impressive was the endless steam machine from Viper. It literally is a machine that provides endless steam to froth your milk until you run out of milk. Incredible gadget that you never thought you needed.

So now you have made your perfect cup. You are sitting down to drink it and you are missing something to nibble on while you do. Never fear. The London Coffee Festival has covered that too. Chocolate companies like Lindt and Divine were here. Joe & Stephs and Nakd were showing off their goods. Even the Mallow and Marsh team from Dragon’s Den were handing out samples of their delicious treats.

Once we had sampled the wares and were hyped to the point of heart failure from the caffeine, we headed to the showroom area and watch the Barista competitions. These amazing artists performed throughout the day, competing to win the grand title of Best Barista and £5,000 prize money.

The head to head competitions between these incredibly talented people could have been mistaken for something out of the Hunger Games.

These professionals are highly skilled, incredibly trained and travelled from as far afield as Australia to compete.

The competitions took many forms.

The cupping contest saw six coffee cups with different coffees are arranged on the table, tasted by the competitors who then leave, the cups are rearranged, and the winner is the person who put the most cups back into their order. Strong taste buds are needed for this. Then the brewing tasks are battled. The competitors have twenty minutes to brew the perfect cup. The latte art section using nothing but frothed milk, espresso, gravity and pouring skills, produced incredible art in a cup.

A a single day at London Coffee Festival the way you make, drink and appreciate coffee will change forever.

As the crowd bustles, the music pumps, and the fragrances intrude your senses, you will certainly change your mind on what coffee is, what it should be and how Africa is there, helping the process along.

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| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Arts & Entertainment

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Mali band Tinariwen is gracing | The speculation can be silenced, the murmurs muted. Because the wraps are now off and the line-up for this summer’s WOMAD Charlton Park, the festival’s ninth gathering in the glorious Wiltshire countryside and thirty-third festival in the UK by staff reporter And what a first announcement it is. Last year’s sell-out gathering was a tougher-than-tough act to follow, but we’re delighted to reveal some of the serious big-hitting artists who will be setting their sat-navs for Wiltshire come late July. Everyone’s favourite daisy-age rappers De la soul will be making their first-ever appearance on a WOMAD stage, hip-hop heroes ever since that epochal debut album 3 Feet High And Rising more than 25 years ago (gulp!). Their lyrical dexterity and good vibes will guarantee a classic Friday night at Charlton Park.

While De La Soul are gracing us with their presence for the first time, a band of evergreen WOMAD veterans return to the site of former glories – Tinariwen. The story of these freedom fighters turned rock’n’rollers is one of music’s most captivating tales of the last decade – a heady journey that’s taken them from the Sahara’s lonesome plains to performing at the World Cup opening ceremony, their bluesy laments winning over the ears of Bono, Robert Plant et al along the way.

From a very different tradition – but adored by their admirers as much as Tinariwen are by theirs – is Bellowhead. Bringing a strong dose of theatricality to the folk music canon, the praise-strewn 11-piece’s virtuoso playing and gripping songs are extraordinary. The Independent was certainly impressed, declaring that, “with the exception of The Who, Bellowhead are surely the best live act in the country”.

Of course, ever since the first gathering in 1982, WOMAD has been a byword for musical discovery, a place where a performance by a hitherto unknown artist may prove to be as enthralling as that by one of the headliners. This approach is upheld again this year, with your new favourite artist possibly among these Charlton Park performers…

47SOUL Palestinian, Jordanian and Syrian collective with plenty of region-specific groove and who are very reminiscent of past WOMAD favourites Orchestre National de Barbes.

Acholi Machon A band of former freedom fighters from the Acholi tribe of northern Uganda who’ve traded in their rifles for thumb pianos.

Aurelio From a coastal village in Honduras comes the engaging troubadour Aurelio Martinez. His most recent record Landini (on the Real World label) was one of the top three albums of 2014 in the Sunday Times Culture magazine.

Banda Magda Musically promiscuous bunch of New Yorkers who venture stylistically

[●] Bellowhead

[●] Osaka Monaurail 3

[●] Banda Magda

[●] Shantel & Bucovina

[●] Swindle

[●] ESKA

from Brazil to Greece, via Colombia, Peru and France. Comedian Louis CK is among their admirers.

