A P R I L 2 0 1 4Y O U R F R E E C O P Y A P R I L 2 0 1 4Y O U R F R E E C O P Y

Platinum Edition

of AviationYears20

BLOEMFONTEIN CAPE TOWN DURBAN EAST LONDON GABORONE GEORGE HOEDSPRUIT JOHANNESBURG KIMBERLEY LUBUMBASHI LUSAKA MAPUTO NELSPRUIT

PORT ELIZABETH PIETERMARITZBURG RICHARDSBAY WALVIS BAY WINDHOEK HARARE

Indwe2 Indwe2

This Month's Best Reads A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Events: 12 North | 14 South | 16 In Between Bits & Pieces: 18 Travel Tips & Gorgeous Goodies Bites: 22 Restaurants

& Taste Experiences Travel: 31 Kicking Around in Kimberley | 40 Democratic Durbs | 68 Total Time Out – Tofo | 78 South

Africa’s Hidden Gems Feature: 26 Behind Every Great Organisation | 59 Up-to-the-Minute Décor and Design | 63 Breaking

Down the Final Frontier | 72 Freedom on the Dance Floor | 97 When All Else

Fails, Tri, Tri, Triathlon! Motoring: 82 Volkswagen Golf 7 2.0 R DSG | 93 A

Motoring Success Story – New Toyota Corolla Gadgets: 106 Must Haves

for Technophiles

Indwe8

40 78

72

@PLAY

Indwe1 0

82

34A P R I L 2 0 1 4

Special Feature: 34 Free for All – South Africa’s First

Democratic Elections Features: 50 Looking Back and Looking

Forward – 20 Years of Democracy | 55 The Evolution of SA Express

| 102 Inspiring Pilots of the Future

Business: 87 Raising Children to be Entrepreneurs

Books: 108 New releases and Must Reads

@WORK

S A E X P R E S S

1 0 CEO Letter

1 1 3 SA Express Fleet

1 1 4 We Fly For You: Our Visions & Values

1 1 5 Safety and Route Map

1 1 6 Flight Schedule

1 1 9 Passenger Letters

63

Indwe1 2

SA EXPRESSDivisional Manager:

Communications and PR

Keitumetse MasikeTel: +27 11 978 2540

kmasike@flyexpress.aero

Customer Care Department

Tel: 0861 729 227

customercare@flyexpress.aero

Twitter: @flySAexpress

Facebook: SA Express Airways

INDWEIndwe is published by TCB Media (Pty) Ltd

In association with Tauro Creations and

June Communications

Tel: 0861 THE MAG (843 624)

COVER IMAGE ©SA Express

Publisher

Bernard Hellberg | bernard@tcbmedia.co.za

Editor

Nicky Furniss | nicky@tcbmedia.co.za

Senior Designer

Lindsey Steenkamp | design@tcbmedia.co.za

DIRECTORSPublishing Director: Bernard HellbergProduction and Distribution Advisor:

Obed Sealetsa | nolo@tcbgroup.co.za

Communications Advisor:

Pam Komani | pam@junecommunications.co.za

ADVERTISING SALESTel: +27 12 425 5800

National Sales Manager

Bryan Kayavhu | bryan@tcbmedia.co.za

+27 83 785 6691

Senior Account Managers

Chantal Barton +27 83 459 3086

chantal@tcbmedia.co.za

Calvin van Vuuren + 27 82 582 6873

calvin@tcbmedia.co.za

Nikki de Lange +27 83 415 0339

nikki@tcbmedia.co.za

Gertjie Meintjes +082 757 2622

gertjie@tcbmedia.co.za

DISCLAIMER: All material is strictly copyrighted.

All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or

part is prohibited without prior permission from the

publisher. Opinions expressed in Indwe Magazine are

not necessarily those of SA Express.

@FIRST

On 24th April, SA Express will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. It was just days before our first democratic elections in 1994 that a group of entrepreneurs formed the company with a vision of connecting small cities to bigger ones, thus serving as a regional feeder airline. As per this month’s cover, our logo and brand have gone through a number of evolutions throughout the 20 years, but our mission has stayed the same.

The aviation sector is one of the most challenging ones in the global economy. It is vulnerable to many factors, including fuel prices and the general state of the economy. Over time, the barriers to entry have been significantly lowered. This has made competition fierce, which is good for passengers. The South African airline industry is littered with stories of failed airlines.

