Val de Vie Magazine Summer 2016

PRINCE HARRY AT VAL DE VIE ESTATE The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup for the first time

on African soil

A BEAUTIFUL MIND Lindiwe Mazibuko thrives at Harvard, but her heart remains in SA

Val de Vie M

agazineL

ife worth living

Summ

er 2016WILBUR SMITH

One of the world’s greatest storytellerson his next chapter

ON A PLATTER John Platter returns

to the winelands and rates the Revolution

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35val de vieInvestec Specialist Bank, a division of Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06. Investec Specialist Bank is committed to the Code of Banking Practice as regulated by the Ombudsman for Banking Services. Copies of the Code and the Ombudsman’s details are available on request or visit www.investec.co.za. A registered credit provider registration number NCRCP9. Investec Wealth & Investment, a division of Investec Securities Proprietary Limited. 1972/008905/07. Member of the JSE Equity, Equity Derivatives, Currency Derivatives, Bond Derivatives and Interest Rate Derivatives Markets. An authorised fi nancial services provider No.15886. A registered credit provider registration number NCRCP262. 24/7/365 Global Client Support Centre 0800 1Place (75223) Cape Town 021 416 1000 Durban 031 575 4000 Johannesburg 011 286 7000 Port Elizabeth 041 396 6700 Pretoria 012 427 8300 Stellenbosch and Winelands 021 809 0700.

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From our shores to offshore, it’s all in One Place.Banking and Investments, both locally and internationally.

As the best Private Bank and Wealth Manager in South Africa and the third largest Investment Manager in the UK, we are able to bring international banking and investments together around you. We give you access to our UK Private bank account and offshore investment portfolios, through the expertise of our specialist Investment Managers and Private Bankers.

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Investec Specialist Bank, a division of Investec Bank Limited registration number 1969/004763/06. Investec Specialist Bank is committed to the Code of Banking Practice as regulated by the Ombudsman for Banking Services. Copies of the Code and the Ombudsman’s details are available on request or visit www.investec.co.za. A registered credit provider registration number NCRCP9. Investec Wealth & Investment, a division of Investec Securities Proprietary Limited. 1972/008905/07. Member of the JSE Equity, Equity Derivatives, Currency Derivatives, Bond Derivatives and Interest Rate Derivatives Markets. An authorised fi nancial services provider No.15886. A registered credit provider registration number NCRCP262. 24/7/365 Global Client Support Centre 0800 1Place (75223) Cape Town 021 416 1000 Durban 031 575 4000 Johannesburg 011 286 7000 Port Elizabeth 041 396 6700 Pretoria 012 427 8300 Stellenbosch and Winelands 021 809 0700.

From our shores to offshore, it’s all in One Place.Banking and Investments, both locally and internationally.

As the best Private Bank and Wealth Manager in South Africa and the third largest Investment Manager in the UK, we are able to bring international banking and investments together around you.

We give you access to our UK Private bank account and offshore investment portfolios, through the expertise of our specialist Investment Managers and Private Bankers.

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34 val de vieB r o o k l y n D u r b a n v i l l e F o u r w a y s G r e e n P o i n t K n y s n a K r a m e r v i l l e N e l s p r u i t U m h l a n g a P r i c e s ub j e c t t o c hange

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WEY

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SA

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PRINCE HARRY AT VAL DE VIE ESTATE The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup for the first time

on African soil

A BEAUTIFUL MIND Lindiwe Mazibuko thrives at Harvard, but her heart remains in SA

Val de Vie M

agazineL

ife worth living

Summ

er 2016

WILBUR SMITH One of the world’s

greatest storytellerson his next chapter

ON A PLATTER John Platter returns

to the winelands and rates the Revolution

Cover summer2016 SUBBED.indd 15 2015/12/08 12:52 PM

V - contents

VAL DE VIE IDENTITY AND STYLE GUIDE

On the cover Prince Harry at the 2016 Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup hosted by Val de Vie Estate Photography André van Niekerk, Vivid Blue Photography

EditorialRyk Neethling, Janette Griesel

FashionJanette Griesel, Bronwyn DayPhotography Kope | Figgins Hair and makeup Sian MossModel Rose from Vision ModelsHorse Spanish Emblem owned by Jason Drew

ContributorsNorman McFarlaneHeléne Ramackers Joanne GibsonSamantha PageGrant SchreiberYasemen Kaner-WhiteOckie FourieSarah WhitelawGerda ViljoenLaura Jones

Val de Vie marketing directorRyk Neethling

PR and Advertising salesJanette [email protected]

Design and productionMark PettipherMPDPS (PTY) [email protected]

Production managerDalene van Niekerk

DesignerWade Hunkin

Copy editor Brenda van Rensburg

Printing RSA Litho

Val de Vie Magazine is published for Val de Vie Estate Elements Management (PTY) Ltd

Val de Vie EstateR301/Jan Van Riebeeck DrivePaarl 7647, South Africa

ContactTel +27 (0)21 863 6100Fax +27 (0)21 863 2741Email [email protected] Valdevie.co.za

ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in an electronic system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, digital or mechanical,

including scanning, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher and copyright owners as featured.

8 Dreaming big

10 Next level

14 Through the lens

24 Fit for a Prince

30 What legends are made of

34 Home is where the heart is

38 A storyworth telling

42 Paradise found

50 The sky is no limit

54 Running free

64 Lesson learned

68 Passionate outsider

73 Across the board

78 Lord of the flies

82 Polo for Africa

86 Going offshore

88 Cintron Pink Polo 2015

94 Forget me not

99 Property

CONTENTS

10

38

68

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“We are extremely

honoured to host the

Sentebale Royal Salute

Polo Cup at Val de Vie.

It is likewise a privilege

to welcome the founders

of Sentebale – Prince

Harry and Prince

Seeiso – to our estate.

Like Sentebale, we are

passionate about

helping those in need,

and are pleased to be

able to play a

supporting role in the

excellent work that this

charity is doing in a

country so close to ours.”

Ryk Neethling

88

42

24

14

54

D E V E L O P M E N T

SAFE HOME AWARDSOUTH AFRICA

Val de Vie Estateby Val de Vie Estate

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“We look forward to

welcoming Prince Harry

back again soon, whether it

be on a polo pony or not”

Dreaming big

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I have been dreaming big my whole life and realised that I am drawn to those that share this trait. This is one of the reasons why I am so proud to be associated with Val de Vie and its people. As a team, we are able to realise those dreams and achieve common goals. Looking back, 2015 has been one of the greatest years so far!

There are two specific goals, which we have been working towards the last six years, and it’s such a joy to know that now we have finally achieved them. The first was hosting HRH Prince Harry of Wales for

the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, a major honour for the estate. Second was success in purchasing Pearl Valley Golf and Country Estate in a landmark property transaction that will have wonderful effect on the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley.

At times these goals seemed impossible but with teamwork, commitment and consistent hard work we achieved what some said was impossible. This edition of our magazine again features other big dreaming individuals, who inspire us such as Lindiwe Mazibuko, blazing her way through Harvard, entrepreneur and futurist Jason Drew and Wilbur Smith, arguably Africa’s most successful author.

Hope you enjoy the read and never lose track of those dreams!

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Aerial view of the Val de Vie Phase 2

expansion and newly acquired Pearl Valley

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Next level We look at five of the most exceptional mountain biking stage-races across the world worth travelling for. These races are unique, challenging and could be seen as “destination riding”, a must add to any avid cyclist’s bucket list.

Words provided

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ABSA Cape EpicSouth Africa700km | 8 Days | 13 - 20 March 2016

Classified as “hors catégorie” by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Cape Epic is the biggest stage race in the world in terms of TV coverage and prestige. A highlight on the mountain biking calendar, the race keeps riders guessing with a new route every year. The demanding eight-day adventure through the

Western Cape region in South Africa with unspoilt scenery and some of the most magnificent mountain passes in South Africa. It is a full-service race, meaning that everything is taken care of from the start - all riders need to think about is riding. Web: cape-epic.com


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Nedbank Tour de Tuli

Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa

300km | 4 Days | 11 – 14 August 2016

Imagine a four day cycling safari with a

unique course that takes you through

true African landscapes and big five

territory. The race supports Children in

the Wilderness, a charity that not only

educates the youth in the rural areas of

the Limpopo Valley but also encourages

them to protect their environment,

teaching anti-poaching and

conservation. With feats such as

crossing the Limpopo River from

Botswana, riding along elephants

through the Shashi Wilderness Park in

Zimbabwe and finally crossing the

boarder, passing through local villages

and communities, to finish the race in

Mapungubwe Confluence Camp

in South Africa.

Web: tourdetuli.com

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Craft BIKE Transalp powered by Sigma

Germany, Austria and Italy

624.23km | 7 Days | 17 - 23 July 2016

The 19th of July marks the beginning

of the Craft BIKE Transalp powered

by Sigma cycle race. This race covers

a distance of 624.23 kilometres and

crosses three different countries,

namely Germany, Austria and Italy.

This year new stages were introduced

to the race and this includes longer

technical stages as well as steeper

climbs. The 18th edition

encompassed a new route starting in

Ruhpolding, Germany and travelling

along Saalfelden Leogang, Mitterstill

and Sillan in Austria, Levico Terme in

Italy and ending with a final stretch

to Lake Garda.

Web: bike-transalp.de


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La Ruta los Conquistadores

Costa Rica

256km | 3 Days | 3 - 5 November 2016

Inspired by the twenty year journey of

the early Spanish Explorers’, the now

three day trek of La Ruta takes riders

through and around Costa Rica’s

lavish rainforests, majestic volcanoes,

spectacular mountain ranges and

roaring rivers. The race includes

rafting in the Pacuare River and is not

considered a race for novice

mountain bikers. In the heart of

Central America, the island is known

for its awesome surf spots, beautiful

beaches and rainforests with a

unique and very rich biodiversity.

Web: adventurerace.com

Crocodile Trophy

Australia

700km | 9 Days | 15 – 23 October

The Crocodile Trophy is one of the

world’s longest running and toughest

mountain bike races. Putting riders’

endurance and strength to the test,

the race draws travellers from around

the world to brave the outback,

rainforests and coffee plantations of

Tropical North Queensland,

Australia. The race finishes on a 6km

stretch of white beach at Port

Douglas, a popular jumping-off point

for tours to the Great Barrier Reef.

Web: crocodile-trophy.com


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Through the lens From a small app released in 2010, Instagram has over 300 million users, 75 million of whom make use of the app on a daily basis. It has provided people to not only share their morning latte art, but has paved the way for aspiring and professional photographers alike to share their images with the world.

Words by Ockie Fourie @theworldsyoungestman

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Locally, the community has grown to small crowds of people shooting mobile pictures of puddles

in the centre of Woodstock, to photographers venturing into abandoned buildings, rooftops, deserted streets and mountain tops, equipped with digital cameras and tripods, chasing that next shot.

It’s also a simple yet effective way of documenting your daily life by using the camera that’s always with you, your phone. Having said that, in the last two years, the focus has changed from the mobile camera to the digital camera. Some people have become more serious about capturing images and

have stepped up to bigger and better cameras, lenses and accessories.

