The South African 15 - 22 July 2014

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15 - 22 July 2014

Issue 574

Is South African airport security safe enough? | With the US and UK adding further security checks requiring mobile phones to be charged before boarding international flights and the UK remaining suspicious of SA arrivals, is South Africa’s airport security up to scratch?

by sertan sanderson Having spent billions of rands on elegant upgrade work in time for the 2010 World Cup, Johannesburg’s OR Tambo certainly meets international expectations of a world-class airport.

But when it comes to security concerns, it is not up to the SA government to pick and choose its benchmarks. The US and the UK jointly issued a new set of safety guidelines last week, which demand that all electronic devices held in carry-on baggage must be charged up before boarding planes in order to demonstrate their function if required.

South Africa managed to adapt these guidelines swiftly and rolled out additional screening steps at airports immediately, staying on top of the new rules, but can we always keep up with the game?

This new rule is to ensure that items such as mobile phones and laptops are used for their intended purposes and not adapted to be used by terrorists. A mobile phone battery could easily fire up an explosive device; a laptop could house the contents of a weapon.

The new guideline has been implemented on all inbound flight to the United States from South Africa already and is being rolled out on all UK-bound flights.

The new guidelines came in after the US Department of Homeland

| LONDON GOES SA: South African performer Juanita du Plessis, well-known for her hits such as Skarumba, will be sharing the stage with Theuns Jordaan, Riana Nel and Bok van Blerk at the London Goes SA show at Hammersmith Appollo on 1 and 2 August. Read our interview with Juanita on page 9

Security issued a warning for increased terror threats, without qualifying in what form these treats might materialise. The threat, however, was described as “substantial”. The devices most likely to be addressed by the new security measure are Apple iPhones

and Samsung’s Galaxy range of mobiles.

All countries have to abide by international aviation standards if they want to stay in the game.

These have largely been dictated

by American safety concerns since the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent

onset of the war on terrorism. Many travellers can hardly remember the days now when liquids weren’t banned, shoes not taken off and nail clippers not confiscated.

The British government said the new mobile phone checks would Continued on page 2flights to apply to unspecified

and from the UK but would not elaborate on the routes affected.

Could South African be among the list of ‘suspicious’ destinations?

How does SA measure up against these airport security expectations, especially against the backdrop of ongoing suspicions against lacking South African border controls allowing extremist groups such as Boko Haram and al Shabaab to infiltrate the country, as was the case with Samantha Lewthwaite, the so-called white widow involved in the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya? Lewthwaite had managed to obtain falsified SA identity documents to fund large parts of her terrorist activities from South Africa, directing a great deal of criticism to the SA Department of Home Affairs.

Meanwhile Britain’s approach to South African immigration matters often appears to be based on suspicion, as escalating changes in immigration law over the past decade prove an uneasy relationship between the two states in a bid to curb immigrant numbers. But there have not been any issues with travel restrictions on account of security controls thus far.

South Africa has managed to abide by the bulk of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines issued to date, keeping both the US and the UK at bay.

Continued on page 2

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Eugene De Kock denied parole

| Eugene de Kock, one of the most infamous convicted murderers from the days of apartheid, has been denied parole

By BY staff STAFF reporter REPORTER South SOUTHAfrica’s Africa’sJustice Justiceand and Correctional Correctional Services Services Minister Minister Michael Michael Masutha Masutha has has denied denied former former apartheid-era apartheid-era police police colonel colonel Eugene Eugene de de Kock Kock parole. parole.

De De Kock Kock was was sentenced sentenced to to 212 212 years years in in jail jail in in 1996 1996 for for the the murders murders he he committed committed during during the the apartheid apartheid years. years.

According According to to Minister Minister Masutha, Masutha, not not all all the the due due processes processes were were followed followed properly, properly, as as families families of of the the victims victims were were not not informed informed or or consulted consulted about about De De Kock’s Kock’s parole parole application, application, as as required required by by law. law.

Last Last month, month, the the Gauteng Gauteng High High Court Court issued issued an an order order to to the the Minister Minister of of Justice Justice and and Correctional Correctional Services Services to to consider consider the the recommendation recommendation made made by by the the National National Council Council for for Correctional Correctional Services Services (NCCS) (NCCS) and and to to make make aa decision decision within within 30 30 days, days, regarding regarding De De Kock’s Kock’s parole. parole.

The The NCCS NCCS made made aa recommendation recommendation about about De De Kock’s Kock’s parole parole in in November November last last year. year.

Addressing Addressing the the media media in in Pretoria Pretoria on on Thursday, Thursday, Minister Minister Masutha Masutha said said he he has has instructed instructed that that De De Kock’s Kock’s parole parole application application processes processes be be reviewed. reviewed.

“I “I have have not not approved approved parole parole at at this this stage stage but but directed directed that that aa further further profile profile be be resubmitted resubmitted not not later later than than 12 12 months,” months,” Minister Minister Masutha Masutha said. said.

He He explained explained that that parole parole is is an an internationally internationally accepted accepted mechanism mechanism that that allows allows for for the the conditional conditional release release of of offenders offenders from from aa correctional correctional centre centre into into the the community community prior prior to to the the expiration expiration of of their their sentences sentences of of imprisonment imprisonment as as imposed imposed by by the the court. court.

“It “It is is also also important important to to note note that that offenders offenders do do not not have have aa right right to to be be placed placed on on parole, parole, but but merely merely aa right right to to be be considered considered for for parole parole after after having having served served the the minimum minimum required required period period for for parole,” parole,” Minister Minister Masutha Masutha said. said.

De De Kock Kock was was the the leader leader of of the the police police death death squad squad at at C10, C10, the the South South African African Police Police counterinsurgency counterinsurgency unit unit (later (later referred referred to to as as C1) C1) under under the the National National Party’s Party’s regime, regime, which which is is more more commonly commonly known known by by the the name name of of its its historic historic location location in in Vlakplaas, Vlakplaas, outside outside Pretoria.

Pretoria.

Vlakplaas Vlakplaas has has been been documented documented as as aa torture torture and and execution execution chamber chamber of of the the apartheid apartheid regime. regime.

He He was was arrested arrested in in 1994 1994 and and in in 1996 1996 was was sentenced sentenced to to two two terms terms of of life life imprisonment imprisonment for for the the murders murders of of anti-apartheid anti-apartheid activists activists Japie Japie Kereng Kereng Maponya Maponya and and five five other other people people from from Nelspruit Nelspruit –– Oscar Oscar Mxolisi Mxolisi Ntshota, Ntshota, Glenack Glenack Masilo Masilo Mama, Mama, Lawrence Lawrence Jacey Jacey Nyelende, Nyelende, Khona Khona Gabela Gabela and and Tisetso Tisetso Leballo Leballo –– known known as as the the Nelspruit Nelspruit Five.

Five. De De

Kock Kock is is serving serving aa further further 212 212 years’ years’ imprisonment imprisonment on on charges charges including including conspiracy conspiracy to to commit commit murder, murder, culpable culpable homicide, homicide, kidnapping, kidnapping, assault, assault, and and fraud. fraud.

De De Kock Kock cited cited as as his his main main defence defence during during his his trial trial that that he he was was merely merely following following orders, orders, which which he he “had “had received received from from (…) (…) superiors”. superiors”. De De Kock Kock was was later later denied denied amnesty amnesty by by the the Truth Truth and and Reconciliation Reconciliation Commission Commission in in 1996, 1996, despite despite volunteering volunteering many many candid candid details details about about the the secret secret operations operations of of the the minority minority regime’s regime’s underground underground security security operations operations and and its its unlawful unlawful procedures. procedures.

According According to to Minister Minister Masutha, Masutha, De De Kock Kock has has been been informed informed of of the the decision decision to to deny deny him him parole. parole.

However, However, the the minister minister said said

he he has has noted noted various various positive positive reports, reports, compiled compiled by by the the relevant relevant professionals professionals and and bodies, bodies, about about De De Kock.

Kock.

“I “I have have noted noted the the progress progress he he is is reported reported to to have have made made to to improve improve his his skills skills while while in in custody, custody, as as well well as as the the assistance assistance Mr Mr De De Kock Kock is is said said to to have have provided provided and and continues continues to to provide provide to to the the Missing Missing Persons Persons Task Task Team Team of of the the National National Prosecuting Prosecuting Authority,” Authority,” he he said. said.

Minister Minister Masutha Masutha has has given given instructions instructions for for De De Kock’s Kock’s application application for for parole parole to to be be reconsidered reconsidered within within 12 12 months months and and after after consultation consultation has has taken taken place place with with victims’ victims’ families. families. However, However, itit is is likely likely that that De De Kock’s Kock’s lawyers lawyers will will challenge challenge the the Minister’s Minister’s decision decision in in the the courts. courts.

