The South African, Issue 534, 1 October 2013

1 - 7 October 2013 Issue 534

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p6 | Three top SA films at London BFI fest includes unbanned paedophilia film

INSIDE:

p14 | Intrepid Saffas drive from London to Mongolia

p11 | SA Deafblind priest Fr Cyril gets OBE for services to disabled

Continued on page 2

WE LOVE MANDELA: British portrait artist Richard Stone and his famous Mandela portrait which sold for record sums and currently resides in New York will be reproduced and on display among many other original artworks at the We Love Mandela exhibition, which will open to the public at South Africa House from 3 to 16 October. It will showcase a significant collection of artworks in the image of, and inspired by Nelson Mandela, including paintings, sculpture, photography, cartoons and beadwork. Read more on page 5. Photo by Alet van Hyssteen

|The Red October group plans to protest outside South Africa House, Trafalgar Square against the ‘oppression and murder of white people’ in South Africa and for the protection of their ethnic minority rights

‘SLAUGHTER OF WHITES’ PROTEST HEADS TO UKby HARRIET MANN

A PROTEST outside the SA High Commission in London against the ‘oppression’ and ‘slaughter’ of white South Africans will be one of several international demonstrations by campaign group Red October on Thursday 10 October. On that day, the group plans to march and release red balloons across South Africa and cities in New Zealand, Australia and USA to demand the protection of their ethnic minority rights ‘as enshrined in the SA Constitution’.

“We are tired of corrupt governance, racist Black Economic Empowerment and affirmative action policies,” the group said in a statement on its website.

“We can no longer be silent about the brutal torture of the elderly and defenceless people of our ethnic minority.

“We can no longer tolerate the destruction of our infrastructure, our filthy government hospitals, our pathetic education system, uninhabitable parks and public areas, dangerous neighbourhoods and filthy streets,” it claims.

The group also wants to be in charge of its own education system and wants the South African government to provide a safe environment for all – among other demands in its constitution.

Although the term “genocide” is not used by Red October, the reasons for the protest are part of the greater debate about whether white South Africans are being killed because of their ethnicity.

Last year a protest against ‘Boer genocide’ held alongside

a Freedom Day celebration in London made headlines when an ANC member taunted the protestors with the words, ‘Kill the Boer’.

The United Nations defines genocide as “Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its

physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; [and] forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”

Most of those who believe a white genocide is taking place in South Africa think its battleground is on South African farmland.

Approximately 87% of farmland is owned by the white population, despite plans to redistribute 30% of it after apartheid, Genocide Watch reported in 2012.

While the government describes farm attacks as simply part of the

bigger picture of crime in South Africa, white farmers believe it is a campaign to drive them off their land. According to Johan Burger, senior researcher of the crime and justice programme at the Institute for Security Studies, there is in fact a lack of accurate statistics regarding farm murders.

In 1997, the South African government, realising the importance of farms for food security, launched a joint task force to protect farms from being uniquely targeted for political

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Until 3 Oct 2013Canapes, drinks, music and

magic at the Middle Temple:London’s Middle Temple will provide the perfect setting for an evening of wine, food and entertainment in aid of Zimbabwe a National Emergency. Visit www.zane.uk.com for details

Until 20 Oct 2013Graphic Africa - An exhibition

featuring 16 leading African designers. Graphic Africa will showcase a thoroughly contemporary aesthetic, with important work by 16 leading designers from 10 countries in East, West and Southern Africa. Platform at Habitat, 208 King’s Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 5XP. www.zane.uk.com

For more events and details: www.thesouthafrican.com/events

reasons, including race.This team launched the rural

protection plan and in 1999 farm protection was upgraded to national priority. With this upgrade came yearly statistics on farm attacks and murders, which gave an in-depth view of the number of crimes being committed.

In 2003, a committee launched by the minister of police found that 89.3% of attacks were motivated by robbery, with little evidence implying they were racially motivated.

As a result, then-president Thabo Mbeki stopped the protection initiatives, ending the publication of annual statistics, Burger explained.

The effect of this absence of statistics on expert opinion is clearly seen in news reports and crime analysis. For example, John Simpson told the BBC in a report that white farmers are twice as likely to be murdered than police officers in South Africa.

He was investigating whether white South Africans had a “future” in the country.

“Working-class white people, most of them Afrikaans-speakers, are going through an intense crisis.

“But you will not read about it in the newspapers or see it reported on television because their plight seems to be something arising out of South Africa’s bad old past - a past which everyone, black and white, would like to forget.

“It seems to me that only certain parts of the white community really have a genuine future here: the better-off, more adaptable parts,” he added.

However, Lizette Lancaster, project manager of the Institute for Security Studies claims that “whites are far less likely to be

murdered than their black or coloured counterparts.”

This was supported by an analysis of 1,378 murder dockets completed by the South Africa police in 2009. They found that 86.9% of the murder victims were black and 1.8% were white, despite white people making up 8.85% of the overall population.

“The fact is that whites are less likely to be murdered than any other race in South Africa. The current murder rate of white South Africans is also equivalent to, or lower than, murder rates for whites recorded between 1979 and 1991 [during apartheid],” reported Africa Check although the Transvaal Agricultural Union claims that farm murders have increased by 34% to 68 deaths last year.

Burger told The Telegraph that in 2011 there was a murder rate of 31.9 per 100,000 people, 30 times higher than in Britain.

The murder rate for police officers is 51 per 100,000, but the murder rate among farmers is even higher, at 99 people killed per 100,000.

But Burger does not believe this high murder rate is politically motivated.

“The perception [in South Africa] is that farmers are all rich, and these criminals know the vulnerability of these remote farms, and so they see it as relatively low risk,” he said.

However, he believes some attackers may “take out their hatred for all those past wrongs, and show who’s in control now”.

Aside from the statistical aspect of this debate, for any genocide to take place there must be a driving force. In Rwanda it was the Hutus, in Bosnia’s Srebrenica massacre of Bosnian Muslims it was the

Bosnian Serbs and in Uganda it was Idi Amin.

Genocides do not just happen by accident, so if it is happening, someone must to be masterminding it.

According to The Telegraph, farmers claim their attackers are inspired by the apartheid song ‘Shoot the Boer’, which has been publicly sung by President Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema.

Zuma has made it clear he believes the murders of white farmers are not racially motivated but a part of South Africa’s bigger crime problem.

Malema, the former ANC Youth leader and now head of the new party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), was ousted by the ANC for singing ‘Shoot the Boer’, which resulted in a court case.

Some farmers say Malema is sparking the genocide, especially after the controversial EFF constitution called for the “expropriation of South Africa’s land without compensation for equal redistribution”.

However, on Thursday Malema denied to News24 that a genocide

would ensue if land-grabbing took place and warned farm owners not to trust the ANC as he predicts a violent uprising.

“Anger is boiling inside. One day, people will rise and claim the land and it will not be controllable,” he said.

Lobby group Afriforum have called on the government to class farm attacks as a crime of national priority.

