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Judith Sephuma serves up multi-lingual jazz in London INSIDE The Van Breda murders: Horrific evidence emerges surrounding Henri

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NEWS Boy raped by four others in racial attack at school in Northern Cape

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NEWS Andre Brink, 79, dies on KLM flight to Cape Town

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NEWS Snake up Sani Pass to get a slice of the high life

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| JAZZY JUDITH: Enjoy an evening with Judith Sephuma in Camden. Read more on page 7

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| 10 - 17 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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The Van Breda murders: Horrific evidence emerges surrounding Henri | Van Breda son Henri called emergency services four hours after the attack took place and his injuries were selfinflicted. Marli has woken up and is able to answer simple questions By Katy Scott Evidence has emerged that 20-year-old Henri van Breda, a Van Breda family survivor of the Stellenbosch axe murder, only called emergency services four hours after the attack of his father, mother, brother and sister, and that the scratches and bruises on his arms were self-inflicted, reported the Sunday Times. Henri reported the attack at 7.30am on 27 January, according to the newspaper, however, the attack had taken place at 3.30am. Sources close to the investigation said that the doctor who examined Henri following the attack claimed that his injuries were self-inflicted. Blood samples were taken from Henri to be tested for the presence

of drugs and alcohol, sources were reported saying. It has been confirmed that the Van Breda family has approached an advocate who acted for Shrien Dewani to represent Henri. Henri’s 16-year-old sister Marli, who suffered extensive head trauma and a severed jugular, has spoken for the first time since surgery. According to a source close to the family, she is only able to answer simple questions such as “who are you” and “which year is it”. Marli and Henri survived the attack while their parents, millionaire and international businessman Martin van Breda and Teresa, and 22-year-old brother Rudi were killed in their upmarket

home on the De Zalze Golf Estate in Stellenbosch on 27 January. Police have not made any arrests or even named the victims. Knobel told Netwerk24 that this may be to protect Marli. Knobel suggested that police may be withholding information in order to make sure they have a strong case against their potential suspects. On 30 January, an audio clip of Marli’s brother, Henri, telling emergency operators about the crime over the phone was made available by eNCA. In the clip, Henri can be heard calmly detailing how his family were attacked. A trace of a giggle can be heard after he explains that his mother, father and brother are

“bleeding from the head”. There has been no formal statement explaining why he may have done so. According to Netwerk24, Henri’s parents had reportedly been concerned about his health. However, family spokesperson Ben Rootman told the news channel that rumours about Henri’s mental health were speculative. Rootman confirmed, however, that Henri had a brain scan at a hospital in the Royal Melbourne Hospital in 2014. A friend of the family told Rapport that Henri had abandoned plans to spend last year in Canada due to health problems. According to the Times, Henri was taken back to the crime scene on 30 January, but police would not say why.

Racial segregation at Pretoria private schools prompts investigation | After allegations of racial segregation at the Curro Foundation School in Pretoria, apologies from the principal and promises of reintegration, the Gauteng Education MEC is pushing for a review of private education in the province 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.

An investigation into racial integration will be conducted in Pretoria private schools following allegations of racial segregation at Curro Foundation School, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said on 2 February. Lesufi took a team to the Curro Foundation School in Roodeplaat, after learning that parents had signed a petition objecting to the fact that a group of white children were placed in a class of their own, separate to black pupils. Apologies from the Principal at Curro School, Andre Pollard reasoned that white children, who are in the minority at the school, felt more secure around other white children. “It is not because we would like to segregate the whites, it is just because of friends. Children are able to make friends with children of their culture,” he said. The chief executive of Curro Holdings, Chris van der Merwe, said that a recent jump in their share prices justifies what they

were doing. “Our share prices have jumped by five percent, the biggest leap we’ve seen, and that tells us that the majority of people believe in what we are doing. We have 36 000 pupils, of which 24 000 are black,” he said. “The class with only white children at our school happens to be those pupils who have chosen Afrikaans, which we cannot change as it is their language option. “However, we will not be dividing other classes based on race. It is very unfortunate that we had an isolated case which we have resolved and I can only state that we will never tolerate any form of racism at our schools.” Pollard faced strong criticism for admitting to separating the pupils and later apologised, saying that he did not realise the offence he had caused. “South Africans don’t want to go back to the pre-1994 era in our country. That’s what I’ve learnt this week. And I’m deeply sorry

for my comments on segregating children at our school,” he said. Necessary plans for transformation MEC Lesufi, parents and the SA Human Rights Commission held a meeting with the school’s management on 2 February, where it was agreed that transformation was needed, reported South African Press Association (Sapa). Lesufi told reporters: “The school embraces and accepts that they’ve made a mistake and they will rectify it.” Curro’s COO Andries Greyling said that plans for integration have begun. “I want to reiterate that Curro never stood for racial segregation. We will change our practices and we’ll work hard to address the challenges,” he said. Later this week a meeting will be held with parents to discuss the integration processes. Lesufi advised of changes that could be implemented at Curro Foundation school, including the introduction of African languages as subjects and the introduction of black teachers (as the school only has white staff).

The South African Council of Educators will meet with school principals and teachers at the Curro School to establish the facts, said spokesman Themba Ndlovu. The council, which monitors and upholds standards of professional conduct for teachers, warned that it will pursue those found accountable for ethical transgressions, reported BD Live. Spokesman for the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Isaac Mangena said the SAHRC would continue to monitor the integration of classrooms at the Curro Foundation School. Lesufi plans to meet with all the principals of private schools in Pretoria to introduce a transformation charter. He will order a review of private education in the province by an independent person. Parents will be allowed to appear or give evidence. The inquiry is expected to report back by June 16, the anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising against the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction at schools.