SA airport security under scrutiny Continued Continued from from page page 11

After being born and bred in South Africa for twenty-eight years, I finally made the move to London. I’m opening my heart to London and to its welcoming of my perky offerings.

| |158 --15 22 July 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

AirportsCompany CompanySouth SouthAfrica Africa Airports (ACSA) (ACSA) even even expects expects travellers travellers to to neatly neatly put put their their travel-sized travel-sized liquids liquids into into their their little little ziplock ziplock lunch lunch baggies baggies before before embarking embarking on on their their international international travels. travels. However, However, this this rule rule is is not not enforced enforced on on domestic domestic routes routes within within South South Africa, Africa, which which could could make make future future trouble trouble for for those those who who might might be be catching catching aa connecting connecting flight flight out out of of Durban Durban or or George.

George.

With With new new security security measures measures being being introduced introduced periodically, periodically, itit is is hard hard to to keep keep up up and and remember remember the the latest latest safety safety fads fads while while preparing preparing for for your your upcoming upcoming trip. trip.

In In addition addition to to practically practically stripping stripping down down to to your your pacemaker pacemaker before before going going through through security, security, the the newest newest additions additions to to travel travel screenings screenings at at airports airports now now include include the the “naked “naked machines” machines” –– full full body body scanners, scanners,

which which create create nude nude images images of of your your body body to to detect detect whether whether you you might might be be holding holding any any weapons weapons on on –– or or in in –– your your person. person. With With privacy privacy issues issues raging raging on, on, these these machines machines have have been been taken taken out out of of commission commission again again in in some some territories territories while while other other places places are are currently currently trialling trialling schemes schemes to to see see whether whether they they suit suit security security requirements. requirements. South South Africa, Africa, however, however, has has stayed stayed out out

of of the the business business of of looking looking at at your your business, business, and and may may be be falling falling behind. behind.

The The track track record record shows shows that that Mzansi Mzansi has has kept kept up up with with its its European European and and American American counterparts counterparts and and is is doing doing its its best best to to keep keep South South Africans Africans and and visitors visitors alike alike safe. safe. But But how how long long that that may may remain remain the the case case rests rests with with ACSA. ACSA.

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Jacob Zuma in Brazil for BRICS summit

| Accompanied by five cabinet ministers, as well as a business delegation from South Africa, President Zuma will attend the two-day BRICS summit in Brazil By staff reporter

Mamphela Ramphele exits South African politics | Dr Mamphele Ramphele announces her departure from South African politics following a turbulent year with the newly-formed Agang SA

by sertan sanderson The leader of Agang SA Mamphela Ramphele has announced that she will be turning her back to politics after weeks of infighting among high-ranking party leaders following the May elections.

But despite the many disagreements and leadership challenges, Ramphele said that she will be leaving party politics with a sad heart after having accomplished her aim of “creating a political vehicle to enable those who remain outside the political mainstream to have a voice.”

“I have decided to leave party politics and return to working alongside my fellow citizens in civil society to pursue the dream of transforming ours into a more just and prosperous society,” Ramphele said in her public statement.

Dr Ramphele had announced almost two months ago already that she would be taking a prolonged “break” from the political stage for a considerable amount of time, but her statement had not hinted at Ramphele having written the final chapter of her short career in party politics already.

Despite being a struggle protégé, Mamphela Ramphele had never actively participated in South African party politics before announcing that she would be forming a party in the lead-up to the 2014 general elections.

With the initial hype around the newly-formed Agang SA, the multimillionaire businesswoman managed to attract enough attention to launch her new brand, but was criticised from the beginning for not actually stating what would distinguish her party

from other voting alternatives.

Following a botched up merger with the Democratic Alliance (DA) at the beginning of the year, Ramphele’s star soon began to fade, with Agang disappearing from the limelight in the runup to the elections. Painfully underfunded and unable to pay the wages of her employees, Ramphele’s party relied heavily on the dedication of volunteers, whose “ubuntu” spirit may have been an inspiration to many of her party members but did not manage to impress potential voters, who often felt that something must be awry with her broke and broken party.

On 7th May, Agang SA barely managed to attract 0.28 percent of the votes – roughly one out of every 400 voters only. With just a little over 52,000 votes, the party still managed to get two seats in parliament, both of which were contested heavily among Agang heavyweights. When an ill-founded compromise resulted in giving the two parliamentary seats to political novices, it became clear that Mamphela Ramphele had had enough of the game. With Agang also spiralling into corruption scandals, with its new leadership accusing Ramphele of embezzling money from the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), she realised that this was the right time to sing her swan song.

Dr Ramphele may be a seasoned veteran at many things, and it was her experience on so many levels which she could have brought to the table in the field of politics.

However, it was also her lack of experience in that very field, which in the end cemented her undoing.

She had described her foray into

politics as “the most exhilarating, daunting, and challenging time” of her life, but it would prove true that she couldn’t stand the heat in the kitchen on t he long run.

In an exclusive interview with thesouthafrican.com last April, DA leader Helen Zille had already predicted that Dr Ramphele’s political career would soon come to an imminent end.

“In any event, Mamphela has spent her political capital because she’s not going to do very well in these elections and there’s not much she can bring to any other party now.”

Whether or not the private friendship between the two most recognisable ladies of contemporary South African history has been patched up in the meantime is unknown. But the DA leader is very clear on not accepting another political approach by Dr Ramphele: “After all that, I’m over it, and it won’t happen again. Our relationship has suffered too much.”

Following the many disappointments of the past year, Dr Ramphele has hinted at a future involvement at the grassroots level of civil society only – perhaps a lesson she has learned during her short stint in the dirty business of politics.

“As to my future contribution, as the months have passed by after the election in May, I have become increasingly convinced that my experience and knowledge is best utilised to help build an empowered and aware citizenry. I return to civil society to continue to pursue the idealism that has driven me all my life as an active citizen.”

President Jacob Zuma, who is already in Brazil, will join leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China, which make up the BRICS grouping, for their sixth summit.

Accompanied by five cabinet ministers, as well as a business delegation, President Zuma will attend the two-day summit on Tuesday.

The summit will be held under the theme ‘BRICS – Inclusive growth: Sustainable solutions’- which is in line with South Africa’s priorities over the next five years.

The leaders will discuss other issues regarding global governance and peace and security, the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and reports on progress towards the establishment of the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB).

The group is considering setting up a development bank and emergency reserve fund, challenging the western-run global financial framework that’s been in place since the end of World War II. The five economies are expected to sign off on the new institutions after two years of tough negotiations.

The BRICS will pool an initial $50 billion dollars for the bank, with each country contributing an equal amount, and seek to gain

influence by offering developing nations an alternative to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

In their last summit, the leaders had instructed the ministers to work on technical details around the setting up of the bank, which will spearhead infrastructure development in BRICS member states and other developing nations.

While South Africa has lobbied to have the bank in South Africa, no decision has yet been taken on the location of the Brics Development Bank.

The BRICS will also set up a $100 billion contingency pool, which could be available by 2015 to help any of its members if they are hit by a sudden loss of foreign capital.

The sixth BRICS summit will be the first to be hosted in the second cycle of BRICS summits. South Africa hosted the fifth BRICS summit in Durban, last year.

During South Africa’s tenure as chairperson, substantive progress was achieved in anchoring the new BRICS mechanisms that were launched at the fifth summit.

These include the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Think Tanks Council.

Reports will be submitted to the sixth BRICS summit on the work undertaken by these structures.

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My hair is like a Greek tragedy…

| The heroine, me, is a shade of blood yet to congeal and my hair has taken on a life of its own. A Greek goddess risen from the sea, ringlets and sun bleached, I wish, only more like Medusa on a good hair day

The Optimist Karen de Villiers

The night air is scented with the sweet perfume of ‘Sex on the Beach’ and the possibility of sex on the beach.Yachts the size of mini cities bobbing to the beat of ’70s classics and the island is pumping with bodies, lithe, young and willing.

I stood out like a beacon on the cliffs edge. White with

London cape, larger than the bouncer at Paradise beach and the anti-wrinklecreams were a farce. Should have guessed all would not go swimmingly when daughter and I checked into our room to find a welcome note saying ‘Have a happy honeymoon’. I drank the complimentary wine instead.

That was three days ago. Now, the heroine, me, is a shade of blood yet to congeal and my hair has taken on a life of its own.

A Greek goddess risen from the sea, ringlets and sun bleached, I wish, only more like Medusa on a good hair day. Had a run in with those low, thatched umbrellas on the beach made for midgets and

sporting straw impaled scars on my forehead. Very becoming.

Knowing I was to be subject of a zillion photo opportunities I tried the make-up scenario which was abandoned soon enough when I alighted from the sea with streaks of black from eyelid to lips. Sod that, au naturel will have to suffice.

