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Guns & Rain puts contemporary African art in the spotlight

| BEYOND THE GALLERY: “Unlikely Allies I” by Bevan de Wet is one of the artworks on sale at Guns & Rain, an online platform for contemporary African art. Read more on page 6

Son questioned over triple family axe murder in Stellenbosch page 2

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Dewani may be questioned by London coroner page 2

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South African-inspired bunny chow restaurant wins best breakfast award in UK page 8

Food

Campus it up in Cambridge for the weekend page 9

Travel

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Son questioned over triple family axe murder in Stellenbosch | 20-year-old Henri van Breda has been questioned by police over the murder of his parents Martin and Teresa and his brother Rudi. His sister Marli is recovering in hospital

By Katy Scott Millionaire international businessman Martin van Breda, his wife Teresa, and Rudi (their 22-year-old son) were found dead in their upmarket home on the De Zalze Golf Estate in Stellenbosch on 27 January. 16-year-old daughter, Marli, suffered extensive head injuries and 20-year-old son, Henri, who appeared to have cuts and bruises, was taken into police custody for questioning.

There were no signs of a security breach at the estate. A bloodied axe

was found in the house, which has since been sent for forensic testing.

Spokesman for emergency medical services, Robert Daniels, told the Cape Times that the victims had clearly been killed with an axe.

“What I can say is they were not shot, the patients were axed. The daughter was rushed to hospital with severe head trauma and a severed jugular.”

Vergelegen MediClinic in Somerset West confirmed that Marli underwent surgery on 27 January.

“She is critical, but stable. At the moment no one is allowed

to see her, not even close family members,” said spokesperson Carla Hanekom.

When found, Henri reportedly had blood spattered on him and was allegedly seen sitting outside the house talking on his mobile phone at the time of the incident, reported iAfrica.com.

According to Pretoria lawyer and family spokesman Don Bosman, Henri has been taken into the care of an uncle after being questioned by the police. Head of the homeowners’ association at the estate, Eben Potenter, told media

that Henri was being treated as a witness at this stage.

Martin van Breda was the founder of Netstar and Woodhill College in Pretoria. After selling the college to the Curro group of private schools for R185 million, he moved to Perth, Australia. The family then moved to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and in 2010 Martin opened a franchise of luxury real estate company Engel & Völkers, reported The Guardian.

After six years in Australia, the family moved back to South Africa in June 2014.

De Kock granted parole after 20 years behind bars in the interest of nation-building | Apartheid assassin Eugene de Kock has been granted parole while Chris Hani’s assassin, Clive Derby-Lewis’ medical parole has been denied

By Katy Scott

Seen our new website?

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

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

Former Vlakplaas (apartheid death squad) commander, Eugene de Kock has been released “in the interest of nation-building”. De Kock, now 66, was sentenced in 1996 to two life terms in prison and a further 212 years for the crimes he committed during the apartheid era in South Africa.

Minister Michael Masutha made the announcement on 30 January in Pretoria. De Kock was eligible to apply for parole in 2014 as he had spent 20 years behind bars, but was denied in July 2014 as Masutha needed to consult the families of de Kock’s victims before making a decision.

De Kock confessed to more than 100 acts of murder, fraud and torture and took full responsibility for the activities of the Vlakplaas police unit at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 1994. The police’s notorious C10 counterinsurgence unity was responsible for surpressing the anti-apartheid movement While he was granted amnesty for most offences, the TRC could only grant amnesty to human rights violators whose crimes were politically motived and who made a full confession. Amnesty was denied for a number of De Kock’s crimes as the political motivation was not fully proven.

Minister Masutha granted parole as he was now satisfied that De Kock’s victims had been consulted properly and that De Kock had taken part in rehabilitation programmes.

“I’ve considered the matter and noted positive reports from professionals. I’ve noted his progress. Eugene de Kock has been

granted parole,” he said.

De Kock’s victims speak out about parole Sandra Mama, widow of Glenack Mama, a man who was killed by De Kock in 1992, said that de Kock’s release will aid the reconciliation process.

She told the BBC: “I think it will actually close a chapter in our history because we’ve come a long way and I think his release will just once again help with the reconciliation process because there’s still a lot of things that we need to do as a country.”

Jane Quinn, who’s sister was killed by De Kock’s hit squad, said that he shouldn’t have been released.

“I don’t think we should be undoing the process of punishment for apartheid crimes before we have completed actually doing them.”

The families of De Kock’s other victims said they had forgiven him and that he should now be a free man, reported Eyewitness News.

Clive Derby-Lewis denied parole Minister Masutha then discussed the medical parole application of Clive Derby-Lewis who is serving a life sentence for the murder of SACP leader Chris Hani in 1993.

Derby-Lewis, who is now 78, has been diagnosed with Lung Cancer and appealed for release on medical grounds.

During his trial, Derby-Lewis justified the killing on religious grounds, explaining that, according to him, in his faith communism was considered “the vehicle of the Antichrist”.

Hani’s murder prompted riots and unsettled the transitions to democracy. Nelson Mandela reportedly called Hani’s murder “a deed so foul that our whole

| Eugene de Kock at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in 1998.

Photo by WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty Images

nation now teeters on the brink of disaster”.

Derby-Lewis was initially sentenced to death, but when South Africa went on to abolish capital punishment in 1995, the sentence was commuted.

Masutha said the following of Derby-Lewis’ parole application: “I have considered the relevant laws and prescripts that regulate medical parole. There is nothing to suggest that Derby-Lewis’s condition is such that he is rendered incapacitated. Clive Derby-Lewis has been denied parole.”

He further said that there was uncertainty over the authenticity of Derby-Lewis’ medical records as he

used a pseudonym when admitted to hospital which was incidentally the name of another patient at the hospital.

The case of Ferdi Barnard Former apartheid-era CCB agent Barnard, found guilty of the murder of anti-apartheid activist David Webster and attempted murder of Dullah Omar, was sentenced to two life terms and an additional 63 years behind bars.

Masutha said that he needed more information before he could make a decision on Barnard.

“An agreement has been reached with the parties and the dates will be extended. No decision has been made at this stage.”

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London protestors ask Lonmin to take responsibility | A group of protesters gathered outside Lonmin’s annual general meeting at Westminster Cathedral and urged shareholders to set aside R1 million to house the families of those killed at Marikana in August 2012

By Katy Scott

| Photo by Mike Hutchins/Getty Images

Dewani may be questioned

by London coroner | A north London coroner has shown interest in re-opening the inquest into Anni Dewani’s murder. Shrien Dewani may face public questioning under oath for the first time

By Katy Scott The British businessman, who is acquitted of orchestrating the murder of his wife Anni on their honeymoon in Gugulethu (Cape Town) in November 2010, may face further questioning by a north London coroner.

The coroner, Andrew Walker, has indicated that he may reopen an inquest into the murder of Anni Dewani, meaning that Shrien Dewani could face public questioning under oath.

For three years, Dewani fought extradition back to South Africa on mental health grounds. He was

eventually extradited in April 2014.

His trial in Cape Town collapsed after Judge Jeanette Traverso ruled the prosecution case “riddled with contradictions” and not strong enough. Dewani was acquitted in December 2014 without ever taking the stand.

Walker lives in north London, where Anni lived before she was married. Walker has allegedly emailed everyone involved in the case saying that he is considering re-opening the inquest, reported The Telegraph.

