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15 - 22 April 2014
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New report casts further doubt on success of BEE
| Report that shows gross racial inequality at top level of South Africa’s labour market may indicate that BEE has failed
INSIDE:
by sertan sanderson
DESPITE seven years of practising legislation aimed at granting previously disadvantaged groups preferential access to the employment market, a recent report says that even 20 years after the final fall of apartheid most workplaces were still biased in favour of the country’s white population. The damning report pointed out in particular that only about 20 percent of South Africa’s executive positions were occupied by the black majority, with about 63 percent of top positions still held by whites. These numbers do not reflect the fact that 75 per cent of South Africa’s economically active population are black and only 11 per cent white. The 14th Commission for Employment Equity’s report also specified how other racial groups performed in comparison: South Africa’s Indian population managed to fill 8.4 percent of the top-tier professions while the Coloured (mixed race) population came in last, occupying just over 5 percent of the top rungs in the corporate ladder. Only 11,5 percent of South Africans are Coloured while only 2,5 percent identify as Indian or Asian. While the Indian population has benefited greatly from the introduction of laws aimed at facilitating access to these positions, with their presence doubling over the last few years, no other population segment from previously disadvantaged groups appeared to have experienced any solid improvement. The numbers revealed in the investigation may come as a surprise, as far-reaching employment guidelines
p2 | SABC bans controversial DA advert p4 | Oscar Pistorius’ Prosecutor could be investigated for calling him a liar p9 | Goldfish cruise into London on the crest of an American wave
FACE OF CONTEMPORARY SOUTH AFRICAN ART: Cumulus, an exhibition of painting and sculpture by Cape Town born artist Lionel Smit, runs at Rook and Raven gallery, Fitzrovia until Wednesday 30 April.
introduced under Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws in 2007 continue to be used as political bargaining tools ahead of the national election next month, sparking controversy and outrage ahead of the polls. The findings presented by the labour ministry were regarded with criticism. Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said: “The majority of work places are still ‘lily white’
at the top and often male overrepresented, with a few pockets of black and women executives.” However, the report fails to address the ongoing causality of the observed imbalances following the introduction of BEE legislation. Other shortcomings of the report include neglect in analysing midlevel positions and a subsequent comparison between mid-level and senior positions, examining how
the issue of upward mobility has managed to progress among the various racial groups over the years and to assess whether access to top positions has become easier. Another report published irrespective of the Labour ministry’s findings shows that income levels between the various racial groups also hit significant disparities, with the median income for the white population coming in at R10,500
while the figure for the black population at around R2,600. But this statistical data can also be scrutinised for representing false values, as other social factors might also have to be taken into consideration (e.g. education levels, age and gender) before identifying the meaning of the median income value, i.e. the middle income bracket to various groups. The reports were published as new draft employment equity regulations were made available for public comment before heading to parliament for consideration. The main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has come out repeatedly criticising the ongoing trend towards more and more stringent labour regulations introduced by the ruling ANC. DA leader Helen Zille said that the “absurd” moves led to “race-based social engineering”. In the meantime Minister Oliphant added, however, that South Africa still had her work cut out until the workforce was fully integrated. “There is still a long road ahead in moving South Africa forward,” Oliphant said, “Let us join our hands together to make sure South Africa is a non-racial, non-sexist country, a prosperous country.”
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com
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SABC bans controversial DA advert | The SABC has banned a television ad by the Democratic Alliance (DA) citing a
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contravention against the Code of Advertising Standards of South Africa (ASA). But the DA says the SABC is trying to protect President Zuma
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by sertan sanderson A television advertisement - paid for by the DA ahead of next month’s general elections – has sparked controversy after the SABC took the decision to ban the ad on account of its damning stance towards the ANC. The South African public broadcaster claimed that the commercial “incites violence” and alleged that it breaks the code of conduct it abides by. The “ANC Ayisafani” (“It’s enough, ANC”) ad, which features Mmusi Maimane, DA candidate for the position of Gauteng Premiere, in dialogue with his own mirror image contains controversial quotes and remarks directed at the ANC and its recent policies, including the mismanagement of the 2012 massacre at the Lonmin Marikana mines as well as allegations of corruption and cronyism. “There have been some great leaders, leaders that have taken this country forward. You voted
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for them. But since 2008, we have seen President Jacob Zuma’s ANC, an ANC that is corrupt, an ANC for the connected few. It’s an ANC that is taking us backwards.” Maimane explained that he was unhappy with the SABC’s decision to pull the advert: “The reasons advanced by the SABC are spurious and almost certainly illegal. This is a transparent attempt by the SABC to protect Jacob Zuma from any public accountability for the Nkandla scandal.” The DA added in response that statement is would seek legal action to combat the ban. Last week, the DA had already successfully won another court battle in its current publicity campaign following its Nkandla text message campaign. “The DA will fight this censorship. We have already briefed our lawyers this morning, and will begin legal proceedings to overturn this decision immediately.”
The SABC reacted by saying that the commercial contained false information, as the Nkandla report, which was also mentioned in the advert, “has not yet been tested and confirmed in a court of law”. Furthermore, the South African public broadcaster stated that the Code of Advertising Standards of South Africa (ASA) does “not permit attacking another product to promote your own”. A statement by the SABC reads: “we do not have any concern about generic statements regarding matters such as corruption or service delivery but do not believe that is correct to pin such issues on any specific person, whether the president or anyone else.” The ad was apparently taken off the air by the SABC’s chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng. Motsoeneng,
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however, doesn’t appear to have much power or clout to back up his decisions, after he was named and shamed last month for lying about his qualifications and educational background. A report by the Public Protector’s office had concluded that Matsoeneng should never have been appointed for a senior position at the beleaguered SABC after making up his matric certificate. Not a stranger to abusing his power, Motsoeneng had fought long and hard for the details of the report to remain hidden while he was still under investigation, with those testifying against him in previous hearings being immediately dismissed from office. Despite the evidence against him, Motsoeneng remains in office to this day.
thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
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Flurry of DA defections to ANC ahead of elections
| The DA’s former Cape Town Metro chair joining the ANC is the latest in a series of departures from the DA to ANC in the run up to the national elections. However, many DA members are celebrating as it appears those departing were simply jumping before being pushed by frank burbage Democratic Alliance (DA) Cape Town Metro chair Grant Pascoe is the latest DA councillor to defect to the ANC ahead of the national elections this month, it was announced on Monday. Pascoe was a DA councillor for 13 years and has also been a member of the mayoral committee since 2006. His defection is particularly significant because he was chairman of the DA’s powerful Cape Town Metro region and played a key role in developing the party’s dominance in Mitchell’s Plain, where it controls all nine wards. The DA’s support in the area has increased by almost 400 per cent. ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement: “Councillor Pascoe joins an overwhelming number of South Africans, who despite finding themselves in other political parties, recognise the ANC as the only organisation with the track record, capacity and determination to build a South Africa which is united, democratic, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous. Comrade Pascoe joins as an ordinary member of the organisation, and will assist our efforts to win back the Western Cape.” But the DA responded by saying Pascoe was facing the sack for neglecting his party’s duties in his post as mayoral committee member for tourism, events and marketing. Mayor of Cape Town Patricia de Lille said he often did not attend meetings and when he did attend his lack of preparation resulted “in his inability to contribute in any meaningful way.” “As he has chosen to take this action before doing me the courtesy
of informing me, I can only assume that he has chosen to find a new political home due to his inability to live up to the standards required of DA public representatives. In light of the above, it is difficult to see anything beyond naked opportunism in such a once strident critic of the ANC so quickly joining them. I certainly hope that any future constituents of councillor Pascoe’s remember his points of principle, or lack thereof,” she said. Ivan Meyer, leader of the Democratic Alliance in the West Cape, echoed De Lille’s sentiments: “The fact is that Mr Pascoe was imminently going to be demoted out of the Mayoral Committee (Mayco) in Cape Town for poor performance. He knew that things weren’t going well in his portfolio, and that he was going to be sacked imminently.” Another Cape Town mayoral committee colleague said it had long been suspected by the DA that Pascoe had been responsible for information leaks to the media. “I’m willing to wager that there will be fewer leaks coming out of the mayoral committee,” said the senior councillor. Pascoe responded on Tuesday to the accusations of incompetency by blaming Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, saying: “She (Zille) is not sincere with the coloured people. If you disagree with the leader, you are then vilified and ousted… You could dare not disagree with the leadership and it wasn’t the same DA any more. Under Tony Leon you could disagree and he would take it on the chin. But there are many people who feel the way I do in the DA and they are the people (the DA) should be worrying about.”
Last month Beverley Abrahams, a Gauteng representative of the DA in the National Council of Provinces, defected to the ANC during a sitting of the Council. In February, it was reported that four DA councillors joined the ANC, including Toni Molefe, deputy chief whip, and Siphoe Masigo, the party’s chairman in Gauteng. It is believed that four councillors in Tshwane are also set to defect. However, many DA members have been celebrating these defections as it appears those departing were simply jumping before being pushed. This certainly appears to be the case with Pascoe, while a recent open letter from DA Member of Parliament, Manny de Freitas, suggests this was the case with regards to last month’s defection of former DA ward councillor Bev Turk. “Without trying to be sarcastic or funny, I would like to sincerely thank the ANC for taking an ex-DA councillor away and swallowing her into their fold. I feel simply saying thank you to the ANC isn’t enough! “For months now our internal DA legal processes have been trying to get rid of Bev as there were a number of racist allegations against her. Time was imminent in that our Federal Legal Commission was going to declare that she contravened our codes and was to be expelled from the DA. Turk herself knew she was guilty, otherwise why would she be looking all over for a job?” Despite this series of defections the DA last week won five out of nine wards in municipal byelections, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
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Defected DA members Beverley Abrahams and Grant Pascoe
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com
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Oscar Pistorius trial receiving over half South African media coverage
| The Pistorius trial is dominating headlines in South Africa, and the USA,
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UK, Australia and Germany are following the trial even more closely by Charlotte Tobitt The Oscar Pistorius trial is dominating headlines and taking the South African public’s attention away from the upcoming elections. Data produced by Data Driven Insight (DDI) said in the 24 hours up to 4pm on Wednesday the trial received 54.14% of all media coverage, which shows a likely model for the whole week. This was the third day of Pistorius giving evidence and the first day he was cross-examined by prosecutor Gerrie Nel. Pistorius’s time on the stand has had a huge impact on the media, particularly since he has been subject to questioning by Nel. Coverage of Shrien Dewani’s extradition and court appearance, the May 7 national elections and President Zuma’s Nkandla homestead scandal was said to be small in comparison. Pistorius’s trial has been dominating headlines for a month now, as the same company said in March that it beat coverage of the Fifa World Cup. DDI spokesperson Tonya Khoury said: “Unbelievable, worldwide the Oscar trial is bigger in media than the Fifa 2014 World Cup.” She added: “Nothing can move the media attention away from Oscar.” Despite this, only 8% of the trial’s worldwide media coverage
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Africa has only the fifth most coverage of the Pistorius trial worldwide. The USA, UK, Australia and Germany are following the trial even more closely than the country where it’s all happening. The data was compiled from 6.2 million social media platforms, including blogs, forums, social media, plus 60,000 online newspapers, 2,000 South African print publications and 66 radio and TV stations.
Oscar Pistorius prosecutor could be investigated for calling him a liar
| Gerrie Nel has repeatedly called Pistorius a liar and now the South Africa Human Rights Commission has received a complaint
by Charlotte Tobitt
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came from South Africa. The analysis of Wednesday in court also offered some insight into what dominated Pistorius’s time on the stand. 21.27% of Pistorius’s testimony that day was spent talking about the bathroom door through which he fired the gunshots and he spent 13.38% of the time crying. The word “guilty” was used more often than the word “innocent” on social media. The data showed that South
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) may investigate the legality and fairness of prosecutor Gerrie Nel’s crossexamination of Oscar Pistorius after receiving a complaint. The SAHRC received a complaint on Friday asking that they investigate and rule on whether Nel is allowed to call Pistorius a liar as he crossexamines him. The complainant, Jan Landman, formerly of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, claimed that calling Pistorius a liar infringed on his right to a fair trial and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. He added that it contravened
Pistorius’s right to freedom of expression and dignity. He said: “It is in the public interest that the Human Rights Commission as a matter of urgency should investigate to what extent the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of SA (Chapter 2) is contravened.” SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said, “We have acknowledged and asked the complainant to lodge a formal complaint by filling out a form. We will then assess the complaint as per our complaints handling procedure to [decide] whether it is something for the commission to investigate or not.” Nel repeatedly called Pistorius a “liar” this week while he was on the witness stand giving evidence in the trial of his murder of Reeva Steenkamp.