The group handed a memorandum to the police minister urging him to give these murders the same attention as rhino poaching and cable theft.

The police minister’s spokesperson said in reply, “They are only representing people based on their colour. For us, racialising crime is problematic. You can’t have a separate category that says, farmers are the special golden boys and girls. You end up saying the life of a white person is more important. You cannot do this.”

Afriforum are now taking the issue to the UN. Red October was contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

Red October group to protest violence against SA whites

Terrorism: SA remains ‘vigilant’| The South African government has scrambled to reassure critics that its domestic and foreign intelligence services - greatly feared under Apartheid - are still able to secure its borders against the free movement of terroristsby HARRIET MANN

“TERRORISM is a global phenomenon which all countries take seriously, and as countries we partner to share information to thwart potential threats of terror,” spokesperson Brain Dube told SAnews on Monday.

This follows reports that Samantha Lewthwaite, dubbed the “White Widow”, is suspected to be behind last week’s bloody Westgate Mall terror attack in Kenya. The 29-year-old British woman allegedly used a South African passport under the name Natalie Faye Webb to enter Kenya. The passport, which was obtained using fraudulent supporting documents, was later cancelled following an investigation by

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. Dube, who said he cannot comment on external claims regarding the country’s intelligence, said South Africa does its own assessments based on national interests which form the basis of state security.

“As government we remain vigilant and take these incidents seriously.” However, he could not detail the nature of the government’s continuing investigations due to their sensitivity. The four-day siege in Nairbobi last week left more than 60 people - including a South African, James Thomas - dead and over 170 people injured. About 15 suspected Al Shabaab terrorists have been detained by the Kenyan government. Although the Kenyan government has not officially or

directly linked Lewthwaite to the attack, Interpol has issued a red notice for her arrest, urging all 190 member countries to assist in tracking her down and arresting her - southafrica.info

Green Mamba for a White Widow: Samantha Lewthwaite, suspected of involvement in the Nairobi mall attacks, used a fake SA ID book to travel

Crowds gather for a 2012 march in Pretoria in protest against farm attacks

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Top artists honour Madiba at sold-out Southbank Centre group readingby STAFF REPORTER

LEADING writers, poets, musicians, performers and spoken word artists were photographed in front of London’s bust of Nelson Mandela ahead of a sold out event at Southbank Centre, where they read extracts from Mandela’s autobiography to mark the 27 years he was imprisoned.

The Southbank sculpture by Ian Walters was commissioned by Ken Livingstone when he was leader of the Greater London Council and was unveiled in 1985 by ANC president Oliver Tambo.

The commissioning of this statue was symbolic of the support from Londoners for the struggle against apartheid at a time when many in the media and the British government regarded Nelson Mandela as a terrorist. It is one of a tiny number of statues of black or Asian people in London.

Those pictured include musician John Ellis, Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri OBE (back); John Battersby, South African journalist, interviewer of Nelson Mandela and co-author of Nelson Mandela: A Life in Photographs, British-Jamaican dub poet Linton Kwesi-Johnson,

author and Guardian journalist Hannah Pool, poet and spoken word artist Leeto Thale, award-winning South African poet and performer Lebo Mashile and South African born novelist Gillian Slovo (middle).

In the front are Pamela Nomvete Coronation Street’s Mandy Kamara, award-winning South African novelist Marion Molteno , South African author and playwright Sindiwe Magona , Malawian writer and poet Jack Mapanje, South African children’s book author and anti-apartheid activist Beverley Naidoo and South African soprano Joyce Moholoagae.


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Darling Magazine SA ladies’ networking eventby RONEL VAN ZYL

DARLING magazine held another successful South African ladies networking evening at Kong Kitchen Showrooms in Wimbledon Village on Wed 11 September. Social media expert Tam Jackson was the guest speaker while up-and-coming singer Malory Torr provided some original music. The women also enjoyed wine, nibbles from Vallebona Sardinian deli and tasty treats from Philp Neal luxury chocolates.


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World launch of art inspired by Nelson Mandela in London| The We Love Mandela exhibition at South Africa House will showcase a significant collection of artworks in the image of, and inspired by Nelson Mandela, including paintings, sculpture, photography, cartoons, beadwork, by STAFF REPORTER

SOUTH AFRICAN auction house Stephan Welz & Co and the Scoin Shop / South African Gold Coin Exchange (SAGCE) will stage a comprehensive collection of art-works in the image of, and inspired by Nelson Mandela ahead of a world tour commencing at South Africa House, Trafalgar Square, London. The exhibition, which will be open to the public from 3 – 16 October, has been sponsored and made pos-sible by Nedbank Private Wealth.

Despite having been postponed on a number of occasions this year due to Nelson Mandela’s health, the exhibition will take place on the express wishes of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

We Love Mandela: Art inspired by Madiba is the culmination of numerous art exhibitions held during Mandela’s milestone birthdays, namely his 90th and most recently held for his 94th birthday.

The exhibition, which is free of entry charge and from which no artworks will be sold, will showcase a significant collection of art including paintings, sculpture, photography, cartoons, beadwork, prints and gold medallions from a variety of artists. It is destined to be showcased in other world capitals following its London launch.

The exhibition is a precursor to South Africa’s celebration of 20 years of democracy in 2014. London has been earmarked for the international launch following the City’s longstanding contribution to the fight against apartheid, which included concerts at Wembley, numerous rallies held on Trafalgar Square and an active fight from

a number of key British political figures. The artists include Wayne Barker, Richard Chauke, Loren Hodes, David Koloane Kagisa Pat Mautloa, Billy and Jane Makhubele, Johannes Maswanganyi, Collen Maswanganyi, Rankadi Daniel Mosako, Velaphi Mzimba, Roy Ndinisa, Len Sak, Jurgen Schadeberg, Joachim Schonfeldt, Eric Sher, Dean Simon, Alfred Thoba, Lena Woolf, Susan Woolf and Zapiro.

The exhibition will also include a reproduction of the acclaimed Mandela portrait by world-renowned British artist, Richard Stone, who will be present at the launch sharing his experience of working with Madiba on a number of occasions.

The launch of We Love Mandela: Art inspired by Madiba is a project created by Alan Demby, Chairman of Johannesburg-based auction house Stephan Welz & Company, Scoin Shop /SAGCE and Natalie Knight, formerly owner of the Natalie Knight Gallery. Demby has introduced gold Mandela medallions to the world, the proceeds of which go to the Mandela Foundation and Nobel Laureate programme.

Curator Natalie Knight commented, “Some of these artists were severely disadvantaged during the Apartheid era and were only able to fulfil their talent after the release of Mandela and the birth of a democratic South Africa 1994. Others actively used resistance art in the fight against Apartheid.”

