Selim Kagee In full cry Leave your own legacy Township dance … · Printed by Uhuru Printers (Pty) Ltd Photography: Warren Rasmussen AUTUMN/WINTER 2013 03. 03 | Ed’s Letter Debbie

Selim KageeIn full cry

Pay it Forward Leave your own legacy

Khayelitsha Kids Township dancestyle gets LA cred

Forever Wild Shamwari delivers

Listening to the directors of Legacy Fiduciary Services and Estate Planning talk about how vital it is for people to plan for the future welfare of their families and, in fact, that this level of financial savvy is not only for the wealthy (p04) led to the development of this issue’s theme around preservation – of self, of the planet, of animals.

Pravin Gordhan’s Budget 2013/2014 has some bearing on sustainability (p05); we dance into the heart of Khayelitsha to get a sense of what inspired Latin music-and-dance luminary Albert Torres to invite a group of children to perform at his 15th LA Salsa Congress in May (p16) and Selim Kagee talks about being true to himself, his dreams and ambitions (p20). We asked award-winning food blogger, Jeanne Horak (aka Cook Sister), to extol the simplicity of Mexican fare (p22).

We were also inspired by Michael Baretta and Camilla Howard’s 3 000km trek for trash along Africa’s coastline. It’s reassuring to see that people living in SA are starting to make eco-friendly more than a buzzword. I get a thrill out of seeing neighbours putting their recyclables out for collection and how busy the neighbourhood drop-offs are becoming. We have a long way to go before systems and facilities are in place to make it easier for everyone to recycle, but it doesn’t mean we can’t make the effort now. Separating paper and plastic from your waste and disposing of it appropriately is a good start. I even save the recyclables I accumulate throughout my day for later disposal. A French shop manager applauded me for it recently despite not having a recycling system in his V&A Waterfront store. Many homeowners still haven’t implemented any kind of recycling activities at home, but it’s encouraging to hear that parents are slowly discovering and implementing best practice through their children’s learnings at school.

From protecting our precious land to conserving our wildlife, learn about the Shamwari Group’s transformative projects on page 26. Poachers have an insidious way of getting to where they want to be… infiltrating reserves (sometimes as tourists) to get onto game drives, obtain the GPS coordinates of game sighted and message them through to associates who come in under cover of darkness. When you have the privilege of seeing game in its natural environment, take a moment to appreciate how momentous that is. And make it your mission to contribute in any way you can to obliterating all poaching activity everywhere. The Shamwari Group recently reached the R1 million mark in its contribution to the Wilderness Foundation’s “Forever Wild Campaign”, an initiative to help save rhinos throughout SA.

It’s been a pleasure working on the launch issue of Legacy FS. I do hope you enjoy the read.

101B Slade House, Boundary Terraces 1 Mariendahl Lane Newlands, 7700

T 021 671 1438F 021 671 1026E [email protected]

Associate representation in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth

Authorised Financial Services Provider Licence No. 42238Debbie Hathway

EditorDebbie Hathway

Graphic Design & Reproduction Brandesign

Copy Editor Liza West

ContributorsAlbert BuhrAndre Eva BoschCharles EvisonHelen ClemsonIrene StewartJD van ZylJeanne HorakNicola Jenvey

Printed by Uhuru Printers (Pty) Ltd

Pho

tog

rap

hy: W

arre

n Ra

smus

sen

AUTUMN/WINTER 2013 03

03 | Ed’s Letter

Debbie Hathway shares her thoughts on this issue’s content, which encompasses conscious living on all fronts.

05 | Budgeting for Job Growth

Financial reporter Nicola Jenvey asks the experts to comment on Pravin Gordhan’s 2013/2014 Budget.

10 | Conscious Living

This selection of boys’ toys takes being eco-friendly up a notch. Indulge your passions with the planet in mind.

06 | Islamic Art at the Louvre

The Louvre Museum now hosts an impressive array of Islamic art on permanent display.

18 | Beyond Imagination

How can you create your own legacy? Be inspired by these two South Africans who’ve made their mark.

16 | Khayelitsha Kids Head for LA

A top Latin music and dance promoter goes back to the roots of salsa and invites young township dancers to perform in LA.

08 | Brave Hearts

Two environmental activists walk their talk along 3 000km of gruelling South African coastline.

12 | 3 of the Best

Personal pampering takes on new meaning when you’re choosing products and treatments with a natural edge.

22 | A Mexican Feast

Cook Sister shares a fajita recipe with a twist, plus travel tips to Mexico’s Chihuahua city.

20 | Finding His Voice

Selim Kagee revisits his road to fame and his determination to realise a lifelong dream.

26 | Born Free

The Shamwari Group offers unforgettable family holidays across SA while providing much-needed refuge for wildlife.

30 | Diary

We highlight attractions and events worth attending in some of the main centres around the country.

Cover photography: Jaco Cilliers www.jacocilliers.co.za

As a generations business, we know that estate planning goes a long way towards ensuring that your family gets the maximum benefit from the assets that have accrued through your wealth-building activities, at minimal additional cost.

Our decision to launch Legacy FS magazine is underpinned by our goal to build relationships across generations and we’ve incorporated the kind of content that we hope will facilitate that.

We appreciate the relationships we’re building with our clients and Legacy FS provides added value. The feature articles have broad appeal to optimise readability and prolong the magazine’s circulation. Whether you enjoy travel, food and fashion or gadgets, arts and finance, there’s something for the whole family.

Best wishes

Showkat Mukadam Director | Legacy Fiduciary Services and Estate Planning

Welcome from Showkat Mukadam

04 AUTUMN/WINTER 2013

CONTENTS

TIGHTENING CONSUMERS’ BELTS, introducing a balanced budget and slashing the red tape on small businesses were several issues economists believed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan should’ve addressed in the 2013/2014 Budget.

Another argument posed that, hemmed in from raising VAT, personal income and company taxes, Gordhan had played a trump card in introducing carbon tax. Rhodes Business School tax professor Matthew Lester called this “the most significant budget ever” in cultivating another pillar from which to draw revenue. He said, “Energy will be the fourth big tax coming on a weak local currency, increasing energy prices as Eskom gets its tariff hikes and the implementation of carbon taxes at R120 per ton effective January 2015. This is despite the anomaly that only R6 billion of an R898 billion budget is allocated to environmental issues.”

Gordhan worked within the constraints of lower tax revenues. Juggling an estimated R16,3 billion revenue shortfall, he avoided raising individual taxes or VAT. His solution involved raising the budget deficit to levels not seen since Barend du Plessis’s reign between 1984 and 1992; reducing spending; tightening tax leakages and calling on individuals to boost savings.

