The South African 18 - 24 March 2014

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18 - 24 March 2014

Issue 557

ANC INTRODUCES NEW BILL AS GUISE FOR LAND EXPROPRIATION

| The Investment Bill of 2013 threatens to infringe on any and all private property rights in South Africa, as the ANC tries to push for wide-ranging land reform measures before the 7 May 2014 elections

INSIDE:

by sertan sanderson A new bill is in the process of being introduced with the intention to contravene existing ownership rights of business operators and land owners across South Africa.

Misleadingly named the “Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill of 2013″ – or Investment Bill in short – the act can be seen as a step towards land expropriation as part of the ongoing public discourse on land reform.

The details of the bill appear to be worded in a vague fashion while deliberately minimising property rights currently held by land owners under the Expropriation Act of 1975. The changes to legislation would affect land and business owners alike, threatening to violate ownership claims whenever the state wanted to take over property while claiming any kind of public interest as a justification. The new bill would inadvertently lead to a repeal of the existing Expropriation Act. Until now, every person owning land in SA was guaranteed full compensation if any such kind of expropriation were to take place, meaning an immediate payout of the market value of the property in question plus compensation for consequential future losses, all on account of the original owners of the private property no longer being able to use their erstwhile land for investment.

However, the new “Investment Bill” stipulates that owners will in future be paid out less than market value, without any stipulations made in regards to consequential losses. The new act also specifies that any such payout would be undertaken “in a timely manner” effectively voiding any entitlement for bank interest on outstanding compensation payments after the expropriation were to take place.

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This would put claimants firmly at the mercy of the whims of government bureaucrats, who have a track record of sometimes taking years to process any claims.

Another crucial clause in the Investment Bill also makes sure that certain actions undertaken by the state aimed at claiming ownership over previously privately-owned land would ‘not amount to acts

of expropriation’ – meaning zero compensation or payout in these cases. This would particularly affect land owners, who might – knowingly or unknowingly – have access to natural resources or minerals on their properties – even applying to the smallest plots.

According to this clause, the state would now be able to take action over privately-owned land

in the form of a “custodian” or “conduit”. Under this provision, the government could, for example, install a coal mine or an oil well on any plot of land while not claiming a takeover in official ownership rights of the grounds in question.

This clause is designed deliberately to give the government leeway to avoid having to pay any level of compensation at all. In such a

scenario, land owners could end up getting nothing at all from the state.

The controversial bill was gazetted by the Department of Trade and Industry last November and was subsequently open to public comment until the end of January this year, making it likely to be made law before the elections to the National Assembly in May. When the bill is signed into law, it could be used to justify many different forms of expropriation, particularly in a bid to nationalise private mining firms and speed up land reform processes.

The Investment Bill will apply to both foreign and domestic investors alike, with the term “investor” referring to ownership and not to commercial or agricultural value of land being used. In other words, it affects owners of diamond mines and allotment gardeners alike.

Within this context it is also important to point out how the Investment Bill might interact with and endorse the upcoming Restitution Bill (officially called the “Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill of 2013”), which the ANC government is likely to push through parliament ahead of the upcoming general elections, after failing previous attempts to introduce expropriation legislature. ...continued on page 2

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Kgalema Motlanthe and Trevor SA bill to be introduced as guise Manuel bid farewell to Parliament for expropriation measures | South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe ...continued from page 1

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With no money to process an expected 379,000 new land redistribution claims until the end of 2018 under the Restitution Bill, the Investment Bill could help tide over the government in its land reform schemes, for which the treasury is lacking over R175 billion under the current legislation.

Put simply, if land is taken over by the state as a “custodian” under the Investment Bill and then passed on to land claimants under the Restitution Bill, compensation for previous owners could be declared null and void, greatly reducing the government’s need to allocate funds to land reform measures.

The Institute of Race Relations commented on the draft of the Restitution Bill as a measure

DA and ANC clash over billboards… again

| The ANC accuses the DA of playing dirty after another billboard campaign appears across Gauteng blaming the ruling party for the current electricity shortage in South Africa by sertan sanderson

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intended to “spell the end of private property rights in South Africa.”

“We believe that the Government and the African National Congress are preparing the ground to seize private property and distribute it to poor communities if and when they feel the need to do so. That time will come when the political pressure on the ANC is so great that it fears losing a future election.”

In conclusion, it appears that the Investment Bill has nothing to do with protecting anyone’s investment but is rather a direct measure to speed up expropriation and land redistribution, without any compensation for the present land owners needed to be considered. It could be the death knell for private property in South Africa altogether.

THE Democratic Alliance (DA) ruffled some feathers over the weekend when billboards appeared across Gauteng sarcastically remarking on Eskom’s resumption of load shedding, blaming the practice on the ANC. The billboards were put up by the DA ahead of the general elections to draw attention to South Africa’s energy management issues.

The main opposition party had previously caused controversy last year, when it erected similar billboards criticising the introduction of E-tolls on Gauteng’s freeways. In both instances, the punchline of the short message reads, “Proudly brought to you by the ANC”, attacking these policies under the current government’s rule.

The ANC has released statements expressing their ongoing disapproval of these campaigns.

With regard to the current billboard campaign, the ANC said, “They [the DA] will stop at nothing to use anything for election purposes but the good thing is the people can see through them. They aren’t helping the country find solutions to the problem.”

When approached for direct comment, ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu scoffed off the incident, declining comment with the following remark: “We don’t speak about other people’s billboards.

We’ve got our own.”

That being said, the ANC has threatened to approach the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) with an official complaint regarding these campaigns, accusing the DA of partaking in mere publicity stunts and alleging that the billboards threaten the integrity of the democratic process ahead of this year’s elections.

The DA’s main bone of contention with load shedding is the government’s delay in building

new power-plants for the country, following earlier ANC promises.

The party hopes to draw attention to the problem with the contentious billboard campaign.

However, the DA has also stated that under its national governance the party’s own solution to the problem would lie in privatising the energy market and thus creating a competitive marketplace in which various companies could offer energy products. The party said that it would also seek to revoke bonuses paid out to Eskom directors, amounting to a total of R31 million, and has launched an online petition to bring the issue to public attention.

Some DA members have also criticised South Africa’s continuing obligation to sell electricity to neighbouring African countries; however, according to Eskom statistics, this would only amount to less than 6 per cent of SA’s electricity output in total. The DA has alleged that this 6 per cent difference would have been able to close the majority of the gap in the domestic landscape when electricity was forcibly switched off for several hours in most urban areas across the country last week.

The reason for the current load shedding schedule is reported to unusable wet coal following major rainfall and flooding across Gauteng and Mpumalanga earlier this month. The last such load shedding schedule took place in 2008, causing major disruptions across South Africa as well as creating a measurable economic backlash in its aftermath.

To avoid being accused of handling South Africa’s energy resources recklessly itself, the DA made sure that its notorious billboards weren’t powered by electricity but instead use a glow-in-the-dark technology to continue provoking the political establishment throughout the night.

and National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel have retired from government and Parliament.

by staff reporter The Parliament of South Africa said goodbye to Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and National Planning Minister Trevor Manuel in an emotional session in the National Assembly in Cape Town on Tuesday. The two are retiring from government and Parliament this year.

Motlanthe retires after serving as South Africa’s Deputy President from 2009. He was promoted to President of the country in 2008, just months after being appointed minister without portfolio in the Presidency.

Manuel was appointed Trade and Industry Minister after the first democratic elections in the country in 1994. Two years later, on 4 April 1996, he was appointed Finance Minister, a position he held until the April 2009 general election, making him one of the world’s longest serving finance ministers.

On 11 May 2009, President Jacob Zuma appointed Manuel as Minister in the Presidency responsible for the National Planning Commission.

He has been instrumental in the development of the country’s National Development Plan (NDP).

During Tuesday’s session, MPs hailed the two for their dedication to public service.

Mixed emotions “[F]or me, this is a moment laden with mixed emotions,” Motlanthe said in his response. “For one thing, I am disconsolate for parting ways with members of the party I come from, the African National Congress (ANC). You will know that my presence in this House is attributable to the ANC, which has, for all this time, been my extended family.”

He reflected on his journey to the highest office in the country, when he took over after the recalling of former president Thabo Mbeki.

“No sooner had we disarmed Afropessimists with a smooth transition to democracy, than this difficult historical period emerged – seen in some quarters as sounding a death knell to our nation. Those less given to hyperbole saw our country as being on the cusp of a new era, the contours of which, though, were as yet indistinct. In the event, we proved the doomsayers wrong.”

Turning to his experience in the

National Assembly, Motlanthe said he was leaving the chamber with a clear understanding of political liberalism, conservatism, nationalism and socialism.

“While bare-knuckle engagements were par for the course, with bruising exchanges that went beyond the pale not uncommon, I have found this House to be an epicentre of rational and levelheaded discourse that left many bloodied but unbowed. I dare say, at the end, we are all the richer for it.

“Our system of democracy is ultimately about creating a multi-vocal society, thriving on irreconcilable ideological differences, none of which, paradoxically, can survive without the other.”

While he was sad to be leaving Parliament and government, Motlanthe said it was time to hand over the reins to younger hands and minds.