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Rhino: pro vs anti trade… a meeting to bridge the divide | In the debate that rages around rhino conservation there are pro traders and anti traders and rather like Kipling’s ballad it’s a case of ‘… East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet …’ But maybe not. A recent meeting in Cape Town suggests that not only might there be a truce in the offing, but also a common strategy to stem the current loss of more than three rhinos a day By Staff Reporter RHino poaching has been covered ad nauseum across all media. No fewer than 1215 African rhinos lost their lives in 2014 (an all time high in recent decades) as crime syndicates targeted Africa’s two rhino species to supply demand in Asia. The rate of natural mortality plus the slaughter for horn is dangerously close to the point at which the species’ ability to reproduce is outstripped and the 25,000 or so existant rhinos tip towards rapid decline and even extinction in the wild. The situation is untenable, but while there are many actions in response to the threat that conservations can agree upon, there is one major divide where rapprochement seems impossible. On the one side there are those, particularly here in southern Africa, who advocate farming rhinos and suppling the demand through a legal trade, while on the other are those who say no to trade, calling for strategies that kill the demand. It is an impasse of note, and unless the international treaty (CITES) is amended to allow trade (which is extremely unlikely, dealing in rhino horn will remain a criminal activity. If the law were to be changed, the bureaucratic processes involved would potentially extend over more than a decade. So, even if the pro-traders economic model were to be put to the test, it would unlikely be in time to prove either positive or negative in terms of rhino conservation. What is needed, and immediately, are serious accelerated actions across the spectrum of crime fighting, cooperation on the part of transit and end user states, and persuading users to cut their habits. But in the meantime huge energy, time and money is being drawn into pro/anti trade lobbying. So, is there any chance of a ‘Plan B’ that even in the short term sets differences aside and focuses on fighting the scourge with laser beam intensity? Impossible? Maybe not … Recently, a meeting took place in Cape Town between several South African anti- and pro-rhino trade lobbyists. After an initial, serious confrontational encounter, the lobbyists agreed that they had to set aside the specific agendas

of their respective camps and focus instead on working together as a united front to come up with a plan for ensuring the survival of rhinos in the wild. Advocate Jacques Joubert of Mediation in Motion, whose Woza Mediation blog is well known, facilitated the discussions. The participants in favour of the legalisation of trade in rhino horn were respected economist Dawie Roodt, and rhino activist and Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa (IFAISA) director Braam Malherbe. Those against trade were veteran conservationist and wildlife tourism expert Colin Bell, and Ian Michler, an ecotourism operator, writer and former stockbroker. All participants agreed that, in the light of likely voting patterns when CITES members next meet in Cape Town (in March 2016), it is unrealistic to expect any changes to the legislation for the trade in rhino products. Indeed, it appears that even if successfully motivated, legalisation in the trade of rhino products would not happen within the next decade, at which point, based on current poaching statistics, rhinos in the wild could well be extinct. In fact, without a collaborative and united approach all parties present agreed that the fate of rhinos in the wild is dismal. There was also a collective acknowledgement that one in seven South Africans depend on a thriving tourism industry for their income. The country’s reputation as a Big Five destination could suffer if rhinos were to disappear from the wild and this could impact negatively on the industry and put jobs at risk. Another point of consensus was recognition of the fact that although South Africa is the front line in the rhino war, the crisis involves many other countries in Africa and elsewhere. Strategies to prevent rhino poaching are thus not specific to South Africa, and need to be implemented on a global scale. Finding a viable way forward, therefore, is in the interest of rhinos and people. And with this agreed the following multifacetted plan emerged: — Calling for the immediate cessation of hostilities between pro- and anti-trade camps in favour of rallying around a common vision.

— Establishing efficient, effective, focused and sustainable fund-raising campaigns for rhino security and conservation. — Promoting public education primarily in Asia and worldwide to reduce demand for rhino horn. — Increasing the extent and efficiency of security and monitoring measures. — Centralising the application and issuing of permits to hunt rhino. — Establishing of a whistleblowers fund and increased antipoaching law enforcement. — Securing community buyin and co-operation in rhino conservation of rhino, especially among people living in close proximity to rhino. — Being more proactive in targeting the middle-men in the criminal chain of command. — Increasing the deployment sophisticated technologies that can detect poachers long before any animal can be shot. — Securing increased governmental compliance with constitutional and legal rules in the struggle to conserve the rhino species. In addition to attending this meeting, Malherbe also wrote to the Minister of Environmental Affairs, pleading for a change in the ‘rules of engagement’ that currently place anti-poaching units at a distinct disadvantage when apprehending rhino poachers in the Kruger National Park. The participants agreed to an on-going review of the debate and, if necessary, to amend the current approach in order to produce a realistic and viable action plan that would be acceptable to the majority of rhino stakeholders. The debate has been groundbreaking. It is the first time that pro- and anti-trade lobbyists have reached any meaningful consensus on a way forward. Roodt, Michler and Bell were in agreement with Malherbe when he said, "As long as we are fighting each other, we are aiding and abetting the poachers." Bell and Michler are now in the process of drawing up a ‘working paper’ that will soon be circulated for contribution from all parties.

South African man kick- starts random acts of kindness around the world | The man who turned NekNominations on its head last year is now spreading random acts of kindness in the #RAK15 follow up campaign By Katy Scott Jozi boy, Brent Lindeque, made waves this time last year when he transformed the NekNomination craze into something a lot more beautiful: RakNominations. In the NekNominatinos, bros and chics all over the interweb filmed themselves downing a beer in challenging or dangerous circumstances and then nominated their friends to do the same. RakNominations promises to be more altruistic. “Downing a can of Castle Light is easy,” said Lindeque. “Imagine if we all harnessed the power of social media to make a real difference in people’s lives.” Upon being nominated by a mate Down Under (where NekNominations started), Lindeque set up a camera and filmed himself driving up to a homeless person at an intersection in Jo’burg. Instead

of downing a beer with the homie, he handed the man a sandwich, soft drink and chocolate bar instead. Overnight, the world started listening and Lindeque’s message spread from America to Australia, from individuals to corporates. The world was eager to pay it forward. On 1 February, Lindeque launched #RAK15, a follow up campaign aimed to empower and encourage South Africans and the rest of the world to preform random acts of kindness. In his promotional video, Lindeque encourages everyone to go out into their communities and perform one random act of kindness. “Change one thing. Change everything.” And people have been doing just that. Ready to take up the challenge? You have 24 hours; change one thing.

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Boy raped by four others in racial attack at school in Northern Cape | Four white kids raped a black boy with a broom handle, after tying him to a school bed by Gerhard Jacobs Jan Kempdorp High School has been rocked by a brutal, racially motivated attack on a young learner. Four white boys are due in court, after making a video of them tying the young man to a bed, painting him white and raping him with a broomstick.

Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo, Northern Cape education MEC has indicated that no mercy will be shown to the boys. “This type of behaviour is unAfrican, inhumane and does not belong in our schooling system. I am going to ensure that these boys face the full might of our due

process and the law. The department cannot continue to bend over for those who continue to reject the changes that have been embraced by many in our country”. South Africa has seen racism flare up as of late, with government aiming at opposing bail for racerelated incidents in future.

Shocking stats of South African minor’s exposure to sexual content online | A new survey through UNISA reveals the true threat children face from online pornography and sexual grooming, it’s far worse than you’d think By Gerhard jacobs The study, conducted by The Youth Research Unit at the Bureau of Market research, reveals that in Gauteng alone, more than 30% of school kids have been lured into online sex chats against their will. The rest of the survey revealed loads more. Of the High school children surveyed: • 22.8% were asked online to perform sexual acts. • 24.4% were persuaded to perform sexual acts.