Walker has heard a number of inquests into the deaths of British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.

According to The Telegraph, Walker is known for his unflinching approach and awkward questions.

If Walker re-opens the case, Shrien Dewani could be compelled to give evidence – something that Anni Dewani’s family has repeatedly asked for.

Vinod Hindocha, Anni’s father, and her uncle Ashok, will meet the coroner on 3 February, reported the Daily Mail.

Hindocha said: “He called us and wanted us to go and see him. We don’t want to speculate what it might lead to.

We’ll just go and see.”

When Lonmin met for their annual general meeting at Westminster Cathedral in London on 29 January, they were greeted by a group of protesters holding placards with pictures of the widows and children of the 34 miners who were killed in the 2012 Marikana massacre.

The protesters voiced their dissatisfaction with Lonmin’s handling of Marikana and its aftermath. Meanwhile, inside the church conference hall, shareholders probed CEO Ben Magara with similar questions.

Solicitor James Nichol of the Marikana Support Campaign and legal adviser of the dead miners’ families handed out copies of the documentary Miners Shot Down and a letter denouncing Lonmin for the way in which it handled the unprotected strike in August 2012, reported Times Live.

Nicol’s letter read: “Lonmin’s culpability arises from a catastrophic strategic decision that was taken by executives to refuse, point blank, to negotiate or even discuss any

grievance whatsoever with the unprotected strike of miners. This was contrary to Lonmin’s own documented procedures.”

The letter appealed to shareholders, “irrespective of the findings of the Farlam Commission, to authorise an exgratia payment of R1m to each family to alleviate immediate hardship and provide for the wellbeing of the dependants of those killed”.

Inside the conference hall, shareholders asked what Lonmin had done to improve its industrial relations, the lives of its workers and the communities where it operates, reported BD live.

Magara explained that the company was funding the education of 153 relatives of all those who died and has employed 39 widows, three brothers and one son of those who died.

Lonmin also has a three-year agreement in place with the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU).

Lonmin shareholders did not encourage the board to make the R1m ex-gratia payment to the families of the miners.

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

Bedford gunmen still on the run | Only two suspects are in police custody while it is believed that a group of around ten gunmen committed the crime

By Katy Scott Seven were injured following a shootout at Bedford Shopping Centre in Jo’burg on 29 January.

SBV security guards were coming down the escalators after collecting money from the banking mall on the upper level when they were approached by approximately ten gunmen. A shootout followed and an undisclosed amount of money was taken by the suspects, said Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale.

Police have confirmed that three

customers, two security guards and two suspects were wounded in the shooting. The two wounded suspects are in police custody.

Police handed the investigation over to the Hawks specialist unit.

Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi confirmed that the mastermind of the shooting had not been arrested.

“How do they know one is a mastermind? We are not aware of any mastermind,” he said.

According to News24, Mulaudzi said a group of around ten gunmen committed the crime.

“Only two suspects were arrested

and are in hospital. We will obviously be interviewing them.”

During the shootout robbers reportedly fired at random while fleeing and customers fled in all directions and were forced to hide in shops and wait until police issued an all-clear, reported SA Breaking News.

Mulaudzi confirmed that only AK47s and pistols were used and no tungsten ammunition, which can penetrate bulletproof vests, was fired.

“We are not aware of those bullets and it is unknown how many rounds were fired inside the centre.”

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Book Review: Lost and Found in Johannesburg by Mark Gevisser | A review of the memoir of Mark Gevisser, most popularly known as a journalist and author of Thabo Mbeki’s biography. The memoir is far from a personal account of Gevisser’s life, but rather a close look at the city in which he grew up, and how the city he loves grew up with him

By John Cole-Morgan By its very nature a memoir implies that, by reading it, you will get to know more about the author. Lost and found in Johannesburg is a different kind of memoir to what a reader would expect. This memoir focuses on the history of the city rather than the man, looking at how the two grew up together.

Gevisser opens the book by painting a picture of how a safe haven for him and his friends was forever destroyed by an attack. It does however take more than half the book for Gevisser to return to this story. The layout of the memoir is difficult to understand, given that the reader is burdened with this initial snippet of impending violence while reading about the apartheid struggle and the varying politics surrounding Gevisser’s life. Much later in the book, Gevisser describes in horrific raw detail the emotional scars left by this attack and how he managed to move past it and try and look at his city in a new way.

Gevisser uses the childhood game “dispatcher” as a lens into segregated Johannesburg. He used to play the game in the back seat of his father’s Mercedes Benz in the family garage in Hurlingham for hours on end. Using his parents’ street-guide, the Holmden’s Register of Johannesburg, Gevisser would send “imaginary couriers” all through the streets on the map of Johannesburg within the Holmden’s Register, learning the different areas and how to get there. Later Gevisser realised the segregation apartheid brought to most aspects of life in Johannesburg at that time, including this map, where vast expanses of the city were excluded.

The reader is more than halfway through the book before hearing of the first personal and intimate event in Gevisser’s life: the planning of his wedding to his partner of many years. But even this story has no intimate revelations. A swift wedding ceremony is carried out, it seems, to aid immigration paperwork. Gevisser’s description of the wedding focuses mostly on the registrar’s attempt to convince Gevisser to be more enthusiastic.

The registrar eventually says: “Do you think you are a secondclass citizen just because you are gay? You have full rights in this new South Africa. You have the right to make a fuss. I think you need to go home and have a very serious chat with your partner.”

This prompted Gevisser and “C” to bring two witnesses and have rings for their service, which they were not going to do initially.

Gevisser writes that he was humbled by being “lectured by a

young black woman about [his] rights”. Later Gevisser gives an account of how he and his partner would be able to imagine the empty venue they married in filled with images of the loved ones that were not present. It leaves the reader questioning why he left such an idea in the imagination. Why not invite the friends and people you love, to create real memories? This is explained in part but with no real conclusion for the reader.

Gevisser’s husband is referred to as “C”, through the book. It’s interesting that the author hid his husband’s identity since, a few years prior to the memoir being written, Gevisser, publicly named his husband in newspaper articles and interviews. The stories from the newspapers are excluded from this memoir entirely.

There are also references to Gevisser’s sexual self-discovery, as he tells of trips to renowned gay book stores in Hillbrow and his affair with a colleague, but none that give deeper insight to the author. Snapshots of these intimate moments only leave the reader wanting more.

Gevisser started working for the Mail & Guardian and “sought out assignments that took [him] to…

East Rand townships as political violence enveloped them, through to creepy intelligence sources on plots outside Boksburg; from brothels on the outer fringes of Randburg to gay shebeens in Kwa Thema.”

“I spent days at hospitals in Tembisa; evenings at drag shows in Ennerdale,” he says.

This too leaves the reader intrigued as to the details of these events, but they are rewarded only with another reference to a map book Gevisser read in the back of his parent’s Mercedes Benz as a child.

Gevisser has lived a life of privilege within a wholesome Jewish home, as is evident in his deliberation about whether to attend Yale or UCT. When he does choose UCT, it only temporarily impresses him: “The world I had discovered upon leaving home [for UCT] seemed big enough, for the moment, to satisfy my dispatching desires, and suddenly those vapour trails disintegrating into the blue of distance at the edges of my sky did not seem so compelling.”

