Indwe May 2015

B LO E M F O N T E I N CA P E TOW N DURBAN E A S T LO N D O N GABORONE KIMBERLEY LUBUMBASHI LUSAKA WINDHOEK GEORGE

HOEDSPRUIT JOHANNESBURG PO RT E L I ZA B E T H RICHARDS BAY

P I LA N E S B E RG W A LV I S B A Y

MAFIKENG HARARE

Indwe May 2015 YOUR FREE COPY

Safari in the City

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Features 33

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Encouraging Engaged Employees Are You Doing it Right?

Driving Daring Design Rendani Nemakhavhani

Feed Me, Seymour!

The Little Shop of Horrors

Chalk It Up to Experience Rock Climbing

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Secure Beauty The Browns Diamond Investment Programme

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Cover Image:

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Š iStockphoto.com

On the Cover Johannesburg is often underestimated in terms of the attractions it can offer both locals and visitors alike, but if you’re willing to delve and explore a little bit, there is a veritable host of interesting and entertaining titbits on offer in this urban safari destination.

Airline Content 14

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CEO Letter

SA Express is Continually Investing in Tomorrow

Meet the crew

SA Express Fleet

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We Fly For You: Our Visions and Values

Safety and Route Map

Flight Schedule

Passenger Letters

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Regulars 54

Where the Big Seven Roam Addo Elephant National Park

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Leaving a Legacy in “The Valley of Life” Val de Vie Gives Back

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Untamed Africa The Congo

Events North, South, and In Between

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The New Global Destination Durban

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Business

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Travel

Motoring

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Bits & Pieces Travel Tips & Gorgeous Goodies

Bites Restaurants & Taste Experiences

Gadgets Must Haves for Technophiles

Books New releases and Must Reads

For Content Kiddies South Africa’s Top Child-Friendly Destinations

The “Other” Safari Johannesburg

On the Fly Fishing SA

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What Granny Left You Protecting Your Inheritance

Property Documents 101 The Ins and Outs of an Offer to Purchase

Growth Spurt Is Your Business Ready for Expansion?

The Mighty Midget Returns Mazda2

A Game Changer Volvo XC90

Instilling Pride of Ownership BMW X6

Manhatten hotel

ceo SA EXPRESS Communications and PR Officer Boitumelo Tlala Tel: +27 11 978 9900 Email: Btlala@flyexpress.aero

Happy Workers’ Month 1st May is celebrated across the world as Workers’ Day. It is therefore appropriate that we dedicate this edition of Indwe to the more than 1,100 employees of SA Express who consistently strive to make your flying experience a pleasant one.

Firstly, let me salute the front-line staff: the airport employees, pilots and cabin crew. They are the face of the company who have, over the years, demonstrated a commitment that is very much appreciated by the leadership of the company. We understand that flying can be very exhausting, but our colleagues – despite these challenges – diligently deliver outstanding service every day. We appreciate the work that they do – sometimes under very difficult circumstances – to deliver superior service to you, our valued customers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognise the efforts of the hundreds of employees who perform back-office functions.

These are the people that you, our valued customers and passengers, never really get to interact with. Like front-line staff and cabin crew, these colleagues – including ground support staff in various airports in and around South Africa – play an indirect but crucial role in ensuring that our flights take off and land on time every day. They are an integral part of the team that makes SA Express one of the safest airlines to fly with in South Africa.

I salute all these unsung heroes of our company for their dedication and commitment to you, our customers. Without them, there would be no leadership to speak of, neither would the work of our frontline people be as efficient and effective as it is today. Indeed, without them, there would be no company to speak of. We take our hats off to them all!

Also, we salute our customers, as we are aware that you are also workers in your respective fields.

We understand that a large proportion of travel is as a result of companies sending people throughout the country to perform some form of service. We salute you and ask you to continue to fly with SA Express. We also want to continue to offer you a safe and peaceful journey, and to create a travel experience that will be stress free and relaxed.

This month marks the second month of our new financial year. This is also the second month since we launched new routes to the North West province. Even though the North

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West routes are new, we are pleased with the results and passenger volumes we are witnessing.

We are investing considerable resources in establishing and growing these routes. For the first time in a long time, both business people and tourists have the option of flying commercially to this province – an option that has always been readily available to destinations in the country’s other provinces. These routes are among the many innovations we are planning for you, our important stakeholders, in the new financial year.

During the year, we are anticipating that new entrants, including low-cost airlines, will take to the domestic and regional skies. This will increase competition in the industry, which is generally good for customers. Our view is that competition, especially fair competition where every airline abides by the same standards, is welcomed. What will differentiate airlines from each other isn’t necessarily just ticket prices, but also service, safety, reliability and innovation. These are the areas in which we want to continue investing our energies in. We want you to continue to choose to fly with us because: our service is superior to that of our competitors; our offerings are imaginative; and because we maintain our excellent safety record.

It is also important to take into consideration what the airline is doing for its communities, as sustainability is critical. The role that SA Express plays in developing young pilots and technicians is also pivotal in creating jobs and ensuring that the industry is transformed sustainably. And for all this to happen, we count on all of our employees and passengers.

Until next month, please continue to fly with us.

Sincerely, Inati Ntshanga

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Customer Care Department Tel: 0861 729 227 Email: customercare@flyexpress.aero Twitter: @flySAexpress Facebook: SA Express Airways Reservations Support Tel: +27 11 978 9905 Email: groupsales@flyexpress.aero Group Reservations Tel: +27 11 978 5578 Email: reservationslist@flyexpress.aero Sales Office Email: sales@flyexpress.aero INDWE Images © iStockphoto.com & Quickpic General Manager and Associate Publisher Letlhogonolo Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za Publisher Bernard Hellberg | bernard@tjtmedia.co.za Marketing and Communications Manager Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za Editor Nicky Furniss | nicky@tcbmedia.co.za Senior Designer Lindsey Steenkamp | design@tcbmedia.co.za DIRECTORS Bernard Hellberg l bernard@tjtmedia.co.za Obed Sealetsa | nolo@tjtmedia.co.za Pam Komani | pam@tjtmedia.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Tel: +27 12 425 5800 National Sales Manager Bryan Kayavhu | bryan@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 785 6691 Manager: National Sales & Business Development Chantal Barton | chantal@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 459 3086 Senior Account Managers Nikki de Lange | nikki@tcbmedia.co.za +27 83 415 0339 Calvin van Vuuren | calvin@tcbmedia.co.za +27 82 5826873 Gertjie Meintjes | gertjie@tcbmedia.co.za +27 82 757 2622 André Scharneck | andre@tcbmedia.co.za +27 72 739 8855 Noel Sands | noel@tcbmedia.co.za +27 74 428 7604 DISCLAIMER: All material is strictly copyrighted. All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without prior permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in Indwe Magazine are not necessarily those of SA Express.

Events North The Best of Brandy 4th and 5th June

The Fine Brandy Fusion, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg The Fine Brandy Fusion is the premier showcase of South Africa’s world-class brandies, providing attendees the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrities, learn from esteemed brandy masters, and taste their chart-topping creations. Celebrating “The Spirit of Craftsmanship” – the theme for the event – the focus will be on the craft of brandy blending by expert brandy masters. Through a series of master classes, you’ll learn first-hand about the art of blending and the building blocks that make an awardwinning brandy. Displaying how craftsmanship extends to the barrel in which the liquid is required to rest, a cooper from Stellenbosch’s Van Ryn’s Distillery – the only active cooperage in Africa – will also give a series of live demonstrations. Tickets cost R195 and include a crystal brandy snifter, 15 brandy coupons, three cocktail coupons, and two coffee coupons.Tickets are available from Computicket. // www.brandyfusion.co.za

Win a set of double tickets to the Fine Brandy Fusion showcase. To enter, simply SMS the words “Indwe BRANDY” plus your NAME and EMAIL to 35131 to enter the draw. Cost per SMS is R1.50. Competition closes 27th May 2015. T&Cs apply.

Up-Cycle Your Home 29th to 31st May 2015

Grand Designs Live, The Dome, Johannesburg Grand Designs Live, one of the country’s top home and garden shows, showcases top brands, designers, expert tips, as well as innovative features. This year, the impressive interiors section boasts a beautiful tree house, brought to you by Belgotex, while clever use of space will be demonstrated by two lovely room sets, which will be decorated by top interior decorators. With the theme of up-cycling, Grand Designs Live has once again included a DIY Build theatre, created from two containers, which will host talented experts demonstrating the latest in DIY. The Garden Theatre will be a retreat from the bustling aisles with beautiful trees, garden benches, and the sound of trickling water, as well as an impressive list of experts who will give show goers all the latest gardening trends and advice. // www.granddesignslive.co.za

An Invitation to Islay Ardbeg Day, Dullstroom Loyal Ardbeg fans prepare to invade Dullstroom for International Ardbeg Day to celebrate the 200 year anniversary since Ardbeg single malt whisky was first distilled on the small island of Islay in Scotland. It’s been 15 years since the legacy of this whisky was safeguarded by the foundation of the Ardbeg Committee (one of the most passionate and zealous whisky fan clubs in the world) and May the distillery now welcomes one and all to the celebration. The theme of the event will be “Past, Present and Future”, and attendees will be given the chance to travel back to the future by coming dressed in clothing from 1815 to 2215. Also on offer will be games that reflect the “Futuristic Islay” such as robot Shortie dog circuits. Tickets are available from www.wildaboutwhisky.co.za.

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// www.ardbeg.com 18 Indwe

Events South Munchies for Mum 10th May

Mother’s Day Lunch, The Townhouse Hotel, Cape Town The Townhouse Hotel in Cape Town is making it just that little bit easier to spoil your mum this Mother’s Day. To ward off the late Autumn chills, lunch will begin with a choice of two hearty soups – either split pea with mint and beef dumplings, or creamy butternut and coriander with herbed croutons.This will be followed by a choice of starters: either tea marinated chicken roulade or smoked snoek and cucumber cannelloni. Guests will then move onto the main buffet, with highlights including sticky citrus chicken, slow roasted lamb shoulder, and the “catch of the day” poached in a lemongrass and coconut broth. Ending the day on a sweet note, diners will be able to indulge in a decadent chocolate tiramisu pie accompanied by tea and coffee. For more information, email hotel@townhouse.co.za.

Wild About Whisky?

18th to 20th June

Whisky Live Showroom, Cape Town

Gourmet Getaways

Weekends in May, June, July & August Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat in the Cederberg is once again the winter go-to destination for gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike, with a delicious round-up of four Bushmans Kloof Signature Food and Wine Weekends. Executive Chef Floris Smith will be teaming up with respected South African winemakers from four top wine farms, to create inspired culinary creations that perfectly capture the tastes and flavours of the Cape Floral Kingdom. These weekends will showcase top vintages from Glen Carlou (29th to 31st May), Bouchard Finlayson (26th to 28th June), Cederberg Private Cellar (24th to 26th July) and Constantia Uitsig (21st to 23rd August), and will also include special presentations, talks and tastings, nature drives, rock art excursions, all meals and wine, as well as lodge activities.The weekends cost from R2,635 per person per night sharing, and include all meals and lodge activities. // www.bushmanskloof.co.za

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The Cape Town edition of the Whisky Live Showroom will take place at The Lookout, bringing this popular celebration of the golden dram back to Cape Town at an exciting new venue. This intimate showcase of over 80 expressions of the world’s finest whiskies includes Tomatin and Smokehead, expressions of The Glenlivet, Bains Cape Mountain Whisky, Kavalan, The Macallan, Scottish Leader’s newly launched Signature and Glenfiddich, among others. It makes it possible for whisky fans and curious newcomers alike to sample and purchase their favourite whiskies in an exclusive, intimate setting. Innis & Gunn, a craft beer made in whisky barrels, will also be on offer. Tickets cost R170 per person and include a tasting glass, a 500 ml bottle of Valpré spring water and 15 tasting vouchers.

// www.whiskylivefestival.co.za

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Events In Between It’s All Downhill From Here 6th & 7th June

NMI-DSM KZN Mountain Bike, Cascades, Pietermaritzburg In June, Cascades MTB Park will again play host to some of the top names in mountain biking to determine who will be named the KZN Champ for 2015.

Riders will be showcasing their technical skills in two different categories: Enduro and Downhill. Expect to see some of the fastest downhill action, as well as fantastic displays by riders exerting control over their mountain bikes in the Enduro leg. So to get your weekend thrill, come and watch the likes of Greg Minnaar, Tiaan Odendaal and Kathryn Fourie show off exactly what a mountain bike can really do when it’s in the right hands.

Fire It Up! 29th to 31st May

MTN Bushfire, Swaziland MTN Bushfire promises three days of music, art, personal expression and social activism which promotes social responsibility, stimulates the economy, and draws talent and tourists from across Africa and around the world. Each year a multi-generational global community of more than 20,000 “bring their fire” to the scenic farmlands of the Malkerns Valley to experience this unique event, which is renowned for its eclectic and multi-dimensional programming that is rooted in world music. The festival also includes a compelling line-up of theatre, poetry, dance, art exhibits and installations, storytelling, puppetry, film, and themed workshops. A vibrant craft market, family-friendly performances, a KidZone, as well as the recently introduced interactive art and dialogue space, The Barn, all combine to create a magically eclectic entertainment experience.

// www.bush-fire.com

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Run for a Good Cause iSimangaliso St Lucia Half Marathon & Fun Run, KwaZulu-Natal Now in its 6th year, this half marathon follows a course through winding estuarine forest trails on the banks of Lake St Lucia Estuary and allows runners to soak up the breathtaking scenery of this World Heritage Site.

The event also includes a 10 km and 5 km course, as well as a popular Kiddies’ Race.The driving force behind the race is its contribution towards conservation:30 % of each entrance fee is donated directly to the iSimangaliso Rare and Endangered Species Fund. This fund supports the management of endangered species within the 332,000 ha park. iSimangaliso is one of the most diverse and important protected areas for species such as White and Black rhino, elephant, leopard, crocodiles, buffalo, whales, turtles and numerous other fauna. To date, almost half a million rand has been raised through this and other Eco-Series events. // www.isimangaliso.com

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liberty MiDlanDS M iDlan lanDS DS

Bits & Pieces Cape Town CBD Chic The newly renovated Cape Town Hollow Boutique Hotel offers stylish accommodation with spectacular views of Table Mountain and Lion’s Head.

It is conveniently located right in the heart of the Cape Town CBD – for those who want to stroll around the sights or meet in the city for a business lunch – and is directly opposite the Company Gardens, should you fancy a walk in the gardens or want to feed a squirrel or two.The hotel’s in-house concierge is also happy to assist with advice, and directions for further flung excursions to the Peninsula or the beautiful Cape winelands. The rooms are bright and airy with all the requisite mod cons, including tea and coffee making stations, Wi-Fi and air conditioning, while the hotel’s on-site restaurant, Eighty-Ate, offers delicious dining throughout the day with hearty homestyle dishes served up with real art and flair. // www.seasonsinafrica.com

Colour Coded Give your home a seasonal lift and add an accent of bright colour to your décor with the Paris Chair Collection, which is available in a variety of stunning colours from Eclipse’s Colours and Possibilities range.The timeless design of these chairs makes them popular and versatile,while providing comfortable seating and a modern look for your office, kitchen, dining area or outdoor spaces.The chairs are durable, low maintenance and stackable. Each piece in the collection is finely crafted from sheet metal and given a silky powder-coated finish.There is a wide range of colours from which to choose, so you can deftly co-ordinate with your current décor palette to brighten rooms and keep the winter blues at bay.

// www.eclipsegroup.co.za

A Healthy Time Out Considered to be one of the Western Cape’s hospitality gems,Cascade Country Manor in Paarl is offering three day and five day health week packages from 1st May to 31st October 2015. The health weeks focus on holistic wellbeing and include accommodation, rejuvenating spa treatments, healthy meals planned by a registered dietician, as well as a range of activities from health talks to hiking, Pilates and many other options. Over and above the scheduled programmes, guests will have access to meet with the dietician, productivity consultant, lifestyle coach and biokineticist. Once a royal homestead, situated on 23 picturesque hectares among olive orchards and vineyards, Cascade Country Manor is an idyllic and luxurious private retreat. A small stream meanders through the estate and cascades down a little waterfall. The Manor House boasts five double rooms, three suites and one family room.

// www.cascademanor.co.za

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Bits & Pieces Hot in the City After three years of preparation and construction, the people of Pretoria can now don their designer labels and head to the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn. The hotel sets a new standard for stylish hospitality in Tshwane with its seamless indoor/outdoor social spaces and its on-trend interior tone. The hotel is conveniently situated next to the Menlyn Park shopping mall and close to the N1, making it an obvious place for people to gather.