ETM Analytics economist Russell Lamberti said while it appeared counterproductive to tighten monetary and fiscal policies, the “unrealistically low” interest-rate environment merely encouraged consumption. He said, “A loose fiscal and monetary environment fuels inflation. The rich are protected via assets and financial services, while the poor typically spend on food and transport.”

Acknowledging the budget was delivered amid slow economic growth and a huge deficit, Rabana Modisane – executive director of Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET) – was concerned that budgetary spending went into temporary jobs rather than creating sustainable, permanent positions. He said, “The Minister’s emphasis of the National Development Plan (NDP) as the government’s point of departure allowed him to appeal to the agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and communications sectors to play a part in expanding trade, investment and job creation.

While welcoming the proposed infrastructural spend of R3,2 trillion over the next three years to support the country’s -

medium and long-term economic and social objectives and the policies proposed in tackling youth unemployment, Modisane was concerned about more resources being allocated to the existing expanding public works programmes. The government intends raising this budget nearly 30% to R2,2 billion by 2015/2016.

In terms of estate planning, the government proposes changing the way in which discretionary trusts are taxed by treating as ordinary income the capital gains they distributed. This move potentially threatens making discretionary trusts punitive from a tax viewpoint. Currently the flow-through principle means trusts can distribute capital gains to the beneficiaries in whose hands they are subsequently taxed. However, the review will introduce legislative measures to prevent discretionary trusts acting as flow-through vehicles and from taxpayers using trusts to avoid tax.

23%

20%

14% 12%

9%

8%

5%

4% 4%

1% 0%

Health and Social Protection

Education

Defence and Public Order

Local Government Housing

Debt Service Cost

Economic Infrastructure

General public Service

Employment and Social Security

Economic Affairs

Science and Technology

Other

by Nicola Jenvey

The economy experts weigh in on Minister Pravin Gordhan’s latest budget speech.

Budgeting for Job GrowtHBudgeting for Job GrowtH

25% 17%

12%

5%

4% 3%

2% 1%

Personal Income Tax

Provinces and Social Security

Excise Duties

VAT

Fuel Levy

Dividends Tax

Company Tax

Customs Duties

Others

31%

Above: Total Income

Above: Total Expenditure


REVIEW

WITH NEW YORK’S Metropolitan Museum having done away with its department for Islamic art in 2011, the global traveller will undoubtedly welcome the new Islamic wing at the Louvre. Some 14 000 objects of Islamic art will find continuous rotation across the 3 000 square metres of permanent exhibition space. Spread over two floors, the rooms are nestled between the restored facades of the Visconti courtyard, which was previously closed off to visitors. The gallery is expected to become another instantly recognisable Louvre landmark, thanks to its location under an undulating roof of steel and glass – it has been described variously as resembling a flying carpet, a Bedouin tent or the wings of a dragonfly, and is set to become as iconic as the glass pyramid in the museum grounds.

When next you’re in Paris, be sure to stop by the world’s largest museum to view the impressive new Islamic wing.By Albert Buhr


EXPERIENCE

At the official inauguration in September last year, French President Francois Hollande said, “It is to the honour of Islamic civilisations that they are older, more alive and more tolerant than some of those who today abusively suppose to speak in their name.” In reference to the museum’s bid to improve knowledge of the Islamic religion often viewed with one-sided suspicion in the West, he continued, “Civilisations are not blocs that ignore each other or that clash.”

The collection spans 1 300 years of Islamic history (from 622 CE up to the 19th century) over three continents (from Spain to India), and encompasses architectural elements, stone and ivory objects, metalwork, glasswork, ceramics, textiles and carpets as well as manuscripts. Notable works include Ottoman jade bowls that once belonged to Louis XIV, the rock crystal ewer from the royal abbey of Saint Denis that was made in Egypt in the early 11th century, and an inlaid metal basin

known as Baptistère de Saint Louis made in Syria in the 14th century.

The first Islamic objects were exhibited at the Louvre in 1793 and came from royal collections in the wake of the French Revolution. In the two decades leading up to WWI, Paris became a focus for the creation of Islamic art collections, and the Louvre owes many of its finest acquisitions to private collectors – including the remarkable 1922 bequest from the Rothschild collection, a set of armour from 18th-century India.

A sustained acquisition policy has enriched the collections in areas that had been less represented until now, such as the Maghreb and Mughal India, thus offering a more comprehensive view of the art of the last great Islamic empires.

France’s former president Jacques Chirac initially conceived the project in 2001. To date, it has cost almost 100 million euros, with funds from the French government and support in

handsome endowments from Kuwait, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Azerbaijan. One of the main movers behind the project is Sophie Makariou, the head curator of the department of Islamic arts at the Louvre. She says the aim is to showcase “Islam with a capital ‘I’ – that means the civilisation as a whole, not just the religious sphere.” She says, “We must give back the word Islam its full glory… Islamic art is not confined to the art of the Muslim community. It is the art of all those who comprised the Islamic world and in it there were Christians and Jews.”

Makariou hopes the new wing will teach lessons about tolerance and diversity. “I like the idea of showing the other side of the coin. We are talking about a diverse world that goes from the Atlantic, Spain and Morocco to India. It brings complexity. We are suffering from simplistic views on the Islamic world. (Some) would make us believe that there is just one Islam, which is just not true.”

Opposite: The roof of the gallery, with its undulat-ing steel and glass, resembles that of a flying carpet. Clockwise from top left:A display of tiles showcasing Islamic art; the base of a hookah displays a beautiful floral print; the Islamic gallery attracted the highest number of visitors the Louvre had seen in 2012; intricately patterned tiles


EXPERIENCE

Two 30-year-old environmental activists are doing what no other South Africans have done before – Trekking for Trash.By Andre Eva Bosch

Photography Erlo Brown Robert Oettle

SOCIAL-CHANGE ADVENTURERS Michael Baretta and Camilla Howard are walking their talk on an epic 3 000km trek along the rugged coastline of South Africa. Their “talk” is an impassioned message to all South Africans about the dire consequences of littering and the tragic effect it has on our beautiful land.

Since October 2012 they have walked, climbed, scrambled and slogged, lugging bags of trash on their backs, to cross 1 700km from Alexander Bay on the border of Namibia to Brenton-on-Sea on the Garden Route. Another 1 300km lie ahead, before they end their initiative on Kosi Bay beach, near the Mozambican border, at the end of April.


TEACH

I meet Michael in Cape Town while the adventurous duo take a short break to stock up on provisions before braving the next leg of the journey that will take them to the rocky, east-coast landscape and the tempestuous isolation of the Wild Coast. Although the trek has been a supreme endurance test, to put it mildly, Michael appears surprisingly relaxed.

