FEATURED BLOG: Unfortunate South Africanisms

I really loved this guys Blog, it took me straight back home to Cape Town. He reminded me of some the great South Africanisms and tries to explain to the non-South African's what our strange 'sayings' are all about. A guide to South African slang, if you will. After reading some of his posts I thought he was really interesting and his photographs are beautiful and many of them are so thought provoking.... I just knew this had to be our feature Blog this week. 

He was born in Pretoria in the summer of '69.... I can just imagine the Bryan Adams song being his anthem when it came out! (only because if it was me, I would be everyone's worst nightmare when it was karaoke time - I would have been all over that!). He has done something called Experiential Education - thanks to Wikipedia I now know that it means: A philosophy of education that describes the process that occurs between a teacher and student that infuses direct experience with the learning environment and content. (If he is reading this then I hope that is right? You never know with Wiki nowadays...). He has worked with young offenders, run his own company and served in churches around the world. Not only that but he was the sub-editor at a daily newspaper and taught at a private school in Antananarivo, Madagascar! He ends his Bio by saying: "This blog was started after I moved from Madagascar, during which time I wrote “Madder in Mada“. I will try to have interesting photographs, funny stories, and more about this “sad state of affairs” in which I find myself (back in South Africa)…"

CLICK HERE TO READ  

Now, it must have crossed your mind by now - who is HE? After a quick skim over his Bio and maybe one or 2 other places, I know his name is Robin... (You don't need to email me and tell me his name, if you find or know it), I kind of like the mystery... I just think of him as this great South African "Oke" with this really interesting Blog. 

A MUST READ! 

FEATURED BLOG : Touchee Feelee

This weeks featured blog post is from Euodia Roets, the artist, illustrator and designer for Touchee Feelee - A South African home ware & pamper boutique. 

"We all live in a world of mass production where the touch of a hand has value. I have no interest in mass production, but rather take pride in creating tactile pieces. My art and products have been sold across South Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada and the US." - Euodia Roets

Euodia Roets was approached by Woolworths to feature her products in their new artisan range and while this kind of approach is nearly every business owners dream, for Euodia it was a living nightmare. 

It is never okay to treat anyone badly in business but for such a huge name in South Africa, their behavior was just disgusting... some of you may have heard of this kind of thing happening with Woolworths but it was a first for us. 

We think it is only fair that because they have such a 'great' name in SA retail, (what we thought in any case) people need to know that this is how they are treating the you's and the me's running our own businesses, trying to make a living. 

They should really be ashamed of themselves....

  

Click HERE to read her Blog post

UK Scholarships open for South African's - Lead SA Report

We came across a really interesting article on the  LEAD SA website and we wanted to Feature it this week - Maybe someone you know could benefit from this great program...

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Applications for 2014/15 Chevening Scholarships and Chevening / Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Scholarships in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland are now open.

Chevening / African Fellowship Trust Scholarships in South Africa are also open for applications..

Chevening scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme which gives outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world the opportunity to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK.

The scholarships not only offer financial support to study for a Master’s degree at the UK’s leading universities, but the opportunity to become part of an influential and highly regarded global network.

The programme seeks nationals of Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland, of any age, with a couple of years work experience and a commitment to making a difference in their home country.

The scholarship includes:

• a monthly stipend, travel to and from your country via an approved route, 

• an arrival and excess baggage allowance, 

• a thesis or dissertation grant, 

• the cost of an entry clearance visa and full tuition fees (with the exception of MBAs which have a global Chevening cap of £12k).

While applications from a wide range of subject areas are accepted, applications in the following fields are particularly welcome:

• Health & Education

• Governance and Human Rights

• Economics and Finance

• Science, Engineering and Technology

• Education, Arts, Culture and Sports

Read more on the scholarship as well as how to apply for a Chevening Scholarship in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Click here

Who is LEAD SA?

"YOU can change the world. Lead SA is a personal call to every person to make a difference. We all have a responsibility to make the world a better place. It could be as simple as making a stranger smile or as big as fighting to further the rights entrenched in our Constitution. Each act makes a difference. This website tells the stories of people who are making our country a better place."

SA vs New Zealand

WHAT A GAME!