The residents of Pretoria will no longer have to wait for their Cape Town holiday or a trip to Jozi to enjoy the hotel’s unique food and beverage concepts, including extensive milkshake flavours and gourmet burgers.

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn will also offer gourmet pizzas which will have a Fire & Ice! twist to them in terms of flavour and presentation.

// www.proteahotels.com

Diamonds are Forever With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Forevermark, the diamond brand from The De Beers group of companies, presents two exquisite jewellery collections to help create an unforgettable day for your mother. The Forevermark Encordi Collection is inspired by the ancient Greek knot of Herakles – often referred to as the “love knot” – which symbolises the strongest of bonds.The collection includes rings, earrings, pendants and bracelets, designed to symbolise the emotional bond between a mother and child. The Forevermark Cornerstones collection is a celebration of eternal love. At the centre of each piece is a Forevermark diamond, while the four corners of the design represent honesty, trust, respect and appreciation.

// www.forevermark.com

A Garden Stroll Cape Town’s Vineyard Hotel will once again offer guests a chance to escape into their secluded oasis with their popular guided garden walks. The 90-minute tours will take guests through the hotel’s award-winning gardens, comprising seven acres of landscaped parkland. Tour guides will share their wealth of knowledge with guests, while providing interesting botanical facts and entertaining anecdotes. Running until December, guests can look forward to a beautiful display of plants, flowers and trees that change each season.

Enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to meander through the hotel’s vineyards, and to keep a look out for birds, squirrels, and the hotel’s eight resident tortoises. A number of water features add to the garden’s tranquil ambience, and the large, natural rocks scattered throughout the gardens were collected by the hotel’s late owner, Francois Petousis, who had a passion for geology. Walks cost R65 per person and include tea and pastries. Email eat@vineyard.co.za for reservations.

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bites Curry Me Happy!

While Durban may be famous for its curry, you have an opportunity to sample curries from all over the world at the daily curry buffet at the Oyster Box Hotel’s Ocean Terrace Restaurant. As well as Durban favourites like chicken and prawn curry and traditional Durban lamb curry, your taste buds can literally travel the spice routes of old with at least 11 different curries to choose from, including fish curry from Singapore and everybody’s favourite, butter chicken. These would not be complete without a tempting array of different types of rice, naan breads, papadums and roti, as well as a selection of home-made sambals, chutneys and raitas. To complete the experience, you can also feast on traditional Tandoori chicken, straight from the Tandoori ovens.

The curry buffet is available daily for lunch or dinner and costs R270 per person.

// www.oysterboxhotel.com

A Collector's Edition To celebrate its 250th anniversary, Hennessy has launched the Hennessy 250 Collector Blend, a tribute to the legacy passed from seven generations of the Master blender.

To create the Hennessy 250 Collector Blend, a selection of a hundred eaux-de-vie were aged in 250 handcrafted, specially commissioned 250 litre barrels of Limousin oak, having already been aged for at least ten years under optimum conditions. The special release offers aromatic tones varying from herbal and spicy to bitter orange, fresh nutmeg, liquorice, dried peppermint leaves and saffron. Presented in a collector’s decanter and gift box, the Hennessy 250 Collector Blend will retail at approximately R6,000 a bottle and be available at select retail and wholesale stores nationwide from June 2015. The blend will launch alongside The Hennessy 250 Tour, a global artistic and cultural event in celebration of Hennessy’s 250th anniversary // www.hennessy.com

Chocolatey Goodness Creator of some of the finest artisan chocolate in South Africa, Michel Sauvenier is now launching his range of chocolates at Belgian restaurant, Liège Café, in Atholl Square, Sandton. Johannesburg-based Michel Sauvenier is a mining engineer turned chocolatier who has followed his passion to master the art of creating incredible artisanal Belgian chocolate. Crafted predominantly using Grand Cru Chocolate – a boutique manufacturer in Switzerland – Sauvenier now also creates varieties using the French premium chocolate, Valrhona. You can purchase Michel Sauvenier chocolates in a rectangular gift box of ten pieces, with five different varieties, as well as in a beautiful glass jar that contains beads of Noble chocolate in dark, caramel, white and milk flavours. Each gourmet chocolate is expertly crafted by hand, and Sauvenier ensures that only the best quality chocolate and the freshest ingredients are used.

// www.sauvenier.co.za

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For Content

Kiddies

South Africa’s Top ChildFriendly Destinations Text: Katherine Graham (www.wordcount.co.za) Images © Supplied

Let’s be honest, when you have children, what you’re looking for in a holiday destination changes. Forget about romantic dinners and sunset walks on the beach, what you really want now is somewhere safe for the kids to play and enjoy themselves.

And if you get a break too, that would be a bonus. We round up some of South Africa’s best child-friendly holiday spots with just this in mind.

Umngazi River Bungalows, Eastern Cape There’s a reason why the Wild Coast is called that, as it is truly one of the most unspoilt coastlines in South Africa.

What makes it appealing for parents is that you get to take a breather – whether it’s the holiday programme that keeps little ones busy or the separate dining lounge for kids supervised by hotel staff. (Finally the Victorian concept of children “being seen and not heard” becomes a reality for weary parents at meal times!)

Children’s activities on offer include dune surfing, cruises and a slippery slide. There’s also a children’s play area and daily walks organised by the hotel. (Keep an eye open for activities on the board in the reception.) If your kids are a bit older, the Gap and Blowhole hike is a must. Created by years of wave erosion, the blowhole spurts out water through a natural chimney-like hole, which is best seen at high tide and when seas are rough.

For more information, visit www.umngazi.co.za or email requests@umngazi.co.za.

Bartholomeus Klip, Western Cape Looking for a place to unwind that’s not too far from civilisation? An hour-and-a-half’s drive from Cape Town, Bartholomeus Klip is situated on a working farm and game reserve in the Riebeek Valley. Here, you will feel like you’ve gone back in time and life has slowed down to a more sedate pace.

Although there are rooms available in the

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historic farmhouse, the best bet for families is to stay in the self-catering accommodation of the nearby Wild Olive House. The house has its own garden, swimming pool, large, shady veranda and outdoor facilities for braaing.

Children will be thrilled to find themselves on the edge of a nature reserve, and will be fascinated by the farming activities. Take a bike ride through the reserve, or head to the dam which offers endless possibilities for swimming, windsurfing and boating. For those who show culinary flair, Louise the chef loves to arrange cooking classes specially geared towards children.

Visit www.bartholomeusklip.com or email info@bartholomeusklip.com for more information.

Sun City, North West This one needs no introduction. Opened in 1979, this resort has retained its popularity and is the Mecca of child-friendly destinations in South Africa. Your children will be spoilt for choice here when it comes to indoor and outdoor activities, whether it’s the Valley of Waves for water entertainment, the Entertainment Centre gaming arcade, or cuddling a baby croc at Kwena Gardens.

If Mom and Dad need a break (afternoon nap, anyone?), kids can head to Kamp Kwena Fort on the Cabanas lawns, which offers a full kids programme which is overseen by friendly staff. It’s a massive playground which is great for birthday parties, too. Kamp Kwena Fort also has a crèche and a babysitting centre for younger children.

Drakensberg Sun

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Samara Private Game Reserve

For your intrepid young adventure-seekers, the Maze of the Lost City is a big draw card. Described as the largest permanent maze in the Southern Hemisphere, it recreates the illusion of an ancient archaeological discovery and will make your children feel like fossil-hunting explorers.

There’s also mini golf, mini quad biking, a scratch patch where kids can dig for treasure, and the Stimela steam train. Although it may not have the physical beauty of other holiday resorts, you can’t beat Sun City when it comes to pure entertainment. This one is a guaranteed hit with the little guys, plus it’s close to Joburg.

For more information, visit www.suninternational. com or email scenq@za.suninternational.com.

Drakensberg Sun, KwaZulu-Natal This great resort provides laidback family fare.

Children can laze about the hotel’s two pools, join in scheduled holiday activities, go for a boat ride, enjoy trout fishing, or go horse riding in the majestic Cathkin Peak area of the Drakensberg. There are easy walks that the whole family can do, such as the ones to Blue Grotto and Fern Forest, as well as more challenging ones like Cleo’s Pool and Cascades.

For thrill seekers, visit the nearby Drakensberg Canopy Tours, where you can experience nature like never before as you glide through the tree tops with a bird’s eye view of the canopy below.

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Sun City

While Dad is strapped to a harness whizzing along a zipline with the kids, Mom can book herself in for a treatment at the Spoilt Green Eco-Spa, where soothing hands will massage away all the stresses and strains of her busy schedule.

Visit www.tsogosunhotels.com or email drakensbergsun.reservations@tsogosun.com for more information.

Samara Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape If you’re looking for a quiet spot in the middle of nowhere where you can unplug and unwind, you can do no better than Samara, situated in the heart of the Karoo.

Set on a game reserve of 28,000 hectares, this hotel oozes colonial charm and warm hospitality. The words “I have a farm in Africa” definitely come to mind.

During school holidays, Samara offers a children’s programme packed with fun activities to keep little conservationists busy. This includes game drives where they might spot giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra or maybe even a rhino or two, as well as cheetah tracking on foot with a game ranger (for kids eight years old and up).

Learning to paint on rocks like Bushmen or point out the stars in the night sky are also on the programme, as well as planting spekboom and baking cupcakes for Mom and Dad’s afternoon high tea. Mmm, don’t mind if I do!

For more information, visit www.samara.co.za or email reservations@samara.co.za.

The Moorings Play Area The outdoor children’s play area at Premier Hotel Knysna – The Moorings was completed in November 2014 and boasts different swing sets, a giant chess board and a ship themed jungle gym. The play area is open to children up to the age of seven years old staying at the property and children are supervised at all times. For more information, visit www.premierhotels.co.za/locations/premier-hotel-knysna/

Umngazi River Bungalows

Bartholomeus Klip

Encouraging

Engaged Employees Text: Bronwyn Wainwright Images © iStockphoto.com

This month kicked off with International Workers’ Day on 1st May, a day to commemorate the working class, not only in South Africa but across the globe.

While most employees are simply happy to have a long weekend and most bosses are frustrated about the loss of productivity that a short week brings, there’s more to Workers’ Day than we tend to think about.

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THE working class, from unskilled labour to doctors and chartered accounts, keeps our country alive and thriving. Workers’ Day is about appreciating this thought and emphasising the need to establish fair labour practices and employment standards.

You may be inclined to think: “Well, that’s why we have the Basic Conditions of Employment Act in place – it’s designed to protect the employee.” Right? Wrong. The workplace has changed, and ensuring you have satisfied and engaged employees has never been more necessary.

A decade or two ago, if an employee became dissatisfied they would quit and get another job. Today, with employment opportunities at an all-time low, not many people have the option to leave as easily as that. Instead, they quit on an emotional level, but they don’t leave. While they’re not happy, at least they have a salary at the end of each month.

They become disengaged and dissatisfied employees with lower levels of productivity, higher absenteeism and more negative outlooks – which possibly costs companies as much, if not more than a high staff turnover would. The implications can be far reaching, with negative effects on productivity, customer service, and the company culture. After all, it only takes one bad apple…

Every business leader knows that they should value their employees, but have you ever considered why this is so vitally necessary? It is because employees who feel valued are more likely to become actively engaged in their roles within your company.

These days more employers are focusing on employee satisfaction – in part because studies by international companies like Forester Research and Gallup are showing that employee satisfaction has a direct correlation to customer satisfaction. But this is not the same as employee engagement.

What is Employee Engagement?

Employee engagement is not a reflection of their happiness, but rather of their emotional commitment and active participation in the purpose of your organisation. An employee may be happy at work, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he or she is working productively. On the other hand, an unhappy employee is more likely to become disengaged from his or her work and the company’s goals.

Engaged employees actually care about their work and their company. They don’t just work for a payslip at the end of the month, or to climb the ladder so that they can move on. Instead, they want to be a part of the bigger picture and contribute to

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your company’s growth.

Engaged employees lead to better quality of work and higher levels of productivity, which in turn leads to increased sales, repeat business and referrals. It’s not hard to see how this affects the bottom line.

So, if you didn’t take a moment this Workers’ Day to reflect on the employment practices your company is providing for its employees, here are a few ways to develop engaged (and happy) employees: • Consistent Communication. If your employees aren’t connected to the purpose of your company, they’re not likely to understand why they perform the roles they perform. Renowned business leader and TEDTalker, Simon Sinek, explores this in depth in his discussion “Start With Why?”. If you haven’t seen it, take a moment to find and view his video on YouTube. The more you share the bigger picture, the more connected your employees will feel and in turn the more they will understand their responsibilities.

• Create a collaborative environment. When you’re sitting at the top, it’s easier to lose sight of what actually goes on on the floor. Delegation is important and helps give direction, but for employees to feel engaged, they need to know that their efforts count, that they can contribute and that they are heard.

• Be mindful of leadership’s role. It’s a case of “follow my lead” within any organisation. If you are concerned about your company’s corporate culture, take a look at the example leadership sets on a daily basis. Your employees follow suit, so if you feel your employees aren’t engaged, find out what’s missing at the top. The truth is the source of satisfaction or dissatisfaction often sits with leadership.

• Be consistent in your corporate values. For better or for worse, your employees will be more likely to remain engaged and committed to your company if you ensure that the core values apply not only in the up times, but also when the economy turns.

Inconsistency, on the other hand, will breed distrust and disappointment – rather turn to the values on which you built your company to show your employees that their hard work will pay off when times are tough.

• Hand over a little control. Employees who feel they are in control of their work are more likely to feel more responsible for achieving the goals set out before them. Encourage your employees to feel confident in their abilities – a culture of accountability, ambition and motivation will follow.

Silverr Silver Silverray ray

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i i z r a f JThoe ”Other” Sa Text: Keith Bain Images © Supplied, Keith Bain

J

ohannesburg is often underestimated in terms of the attractions it can offer both locals and visitors alike, but if you’re willing to delve and explore a little bit, there is a veritable host of interesting and entertaining titbits on offer in this urban safari destination.

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First Page: Top Jozi-based band, Black Cat Bones, performs at Radium Beer Hall, the city’s oldest pub.

This Page Left: Soweto’s Orlando Towers have been repurposed for urban bungee jumping This Page Right: Seventy Juta in Braamfontein is a cool spot with boutiques, pop-up shops, and good coffee.

Next Page: Walking tours of Soweto reveal the city-within-acity’s colourful and poignant street art.

Last Page: Maboneng’s Living Room is sociable and eco-conscious.

S e e f l i Gh t S ch e Du l e f or M ore in f orM at ion .

billed as a living tribute to the country’s enshrined freedoms and human rights. It includes the architecturally celebrated Constitutional Court, where you can view artworks or even attend court hearings.

You’ll need at least three hours to fully explore the Apartheid Museum (www.apartheidmuseum.org), which is essential for anyone wanting to get to grips with South Africa’s complicated history – it’s among the most thoughtprovoking museums in the world. An altogether different take on history happens at Lindfield Victorian House Museum in Auckland Park (lindfield.wix.com/museum).

Here, owner Katherine Love dresses up as a Victorian-era chambermaid and takes you on an in-character tour of her 22-room Herbert Baker house, which is packed to the rafters with period furniture and collectibles, antiques and Victorian décor. It’s like popping into a kooky time capsule.

As is the all-embracing James Hall Transport Museum (www.jhmt.org.za), the biggest collection of its sort in the country, with over 2,500 exhibition pieces ranging from 18th century penny-farthings and horse-drawn trams to South Africa’s very first electric-powered car, a 1974 Enfield 8000.

No first-time visitor to Joburg should miss a tour of Soweto, which typically includes visits to Mandela House (www.mandelahouse.co.za), a small museum on Vilakazi

S a ex P re S S c o nne c t S y ou to jo ha nne S bu rG

For Culture Vultures

Cape Town has beautiful beaches and mountains, but Joburg is rife with galleries, some of the finest of which are found in the Art Precinct on Jan Smuts Avenue. Among them is the country’s oldest commercial gallery, Everard Read (www.everard-read.co.za), where you can catch this month’s exhibition by one of South Africa’s most acclaimed artists, Deborah Bell.