Last night I decided to sneak to the bathroom, fell over the poof and went plats onto the concrete floor in the dark, resulting in broken finger and plenty of pain, more to the ego than my already battered body.

But all is not lost. I am on holiday in the Greek Islands, the home of the gods, feta cheese and surreal beauty, surrounded

by friends I have known since my childhood and they do not care for my shape, my wounds or my moaning. We are past caring about pulling in the stomachs and wearing eyeliner. We take pool noodles into the sea, drink beer at lunchtime and giggle about everything while the world is far away. We look forward to the breakfasts and gossip about others on the beach. A lifetime away from the suburbs of Kroonstad, but still united in a bond few will ever have.

Makes me wonder why I was such a cautious youth, so prudish in my outlook and fearful of failing that I curbed my own story. I was old before I was old

in some ways. To be so aware of being judged.

Now no-one is looking, other than my children who wish mom and her friends did not dance quite so wildly, laugh too loud, or get too drunk. Who cares if my hair looks like a sea sponge, cannot read the menu and need an candle to light the page? I know the history of this place.

I have a history of my own, not that exciting I admit, but bloody interesting to me.

Pisses me off when the beautiful walk the beach inviting all to the party of the century and walk straight past me. Ouch! The heroine of this story still has some life left in her yet. Medusa and I.

Tweet to win with Spur!

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Here are our favourite tweets from this week: This week’s winner!*

Rules: 1) You must follow & mention The South African (@theSAnews) & UK Spur (@SpurUK) 2) You must include the hashtag #LoveSpur Competition runs Tuesday to Monday Voucher is valid at any Spur restaurant in the UK *If your tweet has been chosen on this page please email your address to editor@thesouthafrican.com and your voucher will be posted to you

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Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble in concert at Southbank Centre | The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble is internationally renowned for its stylistic approach to baroque, classical and romantic repertoire, as well as for its own vibrant and original arrangements of South African Kwela and Gospel music. Made up of 30 young musicians drawn from less privileged communities, the Ensemble will showcase their musical versatility in a London concert on 16th July 2014

By staff reporter On Wednesday 16th July 7.30pm the Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble will perform a concert of classical music, classic pop and township kwela music at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre.

Made up of 30 young musicians drawn from less privileged communities, the Ensemblae will showcase their musical versatility.

Buskaid, a charitable trust registered in both South Africa and the UK, helps children in Soweto to learn and play classical music.

The trust believes that all children in the townships of South Africa should be given the opportunity to channel their creative energies and talents through learning and playing to the highest international standards.

Directed by Buskaid’s founder, British viola player Rosemary Nalden MBE, the Ensemble is now internationally renowned for its stylistic approach to baroque, classical and romantic repertoire, as well as for its own vibrant and original arrangements of South African Kwela and Gospel music.

The Ensemble will be joined on

stage by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins CBE, who conducts a performance of his Soweto Suite for Strings, which he gave to Buskaid in 2012.

Both Karl Jenkins and Rosemary Nalden celebrate their 70th birthdays this year.

Before the concert, inside the venue at 6.15pm, Buskaid founder Rosemary Nalden will discuss the Buskaid Soweto String Project with Petroc Trelawny. (Free) This event is in partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Society.

Performers: • Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble • Rosemary Nalden director • Karl Jenkins conductor • Simiso Radebe violin • Cecelia Manyama vocals • Mathapelo Matabane vocals • Tumi Mapholo vocals • They will perform: • Jean-Philippe Rameau: Suite from Castor et Pollux & Les Indes Galantes • Georg Muffat: Passacaglia from Sonata No.5 in G from Armonico tributo • Johannes Brahms: Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op.52a Nos.4, 5, 17, 18, 10 & 11 arr. Friedrich

| Photo by Graham de Lacy

Hermann • Jenö Hubay: Csárda Scene No.4, Hejre Kati (Hey Katie!), Op.32 for violin & orchestra • Interval • Karl Jenkins: Soweto Suite for strings

• Classic pop songs featuring Buskaid vocalists • African Kwela and Gospel arr.

by Buskaid musicians Prices: £25 £20 £15 £10

Book on: http://www.southbankcentre. co.uk/whatson For any general enquiries please call Esther Wright at the Buskaid Trust on 01952 371476 or email esther.wright@buskaid.co.uk

Recipe for spicy pork ribs on the braai

| Mat Hartley of Braai365 shares his recipe for sticky, spicy pork ribs cooked to perfection on the braai By braai365 I have experimented (and still am) a bit with pork ribs, but this recipe is rather nice. This is an overnighter so make sure you prepare in advance.

If you marinade the ribs overnight the meat is incredibly tender.

Ingredients (serves 1 full portion) - 0.5kg pork Ribs - 1/4 cup of Brown sugar - 1 Tbsp of Tomato Sauce - 1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce - 1 Tbsp Honey - 2 Tbsp Nandos peri-peri sauce (substitute with chilli sauce if you don’t have) - 1 clove of garlic (crushed) - 1 Red pepper (cut finely) - Black pepper

Preparation 1. The day before serving double wrap the ribs in tin foil (shiny side in) and throw them on the braai (indirect heat) with the lid on for 1 hour. If you can’t light a braai the day before, throw the ribs (and foil) in the oven on 175 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from the braai/oven and allow to cool.

2. Whilst doing this prepare your marinade, by throwing all the ingredients into a bowl, and give it a good stir.

3. Once the ribs have cooled down slightly, lay down some cling foil in a pan, and place the ribs on top of this (with the meatier side facing up). Pour the marinade over the ribs then wrap completely a few times.

4. Place the ribs in the fridge overnight and remove about 2 hours before braai time.

Braai Time Prepare your kettle with one side of charcoal as you will have a braai on direct and indirect.

Make sure the coals have turned white and you have a medium heat (you can just hold your hand over the grill for 5-7 seconds) Throw the ribs on direct heat and braai each side for 5 minutes.

After this place the ribs on the opposite side of the coals and place the lid on the kettle to braai on indirect heat for 10 minutes each side. Remember to baste your ribs with the left over marinade every so often.

So all in all, you braai for 30 minutes: 10 minutes – Direct heat 20 minutes – Indirect heat (lid on) Remove from the braai and tuck in!

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SA playwright holds free London workshop staging of her new play

| Melonie Mazibuko, a South African playwright and performer completing her postgraduate degree in USA, is travelling to London this summer and will stage a play she has written in Covent Garden this July By staff reporter

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NEW STORE OPENING 19th July

21C Holmethorpe Ave Holmethorpe Ind. Est. Redhill Surrey RH1 2NB

70 Brighton Road, Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, Surrey, KT2 06SY Contact: 01737 833 933

Melonie Mazibuko is a South African playwright and performer with a degree in Musical Theatre from Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria and currently completing her Master of Fine Arts in Acting, focused on actor-driven new works creation, at Ohio State University, USA. She is travelling to London this summer and will stage a play she has written in Covent Garden this July. She describes Branches thus: “A child is born in a shoebox.

And in a laundry basket. And on a bookshelf. And one child is growing branches. Branches witnesses one woman’s attempts at the impossible in a world where she is forbidden to be a mother, where young women are disappearing, and where an entire race is dissolving into extinction.”

As the play is still in its developing stages, Mazibuko would love to get feedback from South Africans in London.

There will be a FREE one-nightonly workshop staging of Branches at 7:30pm on Saturday 19th July 2014 at the Tristan Bates Theatre,

Covent Garden.

Mazibuko explained the background to her work, “The role of women in different cultures has always fascinated me.

I am interested in how women are perceived in developing countries like South Africa, and how that perception may (and may not) vary in first world countries. What began to emerge in the writing of this play was a question: how might women be treated if their one ‘universal’ role – that of mother – was taken away from them?”

This workshop staging is directed

by Jennifer Schlueter, joint artistic director of the for/word company (www.for-word-company.net) in Columbus, Ohio, USA, and is produced by The Ohio State University Department of Theatre.

Branches by Melonie Mazibuko Date: 19th July 2014, 7.30pm Venue: Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London Website: http://beimesche4.wix. com/branches

thesouthafrican.com | 15 -22 July 2014 |

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A LETTER TO MYSELF

by Pieter-Dirk Uys | I have a photo of myself taken when I was 15. Blonde like you. I started losing my hair when I was 19. You sat down after filing in and waited. No opinion, no agenda. Nothing. You were like me when I was your age

By pieter-dirk uys I don’t know why I noticed you.

There were so many other young people in the school hall. You sat in the front row and I was on stage sitting at that small table reading a newspaper. I wasn’t really reading.