• 97.7% who participated in the study had access to the internet, while 95.7% were registered on various social networking sites. • 13.3% eventually performed sexual acts against their will. Of that 48.2% entered into open sex talk and 59.6 % took and sent pictures of themselves naked or semi-naked. • 18.8% of the pupils had conducted sexual acts via webcam. • 31.8% who experienced online sexual grooming reported the

incident. • 41.9% opened an unfamiliar message or website link containing pictures of naked people or people having sex. • 43% reported to have accidentally come across websites with sexually explicit material. • 29.2% intentionally accessed pornographic material. • 77.6% accessed pornographic sites occasionally and 9.1% daily. The study is made up of info from more than 1500 high school kids altogether.

Visiting, working or naturalising in the UK just got more expensive | Yep, visa fees have increased, making it even more expensive for South Africans to visit, work or remain in UK By Katy Scott The Home Office has just released the visa fee increases for entry into the UK, and it’s not looking good for us Saffas. It’s hard enough getting into the UK, and now it’s that much more expensive to visit, work, set up shop or gain British citizenship. While a visitors visa for less than six months has only gone up from £83 to £85, visiting for less than a year will cost you £162 instead of £150. A visitor’s visa for less than two years has risen from £300 to £324. Those wishing to work temporarily in the UK will have to pay £225 instead of £208 for their Tier 5 Temporary Visa. The fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain has increased from £1093 to £1500. A great number of Australians in the UK apply for this status each year, making the increase rather significant, 1st Contact Visa Immigration Manageer John Dunn told

TheSouthAfrican. “A large majority of all visas end in a person being eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, after a five year continuous stay in the UK. The £407 increase can also be compounded, if a person needs to use the fast track service, as that would increase their total fee payable to £1900 for their application,” said Dunn. Those hoping to naturalise as a British citizen will now have to pay £925 instead of £826. And those wishing to register as a British citizen will have to cough up £833, as opposed to last year’s rate of £743. Registering your child has gone up from £669 to £749. Settlement visas (spousal and fiancé visas) have increased by £71. “With the maintenance requirement for the settlement visas currently sitting on £18,600 without dependents, it just adds to the cost and makes it more difficult to enter the UK as a spouse or Fiancé of a British citizen,” said Dunn.

How xenophobic violence turned Joseph Tau’s life upside down | “I heard a loud noise from the looters outside the supermarket,” says Joseph Tau. “I could hear footsteps on the roof and knew they were coming for us" by Mosa Damane “I froze and stood still while they hammered the doors of the backyard rooms. Within seconds they made away with plasma TVs, DVDs, clothes, furnishings and personal belongings. From my room they took my ID and pension card,” says Tau. Sello’s supermarket is in November Street, Mzimhlophe, in Meadowlands, Soweto. This is a neigbourhood that has improved over the years. It now has tarmac streets and sidewalks. It has also produced much South African football talent, including Linda Mntambo, Sipho Mngomezulu and Sibusiso Ngwenya. When a 14-year-old boy was shot dead allegedly by a Somali trader in Snake Park, Dobsonville, last month, the people who run Sello’s became the victims of the ensuing xenophobic violence. After three nights it came to November Street. Three foreigner-run stores were hit: Tafelberg, whose slogan reads “Super Maize Meal”, Bismilah General Dealer and Sello’s Supermarket.

Tau was born in Sophiatown but has been part of Sello’s for half a century, occupying one of a row of four rooms in the supermarket yard. He holds proud status of “master tenant” and doesn’t pay rent in recognition of his long friendship with the late Jack Sello, the supermarket’s founder. He is the yard’s guardian. Growing up with two sisters in Sophiatown, Tau’s heroes were a notorious gang called Black Americans, with a reputation for hijacking delivery trucks and mugging people. He’s still bitter about the 1955 evictions which at 16 forced him and his sisters to leave Sophiatown and live with an aunt in Meadowlands. Tau ignores questions about his parents, leaving it at “they were not around any more” and recalls a grim life in then dusty Meadowlands “relying on coal, candles and paraffin to survive”. Eventually he found work at a factory in Booysens producing rubber and leather mining boots for Crown Mine workers. In the 60s he met Jack Sello, who worked at the Barry Colne chemical company in town while

his wife Pinky ran their recently established Sello’s Supermarket in Mzimhlophe. “We became close friends and Jack suggested I move in with him at the supermarket,” says Tau. Later Sello got him a job at the chemical factory. “I got paid R180 per month after deductions. Boy, you should have seen the smile on my face when I received my first pay at Barry Colne! It was a lot of money!” Sello’s Supermarket, known to many as Pinky’s after Sello’s late wife, is now owned by Mama Mpho Leeuw, a 52-year-old teacher at Anchor high school who is Pinky’s younger sister. Her tenant who operates Sello’s today is 30-year-old Ali Mihay from Bangladesh. That is what likely made Sello’s a target for last month’s violence. “From the supermarket they took everything. Electric cables were ripped from the ceiling, not even a single wire was left. Margarines were pasted all over the floor, mixed with grains and mielies,” recalls Tau, who says that the looters “were armed to the teeth with pangas, axes, hammers and shovels.” “Bana ba bakotsi (these youngsters

are dangerous), “says Tau. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. My friend Jack Sello worked hard to make this supermarket what it is today. “During my working days in the factories in the 60s we had a single challenge as a nation: fighting apartheid for better conditions of living. Today we rise against one another and do damage to ourselves.” He blames parents for allowing their children to run loose. “Teachers cannot be blamed for everything. An honest parent wouldn’t allow stolen goods in the house. The very same people who demolished the shop are customers of this business!” Tau shares his small room in the supermarket yard with a threelegged one-eyed white cat named Pretty, which he feeds but denies ownership of. “The cat belongs to Ali,” he says firmly. Tau walks about in fancy two-tone golf shoes (spikes removed) with no laces. He talks frequently of the old currency before the rand, and carries a sixpenny piece and a penny wrapped in plastic.