In his short time at UCT, Gevisser had unearthed information on Piet Koornhof. Gevisser became part of the Varsity Seven after publishing a report in the student newspaper, Varsity, which resulted in him being charged by the university with breaking the off-the-record rules.

More on this story would have

been fantastic. Certainly given the importance of the event, not only in a tiny part of history but also as a deciding factor in Gevisser’s attendance at Yale. Interested readers would have to extensively google this important scoop of a budding journalist, as his memoir

doesn’t reveal much more than the public already knows.

You are left wondering why Gevisser avoids revealing more personal accounts of his life. Instead he includes the family history, the story of Johannesburg, a look at gay life in Hillbrow, but all of them

seem to mask Gevisser’s more personal experiences. It seems a missed opportunity to share more than maps, books and politics.

As a consolation, Gevisser’s talent as a writer is evident throughout. He tells a story very well, even if it isn’t about himself.

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Democrats: a thrilling look into Zimbabwe’s fight for equality | In Zimbabwe in 2009, under Mugabe's dictatorship, two men from opposing sides were given the task of forming a new democratic constitution. Director Camilla Neilsson gained access to follow these men in the three year process

By Rebecca Poyurs When you think of Zimbabwe, you usually think of an iron-fist dictatorship and unnecessary hardship. Director Camilla Nielsson has created a film that will allow inspiring and unadulterated insight into the country that is more than the sum of its dictators.

In 2009, Paul Mangwana of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANUPF) and Douglas Mwonzora of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are both given the challenging task of writing a democratic constitution for Zimbabwe.

With rare footage filmed over three years, Nielsson produces a story of the politics of Zimbabwe – the people are pushing for freedom

of speech, equality and to be able to live without fear on their land – but also a riveting and insightful commentary into the relationship between two politically-opposed men who must work together.

We follow the two political elites to see how far each must go to have their side heard and for a common ground to be built. They attend 5803 grassroot meetings held in urban and rural areas, where the public are invited to share their views on how they would like their country to be governed for the new constitution.

Some of these were peaceful, some fatally riotous and some were believed to be forced opinions under intimidation from the Secret Police with warnings of "specific measures against those who do not obey them"’. The suspension of meetings due to violence leaves them falling

behind schedule, revealing the intelligence and determination of both men. It's a riveting look at a meeting of different minds.

Democrats shows the pressurefuelled games played in politics, media manipulation and the fight for a free democracy. A must see for a refreshing look on the progression of Zimbabwe and how this constitution could ultimately bring the beautiful country to a fairer and freer way of life.

Details Date: Thursday 5 February; 6:10pm Venue: DocHouse, Curzon Victoria,58 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QW Tickets: £9 (£6 conc) The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Camilla Nielsson via Skype

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"The Thatcher government repeatedly refused to close the ANC office in London": read our Q&A with Robin Renwick | In our exclusive interview with Lord Robin Renwick, we talk about the startling revelations about the end of apartheid in his new book: The End of Apartheid – Diary of a Revolution

By Lyndsey Duff Your book sets itself apart from other biographies of the time as it includes previously unreleased information from Downing Street's records.

How did those records shed light on Margaret Thatcher's role in the anti-apartheid movement?

The book is based on the Foreign Office and Downing Street records at the time, not yet otherwise publicly released. These show that from 1984 onwards Margaret Thatcher repeatedly pressed PW Botha and FW de Klerk to release Mandela and repeal all the antiapartheid laws. She engaged far more directly and actively with them about this than any other foreign leader. De Klerk said afterwards that she had made far more contribution to the end of apartheid than any other overseas leader. Mandela said that: "We have much to be thankful to her for".

The role of individual personalities seemed key in dismantling apartheid structures. Are there any popular misconceptions about those involved behind the scenes?

De Klerk was regarded as the very conservative leader of the

National party in the Transvaal. But he detested the increasing political reliance on the military and police and he was a pragmatic conservative who knew that the status quo could not be maintained without an everincreasing use of force. This is what led him to surprise nearly everyone by taking South Africa in a strongly reformist direction.

In your view, what was the chief factor among PW Botha's cabinet that led to a groundswell of opposition to apartheid policies?

There was increasing opposition among the verligte Nationalists to PW Botha's increasing reliance on General Malan, the army and police. The opposition within Afrikanerdom was led by people like Professor Johan Heyns of the Dutch Reformed Church, Peter de Lange of the Broederbond and Anton Rupert.

The book also reveals how the Government went to some extraordinary lengths to protect members of the ANC living in London.

Could you elaborate on your findings contained in the Downing Street papers?

The Thatcher government repeatedly refused to close the ANC office in London so long

as it operated within the law. An attack on the office was organized

by Craig Williamson of the Security Police in 1982. Botha was repeatedly warned by Thatcher of the serious consequences for South Africa if there were any further attacks on the ANC in London.

Are there any lessons to be learned from South Africa's negotiated settlement for other conflict zones around the world? Did South Africa set an example?

South Africa did set an example.

Most people outside the country were expecting an ever worsening situation, heading towards civil war.

Instead of waiting to the bitter end, De Klerk had the courage to take his own supporters in a completely new direction. Mandela set an example of inclusiveness and magnanimity.

As Thatcher said, SA was fortunate to have two outstanding leaders at the same time. Whatever problems the country has now, they are infinitely less dramatic than the disaster that would have followed if De Klerk and Mandela had not led the way to a peaceful outcome.

The End of Apartheid: Diary of a Revolution is available at www. bitebackpublishing.com

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Musings of a middle-aged London marathon man | Brian Keith shares his thoughts on his London Marathon preparations

By Brian Keith

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The other day, my 17 year-old son remarked that my blogs have been quite serious recently. He felt I needed to lighten things up a bit. While I pride myself on not being immune to feedback (unless my wife is commenting on how I stacked the dishwasher), I cannot avoid focusing on the very serious preparations I commenced this past week for one of the most important, daunting and challenging experiences that I expect to face over the next period of my life: the 2015 London Marathon. And as I suspect that many of you (that includes my son) do not have a full appreciation of the magnitude and seriousness of this event and what comes before it, and as a five time ‘veteran’ of this race, I feel entitled to share some words of guidance, broken into the following categories for your edification.

Distance The official marathon distance is 26.1 miles (that’s 42.2 kilometres).

Why this distance? My explanation is that even a reasonably fit human being finds 26.1 miles to be beyond their normal capabilities. If you don’t believe me, try it yourself before work tomorrow morning.

In my particular case, my last marathon was run four years ago when I was still in my 30s.

Moreover, it preceded the knee surgery that the good doctor assured me meant that I would never run a marathon again. It goes without saying therefore that this insanely long distance should be treated with a great deal of respect, bordering on awe. Thank you.