I was pretending. That’s the way I start my presentation to schools. I watch the young people file in and their body language tells me more than words. Some are bored and will stay bored. Some are confused and will want to find clarity. Some are polite and will listen to nothing.

One or two challenge you, wanting to know who the hell this ou toppie is to demand their attention. You were not any of those. You sat down after filing in and waited. No opinion, no agenda. Nothing. You were like me when I was your age.

I started visiting schools in 2000 when the president of our country confused minds with fuzzy signals about HIV and Aids and I knew it was time to go out and try and balance the madness with facts enriched with a bit of humour.

You see, I’m not a teacher or an academic or anyone from the

Department. Laugh at your fear and make that fear less fearful? I only found that solution at the age of 48.

When I saw you, I was 65. You were still 15.

I’m a performer who uses that no-man’s-land of success in a career no one can explain, to be able to tell the truth through humour and entertainment. My message is very simple: You are important. Don’t expect anyone to help you, if you’re not prepared to first help yourself.

No one cares if you don’t care.

Confront your future with your dream. Don’t expect a job, because you will never get the job you want.

So become your job at 15! Make your dream come true and be the best at the age of 22.

I go to schools to entertain learners. They are the best and most brutal audience. I have their attention for the first five minutes.

If I am boring, their eyes glass over, or they look down and start an alternative communication with SMS, Google, Facebook or twitter.

And you’ve lost them. I’m usually three times their age. I have to try and be less of an adult and they have

to be allowed to be less of a child.

Why am I saying ‘they’? I mean you!

I have a photo of myself taken when I was 15. Blonde like you. I started losing my hair when I was 19. Maybe it was genetic. Is your dad bald? I smiled at the camera and in the photo I can see the fear in my eyes. My smile was skew and not convincing and I know, even now after all these years, how hard it was to do what they said.

Pieter? Glimlag! Ja, Oom. Never say: Ja Oom! I look at you in the front row and it’s impossible that we could even be related. This is 2014 and I was 15 in 1960. Then cars had huge wings and gasoline was cheaper than bottled water is today. Elvis was the devil and Pat Boone was the alternative angel. You won’t even know who they were. Lady Gaga was then a combination of the wife of the Lord of the manor and a word that described madness and chaos.

I grew up in a South Africa that was whiter than black and darker than light. My perfume was terror and my smile disguised fear. I didn’t

even know that I was allowed an opinion. I was suffering from what is now called: the disease to please.

Whatever I did was just to hope that they liked it, that they approved.

That they were not angry. And who were ‘they’? Everyone. From father to mother, grannies, dominees, teachers, ooms and tannies. And God. ‘Fear God, for He is a fearful God,’ they snarled from the NGK pulpit. And I did and to this day I don’t want to even knock on His fearful door. My divine inspiration is that spirit of love and care, who varies day to day from Him to Her to It to Nothing, and yet is always something stronger than me and always A Friend.

In my presentation I talk about many things. Some of them are not what you would expect to hear in a school hall full of learners and teachers. Believe me, if we were all back in 1960 when I was your age and someone on stage said: ‘How does a bird fuck a bee?’, no one would have laughed. And the careless mouth that murmured that fact would be silenced forever through scandal and shame. But

I said those words in your school hall and everyone laughed. Even the teachers, those who didn’t go white. (And by that I mean the black teachers!) I noticed among all the thigh-slapping boys who were used to seeing the most gruesome bloodletting on the news and their favorite cyber games, there sat you without a smile. You were shocked and frightened. You were me.

I could smell your fear, like burning rubber. Like the aftershave I wore once I stopped being a boy and edged my way towards being a man. By 17 that had also become a disguise which I had to practice alone in my room over and over again, so that no one would find out that I was a man who also liked others like me. I never had that freedom till after another man who spent as many years alone in a room freed me from that fear of being me.

Nelson Mandela gave me the right to disagree.

I don’t know your name or anything about you. But I hear your heartbeat and it makes mine stop and restart. You are now in 2014 where I was in 1960. Mine was chalk and yours is cheese.

Everything has changed and yet so little is different. Your future is now as confused as mine was then. The mist of fear blinded me to my own reflection in the mirror of time. By the age of 15 I should have been confident enough to realize that the future was mine to demand and invade. All I needed were the few hints of help. Education. Language.

Self-confidence. Laughter. And the right to close my door, lock it and take off those clothes they call a uniform. And stand naked in the world and be proud of who I was. I didn’t. I think I was then you.

I do that now and I ignore the 69 years that have created the potholes and furrows, the frowns and bumps of experience. I am actually also just 15 years old and I see your face in my mirror and I say to that face: You are what you want to be.

Decide now. Do you suffer from the disease to please them or to please yourself? That’s the first big step.

The second step will then present itself and depend on you. And then the third and fourth and forever. See you when you’re 65 years old. www.pdu.co.za Pieter-Dirk Uys will be at Soho Theatre from Sunday 13th to Sunday 27th July (Sun-Mon 7pm, Tue-Sat 9pm) in AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK UYS. TICKETS: SOHOTHEATRE.COM / 020 7478 0100

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| 15 -22 July 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

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Soundscapes of South Africa: A musical journey of history and culture | Soundscapes of South Africa is a musical journey that celebrates our country’s diverse cultural heritage, its natural beauty and its story of political liberation. Upcoming London performances at the International Youth Arts Festival By staff reporter Soundscapes of South Africa, a captivating showcase of our homeland’s indigenous music and history, will be presented at a series of London concerts over the next two weeks.

Soundscapes prémiered at the Didsbury Arts Festival 2013, where audience members described it as “evocative”, “beautiful” and “enthralling”.

The evocative sounds of flute, voices in harmony, piano and percussion are sensitively interwoven with poetry and

personal narration. The result is an enchanting musical journey which captures South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage.

This talented group of performers includes Capetonian flautist and director Lindsey Fillingham, Durban-born soprano Fae Evelyn and rising star pianist David Gibson.

They will be performing songs in Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa, Afrikaans and English – popular protest songs, folk songs, penny-whistle grooves, and works by classical composers Hendrik Hofmeyr and Bongani Ndodana-Breen.

Through music and poetry (including that of Rustum Kozain and Peter Horn), they will tell stories of childhood spent in African landscapes, of forgiveness, of humanity triumphing, and of hope within darkness.

Soundscapes of South Africa is family-friendly and will captivate people from all walks of life.

The production lasts approximately 75 minutes, with no interval.

In addition to performances at the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston, Soundscapes will also take place in a more intimate setting at the Camden Fringe Festival on 3 August.

Performances: 13th July 2014, 14:15 Emmanuel Church, Didsbury International Youth Arts Festival All Saints Church, Kingston 19th July 2014 14:30 19th July 2014 19:30 20th July 2014 20:00 Camden Fringe Festival Upstairs at the Gatehouse 3rd August 2014 16:00 For tickets call 08444 821 556 or see www.soundscapesofsa.com

Durban-born soprano Fae Evelyn

Capetonian flautist and director Lindsey Fillingham

thesouthafrican.com | 15 -22 July 2014 |

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Juanita Du Plessis – Van Namibië tot Nashville | Conrad Brand gesels met Juanita du Plessis, een van die beroemde Suid-Afrikaanse kunstenaars in die London Goes SA konsert op 1ste en 2de Augustus Wat is die eerste items wat jy sal inpak vir die toer?

Mmmm, my iPhone, iPad en my in-ears. Baie goed kan jy mos nou kry waar jy kom, maar soos my in-ears, ek is verlore sonder hulle.

Maar weet jy, die eerste ding wat ek sal inpak is my man. Hy is my klankman, my bestuurder en as hy daar is, weet ek alles sal fine wees, dan hoef ek nie te worry oor die res nie.

By conrad brand Dit is ‘n lieflike Vrydagaand en die sonnetjie skyn lekker op Engeland en die gras van Wimbledon, met die féntjie wat my koel en kalm probeer hou, skakel ek Juanita Du Plessis in Suid-Afrika. Ek het aan haar ‘n paar vrae gestel voor haar London Goes SA optrede die 1ste en 2de Augustus.

Eerstens moet ek jou vra, wat gaan daar in Namibië aan dat julle almal so lekker sing? Is daar iets in die water waarvan ons nie weet nie? *Juanita lag lekker* Ons bly nou al 15 jaar in Pretoria maar Namibië is my geboorteland en ek sal en maal per jaar daarheen gaan om see toe te gaan en die lug in te asem. Maar ons is ingeburgerde Suid-Afrikaners, jy kan mos hoor ek klink al Suid-Afrikaans. Nee ek weet nie, ek het geen idee nie. Vir soveel jaar het niemand Namibië raakgesien nie, ons was mos amper saam een land en alles het eers in Johnnesburg gebeur so mens kon nie van so vêr ‘n impak maak nie.