Across the road is Circa on Jellico (www.circagallery.co.za) in a building worth visiting if only for its extraordinary circular design and spiralling entrance. Also on Jan Smuts is the Goodman Gallery (www.goodman-gallery.com) where more of the continent’s biggest names in art are represented. Another essential stop for gallery enthusiasts is the Maboneng Precinct (www.mabonengprecinct.com), where an old industrial complex has been made over to create Arts on Main. It houses artists’ studios, boutiques, galleries, and a café. Also here is The Bioscope (www.thebioscope.co.za), Jozi’s preeminent independent cinema. Also in Maboneng is MOAD – the Museum of African Design (www.moadjhb.com) – Africa’s first dedicated design museum, converted from a cavernous factory-cum-panel beaters built in 1938. The 2,500 m² space showcases cutting-edge design ideas in a series of varied exhibitions.

The Johannesburg Art Gallery (+27 11 715 3130) boasts the Brenthurst Collection of African Art, which comprises curios plundered by 19th century European explorers.

The Wits Art Museum (www.wits.ac.za/wam) can be found in Braamfontein. Only a portion of its massive collection is displayed, along with rotating exhibitions.

Nearby, the Origins Centre (www.origins.org.za) focuses on demonstrating the superficiality of racial and cultural differences, while highlighting the fact that we’re all unified by a genetic thread tracing humankind back to a common ancestor in Africa. Constitution Hill (www.constitutionhill.org.za) is

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Street, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum.

Many companies offer tours, but Past Experiences (http://pastexperiences.co.za), run by a young historian, does things a little differently by including experiential lessons in getting around and using public transport, plus plenty of walking whilst interacting with locals.

Another great city tour is conducted by landscape architect Gerald Garner (www.joburgplaces.com). He’s written books about Joburg’s urban regeneration, and will lead you to public art, architecturally dynamic buildings, rooftop bars, and such overlooked neighbourhoods as Little Addis (an Ethiopian precinct) and the city’s so-called fashion district.

For Adrenaline Junkies

Standing on the bouncy suspension bridge dangling between the Orlando Towers (www.orlandotowers.co.za) in Soweto, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d landed on a scifi movie set. In fact, it’s the world’s first bungee between two cooling towers, a 100 m drop along with a breathtaking view of the world’s most iconic township. Meanwhile, inside The Western Tower, there’s the chance to experience freefall with no strings attached at all. “Jumpers” are released from a hoist system, plummeting 70 m before being caught, smoothly, by the Suspended Catch Air Device (SCAD) below.

If you’d rather go up than down, arrange for a morning hot air balloon ride over the Cradle of Humankind with Air Ventures (www.air-ventures.co.za).

The Cradle is also renowned for what’s under it. Tours of the Sterkfontein Caves (www.maropeng.co.za) introduce you to subterranean geology, early life forms, and mammal and hominid fossils, but for more thrilling exploration, join Neil Norquoy (www.wildcaves.co.za) on a proper caving adventure that occasionally involves crawling through tight

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spaces leading to incredible natural galleries studded with stalactites, stalagmites, and pretty crystals. In one cave there’s a lake that you need to swim across to continue.

If it’s speed that blows your hair back, you can become an F1 star for a day, circling Kyalami Racetrack (www.fantasticracing.com) in one of two genuine Jordan racing cars.

For Shop-Till-You-Droppers

Ignore critics who tell you Johannesburg shopping is limited to malls – there are plenty of cool markets and vibey shopping precincts. With its infamous Bloody Mary Happy Hour and some 100 stalls, Sunday’s Market on Main (www.marketonmain.co.za) lures hipsters, students, and day-tripping suburban families to shop as they taste their way through the trestle tables groaning under the weight of homemade food. There are pop-up offshoots representing most of the design and fashion stores scattered around the Maboneng precinct, as well as eye-catching crafts, accessories, vintage clothing and beautiful homeware by local designers. Near Maboneng, Collector’s Treasury (+27 11 334 6556) is the secondlargest second-hand bookstore in the Southern Hemisphere and the biggest in Africa, with over a million items. It stocks rare, vintage and used books, as well as other printed ephemera, such as maps, periodicals, newspapers and photographs. And there’s a vinyl record collection of around 300,000.

Various projects were launched to revitalise Braamfontein a few years ago. Among them is Seventy Juta (playbraamfontein. co.za), where a dozen or so boutiques, pop-up design stores, and galleries are housed under one roof, along with Post (post-bl.tumblr.com), which lures regulars with its fresh food and coffee.

On Saturdays, The Neighbourgoods Market

(www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za/johannesburg) offers fabulous artisanal food, designer clothes stalls, and a bit of a party vibe with DJs and bars. A converted 1930’s industrial complex, 44 Stanley Avenue (www.44stanley.co.za) is today filled with some marvellous stores and great restaurants.

For Hedonists and Party Animals

By day, Joburg can feel like a money-making treadmill, but ask anyone here with a social bone in their body, and they’ll tell you Jozi is all about its nightlife. You can slink into sleek, sexy clubs like Taboo in Sandton (www.taboo.co.za) or head for historic, come-as-you-are bars such as Radium Beer Hall (www.theradium.co.za) in Orange Grove.

In Braamfontein, Kitchener’s Carvery Bar (kitcheners.co.za) is Joburg’s second-oldest watering hole, while The Great Dane (+27 11 403 1136) next door is another sure bet for rubbing shoulders with a hip, yet unpretentious crowd.

Meanwhile, in Maboneng, the Living Room (livingroomjozi. co.za) attracts fun-loving Joburgers to hang out in its thriving rooftop garden. In Newtown, retro-chic Sophiatown Bar Lounge (www.sophiatown.co.za) hosts jazz you can dance to on Thursdays and Saturdays. And there’s always a lively scene at Bassline (www.bassline.co.za), known for showcasing live music from across the African continent. In winter, it’s worth wrapping up warmly for a night at Randlords (www.randlords.co.za), Joburg’s sexiest venue set on the 22nd floor of a Braamfontein high-rise that affords dizzying views across the city.

This month Joburg hosts its premier artisanal beer event, the Jozi Craft Beer Festival (www.jozicraftbeerfest.co.za), with more than 100 different brews from around the country. In addition to liquid tastings, there’ll be gourmet food trucks and live music.

Driving

daring design

Text: Dominique du Plessis Images Š Rendani Nemakhavhani

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B

old, striking and unusual – her designs say it all. Graphic designer, blogger, illustrator and 2015 Design Indaba Emerging Creative Rendani Nemakhavhani is a bundle of creative energy cut from a different cloth. She finds inspiration in the seemingly mundane, and challenges society’s preconceived ideas with a fresh, audacious style tinged with humour.

BORN and raised in the south of Johannesburg, Rendani is profoundly talented. Her blog JoburgMyHomeburg is an exploration of the city from the eyes of the people, begun in 2012 when her friends were inspired by the photographs of the city she was posting during what she humorously calls her “chauffeur-driven trips” in a taxi.

Not one to sit still, she took on a collaborative exhibition early last year called 30 Days and a City. The challenge? Five artists and herself each documenting their experience of the city over five days. Photographers Andile Buka and Jeffrey Rikhotso, singer Nozuko Mapoma, journalist Lerato Mbangeni and multidisciplinary artist Sindiso Nyoni got on board to bring the project to life. She posted the work on her blog and the response was phenomenal.

“Mpho Matsipa, who was a facilitator at Studio X in

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Johannesburg at the time, read an article about the project and wanted to meet me and see how we could take things further. We spoke about exhibiting in Studio X and then launched a second series, which was a black and white series. I then invited four more creatives – multimedia designer and 2014 Emerging Creative Kevin Makonga, illustrator and 2012 Emerging Creative Sharp-Lee Mthimkulu, graphic designer/illustrator Dali Gaga and photographer Hazel Mpande – to be a part of this collaboration,” she explains.

At the recent Design Indaba, Rendani was selected as one of 2015’s Emerging Creatives for her work, and describes the experience as spectacular. “I learnt so much. I became more aware of who I am and where I want to be. I’m yet to find the words to explain what it meant to me,” she gushes. The work in question, which has got South Africa and the rest of the creative

industry buzzing, are her graphic design creations, most of which focus on taxi and street culture. “I love everything about taxi culture. The people, the system, the chaos, the structure, the unwritten rules. It’s such a big part of my life,” she exclaims when I ask her about the inspiration behind some of her most eye-catching designs. She has a knack for taking the ordinary and imbuing it with a creative force of its own that compels one to take another look.

In one of her designs, the text “No sugar for Mageza” stands alongside a portrait of a woman, created in a kind of pointillism style reminiscent of the old European masters.

Loosely translated, it means “No pretty woman for a taxi driver”, and is rather derogatory. She does not hide the fact that many cultures here still cling to patriarchal ideologies, but the woman, so strong and determined in expression, seems to be mocking the text and challenging it. This quality, perhaps above all, is what captivates me most about Rendani – she is proud and passionate about this country and its cultures, yet she is not afraid to show it as it really is, and makes no excuses or pretence.

“Johannesburg is not a place one should try to embellish,” she says. “The city has as much good as it does bad, and that’s a thing we should accept about it.

I refer to it as a ‘hideous beauty’.”

With so much success, I wonder what she considers to be her greatest achievement so far. “Not giving up on myself. The struggle of being a creative is so real. At one point I was rejected so much that I started looking at PA jobs. Then the feeling of not living up to my full potential started eating at me. I never gave up on myself,” she says proudly. I am obsessed with more than a few of her pieces, but she explains that as an artist, she tries not to love her work too much, as this hinders growth. “As soon as I find myself in a place where I feel like I’m more than marvelling over what I’ve created, I know it’s time to produce something new.

I don’t want to be my own groupie!” she laughs.

Her energy is catching, and I feel rejuvenated and optimistic after speaking with her. What’s next for this vibrant, spirited creative powerhouse? “I’m not stopping. That’s all I can say right now. The best advice I ever got was to laugh. Laugh and be happy. Don’t wallow in your dark days – they don’t last.”

No one can say for sure what’s next on the horizon, not even the designer herself, but whatever it is, it will certainly be packed with her signature spark and a fresh perspective.

GranD Gran D Pla PlaM M

y l F e h t On Fishing SA Text: Will Edgcumbe Images © iStockphoto.com & Mavungana Flyfishing

Indwe wades the streams and treads the banks of South Africa’s best fly fishing spots.

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AS MUCH an art as it is a sport, fly fishing is a little enigmatic, both to those who do it and to those who don’t. If you’ve ever spent time standing on the shore of a misty dam or wading through bright river water, rhythmically flicking your fly back and forth in a clean arc, waiting for the bright flash of a trout to take it, then you’ll know what we mean. It’s peaceful, yet exciting. It requires years to master, yet is fun for beginners; and it takes one to some of the most beautiful places in South Africa.

Like most sports, there is much more to fly fishing that may meet the eye at first, both in terms of technique and gear. If you’re confused about whether to use floating or sinking line, wet or dry flies, or what weight rod is suitable, don’t worry – like most sports, there are loads of enthusiasts to help the newcomer, so don’t be afraid to ask for advice, and much of the fun is in the trial and error anyway.

Fly fishing in South Africa goes back to the late 19th century when rainbow and brown trout were introduced to local streams and rivers. Although regulations about where they can be released have tightened up, both species can be found in dams, streams and rivers across Mpumalanga, the Drakensberg, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and the Eastern and Western Cape. But it’s not just trout one can hook. The indigenous yellowfish, said to be one of the best sport angling fish in the world, can be found in the Orange and Vaal river systems, adding another dimension to this fascinating sport. This makes for an abundance of fly fishing spots with nary another angler in sight, and in some spectacular settings.

You Could Be in Scotland The Mpumalanga Highlands are home to arguably the best fly fishing in the country, with the small town of Dullstroom the devotee’s Mecca. With its high altitude, rocky terrain and, at times, misty conditions, the atmosphere is a little Scottish, and the area draws fly fishermen from around the country. If you need to orientate yourself, pop into Mavungana Fly Fishing (www.flyfishing.co.za), the largest specialist fly fishing outfitter in the country. They can offer gear and advice, as well as tuition at local dams if you need to learn the basics. Dullstroom’s dams are well stocked (at Fish Eagle Pond, for example, you’re almost guaranteed to catch something, which is heartening for the beginner) and fishing is permitted year round.

Mountain Streams The Kraai-Bokspruit-Sterkspruit river complex near the village of Rhodes in the Eastern Cape is home to healthy populations of trout and yellowfish. Some 150 km of river bank means that there are more spots than can be fished in the average person’s lifetime, and the setting is almost untouchable. Rhodes is near Ben Macdhui, the highest peak in the

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Eastern Cape, and with rod in hand, the swish of your line and the thrill of a nibble, you might be tempted to return at the expense of ever fishing anywhere else.

The southern, central and northern Drakensberg areas are also home to some excellent spots, with icy, clear streams and dams of various sizes stocked with feisty fish growing to a decent size. Almost every lodge or hotel has its own on-site dams, a river running through the property or a well-renowned spot nearby, so there’s no shortage of opportunities, making it easy to find a quiet bend or bank you can enjoy all to yourself. If you stay in Durban and don’t want to drive all the way to the mountains, the KwaZuluNatal Midlands area is all about tranquillity, and its rolling hills are home to clear streams and well-stocked dams at nearly every turn.

Down South Just an hour from Cape Town, the streams and rivers which tumble down through the gorgeous Du Toitskloof mountains provide arguably the best fly fishing in the Western Cape. The scenery is unbeatable, and the waters vary in size and flow, meaning that there are opportunities to pit your skills against the wily fish in a variety of settings.

For something a little different, saltwater fly fishing at Langebaan lagoon, 90 minutes north of Cape Town, is worth a try. Wading through the sand flats, you can sight and catch guitarfish and sand sharks, and even garrick, shad and white steenbras can be lured in from the deeper channels. It’s a different test of your skills, and adds a different dimension to fly fishing.

Contacts Certain rules and regulations apply to fly fishing, not just to preserve the integrity and purity of the sport, but also stock levels.

• You need to be in possession of a fishing licence.

• Know the rules of the spot you’re fishing at – if it’s catch and release only, don’t sneak that fish into your cooler box, and make sure you use a barbless fly.

• Respect catch limits.

• Find out first if you can use a float tube.

• Bait fishing or spinning aren’t allowed at most fly fishing spots.

Secure Beauty The Browns Diamond Investment Programme

Text & Images © Browns The Diamond Store

The Browns story began back in 1934 when Larry and Gavin’s late grandfather “Honest Jack” (as referred to by his loyal clients) opened a boutique jewellery store in downtown Johannesburg. Jack Friedman was a talented and highly skilled goldsmith who had been taught the trade by his own grandfather. When they were barely tall enough to see over the dark wooden counters, Jack began to teach the boys all they needed to know about the diamond jewellery business.

IT is through years of training and extraordinary levels of skill that our master craftsmen are able to create the fine settings that are such an integral part of Browns jewellery today. Our exacting standards of quality as well as our stringent grading system ensures that every Browns diamond is superlative in its beauty, and that each piece of diamond jewellery is a work of art.

Indestructible, pure and beautiful to behold, a diamond and true love share many of the same qualities. The world’s most exquisite gemstone is millions of years old. Consisting of virtually pure carbon, it is the only gemstone composed of a single element, making it not only the hardest natural substance known to man, but also the purest of the earth’s treasures. What makes this stone so beautiful is that, when expertly cut, it has the unique ability to reflect light back in an explosion of sparkle and fire.

Over the years we have developed our own proprietary grading system to ensure that only the best and most brilliant diamonds become Browns diamonds.

We employ some of the country’s most qualified gemmologists with many years of diamond and precious stone grading experience. Every single diamond set in our workshop is individually selected, graded and approved as having met the stringent qualities of a Browns Diamond. Only diamonds which have

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qualified as a Browns Diamond can be certified and will be considered for setting in one of our fine pieces of diamond jewellery.

Browns’ quality diamonds are also exceedingly rare.

Only one in one million carats of diamonds mined are gem-quality, and approximately five million carats must be mined to get a single two carat gem-quality diamond.

It is this combination of antiquity, purity, endurance, beauty and rarity that has captivated people for so long and which continues to make Browns’ diamonds so desired and sought after. Only 2 % of the world’s diamonds are eligible for a Browns setting.

We understand that purchasing a diamond is an emotional and important occasion. When you purchase a diamond from Browns, you can rest assured that our fourstep program will safeguard your investment today, making sure that it will continue to reward you for a lifetime.

Five Year Buy-Back Guarantee At Browns we have confidence in the quality and value of our diamonds, which allows us to offer a Five Year Buy-Back Guarantee on diamond jewellery with a one carat diamond or larger. This means that, should you wish to sell your diamond jewellery after five years, we will buy it back from you for at least the price you paid for it.