The rugby game between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park (05/10/2013) was a game that will never be forgotten. Everyone who watched the game (and then everyone who lives within a 2 mile radius of them, I'm sure) would have spoken about the game in one way or another... so we don't need to get into how hair raising it was or how many new swear words you made up because in the end, we all get to the same conclusion: we lost... Okay, so maybe one thing about the game did anyone else feel that the decision to take the du Plessis brothers out the scrum was a case of: "If it aint broke, don't fix it!" or Meyer's choice to take the Beast off might not have been the best idea especially when we found ourselves getting somewhere and perhaps looking at a potential win? .... okay... that will be the sum total of our 'game politics' for this post.

Besides the odd "what the hell is he DOING?!" moments, it was a great game, and for once it wasn't us getting all the yellow cards!!  Nigel Owens did a really good job reffing - He mentioned before hand that it would be one of the biggest he's reffed. Lastly the support from our country as well as every Springbok supporter everywhere was outstanding! We were all right behind them... WELL PLAYED BOYS

Here's a look at a few things SA / NZ rugby related - some old and some new... enjoy!

MOER HULLE HAKKA

This was so funny, really worth watching more then once, their song is amazing!

NANDO'S STRIKES AGAIN

You can always rely on Nando's to get right in there - I love how they have always managed to capture great South African humor in their adverts (this is from a few years back but it's still very apt to all the SA NZ games)

1995 RUGBY WORLD CUP

This is really long, but remember you can watch the closing ceremony or skip parts and get to the game OR what most people are after is getting another look at the winning conversion ... but for whatever reason you might have to watch it, here it is (better yet, add it to your YouTube favorites and always have the best rugby game of all time at the tip of your fingers. No Bok supporters YouTube will ever be complete without a link to the 1995 RWC!)

SOME FACTS

• The Boks have won eight of the 13 Tests played against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
• The two traditional opponents last clashed at Ellis Park in 2004. The Boks won by 14 points.
• The Springboks won the previous two Tests against the All Blacks at Ellis Park with bonus points. 
• Only two Springboks have managed to score a hat-trick against the All Blacks: Ray Mordt (1981) and Marius Joubert (Bryan Habana also scored a hat-trick against the All Blacks but did it while playing for the Barbarians in 2009.)
• The NZ National team, the All Blacks, was founded in the 1880's, before the country gained independence.
• From 1896 to 1956 the Springboks were unbeaten in a test series - a period of 60 years.

WHO WON WHAT WHEN

This is said to be the history of Rugby Union matches between SA and NZ... all the way back to 1921

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5 October 2013 - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg  27 – 38  NZ