Along with this leap comes opportunity. It has opened doors for photographers to make a name for themselves, documenting their surroundings and grabbing the attention of small businesses and large corporations to promote their products through the eye of the Instagrammer. Some people have turned these opportunities into full-time careers, partnering with brands and making a living from it. Along with many digital jobs in the advertising and social media circles, this career option did not exist five years ago.

Instagram has done

wonders for Cape Town’s

tourism and showing off

the city’s beauty, being

rated as one of the most

photogenic cities around

the world.


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Catherine Drowley

@cat_drowley | 834 posts

31.1k followers | 555 following

Currently specialising in social

media advertising, which means

creating content on a daily basis.

Having majored in photography at

Michaelis School of Fine Art, Cat

has an artistic approach to her

work, but saw photography as just

that, work. Discovering Instagram

re-awakened her passion for

photography and even improved it.

What ‘s more was the opportunity

to connect with so many talented

and like-minded individuals.

“Cape Town is my back garden - too often I forget how beautiful it is in this city. Every

chance I get I’m outside trying to capture those moments we often overlook.”

- Catherine Drowley

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David East

@daveast | 1 815 posts

119k followers | 499 following

David creates visual art through film

and photography, portraying the city

with all its curves and angles.

Film direction being his forte, he

captures the movement and

emotions of the concrete jungle.

“Instagram is a great platform for people to express their work but it is also a platform

that builds a community of photographers. I can literally go to any city and there will

be someone to take me around the local life. Instagram is great that way.”

– David East

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Wayne Hipe

@hipebeast | 606 posts


Best recognised for his original take on

street style and urban photography,

Wayne is a Cape Town born

photographer. His documentation

showcases the parts that are raw and

real about the Mother City. While

being a big part of the local Instagram

community, Wayne Lee Robertson is

also well respected for his

photography as an art.

“I felt that too many photographers and instagrammers were focused on showing off

Cape Town’s sunsets and mountains and not enough about the streets. There’s so much

realness that comes from this city that people don’t even acknowledge

and I take it upon myself as a photographer to get that across.”

- Wayne Hipe

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Mike Eloff

@thelawry | 3 724 posts


The extraordinary photos of this

Cape Town photographer, has a

way of calling to the adventurer in

all of us. Mike will do anything it

takes to get the shot, including

spending the entire night on

Lion’s Head for single image,

made up of over a thousand

photos processed into one. In

2012, Mike took a photo of the

sunset everyday for the whole year.

In 2013, he did the same to

capture every sunrise for 365 days

without fail. Photography has

become part of him and how he

communicates, Instagram merely

provided the microphone.

“Never stop exploring and

taking photos, it’s food for

the soul and the eyes.”

– Mike Eloff


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Gavin Pickford

@gavman18 | 1 572 posts


Based on a beautiful stud farm in

Franschhoek, breeding thoroughbred

racehorses, Gavin is surrounded by

exquisite scenery everyday. Though he

has a love for photography, he only

pursues it part-time. His love for nature

and horses is evident in the

breathtaking moments he captures

when the evening colours change,

which he is best known for.

My inspiration is the beauty around me. The endless landscapes that change as you

drive around the city, from the coast to the city bowl and Table Mountain, to the vast

rolling hills and dramatic skylines of the Wine-lands.”

– Gavin Pickford

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Gareth Pon

@garethpon | 2196 posts

259k followers | 595 following

Apart from his passion for film-making

and photography, Gareth has spent

the last few years pursuing the

potential of Mobile Photography and

developing the South African

Instagramers community, the only

South African Instagram community

with an international relationship and

recognition. As a result of his activity

and unique approach to creativity, he

has been featured by various

platforms including CNN, MTV,

Huffington Post, Mail & Guardian,

and Instagram’s official blog, as well as

partnering with tech giant Samsung

South Africa in becoming their Official

Digital Imaging Ambassador in 2015.

“If one can find a perfect

balance between purity

and perversion in reality,

then that’s where you’ll

find a good story.”

– Gareth Pon


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“We have what it takes to do what’s right… while we’re here, we can fight.”

– George the Poet

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Fit for a Prince An enraptured audience watched as the two gallant teams marched out onto the polo field. Prince Harry’s much-anticipated South African visit included his participation in the sixth Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, held at Val de Vie Estate on 28 November. This event – the largest one-day charity polo event in the world – has made its sixth appearance this year and is a first ever on African soil.

Words by Laura Jones

There is a long and proud history of polo in South Africa, with the first recorded game

taking place in October 1874 at the Parade Ground in Cape Town, between the Gordon Highlanders and the Cape Mounted Rifles.

Val de Vie, meaning the “Valley of Life”, was established in 2004 and polo was first played here in 2008. This year, the estate had the honour of hosting the sixth annual Sentebale Polo Cup, welcoming Prince Harry himself to play polo in South Africa. Alongside him is one of England’s own professional polo players, Malcolm Borwick and renowned polo player Nacho Figueras, an ambassador for Sentebale. The two teams battled for a victory, which was finally won by eight goals to the Royal Salute Team, led by Figueras.

The Sentebale Polo Cup was first launched at Apes Hill Polo Club in Barbados in 2010 where a crowd of over 2000 gathered to watch the match. Since then, the event toured across the world from the UK to Brazil, Connecticut, USA and Abu Dhabi. Polo had become a successful vehicle to create worldwide awareness of Sentebale and its vision, to work in partnership to positively transform the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. “It’s an honour to be part of this event where polo can be used as a platform to do good,” says Sentebale ambassador, polo pro Nacho Figueras.

The real heart of Sentebale began in 2004 when Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso took Prince Harry to stay overnight at one of the cattle-posts in the mountains of Lesotho; this was where they made

BELOW Prince Harry with Sentebale

Chairman and Val de Vie Resident,

Philip Green

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“It’s an honour to be part

of this event where polo

can be used as a platform

to do good,”

-Sentebale ambassador and

polo pro Nacho Figueras


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their commitment to support children in Lesotho, many whom had been affected by HIV/AIDS. Both Prince Seeiso and Prince Harry agree that their charity is a way to remember their mothers, who both worked with vulnerable children and people affected by HIV/AIDS. Says Prince Harry, “I really feel that by doing this I can follow in my mother’s footsteps and keep her legacy alive.”

In a discussion detailed on the Sentebale website Prince Harry recounts, “I was 19 and went travelling in my gap year. I had a fantastic time in Australia, Argentina and Botswana, but, in the end, the thing that had the greatest impact on me was the two months I spent working in Lesotho. I met so many children whose lives had been shattered following the

death of their parents – they were so vulnerable and in need of care and attention.”

Sentebale was registered as a charity in 2006 and opened an office in Lesotho in 2007, initially providing grants and management advice to grassroots organisations caring for disadvantaged children in Lesotho. Today, the charity has maintained partnership with these locally run organisations, whilst extending its network to work directly with major international foundations and corporations, local service providers and government.

Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso says, “Lesotho is a small, impoverished country. Its problems have been made infinitely worse since I grew up because of the

Although it was a close

match, keeping the

suspense heightened, it was

ultimately the Royal Salute

team that won the game

eight to seven, after

Bill Ballhaus scored the

winning goal seconds before

the end of the final chukker

was signalled. This skilful

move earned Ballhaus the

title of ‘Most Valuable Player’

Guests in attendance

included businessmen,

Patrice Motsepe,

Tokyo Sexwale and

Sir Martin Sorrell;

Olympic gold medallist,

Cameron van der Burgh;

former Proteas cricket

captain, Graeme Smith; TV

personality, Minnie Dlamini

and UK actress, Laura Main


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HIV/AIDS pandemic. It has been said that we, as a nation, are facing annihilation.”According to Lesotho’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, more than 37,000 children under fourteen live with HIV. What follows from that are prevalent psychosocial problems in communities that are associated with anti-retroviral therapy, such as a fear of being stigmatised, isolated or rejected by others.

Safe accommodation, hot meals and psychosocial support to those children coming to terms with living with HIV, are just some of the services that are offered by various extensive Sentebale projects making a huge difference to children’s ability to lead a more rewarding life. To date, the Sentebale

Royal Salute Polo Cup has raised in the region of £3 million for the charity.

Cathy Ferrier of Sentebale comments: “Sentebale’s annual polo fundraising event has gone from strength to strength over six consecutive years. We are delighted to bring the Sentebale Polo Cup home to Africa this year, and would like to thank Martin Venter and the wonderful team at Val de Vie Estate for all their hard work and support. The funds raised from this year’s event will allow us to deliver care and education to many more children in Lesotho and in the near future across other Southern African countries.”

Evidence of Prince Harry’s heartfelt work came full circle on this trip to Lesotho and South Africa, when he was reunited with fifteen year-old

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Mutsu Potsane more than a decade after they first met. Mutsu was just four years old when he first met the Prince at the Mants’ase Children’s Home for orphans, outside Maseru in Lesotho. They remained in touch sharing letters and meeting up during the majority of Prince Harry’s visits to Lesotho. Student Motseliso Morahanye, twenty, talked about how Sentebale’s support had allowed her to finish school and study law at university, as well as how the charity had altered the course of her life.

Every life changed and every smile gives meaning and purpose to the efforts of Sentebale and of those who offer their time and efforts to do the very necessary good work. In the words of Prince Seeiso’s father, His Majesty King Letsie III, “The reward of good work is more work.”

A Royal MatchPrince Harry teamed up with founder and CEO of Val de Vie, Martin Venter; Royal Salute ambassador, Malcolm Borwick – who scored the first goal of the match – and businessman, Adamu Atta on the ISPS Handa Sentebale team. They were up against polo enthusiast, Hannes Pickard; one of the world’s top 100 polo players and Sentebale ambassador, Nacho Figueras; commercial property developer and investor, Rupert Hackwill and trained aerospace engineer, Bill Ballhaus on the Royal Salute team.

Prince Harry with Prince Seeiso with Sentebale Ambassador Nacho Figueras

A proud Val de Vie Events Team with Prince Harry

Royal Salute Polo Cup took place two days after the opening ceremony of Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho. Both events were conceptualised, coordinated and executed by Val de Vie Events. www.valdevie.co.za


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A unique collaboration between luxury brands and the world’s greatest sporting legends has helped young people around the world overcome challenging social issues such as poverty, homelessness, war, violence, drug abuse, discrimination and AIDS.

Words by Grant Schreiber

What legends are made of

FROM LEFT Sir Ian Botham, Borris Becker and

Nelson Mandela making his iconic speech

at the Laureus Awards in May, 2000.

“Sport has the power to change the

world. It has the power to inspire. It

has the power to unite people in a

way that little else does.”

– Nelson Mandela

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As Michael Johnson settled into the starting blocks at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996

to set a new world record for the 200 metres, he could never have imagined jogging playfully alongside kids in Kenya a few years later, helping raise self-esteem among young people in one of Africa’s largest slums.

When Nawal El Moutawakel crossed the finish line at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and became the first Moroccan, African and Muslim woman to win an Olympic gold medal, she had no idea that she’d one day be leading 30,000 Muslim girls on an annual 10km fun run around Casablanca, and pioneering sport among women in Moroccan society.

