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

MOVIE REVIEW : WINNIE

The Epic Untold Love Story : 

Winnie Mandela

Often, it’s actors who cannot withstand the burden on playing historical figures. In the case of “Winnie Mandela,” Jennifer Hudson has the opposite problem. It’s the movie around her that doesn't rise to the challenge.

Co-writer and director Darrell Roodt’s film is based on a 2005 biography of Winnie Mandela. But unlike the woman who often polarized her fellow South Africans, the film feels static. At one point, faux newsreel footage and a montage of newspaper headlines depict the hunt for and imprisonment of Nelson Mandela.

Any urgency the movie comes from co-star Terrence Howard, a firebrand of an actor who can’t be contained by a paint-by-numbers script.

Glimpsed briefly during her childhood in a tribal community, Winnie (Hudson) may have been a disappointment to her father, who wanted a boy, but she soon proves herself a worthy warrior. As a young adult, she works as a nurse and captures the eye of Nelson Mandela at a rally. They court and marry, and as his fight for democracy leads to arrest and imprisonment, Winnie stands with him.

As Winnie works to free Nelson from Robben Island Prison, she picks up the struggle for a free and equal South Africa, eventually being imprisoned herself for refusing to reveal the inner workings of the anti-apartheid movement. (She recites Shakespeare and talks to roaches to retain her sanity during solitary confinement.) An officious government leader (Elias Koteas) cannot figure out how to break her spirit, so eventually gives up and orders her release.

Winnie becomes her husband’s voice on the outside and a rallying point for the African National Congress (ANC). She’s forced to live in virtual exile, until the opportunity comes to regain prominence and again rally her people. After scandal erupts, the ANC separates itself from her and then makes a dramatic announcement upon Nelson’s release.

Hudson, the former “American Idol” finalist whose Best Supporting Actress Oscar for “Dreamgirls” was based not just on her vocal strength but also an openhearted-ness the camera couldn't miss, matches that here with a steadfast intelligence. Though it’s hard for her to equal Howard’s charisma and energy in early scenes, as Nelson ages and Howard dials down, their roles, in essence, reverse.

But the film doesn’t match them. Distant and obvious, it takes a story with many angles and reduces its edges, becoming a glorified TV movie. The real Winnie Mandela has denounced the film for being made without her cooperation, which in this case does not necessarily mean its revelations are surprising.

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Overweight South African allowed to stay in New Zealand

Earlier this year a South African chef by the name of Albert Buitenhuis applied to have his work permit renewed for the 6th year in a row. Albert (50) and his wife Marthie (47) had been living and working in New Zealand since 2007 but what he thought would be a simple documentation renewal landed up becoming a 5 month nightmare when his visa application was denied on the basis that he was overweight!

His story gained worldwide publicity with most saying that the NZ authorities should never have approved his visa application in the first instance if his weight was an issue and many others were commenting on the fact that year after year his application was approved with no issues ever being brought up about his weight.

When the Buitenhuis' arrived in New Zealand in 2007 Alberts weighed a whopping 160kg but at the time of his latest renewal application he was down to 126kg. In an interview in July 2013 Albert said that he understood why a government would want to protect it's taxpayers against high healthcare costs but he said that if they did not want him there he he would have liked to have been told this much sooner.

Albert and Marthie followed the appeal process but without a valid working visa the couple have not been working for 5 months which has obviously resulted in no income. They sold some of their possessions in order to pay for their new application but they could no longer stay in the house they rented. Finally their appeal against the decision was successful and they went to Facebook to break the good news to the world. Their application to stay in NZ had been approved and Albert said he was:

“Relieved, excited, grateful, scared. I can’t describe how many emotions can run through your mind simultaneously.” "I'm not sure where we'll start to pick up the pieces because they're all over the place".

The Cycling Medicine Man

Sizwe Nzima, from Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, has won a Forbes Magazine award for being one of Africa's top young entrepreneurs. The youngster started a new business which is now helping to solve problems faced by people needing to collect medicine from public health facilities. Instead of sick and elderly people having to stand in queues for hours in overcrowded centres, Nzima's Iyeza Express collects chronic medication and delivers them by bicycle to the Khayelitsha residents in their homes.

Collecting medication from a clinic or a hospital dispensary in a South African township is by no means easy. The cost of transport to and from the facility including the hours spent in queues, paying for childcare and loss of pay for missing work are only some of the problems faced by those who collect their medication. The elderly and infirm face a terrible nightmare as they are often physically unfit and find it almost impossible to travel the distances required.