What drives one to undertake such a challenging venture, I ask? “Camilla and I are both inspired by personal quests to live lives of greater meaning, and by a sense of social responsibility to drive change,” says Michael. “We believe that South Africans have stopped noticing the scourge of littering that plagues our country. Littering has many profound effects causing, for example, immense injury to wildlife and the environment.” Michael pauses to show me alarming pictures to illustrate his point; a seagull smothered by a plastic bag, a penguin ensnared in fishing line and another sea bird throttled by a ring of plastic around its neck.

“Litter and waste also pose grave threats to human health and lead to increased levels of community disorder and crime,” he adds. This last point refers to the Broken Window Theory, which underpins Michael and Camilla’s activism. Developed by American social scientist James Wilson, this theory has formed the basis for successful crime reduction programmes in cities such as New York and Los Angeles. The core of the theory is that as disorder and neglect increase in communities, crime levels spike accordingly. Just one “broken window” signals to residents that they may as well break more windows, because no one cares, and they are robbed of any sense of “owning” their environment. A loss of respect for the environment leads to loss of respect for fellow humans. As the rot sets in, criminal behaviour mushrooms accordingly.

Leading by example, the trekkers have collected 2,7 tons of litter en route and hope to have collected seven tons by the end of April. The rewards have been

great so far. Many communities have followed their cue and have voluntarily mobilised themselves to clean up their own neighbourhoods.

A crucial aspect of Michael and Camilla’s campaign is their work with primary schools that they encounter, where they present educational programmes to raise awareness of the importance of taking care of the environment. The children offer a simple pledge: “I love where I live. I promise not to litter and to encourage others to do the same.” The intrepid activists hope that every step they take will help to engrave this pledge in the minds and hearts of all South Africans.

The Trekking for Trash campaign hopes to inspire South Africans to help in their communities so as to:

• Protect the environment • Minimise waste and usage at our already brimming landfills • Save raw materials and energy • Instill a sense of responsibility for the environment to all around them • Set an example for the recovery of other recyclables.

Campaign cred Ever wondered how long it takes for your trash to decompose?

Plastic bottle: 450 years

Disposable nappy: 450 years

Fishing line: 600 years

Plastic grocery bag: 10-20 years

Tin can: 50 years

Glass bottle: undetermined

For more information about the Can Do! Trekking

for Trash Fund and to pledge support, visit

www.trekkingfortrash.co.za. You can also follow

Michael and Camilla’s journey on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/TrekkingForTrash

and Twitter @trekking4trash.


TEACH

Conscious

LIVING

Worldwide, global warming is getting attention – but curbing the effects of climate change on natural resources, food production and all forms of life on the planet is not happening fast enough. You can help by making simple lifestyle changes at home.By JD van Zyl

2. Efergy Showertime This smart gadget keeps a close eye on how much water you use when you hit the shower, ultimately helping you save more. Simply fit the unit to your shower wall using the suction cup, calibrate it to the speed that water flows through your showerhead, and set a target of how much water you’d like to use for each shower (Efergy recommends 35 litres for four minutes). When you next hop under the shower, just activate the device and it will track your progress. Once you’ve reached the goal you set, an alarm will let you know that it’s time to reach for the towel. www.efergy.com

1. BioLite CampStove This nifty device relies on any type of biomass (from small twigs to pine cones) to convert heat from an open fire into useable electricity while you cook your dinner. The CampStove, which is quick to light, fast to boil and easy to store, powers most USB-chargeable devices like smartphones, LED lights and GPS units, and is far kinder to the environment than traditional gas cylinders that are heavy to lug around and pricey to fill. When it’s time to head home, simply slip the CampStove’s powerpack into the cooking chamber for space-saving packing. www.biolitestove.com

3. USBcell Over 15 billion batteries are thrown away every year – that’s equal to a column of batteries stretching to the moon and back. Such a wasteful approach not only creates a significantly large carbon footprint but when batteries end up on landfill sites they slowly split open and leak harmful heavy metals and toxic chemicals into the ground and water. Until recently the only real alternative to standard disposable batteries has been the rechargeable kind, which come with bulky rechargers that plug into the wall socket. The green alternative is Moixa Energy’s USBcell. When the USBcell battery’s charge runs out, simply flip the plastic top cap back and plug it into the USB port of any computer until it is completely recharged. www.usbcell.com

1 2

3


GADGETS

4. CookUpINOX You don’t have to give up a good braai in favour of going green. This French creation from ID Cook uses its reflective, parabolic shape to focus the sun’s rays on the centre – resulting in a braai that uses only clean, free, solar energy and doesn’t create any smoke or CO2 emissions. Most areas in SA average more than 2 500 hours of sunshine per year so the grill’s ability to hit a sizzling 200°C almost instantly means your steak will be seared to perfection in no time. The CookUpINOX, which is large enough to prepare food for five adults, collapses easily and comes with its own handy carry case, making it easier than ever to braai at the beach, campsite or scenic picnic spot – even those where open fires aren’t allowed. www.idcook.com

5. SLXtreme The rugged SLXtreme case for the iPhone will successfully deal with your phone’s aversion to water and your own anxiety around a dying battery. Once fitted to your phone it will be able to safely dive to depths of two metres to capture underwater scenery, survive a drop as high as the average man and, thanks to its integrated battery, give you 150% more talk time. No wall sockets in sight? Simply place your phone in the sun and allow the built-in solar panels on the back of the case to completely recharge it. The SLXtreme case can handle pretty much anything you throw at it. Currently available for iPhone 4/4S, the 5 and iPad cases are due to be launched this winter. www.snowlizardproducts.com

6. Dyson Air Multiplier An eco-friendly alternative to air-conditioning, this bladeless desk fan oscillates like a traditional fan, but cools more effectively and uses less electricity. While traditional fan blades chop the air up, creating a buffeting breeze that often disturbs more than cools, the Air Multiplier draws surrounding air into the airflow and pushes it through the loop by as much as 15 times to expel 450 litres of cool, smooth, uninterrupted air every second. The fan’s speed can be adjusted with a dimmer-switch control on its base. No blades mean there’s no need for a grille to tempt children to poke their fingers through, plus it’s a breeze to clean. www.dyson.co.za

4 5

6


GADGETS

The beauty and grooming world can cause confusion even for the most discerning buyer. Try these top treatments, skin savers and sweet scents for him and her.

Clarins Men Exfoliating Cleanser (R260 for 125ml)

A dull, ashy complexion and impure skin are the realities of modern city living. This two-in-one exfoliating cleanser is suitable for all skin types and contains clever plant ingredients – Soapwort Root Extract helps to remove impurities without drying out the skin, and Bison Grass extract helps boost skin tone. Use in the morning before shaving; apply to damp skin and gently massage before rinsing. Tip: concentrate on the middle of the face where blackheads tend to form. Call 011 809 6400 for stockists.