He only stopped when Judge Masipa eventually told him to mind his language on Friday morning. She said: “You don’t call the witness a liar, not while he is in the witness box.” Gerrie Nel has in fact done it before, most notably when he called the former national police commissioner and Interpol boss Jackie Selebi an “arrogant liar” during cross-examination in another high-profile case. The BBC’s Pumza Fihlani notes that it is at the judge’s discretion whether such accusations may be permitted in court. Many believe that it is more sophisticated to cast doubt on the witness’s statements without directly calling them names, which Nel has also done by discussing Pistorius’s “tailoring” of different versions of his story.
thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
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Zuma’s support of Uganda’s antigay law ‘an insult to Mandela’ | President Jacob Zuma’s public approval of Uganda and its anti-gay law has been denounced as an insult to the constitution and Nelson Mandela’s views on human rights By Charlotte Tobitt
Mandela’s views on human rights.
in a divisive move this week, President Jacob Zuma gave his approval of Uganda’s globally controversial anti-gay law. Responding to a parliamentary question regarding South Africa’s policy towards Uganda’s recently-enacted law, the ANC leader said: “South Africa respects the sovereign rights of other countries to adopt their own legislation.” He added: “In this regard, through diplomatic channels South Africa engages with Uganda on areas of mutual concern bearing in mind Uganda’s sovereignty.” In an election debate at Johannesburg City Hall on Wednesday, the ANC’s Thoko Didiza said: “Uganda as a country has gone through its legislative framework and came up with the legislation they have. Obviously there are mechanisms around which countries persuade each other in order to appraise each other of things they are concerned about.”
The SAHRC response In February, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) called upon Zuma and his government to condemn Uganda for this law. SAHRC spokesman Isaac Mangena said: “Our government is rightfully expected, and needs to speak out against all laws that seek to discriminate against and violate the rights of vulnerable and marginalised groups.” They are concerned that the law could even put South Africans travelling or working in Uganda at risk. The Commission also pointed out that, in 2011, South Africa actually initiated a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in support of gay rights.
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The foreign response Western nations took action against Uganda, with Norway and Denmark withholding aid, the USA reviewing their aid budget and the UK channelling its aid through appropriate routes. The Ugandan bill signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in February means repeat homosexual “offenders” can be jailed for life, those “attempting to commit homosexuality” can be jailed for seven years, and the promotion of homosexuality can warrant a large fine or prison sentence. Citizens are also now required to denounce gay people to the authorities. Zuma has made anti-gay remarks in the past, including in 2006 as deputy president when he said: “When I was growing up, an ungqingili [gay person] would not have stood in front of me. I would knock him out.”
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The DA response Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko was “outraged” by Zuma’s response to her question, saying that the worldwide community did not take a “handsoff” approach to apartheid in South Africa. She said: “We should likewise not stand quietly by as our president adopts this shameful approach when other countries violate the human rights of their people. To do so is to send a message to the rest of the world that we are hypocrites.” Mazibuko described Zuma’s respect for Uganda as an insult to the constitution and Nelson
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com
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Business insights from entrepreneur and croquet champ Reg Bamford By Ronel van Zyl
Reg Bamford, South African chartered accountant, founder and CEO of two ÂŁ10 million businesses, presented a talk at the Breakfast Indaba business network on Thursday. His talk, Lessons from a Champion in Business and Sport, also drew on his passion for the sport of croquet; he is a five-time winner of the World Championships and currently holds the title of World Croquet Champion.
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thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
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‘I don’t miss the Nats. They haven’t gone’ | I had stumbled into a paradise of inspiration through desperation. Till the Laager opened its barred windows to our Arab Spring of 1990, I was blessed with the best scriptwriters in the world
by Pieter-Dirk Uys Corruption, carelessness, nepotism, rotten service delivery, arrogance, lies, racism. Today those words have meaning and topicality. From 1948 to 1994 they were all covered by one word: policy. It seems an easy solution to blame them all on apartheid. Twenty years after that event, to blame the ‘mock’ in democracy and the ‘con’ in reconciliation on apart-hate is like in the 1960s blaming the miniskirt on Adolf Hitler. On 27 April 1994, millions of South Africans queued up to vote for the very first time and many of them voted many times. At the age
of 49 and for the very first time in my life, I was allowed to stand in a line with anyone, regardless of colour, creed, background or race. Life for me started at 50 when I found myself without a job. Since the early 1970s I have been ‘officially’ unemployed. The moral guardians of Ons Volk, also known as the Publications Control Board, decided that an Afrikaner called Pieter-Dirk Uys would no longer be allowed to put pen to paper and give outings that were ‘blasphemous, obscene’ as well as ‘bringing the racial groups of South Africa in disharmony with one another’. Four plays banned in one year. Luckily it soon became clear that those
powerful Broeders were mainly old farts who knew their arses from their elbows. They even corrected my spelling! Meneer Uys, u spel ‘fok’ met ‘n F en nie ‘n V nie. I had stumbled into a paradise of inspiration through desperation. Till the Laager opened its barred windows to our Arab Spring of 1990, I was blessed with the best scriptwriters in the world. The National Party never let me down. Besides the absurd horrors of the system of separate development (where 96% developed and the rest stayed in their place), the Nats gave me the homeland fiasco where you could cross borders into foreign
lands to gamble, see porno and sleep with the maid. And you didn’t need a visa, just a Visa card. The Nats gave me all those Bothas: PW Botha, Pik Botha, Fanie Botha and Bothalezi. There was Tannie Betsie Verwoerd, Tannie Tini Vorster, Tannie Elize Botha. Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout was inevitable. All I had to do was just follow the leader with his finger and his tongue. The Nats gave me a career and an audience. They put the words into my mouth. I couldn’t make it up if I tried. That’s why for all those years I didn’t pay taxes; I paid royalties. As a majority sat beyond the fences, silenced by fear, laws and brutality, it was essential to find ways to draw attention to the injustice, disguised as fluff and fun. Even breaking those laws by smuggling the banned ANC colours on to a stage became a trophy. Putting the black, green and gold together was seen as a subversive statement. You were a terrorist. Take away the black – you were a Springbok. On the morning of 10 May 1994, I looked from the Voortrekker Monument towards the Union Buildings and saw a new sunrise. Nelson Mandela was being inaugurated on the spot where Hendrik Verwoerd had been canonised after his assassination. How could I now make fun of Nelson Mandela? It would be like doing Mother Theresa with a dildo! But his sense of humour showed me the light at the end of a new tunnel. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of choice! I’ve been working harder than ever in our new South Africa. History
doesn’t repeat itself and turn tragedy into farce; history just rhymes – from apartheid to tripartite. Some politicians are like monkeys: the higher they climb the pole of ambition, the more of their arses we can see. So here are the 5 reasons why I don’t miss the Nats: The politicians in our present government are as good at writing my material. The brutal, obvious way the Nats destroyed hope has been replaced by a subtle democratically-accepted way of subverting democracy. I look at the opening of Parliament today and see the same glorious fashions that made my wardrobe so typical during the Botha-years – Tannies in glitter and gold, hats and handbags, widely-bummed and heftily-bosomed. Die Leier then just stood there with a hat on and wagged his finger. Today Number One wears beads, skins and takkies, dances, sings, and demands an umshini wam. He marries copiously and showers me with inspiration. I don’t miss the Nats. They haven’t gone. I see and smell them everywhere. In the ANC, the DA, the EFF, Agang, COPE, the UDM, ACDP, Freedom Front Plus (why does that sound like a condom brand?) and the IFP – all part of the national democratic noise. Aluta continua. www.pdu.co.za (After 10 years Pieter-Dirk Uys will be back in London with AN AUDIENCE WITH PIETER-DIRK UYS at the Soho Theatre 13 – 27 July. Book on www.sohotheatre. com/whats-on/an-audience-withpieter-dirk-uys)
Becoming an entrepreneur - against all worldly odds
| The fear of failure is what keeps most of us in the shadows; we judge our mistakes before we have made them. Taking that leap from the dreaming to the doing is a terrifying prospect
The Optimist
Karen de Villiers
I love motivational speakers, sages of the common sense, wizards of the dream makers. The fact that they make money telling others what they already know. It’s an objective thing. Having someone telling you that you are ‘YES!’ the greatest, the indestructible, the master of your own fate, sounds so much better than you saying that to yourself.