Johnson and El Moutawakel form part of a unique association of forty-six of the world’s greatest living sporting legends,

The Laureus Academy, that embraces the principle of using sport to help bring positive change to dis-empowered communities. They offer their time to support the work of the Laureus Foundation, by visiting over 140 projects around the world, all utilizing sport to turn kids away from the negative influences in society, and helping them realise their true potential. Other sporting greats who have aligned themselves with the Laureus include, Boris Becker, Jack Nicklaus, Hugo Porta, Kapil Dev, Sebastian Coe, Monica Seles, Tony Hawk and Dan Marino. Closer to home, ex Springbok rugby captain, Morné du Plessis, chairs the Laureus Sport For Good Foundation South Africa, that presides over the work of thirteen sport projects across the country, inspired by

twenty two local ambassadors that include Ryk Neethling, Natalie du Toit, Bryan Habana and Lucas Radebe.

This grassroots, life-changing work, is offset by a glittering sports awards ceremony, held each year in a different city, that sees the Academy members mingle with top sports people, presidents and royalty, to recognize sporting excellence. Commonly referred to as the “Oscars of sport,” the award ceremony was conceived as a way of bringing together the biggest names in sport and raising awareness around sport as a catalyst for change.

The Laureus story is a heady mix of corporate sponsorship, celebrity sport and the will to succeed in some of the most devastated and impoverished parts of the planet. Projects have saved kids from gangs in Sao Paulo,

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reformed child soldiers in Sierra Leone, given hope to special needs kids in Shanghai and helped clear mines in Cambodia. It embodies something every sports person who has ever achieved greatness can attest to – that winning comes through a combination of self discipline and teamwork – mirroring the same qualities needed to win in life. It was the lack of a formal platform to honour this greatness that sparked the idea for Laureus in the first place.

The idea for Laureus was planted a few years before the new millennium, by Johann Rupert, Executive Chairman of luxury goods company Richemont. A noted sports enthusiast, Rupert was at a dinner with friends one evening and mused over the fact that there was no Nobel Prize or Oscars-style awards for sport. Rupert’s views on the power of sport were fundamentally influenced by the crucial role that the 1995 Rugby World Cup played in the reconciliation of the different communities in South Africa. In 1998 he found a kindred spirit in Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of German automotive giant Daimler and two years later,

the Laureus World Sports Academy was created, with thirty of the greatest living sports legends named as founder members.

On May 25, 2000, the majority of the Academy members gathered in Monaco for the very first Laureus World Sports Awards. It was an impressive collection of sporting legends,

but it is fair to say that the biggest name was a huge surprise all round, as the door to the Academy meeting room opened and in walked President Nelson Mandela. It was in Monaco that Mandela, who was to become the Patron of Laureus, made the visionary speech, which has become the philosophy of Laureus and the driving force that has shaped its work for the last thirteen years.

His speech has become the dictum not only for Laureus, but also for the whole sport for good movement. He said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope, where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination.”

Perhaps the power of sport can best be illustrated by an encounter Rupert once had with a friend of his. “Some thirty years ago, while living in New York City, I had a black friend who was a true sports superstar,” says Rupert. “He was constantly mobbed for autographs. I noticed that he took extra care giving signed posters to white kids. I asked him about the apparent favouritism. His answer: “Johann, if a white kid has my poster in his bedroom, he can hardly discriminate against the black kid in his class.”


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Mercedes LabuschagneProperty Consultant

082 555 [email protected]

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076 440 [email protected]

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Each office independantly owned and operated

Speak to our professional team about our extensive marketing plan.


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Home is where the heart isRecent Harvard graduate Lindiwe Mazibuko talks about her year awayfrom South African politics, and the most important lesson she has learnt away from home.

Words by Samantha Page

Lindiwe Mazibuko’s dimpled smile comes into focus via Skype when we chat one recent

evening in October. I can just see Harvard University’s autumn foliage through the blinds behind her and while she’s clearly a million miles from her beloved South Africa, she looks buoyant and strangely at home in her new surroundings.

“The idea of taking a sabbatical after the general election in May 2014 to devote some time to self-reflection, self-improvement and recommitting myself to my political goals had been percolating in my head for a while,” she says recalling the thought process that informed her decision. “I felt increasingly compelled to take a fresh look at whether or not politics was the way to achieve the things I wanted for my country or if there were other ways to change the world, but I didn’t want to jeopardise the DA’s electoral prospects, so I only announced my resignation after the election.”

At the time of her resignation, she had been the parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance for almost three years and despite the DA’s many significant political gains during that time, and its hugely successful electoral campaign, growing its share of the national vote from 16% in 2009 to 22% in 2014, on a personal level Lindiwe was

frustrated by the extent to which being in leadership meant she spent more time worrying about internal politics and machinations than her personal political mission, which was to be a voice to the marginalized, shift policy, fight for women’s rights and empower the youth.

“I was hugely supported and encouraged by my friends at the World Economic Forum Young Global Leadership, who were going through similar inflection points in their careers, to think about what it would be like to take time out from politics. I was talking them into following their convictions but constantly talking myself out of it, but I knew that if I didn’t apply, I’d never have a real choice ahead of me.”

Her application was successful but there was an election looming – an important one – and Lindiwe was resolute that the DA needed to be protected from her decision until the time was right. She didn’t want the media to read the election result and the DA’s incredible success through the lens of her resignation, so she made sure she fulfilled all her duties while Harvard put the necessary plans in place so that when the moment came, Lindiwe could focus on her next chapter, which didn’t include the DA.

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“I didn’t even tell my family. The announcement was made via an op-ed in the Sunday Times. Of course, my family forgave my subterfuge, but I knew all hell would break loose once the news had sunk in and it did, but I refused to do interviews because I knew the media wanted to make it about two powerful women who couldn’t agree, so I decided to focus instead on the opportunity for growth and renewal that the Harvard experience would bring.”

Despite being widely travelled, this was only the third time Lindiwe had ever been to the United States. She attended her brother’s wedding in 2013 and then the following year she went to Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, for the World Economic Forum Education Module, but she had never been to Boston and what she knew of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was what she had seen in movies like ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘A Beautiful Mind’.

“It was idyllic, quiet and beautiful – all a little surreal for a girl who grew up in Umlazi – but it was exactly the respite I needed and the transition wasn’t as traumatic as one would imagine because the university is hugely supportive. Several American universities, Harvard included, have courses for mid-career professionals during which you can complete a two-year master’s programme in one year and in exchange for that you bring your perspectives and knowledge. The idea of self-improvement and taking time out to think and acquaint yourself with new ideas isn’t seen as ‘going back to university’; it’s part of your career trajectory.”

There were many generative moments during those fledgling days, but the sheer delight of anonymity is one Lindiwe clearly relished. In a class of 220 students, from seventy different countries, she was just one of the cohorts who had to introduce herself and tell people who she believed herself to be.

“When you live your life in public, people tell your story for you, so I had to reacquaint myself with my story and tell it as Lindiwe Mazibuko, a woman who came to reinvent herself, not as the parliamentary leader of the opposition. I discovered that I could be more playful with knowledge and more honest about what I did and didn’t know. There’s no pressure to have all the answers, which is liberating.”

Playing to her strengths and inherent curiosity, Lindiwe took classes in economics, energy policy, international development, oil, mining and gas and infrastructure, among others, delighting in the opportunity to explore a diversity of ideas and fill in some of her own knowledge and skills gaps.

In June 2015, joined by her mum, June, Lindiwe graduated from Harvard University with a master’s degree in Public Administration, but she wasn’t quite ready to come home and return to politics in South Africa.

“My year as a student was just about me, so when the opportunity presented to take up a position as resident fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics, I saw it as a chance to give back to the institution and to the undergraduate students who were aspiring to a career in politics. I teach a seminar every Tuesday called ‘How to Build a Democracy’; I also mentor undergrads, expose them to great speakers (already Wilmot James, President Joyce Banda and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucka, among others, have spoken here) and encourage them to join campaigns and take those first tentative steps towards establishing a career in public service.”

Her time has been highly occupied and Lindiwe admits that her good intentions of auditioning for the choir were quickly derailed in favour of setting up a study group, but it has been a season of renewal for her and although the Harvard graduate has no immediate plans to re-enter politics until she has fully explored other ways to affect change and build a life that stretches beyond the confines of politics, she is certain of one thing and it’s the beacon that sustains her and will continue to inform her future decisions: “Being away from home has reinforced that I love my country so completely and I’ll do anything in my power to make it a success.”

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“When you live your life

in public, people tell your

story for you, so I had to

reacquaint myself with my

story and tell it as Lindiwe

Mazibuko, a woman who

came to reinvent herself, not

as the parliamentary leader

of the opposition. I discovered

that I could be more playful

with knowledge and more

honest about what I did

and didn’t know. There’s no

pressure to have all

the answers, which

is liberating.”


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Prolific best-selling author Wilbur Smith’s writing career has spanned over five decades and 38 books, selling in excess

of 132 million novels throughout the world.

An iconic wordsmith, he shows no signs of slowing down and at the age of 82, produces at

least one book per year.Heléne Ramackers spoke to him about books, life and longevity.

How much time do you spend in South Africa these days?We spend between four and five months a year in South Africa. For the majority of the time we are here at our home in Bishopscourt, which I’ve had for forty odd years. It looks onto Table Mountain and Kirstenbosch Gardens, so it’s lovely. Its got a lovely lawn where we can sit, and a swimming pool. We love it.

Do you ever use the swimming pool?Yes, I do, especially when the weather is very hot and sticky, like it can get during the Cape Town summers. But part of the fun is watching my wife Niso take to the pool in her little bikini.

Does Niso share the same passion for Africa that you do?Yes, she is definitely developing a passion for Africa. She only came here after she met me, but her first preference was always London, where we have a home in South Kensington. But we have been spending more time here lately and two days ago she said to me, ‘I really love it here’.

What do you and Niso enjoy most about South Africa?We like going to game reserves. Africa’s wildlife deeply inspires me and I’m sure this shows in my books. I prefer the black rhino to the white rhino, because they are really feisty guys. They come out, immediately

wanting to fight. Thank goodness their eyesight isn’t that great, because sometimes they run right past you and attack a tree. The small animals interest me very much – the duiker, the nyala and the rare antelope. I like the old buffalo; he’s also a cheeky guy. Sir Ernest Hemingway said about the buffalo ‘they give you the thousand yard stare’ and they look at you like a machine gun over the sight of your weapon. It’s true.

On our last trip to South Africa, we travelled up to Namibia to see the red dunes and all the way to the Etosha pans. We had a pilot with a small aircraft who flew us all over the place. We stayed with very nice people in beautiful places, and it was an absolute treat.

Words by Heléne Ramackers

A story worth telling

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Have you ever been back to your birthplace in Zambia?Yes, we went back in February 2015. I still think of it as Northern Rhodesia. We went along the Zambezi river and visited the old place where my Dad used to farm. Of course it’s all under sugar now so we couldn’t really find our old homestead.

Was it sad to go back?There is a time and a place for everything. It lives on in my heart and memories. It wasn’t sad, in fact it was a joy to be back there. I think the secret is that you have to enjoy every year of your life, every period of your life, and it changes all the time. People think that when you are something-plus, you should be a sad old man, I’m not. I still have fun waking up in the morning

thinking ‘wow, what am I going to do today’? My father used to say ‘life is for living’ and that’s what you have to do. If you work very hard when you are young, it makes things much better when you get older. Not working for a boss in over fifty years means you can choose and make the call - ‘I say, I do’. I am the master of my own destiny.