14 September 2013 - Eden Park, Auckland  29 – 15  NZ

6 October 2012 - FNB Stadium, Johannesburg  16 – 32  NZ

15 September 2012 - Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin  21 – 11  NZ

20 August 2011 - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth  18 – 5  SA  

30 July 2011 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington  40 – 7  NZ

21 August 2010 -  FNB Stadium, Johannesburg  22 – 29  NZ 

17 July 2010 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington  31 – 17  NZ

10 July 2010 - Eden Park, Auckland  32 – 12  NZ

12 September 2009 - Waikato Stadium, Hamilton  29 – 32  SA

1 August 2009  - ABSA Stadium, Durban  31 – 19  SA

25 July 2009 - Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein  28 – 19  SA

16 August 2008 - Newlands, Cape Town  0 – 19  NZ

12 July 2008 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  28 – 30  SA

5 July 2008 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington  19 – 8  NZ

14 July 2007 -  Jade Stadium, Christchurch  33 – 6  NZ

23 June 2007 - ABSA Stadium, Durban 21 – 26  NZ

2 September 2006 - Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg  21 – 20  SA

26 August 2006  - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 26 – 45  NZ 

22 July 2006 - Westpac Stadium, Wellington  35 – 17  NZ

27 August 2005 - Carisbrook,  Dunedin  31 – 27  NZ

6 August 2005 - Newlands, Cape Town  22 – 16  SA

14 August 2004 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  40 – 26  SA

24 July 2004 - Jade Stadium, Christchurch  23 – 21  NZ

9 November 2003 - Telstra Dome, Melbourne  29 – 9  NZ

9 August 2003 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  19 – 11  NZ

19 July 2003 - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  16 – 52  NZ

10 August 2002 - Kings Park Stadium, Durban  23 – 30  NZ

20 July 2002 - WestpacTrust Stadium, Wellington  41 – 20  NZ

25 August 2001 - Eden Park, Auckland  26 – 15  NZ

21 July 2001 - Newlands, Cape Town  3 – 12  NZ

19 August 2000 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  46 – 40  SA

22 July 2000 - Jade Stadium, Christchurch  25 – 12  NZ

4 November 1999 - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  22 – 18  SA

7 August 1999 - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  18 – 34  NZ

10 July 1999 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  28 – 0  NZ

15 August 1998  - Kings Park Stadium, Durban  24 – 23  SA

25 July 1998 - Athletic Park, Wellington  3 – 13  SA

9 August 1997 - Eden Park, Auckland  55 – 35  NZ 

19 July 1997 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  32 – 35  NZ

31 August 1996 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  32 – 22  SA

24 August 1996  - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  26 – 33  NZ

17 August 1996  - Kings Park Stadium, Durban  19 – 23  NZ

10 August 1996  - Newlands, Cape Town  18 – 29  NZ

20 July 1996  - Lancaster Park, Christchurch  15 – 11  NZ

24 June 1995 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  15 – 12  SA

6 August 1994 - Eden Park, Auckland  18 – 18  DRAW  

23 July 1994  - Athletic Park, Wellington  13 – 9  NZ

9 July 1994 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  22 – 14  NZ

15 August 1992 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  24 – 27  NZ

12 September 1981 - Eden Park, Auckland  25 – 22  NZ

29 August 1981 - Athletic Park, Wellington  12 – 24  SA

15 August 1981 - Lancaster Park, Christchurch  14 – 9  NZ

18 September 1976 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  15 – 14  SA

4 September 1976 - Newlands, Cape Town  15 – 10  SA

14 August 1976 - Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  9 – 15  NZ

24 July 1976 - Kings Park Stadium, Durban  16 – 7  SA

12 September 1970 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  20 – 17  SA

29 August 1970 - Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth  14 – 3  SA

8 August 1970 - Newlands, Cape Town  8 – 9   NZ

25 July 1970 - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  17 – 6   SA

18 September 1965 - Eden Park, Auckland  20 – 3  NZ

4 September 1965 - Lancaster Park, Christchurch  16 – 19  SA

21 August 1965 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  13 – 0  NZ

31 July 1965 - Athletic Park, Wellington  6 – 3  NZ

27 August 1960 - Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth  8 – 3  SA

13 August 1960 - Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  11 – 11  DRAW

23 July 1960 - Newlands, Cape Town  3 – 11  NZ

25 June 1960 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  13 – 0  SA

1 September 1956 - Eden Park, Auckland  11 – 5  NZ

18 August 1956 - Lancaster Park, Christchurch  17 – 10  NZ

4 August 1956 - Athletic Park, Wellington  3 – 8  SA

14 July 1956 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  10 – 6  NZ

17 September 1949 - Crusader Ground, Port Elizabeth  11 – 8  SA

3 September 1949 - Kingsmead, Durban  9 – 3  SA

13 August 1949 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  12 – 6  SA

16 July 1949 - Newlands, Cape Town  15 – 11  SA

25 September 1937 - Eden Park, Auckland  6 – 17  SA

4 September 1937 - Lancaster Park, Christchurch  6 – 13  SA

14 August 1937 - Athletic Park, Wellington  13 – 7  NZ

1 September 1928 - Newlands, Cape Town  5 – 13  NZ

18 August 1928 - Crusader Ground, Port Elizabeth  11 – 6  SA

21 July 1928 - Ellis Park, Johannesburg  6 – 7  NZ

30 June 1928 - Kingsmead, Durban  17 – 0   SA
17 September 1921 - Athletic Park, Wellington  0 – 0  DRAW

21 August 1921 - Eden Park, Auckland  5 – 9  SA

13 August 1921 - Carisbrook, Dunedin  13 – 5  NZ


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Joost van Der Westhuizen in Edinburgh - COME AND JOIN US!

COME AND CELEBRATE THE GLITTERING CAREER OF ONE OF THE GREATEST SCRUM HALVES TO EVER PLAY THE GAME OF RUGBY

15 November 2013

Former Springbok World Cup winning scrum half, Joost van Der Westhuizen will be in Edinburgh along with some other rugby celebrities to participate in a one-of-a-kind, fundraising sporting quiz and supper followed by a Harviestoun Brewery sponsored reception.