“The truth is our nation is replete with luminous talent. Not only that, at some point serving leadership must give way, so that new blood, fired up with life-changing ideas, can take society to a higher level of development,” said Motlanthe who is tipped to head up the political school of the ANC. Going forward, he said the country needed to consolidate the principle of social dialogue as a central building block of nationhood.

“Right now, South Africa [needs] bold visionaries, whose sights transcend the frontiers of time. The imperatives of our time enjoin this august House to rise above beguiling but small-minded discourse adorned with rhetorical embroidery to think realistically about the future of our nation.”

‘A journey of discovery’ For his part, Manuel said his journey in government and Parliament had left him wiser.

“Twenty years has been a journey of discovery and learning, of getting to know myself, my colleagues and comrades, understanding our country and the world,” Manuel said. “There were discoveries of the many possibilities and of where the boundaries were and of how to push back those boundaries. Through all of those experiences, I leave here wiser and richer.”

He said his time in government and Parliament had brought with it many lessons in many different forms.

“I have had the privilege to be part of that first Parliament that included people in this House still who served with me, inspired me, supported me, reprimanded when required and enriched my experience.”

Parliament will take a recess starting on Thursday, ending its fiveyear-term, and will reconvene after the general election in May. Source: SAnews.gov.za

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Oscar Pistorius trial – a catalogue of police errors | During the second week of the Oscar Pistorius trial, evidence has come to light creating more questions over the quality of

the police work in the investigation, as well as the conditions South African police are expected to perform under. photo, but he explained it away by saying he was solely focused on investigating the angle that the cricket bat would have hit the door.

This came up again the next day as Roux continually quizzed Vermeulen on why he did not investigate the whereabouts of these wood chips or another specific mark on the door that the defence propose came from Pistorius kicking the door with his prosthetic legs.

By Charlotte Tobitt At the start of Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial, there were murmurs of speculation over what we might learn about the South African police system, based on what former investigating officer Hilton Botha’s admissions at last year’s Oscar Pistorius bail hearing.

We heard from several experts this week, including one of the first officers on the scene and a forensics analyst, who confirmed fears that things were not done as they should have been.

From Wednesday, when the reconstructed bathroom door first appeared in court, until today (Friday), Barry Roux, defence, has pressed witnesses on what the police did wrong in an attempt to ruin the state’s case.

Treatment of the door There is allegedly a “significant” mark on the door that can only have happened while in police custody. This is worrying if it means a key piece of evidence was not treated carefully, but we already knew this to an extent: Colonel van Rensburg retired in

late 2013 after it emerged that he kept the door in his office instead of in a police evidence room for a week.

Roux asked forensic expert Colonel Johannes Vermeulen about some additional marks on the door, which appear to have been sustained while it was in police custody. All Vermeulen could do was defend himself by saying he was not the one looking after it.

This issue was addressed today as Van Rensburg explained his case that transporting the door in a body bag was the only suitable way under the circumstances and that his office was the safest place for it as he was the only one with a key.

Missing splinters from the door Before lunch on Wednesday, Vermeulen denied knowing what happened to some missing wood chips. After lunch, Roux showed a picture of the scene in which they were visible just behind the door. What’s more, Vermeulen was actually in this

Stolen watches Proceedings this morning were dominated by talk of expensive watches belonging to the accused, that were allegedly stolen from the crime scene by police officers.

Two reportedly went missing – one is estimated to be worth between R50,000 and R100,000 – and Van Rensburg summoned the police team to search their bags and cars. One was supposedly taken by Aimee, Pistorius’s sister, who came in and asked to take one for him to wear, but the other seems to have disappeared a few hours later with no explanation.

towards the sub-standard actions going on, and how he tried to introduce stricter measures at the scene including using so many forensic seals that they almost ran out.

However, Roux brought up questions of what the police disturbed at the scene, and said: “I think as an experienced policeman you would know not to interfere with the scene except to take photographs.”

It is alleged that the crime scene photos cannot be relied upon because evidence must have been moved according to disparities between pictures and original police statements. Roux followed this line of questioning for a long time on Friday, questioning why so many of the objects on

the scene appeared to have been shifted around.

24 hour+ shift Even after all this, perhaps at least the first two officers could be forgiven. Van Rensburg testified that he and his partner had been on duty for 24 hours when they arrived at Pistorius’s estate and they came straight from an armed robbery.

This is not an excuse, but it does shed some light onto the life of a South African police officer and raise questions over how well they can be expected to do their job in such conditions.

However, with so many things going wrong in police hands in such a high profile case, this begs the rather worrying question of what might be happening in more obscure cases.

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No gloves During Van Rensburg’s testimony, he mentioned that a ballistics expert at the scene touched Pistorius’s gun – cocking it and removing the magazine – without wearing gloves.

This seems like an amateur mistake that anyone who has watched a crime drama would avoid, but it remains to be seen if this so-called expert has or will be called out on his actions.

He simply said “sorry” when reproached by Van Rensburg.

Mistakes add up On top of everything else, Roux made a dig at the police by saying it would have been “fantastic” to have someone analyse the bloody footprints at the scene – something that just didn’t happen.

Van Rensburg testified for a long time this morning about the quality of the police work. He was keen to emphasise his anger

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South African Ladies Networking evening

by Ronel van zyl

Darling magazine and its editor Karine Torr hosted another of their popular South African Ladies Networking events at Konig Kitchens Showrooms in Wimbledon Village last week. Sardinian deli Vallebona provided wine and snacks and the guest speakers were Carey Kolver and Bill Monty of Sable Financial Services, the main sponsors of the evening. It was inspiring to hear from so many entrepreneurs and talented women in a variety of careers.

Win a ÂŁ20 Spur meal voucher

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Tannie Evita sê: Sy wat laaste lag, lag laaste

| Meneer Mandela en Meneer de Klerk kom toe na my, moedeloos en moeg. “Evita, doen iets!” pleit FW in ‘n fluister.

“Hoe kry jy ‘n oproerige bende kinders stil?” Geld? Gewere? Nee, kos! Soos ‘n bliksemstraal uit die hoogtes kom die Elke gesprek tussen die waardige idée: malfa poeding!

deur Pieter-Dirk Uys My ma het nooit grappe verstaan nie. Dit het haar so geïrriteer dat van haar vriendinne vir niks sommer aan die lag kon gaan nie. Sy’t maar net haar kop geskud en gesug: “Sy wat laaste lag, lag laaste.” Dus vra ek nou: het almal ‘n sin vir humor?

Voorbeeld Een: Wie onthou die Duif van Vryheid? Na ‘n deurmekaar geskiedenis van hoop en verwagtings, het die Afrikaner uiteindelik in 1961 sy droom sien verwesenlik . ‘n Republiek van Suid Afrika . Onafhanklik van ‘n vreemde Britse troon.

Selfbeslissing oor wat ons wil, wat ons kan en wat ons moet.

Kom ek neem julle terug na Bloemfontein op ‘n warm stil Saterdag laat-oggend. Almal wat iemand is in die hierargie van die Nasionale Party is daar.

Die blink swart Pontiacs en De Sotos en Chryslers staan in rye.

Die lang Staats Cadillac van die leier staan opsy, meer belangrik as al die ander. Hy staan op die podium voor die mikrofoon, voor die land, voor die wêreld. Almal is alreeds verwelkom. Daar was al FAK liedere gesing. Die hooggeplaasdes sit op die podium in ‘n ry agter die argitek van ons drome.

Mevrou alte deftig in haar geel jas en hoed, handskoene en handsak; Doktor, soos altyd, netjies in grys pak met donker blou das, sy silwer hare amper soos ‘n krans om sy kop. Nou weer gesond na die vreeslike aanval op hom deur David Pratt, daardie besete wit man met sy geweer. Ja-nee, die engele van Afrikanerdom het ons Eerste Minister beskerm.

Hasie en ek was in die ry stoele net onder die podium, tussen die gode op die Olympus van ons wit demokrasie en die paradegrond waar die militere dissiplines soos ‘n oorlogsbalet opgevoer is. My man was op die hoogste vlak van sy loopbaan: met twee portfeuljes in Dr Verwoerd se kabinet: Minister van Swart Behuising en Minister van Waterwese. En Hasie – slim Hasie – het sy twee departemente saamgesmelt deur ‘n swart woonbuurt binne in ‘n dam te bou.

Die hooftoespraak uit die mond van ons Nommer Een was vol deenis, vol sagte waardering vir wat die Volk reggekry het deur al die jare van loop en swoeg, hoop en ploeg. Die nuwe Republiek sou vir ‘n duisend jaar bestaan.

Vrede in die land. Almal gelukkig met huis, paleis; geen pondok of varkhok. Die swart tuislandroos was amper reg om te blom.

Afsonderlike ontwikkeling was die logiese stap vorentoe sonder verskoning, sonder verduideliking, sonder die Ingelse.

Die oomblik het aangebreek. Die

simbool van vryheid en ‘n sterk Christelike toekoms is versigtig tot op die podium gedra deur twee jong Suid-Afrikaners, wit seun en blas dogter. Tussen hulle die draadhokkie waarin die wit duif van vrede sit. Hulle staan voor Doktor Verwoerd. Hy glimlag.

