An SA Perspective
Words from South AfricaArchive for May, 2009
Bulls: Super 14 Champs
With the tunes of Liefling, Marching to Pretoria and Ek Bly n’ Bul being sung by 52 000 supporters all in unison, with the majority sporting blue, who could have blamed the Waikato Chiefs for feeling a tad intimidated at last nights Super 14 final at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
The Bulls stole the show by thrashing the Chiefs 61- 17 to record the biggest winning margin in a Super 14 final yet, much to the delight of the Pretoria crowd and so it seemed, former Springbok captain turned SuperSport presenter, Bob Skinstad (who it must be noted has some impressive metaphors for an ex- rugby player).
Bulls try scorers were Fourie du Preez (2) Bryan Habana (2), who overtook Breyton Paulse’s record for the most tries scored in Super Rugby, Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw.
Last weeks hero, Morne Steyn converted five tries, kicked two penalties and drop goaled one. Buton Francis who received his first Super rugby points also made a conversion.
Leila Masaga and captain Mils Muliana each scored for the New Zealand franchise with flyhalf Stephen Donald kicking two conversions to compliment his teammates tries.
55 Pilot Whales Beached in Kommetjie
A remarkable but sad sight of a pod of 55-beached pilot whales could be seen on the Southern Cape Peninsula town of Kommetijie in South Africa yesterday morning.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and public volunteers started rescue efforts at 7:30am much without prevail as only 20 of the 55 mammals could be rescued with the rest either dying of natural causes or were euthanized.
Marine and Coastal Management scientist Mike Meyer stated that, “This is not a nice decision but we are just prolonging their agony. The animals that have been saved are beaching themselves further along the coast.”
Two volunteers were injured in the rescue attempt and a third was rescued after being swept out to sea.
No one knows why the whales beach themselves.
i-Burst launches campaign to teach South Africans the National Anthem
iBurst, SA’s broadband internet provider, has launched its MyAnthem campaign in a bid to ensure that every South African knows the words of the national anthem.
The idea is the brain child of a local chiropractor, Grant Ions, who was concerned that many South African don’t know the anthem.
South Africans who don’t know the words to Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika can visit iBurst’s MyAnthem website where they’ll be able to learn the words by downloading a karaoke style device which uses pictures to represent the words and sounds of the anthem.
Controversial Zapiro documentary a big hit!
A show featuring South African cartoonist, Jonathon Shapiro (Zapiro) has been downloaded over 3500 times since it was posted on the Mail & Guardians website at 2:30 PM on Wednesday 27 May.
The Special Assignment documentary on political satire which features an interview with Shapiro explaining why exactly he depicts SA president Jacob Zuma with a “shower head” was banned by the SABC.
ANC spokesperson Jesse Duarte is also featured in the documentary. Refering to the shower Duarte states in the documentary that, “Shapiro had taken a comment in the court case out of context and then used a “derogatory” image, a shower, and thought that it would be funny”.
She continues by saying, “I don’t think he’s [Shapiro] a small fish in a small pond. I think he’s a cog in a wheel … of right-wing elementary journalism that looks at people from a very one-sided viewpoint and doesn’t allow for the opposite views to come through,”
“I think Jonathan Shapiro should be taken to court where a court can hear his side of the view and Mr Zuma’s side of the view and where it can be decided whether he should punitively pay for his race and class bias.”
A number of clips from Shapiro’s satirical Z News, in which politicians are lampooned through the use of puppets, are also featured in the documentary.
Click on link below to see the documentary on Zoopy
What the SABC wouldn\'t show you
Radio station keeping Cape Town warm this winter
Local Cape Town radio station Good Hope FM is staging a Keep Cape Town Warm campaign, which appeals to the Cape Town public as well as businesses to donate blankets, food, clothing and money for the city’s less fortunate inhabitants.
The radio station will broadcast live from different intersections around Cape Town every Wednesday from 6am to 7pm (starting 3 June, ending 29 July).
Listeners will be asked to drive past the intersections and drop off blankets and tinned food for the needy. Good Hope FM personalities will be present at the intersections from 6am to 7pm to help collect items from drivers who can’t stop their cars.
If you reside in the mother city look out for the stations outside broadcasts which will take place from the following locations:
Wednesday, 3 June – Thibault Square
Wednesday, 10 June – Engen, Main Road, Claremont
Wednesday, 17 June – BP, corner of Rosmead Avenue and Wetton Road
Wednesday, 24 June – N1 City, McDonalds
Thursday, 2 July – Sable Square, Century City
Wednesday, 8 July – Liberty Promenade Mall, Mitchells Plain
Wednesday, 15 July – Canal Walk, Century City
Wednesday, 22 July – Engen, Orange Street, Gardens
Wednesday, 29 July – Athlone Police Station
For details of the various drop-off zones visit www.goodhopefm.co.za
The new BMW Z4 released in SA
Following the popular Z3 and Z4, BMW launched the much anticipated Z4 roadster in South Africa this week.
The roadster, which has the longest single bonnet and comes with an all in one aluminum roof that take 20 seconds to fold up and down, can take you back R 506 500 for the basic Z4 sDrive 23i manual. Want all the bells and whistles? Expect to pay up to R 682 500 for the Z4 sDrive 35i manual.
SA Mountaineer’s Climb of Hope
Robby Kojetin recently became the 17th South African to summit the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.
Naming the climb his “Climb of Hope” Kojetin undertook the climb to raise awareness of lymphoma and funds for the Childhood Cancer Foundation (CHOC) SA.
“Hotsticks” daughter making waves in London
Following in her fathers footsteps, Mpho Skeef, daughter of Sipho ‘Hotsticks’ Mabuse is currently making waves in London with her singing, songwriting and producing musical talents.
Skeef who was born in SA but raised in South London after her family fled persecution from the old apartheid government has signed a five album deal with British record label, Parlophone.
The electronica goddess is set to release her eagerly anticipated debut solo album on the 13 July 2009.
SA feature film comes out tops at Cannes
South African feature film, “Izulu Lami” (My Secret Sky), recently received the ‘Dikalo Best Feature Film’ prize at the International Pan African Film Festival, held in Cannes in April 2009.
The film which is directed by Madoba Ncayiyana and written by Julie Frederikse (with Ncayiyana) is based on two young children’s journey to the city from their rural homestead in search of a better life, after their mother’s death.
Frederikse explains that the film as very authentic and very South African. She states that, “We are hoping that South African audiences will take ownership of this film as ‘one of their own’ and come out to see it when it goes on circuit.”
Izulu Lami will be screened in South Africa’s Ster-Kinekor cinemas in August 2009.
Snow Patrol’s new music video shot in the Mother City
Some great exposure for the Mother City- The alternative rock band Snow Patrol (Signal Fire, You’re All I Have, Chasing Cars) recently released the music video for “The Planets Bend Between Us,” which was filmed in Cape Town.
It’s awesome to see images of Camps Bay, Bo Kaap and Table Mountain on an international music video, especially that of Snow Patrols caliber.
Enjoy!