Dona Onete Veteran Brazilian singer (and history professor) who cut her first record at the grand old age of 73.

ESKA Zimbabwe-born Londoner whose extraordinarily soulful voice has the likes of Lauren Laverne and Jamie Cullum queuing up to heap praise on her.

Ester Rada Intriguing Tel Aviv-based soul/R&B diva who also draws deeply from her Ethiopian heritage.

Kim Churchill

[●] Tinariwen

Sandpaper-voiced blues-folk troubadour from Canberra.

L’Hijâz’Car Open-eared French quintet whose string-led North African/Mediterranean soundscapes are further coloured by some sharp jazz sensibilities.

Molotov Jukebox Boisterous outfit from London Town who play (what they call) ‘gystep’ and who are fronted by Game Of Thrones star Natalia Tena.

Orange Blossom Absorbing, North African-flavoured trip-hop/rock collision from the beating heart of Paris.

Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp

Swiss-based collective with an ear for the experimental. The crossroads where the music of contemporary Europe intersects with the music of contemporary Africa.

Osaka Monaurail Sharply dressed multi-membered outfit from Osaka who speak the international language of super-tight funk.

Sagapool Beautifully widescreen sounds from this Montreal six-piece who reach well beyond their native Quebec for musical inspiration.

Sona Jobarteh Tradition-busting female kora virtuoso – a truly next-generation griot.

Swindle (LIVE) Young South London multiinstrumentalist/producer and purveyor of Gilles Peterson-approved, jazzflavoured dubstep.

WOMAD isn’t just about the weekend, though. For those early birds arriving on site ahead of the rest, Thursday night offers some exclusive treats. Shantel & Bucovina Club Orkestar is the scintillating, smileinducing brainchild of Frankfurt DJ/ remixer Shantel, who puts Balkan brass band music through the electronic mincer. The Kala Chetena Kathakali Company present the senses-pleasing amalgam of music, theatre and dance that is the sacred Indian kathakali art form. And there’s the traditional curtain-raising collaboration between

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Arts & Entertainment

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the UK’s coolest festival WOMAD

[●] Dona Onete

[●] Ester Rada

[●] Ester Rada

[●] Luke Vibert

[●] Kim Churchill

[●] Kala Chetena Kathakali

local Malmesbury schoolchildren and some top-flight musicians – this year the latter are represented by Tomorrow's Warriors, whose massed horns evangelically push the gospel of jazz.

This is a mere taste of what’s to come at WOMAD Charlton Park 2015. Just watch this space…

WOMAD is a feast of culture.

Apart from experiencing the hottest musicians and inspiring new talent from around the world there is always much more to discover throughout the festival.

There is the popular Taste the World stage where some of the artists will show off their cooking prowess and Taste The World Restaurant will

[●] Molotov Jukebox

[●] L'Hijaz'Car

lay on sumptuous spreads of local, seasonal and completely natural food from all around the globe.

The All Singing All Dancing Tent will make a welcome return with firm favourites; the early-bird yoga sessions, sabar dance lessons and Japanese taiko drumming. In World Rhythms you can drum to your hearts content with the best drummers from around the world and listen to the musician very own inspirational stories.

The World of Wellbeing, located throughout Charlton Park’s lush arboretum, offers an oasis of treatments, therapies, discussions, workshops and spaces to simply get

[●] Bellowh Molotov Jukebox

away from the bustle of the main arena. And for those who fancy a luxurious moment to themselves and a scrub up, the WOMAD spa, complete with treatments, spa pools, sauna, boundless showers and a cocktail bar, is the place to go.

WOMAD’s World of Art will once more see invited artists use the entire festival site as a giant canvass on which to create specially commissioned pieces and the World of Words to debate and discuss the things that matter in the world we live in.

Festivalgoers can experience the sights, smells and tastes of the festival’s diverse food traders, shop til they drop in the Global Market

or simply enjoy the vintage rides at Carter’s Original Steam Fair.