Die nuwe kuiljie in sy wang in die plek waar Pratt se koëel ingedring het, laat hom jonger lyk. Hy sit albei sy hande in die hokkie, vou hulle om die warm lyfie van die duifie, lig dit uit en hou dit omhoog. Almal jubel en skree: “Ons Land! Ons Volk! Ons Toekoms! Ons Voël van Vrede!”

Dramaties gooi Doktor die duif in die lug, waar hy met flappende vlerke hoog oor die menigte sou seil in viering van die oomblik, ja, die simbool van ‘n goeie toekoms vir almal. Ek het egter die geveerde tydbom in Doktor se hande fyn dopgehou. Ek het nooit van duiwe gehou nie en sou altyd onthou hoe een van hulle in Kaapstad by die opening van die Parlement oor my gevlieg het en met ‘n druppende naarheid my pragtige wit hoed fataal bevlek het! Ek het gewonder of hierdie wit duif miskien familie was van daardie vorige koerende terroris.

En wragtig, skaars is die gedagte koud in my kop, of die droom word die nagmerrie!

Die astrante duif gaan sit wragtig op die paradegrond! Almal hyg uit skok en vernedering. Ek sien Doktor se o”e rek groter as wat hulle gerek het toe Pratt hom geskiet het. Tannie Betsie laat haar handsak val. Dit gaan oop en ‘n paar suiglekkertjies rol uit en val een vir een plop-plop-plop by die trappies af. Dit het geklink

soos geweerskote. Die duif staan en kyk rond. Eers op na Dokter, toe na die waperende oranjeblanje-blou vlae teen die helder Vrystaatse lug. Toe kyk hy my aan met daardie klein rot oë, stip in myne asof om te sê: Amandla!

Boer maak ‘n plan! Ek is met drie groot tree vorentoe, reg op die duif af. Sonder om eers te dink, met my regte voet, gee ek ‘n sterk skop onder sy dik agterent.

Met ‘n kwaai koer en geflap van vlerke tuimel die lui voel die lug in, strek sy vlerke uit en seil oor die menigte. Die applous en luide gejuig het my laat voel ek het die rugby wêreld-beker met ‘n strafskop gewen!

Soos branders in die see het die gelag uit die gepeupel gekom en gegaan. In retrospek, glad te lank.

Die vraag is nou: het almal vir dieselfde ding gelag? Ja. Sommige deeglike burgers het met ons gelag.

Sommige met liberale houdings het vir ons gelag. Groot verskil!

Voorbeeld Twee: malfapoeding.

Dit was nie veronderstel om oorspronklik ‘n geliefde nagereg te wees nie. Die unieke smaak van malfapoeding is destyds in die ou dae in die laboratorium van DENEL ontdek. Blykbaar het hulle daardie taai vloeistof gebruik om die vlerke van die vegvliegtuie waterdig te hou. Iemand het seker ‘n druppeltjie geproe en gedink: “Hel, dis lekker, maar seker giftig!” Hy’s toe gelukkig nie dood nie, net met ‘n baie taai mond huis toe gegaan! Na weke se werk het die slim manne

by DENEL die perfekte balans gevind – ‘n heerlike taaierige smakie net reg vir die soet palet.

Julle onthou natuurlik van CODESA en die maande van

stry en argumenteer, saamstem en uitloop tussen die ANC en die NP-regering? Hoe sou ons al die verskillende passies in ons politiek onder een dak kry om behoorlik en kalm die toekoms van ons land uit te werk tot almal se tevredenheid? En in die middel van die spanning, kom Eugene Terre-blanche en sy dikbeboude AWB nogal in ‘n geleende Jeep sommer dwarsdeur die glasventers van die sentrum waar ons almal vergader! Maggies, dit kon ‘n gemors afgegee het. Hulle was gewapen. Maar meer gevaarlik – hulle was boereseuns sonder brein, vies, kwaad, miskien ook dronk.

Vinnige en deeglike gepraat uit die geledere van die Nasionale Party en Constand Viljoen se Konserwatiewe Broeders het die rowwe goggas in toom gehou. Die NP en die ANC het maar weer gaan sit – en stadig maar seker is die CODESA-ossewa-op-soek-nadie-lafenis-van-‘n –demokratiesegrondwet weer aan die loop.

Behalwe vir die PAC. Wie onthou die Pan Africanist Congress? Nou is hulle net ‘n vae vergete briefhoof. Maar toe was hulle luidrigtig en morsig met hul gegil en gedans oor sogenaamde regte. Die reg om onluste te maak? Ja, vryheid van uitdrukking en spraak is goed en wel, maar hierdie lot het al die verrigtinge op hol gehad. En natuurlik daar was hulle voorbok, Patrica de Lille. Liewe aarde, ek kyk vandag na ons waardige, elegante Burgemeester van ons Moederstad en sien geen tekens van die oproermaker van destyds se dae nie. Maar as die mondstuk en bekfluitjie van die PAC het sy haar oproeriges chaoties gelei.

Mandela en koelkoppige FW is ontwrig deur die PAC se gekekkel en geskree.

Meneer Mandela en Meneer de Klerk kom toe na my, moedeloos en moeg. “Evita, doen iets!” pleit FW in ‘n fluister. “Hoe kry jy ‘n oproerige bende kinders stil?”

Geld? Gewere? Nee, kos! Soos ‘n bliksemstraal uit die hoogtes kom die idée: malfa poeding!

Maar nie die beroemde resep uit my eie kookboek nie. Waar was die oorsponklike kombinasie wat destyds in DENEL se werkswinkels aangepas is? Ek bel toe my man Hasie se hartsjirurg, Dokter Wouter Basson. “Waar kry ons daardie kombinasie, Dokter?”

Hy was ‘n man van min woorde, maar snelle dade. Hy faks my die geheime resep. Ek berei dit toe voor agter geslote deure.

“Patricia!” roep ek toe. “Kos is op die tafel!”

Soos ‘n swerm springkane pak die honger PAC-jeugdiges die bakkies malfa nagereg, nou ons wapen van massa ontwapening.

Ek, Meneer Mandela en Meneer de Klerk kruip weg agter ‘n swaar gordyn en hou hulle dop.

Toe hulle elkeen twee, tot drie bakkies verslind het en ook tipies die le”e bakkies in hulle plastiese supermark sakke gebêre het, was daar ‘n oomblik van tonge wat klap, lippe wat afgelek word. En toe geen geluid verder. Net ‘n gemompel!

“Amandla,” sug Meneer Mandela.

“Alla wereld,” hyg Meneer de Klerk.

“Dankie Wouter, jou ou kabouter,” flits deur my kop. Die ekstra-taai malfa poeding het al die lede van die oproerige bende se Bulgaarse valstande aanmekaar laat vassit. Vir drie dae was daar nie ‘n woord uit die monde van die PAC nie. Tot Patricia was tjoepstil! Die ANC en die NP kon nou saam met die ander partye in vrede sit en werk. En so, danksy daardie oomblik in ons geskiedenis toe malfapoeding die toekoms van ons land so radikaal verander het, sit ons vandag met daardie unieke grondwet wat die hele wêreld bewonder.

En jy vra: het almal ‘n sin vir humor? Al wat ek kan antwoord is, ja-nee – almal lag. Sommige lag vir iets; ander lag met iets. Dis so demokraties soos die stemreg.

Onthou dit hierdie jaar. Gebruik jou sin vir humor en stem vir wat jy wil hê. En so ook wat jy nie wil hê nie.

Toe my man Hasie weer moes gaan vir sy hart ondersoek, het ek net gefluister: “Hasie skat, as daardie Dokter Basson jou iets aanbied om te eet, sê maar liewers nee dankie. Met ‘n glimlag, hoor, anders is jy ook eersdaags iemand se nagereg!”

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| 18 - 24 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

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Felled by furry phobia or ‘Ek’s ‘n dapper muis’

| En route to the fridge for a glass of wine – movement – eye contact. There is a mouse in my house. “Petrieeeeeeeeee!!” I

scream, louder than my finest hour in childbirth.

The Optimist Karen de Villiers

Stared down a Mozambiquan spitting cobra once. Tussled a Parktown prawn. I used to live in KwaZulu-Natal, land of the mamba, gecko, the scorpion and enough flying ants to require a lobotomy. Tough. The T-shirt is camouflage, Rambo style.

So when Matt next door casually notes a sighting of a mouse in their flat last week, I am thinking ‘phiff’, keep the little bastard there. My blood turns frosty but I cannot let on. His flatmate Simon did not see the mouse. Simon is

skeptical. I am ignoring the entire situation. Cold, clammy blood in the veins though.

The little bastard decides to re-located to ‘chez moi’. En route to the fridge for a glass of wine – movement – eye contact.

There is a mouse in my house.

“Petrieeeeeeeeee!!” I scream, louder than my finest hour in childbirth.

Darling moves at a glacial pace and the demon is gone, under the stove, sniggering. Argument and accusations follow from this standoff between mouse, my nerves and a neglectful, unprotective husband.