Carbo-loading This often misunderstood concept (especially in my synagogue) is presumed to be an excuse for a significant increase in calorie intake. This is only partly true. The idea (according to the scientists and sports nutritionists, not Jewish mothers) is to consume more carbohydrates that usual in order to fuel the body for the vast distances being covered. This may sound simple, but as the solution does not (only) involve eating an additional three chocolate croissants a day, it is actually anything but that. Pasta, potatoes, rice (preferably wholegrain) are just some of the foods that require thoughtful preparation and scheduling. As this did not occur for me last Friday afternoon prior to my

11 mile jaunt (busy day at work and all that stuff), the only items I did actually eat were a croissant and a blueberry muffin before setting off to torture myself. Simply put, this was not a good idea. iPod playlist selecting Any long distance runner worth their salt will tell you that one of the great inventions of the last decade was the iPod. This revolutionised training, bringing a hitherto neveranticipated synthesis between the arts and athletics. But choosing the right songs requires careful thought. Certain classics such as Snow Patrol’s rendition of “Run” are a must for any play-list. Others such as The Killers’ brilliant tune “Are You Human” and The Script’s recent hit “Superheroes” should probably be there too. But it’s also imperative to weed out some of the more demotivating ones from the existing song-list, such as the Proclaimers’ “I Would Walk 500 Miles” and Kenny Loggins’ golden oldie “Footloose”, for obvious reasons. Getting the running playlist right is crucial; imagine hitting the final couple of miles of the marathon only to be confronted with Bill Withers crooning in your ear: “I’m gonna need somebody to lean on”.

Empathy People – and I include spouses, colleagues, bosses, children, mother-in-laws and your local barista and newsagent in this category – find it extremely difficult to fully appreciate the endless aches, strains, blisters, pain and general suffering you are putting your body through. Without empathy, prospective marathon runners feel isolated and misunderstood. In my case, I am most fortunate, as my loving wife actually ran the 2007 London Marathon with me. Except that she didn’t seem to feel the pain – nor complain – nearly as much as me. (It’s not really my fault; who can compete with a woman who has had six natural childbirths!)

So there you have it. Perhaps next week I’ll try and lighten things up by addressing global climate change or the Bank of England’s dilemma regarding what to do about interest rates.

To see more of Brian’s blogs and his newly published book, go to www. briankeithbooks.co.uk

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We are Charlie: a Pretoria trio that’s fun and carefree – just like their music | The incredibly talented Pretoria-based band have a fresh, upbeat sound that is hard to ignore. In an interview with The South African, the trio told us a little bit about themselves, their music, and the very strange origin behind the name

by Jennifer Moyes Lead singer Dylan Christie met Drummer Wesley Reinecke at school and after a jam session together they became “musical soulmates”. They met guitarist Rowan van Eeden shortly after.

The name we are Charlie comes from an anecdote borrowed from their manager Klaas, the nickname of a hubbly bubbly.

“It’s just a name”, they say laughing.

They have multiple influences — drummer Wesley cites Incubus, Kings of Leon and Deftones, guitarist Rowan cites Linkin Park and Nirvana and lead singer is influenced by the likes of Modest Mouse, Cage The Elephant and the Kooks. The blend of different influences has no effect on the flow of the sound

– it just works. And others are starting to take notice of that too.

It’s quite evident that the band are having fun, and why shouldn’t they? Despite their advanced sound, the members are 19 and 20 respectively.

In 2014 they went on the Puma Happy Holiday Tour alongside some of South Africa’s hottest talent, as well as playing the festival Park Acoustics twice.

Putting African art in the spotlight | Contemporary African fine art is just starting to make waves around the world, and now its got its own online platform. Read more about how Guns & Rain is doing it digitally by katy scott Contemporary art from South Africa and its surrounds often slips under the international radar.

While art fairs around the world have recently begun showcasing our work, African contemporary art has still not gained the exposure it deserves. Like many other industries, art has started to move online, and there are digital platforms available to consume and invest in art. But what about South African art?

A new online gallery for contemporary fine art from Africa, Guns & Rain, has stepped in to fill the gap and provide an international platform for African artists. Guns & Rain is also one of the first African galleries on Google Open Gallery.

Julie Taylor created Guns & Rain to feed the growing interest in African fine art and design. “For a long time African contemporary art has been under-recognised, [but] in

|"Love Me" by Papa Ndasuunje Shikongeni

the last two years it’s exploding with new art fairs around the world.”

Taylor continually scouts for new artists across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana

and intends to expand her search to East and West Africa. “Most of the artists are young and emerging.

Expect that in 5-10 years time their work will be much more valuable,” predicts Taylor.

They are going to tour for the first time around South Africa in February and would love to tour internationally one day. With all the hype picking up around their music, the highlight of 2014 has been meeting all the bands they have all looked up to, including the chance to drink beers with the members of A-King.

They are humble and stay true to their own ideas, stating that

when trying to make in music, the worst mistake is to try to please other people. They’ve managed to create a great sound when staying true to their ideas. The guys are fun and carefree – just like the music. It’s the kind of sound you need to put you in a good mood and get you dancing – the perfect pick-me-up for a cold, homesick saffa.

8

| 3 - 10 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Food

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Chef Petrus' take on the ever popular gourmet burger | Londoners loves burgers. Nowadays the range on offer has moved on from the greasy, cardboard-like meat patty and soggy bun that was once standard

by Petrus Madutlela American chains like Five Guys and Shake Shack are thriving, while some of the UK’s most distinguished chefs have elevated the dish to gourmet status.

Personally, I wasn’t a big fan of burgers until I had to think about one for our downstairs casual dining menu at The Hengist Restaurant. It had to have a big flavour hit to make the grade.

In the recipe I use miso paste, a Japanese seasoning based on fermented soya which is widely available in supermarkets. It’s known for its intense umami taste.

Apart from flavour, what makes the perfect burger? For me, it’s about using high quality, well-seasoned mince and not

overworking it. Hand forming is best. Crunchy lettuce adds texture, and everything should be held together in a gently toasted brioche burger bun. You can dress it up with your own favourite relish. I use an egg: with your first bite, the yolk oozes out and act as a rich sauce. I also add deep fried gherkins on the side and triple cooked chips, of course, just to round it off.

Ingredients 250 g beef mince 250 g pork mince 30 g miso paste 20 g ground mace 80 ml dark soya sauce 2 tbsp. chopped tarragon 2 tbsp. chopped parsley Seasoning to taste 2 tbsp. olive oil (for cooking)

LOVE LOVE IS

To serve 4 x brioche buns, gently toasted 4 x hen’s eggs, fried 1 tbsp. Toasted pine nuts, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds Finely sliced cos lettuce leaves Finely sliced cucumber Method 1. Put the burger ingredients in a large bowl and mix well to combine.

2. Divide the mixture into 4, roll into balls and then flatten into burger discs.

3. Transfer to a flat tray. Wrap with cling film and pop in the fridge for at least a couple of hours.

4. Braai, griddle or fry the burgers over a medium heat for 5 – 6 minutes each side.

5. Place the burgers in the buns, top with chopped lettuce and cucumber, a sprinkle of toasted seeds and finish with the egg.

South African-inspired bunny chow restaurant wins best breakfast award in UK | What do you get when you stuff a full english breakfast into a hollowed out brioche loaf? An award-winning breakfast, that’s what

by Katy Scott Think: Freshly baked brioche loaf filled with home cured bacon, sausage, button mushrooms, bobotie spiced beans and homemade black pudding topped with a fried egg.

The philosophy at Bunnychow is, “if it tastes good, cram it in!”

Inspired by the original bunny chow created in Durban in the 1940s, Bunnychow has been serving their own take on a “bunny” since 2013. When Atholl Milton first launched the company, he took the dish around London in a truck.

Besides from the Full English

Bunny, bunnychow serves Piri Piri Pork Bunny, Veggie Bunny, Chakalaka Bunny and Durban Bunny.