Unique Identity Each piece of diamond jewellery is engraved with a unique identity number which allows us to trace your diamond’s history from source to finished piece. At Browns we subscribe to the Kimberley Process and support fair trade, therefore you can rest assured that your diamond comes from a legitimate source.

Grow Your Diamond We offer a unique Diamond Investment Programme which allows you to reset your engagement ring by either utilising your centre diamond in a new setting, or by exchanging your diamond for a larger more valuable one and only paying in the difference.

Lifetime Authenticity When you purchase your diamond from Browns The Diamond Store you will receive a Browns Jewellery Certificate. This documents the characteristics of your diamond and allows us to offer you a lifetime authenticity guarantee.

At Browns we ensure that your diamond investment is safe with us so that you are free to enjoy and celebrate this very special time.

For more information, visit www.brownsjewellers.com.

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Where the

Big Seven Roam Addo Elephant National Park

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Text: Keri Harvey Images © Sarah Baartman District Municipality

Well known and well-loved for its close encounters with elephants, Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape is also world renowned as one of the most diverse reserves on earth. Home to the “Big Seven” (the traditional Big Five, as well as the Southern Right whale and Great White shark), it’s also an easy daytrip from Port Elizabeth.

JUST a small park with 11 elephants when it was proclaimed in 1931, Addo Elephant National Park has now grown into a mega park. It traverses five of South Africa’s seven biomes, and stretches from the islands in Algoa Bay over dune fields, forest and fynbos, all the way into the arid Karoo. There are cycads nearly a millennium old, hillsides adorned with proteas, primeval impenetrable thicket, bizarre-looking spiny noorsveld (a favourite food of rhinos), and wide open plains where diverse species of antelope graze.

When it comes to seeing elephants up close, Addo Elephant National Park is matched only with Amboselli in Kenya. However, ellies are not the only inhabitants here – you can also see antelope (such as kudu, springbok, gemsbok, eland and red

hartebeest), as well as hyena, hippo, monkeys, meerkats and more. In the marine section of the park you will find Great White sharks, Bottlenose dolphins, Southern Right whales, African penguins, and the world’s largest breeding colony of Cape gannets. It’s pretty impressive, really.

The area has been completely transformed from a century ago when it was the territory of elephant hunters.

When the hunters moved on and the park was proclaimed, there were just 11 elephants left to protect, while today there are over 400. Still, it took more than a decade before park warden Graham Armstrong needed to devise an elephant-proof fence of railway track and steel cables to keep the elephants in the park. It’s still used today wherever elephants and humans need to be separated.

The marine section of the park is just as important,

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Best Times for Game Viewing • Elephant: Any time on a moderately hot day, except in the early morning • Black rhino: At sunset • Lion and Spotted hyena: Early morning, at sunset or on night drives • Buffalo: Early morning

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S e e f l i G h t S c h e D u l e f o r M o r e i n f o r M at i o n .

S a e x P r e S S c o n n e c t S y o u t o P o r t e l i z b e t h D a i ly

with Bird Island being home to 160,000 Cape gannets, as well as a huge colony of African penguins that use the island as their breeding ground. Rare Roseate terns arrive to breed in winter, Siberian falcons breed in the coastal dunes nearby, and Caspian and Arctic terns characteristically also visit Bird Island on long-haul flights. With its majestic red and white lighthouse, the legacy of the Doddington wreck on its shores, and bird life aplenty, Bird Island is a rather special place.

The mighty coastal dune field provides another diverse facet, with its silky sandscape constantly on the move eastwards, being chased by the prevailing westerly wind. Fringing this dune field is the last remaining stretch of Alexandria Coastal Forest – green, calm and cool. Here, in the shade of ancient Yellowwoods and Stinkwoods, a dozen different orchids can be found decorating the forest, and the call of Narina trogons can be heard bouncing across the treetops. Ground hornbills strut about the forest floor like sullen undertakers, and bushbuck, black backed jackals, leopard, lynxes and stickle-backed brown hyena populate the area. Rare tree dassies can sometimes be heard at night.

Moving further inland is the main section of the park, where most of the game and the Big Five can be viewed. Then, further north, there is the cycad and protea clad Zuurberg mountains which form a natural barrier between the lush coast and the arid Karoo. The Zuurberg was once the site of bloody battles between the British and the Boers, and tree trunks still bear the initials of soldiers who trudged through the area. Old wagons with broken backs bear testimony to the harsh terrain here.

A lot has changed since then, however, and Addo Elephant National Park is now a peaceful place, with ecosystems being restored to function as nature intended.

It’s a park that’s both understated and underrated. And without doubt it’s a true wildlife wonderland, leaving no reason to travel any further north to commune with untamed Africa.

For more information, visit www.sanparks.org, www.addoelephantpark.com or www.addoelephantpark.co.za.

Other Activities • Bedrogfontein 4x4 trail: This runs over the Zuurberg mountains along Settler wagon routes to Darlington Dam. It is a Grade 3 trail, crossing five biospheres in six hours.

• Horse trails: These can be found in the main park and the Zuurberg mountains.

• PPC Discovery trail: This is a 500 m-long, wheelchair friendly trail along a boardwalk which is protected from big game.

• Alexandria trail: Covering 65 km, this trail can be completed in two days and one night. It traverses dune fields and coastal forest, and offers accommodation in comfortable hikers’ huts.

• Bird watching: The area boasts over 450 species.

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Leaving a Legacy in

“The Valley of Life” Val de Vie Gives Back Val de Vie Gives Back Text & Images © Val de Vie

A globally celebrated figure, Nelson Mandela not only became a catalyst for change during his lifetime, but also left a legacy that inspires South Africans to put the positive developments they envision into action. It is along these very lines that we, as a country, should operate, and upon these foundations that one of South Africa’s most esteemed lifestyle estates, Val de Vie, was built.

SITUATED in what is arguably the country’s most beautiful region – the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley – Val de Vie chooses to look beyond the scenic splendour and appealing lifestyle to where needs exist, to live out the principles upon which it was founded.

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Opening the Door to Opportunity “It’s our intention to set a precedent in the way we function,” says Ryk Neethling, marketing director at Val de Vie Estate. “Right from the start, when the estate began to take form in 2006, Val de Vie has ensured that it gives

back to the larger community.”

Established on what was then known as Kliprug Farm, Val de Vie undertook the process of re-housing 109 men, women and children to address the needs of resident farm labourers who were living in overcrowded dwellings that lacked basic amenities.

“We don’t believe reaching out to others is ever a completed project,” Neethling continues. “For this reason, we continually endeavour to provide opportunities that nurture human resources through our worker empowerment programme.”

Further to these efforts, the Val de Vie Events team launched a hospitality internship programme in April 2014, geared towards the region’s less fortunate youth.

Not only has Val de Vie created job opportunities directly through such programmes, but also through the building of 400 homes on its premises over the years. It has further contributed indirectly as it has attracted over 200 families, mostly from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, who now call Val de Vie home. Many of these residents have set up their own businesses, providing additional opportunities for employment in the region.

Investing in New Ways of Giving Back As Val de Vie expands on its property developments, it has made the decision, as of the start of 2015, to contribute 1 % of all future property sales and 5 % of levies to fund the Val de Vie Foundation. “This contribution will be used for various projects in the valley and surrounding communities,” says Neethling. “We’d specifically like to fund education and sports initiatives, including those of the estate, as well as those of an organisation close to our

hearts, Hope Through Action.”

Supporting Hope Through Action Hope Through Action is a non-profit organisation that has facilitated the opening of two community sports centres in the Western Cape which allow young people from the surrounding communities to enrol for free sporting programmes. The first centre was opened in Mbekweni in conjunction with the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the second in Groendal in January 2015.

Not only is Val de Vie closely connected with Hope Through Action as a sponsor of its work, but Neethling keeps the world of sport close to his heart as an ambassador for the organisation.

Keeping it Green in “The Valley of Life” Having responded to a conviction to see change take place, Val de Vie’s Founder, Martin Venter, led the transformation of a desolate valley into an abundant land, now known as “The Valley of Life”.

Thus, Val de Vie makes every effort to promote a green environment through various conservation initiatives, including the preservation of rare indigenous fauna and flora. Furthermore, it aims to be the country’s first Green Star-rated estate, as per the Green Building Council of South Africa.

To ensure the positive development of both land and community members, it is Venter’s very words that every Val de Vie employee, along with estate residents, strives towards: “To leave a legacy that will have a lasting, positive impact on the valley as a whole.”

For more information, visit www.valdevie.co.za.

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Untamed

Africa

The Congo Text: Lesley Stones Images Š Dean Starnes, Lewis and Virunga Fund Inc.

You have to be a certain kind of traveller to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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First Page: Visiting the famous Mountain gorillas is an unforgettable experience This Page: The snow capped Rwenzori Mountains, at over 5,000 m, are one of the highest mountain chains in Africa.

Next Page: Mount Nyiragongo’s bewitching lava lake – the largest in the world.

Last Page: Tourists starting off in search of Virunga’s enigmatic gorillas.

S e e f l i G h t S c h e D u l e f o r M o r e i n f o r M at i o n .

business and then don your hiking boots and leave the cities behind.

“Of all the countries of Africa, Congo is closest to Tarzan’s Africa,” Go Congo says. “You can very easily imagine him swinging on a vine right in front of you as you travel through this country, visited more by adventurers than tourists.”

Lonely Planet describes the DRC as “The ultimate African adventure”, with its huge rain forests, gushing rivers and smoking volcanoes.

“There is absolutely nothing soft nor easy about it, but for an African immersion you’ll never forget, this is the place to be.”

Its attractions are mostly of the rugged variety, like trekking, river expeditions, and tiger fishing. It’s an enormous country – Africa’s second largest after Algeria – yet there is only 450 km of paved road.

There are vast jungles, rainforests, active volcanoes, scattered outposts, and tribal strongholds. It sits on the Equator, so the weather is generally hot and humid with heavy rains usually pummelling one region or another.

The greatest attraction is the Parc National

Sa exPreSS connectS you to lubuMbaShi

IF it’s on your agenda, you’re probably a businessman heading to the capital, Kinshasa, or Lubumbashi, its second major city. If you’re a tourist, maybe you should check your map, because you may be confusing it with the Republic of Congo next door, where several companies run the famous gorilla tracking expeditions.

The best advice for visitors comes from the tour operator Go Congo, and even they are not sure you should go! “If you need five-star lodges, whisky on the rocks and your 20-channel television, please go somewhere else,” they say. Congo is an experience for active people who like to learn and observe, who are interested in tasting local fruit and food, are not afraid to walk in the mud, and are happy to travel in a country without cold beer or cola.

The country formerly known as Zaire has more serious risks than mud, however, with wars between rival factions sometimes prompting warnings against travelling here from the US and UK foreign offices.

However, it is certainly an unusual and, in places, beautiful destination, so if you’ve booked one of the SA Express daily flights to Lubumbashi, finish your

des Virunga, populated by lowland gorillas, pygmy tribes still practicing their traditional way of life, rare Bonobo monkeys, and half-giraffe, half-zebra okapis not found anywhere else on earth.

This is also where you can climb active volcanoes and see boiling lava in the crater of Nyiragongo.

Climbing Nyiragongo takes five hours and ends in a spectacular view of the world’s largest lava lake. Guided climbing groups usually stay overnight in cabins at the top of the mountain to witness the impressive sight of lava smouldering away in the dark.

Virunga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its rangers have managed to protect much of the environment – despite massive poaching and guerrilla wars over the last few decades – returning it to a level of safety where tourism is on the rise again.

The city of Goma is most convenient for visiting the Park. Here you can also see the destruction caused by Nyiragongo’s 2002 eruption at the ruined cathedral and the well-named Hôtel Volcano. The hotel’s ground floor became the cellars after 3 m of lava engulfed the building!

Lubumbashi is the country’s copper mining capital, and its high altitude helps to counteract the heat. Attractions here include a botanical garden, a zoo, and an archaeological and ethnological museum.

The Belgian colonial influence is seen in architecture like the art-deco Palace of Justice, the Grand Hotel and the cathedral. If you want to catch some theatre or a European film, try the Institut Français. Soon the city will have a new shopping centre, built by US property developer Preston Haskell as part of his Luano City project, which is a $1.4 billion property development on the outskirts of Lubumbashi

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with office blocks, residential units, and the DRC’s first modern retail centre.

Kinshasa’s main attractions are a craft market, as well as the Lola Ya Bonobo monkey reserve. Bonobos look like chimpanzees, but are much less aggressive, preferring to make love, not war.

The okapi is another endangered species, and the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Ituri Rainforest in the northeast was created to protect them. The reserve contains other threatened species of primates and birds, as well as dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. Pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters live in the reserve too, confirming that the DRC really is the nearest thing to untouched Africa.

Fast Facts:

• French is the official language and Kinshasa is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris, with a population of about 10 million people.

• The main language in Lubumbashi is Swahili.

• There are a handful of upmarket hotels in both cities, but prices are not cheap.

• The DRC’s cuisine is mostly Congolese tinged with Belgian, plus Lebanese and Indian restaurants thanks to migrant populations.

• All visitors need to apply for a visa in advance.

Durban

The New Global Destination

Text & Images © Durban Tourism & Tsogo Sun.

D

urban is a natural paradise situated on the east coast of Africa, popularly known for its gorgeous coastline of sun-kissed beaches and subtropical climate. The city is built around one of the busiest ports in Africa, and is home to some of the friendliest people in the country.

DURBAN has recently achieved the global status of being a New 7 Wonders City of the World. It is a great honour for the city to be positioned amongst other leading global cities, and shows the commitment and competitive edge of the city as a leading tourism, events and business destination. The city was also listed as one of the “Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2015” by The New York Times, with its rich cultural diversity and heritage being listed as key attributes.

The city of Durban is an elegant, mature and ambitious city, and is as a leading international and domestic destination of choice. Durban has a warm African flavour that will touch your heart and soul. The city combines the perfect

ingredients to make your holiday special, whether you want adventure, tranquillity, nightlife, exotic cuisine, or just sunfilled days of complete relaxation at some of the country’s finest beaches and hotels.

The city offers a great lifestyle, speckled with adventure activities, and blessed with natural beauty, all of which make it a very liveable city.

Enjoy this special natural paradise, take advantage of the warm Indian Ocean, enjoy world-class shopping, fine dining restaurants, unique arts and culture, and the magnificent beach promenade, and be charmed by the city’s warmth and sunny smiles.

International Accolades • • • • •

CNN voted Durban as one of the world’s top ten most underrated cities.

In 2014, Durban’s Umhlanga Pier was named the most beautiful pier in the world by CNN. In 2014, Durban was rated the coolest city in South Africa by CNN. Durban was recognised as South Africa’s friendliest city by the globally influential Roper City Brand Index.

The Master Card Global Destination City Index has predicted that Durban will be this year’s fastest growing city in Africa, and will be the second fastest growing tourism city of the 132 cities surveyed worldwide.

• The African Business Review declared Durban “South Africa’s Brightest Beacon”.

• In 2014, Durban was nominated as a New 7 Wonders City of the World.

• In 2015, The New York Times named Durban a “Must Visit City in 2015”. Durban made number seven on the list.

• The New York Times also voted Durban as one of the best winter escapes.

• Durban ranked 85th globally as the South African city with the highest quality of life according to the 2015 Quality of Living Survey released by global consultancy Mercer. Durban was also ranked as one of the world’s evolving business centres.

Visit our stand at Tourism Indaba • Stand No DEC 1B41

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Termsandcondi tionsappl y Excl udesgol fmerchandi seandbeverages For bookings email: golf@phakalane.co.bw

Feed Me, Seymour!

Text: Keith Bain Images Š Val Adamson

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If you’ve been living under the deception that all musicals are jolly tales with happy endings and sugary storylines designed to warm the cockles of your heart, then it’s time to change your diet of theatre from Disney fables to dreadfully funny.

THE thinking probably goes that, in theatre, if you’re pushing the envelope with an absurd subject – such as world domination by an alien species – you might as well tackle it by the most outrageous means possible. And, you might just as well let your audience have fun in the process, possibly getting them to sing or hum along as the rollicking, ridiculous mayhem unfolds.

Weaving weirdness into a fabulously twisted plot, while mustering elements of doomsday science fiction, inklings of grisly horror, gooey romance and plenty of toe-tapping rock ‘n’ roll, Little Shop of Horrors is about as sweet as musicals come. Yet, in a nod to The Rocky Horror Show, it’s laced with unconventional themes and a supply of despicable characters doing unspeakable things that audiences just can’t help laughing at.

