South Africa Features
Violent crime in Cape Town: Flash Mob
When the pressures of crime, government and equal opportunity get you down, it is comforting to know you can go and smack someone with a pillow.
This flash mob event was filmed at the Victoria Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town. I expected to see the riot squad and special forces arrive to smack seven flavours of spit out of them, but it went down without hitch or reprimand it seems.
For a list of Cape Town Flash mob events you can see their Facebook group here. And you …
Date: September 13th, 2007 |
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Two tourists arrested for photographing Zulu Royal Reed Dance.
Umkhosi woMhlanga is the Zulu name for the Royal Reed dance which happens every September at KwaNyokeni Palace, Nongoma, which is the Zulu nation’s royal residence.
Over 10 000 virgin maidens are invited from throughout KwaZulu Natal, to dance in the ceremony and thousands more Zulus help the prepare. The occasion marks a Zulu maidens passage to womanhood, and serves to unite the Zulu nation under the King, who presides over the ceremony. (Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu)
Many of the Zulu maidens are ritually “topless”, so indiscreet photo taking is discouraged, as are women wearing pants entering the royal residence. This season two tourist had been arrested for taking pictures of the topless Zulu maidens, but later released. “Zulu maidens are increasingly becoming targets of unscrupulous photographers and cameramen who take the pictures of maidens and flash them on Internet porn sites,” said Nhlanhla Mtaka, media director for the event.
Date: September 11th, 2007 |
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2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa VS Samoa, Amabokoboko!
South Africa kicked off the Rugby world cup yesterday with a splendiferous kicking of Samoa’s derrierre. (59-7)
Percy Montgomery and Brian Habana were the stars of the show, with Percy adding 2 tries and a total of 29 points and Habana’s ridiculous speed contributing 4 tries.
South Africa’s concern against playing the Samoans was trying to avoid injury from the leather necked Polynesians, this fear was realised as Jean de Villiers may have to sit out the rest of the tournament due to an arm injury.
Although the scoreline suggests a walkover the …
Date: September 10th, 2007 |
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Sangomas: The South African Shamen
In the ancestor worshipping traditions held by the majority (80%) of South Africans (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndabele and Swazi) the Sangoma is the primary and sometimes exclusive healer and counsellor.
There is no governing body to control who is, and who is not, a sangoma, anyone can claim to be one (there are over 200,000!). Traditionally a new sangoma is called by an initiation illness, often psychosis, headache, stomach pain, shoulder or neck complaints. After which they will undergo “Thwasa”, a period of training including learning humility to the ancestors, purification through steaming, washing in the blood of sacrificed animals, and the use of Muti, medicines with spiritual significance. At the end of Thwasa, an animal is sacrificed to appease the ancestors.
Date: September 5th, 2007 |
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The Brew Route: Durbans answer to the wine route?
The Zulu Kingdom now offers visitors a chance to experience the Brew Route, similar in many ways to the wine routes of the Western Cape.
The Route consists of 8 breweries, which range from SABMiller (second largest brewer in the world) to the family run Farmers Brauhaus in Hattingspruit, Dundee.
The route takes tourists through a large part of the province and is impossible to complete in one day, but there is excellent accommodation available throughout the route, especially in the Midlands.
Date: August 31st, 2007 |
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Volunteer work in South Africa: A helping holiday
Volunteering holidays are a highly enriching and immersive way to experience a foreign culture at the most grass roots level.
A number of exiting and exotic opportunities are now listed on Bootsnall, where you can choose your destination, activities and budget.
Most include accommodation and some include meals and excursions, all look like fantastic life changing experiences.
These selected opportunities currently exist in South Africa:
Animal Rescue society near Cape Town, South Africa:
This centre is a domestic animal rescue organisation located near Cape Town. Their goal is to provide animal health care and sterilisation to the local impoverished communities along with running an adoption programme for abandoned stray animals. Your work here will take on many roles from feeding and caring for the many animals to working closely with staff as they go out into the local informal settlements to collect, return and vaccinate animals on site. There is also the opportunity to work along side the resident vet, who requires assistance daily; this is not for the faint hearted. On quieter days you can get involved with a programme called ‘Open Paw’ which is a training programme to help the dogs understand basic commands helping with the adoption process.