Iewers het die deur oopgegaan en iemand het ons in Namibië raakgesien en daarvoor is ek regtig dankbaar, want daar’s regtig talentvolle mense in Namibië.

Sommer ‘n hele paar.

Wanneer het jy begin sing?

Ek het in 1993 begin aan kompetisietjies deelneem, en in 1996 het ek in ‘n band begin optree en sing. In 1998 het ek my eerste album uitgereik, wat later herdoop is na Juanita. Ek het in 1996 voltyds begin. Ek was klaar getroud en het my kinders gehad en ek was eintlik baie dankbaar om daai beginjare saam met my kinders te kon deel. Dit was die Here se plan met my lewe, dat ek eers moes klaar wees en toe die kinders 6/7 was het ons na SA gekom. Ek is daar vir hulle belangrikste jare, van hulle groei as mensies, die vormingsjare was ek dag en nag by my kinders. So ja, alles het gebeur nadat ons as gesin gesettle was.

Kan jy jou eerste optrede onthou?

Daai tyd het ons ‘n klein toertjie deur Namibië gedoen, maar wat ek altyd sal onthou was my heel eerste optrede in Suid-Afrika. Dit was vir my huge gewees om in Suid Afrika op te tree, ek was nog baie onseker en skaam. Dit was in Ermelo, by die Ermelo skou, dit was my heel eerste optrede in Suid-Afrika.

Wat is jou mees suksesvolste treffer? Waarom dink jy is dit so gewild onder jou ondersteuners?

Sjoe dais ‘n moeilike een

Waarna sien jy die meeste uit tydens jou besoek aan die VK? Gaan jy enige besienswaardighede sien?

Ek weet nie, ek hoop so, maar ek sien noggal baie uit om die Apollo waar ons optree te sien.

Almal praat daaroor. Maar omdat dit my eerste keer is, weet ek nie eintlik wat als daar aangaan nie.

Ek sal bietjie google…

Na waste musiek luister jy graag?

Ek luister na baie Country musiek en Gospel. hoor… Ek het ‘n hele paar liedjies wat sukses behaal het.

Vat ‘n liedjie soos ‘Skarumba’ , ‘Lepellê’, al daai dinge, maar ek persoonlik sal sê my grootste treffer ooit is die Gospel liedjie ‘Ons Koning Kom’. Net die manier hoe ek sien hoe die woorde mense raak en hulle inspireer, daar is so ‘n groot salving van die Here op die song.

Dis was byvoorbeeld wonderlik om te sien hoe 30 000 mans die liedjie by Angus Buchan se Mighty Men konferensie sing met hul hande omhoog. Dit is die grootste treffer vir my, tot dusvêr.

Van jou eie liedjies, wat is jou persoonlike gunsteling?

Nee ek kan nie vir jou my persoonlike gunsteling sê nie, want almal is my persoonlike gunstelling. Hulle is almal soos my babas en ek kan nie kies die een bo die ander nie.

Skryf jy jou eie liedjies?

Ja ja, ek skryf baie van my eie liedjies, maar ek doen ook covers, soos in die Country album, maar ek neem ook so nou en dan ietsie van iemand anders op, maar ek skryf meestal van my eie goed.

Wat is die verskil tussen jou musiek en ander SuidAfrikaanse kunstenaars?

Dis moeilike vrae, Conrad, kom nou! *Juanita lag sommer lekker* Ek kan nie oor iemand anders se musiek praat of iets sê nie, maar ek kan jou sê wat die bedoeling met my musiek is en dit is wat miskien die mense raak.

Ek skryf regtig uit my hart uit, uit ‘n opregte hart en ek skryf goed uit persoonlike ervaringe

uit wat mense hulself dallkkan vereenselwig of mee verwant hou. En ek kan ‘n lekker tune uitdink vir die mense wat wil dans en lekker party hou. Ek dink ek ken my publiek en wat hulle na wil luister en waarvan hulle hou. Ons is tog almal mense en gaan deur dieselfde dinge en as ek daaroor skryf kan hulle hulself vereenselwig met my musiek.

Wat dink jy van ons Afrikaanse musiekbedryf en sangers? Waar staan ons op die internasionale mark?

Ek dink ons is op ‘n goeie plek in die internasionale mark, wat my bietjie bekommer is die digital downloads wat die fisiese verkope begin beinvloed en die mense wat CDs copy en die digitale musiek onwettig download, vat iTunes wat nog nie in Suid-Afrika so groot soos oorsee is nie. So dit kommer my bietjie, maar verder dink ek ons musiek is goed, met ‘n goeie kwaliteit en op ‘n goeie plek.

Wat se groot veranderinge was daar in ons Afrikaanse musiekbedryf sedert jy begin het?

Daai tyd toe ek begin sing het was daar nog nie soveel Afrikaanse musiek nie, maar daar was darem al cds toe ek my eerse cd laat sny het. Daar het baie verander, tegnologie het verseker baie verander. Die musiek se klank het ook verander, na meer moderne klanke, en so het die kwaliteit ook verander. Daar is ook nou hengse baie sangers en daar’s baie produkte wat daar buite is. Daar is ‘n groot verskil tussen toe en nou, maar dit is nie ‘n slegter verskil

nie, dit is baie beter. Dit wys dat die bedryf groei.

Wat is die snaakste ding wat nog ooit met jou gebeur het?

(Voor of na ‘n optrede?)

Een van die snaakste goed wat nog met my gebeur het was dat ‘n ondersteuner vir my ‘n klein hondjie gebring het. En asof ek nog nie genoeg honde reeds by my huis het nie, kon ek dit ook nie vir haar nee sê en dit vir haar teruggee nie, en so het ek toe maar die hondjie geneem. Hy hardloop nogsteeds hier op die werf rond tussen die 20 ander.

Die hondjie se naam is Gene.

Het iemand jou al met iemand anders verwar? Dit lyk my dit gebeur noggal gereeld in die celebrity wêreld?

Ha ha ha neeeee. Gelukkig nie.

Hoeveel volgers het jy op Twitter en wat was jou laaste tweet?

Ek is by @jduplessis en my volgers staan nou op 66 600. My laaste tweet wat ek uitgestuur het was vanoggend 01:00. Dit was ‘n spesiale boodskap wat ek verfilm het aan al my volgers en vriende om te praat oor die nuwe album Nashville. Dis was om dankie te sê vir hulle ondersteuning.

Die eerste mense wat die video gesien het was die mense oorsee en almal wat dit gesien het vra wanneer die album uitkom op iTunes. So ons gaan nou heel moontlik hierdie album, wat ons eerste album op iTunes sal wees vir die eerste keer op internationale iTunes vrystel sodat almal dit kan luister.

Wie is jou Suid-Afrikaanse held/in? En internasionaal?

Internasionaal – Ek is ‘n baie groot Joyce Meyer fan en ek leer so baie by haar, uit haar teachings en haar TV program.

Suid-Afrika – Dr Isak Burger – hy is noggal vir my ‘n mentor en ons het nou al tweemaal saam met hom Israel toe gegaan.

Wat se sanger het jou musiek die meeste beinvloed?

Nee, baie oor verskillende genres.

Ek het groot geword met Country musiek en sal sê dat die Country musiek genre ‘n groot invloed gehad het op my musiek tot vandag.

Ek het met musiek groot geword en ek dink ook mense tel maar so deur die jare by elkeen ietsie op. So daar is eintlik nie ‘n spesifieke sanger of genre nie.

As jy iets in die verlede kon verander, wat sou dit wees?

Absoluut niks nie – Alles wat jy deurgaan het jou gevorm om die mens te wees wat jy vandag is. Ek het ook deur moeilike tye gegaan, maar is op ‘n goeie plek vandag. ‘n Mens moet deur storms gaan om die son te sien skyn. Elke dingetjie wat in my lewe gebeur het, weet ek het om ‘n rede gebeur en dit het my gevorm in wat ek vandag is. Ek is oor niks spyt nie.

Juanita du Plessis deel die verhoog op 1ste en 2de Augustus met Theuns Jordaan, Riana Nel en Bok van Blerk.

Kaartjies vir London Goes SA is besikbaar op www.eventimapollo. com/events/detail/london-goes-sa

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Travel

| 15 -22 July 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

Icelandic horses

Spa time at the Blue Lagoon

Slumming it with the fairies in Reykjavik

| Iceland – the name may be misleading for there is no ice to be found anywhere here in the middle of a surprisingly mild winter in a country, which – after all – is named after ice; nor is this an actual ‘land’mass as such but rather constitutes a gargantuan volcanic island nestled alongside the Arctic Circle, much like the country’s most famous resident Björk herself cuddling up against a giant polar bear in one of the earlier music videos by sertan sanderson You can’t blame Iceland’s most eccentric export, Björk, for her wild imagination force-fed by this country’s rich heritage, for it is a land full of lore built on vicious fairies who live in rocks, portly gnomes who visit you around Christmas, phoney Viking villages, incredible moss houses and a wholesale economic collapse in 2008, which in narrative was nothing short of a far-fetched fairytale.