The dedicated kids zone World of Kids will be bursting with things to see with the usual wideranging programme of workshops, entertainment and activities around the theme Myths, Legends and Folktales from around the world. On Sunday afternoon the much-loved

[●] L'Hijaz'Car

Children’s Parade, one of the festival highlights, will wind its way through the festival site. WOMAD continues its well established place as the best festival for the whole family, by allowing all children 13 years and under, in for free. www.womad.co.uk WOMAD – The World’s Festival

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| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Feature

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| The place is Johannesburg. The year is 2014. And it’s a hot, hot summer By staff reporter Yolandi is listening to rap rave music and helping her brother bust parts from her teacher’s car. Thandi is swotting for her exams and trying to keep away from any distractions.

In the stifling heat, the lives of these two teenagers collide.

Downing Klipdrift brandy, they create an alliance away from everything and everyone else – their parents, their history and the violence.

As the thunder threatens to strike, the real world crashes in and the two youngsters question what they can achieve. They wait for the rain

that will give them the chance to be washed new, to grow and to create their own paths.

With Adelayo Adedayo (Some Girls ‘BBC’, Skins ‘C4’) as Thandi and Samantha Colley (The Crucible ‘Old Vic’) as Yolandi, this is a beautiful coming of age story that will remind us of the decisions we faced in our teens and the irrepressible, adolescent struggle against the status quo.

It’s a true celebration of youth.

Jessica Siân grew up in the immediate backlash of Apartheid.

The sentiment that you can move forward – and that the past doesn’t have to hang heavy around your

neck – is important to her.

This play is a window into an urban African childhood.

The production by Rive Productions is supported by the Arts Council, Unity Theatre Trust and the South African Theatre Season in the UK. Date: 13 May – 6 June Time: Monday – Saturday 8pm, Saturday matinees 3.30pm Place: Southwark Playhouse, 77­85 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BD Tickets: www. southwarkplayhouse.co.uk, 020 7407 0234 Price: £18, £16 (conc.)

Introducing Flagd: The Work Availability App For Contractors And Recruiters

| Recruitment is a massive industry, but even with the number of job sites around, there still doesn’t seem to be a clear and easy way for recruiters and contractors to connect without the inevitable crossing of wires person into the right role.

Here’s how it works: The contractor • Creates a profile showing their location, job title and skills.

• Sets their current availability on a calendar.

By staff reporter This was the very issue that inspired web and app development team, Lab19 Digital, to create Flagd: a work availability app that connects the right contractors with the right recruiters at the right time.

Flagd provides up-to-date availability information. What this means is that contractors now have a way to receive only the job notifications for roles that are relevant for them and when they are available for work, and recruiters have a way to find up-to-date lists

of available, skilled contractors.

It’s a tool aimed at helping both sides. It’s about streamlining the communication process, and ultimately, saving a large amount of time, resources and frustration when it comes to getting the right

The recruiter • Creates job alerts (Flags) based on specific job titles, skill sets and available dates.

• Browses through lists of available contractors, flagging the ones that are most suited for the role.

Contractors will only appear in searches for their particular job titles, skill sets and available dates, and recruiters will see only those contractors that are available at the specified time and with the specified skills. Simple.

Version 1 of the app has recently gone live and is available for anyone to use. The app already boasts just over 550 users and is growing daily. So far, feedback has been good and users have found the site to be user-friendly, and the app a simple tool that addresses a very real frustration for a lot of people.

Flagd co-founder and product designer, Dave McMillan, had this to say about the creation of Flagd: “Building apps and working to create products that are forward thinking and hit the nail on the head is what we do. It’s what drives us to stay on top of new developments in the technical world and create a working environment that stimulates the birthing of great ideas. This,

we believe, is what lead us to the creation of Flagd. We came across a real issue in our own working lives and got to work on a product that would serve to solve this. We love the product so far and are excited about where it can go. Flagd is still in its early stages, and we welcome you to try it out and send us any feedback or concerns you may have. Also, catch us on Twitter at @ getflagd to keep up with our latest news and developments.”

Lab19 Digital is a team of web and app development specialists based in both the UK and South Africa.