Lion Monitoring Expedition in South Africa:
This is a chance for any lion lover to get up close and personal with these magnificent predators and other African mammals. Work alongside experienced researchers while learning and putting into practice, tracking and research techniques in South Africa. The reserve is based between the small towns of Gravelotte and Mica in the Limpopo Province and covers over 30,000 hectares of African wilderness. It is home to elephants, leopard, white rhino and various antelope species; you will be in the midst of some of the worlds most fascinating wildlife on a day-to-day basis. This is an amazing opportunity to learn about conservation and predator management, while enjoying a truly wilderness area, excellent wildlife viewing and at the same time contribution to African wildlife conservation. Your assistance in actively monitoring a lion pride is vital for the future development and success of this project and would make a fantastic addition to a gap year, sabbatical or annual holiday.
Date: September 13th, 2007 |
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Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town: Arrested!
My heroine, Mayor Helen (of Troy) God-Zille, has been arrested this morning during a march against gangsterism and drugs.
“The question that arises is this: everyone knows who the drug dealers in Mitchell’s Plain are, and where they ply their trade why are they not arrested?” said the Zillmonster.
The childlike empress (Helen Zille) apparently knocked on the door of a suspected (known) drug dealer, which was “out of the spectrum of the march”. 8 persons including the honourable Zille were arrested for an illegal gathering outside the Mitchell Plein police station. “The last time I witnessed people treated in this way was during anti-apartheid protests. We now have a constitution and a Bill of Rights.”- Zillina.
Date: September 10th, 2007 |
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ANC Youth League chooses Jacob Zuma: He sings Awuleth’ Umshini Wami
Jacob Zuma is rallying the youth as he continues to make his bid towards presidency.
This is a frightening prospect for many people (including me) as is support base is huge, young, communist and radical.
Zuma’s singing of his signature anthem “Awuleth’ Umshini Wami”, “Bring me my machine (Gun)” recently was criticised by ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota. Lekota was then warned his comments could spark further rifts within the ruling party (ANC). The rift within the ANC seems to be one of Communism versus Capitalism, and dissatisfied South Africans vs New South Africans.
I can’t for the life of me understand how this man can still be in the run for the presidency with all the scandal he has been through in the last year , but somehow he has managed to come through as a hero to many. I won’t be voting for a president who wants a machine gun.
Awuleth’ Umshini Wami
Umshini wami mshini wami
khawuleth’umshini wami
Umshini wami mshini wami,
khawuleth’umshini wami
Umshini wami mshini wami,
khawuleth’umshini wami
khawuleth’umshini wami
Wen’uyang’ibambezela
umshini wami, khawuleth’umshini wami
Date: September 7th, 2007 |
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What is going to happen with Zimbabwe?
Most of the international news about Africa is centred around Zimbabwe, Mugabe and the terrible state that the country is in.
Zimbabwe’s silly inflation rate is the highest in the world, officially at 7600% (likely to be much higher) and is predicted to hit 100000% by the end of the year. Mugabe’s inspired policy of forcing stores to sell goods below cost has forced them into illegally closing and many owners and managers have been jailed for doing otherwise.
Many store owners take a “jail bag” with them to work in case of arrest. An associate of mine who lives in Zim, has always sworn never to leave, no matter what happens. Last week they rounded the family up to discuss getting out, as they face imprisonment for over charging for goods. They employ over 600 people and likely support a further 1000.
Date: August 31st, 2007 |
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7000 carats: Largest Diamond in the world found in South Africa?
BIG news is shaking the diamond industry, with claim of the largest ever diamond being discovered by a small unnamed mining company.
The ROCK which is supposedly the size of a coconut and 1.6kg!, is said to be around 7000 carats! If it is genuine, it will dwarf the famous Cullinan Diamond discovered in 1905 – in fact, it would be at least twice the size of that stone” Said gemmologist Les Milner.
Scepticism surrounds the discovery as only a cell phone picture of the stone has surfaced, and the near perfect appearance is making experts suspicious.
While decisions …
Date: August 29th, 2007 |
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