However, it is pleasing that SA Express has survived the trials and tribulations of this industry, and lived to tell a good story of 20 years of success. As we look back over the past 20 years, we do so with satisfaction at the many achievements we have scored. For this, I am grateful to all of my predecessors for their vision and contributions. I am also grateful to the employees who have contributed positively over the years. Some of them like Naledi Kgaphola and David Ramonti have been with the airline since its inception. Meet them through the People of SA Express feature.

Moreover, the airline has had some heart warming moments in the past 20 years. Who can forget the historic moment when SA Express was appointed by Government to collect Monique and Callie Strydom in Libya after they were freed from a hostage situation? Or beaming with national pride as we transported the FIFA teams during the first World Cup on African soil?

Additionally, we have remained committed to transformation. The very first female pilot employed by SA Express in 1994 was Captain Romy Dippenaar. Captain Aloma Stevens became the first female commercial airline captain, and she subsequently commanded the first all female

commercial airline crew in South Africa. Moreover, in this issue, you can read about Boni Dibate who was the first female CEO of an airline. What is even more endearing is that all three of these pioneering women are still involved with the airline. We also salute Isaac Nombo as the first black commercial airline captain in South Africa.

As we start the journey of the next 20 years guided by our 20:20 vision, we have ambitious growth aspirations. In the last two years, we have opened about a dozen new routes to destinations in and around Southern Africa. More new routes are on the cards, and will be launched in coming months to ensure greater choice for passengers. This will also help to make air travel more accessible to as many people as possible.

Over the next 20 years, we will invest considerable resources into forging smart and mutually beneficial partnerships with all of our stakeholders. Our aspiration is to ensure that our relationship with our stakeholders is less transactional, and more multi-faceted and strategic.

I am hugely indebted to all of my colleagues for their contributions. We are especially grateful for the support of the Board and Shareholder all of these years. Finally, SA Express would not be able to celebrate this important milestone without the support of millions of our loyal passengers. Enkosi!

Regards

Inati

Inati Ntshanga

CEO

Happy 20th Birthday

SA Express

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@PLAY EVENTS | NORTH

5 T H & 6 T H A P R I L

Ding Dong, The Bells Are Going to ChimeTHE WEDDING EXPO, COCA-COLA DOME, JOHANNESBURGThe Wedding Expo is South Africa’s most comprehensive

wedding show. Future brides and grooms can look forward to

every shape and design, and wedding planners to suit any style

or budget. Wedding venues, stationers, and photographers will

also be among the 300 wedding industry suppliers who will be

showcasing at the expo, the highlight of which will be several

fashion shows of both locally and internationally designed

gowns. Tickets are available from the door.

//WWW.WEDDING-EXPO.CO.ZA

1 1 T H & 1 2 T H A P R I L

PROUDLY COLOURED COMEDY, GOLD REEF CITY, JOHANNESBURG Proudly Coloured Comedy (PCC) is unapologetic comedy from a uniquely Coloured

perspective. It is a must see for a look into the hilarious insights of what being Coloured

in South Africa means. From the hilarities of funny woman Shimmy Isaacs, the

refreshingly honest and intelligent humour of Neil Green, and the mystical illusions of

comic illusionist, Magic Man, to the surprise twist of satirical musical humour by Deep

Fried Man, the PCC line-up is guaranteed to send comedy fans into a spin with some

of the funniest comedians from all corners of South Africa. Proudly Coloured Comedy

is a no-swearing show, making it accessible for the whole family to enjoy. Tickets are

available from Computicket.

5 T H & 6 T H A P R I L

An Extravaganza of DanceFULL MOON, JOBURG THEATRE, JOHANNESBURG

Gracing stages from France to the USA, the Vuyani Dance Theatre will be celebrating

its 15th anniversary by premiering a new show at the Joburg Theatre. The acclaimed

Johannesburg based contemporary African dance company will bring the large-

scale production Full Moon to the Joburg Theatre’s Mandela stage. Featuring 25

South African dancers and the South African National Youth Orchestra, it has been

described as “certainly the biggest contemporary dance production produced in

Johannesburg to date”. Tickets are available from //WWW.JOBURGTHEATRE.COM, or

by calling 0861 670 670.