“Vang die bleddie ding.”

But, I am methodical as Eisenhower in my military planning to capture said mouse.

Son wants to blast it with a shotgun. No, no I say, we are peace loving; armed with peppermint oil, in fact the flat stinks of peppermint oil, like old men and Vicks, but

no enemy. Until I switch off the light, you know don’t you, and sense something. Switch on to find the devil child in my bedroom.

“Petrieeeeeee!” Maslow would have been proud; fight or flee…

I pounce and tiny, squeaking specimen is trapped under the Tupperware. Darling can only reprieve himself in my eyes if he carefully walks to the balcony and tosses the fiend far from the whimpering wife. Begone tyrant!

Exchanging pleasantries with Matt and Simon the next morning, I inform them that Wilbur, now named, has left the building. Simon frets that Wilbur may have been tossed into oncoming traffic. Did I think of that? Did I ever consider that he changed address because my food was better than theirs, and I should have taken it as a compliment rather than hurl him to the tar and a sticky end?

For a split second I feel a tad remorseful and then think ‘Nah’ –

the little Shitake is gone.

The next morning Simon sends me a text saying that he sees Wilbur’s family forming a picket line outside. They want blood. I wish I hadn’t been so heartless and my wish came true – Wilbur returned. Out of a zillion flats how did he find mine on the third floor, I wail – how did he pass the peppermint veil I moan, why me, why me? To live in fear forever

with a mouse stalking my sleep?

The next time he looks at me with that cheesy smile and slips away, I lose it. Spray the bloody Doom, toss the entire bottle of peppermint and sprinkle cumin on the floor. See you again and that trap gets bought!

He leaves. I am a bad person.

But if I say I miss him… More disturbing was my becoming the woman on the chair, afraid of a mouse. Why, why, why?

Ruby eyes and sad goodbyes

| If ever there is a good time to be sporting bloodshot eyes thanks to medication side effects, it would be when you leave your homeland. People know it is a sad moment and immediately ascribe your ruby sockets to sadness as opposed to something terribly infectious or even the result of staring too long into several glasses of claret.

By Linda Scott Smith If ever there is a good time to be sporting bloodshot eyes thanks to medication side effects, it would be when you leave your homeland.

People know it is a sad moment and immediately ascribe your ruby sockets to sadness as opposed to something terribly infectious or even the result of staring too long into several glasses of claret.

The preceding weeks consisted of packing, cleaning, sorting and selling. As the pressure built (of the move, not the eyes), aided by the paint fumes from some last

minute home maintenance, the lungs started severely protesting.

So, to the doctor we went and soon returned with oodles of cortisone.

Initially it boosted all energy levels so that Speedy Gonzalez would have struggled to keep up, but as it started petering out, the pressure converted to the eyeballs and…

Voila! Welcome red eyes!

Not only were the peepers tinted, but also dry and convincingly close to the point of popping. Each morning was spent prying them open slowly. The eyelids were also pretty puffy – if those two

words can be used in conjunction – somehow sucking up the eyelashes into its fatty abyss. The reflection of ‘a sight for sore eyes’ would bounce back daily from the bathroom mirror. Not a single beauty empire’s boastful range of miraculous make up would have remedied this situation.

Then there was the matter of the podgy fingers. No ring could fit those little sausages, yet again the result of cortisone as opposed to the hours of scrubbing and polishing (floors not food).

Being a sucker for torture, the brilliant decision to have a haircut pops into the obviously foggy head. This would be the first proper cut and blow in years and the strange little bleached hairdresser promises to only lop off a few centimetres. Taking advantage of the closed eyes, she seems to be sending a lot of locks floor wards. Eventually the do is complete and the eyes are opened, squinting at the bright light and the stranger staring back from the mirror. OMG! It can only be described in South African terms as a proper ‘tannie’ hairstyle.

Now, picture this… saying fond farewells at the airport all bland faced with bulging scarlet eyes, chubby appendages (fortunately the toes weren’t visible) and a weird little bouffant do. That’s when you know your loved ones truly must love you.

thesouthafrican.com | 18 - 24 March 2014 |

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On Carnivals and Gardens | South Africa is awesome for some things, and other places are awesome for others. It’s just about what works for you, and where you feel

By Susan Hayden

When you live in a country like South Africa, which has experienced – and continues to experience – change on a massive scale and where the disaster zones of many other African countries ruled by liberation governments hang over us like a panga ready to strike us into economic oblivion, conversations about where it’s good to live versus where it’s not so good to live become commonplace.

And even more so for those of us who are thinking about leaving or thinking about coming home or have come home already or never want to see South Africa and Mrs Balls chutney again. And these debates go back and forth led by words like ‘lifestyle’ and ‘crime stats’ and ‘education’ and ‘future’, and they are discussions which can go on endlessly without ever reaching conclusion because fundamentally they are personal and emotional, and more often than not our decisions are based on instinct and circumstance and what feels right for us versus what doesn’t.

But something I have been thinking about lately, and which is not often taken into account in these conversations – but which I believe to be true – is that different places/countries have a different energy (to be a bit shoowow and tye-died of a morning) which either resonates with ours or doesn’t. And we’ll insist on being practical and citing ‘facts’ as to why we live here versus there or there versus here but I think it boils down to something else. Like we pick partners and friends who ‘click’ with us, we choose the place we call home in much the same way. I have only lived in South Africa and Sweden, but since it would be hard to find two countries more diametrically opposed, I think they’re pretty good examples to use. I’m negative about Sweden sometimes because I was unhappy there, but I also love the country and larger Scandinavia in the way one does when a place has been your home.

You can’t live somewhere for a long time and not have it become a part of you.

And I’m also more critical of it than is fair – out of defensiveness – because so many people are aghast that I left a place where everything is ‘perfect.’ And it is kind of perfect in a lot of important ways, but it wasn’t perfect for me. To employ a metaphor, Sweden is like a magnificently manicured garden full of beautiful flowers. There are water fountains, comfortable places to sit and good things to eat. People speak politely in muted tones and the air smells of freshly

brewed coffee. You’ll never get lost because there are clearly demarcated paths, and the garden is ringed with stylishly decorated, very high walls that you’d never be able to scale. You are safe and you are secure. You are also walled in. For some people, the walls are a small price to pay for all that comfort. Why would you need to leave when everything is right there at your fingertips? It’s very nice there; very nice indeed.

South Africa is more like a huge, gaudy amusement park where nobody has checked the safely standards of the equipment in a long time. People climb on the rollercoaster and they feel the sun and the wind on their faces and it fills them with a delicious kind of joy, knowing that an any given moment the little car they’re strapped into could careen off the tracks and go sailing into the ether, taking them with it. But, damn that ride is fun. And it seems to go on forever. And everyone is smiling as they go around and around, and life is uncontained and openended and there are no barriers and the possibilities are endless.

The amusement park smells of dust and oil and boerie rolls and beer, and clowns fall off barrels and people laugh and it’s colourful and in-your-face and totally unpredictable.

And I can understand why people choose the manicured garden. It’s a great garden, as gardens go. But the amusement park has a wildness which can be quite irresistible. Because you might fall off, but you also might not, and in the interim you are having such a damn good time.

And objectively, it’s impossible to say which place is ‘better’.

South Africa is awesome for some things, and other places are awesome for others. It’s just about what works for you, and where you feel comfortable and ‘right’.

Once, about half a year before we moved back to South Africa, I was given a voucher for my birthday to visit an astrologer/healer. He was an African-American who must have been close to 80, and he’d been living in Sweden for most of his life. From his small, warm apartment in the suburbs he read to me my chart, and then out of the blue (not knowing I was leaving) he said something interesting and surprising. He said, ‘I have to tell you something – if you stay in Sweden you’re going to get sick.’ And I knew exactly what he meant. The country’s energy and I were not a good match.

Now when I go back on holiday I’ve learnt to wear one of those ‘balancing’ bracelets (whether they work or not is anyone’s guess) because, even though I’m really happy to be back and seeing good friends

and swimming in the warm sea and enjoying the long days of summer, I experience odd physical symptoms – dizziness, a sense of disorientation and a vague sense of not getting enough air. I never feel this way in South Africa. And maybe it’s psychosomatic, but I think it’s something else. It’s the walls

and the safety and the lack of spontaneity and madness. I’m just more a clowns and rollercoasters kind of person. And we’re all different like that. And sometimes I envy the garden folk their sense of belonging and wish I shared it because all that tinny carnival music can get noisy when you’re feeling tired, and you’re so busy

dodging coloured balls there isn’t much time for reflection. But mostly I love the chaos and the freedom it affords. And that, if the mood takes you, you can fly right up to the sky.

Read the post and all the comments on http:// discopantsblog.com/2014/01/30/ on-carnivals-and-gardens/

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| 18 - 24 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

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Bright young things to vie for glory with evergreen pros at SAMA 20

| The nominees for the milestone 20th edition of the annual South African Music Awards were announced at Sun International’s Carnival City in Ekurhuleni last week. A number of new kids on the music block dominate the major categories – with some familiar favourites also creeping into the running.