The team has found that working as a tight knit development team that harnesses the skills of experts across the globe (London and South Africa, to be precise), has put them in a great position to stay on top of best technologies and create products that are relevant and effective. The company partners with clients to build cutting-edge web products on tried and tested platforms, focussing on technologies such as Ruby on Rails, WordPress, HTML5, UX & UI Design, Parse, AngularJS, KnockoutJS, Responsive Design, HTML Emails, Facebook Apps, Native Apps and SEO. Flagd: www.flagd.com Lab19 Digital: www.lab19digital. com

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Food

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Spur to launch new concept restaurant at Savoy Cinema Corby | Spur is deeply engrained in every South African’s childhood and a great place to visit when you’re feeling a little bit homesick. Savoy Cinema Corby will soon be the location for Spur’s brand new RBW restaurant by staff reporter Ribs, burgers and wings… that’s what the heart wants. And RBW stands for exactly that.

As a newcomer to the eating out scene, it’s a brand new concept from the Spur Group. Launched in South Africa in 1967, Spur Group has numerous restaurants around the world, including the popular Spur Steak & Grill restaurants in the UK and Ireland.

Corby is the launch venue for RBW this June, and its Director, David Maich, looks forward to the Savoy opening: “We’re thrilled to be coming to Corby. This is very

exciting for us – a brand new cinema site for our brand new restaurant.

Tender ribs, legendary burgers and sticky buffalo wings are what we do well and they’ll be the core of our Corby offer.”

Along with ribs, burgers and wings there’ll be other great options including salads, delicious sides and desserts, with a drinks list including craft beers and great wines from South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina.

Savoy Cinema’s managing director James Collington said: “We’re thrilled to have RBW from the Spur Group coming to the cinema site, completing the

trio of restaurants and perfectly complementing the other restaurants on-site – Nando’s and Prezzo. There will be a diverse choice of food on the complex, offering cinema goers a one-stop-shop for a great day or evening out.”

RBW will be a warm, casual and welcoming place to eat, with seating for 90, plus outdoor tables in summer. Open until late, with greattasting food at affordable prices from £5.95 for a generous eat-in burger, offering a eat in or takeaway option.

Website: www.RBWSpur.co.uk Place: RBW Corby Leisure Quarter, Corby Town Centre, Corby NN17 1QG

Cooking With Chef Petrus | Spiced Nuts | Do you love buying spiced nuts from your local supermarket? Good news! It’s really easy to make your own! Give it a go

by Petrus Madutlela These are great for pre-dinner snacks, parties or as nibbles to enjoy while you chill in front of the TV. The sweet and spicy flavour combination is quite addictive and will also give you a healthy nutritional boost, thanks to unsaturated fats, proteins and vitamin E. Spiced nuts 500g mixed unsalted nuts (you can include peanuts, brazil nuts, walnuts, macadamias, hazelnuts, whole almonds, cashews).

1 tsp mild curry powder 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1tsp smoked paprika 1tsp cayenne pepper 75ml sherry vinegar 1 tbsp sunflower oil 70g caster sugar salt and pepper

Method Preheat the oven to 160°C fan, 180°C, Gas 4. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment paper.

Add the sunflower oil, vinegar and sugar to a bowl. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.

Whisk in the spices, and seasoning to taste.

Add the nuts to the spice mixture and mix together until evenly coated.

Tip the nuts out onto the lined baking sheet and roast in the oven for 7 minutes, then turn them over and roast for a further 8 – 10 minutes.

Allow to cool on the tray. These nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

10

| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Travel

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

My travels in India: Exploring New Delhi

| The sun is only just peeking over the horizon but I’m already exploring the streets of New Delhi. The golden hour, after sunrise, is a great time for viewing the architecture of India’s capital

[●] All images by Stuart Foster

by Stuart Foster The morning sunlight paints the stone of India Gate amber. Looking up, I read some of the 13,218 names inscribed on the 42 metre tall arch, designed by Sir Edwin Luytens. It was unveiled as the All India War Memorial by Lord Irwin, the British Viceroy, in 1931.

Delhi, of course, has a far longer history. Still within the boundaries of New Delhi, at the Purana Qila, I am at an ancient fortress that overlooks the River Yamuna and Archaeologists excavated Painted Grey Ware pottery from the site, indicating people lived here more than 3,000 years ago.