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@PLAY EVENTS | SOUTH

2 6 T H – 2 9 T H A P R I L

Fabulous FromageSA CHEESE FESTIVAL, SANDRINGHAMCheese lovers in Cape Town can look forward to an unrivalled

culinary expedition of cheeses and other mouth-watering products

brought together in celebration of the good life. Visitors to the

SA Cheese Festival will experience a star-studded selection of

gourmet gurus in the various theatres, as well as cheese masters

in the new Cheese Studio, while the Cooking Pot will simmer with

super culinary ideas throughout the weekend. There will also

be entertainment available to occupy the little ones. Tickets are

available from Computicket. For more information, contact Agri-

Expo at +27 21 975 4440 or email cheese@agriexpo.co.za.

// WWW.CHEESEFESTIVAL.CO.ZA

1 S T – 4 T H M A Y

An Artistic OutingCEDERBERG ROOIBOS ARTS FESTIVAL, CLANWILLIAMThe picturesque town of Clanwilliam, situated in the

heart of Rooibos country and one of the ten oldest

towns in the country, is celebrating its 200 year

anniversary this year. One of the highlights of the

celebrations will be the Cederberg Arts Festival. Here,

visitors can expect an exciting line-up of fun activities,

great music, and entertaining live acts and plays,

momentous occasion. For more information, bookings

+27 27 482 1090. // WWW.CEDERBERGFEES.CO.ZA

2 5 T H – 2 8 T H A P R I L

Design Your LifeDECOREX CAPE TOWN, CAPE TOWN ICCSouth Africa’s most comprehensive décor, design and

lifestyle exhibition will include everything from fine

home finishes to beautiful décor accessories, as well as

bathroom, appliance, garden and kitchen fittings, all under

one roof. The theme this year is “Design your Life”, and

showcases an array of décor solutions to suit everyone.

This year’s exhibition has a number of exciting additions,

including the Craft Collective and the world renowned

international design exhibition 100% Design South Africa.

The line-up also includes interactive demos, designer pop-

up restaurants and bars, plus the ever popular Plascon

Colour Forecast. //WWW.DECOREX.CO.ZA

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@PLAY EVENTS | IN BETWEEN

1 4 T H – 2 3 R D A P R I L

Celebrate Passover in StylePASSOVER PROMOTION, PREMIER HOTEL KNYSNA: THE MOORINGS, KNYSNAOne of South Africa’s leading independent hotel groups,

Premier Hotels and Resorts, has launched a new package

exclusively for Passover. The package will be offered at

Premier Hotel Knysna: The Moorings and includes a kosher

kitchen (supervised by an on-site Rabbi) for the duration of

Pesach. The full programme includes: Seder accoutrements

including Shemurah Matza, wine and more; a Shul on the

premises; a tour of the Garden Route during Chol HaMoed;

and children’s entertainment daily. Packages are available

from 14th – 23rd April and include the long weekend, Seder

only or the full week. Contact +27 43 705 5033 for more

information and bookings. //WWW.PREMIERHOTELS.CO.ZA

1 2 T H – 2 1 S T A P R I L

Full Steam AheadSTARS OF SANDSTONE STEAM HERITAGE FESTIVAL, FICKSBURGSteam enthusiasts from across the globe will be gathering at

Sandstone Estates near Ficksburg. Here they will celebrate

the many steam-driven vehicles and machines that have

been restored to pristine condition by Wilfred Mole and his

team in celebration of the origins of transportation. Military

vehicles, steam lorries, traction engines, locomotives, old

buses and cars will again be taking centre stage against

the backdrop of impressive Eastern Free State landscape.

Old tractors and other agricultural relics will also be

exhibited at the 2014 festival. For more information, call

+27 11 805 4692/6530. //WWW.SANDSTONE-ESTATES.COM

2 5 T H & 2 6 T H A P R I L , 1 6 T H & 1 7 T H M A Y

Bottoms Up!FNB WHISKY LIVE SHOWROOM, DURBAN AND NELSPRUITThe team at the FNB Whisky Live Festival has created a much more

intimate, hand-crafted show for 2014 which will enable them to present

world class whiskies and knowledgeable experts (in order to showcase

whisky at its best). The festival will be a platform for whisky brands from

the Quaich, whisky experts and those in the know will be ready to engage

with discerning whisky lovers who will attend these events knowing that

they will leave with more whisky knowledge than they arrived with. The

FNB Whisky Live Showroom kicks off at the Suncoast Casino’s Sun Zone

on 25th and 26th April, followed by Nelspruit at the Emnotweni Casino on

16th and 17th May. //WWW.WHISKYLIVEFESTIVAL.CO.ZA

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@PLAY BITS & PIECES

Go for Gold Amarula Gold is a smooth,

stylish spirit with a bold and

totally unexpected new taste

from Amarula. Fun and daring,

with seductively spicy notes

and a silky smooth palate, it

is designed for mixing. It is

at its best on ice, with soda,

Appletiser or ginger ale.