Khwelebhasini – Ngiyistress Phuzekhemisi – Kungakho Nilwa Nodwa Thokozani Langa – Inyakanyaka

by staff reporter Newcomers Gangs of Ballet are set to rock the 20th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAS) with five nominations, leading the pack along with dance darlings Mi Casa.

Another two stellar fresh faces, Naima Kay and Nakhane Touré, have emphatically announced their presence on the scene with four nods apiece – including three in the coveted top five categories.

Mi casaAlso bagging four SAMA nominations are Mafikizolo, whose comeback release Reunited has been crowned with nods for Best Pop Album, Best Collaboration, Duo or Group of the Year and Album of the Year.

Previous SAMA winners The Parlotones have made it clear that they have no intention of slowing down any time soon by securing nominations across four categories.

Joining Mafikizolo in the Album of the Year category are music acts representing a diverse mix of genres: DJ Kent, Mi Casa, Naima Kay and Nakhane Touré.

Another fiercely contested category is Duo or Group of the Year, in which electronic trio GoodLuck and Afropop duo Mafikizolo vie for glory with veteran rockers The Parlotones and newbies Gangs of Ballet, as well as house favourites Mi Casa.

SAMA 20 will once again see debutantes basking in the welldeserved limelight, with the Newcomer of the Year category contested among Gangs of Ballet, Nakhane Touré, Naima Kay, IFani and MuzArt. Kay also gamely steps up to the plate to compete with her more established counterparts in the Female Artist of the Year category: Judith Sephuma, Rebecca, Zahara and Dear Reader.

Similarly, fellow newcomer Touré will be hoping to stand his ground when it comes to the competition for Male Artist of the Year. He will be slugging it out with breakthrough singersongwriters Connell Cruise and Matthew Mole, as well as more seasoned campaigners Vusi Mahlasela and Kabomo.

David du Plessis, the Chief Operating Officer of the Recording Industry of SA (RISA), said this year’s event will be special in more ways than one: “Not only are we celebrating 20 years of South Africa’s premier music awards, we are also commemorating the country’s 20th anniversary of democracy.”

“This year’s crop of SAMA nominees perfectly encapsulate the rainbow nation in all its creative diversity and vibrancy.

We are extremely proud to be sharing our 20-year milestone with the birth of the new South Africa as a nation.”

As always, all eyes will be on the Record of the Year category, which is determined by a public vote. The

Best Jazz Album Marcus Wyatt – Quartet One Life in the Sun Shane Cooper – Oscillations Sisa Sopazi – Images & Figures Tumi Mogorosi – Project Elo Zim Ngqawana – Live at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival Best Classical and/or Instrumental Album Cape Consort – Claudio Monteverdi – Selected Madrigals Guy Buttery – Live in KwaZulu Ockie Vermeulen – Obsession Tygerberg Children’s Choir – Glorious Zanne Stapelberg & Kathleen Tagg - Soul of Fire | Gangs of Ballet

nominees for this award will be announced shortly, after which fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite song and artist.

The Annual South African Music Awards are organised by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA), a trade association of recording companies operating in South Africa.

Nominees for the 20th Annual South African Music Awards: Album of the Year DJ Kent - The Weekent Mafikizolo - Reunited Mi Casa - Su Casa Naima Kay - Umsebenzi Nakhane Touré - Brave Confusion Duo or Group of the Year Gangs of Ballet - Yes/No/Grey GoodLuck - Creatures of the Night Mafikizolo - Reunited Mi Casa - Su Casa The Parlotones - Stand Like Giants

Female Artist of the Year

Dear Reader - Rivonia Judith Sephuma - The Experience Live in Concert Naima Kay - Umsebenzi Rebecca - Bayos’Khomba Zahara - Phendula Male Artist of the Year Connell Cruise - Connell Cruise Kabomo - Memory Remains Matthew Mole - The Home We Built Nakhane Touré - Brave Confusion Vusi Mahlasela - Sing to the People Newcomer of the Year Gangs Of Ballet - Yes/No/Grey IFani - I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant) MuzArt - MuzArt Naima Kay - Umsebenzi Nakhane Touré - Brave Confusion Best Rock Album Gangs of Ballet - Yes/No/Grey Shadowclub - Goodbye Wild Child The Black Cat Bones - Beatipiller The Parlotones - Stand Like Giants

Van Coke Kartel - Bloed, Sweet & Trane Best Pop Album Danny K – Good Look GoodLuck – Creatures of the Night LCNVL – Faster Longer Mixtape Mafikizolo – Reunited Matthew Mole – The Home We Built Beste Pop Album (Afrikaans) 4Werke – 4 Harte Charlize Berg – Charlize Berg JAY – Dis Hoe Ons Rol Karlien van Jaarsveld – Uitklophou Kurt Darren – Seerower Best Adult Contemporary Album Connell Cruise – Connell Cruise Farryl Purkiss – Home Hinds Brothers – Ocean of Milk Michael Lowman – Crayon Boxes Shaun Jacobs – Love Can Beste Kontemporêre Musiek Album Ampie – Niks en Niemand Andriëtte - Wat Rym met Liefde Bok van Blerk – Steek Die Vure Aan Elvis Blue – Afrikaans Jak de Priester – N1 van My Hart Best African Adult Album Naima Kay – Umsebenzi Selaelo Selota – The Promise Vusi Mahlasela – Sing to the People Zamajobe – Thula Mntwana Zonke – Give and Take Live Best Alternative Album Chris Letcher – Hyperbalist Dear Reader – Rivonia Death by Misadventure – Dumb Dumb Die See – II Nakhane Touré – Brave Confusion Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album Kabomo – Memory Remains MuzArt – MuzArt The Soil – Reflections Live in Joburg Vusi Nova – Walk into Light Zahara – Phendula

Best Rap Album AB Crazy – Home Coming iFani – I Believes in Me (1st Quadrant) Kwesta – DaKAR L-Tido – All of Me Molemi – A Sia Best Kwaito Album Alaska – The Revival Big Nuz – Made in Africa Character – Self-Control Mandoza – Sgantsontso Tzozo – Amabills Best Dance Album DJ Kent – The Weekent Lulo Café – Soul Africa Mi Casa – Su Casa Uhuru – Our Father Zakes Bantwini – The Fake Book & Real Book: My Music Bible Best Traditional Faith Music Album Andile KaMajola – Chapter 6 ujehova ungibiyele Deborah – Umqhele Lusanda Spiritual Group – Uhambo Lwam Rebecca – Bayos’Khomba Worship House – Project 10 Live in Limpopo, RSA Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Benjamin Dube – Renewal in His Presence with Benjamin Dube Judith Sephuma – The Experience Live in Concert Nqubeko Mbatha – Sentiments of a Worshiper Soweto Gospel – Choir Divine Decade & Friends We Will Worship – YHWH Best Traditional Album Hennie de Bruyn en die Kitaarkêrels – Kitaar Kwêla Joe Shirimani na Vana va Ndoda – Hawu Ra Mina PS. Manyike Na Vatirhi Va Hosi – Taduma e Kerekeni Sayicology – Round 2 Dr. Thomas Chauke Na Shinyori Sisters – Shimatsatsa No 32 Best Maskandi Album Amabunjwa – X6 Buselaphi – Gijima Ntuthwane

Best Live DVD Nataniël – Factory Skouspel 2013 – Skouspel 2013 The Soil – Reflections Live in Joburg Unathi – An Intimate Night with Unathi Zonke – Give and Take Live Best Collaboration DJ Kent Ft The Arrows – Spin My World Around LCNVL Ft Lakota Silva – Closer Mafikizolo Ft May D – Happiness The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage – Sleepwalker Uhuru Ft Oskido, Professor & DJ Bucks - Y-tjukutja Best Music Video of the Year Goldfish – One Million Views Mi Casa – Jika The Muffinz – Umsebenzi Wendoda (An Ode to Single Mothers) The Parlotones, Khuli Chana & Jon Savage – Sleepwalker Toya Delazy – Memoriam Best Producer of the Year Danny K – Good Look by Danny K Darryl Torr – Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet David Poole & Dominic Peters – Three Second Memory by Goldfish Dan Roberts – Border Crossing by Laurie Levine Shaun Jacobs – Love Can by Shaun Jacobs Best Engineer of the Year Peter Auret – Pimp My Piano by Charl du Plessis Darryl Torr – Yes/No/Grey by Gangs of Ballet Matthew Fink – The Home We Built by Matthew Mole Matthew Fink – Goodbye Wild Child by Shadowclub Shaun Jacobs – Love Can by Shaun Jacobs Remix of the Year Euphonik – Hallelujah Anyway Khuli Chana – Hape (Part 2) Mi Casa – Jika Oskido – Tsa Ma Ndebele Uhuru – Thath’isghubu Twitter: @OfficialSAMAs www.samusicawards.co.za

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thesouthafrican.com | 18 - 24 March 2014 |

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| Photo by Mark Weston

Happily ever Vienna

| Don’t worry, be happy as MICHAEL MCCORMICK gives you everything you need to know to navigate, and celebrate one of the beautiful cities in the world.

by Michael mccormick WHAT if you could combine classical music, amazing architecture, shopping galore, and a schnitzel in the one trip? If this sounds like your kind of holiday look no further than Vienna.

