Beautiful South Africa

How South Africa Risked Becoming a Criminal Enterprise Under Zuma

2018-09-04T00:48:00.002-07:00

Bloomberg reports as follows:

For the past eight years, South Africa was heading down the road to being run as a criminal enterprise.

That’s the picture emerging from a judicial commission of inquiry into the alleged theft of public funds during former President Jacob Zuma’s tenure -- a practice locally known as state capture. The first witnesses have implicated members of the Gupta family, who are Zuma’s friends and were in business with one of his sons, in plundering billions of rands from South Africa’s coffers with the tacit assent of the president and law-enforcement agencies.

While much of the information was already public, the testimony has highlighted how widespread the looting was and how deeply compromised state institutions became. Former Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan,who now looks after state companies, previously estimated that more than 100 billion rand ($6.7 billion) may have been stolen.

"What has emerged so far gives an indication of the brazenness with which Jacob Zuma betrayed his constitutional duties for petty personal interests,” said Mpumelelo Mkhabela, a political analyst at the Pretoria-based University of South Africa’s Department of Political Sciences. “We also got the indication that more is still to come. It provides confirmation of what many people expected.”
The ruling African National Congress forced Zuma, 76, to step down as president in February and replaced him with new party leader Cyril Ramaphosa, 65. Zuma and the three Gupta brothers, who have left the country, have denied wrongdoing. Their lawyers have yet to cross-examine witnesses, and it’s unclear whether they will testify.

Here’s some of what the inquiry, led by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has revealed so far:

Government tender procedures were deliberately and regularly flouted, resulting in much of the state’s 800 billion-rand annual procurement budget being squandered, according to Willie Mathebula, the Treasury’s acting chief procurement officer.
Former Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said the Guptas offered him the top ministry post and a 600 million-rand bribe on condition that he fire four senior Treasury officials who were obstructing the family’s business interests. They threatened to kill him if he spoke of the offer, he said.
Ajay Gupta, the eldest of the three brothers, boasted that the family had made 6 billion rand from its dealings with the state, controlled the National Prosecuting Authority, intelligence services and the police’s Hawks investigative unit, and that Zuma would do anything they told him to, Jonas said. The Hawks police unit told Jonas they intended to block a probe into the alleged bribe attempt and presented him with a pre-written statement about the incident, which he refused to sign.
Former lawmaker Vytjie Mentor recounted how Ajay Gupta suggested she could become public enterprises minister on condition she agree to scrap South African Airways flights to India, which would enable the family to decide on an airline to run the route. She refused the offer.
Themba Maseko, the former head of the government communication service, testified that Zuma asked him to help the Guptas, and they told him to direct the government’s 600-million rand advertising budget to the family’s newspaper and television channel. Maseko said he was fired on Zuma’s orders after he refused to comply.
Phumla Williams, the acting head of the government communication service, revealed how procurement and appointment processes were flaunted on instruction from Zuma’s communications minister, Faith Muthambi, and other officials, and that the Guptas unfairly benefited as a result.

The commission expects to take two years to complete its work. Future testimony will focus on looting from power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. and other state companies, as well as how law-enforcement agencies were compromised. Public hearings are due to resume on Sept. 6, when a senior treasury official is scheduled to testify.

While the commission doesn’t have the power to prosecute anyone, it can recommend that law-enforcement agencies take action against those implicated in wrongdoing. Bart Henderson, the chief executive officer of the Africa Institute of Corporate Fraud Management, isn’t optimistic all those responsible for the plunder will face justice.

“The National Prosecuting Authority, in particular in the pursuit of illicit funds, has not exactly covered itself in glory,” Henderson said. “When it comes to getting stolen money back, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

Bloomberg

The Truth About Nelson Mandela

2018-08-22T07:04:00.001-07:00

I stumbled up this YouTube video by Stefan Molyneux. Watch the video at the end of his summary of his video.

Video Summary:

Nelson Mandela is portrayed in the mainstream media as a peace-loving anti-apartheid revolutionary and philanthropist. But what is the truth about Nelson Mandela?

Correction: For decades, Mandela supported nationalization, but abandoned his plans after being informed of the negative effects they would likely engender.

60% of South Africans felt the country was better run under apartheid, with both blacks and whites rating the current government less trustworthy, more corrupt, less able to enforce the law and less able to deliver government services than its white predecessor.

Transparency International released its 2013 Global Corruption Barometer report. It found South Africa to be among the most corrupt countries in the world. According to its findings, an astounding 83% of South Africans believe that the police force is corrupt. And 36% of respondents admitted to paying at least one bribe to the police.

A 2010 Medical Research Foundation survey found that more than 37% of men admitted to raping at least one woman. 7% said they had participated in a gang rape.

In response to growing violence, South Africa's minister of safety and security, Steve Tshwete, says: "We can't police this; there's nothing more we can do. South Africa's currency, the rand, has fallen about 70% since the African National Congress (ANC) came to power in 1994. Emigration from South Africa (mainly of skilled people) is now at its highest level ever."