He and Mihay are firm friends. Until the place was gutted last month they met daily in the supermarket kitchen to have breakfast together. “Ali, who is a Muslim, is caring and spirit [alcohol] free,” says Tau. “I usually go out with friends for a few drinks and I know that Ali will leave something for me to eat when I return. He doesn’t deserve what’s happened to him. He is a man of God, soft spoken in his broken English, and pretty shy too.” Sello’s had previously been robbed twice at gunpoint since Mihay took over its tenancy two years ago. Goods worth R150,000 were taken in last month’s looting, let alone the structural damage. “I reported it to Meadowlands police but nothing has been done,” says Mihay. Mihay has retreated to Mayfair near Johannesburg city centre while owner Mama Leeuw attends to the supermarket’s repairs. She says, “We are like a family with Ntate Joseph. I bought some food for him today, but he does not want to eat. The ID and pension card thing is not sitting well with him.” This article originally appeared on www.groundup.org.za

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Andre Brink, dies on KLM flight to Cape Town at 79 | South African literary giant Andre Brink passed away on Friday night after receiving an honorary doctorate By John Cole-Morgan Andre Brink visited Belgium last week to receive an honorary doctorate from Belgian Francophone Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL). He received his doctorate last Friday 6 February and, soon after receiving the award, boarded a KLM flight from the Netherlands to Cape Town. During the flight Brink fell ill and passed away. It is believed that Brink had developed a blood clot in his leg, which proved fatal during the flight. Despite using a wheel chair for the ceremony in Belgium, Brink appeared to be in good health. He was working on a new novel which, for the moment will remain unfinished. Brink was internationally renowned for his efforts in the struggle against apartheid using the written word as his weapon of choice. Being the first Afrikaans author to have a book banned in South Africa, Brink, for many years, wrote in both English and in Afrikaans in an attempt to circumvent the censorship laws that restricted speaking out against the leadership of the day. After five decades at the forefront of South African literacy, Brink was still in residence as a literary professor at the University of Cape Town. He leaves behind five exwives, a wife, Karina M. Szczurek, four children, six grandchild and a mourning nation. Brink famously wrote: “If I speak of my people then I

mean: every person black, coloured or white, who shares my country and my loyalty towards my country.” Brink won numerous awards over the five decades of his literary career. In 1976, he was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and in 1978 was a runner up for the prize with Rumours in the Rain, which won Brink a CNA Literary Award in the same year. In 1980, Brink was awarded the Martin Luther King Memorial Prize (England) and the Prix Médicis Etranger (France) for A Dry White Season. In 1982, A Chain of Voices won Brink another CNA Literary Award. Brink won the highly acclaimed Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur: Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (France) in 1982. 1992 saw Brink awarded the Monismanien Award for Human Rights (Sweden). Brink went on to win the renown Hertzog Prize in 2000 and 2001. Other Side of Silence won the 2003 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and Commonwealth Writers’ Prize (Africa Region, Best Book). In 2012, Brink was again shortlisted for the Man Booker prize for Philida. In 2006 Brink was awarded The Order of Ikhamanga (silver) and a Literary Lifetime Achievement Award from the Department of Arts and Culture. In 2013, Brink was again recognised with The Medaille Grand Vermeil De La Ville Award, the highest decoration of the city of Paris. Just last year, Brink was awarded The Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature.

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Address | South African novelist Andre Brink looks on during a press conference ahead of an honorary degree ceremony at the UCL Louvain-La-Neuve university on 2 February 2015. Photo by ERIC LALMAND/AFP/Getty Images

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South African bass wins prestigious Clonter Opera prize | Simphiwe Simon Shibambu has done us all proud by winning two prizes the Clonter Opera Competition in England

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by katy scott 27-year-old South African bass, Simphiwe Simon Shibambu, who is currently studying at the Royal College of Music in London, won First Prize and the Audience Prize of the Clonter Opera Competition in England. Contestants competed for a prize of £2,000 (R35,000) before a distinguished panel of judges. Shibambu was one of several contestants nominated by the UK’s leading conservatories to compete at the prestigious competition. While studying a degree in Vocal Art at Tshwane University of Technology, Shibambu performed in opera productions, oratorios, requiems, chorus festivals and solo concerts. Shibambu won the inaugural Amazwi Omzansi Africa Singing Competition in Durban in 2013. In November 2013, he was awarded a full scholarship from the Royal College of Music in London. A year later, he performed the part of Sarastro in Mozart’s The Magic Flute at the Royal College of Music in London. Watch this space, because big things are expected from this bass.

Nicky Schrire makes her Vortex debut | Born in England, raised in South Africa and latterly of New York, Nicky Schrire epitomises the expansive and fluid range of the modern, contemporary jazz scene at its most intriguing by staff reporter For her Vortex debut, Schrire is joined by an exceptional band featuring saxophonist Adam Waldmann (Kairos 4tet), pianist Tom Hewson (Treehouse & winner of the 2014 Nottingham Jazz Piano competition), bassist Matt Ridley (Darius Brubeck Quartet) and drummer Dave Hamblett (Ivo Neame Quintet), playing music from her previous releases as well as arrangements from the South African jazz repertoire. “Though her approach has earned her comparisons to Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens, the similarities are superficial. Like Parlato, she’s an assured technician with a whole bag of impressive tricks. Like Stevens and, for that matter, Esperanza Spalding, she has an affinity for folk. But…she’s got her own thing, and it’s very much worth listening to,” says Jon Garelick of Arts Fuse. Details: When: Thursday 12 March Where: Vortex, 11 Gillett Square, London, N16 8AZ Time: 8:00pm-11:00pm

thesouthafrican.com | 10 - 17 February 2015 |

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Judith Sephuma brings crossover jazz to London | One night at the Jazz Café in Camden with Judith Sephuma by staff reporter Judith Sephuma is a South African eclectic singer. She is generally known for her multiple selling Jazz albums. She grew up in Seshego, Polokwane, moved to Cape Town in 1994 to study as a jazz vocalist and now resides in Johannesburg. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 1997 with an Honours degree in Jazz Performance. Her much critically acclaimed debut album titled A Cry, A Smile, A Dance was released in 2001. Adding to her four multiple award selling studio albums and a LIVE DVD & CD titled A LEGACY: LIVE IN CONCERT recorded at The Lyric Theatre, Johannesburg. Judith Sephuma is a multiaward winning artist with highly versatile vocal and performance prowess. Evidence to that, she has collaborated on recordings with various equally highly successful musicians including the likes of Michael Bolton, Ringo Madlingozi, Oliver Mtukudzi; Pastor Benjamin Dube, Dj Pepsi, just to name a few. She continues to share a stage

with a host of great musicians and orchestras across the country and the continent and has recently released a full worship/gospel/ spiritual-inspired album titled THE EXPERIENCE: Live in concert. A live DVD of the same recording was released in June 20th 2013 and has now reached gold status for both DVD and CD. Judith Sephuma continues to perform for various audiences including government and has performed for head of states at the recent AU summit and AU 50th Celebration in Addis Ababa. It is now four years since the release of her Jazz album “I am a Living Testimony”. Judith has recently found inspiration to return back to the studio to record her Sixth studio album in what she describes as a very serene, peaceful and calm City, the City of Cape Town. "It was so much fun getting back in studio again after spending so much time travelling and live performing.” This new album titled One Word has allowed me to choose music that allows me to enjoy myself and have fun, but more so to allow my fans that have been very