Not only is Vienna one of the most liveable cities in the world, it is also one of the most beautiful, and very deliberately so.

The Habsburgs, who ruled over most of Europe for many centuries, called Vienna home and they liked to make their presence known, felt, and remembered.

Vienna homes a few palaces which associate themselves with this famous bloodline, but none more popular than the Imperial Palace from which the Habsburg’s Empire was ruled.

Nowadays one of the cities main attractions, the Vienna Boys’ Choir can be heard during High Mass on Sunday in the Gothic Imperial Chapel, deep within the Palace’s walls.

Post-War Vienna If, like me, you’re a history buff, the uniquely Viennese exhibit at the Third Man Museum will whet your appetite nicely. You get a real sense of the gritty underbelly of Vienna in the years immediately following World War II, as portrayed in the film of the same name.

The museum features photographs, artifacts, and original scripts from the film, which was a huge box office success of its time, and starred Orson Welles, The film created great controversy when it was screened in Vienna, and was shut down after only a short run.

This being the case, the museum was unable to gain government funding and is privately owned, allowing it to maintain its historical accuracy. It opens for the public between 2-6pm every Saturday, or you can book a private group tour throughout the week.

Museum mad While the Third Man museum shows the alternative Vienna most locals would like to keep buried, there are plenty of other museums they love to boast about. One in

particular is the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Sometimes referred to as the Museum of Fine Art, the Kunsthistorisches collection was officially opened by Franz Joseph I, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, around 1891. Since then it has undergone numerous restorations but the magnificent architecture from its inception remains.

It is centrally located on the Ringstrabe – which roughly translates to Ring Road – and can be easily accessed via the Ring Tram, which will also take you around the city and to all of the other noteworthy sites.

Getting around Most of the major attractions are within walking distance but if you’re not keen on walking all day, there are plenty of alternatives.

The train system in Vienna is quite simple. The main lines you will catch are the S-Bahn and the U-Bahn, however if you are staying in the city, most tourist destinations are within a half hour walk.

Public transport is convenient and relatively affordable however, and if you were there only for a weekend trip, it would be the better option. A single ticket on any train, tram or bus costs 2 Euros. If you feel you need to take public transport four or more times in 24 hours, a day pass would be your best option. This will set you back around 7 Euros, but is well worth it to get you between the expansive city attractions quickly.

Wherever you are located it’s quite easy to find your way to the city centre by train. Stephansplatz is a station in the heart of the city and as well as being the shopping district, from here you can walk to

most of Vienna’s famed museums.

A short train ride will land you in Westbanhof – the backpackers district and train hub leading on to various local, national and international destinations.

This gritty, alternative part of Vienna contrasts the elaborate architecture just a short distance away nicely. It is also where you’ll find a lot of cheap bars and clubs, and plenty of expats as well.

Try the pub-crawl, which leaves from one of the backpacker’s bars and takes you to a lot of the popular and not so popular party venues around the neighbourhood.

Expect a lot of cheap drinks and a very sore head the next morning.

Getting out of Vienna When the time comes to finally move on with your Euro trip, you have a couple of options which will get you to where you need to be. The bus and train system from Westbanhof is easy and quite cheap compared to other major European cities. The airport bus costs eight euros, which is a bit pricey in comparison to the train, which will get you there in slightly less comfort, but for half the price.

If you decide against flying, trains also leave from Westbanhof to many other European destinations such as Munich and Salzburg. Until recently, there was only one main provider of trains to these and other destinations however there is now competition from private companies which means cheaper fares for travellers.

I recommend a day trip to Salzburg on the Westbahn train for almost half the price of the main train service. For only 50 Euros return you can enjoy comfortable seats, air-conditioning or heating (depending on the season), and Wi-Fi the whole way in these brand new state of the art trains.

Once in Salzburg, it’s a very easy 15-20 minute walk to the old town, which is the main attraction. While you’re there, you can fit in the Sound of Music tour and check out Mozart’s birthplace, and be back to Vienna in time for a schnitzel dinner, followed of course by a pub-crawl.

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| 18 - 24 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

SA super-telescope project gets £119m in UK funding

| “After the International Space Station and the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s next great science project is the Square Kilometre Array,” declared UK Science Minister David Willetts, as he announced £100 million worth of funding to the radio telescope project hosted in South Africa. by staff reporter Britain will contribute £100 million worth of funding to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, it was announced on Tuesday.

The SKA project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area. South Africa and its eight partners on the continent will host two-thirds of the technology and Australia the remaining third.

The SKA will be at least 50 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope and 10 000 times faster than any other radio telescope. In a huge leap forward in engineering, research and development, it will use hundreds of dishes and hundreds of thousands of antennas connected together by optical fibre.

Deploying thousands of radio telescopes, in three unique

configurations, will enable astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky thousands of times faster than any system currently in existence.

Thanks to its sheer scale, the SKA is expected to address fundamental unanswered questions about our universe, including how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, how dark energy is accelerating the expansion of the universe, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth.

Britain, a major player in the SKA project, hosts the head office of the international SKA Organisation at the Jodrell Bank Observatory near Manchester.

“After the International Space Station and the Large Hadron Collider the world’s next great science project is the Square Kilometre Array,” declared UK Science Minister David Willetts, who paid a special visit the South

African SKA site in the Northern Cape in September, accompanied

by SKA project director Bernie Fanaroff.

According to the Department of Science and Technology, South Africa and the UK are “already collaborating extensively in the field of radio astronomy, with 25 research organisations and more than 80 individual scientists from the UK directly involved in the large survey teams that will use the MeerKAT telescope for research during its first five years of operation.”

This includes scientists from Oxford University and from Manchester University. There is also extensive SKA-related co-operation on big data and high-performance computing with Cambridge University, which South African Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom visited in January.

South Africa is currently building the 64-dish MeerKAT, which is due to come online in 2016 both as the country’s precursor to the SKA

and as one of the most powerful telescopes in the world in its own right.

The South African government has made a contribution of close to R4 billion to MeerKAT and its associated human capital development programmes.

MeerKAT, with a further 190

antennas to be built on the same site, will make up the first phase of the mid-frequency component of the SKA. The second phase will see further mid-frequency antennas constructed across South Africa and in eight African SKA partner countries.

‘Huge potential’ in SA’s agro-processing industry

| South Africa’s R49-billion agro-processing sector plays a significant role in terms of job creation and sustainability in the economy, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said during a meeting with CEOs and representatives of the country’s food processing industry in Cape Town on the weekend. by staff reporter Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said during a meeting with CEOs and representatives of the country’s food processing industry in Cape Town that South Africa’s R49-billion agro-processing sector plays a significant role in terms of job creation and sustainability in the economy.

Davies said that, since the 2008-09 global financial crisis, food processing had grown by over 2% more than South Africa’s manufacturing sector as a whole.

“Despite the continued rippleeffect of the 2008 economic meltdown, food processing continues to be resilient and is one the largest manufacturing sectors by employment - with an estimate of 207 893 jobs in the third quarter of 2013 - against a backdrop of job losses in other parts of the sector.

“It is also significant in valueaddition terms, contributing a significant composition of total manufacturing value-added.”

Davies said the government’s New Growth Path (NGP) and National Development plan (NDP) had both identified agro-processing as a sector with high growth potential, despite the challenges of imports competition, loss of market, and the unstable currency and exchange rate.

“South Africa’s agro-processing

sector has the potential to become an industrial impetus that can create jobs and answer some of the country’s macro-economic questions, such as trade deficit generated by too much imports against low export volumes.

“An analysis of our imports points to glaring opportunities in articles such as wheat, soy bean, vegetable oils, read meat, tomato concentrates and industrial starch,” Davies said, adding that the government would “intervene and support the sector where it is necessary to remain competitive and stable”.

Davies noted that the government’s Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement

Programme (MCEP) had identified 564 projects for investment support and approved R1.5-billion for this purpose since its inception in 2012.

He added that South Africa was paying particular attention to the issue of food standards for purposes of compliance with the country’s export markets.

At the same time, the Department of Trade and Industry was working with the relevant industries and the SA Bureau of Standards to develop voluntary standards, to be followed by compulsory specifications, to protect South African consumers from low-quality and fraudulent imports. - SA Info

11

thesouthafrican.com | 18 - 24 March 2014 |

Business

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SAA takes delivery of fourth new A320 aircraft for 2014

| Africa’s leading airline South African Airways (SAA) has taken delivery of two new Airbus A320 aircraft, bringing to six the number of narrow-bodied planes added to customers can take advantage of themed interior designed-cabins, the SAA fleet in 2014. by staff reporter Commenting on the development SAA’s Country Manager for Australasia Tim Clyde-Smith said the new aircraft would greatly boost the airline’s capabilities on shorter routes within Africa while adding significantly to the quality of its product and service. They will also be more energy-efficient aircraft, reducing impact on the environment.

“Our fleet renewal program forms a key plank of our new strategy, Gaining Altitude. Our fleet replacement program for SAA’s narrow-bodied fleet includes the acquisition of twenty A320 aircraft to replace our Boeing 737-800 aircraft and enhances our fleet to support SAA’s route expansion plans into Africa,” Tim said.