Joost was diagnosed in 2011 with Motor Neuron Disease and specialists told him that he would be wheelchair bound within a year and that he had less then a 20% chance of living 24 months. 

If there is anything we know about Joost, it's that there's no shortage of fighting spirit - He has so bravely taken on this terrible disease with the same energy he possessed on the field and he is a true inspiration to so many people in South Africa and around the world.

 Joost will be joined by law graduate, Euan MacDonald from the University of Edinburgh. Euan was diagnosed with MND 10 years ago and although he has not reached the sporting heights that Joost has, he is a huge fan of the game of rugby often attending Scottish international as well as Edinburgh rugby at Murrayfield Stadium. All funds raised on the evening will go 50/50 between Joost's J9 Foundation and The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research. The centre, named after Euan, is leading the way worldwide in Motor Neurone Disease Research.

The price for a table at this event is £350

10 people at a table.

For anyone looking to attend this fundraising event but not able to get together a full table of 10, the 

HOUSE OF BILTONG would like to offer you the opportunity to come along and join us at one of our tables! 

Here is all the Info:

£35pp

• Friday 15 November 2013

• 7pm - Midnight

• President Suite, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 

• A chance to mix and mingle with Joost and other well known rugby celebrities

• Sponsored drinks reception by Harviestoun Brewery

• A cheese platter for each table   

• Sporting quiz with top prizes  

• Free Prize Draw  

• One course hot fork buffet  

• Club house priced Bar – cash and credit card facilities available  

• J9 Foundation bracelet  

• A great night with loads of laughs and fun

 MC for the evening will be Scott Wilson!

Scott has been on the radio for more then 20 years (Radio Clyde, Radio Forth, Talk 107 and Radio Scotland). He is the voice of Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports, Barclaycard, Richard F Mackay

and many more brands nationwide. Sports is also very much apart of his working life as he is also the voice for the Edinburgh Monarchs speedway team, Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey Club and on matchdays he can be heard as the HEARTS stadium announcer at Tynecastle! 

WILL YOU BE JOINING US?

Email us and let us know if you would like to book a seat (or 2 or 3) and we will supply you with all the details and availability. We have been told that the tables are going fast so let us know asap so you can reserve your seats!   info@houseofbiltong.co.uk

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Fatal Shark Attack in J-Bay

A SHARK REPORTED TO BE OVER 4m HAS KILLED A SWIMMER AT LOWER POINT NEAR ALBATROS BEACH IN JEFFREYS BAY. 

Picture: Facebook

The man has been named as 74 year old local resident, Burgert van der Westhuizen. 

The avid open water swimmer had started training again for the up coming open water swim season, but swam regularly as apart of his normal routine. He always parked his vehicle at the petrol station and walked down to the beach entering the water from Boneyards across from the Checkers. His aim was to swim to the next beach break that was to the East towards Kabeljouws at Albatross and he was about two thirds of the way when the shark attacked him. He was then pulled further out to sea. 

Terry Olivier was in his kayak and made his way over to the scene finding Burgert lying face-down in the water. The shark was thrashing around, taking bites out of the body and Terry tried fending it off with his paddle but his attempts were in vein due to it's sheer size. The shark then disappeared underwater with the torso and Terry quickly headed back to shore getting himself out of the water and out of a very dangerous situation.  

There were several witnesses to the attack, one of them, a Member of the Supertubes Surfing Foundation, Allison, said that her son Zach witnessed the attack and told his mother that he saw the shark was "lifting the man up and down out the water." Allison rushed to the beach, grabbed her binoculars and said that she could see that there was a lot of blood everywhere. "I have seen fins in the water before, but this time you could see a lot of the sharks body. I could see the man's blue swimming cap." 

Some first believed it was 2 sharks because of it's length but the local media later reported that it was just one shark. It is not clear what breed was involved but locals and some officials are certain it was a Great White. 

The National Sea Rescue Institute said that a volunteer rescue crew was sent out to the scene at around 11:30am local time.  "On arrival on-scene remains of a body, believed to be those of an adult male, have been recovered from the water and handed into the care of the police and the forensic pathology services." 

According to a statement by the Kouga Municipality the beach was to remain closed for the weekend: “We will be re-assessing the situation on Monday.”  The Municipality reminded people that if they entered the water, they were doing so at their own risk.

This is the first fatal shark attack at Jeffries Bay which is hailed one of the top 5 surf spots in the world.