loyal through the years to enjoy themselves.” Judith describes this album One Word as a Funky Afro Jazz Album. I believe we are creative so I created a title that can describe this particular album”. She has worked with songwriters from South Africa, Congo, Mozambique and Los Angeles. This album One Word has songs sung in Sepedi, Zulu, Lingala, Portuguese and English. It is a crossover of what you know as Judith Sephuma and what you are about to discover about this versatile and talented singer. Why One Word? She simply says, “ all songs for the first time have one word as titles. Nothing serious.” ONE WORD IS DUE FOR RELEASE IN MARCH 2015 All music avaliable on iTunes Details When: 8 March 2015 Time: Doors open 7pm Where: Jazz Caffe, 5 Parkway, Camden, NW1 7PG, London Contact: 07852542390 Ticketmaster: 08448472514 Get tickets at: www.olojauk.com

| 10 - 17 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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A free bottle of Rosé wine with love from Spur | Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one at Spur Steak & Grill and we’ll treat you to a complimentary bottle of Furious Boar Rosé wine by staff reporter A huge favourite with our customers, this is a cracking Californian wine with a big blush and a touch of sweetness – what’s not to love? No date for Valentine’s Day? Well, no need to stay in – Spur’s love is all embracing! Come and dine with the girls or the guys and we’ll extend our free Rosé wine gift to every two people ordering a main meal each. Ts & Cs apply. Offer available on 14 February only to two people ordering a meal each from the main menu, at dinner only (from 6.00pm), while stocks remain, eat-in only. www.ukspur.co.uk https://twitter.com/SpurUK https://facebook.com/U.K.Spur

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How not to screw up this Valentine’s Day | Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your loved one at Spur Steak & Grill and we’ll treat you to a complimentary bottle of Furious Boar Rosé wine by staff reporter To most, Valentine’s Day is a day of affirmation, hugs, kisses, love, lust and feeding your significant other fattening treats. And to most partners, Valentine’s Day induces panic. Not every person is gifted with a poet’s tongue and the right amount of romance to coax sweet favours from their Valentine. Nor should every one try too hard to be the perfect cupid. Overwhelming your Valentine victim with confetti, rose petals, chocs gifts and other sweet nothings, especially in the early stages of a relationship, is not advisable. Pump the breaks buddy, you’re gonna scare her off. But, a P.S chocolate bar is not quite the answer either. No Google search will find you the perfect gift, unfortunately,

and no gift will quite sum up everything you want to say to the special people in your life. And it’s even trickier for those with partners, parents and loved ones in South Africa. Sending a parcel filled with pointless pink plastic is just that, pointless. And expensive. Chocolates? Well, they’ll either melt, be nicked by customs, or arrive in time for Easter. So just KISS. Keep it short and simple. It’s as easy and perfect as a personally handcrafted bouquet of flowers delivered to the stoep of your chommie, cherrie or ou ballie in the African South. And don’t you dare forget dear old mom. Online florist, HeartsandRoses. com, is based in South Africa and specialises in individualised, beautiful flower arrangements made especially

to your requirements and freshly delivered to a destination of choice “Flowers are a part of our life cycle, from a birth, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, dating, engagement, marriage, anniversaries and finally at the graveside”. You can’t go wrong with fresh, wholesale flowers arranged into artistic combinations by experienced florists. With the best delivery price in South Africa, and the best value offering in the industry, Hearts and Roses promises a personalised service and delivery satisfaction. Quick, time is ticking, order your Valentine’s arrangements online at HeartsandRoses.com, by emailing james@heartsandroses. com, or give them a call on +27 (0) 80 035 6937

On Valentine’s morn, a woman rises With shining eyes, expecting surprises A man wakes, let’s one rip Sees her face, and says, “Oh flip!” Three cheers and hip hip hooray Is it already bloody Valentine’s Day? “Happy V Day babe” he says with a smile, “Your present will be ready, in a short short while.” She gives him the finger and rolls out of bed While he’s left cursing and scratching his head. Out of bed and off to the shops he shoots Ah yes, perfect, she’ll love these moon boots! What follows is the world’s greatest fight And for him, the saddest, loneliest night.

thesouthafrican.com | 10 - 17 February 2015 |

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Buy ugly fruit and veg to reduce food wastage | In Europe we throw away 100 million tonnes of food every year. In the United States 40% of food produced is never eaten, yet there are one billion starving people in the world By Moira Rowan In Europe we throw away 100 million tonnes of food every year. In the United States 40% of food produced is never eaten, yet there are one billion starving people in the world. Added to these shocking statistics, it’s estimated that four million people in the UK cannot afford a healthy diet with one in seven people over the age of 65 at serious risk of undernourishment. We waste huge amounts of fruit and vegetables, and this is due, in part, to the consumer’s desire to purchase visually appealing produce, and strict EU rules and regulations that govern marketing standards which detail acceptable standards in size and shapes. A number of years ago, ‘marketing standards’ for 26 types of fruit and vegetables were relaxed, which paved the way for the so called ‘ugly fruit and veg’ to be sold alongside their more perfect counterparts. These regulations were updated because of growing protests from supermarkets, grocers and farmers alike that were forced to throw away produce because they did not meet exacting standards drawn up decades ago. In a previous guideline on leeks, aubergines and courgettes, we read: “the white part of the leek must represent at least one third of the total length of half the sheathed part.” On aubergines: “the smallest and largest aubergines in the same packet must not exceed 20 mm for elongated aubergines and 25 mm for Globus aubergines.” Fortunately these guidelines have been scrapped. Regulations are still in place for bananas: “straight bananas must be free of malformation or abnormal curvature.” The reason given was that the banana growers, buyers, traders or consumers did not object to the guideline. Because of these unbelievable regulations, 20% of British Harvest in discarded to comply with the rulings, which in turn added 40% to the price of some vegetables, such as carrots. Recently, Jamie Oliver interviewed a farmer who told viewers of the problems farmers face, being unable to sell their produce to supermarkets because they were not visually appealing. People shop with their eyes. If they have the option of purchasing a shiny new well-proportioned apple, as opposed a bruised odd shaped one, they would probably selected the former. Even though they taste

| Producce at local farmer's m arket. Photos by Moira Rowan

the same. This concept to me is a bit bizarre, because if you go to a farmers market, shop or pick your own fruit and veg, you will be used to buying two pronged carrots, knobbly potatoes, and blemished apples, and perhaps will pay more than you would for the shop bought equivalent, because you are buying fresh, organic produce.