Created by composer Alan Menken and librettist Howard Ashman, Little Shop of Horrors opened in 1982 in an off-Broadway theatre in New York. By the time it closed in 1987 – after 2,209 performances – it was the third-longest running show, and highestgrossing production, in off-Broadway history.

Menken and Ashman went on to collaborate

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on the scores for some of the biggest screen musicals in history, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. They also wrote a brand new song for the 1986 film version of Little Shop, “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space”, which earned them an Oscar nomination.

However, whereas the screen version of their musical was a relatively big mainstream success which featured such beloved character actors as Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Rick Moranis, the original stage show had its basis in another, fairly unknown movie. Like Rocky Horror, which shares its offbeat humour and odd, fantastical storyline, Little Shop spoofs a certain era and style in cinema. The inspiration for the stage musical was in fact a 1960’s B-grade sci-fi horror film by cult director Roger Corman. That film’s storyline was motivated by a shadow world of dark thoughts and deep fears – most notably of our planet being overrun by plants that lust after human blood – and also explores what depths humans will sink to in order to achieve their ambitions.

In the musical, a meek florist’s assistant named

Seymour Krelborn nurtures an unusual plant that turns out to be a talking, singing, flesh-eating terror from outer space. And while the audience focuses on Seymour’s seemingly hapless attempts to win the affections of his blonde co-worker, Audrey, the absurd plot increasingly revolves around the extraterrestrial plant’s plans for world domination.

“Corman’s film was totally cult and weird,” says Steven Stead, the Durban director who has revived his hugely successful 2009 production – this time for Cape Town audiences. “But Menken and Ashman managed to pull out and zoom in on the lighter elements and turn it into something far more publically palatable, while still retaining some of those dark threads and nasty characters.”

Apart from the sinister plant which manipulates Seymour emotionally and wraps him around its evil tendrils, the musical tickles the funny bone with the crazed shenanigans of a sadomasochistic dentist whose recreational use of laughing gas turns fatal. And, of course, the play plots the moral descent of harmless Seymour himself as he unwittingly transforms from sweet innocent to conspiring murderer.

All this is set against the backdrop of a

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quintessentially poor American neighbourhood, New York’s Skid Row in the 1960s, where a three-girl chorus of street urchins – Crystal, Ronette and Chiffon – sings to us in doo-wop style, commenting on the unfolding absurdities, drawing us into the narrative’s heinous, increasingly macabre and nightmarish world.

Like Rocky Horror, the musical is very much embedded in a particular milieu and musical style. “It’s definitely a period piece,” says Stead, “set very precisely in New York in the 1960s. It’s a pastiche musical and all about the style. The music is very Fifties-driven, very rock ‘n’ roll, although there are elements of Motown and doo-wop. It’s filled with New York colloquialisms and references, as well as specific products and popular culture references that give the show texture and depth.”

The humour is also rooted in this period, since it draws on the latent comic value of the genre which the show spoofs. “B-Grade horror movies are – by definition – funny,” says Stead, “even if that isn’t their actual intention. They’re just so surreal and over the top.

They’re a phenomenon of the Fifties and Sixties, but one looks back at them with tremendous affection. And this is such a wonderful pastiche and spoof of that genre, bizarre and fiercely funny in equal measure.”

It’s this humour that makes the show such a perfect fit for award-winning South African comedian Alan Committie, who is performing the role of Seymour.

It was Committie who asked Stead to revive the production, in fact. “No-one has ever heard Alan Committie sing,” says Stead. “This is his singing debut, and he’s utterly charming in the part.”

Another major character in the show is the fiendish alien plant creature whose devilish thirst for human blood ultimately reveals itself as the first step towards world domination. The plant, which is alive – and can talk and sing – also grows on stage, and interacts convincingly and comically with the other, human characters. It’s part of the thrill of the production to watch the plant grow, taking on increasingly menacing proportions.

“The plant changes from a seedling in a pot to a great big plant that takes up half the stage,” explains Stead, “and – quite deliciously – swallows some of the actors whole.” To achieve this anthropomorphic effect, says Stead, “the plant’s various incarnations need to be puppets rather than machines, because they need to be operated by people who can move in conjunction with the actor’s voice. The plant actually has to act, so must be animated by a person on stage.

Because the plant grows as it feeds, it has to

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change from being a glove puppet to becoming this monster the size of a VW Beetle.

“What makes the plant really funky and fascinating to watch is the way in which it interacts with the other actors on stage. Especially when it eats people, which is horrifying, yet also very funny. When it eats Mr Mushnik, the mean-fisted florist, it looks like a Jaws attack.”

Ultimately, though, says Stead, like most B-grade horror films, there’s no profound message. It is literally just entertainment. Little Shop is not presenting dark material for the development of social consciousness.

“If you look deeply, though, it is an archetypal parable.

It’s about poor people who are offered an opportunity of escaping the cycle of poverty by means of the silver chalice offered by the devil. It’s a Faustian story, really. Seymour, who is so loveable and pathetic in the beginning, takes what is offered and it wreaks havoc with his life. It’s a parable about being careful about the things you wish for. And it doesn’t necessarily end cheerily.”

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is currently being performed at Cape Town’s Theatre on the Bay, where it will show until 6th June. It then moves to Montecasino’s Pieter Toerien Main Theatre in Johannesburg, where it will play from 12th June to 9th August. Tickets are available via Computicket.

Nourris-moi,

Seymour!

La Petite boutique des horreurs Texte : Keith Bain Images © Val Adamson

Si vous croyez encore que les comédies musicales sont toutes des histoires gentilles au dénouement heureux, vous vous leurrez, et cela veut dire qu’il est temps de changer vos goûts théâtraux en passant des fables de Disney au terriblement drôle.

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EN GÉNÉRAL, le raisonnement est que si l’on pousse les limites de l’absurde au théâtre comme par exemple avec une histoire de domination du monde par des extraterrestres, mieux vaut alors s’y attaquer de façon délirante.

La Petite boutique des horreurs réussit à incorporer du bizarre à une intrigue formidablement tordue, tout en restant une comédie musicale délicieuse. Pourtant, dans l’esprit du Rocky Horror Show, elle fourmille de thèmes peu conventionnels et de personnages méprisables qui agissent de façon innommable mais dont le publique ne peut que rire.

La Petite boutique des horreurs qui fut créée par le compositeur Alan Menken et le librettiste Howard Ashman, ouvrit sur un théâtre off-Broadway en 1982 à New York. Le spectacle disparut de l’affiche en 1987 après s’être produit sur scène 2 209 fois, détenant la 3ème place au palmarès de longévité et battant tous les records pour ce qui est des revenus de l’histoire des productions off-Broadway.

Tout comme Rocky Horror, dont La Petite boutique des horreurs partage l’humour décalé et une intrigue bizarre et fantasmagorique, ce spectacle parodie un style et une époque particulière du cinéma. Cette comédie musicale fut inspirée des films mi horreur - mi sciencefiction de série B de Roger Corman, cinéaste culte des années 60. Le scenario du film s’inspire d’un monde mystérieux rempli d’idées noires et de peurs intenses, et explore ce à quoi les humains sont prêts pour pouvoir achever leurs ambitions.

Dans la comédie musicale, Seymour Krelborn, un assistant-fleuriste docile, fait pousser une plante étrange qui se trouve être un extra-terrestre monstrueux assoiffé de sang, qui parle et qui chante. Alors que le publique se concentre sur l’infortuné Seymour qui essaie désespérément de gagner l’affection de sa blonde collègue Audrey, l’intrigue cocasse s’articule autour de la plante extra-terrestre qui a pour dessein de conquérir le monde. « Le film de Corman était un film culte et délirant, » explique Steven Stead, metteur en scène de Durban qui a ravivé son spectacle triomphal de 2009. « Mais Menken et Ashman parvinrent à extraire les éléments les plus légers de l’histoire et à se focaliser sur ces derniers pour en faire quelque chose de plus acceptable, tout en conservant malgré tout un fil conducteur noir et des personnages méchants. » La comédie musicale assure des moments de détente et de rire grâce à la plante pernicieuse et grâce aux manigances démentes d’un dentiste sado-maso dont l’utilisation de gaz hilarant de façon récréative s’avère fatale. Et bien sûr l’histoire illustre la déchéance morale du doux et innocent Seymour alors qu’il se transforme en un meurtrier.

Tout ceci sur fond de quartier pauvre américain typique des années 60 – Skid Row à New York – où l’on se trouve face à trois gamines des rues nommées Crystal, Ronette et Chiffon qui poussent la chansonnette dans un style un peu RnB. Tout comme Rocky Horror, cette comédie musicale est profondément ancrée dans un style musical unique. « C’est une vision tout à fait caractéristique de cette époque, » explique Stead. « La musique fait très années

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50 bien que l’on y trouve aussi des éléments de Motown et des teintes RnB. On y fait beaucoup de références à New York et à la culture populaire de l’époque, aussi bien qu’à des produits particuliers. » L’humour est tout à fait celui du style de l’époque. « Les films d’horreur de série B sont très drôles, » dit Stead, « bien que cela ne soit pas toujours le but du jeu. Ils sont tellement surréels et exagérés. Le spectacle est une telle parodie du genre qu’il en est bizarre tout autant qu’hilarant. » C’est ce genre d’humour qui fait que ce spectacle est parfait pour le comédien sud-africain primé Alan Committie qui joue le rôle de Seymour. En fait, c’est Committie qui demanda à Stead de remettre en selle la production. « Personne n’a jamais entendu Alan Committie chanter, » dit Stead. « Il fait ses débuts en tant que chanteur et il joue le rôle à merveille. » L’un des autres personnages principaux du spectacle se trouve être la plante extra-terrestre diabolique assoiffée de sang humain dont le dessein de domination mondiale se révèle peu à peu. La plante bien vivace, qui parle et qui chante, continue de pousser tout au long du show et interagit de façon très comique avec les autres personnages humains. Une des joies du spectacle est de voir la plante grandir et prendre des proportions de plus

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en plus terrifiantes. « La plante évolue, allant de jeune plant dans un pot à une énorme plante qui prend la moitié de la scène, » explique Stead, « et qui ne fait qu’une seule bouchée de certains acteurs, et ceci de façon exquise. » Pour obtenir ce résultat dit Stead, « il faut que les différents stades de croissance de la plante soit incarnés par des marionnettes plutôt que par des machines parce que les plantes doivent pouvoir être dirigées par le marionnettiste vers la voix de l’acteur. Vu que la plante grandit au fur et à mesure qu’elle se nourrit, elle doit pouvoir passer de marionnette à gaine à un monstre de la taille d’une Coccinelle Volkswagen. « Ce qui rend la plante fascinante c’est de voir la façon dont elle se comporte avec les acteurs sur scène. En particulier quand elle avale les gens, ce qui bien sûr est horrible mais aussi très drôle. » En définitive, dit Stead, comme dans n’importe quel film d’horreur de série B il n’y a pas de message profond à faire passer. C’est purement du divertissement.

‘La Petite boutique des horreurs’ est actuellement en représentation au Theatre on the Bay du Cap, jusqu’au 6 juin. Le spectacle se déplacera ensuite vers le Pieter Toerien Main Theatre de Montecassino à Johannesbourg où les représentations auront lieu du 12 juin au 9 août. Les billets sont disponibles sur Computicket.

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The Mighty Midget Returns

Mazda2

Report by Bernard Hellberg Images © Mazda Sa

The dust has settled locally around the divorce between Mazda and Ford and it seems that Mazda has emerged stronger, and wiser, from the fray. So strong, in fact, that they’re taking aim at the premium end of the market with the launch of the new Mazda2. Indwe recently drove it around the beautiful curves of the Western Cape.

MAZDA is moving and shaking things up locally, and now adds the Mazda2 to its already impressive lineup which includes the CX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6.

Although it’s the fourth model for Mazda in South Africa, the Mazda2 is the first B segment hatch that carries the brand’s new KODO design language.

Dubbed Soul of Motion, this new style for Mazda also brings a full range of the brand’s Skyactive tech to this part of the market.

The Mazda2 is not a new sight on our roads, of course. This is already its third generation, and Mazda expects it to be more of the same in terms of reliability, style, driving comfort, and a whole lot of zoom-zoom.

What will not be more of the same, however, is the little hatch’s positioning in this segment. Hoping to reach buyers who are aiming a little higher than the run-of-themill brands, Mazda is aiming the Mazda2 at drivers who are mindful of their finances, but who still want to drive a first-class vehicle.

There is no doubt that Mazda has built a bag of value into its smallest offering, but it is equally true that value has not come at the expense of functionality or quality.

On the contrary, the Mazda2 truly has a premium soul, not only in terms of the quality of materials used, or the craftsmanship applied to build it; it is also quite stylishly put together inside the cabin.

It might be a compact vehicle, but it certainly doesn’t feel like one. Trendy yet tasteful, the dashboard design – complete with floating full colour display – is the kind of minimalist’s dream that you’d expect in a much higher-end German compact, putting paid to the idea that small will

inevitably be garish.

The Mazda2 is clearly part of the Mazda family and builds on the previous generation’s already good-looking lines. More muscular and more expressive than before, its inviting shape beckons you to hop in and get moving!

To do just that, Mazda offers the Mazda2 with a brand new set of 1.5-litre Skyactive powertrains in both petrol and diesel derivatives. The opening salvo is fired by the petrolpowered 1.5 Active six-speed manual (R188,000) with its 82 kW of power and 145 Nm of torque. To put this in perspective, the Ford Fiesta 1.4 Ambiente and Volkswagen Polo TSi 66 kW retail for around R194,000 and R198,600 respectively. Moving up the list, the same petrol/manual combination is also employed in the 1.5 Dynamic, but this car gets additional spec in the form of front fog lamps and power folding rear mirrors, amongst others.

The 1.5 Dynamic Auto (with six-speed automatic), Individual Manual and the Individual Auto complete the petrol range.

At the top of the range, Mazda has introduced a new 1.5-litre diesel engine that brings 77 kW on tap, but increases torque output to a comfortable 250 Nm. With the full might of Mazda’s Skyactive technology built into this engine, the 1.5 DE Hazumi Auto is a worthy halo model to the Mazda2 line-up. Smooth, competent and gutsy, it is our choice in the range, and comes in at a palatable R259,900.

All Mazda products are backed by a three-year unlimited kilometre factory warranty, and get a three-year roadside assistance, a three-year service plan and a fiveyear corrosion warranty as well.

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What Granny

Left You Protecting Your Inheritance Text: Kristia van Heerden/Finweek Images Š iStockphoto.com

An inheritance can be a nightmare. As with windfalls, deciding how best to use you inheritance money requires serious deliberation. Couple the financial implications with the emotions and family drama that tend to accompany inheritance, and you’ve got the perfect financial storm.

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The Lingo Before we delve into what exactly happens when you inherit, let’s get the jargon out of the way. According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), an estate is the money, property and belongings left behind when someone passes. The executor is the person who administers the will of the deceased.

What Happens When Someone Dies?

“After the passing of an individual, the assets of the deceased will be held by the estate until such time as the liquidation and distribution account has lain for inspection,” explains Steven Schultz, head of international fund solutions at Momentum Wealth International. Once that process is complete, the assets will be transferred to the heirs or delivered to the trustee of the estate.

Schultz says that the distribution of assets will be largely influenced by whether a valid will is in place at the time of the individual’s passing. “In the case of dying intestate (without a valid will), if the deceased is survived by a spouse and without any descendants, the spouse will inherit the residue of the estate,” he says.

“However, in the event of the deceased leaving behind a spouse as well as descendants, the estate will be divided among the descendants as well as the surviving spouse. In this instance, the surviving spouse will benefit from a minimum inheritance amount of R250,000, provided there are sufficient assets within the estate.”

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The Tax Implications The good news is that all taxes will be covered by the estate before you receive your inheritance.

“The estate of a South African resident is subject to a 20 % estate duty, after taking into account a deduction of a R3.5 million abatement against the net value of the estate. As a practical example, if the total net value of an estate is R5 million, estate duty will be dutiable at 20 % of the amount exceeding R3.5 million, which in this case amounts to R300,000. Typically, it is the responsibility of the executor to pay the duty which has been levied on the property of the deceased,” says Schultz.

Money in the Bank Once you receive your inheritance, the important work begins. Ensuring that you are in a stable financial position should always be your first point of departure.

“The world is full of people who received an inheritance and then went on a spending spree, squandering this money on riotous living and inconsequential purchases,” says David Crossley, practice manager at BDO Wealth Advisers.