Elemis Skin IQ+ Facial for Men (about R800 for 75 minutes)

Whether you’re a seasoned spa goer or a first-timer don’t think facials are solely for women. The basics are covered here (cleanse, exfoliate, mask and moisturise) and there’s a foot massage, so it’s literally a top-to-toe treatment. Ideally suited to stressed and dehydrated skins, it’s a winner to counteract the nasties that lurk in our polluted city air (as well as the harsh effects of daily shaving). The hero Elemis products are the anti-agers formulated specifically for men’s skins: Time Defence Wrinkle Delay and Time Defence Eye Reviver, both helping to give tired skin the ultimate overhaul. The 90 minutes out of your schedule will thoroughly deep cleanse skin and give it a much-needed hydration boost for a refreshed (and dare we say it?), younger looking you. Call 021 442 7700 to locate the closest spa in your area.

of the bestfor HIM

2

3

Cartier Déclaration d’un Soir (R800 for 100ml)

Housed in a luxe cut-glass bottle, this modern energetic scent contains notes of pepper and sandalwood for an earthy aromatic structure. The classic scent staple, rose, has been added as an interesting floral twist, with cumin and nutmeg spices to give it a heady and exotic spin. Described by Cartier as “perfect for grand evenings”, we reckon it’s elegantly restrained enough for the boardroom too. But keep a bottle handy if you’re going from the office to dinner. Available at Cartier Boutique, Sandton City and select Stuttafords.

1 The Scent to Sniff

The Skin Saver

The Spa Spoil

By Helen Clemson


CONSCIOUS GROOMING

POLOIntroducing Winter 2013...

SANDTON, ROSEBANK, EASTGATE, MENLYN, CAVENDISH, V&A WATERFRONT

ww

w.p

olo.

co.z

a (+

27) 0

11- 2

58 -7

600

Neydharting Moor Body Wrap (R550 for up to 90 minutes)

Got the flu or a bad cold? While you’re fueling up on vitamin C, make a booking for this healing (and rather heavenly) wrap – it’s like a facial for your entire body. This one starts with the application of a full mud pack spread on from top to toe, to exfoliate, heal and detoxify skin. You might notice red areas on your body where you’re suffering from muscle aches or a tight chest – this is the stimulation of blood supply underneath your skin, helping your body to relax. After 20 minutes, the mud is showered off and a massage of your choice follows. A back, neck and shoulder will relieve tension, a sports drainage helps break down lactic acid and a lymphatic will drain toxins. If you need extra time to sleep, your therapist will leave you in peace for a little snooze. For bookings call Lis Spa on 021 761 3393 or 021 761 0795.

Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Night Conditioner (R908)

Most South African women are likely to suffer from some form of pigmentation. Darker skins often develop dark spots after a blemish or skin injury (like a cut or insect bite). Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Night Conditioner is an oil-free nighttime treatment that stimulates and balances skin activities. Harmonious white lily, anthyllis and rose-petal extract combined with rose essential oil make up a winning mix. After cleansing, apply to the face, neck and décolleté. Tip: turbocharge this treatment by using it for one 28-day cycle for each decade of life. Visit www.tocara4.co.za for stockists.

Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne (R1 050 for 100ml)

We always love unexpected fragrance combinations, and that’s the beauty of Jo Malone’s fragrance philosophy: experiment with combinations to your heart’s content. At the heart of this “floral fruity” fragrance is tart blackberry juice and the fresh scent of bay leaves, mixed with classic fragrance ingredients such as grapefruit, vetiver and lily of the valley, giving it a fresh boy-meets-girl edge. What makes this combo work is the vibrant, verdant scent it creates; you’ll be instantly whisked away to the English countryside. Perfect to spritz on for crisp autumn days. Visit www.jomalone.co.za for stockists.

of the best for her1 The Spa Spoil

2 The Skin Saver3 The Scent to Sniff


CONSCIOUS GROOMING

The Mail & Guardian is now available on your iPad. Out every Friday, you will get

breaking news, views, opinion, sports and entertainment news plus extra pictures,

videos and slideshows before the ink has dried on other newspapers. Best of all, there

are a range of subscription offers, from as little as $1.99 per week. Find us at the app

store by searching for Mail & Guardian on iTunes.

Update your iPad with M&G.

WEEKLY | 1 MONTH | 2 MONTHS | 3 MONTHS | 6 MONTHS

$1.99 $7.99 $14.99 $19.99 $35.99

ITʼS A WHOLE NEW DIGITAL WORLDSPORTNEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

OPINION

LIFESTYLE

www.mg.co.za

FINANCEBUSINESS

M&G iPad

Eight children from Khayelitsha have impressed the promoter so much they’ve been invited to perform at the 15th annual LA Salsa Congress in May, but they need help to get there.

By Debbie Hathway Photographs Theo Mseka

WORLD-RENOWNED LATIN music and dance promoter Albert Torres visited Cape Town late last year to consider its suitability as a venue for an international salsa congress. It was on one of his four weekends off in the year.

Instead of falling in love with the place, he fell in love with the people. The result? Torres has invited a group of young African dance students from Khayelitsha to perform at his 15th annual LA Salsa Congress in May and has committed to participating in the Mzansi Cape Town Salsa Festival that will take place from 31 October to 3 November. “It’s an historic trip in the sense that I’ve been to the northern part of this continent (Morocco and Egypt), but I’ve never been to what I consider real Africa. It was beautiful to see Table Mountain and Robben Island, and to go to your (salsa) clubs, but I’ve experienced nothing like what I saw in that township,” says Torres. “That has been the highlight of my trip because I got to see kids, who probably didn’t understand a word I was saying, get into the rhythm of the music that I take around the world. It didn’t matter that they didn’t have shoes on and were dancing on a cement floor – they were just pounding it!”

The children were attending a class given by Durban-born Bheki Ndlovu, a multi-skilled dancer, choreographer and director now

based in Cape Town. He’s a specialist in African dance, hip-hop, street dance and contemporary dance, which he adapts to much of his other dance work, including salsa, pantsula, gumboot and theatrical dance. Ndlovu will choreograph the children’s performance in LA and teach an African dance class at the congress. “What better way to go back to the roots and represent Africa?” Torres asks.

There’s just the matter of finance. The children need sponsors for their flights and hotel accommodation during their stay.