Telling everyone else you are fantastic sounds a little pompous. Instead we play down our own qualities and dream in private. Not the entrepreneurs of the world. The spheres of academia abound with theories of what human motivation is all about – thanks Maslow – and entrepreneurial theorists draw up tables of said characteristics, personality types – ambitious, visionary, creative, independent – qualities I believe are inherent in, well, just about everyone. So what does it take to be an entrepreneur? Financial support would be a major factor. Education and a keen perception of your target market an advantage also, but most of the time, it comes down to risk
taking. Taking that leap from the dreaming to the doing. Terrifying prospect. Now I am not advocating you throw away the steady job and fling on the cape of adventure. I have been the safe player for most of my life: cautious, flying below the radar for fear of become Icarus and ending up in a smouldering heap of melting wax. Rather stick to the road most travelled. There are so many contented travellers along the way. Entrepreneurs are a solitary lot, no time for chatting and when they do put themselves out there, there will always be someone judging from the sidelines. People with great ideas who act upon them are not thinking about failure, they are thinking
about living the dream. The fear of failure is what keeps most of us in the shadows; we judge our mistakes before we have made them. And so I have joined the band of self believers. I am taking the plunge into the world of entrepreneurship with an idea, a product and enough pep talks to prop up Pisa for the next few years. I am absolutely terrified, but exhilarated at the prospect of doing something I love. Never going to be Mr Gates, change the world, but I am becoming my own motivational guru. There will be times when it all becomes too overwhelming I know, times when I curse myself and imagine drowning in a warehouse of unsold goods, but nah, not going
down that road just yet, am sticking to the ticks of the profile type. We all are. I have yet to meet anyone who has not had a great idea, who wants to create something special and be their own boss. Leaders are created with self confidence. It could be the smallest idea, the quietest desire, but it can be achieved if you tell yourself so. Am amazed at the talent out there. This week I find myself in Cape Town. World Design Capital for 2014. These designers, artists and creators inspire me. Not just their products but their unflinching belief in who they are and what they want from the world. It is possible – it could be you. I have to keep telling myself that… onward entrepreneur!
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com
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UCT celebrates 96 years by turning psychoanalysis into wine | Professor Mark Solms both delighted and challenged University of Cape Town alumni in London with the story of his ambitious and successful approach to land reform in South Africa as practised on his own wine farm, a model of black empowerment where all who work the farm own shares
By Jen Smit For those in London that meant returning to academia in what turned out to be the most salubrious of ways: with a thoroughly engaging lecture by Professor Mark Solms gloriously entitled Turning psychoanalysis into wine. Halleluia! Fourteen years ago Prof Solms’ reputation may have centred on his academic eminence as a psychoanalyst. Today he is perhaps better known for his ambitious and successful approach to land reform in South Africa as practised on his own wine farm, Delta – now run as part of the Solms Delta estate, a model of black empowerment where all who work the farm own shares.
An alternative title for the evening, the pink-shirted, Borisquiffed Prof Solms suggested, may have been Psychological impediments to land reform in South Africa. Hardly celebratory one might think, but delivered as a series of very honest personal anecdotes, Solms’ story of the physical and emotional excavation experienced by his own family and the families who ‘came with the farm’ he inherited in 2001 both delighted and challenged the returning students. His story tells of a man who in left England to return to a newly democratic South Africa determined to show that despite looking like a typical white farmer, he was good. A good farmer who treated his staff well and involved
them in decisions about the farm. “I had no intention of becoming a politician or taking on the problems of the whole country, which, quite frankly, are overwhelming, but I felt that by taking on this one citizen-sized chunk of the problem I would be making some contribution to the development of the country.” His ambition turned out to be far more complex than he could ever have imagined. Despite his best efforts, weighed down by history, meaningful communication between himself and the farm workers turned out to be nigh impossible and painfully frustrating. And yet he felt a personal obligation to do something about this problem. “Recognising the fact that you don’t understand, that things are not good, is better than rushing off and doing,” he said. “The reflexive desire to do something, though it makes you feel better, is just defensive.” He started by calling in the professionals: archaeologists from UCT. Together with the farmworkers, they undertook a visible, physical excavation of the farm, uncovering Khoisan and Bushman artefacts dating back 6000 years. Historians, also from UCT, were brought in to listen to and document the stories of the farm workers while musicologists took note and composed a musical history that had such a profound
impact on the people that music is today as important a part of the farm’s trade as is wine. And the intensely personal on-site museum doesn’t do too badly either, attracting more than 30,000 visitors every year. “It was an incredibly hard but important process for both me and the farmworkers to go through to uncover the history of the farm and the people they were descended from.” It helped explain the fear and guilt which, Solms posits, is felt by every farmer and why the experience of every farm worker is interpreted though an embedded lens of slavery. Having gone through this incredibly visceral experience, Solms recounts not with pride, but as a matter of academic fact, that while he recognised giving the farm back to the farm workers was the only morally sound thing to do, “I didn’t want to.” He just didn’t want to. “If you face these feelings, which are not pleasant feelings, then you get your mind back,” he says. “Then you can face the facts, even the ones you wish were not there. Then you can come up with solutions.” And a solution, developed in collaboration with the farm workers, was indeed found. Today Solms Delta comprises three neighbouring farms, one bought by the farm workers using a loan secured by Solms and his neighbor Richard Astor, whose
farms stand as security. The entire estate is operated through a trust of which every single person who works on the farm is a beneficiary. Neither Solms nor Astor have lost anything, but the skills transfer they are facilitating, and the attention paid to the internal emotional experience of everyone concerned means that Solms Delta is now a business doing well from doing the right thing. “We have to face history,” Solms affirms. “But the internalisation of that is very difficult to deal with and is largely ignored by policy makers.” Difficult, yes, but not impossible, and progress is being made. Farmers, politicians and policy makers are paying attention. Solms is clearly pleased to report that the single most exciting thing that has happened during his journey is the recent sale of the neighbouring farm – which at 2000 hectares dwarfs Solms Delta. It’s going to be run according to the same model pioneered by Solms. You might recognise the name – Boschendal. This event was organised by the UCT Trust, a UK-registered charity that raises funds for UCT in the UK and Europe. If you are a UCT alumnus and would like to hear more about forthcoming events in the run up to the centenary in 2018, please contact uct.alumni.uk@tecres.net. For more information on Solms Delta visit www.solms-delta.co.za