He advises taking a step back before making any significant financial decisions. “Whether this inheritance is in cash or in some form of property, it is something that we have not budgeted our expenditure against, and considerable thought should be given to what it should be used for.”

As with any other windfall, have a look at your shortand long-term debt obligations. Putting your inheritance towards paying off debt will free up some cash and improve your financial situation. Once your debts are

paid, ensure that you have an emergency fund of at least three months’ expenses in a bank account before taking any further action.

Crossley adds that an inheritance can go some way to supplementing the education of your children or grandchildren. You can also use the unexpected income to boost your retirement capital.

“Above all else, whatever decision you make should be assisted by a professional financial planner, who is able to make objective suggestions, devoid of any emotions, and help you arrive at the optimum solution for what you have inherited,” he says.

When Children Inherit The Pension Fund Act requires trustees of pension funds to ensure funds from the pension of a deceased parent meet the basic needs of any minor children, such as food, clothing and school fees, according to Standard Bank.

The trustees of the estate determine whether the money is paid to the guardian of a minor on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis, and also what portion of the pension to allocate to minors.

“The amount of the regular payment will depend on the value of the parent’s pension at the time of death, as well as the number of years before the child turns 18 or the year in which the trust is set to terminate,” says Mthokozisi Bhengu, Standard Bank’s Institutional Channel Manager at Standard Trust Limited.

Generational Wealth According to the 2015 Wealth Report, the number one wealth concern for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWI) worldwide is preserving wealth throughout generations.

“The statistics are sobering,” says Margaret Nienaber, the chief executive of Wealth and Investment at Standard Bank. “70 % of high-net-worth families lose all their wealth in the second generation, and 90 % lose it all by the third generation.”

However, says Schultz, there is a significant difference between managing the modest sum left by a loved one and the desire to ensure intergenerational preservation of significant wealth.

“It is preferable to consider one’s intergenerational wealth preservation strategy in the context of South Africa’s specific economic realities,” he says, pointing to the fact that only a small number of South Africans contribute to government tax coffers, unemployment and debt.

“In line with prudent financial planning, it is always preferable to diversify one’s wealth.

By this measure, wealthy South African individuals who aspire to achieve intergenerational wealth preservation may wish to consider the merits of incorporating an offshore trust in their estate planning strategy,” says Schultz.

Copy courtesy of ‘Finweek’. Call 0860 103 911 to subscribe.

A Game Changer Volvo XC90 Text: Wilhelm Loots Images Š Volvo Car Group

Recently, Indwe travelled to Spain for the international launch of the new Volvo XC90. In ancient CataluĂąa, we encountered a true next-generation SUV.

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MORE than anything, the new Volvo XC90 is a technological marvel wrapped in clean, yet functional styling with an emphasis on ease of use. From the very first sketches, this car was designed with the user in mind. If Apple were to build a car, it may look and feel like the XC90. Then again, the Swedes are known for their elegant, minimalist designs, so it should come as little surprise that the XC90 ticks all the right styling boxes.

The entire dashboard features only eight buttons, with all other functions controlled via a large iPad-like touchscreen embedded in the centre console. An intuitively tiled menu system takes the effort out of personalisation and interaction. Volvo’s new Sensus system, which features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, delivers true connectivity with a range of useful cloud-based applications and services that can be operated via the touchscreen, through steering wheel controls or via the voice control system. The Volvo On Call smartphone application also provides remote access to many of the car’s convenient features, including pre-heating, location, and send-to-car navigation.

Renowned the world over for its safety, Volvo has added even more ingenious safety features to the XC90, which comes fully equipped with the IntelliSafe package that includes two world firsts: Run-off Road Protection and Auto Brake at Intersections.

“We do not develop new safety systems or features to pass tests – we develop them to save lives. This is why we can confidently aim to meet our Vision 2020 goal of having no one killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car. We believe we have developed the safest SUV,” says Dr Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Volvo Car Group.

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Thanks to the efficient performance delivered by Volvo’s four-cylinder Drive-E engine programme, the XC90 provides a broad range of power options. This is not a growling, gas guzzling V8, yet this powerplant delivers on output despite its modest capacity. The D5 model generates an ample 165 kW of power and 470 Nm of torque, which translates to a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in a respectable 7.8 seconds, with fuel consumption of just 5.8 l/100 km.

The T6 is even more impressive, with 236 kW power and 400 Nm torque which propels this seven-seater from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.5 seconds.

The top of range T8 has the same petrol engine as the T6, but with the added advantage of two additional electric motors, front and rear, where total output is increased to 296 kW. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is an estimated 5.9 seconds with amazing consumption of just 2.5 l/100 km, and CO2 emissions of just 59 g/km. For a zero emissions drive you can also drive the T8 for 40 km on the electric motor alone. A full plug-in charge takes about three-anda-half hours.

The introduction of Twin Engine technology in the XC90 T8, which was developed in cooperation with Siemens, sets a new benchmark in terms of efficient performance in the luxury SUV segment.

Volvo has developed brand new ride and handling characteristics for the XC90 in Volvo’s new state-of-theart chassis simulation lab. With its Four Corner Active Air Suspension system, the XC90 chassis is designed to cater for individual driving styles in all road and weather conditions. The result is a car that delivers a smooth, yet nimble drive in the city, an engaging drive on country lanes and a comfortably solid presence on the highway.

We put all of the XC90 models through their paces in

the Cataluña countryside, from narrow, winding roads to highways, and even the occasional detour into ancient little towns with alleys designed for horse and cart rather than a modern SUV. As South Africans, we’re all still getting used to small capacity engines in big cars, yet the XC90, which is supercharged and turbocharged, responds eagerly to any input from the right foot, and offers a wide power band that makes for sufficient acceleration from standstill, and especially when overtaking. Under acceleration, the engine noise remains barely audible, and the steering devoid of any unwanted vibration.

All the models we tested were fitted with Volvo’s optional air suspension system, which makes for a supremely comfortable ride in any drive mode.

Not surprisingly, the most impressive of all the models is the Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid. Carrying some extra weight due to the battery that is located along the centre line of the car, the T8 still handled exceptionally well, even on the narrowest of roads and the tightest of corners. The XC90 certainly delivers on its promise of a chassis that will inspire “relaxed confidence”.

With the new Volvo XC90, the manufacturer of the world’s safest cars has created a premium SUV with excellent performance, exceptional safety features, true luxurious comfort, and convenient, intuitive driver/vehicle interaction, all wrapped up in a stunning Swedish design.

Our verdict is simple: The Volvo XC90 is a game changer.

The all-new Volvo XC90 will be available in South Africa from August 2015. The model line-up will include three models: D5 diesel, T6 petrol and, from 1st September 2015, the range topping T8 plug-in hybrid. All of the models are all-wheel drive, and all can be configured to seat seven people. Pricing is expected to start from R800,000.

Instilling Pride of

Ownership

BMW X6 Text: Bernard Hellberg Sr Images © BMW SA

Launched recently at the superb Royal Malewane venue in the Greater Kruger National Park, BMW’s rugged – if somewhat controversially styled – X6 petrol and diesel duo demonstrated once again why discerning supporters of the brand have chosen this sports activity coupé to get them to their exclusive destinations in style.

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IN what BMW describes as an extroverted design, it is clear that they aimed the X6 at individuals who demand versatility in their vehicles – without sacrificing luxury – more than adequate reserves of power, and that elusive pride of ownership that is the hallmark of cars selling in relatively small numbers.

Having been around since December 2007, the first generation combined the attributes of an SUV with the stance of a coupé, with the latter’s admirable ground clearance and all wheel-drive and the coupé’s sloping roofline.

Despite initial misgivings, the X6 – playing in a very niche sector of the market – continues to surprise with global sales of almost 250,000 units in slightly more than six years.

First impressions, when getting comfortable behind the wheel of the X6, are that it is quite a large vehicle, with a subtle hint that it will be a handful on the open road. Strikingly muscular, this is not a machine for the faint-hearted. With a mighty 4.4-litre V8 under the bonnet of the xDrive 50i, and 330 kW waiting to be pressed into action, BMW claims fuel consumption of 9.7 l/100 km. Yet, even with the 85 litre fuel tank, the launch trip of around 500 km – from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Royal Malewane and back to the airport – had us barely reach our destination with amber-coloured low fuel warning lights glaring.

Almost as though wishing to underscore the exotic nature of both cars, the superb Bang & Olufsen surround sound system fills the interior in dramatic fashion. If you prefer, the sound of the mighty V8 also provides a

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different, if equally moving kind of music.

The X6 M50d, on the other hand, was equally entertaining, if slightly more subdued in the manner in which it went about devouring long stretches of road.

Making up for the fact that the diesel version is a straight six, as opposed to its V8 cousin, is the inclusion of three turbos. With 280 kW on tap, one may be tempted to regard this as the lazier of the two models. Nothing could be further from the truth. Outperforming the V8 with stunning torque figures of 740 Nm (available from 2,000 r/min), the diesel version is marginally slower in the 0-100 km/h sprint (clocking 5.2 seconds as opposed to the V8’s 4.8), and both versions have a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically restricted).

In terms of interior appointments, both cars uphold the BMW tradition of offering only the best in comfort with superbly shaped seats and fully adjustable steering wheels which must also have been designed by a passionate perfectionist, with their thickness, shape, and diameter turning them almost into works of art.

Automatic tailgate operation, two-zone climate control, and heads-up display are some of the perks available as either standard or optional on the X6.

Like other manufacturers who have ventured into, and succeeded, in this tricky crossover environment (one immediately thinks of the Porsche Macan), the BMW Group has successfully delivered a vehicle that offers the best of several worlds. Although it is certainly not meant for rugged off-road adventures, the X6 will deal with all manner of road conditions superbly.

Property Documents 101 The Ins and Outs of an Offer to Purchase Text: Property24 Images © iStockphoto.com

Buying a home, as with other major life commitments, goes hand-in-hand with copious amounts of paperwork and seemingly intimidating contracts.

However, the Offer to Purchase need not be anything to worry about, provided you know what your legal rights and obligations are when beginning the process of buying a home and making an offer.

The Legally Binding Contract Importantly, the Offer to Purchase (OTP) is a legally binding contract once it has been signed by both the buyer and seller. Once both parties have signed this document, they are both legally required to fulfil their obligations contained within the contract. However, what many people don’t realise is that the terms within this contract are negotiable. Therefore, both the buyer and seller should analyse the OTP carefully, with the assistance of an attorney. Once both parties are comfortable with all clauses in the contract, it can be signed.

Suspensive Conditions It is common for an OTP to contain suspensive conditions. This means that the contract stipulates that it will become legally binding only upon certain conditions

being met. These are usually conditions such as the buyer being granted a loan or the buyer first selling currently owned property by a certain date. Should such a condition not be met by the specified time, the contract will lapse and neither party will be bound by it.

Should both parties wish to continue and ensure that the contract remains valid despite the suspensive clauses not having been fulfilled, it is possible to include an addendum to this effect which will need to be signed by both the buyer and seller.

Cooling Off Clauses In addition to the suspensive conditions, it is also common for an OTP to contain a “cooling off” clause.

This aptly named clause allows the buyer to take a breath, cool off from the excitement of buying a property, and

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consider whether it is the right purchase. Typically, these contracts allow for five cooling off working days, during which time the buyer may withdraw the offer with no legal consequences. There may be additional limitations to the cooling off period, and it is important as a buyer to establish these before signing the OTP, as this is the final opportunity for a change of heart.

The Costs of Cancelling With the OTP signed, all suspensive clauses met, and the cooling off period completed, the contract becomes legally enforceable. At this stage, should the buyer wish to withdraw the offer, it will be considered a breach of contract and there will likely be significant financial implications.

If all goes smoothly with an OTP and the transfer moves ahead, it is the seller who is liable for paying the estate agent commission from the proceeds of the sale. However, should the buyer be in breach of the contract, and prevent the sale from moving ahead, the estate agent costs will be borne by the buyer. There may be additional financial claims against the buyer who is in breach of the contract, by conveyancers who have already worked on the transfer, as well as by the seller.

The overriding conclusion, therefore, is that while a buyer need not feel intimidated or overwhelmed by the OTP, it is vital to analyse the situation meticulously before signing and submitting this document. As with any legally binding documentation, going in with eyes wide open will prevent unnecessary difficulties at a later stage. In addition, it is always wise to research the property carefully prior to making an offer and being equipped with the latest suburb trends, statistics and market activity as provided by Property24.com. Obtaining a detailed valuation such as the one available through Property Valuation on Property24.com, and consulting an experienced attorney is guaranteed to leave you feeling more confident.

With this information and guidance, the OTP is just a step towards buying your perfect home.

Growth Spurt Is Your Business Ready for Expansion?

Text: Riaan Klopper, Head of Business Banking at Mercantile Bank Images Š iStockphoto.com

T

he South African economy has taken a few hard knocks in recent months, and the business environment is more competitive than ever. Many entrepreneurs have to change the way they do business to stay afloat. One of the tactics is to consider possible growth strategies. But how do business owners know if it is the right time to expand, and how do they go about it?

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IN a low economic growth environment, business growth can really only be facilitated by gaining market share, expanding your market by entering new geographic areas, or diversifying and managing efficiencies. There are various growth strategies that entrepreneurs can consider, depending on their appetite for risk and the maturity of their business.

What some business owners might not realise is that growth doesn’t only depend on an entrepreneur’s ability to access finance. Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) think business expansion means that they have to apply for a loan.

However, a loan for the wrong purpose and at the wrong time can in fact add financial strain to a business. That’s why it is important to know that this is just one possible avenue to follow.

Ways to Grow a Business The first step is to assess a company critically before deciding on a growth strategy. Business owners have to be clear about what they want to achieve.

Ensure that you have a loyal workforce who will buy into your strategy and support you on your growth journey. This will enable you to continue delivering a superior product and offer consistently good service. Manage your margins and expenses while maintaining a healthy cash flow. Remember, more is not always better, and an increase in turnover does not necessarily mean that a business is on a sustained growth curve. Entrepreneurs should drive innovation and remain agile to ensure that they are able to respond responsibly to market conditions. Stay close to your key stakeholders such as your customers and suppliers, and check in regularly with your bank to ensure that they understand your business and growth aspirations.

Organic Growth

Organic growth is the expansion of a company’s operations from internally generated resources, without necessarily resorting to borrowing or acquiring other businesses. This type of growth tends to be slow, but it is more sustained and poses less risk to the business owner.

Look at what your business currently offers clients – perhaps an existing product might appeal to a new market in a different geographical area in South Africa or elsewhere on the continent. If you have a product that is needed in another African country, now is a good time to look into that. These markets are experiencing better economic growth and there is a great need for products and services.

This is a good time for entrepreneurs to innovate and identify new revenue streams by diversifying their businesses, particularly if this can be done

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without large capital outlay. Difficult economic conditions force business owners to look for new markets and customers.

Rapid Growth

Some businesses might be in a position to consider a more aggressive growth strategy, which could include activities such as mergers and acquisitions. Ideally such actions should be complementary to a company’s existing line of business. For example, if your company manufactures bolts, buy a business that can package such products. This can strengthen a company’s value chain and introduce a competitive advantage.

A low growth environment can also create opportunities for entrepreneurs to buy businesses in distress or negotiate deals to buy plants and equipment at good prices.

The Good and the Bad

The ability to expand operations has obvious benefits such as economics of scale, increased bargaining power with suppliers, and the general perception of bigger is better. These factors combined could potentially help to drive business and increase profits.

But keep in mind that growth also comes with certain risks.

Managing your business could become more complex and may require a more corporate approach. This could result in a larger overhead structure caused by the need for more staff, increased management and larger premises. Growth can also cause the business to become less agile, which means that the business loses its ability to respond to customer needs timeously. If that “personal touch” is a company’s key differentiator, there is a risk that rapid expansion could cause it to lose its competitive advantage.

Keep in mind that growth also means that a company’s cash flow requirements will increase. Large capital outlay without the appropriate funding structures could also place the business under severe financial strain.

Interestingly, smaller businesses often succeed in achieving growth in times of adversity, as they are agile and able to adapt quickly to a changing market, leverage new supplier networks, develop new products or launch a new service. The current electricity crisis is a good example. It could potentially create a whole new sector around the supply and maintenance of alternative energy such as generators or solar energy.

Is the Economy Saying Go, Stop or Proceed With Caution?

The GDP growth rate isn’t strong right now, but that in itself presents opportunities for the entrepreneur. Taking advantage of these opportunities will drive economic growth and will support much needed job creation. If immediate expansion is not possible, it provides the ideal opportunity to prepare your business for when the tide turns.