Getting the children to LA is testament to the Albert Torres Productions motto: create unity through Latin music and dance. “No matter our age, location or background, we are all united by our common passion,” says Torres. And it’s that passion that motivated Mzansi Cape Town Salsa Festival organiser Theo Mseka to attend major salsa events abroad during the past four years, to eventually meet Torres and to invite him to consider the Mother City for an international congress. “I’m not doing it for my ego,” says Torres. “I’m doing it for Cape Town, because you’re probably the last to realise that you have a jewel here. You’re in Africa, where this music originated.”

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, music gave Torres a way to escape from a family he felt he didn’t belong in and a heritage

head for


OPPORTUNITY

he chose to reject. Then he heard a 1971 recording by musicians now known as the Fania All Stars at the Cheetah in New York. “That stuttering kid who didn’t want to know his heritage has become an ambassador for this music around the world.” Since then Torres has made it his mission to “share the music and dance of my people with the world” and rates his performance at the 1993 Academy Awards, among others, as a milestone in his career.

Torres was taught to dance by his mother from the age of five but he found fame when he was spotted at a salsa club and landed a role in Mambo Kings starring Antonio Banderas. Roles followed in Out to Sea, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and Dance with Me, starring Vanessa Williams and Chayanne, in which he worked as the film’s assistant choreographer and appeared as a principal dancer.

Mseka first met Torres at the 2009 Hamburg Salsa Festival. Mseka had arrived late for a workshop and sat on the side watching. He asked another guy who was there, watching, if he could join in after missing most of the class. “He looked up at me and said: ‘If you want to you can do it, nothing is impossible in this world’,” says Mseka. It was Albert Torres.

Mseka says he began discussing the prospect of a local festival with Torres at the 2010 Morocco Salsa Festival in Marrakech, but it was only in 2011 that he made the decision to work with Torres in launching the festival and promoting South African dances and dancers to the world. “Torres asked about salsa in Africa in general and why there weren’t big events happening here. I explained the challenges we face in being situated so far away that flights anywhere cost an arm and a leg,” says Mseka.

Now, almost four years later, he has the children’s performance in LA and the salsa festival in October to show for his effort.

(As seen in the Cape Times)

* To contribute to the children’s flights and accommodation in LA, please email [email protected]. For more information on this campaign and to book for the Mzansi Cape Town Salsa Festival, go to www.alloutsalsa.com.

Opposite: Albert Torres with Bheki Ndl-ovu, who will choreograph thechildren’s performance in LA; top and middle: Ndlovu teaches dance moves to a class in Khayelitsha; left: a little dancer takes a breather


OPPORTUNITY

A LEGACY BY definition is something we leave behind to our heirs, usually in the form of money or property, but some people are looking beyond their immediate family to leave legacies of influence.

South Africa, possibly as a result of its difficult past and its extreme socio-economic imbalances, has benefited through legacies of influence left by icons like

Mahatma Ghandi, who helped found the Natal Indian Congress and develop his methodology of Satyagraha (devotion to the truth), or non-violent protest, against the Transvaal government; Nelson Mandela, whose long walk to freedom gave birth to our democratic nation and whose charitable work targets poverty, HIV/Aids and campaigns for children’s causes around the world, and Desmond Tutu, whose vocal opposition to the apartheid government helped hasten its demise and whose tireless work in reconciliation eased the pain of transformation into our rainbow nation.

Now there is a new generation of South Africans whose words and deeds are creating a lasting legacy both at home and abroad. They lead by example, inspiring others through their actions.

Elon Musk is a Pretoria-born entrepreneur who is developing

the field of commercial space exploration. At school, he taught himself how to programme computers and sold his first commercial software, a space game called “Blastar”. The seeds of his fortune were made as co-founder of the Internet-based payment system, PayPal. While developing the application, Musk recruited a wide range of local technical and business personnel who contributed to its success, including Roelof Botha, an actuary and businessman (and grandson of politician Pik Botha and nephew of rock star Piet Botha).

In 2002 PayPal was sold to Internet auction company eBay for $1,5 billion and Musk, then its largest shareholder, used the proceeds to start a company called Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX). SpaceX is a leader in rocket technology and manufactures launch vehicles to carry payloads into space. In 2008, as the US government cut back on its investment in space exploration and the Space Shuttle was retired, SpaceX was awarded a $1,6 billion NASA contract for 12 flights of their Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.

Musk has said that he views space exploration as an important step in expanding, if not preserving, the consciousness of human life. To this end he has now turned his attention to travelling to and colonisation of Mars, stating: “I would like to die on Mars; just not on impact.”

Beyond Imagination By Charles Evison

www.douglasmurray.co.zaThe Douglas Murray Home for the Aged

Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust (IAHET)

PBO No. 9300026921

www.iahet.com

The Douglas Murray Home for the Aged (DMH) has been providing quality, residential care for the frail and elderly residents at the home for more than 40 years. Located in the suburb of Retreat on the Cape Flats, the DMH employs more than 60 professionally trained staff members whose primary responsibility it is to provide for the physical, social and emotional needs of the more than 80 residents at the home on a 24/7 basis. If you are interested in donating in support of the client-care programme at the home, contact them on 021 712 2146.

The Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust was established in September 2005 to honour the memory of the late Imam Abdullah Haron who was killed in police detention on 27 September 1969. The IAHET seeks to promote the vision of Imam Haron by empowering marginalised groups and individuals though education.

PO Box 44506, Claremont 7735, Cape Town, South Africa

F.R Number: 98800207005


LEGACY

• The delivery to date of over R800 million in aid to 37 countries worldwide

• The design and development of the world’s first and largest containerised mobile hospital (deployed in Bosnia during the conflict there) and the first containerised primary healthcare clinic

• Assisting with any natural disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2010 Haiti earthquake

• Being the first charity organisation to land in Baghdad to assist after the Second Gulf War and, more recently, establishing and operating medical facilities in Syria to assist the wounded in the civil war there

• At one point in 2011, being the only international aid group providing food aid to Somalia, airlifting 180 tons and shipping 2 000 tons of aid to that country.

Gift of the Givers also has a strong South African focus and has numerous projects aimed at benefiting citizens, from providing shoes to schoolchildren to helping rebuild shacks for victims of shack fires.

Dr Sooliman’s legacy to us is the example he has set as one who strives to benefit mankind, probably best expressed in his own words: “Never before in the history of our continent and our people has it become so important to stand up and to be counted. No more begging bowl, no more cap in hand, no more the indignity of outstretched hands. The dignity and honour of our people has to be protected so, whether it is famine and war in Somalia or a tornado in Duduza, Africans need to respond, without waiting for their brothers to ask; that is the Ubuntu of the soul.”

Contact Charles at Legacy FS on 021 671 1438

With a motivation to help combat global warming by creating technology to have a material impact on oil consumption, Musk was instrumental in the development of SolarCity, the largest provider of solar power systems in the United States and, Tesla Motors, which designs, manufactures and sells electronic vehicles.