According to the International Shark Attack file at the Florida Museum of Natural History, there were 4 shark attacks in South Africa last year, three of which were fatal.


Everyone at the House of Biltong and the Daily HoB would like to extend their deepest condolences to Burgert van der Westhuizen's family and friends for his tragic passing.

Sources:

Reuters UK

AOL

SKY News

St Francis Chronicle

WaveScape

Joost bid to stop book dismissed

Joost was in court today (Friday) to hear the final outcome of his court case against the publication of a tell-all book about his stormy marriage to Amor Vittone.

Judge Bertelsmann stated that prior restraint of a publication could only be granted in extraordinary circumstances because it was a drastic interference in freedom of speech, "It should only be ordered if there was a grave risk of substantial injustice."

The case was dismissed due to the fact that Joost had failed to establish any right to such drastic inroads into freedom of expression. He went on to say that there was no allegation in the papers that the book contained lies and it must be therefore be concluded that Mr Van der Westhuizen was trying to suppress the truth.

The author of the book, Joost and Amor – Agter die Skerms (Behind the Scenes) is journalist and deputy editor of Heat magazine, Gavin Prins. Prins' defense was largely based on the fact that the relationship between Joost and Amor has been widely publicized in the media as well as by Joost himself via Twitter and that basically there was nothing much else he could tell people that they don't already know. 

Joost's lawyer said that the publication of the book could adversely effect his declining health but Bertelsmann said there was no exceptional evidence to support such a claim. A report issued by a neurologist stated that the stress would worsen Joost's condition but Bertelsmann said that there was no evidence that the neurologist had even examined Joost before writing the report - Therefore he did not qualify as an expert witness.

 "The applicant falls into the category of celebrities that can no longer expect that their private lives remain private because they themselves have made it public, "The fact is that Joost's life and illness were well known and he could not complain if it was repeated in another publication."  He added that Joost's reliance on privacy was negated by his own past action.

"The applicant has rightfully earned the respect and esteem flowing from his past achievements.
"He is entitled to understanding and empathy ... He is entitled to support even in the aftermath of scandal.
"He is to be admired for the way in which he is dealing with his devastating illness and reaching out to others.
"...But he is not entitled to stop publication of the book ... because he invited the media to share his life.".

Judge Bartelsmann concluded by saying that there was no question that the publication was of significant importance to Prins and the publishers and to the fundamental right to freedom of expression.
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Joost and Amor's marriage broke down after the appearance of a sex tape in which Joost was shown to be using cocaine. After a very public battle with his wife regarding their separation, children and finances,  Amor confirmed in an interview with Heat magazine in August that Joost was moving back into the family home with herself and their 2 children.  

"I’m busy transforming the kids’ playroom into a bedroom for him. Joost can’t get up the stairs anymore, so we want to make it as easy for him as possible." - Amor

Sadly, doctors have said that he will soon need to be on oxygen and won't be able to move around as often.

UPDATE: Female prison officer rescued

UPDATE: 03/10/2013 - 10.47AM

The female prison officer was rescued last night by the special forces unit when they were finally able to overpower the 4 prisoners holding her hostage. The female officer was unhurt after the 13 hour ordeal and has thanked everyone involved in getting her out safely. As a matter of precaution she was taken to the Rosepark Hospital for a medical check up and treatment.

The 13 hour ordeal started when the prisoners grabbed the officer and pulled her into one of the cells with them and locked the door. Male guards tried to pull her free as she was being dragged away but both were attacked and stabbed in their arms with what they now know to be pieces of scissors. Both the male officers were treated at the scene and their condition was deemed 'not serious'.

There was minimal force used to free the officer and no shots were fired. The hostage takers were arrested and will be charged with kidnapping and attempted murder of the 2 G4S employees who were injured earlier in the day. The prisoners are currently serving sentences for rape, murder and robbery.

A good outcome for all involved but apparently this is not the first time this has happened at this exact prison. Hopefully measurements will be put in place to make sure this never happens again but somehow this seems highly unlikely - as long as there are staff shortages, this problem will no doubt keep rearing it's head.

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02/10/2013 - BREAKING STORY: What do we know?