Do you ever visit the Wine-lands at all?(Laughs) I like a little red wine in the evening with my dinner. I’ve given up drinking spirits. Niso and I limit ourselves to one bottle shared between us. Guess who gets the most of it? Because I’m older than her, I should get more! One of our favourite vineyards is Oak Valley Wines.

You keep very young – you’ve got a lot going for you – lots of success, a beautiful wife. How do you keep yourself young and spirited?Perhaps it’s a cliché but, age really is just a number. You are as young as you feel. I enjoy life. Life has been good to me. But I’ve had problems; I’ve had a new valve put in my heart, and I had polio when I was sixteen, but that’s nothing compared to the fun I’ve had. Everything that is valuable to me has been given to me in full measure.

How do you take care of your health?I have a diet that suits me and I don’t do carbohydrates. I eat mostly meat and fish with red and green vegetables.

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“I don’t want to think too carefully

about how it’s done or what the

process is; that would interfere with

it. For me, it’s just a natural process.

My life is storytelling.”

We are giving away three copies of the Golden Lion! Send us a photo of you with a copy of this edition of the Val de Vie Magazine and stand a chance to win!Email: [email protected]: @valdevieestate Instagram: @valdevieestate

You and Niso like going on fi shing trips. Where do you like going ?I still do a lot of fishing, mostly fly-fishing. We go to Norway, Iceland, Canada, Alaska in the US and Russia. It’s very strange what fishermen do, we fish like mad and then we throw them back. I take a fish occasionally, because I really like a fresh fish on the coals. It’s marvellous. The salmon and trout that I fish more of in the North, are delicious.

What do you think is the solution to the rhino crisis?I think that all animals should be treated with respect. I don’t follow the day-to-day controversy and arguments about the various animals.

Are you hopeful for South Africa?As a country? Oh yes. It has been here for millions of years and I’m sure it will be here for many millions more. Africa is a land on its own; it’s different from Europe, America and Asia, but it has its problems and it has its joys.

Golden Lion is book number 36. Are you thinking of slowing down?No (Laughs). I think about it but I’m not allowed to. My wife, my publishers and my conscience keep me going.

What inspires you to get into the writing process?It’s something that I had a dream about when I was at Junior School. I thought it would be the best possible life. And you know what? I was right! It is the best possible life. I have called no man ‘boss’ for 55 years. It’s given me everything – joy, satisfaction and to do what I want to with my life. It’s given me the respect of other people. It’s just wonderful.

Talk us through the thought process of writing a new book?I don’t want to think too carefully about how it’s done or what the process is; that would interfere with it. For me, it’s just a natural process. My life is storytelling. I look up to the old storytellers in the time when we lived in caves; they were respected people. In the evening, they would gather around the campfire where they had the attention of the whole tribe. It’s a good feeling.

Have you liked any of your movies made from your books?No, I haven’t liked any of them. I like the idea of movies. My idea of a movie is that I write the book, they come and pay me a lot of money for it and then they don’t ever make the movie. A year or two later, someone else comes and pays me a lot of money to make the movie, which they don’t do either. Some of my movies, I’ve sold about five or six times over. That, for me, is a very good arrangement.

Tell us about your latest book, Golden Lion.Golden Lion is a continuation of Birds of Prey where Hal Courtney’s story continues. It takes him into the deep African savannah and desert and there he encounters gravely threats. It is a usual drama and epic novel out of my pen, full of adventure, unconditional love and life threatening adventures.

Will you be continuing with co-authors?So far, we are considering quite a number of potential projects.

How many books would you like to be producing?Well, you tell me how long I have to live and I’ll tell you how long I can carry on writing.Sorry, my crystal ball is in for a polish (laughter all round).

You must give it a good polish. The future will take care of itself. I just live from one year to the next. I will write as many books with as many authors as suits my fancy. It’s nice to still be working at a reasonable age.

You launched the Wilbur-Niso-Smith Foundation in 2015. Tell us more about it?We decided that we know how tough it is to break into writing, having first-hand experience. I know how difficult it is for people who are worth their salt, who are good writers, how hard it is to get accepted and to get published. Through the Foundation, we would like to help them. We are going to ask for young writers to send in their manuscripts and then we will pick one and give them a push by publishing their work.

It is not a hurried process. We want to get good writers who deserve it. I have high hopes for it.

For more on the prolific best-selling author:www.wilbursmithbooks.com

www.wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org


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Paradise foundWhen Ryk Neethling and his fiancée, Sahar Biniaz, received an invitation to visit Fregate Island Private in the Seychelles, they could hardly contain their excitement. He recalls their journey to paradise.

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Named after the wealth

of frigate birds on the

island, Fregate Island

Private is also home to the

second largest population

of Aldabra Giant Tortoises

in the world, with around

2,200 roaming the island.

Situated four degrees south of the Equator and 55 kilometres off Seychelles’ Mahé coast,

Fregate Island Private is a haven of luxury and tranquillity. Exclusivity is evident when landing on this 2,19 square kilometre piece of pristine paradise.

A first trip to the Seychelles for both Sahar and myself, we were surprised at the island’s relative close proximity to South Africa. A quick four-hour flight took us from Johannesburg to Mahé, where we spent our first night at the Eden Island Hotel. There is a perception and a definite misconception in South

Africa that the Seychelles is much further away than Mauritius. It is very accessible, especially Mahé, and quite affordable to South Africans.

The following morning, we boarded a helicopter and fifteen minutes later, we stepped out at Fregate Island Private. Seeing this idyllic place from the air, reminded me of a vision of something between the Truman show, Robinson Crusoe and Jurassic Park. On approach to the island, it looks really wild and untouched. Evidence that the island has taken the environmental conservation

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route to reintroduce the island and to make it a haven for nature.

Named after the wealth of frigate birds on the island, Fregate Island Private is also home to the second largest population of Aldabra Giant Tortoises in the world, with around 2,200 roaming the island.

I was privileged to stand beside one of these ancient giants. Being a relatively tall person, I was astounded when the crest of the shell reached the height of my waist. The oldest one on the island is about 175 years old.

Managed by the German luxury-hotel group, The Oetker Collection, Fregate Island Private comprises 16 luxuriously appointed villas, each with its own private infinity pool that appears to blend into the azure blue of the Indian Ocean. The Villas are extremely generous in size while no expense has been spared in ensuring the comfort and luxury of the guests.

Another first for us was having our own butler at our disposal. He was able to assess very quickly that we were private, easy-going and independent people. It took some getting used to. The butlers are very professional and experienced. They are not intrusive at all and you don’t even know that they are there – if we needed something, our butler would just appear.

We wanted to maximise on our four nights in paradise, so we would turn in early to make the most of the next day. But not before we had experienced our fair share of amazing sunsets, one of which has been my most memorable moment of this trip. Sahar and I were on the beach at sunset, sipping cocktails as one does when sitting on “The World’s Best Beach”, when I turned to her and said, “This is absolutely perfect; the only thing that

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We wanted to maximise on our four nights in paradise, so we would turn in early to

make the most of the next day. But not before we had experienced our fair share of

amazing sunsets, one of which has been my most memorable moment of this trip

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would put it over the edge, is if there were some dolphins swimming.” I had barely finished my sentence when suddenly four dolphins appeared a couple of metres away, jumping out of the water. It was so surreal. It felt almost orchestrated.

The food at Fregate Island Private is unbelievable; we ate fish for breakfast, lunch and dinner, just because it was so irresistibly fresh. We even got to eat my ‘catch of the day’ after we went deep-sea fishing. The cuisine is meticulously sourced and the majority is fresh produce that is of the utmost quality, courtesy of the island’s own plantations and marine resources. The variety was just incredible. The food was an assault on the senses in the best possible way. The service was second to none. They really cater to your needs; they ask you some questions in the beginning and stick to them. Do you want to be private; your dietary requirements; are there certain things that you want to do? They take your needs into account and then share their passion for the island with you.

You never eat in the same place twice - you can have breakfast in a tree house with these incredible Banyan trees where the roots extend out of the ground. We had the iconic dinner on the beach of course – there are seven beaches – with torches in the sand lighting the way. What made it even more special and romantic was that it was full moon and I got to share it with Sahar.

A wide variety of activities ensure that boredom never sets in. You can practice your skills on the tennis courts, you can run, windsurf, kayak, swim in the ocean, go fishing, relax by the pool, work out in the gym or enjoy a revitalising spa treatment at the Rock Spa.

Fregate Island Private really made a lasting impression on me. Sahar and I were very excited to get there. They make you feel so special, almost like you are the first guests to ever arrive on the island. You feel this exclusive experience right from the beginning and will never forget it.

Contact:Fregate Island Private Tel: +248 4 670 100Fax: +248 4 670 900Email: [email protected] Web: www.fregate.com

Eden Bleu HotelWeb: www.edenbleu.com

Seychelles TourismWeb: www.seychelles.travel

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The sky is no limitFlying privately is probably the ultimate aspiration and luxury and there are clear attractions to the leisure traveller. But the private aviation industry also plays a crucial role in supporting business travellers and international companies. All frills aside, one of the key benefits of this method of flying is efficiency. Ettore Poggi, vice president of ExecuJet Africa, talks to us about the benefits of flying privately.

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At a time when vibrant growth is taking place in African countries such as Nigeria, private

aviation companies like ExecuJet are gearing themselves towards meeting the increasing demand for executive travel. Ettore Poggi, Managing Director of ExecuJet Africa, comments, “Africa is experiencing robust growth and needs modern, safety-regulated aviation services to facilitate the expansion of many industry sectors. With a significant presence in Africa, ExecuJet makes an important contribution by providing executive travel options to the African economy. For rapid growth to become sustainable and inclusive in the future, Africa’s businesses need the efficiency of private air travel.”

Generally, there is an exaggerated perception about the cost of private aviation and it is often seen as a ‘luxury’ choice rather than a practical one. In fact, the opportunity cost of relying on scheduled airlines can greatly outweigh the apparently greater cost of flying privately. Many companies purchase private jets to fly their C-level executives and senior management to business meetings worldwide.

For the business traveller, private air travel can boost corporate and individual effectiveness and also reduce some conventional travel expenses. Efficient time travel means fewer accommodation, meals and travel costs on the ground. Meetings and strategy discussions can be held en-route, in a secure and confidential environment. The impeccable standard of service ensures maximum comfort, so you arrive at your destination relaxed and refreshed. The other major plus-factor to chartering flights, is that it becomes possible for multiple visits to be completed

in a single day, in comparison to two or three days using a conventional commercial airline. Further time-saving is the elimination of unnecessary waiting while you are still on the ground – no lines at immigration or security, no waiting for passengers to board, and finally, no waiting for luggage at the other end.

When you fly privately, the aircraft is at your disposal, so you are in complete control of your own schedule. This means you can arrange an aircraft at short notice or submit a last-minute flight change using your mobile phone. Even if you wish to change your plans and land at a different airport half way through your flight, it is usually no problem. And, of course, if you are running late, the aircraft waits for you. For a business traveller stuck in an important meeting longer than expected, re-booking a new flight with a commercial airline can be extremely costly. Additionally, private jets can land at many more airports compared to commercial aircraft, allowing travellers to land closer to where they need to be.