Unfortunately nature and the elements do not always conspire to produce perfect produce. Take, for example, the apple farmers in the Western Cape, who experienced unpredictable hail and rain last year, which caused widespread flooding, resulting in massive loss of crops. 28% of the apple crop was affected, with 70% of the crops being superficially damaged.

There is some good news. Supermarkets, for example Waitrose, have been willing to sell weather damaged apples from South Africa in mixed bags of other varieties of apples such as royal gala, cripps pink and braburn. One farmer from the Witzenburg valley, who has been supplying apples to the supermarket for the last ten years, reported that 75% of his crop had been damaged by hail, he was “overjoyed that the Waitrose has given him the opportunity to sell the fruit”, that would have been previously thrown away. Asda has following suit by selling ugly fruit and vegetables in some of their stores, at a discounted price. Research has shown that 65% of customers would be willing to buy misshapen produce if it was discounted. Intermache, a store in France has been selling ugly fruit and vegetables to customers at a discounted rate of 30%. The campaign was started to highlight the problem of food wastage and to give customers a cheaper shopping alternative. Intermache claimed that their Inglorious Range of misshapen produce has been a success. After three days, the 272 kg of carrots, apples and oranges on offer were all sold and customers had increased by 24%. Sometimes you do not have the luxury of choice; you are so hungry that you are only too happy to eat whatever is available. A number of years ago a school teacher friend, in Gauteng, noted that the children in her classroom were falling asleep and were finding it difficult to concentrate. She suspected that they were hungry. To address the problem, she started to buy food, using her own money, but when the number grew to 55 children, all of which needed to be fed, she felt a bit desperate. She approached farmers, fruit and vegetable outlets in the area that were willing to supply her with produce that would have previously been discarded. Out of this, she was able to create nourishing soups, stews and fruit salads. I doubt whether the children or my school friend would have cared less if the food was strange shaped, as once it was chopped, sliced, and mashed up, it made no difference. It was all tasty, and ready to be eaten by hungry children. The teacher noticed the children started to concentrate more on their school work. There was the hope that in getting an education, these children could perhaps break the

poverty cycle that had befallen their parents. South Africa has enough food to feed its population, however there are 12–14 million people that do not know where the next meal will come from, and are at risk of starvation. Italy’s annual waste would be enough to feed 44 million people, which is the equivalent of all the undernourished people in Ethiopia. Annual food waste for France is enough to feed the entire population of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 5% food wasted by the USA, would feed 4 million people for 1 day. It is expected that by 2050 there will be nine billion people in the world; this means that 60% more food needs to be produced that is being produced currently. After doing some research, I came across an article by Selina Juul called “Stop wasting food”. Juul is the founder of an organisation called Stop the Waste, which is the largest non-profit consumer movement against food waste in Denmark. The organisation aims to increase public awareness of the throwaway society by organising campaigns, mobilising press and media, encouraging debates and events. In her article, she describes a scenario in which bananas that have been grown in a developing country are transported to a western country only to be throw away as soon as they have arrived due to some “silly cosmetic reason,” she says. People in that same developing country lack food, and she asks the reader to imagine “looking these hungry people in the eye and telling them that the good bananas they have grown in their very own country are being thrown away, just as fast as they arrive in the Western world.” She asks the question “how does the food we waste in the western world affect developing countries and hungry children in Africa”? Indirectly it does, because she states that the western world’s over consumption of food effects global food prices. The more we consume and throw away, or refused to buy because it’s not perfect, the greater the demand for food becomes, which in turn raises the price of food globally. The way forward is to cut global food waste, one way is to back the campaigns to buy ugly fruit and veg.

| 10 - 17 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

Travel

Snake up Sani Pass to get a slice of the high life | On a trip up the world-renowned Sani Pass, Craig Lewis experienced an unforgettable adventure that took him from the Drakensberg in South Africa to the majestic Lesotho highlands

by Craig Lewis An almost eerie atmosphere descends over us as we zigzag our way into the clouds as if on a slow-moving heavenward-bound rollercoaster. This breath-taking journey takes us to the top of Sani Pass, having wound our way to the so-called “Roof of Africa”, where we are able to survey a range of undulating mountain peaks that stretch as far as the eye can see. At a dizzying height of nearly 3000 metres above sea level, the winding route up to the summit of Sani Pass is understandably one of the most iconic mountain passes in the world, meandering over the Drakensberg escarpment and into Lesotho. With plans in place to begin tarring the Sani Pass road from this year, the opportunity to complete this awe-inspiring route while it remains an exclusive 4×4 track is ever diminishing. It’s what recently drew us to Underberg, a quaint farming town that also serves as the gateway to Sani Pass, which provides the only access from KwaZuluNatal into the harsh highlands of the Lesotho mountain kingdom, home to the enduring Basotho people.

Courtesy of Sani Pass Tours, we were taken by 4×4 on an unforgettable six hour excursion from one country to another, with the first vehicles having negotiated this treacherous route in the late 1940’s when it was little more than a boulder-strewn donkey track. Used then as a means to transport goods to either the isolated town of Mokhotlong in Eastern Lesotho or into KwaZulu-Natal, Sani Pass has always served as an important trading route between South Africa and Lesotho. However, the upgrade of the road more than 50 years ago turned the pass into a worldrenowned tourist attraction, which boasts to be the highest road in Africa and one of the highest in the world. And at the summit, one can quite literally “drink in” the surrounding scenery at the highest pub in Africa. Besides the awe-inspiring views from start to finish, our trip also included a visit to a small Basotho village, where we were treated to home-made bread staight out of the oven, and some uniquely flavoured local beer. The Basotho have a unique

African mountain culture, having adapted to live in the unforgiving and ever-changing conditions in the Lesotho highlands, where — as our guide suggested — there can be four seasons in a day. While Sani Pass can be tackled by quad bike or motorcycle, there are also hiking trails to explore the mountains on foot, while it is a very popular mountain biking and trail running destination, with the Transfrontier MTB Epic and Sani Stagger taking place annually. There are various places to stay in the Southern Drakensberg for those looking to experience Sani Pass, but few come better than the aptly named Amazian lodge, owned and run by Brent and Trudie Snyman. Amazian Lodge also offers a very reasonably priced packed in conjunction with Sani Pass Tours, and it was with Brent’s ringing endorsement that we set off on our journey. “Sani pass is South Africa’s best kept secret,” he enthused. “It’s really spectacular, people travel from all over the world to go up Sani Pass, and sometimes I don’t think people really realise what a unique experience it is. For KwaZulu-Natal, it’s an absolute gem.”