“These latest new arrivals will give our customers the added pleasure of flying on brand new aircraft. Besides the improved on-board offering, customers can enjoy their flying experience knowing they are travelling on a more fuel-efficient aircraft, underscoring SAA’s commitment to being an environmentally responsible airline,” he said.

“The latest two A320s arrived earlier in March, with another A320 (number five) expected in June, aircraft six and seven are expected to arrive in the third quarter and aircraft eight in the fourth quarter.”

Tim said that in keeping with SAA’s initiatives towards weight reduction, products and material on the new A320’s are all made of lightweight materials adding to the airlines key strategy of being as environmentally-sustainable as possible.

“We have also put a lot of work into making both business class and economy cabins attractive and super comfortable for customers.

These aircraft now offer a refreshed on-board experience through a number of special features.”

“This includes South African-

generous configuration and better in-flight entertainment and facilities that make using and charging laptop computers and tablets easier. The new aircraft configuration is 24 business class and 114 economy class seats with a pitch of 39 inches in business and 31 inches in economy. Our business class are 2X2 abreast with each seat having a leg rest, adjustable headrest and recline of 7 inches allowing the seat to fold out into a cradle position. This gives superb comfort on up to four hour long regional trips with plenty of storage on both sides providing extra width.”

“Our economy class seats have shared USB and PC power points and an adjustable headrest. with leather upholstery throughout the cabin. Colours used are dark beige and anthracite grey with touches of red and blue in our corporate colours.”

“All seats (except for the first row) have an innovative special feature: the back shell has space to stow a PC tablet, with a USB power point that keeps a tablet powered during the flight, and PC power points in the centre console for additional laptop computer power.

“In an environment where aircraft fuel has become our single biggest cost factor, the A320 has become the aircraft of choice for airlines looking to reduce their fuel bills. Newer aircraft embody the latest technologies, are more reliable, more productive and require less down-time for maintenance and repairs.

Lower fuel burn means fewer carbon emissions and with the A320’s low noise footprint, it’s a good neighbour as well,” Tim concluded.

About South African Airways South African Airways flies daily from Perth to Johannesburg with direct same-day connections to the largest network in Africa.

Customers from Australia can use SAA’s code share flights from any major city to connect directly through Perth. New Zealand

SAA’s code share agreement with Air New Zealand for seamless connections to Africa.

South African Airways operates to 42 destinations worldwide and is Africa’s leading airline. In its domestic market SAA has an extensive schedule operating 660 flights in total per week between Johannesburg – Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth from its Johannesburg hub, as well as code shared flights between Lanseria – Cape Town and Durban. SAA offers more frequencies than any other airline in South Africa.

Regionally, SAA offers 24 destinations across the African continent including Abidjan, Accra, Blantyre, Brazzaville, Cotonou, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Douala, Entebbe, Harare, Kinshasa, Lagos, Libreville, Lilongwe, Livingstone, Luanda, Lusaka, Maputo, Mauritius, Nairobi, Ndola, Pointe Noire, Victoria Falls and Windhoek.

SAA’s international network creates links to all major continents from South Africa through 11 direct routes and code shares, with daily flights from Johannesburg to Perth, London (Heathrow), Frankfurt, Munich, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Beijing, New York, Washington, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. SAA has codes share agreements with 27 other airlines across the markets it serves. SAA’s core business is the provision of passenger airline and cargo transport services together with related services, which are provided through SAA and its four wholly owned subsidiaries: SAA Technical; Mango its low cost carrier; Air Chefs, the catering entity of SAA and South African Travel Centre (SATC).

SAA is a Star Alliance member which offers more than 21,900 daily flights to 1,328 airports in 195 countries. SAA is the winner of the ‘Best Airline in Africa’ Award in the regional category for eleven consecutive years. Mango and SAA hold the number one and number two successive spots as South Africa’s most on-time airlines.

12

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thesouthafrican.com | 18 - 24 March 2014 |

Business

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Things to keep in mind between receiving ILR and applying for British citizenship – good character

| Last week we have discussed the issue of ’Travel restrictions’ as requirement that needs to be in place before being able to apply for British Citizenship. This week our focus is on the requirement of ‘Good Character”.. by staff reporter The UK Home Office undertakes certain checks in relation to applications for British citizenship.

These checks are all pertaining to the good character requirement that an applicant is required to fulfill. Below we discuss shortly some of the checks that are made.

Tax affairs One of the checks is to ensure that an applicant’s tax affairs are up to date. Applicants have a duty and obligation to pay income tax and National Insurance contributions. When signing your application form for British citizenship, you will be giving consent to the UK Home Office to check with H.M. Revenue & Customs to confirm that your tax affairs are in order.

Sometimes clients have outstanding tax issues when they get to point where they should be able to qualify for British citizenship. If someone has unsolved tax issues, there is a substantial risk that the application will be rejected. If citizenship is refused, the UK Home Office will not cancel the Indefinite Leave to Remain, but may well confirm that a further application for citizenship can only be submitted after the tax issues has been resolved.

Criminal convictions The applicant will have to provide details of all criminal convictions both within and outside the UK. This includes;

road traffic offences (fixed penalty notices will not normally be taken into account) and endorsements on one’s driving licence.

Civil judgements The applicant will have to provide details of all civil judgments which have resulted in a court order, as well as any civil penalties under the UK Immigration Act. Details of family law proceedings are not required.

Details of bankruptcy charges must also be provided, and where an applicant is an undischarged bankrupt, it is unlikely that the application will succeed.

Other issues that an applicant will inter alia have to declare include; Particulars of any cautions, warning or reprimands that have been received in the UK and elsewhere, Details of any sexual offences, Whether there is any offence for which he/she may go to court or which is awaiting a hearing in court, Any involvement in terrorism, Any deceptions made in your dealings with any of the government departments, including the UK home Office; and Whether any of your children have been convicted of an offence or have received a court order (ASBO).

It is thus clear that the applicant will need to declare almost anything that might indicate that he/she is not of a good character,

and details have to be provided not matter how long ago it was. The UK Home Office make checks in all cases and an application may fail and the application fee not refunded where a false declaration is made.

BIC also strongly recommends that persons wanting to apply for British citizenship ensure that all outstanding tax and NI issues are resolved before submitting an application.

Next week we will be discussing the English language requirement when applying for British Citizenship.

For further information or for assistance with your application, please contact one of consultants who will be able to provide specific information in your unique case.

JP Breytenbach Director of BIC, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited. www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com Read more: Things to keep in mind between receiving ILR and applying for British Citizenship – Travel Restrictions Evidential flexibility When can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

Rand still firm ahead of US data

| The Rand was slightly stronger this morning against the US Dollar despite major weakening across all emerging market economies.

by Chris davis Last week saw a vast improvement in the Rand, which was assisted by stronger than expected Euro domestic manufacturing data.

This could be a long week for the Rand though. It has recently come under pressure from political uncertainty in Ukraine as investors increasingly favour a risk-averse appetite. Numsa, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, has also hinted at possible

strike action on Wednesday. This strike could see more than 340,000 people downing tools in a bid to highlight youth unemployment, coupled with the added pressure of Eskom power cuts.

On a positive note, new data released indicated a narrowing current account deficit, which reflects positive growth in SA. There is, however, significant data coming out in the US; CPI data is due to be released on Tuesday, which could possibly dent the performance of the Rand. The US

is also expected to release a rate decision on Wednesday, so it looks like it’ll be an interesting week for the Rand GBP / ZAR: z EUR / ZAR: 14.841 USD / ZAR: 10.689 AUD / ZAR: 9.69 Exchange rates as of 10.02 (GMT), 17 March 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.

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Zimbabwe Community

| 18 - 24 March 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Zimbabwe’s bona fide wedding

| Zimbabwe witnessed a very public “private wedding” over the weekend, as criticism amasses over the bookkeeping for the event. by sertan sanderson ZIMBABWE’S finance minister PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe’s daughter Bona celebrated her wedding earlier in March with a lavish reception on the grounds of Mugabe’s private home, dubbed “The Blue Roof,” in Borrowdale (outside Harare).

The reception is estimated to have cost $10 million, which Mugabe’s ZANU-PF asserted was not taken from public funds but was rather reported to have been financed with private contributions as well as by ZANU-PF donations.

However, President Mugabe had organised for Harare Municipality to re-tar the road leading to his homestead from the capital to the tune of $500.000 – making sure that his 4,000 esteemed guests would arrive in comfort while attracting criticism that the cashstrapped country should rather worry about the comfort of the Zimbabwean public.

Bona Mugabe’s wedding to fellow Zimbabwean Simba Chikore was quite shrouded in mystery from the beginning.

There were no images taken at the nuptials – other than the live broadcast on Zimbabwean state media, ZBC, of course.

Wedding guests had been advised to switch their cameraphones off during the event, while even Mugabe’s neighbours were told to refrain from taking photographs as the wedding party rolled in.

All wedding organisers and caterers were forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement ahead of the event, ensuring that the

public would only pay attention to whatever the Mugabes wanted the public to notice.