The tragic fact of business is that ordinary Africans were better off under colonialism. Colonial masters never committed anything near the murder and genocide seen under black rule in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Nigeria, Mozambique, and other countries, where millions of blacks have been slaughtered in unspeakable ways, which include: hacking to death, boiling in oil, setting on fire and dismemberment.

The National Bureau of Economic Research found that the average income of all races in South Africa dropped 40% between 1995 and 2000. The UN 2006 Human Development Report found that over the last 3 decades Africa has had a "virtual reversal" of human development; South Africa dropped 38 places on the Human Development Index since 1994. (UN Development Programme, 2007). The country of the world's first heart transplant (Christian Barnard, Dec., 1967), the Union of South Africa, is now the rape and murder capital of the world. [15]

At the start of the year 1900, the number of African South Africans was found to be 3,5-million according to the British colonial government census. By 1954, our African population had soared to 8,5-million — and by 1990, there were a full 35-million of us.

In the decades prior to the official policy of apartheid, (which was started in 1948), the average life expectancy of African South Africans was only 38 years.

Double Standards of MIWay Insurance CEO

2018-08-21T05:16:00.000-07:00

This what Rene Otto CEO of MiWay Insurance tweeted about Afrikaners:

“The Lost Boys of Bird Island” is a must-read for white Saffas -especially Afrikaners who believe they are God’s chosen people - who are stillin denial about the destruction of the Apartheid-era. It left me gutted. Whatdo we learn from this and can we ever make amends?”

Accusing Afrikaners of believing they are God's chosen people - the bloody audacity of Otto! In effect he also said that Afrikaners are in denial about the Apartheid era. If so Otto, then the no- vote would have won - about this fact he is quiet, very quiet.

At first I believed Otto that he made a mistake and apologized for his tweet. But then it was picked up that the same Otto was prepared to forgive a black man for a racial tweet way back in July 2017 and he went further on to mention that we all should follow the example of terrorist Mandela for his forgiveness, which incidentally is hogwash. Read Here

That is why I say that Otto has double standards - one standard of forgiveness for non-whites and another standard of unforgiveness for Afrikaners.

Shame on you Otto!!!!

PS: I he was sincere in his forgiveness, why did he block Afrikaners on Twitter and Facebook who criticized him for his anti-Afrikaner tweet???

This Time The CEO of of MIWay Insurance Really put His Foot in His Mouth

White Dog Eating White Dog in South Africa

My Sweet Wonderful Language - AFRIKAANS!!!!

2018-08-19T01:58:00.000-07:00

I am a South African and my language is Afrikaans of which I am very proud of!!!! English is only my second language. Here is the story of my beautiful language:

The story of Afrikaans is a rich and diverse one with a complex history and a sense of cultural distinctness. Afrikaans, also known as Cape Dutch, is a West-Germanic language. In South Africa alone, Afrikaans is spoken by about 7 million as a first language and by approximately 10 million people as a second language. It is also spoken in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia as well as other continents as a home or second language.

Afrikaans is a creole language that evolved during the 19th century. The majority of its roots can be found in Dutch. While the rest is a mixture of seafarer variants of Malay, Portuguese and Indonesian and the indigenous Khoi-Khoin and San languages.

In 1860 the Muslim community established a school (madrasah) in the Bo-Kaap. Fragments of an exercise book (called a ‘koplesboek’ then) that survived the times, contain text written in Cape Malay dialect. Cape Malay dialect was the colloquial language of the time. The writing style is phonetic spelling and written in Arabic script. Afrikaans readers will recognise this as a form of modern Afrikaans. Arabic-Afrikaans was also used in daily communication. During this time several Islamic religious texts were translated into Arabic-Afrikaans. The first Afrikaans translation of the Quran came from this school and was done by Achmat van Bengal.

For Cape Dutch speakers, their language was one of learning, writing and upper-middle-class culture. Though this sentiment was not shared by everyone. Chief Justice Lord JH de Villiers described Cape Dutch as “poor in the number of its words, weak in its inflexions, wanting in the accuracy of meaning.” (Source: The Afrikaners: Biography of a People by Prof Hermann Giliomee).

In 1858 a private school, De Gimnasium, with Dutch as the language of instruction, was established in Paarl. This school was for the Afrikaans-speaking children. In 1866, a teacher called Arnoldus Pannevis realised that the language spoken by the people were far removed from Dutch. Pannevis was the first person to call it by its name: Afrikaans. He wanted to establish Afrikaans as a written language too. The deeply religious Pannevis was eager to translate the Bible into Afrikaans. The Bible Society instructed SJ du Toit to look into this.

Around 1870 the first steps towards the battle between various views on the nature of Cape Dutch were taken. This lead to the establishment of The Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners (GRA) in 1875. The objective was to promote Afrikaans as a language and to support the Afrikaans culture as a whole. The GRA declared their own version of Cape Dutch as “Burger Afrikaans”. They wanted to write Afrikaans as it was spoken and drafted a set of spelling and grammar rules. The newspaper, “Die Patriot” (The Patriot), originated in 1876, to be a spokesman of these language rules. Worth noting is that the first Afrikaans newspaper was published in 1859 already. The newspaper, “De Bode”, was published by the Moravian Mission station in Genadendal. It already then printed articles and letters from readers in Afrikaans.