Revelling in ravishing South African Rieslings
| South African Rieslings are often noted for their characteristic lime aroma and fruity taste. Try these with grilled garlic chicken
Riesling is a light-skinned, aromatic white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. It displays flowery, almost perfumed aromas as well as high acidity. It is used in the making of dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling was estimated to be the world’s 20th most grown grape variety in 2004 (with an increasing trend), but in terms of importance for quality wines, it is usually included in the “top three” white wine varieties with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, if critics and (ahem) wine writers are to be believed. In cooler European climates, Riesling wines tend to exhibit apple
and green fruit notes with high levels of acidity that is sometimes balanced with residual sugar. A lateripening variety can develop more citrus and peach notes in warmer climates (like in South Africa). It is then often noted for a characteristic lime aroma and taste. Riesling wines have immense ageing potential because of the naturally high acidity and pronounced fruit flavours, often developing sweet, smoky honey aromas and aged (in particular German) Rieslings then taking on a terpene (petrol-like) character. Try South African Rieslings with grilled garlic chicken and lemon and honey semolina cake. In my opinion it is probably one of the best wines (in semi sweet form) to pair with spicy foods like curry and Thai dishes. Not too spicy though. Some Ravishing South African Rieslings: Paul Cluver “Dry Encounter” Riesling 2013, Elgin A light green apple tint leads to
apple blossom, fynbos, terpene and waxy honey on the nose. Lime and a subtle nuttiness on the palate leads to a long and fresh finish. The crisp mouthfeel is wonderful! sawinesonline.co.uk De Wetshof Estate Riesling 2012, Robertson Clear, almost sparkling on the eye. A bit more steely and minerally than most Rieslings but on going back to it a developed nose of Granny Smith apple with peach notes and hints of honey. Lovely fresh acidity with stone fruit and a spicy follow through. Delish! biltongstmarcus.co.uk Klein Constantia Riesling 2012, Constantia Greenish tint with light yellow on sight. Very floral and fragrant. Shows lime, honey and muskiness on the nose. Sharp acidity followed by lovely richness of stone fruit on the pallet. Very, very good wine and can age for a bit longer. thewinesociety.com
thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
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Goldfish cruise into London on the crest of an American wave
| Fresh from a hugely successful American tour, trailblazing Capetonian electric act Goldfish will be bringing the party to London on the Easter weekend. They tell us about repping South Africa, hanging out with Carl Cox and gathering groupies in the USA by Tim Hillyer Multi-instrumentalist electronic duo Goldfish bring their live show to the Electric Brixton on Sunday 20 April, which is Easter Sunday with Bank Holiday Monday to follow – so no worries about staying out late for those lucky enough to get tickets. Veterans of summer residencies at clubs in Ibiza and regulars at festivals across Europe and back home in South African, this is a rare chance to catch them in London. Enhancing studio mixes and samples with live saxophones, double bass, keyboards and solid house beats, the band’s appearances have won over audiences across the world. We tracked down band members Dominic Peters and David Poole for an update. You’re coming to the end of the USA leg of the 13/14 World Tour. How’s it going? It’s been incredible. We can’t believe the response we have had Stateside. We have some crazy fans over here… baking us cakes, making us crazy Goldfish merch, and generally being enthusiastic. Almost all of the shows have sold out too so we are stoked. What are your highlights? Touring America is kind of a personal milestone for any act. Not sucking at it is even more gratifying…and playing Ultra Music Festival (in Miami) was amazing as always. Sensory overload! A funny story or two? Listening to Howard Stern for three hours straight in the tour bus on the way to New York… we were in hysterics the whole way. Everything he was talking about is unprintable though. Who have you met along the way? Hanging out at Ultra means you bump into countless DJs and acts… Carl Cox, Fedde le Grand,
Pete Tong, Nic Fanciulli… Paris Hilton even came and said hi. It was a short conversation. Looking forward to the European section – it’s a whistlestop tour – any plans for a return visit later this year? We’re constantly in and out of Europe all the time plus of course Ibiza this summer… our management and EU team are lining up a crazy summer of festivals and shows. You’re headlining at the Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam. On previous tours you’ve played the MelkWeg. How’ve you enjoyed playing at these top Dutch venues? Playing in Amsterdam is always insane. We have the most incredible fans in Holland and lets face it – Holland has some of the best venues in the world to play. We’ve been lucky enough to play most of them. The Olympic stadium should be one for the record books though! Are you planning to spend more time in the UK on your visit? I’m not actually sure of our schedule yet so if we have a day or two we always like hanging out in London, we’ve got a lot of friends and family here. How could we persuade you to spend more time in the UK? Can you make it a bit more sunny? I know you love the surf. Have you checked out the waves in Cornwall? Not yet, the closest we have got is Ireland and Biarritz while we have been on tour, but maybe one of these days we’ll make it down to Cornwall, it looks super fun. London has hosted Freshlyground several times and Dom’s little brother Ben, with
Goodluck. Any thoughts for a big gathering of South African acts or a mini-tour together some time? You never know! We all have such crazy schedules sometimes it’s close to impossible to sync up… You’ve enjoyed multiple residencies in Cape Town with Submerged Sundays and in Ibiza at Blue Marlin and other clubs. Any thoughts about finding a suitable venue in the UK and basing yourselves here for a stint? Too many places to go, too little time! The eternal problem. Has there been time to stop off in studios? If so, who have you worked with? We’re working on a collab with Dutch artist Bakermat which is sounding super hot. Do you have any news on upcoming new tracks and releases? We have a new remix package out for our track ‘Moonwalk Away’, featuring remixes by Lexer, Alle Farben and a special Goldfish remix, so keep an eye out for that. You must be one of the hardest working bands with all the travelling on top of the appearances. No rest even on your return to SA with homecoming gigs in Sandton and back at The Waterfront, CT. How do you keep the energy levels going? When you love what you do it doesn’t ever feel like work. Goldfish appear at the Electric, Brixton on Sunday 20 April. A few tickets are still available. They will be joined by Berlin based young talent Wankelmut – known for his rolling Techno plus hits One Day Reckoning and My Head is a Jungle ft. Emma Louise. Tickets: http://www.seetickets.com/ Tour/goldfish-live-very-specialguests
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews
Blooming Amsterdam | A visit to Amsterdam offers a visual feast of colour and scent during spring… way more than the standard, canal boat, stroop waffel and joint you might be accustomed to
By David Chislett If you’re thinking about that cheap Megabus or Easyjet deal across to Amsterdam, let me add a few options to your proposed itinerary. Everyone knows that The Netherlands are famous for their tulips, right? But did you know that Amsterdam is the gateway to some amazing flower related sights and that it’s really easy to take an extra day to do more than just cruise the coffee shops and red light district?