Chalk It Up to Experience Rock Climbing Text: Stuart Wainwr ight Images Š iStockph oto.com

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he latest trend to hit the health and fitness industry is functional training.

Functional fitness exercises are designed to train your muscles to help you with strength and conditioning for everyday exercises. Gyms are offering new types of classes, Crossfit is growing internationally, Sweat 1000 is gaining popularity and the concept is littering the pages of health publications everywhere. Let me tell you a little secret though. Rock climbers have been getting functional training right for years, and they’ve been having fun while doing so!

ROCK climbing is a full body activity. Because your upper body tires quickly, rock climbing techniques are designed to work your legs and feet as much as possible. If you are interested in having fun, meeting new people, challenging your body and getting fit, then rock climbing should be on your “to try” list.

We all know that getting started in any new sport is daunting. Each activity has a different lingo to learn, unique kit requirements, and different rules to get to grips with. Fortunately, as long as you don’t put anyone at risk (yourself included), rock climbers are a very chilled out and welcoming bunch who will always be happy to help out.

The sport of rock climbing is split into a number of different disciplines, but roughly speaking, if you

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are using your hands and feet to move up a rock, wall or cliff unassisted, then you are probably rock climbing. No ladders, no axes, just you. Ropes, anchors and any other equipment used by rock climbers are just there as a safety precaution, but not to actually help the climb itself.

For simplicity sake, lets concentrate on the two main types of climbing, bouldering (outdoor in nature) and sport or traditional climbing (indoor on a climbing wall). Indoor climbing is the place to start. It allows you to learn various techniques and to refine the skills that you might use on a rock-face. It is safer, easier and more controlled, and it allows you to climb in all weather conditions. If you want to head outdoors, that will come once you have taken the necessary steps to prepare yourself.

Before you go out and blow your salary on the latest and greatest kit, it would be a good idea to get in touch with a climbing club and spend some time chatting to them about climbing in general. Most clubs will offer a rental option on climbing equipment so that you can learn the ropes – literally! Once you have found out what works for you there are five basic items you should consider investing in.

Climbing harnesses can vary depending on the type of climbing that you intend to do, but the basic purpose is to attach all of the relevant safety equipment to yourself, and in turn prevent you from travelling in any direction other than up.

Ropes tend to be the most expensive part of your equipment, which is fair because they are the most crucial.

Climbing shoes are snug fitting, arched, rigid and make all the difference when you need to put all of your body weight onto one toe. It sounds painful, but these little guys make sure that with a bit of practice, you’ll feel more comfortable and stable as you climb. The important point here is that you really need to make sure of the fit.

Chalk bag and chalk are to your hands what shoes are to your feet. The chalk helps to keep your hands dry and prevents you from losing grip on the wall. The bag hangs off the back of your harness so that you can get to your chalk whenever you need it.

Belay devices are used when you are “spotting” for your partner, or when they are doing the same for you. They are at the other end of the rope, making sure that they stop you from falling in the event of a misplaced grip. Basically, the belay prevents the rope from zipping out of their hands.

Once you have got to grips with the climbing wall, South Africa offers some of the most interesting natural climbing opportunities in the world. Waterval Boven is well known and has over 500 climbing routes to choose from.

KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Limpopo, and the Drakensberg, Cederberg and Magaliesberg mountain ranges all have incredible climbing routes to offer. Finally, Cape Town itself is literally built around a mountain that has kept climbers busy for years, so climbers in this country certainly aren’t short of options.

Who Can Give You a Foot Up? • The Mountain Club of South Africa (http://cen. mcsa.org.za/) is affiliated with the world mountaineering body UIAA, and they are the go-to guys for getting up and over anything bigger than a molehill in South Africa.

• Climb ZA (www.climbing.co.za) is a complete climbing guide at your finger tips. All of your questions can be asked and answered, either in their regular articles, or on their forum.

• There are climbing gyms in most cities, but here are a few to consider in our main metros: Cape Town: City Rock Indoor Climbing (www.cityrock.co.za) Pretoria: The Climbing Barn (www.climbingbarn.com) Johannesburg: Wonderwall (www.wonderwall.co.za) Or head to www.indoorclimbing.com for a comprehensive list of other climbing walls available.

Business hub

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Business hub

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Business hub

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gadgets A Whole Lot of Hot Air The Philips Avance Airfryer XL (recently voted the South African Product of the Year in the Small Cooking Appliance category by the Consumer Survey of Innovation 2015) uses rapid air technology, which combines rapid and precisely circulating hot air with an optimal temperature profile and unique “starfish” design, to cook delicious, nutritious meals. It can fry, grill, bake, roast and cook a wide variety of foods, and comes with a smart pre-set mode that remembers your most-used settings, as well as an automatic shut-off function and digital touch panel controls.

The set includes a recipe book with more than 30 dishes for you to try and, as the Airfryer is 30 % faster than other cooking methods, you can sit back, relax and simply wait for it to do your cooking for you. // www.philips.com

Travel Like a Local InterContinental Hotels Group recently announced that its IHG Translator App will be available for Apple Watch, giving travellers access to ondemand translations, virtually anywhere in the world. The App adopts the most popular features from its mobile predecessor, allowing users to “travel like a local”, whatever their choice of device. By speaking directly into the watch, or selecting from a range of common pre-loaded phrases, travellers will be able to translate from English into 13 different languages, in real-time. Translations will appear instantly on the screen of the device in the chosen language, giving users the chance to read the word or phrase, with the help of phonetic spelling. Formal, casual and slang settings will also be available.

The IHG Translator App is available to all users of the Apple Watch free of charge. The IHG Translator App for mobile remains available for download in both the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android.

Futuristically Clean Míele’s new Scout RX1 robovac takes cleaning into the future. It incorporates a systematic navigation system so that it covers the area to be cleaned in parallel tracks instead of randomly crisscrossing the room. This achieves more reliable coverage and saves time and battery power. Furthermore, complex floor plans involving several rooms can be vacuumed in their entirety, including return trips to the base upon completion of the task and for recharging.

Míele’s Scout RX1 has a high-quality digital camera on board as well, which serves to scan the ceiling of the room several times a minute to ensure additional precision. The robovac has seven infrared sensors on the front of the unit. These scan a 180° area ahead of the machine in order to avoid collisions with furniture and other obstacles. Overall, a battery charge is able to clean an area of up to 150 m², corresponding to a duration of approximately 120 minutes. Míele’s Scout RX1 robovac retails for R9,999.

// www.miele.co.za

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yaMaha ya y aMaha balanceD balance D auDio auD au Dio

books Mrs Moneypenny’s Financial Advice for Independent Women

By Mrs Moneypenny and Heather McGregor

Must Read

Why do personal finances present such a hurdle for women? And what can we do about it? In this punchy guide, the hilarious and wise Mrs Moneypenny shows you how to take control of your money and your life. From cutting your grocery bills to buying a house, she offers practical, easy ways to rethink your approach and solve your problems.

Whether you’re starting out at work or running a family, this book will inspire you, inform you, and above all, empower you.

Essential Managers: Leadership DK’s Essential Managers series contains the know-how you need to be a more effective manager and to hone your management style. Find out how to improve your leadership skills by establishing a vision, inspiring others, and championing high performance.You’ll learn to focus your energy, build relationships, and develop strategies. In a slim, portable format, Essential Managers gives you a practical “how-to” approach with step-by-step instructions, tips, checklists and “ask yourself” features showing you how to focus your energy, manage change and make an impact.

Last Road Trip

By Gareth Crocker Following the death of a man they barely knew, four elderly friends decide to make the most of their remaining time on earth. Abandoning the humdrum routine of life at their retirement estate, they embark on a 1,500 km road trip that will take them from the furthest corners of the Kruger National Park to the blazing stars of Sutherland. Along the way, they rediscover things about themselves that they thought had long since been lost.The journey becomes the biggest adventure of their lives, and they discover that it’s never too late to start living.

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SA Express is Continually

Investing in Tomorrow Text & Images © SA Express

On 20th February, SA Express joined hands with several government departments to donate over 100 desks and stationery to the Grade 1 to 4 learners of Mehlareng Combined Farm School.

AS PART of the airline’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) project, SA Express adopted Mehlareng Combined Farm School in the East Rand in Gauteng. The school lacks basic resources such as a library and a playground, as well as proper desks and chairs. As part of the adoption, the airline pledged to assist the school by providing some of its basic necessities for the year.

SA Express CEO Inati Ntshanga and Deputy Minister of Arts & Culture, the Honourable Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, were among the honoured guests who attended the handover ceremony. The tent where the event took place was filled with enthusiastic young learners and their parents.

The donated desks are made from invasive alien trees collected from around the country through the Department of Environmental Affairs’s Eco-Furniture Programme. Other contributions to the school included uniforms, educational toys, and furniture (including the 106 single-seater desks and the 50 double-seater desks).

Speaking at the handover function, Mr Ntshanga explained why SA Express adopted Mehlareng: “We chose Mehlareng because the need here is greatest. The needs of the school are so basic, yet so important. We felt we could make a positive difference here. And, bit by bit, working with our partners, the departments of Arts and Culture, Social Development, Education and Environmental

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Affairs, we are making that positive difference.”

Engaging the learners about national pride, heritage and the importance of the “Flag in Every School” campaign, Ms Mabudafhasi said: “In promoting a national identity, a spirit of patriotism, nation building and social cohesion, the Department of Arts and Culture has committed to installing flags in every school.

The programme involves hoisting the national flag in each school, as well as the singing of the national anthem, the recital of the Preamble of the Constitution, as well as the distribution of hand held flags and publications on national symbols and the anthem.”

In a message for the school and Mehlareng community, Mr Ntshanga said: “SA Express cares. We aren’t indifferent to the daily struggles that face the communities in which we operate.

We also want to say to this school and community that we are not fly-by-night partners. We are not fair-weather friends. We are here to stay. This is a journey for us. We will walk with you until you succeed. We are your trusted and reliable partners”.

The handing over of the school desks and stationery took place shortly after the hoisting of the South African flag by the learners of the school along with Mr Ntshanga and Ms Mabudafhasi, while the school choir sang the national anthem.

The day ended with the children receiving meal boxes and their parents receiving a catered lunch.

Meet the Crew Text & Images © Supplied

Have you ever wondered who is flying the plane when you travel on SA Express? Or wanted to know more about what a job as a cabin crew member is like? Well, now’s your chance! Every month we will introduce a few members of our SA Express family, because by getting to know them, you become part of the SA Express family too.

Rubina Rasool Hothey Senior Cabin Crew Member Length of Service at SAX: Nine years Please tell us briefly what your job involves: First and foremost it involves being the safety officer on-board and also making sure that passenger service and comfort is of the utmost importance.

What is your favourite part of your job? Working with and meeting new people on a daily basis. I also get the opportunity to travel. I’m grateful to SA Express for this opportunity, as travelling really opens your eyes to the world.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

Dealing with the diversity of cultures that makes up South

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Africa, and making sure that I provide the best service to accommodate all of our passengers. Other challenges include delays, working odd hours, and working on public holidays.

What do you like about working for SA Express? I love the people I work with and the friendships I’ve built. It feels like I belong to a family, and it’s home for me.

What would people find surprising about your job? This job is not always about having a pretty face and being sweet. You always have to consider safety first. A lot of hard work goes into it. Before you qualify, you go through quite an intensive training programme.

What would you miss the most if you ever stopped working for SA Express? The good relationships I’ve built with the managers and the crew.

Airline information SA Express fleet Canadair Regional Jet 200 BER Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 474 knots/545mph/879kmph Engines: Two General Electric CF34-3B1 Range: 1,662miles/3,080km Maximum altitude: 41,000ft/12,496m Seating capacity: 50

Crew: Two pilots, two cabin crew Wing span: 69ft 7in/21.21m Overall length: 87ft 10in/26.77m Overall height: 20ft 5in/6.22m Maximum take-off weight: 51,000lb/23,134kg Minimum runway length: 6,295ft/1,919m

De Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 Turboprop Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 360knots/414mph/667kmph Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A Range: 1,565 miles/2,519km Maximum altitude: 25,000ft/7,620m Seating capacity: 74 Crew: Two pilots, two

cabin crew Wing span: 93ft 3in/28.42m Overall length: 107ft 9in/32.83m Overall height: 27ft 5in/8.34m Maximum take-off weight: 64,500lb/29,257kg Minimum runway length: 4,580ft/1,396m

Canadair Regional Jet 700 Manufacturer: Bombardier Maximum cruising speed: 473 knots/544mph/875kmph Engines: Two General Electric CF34-8C5B Range: 1,477m/2,794km Maximum altitude: 41,000ft/12,496m Seating capacity: 70 Crew: Crew: Two pilots, two

cabin crew Wing span: 76ft 3in/23.2m Overall length: 106ft 8in/32.51m Overall height: 24ft 10in/7.57m Maximum take-off weight: 72,750lb/32,999kg Minimum runway length: 4,580ft/1,396m

SA Express’ aircraft are made by Bombardier Aerospace

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We fly for you About us SA Express is a fast-growing airline business operating primary and secondary hubs between domestic and regional destinations within Southern Africa.

Our objective of improving intra-Africa travel is in line with South Africa’s mandate to increase aviation’s contribution towards sustainable economic growth and job creation.

The flexibility and reliability presented by the airline’s FACT principle (Frequency, Availability, Competitive rate and Timing of flights) affords both consumers and service providers a unique and convenient service. The FACT principle is important to us as it enhances the country’s prospect as a preferred air travel destination and major trade and tourism capital.

Our vision is supported by the airline’s aspirations and strategy. Also underpinning this vision is our set of core values and unique selling propositions that drive profitability.

Vision To be a sustainable world-class regional airline with an extensive footprint in Africa.

Purpose A sustainable, integrated regional airline connecting secondary and main airports.

CORE VALuES Safety first We never compromise on safety, no matter what.

Customers Our customers are our most important investors.

Partners We partner with people across all operations.

Speed & Quality We deliver with speed without compromising on quality.

Improvement We strive for continuous improvement.

Simplify We keep it simple.

132 Indwe

SPECIAL SERVICES Special Meals Passengers with special dietary requirements are provided for through the following special meals: kosher, halal, Muslim, Hindu, low-fat and vegetarian meals. Orders for special meals should be placed at the time of making flight reservations. The airline requires a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to departure in order to assist with confirmation of requests.

Passengers requiring special attention Requirements for unaccompanied minors (passengers under the age of 12 years) or passengers requiring wheelchairs should be stated at the time of making the reservation.

Owing to the size of the cabins on our aircraft types, the airline is not in a position to carry stretcher passengers or incubators.

Cabin baggage SA Express will accept one piece of cabin baggage not exceeding a total dimension of 115cm and 7kg in weight.

For safety reasons, cabin baggage must fit into approved stowage spaces: either the overhead luggage bin or under the seat.

Owing to limited storage space in the aircraft cabin, cabin baggage may be placed in the Skycheck at the aircraft for hold stowage.

We Fly For You SA Express Airways prides itself on aiming to offer incomparable service standards. In addition to building on our motto to express excellence and consistently striving to provide the best service, we know that “you” is the most important word in our airline. SA Express proudly launched its new brand on 2 December 2009 at OR Tambo International Airport. The new brand is set to ensure that it’s distinctive and positioned to build awareness and affinity in the domestic and regional markets.

The new proposition “We Fly for You” is set to position SA Express as a premier intraregional African brand. The main objective of the re-brand is to ensure that SA Express is distinctive yet still aligned to the country’s mainline carrier.

SA Express’s unique positioning as an airline that provides a bespoke, personalised travel experience was the rationale behind the proposition “We Fly for You”. The new brand mark is in line with the symbol and colours of the national flag, encouraging national pride. The new brand will be applied to all brand touch-points throughout the operation as well as the staff uniform.

Skycheck This is the airline’s special hand-luggage facility that assists with in-flight comfort, speedy boarding and disembarking. When boarding one of our flights, simply place any hand luggage that will not be required during the flight on to the Skycheck cart at the boarding steps of the aircraft. Your hand luggage will be waiting for you as you disembark from the aircraft at your destination.

Baggage liability Valuable items such as cameras and accessories, computers – including laptops and notebooks – mobile telephones, perfumes, aftershaves, colognes, legal and company documents and legal tender – including cash, credit cards and cheques – bullion, leather jackets, all types of jewellery and any other items with a value in excess of R400 must be removed from either checked-in or Skycheck baggage as the airline is not liable for loss or damage to these items.

Verified baggage claims are settled on the basis adopted by IATA (International Airlines Transport Association): payment of US$20 per 1kg of checked-in luggage, to a maximum of 20kg ($400).