In 1882, an Afrikaans school, the Gedenkschool der Hugenoten, was established on the farm Kleinbosch in Daljosafat, Paarl. This gave Afrikaans an important boost and was an important step towards recognising Afrikaans as the official language of instruction at school.

Many Afrikaans-speaking people still believed that Afrikaans was an inferior language, though they themselves did not speak Dutch. To them, Dutch was a status symbol – a connection to a world of literature and science outside of South Africa. In 1906, Eugene Marais trumped the argument of the pro-Dutch that Afrikaans had no literature value with his poem Winternag. Jan FE Celliers followed with Die Vlakte as did many other writers and poets.

From 1908, Afrikaans flourished in the arts. In 1909 the Zuid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Lettere en Kunst deur Afrikaners was established. Their objective was to establish Afrikaans as a higher-order language. They managed to regulate language matters through a Spelling Committee, later called the Die Taalkommissie (The Language Commission). Gone were the days of the GRA’s write-as-we-speak. The first Woordelys en Spelreëls was published in 1917. Through this, the pro-Dutch got what they wanted. Afrikaans displayed a strong Dutch influence in the way sentences and words were constructed. Afrikaans dialects and the language as spoken by the so-called workers class were deemed inferior. The result of this pro-Dutch movement is that even today many Dutch words can be found in Afrikaans, which creates the impression that Afrikaans originated from Dutch – though untrue.

Afrikaans was established as the scientific language at four universities. It was also the language used in the civil service, courts, in literature, films and for broadcasting.

The Afrikaanse Taalmonument in Paarl was inaugurated in 1975 – 100 years after the founding of the GRA. The idea to build a monument for the Afrikaans language was first mentioned in 1942. However, construction only started in late 1972 and was completed at the end of 1974.

After 1994 Afrikaans was one of the 11 official languages. In 2010 Prof. Kwesi Prah from Ghana described the development of Afrikaans as one of the three language wonders of the world. In only 50 years, Afrikaans evolved from the vernacular, or so-called kitchen language to a higher order academic and economic language that can hold its own on the world stage.

Currently Afrikaans as an instruction language in schools and universities is under immense pressure from the ANC government because just like the British colonialist of the 1800’s and 1900’s they believe that if you can suppress a language you also suppress the people speaking that language. However, just like the British the ANC will learn the hard way not to suppress the Afrikaner language or the Afrikaner!!!!!

Afrikaans is my Mother Tongue and nobody, but nobody will deny me the right to speak it!

Danie de Villiers

This time the CEO of MiWay Insurance really put his foot in his mouth

2018-08-18T01:05:00.001-07:00

The CEO of MiWay Insurance, Rene Otto (@reneotto5901) tweeted this:

It is a pity that a CEO can tweet such utter rubbish. I can only think that he really hate Afrikaans-speaking whites and that he tweeted it on purpose to show Afrikaans-speaking whites that they are not welcome as MiWay clients? Surprize for Rene Otto and MiWay, the bloody Brits tried for how many years since they set foot in South Africa as a colonial power to kill Afrikaans without success, instead Afrikaans just grow stronger. Since 1994 the ANC are trying their best to undermine Afrikaans and the Afrikaans-speaking white culture and traditions without any success. So, Rene Otto you do not stand a chance in hell to undermine my beautiful language!!! I see you dig around in the past, so spend your time positive by researching the history of the 1961 movie “Doodkry is Min” by Jamie Uys. I was with my parents in 1961 at the Voortrekker Monument when this movie was premiered! I am proud of my past and my heritage and you will never succeed in letting me feel any guilt!

PS: It is not Afrikaners who believe they are God’s chosen people but rather Rene Otto thinking that he is God to judge them.

ALSO READ THIS

Afrikaans Taal Monument - Afrikaans My Wondersoete Taal

Danie de Villiers

POLICE MINISTER REVEALS CHAIN OF CORRUPTION IN SA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

2018-08-15T23:48:00.001-07:00

Police Minister Bheki Cele has told Parliament there is a chain of corruption that extends throughout the criminal justice system. READ FURTHER

COMMENTARY:

Why are we not surprised? This is the real South Africa where the incompetent terrorist organization called the ANC destroying a beautiful country handed over to them on a plate in 1994. The ANC has a built-in self-destruct button, and everything they touch turn into sh*t!

Danie

Look who is talking . . . .

2018-08-15T06:19:00.000-07:00

ANC accuses DA-led Tshwane metro of corruption: Read story here

The ANC is the most corrupt government is the world but it has the audacity to point the fingers to the DA?

In any dictionary, if you look up the word corrupt/corruption there is a photo of an ANC-flag as well as a photo of Zuma. as description.