But when I take a closer look at this place, I realise that this may actually be Europe’s ultimate answer to the beauty that Mama Africa has given to the planet with our stunning home country that is South Africa. Flowing waterfalls, splashing geysers, dramatic mountain ranges and unique wildlife features are just some of the unique aspects that set Iceland apart from the rest of the continent and conjure up such unlikely mental comparisons with Mzansi.

The weather, of course, couldn’t be any different, but this is not to say that these is no appreciation for the outdoors in this country; just grab a reindeer parka and off you go.

My most pertinent impression here is that wherever you go in Iceland, there always is a magnetic water feature nearby drawing you into this Nordic country’s icy charm like a Viking sorceress hunched over a magic cauldron; that cauldron is the volcanic island of Iceland. Sometimes that cauldron spits out angry bouts of steam from its renowned geyser pits; in other locations the mineralrich water heals sores and soothes the soul while catering for your well-being with all its medicinal properties, as is the case with the world-famous Blue Lagoon.

Then again, this is the same incredible water, which gently warms the streets by running the hot, sulphuric liquid through the pipes near its surface to keep ice and snow off the pavement during winter months. The same liquid

Iceland’s tiny population requires merely 63 MPs in the “Althing” parliament

later comes out the faucets with a pungent smell that can only be compared to the vile stench of rotten eggs, but nevertheless carries all the same healing properties with it, bringing the spa into your hotel room or guest house. This country truly is a miniature Waterworld.

Unlike the UK (where you are never more than 80 miles away from the sea at any given location), the ocean is an integral part of everybody’s lives here practically at all times. The drama of the towering waves crashing against corroded cliffs all along the shoreline dictates the rhythm of most everyday movements, as some strategic roads leading in and out of the country’s capital, Reykjavik, are highly prone to flooding during all seasons. Not to mention the 2010 volcanic ash mess caused by our friend, the murky mouthful known as Eyjafjallajökull. Forget the tides at Morecambe Bay; this is geologic erosion as a national pastime.

About two thirds of the island’s minuscule population of less than 300,000 people live in the western

capital city, which really is rather a glorified village than a blossoming metropolis, but in a beneficial way to locals and visitors alike.

It almost feels like the place your hippie parents decided to move to after outgrowing their affiliation with Woodstock.

The people here are a coastal people through and through, and you can tell from their friendly and open demeanour that there is a laid-back, easy-going, coastalliving brand of approach to life here that they like to harbour in their hearts. Whether you decide to come for a long weekend or for a summer holiday, you are bound to make friends with the locals, which makes for such a nice change compared to many other European destinations. And this lot will also try hard to show you how to have a “real good time” – Icelandic style. You must know that many of the locals speak impeccable English, largely on account of the fact that a massive US military base just outside Reykjavik used to dominate much of their foreign as well as local trade for the past 50 years.

With pseudo-American twangs in-tow, these outgoing Icelanders will be happy to take you on a rather costly Reykjavik pub crawl probably around Austurstraeti, where – depending on the time of the year you choose to go there – the sun may never set or rise, as they reluctantly talk you into trying one of the country’s oddest delicacies: rotted shark. It tastes like ammonia and regret.

You’ll get used to staying up all night chasing one natural phenomenon or the other.

Although it is rare to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights – or Aurora Borealis – within the city limits of Reykjavik, you might perhaps be the lucky exception. It is advisable not to throw money at elaborate trips promising to catch the Northern Lights; this is, after all, a natural occurrence, which will not schedule itself in accordance with your travel plans. With the weather being as temperamental around Reykjavik as your average day in Cape Town (only much colder), all bets are off.

But the midnight sun at the height of summer is just as impressive

an experience – if not even more so, as you witness how minutes morph into hours, days turn into nights, and a sense of confusion descends over your brain, which can only be compared to jetlag – despite the fact that you’re just one dysfunctional timezone away from Britain.

But you fight against the fatigue, and you get up despite your better lack of judgement. You shower and you brush your teeth elaborately with the sulphuric, stinky water from the tap, hoping to heal all those embarrassing einas you’d only ever dare to tell Dr Christian Jessen about, and you get ready to tick off all the city’s main sites one by one: the Althing parliament of just 63 MPs, the overpriced Laugavegur shopping mile, the iconic Hallgrimskirkja cathedral, the impressive Harpa concert hall, and even the world’s only Phallological Museum, where you can go from one room to the next staring at animal penises all shapes and sizes. Here’s a bonus tip: treat yourself, preferably at night, to the stunning sculpture garden by Einar Jonsson next door to the Hallgrimskirkja. The noble and heroic copper statues by Iceland’s most famous artist can give Rodin a run for his money any day.

As you do your tourist run, you begin to realise at some point that Reykjavik tries quite hard to impress, but it’s up against the competition of its Scandinavian sister capital cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm, which play in a different league altogether. And so you will arrive at the conclusion that it is best to judge Reykjavik in isolation as a charming village, like a much overlooked wallflower who is desperate to become Homecoming Queen.

And why not? After all, this is the fascinating place of legend and lore, myths and sagas, fairies and gnomes, where many odd things are considered normal while “Normal” is just the name of yet another bar in Reykjavik.

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thesouthafrican.com | 15 -22 July 2014 |

Zimbabwe Community

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Mugabe: no land for white men

| Mugabe’s rhetoric appears to turn his controversial land reform plans into full-on revolution mode, as divisive plans for the land redistribution of private property next door in SA gain momentum By sertan sanderson White farmers were at the forefront of President Robert Mugabe’s aggressive rhetoric once more last week, as the aging leader declared that they should no longer be allowed to own any land in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe underlined that he was opposed to whites owning soil, but conceded that he was not opposed to the ownership of companies and real estate.

“We say ‘no’ to whites owning our land, and they should go.

They can own companies and apartments in our towns and cities but not the soil. It is ours and that message should ring loud and clear in Britain and the United States,” Mugabe said to qualify his views.

Since 2000, Zimbabwe’s 4000 white farmers have faced increased isolation, intimidation, violation and widespread displacement as part of an allout land reform programme – justified as the alleged correction of past colonial interference.

But as a result, the country’s agriculture suffered an immediate skills shortage, which led to one of the worst famines in Southern Africa’s modern history as well as creating to crippling economic consequences in its aftermath, which have continued to plague Zimbabwe until today.

In the past decade-and-half, impoverished Zimbabwe has

witnessed the greatest currency devaluation in contemporary times and has been subject to scathing sanctions from the European Union as well as the United States of America.

But these facts seem to have little effect in the hallways of parliament in Harare, as Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF continue to push land reform changes even against the will of some government officials and other supporters.

“There are white farmers who are still on the land and have the protection of some Cabinet ministers and politicians as well as traditional leaders. That should never happen, and we will deal with ministers. But as for our chiefs we do not want to harass you. We do not want trouble.”

The nonagenarian leader furthermore pinned his motivation for the uncompromising reforms on disagreements with the UK, saying that under Tony Blair’s Labour Party leadership from 1997 onwards relationships between the two countries reportedly went sour after Blair demanded that the former British colony includes the financial compensation of its white farmers in its land reform plans.

“We will not pay for our land and we will not ask our people to pay for it because they never paid for it in the first place. I pleaded with him to review his decision,

but he was a boy from the street with no experience so he stuck to his guns. I was not amused and told him to keep his England and we would keep our Zimbabwe,” Mugabe recalled the nature of the fallout between the two countries.

“They were living like kings and queens on our land and we chucked them out. Now we want all of it.”

Meanwhile next door in South Africa, the contentious issue of land reform is also gaining momentum following the re-opening of the land claims process until 30th June 2019.

In addition to allowing to applications to be launched, the government is also considering a new approach to deal with land disputes; based on a government paper, SA Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti wants white farmers to release half their land to be given away to workers.

Opponents of the suggested policy have cited the same economic consequences as their chief concerns for this plan as the scenario that played itself out in Zimbabwe.

Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said: “[It] will exacerbate insecurity, destroy jobs, escalate the already catastrophic exodus of farming expertise from the industry, and have dire implications for food security.”