Although Musk’s legacy is in inspiring us to develop entrepreneurial skills and to explore beyond commonly held perceptions of human limitations, he has not ignored philanthropy and is founder and chairman of the Musk Foundation, which focuses on aerospace, clean energy, science education and paediatric health.

Another South African who is leading the way with his philanthropical deeds is Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder and chairman of Gift of the Givers (Waqful Waqifin Foundation). Founded in 1992, its successes include:

The Children’s Hospital Trust fundraises for the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. This internationally renowned hospital holds the hopes and dreams of desperately ill children from across Africa. The Children’s Hospital Trust’s “Circle of Life” programme is for those who wish to leave a bequest to help future generations of sick children at the Hospital. For information or a tour of the hospital, contact Liz Linsell on 021 686 7860 or [email protected].

The Children’s Hospital Trust www.childrenshospitaltrust.org.za

Chevrah Kadisha www.jhbchev.co.zaChevrah Kadisha is the oldest Jewish organisation in Johannesburg and the largest Jewish welfare organisation on the African continent.

Established in 1888, during Johannesburg’s pioneer gold rush years, it has been taking care of the welfare and burial needs of the community ever since. From inception it has provided a paternal, protective and unifying influence and accepted the leadership role in developing the community in Johannesburg and the largest Jewish welfare organisation on the African continent. Contact 011 532 9600.

PBO No. 930004493

PBO No. 1811134290


LEGACY

Some people are late starters. We’re thankful that Selim Kagee had the courage to change his beliefs.

By Irene Stewart

Photography by Chenara Fenton

Kassandra de Araujo

HE CLAIMS TO be shy and introverted, especially when he was younger, but Selim Kagee, now in his 30s, has clearly found his voice. It doesn’t take much prompting from me before he is talking passionately and eloquently – not only about his music and how he got his record deal from EMI, but about his deep desire to inspire and uplift others. This is a theme he returns to again and again as we talk: how he has been on the receiving end of so much nurturing and help on his journey towards finding his true voice, and how he wishes to be that for others. From his uncle who supported him and said, “You can grow here”, to his music coach, Jean Stuart, to whom his debut album is dedicated, and his producer and co-song writer, Clive Ridgeway, who helped make it all happen.


DREAM

Selim tells me the story of how he had to perform a song in one of the plays he was in when he was much younger and how he sang his heart out, only to be told by the director that he should rather “sit this one out”. I laugh and ask whether he has sent this director a copy of his CD. He smiles and says, “But he was right. I didn’t know what I was doing.” Shortly after that wake-up call, a friend directed him to a lecture on singing by South African soprano Wendy Fine. This was a watershed moment in his life: she told the audience that if you had lungs, a throat and a diaphragm, you could sing. This was all Selim needed to hear. And this is why “my shows are about upliftment. I didn’t know how to sing – all I knew was that I wanted to, and that lecture changed everything for me because I realised if you change your beliefs then you can achieve whatever you want. And I want to do that for others.”

After a gap year in London, where he practised his singing five hours a day, he returned to Cape Town and found

himself a singing teacher. Jean is one of the people who changed Selim’s life and he credits her with helping him to find his “true voice”. “I wanted to be a pop singer,” he laughs ruefully. “And she taught me how to make this big sound.”

He promptly lets out “this big sound” while we are sitting in a restaurant, which, needless to say, causes quite a stir. “Oops,” he shrugs gleefully, covering his mouth with his hand, looking like a happy, mischievous child. “She made my voice stronger. She saw something in my voice, in me, that I didn’t and she kept on supporting me and building my confidence.” Sadly, Jean passed away as the album was being released; Selim’s tribute to her on the album is a moving dedication and thanks.

He met Clive when he signed up for guitar lessons. And this is when things started to move for him: Clive loved Selim’s sound and together they wrote several songs, the first of which, Cry for Love, is the title track of the album and

the one for which Selim will probably be known. It’s receiving lots of airplay at the moment. “He really nurtured me,” says Selim.

And now he wants to pass that on. So many people have nurtured and taught him along the way and he wants to do that for others – in his shows as well as by forming a youth development orchestra. “I know, from singing with Celtic Woman, that when you perform with artists of that standard, you have to up your game. I want to provide the opportunity for young musicians to work in a professional environment; to help them find their talent and know they can overcome obstacles in their way. Especially obstacles about their beliefs about what they can and can’t do.”

Selim’s eyes shine with passion for this project, but finding funding is difficult. Given the obstacles he has overcome and considering his determination – and how everything he has believed in has come to pass – I have no doubt that this dream will come true.

Buy his album, Cry for Love, in all good record stores. Follow Selim Kagee on Facebook or visit his website www.selimkagee.co.za.


DREAM

MOSTLY WRONG, ACTUALLY. The headgear of choice in Chihuahua is the white stetson hat and nobody sleeps under a cactus. The drink with the worm in it is mezcal, not tequila – and eating the worm is the sole preserve of tourists. Most of the food was not insanely hot but had an incredible complexity of flavours and a zing that only fresh ingredients can give. And I drank the tap water and survived. (There was, however, a mariachi band at the wedding). But my abiding memory of our visit was the food, and how different it was from what I had imagined it to be.

I remember so clearly when Spur Steak Ranches first rolled out their Tex-Mex menu and how, after a month or two of people hesitantly ordering “kwes-a-dill-as” and “jal-a-pee-nose”, they came to our rescue with handy pronounciation guides. Oh happy day! Overnight, we all went from ordering “fah-gee-tas” to “fah-heat-us” – problem solved.

But after my visit to Mexico, I realised that pronounciation is only half the problem: the real difficulty is distinguishing between the many and varied ways that Mexicans and their American neighbours have for serving a tortilla and some kind of filling. So here is a handy guide to the many tortilla wraps of Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine:

We humans love to harbour detailed preconceptions about places we have never visited – a fact that I was reminded of when we visited Chihuahua, Mexico, for a friend’s wedding. We knew what to expect… doesn’t everybody? Blokes wearing sombrero hats snoozing under cactuses; tequila bottles with worms in them; mariachi bands; food so packed with chillies that your eyes water at the mere thought of it, and tap water that will kill you. Right?

By Jeanne Horak-Druiff

Tacos are small soft corn or flour tortillas that are held in the hand and filled with chicken, meat, seafood or salsas – whatever you like. Classic street food. (Crispy taco shells, I am told, are an American invention.)

Burritos, also an American invention, consist of soft flour tortillas rolled around all sorts of fillings (often including beans) and tucked in at both ends to make a neat parcel.

Chimichangas are crispy, deep-fried burritos.