The Freelancer: President Donald Trump vs Cyril Ramaphosa

2018-08-14T07:06:00.001-07:00

The Freelancer: President Donald Trump vs Cyril Ramaphosa: Mr. Herman Mashaba, Executive Mayor of Johannesburg (DA) caused a little sh*t storm in a tea cup when he tweeted a photo-comparison between ...

ANC or Constitutional Court in Charge of South South Africa?

2018-08-14T01:03:00.000-07:00

Who is actually governing South Africa? The ANC or the Constitutional Court?

If a government has to rely on the judiciary system of a country to rule the country for it, the writing is on the wall for the government. This is the situation with the ANC - they are not in charge of this country. This why a great man like Trump can say that South Africa, together with other African country are sh*thole countries.

The latest example of the incompetence of the ANC government to rule South Africa is the ruling of the Constitutional Court on 13 August 2018 regarding Shaun Abrahams:

"The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says Shaun Abrahams is disappointed at the Constitutional Court ruling but notes it made no finding about his fitness or otherwise to hold office.The apex court found former prosecutions boss Mxolisi Nxasana's settlement and Abrahams' subsequent appointment were constitutionally invalid.Nxasana has been ordered to pay back R10 million he has already received as part of his R17 million pay-out.The NPA’s Luvuyo Mfaku says they have noted the judgment.“Obviously, he is disappointed, remember the judgment was not about his fitness to hold office. He was not party to any negotiated settlement; however, he respects the decision of the apex court.” READ FURTHER

It is no longer cry the beloved country but rather pray the beloved country!!!

Drakensberge

Robert McBride: Friend or Foe?

2017-12-04T09:16:00.001-08:00

In his book The President's Keepers, Jacques Pauw wrote the following about Robert McBride:

"Robert McBride a man so despised by white South Africans that bile and outrage bubble to the surface at the mention of his name. In their eyes he killed innocent woman (because they were white), smuggled guns and deviously avoided a charge of drunk driving.

In June 1986, as a MK guerilla and acting on orders, McBride bombed 2 bars on Durban's beachfront killing three white women and injuring 69 people. McBride spent five years on death row until he was pardoned and released."

COMMETARY

For me he is foe and rightfully he is despised. But most importantly McBride stood out as the best example of the pathetic manner in which Mandela and the rest of the ANC showed white South Africans the middle finger on reconciliation and nation building when he was appointed as Chief of the Metro Police of Ekurhuleni. And it also showed that Mandela and his ANC did not know anything about about running a country because, how the hell can you appoint a convicted murderer as Police Chief? But then, you cannot blame them because at the end of the day they are just a bunch of thieving terrorists who in 23 years time ran this country into the junk yard.

The ANC and DA and their White Racism Madness

2016-01-23T00:58:00.000-08:00

Somebody made a comment yesterday which made me think. He said: “So the old scapegoat is dead and a new one is needed.”

That is ever so true. Both the ANC and the D.A. need a new scapegoat. Blaming everything on “apartheid” doesn't go off that well any longer. Apartheid, that term so often misunderstood and, partly as a result of the unfortunate similarity between the Afrikaans suffix “-heid” and the English word “hate”, gaining and altogether different meaning. Apartheid joined “fascism”, “totalitarianism” and “communism” in the ranks of demonic ideologies. But it also joined them in the pages of history.

There is no way that the ANC can blame corruption, greed, poor service delivery, crime, nepotism, theft, incompetence and downright stupidity on apartheid any more. They had 22 years in which they had the opportunity to prove themselves. They could not. Consequently the world does not buy the “blame it on apartheid” scheme any longer. The ANC must accept responsibility – or find a new scapegoat.

Neither can the DA blame the failure of its policy on apartheid any longer. The DA is propagating a policy of multiculturalism unity in a rainbow nation where all will be well and everybody will fall over their own feet to accommodate everybody else. A nation where 9% will joyfully pay through their teeth to support 91% of the population with social benefits. And now they can’t understand why their party is not growing, so they have to, (in a slightly more refined manner than Jacob Zuma's crude way) make reference to “apartheid” from time to time. “Apartheid” drove us too far apart – that is why we are struggling. Yeah? Look at your bloody poor excuse of a policy to understand why you are struggling! Nothing to do with “apartheid” and nobody is buying that any longer. Fact is: For the black South African you are too white and the white South African has no reason to trust you anymore!

So a new scapegoat is needed. And they found it: “Racism”. Yep, that is the one replacing “apartheid” in the rhetoric of the incompetent, the gullible, the Communist and the liberal – which are all basically the same thing, really. “Racism” – that horrible thing which makes a white person cringe with shame! That word used in 2 out of every 10 expressions when we start by saying: “I am not a racist, but….” That word which makes us say on Facebook: “I can’t say what I think because I might lose my job as a result of racism.” That thing which makes the words of our mouths different than the thoughts in our minds and make us into hypocrites. That undefined bogeyman of a word which hides in all the dark corners of New South African society and politics and scares the crap out of everybody.