This is the third Mandela exhibition curated by Knight, the first being Mandela@90 for the South African Constitutional Court. Mandela visited the exhibition and

expressed his delight at the artworks by inviting some of the artists to visit him in his office. The second show Mandela@94-z-a was opened by Mandela’s lifelong friend and legal counsel Advocate George Bizos who shared his memoirs of Mandela when they studied together at Wits University. Although entry for the exhibition is free to the public, discretionary donations will be accepted for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund UK, through the website. Proceeds will go towards the building of much needed children’s hospitals in Southern Africa.Details on welovemandela.com

| The famous Mandela portrait by British portrait artist Richard Stone will be on display in London from Wednesday

DJ Black Coffee brings South African house beats to Electric Brixton this weekendby STAFF REPORTER

South Africa’s international super-star DJ Black Coffee will headline the next event hosted by the Native Soul team on Saturday 5 October at Electric Brixton, one of Lon-don’s most talked about venues.

Black Coffee has a long list of hits including ‘Superman’, ‘Turn me on’, ‘Even though and many more. After his meteoric rise to fame, it would be easy to stereotype Black Coffee as just another black diamond, a BEE beat magnate out to mine the insatiable upwardly mobile house-party market.

But as he proved on his South African Music Award-winning album Home Brewed and his recent booking in Ibiza at infamous DC10 club for Circo Loco, this DJ and producer defies convention. Also on the line-up is

Phil Asher, undoubtedly one of the UK’s most prolific DJ-producers and has been indispensable to the progressive musical landscape over the past 15 years. Phil has completed well in excess of 200 of his own productions, as well as innumerable remixes.

Completing the line-up are Native Soul residents Funk Mob, the organisers of Native Soul events who have built the brand up over the last few years.

Tickets on sale now from: www.ResidentAdvisor.net and www.ElectricBrixton.uk.com



Trio of SA entries in 2013 London Film Fest includes controversial paedophile film| Like last year, there are three South African films at the 2013 BFI London Film Festival. These are moody noir romance ‘Durban Poison’, ‘Felix’, a drama about a Zulu boy who wants to become a jazz musician and ‘Of Good Report’ about a paedophile school teacher, which was banned at its opening in Durban

by MARIANNE GRAY

IT’S THAT wonderful time of year when London is ablaze with films and celebrities pop up all over the place.

Like last year, there are three South African feature films at this year’s BFI London Film Festival, plus a short in the African First Shorts section.The three features are Felix, a drama about a Zulu boy who wants to become a jazz musician, Of Good Report, about a paedophile school teacher, that was banned on the night of its opening screening at the Durban International Film Festival, and Durban Poison, dubbed the South African Bonnie and Clyde.

The short is Security, as part of the Africa First Shorts section, about a lonely security guard in a Johannesburg shopping mall who finds solace in a storefront mannequin.

Directed by Mark Middlewick, it is 15 minutes long.

In Felix, 14-year-old Felix Xaba dreams of becoming a saxophonist like his late father, but his mother Lindiwe thinks jazz is the devil’s music.

When Felix leaves his township friends to take up a scholarship for grade eight at an elitist private school, he defies his mother and turns to two ageing members of his father’s old band to help him prepare for the school jazz concert.

Newcomer Hlayani Junior Mabasa plays Felix, Linda Sokhulu (Isidingo, Generations) is his mother and Dame Janet Suzman his teacher.

“I play Felix’s favourite teacher, Mrs Cartwright,” says Suzman. “I’ve always thought that teaching was an underrated and very important profession. With luck you can remember having a good teacher on your side at school, who made a difference in your life.”

Says Felix director Roberta Durrant, “The programmer saw the film at Durban International Film Festival, where we won the Audience Award for Best Film, and called me about the wonderful audience response. Being selected for Britain’s premier film festival is a huge honour and hopefully we’ll be able to announce a cinema release in London soon.”

Felix has also been selected for three other major international film festivals: Vancouver International Film Festival in Canada and Lucas International Children’s Film Festival and The Hamburg FilmFest in Germany.

Of Good Report is shot in black

and white with crisp direction by Jahmil XT Qubeka.

Mothusi Magano plays a newly recruited high school teacher seemingly of ‘good report’. He meets the sexually charged Nolitha (played by Petronella Tshuma) at a local bar but only later, after a brief sexual encounter, finds out that she is an under-age pupil in his class.

Obsession follows. It’s a provocative film, almost

too strong for the South African censorship board who were thrown into a panic at its world premiere earlier this year.

“Only the festival director and film’s director had been informed about the censors,” the producer Mike Auret tells me.

“We decided to get the audience in and put the censor’s letter on screen. It caused an outcry and there was coverage worldwide including CNN and BBC. We appealed the banning, which was nonsensical in terms of the South African constitution. We won the appeal ten days later and the film began its journey.”

The film is travelling worldwide, is in competition in the London Film Festival and will open the Film Africa Festival at the Hackney Picturehouse in London on 1 November.

Durban Poison is a moody and touching noir romance set amongst the country’s marginalised white underclass made by writer/director Andrew Worsdale.

Written 27 years after Worsdale’s controversial UCLA thesis film Shot Down was banned in South Africa and went on to festival acclaim becoming ‘South Africa’s definitive cult film of the 1980s’ Worsdale returns with this road movie inspired by a true story of a pair of outlaw KwaZulu-Natal lovers. Joline is

a 20-year-old streetwalker and party hostess, who comes from a background that has made her tougher than any man. Sexy and manipulative, she gets anything she wants. Her lover is Piet, a 38-year-old construction worker. Hardened after a third of his life spent behind bars, he’s a loser, maybe even weak, but filled with a bravado that makes him behave like a real underworld king. Durban Poison won the Audience prize at Durban International Film Festival. Cara Roberts and Brandon Auret star. This selection of films, comments Keith Shiri, the person who selects the African films that show at the LFF, how South African films are shaping up on the international market. “For those who have been anticipating original and satisfying cinema from South Africa for a very long time, the wait is over.” Adds Tendeka Matatu, one of the most international of South African producers, “It is great that there is such a strong selection of South African cinema this year and that Of Good Report is in main competition.’

The London Film Festival runs from 9 to 20 October. Screenings:

Felix is screened on Sat 19 October at15.30 at NFT2

Of Good Report is screened in competition on Sun 13 October at 12.00 at OWE2, Mon 14th at 20.45 at Vue 5 and Tues 15 October at 18.15 at Ritzy

Durban Poison is screened on Thurs 10 October at 20.45 at Ritzy and Fri 11 October at 18.15 at Hackney Picturehouse 1

Security is screened on Wed 9 October at 20.45 at ICA and Sat 12 October at 15.30 at Renoir.

Festival programme and tickets : www.bfi/org.uk/lff

Tel 020 7928 3232

Still from “Felix”

Still from “Durban Poison”

Still from “Of Good Report”


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Nelson Mandela’s Living Legacy

IN 1985 Mandela underwent surgery on an enlarged prostate gland, before being given new solitary quarters on the ground floor. He was met by “seven eminent persons”, an international delegation sent to negotiate a settlement, but Botha’s government refused to co-operate, in June calling a state of emergency. The anti-apartheid resistance fought back, with the ANC comm-itting 231 attacks in 1986 and 235 in 1987. Utilising the army and right-wing paramilitaries to combat the resistance, the government secretly funded Zulu nationalist movement Inkatha to attack ANC members, furthering the violence. Mandela

Solitary in the Emergency

of Bordeaux varietals. Beyers Truter, probably the biggest ambassador for Pinotage, always talks of how well these wines can age and it showed at the recent Kanonkop Vertical tasting in London.