I stride onwards to Humayan’s Tomb, the mausoleum of the powerful emperor who died in 1556. The elegant symmetry leaves me in no doubt as to why the tomb is regarded as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I then visit Safdarjung’s Tomb, built as the

resting place for an influential 18th century statesman. Both are topped by vast cupolas and set within welltended gardens. I’ve come to see the historic monuments but Delhiites dressed in loose-fitting sports gear are here for morning powerwalks.

Countless informal cricket matches are underway by the time I’m on

Rajpath, the broad avenue running between India Gate and the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President of India’s official residence. “Ball! Ball!” cries a lad as a tennis ball rolls by my feet.

I chuck it back to the bowler and the game resumes.

Ahead I see the star-topped Jaipur Column rising in front of the domed,

governmental buildings at the heart of Luytens’ Delhi. That term honours the chief architect of the project to design New Delhi, though two of the grandest edifices, the Secretariat buildings, were actually the work of Sir Herbert Baker. Inscriptions record that were gifts from South Africa and New Zealand.

By the ornate gates of the Rashtrapati Bhavan an aged Indian man with smiling eyes proudly tells me the building is the largest residence of any head of state in the world. He urges me to take a rickshaw to Gandhi Smirti, where Mahatma Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life. “The Martyr’s Column marks the spot where the father of our nation breathed his last,” he says with a look of sadness.

First though, I head to the Jantar Mantar, to view the 13 vast, intensely photogenic astronomical instruments designed so Maharaja Jai Singh II could make detailed observations in the early 18th century.

At the Lotus Temple – the Baha’i

House of Worship designed by Fariborz Sahba, I join the throng of people staring with wonder at the flower-like design of the structure then spend a few minutes within the cool interior, looking towards the nine-pointed star at the centre of the ceiling. Hailing a rickshaw I negotiate a price for the ride to the Laxminarayan Temple, which was constructed shortly after the inauguration of New Delhi and ceremonially opened by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939. After taking a look at the frescoes inside I decide to take a walk in gardens.

thesouthafrican.com | 19 —26 May 2015 | Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/thesouthafrican

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Travel

12

| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Business

Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

after effects of the UK election on the Rand | After the UK elections, the Pound strengthened against all major currencies US Dollar relationship continue to be an interesting pair to watch and according to Thomas Reuters data, the Rand has gained close to 3% against the Dollar in May. For the third time in six months, China’s cut in interest rates has

By 1st contact We continue to see the after effects of the UK elections on the weakening Rand against the Pound and last week proved to be a prime time for South Africans to transfer Pounds back home. The Rand and

put emerging currencies under pressure and this caused the Rand to slip last Monday. On Tuesday morning, we saw a spike in the GBP-ZAR rate when the Rand weakened, rising to a rate of 19.00.

The Rand was still under pressure

ECB Monetary Policy Meeting on Thursday will likely affect the Euro as an overview of financial market, economic and monetary developments will be put forward.

What to look out for this week?

More data releases on Wednesday related to interest rates after the UK election, which will possibly affect the movement of the Rand again. The data release of the

Need to send money to

South Africa?

| The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is one of the most advantageous immigration categories for business persons looking to use the UK as a springboard to the rest of Europe

By Breytenbachs

Do it with us, and benefit all the way

The UK Government developed the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Immigration Category in order to attract entrepreneurs from all over the world, to start, take over or get actively involved in the running of businesses in the UK, and in the process boost the UK economy.

As it was specifically created with the needs of an entrepreneur in mind, it is proving to be a very attractive immigration route for international business persons wanting to do business in the European market using the United Kingdom as a springboard.

The category offers many benefits to the successful applicant and has many advantages compared to most other UK immigration categories.

In order to qualify you will have to have £200,000 of your own money available to invest in a business in the UK. Money may be included from a third party that is available to you or the business you are running. Alternatively, the UK government will allow highpotential businesses to come to the UK with £50,000 in funding from a reputable organisation (An FSA registered venture capitalist firm, UK Government department or an entrepreneurial seeding competition recognised by UK Trade and Investment). The good news is that you will also be allowed to enter the UK with a business partner, as long as you both have access to the joint funds. Therefore both you and your business partner and your respective families can take benefit of this opportunity relying on the same funds.