Owning a business jet can therefore make very good business sense, especially with the benefit of chartering the aircraft to third parties when it is not in use by the owner, which offsets some of the ownership costs.

In a world where airport terminals and global airspace are inevitably going to get more congested, private air travel is increasing in popularity as business travellers and corporates become more aware of the financial and practical benefits. The need for efficient air travel points to a bright future for private aircraft.

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“Africa’s businesses need the

efficiency of private air travel

to facilitate the expansion of

many industry sectors.”

– Ettore Poggi

Effortless travel:ExecuJet Aviation Group, a leading global business aviation organisation, provides management services for aircraft owners and charter services to companies and individuals worldwide. As part of the Luxaviation Group, the second largest corporate aircraft operator in the world, ExecuJet offers customers access to a combined fleet of more than 250 aircraft.

Web: www.execujet.com

Imagine an effortless travel experience that runs like a Swiss watch with the added advantage of speed, efficiency and luxury


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Running freeInspired by the equestrian masters of South America, we spend the day exploring Val de Vie Estate. From the stables, we ride out to the open fields along the Berg River.

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Dress by Klûk/CGDTEarrings by Vikson

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Blouse by Klûk/CGDT Belt by MissibabaTrousers by Gavin RajahHat by Mimco Earrings by ViksonLeather bangle by MimcoRing at Second Time Around

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Hat by Simon & Mary at Second Time AroundBlouse by MangoBeaded jacket by Gavin RajahSkirt by Kendal & Kylie at Forever New

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Blouse by Klûk/CGDT Skirt by Klûk/CGDT

Earrings by Second Time Around Necklace by Aldo

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“Horses see humans

naturally as predators, you

have to understand their

language. It’s gestural. By

watching them I’ve learned

that you have to be strong,

but full of love. Then you

become their protector, and

in return they offer you the

honour to ride them.”

Jean-François Pignon,

horse whisperer


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Dress by MangoNecklace by Forever New

Belt by MissibabaBoots by Mimco

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Dress by Country RoadJacket by MangoHat by MimcoBag by Country Road


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Hat by MimcoScarf by Country Road

Top by WitcheryNecklace by Mr Price

Cuff by Second Time AroundSkirt by WitcheryBag by Missibaba

Creative Direction Janette Griesel Fashion Styling Bronwyn Day Hair and Make-up Sian Moss Photography Kope | Figgins Model Rose from Vision Models Horse Spanish Emblem owned by Jason Drew

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35val de [email protected] - 082 449 0900

www.maureen.harcourts.co.za

Life worth living

Val de Vie Resident Real Estate Agent


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Jenni’s Philosophy After being knocked down and nearly losing everything, Jenni Button has gotten back up and reinvented herself. Her philosophy is the sum of all the ideas, creativity and positive energy that she possesses. The South African designer talks about life after Jenni Button. Words by Gerda Viljoen

Jenni greets me at her home in Hout Bay late one summer’s afternoon. Her petite frame dwarfed by

the incredible studio-like space she discovered and made her home, which she shares with her partner Richard Hebblethwaite. The enormous, simple silhouette of her home with its reclaimed factory windowed structure sits high on a mountain slope in Hout Bay, Cape Town.

Trees surround the home; every window offers a different glimpse of nature and the changing light throughout the day. It is apparent that this house has unlocked her creative juices - the large double volume wall in the lounge area is filled with portraits and paintings she’s painted and collected over the years. While Jenni wishes she could spend her days painting here, her fashion business takes her back into the city almost daily.

Jenni is the creative force and owner of her successful and desirable label Philosophy. Her two retail stores are situated in Claremont, Cape Town and Main Road, Plettenberg Bay. She also has showrooms in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban, where she hosts monthly Collection Showings with her agents.

Pop ups and Trunk shows, clearly have become a successful form of selling. As she points out, “Retail has changed dramatically over the past five years and it is going to change even more over the next few. Thankfully, there still is a market that demands exclusivity and personalised attention, hence my monthly shows. I am fortunate enough to have a following of clients who ‘get me’ and appreciate what I create for them”.

Jenni was one of the first designers in South Africa to pioneer Designer showings with her Durban agents thirty years ago. Unfortunately these trunk shows or pop ups as they are commonly known through out the industry, are fast becoming a fad with wannabe designers and bored housewives, sourcing designer fakes from China, wanting to make an extra buck.

There still is a public misconception as to Jenni’s association with Jenni Button (Pty) Ltd, which is owned by the Platinum group. About eighteen months after her amalgamation with the Platinum group, she realised that it was not going to work, so she resigned and started her new brand, Philosophy.

After a very traumatic and destructive legal battle over her name and her shareholding at Jenni Button (Pty) Ltd, she walked out with nothing. Ironically, seven years later, applications have been made by several institutions to liquidate the Platinum group. They are currently going through the liquidation process.

Over the past fifteen years, Jenni has built her desirable brand, Philosophy for the South African and International market of discerning clientele. “I’m designing for an international woman who demands a modern system of dressing. Philosophy’s concept is based on a few key pieces, where a handful of interchangeable items work together to create an entire wardrobe that goes from day to evening,

The Hout Bay house is

an mix of everything I’ve

collected over the past

10 years - I find it impossible

to be tied down by one style.

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weekday to weekend. Hence, the fabrication of jersey knit with a Lycra content for comfort, wear ability and fit.”

Her designs are mainly dresses for the body conscious, encouraging self-confidence, as she believes woman should be feminine and alluring, but powerful. She designs and produces a brilliant collection of kaftans for resorts and game lodges locally and abroad. Philosophy also stock imported labels from Australia and Barcelona. These collections are all available at her two stores or online.

Jenni designed the interiors for the houseboat, the Zambezi Queen of the Mantis Collection as well as several private homes and apartments in Cape Town. The interior for her ‘tree house’ home in Hout Bay and beach apartment in Plettenberg Bay shows her eclectic style and unique touch. “The Hout Bay house is a mixture of everything I’ve collected over the past ten years W- French mirrors and Indonesian carved tables, antique carved doors from India, Eames and Le Corbusier originals. I find it impossible to be tied down by one style,” she muses, “I’m looking forward to renovating this house. Its silhouette is severe, earthy and masculine. I actually love building. I find the design process with an architect you can trust, totally exhilarating.”

When asked what the future holds for this creative dynamo, she replies, “My aim is to allow myself more time to paint and design. I will eventually become a full time artist once I’ve sold my company Philosophy. I see this happening over the next two to three years, as there will be the “hand holding” process. I’m excited about 2016, as I’ve had several painting commissions,” she says smiling, “I’ve always known I would save the best for last.”

Web: [email protected]

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V - wine

Passionate outsiderWith the launch of his new book, ‘My Kind of Wine’, just in time for Christmas, wine guru John Platter is back with a bang. Though some might think he never really went away, thanks to the annual South African wine guide that he founded and will always bear his name. But he and wife Erica, latterly of ‘Durban Curry’ cookbook fame, “retired” to KwaZulu-Natal sixteen years ago. “Erica’s family is from there,” reveals John. “To be honest I was also a bit ‘gatvol’ with wine…”

68 val de vie

Words by Joanne Gibson

Perhaps that’s understandable. Born in Hungary and raised on a cattle farm in Kenya, the former

foreign correspondent had spent a few years covering hard news in Europe and the Middle East, before ending up in Johannesburg as Bureau Chief for Union Press International. “I loved wars, and there were a lot of good wars going on. Mozambique, Angola, Rhodesia…”

Eventually he’d seen enough action and decided to return to his farming roots. He and Erica, also a print journalist, bought a farm in Franschhoek in 1978, growing chenin blanc for the local co-op.

As John recalls on the Platter’s website: “To help ward off penury, Erica and I continued to write: she TV reviews, and I a weekly column for the Rand Daily Mail, interviewing wine characters, profiling their wines. And then Hugh Johnson produced his ‘Pocket Wine Book’. And we read it admiringly and thought: let’s try to do something like this!”

Many (including their own printing company) thought the guide would be “boring”, sure to fail, but

instead it went straight onto SA’s non-fiction best-sellers’ lists (where it has stayed). John believes this because they approached the wines “as reporters rather than judges, recording as many of the why, where, when and how specifics as possible. And we’d feature thumbnail sketches of the winemakers to bring their wines to life.”

For many years the guide was a one-man show, at least as far as the tasting was concerned. “Erica was (and still is) the fiercest editor you can imagine,” says John. “I sometimes get carried away with all the technical stuff, talking about pH and phenolic ripeness and malolactic fermentation, and the manuscript invariably comes back with ‘BB’ marked everywhere for ‘bloody boring’!”

Over time, John found himself tasting more than 7,000 wines a year: “I would rest for two or three months, then calibrate my palate a bit, and then it would be about six months of active tasting.”

Inevitably the team had to expand, with veteran wine writer Angela Lloyd the first to come on board as “second palate and scribe” (and still going strong after thirty years, in a team currently comprising sixteen tasters).

Over time, John found

himself tasting more than

7,000 wines a year: “I

would rest for two or three

months, then calibrate my

palate a bit, and then it

would be about six months

of active tasting.”

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John and Erica Platter attended the recent Swartland Revolution, where John presented a seminar and tasting of seven wines featured in his new book – and clearly he has been swept up in the revolutionary fervour: “There’s something so evocative about the imagery,” he says. “There’s Adi Badenhorst, a dead ringer for Karl Marx, never a conformist. Then there’s Porseleinberg’s Callie Louw, the strong silent type, admonishing me for asking “too many questions” in a classic Bolshevik put-down. Eben Sadie makes Lenin look like a stuttering idiot, and the Mullineux’s – how do they fit in? – as undercover agents!”

In the meantime, the Platters’ had purchased Delaire (today Delaire Graff) and then Clos du Ciel, where they planted vineyards and made their own wine. John also helped to plant the first seeds of what is today celebrated as the Swartland Revolution, as a founding partner in Charles Back’s pioneering Spice Route venture (it was Erica who came up with the name). “But I always tried to remain a dispassionate outsider when it came to the guide,” insists John.

In ‘My Kind of Wine’, however, he doesn’t even pretend to be dispassionate. “It’s a totally subjective book. But when it comes to wine, I think [famous American war correspondent] Martha Gellhorn was right in condemning – in her words – “all that objectivity shit”. There’s a place for blind tasting in competitions, but in theatre, restaurant, sport and literary criticism, there’s an unwritten understanding that reviews are based on personal opinion. It should be the same for wine.”

Why launch a book now, after all this time? (That is, apart from the Platters’ wild romp off the beaten track in ‘Africa Uncorked: Travels in Extreme Wine Territory’, published in 2002…).

“We spent last Christmas in the Cape, and suddenly realised how much things had changed. We immediately decided it was time for another book.”

The initial idea was to visit as many producers as possible (“the best stories are human stories”), then feature about 100 wines. “But after tasting over 1,000 wines, I realised 100 was too few,” says John. “Instead of including one or two good cabernet francs, for example, I found at least ten good ones! There is so much excitement in the industry, so many things happening, that this book was a delight to do, and very easy to write.”