Here are 4 wines that really show the proper nuances of a Cape Blend that are readily available in the UK.Kanonkop Kadette 2010: Lovely dark red in colour, with Pinotage in the lead here. Great fruit on the nose, minerality and hints of smoke. The fruit driven palate make this wine very drinkable right now.

Kanonkop Kadettethesavanna.co.uk

Beyerskloof Synergy 2010: This wine has a history of high standards and the 2010 doesn’t disappoint. A depth of fruit on the nose is followed with soft and elegant tannins that stay on the pallet for ages. Wonderful!

Beyerskloof Synergyrevolutionwines.

co.ukKaapzicht Steytler Vision 2008: Dark Purple with good ripe banana and cherries on the nose. Loads of ripe tannins that accommodate multi layered sweet fruit. The hints of savoury and minerality help the new oak show lots of depth. Brilliant!

Kaapzicht Steytler Vision

Tanners-wines.co.ukSimonsig Frans Malan Reserve 2009: Big and bold on the eyes and nose. Smoke and spice with dark rich fruit is followed by ripe tannins that will ease out with age. A very worthy tribute to the great Frans Malan, founder of Simonsig.

simonsig frans malanbiltongstmarcus.co.uk

Cape BlendsA CAPE Blend is a blended red wine from South Africa consisting of some Pinotage. The varieties that can be added to this blend vary greatly and this might be a hindrance in the promotion of this South African specific blend. A lot (and I mean a lot) of people I come across in the UK think that a Cape Blend is merely a red blend from South Africa. And indeed in 1999 at the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year competition, the category Cape Blends was won by Hazendal’s Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Blend, which had no Pinotage in it at all. Many winemakers at that time believed that any wine which claims to be a Cape Blend, had to contain Pinotage.

This event prompted some prolific wine makers and big wigs in the South African wine industry to start with the idea that a Cape Blend should have Pinotage in it.

A lot of winemakers believe that this blending, or indeed softening, of Pinotage makes it a lot more approachable for European pallets as opposed to a straight Pinotage. The rules of the competition stated that 30% of the blend, but no more that 70%, had to be Pinotage.

The consensus seems to have been that a Cape Blend had to be a red blend with “a distinctive South African personality, plenty of character, balance, appeal and good ageing potential.”

This year the top five winners at the Perold Absa Cape Blend Competition were:

Anura LB Cape Blend 2012, Clos Malverne Spirit of Malverne 2011, KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2011, Sumaridge Epitome 2009, and Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Cape Blend 2011.

I was fortunate enough to meet some of the first producers of these Cape Blends at the recent Beautiful South Tasting in London. Johan Malan the winemaker from Simonsig was full of insight on how a Pinotage changes a blend

requested talks with Botha but was denied, instead secretly meeting with Minister of Justice Kobie Coetsee in 1987, having a further 11 meetings over 3 years. Coetsee organised negotiations between Mandela and a team of four government figures starting in May 1988; the team agreed to the release of political prisoners and the legalisation of the ANC on the condition that they permanently renounce violence, break links with the Communist Party and not insist on majority rule. Mandela rejected these conditions, insisting that the ANC would only end the armed struggle when the government renounced violence.



KAREN DE VILLIERS

The OPTIMIST

Fighting the fear of FOMOIN THE latest GQ magazine, Sam Neill is asked:

‘ How do you relax?’‘ I don’t. Relaxation is overrated.

Life is way too short for that sort of nonsense.’

I love this man. I can go one further – I believe I suffer from a syndrome called FoMo – the Fear of Missing Out. Exhausting to say the least, but with so much on offer, so much going on in the world, who has time to stop and smell those roses that need pruning, nurturing, fertilizing, picking and tossing? Scents are bottled in room diffusers, soaps, perfumes, much quicker and besides, you stop for a second and somewhere in the world, even my small world, something important has passed me by.

Last one to go to bed with plans for tomorrow. Tomorrow and its plans for next month, the rest of the year, lists and dates – put it in the diary, add it to the mobile calendar, check and double check. I think I have at least five apps dedicated to the news, events, things to see, places to go

and I HAVE to do it all. The Daily Telegraph, dated 16th May , puts it down to social media, the constant need to be in touch on Twitter, email, Facebook and Linked-In. Not an hour goes by without ‘checking in’ or ‘checking out’ something that may put us at the forefront of being connected, informed and on top of our game. I have files of pages torn from Travel Magazines, ear-marked with trips I still need to take, recipes I still have to try out and ideas to be developed. My Labanesque kinesphere is a template of encyclopedic information, intended movement and tit bits of knowledge, just in case ;– ‘divorced, beheaded, died…’ the best patisserie in Paris, how to buy shares, making the perfect foccachia etc. Is this a desire for knowledge or a phobia and not knowing it all?

Sam Neill is asked: ‘ Sightseeing or sun-lounger …?’ He says ; ‘ I cannot think of anything more boring than getting a tan on a beach. I’m always exploring.’

I love this man. This issue has

Brandpunt

CONRAD BRAND

Wat ‘n man!| Leiers in sport om op trots te wees‘N WEEK of so gelede sit ek in my ‘karretjie’ voor die huis en stuur die laaste e-pos voor ek die huis inval en skree, “Honey I’m home!” tot groot vermaak van ons twee honde-kinders. Ek sit nog so toe twee welgeklede mannetjies aan my ruit tok, hul RSPCA ‘stickertjies’ breed op hul bors. Ek draai toe maar die ruit stadig af en met ‘n beskaafde, “Ja, wat nou?” (als in vlot Engels) begin hulle my toe vertel van die ‘nuutste neiging’ in die area. Min het hulle geweet dat ek ‘n man is wat my pols op die diere-besigheid hou en hulle toe amper meer statistiek oor die honde kon gee wat in Berskhire gesteel word, nie net vir troeteldiere nie, maar ook vir hondegevegte. Hulle het aan my lippe gehang en ek het amper vir hulle vir geld gevra!

Ek begin hulle toe bietjie uitvra oor die ander diere in gedrang? Dié wat uitgemoor word in Afrika en of

hulle weet dat daar nou amper twee renosters ‘n dag geskiet word vir niks meer as naels nie? Natuurlik nie! Wel ek het hulle na Oom Google verwys en aangemoedig om Sondag 22/09/2013 deel te neem aan die Internasionale Renosterdag. In my houding kon hulle sien dat daar nie weer voor my deur gestaan mag word, sonder ‘n renoster stickertjie nie – Dit is my fokus vir die jaar! Met die wegloop van die twee, draai die skaam enetjie om. Die enetjie met die lang hare wat heeltyd my oë ontwyk en meer in my kar geinteresseerd was, en met ‘n sterk Sri Lanka aksent vra hy my, “Where are you from?” Ek sê, “South Africa” en hy kyk skielik op. “Do you know Hansie Cronjé?” vra hy my en voor ek kon antwoord voeg hy by, “What a man!” Alles het in sekondes deur my kop gevlieg – hy het gepraat asof die man nog leef, die Internasionale krieketheld en seker mees gerespekteerde sportleier van sy tyd. Ek sluk toe diep en sê, “Yes boeta, what a man!”