Be prepared, from 2016 onwards everything will be blamed on white racism…

Daniel Lötter

Front National South Africa

DOUBLE RACIST STANDARDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

2016-01-22T03:11:00.000-08:00

Every three months or so a white South African lands in trouble because of the word “kaffir”or “monkey” or “PW Botha”. Incidents like these are usually splashed on front pages with outcries of “racism” by almost every black trade union and political party. In a country where the majority have a chip on their shoulder regarding anything that smacks of “racism” this is not surprising.

What is surprising, though, is the double standards.

Hardly a day goes by without a white person being called “mhlungu” or “lekgoa”. These words are used in shops, in government offices, in homes, in shebeens, at taxi ranks – everywhere. Yet there is no public outcry. It is accepted practice in South Africa for a black majority to call minorities names.

Black languages like Setswana and Sepedi do not even have another name for Indians than “makula” – taken from the racist word “coolie”.

So, what does the word “lekgoa” mean? The word whites are described with?

Originally the word was used to describe white missionaries in the 1700’s and 1800’s and it actually referred to the British, meaning “vomit from the sea”. It soon caught on to describe all white people. Vomit from the sea.

Linguistic studies show interesting origins for the word. First off all, almost all African languages consist of word classes for people (mo/ba) and things, objects (le/ma). The word “lekgoa” thus refers not to a person but to a thing. Literary it means (goa)“The thing that makes a noise”.

In Setswana and Sepedi it literary means (kgoa) “The thing that is rude”. That alone makes it racist.

But there is also another meaning for “kgoa”, namely a tick, a parasite.

The smiling cashier at your friendly supermarket on the corner calling you a “lekgoa” is thus actually calling you “a parasitic vomit and thing from the sea making noise”. Nice, isn’t it?

Does it bother me personally to be called “lekgoa”? No, it doesn’t. In our western culture we know to take insults from whom they are coming. In our western culture we had a writer named Shakespeare who said: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. We are a cursing people. You can call me a doos by all means.

Hannes Engelbrecht

Amukela Game Lodge

2015-06-11T10:15:00.001-07:00

Amukela Game Lodge is located in the Balule Private Nature Reserve which is incorporated in the Greater Kruger Park. The lodge is only 20 minutes from Hoedspruit and it offers an African bush experience with affordable rates.

Amukela offers four African-style rondawels, accommodating a maximum of eight guests. Each rondawel has a king-size bed with a mosquito net and air-conditioning. Each en-suite bathroom has a toilet, shower and basin. On request, we can make extra beds for children. Breakfast is served in the main building where you will also find the lounge. They have satellite TV with DStv as well as magazines and books.

There is a lovely view of the bush from the terrace and the swimming pool. In the evening, enjoy the boma dinners, weather dependent, under the breathtaking stars. Sit around the campfire and listen to the voices of Africa.

There are a lot of interesting places to visit for a full day or just a couple of hours. This makes the lodge a great place to stay for several days or even weeks. Whether you want to go on your own or do an organized trip, they can assist where possible.

Greet a new day in the bush together with an armed and qualified nature guide. Explore the fascinating nature in Africa by foot at an easy-going pace. Learn about animal tracks and behaviour, trees and bushes with medicinal properties and much more. Take a game drive in an open jeep to search for the animals, accompanied by an experienced field guide. Pre-bookings for activities are essential.

Engela

The Town Clarens

2015-06-10T10:10:00.002-07:00

Clarens is a town in the Eastern Free State Highlands, situated 20 km from Golden Gate, 40 km from Bethlehem and on the northernmost point of Lesotho. About 4 hours normal traveling from Durban, 3 hours from Johannesburg, and 3 hours from Bloemfontein.

Clarens is known for its spectacular sandstone mountains and wonderful climate; it is one of the most picturesque spots in S.A. and has even been acclaimed as the best Trout Fishing waters in S.A. It also is a spectacular horse riding country that very few people have discovered.

In 1910 the farm “Leliehoek” was purchased from Mr Hermanus Steyn, and in 1911 Mr Piet de Villiers sold his farm “Naauwpoort” to a company wanting to establish a village here in the mountains. These two farms were divided into erven and sold for the sum of fifty pounds each. In 1912 a commission was appointed to finalize negotiations, and a decision was made to name the village “Clarens” in honour of President Paul Kruger’s influence in the area. This came about in the following ways - During the Basotho war of 1865 - 1866, five “burghers” from the Transvaal were murdered in the Eastern Free State; a direct consequence was the official declaration of war by the Transvaal against the Basotho leader Moshoeshoe. Paul Kruger together with a commando of burghers defeated the Basotho at the Battle of Naauwpoortnek. President Paul Kruger spent his last days as a voluntary exile in the attractive village of Clarens in Switzerland and Clarens was thus a very apt name for the mountainous village here in the Eastern Free State. A monument in honour of the five burghers murdered by the Basotho on 29 September 1865, during the siege of Naauwpoort, was originally erected on the farm Ararat just outside Clarens. This monument was later moved to Clarens and re-sited on the central square.

Clarens is part of the scenic Highlands Route and is surrounded by mountainous splendor. The Rooiberge is the range encompassing the village, whilst further on towards the southeast, the mighty Maluti’s stand proud in shades of purple and blue. All around is the sandstone cliffs with their multi-coloured layers - these horizontal strata is a unique geological feature of the area, and is known as the Clarens formation. Many homes in the Clarens Valley are made from Clarens Sandstone.