Enchiladas are soft, corn tortillas, filled with meat or cheese and then baked, covered in a chilli sauce.

Quesadillas are soft tortillas covered in cheese (and possibly other ingredients), then folded in half and toasted.

www.cooksister.com


NOURISH

My runaway favourite dish remains fajitas – they do not come to the table fully formed but arrive in pieces, to be assembled by each individual diner. Fajitas consist of strips of marinated steak or chicken; fried onions and peppers; possibly grated cheese and shredded lettuce; and condiments such as sour cream, guacamole and salsa – all ready to be wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. Heavenly. I have made them ever since I was a student, and I am still doing so with gusto. Usually I season the chicken and sauté, but recently I thought I would jazz things up a little by marinating the meat overnight.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

Juice of half a lime

1 generous T chipotle chilli paste (or Chipotle Tabasco)

1 T olive oil

1 T good quality tequila (optional – add extra lime juice if not using)

2 onions, sliced into thin wedges

4 bell peppers – a mixture of red and green, sliced into thin strips

2 cloves of garlic, crushed salt and black pepper (Robertsons Chicken Spice also works well)

Sunflower or canola oil for frying

To serve

4 large flour tortillas

2 cups of shredded lettuce

150g full-flavoured cheese like cheddar, grated

Tomato salsa

Guacamole

Sour cream

Method

Slice the chicken into thin strips, place in a glass or metal bowl. Mix the chipotle paste, lime juice, olive oil and tequila (if using) well. Pour over the chicken strips and mix well to ensure all the meat is coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight or as long as you can.

Heat a little olive oil in a large pan and add the onion. Sauté over medium heat until the onions start to soften slightly, then add the peppers and garlic and continue to fry until they are soft enough for your taste, but still retaining their shape. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon, season and keep warm.

To the same pan, add the marinated chicken strips, turn up the heat, and stir continuously to stop them sticking or burning. Remove from the heat when they are just done (no longer pink when you cut them in half), season to taste and add them to the peppers and onions.

Steam or microwave the tortillas to heat them, then serve the fajitas by laying all the components on the table – tortillas; chicken and peppers; lettuce; cheese; salsa; guacamole and sour cream – and let guests assemble their own fajitas.

Chilli and lime marinated chicken fajitas (serves 4)


NOURISH

How to get there

There are direct flights from Dallas or Houston (which is served by SAA from Johannesburg); or direct flights from London to El Paso, from where there is a regular bus service to Chihuahua.

What to buy

Handmade silver jewellery is cheap and plentiful, often also featuring turquoise and semi-precious stones. There are dozens of stores selling beautiful, hand-crafted cowboy boots in every shade of the rainbow, and in anything from plain leather to dyed snakeskin. Chihuahua is also the home of a particular variety of tequila called Sotol, which is available both as the classic white spirit as well as mellow, oak-aged versions guaranteed to change your view of tequila forever.

What to see

Chihuahua is the starting point for exploring the Sierra Tarahumara – six scenic canyons covering over 25 000 square miles, making it four times larger than the Grand Canyon. Take the Chihuahua Pacifico Railway that passes through the Sierra Tarahumara for a unique way to view the area – trains include passenger cars, bathrooms, a dining car and club car. Between Chihuahua and Los Mochis on the coast, with 12 stops in between, the track passes over 37 bridges and through 86 tunnels, rising as high as 2 400 metres above sea level, providing spectacular views of the canyons below. At various stops you can explore the Basaseachic Falls (Mexico’s second-highest waterfall) in Candameña Canyon, as well as Crusarare Falls and the nearby Recowata hot springs in Copper Canyon. Take advantage of cooler weather to hike to Copper Canyon landmarks like Cuarenta Casas, an archeological site in Huapoca Canyon, which features 15 adobe houses from the 13th century. Buy train tickets ahead of time if you can, particularly in peak season. http://www.chepe.com.mx/english/index.html

When to go

October and November are just after the rainy season, so the area is looking its best with full rivers and waterfalls, but without the heat and humidity of mid-summer. It is also peak season for the Chihuahua Pacifico Railway, so make sure to book in advance.

Chihuahua is about as far from the touristy resorts of the Yucatán peninsula as you can get in Mexico. Tell any Mexican that this is your destination and they will nod approvingly and assure you that you’ll be seeing the real Mexico. The city has a beautiful colonial centre, which is pedestrianised and where you can see numerous government palaces and historic churches, as well as the Mercado de Artesanias (a block-long market selling everything from crafts and jewellery to Mexican sweets and T-shirts) and the Casa de las Artesanias del Estado de Chihuahua, which has the best selection of regional crafts for sale.

Pho

tog

rap

hy: J

ea

nne

Ho

rak-

Dru

iff

Pho

tog

rap

hy: J

ea

nne

Ho

rak-

Dru

iff


NOURISH

Shamwari is intent on conserving a vanishing way of life. And lions are, alarmingly, slowly disappearing from our continent.

By Irene Stewart

Photography Shamwari Group

PERHAPS IT’S THE WIDE, open spaces, the warmth, the beautiful light or just being in Africa that makes Shamwari Game Reserve so special. A 45-minute drive from Port Elizabeth Airport, Shamwari is one of the largest private conservation initiatives in South Africa, and certainly in the Eastern Cape. Home to the Big Five as well as five of South Africa’s seven biomes, it’s also home to once abused wildlife – from around the world – that get to retire to this magical landscape. The philosophy of this 25 000-hectare game reserve is “conserving a vanishing way of life”, and that’s what they strive to do, every day, with various (award-winning) initiatives and practices.

Shamwari boasts a dedicated wildlife department of ecologists; vets; environmentalists; breeding, education and rehab centres; an animal hospital and an anti-poaching unit that’s working exceptionally hard and has been awarded the Global Nature Fund Award for Best Conservation Practice. To keep illegal activities (like poaching) on the reserve to a minimum, a specialist has swopped his life of organised crime (we presume fighting it, not committing it) for the glamour of the wild, and we were cryptically informed that he is “very effective at seeking intelligence and getting it through”.

BORN

A place for the whole family

There are several lodges in the reserve, but the place you want to go with your family is the newly refurbished Riverdene Family Lodge. Named the winner of the 2011 African Eye Award for Best Family Resort, the contemporary lodge includes air-conditioning, private patios, en-suites, TVs and deluxe braais, and is designed to entertain children of any age. Kids are entertained under the supervision of the children’s coordinator while making African beads, learning about the stars and enjoying the “Kids on Safari” programme. They can also explore the animal rehabilitation centre and hospital to visit any furry, feathery or leathery patients there.