Daardie naweek sit ek en my dametjie vroe more voor die tv, elkeen kou lustig aan ‘n stukkie droëwors – Dit is die Bokke teen die All Blacks en ons het ‘n kans om, soos die naweek tevore, geskiedenis te maak. Ek moes geweet het iets spesiaals gaan gebeur, nee, nie in die onnosele skydsregter wat iewers vinning die reels moet gaan leer nie, maar in ons afrigter, Heyneke Meyer,

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been the very centre of many a family quarrel. Darling and children would love nothing more than a horizontal position on the beach, a good book and dipping toes in the water.

‘Right. We have been here for two hours already. Time to go.’ I say.

Darling. ‘Where the hell do you want to go now? Just relax.’ Stiffening of spine. ‘Relax? Did you say relax! We still have to visit the old city, go to the ruins, the cathedral and the art museum. What about the shopping and the deli I heard of? How can you say relax when we only have three days here and there is about ten thousand years of history and culture to see!’

You get the picture? I go alone.To quote the Telegraph, ‘One thing

is for sure – FoMo is something that needs to be tackled alone. Group therapy just isn’t the answer. We’d all be too worried about missing out on another, more exciting session elsewhere.’

Rather FoMo than GODOT – ‘They do not move.’

wat al die vrae voor die wedstryd soos ‘n absolute rugby geestriftige beantwoord. Die respek wat hy die All Blacks gee; soos ons geleer is op skool om ons teenstanders te respekteer, maak nie saak wie hulle is nie, en sy opwinding en dankbaarheid in die geleentheid wat die dag mag bring. Ek het ‘rewind’ en dit weer gekyk, en seker gemaak dat my dametjie en honde dié oomblik sien.

Die manne draf uit, reg vir die stryd, staal teen staal, en daar slaan die man my asem heeltemal weg. Terwyl ons manne driftig die Volkslied sing, staan hy kop omhoog, oë toe en hand op sy hart. Hy staan trots en sing uit volle bors – Hul leier.

Wat ‘n man sê ek jou! ‘n Voorbeeld vir ons en ons kinders en mag sy naam ook jare later in die strate van ‘n vreemde land herhaal word!


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South Africa’s official TB screening offices to close for month of Decemberby STAFF REPORTERSOUTH African clients who intend to submit UK visa applications towards the end of the year, or early in 2014, should take note of the fact that the TB screening offices in South Africa will be closed during December 2013. The offices of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) will be open during December 2013 to take appointments, but the offices of the radiologist responsible for the TB screening tests will be closed. It is therefore crucial that South African

applicants wanting to apply for UK visas during December 2013, or early 2014, to ensure that they book a TB screening test appointment as soon as possible, in order to avoid delays. If you are a South African and unsure whether you will need a TB screening test, please visit the News section of our website for some Frequently Asked Questions.

JP BreytenbachDirector of BIC, Breytenbachs Immigration Consultants Limited.www.bic-immigration.com or [email protected]

by STAFF REPORTER

LAST week, the emerging market currencies focused their attention on the Fed and its decision to taper the Quantitative Easing program. The speculation was that the Fed might hold out on tapering and this helped the Rand to the strongest level it has been in five weeks. On Wednesday, the Fed indeed surprised markets across the globe, by announcing that it would not taper its’ asset purchases. Most emerging market currencies strengthened as a result of this with the Rand reaching close to the strongest level in four months. Ben Bernanke, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, did however say that tapering will begin “possibly later this year” as the Fed will first wait for economic data improvements. The Rand gave up most of the gains it made against the Dollar, on Friday, as the understanding is that the tapering is merely delayed. According to RMB’s John Cairns “The Rand pullback reflects the global pattern: the market thinking is

Rand reacts positively to news of Fed’s quantitative easing decision

SA’s groundbreaking digital laser is a world first| Technological game-changer could fundamentally alter both the application and future development of lasers in the fieldby KATE FERREIRA

SCIENCE and Technology minister Derek Hanekom and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) announced the creation of a “world-first” digital laser at a press

| Scientist Sandile Ngcobo demon-strating the laser in his laboratory

that the reaction to the Fed decision was overdone. After all, tapering has just been postponed.” This week’s markets will pay close attention to the Eurozone and a series of Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) reports to be released on Monday. After the losses the Rand suffered on Friday, it was boosted early today by the Chinese Manufacturing Index showing the highest levels in six months.

GBP / ZAR: 15.8448EUR / ZAR: 13.3432USD / ZAR: 9.87316Exchange rates as of 09:12 (GMT),

23 September 2013

briefing on Tuesday in Pretoria.Hailed as “disruptive tech-nology”

and a “break-through”, the digital laser offers a method of controlling and dynamically altering a laser beam’s shape from within the unit. Traditionally, beams have to

be altered as they leave the laser or via a costly refit to change the positioning of internal components (mirrors). By replacing one of the laser’s mirrors with a liquid crystal display (LCD) the research team within the CSIR’s National Laser Centre were able to alter the beam at will. There are a broad number of potential uses for this technology from medicine to communications. Team leader Professor Andrew Forbes said: “This is a significant advancement from the traditional approach to laser beam control, which requires costly optics and realignment of the laser device for every beam change. Since this is all done with pictures, the digital laser represents a paradigm shift for laser resonators.”

“The dynamic control of laser modes could open up many future applications,” he added. “Our device represents a new way of thinking about laser technology, and we see it as a new platform on which future technologies may be built.”

“This is technology which may change the status quo and which could create new markets and value networks within the next few years or decade,” said CSIR researcher and PHD candidate Sandile Ngcobo. Ngcobo’s work is credited as leading to the project that was then developed by the laser team.

“That the world’s first digital laser should come from our country is testimony to the calibre of scientists that South Africa has,” Hanekom added.


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Rev Dr Cyril Axelrod | Deafblind Catholic priest, OBE and world-renowned disabilities activist| World-renowned deafblind priest Fr Axelrod, the first deafblind person to receive the OBE, bears a powerful and liberating message of coming to know yourself by overcoming personal challenges. by BRETT PETZER

If you work in uniform in the UK, we would really like to feature you in Saffas in Uniform. The interview is brief, and can be done via Skype, phone or email. Contact us at [email protected] or text +27826119779FATHER Axelrod was brought up in Johannesburg, South Africa. His contemporary role is as honorary consultant to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind to develop the project of a training program for those working with a deafblind person and also a rehabilitation service for deafblind people. He travels around Asia , Europe and South Africa giving talks on projects for the deafblind people and about the gift of disabilities. According to Father Axelrod, he does not wish to be hearing or sighted, believing rather that his deafblindness is gift to help people understand themselves and their own personal challenges in life.