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| 8 -15 July 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews

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thesouthafrican.com | 8 -15 July 2014 |

Business

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Top Ten Elon Musk quotes to live by

| Elon Musk, SA’s “rockstar” start-up entrepreneur, shares his wisdom. How did he get so successful? What sets him apart? Maybe it’s all mind over matter after all… Here’s a TOP TEN of his best quotes to live by By sertan sanderson From Tesla cars to PayPal, from flights to Mars to the Hyperloop, Elon Musk and his innovations constitute for a truly South African inspiration for anyone who hopes to succeed with a start-up, an invention or just a revolutionary idea in business. Here’s a collection of quotes by Musk to put your gears into motion and give you a spark to move your own projects forward.

Elon Musk on his upbringing in South Africa: “In South Africa there were no pre-made rockets: I had to go to the chemist and get the ingredients for rocket fuel, mix it, put it in a pipe. It is remarkable how many things you can explode. I’m lucky I have all my fingers.”

Elon Musk on the culture of fear: “There’s a tremendous bias against taking risks. Everyone

is trying to optimize their asscovering.”

Elon Musk on basic economics: “I mean, the market is like a manic depressive.”

Elon Musk on having expertise in your field: “My background educationally is physics and economics, and I grew up in sort of an engineering environment — my father is an electromechanical engineer. And so there were lots of engineery things around me. [Physics is] a good framework for thinking. Boil things down to their fundamental truths and reason up from there. When I ask for an explanation, I get the true explanation of how things work.”

Elon Musk on how to best approach life’s biggest challenges: “The tough thing is figuring out what questions to ask, but […] once you do that, the rest is really easy.”

Elon Musk on the importance of attracting the right kind of talent: “Talent is extremely important.

It’s like a sports team, the team that has the best individual player will often win, but then there’s a multiplier from how those players work together and the strategy they employ.”

Elon Musk on going to infinity and beyond: “There’s a fundamental difference, if you look into the future, between a humanity that is a space-faring civilization, that’s out there exploring the stars … compared with one where we are forever confined to Earth until some eventual extinction event.”

Elon Musk on accepting criticism: “Really pay attention to negative feedback and solicit it, particularly from friends. …

Hardly anyone does that, and it’s incredibly helpful.”

Elon Musk on what is (not) the perfect holiday: “The idea of lying on a beach as my main thing, just sounds like the worst — it sounds horrible to me. I would go bonkers. I would have to be on serious drugs. I’d be superduper bored. I like high intensity.”

Elon Musk on his new home in the US: “The United States — it’s sort of like that comment about democracy — it’s a bad system but it’s the least bad. Well, the United States is the least bad at encouraging innovation.”

Retaining your South African nationality | The retention and resumption of SA citizenship, when acquiring other nationalities, have created widespread interest amongst South Africans worldwide, over the past weeks. Here are some of the home truths

by JP breytenbach This interest was fuelled by the campaign SA Dual Citizenship, which aims to create a network of South African diaspora worldwide in order to facilitate the retention and resumption of SA citizenship when acquiring other nationalities. The campaign reportedly aims to create a strong enough following in order to generate the necessary funds to take their petition to the SA High and Constitutional Courts.

BIC support the campaign in its aim, but changing a system is definitely not the easy route.

South Africans about to apply for citizenship of another country, will be well advised to note that prevention is definitely better than cure in this case. BIC consultants have over the years, often witnessed the frustration of persons who have lost their SA citizenship, either by choice, inaction, or by simply being uninformed about the process of retaining your SA nationality.

As BIC specialises in the fields of British and South African immigration, we take care to advise our South African clients to protect their South African citizenship, before applying for their British citizenship.

Process of retaining your SA nationality South Africans who are about to apply for British citizenship should take note that they have to apply for the Retention of South African citizenship before they acquire British citizenship, in order to safeguard their SA citizenship.

This way their SA citizenship is protected and they are able to hold dual citizenship – SA and UK. If you fail to formally apply for dual citizenship permission before acquiring British citizenship through naturalisation (including the Ancestry visa route), you will automatically lose your South African citizenship. Naturalisation is of course when you acquire British citizenship in your own right and not through descent.

Persons who acquire British nationality via descent, will not automatically lose their South African citizenship, and do not have to follow the process of retaining their SA citizenship. Descent is passed down by a parent only – British parents that pass their citizenship down to children born outside of the UK. If you are unsure about your case, please contact a BIC consultant for advice.

It is however possible to re-instate one’s South African citizenship

once it has been lost, but may cause quite an administrative hassle, and involves you having to live in SA for an extended period of time. One could apply for a returning resident and so forth but it is a lot of hassle and money and a lot more effort than taking the time to protect it at the onset.

The process to retain your South African nationality has two stages.

The first is to apply for a Certificate of Non-Acquisition from the UK Home Office. This is a letter confirming that you have not yet acquired British nationality.

Once this letter is received one will be able to submit the second stage of the application to the South African High Commission. This is when you will be applying for your Certificate of Retention, which will mean that, when you become a national of another country, you will still retain your South African nationality, and will thus be a dual citizen. This application can be done in person or via post. Please speak to your BIC consultant for more advice in this regard.

But why protect your South African citizenship?

BIC consultants advise our South African clients to protect their South African citizenship, before applying for their British

citizenship. Clients often ask why they need to bother to do this, as they believe that they are planning to emigrate on a permanent basis.

The reason why this is important differs from individual to individual, for some people they are proudly South African and do not wish to give up their citizenship, some clients on the other hand believe that they will never ever set foot in SA again and as such simply want to expedite their nationality application and don’t want to wait for the protection of their SA citizenship.

We strongly encourage all of our clients to protect their SA citizenship for the following reasons: • You never know what the future holds. We have seen it time and time again where a client believes that he/she will never return to SA and then indeed does. If you do decide to return to South Africa, it is a lengthy process, involving a lot of administrative hassle, to re-instate your SA citizenship.

• Renouncing your SA citizenship or forfeiting your SA citizenship by inaction on your part can also cause a knock on effect on your children. Often times clients forget that their children need to be kept in mind and that

by making a quick and hasty decision today might have an impact on their future children and generations down the line.

• If you are no longer a SA citizen and have SA assets this could have serious impact from a tax point of view, for example inheritance tax point of view, and even simple things like having a SA bank account. If you are not a SA citizen anymore you need to declare that and it will be hard to get credit in SA. These are just a few reasons that we mention to our clients.

Of course at the end of the day it is the personal decision of every individual.

Prevention is however definitely better than cure in our opinion, and following a simple process to protect your SA citizenship from the outset, could prevent a lot of trouble and heartache.

For more information please contact BIC at info@bicimmigration.comor visit our website: www.bic-immigration.com

14

| 8 -15 July 2014 | thesouthafrican.com

Sport

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Walk, Jog, Run or Cycle for Starfish

| Help Starfish transform the lives of vulnerable children – whether you are looking for a run, walk, jog or ride, Starfish has the perfect challenge for you!

Hargreaves appointed Saracens captain | Springbok lock forward Alistair Hargreaves says he is honoured to take over from Steve Borthwick as the captain of Saracens rugby team by staff reporter Alistair Hargreaves has been appointed the new captain of Saracens rugby team. The Springbok lock forward succeeds his former Saracens second-row partner Steve Borthwick, who retired at the end of last season.

The 28-year-old second-row forward, who joined Saracens in the summer of 2012, said: “The captaincy is a fantastic honour and it is a huge responsibility .

I’m really looking forward to the challenge – we have a great bunch of players here, with lots of leaders.

“It’s a job I’m thoroughly looking forward to. We’ve got some great guys in the squad, some great characters, and it’s a lot of fun here – I can wait to crack on”.

The former Sharks player added; “My approach is to just treat people

well. I like dealing with people and forging and maintaining those personal relationships with people.

That’s something that is very important to me, and something that I want to develop as time goes by.

“We have a philosophy that revolves around working hard and playing for each other, and we hope to get results if the back of that.

At this stage of preseason though it is all about putting in the hard work, and then we can look further ahead”.

Mark McCall, Saracens Director of Rugby, said: “Alistair has shown exceptional leadership qualities since arriving at the club in 2012, and is ideally qualified to be our new captain. He is unequivocally respected by staff and players alike, and we feel certain he will lead the squad brilliantly, on and off the field.”

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by staff reporter Starfish Greathearts Foundation is a UK-registered charity which aims to bring life, hope and opportunity to the children of South Africa who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Starfish offers some unique outdoor events to keep you fit and active while raising funds and awareness for the organisation and its cause. Here are four options: CYCLE LONDON TO BRIGHTON Where: Start in London – Finish at Brighton Pier When: Sunday 7th September 2014 Fundraising Target: £100 (+ £35 registration fee) The London to Brighton cycle is a fantastic 54 mile ride down to the south coast. This event takes you from South London through Mitcham, Carshalton, Chipstead, Banstead, Haywards Heath and finally to Brighton. With the route clearly marked and pit stops along the way, you will be well looked after, ensuring that your journey to the sea is most enjoyable. You can also look forward to your complimentary lunch to fill you up after your cycle ride.