EXPLORE

Conserving a vanishing way of lifeIf you’re leaving the children behind and really want to experience the wild, the recently opened Shamwari Explorer Camp is where you want to be. This back-to-basics camp, for over 16s only, is located in a shaded river line and camouflaged by dense bush. It consists of four two-man tents for guests, one open-air shower and a flushing toilet. Food is cooked on an open fire.

“The best way to experience the bush is a guided walk,” says Geran Ellish, a specialist guide at the camp. And the Explorer camp harks back to the original days of safari, of being on foot and sleeping around the fire at night (or in our case, a comfy tent). But being on foot in the bush comes with certain dangers and you have to follow the rules and obey the signals from the guides because, cautions Ellish, “animals that feel threatened don’t care if you’re the CEO of a large corporate”. And the reason no under 16s are allowed? Because “if you’re of prey size, you don’t stand a chance”.

If you’re of prey size, you don’t stand a chance.

Love birds Brutus and Marina at the Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari Game Reserve, courtesy of centre manager Glen Vena.


EXPLORE

Tips to remember• Shamwari is a 45-minute drive from

Port Elizabeth Airport.

• Pack plenty of sunblock, walking boots, comfortable clothing and a sun hat.

• It’s chilly in the mornings, so pack a warm jacket for the sunrise game drives and guided walks.

• Don’t forget your camera!

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity that takes action to protect threatened species and stop animals suffering. Every year, thousands of abused and caged animals are rescued and brought to Shamwari and kept in protected areas on the reserve.

Johann Lombard, another specialist guide at Shamwari, warns that because of the decreasing number of tiger skins and bones available to the Asian market, people are starting to look to the African lion. “It’s probably the most endangered species on this continent. There are fewer than 30 000 lions left, compared to two million a century ago.” Trophy hunting and loss of habitat have also impacted the King of the Wild.

And so was born the Pride of Cape Town – a public arts event at the V&A Waterfront with 50 individually decorated and sponsored lion sculptures. Money raised will help Born Free protect and conserve lions in the wild and look after the rescued cats at the Big Cat Sanctuary at Shamwari. This huge event was kicked off last year by Brian May (of Queen fame) and Broadway star Kerry Ellis, who collaborated on a re-recording of the Oscar-winning song, Born Free, and the filming of a documentary of the plight of the lions.

For bookings, call 041 509 3000 or visit www.shamwarigroup.com for more information.

Home to the Big Five and to once abused wildlife, Shamwari Game Reserve is a safe sanctuary for all animals.

Born free


EXPLORE

MELOMED 24 AMBULANCE SERVICE

0800 786 000

P R I V A T E H O S P I T A L S

www.melomed.co.za

Melomed TokaiOpening Soon

Melomed Gatesville021 637 8100

Melomed Renal Care Unit021 637 1702

Melomed Breast Clinic021 637 9748

Melomed Bellville021 948 8131

Melomed Mitchell’s Plain021 392 3126

Melomed Renal Care Unit021 392 3543

In Pursuit of Excellence

melomed tokia flyer.indd 1 2013/04/02 4:47 PM

Absa Kirkwood Wildlife Festival (28-30 June)

The small village of Kirkwood in the Sundays River Valley, just north of PE, sees over 45 000 visitors for this annual green festival that celebrates SA’s wildlife in a mix of conservation and entertainment. There are hundreds of stalls, many wine-tasting events, a wildlife auction and live music performances. This year the organisers are introducing an “extreme fishing” tournament, tandem skydives and a “Lang Lag Tafel” where diners will savour “smileys” (sheep heads) while being amused by a comedian. Yes, it’s going to be wild.

Encounters Documentary Film Festival (7-24 June)

Going on 15 years, the country’s premier documentary film festival just keeps growing, having increased its audience from 2 500 in its first year to over 11 000 in 2012. Now partnered with Al Jazeera news channel, this year the festival will have screened over 500 South African documentaries since its inception in 1999. The line-up not only includes the last year’s most compelling documentaries, award-winners, festival darlings and student films, but also master classes, special presentations, panel discussions and workshops for aspiring filmmakers – many lauded local filmmakers have cut their teeth

with Encounters. Expect to be enlightened by over 50 films, with highlights like Marley (about the groundbreaking Bob), The Island President (98% approval on popular movie review site, Rotten Tomatoes), and the dance film Pina directed by Wim Wenders. For full schedules, visit www.encounters.co.za.

Sarah Chang in Concert (9 June)

One of classical music’s most gifted performers, American violinist Sarah Chang will perform with the Cape Philharmonic at the Artscape Opera Theatre. Having collaborated with most major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, Chang will perform the Sibelius Violin Concerto in a programme that includes Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 and a Rossini overture, with Theodore Kuchar conducting. For more information, visit www.cpo.org.za.

Franschhoek Literary Festival (17-19 May)

The brainchild of award-winning SA novelist Christopher Hope, this globally recognised literary fest continues to grow. This year’s line-up includes Alexander McCall Smith, author of The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency; British war historian and winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize, Antony Beevor; A.D. Miller, British editor on The Economist and author of the debut novel, Snowdrops, (shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker Prize), as well as a host of successful SA authors. For the full programme, visit www.flf.co.za.

Port Elizabeth Jo’burg & Cape Town

Cape Town

The Sardine Run (May-July)

The spectacular annual migration of vast shoals of sardines off the KZN coastline has been described as one of the greatest marine events on earth and is a bonanza for scuba divers and fishermen alike.

Every year a seething mass of sardines – visible even by satellite and rivalling East Africa’s great wildebeest migration in terms of biomass – affords visitors a spectacle of action-packed sea life, including approximately 25 000 dolphins, 100 000 gannets and thousands of sharks and game fish engaged in a feeding frenzy.

Recognised as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, Aliwal Shoal is the perfect place to intersect the run. A fossilised sand dune of sponges and coral, it sits 5km off the coast of Umkomaas – a town that amounts to a diver’s paradise with a number of dive charters that cater for day visitors.

For the latest information, call the KZN Sharks Board Hotline on 082 284 9495 or visit www.shark.co.za/sardinerun, www.sardinerun.co.za or www.sardinerun.com.

DurbanW

ord

s b

y A

lbe

rt B

uhr


DIARY

To define it, use a dictionary. To execute it correctly, speak to Legacy.

ESTATE PLANNING

T 021 671 1438 | F 021 671 1026 | E [email protected]

www.legacyfs.co.za

Associate representation in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth

Authorised Financial Service Provider: Licence No. 42238

Documents

Selim Kagee In full cry Leave your own legacy Township dance … · Printed by Uhuru Printers (Pty) Ltd Photography: Warren Rasmussen AUTUMN/WINTER 2013 03. 03 | Ed’s Letter Debbie