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Flowers In The Zoo For a start, Amsterdam has a historic zoo, over 175 years old. But what is amazing about this place is not the animals (especially if you are from Africa) but its plants. Artis Zoo has a strong focus on creating integrated spaces where wildlife and plants are presented in an integrated way. But more than that, that the areas between enclosures themselves are a constantly evolving canvas of colour and beauty. What this means is that not only are the animal enclosures studies of carefully selected plants and flowers, but that in between you have more than enough to look at with a stunning array of naturallooking plant beds and banks. These are not formal gardens with rows and rows of tulips but rather something resembling more like what might occur naturally. You don’t have to book and it’s easy to find on the eastern fringe of the inner ring. www.artis.nl 300 Year Old Plants OK, maybe not quite. But right across the way from the zoo is the 375-year-old De Hortus Botanical Garden of Amsterdam. This fascinating island of peace and tranquility is home to a bewildering array of plants, flowers, herbs and butterflies!
They also have one of the oldest coffee plants in the world hidden away behind their quiet walls. The history of plants and horticulture cannot be separated from that of The Netherlands, and nowhere is better than De Hortus to walk this time trail and see just how far the early Dutch growers were prepared to go to create the reputation the country now enjoys. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, De Hortus is an ideal place to retreat off to for some quite thinking. http://dehortus.nl Stately Homes The last summer retreat home in this area, Huize Frankendel is a perfectly restored example of the summer houses the rich merchants of Amsterdam used to build to escape the summer heat and stench of the city. Now fully restored and housing a fabulous restaurant, it also has a pretty amazing ecological garden out back. Manned mostly by volunteers it seeks to preserve a formal garden of its time, as well as the natural flora of the area and period within its leafy precincts. www.huizefrankendael.nl Bustle and Buy If you really want to blow your mind, make the effort to book, get up early and head out of town a bit to the Flora Holland flower auction. It takes place every weekday from 6am and is a mindblowing spectacle of real time physical and online auctioneering, precision engineered service delivery and super-human logistics management. Yeah I know that sounds exaggerated, but you have to see it in action to believe it. Tourists get to wander through the auction area (which totals virtually the same square meterage of Monaco!) and witness the actual auctions in progress, the storage and the fulfilment of each order… it will give you a new appreciation
of those flowers you buy every now and then, guaranteed! Flora Holland represents all the major growers in the Netherlands and shifts several million cut flowers every year. Book your tour from their website: www.floraholland.com Formal Gardens The one part of the Netherlands flower tour you are most likely to be aware of is Keukenhof. Originally conceived of in 1949 as a way for flower growers to showcase their wares to potential buyers after WWII, these gardens are now an 8-week razzmatazz of colour and opulence. The garden covers 32-hectares and each season approximately 7-million bulbs are planted to give the extravaganza of colour you will witness. It is nearest the small town of Lisse and is open until about Mid May this year… but never for more than 8 weeks in any given year. You can spend hours rambling around the various banks of beds and styles of gardens. If you are soon tired of the static displays you can catch a whisper boat tour from with the gardens that will take you down the canals among the tulip fields of Lisse. For the more adventurous you can also hire bicycles and pedal among the rioting colour that envelops most of the area. What is for certain is that you will see more flowers in one place than you are likely to see anywhere short of the Flora Holland auction! You can see more and book online: www.keukenhof.nl A New Look So next time you see those Amsterdam specials pop up in your email inbox, stretch your imagination to a few more varieties of plant life than those involved with stag-do’s and crazy weekends away. You won’t be sorry!
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thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
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Zimbabwe minister went on “shopping spree” with diamond money
| Zimbabwe’s former mines minister, Obert Mpofu bought up lavish properties in South Africa using illicit diamond money, said a report sent to the IMF
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rather than the Zimbabwe government, reaped a massive windfall at the government’s expense,” said the report A businesscard named a Dr R Mhlanga as chair of Transfrontier International. It stated that Mhlanga went on a “South African real estate shopping spree” spending $20-25 million on luxury residential properties within a matter of months. Mpofu has thrown out the claims as rubbish. “That is nonsense. In any case, I am not ready to comment on issues that relate to mining as I am no longer there,” he told the Zimbabwean. The document said that the valuable assets should by rights benefit the Zimbabwe people. “This is especially important in the context of the government approaching the IMF and World Bank for new programmes, while potential revenues appear to vanish offshore,” it read.
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Obert Mpofu refused to comment on claims he siphoned off money from diamond mines Obert Mpofu refused to comment on claims he siphoned off money from diamond mines Former Minister of Mines of Zimbabwe, Obert Mpofu has dismissed claims as “nonsense” that he siphoned off profits from multi-billion diamond corporations to fund a spending spree on lavish South African properties. The information comes from a document sent by whistleblowers to the International Monetary Fund. It states that diamond companies were operated by a web of offshore companies, tracing their origins back to Mpofu, who used profit to accrue wealth and splash out on $25 million luxury houses in South Africa. “Evidence suggests that Zimbabwe’s natural resources are
financing South African real estate shopping sprees and top-end Dubai office space apparently used to carry out covert diamond deals,” stated the document, as reported on Nehanda Radio. The report claims a complex web of offshore and holding companies allowed the flow of wealth from diamond concessions to go directly to the Transport Minister. Mpofu is supposed to have allocated 50 per cent of the stake in Mbada diamonds, which recently boasted $1 billion in turnover, to New Reclamation Group, whose interests are held by Grandwell Holdings in Mauritius. It states that Transfrontier of Hong Kong, reportedly owned by Mhlanga and others, received 50 percent of the Reclamation stake, just before profits at the Mbada mines increased seven times over. “Once again, it appears that a privately-held shell company,
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| 15 - 22 April 2014 | thesouthafrican.com Follow us on Twitter: @TheSAnews
Nigeria overtakes SA as Africa’s biggest economy
| It may have been a long time coming, but as South Africa’s economy slows down, Nigeria takes the lead on the ‘Dark Continent’ for the first time. However, a straight comparison of GDP statistics alone may be rather misleading, as population numbers as well as individual spending habits vary greatly between the two nations
By Sertan Sanderson IT may have been a long time coming, but Nigeria has finally managed to overtake South Africa as the continent’s biggest economy. The announcement followed a routine “rebasing” exercise in accountancy in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
What has been revealed is the fact that the west African country is indeed the economic powerhouse that many analysts have been predicting it would turn out to be. This leaves South Africa, traditionally considered Africa’s economic backbone, in a difficult position, as investors appear to be shying away from an increasinglyoverregulated Mzansi.