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against the US Dollar, weakening by 0.48% to 12.13. After the release of poor economic data from the US on Thursday, the Rand reached an overnight high of USD-ZAR: 11.7820. Later on Friday morning, the Rand’s streak had a change in direction weakening to USD-ZAR: 11.80.

26/03/2015 11:31

It is possible to switch into the Tier 1 Entrepreneur category from various other immigration categories from within the UK. In such cases, there are different criteria for attributes that an applicant has to fulfil, depending on the category from which the applicant is switching.

Some of the advantages of this immigration category include: • Entrepreneurs may be able to settle sooner should the applicant manage to create 10 jobs (for example three job positions during the first year, three during the second and four during the third year) or have a turnover of £5 million in 3 years.

• They will also enjoy flexibility regarding settlement, as they can spend up to 180 days in any 12-month period outside the UK without affecting their right to settle in the UK. • Their partners and dependent children may join them in the UK, and work without restriction.

To find out more about this immigration category, or to determine whether you might qualify, please contact your BIC consultant today. www.bic-immigration.com or info@ bic-immigration.com

13

thesouthafrican.com | 19 —26 May 2015 |

Business: Classifieds

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SERVICES

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BREYTENBACHS BIC specialise in entry clearance applications as well as applications submitted in the UK, so please contact us without further delay at info@bic-immigration.com or visit our website for the contact details of our offices.

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1st Contact Visas advises clients on all aspects of UK Immigration and Nationality, including ancestry, work permits, marriage and family visas, ILR and British Passports.

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14

| 19 —26 May 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Promotions

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Portsmouth Circumcision Centre provides specialist circumcision services for religious or cultural reasons | Discover the latest developments in circumcision treatment

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By staff reporter

uncomfortable for the child.

There are recognised religious, social, and medical reasons to recommend circumcision, but most high ranking medical societies have taken an “impartial” view of the procedure, neither recommending nor renouncing the practice.

Professional Circumcision Service PCC’s aim is to provide you with the best possible service with peace of mind that you are in safe hands.

An initial consultation is offered, where detailed explanation of the procedure is given. If seen fit for surgery this will be done at the same visit. There is no charge if the patient is deemed unfit for surgery.

Why you should consider circumcision?

Circumcision may result in a lower incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and may reduce HIV transmission. Circumcision may lower the risk for cancer of the cervix in sexual partners.

Circumcision may decrease the risk for cancer of the penis. There is still no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision of the newborn.

What does Portsmouth Circumcision Centre Offer?

The services cover all ages from newborn to adults. They select the best possible circumcision procedure according to specifics of every patient. Both pre and postoperative care is provided as well as consultations as to ensure that every patient and their family get the best possible treatment.

Why you should use PCC (Portsmouth Circumcision Centre)?

1. All procedures are carried out in our local medical centre, Portsmouth clinic 2. They operate from a fully equipped minor operating room 3. Performed under sterile conditions 4. Using only disposable instruments 5. Safe and painless procedure 6. In-depth and procedural information is given to those seeking treatment 7. Pre-operative assessment, dedicated telephone and in-depth aftercare instructions is provided 8. Post-operative follow up at day 7-10 9. Final optional follow-up after 3 months 10. They are constantly researching and using the latest methods available in medicine 11. Only centre in the UK to use Alisklamp PCC advises circumcisions to be carried out in appropriate facilities such as recommended clinics. Some patients do request home visits but this is not ideal due to any medical emergencies that could occur.

Covering all age groups It is advisable to carry out baby circumcision soonest after birth, this is usually day seven onwards.

The earlier the better, and less

Group Bookings Available PCC can also do group bookings, and if required, they can come to you using appropriate facilities.

PCC’s Lead Clinician is Dr Ruhin Karim, who is a fully qualified GP, Consultant Family Physician, and a Circumcision Expert. He is registered to practice in the UK, Canada, and Dubai.

He attends circumcision training and meetings around the world, and obtains knowledge and experience, incorporating the latest developments and offers his patients the most advanced procedures that are available.