It’s very easy to read, too, and highly recommended for any lover of SA wine. But John and Erica quip that its recent Cape launches (in Riebeek Kasteel, Stellenbosch and Cape Town) were really just an excuse to visit granddaughters Lily-Rose and Samuela. The book is dedicated to them, which leads me to ask John about the SA wine industry’s challenges going forward.

He’d rather not comment on transformation, or the lack thereof, except that it bothers him immensely. Regarding climate change, he says: “What is the industry’s Plan B or Plan C if we dry up? Why aren’t more people planting better dry-land varieties, or establishing more vineyards in our maritime extremities?”

I suspect the former foreign correspondent turned modern South African wine pioneer will soon have a response.


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87950-Val de Vie ads 2016 V2.indd 2 2015/12/04 12:53 PMlegacy edit.indd 34 2015/12/08 3:16 PM

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V - equestrian

Across the board Throughout the world, the thrill of horses speeding down the home straight has inspired investors, filmmakers and royalty alike. Horseracing, known by many as the Sport of Kings, has a long and deep history in South Africa. Racing first took place in this country around about the turn of the 19th century when the British first arrived at the Cape and it has since steadily evolved into an established part of the sporting calendar.

Words by Sarah Whitelaw

Since then, South African thoroughbreds have slowly but surely made their appearance on the

global stage. From breeding such international champions as Hawaii and Colorado King, to local high-flyers as The Apache, Crimson Palace, Gypsy’s Warning, Iridescence, Variety Club, Soft Falling Rain and Victory Moon to name but a

few, South African bred thoroughbreds have consistently made a name for themselves as tough, durable competitors at the highest level.

In comparison to other major markets, the South African bred thoroughbred is still a cheap commodity. The average price of the 2015 National Yearling Sale was R358 060 (or US$24,809). In

V - equestrian

ABOVE Cape Town horse Power King

takes a win at the Vodacom Durban

July‚ Africa’s richest horse race with a

total of R3.5 million in prize money. The

winner takes home R2.094 million‚ with

the runner-up earning R670‚000 and

the horse in third position R335‚000.

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contrast, Keeneland’s September Yearling, the world’s largest yearling sale, averaged at US$331,574 this year while Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (Book 1), the top sale in the UK, averaged at 224,431 guineas (or US$355,104).

Clearly, these prices underline what great value the South African breeding industry represents in the world’s market terms. However, the South African racing and breeding industry regularly face an uphill battle in exporting their horses overseas due to a number of stringent protocols regarding African Horse Sickness. While it may be a struggle to get horses out of the country, owners clearly have plenty of incentive to do so. Dual Horse Of The Year, Variety Club left South Africa having earned R3,748,185 and after having

successfully campaigned in both Dubai and Hong Kong, returned home having banked more than R20 million in prize money. A handsome return on his yearling purchase price of R425 000!

An average handicap in Dubai ‘s International Festival, where champion South African trainer Mike de Kock has been so successful with local thoroughbreds, carried prize money ranging from $60 000 to $175 000 in 2015. In contrast, an average handicap in South Africa carries stake money ranging from R65 000 – R92 000 ($6,374).

Bloodstock agent Jehan Malherbe, who works closely with Mike de Kock, believes in the value that South Africa offers. Malherbe commented, “Pound for pound, the South African sales ring offers tremendous value for overseas buyers, with

V - equestrian

ABOVE Dual Horse Of The Year,

Variety Club left South Africa having

earned R3,748,185 and after having

successfully campaigned in both

Dubai and Hong Kong, returned

home having banked more than

R20 million in prize money.

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V - equestrian

Val de Vie Yearling SaleBloodstock SA look forward to welcoming international visitors to both the Val de Vie Yearling Sale on 14 February 2016, as well as the 2016 National Yearling Sale in April, the premier yearling sale on the African continent. 2016 will be the 40th National Yearling Sale at the TBA complex, and the 110th National Yearling Sale, which was first held in 1907.

the chance to acquire horses competing at the top level the world over.”

This year, the Val De Vie Yearling Sale offers a choice catalogue of 118 lots, consigned by the country’s top breeders. Among the sires represented are such leading stallions as Captain Al (Al Mufti), Fort Wood (Sadler’s Wells), Judpot (A.P. Indy), Tiger Ridge (Storm Cat), Trippi (End Sweep) and Var (Forest Wildcat). There are also some yearlings by exciting first crop sires such as Canadian champion Marchfield (A.P. Indy), European superstar Twice Over (Observatory) and multiple sprint champ from the local Drakenstein Stud, What A Winter (Western Winter).

Kevin Woolward, CEO of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association, is positive about thoroughbred breeding in South Africa, as he looks forward to 2016’s yearling sales. He notes that 2015 has certainly been a buyer’s market in terms of thoroughbred sales auctions in South Africa. There have been bargains for the top buyer’s who have been able to buy horses at better prices than previous years. The middle market however, which has always been the strength in solid auction sales, was not evident at all this year.

“Globally, there has been an improvement in the market recently, and we hope that this will filter through to South Africa in 2016. South African horses that have been exported overseas continue to perform well in various overseas racing centres. At the current exchange rates there is no doubt that South African horses are the best value for money in the world.”

BELOW A total of a 109 lots were

catalogued for the Val de Vie Yearling

Sale, of which 75% were sold at an

aggregate value of over R17 million.

The well-known Varsfontein Stud

claimed the top sale for the day as

the hammer fell on R1.2 million for

“Playboy Prince” sired by Dynasty,

an iconic winner that was selected as

Outstanding Sire of the Year by the

Equus panel in both 2010 and 2014.

“Pound for pound, the

South African sales ring

offers tremendous value for

overseas buyers, with the

chance to acquire horses

competing at the top level

the world over.”

- Jehan Malherbe

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V - equestrian

Star studded Beautiful studs worth visiting…

Drakenstein Stud Drakenstein Stud is situated on the wine farm L’Ormarins on the bottom slopes of the Groot Drakenstein mountain range. Huguenot Jean Roi, who was born in the town of Lourmarin, Provence, fled France in 1688 and settled in the Franschhoek valley where he established the wine farm L’Ormarins.

Today this is the home of Drakenstein Stud where paddocks and vines stand side by side, the vines occupying the upper slopes of the farm and the horses the lower. The first foal born on the farm was named Jean Roi in honour of the first owner.

Drakenstein Stud stands four of the most exciting sires at stud in South Africa - Philanthropist, Trippi, What a Winter and Duke of Marmalade. Web: www.drakensteinstud.com Varsfontein Stud Anthony Kalmanson founded Varsfontein Stud in 1974. An enthusiastic owner and amateur rider, Tony rode in races in England, South Africa and Rhodesia, and he won the first South African Steeplechase on Thunder Peel in 1969. A leading buyer at the National Yearling Sales his top racehorses included Attila, Top Brass and the fillies Indira (Paddock Stakes), Kendal Green (Fillies Guineas) and Singing Winds (Clairwood Free Handicap). With his top fillies retiring to stud, Tony bought Varsfontein – a wine farm near Paarl, and

his friend and riding adversary Hennie de Jager became the manager. The farm still sends grapes to the nearby Perdeberg Winery but horses are the primary concern.

Famous stallions at Varsfontein include Judpot, Gimmethegreenlight, and Master Of My Fate. Web: www.varsfontein.co.za

Backworth StudBackworth Stud is a subliminally beautiful property. Standing proud at 1,100m above sea level, the estate boasts 360° of uninterrupted views across the breathtaking Southern KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Backworth takes it name from the original Leftwich family farm in Northumberland, and has been under committed custodianship since 1902 when Colonel Fawcus purchased the land upon his arrival in Natal. On his death, Colonel Fawcus willed his treasured piece of Africa to his sister Mrs Charles Leftwich, who subsequently passed it on to her son, Peter Leftwich,from whose estate Backworth was purchased in 1993. In so doing, a very special piece of history was secured and three generations of the Leftwich family’s commitment to the establishment and beautifying of this magnificent farm. In 1999 the development of an infrastructure began that was aimed at enhancing this environment for the holistic breeding and raising of quality Thoroughbreds.

Backworth is a fine property, and shares its soul with all who visit to appreciate this remarkable boutique Thoroughbred breeding stud. Web: www.backworth.co.za

V - equestrian

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78 val de vie

V - innovation

“I see things differently,” says Jason Drew with his trademark smile. We’re sitting on the patio at the Val de Vie Polo Club, as the last chukka of the morning is played, and I’ve just spent an hour and a half in fascinated conversation with the man who is perhaps best known as “Lord of the Flies”, but not because he has anything to do with William Golding’s classic novel of the same name. Rather, he earned the sobriquet precisely because he does see things differently.

How else does one turn the creature most likely to cause revulsion when it alights on you, into

a multi-billion Rand business? It all started when Jason settled in Tulbagh,

after visiting Cape Town fourteen years ago, fresh from a hugely successful business venture in Europe where he started France’s first Internet bank, which he subsequently sold to Prudential, presumably for a tidy sum.

“I saw a photograph of Tulbagh in an in-flight magazine, and I liked it so much, I settled there and became a farmer,” says Jason, adding that he farmed a few cattle and sheep for the next seven years.

Jason styles himself as an environmental capitalist, which he believes will be the saving grace of our rapidly dwindling resources - specifically water, land and the seas, which humanity is plundering at an alarming rate.

After travelling the world for three years – “I had some time on my hands” – looking at the world’s ecosystems, particularly water, land and seas, he realised that globally we are in much worse trouble than anybody would admit, that we face enormous challenges.

“I was in a difficult position, because I was an environmentalist and a business person,” he says. “That’s when I decided we need to be a bit more honest about what we are. That’s why I call myself an environmental capitalist. You have to be both. If you’re an environmentalist who doesn’t understand the market, you will never get your cause dealt with. If you’re a business person who doesn’t understand that your business is subservient to the environment, your business will fail.”

”As a business person, you’re in business to make capital, not just to make a salary. We need to be honest about what it is we do. I found a whole series of ways in which we can get busy repairing the future, which is broken from where I stand,” he says. “We put nine billion people on the planet and all our food comes from our water, land and seas.”

Turning to water as an example, he notes that water is the single most traded commodity on the planet. “There is an immense trade in water, it’s just that we don’t see it.” But as he talks, it becomes clear. For example it takes between 12,000 to 25,000 litres of water to make a kilogram of beef in the American Midwest, which is then exported to the Middle East. “You’re not just exporting beef, you’re exporting condensed or value added water.”

During his travels he discovered that one million chickens a week are exported from the Western Cape to Saudi Arabia. While visiting a chicken farm in the Western Cape he discovered that one million chickens produce 25,000 litres of blood when slaughtered, which was poured into the ground in a waste pit, which was surrounded by flies.”

I remembered, as a boy, fishing at my grandparents house in the North of England. There were only two ways to catch a fish: one was with a fly on the end of the line, and the other a maggot on a hook.”

Making that connection, seeing things differently as he does, he conceptualised the world’s first sustainable fish farm, feeding them on flies, or the larvae of flies, which they eat naturally.