As part of National Breakfast Week, Bunnychow CEO Atholl Milton was awarded most innovative breakfast in the UK award by TV chef Phil Vickery.

9

thesouthafrican.com | 3 - 10 February 2015 |

Travel

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Campus it up in Cambridge for the weekend | A weekend in the stunning university city of Cambridge is easy, and you can even stay on campus

by Francesca Baker All of Cambridge is beautiful, its startling skyline punctuated with the spires of cathedrals and colleges far out into the distance towards green rolling field. Its unique heritage buildings, quaint streets and shallow waterways make for the quintessential English weekend – but hotel prices and student vices put many people off. However, if you visit outside of term time not only are the streets quieter, but many beautiful colleges open their doors for you to stay in. University Rooms works with establishments all over the country to offer this as a comfortable and affordable option to visitors.

A monastic site for education for many years, with a hub of learning at the Hospital of St John, the prestigious university has been existence since 1209, when scholars moving from Oxford formed a home here.

(Unlike Oxford, it’s not filled with cobbled streets, so is more accessible). The first official college, Peterhouse, was established in the late thirteenth century, and there are now 31 colleges, the most recent being the 1977 founded Robinson.

When booking somewhere to stay for the weekend, you might not ordinarily consider staying in university halls. I don’t like to make assumptions about age, but for most of you reading this, any university experience was a long time ago, and your impression of today’s students is likely to involve chaos and carousing. Not what you want for your relaxing break.

I chose to stay in the lovely St Catharine’s College, just off King’s Parade. The central location makes it ideal for exploring the pretty city (there is no Cathedral, but city status was conferred in 1951) and the shops, independent cafes, the main art centre Fitzwilliam Museum, exhibitions at Kettle’s Yard, and the world eminent Museum of Zoology.

Students really are lucky to be living, working and studying here, and after only a few minutes at St Catharine’s we are imagining life as a scholar in the days gone by, soaking in the words, followed by studious debates over dinner. The serene courtyards and lush gardens are perfect to meander around in the morning, after a comfortable night’s sleep in the large en suite rooms, before a hearty breakfast in the main college dining hall.

Founded in 1473, by Robert Woodlark, ‘Catz’ was originally a small college, but gradually acquired buildings around and was largely rebuilt in the 17th century, with work starting on the Main Court in 1673 and the Chapel being completed in 1704.

During our visit there is a choir reunion, (‘Catz Choir’) and the main open court is filled with choral harmonies which lures us from our rooms. The chapel is glorious, and my mother, a bit of a church aficionado, cites the modern west facing stained glass The Wisdom Window

by Tom Denny, as the ‘most beautiful I have ever seen.’ The chapel’s three-manual organ, recently refurbished by Flentrop Orgelbouw, is one of the finest instruments in Cambridge today, and the college is famed for its

musical output.

You can also explore the other colleges (which, it being out of term time, are mainly open!), and each has a unique personality.

The magnificent King’s College is probably the most famous in Cambridge, founded by Henry VI in 1441 as the centre of excellence for wealthy male students. The chapel is the last and finest Gothic building to be erected in Europe, and at 88m long and 24.4m wide also features the largest and finest fan vaulted ceiling worldwide. The output of John Wastell, the last architect to work on the original building, it’s a breath-taking display of art and engineering, flanked by Rubens’ ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ which graces the altar.

As any proud Cambridge student will tell you, the real

competition with Oxford is not about grades or education, but the boat race. Winners 81 times, compared to Oxford’s 78, at all hours rowers can be seen sculling and speeding up the Cam. If you want a small taste of this, but with far less physical exertion, hop aboard a punt.

Punts are flat bottomed boats which are propelled along with a long pole, and were originally simply work boats in the region.

From Edwardian times it became a pleasure pastime, and now scores of boats filled with tourists make their way up and down the College Backs whilst witty guides regale them with stories and history of the city. The oldest company on the river are Scudamores, who offer private hire, group tours, chauffeured and self-hire options, and highlights

include Sir Christopher Wren’s library for Trinity College (1695), the Bridge of Sighs, designed by Henry Hutchinson and named

by Queen Victoria after she remarked on its similarity to the Venice Bridge, and the vast frontage of Clare College. The more adventurous can hire a punt themselves and give it a go – but be warned: it’s not unusual to see other tourists pointing and laughing from the bridges as they meander in circles.

So next time you fancy a city break, consider a university.

Beautiful quadrangles, ornate halls, green gardens, sports facilities and dining can be experienced for a fraction of the cost of a hotel, with all the modern facilities and refreshments you would expect. Why would you stay anywhere else?

10

| 3 - 10 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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Memory Care Group appoints UK ambassador

10/31/2014 5:34:45 PM

| West Sussex resident Pamela Bourne has been appointed as brand ambassador in the UK for the Livewell Group, a world class leader in memory care. Her association stems from her personal experience of Livewell and the peace of mind she enjoys knowing her own parents are taken care of in South Africa where they live.

by Staff reporter

The Leading Name in UK Immigration

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Candidates have to be professional individuals, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, have the ability to multi-task and take the necessary initiative to provide our clients with a world class service. The ability to handle your own caseload is essential.

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If you believe you possess the necessary skills and experience to fulfil the requirements of these positions, please forward your CV to jacinda@bic-immigration.com with a cover letter stating why you believe you are the ideal candidate.

SAlArY IS hIghlY negOTIAble ACCOrdIng TO exPerIenCe. AS We Are lOOKIng TO mAKe ImmedIATe APPOInTmenTS, We reCOmmend ThAT YOU APPlY AS SOOn AS POSSIble.

Headquartered near Cape Town, South Africa, Livewell is an international award-winning facility in a luxurious setting. It is renowned for its person-centred approach, offering round-theclock nursing care that focuses exclusively on dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is associated with English dementia care expert and renowned innovator Jackie Pool.

Both of Pamela Bourne’s parents have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and have been resident at Livewell since April 2013.

“My own experience of Livewell is that my parents are being properly taken care of; that the standard of the care is first class; and I have peace of mind, knowing my parents are being treated in an excellent way on an ongoing basis,” she says.

Pamela has visited Livewell on numerous occasions, getting to know the staff and the facilities that are available. “Facilitating excellent contact between residents and loved ones in distant places is standard practice at Livewell,” she says. “You can phone, arrange to Skype, and have direct contact with the appointed care provider team.”

With representation in the UK, Livewell offers UK-resident South Africans with elderly parents back home, the ideal solution. They need look no further for top notch healthcare that specialises in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pamela says Livewell’s main campus is situated on an estate in Somerset West some 45 minutes from Cape Town and a half-hour drive from Cape Town International Airport. Nearby is the Vergelegen Medi Clinic while Livewell’s own historic manor house incorporates a private restaurant; activity areas and lounges; and lush gardens with covered walkways. The full spectrum care programme is designed around individuals and their families, with the emphasis on specialised, tailormade healthcare. Livewell has a resource centre; support and family counselling group; a workshop programme and conferences on memory care that are a trusted source of information to medical professionals and the public.

“We have a number of European citizens in our care as well as South African residents whose

children work in the UK. The increased interest in our facilities, from the UK in particular, led to our appointment of a brand ambassador,” says Livewell CEO Jimmy Hanekom. “In addition, our new facilities that open in Johannesburg in the next few months make our offering even more accessible.”