The village has become known as the “Jewel of the Free State” - rich in beauty, with an aura of peace and tranquility. Clarens is endowed with more trees than most other Free State towns - the fresh, light green willows and colorful blossoms of the many fruit trees are an unforgettable sight in spring time; whilst the magnificent autumn shades of the Lombard poplars attract artists, photographers and nature lovers. The town is known for the many Art and Craft shops which offer the visitor a wide range of curios and original artwork. Another feature which adds to the picturesque atmosphere of the village is the many sandstone buildings. The popular Golden Gate National Park is located in the near vicinity of Clarens, and the area attracts many visitors.

Engela

Baluleni Safari Lodge

2015-06-09T09:57:00.001-07:00

This tranquil and peaceful Lodge on the shores of the Olifants River, in the 40 000 hectare Balule Nature Reserve inside the greater Kruger National Park, offers the splendour of the natural Africa Bush with breath-taking sunsets, wildlife which includes the Big 5, bird watching, safaris, bush walks, boma-dinners under the stars.

Enjoy a unique African Safari experience, go on guided open vehicle safaris, learn about the wilderness on a bush walk, listen to the sounds of the African Bush while dining under the stars, or simply relax at the Lodge by the pool side.

The Lodge offers secluded and comfortable accommodation in five air-conditioned en-suite thatched chalets, two luxury en-suite tents with ceiling fans, and one air-conditioned en-suite thatched honeymoon cottage with full breakfast, high tea and dinners. These are served at a licensed dining/bar area or around the fire in the boma under the African skies.

At the Baluleni Safari Lodge facilities include a licensed Dining/bar area and boma, full breakfasts and three course dinners are generally served in the dining area or outside on the patio. However, guests mostly prefer to enjoy a three course dinner under the stars around the fire in the boma. Guests enjoy sun downers on the patio or sharing a drink in the lounge while watching adventure wildlife DVD's. Early coffee and home-made rusks are available for guests at the accommodation. High tea with savories, snacks and cakes are served at the dining area. Guests also enjoy the swimming pool while relaxing with a cold drink in the shade.

At the reception guests can arrange and depart for their three hour safaris in an open vehicle, an early morning Bush walk, a day tour in the Kruger National Park and other tours to different venues like Moholoholo, Cheetah Project, Panorama Route.

The curio shop at reception offers a variety of the most sought after products made by local artists as well as signed copies of Elke's famous oil paintings and drawings. Guests also have access to internet and cell phone signal at reception.

Free secure parking and laundry services are available to guests.

Engela

Pumzika Game Farm and Eco-Estate - Thabazimbi

2015-06-08T09:43:00.001-07:00

Pumzika Game Farm and Eco-Estate near Thabazimbi in the North-West Province offer majestic mountainous views from the breathtaking grasslands and bush-veld.

Amenities and leisure activities include hiking, swimming in the swimming pool or the dam, playing pool, braaiing in the spacious lapa or enjoying a sun downer at the mountain deck.

The lodge and chalets are first class, comfortable, and well furnished. Bedding is provided, but not towels and toiletries. The lounge has a TV with DStv and there is a fully equipped kitchen.

Game drives can be arranged on request. The lodge is only 15 km from Thabazimbi for groceries and other shopping.

Engela

Cedar Garden Bed and Breakfast

2015-06-07T04:59:00.002-07:00

Cedar Garden is an upmarket and spacious Bed and Breakfast establishment, set in a large, tranquil garden.

It is centrally situated and this self catering establishment is the perfect base from which to explore the Southern Drakensberg - area.

Enjoy the heart of South Africa's most scenic dairy farming area with cool, snowy winters or the sunny, temperate days of summer, spectacular autumn colors and blossoms in spring.

The hustle and bustle of city life will quickly be forgotten as you make yourselves at home in a picturesque setting. Cedar Garden is an easy two and a half hours drive from Durban with tar all the way.

You are invited to come and enjoy this stately home and be rejuvenated by this magnificent countryside.

Engela

Hartbeespoort

2015-06-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

The village of Hartbeespoort is situated on the shores of the popular Hartbeespoort Dam - on the Crocodile River and at the base of the majestic Magaliesberg mountain range. The dam, with a shoreline of almost 56km, is a popular weekend retreat offering a host of water related activities such as water-skiing, jet-skiing, windsurfing and parasailing. The rolling foothills and scenic surroundings are also perfect for other outdoor activities such as hiking or taking a leisurely meander along the arts and crafts route.

Visitors can also enjoy spectacular views from a vantage point reached by cable car, and may be interested in paying a visit to the Hartbeespoort Aquarium which houses an extensive collection of indigenous and exotic fish.

Hartbeespoort is en-route to the popular Lost City, the Pilanesberg National Park as well as the Madikwe Game Reserve.

Engela

The First Prisoners of Robben Island

2015-06-04T09:57:00.001-07:00

Robben Island is one of the most renowned islands in the world.