• The female guard is being held by 4 prisoners
• No demands have been made as yet. 
• SAPS Special Task Force along with security company G4S are working on her release.
• 3 other people have been injured
• Many people are blaming the shortage of staff for this incident 

Background

Everything seems to be sketchy at the moment but apparently there were over 300 police and Prison Civil Rights Union members dismissed earlier this year and because of the staff shortage the woman guard was encouraged to help out with guarding the prisoners. G4S has said that all it's staff are fully trained for hostage situations and that they also have provisions in place for handling hostage scenarios.

G4S says that they are doing everything in their power to rescue their employee.

We really hope it's over soon for that poor woman and hope that she gets back safely to her family...

... developing story

66 Bags of dagga, 30 donkeys and 13 men... Only in South Africa

South African Police have arrested 13 men using 30 donkeys to smuggle 66 bags of dagga through the mountains from Lesotho into South Africa... What sounds more like the opening lines of a joke was actually a huge joint operation with both the mounted units of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the SAP with the arrest being made in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park.

This was one of the biggest dagga busts to go down in KwaZulu-Natal with the estimated street value of around R3.6 million - A 9mm handgun and eight rounds of ammunition were also seized.

 

Colonel Jay Naicker, the police spokesman, said: “There is quite a problem in that area regarding dagga and guns as our members often get shot at by men with AKs...” he went on to say that they had “arrested one man with an unlicensed firearm while another got away. The guy we arrested had a bulletproof vest on. That shows he was prepared...”  

Aged between 25 and 33, the 13 men will appear in the Bergville Magistrate’s Court on Friday for possession of dagga, intent to sell drugs and illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.  

Some of the 66 bags had been slung over the donkeys and the rest were carried by some of the men. The police have confirmed that the donkey's were in a rather poor state of health but said that they were all being examined by a vet. Sadly not all of the donkey's make it over to the South African side as many fall off cliffs or get left behind by their handlers if they are deemed to be sick or struggling.

Once the smugglers have arrived in SA, the dagga is offloaded and the donkeys are left behind. It is not unusual that some of them (the donkey's) make their way back to Lesotho on their own. 

The provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Mmamonnye Ngobeni congratulated the unit on another successful operation in the area and she said that they were "concerned that such a large consignment of drugs was being brought into the province... We will be working closely with prosecutors to ensure that we deal decisively with these criminals. Their actions are contributing to the crimes in KZN. We will continue to monitor activities on this known drug route."

Last month saw a couple attempting to smuggle the biggest drug consignment into the country but were arrested in Copesville, Pietermaritzburg - they used donkeys and horses to transport compressed balls of dagga over the border. 

South African man and his Cock arrested in Paris

No one is really sure what possessed 51 year old South African, Steven Cohen, to dress up as a bird wearing 8-inch heels, with a cock on a leash tied to his... um... penis... and put himself on display right next to the Eiffel Tower, one of the busiest tourist spots in Paris.

He gave the tourists an eyeful but his dancing and prancing lasted all of 10 minutes before he was arrested, interrogated, made to provide a DNA sample and undergo a psychiatric evaluation. After being held for a few hours, Steven was eventually bailed and will appear in court on 16 December 2013 charged with Sexual Exhibitionism.

His lawyer, Agnes Tricoire said that she was outraged that her client was thrown in jail and said that he “wanted to express his personal situation, in which he divides his life between two countries, his native South Africa and France, where he currently lives,”  Lawyer Agnes went on to add that she thought his arrest was disgraceful because France was silencing it's artists. When asked about the bird, she did not say how it helped to illustrate his situation nor did she say if Steven was referencing a Jewish custom of using the chicken to absolve past sins ahead of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. She did however tell the Metro that the cock's name was Frank. 

French papers reportedly quoted Steven as saying: “It's the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa, but the day of judgment for me,” he then went on to explain that the message of his work was “about being pulled in many directions simultaneously." 

"Frank is a feisty cock and wonderfully capable of deciding the choreography."

Steven was born in 1962 in SA and now lives in Lille, France. He stages interventions in public as well as in theater and gallery spaces and intends to bring attention to everything that is belittled in society. He started by bringing attention to himself and his identity as a gay, Jewish man - often referring to himself in interviews as a Jewish Gay Monster.

Steven graduated with a BA from Wits University, then studied at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Woodstock, Cape Town. One of his best known 'performances' was in 2001/2 called "Chandelier" where Steven dressed in some unstable and revolving heels, wore a lit up tutu made of a chandelier and went into the Johannesburg Township, Newton to mingle and engage with the local residents.