Words by Norman McFarlane

Lord of the flies

”As a business person,

you’re in business to make

capital, not just to make

a salary. We need to be

honest about what it is we

do. I found a whole series of

ways in which we can get

busy repairing the future,

which is broken from

where I stand.”

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After four years of failing endlessly as he puts it, he cracked some of the problems about growing flies, in cooperation with Stellenbosch University. “We’ve spent two and a half thousand years killing flies, now we had to figure out how to breed them successfully.”

The larvae are grown on recycled organic waste, then dried, after which they are used for chicken feed, and feedstock in fish farming operations. “It is vastly more sustainable than the fish meal industry which is depleting the fish stocks in our oceans at a frightening rate,” he says.

He started his first fly farm in Philippi, 9500m² in extent, which houses about 8.5 billion flies. At full production 100 tonnes of waste, which would otherwise go to a landfill will be used to grow 24 tonnes of larvae a day, which when dried yield seven and a half tonnes of protein, three and a half tonnes of oil and 15 tonnes of compost. “We’ve solved the problem of organic waste going into landfills.”

Three more plants will be built in South Africa, and six in other parts of the world in the Far East, North and South America and Europe. “I think that within fifteen years it will be considered as normal to recycle your waste nutrients as it is to recycle your plastic, paper and glass.”

But Jason is not just the Lord of the Flies. He recently sold an enormously successful business

which breeds sterile male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which when they mate with female mosquitoes, cause them to lay eggs which do not hatch, thus successfully controlling the spread of Dengue fever, in places like Brazil and Pakistan.

A prolific author, Jason has written two books in the last few years, with the third - The Environmentalist Capitalist - to follow just after Christmas. He believes the only way to save the world, is to be both environmentalist and capitalist simultaneously, pursuing sustainability and profitability. And he’s proved it can be done.

As the final polo chukka comes to an end – he plays three times a week in season – he speaks fondly of Val de Vie, where he and his family settled two years ago to be closer to the polo field.

“Val de Vie and South Africa are my home. It’s just a wonderful place to live and be. I can’t think of anywhere better on the planet,” he concludes with a smile.

“That’s when I decided

we need to be a bit more

honest about what we

are. That’s why I call

myself an environmental

capitalist. You have to

be both. If you’re an

environmentalist who

doesn’t understand the

market, you will never

get your cause dealt

with. If you’re a business

person who doesn’t

understand that your

business is subservient to

the environment, your

business will fail.”


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V - poloV - polo

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“The original plan was to

hold small regional

tournaments, but our first

tournament was such a

success that it made us

realise the potential.”

- Adamu Atta

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V - polo

Polo for Africa If Nigeria is the gateway to business in Africa, then you will do well to come riding in on a polo pony. Major events such as the African Masters Patrons Cup and the Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield are among the premier high-goal tournaments in West Africa and the place to be seen when it comes to networking in Nigeria. Businessman Adamu Atta, founder of Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club, shares his passion with us and the potential for polo in Africa.

Words by Yasemen Kaner-White

Founded in 2001, Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club is Nigeria’s supreme,

internationally renowned polo and lifestyle development. A private public partnership, proudly representing both the new and the old world of polo in Nigeria, the estate boasts four professional polo fields and stabling for over three hundred thoroughbred polo ponies. Setting a benchmark of excellence, whilst attracting ambassadors, businessmen and influential locals alike, it also maintains a relaxed family orientated atmosphere.

Fifth Chukker caters for anyone who thrives on the great outdoors but appreciates luxury.

“Fifth Chukker was created out of a need for harmony with nature, with all beings of creation. I strongly believe that if we lose our relationship with nature, we lose inevitably our relationship with ourselves. Once you understand this, you will understand the vision behind Fifth Chukker”, explains the founder, Adamu Atta.

Set in the superb savanna woodland indicative of the Sahel region of northern Nigeria, Fifth Chukker offers a refreshing alternative to the usual business environment. Perfect for executive retreats, conferences, meetings, product launches, staff incentives and weddings, or even a meal out – the chefs offer both local and international cuisine, as expected, of an excellent standard. Fifth Chukker is the focal point of Kangimi Resorts, a 3,000-hectare lifestyle development, which will also incorporate a signature golf course, horse racing track, spa hotel, business plazas and entertainment parks.

“The original plan was to hold small regional tournaments, but our first tournament was such a success that it made us realise the potential,” says Atta. Fifth Chukker Polo & Country Club, has received international recognition and attracts many well-known polo pro’s. An avid polo player himself with a 2-goal handicap, Adamu was one of the patrons to play in the Sentebale Polo Cup alongside Prince Harry at Val de Vie Estate.

Owning substantial equestrian assets across four continents, he plays polo in the United Kingdom, UAE, South Africa, Argentina and of course Nigeria.

Apart from the African Masters Patrons Cup, the Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield is one of the favourite events held at Fifth Chukker. Synonymous

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BELOW The estate boasts four

professional polo fields and stabling

over three hundred thoroughbred

polo ponies.


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with altruism, the polo club has a long-standing partnership with UNICEF, supporting and educating disadvantaged youth in northern Nigeria and is also Nigeria’s biggest coalition promoting breast cancer awareness to encourage early detection and treatment. The Pink Polo tournament, which took place last October, provided free crucial breast cancer screenings to the many ladies who attended, which Fifth Chukker intends to offer much more regularly.

In 2012, Atta became the new owner of the iconic Polo House, a masterpiece and jewel in the crown of Val de Vie Estate. A businessman with diverse interests in finance, banking, insurance, oil and gas, cement, textiles, transport, aviation and property development in Africa and being amongst the biggest private employers in Nigeria, he knows a great

investment when he sees one! The Polo House was chosen as a top-scoring regional winner in its category at the International Property Awards that takes place in Dubai each year.

“I see great potential for increased business co-operation between South Africa and Nigeria,” says Atta referring to his second home in Africa. “Within my portfolio of business interests, I am involved with several leading organisations with Cape-based offices, so Val de Vie is conveniently located for me to be able to interact with my business interests and maintain my involvement with my passion for polo. It is a fantastic estate and offers everything that I need for my South African base.”

Web: www.fifthchukker.com

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RIGHT Adamu and his team at the

Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield

held at Fifth Chukker.

BELOW FROM LEFT Playing off a

2-goal handicap, Adamu was one of

the patrons to play in the Sentebale

Polo Cup alongside Prince Harry

at Val de Vie Estate.

The Access Bank Fifth Chukker Polo

Day at Guards Polo Cup in

Windsor, London.


35val de vieATTORNEYS

Patent | Trade Mark | Copyright | Design | Commercial | Property | Litigation www.adamsadams.com

www.adamsadams.com

Pretoria | Johannesburg | Cape Town | Durban

Angola | Botswana | Burundi | Cameroon (OAPI) | Egypt (North Africa)

Ghana | Kenya | Lesotho | Mozambique (ARIPO) | Namibia | Nigeria

Swaziland | Tanzania (including Zanzibar)

10-goal players in


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Going offshore Julius Baer’s origins date back to 1890 and for the last 125 years the renowned Swiss private banking group has dedicated itself to serving and advising sophisticated private clients and family offices from around the world. Words provided

By building relationships on partnership, community and mutual trust, Julius Baer has established itself

as the leading Swiss private banking group. The principal operating company, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., is duly licensed in Switzerland and supervised by the Swiss independent financial-markets regulator FINMA.

Today, Julius Baer is present in all major financial centres with its headquarters in Zurich and offices in key locations including Dubai, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Lugano, Monaco, Montevideo, Moscow, Singapore and Tokyo.

By positioning itself as a niche player with a highly client centric business model and outperforming competitors through innovation, Julius Baer has established one of the largest wealth management offshore platforms in Europe. The promise given to clients is an unbiased multiple service offering combining wealth management, tax planning and research that provides clients with the opportunity of a lifetime investment.

Additionally, Julius Baer offers multiple currency accounts as well as sophisticated portfolio

management models including a back and forward testing feature consolidating multiple investment portfolios for risk evaluation.

Our clients are given the opportunity to globally diversify their investments and at the same time protect their family and business interests. Julius Baer is a pure wealth manager with state-of-the-art wealth management service provisions that are entirely based on an open architecture approach, offering incentives beyond regular private banking services models available in the market.

Our clients have unlimited access to local fund providers managing offshore unit trusts. Beneficial fee arrangements between our preferred fund providers and us allow our clients to invest cost efficiently while profiting from our sophisticated research and selection process. For a comprehensive and tax efficient wealth structuring, we are working with a range of specially approved service providers from locations such as Mauritius.

Despite the fact that we are not yet an authorised financial service provider in South Africa, Julius Baer considers that the African continent in general and South Africa in particular shows a significant potential for future growth. As a consequence, we are actively working on increasing brand awareness in the region through events such as the Polo at Val de Vie Polo Estate as well as other social gatherings in and around Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban.

Web: www.juliusbaer.com

Julius Baer is a proud sub-sponsor at Cintron Pink Polo and Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo. Join us for the Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo on 5 March 2016.

Our clients are given the

opportunity to globally

diversify their investments

and at the same time

protect their family and

business interests.

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C A P E T O W N ’ S P R E M I E R L I F E S T Y L E V E N U E

SHIMMYBEACHCLUB SHIMMYBEACH

Open Mondays to Sundays 11am to 4am. Kitchen closes at 11pm. www.shimmybeachclub.com

SOUTH ARM ROAD, V&A WATERFRONT, CAPE TOWN • 021 200 7778

SHIMMYBEACHCLUB SHIMMYBEACH Download the Shimmy app today

Perfect for romantic meals and beach dining, tailor made conferences, glamorous events and Ibiza-style pool parties. “Summer Calling” parties feature

top local and international DJs on a poolside stage throughout summer.

R E S T A U R A N T • P R I VA T E B E A C H • C L U B

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Cintron Pink Polo 2015Polo with a purpose. Thousands unite in aid of breast cancer awareness and support at the sixth annual Cintron Pink Polo event. Some of SA’s most famous faces were amongst esteemed guests. From Tanya van Graan to Liezel van der Westhuizen and Jen Su, these A-list celebs joined in to support this worthy cause.

Words provided

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Guests from near and far swanned to the Val de Vie Estate’s polo grounds for what was a

unique blend of elegance, entertainment and exquisite scenery, all in support of the fight against breast cancer.

Funds generated through the event will go to non-profit organisation Reach for Recovery and its Ditto project, which will assist women with their practical needs in their fight and recovery from the disease.

The day’s proceedings included a luxurious fashion show, hosted by international fashion brands, Vicomte A. & IKKS, a live performance by celebrity vocalist, Tamara Dey, and of course an exciting polo match, which saw sponsors, Cintron and Julius Baer competing head-to-head.

Food was a talking point as guests were presented with an indulgent spread of skilfully crafted, never before seen “food-ventions”. This year also saw the launch of the Pink Food Truck Fair, which offered guests a picnic style laid-back experience where they were able to enjoy tantalising food straight from innovative food trucks.

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“Six years ago the event was

launched to act as a vocal

platform and to raise

awareness about breast

cancer in our country, and

world-wide. The day was a

celebration of stories of

miraculous healing, as well

as an opportunity for those

who have lost loved ones to

honour the lives they lived.”

– Simone de Wet,

MD at Val de Vie Events.