But do you know who the first prisoners of this island were?

It was Harry the Strandloper (“Beach Comber”) and his tribe. He was the chief of a KhoiKhoi tribe called the Goringhaicona, who were an outcast group that lived in Table Bay and were despised by other KhoiKhoi groups for their scavenging. Even Harry was a cunning man and quickly amassed herds of cattle and sheep.

Harry was picked up by an English ship for a joy ride to Batavia. During the trip he learnt the English language and when he returned to the Cape became the postmaster for the passing ships. Sailors would drop off letters which he would then pass on to other ships.

When Jan Van Riebeeck came to the Cape in 1652, Harry moved back to the mainland to help establish trade between the KhoiKhoi and the Dutch. Because he could speak English, he was made an interpreter.

The KhoiKhoi would trade livestock with the Dutch in exchange for tobacco and alcohol. One day the Dutch swindled them in a deal and in revenge Harry and a few other KhoiKhoi men stole from the Dutch. As punishment, Van Riebeek banished them to Robben Island, making them the first prisoners on Robben Island. After more than a year on the island Harry managed to escape back to the mainland in a leaking boat, and after more dust had settled he was accepted back for his job as interpreter.

Engela

Alexandria Hiking Trail

2015-06-03T10:12:00.002-07:00

The Alexandria Hiking Trail is situated in the Woody Cape section of the Addo Elephant National Park, departing from the offices near Alexandria. The length is approximately 36 km which is a two day circular route of which the first day is 19.5km and the second day is 16.5 km. This is ideal for those who want a challenging walk along the coastline. Hikers carry their own provisions and the hike is not guided.

Early morning offers hikers an opportunity to investigate the signs of animals, such as jackals, duikers and the endemic hairy-footed gerbil, left on the dunes from the previous night. Tall posts guide hikers through the shifting dune fields.

By night you can listen for the haunting calls of the rare tree dassie and awake to a chorus of birds in flitting through the forest canopy. Look out for trumpeter hornbills, ground hornbills, Knysna turaco, tree dassies and bushbuck.

Keys for the overnight huts are collected at the park offices near Alexandria. Fees can be paid at Matyholweni rest camp or at the Addo main camp reception. At the Woody Cape hut, no fires are allowed and the hikers must carry their own cookers. Water at the Woody Cape hut is only for drinking and cooking as the hut relies entirely on rainwater. At least one or more of the hiking group should be able to read a map and compass, and to wear a brightly coloured jacket that can be seen from the air if a search and rescue is launched. The Langebos huts are available to hikers on the two-day Alexandria Hiking Trail, as well as those simply wanting an overnight stay in the forest. The 7km Dassie Day Trail begins at the huts and the breath-taking Woody Cape coastline of the Park is a short drive and walk away.

Engela

Monchique Guest House - Muldersdrift Gauteng

2015-06-02T09:59:00.002-07:00

Monchique Guest House is a luxurious 4 star award winning country retreat that offers affordable holiday, wedding and business accommodation. They pride themselves on top-class amenities and service delivered with a special personal touch. The accent is on luxury, hospitality and friendliness – which you will experience from the moment you arrive.

All functions are welcome at Monchique! From intimate weddings to conferences, brainstorming sessions, birthday parties, baby showers, yearend events and farewell dinners. No function is too small.

They are minutes from the city, yet miles away in terms of the serene tranquillity of their rural surroundings. You’ll find us in Muldersdrift - nestled on the edge of the Cradle of Mankind, a world heritage site. Monchique are readily accessible by well-established roads, only about 40 minutes from Sandton and Pretoria. Lanseria International Airport is also nearby while the popular Cradlestone Mall and Silverstar Casino, are a mere 10 minutes away. Fourways shopping mall and Monte Casino being less than 20 minutes away.

Are you looking for a venue to host your corporate function, yearend function, product launch, baby shower, birthday party or anniversary? Let Monchique take care of all your needs with our excellent service and attention to detail, so that you get to relax and enjoy your special occasion.

The Bridge - WeddingVenue

Engela

The Best Wedding Venue in South Africa!

2015-05-31T05:38:00.002-07:00

My daughter Cindy and my new son-in-law Christie got married on 29 May 2015 at The Bridge and what unforgettable wedding at the most beautiful wedding venue it was!

In my time I have attended more than enough weddings and without being biased as it was my daughter’s wedding, I have to state openly that it was the best wedding ever and here I have to give The Bridge credit because it supplemented the occasion.

The Bridge is an old converted farmhouse set in tranquil gardens beside the banks of the Wilgespruit. The river runs over the low level bridge that takes you to indigenous gardens where willow and large stinkwood trees, amongst others, surround fountains, well maintained lawns and beautiful flower beds.

The Bridge in Muldersdrift is the ideal setting for celebrations of all kinds and is conveniently situated only 20 minutes from Randburg and Fourways and approximately 35 minutes from Pretoria.