After reading an article about the clinics struggling to cope with patients queuing for hours to collect their medication, he recognized a need and came up with an idea to create a business which could assist the elderly and the infirm as well as those who are too weak to travel or too ill to stand and wait for hours.

“The service encourages people to go to work and stay healthy as they aren't tempted to stop taking their life- saving medication because they have run out,” he says. “What I'm doing is helping to improve people’s quality of life and life expectancy.”

He knew there was a  non-profit charity organisations that collect medicine for bed-ridden and elderly people, but there wasn't a similar service for working people. “I thought to myself that I must do something and that surely there must be a need for a service that would streamline the process,” he explains. “I realised it will also take the load off public health facility workers which would in turn allow them to be able to help others who are in desperate need of attention."

“I used to collect medication for my grandma for three years and experienced first-hand what happens, but it isn't only elderly people who are affected. The majority of people who queue for their medicine are able-bodied and waste time that could have been spent at work. These are people who would happily pay for affordable delivery of their medicine, allowing them to save their sick leave – if they get any – for days when they are really ill,” he says.

Sizwe together with his two helpers are social entrepreneurs at heart, and their goals are finding solutions to the problems in their community, and in doing so make a contribution to improving the economy. “We are all about social change and we are coming up with business ideas that can change society, help our community and uplift the economy,” he says. “Business isn't just about making money, but also about bringing about positive change.”

Less overcrowding, better health, more jobs

Not only does his business save his clients time and money but he is now creating much needed employment for young people who know their way around the network of streets in Khayelitsha. Using bicycle's to transport the medication they are able to keep the service affordable and environment-friendly. Sizwe launched the pilot in May this year and the business has now been up and running for only a few months but the response from the local residents has been very positive. Clients pay a small fee of R10 per collection and at the moment there are about 40 clients but he is positive this number will increase as he builds trust within the community. He hopes to take the service to other parts of Cape Town next year but his vision is to expand his business nationally. “For me, this is a national problem and it needs a national solution. The sky is the limit,” he says.

Sizwe was one of 24 finalists selected from over 200 applications, and one of six chosen to receive seed funding from Forbes. “I couldn't believe it. My business was only starting out; while others were going for at least two years already,” he says. Young people have what it takes to be change makers in South Africa and throughout the world by developing economically viable business solutions that can bring about a positive change in society. “Young people should be the innovators. Every young person needs to decide how they are going to use their power for good,” he says.

He believes that young people have what it takes to be change makers in South Africa and the world, by developing economically viable business solutions that can also bring about positive change in society.

Sizwe and his helpers are also involved in setting up other projects - a recycling business and an initiative to educate people about gangsterism. “Making money is good, but you have to give something back. This is also what they taught us at the Academy,” he says.

“I believe young people have the power to change the world, if the youth can understand this, they will stop focusing on things like drugs and crime. We can change the world, make it safer and improve our economy in this way.”

Sources: BBC Worldwide News & New Generation Africa

Order TODAY!

We  so excited to let you know that we have added new items to our online shop!

Our first product to 'hit the shelves' will be these cute little Springbok Baby vests. 

£13.50**

(10% off orders until 31/10/2013)

**Please note this price does not include postage

Beautifully embroidered with the the iconic Springbok and Protea, these make fantastic gifts or would be a great addition to your little one's wardrobe. 

The quality is brilliant which makes them great to hang onto as a little keepsake when baby has grown out of it.

The vests are READY NOW in the following sizes:

MONTHS:
0-3 

3-6 

6-9 

9-12

NOTE: If you require any OTHER size then PLEASE EMAIL us.
We are able to do these in ANY size but if you send an email we can give you an idea of how many days it would take to complete and send off to you - 'n Boer maak a plan!   

This is the first design of many and one you will find NO WHERE ELSE! 

So stay close to get exclusive sneak peaks and chances to pre-order before they go online!

ORDER DETAILS:

Email us at: info@houseofbiltong.co.uk and let us know the following details:

• Required Size
• Quantity
• Town and Country of delivery 

We will make contact with you and let you know what your postage will be as well as a delivery date for your order. Once you are happy with the details, you will receive an invoice via PayPal and once paid we will despatch your goods!

It's that simple... and don't worry, if you don't have Paypal you still have the option to pay through Paypal as a guest, using your card and if you would prefer then we can also accept BACS as well as direct deposits. Just let us know in your email what your preferred payment method is and we will make a plan! 

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