No stranger to the inside of a police car, Steven has consistently been arrested for his shocking, nude public 'performances'. He has performed at places like Lyon's Holocaust Memorial as well as Ground Zero in New York.

Last year he performed at Avignon wearing nothing but anvil-shaped shoes, a girdle, yellow body paint and the Star of David painted on his forehead. In response to a question regarding his use of Jewish symbols, Steven said “A lot of what I do is to protest Fascism, I was born in South Africa because my parents fled Fascism. They would have been exterminated had they stayed.”

In an interview published on a South African gallery's website Steven sums himself up quite brutally by saying: 

"I never really fit any traditions -- African, European, male, Jewish or queer; it's actually really quite similar everywhere in the world. Except that in Europe people try to observe the sounds I am making, to hear the images. In South Africa I am quickly dismissed as a drag queen, a shock artist, a fraud, an arsehole."

On his own website, Steven says:
“I don’t know what the f*** performance art is, yet I’m brilliant at it.”

SA sailors take Bronze at World Championships

South Africa's Olympic sailors got back onto the podium and claimed bronze in Hyeres, France this weekend at the SB20 World Championships!

Roger Hudson, Asenathi Jim along with Sibu Sizatu and Wadi Xamimpi claimed 2 race wins - a second place and 3 third places during the competition over the weekend in Hyeres.

The SB20 world title was won by Team Briton with Ukraine taking second place.

Asenathi Jim, Roger Hudson, Wadi Xamimpi and Sibu Sizatu

The achievements keep racking up with amazing results for South Africans in this type of competition, competing on 20-foot signle design kneel-boats.

Last week saw Hudson mounting the podium for the fifth time in six years and Xamimpi has now claimed 3 medals in four championships with Jim taking 2 medals in 3 championships.  

Asenathi Jim, Roger Hudson

The South African's return home after an exhausting and strenuous time competing abroad with Jim and Sizatu having both competed in the 470 Jnr World Championships - finishing 16th out of 59 and then Jim and Hudson claimed 35th position out of 117 boats in the 470 Open World Championships. This was followed by Jim and Sizatu taking 7th position at the 470 European Junior Championships in Wales.  

Asenathi Jim, Roger Hudson and Sibu Sizatu

Congratulations Boys! You make us Proud!

Sources: 
470.org
SouthAfrican.Info

South Africa's "Magnificent Eleven" Salvage the Costa Concordia

The huge task of salvaging the Costa Concordia was masterminded by Nick Sloane, a South African salvage expert, with the help of 10 colleagues aboard a command and control barge. 

Franco Gabrielli, the Itallian official in overall charge of the project said: 

"We've nicknamed them the Magnificent Eleven!"

Nick Sloane - The South African behind the operation:

Read it all here!

Bismarck's Red Card ERASED!

SANZAR judicial officer Terry Willis from Australia has removed a red card from the disciplinary record of Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis.

Du Plessis was issued with a red card after receiving two yellow cards during the Boks' Rugby Championship clash with the All Blacks in Auckland on Saturday.

The yellow cards were issued in the 17th and 42nd minutes of the match at Eden Park, which New Zealand won 29-15.

The judicial hearing was held via teleconference on Monday.

Willis granted an application made by Gerrie Swart who appeared on behalf of Du Plessis, for an expedited hearing. The hearing was originally fixed for the Tuesday. At the hearing, Willis was assisted by former professional player David Croft from Australia.

Submissions were made on behalf of the player and the video footage was reviewed. Willis found that the decision made by referee Romain Poite to issue a yellow card as a result of the tackle by Du Plessis on Dan Carter was wrong, as it was within the laws of the game.

Carter to his credit said he had no problem with the tackle.

SPORT24.CO.ZA

IRB Statement following NZ/SA match:

 "Following an initial review, the IRB confirms that it was incorrect for referee Romain Poite to issue a yellow card to Bismarck du Plessis in the 17th minute of The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand and South Africa in Auckland on Saturday. 

Just as players and coaches make mistakes, the decision was an unfortunate case of human error by the match officials, who, having reviewed the match, fully recognise and accept that they made a mistake in the application of law. 

All match official performances are thoroughly reviewed and assessed by the IRB and are considered when appointments are made for future test matches."

- IRB.COM

WHAT A REFFING SHAME!