Age and date of arrival in UK?Rev. Dr. Cyril Axelrod. Age: 71. Arrived in the UK in 2001.

Father, you will be the first deafblind person to receive an OBE. Besides yourself, what contemporary role models do the Deafblind youth have?Most people know only about Helen Keller and her story of coming out of deafblindness with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan which was made into a movie and is studied in schools in the USA. There are some deafblind paralympians and sports people around the world who are good role models for young people to inspire to in the USA, Holland and around the world, although I don’t know any personally.

Helen Keller chose, quite early on, to emphasise her blind identity in advocacy at the expense of her advocacy for the deaf. Do you assume both a deaf and a blind identity, or do you consider one of these more important in your life and work?Helen Keller was born hearing and lost her hearing and sight at 19 months old, therefore she had an opportunity to develop the

synapses in the brain that help language development.

She also chose to focus her life on supporting blind schools and organisations around the world and blind people who were losing their hearing. I was born deaf and have never heard and am a sign language user ( I speak 9 sign languages), my work has greatly focused on deaf communities around the world until I started to lose my sight gradually due to having Usher Syndrome, and have only been fully deafblind for 13 years. I align myself with the deaf community and deafblind hands-on sign language users, however this can be accessed by both deaf and hearing people. Some people consider me a ‘hearing deafblind person’ as I use English as my main form of communication and I speak seven various spoken languages including English and some Afrikaans.

Please tell us a little bit about your early life, and how you came to choose the priesthood.I was born to a strict Jewish family as an only child. I realised that deaf people were unable to access the religious teachings and I decided I wanted to become a Rabbi to help deaf people access the Jewish Faith.

However I was told that I couldn’t become a Rabbi due to my deafness. I made the huge decision to change my faith to become Catholic as I was able to become a priest being deaf and help deaf people access the church. It was not an easy decision to make and my family were extremely upset by my decision and many didn’t talk to me for many years, including my mother, however she did come around eventually and came to my ordination. I consider myself a ‘Catholic Jew’ and still celebrate Jewish holidays and traditions. I have a deep respect for all faiths and religions and do not try and convert or preach to people too much, I like to value the human spirit above all else. I was told that I couldn’t become a Rabbi due to my deafness. I made the huge decision to change my faith to become Catholic as I was able to become a priest being deaf and help deaf people access the church.

How do you think ‘inclusive communities’, where the deafblind are valued and live full lives within society, might be achieved in poor countries, where advanced communication technologies are not available? Are there deafblind organisations in poor countries who have achieved ‘inclusive communities’?The main issue is to do with training, education and awareness. Communicator Guides are essential to supporting and working with deafblind people. They are our eyes and ears (like a human guide dogs) and an essential part of deafblind access and empowerment. Sadly there are few thorough training courses in this field around the world.

I have been working as an Honorary Consultant for the last 5 years with the Hong Kong Society of the Blind to develop a three year intensive training course and to develop quality services for deafblind people. This is what I have been given my OBE for this year. It is our plan to use this as a pilot to implement similar training courses and services into other parts of the world, especially South Africa and other parts of Africa through the new Cyril Axelrod Legacy Foundation (CALF) which will be launched next year, as currently there are no fully ‘deafblind inclusive’ communities round the world.

The Paralympian movement has made immense strides in the last decade. Should physical education and sport be a priority, in your eyes, in the education of deafblind children? What sports are popular with deafblind youth?Sport and physical education is important for all people and children. I personally do t’ai chi everyday and work out on my cross trainer and enjoy going for long walks. I know there are some sports in the Paralympics like long distance running and swimming that deafblind people participate in. I have also heard of football for deafblind people who have some hearing with footballs full of ball bearings.

In your international work, have you ever encountered cultural

| Deafblind priest Fr Cyril Axelrod (Image: C B Martin)

taboos or cultural resistance to the education and full inclusion of the deafblind?Sadly, yes I have, especially in Africa. Many parents of deafblind and disabled children believe that their family has been cursed and they take their children to traditional healers or witchdoctors to ‘heal’ them and lift the curse.

These children are often poisoned and killed. This saddens me greatly and is why it is so important to focus on the gifts of disabled people. I try and live my life as an example to show people, especially parents of disabled children what their children can achieve. If I can do it, so can their child. I also like to be a role model for other deafblind people to help them believe in themselves and what they can achieve, to help inspire deafblind and deaf and additional needs people to learn, aspire and achieve their dreams, whatever they may be.

Are there any particular challenges in ministering to the deafblind?Because deafblind people need

tactile communication it is important to have a small group and to use objects of reference to sense and feel God’s love and divinity.

I sometimes used objects like shells and carved crucifix to help explain the beauty and spirit of God. This is a different approach as touch and connection is important to feel the spiritual connection from one person to another. Hearing and deaf people sometimes find this challenging as they can be tactile defensive, but for deafblind people this is the most essential element to life, without it life can feel lonely and disconnected.

Last year, you spoke at UCT. Is there anything the deafblind community in SA can teach other deafblind communities? Are there any challenges faced by the South African deafblind that are unique to the South African context?I am an advisor to Deaf Federation of South Africa and am guiding them to plan a possible new project for the future development of a training program for families and people who need to learn how to communicate and guide a deafblind person, and also to develop support service for deaf blind people. There are currently no services and training programmes for deafblind people in South Africa and no welfare systems like there are in the UK. I believe South Africa can be a pioneer in this field for the rest of Africa to follow.See Fr. Cyril at his upcoming ‘Deafblind Discovery Charity Dinner’ in celebration of his OBE and the new Cyril Axelrod Legacy Foundation (CALF) on Saturday 23rd Nov at Wanstead Golf Club, London from 6-11pm. For details please call Majella Williams on 07702637660


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Fundraising Reception

Tickets available at www.zane.uk.com. 020 7060 6643

Join us for a superb fundraising reception in

aid of ZANE incorporatingHomes in Zimbabwe

at the Middle Temple 3rd October 2013

6.30 - 9.30pm

The evening will begin with a recital and tour in the historical Temple Church. Canapes, wine and a light supper will be provided in the Elizabethan Main Hall of the Middle Temple where guests will be entertained by guest speaker Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP. Tickets are priced at just £50 with all proceeds from the evening going to supporting impoverished pensioners in Zimbabwe.

‘Black Jesus’ blurs guilt and innocence in future Zimbabwe| Zimbabwe. 2015. Eunice Ncube, working for the new Truth and Justice Commission, interviews Gabriel Chibamu, one of the most infamous of the old regime’s enforcers. This stunning new play receives its world premiere in London in October

by STAFF REPORTER

“AND do you know why I was called by that name? Because I decided who would be saved and who would be condemned.