You will receive: • Fundraising pack, including sponsorship forms • Ongoing support and pre-event information • A free Starfish branded t-shirt • Cheering support on event day and finish line refreshments RUN TO THE BEAT Brand new 10km route in Wembley Park!

Where: London When: 14th September 2014 Price: £20 registration and pledge to raise just £150.

You will receive: • Fundraising pack, including sponsorship forms • Ongoing support and pre-event

information • Free Starfish branded running vest • Cheering support on event day and finish line refreshments THAMES PATH CHALLENGE Where: Thames Path, Putney Bridge – Henley When: Saturday 13th – Sunday 14th September Price: £30 – £85 depending on distance The Thames Path National Trail is steeped in history and boasts beautiful and varied scenery. It’s the perfect backdrop for these three endurance walks or ultra runs: 100 km – Putney Bridge to Henley.

A 24 hour Walk or Ultra-Marathon run 50 km – Options to suit all! Two daytime walks or Ultra Runs, AND a ‘Moonlight’ walk 25 km – Thames Path 25 km. Four walk options, two run options – or Jog it Join as a team of friends, colleagues or family and support each other, or on your own and meet fellow challengers along the way. Most will walk it, some will jog parts of it, and quite a few will run the full 100 km. However you tackle the Thames Path Challenge, and whatever your distance, you’ll be fully supported by the Starfish team.

Registration fee and fundraising targets: 25km – £30 registration (plus £145 fundraising target) 50km – £60 registration (plus £250 fundraising target) 100k – £85 registration (plus £375 fundraising target) The challenge is fully inclusive – you have all the food and drink you need to keep your energy levels up – with hospitality and facilities every 12.5km for you to rest, relax and recuperate as you go.

Starfish will help you by providing training advice, fundraising tips, a t-shirt and cheering support.

ROYAL PARKS FOUNDATION HALF MARATHON Where: Hyde Park, London When: 12th October 2014 The Royal Parks Half Marathon is a very popular race, taking over 20,000 runners on a stunning, scenic route through London’s Royal Parks.

Starting at Hyde Park, the course takes runners through a further three of London’s lovely Royal Parks – Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James’s Park. You can’t miss some of London’s iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Marble Arch and the Royal Albert Hall but all that will just be a distraction from the cheering crowds that line the streets.

A fairly flat course means you can push for a personal best or if this is the challenge of your year then it won’t be too tough on your knees!

Last year the event raised an incredible £25,000. This money will make a huge difference to the children Starfish supports in southern Africa.

Fundraising Target: £20 registration fee plus £300. You will receive: • Fundraising pack, including sponsorship forms • Support and pre-event information • A free Starfish branded running vest • Access to exclusive post-race stall in the charity marquee on the day • Snacks to boost energy levels Give life, hope and opportunity to children affected by AIDS The Starfish ethos centres on helping each and every child, one child at a time. The charity does this by working in partnership with carefully selected organisations at grassroots level; an approach which illustrates the success of empowering communities and community-led responses to the crisis. Starfish is currently providing care and support for over 22,000 children in partnership with 40 community based organisations working at grassroots level.

South Africa has an estimated 2.5 million “AIDS orphans”, and an estimated 410,000 children living with HIV (UNAIDS 2012). If these orphaned and vulnerable children are not cared for, nurtured and educated, they will become a lost generation.

Starfish caregivers aim to take responsibility for them, keep them safe, look after and care for them so these children can grow up into individuals able to contribute to the future of their own communities.

Register for these events on starfishcharity.org For more information contact Stephanie on 0207 597 3797 or email stephanie.kitson@starfishcharity.org

15

thesouthafrican.com | 8 -15 July 2014 |

Sport

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Pitches. Players. Perfection! Spend a summer with London O2Touch

| With all summer league venues well under way across London, we come to another week’s end of perfect touch rugby • tennis football • cricket • Commonwealth action. This week has been non-stop action for our 7 venues that take over•parks and pitches across London By in2touch This week has been non-stop action for our 7 venues that take over parks and pitches across London from Monday to Thursday evening.

Surrey Quays has seen a record number of new teams enter into the Summer Mixed Wednesday league held there. This has been great for the returning teams, as they will really have to pick up their game if they want to maintain the title against the newcomers.

Clapham Common and Regents Park once again prove to be the King of all venues, with teams and talent just bursting at the seams.

Monday to Thursday evening, the pitches are packed with teams ready to go for gold.

Clapham/Wandsworth is also one of our other popular venues, with most of the playing nights completely full for teams.

With all our venues filling up - it will be great to see the competing nature that this will bring out in all teams. The thirst for first.

Just because the venues are filling up, and the season has already started - that doesn’t mean you will miss out on any action.

Plenty of spaces are still available for individual entry across all 7 venues

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SUMMER LEAGUES Clapham Common – Monday (Mens & Mixed), Tuesday (Mixed), Wednesday (Mixed), Thursday (Mixed) Clapham/Wandsworth – Tuesday (Mens & Mixed), Wednesday (Mens, Mixed & Ladies), Thursday (Mens & Mixed) Putney/Wandsworth – Tuesday (Mens & Mixed), Wednesday (Mens & Mixed), Thursday Social Mixed and Thursday Super League (Mens, Mixed & Ladies) Regents Park – Monday ( Mens & Mixed), Tuesday (Mens & Mixed), Wednesday (Mens & Mixed), Thursday (Mens & Mixed) Richmond – Wednesday (Mixed) Surrey Quays – Wednesday (Mens & Mixed) Hyde Park – Wednesday So as another week draws to an end, and next weeks games already in sight - you can be assured that this Summer with O2Touch is something not to be missed.

For more info on how to get involved, simply email london@ in2touch.com or go to www.

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Historic win a boost to Proteas confidence | The Proteas recorded a historic win in Sri Lanka over the weekend and the team is taking shape very nicely.

The only lingering question concerns the great Jacques Kallis who is struggling for form

By Jeremy Bortz The Proteas’ recorded a morale boosting series win against Sri Lanka over the weekend, their first ever one-day international (ODI) series win in the country.

Notwithstanding the fact that the World Cup will be contested on vastly different pitches, to win not only in Sri Lanka but against a team in fine form after winning the Asia Cup and the ODI series in England is a tremendous achievement and will give the players huge confidence as we move towards the World Cup. The 2015 World Cup is less than nine months away now and the clock the ticking – the Proteas play 20 one-day internationals before their opener against Zimbabwe at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 15 February. After this series in Sri Lanka, they head to neighbours Zimbabwe for a seven match Tri-Series tournament involving the hosts and Australia. Then in November they head down-under to New Zealand and Australia for three and five one-day internationals respectively before hosting the West Indies over the summer for a tour that includes five one-day internationals.

The majority of the side now picks itself and I don’t see the selectors chopping and changing much as they will want the guys to play together as they can. Young Quinton de Kock looks more and more like he belongs at this level (scoring a fine hundred in the third

lSouth African captain AB de Villiers plays a shot during the third and final One Day International (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on July 12, 2014. Photo by Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images

match), King Amla continues his fine form while AB de Villiers remains without doubt a worldbeater and our most important player; able to win you a game single-handedly.

On the bowling front, Dale Steyn remains a match beater who can

turn a game, Imran Tahir has improved tremendously and now bowls with a lot more control and discipline while Ryan McLaren continues to impress not only with the ball (he was the leading wicket taker in this recent series) but with his big hitting at the end of an

innings.

The elephant in the room is without doubt the great Jacques Kallis, to my mind one of the greatest all-rounders ever to play the game. Kallis’s desire to play one final World Cup is completely understandable: WC2015 would

be a record sixth world cup with all five previous ending in disappointment and heart-break.

Kallis has struggled not only on this tour, scoring 0, 1 and 4, but also in the two ODI’s against India back in January (where he scored just 10). He simply hasn’t played much cricket of late and the selectors played him ahead of Faf du Plessis in Sri Lanka in order to give him time in the middle.

If his current form continues, however, he will not warrant his place in the side. There is little room for sentiment in professional sport unfortunately and the tricky questions facing the selectors would be what to do if Kallis continues to want to play but is not 100% justifying his place in the team?

As much as I respect, admire and quite frankly love Kallis for all he has done for South African cricket over the past 20 years, his selection must remain justified on merit. In my opinion, he should be given another opportunity in the Tri-Series in Zimbabwe to regain his form and I believe the selectors will give him this opportunity.

Should he fail again, however, a tough decision will need to be made. To give the team the best possible opportunity to win the World Cup, the great man may need to be dropped. Let’s hope he proves us all wrong and we’re able to stop talking about it, though.

He’s done it before and there is no doubt he can do it again, only time will tell.

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