thesouthafrican.com | 10 - 17 February 2015 |

Travel

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| Photos supplied

And although Sani Pass is undoubtedly a major draw card, there is also plenty to do in the area, with a host of hiking trails providing a pathway to explore the Underberg mountains, while Amazian Lodge is also home to the “Wine Gallery of Africa”. As Brent explained, the gallery offers a wide variety of unique wines and ports, which have been

sourced from the smaller wine farms in the Cape. After a tasting, visitors can enjoy a meat and cheese platter with freshly baked bread and a bottle of wine, complemented by the surrounding mountain scenery. Interestingly, Brent and Trudie closed their restaurant in Johannesburg some ten years

ago, opting to instead renovate a dilapidated farm and convert it into what has now become a widely popular four-star lodge. “We just wanted to get out of the rat race I guess,” Brent mused. “The Southern Drakensberg is an area with so much potential, and it’s still relatively untouched and unexplored.”

Overlooking the Umzimkulu river, Amazian Lodge is a secluded retreat aimed primarily at couples, and with a capacity of just seven rooms, you get the sense that catering for every whim of each guest is seen as a priority. And while there’s nothing more relaxing than enjoying a spa massage treatment while the

burbling Mzimkulu river provides a soothing backing track, there are also other more active excursions on offer, such as horse riding, tubing or quad biking. However, the Sani Pass package is undoubtedly the major trump card, and considering that the road is soon set to be tarred, it remains an off-road adventure that should be experienced sooner rather than later.

| 10 - 17 February 2015 | thesouthafrican.com

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British Pound since the beginning of 2015, but is finding this task impossible. We should take what we can get with the GBP/ZAR rate, as I am sure we all know how volatile this couple can be. What to look out for this coming week? With very little data coming out of South Africa, we should keep an eye on other geopolitical information that may affect the major trading currencies. This would be data coming out of Europe, the United Kingdom and

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UK cannot deny entry to family members of EU citizens without UK visas | In short, the judgment said that the United Kingdom cannot block family member of EU citizens from entering the UK, without a visa. In other words, the UK Home Office is not permitted to require the family members of EU citizens, who are already in possession of residence cards, to apply for further documentation to enter the UK by Breytenbachs The past few weeks BIC had a number of queries relating to the judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the case of McCarthy v United Kingdom. In short, the judgment said that the United Kingdom cannot block family member of EU citizens from entering the UK, without a visa. In other words, the UK Home Office is not permitted to require the family members of EU citizens, who are already in possession of residence cards, to apply for further documentation to

enter the UK. However, the UK Home Office is apparently considering the implications of the judgment and the case will return to the High Court. It is important to keep in mind that the family member must travel with the EU citizen, or intending to join the EU relative, and have a residence card under the terms of the Free Movement Directive. Until things are clearer regarding the above, and in order to avoid possible inconvenience and stress, it is suggested by some opinion

makers in the immigration field that it might be best to apply for a family permit anyhow. For more information please email your BIC consultant. www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com

thesouthafrican.com | 10 - 17 February 2015 |

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Sport

Will this be the year we finally win the World Cup? | The World Cup is just about upon us and after so much heartache and anguish, will this finally be the year we win it? By jeremy bortz It is now less than one week to go until we play our first match at the Cricket World Cup 2015; this Sunday 15 February, we play Zimbabwe at Seddon Park in Hamilton. After a full week off, we then face India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Sunday 22 February, followed by the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday 27 February. Ireland follows in Canberra on Tuesday 3 March, before we head back to New Zealand to face Pakistan at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 7 March 7, and our final game against the UAE at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Thursday 12 March. Having assessed the strength of our batsmen last week, this week I would like to analyse our bowlers. Our attack is led by Dale Steyn, who in my opinion is the third of our three key players (along with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers). Steyn has won many a game for the Proteas and will enjoy the quicker Australian wickets, though he is a good enough player to adapt and thrive on all surfaces. This is likely to be Steyn’s final World Cup and he will desperately want to go out on a high. The other quicks, Morne Morkel

and Vernon Philander, are automatic selections, both having had good series against the West Indies. Just a few months back Philander was not in the one-day international (ODI) starting XI but he has forced his way in on the back of some phenomenal Test performances and we now enjoy the same pace trio in both the Test and ODI arenas. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir will be the final name on the team-sheet and he too enjoyed an encouraging series against the West Indies, picking up eight wickets in three matches. In one of those three, he did have a huge total to play with and there are concerns about his ability to tie up an end. With runs on the board he is more of a threat and if our batsmen continue to post big totals, Tahir will be able to attack more. Alongside Tahir, JP Duminy has improved as an off-spinner while Farhaan Berhardien has also turned his arm over on occasions. Duminy tends to concede less runs and could be used to tie up an end while Berhardien will be better suited to the slower New Zealand pitches. A key area of concern is our death bowling, traditionally a weak aspect of our game. Steyn has been tasked with death-bowling duties before, and will likely perform that role D own Under.

A second area of slight worry is the quality of our back-up bowlers. Kyle Abbott has in the past been very expensive while Wayne Parnell’s consistency is a worry. Thankfully he appears to be improving on that front: in the two matches he played against West Indies he maintained an economy rate of under five and picked up five wickets, including four at SuperSport Park in the fifth and final ODI. He offers something different being left-handed and can bowl really quickly when he gets his tail up. Barring injuries, I do not see any changes from the line-up below: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, David Miller, JP Duminy, Farhaan Berhardien, Philander, Steyn, Morkel, Tahir In 1992, we headed Down Under for our first ever World Cup and surprised the world by beating Australia by nine wickets in the opening game and progressing to the semi-final. 23 years later we return Down Under as one of the pre-tournament favourites. We will definitely need the odd serving or two of luck to go our way and if it does, I am confident our journey will come full circle and out boys will do South Africa proud. Come on the Proteas!