Since Nigeria had not reassessed its GDP since 1990, the change in the country’s economic evaluation may not come as such a surprise, with many key sectors of industry (such as telecommunications and information technology) being next-to-nonexistent 23 years ago. Equally, the continuously growing oil industry as well as Nigeria’s vastly successful film business, dubbed ‘Nollywood’, have both
skyrocketed in the past quarter of a century as part of the country’s diversified economic portfolio. With a newly evaluated GDP of nearly $510 billion (according to the Nigerian Statistics Office), South Africa and her $384 billion GDP net-worth seem to have a lot of catching-up to do, especially at a stagnant growth rate of 2 per cent, which compares unfavourably to nearly 7 per cent annual growth in Nigeria since 2005. These statistics now place Nigeria as the world’s 26th largest economy – a position previously enjoyed by Argentina. However, a straight comparison of GDP statistics alone may be rather misleading, as population numbers as well as individual spending habits vary greatly between the two African nations, marking some noteworthy differences between the two African nations: With three-and-a-half times South Africa’s population, Nigeria has over 170 million people to feed, leading to some major underperformance on account of the low levels of individual spending patterns in Nigeria, as the Per Capita Income in the country is
too low to compete comparatively with SA. While poverty continues to be on the South African agenda as well, most Nigerians find themselves living on less than $2 a day. Having Africa’s largest population, Nigeria also faces numerous social challenges to overcome from corruption scandals to Islamic extremism. While the new information on Nigeria’s economy may not directly influence the 85 per cent of Nigerians, who are forced to survive living below the breadline, it might give international aid agencies more insights into bestapplied strategies aimed at helping the developing country move forward at a better pace. All things taken into consideration, the statistics emerging from Nigeria really come as a mixed review for South Africans, as SA is struggling to keep afloat. However, it should be read as hopeful news that the African continent is growing at an encouraging pace. At this rate, the 21st century might finally see Africa break independent from its history – not just politically but also economically.
British born parent? Are you SA Chamber of Commerce hosts top eligible for a British passport? motivational speaker Frank Dick
| Clients with one British born parent are often in doubt on whether they are eligible for a British passport or not by breytenbachs Clients with one British born parent are often in doubt on whether they are eligible for a British passport or not. BIC has thus compiled the following guidelines to shed a little light on the issue. British born fathers British born fathers can only pass on their citizenship to legitimate born children. (This has however changed in 2006, and therefore does not apply for children born in an illegitimate relationship after 2006.) So if you are born to a British father, you are able to obtain a British passport provided that your biological parents were married to one another, either before your birth or after. Even if they are no longer married to one another, as long as they were married to one another at any-time during your life, you would be eligible for a British Passport.” British born mothers If an applicant was born before January 1983 to a British born mother (regardless of where the
| On Tuesday 22 April the South African Chamber of Commerce is proud to host one of Britain’s most inspiring motivational speakers
applicant was born) you will be eligible to British Citizenship. However because mothers were previously not permitted to pass on their citizenship to their children and are now permitted to do so, you would first need to be registered as a British citizen. This is called a UKM application and is submitted to the UK Border Agency in Liverpool. Once the registration has been approved, one can use that certificate to apply for your British passport.” JP Breytenbach Director of BIC, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited. Please note that the above are only guidelines. Please contact us for more advice in your unique circumstances. www.bic-immigration.com or info@bic-immigration.com
by staff reporter The South African Chamber of Commerce’s highly successful programme of speaker events offers members the chance to hear expert opinions on various business and related topics. This is followed by the opportunity to network over South African wine and canapés. On Tuesday 22 April the Chamber is proud to host one of Britain’s
most consistently inspiring motivational speakers, Frank Dick OBE. Frank Dick is the current President of the European Athletics Coaches Association, a Member of the IAAF Coaches Commission, as well as the Chair (and architect) of the IAAF Academy. From 1979 to 1994 he was the British Athletics Federation’s Director of Coaching, where he was widely acknowledged as and
remains one of the outstanding sports coaches and coach mentors in the world. In this position Frank led the British Athletics team into its “golden era” with Olympic gold medallists such as Daley Thompson, Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe. Frank personally trained Daley Thompson and created training programmes for individuals such as Gerhard Berger, Katarina Witt, Boris Becker and Justin Rose. With a history of sporting excellence he has, over the past 25 years of speaking to hundreds of companies both in the UK and around the world, recognised key areas of personal and professional development. Once these are taken out of a “training room” mentality and put into a different context, this can lead to individual and team progress simply by giving a different perspective. Frank’s contribution to sport and coaching has been recognised in being awarded an OBE in 1989. He has been inducted into the UK Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999 and the prestigious title “UK Sporting Hero” by Sport UK in 2001. Frank Dick’s talk will be held at Deloitte & Touche in London at 6.30 pm on 22 April.
thesouthafrican.com | 15 -22 April 2014 |
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The Springbok Café The Springbok Café offers traditional South African food, wine and beers served with a smile in a friendly atmosphere. All this plus the option to grab your favourite S.A. groceries before you leave after relaxing and kuierring with us for a while. The Springbok Café` Ltd, 1 East Reach, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3EN, 01823 254966,thespringbokcafe.co.uk
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Cambridge & Villages Toft Shop – Village Shop & Post Office With a South African section selling all your favourite tastes from home! Pop in and pick up your treats – Biltong; Boerewors; Koeksisters; Rusks; Sweets; Chips; Groceries etc. Web: www. ToftShop.co.uk Tel: 01223 262 204. CB23 2RL
A World Wide Tax Solution Company is the answer to all your tax problems and needs.