I took that responsibility for others and now I take it for myself. I am Black Jesus. I do not crawl.”

Zimbabwe. 2015.Eunice Ncube, working for the new Truth and Justice Commission, interviews Gabriel Chibamu, one of the most infamous of the old regime’s enforcers.

As Gabriel’s trial approaches, Eunice sifts through the past. What she unearths teaches her that right and wrong, and guilt and innocence, are far less clear than she first thought…

This stunning new play by Anders Lustgarten, one of the UK’s leading political playwrights, receives its world premiere at Finborough Theatre in Earl’s Court, playing for a four week season from Tuesday 1 October 2013.

Black Jesus unpicks the political complexities of Zimbabwe through the devastating personal journeys of two very different people, both shaped and scarred by one of Africa’s most complex and notorious regimes.

The play commissioned by Finborough Theatre has extra resonance in light of the recent Zimbabwean elections.

A sold-out workshop production of Black Jesus at the Harare

International Festival of Arts, Zimbabwe, was described by the Guardian as “a highlight of the festival”.

Lustgarten is a Playwright-in-Residence at the Finborough Theatre, where his work includes A Day at the Racists (2010), about the BNP and New Labour’s betrayal of the working class, which won the Catherine Johnson Award.

Director David Mercatali is a director and writer whose production of the world premiere of Philip Ridley’s Tender Napalm received a nomination for the Evening Standard Best Newcomer Award and the OffWestEnd Award for Best Director. Previous work includes Feathers in the Snow (Southwark Playhouse), his own play The Sound (Blue Elephant Theatre) and Runners: The Return (Underbelly for the Edinburgh Festival).

He is currently Associate Director at the Southwark Playhouse. The cast of Black Jesus consists of Paapa Essiedu, Alexander Gatehouse, Debbie Korley and Cyril Nri.

INFORMATIONWhen: Tuesday, 1 October – Saturday, 26 October 2013

Tuesday to Saturday Evenings at 7.30pm. Sunday Matinees at 3.00pm. Saturday matinees at 3.00pm (from 12 October 2013).Prices: for Weeks One and Two (1–13 October 2013) – Tickets £14, £10 concessions, except Tuesday evenings £10 all seats,

and Saturday evenings £14 all seats. Previews (1 and 2 October) £9 all seats.

£6 tickets for Under 30s for performances from Tuesday to Sunday of the first week when booked online only.

Prices for Weeks Three and Four (15–26 October 2013) – Tickets £16, £12 concessions, except Tuesday Evenings £12 all seats, and Saturday evenings £16 all seats.Where: Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Road, London SW10 9EDBook: Box Office 0844 847 1652

Book online at: www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk


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London to Mongolia – we made it!| London-based South Africans Jeremy Bortz (cricket writer for TheSouthAfrican.com) and Dylan Burt and fellow adventurous friends Mark Moloney from England and Adam Corcoran of Australia drove from the British capital to Ulaanbaatar as part of the Mongol Rally, to raise over £3000 for charityby JEREMY BORTZ

ON 13 July, three friends and I set out on a crazy adventure known as the Mongol Rally. Our aim: to drive 10,000 miles in a three cylinder 990 CC Vauxhall Agilla from London to Mongolia in six weeks. And whilst doing so, to raise as much money as possible for two fantastic charities – Parkinson’s UK and coolearth (coolearth works with local communities to secure forests at risk of being destroyed within the next 18 months).

Fast forward to the end of August and some 10,600 miles (17,000 km), over 1,000 litres of fuel, 10 punctures, 1 attempted robbery by the Afghanistan border, 1 blown ABS, 1 smashed window and 1 bent bash plate later, we made it to Ulaanbaatar!

There was no prescribed route and teams could get to Mongolia whichever way they wanted. For us this trip was about the “Stans”, countries you’re unlikely to visit again. Thus we drove non-stop through Europe to reach Istanbul in 52 hours before heading through Georgia and Azerbaijan.

In Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, we boarded a cargo ferry that took us across the Caspian Sea and into Turkmenistan. From there we headed east into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan before heading slightly north into Kyrgyzstan and then Kazakhstan. Since there is no border crossing between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, we travelled through Siberia before entering Mongolia for the final 10 days.

While certainly no holiday, it was one of the most incredible adventures I’ve been on. I’ve never had to work so hard on a trip before – not only was there the six months of planning but the six weeks on the road were both mentally and physically draining. Given how hard we’d had to work, the sense of accomplishment as we crossed the finish line was immense and the elation uncontrollable. With some incredible support from so many people, we’d worked our socks off to make our dream a reality and a real sense of pride enveloped us as we drove across the finish line.

And although we’ve been back in London for two weeks now, the trip is still sinking in and thinking back makes me smile. We covered some 10,600 miles (or 17,000 km) and travelled a third of the way around the world over some of the planet’s toughest terrain. We experienced 50 degree heat as well as torrential rain that turned roads into mud baths. We dodged far too many car-swallowing, rally-ending potholes in Turkmenistan, experienced beautiful ancient mosques and madrasas in Uzbekistan, drove along the roof

of the world on the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan and hiked in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

We ate what must have totalled hundreds of somsas (a central Asian variation on a samoosa), sampled many assorted horse-meat platters in Kazakhstan and drank too much vodka. We camped for more than half the trip but also spent a good fair number of incredibly uncomfortable nights in the car.

We spent 30 hours stuck on the Caspian Sea because the port in Turkmenbashi , Turkmenistan, had been closed for the president who was town! We experienced the nightlife in Tbilisi (Georgia), Almaty (Kazakhstan) and Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and aside from one incident on the Afghanistan border where our tents were stolen, met friendly, welcoming and curious people everywhere we went.

The best part about travelling is

the people you meet and the friends you make – and this rally was no different. Although we barely knew the other Mongol Rally teams and had only met briefly at the launch party, if at all, the spirit and sense of camaraderie on the road was amazing. We’d all been on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure together and an incredible bond was very quickly formed.

Most importantly, though, we’ve raised over £3,000 for our two amazing charities. We’re not done yet, though – both websites are still up and running and any and all support would be sincerely appreciated. Here are the links if you are interested:

Donate to Parkinson’s UK: justgiving.com/mmoloney

Donate to coolearth: justgiving.com/bactrian-cool-earth

It was simply the most incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. Where to next?!

|Team There and Bactrian (right) celebrating with the Norwegian team with whom they convoyed for the final two weeks of their epic trans-Eurasian trek

| Basketball court, sign of changing cultural aspirations on the bare Mongolian steppe (Image: Flickr/David Berkovitz)


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by TRACY ANDREW

THIS last week saw the finals for The O2Touch September Shoot Out at Clapham Common being played where In2Touch had O2 Touch leagues running on a Monday and a Wednesday evening for 4 weeks. We thought teams would want to have some games and social touch in the period just after the Summer leagues and before the Autumn league starts and these proved to be a great success.