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Photo by Denzil Jacobs

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No polo event is complete without the traditional act of divot stomping, and this was no exception – guests put their best foot forward and took to the field with luxury car brand, Crossley and Webb to pat down the torn up turf.

After four chukkas, the nail-biting match ended on a score of 5-6 to team Julius Baer. Team Cintron fought hard to make a come back, but South African polo captain Tom de Bruin’s superb distribution and management of the Julius Bar team made sure that the white team never looked like they were going to lose! Tom’s pony, Chilli, was named Best Playing Pony of the day, while Johan du Plooy was awarded Most Valued Player, scoring several goals for the Julius Baer team bringing the crowd to their feet with his fast long runs down the field. Jossi Spilsbury’s speed and aggression surprised everyone and she will clearly move to a 1 Handicap very soon. Having two female polo players such as Sally and Jossi playing to such a high standard will only encourage more ladies to take up the exciting sport of polo!

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Save the date!5 November 2016Cintron Pink Polo Watch the official video on the Pink Polo SA facebook page

Enquiries: [email protected]

The day’s proceedings

included a luxurious fashion

show, hosted by international

fashion brands, Vicomte A.

& IKKS, a live performance

by celebrity vocalist,

Tamara Dey, and of course

an exciting polo match,

which saw sponsors, Cintron

and Julius Baer competing

head-to-head.

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SAVE THE DATE

TICKET SALES OPEN MID DEC 2015

With a tastefully designed hospitality lounge, HNWI’s and captains of industry are able to network and socialise with

like-minded individuals. With a dedicated butler and a luxurious viewing lounge overlooking the polo pitch, guests will not

only delight in the nail-biting polo finale but also the lavish food, décor and fine champagne. Serving as a perfect backdrop to

a convenient deal-making environment, the hospitality suite is designed to meet your exact requirements and specifications.

Available on Computicket

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Eleven years ago, after spending nine weeks at an orphanage in Lesotho, a young Prince Harry would leave Southern Africa and, touched by what he saw, be changed forever. Still grieving for the loss of his own mother, Prince Harry could deeply relate with children he had come to know and admire. Their bravery and hope planted a seed, one that would grow into his beloved Sentebale, meaning “forget-me-not” in Sesotho.

Words provided Photographs by André van Niekerk

Forget me not

ABOVE His Majesty King Letsie III at the

opening of the ‘Mamohato Children’s

Centre, with Sentebale’s Founding

Patrons, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso.

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Never forget your humble beginnings.” Such is the belief of Simone de Wet, the vibrant

Managing Director of Val de Vie Events, who knows better than anyone that in order to lead, one must know how to serve. Once approached by Sentebale to co-ordinate the opening of the ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho alongside her enthusiastic team, Simone knew that this opportunity embodied the essence of Val de Vie Events corporate culture; to serve selflessly and to hone hope.

Putting together an event fit for royalty in a remote and mountainous area was by no means easy. However, being optimistic and ready for any challenge, the Val de Vie Events Team, together with the helping hands of Secret Diary, Supa Sign, Vivid Blue, and N Concepts and Designs, set to work to create an experience worthy of its cause.

Small and completely landlocked by South Africa, Lesotho is one of the least developed countries in

the world. With the second highest prevalence rate of HIV, one in three children are orphaned and there are around twenty one thousand, 10-19-year-olds living with HIV; it’s no surprise only 30% of them are accessing treatment. With many forced to fend for themselves, leaving school at a young age to find work or care for their younger siblings, and with little or no knowledge of HIV/AIDS, life is a challenge.

The ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre will be the flagship facility that supports all of Sentebale’s work with vulnerable children in Lesotho. Named after His Majesty King Letsie III and Prince Seeiso’s mother, the late Queen ‘Mamohato Bereng Seeiso, who was known as the Mother of the Nation, the centre will be used to hold a range of events and workshops to benefit vulnerable children. These will include hearing assessments for children with hearing disabilities, training workshops for organisations

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“We came up with the name

Sentebale and the idea

seemed perfect,”

says Prince Harry.

It’s a name that captures

the spirit of an organisation

founded in memory of the

two princes’ late mothers, and

which continues the great

work of their mothers

“

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A vision comes to lifePrince Harry and Prince Seeiso founded Sentebale in 2006 – a charity aiming to rewrite the future for the impoverished population of Lesotho, providing the thousands of children and young people affected by HIV/AIDS with vital access to accommodation, care, education and critical psychosocial support. If children with HIV are educated about the virus, they not only learn about their condition but can also educate their peers about the disease, enlightening a generation about this potential killer. In Prince Seeiso’s words, they wanted to “give the less privileged and often forgotten vulnerable children a chance of some schooling, and thus a ray of hope for a better future.” www.sentebale.org

caring for vulnerable children, peer educator workshops and forums and more specifically, it will host camps delivering psychosocial support to children living with HIV.

The aim of Sentebale’s camps is to ensure all 10-19-year-olds living with HIV access and adheres to their anti-retroviral treatment, feels supported in school, at home and in the community, and are able to lead healthy and productive lives. In addition, the camp inspires child-to-child communication encouraging children and young people to teach each other about the disease, breaking down stigma that prevents many knowing their status and accessing treatment.

The opening of the ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre has been a key milestone for Sentebale. It marks the progress made in the last ten years in supporting vulnerable children in Lesotho and highlights Sentebale’s plans for expansion, both in Lesotho, and in other Southern African countries.

Guests who attended the opening include donors that Sentebale has worked with in the past ten years and those who have funded the building of the centre, ambassadors such as Nacho Figueras, community-run partners and government ministers to name a few. They had the opportunity to experience a camp at the centre with a number of workshops and activities taking place with the children Sentebale supports.

The official opening ceremony was followed by an abundance of singing and dancing in true Basotho spirit, with a special performance by soul singer Joss Stone. And of course, no momentous celebration is complete without fireworks! A memorable event, serving the purpose of a better tomorrow.

Tel: +27 (0)21 863 6191Email: [email protected]: www.valdevie.co.za

V - lifestyle V - making a difference

We are very proud that our Val de Vie Events Team had been selected to co-ordinate the opening of the ‘Mamohato Children’s Centre at Thaba Bosiu in Lesotho. From left; Soritha van Dyk, Simone de Wet, Elsje Human, Andri Pletzen, Heleen Human, Anneke van der Merwe and Erik van Papendorp

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B l o o d s t o c k S o u t h A f r i c a • Te l : + 2 7 1 1 3 2 3 5 7 0 0 • F a x : + 2 7 1 1 3 2 3 5 7 8 8 • P O B o x 8 2 7 , G e r m i s t o n 1 4 0 0e n q u i r i e s @ t b a . c o . z a • w w w. t b a . c o . z a

Y E A R L I N G


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Bedrooms 3 / Bathrooms 3 / Garages 2 / Ref# TK1241503Lock-up-and-go 3-bedroom home on an idyllic polo estate. The north-facing patio frames picturesque sunsets and views of the Paarl mountains. The open-plan living spaces are designed around a central, immaculately finished kitchen while concertina doors fold away, leading to the undercover braai area and swimming pool.

Val de Vie, Paarl / R5.4 million

Igna 082 884 8492 / Ronel 082 556 2433Jordan 083 298 1481 / Hayley 082 926 8587


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OFFICIAL SALES AGENTSwww.valdevie.co.za | [email protected] | +27 (0) 21 863 6105

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VAL DE VIE ESTATE PROPERTY | FROM R1.425 M NEW PLOTS AVAILABLE

Erf sizes from 675m2 - 2000m2 | Brand new developer plots now availableSituated across the premium Gentleman’s Estates, expect sweeping views of the Simonsberg, Paarl and Franschhoek mountains and beautiful tree lined avenues.

The new Phase 2 plots are in close proximity to the iconic Polo Pavilion and the new sports centre, The Yard, which will include a multi-purpose 1000m2 gym, a 50m outdoor pool, additional tennis, soccer court and youth recreational areas. The plots are unique and larger in size than other plots on the estate, mostly north facing, situated across the premium Gentleman’s Estates and bordering the protected 35ha fynbos reserve.

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Magazine - The Oaks.pdf 1 16/11/2015 11:48:56

VAL DE VIE THE OAKS | FROM R5.661 M NEW OPTIONAL FLOOR PLANS

Floor size options include 320m2, 335m2, 378m2 and 500m2

The home of your dreams awaits your selection from a portfolio of four tastefully designed floor plans, collectively known as The Oaks. This unique property eliminates the need to start the design process from scratch; saving you both time and money in the development of your home on one of Val de Vie’s newly launched plots.

These designs also allow room for customisation, to ensure that your requirements are met and that the end product is perfectly in line with your expectations. Your hopes can soon become a reality in the Valley of Life – and it all begins with a choice.

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Magazine - The Vines.pdf 1 16/11/2015 11:39:52

VAL DE VIE THE VINES | FROM R2.946 M BURGUNDY

Erf sizes from 330m2 - 560m2 | House sizes from 172m2 - 188m2

3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Single / Double garage

VAL DE VIE THE VINES | FROM R4 M VENETO

Erf sizes from 330m2 - 560m2 | House sizes from 248m2 - 264m2

4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | Single / Double garage


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VAL DE VIE THE VINES | FROM R4.41 M SONOMA

Erf sizes from 330m2 - 560m2 | House sizes from 290m2 4 Bedrooms | 4 Bathrooms | Double garage

VAL DE VIE ESTATE PROPERTY | R5.65 M HOUSE 560

Erf 800m2 | Floor 374m2 | 3 Bedrooms | 2 BathroomsA beautiful family home with a large backyard and sunny garden. The open plan kitchen and dining room leads onto a separate cosy lounge around a beautiful wrought iron staircase. Upstairs is a bright pyjama lounge and 3 spacious bedrooms.

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Erf 800m2 | Floor 471m2 | 3 Bedrooms | 2 BathroomsA dream home on the paddocks with a wonderful open plan interior executed to the highest standard, as well as spectacular views of the mountains and peacefully grazing horses.


Erf 940m2 | Floor 572m2 | 3 Bedrooms | 3 BathroomsA well located corner plot surrounded by water giving you the feeling that you are living on an island boasting all round sweeping mountain views and exquisite sunrises.


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VAL DE VIE GENTLEMAN’S ESTATES | FROM R7.5 M PREMIUM PLOTS

Erf sizes range from 2.5 hectares to 5.8 hectares13 Incredible Gentleman’s Estates, of which only four are still available, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 hectares for those who yearn for the open and to live closer to nature. Here you can plant your favourite grape varietals, fruit orchard or vegetable garden all organically grown to your desire. Live out your passion whether it be to keep your horses or other livestock, keep up to 10 animals all within the safest estate in Africa according to the International Property Awards.

4 River Reserves with breathtaking views of the iconic Simonsberg, ranging from 2 – 5 hectares gives you the opportunity to build your dream home surrounded by nature and a 30-hectare conservation camp stocked with indigenous wildlife in conjunction with Cape Nature. These reserves border the pristine Berg River and will have entertainment areas with access to the river.

Both Gentleman’s Estates and River Reserves will pay one Val de Vie levy and get an allotment of water from the Berg River water rights. Don’t miss this unique opportunity.


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Documents

Val de Vie Magazine Summer 2016