The well-planned and appetizing menus are prepared and presented by a very talented and highly trained chef, who working alongside with a dedicated team has made The Bridge famous for its high quality food and professional service. On offer are both plated and buffet menu options - my daughter opted for the buffet menu and it was delectable!!

At The Bridge they are dedicated and passionate about ensuring your day is everything you hoped for. Your special occasion will be handled with great care and professionalism. There are no hidden charges or hidden costs for the venue. Should you wish, the can assist you with your floristry,

musical and wedding cake requirements. All of these are optional additional services that they offer.

For weddings they have a country chapel that comes complete with drapes, chair covers, fairy lights, lectern, registry table, red carpet, two flower stands and tie back sashes down the aisle.

You may prefer a romantic gazebo, situated on the bank of the river for your wedding ceremony that you can draped and decorate with fresh flowers. They provide chair covers, lectern, registry table, red carpet and tieback sashes down the aisle - although it is winter the weather is very mild at Muldersdrift and therefore my daughter went for the gazebo.

As a special touch, they have a small row-boat that can be used to bring the bride to the wedding service which is a very unique way of arriving. The use of the chapel, gazebo and boat is included in your fee.

At this point in time they do not have any sleep-over facilities but they are busy with it. For the mean time there are enough hotels and guest houses in the area and my husband and I slept over at the Monchique Guest House about 3 km from The Bridge.

Without reservation, and unconditional I recommend TheBridge for your wedding!!

Engela de Villiers

Jim Reeves and South Africa

2015-05-27T11:19:00.001-07:00

Jim Reeves was one of the best of the "Nashville Sound" style country and western singers. His fame was widespread, not only in the USA, but also in Britain, India, Scandinavia and South Africa. After his success he made successful tours of the U.S., Scandinavia and South Africa, where he starred in a film, Kimberley Jim (1963) (released in the U.S. in 1965) and recorded songs in the local Afrikaans language.

Jim was well known as the singer with the velvet voice and the gentlemanly manner. Jim had been planning more tours and television appearances at the time his Beechcraft Debonair aircraft went down in bad weather on July 31, 1964, in Hendersonville, Tennessee, near Nashville - taking the lives of Jim and his business manager. Jim's widow, Mary Reeves, kept many of the recordings unreleased after his death in backlog and had them released, little by little over the years, to great success - so much so that younger executives in the record business had to be reminded that Jim has been gone for over 35 years!

He even had an album reach Gold status in Denmark in 1999! It is a source of great frustration to Jim's fans and family that his great catalog of music does not get equal airplay today in the U.S. compared with other artists who have gone on such as Patsy Cline. But Jim's legacy still lives on, as one of the greatest voices in recorded music, country or otherwise.

Here he sings a South African folk song in Afrikaans. Enjoy!

Grahamstown and Surrounding Settler Towns

2013-05-04T04:19:00.000-07:00

Not very far from Port Elizabeth, is the historic town of Grahamstown with other equal historical towns in its vicinity - Bathurst, Port Alfred and Salem.

Established in 1812 as military outpost, and later as a village and trading centre for the 1820 British Settlers, Grahamtown’s most prominent landmark is the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George which took 128 years to build.

There is also the 1820 Settlers Monument, the Methodist Commemoration Church, with its Gothic Revival facade, and the City Hall built in 1870 as a memorial to the 1820 settlers.

Other places of interest are the Albany Museum, the Settlers Wild Flower Reserve and Fort Selwyn.

Danie de Villiers - Freelance Writer

The Friendly City - Port Elizabeth

2013-05-02T06:01:00.002-07:00

Port Elizabeth, situated in the Eastern Cape is South Africa’s fifth largest city and one of the leading ports. The city is vibrant and easy-going and national and international known as the “The Friendly City”.

The city was named in 1820 by the acting British Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Rufane Donkin, after his wife Elizabeth who died in 1818 in India. In 1820, the settlement was a small cluster of houses on the coast, protected by Fort Frederick on top of a nearby hill. Since then the city has grown to a city with a population of more than 700 000.

The good-natured environment, the warm atmosphere of its lazy beaches and its warm, temperate climate all work together to make Port Elizabeth an engaging tourist destination.

Port Elizabeth is ideally situated as base for coastal day drives to beautiful places such as Bluewater Bay, Schoenmakerskop, Seaview, and Van Staden’s River Mouth or inland to Groendal Wilderness Area, Addo Elephant National Park or Uitenhage Nature Reserve.

There is no shortage of things to do in and around Port Elizabeth. There is an abundance of historical sites, museums and monuments dating back to the 15th century; you can visit the Oceanarium; climb the Campanile; or snorkel and scuba in excellent diving spots.

There are also other sea-related sports - boating, yachting, wind-surfing and angling. There are also interesting hiking trails through historic parks and nature reserves.

Holiday accommodation is top-notch - from self-catering establishments to luxurious hotels and lodges, at prices to suit everybody.

Do not forget the many shopping malls and several fine restaurants. And, naturally the city has a good selection of wide, gently sloping beaches that are safe for swimming.

Come experience the friendliness of the Friendly City!

By Danie De Villiers - Freelance Writer