Pamela adds that the Livewell companionship programme is extensive and pairs trained carers with residents.

“Furthermore, relatives can stay in touch with activities at Livewell through its monthly newsletter and regular updates on its website, www.livewellsa. co.za.”

For more information, send an email to pamela@livewellsa.co.za or call her in the UK on 07910 998 746.

• Livewell is associated with Dementia SA (tel: +27 (0)860 636 679) and Alzheimer’s SA (tel: +27 (0)860 102 681).

For South African enquiries, contact: Howard Karon Howard@livewellsa.co.za Mobile:+27 (0)82 376 2289 Rochel Joubert Rochel@livewellsa.co.za Mobile:+27 (0)84 208 1368

11

thesouthafrican.com | 3 - 10 February 2015 |

Business: Classifieds

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| 3 - 10 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Business

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To pay or not to pay — that is the tax question | Moving to the UK, from say South Africa, can be a daunting task. Uprooting a family, leaving loyal support staff and a loving support system behind, is no easy decision. Speak to any expat and they will confirm, and then add with in the blink of an eye, that the worst experience is opening a bank account and transferring your credit and tax system to the UK

by Breytenbachs Now, because of the political runup to an election, the UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), and various politicians, are suggesting that the tax minefield needs to change once again.

In the UK we already have to deal with Statutory Residence Tax issues and as one is about to say, thank goodness, the SA tax adviser shouts from back home: “No, SARS won’t release you!

The double tax agreement (DTA or tax treaty) suggests you are tax resident in SA.” For most new UK arrivals, it was not really too much of an issue being tax-exposed in both countries. The reason for this is that the UK will tax you on the UK earned (sourced) income and the funds remitted from South Africa into the UK. Very few transfer into the UK, with the result that tax on income and gains remitted to the UK was no big issue for seven to eight years.

Now, HMRC and the politicians argue you need to pay a fair share to the UK, despite being a nondomiciled tax resident. HMRC argues, like several other classes of taxpayers, non-domiciled individuals must be encouraged (read: forced) to pay their ‘fair share’ in taxes to ensure the UK emerges from its budget deficit.

George Osborne already, in December 2013, announced an increase in the annual “remittance basis charge” (RBC). Currently non-domiciled individuals pay

either £30,000 or £50,000 to protect their world-wide wealth against the UK tax system. If you do not pay the RBC, and you have been in the UK for more than 8 years, you have to report and pay tax to the HMRC on your income arising anywhere in the world.

Arising income is not necessarily banked or accessible cash.

The RBC is paid by nondomiciled individuals having been UK resident for at least seven out of the last nine years, and it’s currently set at £30,000 pa.

The good news it is a per annum election, and if your income does not justify the RBC payment, the

lower tax bill based on the global arising income will suffice. There is, however, several levels and some do face £50,000.

As part of HMRC Autumn statement, it has been confirmed that for now the RBC will remain at £30,000, yet RBC for nondomiciled individuals who was resident for 12 out of the last 14 years, will increase from £50,000 to £60,000. A brand new RBC level set at f £90,000 will apply to residents having lived in the UK for 17 of the last 20 years.

Remember as of the 19 out of 20 years you can no longer elect to be non-domiciled, and full IHT

exposure applies despite you having a second passport.

And now for the most recent blow to non-domiciled individuals.

For most, the seven RBC free years or seven remittance basis years was fair, as UK nationality often followed after five years only. No, argues the UK governments, a better approach would be to allow you only three RBC free years.

The government also unveiled plans to consult on making the election of non-domiciled status apply for a minimum of three years.

For most expats, especially the younger ones entering the UK from third world countries and newer EU states, the actual tax increase will be minimal. The compliance issues are of greater concern to most, as they need to adjust from either a December or February tax year end, to a 5 April tax year end. The application and impact of the tax treaty and the new FATCA automatic exchange of information risks are complex. Opting for tax planning through non-disclosure in absolute belief that you are of minimal consequence, will no longer be an option.

The FATCA exchange of information will red-flag your small bank balance in the same way as it will red-flag the transfer of massive quantities of cash. Error reporting or flagging mismatched electronic data exchanges, is now done in a few seconds, yet it can

result in hours of grief.

The solution: Speak to your financial adviser and ask what can be done to alleviate the double reporting. Pensioners from South Africa now residing in SA, can elect to pay tax in the UK and use this HMRC evidence to claim a 100% PAYE (payroll tax) exemption in SA. Furthermore, once this is done, the dreaded RBC is no longer a nasty three letter word. It is no longer a concern as the arising method for pensioners allows them to claim SA tax exemption and best of all, unrestricted cash transfers from your SA bank to your UK bank.

Yes, for UK compliant tax residents, their monthly SA pension in the form of an annuity is now only an email away. Yes, our associated company www. bcbadvisory.com can assist you with the cross border tax advice as well as the transfer of your ZA Rands. Legally!

The solution to a good night’s sleep with pounds below your cushion is only an email away.

Make contact today with Hugo van Zyl or JP Breytenbach.

Frequently asked questions on the Unmarried Partner Visa | Unmarried Partner Visa's questions answered by the experts

by Breytenbachs The Unmarried Partner Visa is a very advantageous immigration category that allows the unmarried partners of persons present and settled in the UK for at least two years, to apply to join their partners in the UK. Persons are often surprised to find out that they qualify to stay with their partner in the UK, under this route. Below we have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions on the subject.

Is this route open for partners in a same-sex relationship?

Yes, this immigration route is open for both heterosexual and samesex couples.

Is there a financial requirement for the unmarried partner visa?

Yes, if your partner is a British citizen, you will have to fulfil the financial requirement. A minimum income threshold of £18,600 is

required in order to sponsor the settlement of the partner. If you are from within the UK, the £18,600 can be made up from the income of both parties, and it should thus be easier for you to fulfil the financial criteria.

If the partner present and settled in the UK is the holder of an Ancestry Visa, you will not need to fulfil the minimum income criteria.

In cases where the partner is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 holder, the maintenance requirement of those visas will have to be fulfilled.

My partner and I have been in and on-and-off relationship for the past 3 years. Will the fact that we cannot proof a successive 2 years count against us?

It is important to remember that you will need to prove that you have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage for 2 years or more. You will also need to prove that you intend to live

together permanently in the future.

If you cannot proof this, your application will in all likelihood be declined.

How does one prove the relationship?

Normally, you would need utility bills covering 2 years, such as tenancy agreements, bank statements and other bills being posted to the same address. Joint if possible, but you can also have separate accounts as long as it shows the same address.

I am the holder of an unmarried partner visa, and interested in opening a small business. Will I be allowed to do this on this type of visa?

Yes, one of the advantages of the Unmarried Partner Visa is that it allows you to work in the UK without restriction. You will thus be able to be employed, be selfemployed or combine the two.

Does this visa lead to Indefinite

Leave to Remain?

Yes. If your unmarried partner visa is based on your partner’s Ancestral visa, the unmarried partner visa will be granted for the duration of the ancestral visa, and you can apply for ILR with the ancestral holder. However once ILR has been obtained you will not be able to apply for British citizenship until you have completed 5 years residence in the UK. Unmarried partners based on Tier 1 & 2 are granted for the duration of the permit holders’ visa. If you received the unmarried partner visa before 9 July 2012 you can apply for ILR with the permit holder if you have completed at least 2 years as a dependent. If you have not completed 2 years when the permit holder qualifies for ILR, the unmarried partner will need to apply for an extension. Unmarried partners under Tier1 & 2 must

complete 5 years as a dependent if the application is processed after 9 July 2012.