New Zealand 29-15 South Africa

 The worst performance of the day was that of the Referee - sport24.com

JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park

The spectacularly abysmal officiating by French referee Romain Poite destroyed what promised to be one of the great contests.

Can a team be too physically dominant? The Boks may have conceded an early try when All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read barrelled over from close range, but they were by and large the more physical team. At times it was a case of men versus boys, such was the Boks' superiority at the collisions and breakdowns. They also gave the All Blacks scrum a hiding during the initial stages.

Bismarck du Plessis should have been cheered for his tackle on Dan Carter in the 17th minute. Carter had received a hospital pass from his scrumhalf, Aaron Smith, and Du Plessis had lined him up and absolutely flattened him.

It was a fantastic tackle that unfortunately saw Carter leaving the field with a shoulder injury - But unfortunately Poite reached for his pocket and gave Du Plessis his marching orders, citing no arms in the tackle.

It also saw the 47,362-sellout crowd baying for the Springbok's blood as he (DC) trudged to the sideline... - ire.co.ie

It was a shocking call. It looked a good tackle live, and when the big screen at the stadium showed the replay, it was evident that Du Plessis had indeed used his arms as well as his shoulders.

Poite's decision was based on an overwhelming reaction from the partisan New Zealanders in the stands. The crowd wanted Du Plessis off, and Poite obliged. It was gutless, and one would think that Poite will have a lot to answer for when fronting his bosses next week.

The All Blacks scored seven points in the big man's absence. The Boks missed Du Plessis's set-piece presence as well as his muscle at the breakdown. The unstructured contest during this period certainly suited the physically inferior All Blacks.

When Du Plessis returned to the field, the Boks began to regain control. They looked good when they kept the ball and built through the phases. Du Plessis was the Boks' best player, and the Bok loose forwards also ensured that the visitors continued to win the battle at the gainline.

Jean de Villiers read the situation well when he instructed Morné Steyn to kick a penalty to touch. The Boks won the lineout, set the maul, and it was fitting that Du Plessis was the man to finish.

The Boks went to the break trailing 17-10, and yet you got the sense that the momentum was with the visitors. If they could continue to slow down the ball and unleash their powerful runners, the All Blacks would battle to remain in the game.

Poite once again put paid to those ambitions with another farcical call. Du Plessis went into a contact leading with the arm, and when his elbow slipped and hit Liam Messam in the throat, it seemed a genuine accident.

Poite thought otherwise, and proceeded to show Du Plessis a second yellow, and then ultimately a red. He may as well have held up a cardboard sign that read 'Game Over'.

"The All Blacks are already hard to play when you're fifteen, then fourteen ..." JEAN DE VILLIERS

Du Plessis left the field in the 43rd minute, and with him went the Boks' chances of victory. With only 14 men, the Boks were unable to implement their structures and build the pressure. Their priorities quickly shifted from winning the game to keeping the scoreline respectable.

Referees must be brave enough to dish out yellow and red cards, but they have to be warranted. I've never been one to suggest a referee should keep his cards in his pocket for the sake of the contest. If a player deserves to be ejected, show him a card.

As far as refereeing performances go, this one was twice a failure. It robbed the Boks of any chance of ending their 76-year drought at Eden Park, and it also robbed the fans at the stadium and the millions watching around the world of what would have been an absorbing contest between the two best sides on the planet.

The Boks gave everything in the remaining 37 minutes, but they were never going to keep the All Blacks back. They were guilty of some basic errors during this period, but there needs to be an appreciation for the fact that they were operating with 14 men.

Predictably, they tired as the game progressed and the All Blacks piled on the points.

We will have to wait until the next contest at Eden Park to see if this Bok side is good enough to end a long-standing losing streak. The Boks may have won or lost on Saturday, but we will never know, thanks to Poite.

The referee succumbed to the pressure and made a couple of game-ending decisions. They are mistakes that should not go unpunished.

Poite has a lot to answer for.

Rugby Championship standings

New Zealand P4 W4 D0 L0 BP 2 Pts 18

South Africa P4 W3 D0 L1 BP 2 Pts 14

Australia P4 W1 D0 L3 BP 0 Pts 4

Argentina P4 W0 D0 L4 BP 2 Pts 2

Sources:

JON CARDINELLI - Eden Park - www.sarugbymagazine.co.za 
www.sport24.com
BBC Sport
www.rte.ie