As for the groom’s wishes, they also came with caveats and conditions. From his occupation to his actual age, Simba Chikore appears to like keeping details of his background hidden.

However, he is assumed to be a 37-year-old pilot with a Middle Eastern Airline, and hailing from a religious family. Marrying into the Mugabe dynasty, Simba may struggle to assert himself as leader

of the pack, as Mugabe’s grip on power seems to tighten since he turned 90.

Among those attending the luxurious affair was South African President Jacob Zuma, who flew in for the occasion despite his reportedly busy pre-election campaign. A week earlier, Zuma was forced to cancel his attendance at former President Nelson Mandela’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey in London – despite of special provisions made in advance to accommodate him.

15

thesouthafrican.com | 18 - 24 March 2014 |

Sport

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Play Touch and travel the world. It’s a way of life | The enticement of the London lifestyle is an offer too good to refuse for many antipodeans. The thought that another country, culture and different way of life is merely an hours flight away is unbelievable. That’s why the number one reason that stands out for many people to live in London is that London it is the gateway to Europe in floors of sports halls across by the Nottingham Hoods touch

by staff reporter Touch Rugby players living in London have the travel and sport combo here down to a T. With the start of the Touch season freshly kicking off, already you can see ‘touchies’ (as they are affectionately known) running around with tans that stick out amongst the pasty Londoners.

Why? Well, on the weekend of the 7th and 8th, two London based clubs send two in2touch teams each to Valencia (Spain) to take on teams from other European countries.

Competing against teams from France, Scotland, Ireland and Spain, this was the tournament to kick off another season of passport stamps. It was an amazing weekend that displayed some incredible touch skills (on and off field). Big shout out to Hot Custard who took home the gold.

Hot Custard and London Galaxy are two examples of London based clubs that regularly compete in In2Touch leagues along with

competitions all over the world.

Last year alone, Galaxy London sent 27 Galaxy teams to 21 events in 6 countries (Spain, France, Guernsey, Switzerland, USA and England), with 9 wins. The biggest competition and furthest travelled was the World Club Cup, held in Orlando, Florida. The Galaxy team did AWESOME, winning all games – and only going down in the final to Galaxy New Zealand by a few touchdowns.

They aren’t the only London In2Touch teams that send players away to compete internationally.

Along with Galaxy and Hot Custard, Gurus London and BBR London are also regulars at one of Europe’s most acclaimed best mixed completion. For one weekend, the small French village of Gif-sur-Yvette is adorned by 16 of the best teams in Europe.

The one day completion is a battle royale to be titled ‘Winner’. In the evening however, the day’s games are forgotten, and everyone is there to just have a good time,

Will lower expectations mean a more successful Proteas team in Bangladesh?

| With lower expectations, and thus less pressure, will the Proteas finally deliver on the world stage?

They certainly have the talent to do so.

By Jeremy Bortz So often at World Cups the Proteas have over-promised and under-delivered. Not so this time: after a comprehensive 2 – 0 series loss to Australia, the Proteas have departed for Bangladesh with limited expectations and a World Cup triumph would come as a slightly unexpected, but hugely welcome, surprise.

It’s not that the Proteas do not have the talent to win the tournament and any team would love to have the likes of AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn in their squad.

Games can turn in the blink of an eye: one 40 run, 15 ball cameo from youngster Quinton de Kock, a few lusty blows in an over from big hitter Albie Morkel or a turning two-wickets-in-three over spell from leg spinner Imran Tahir and a match is won in an instant.

While conditions in the subcontinent will not favour South Africa, captain Faf du Plessis felt his players had experience on these types of pitches: “We’ve got a lot of players in our team who have played a lot of IPL cricket and who have had a few tours in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. So we’ve definitely played enough in these conditions to understand what to expect”.

Unfortunately, the Proteas are by no means a settled XI. The top order will need to ensure a solid platform for the big hitters to launch from, something which did not happen against Australia as David Miller and Albie Morkel always came in under pressure.

On the bowling front, du Plessis will welcome back Steyn and Morne Morkel with wide-open arms as Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell and Beuran Hendricks failed to reproduce their terrific domestic form against a powerful Australian line-up.

Our death bowling continues to be a major worry and the Proteas may choose to bowl first where they win the toss. That said, we all know our checked history chasing in world cups so it won’t be easy either way.

One positive from the series loss against the Aussies was the form of leg spinner Imran Tahir and du Plessis believes his wicket-taking ability will play a vital part in the World Cup. Tahir’s record in the shorter versions of the game is far more impressive than his Test statistics and he will look to add to his seven wickets from six T20s.

The Proteas open their account against Sri Lanka on Saturday, the 22nd, before playing New Zealand on the 24th, a yet-to-be confirmed qualifier on the 27th and England on the 29th. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals on April 3rd and 4th with the final to be played on April 6th.

Proteas Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hasim Amla, Ferhaan Berhardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Beuran Hendricks, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe

and party under the French moonlight. With the village locals cooking and serving all the food, this competition really creates the atmosphere and showcases what the community of Touch is all about.

Galaxy, Hot Custard, Gurus and BareBack Riders are also some of the main contenders in the annual NTS (National Touch Series) which runs all over England. With all clubs having entered teams for this year, can Galaxy take home their 6th win? The first NTS will be played in Nottingham, hosted

club.

The beauty of the touch tournament is that, you go to play hard that day, but play even harder at night! The social aspect of the sport is fully emphasized on the post-tournament parties.

Dancing the night away in Spain, tasting the local brewed Guinness in Ireland, driving around the Eifel Tower in a party bus (Paris Elegance Women’s tournament did this!!), midnight dip in the Guernsey beaches... Touch players have swum in many oceans, tasted local delicacies, been lost in cities older than their own country, slept

Europe… anything for a good time!

Touch is about creating memories, meeting new friends, having amazing times (and spending more money on costumes for a night out than normal clothes!).

Touch is more than a sport; it’s a way of life.

To get involved and join in the awesome atmosphere that we have at In2Touch, go to www.in2touch. com , LIKE the In2Touch page on FACEBOOK or e-mail Jess at jess@in2touch.com

@TheSavannaShop /theSavanna

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Sharks continue to dominate Super Rugby while Lions bounce back

| The Sharks maintained their unbeaten record as they powered to a 35-20 Super Rugby win over the Reds

in Durban, while The Hurricanes snapped an eight-game losing streak with a massive nine-try demolition of the Cheetahs – winning 60-27 in New Zealand on Saturday. The Lions used up all the luck they had to stave off a massive late fight back by the Blues, squeaking out a 39-36 victory at Ellis Park. by staff reporter The Cell C Sharks stretched their winning streak in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition to four matches, while the Lions bounced back strongly from back-to-back defeats to overpower the Blues and force their way into fourth place on the combined log table.

South Africa’s touring teams, the DHL Stormers and Toyota Cheetahs, however, continued to struggle in Australasia as they suffered another round of defeats leaving them both winless on their tours so far.

A strong first half by the Sharks and a flawless kicking performance by flyhalf Pat Lambie and centre Frans Steyn set up the Durbanbased side for their 35-20 victory against the Reds at Growthpoint Kings Park.

In Johannesburg the Lions started their match against the Blues with a bang and took advantage of the visitors’ ill-discipline to secure their 39-36 victory. The win nudged them back on track following defeats against the Sharks and Vodacom Bulls.

Overseas, the Stormers hopes of celebrating captain Jean de Villiers’ impressive milestone of 100 Super Rugby matches with a victory were dashed as they had to settle for a disappointing 36-20 defeat against the Chiefs in Hamilton, while the Cheetahs were on the receiving end of their biggest defeat yet on tour after going down 60-27 against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The Stormers’ and Cheetahs’ defeats left the teams at the foot of the combined log table with only five points apiece.

| DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 15: Chris Feauai-Sautia (R) of the Reds tackles Sibusiso Sithole of the Cell C Sharks during the Super Rugby match between Cell C Sharks and Reds at Growthpoint Kings Park on March 15, 2014 in Durban, South Africa.

(Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Saracens vs Harlequins London derby at Wembley set to break records

| This weekend’s match between Saracens and Harlequins is set to draw the highest crowd for a rugby union

match played in England, and the highest crowd for a club rugby union match played anywhere in the world. by staff reporter Saracens play Harlequins in a London derby at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 22 March and ticket sales for the Premiership match have now passed the 75,000 mark.

This weekend’s match is set to draw the highest crowd for a rugby union match ever played in

England, and the highest crowd for a club rugby union match ever played anywhere in the world.

The last time the two London sides played at Wembley it attracted a world record crowd for a club rugby match, with 83,761 attending the game.

With both sets of teams including players fresh from their exploits

in the Six Nations, there will be a plethora of international talent on show at one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues.

For over a decade Saracens has been the club of choice for a large number of South Africans living in London and the on field success of South African heroes such as Francois Pienaar, John Smit and

Schalk Brits have provided the local rugby-mad Saffa community with a team to support.

Book now and be part of rugby history, and a new world record crowd.

Call 0844 827 2482 or visit ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets for Saturday’s London Derby.

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