Unmarried partners based on British citizens are granted for a period of 30 months, after which an application can be made for an extension of another 30 months, which should take the applicant to the qualifying period of 60 months for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. If you need any further information, please contact us at info@bic-immigration.com www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com

13

thesouthafrican.com | 3 - 10 February 2015 |

Business

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Raymond Ackerman, the legend continues | We met with Raymond Ackerman in London last week to hear his views on South African business at a talk given at the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK

By John Cole-Morgan The South African Chamber of Commerce UK, in partnership with Deloitte & Touche, hosted Raymond Ackerman and his wife Wendy Ackerman last week at a talk entitled: “Can South African businesses have a soul?”

Ackerman studied at the University of Cape Town under Professor WH Hutt. Hutt was a fierce opponent to monopolistic practices, a champion of the rights of ordinary people and a pioneer thinker on the role of the trade unions. Ackerman learnt from Hutt that, in order to have a successful business, your customer must remain king.

These contrary teachings were so foreign to Ackerman’s father, Gus Ackerman, the he had several severe talks with his son about the misguided teachings and folly he was attempting to follow.

Ackerman’s principles for business rest are best explained by the metaphor of a fourlegged table. These legs are administration, merchandise, promotions and social responsibility. Each of these legs are required in equal measure in order to keep the table balanced.

Profit is given as much weight as customer satisfaction, as is civic responsibility.

Ackerman implemented these principles in the Greatermans group, and the initial days of Checkers in the mid-sixties.

At the time, they were novel and progressive, and ultimately resulted in Ackerman being fired

| Photo by Ronel van Zyl

from the Greaterman’s group on 6 October 1966. Ackerman tells a touching story in his memoir Hearing Grasshoppers Jump, describing how he went to Zoo Lake after being dismissed and walked around the lake for several hours trying to figure out what he could do to try and keep his family afloat. He wanted to find a way to avoid poverty and to provide for his young family.

Building Pick n Pay was not easy at first. At a time when Ackerman didn’t have the funds to comfortably support his family, he dared to dream of the impossible and declared to a journalist that he was going to start a new business. This announcement sent shockwaves throughout the South African business world and investors began flooding in, offering the much needed capital to start Pick n Pay. The legacy of an 83-year-old titan leaves many questions.

What would Ackerman like to see happen to his empire?

Talks have been held within the Ackerman family on a monthly basis for many years to decide if the business should be sold “after Raymond Ackerman” or whether it should remain within the family. In order to avoid the “trustafarian” effect within his own family, Ackerman has been consulting with American firms for years to ensure his family doesn’t fall into the trappings of wealth. Ackerman’s grandmother and father struggled tremendously

with poverty, and thankfully these bad times won’t ever affect his children and grandchildren. A sense of pragmatism and brutal honesty is clearly part of the family strategy.

During Ackerman’s talk at the South African Chamber of Commerce UK, Ackerman was asked if he thought enough had been done by South African business to combat corruption. He admitted that it had not. “I don’t think we as businessman have tried to influence the government sufficiently as we have been too busy with our own lives,” said Ackerman. “The gorvenrment has done some very good things but there are a lot of things that should be done differently, particularly when it comes to serving the [country]… Business has not been as outspoken as it should have been.” Ackerman did go on to say that this was in fact a remit of Pick n Pay’s social responsibility leg, so he intended to address it further with his company and his peers within South Africa.

Ackerman has famously taken the South African government to task on several issues during his extensive career. The days of the “cigarette wars” in the mid-sixties saw Ackerman buying up the entire supply of South Africa’s cigarettes in order to break the tyrannical pricing regulations of the day. Fights for the fuel prices and deregulation have always been present between Ackerman and the government.

In his book The Four Legs of a Table, Ackerman explains that complaints can build your business. Listening to the real issue of a complaint can help businessman decide where improvements can be made and how a business can be improved and help keep the table level, putting the customer as the retail king.

In our interview, Ackerman used an anecdote to explain this.

One afternoon his driver had collected him from the office and they came across a woman whose car was filled to the brim with Checkers shopping bags.

Given the history of Checkers for Ackerman, he asked his driver to follow the car, and they ended up in Fish Hoek. Upon pulling into the driveway, the lady driving

the car she was aghast at meeting the world-famous Ackerman.

Ackerman started to explain that the lady shouldn’t worry: he was very happily married and he only wanted to ask her why she hadn’t shopped at Pick n Pay. She explained that ten years ago a lady in the Pick n Pay didn’t honour the no-questions-asked refund policy, after which she refused to shop in Pick n Pay again. Ackerman was so upset by this that he wrote to her and every one of her family members to talk through their boycott of Pick n Pay. Not many CEOs would do this, but sadly this era of customer care is vital. It built an empire and hopefully it will inspire the next generation.

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| 3 - 10 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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First African team to cycle in the Tour de France | This year, for the first time in 101 years, an African team will be competing in the Tour de France

By Katy Scott Team MTN-Qhubeka received a wild card to participate in the 2015 Tour de France on 14 January. This marks the first time in the 101 year history of the race that a team from Africa will participate.

South African Douglas Ryder, the teams principal said: “I have been waiting my whole life for this news.”

Ryder formed MTN-Qhubeka in 2007. While he hoped to build a roster mainly made up of African cyclists, the 23-man team is not solely comprised of Africans.

Cyclists from Australia, the United States and Europe will ride alongside team members from Algeria, South Africa, Rwanda and Eritrea.

Ryder has praised the talents of South African Songezo Jim, the first black South African to compete in a UCI World Tour event in 2013.

“I wouldn’t be surprised in the next three years that a black African rider will be on the podium in a Grand Tour,” said Ryder.

He has every confidence in his team despite concerns that the team may be under-prepared for the bunch.

“When you are riding in Africa the road goes in one direction for 50 miles, you might see an ostrich or a buffalo. In Europe you have three-metre wide roads, hundreds of riders, towns every 20km with traffic furniture and roundabouts. In our first year, five riders broke their collar bones. You need time in the peloton to get that rhythm.”

MTN-Qhubeka promotes the Qhubeka Foundation’s work in giving bikes to rural villages. In isiXhosa, qhubeka means to move forward. According to Qhubeka’s website, over eight million children walk to school each day and more

than two million walk for longer than 30 minutes each way.

Two Africans competed individually in the Tour de France in 2013. Daryl Impey was the first South African to hold a yellow jersey and Kenyan Chris Froome, who was born to British parents, went on to win the race. South Africa’s previous biggest success in the Tour came in 2007 when Robert Hunter became the only African cyclist to have won a stage.

MTN-Qhubeka German cyclist Andreas Stauff fractured his collarbone during the first Challenge Mallorca race on 29 January.

He has flown back to Cologne and has undergone surgery to fix the fracture.

Ryder said that MTN-Qhubeka will not only ride in the race, but will compete with “the support of the whole continent behind us”.