Dr Ruhin Karim is a specialist circumcision provider for religious and cultural reasons. This is a male only service.

Who are the people mainly looking to use this?

Males whose religious background requires circumcision, as many cultures perceive this to be a cultural norm.

What makes this service unique?

Dr Karim is the National Trainer at the Centre of Excellence for the AlisKlamp, which was developed in Turkey, and the only doctor in the UK using this technique.

He uses the latest developments in the world of circumcision. He provides a full package of care with routine review at one week and three months for check-ups and peace of mind.

To find out more about fees, visit www. portsmouthcircumcisioncentre. co.uk Contact information: Portsmouth Circumcision Centre, Middle Park Medical Centre, 15 Middle Park Way, Havant, Hampshire PO9 4AB Tel: 023 9216 2200 Mob: 0779 37 52746 Email: info@ portsmouthcircumcisioncentre.co.uk

15

thesouthafrican.com | 19 —26 May 2015 |

Sport

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Getting In2Touch with the players | Ever since O2Touch started in London and all across the globe, individuals have been coming forward to play a sport that combines a competitive sport, but provides so much more to those who get involved in the massive social aspect touch has to offer

By In2touch London is a popular place for individual players who have mainly come to work in the Capitol.

Touch Rugby provides people of all abilities, ages and gender the opportunity to join in, play a sport that is easy to learn and meet others who are in the same position as them. Beginners and past rugby players are welcome to play in either the socially or competitive leagues (mixed, men’s or ladies grades).

Touch also brings people together and has formed many friendships that will last a lifetime.

Across all six venues in London, teams have been setup solely of individuals who have expressed their interest to play touch rugby.

You may have a group of friends that have wanted to play, but may not have enough to make a complete team. Not to worry, the staff at O2Touch can assist you and add others to your group to make a full team.

“Having just moved to London, I really wanted to get involved and play some sort of sport, just to enjoy the summer during the week.

I really liked how easy it was to sign up and then be put in a team.

All I had to do was turn up and play and I really enjoyed the people and social aspect that IN2Touch has in London. Providing the teams with a food voucher after their games is a fantastic way to get to know the people, not only your team but the teams others too,” said Jay ChouLee, London individual O2Touch player.

The spring season has almost completed its eight weeks, but don’t worry. O2Touch has its Summer League starting in June 2015. So if you’d like to get active, here's how you can enjoy the summer a little more. Make sure to sign up and register online as an individual or a group. The O2Touch staff will be on hand to get you out and onto the field in no time.

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Sport page 15

Getting In2Touch with the players

issue: 617

19 - 26 May 2015

Senatla and Kok nominated as 2015 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year

[●] Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images

by saru Leading try-scorer on the 2014/15 HSBC Sevens World Series, Seabelo Senatla and regular Tournament Dream Team member Werner Kok have both been nominated for the 2015 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Award, in association with HSBC. This announcement, made by World Rugby on Sunday evening, caps off a

[●] Photo by Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

memorable season for the Springbok Sevens duo, who alongside fellow team member Kwagga Smith, was also named in the Series Dream Team after the completion of the final tournament in London.

Kok and Senatla were nominated with Fijian ace Semi Kunatani, with the trio voted for by the management teams of the 15 core sides who compete at all nine rounds of the World Series. Kok ended the season as the

leading tackler of all players and also scored 23 tries.

Senatla finished the season as the leading try scorer with 47 tries and has scored two of this year’s fans’ favourites, as well as scoring in both of South Africa’s Cup final victories in Dubai and Port Elizabeth.

Should one of Kok or Senatla walk away with the honours later this year, they will follow in the footsteps of Cecil Afrika, who won the prestigious

award in 2011.

Senatla was humbled by the nomination, but added: "It would have been more special had the team achieved the series win, because that is what it was all about. The team was solid all year and my personal achievements come from the team.

The credit should go to them and our management."

Kok agreed: "They were there all the way and brought the energy and

effort and that made me the best player I could be. It is still a great honour for me."

The three players are the first World Rugby Award nominees to be announced in 2015 with all awards to be presented at the World Rugby Awards dinner on 1 November following the Rugby World Cup 2015 final in England.

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