KALAHARI MOON The Southern African Shop in Bristol. Wide range of stock including excellent boerewors and biltong. Centrally situated, friendly service. Connecting South Africans. Tel: 0117 929 9879 Address: 88 - 91 The Covered Market. st Nicholas Market, Corn Street, Bristol, BS1 1JQ Email: Info@kalaharimoon.co.uk Website: www.kalaharimoon.co.uk Limpopo Butchers We believe in small, well run family businesses, where quality is the number one priority. Come and try our delicious traditional recipe biltong, drywors, and boerewors, as well as aged beef steaks, chicken flatties, and succulent lamb. 9 Horn Lane, Acton, W3 9NJ Tel: 020 8993 8823 www.thesaffashop.com
Shebeen bar Edinburgh’s only South African bar has opened in Leith. A unique, stylish bar with something for everyone,delivered by experience and friendly staff. As expected we stock a large range of South African beers, wines, ciders and snacks, including a classic selection of cocktails and Dom Pedros. Opening hours are from 12pm to 1am. Come down and enjoy a true taste of Africa. 3-5 Dock Place, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6LU. 0131 554 9612.
FOODS4YOU Whether you like to create an incentive program for your employees or corporate gifts at special times or throughout the year. Foods4U – Corporate Services Division is there to assist and help you maintain your critical internal and external business. sales@foods4u.co.uk Unit 22 / 24 Manford Ind. Estate, +44 (0) 87 00 33 2130, Manor Road, Erith, Kent, DA8 2AJ.
WWTS CAN OFFER: Administer and enforce laws of taxation within the UK and Internationally Advice and consult on all matters of taxation Accountancy Services and Formation of companies 20 years Australian tax experience
Contact: Teresa Tel: 07789952025 Email: teresa@worldwidetax.co.uk Website: www.worldwidetax.co.uk
15
thesouthafrican.com | 15 - 22 April 2014 |
Sport
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World marks 100-day countdown to 2014 Commonwealth Games | Team South Africa is expected to send just over 150 athletes to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games which begin on 23 July 2014 By staff reporter Monday 14 April saw South Africa and fellow Commonwealth countries around the globe marking the key date of 100 days before the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland. The city of Glasgow hosts the Games which will begin on 23 July and end on 3 August. Glasgow 2014 marked the milestone with a giant ’100′ painted onto the grass pitch of Hampden Park, Scotland’s national football stadium which will be temporarily transformed into the athletics venue for the Games. Hampden Park is the centrepiece of the Games with more than a thousand track and field
athletes going all out for gold and glory in over 48 events during the seven days of competition. SASCOC is currently extremely busy with team preparations, with the size of Team South Africa expected to be just over 150 with slightly more male than female representatives. Team South Africa will assemble for the pre-departure camp on 14 July and will attend a farewell banquet on 15 July before jetting out to Scotland the following day. South Africa has competed at eleven of the nineteen Commonwealth Games which have been held; from the original Games in 1930 to 1958, and from 1994. South Africa was fifth on the medals table at the 2010 Commonwealth
Once in a lifetime experiences with In2Touch
| It’s been an event packed week for the In2Touch crew by Jessica Powell Not only are we half way through our April Shoot-out and Active Touch leagues, but this week also saw the holy grass of Twickenham Stadium adorned by touch players. That’s right – Twickenham Stadium! On both Tuesday and Thursday last week, In2Touch hosted touch events at England’s home of Rugby. With the teams taking part having players with all different playing experiences – all teams were quite evenly matched. This was an experience that truly encapsulated the words ‘once in a lifetime.’ Players were given the opportunity to stand in the hallowed halls, surround by the words that are the last read by the England team; “Hundreds before you. Thousands in front of you. Millions behind you”, running onto the pristine pitch where so much history has been made – to show the arena what moves they had. With 14 teams on the Tuesday and 10 on the Thursday – it was an intense round robin competition that would determine the best of the best. To help them be the best players they could be, a wealth of knowledge and experience was available on hand. Two World Cup winning English Rugby legends turned coaches led teams, and passed on advice where needed. Graham Roundtree and Mike Catt were the VIP’s of the day, stepping foot back onto the ground where they both have made so many memories. Along with these well-known English players – we also had some England Representative Touch players helping referee the day. Angela Verniquet, who has represented England at the European Championships and Home Nations was passing along her vast array of knowledge also. And, sure enough – was giving
Mike Catt a run for his money! In2 Touch can proudly lay claim to being the only touch rugby provider hosting events on Twickenham for its players and both days were pulled off with huge success and greatly enjoyed by all. And speaking of big events – we are now only days away from the first In2Touch social gathering of the year! April Shoot-out Party Bringing back the roaring twenties in style, Thursday 17th of April at Gigalum is set to be adorned by girls in pearls and guys in ties. Following the huge success of our “Cowboys & Indians” themed shoot-out party last April, our first social event for 2014 will be the April Shoot-out “Flappers & Gangsters” party. There will be prizes for best dressed male and female - so gals, make sure to grab that bobbed hair wig, short lowwaist dress with pleats and gathers (all the better to Charleston in). Guys, think Gatsby – slick, sleek and sophisticated (because, that’s what we all are like on a touch night out, right?) The 20’s epitomised the spirit of a reckless rebel who danced the nights away – what decade could describe a touch night better? For more info go to www.in2touch. com/uk , calll 020 8542 0827 or email jess@in2touch.com
Games in Delhi, with 12 golds, 11 silvers and 10 bronze medals. Meanwhile, Durban, South Africa, and Edmonton, Canada, have formally advised their intention to bid for the XXII 2022 Commonwealth Games. SASCOC President Gideon Sam said, “Over the years we have shown our ability to stage the biggest sporting events, with Rugby and Cricket World Cups being an example, plus of course the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We’ve done exhaustive background work and are now of the opinion the country is ready for a major multi-code sports event and we are proud to announce our intention to bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It’s a huge step forward in our history – and that of the African continent.”
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EASTER from
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Sport
15- 22 APRIL 2014
100-day countdown to commonwealth games p15
NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS
once in a lifetime experiences with in2touch p15
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SAFFERS TAKE ON THE LONDON MARATHON
| The London Marathon painted the capital in colours of blood, sweat, tears and, of course, victory
By Ronel van Zyl The British capital was fittingly bathed in African sunshine on Sunday as the Kenyans clinched the top spots in the annual London Marathon, which also saw several South Africans runners take part. World record holder Wilson Kipsang broke the men’s course record to regain the title he won two years ago, while two-times world champion Edna Kiplagat made it third time lucky as she finally claimed the women’s crown after finishing runner-up for the last two years. | Mvuleni Qhena
| Masilela Thulani
| Sally Jean Geldart Pereira
| Kevin and Anita Iles
| Duncan Mathieson (UK resident)
| Graeme Storrar (UK resident)
| Nicholas Bird
| Robin Alan Mailich
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