| Photo by Graham Crouch-IDI/IDI via Getty Images

“At times my disabilities helped me to cope with my sporting challenges,” says gold medallist James Thompson | When James Thompson, a gold medallist at both the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Rowing Championships, says he does not believe in giving up — he means it By Staff Reporter For many people Thompson is the personification of sporting success, but not many people know about the obstacles he had to overcome as a child to be able to achieve what he did. In between training for the World Rowing Championship Thompson, this High Performance Centre (hpc) sponsored athlete has been touring the country to give motivational talks to headmasters, teachers and parents about the challenges he had to face at school. “I was diagnosed at a very early stage with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), dyslexia, reading disorders, spelling disorders, as well as motor skills disorders. It was quite an impressive list of disorders. “I really battled to adjust during my early years at Western Province Preparatory and it stands to reason that if you battle to adjust academically you will also battle to adjust socially. “My time at different schools in the Western Province was deeply unhappy. The turning point came

| James Thompson Photo by Reg Caldecott

about when my parents decided to send me to Pro Ed House School, a remedial school, in Cape Town. There they helped me to gain confidence and to deal with my

problems. “But there was still a long struggle ahead of me. None of the high schools in the southern suburbs of Cape Town were prepared to

accept me. Because I came from a remedial school they were worried about maintaining their particular school’s matric pass rate. “Luckily the principal at St Andrew College in the Eastern Cape was more open-minded. “Those headmasters in Cape Town were focusing only on the outcome, rather than focusing on the process of education. “I firmly believe that education should be all about the learning process and not about the outcome. That is the way it works at the hpc’s rowing academy. “In my motivational talks I talk about learning to learn and I highlight the challenges I had to face. I think my talks are enlightening for parents who battle to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. “When I speak to teachers, it is important to convince them to see that it is worth persevering with a child with learning disabilities. If they do, it can eventually become a very positive experience for the teacher as well as for the child.” According to Thompson, his participation in sports, especially

rowing, has helped him to cope with his disabilities. “But at times my disabilities helped me to cope with my sporting challenges. That is why I often speak about the lessons I have learned through the process of winning and losing.” I still battle a bit with concentration and dyslexia issues and I always say that my wife has got two jobs, her own job and then to help me with any stuff that I need looked at. Whenever I need to write something she has to proof read it before I send it out.” With much perseverance, Thompson has qualified to receive a degree in Sport Sciences from the University of Pretoria. But at the moment all that matters to him is to help South Africa to qualify for a boat at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio. “If we could end the year having qualified, I would be more than happy, but obviously my teammates and I would not mind rowing fast times and winning medals at the World Championships.”

thesouthafrican.com | 10 - 17 February 2015 |

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Stay warm and dry with Active Touch in winter | Hot Custard is proving to be the one to beat in the winter Active Touch League at Wandsworth By in2touch Active Touch is an indoor spinoff of Touch in the UK for the offseason/winter period. It is a fantastic way of keeping fit, socialising and staying dry on those glorious rainy days. The game is a mixed sport so it is played with four players, two girls and two guys and games are 30 minutes long. Hot Custard loves Active Touch and has played in every season since it started in London three years ago. They always have so many players wanting to play the game that they have had two teams on each night of the Wandsworth, League every season. Hot Custard has won almost all of the Active Touch Leagues in Wandsworth but with lots of experience, their opposition gaining they could have a tough task ahead of them. Hot Custard is a very social team but are competitive on and off the pitch. Their players want to win each game as well as socialising at the pub afterwards too. The team had a cracker of a time in

the various Touch competitions in 2014, winning most tournaments including the NTS (National Touch Series) and CTS (Club Touch Series) this year. Some of their main play makers have played in the Australian National Touch Team. They are full of fun and are always the life of the party with many late nights out after a normal league game on a week night. If you would like to join any of these Active Touch leagues we do have space for a few more players at Canary Wharf on Mondays and Wandsworth on Thursdays in the individual teams. Please contact Tracy on tracy@ in2touch.com to see how to join in with the fun or you can have a look on our website, www.in2touch. com/uk for more information on the upcoming Sunday winter league at Clapham Common as well as the Spring and Summer leagues at seven different venues throughout London.

Sport page 14

“At times my disabilities helped me to cope with my sporting challenges,” says gold medallist James Thompson

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Will this be the year we finally win the World Cup?

10 – 17 February 2015

Five South African hockey stars of the future | Jabu picks out five South African youngsters that he believes will star in the future for SA Hockey By tyron barnard

Dan Sibbald If you watch the highlights of the first test against Austria for nothing else, catch them to see Dan’s cracking reverse stick thunderbolt. Sibbald played in the Investec Cup in 2014, but has been much of a fringe player in the past. This summer he took a big step towards becoming a regular. He was denied a deserved goal by an outstanding save in the Holland match — a match that underlined his defensive abilities too.

South African Men’s hockey have just completed their test series against Austria, a one-off test against Netherlands, as well as two tests against Ireland, led by South African Olympian Craig Fulton. Throughout the summer, South Africa was unable to call on a host of experienced players due to other commitments such as club hockey, work commitments and the Hockey India League. This meant that, although robbed of many first choice players, South Africa was able to field a host of new caps and players who will likely play a big part of the future of South African hockey. For the readers of The South African, I have put together a list of five players I believe will be superstars in the future. (And when it comes to hockey I like to believe I am often right!) So here are the five South African hockey stars of the future. Gowan Jones The shot-stopper has often been an afterthought in South Africa, with Rassie Pieterse commanding the number one position for a fair amount of time. But given the opportunity, Gowan has absolutely shown and underlined the importance of a quality keeper as the last line. Gowan probably saved his best performance for the 2-2 draw with Ireland. In Gowan, South Africa have a identified a star that should be around for many more years.

| South Africa’s Keenan Horne shapes to shoot as Ireland captain John Jackson tries to block during the second and final Test against Ireland at Hartleyvale in Cape Town Monday night.

Keenan Horne Keenan was South Africa’s standout performer in the Austrian series, where his quality constantly troubled the Austrians and he was the match-winner in the fourth test. So good was his form, that he remained in the squad for

the remainder of the Summer Series including a start in the 5-4 humdinger defeat to Ireland. Shannon Boucher The Maties star, who stood out as one of the top performers in the 2014 Varsity Cup, made his importance count this summer. The

striker, who can fill in at centre back, is a natural goal scorer and, in the absence of Julian Hykes, Miguel da Graca and Lloyd Norris-Jones, was a worthy leader of the line. He netted against Austria and Ireland and hopefully will score many more for the national team.

Daniel Bell I was fortunate to meet Bell in my coaching days, and the defensive wall already showed incredible leadership skills at the age of 16. In a defensive lineup missing Austin Smith, Lloyd Madsen, Justin Reid-Ross and others, a massive gap has been created. One of those gaps has been filled by Bell, who in a few test matches has already started to show the potential of being a future South African captain. The men that ply their trade for the national hockey team often do so at their own expense. It’s a remarkably difficult challenge when the top nations in the World are all full-time professional hockey players, but even under the circumstances, South Africa continue to produce brilliant youngsters capable of taking us to the World Cup and the Olympics. Give the men your support; it’s the proudly South African thing to do!

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