Teams LOVED the new format of 2 x 20 minute games an evening instead of the normal 1 x 40 minute game, which allowed them to stay and watch the games and socialise with all the players from other teams. On Monday evenings we had a variety of teams taking part. There were some very closely contested matches with the top spots going back and forth between a few teams, The Misfits, Nuts and Bolts and The Stone. It was a battle between these teams each week to see who would rise to the top...

Unfortunately for Nuts and Bolts, The Stones and The Misfits got enough points to edge past them to get to the final... And what a final it was! After a pulsating battle which could have gone either way, The Stones came out as the victors defeating The Misfits 5 - 3.

The Wednesday Night League had 2 divisions of Mixed teams who were all graded and put into their respective equal divisions. Both divisions had many close games with some upsets and some teams coming together to win their first games of the year. In the 2nd Division the race to the finals was on and with great team work, the Baa Baas and Touchy Feelies put in the effort to come out on top. The final contained some spectacular tries withTouchy Feelies running out winners and justifiably being ecstatic with their win and their awesome In2Touch prizes.

Division 1 consisted of some teams that have been playing together for some time as well as

In2Touch September Shootout and Autumn Leagues| Tough competition has seen some champion clubs rise to the top of the

some brand new teams and a team that was preparing to play in the World Club Champs in Orlando, Florida. There were many tight games throughout the Shoot Out League, which made the places for the finals very interesting and all 5 teams were in running come the last round of games. This led to one of the favourites for the competition unfortunately missing out on a final position and The Invisible Man and Mythical Mooses (yes that’s their team name) proving to themselves and man others that it’s all about team work and wanting it more, that will lead you to the grand final!

The other team in the final was Galaxy USA. Yes you guessed it, they are the team heading to USA to compete in the World Club Champs on the 4th October 2013. The teams were ready for their final and with some great tries on display, Galaxy USA won the final, 6 - 1.

We would like to say a big thank you to all those teams who played in theShoot Out Leagues and wish Galaxy USA good luck and let’s hope they bring back the World Club Champs Trophy to the UK.

And the touch action does not stop there......We have the O2Touch Autumn League starting very soon at Clapham Common which is run every Sunday for 8 weeks starting from 12pm. There are Mixed, Men’s and a Ladies division on offer and as it gets closer to the start date the spaces are almost full. The league will begin on Sunday the 6th October 2013. Teams always seem to enjoy this league the most but maybe that is because most teams like to head to the pub after their games to warm up, enjoy a ‘hotchocolate¹(!) and socialise on a Sunday afternoon.

If any of you would like to join this league either as a team or as in individual then please contact Tracy on [email protected] and she will help you get into this great league.

With 16 venues around England from Clapham Common and Regents Park to St Albans and

Manchester, with over 600 teams playing in the London leagues alone and over 1,000 teams playing country wide, touch rugby is taking the nation by storm.

For more information or if you would like to register for an O2 Touch league or competition, go to www.in2touch.com/uk or e-mail [email protected] or call the London office on 020 85420827

| Team “The Stones”

| Team “Touch for London”

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SPORT1 - 7 October 2013 NEWS FOR GLOBAL SOUTH AFRICANS www.thesouthafrican.com

IN2TOUCH SEPTEMBER SHOOTOUT AND AUTUMN LEAGUES - P15

BOK WIN SETS UP NZ SHOWDOWN| Firmer Aussie resistance at Newlands allowed Boks the victory, but not by enough to give SA a crucial bonus point

by BRENDEN NEL

THE SPRINGBOKS kept up their impressive run in this year’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship, dispatching Australia 28-8 in their match at Newlands in Cape Town.

Australia were much more competitive than they had been in Brisbane three weeks ago, and the Boks were not able to score the four tries they needed for a crucial bonus point. The bonus point would have kept them in range of the All Blacks, who will now come to Ellis Park next week for a deciding match between the two top sides in world rugby. But a day that should have seen celebrations for Springbok fans turned out to be one of utter disappointment as the Boks scored two early tries, then a late one but just couldn’t get the fourth try that was needed to give them a better chance next week. The win did catapult the Boks to the top of the Rugby Championship log but with New Zealand expected to win in Argentina overnight, it means they may be five points behind the All Blacks before the game starts next week. The disappointment came from a Bok performance that promised so much after an amazing start, but then was soured a bit by two yellow cards – both of which, it can be argued, contributed to the missed bonus point.

There is no doubt that French referee Jerome Garces allowed the Wallabies to neutralise the scrum by pushing early before the ball was in, resulting in a shambles

at the setpiece and taking away a massive attacking weapon from the Boks. At the same time, the Wallabies were allowed to swim up the side when the Boks tried to maul, and inevitably either got away with playing the Boks in the air or stopping the momentum – the so-called speed bumps that referees often refer to. However, there also has to be a fair amount of introspection from the Bok camp, especially after two yellow cards again, and their inability to react better to an Australian side that used the advantage they got very well on the night. After conceding the opening two tries, they frustrated the home side, and the Boks allowed themselves to get caught up in off-ball scuffles, rather than concentrating on the task at hand.

The second try and two more Steyn penalties took the score to 23-3 and it certainly looked as if the Boks were going to run away with a 50-pointer, especially with their dominance in the set-phases. But perhaps they were over-eager, or perhaps it was Wallaby resilience, but they struggled to break down the defences and made unforced errors at crucial times to go into the break with the 20-point cushion. It was underlined more by the fact that Michael Hooper was given his marching orders in the 28th minute with a card for a dangerous tackle on Eben Etzebeth, which to be honest, looked as if the Bok lock had dived into it. It seemed a harsh decision and one that the Boks couldn’t capitalise on. Will Genia’s

appearance on the field seemed to make the Wallabies even tougher to get the ball away from. This was helped by the first Bok yellow – to Flip van der Merwe as his elbow ended up in Joe Tomane’s face recklessly, with slow motion replays making it look even worse.

The second yellow came in the 66th minute, as Duanne Vermeulen was adjudged to have knocked the ball deliberately out of Genia’s hand on defence. Strangely though, with 14 men, the Boks went onto the attack, and they scored their third try – this time thanks to a stunning bullet pass from Du Preez to Willie le Roux, with the latter doing amazingly well to dot down the ball before he was bundled out into touch. Sitaleki Tomani received a yellow for his efforts as he went into a ruck leading with a shoulder – and not even the fact that he delivered it to his own teammate by accident saved him as the visitors ended the game with 14 men on the park. The Wallabies did get a try to 19-year old Chris Feauai-Sautia from a cross-kick – although there will be some debate whether it was legitimate as the Boks claimed the ball touched the assistant referee before a quick throw-in was taken.

Two yellow cards and a bonus point will be the talking point once again on a victory that should be lauded. And with the All Blacks arriving this week to measure this Bok team once again, Meyer and co will know they have done well. But they still have a lot of work to do to become the best. - sarugby.net

| Zane Kirchner of the Springboks battles with Nic White of the Wallabies during The Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia at DHL Newlands on September 28, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Peter Heeger/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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The South African, Issue 534, 1 October 2013