Athlete more motivated after shooting accident | PC Beneke fully realizes that it does not often happen that an athlete is given a second chance to live out his dream. He is determined, therefore, that this is the season in which he will exert himself to chase fast times in the 400-hurdles By staff reporter Next week will be the first time in nearly a year that he will settle down in his blocks to wait for the ‘bang’ of the starter’s pistol that will send him off on his challenge of the stopwatch. Beneke, who is sponsored by hpc, could be forgiven if the sound made by the pistol should give him cold shivers for a second or two.

On 27 April last year Beneke was involved in a shooting incident on a farm in Sudwala, just outside of Nelspruit, in which he was fortunate not to have lost his left foot. A shotgun accidently went off just centimetres in front of him and 19 of the 34 pellets ricocheted into his ankle. He was lucky that the pellets did not penetrate any of his ligaments or his ankle bones. The doctors who treated him were not sure at first whether or not he would be able to run competitively again.

He still has vivid memories of the shooting accident.

“My friend’s dad was explaining to us how the shotgun, a brand new

rifle, works when I suddenly heard a shot. The room was totally filled with smoke and my ears were ringing.

When I looked down I just saw blood at my feet but, strangely enough, I did not feel any pain at that stage.

The first thing that crossed my mind was that it might be the end of my athletics career. There was just so much blood pouring from my ankle.

“Luckily Dr JB Prins from the Little Company of Mary managed to remove most of the pellets. I think there might still be about three or four left. I can feel them sometimes when I massage my ankle but I have no pain.”

“I will be honest. The shooting incident changed my whole outlook on life. Now that I am aware that it is only by the grace of God that I am still able to run, I am not scared any longer to go full out to live my dreams. I see it as a sign that I was meant to achieve something as an athlete. Don’t ask me what because I don’t know. All I know is that I feel strong during my training sessions, so hopefully 2015 will be the year

when great things will happen for me.”

Beneke is planning to open his season next week by either running the 200m or 400m at a league meeting.

“My plan at the moment is to run my first 400-hurdles race in March. I must admit that I am slightly nervous to start racing again because I don’t know what to expect. It is one thing to train but quite something else to race.”

The rivalry between a fully fit Beneke and Cornel Fredericks (Commonwealth Champion) could be one of the highlights of the season. The two of them have been rivals since they were both Under-12.

Beneke beat Fredericks at that year’s South African Youth Championships but Fredericks won at the next year’s South African Junior Championships.

“The 400-hurdles could also make for exciting racing because LJ van Zyl and Wouter le Roux will certainly be in contention each time they race,” Beneke predicted.

thesouthafrican.com | 3 - 10 February 2015 |

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It's not too late to get active with In2Touch | With the evenings becoming lighter it’s that time to get outdoors and start getting active again!

By in2touch Anyone can play Touch as it is a great sport for hand eye coordination, ball skills and mental foresight. You can play in a men's, ladies or mixed team and can start playing from any age. Touch is a minimal contact sport where you just need to make a touch, even just touching the shirt or the ball counts. Looking something similar to Rugby, without the tackling, scrumming, kicking and the like, the aim of the game is to score tries. Played on a flat surface, half the size of a conventional sports field, although played to a wider extent on a social level, there are now flourishing commercial leagues in England, Scotland, South Africa and New Zealand.

There are also regular school competitions and development clinics spreading the Touch gospel to everyone. The official governing body of the sport is known as the Federation of International Touch (FIT).\ One of the clubs that play in our London leagues is the CSSC club. They are all Civil Service Members who love Touch and are growing rapidly as a force to be reckoned with. The two players that have taken this club to where they are now are Lois Lau, she is currently in the England Women’s

Over 27’s Team and Chris Wall, he is currently in the England Mens Over 30’s Team. They have provided some fantastic coaching for all their players and have teams in both the National Touch Championships and the Club Touch Championship. CSSC now have many new members playing touch throughout London and they even run their own league on Monday nights to grow the game and get their new players learning the rules and showing off their skills. We look forward to see how this club will grow in the future and to see how their players continue to succeed.

There will be new Touch leagues starting in February for the Sunday Winter League at Clapham Common, where you can enter your teams or enter as an individual. Our Spring and Summer registrations will open in early February so make sure to get your teams in before you miss out.

For more information please email tracy@in2touch.com or have a look on our website, www.in2touch.com/ uk for more information.

Sport

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First African team to cycle in the Tour de France

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Athlete more motivated after shooting accident

3 – 10 February 2015

The countdown has begun – it is just about World Cup time | After a comprehensive 4 – 1 series win against the West Indies, all eyes move to Australasia and the Cricket World Cup. Will this finally be our year? We certainly have the talent to win it

By Jeremy Bortz The Proteas kick off their World Cup campaign in just under two weeks with the opening game against Zimbabwe on Sunday 15 February at Sedden Park in Hamilton. We’re all aware of South Africa's dismal record at World Cups and I have no plans to revisit those painful memories here. But I do want to analyse our squad and assess our chances.

Broadly speaking, I think we have as good a chance as in 1999: we are a superbly talented squad with depth in all areas. While doubts linger about potentially our soft underbelly in the middle order, and who should play at number 7, we will certainly be one of the pre-tournament favourites. And if we manage to perform at the level we’re capable of, I am confident I’ll be staying up through the night on Saturday 28 March to watch us in our first final.

This week I would like to assess our batting strength while next week I’ll be covering the bowling department. The return of young Quinton de Kock from an ankle injury at the top of the order means the top six are a settled unit with De Kock a wonderful young talent.

In my opinion, De Kock’s partner, Hashim Amla, is one of our three key players. After a slow start to his international career, Amla’s break-through season came in 2010 where he scored more than 1000 runs in both the Test and One-Day International arenas, averaging more than 75 in both. His incredible form has continued ever since and he is

| Hashim Amla of the Proteas during the 5th Momentum ODI between South Africa and West Indies at SuperSport Park on 28 January in Pretoria. Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

very much the rock around which many an innings is built. During the series against the West Indies, Amla became the fastest player to 5000 ODI runs, in his 101st innings, and when he is scoring runs it takes pressure off the rest of the batsmen.

Faf du Plessis has made the number three slot his own over the past few months while there is not much that needs to be said about the captain, AB de Villiers, who comes in at four. His recent 149 off just 44 balls demonstrated once more why

he is without doubt the best batsmen in world cricket and to my mind the second of our three key players.

David Miller slots in at number five and he too enjoyed a confidence boosting series against the West Indies, scoring his maiden ODI ton

in the fourth game of the series, 130 not out, as well as 70 in the series opener. He is a big hitter and with a solid platform can add real momentum to the back of an innings.

The versatile JP Duminy is a reassuring face at number six.

Duminy has always been an incredible talent and over the past two years in particular he has started to fulfil that potential. Side-lined for a large part of 2014 with a dreadful ankle injury, Duminy has a lot of experience and can play both an anchoring role, if need be, or a more aggressive one where we have had a good base. He has also improved tremendously as an off-spinner and I would venture so far as to class him as an all-rounder.

The only question mark concerns the number seven slot. The incumbent, Farhaan Behardien, has failed to really impress mostly because he has not had too many opportunities with the top order playing so well. The other option is to play young Rilee Rossouw, who would have grown in stature and confidence after an excellent series against the West Indies. Rossouw was Amla’s partner in the first four games, in which he scored his maiden ODI ton, while in the fifth and final game he came in at four and scored his second ton.

Regardless of who slots in at seven, the Proteas have a worldclass batting lineup and I am excited to watch us over the next few weeks Down Under.

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