Awards SA Express has won the AFRAA Regional Airline of the Year Award at the end of 2009, and the Allied and Aviation Business Corporate Award. Our airline was also the recipient of the Annual Airline Reliability Award from Bombardier at the end of 2007. Other previous awards include the International Star Quality Award, which indicates our commitment to service excellence, while our prominence as one of the top 500 best managed companies is proof of our success as a business.

Onboard service The airline’s onboard service is unique and offers passengers a variety of meals or snacks. The airline pioneered its unique meal-box concept, and meal choices are frequently updated and designed using balanced food criteria: appearance, taste and nutritional value.

Passengers can also enjoy a wine and malt service on specified flights as well as refreshments on all flights.

Our customers can expect a safe, comfortable, quality air-travel experience, with the added benefits of frequency, reliability, on-time departures and unmatched value for money.

Safety Information Health regulations Health regulations at certain airports require that the aircraft cabin be sprayed. The spray is harmless, but if you think it might affect you, please cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief.

Remain seated As a safety precaution, passengers are requested to remain seated with seatbelts fastened after the aircraft has landed, until the seatbelt sign has been switched off by the captain.

Portable electronic equipment The use of personal electronic devices (PED’s) will apply to all domestic and regional flights on the CRJ700/200 and DH8 Q400.

Passengers will be permitted to use PED’s such as cell phones, e-readers and electronic tablets in flight-mode.

Cellular telephones Cellular telephones may be used on the ground while passenger doors are open. Cellular telephones, smartphones or any device with flight mode must be switched off as soon as the cabin doors are closed and when the senior cabincrew member makes an announcement on the public-address system.

Laptop computers Laptops with CD ROM and DVD drive, handheld calculators, electric shavers and portable personal listening devices may not be used on the ground during taxi but may be used during the flight when the seatbelt signs are switched off and with permission from the captain.

Should circumstances dictate otherwise, a public-address announcement cancelling this concession will be made by a crew member.

Prohibited equipment Portable printers, laser pointers, video equipment, CB/ AM/FM/FHF/satellite receivers, two-way radios, compact disc and mini-disc players, scanners, remote-controlled toys and power converters are prohibited for use at any time.

Safety pamphlet Read the safety pamphlet in the seat pocket in front of you and take note of your nearest emergency exit.

Smoking In accordance with international trends, smoking is not permitted on board any SA Express flights.

Seat belts Please fasten your seat belt whenever the seat belt signs are illuminated.

For your own safety we suggest that you keep it fastened throughout the flight.

Important When in doubt, please consult our cabin crew.

For your comfort and security, please comply with the above safety regulations at all times while on board

Route map SA Express: Johannesburg Bloemfontein Cape Town Durban East London Gaborone George Hoedspruit

Kimberley Lubumbashi Lusaka Harare Port Elizabeth Richards Bay Walvis Bay Windhoek

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Flight schedule Johannesburg - bloemfontein flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1001 1003 1005 1011 1013 1017 1021 1023

Dep 06:15 08:00 11:20 13:50 14:55 16:50 17:55 18:30

arr 07:15 09:05 12:25 14:55 16:00 17:50 18:55 19:35

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 CR7 CR7 DH4 DH4

m

t

W

Johannesburg - east lonDon flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1403 1403 1403 1405 1407 1413 1409 1411

Dep 07:15 08:30 08:30 09:10 13:15 15:40 17:30 18:40

arr 08:45 10:00 10:15 10:40 14:45 17:10 19:00 20:10

a/C CR8 CR7 DH4 CR2 CR2 CR8 CR2 CR7

m

Johannesburg - george flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1501 1503 1503 1505 1509

Dep 07:20 08:55 08:55 11:25 15:50

arr 09:15 10:45 10:50 13:15 17:40

a/C CR7 CR7 CR2 CR7 CR7

m

Dep 10:15 12:15

arr 11:20 13:20

a/C DH4 DH4

m

Johannesburg - Durban flt no SA 1285

Dep 12:20

arr 13:30

a/C CR2

m

no 1101 1103 1105 1107 1107 1113

Dep 06:50 09:20 13:10 14:25 14:40 17:15

arr 07:55 10:35 14:25 15:40 15:55 18:30

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4

m

s

s

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f

s

s

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Johannesburg - Kimberley flt SA SA SA SA SA SA

f

t

Johannesburg - hoeDspruit flt no SA 1225 SA 1227

t

t

Johannesburg - port elizabeth flt SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1453 1455 1457 1457 1459 1459

Dep 07:10 10:00 17:50 17:50 19:35 19:55

arr 08:45 11:35 19:25 19:45 21:15 21:30

a/C CR8 CR8 DH4 CR7 CR8 CR7

m

t

W

t

bloemfontein - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1024 1002 1004 1006 1012 1014 1018 1022

Dep 06:20 07:45 09:35 12:55 15:25 16:30 18:20 19:30

a/C DH4 DH4 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR7 CR7 DH4

m

t

W

east lonDon - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1412 1404 1404 1404 1406 1408 1414 1410

Dep 06:45 09:15 10:50 10:30 11:10 15:30 17:00 19:40

arr 08:25 10:45 12:30 12:10 12:40 17:00 18:30 21:10

a/C CR7 CR8 DH4 CR7 CR2 CR2 CR7 CR7

m

george - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1502 1504 1504 1506 1506 1510

Dep 09:45 11:25 11:25 14:05 14:10 18:10

arr 11:35 13:05 13:15 15:45 15:50 19:50

a/C CR7 CR7 CR2 CR8 CR7 CR8

m

flt SA SA

no 1226 1228

Dep 12:00 13:55

arr 13:00 14:55

a/C DH4 DH4

m

Durban - Johannesburg flt SA

no 1286

Dep 17:15

arr 18:25

a/C CR2

m

no 1102 1104 1106 1106 1108 1114

Dep 08:25 11:10 14:55 15:00 16:25 19:00

arr 09:30 12:25 16:10 16:10 17:40 20:15

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4

m

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

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s

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t

f

s

s

t

W

t

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s

s

W

t

f

s

s

f

s

s

Kimberley - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA SA

t

t

hoeDspruit - Johannesburg

t

port elizabeth - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1460 1454 1456 1458 1458

Dep 06:10 09:20 12:45 20:00 20:45

*Please note that SA Express may deviate from the published schedule over the holiday period and will operate reduced schedules in December and January

SA EXPRESS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

134 Indwe

arr 07:25 08:40 10:40 14:00 16:30 17:35 19:20 20:30

arr 07:45 10:55 14:20 21:35 22:40

a/C CR7 CR8 DH4 CR7 DH4

m

t

W

t

Flight schedule

Johannesburg - riCharDs bay flt SA SA SA SA

no 1201 1203 1207 1213

Dep 06:00 08:30 13:15 16:55

arr 07:15 09:45 14:30 18:10

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

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W

t

f

s

s

t

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t

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s

s

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t

f

s

s

Johannesburg - Walvis bay flt SA SA SA

no 1703 1701 1705

Dep 09:00 11:55 13:00

arr 11:25 14:10 15:25

a/C CR2 CR7 CR7

m

t

Johannesburg - WinDhoeK flt no SA 1733 SA 1731

Dep 06:00 06:00

arr 08:10 08:10

a/C CR2 CR2

m

t

Johannesburg - gaborone flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1761 1763 1765 1765 1767 1767 1767 1775 1775 1783 1781 1779

Dep 07:10 07:55 09:55 09:55 11:40 11:55 11:55 13:30 14:30 15:50 18:10 18:10

arr 08:05 08:50 10:45 10:50 12:35 12:45 12:45 14:25 15:25 16:40 19:05 19:05

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR2 CR8 DH4

m

t

Johannesburg - lubumbashi flt no SA 1797

Dep 09:20

arr 11:45

a/C CR7

m

t

Cape toWn - bloemfontein flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1081 1083 1087 1091 1091

Dep 06:00 08:00 13:15 16:15 17:15

arr 07:30 09:30 15:00 18:00 18:45

a/C CR2 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR2

m

Cape toWn - east lonDon flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1361 1363 1363 1363 1371 1371 1373 1375

Dep 06:00 07:00 08:00 08:00 13:05 13:30 16:30 17:20

arr 07:25 08:25 09:25 09:55 14:30 14:55 17:55 18:45

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 DH4 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

m

riCharDs bay - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1202 1204 1208 1214 1214

Dep 08:05 10:30 15:05 18:40 18:40

arr 09:20 11:45 16:20 20:00 20:10

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

W

t

f

s

s

t

W

t

f

s

s

t

W

t

f

s

s

Walvis bay - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA

no 1704 1702 1706

Dep 12:00 14:45 16:00

arr 14:15 16:55 18:15

a/C CR2 CR7 CR2

m

t

WinDhoeK - Johannesburg flt SA SA

no 1734 1732

Dep 09:30 09:30

arr 11:30 11:30

a/C CR2 CR2

m

t

gaborone - Johannesburg flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1762 1764 1766 1766 1768 1768 1768 1776 1776 1784 1782 1780

Dep 08:30 09:25 11:25 11:25 13:10 13:10 13:10 14:50 16:05 17:20 19:45 19:45

arr 09:25 10:20 12:15 12:20 14:00 14:05 14:05 15:45 17:00 18:10 20:40 20:40

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 CR2 DH4 DH4 DH4 CR8 DH4

m

t

lubumbashi - Johannesburg flt SA

no 1798

Dep 12:30

arr 15:00

a/C CR7

m

t

bloemfontein - Cape toWn flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1082 1084 1088 1092 1092

Dep 08:15 10:30 15:40 18:30 19:25

arr 10:00 12:15 17:40 20:30 21:10

a/C CR2 CR2 DH4 CR2 CR2

m

east lonDon - Cape toWn flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1362 1364 1364 1364 1372 1372 1374 1376 1376

Dep 08:00 09:00 10:25 10:45 15:00 16:20 18:30 19:20 19:50

arr 19:35 10:40 12:25 12:25 16:40 18:00 20:10 21:00 21:30

a/C CR2 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

m

*Please note that SA Express may deviate from the published schedule over the holiday period and will operate reduced schedules in December and January

SA EXPRESS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

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Flight schedule Cape toWn - hoeDspruit flt no SA 1241

Dep 10:10

arr 12:50

a/C CR2

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

t

W

t

f

s

s

t

W

t

f

s

s

Cape toWn - port elizabeth flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1801 1805 1807 1809 1813 1813 1813 1819 1821 1821 1823

Dep 06:00 09:00 10:10 12:20 13:00 13:00 13:45 15:00 16:00 16:30 18:30

arr 07:30 10:30 11:40 13:30 14:10 14:30 14:55 16:30 17:30 17:40 20:00

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 CR2 CR2 DH4 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR2 DH4

m

Cape toWn - Walvis bay flt no SA 1721 SA 1721

Dep 08:00 11:15

arr 10:10 13:25

a/C CR2 CR2

Durban - east lonDon flt SA SA SA SA

no 1301 1303 1305 1309

Dep 06:00 08:30 12:00 16:50

arr 07:05 09:35 13:05 17:55

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

m

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

m

t

W

t

f

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a/C CR2

m

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W

t

f

s

s

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2

m

t

W

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f

s

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Durban - port elizabeth flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1330 1334 1336 1340 1348

Dep 06:00 09:15 11:55 13:35 17:40

arr 07:20 10:35 13:15 14:55 19:00

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

Durban - Cape toWn flt SA SA SA SA SA

no 1850 1852 1854 1858 1854

Dep 06:10 08:00 12:00 15:35 15:00

arr 08:25 10:15 14:15 17:50 17:15

Durban - lusaKa flt no SA 1601

Dep 10:10

arr 13:00

Durban - harare flt SA SA SA

no 1611 1613 1611

Dep 10:20 13:55 14:00

arr 12:45 16:20 16:25

hoeDspruit - Cape toWn flt SA SA

no 1242 1242

Dep 12:45 13:20

a/C CR2 CR2

m

t

port elizabeth - Cape toWn flt SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA SA

no 1826 1802 1806 1808 1810 1814 1814 1814 1820 1822 1822 1824

Dep 07:00 08:00 11:00 12:10 14:00 15:00 15:00 15:25 17:00 18:00 18:10 20:30

arr 08:40 09:40 12:40 13:50 15:20 16:20 16:40 16:45 18:40 19:40 19:30 22:10

a/C DH4 DH4 DH4 DH4 CR2 CR2 CR4 CR2 DH4 DH4 CR2 DH4

flt SA SA

no 1722 1722

Dep 10:30 14:00

arr 12:30 16:00

no 1302 1304 1306 1310

Dep 07:35 10:05 13:35 18:25

arr 08:35 11:05 14:35 19:25

no 1331 1335 1337 1341 1349

Dep 07:50 11:05 13:40 15:35 19:55

arr 09:05 12:20 14:55 16:50 21:10

no 1851 1853 1855 1859 1855

Dep 09:05 10:45 15:00 18:15 17:45

arr 11:05 12:45 17:00 20:15 19:45

lusaKa - Durban flt SA

no 1602

Dep 13:40

arr 16:30

harare - Durban flt SA SA SA

no 1612 1614 1612

Dep 13:25 17:00 17:00

SA EXPRESS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

arr 15:50 19:25 19:25

s

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a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

a/C CR2

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2

m

t

W

t

f

s

s

a/C CR2 CR2

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

a/C CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2 CR2

Cape toWn - Durban flt SA SA SA SA SA

f

W

port elizabeth - Durban flt SA SA SA SA SA

t

t

east lonDon - Durban flt SA SA SA SA

W

m

Walvis bay - Cape toWn

*Please note that SA Express may deviate from the published schedule over the holiday period and will operate reduced schedules in December and January

136 Indwe

arr 15:20 16:00

Passenger Letters Good day I only realised that I had left my house keys behind with my family after I had boarded my flight. I told the steward this, who then spoke to the captain. I was told that the plane had to fly at 17h00, as we were already behind schedule at this point. I was advised that my family had ten minutes to get my keys to me, or else I would be sleeping on someone’s couch when I got to Cape Town.

At 17h00, as the steward walked down the aisle to get seated for departure, I thought I had missed my chance, but they still gave me the opportunity to phone to find out where my family was. Fortunately, at that moment, my keys arrived at the front desk and were hurriedly sent on to me.

An enormous thank you goes to the friendly staff who really couldn’t have been more accommodating.

Regards, Katie Congratulations to Katie, who wrote our winning letter this month. She has won an American Tourister San Francisco 66 cm spinner, valued at R1,199.

Hi I would just like to drop a short mail to commend the flight crew on board SAA 1225 from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit recently. Although I am a frequent flyer, this was my first trip to Hoedspruit, and it was certainly a memorable one.

From boarding to departure, we were welcomed by warm, smiley faces and courtesy. I felt as though I was travelling in Business Class! The pilot kept us informed on a regular basis, and I also enjoyed the snacks and beverages made available. Before I knew it we were ready to land.

I did not get a chance to read some of the interesting articles in Indwe, so I slipped the free copy into my handbag for future reading pleasure.

What an awesome experience! Thank you, SA Express.

Regards Thiroshnee Govender

Do You Have Something to Say? Let us know what is on your mind by sending an email to customercare@flyexpress.aero.

Letters may be edited, shortened or translated from their original language.

The writer of the winning letter in the June edition of Indwe will receive an American Tourister Bon Air Spinner 55 cm valued at R1,399.

American Tourister Bon Air, a zipped polyprop collection, prevents brittle breakage. This ultra-tough material is injection moulded to produce a modern, contemporary look with contrasting horizontal lines on a combination of matt and shiny surfaces. The American Tourister Bon Air has a colour matching interior with cross ribbons, an apron zipped pocket in the bottom and a divider pad with a mesh pocket and cross ribbons up top. Soft-touch carry handles and safety conscious TSA locks complete the package.

Available in Pacific blue, lime green, orange, pink, red, navy, black and white, the American Tourister Bon Air Spinner 55 cm is available from luggage outlets. To find a stockist near you, contact +27 31 266 0620.

Indwe 137

Africa’s Talent Revealed

The Blyde River Canyon in the Northern Drakensburg by Tim Brown

A Lilac Breasted Roller (Coracias caudate) in the Kruger National Park by Sue Tester

Sunset at Gordon’s Bay Harbour by Chantal Roberts

If you think you have what it takes, send your photos (1MB each), details of where they were taken and your contact details to nicky@tcbmedia.co.za, with the words “Indwe Photo” in the subject line.

We can’t wait to show them off!

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