Made from hand-harvested

marula fruit, Amarula Gold is

double distilled and aged in

oak for 24 months to enhance

contains 30% alcohol, but no

cream. Amarula Gold

is available from

leading liquor outlets

nationwide for

between R139

and R149 per

750 ml bottle.

Put Your Best Face ForwardJuliette Armand’s Vitality

Cream Mask is an innovative,

revitalises, tones and

moisturises tired skin. It

contains Spirulina extracts

well as vitamins C, E and F.

It also provides the skin with

amino acids and essential fatty

acids for the preservation of

its natural moisture balance.

European brand Juliette

Armand’s products are designed

to slow the effects of time and provide an alternative

to painful cosmetic surgery procedures. Scientists at

Juliette Armand have developed personalised skincare

sensitive, dry and oily. Juliette Armand’s Vitality Cream

Mask (R365) is available at top spas and salons nationwide.

//WWW.JULIETTEARMAND.CO.ZA

Cape Town Gets Stamp of ApprovalTo celebrate the fact that Cape

Town is the first city in both Africa

and the Southern Hemisphere to

be given the title of “World Design

Capital”, the South African Post

Office will be producing a set of

five stamps to mark the occasion.

The stamps were designed by

Tamryn Elliot, winner of a stamp

design competition held in 2013.

Her striking designs reflect

five different themes aimed at

igniting the imagination of the

public, and contributing towards a greater understanding of the multi-faceted nature of design. She says that the concept of

her stamp design is to inspire fellow South Africans to greatness through the words of well-known South Africans from history.

100,000 stamp sheets have been printed and are available at Post Offices around the county. To order these stamps online, visit

//WWW.VIRTUALPOSTOFFICE.CO.ZA

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@PLAY BITS & PIECES

For the KidsOne of South Africa’s premier safari destinations – Londolozi Private

Game Reserve in Sabi Sand, Mpumalanga – has recently released an iBook

entitled Junior Big Five Tracker, aimed at younger family members set to

engage with the animals, people, culture and world of the game reserve,

and is available on iTunes. Londolozi offers luxury safaris, child and

young adult wildlife programmes, and also a full-time child development

specialist and naturalist to guide the educational experience of young

guests on their African adventure. Londolozi Private Game Reserve is also

//WWW.LONDOLOZI.COM

An Indian Ocean IdyllDesroches Island, a remote and luxurious Seychelles

destination, has been named one of the top hotels in

Africa in Trip Advisor’s 2014 Travellers’ Choice Awards.

These awards are based on the reviews and ratings of

millions of Trip Advisor travellers around the world. The

island, which has also been listed as one of Forbes’ Top

Ten Remote Destinations in the World, is considered to

be one of the most pristine and untouched islands on the

planet. Desroches Island’s modern Luxury Beach Suites

and Beach Villas are tastefully decorated and provide

opulent, yet understated indulgence. The island offers

a space of beauty and tranquillity, and has become well

known for its excellent service. Blessed with one of the world’s healthiest climates and miles of unblemished beaches, Desroches Island is a

refuge for romance, adventure, pampering and relaxation. For more information, email info@seasonsinafrica.com.

History Through MusicDue to popular demand, African Cream Music is proud to announce the re-issue

of The Winds of Change, a double album that celebrates and honours the life of

Nelson Mandela. A moving journey through the key music and moments that

gave birth to a free and democratic South Africa, The Winds of Change tells the

special story of our nation with the creative use of music and narrative. All of

the songs chosen for this unique collection somehow speak of the miraculous

journey to democracy, either through their lyrics or their time in history. The

album includes such iconic songs as Sipho Hotstix Mabuse’s “Burnout”, Johnny

Clegg’s “Asimbonanga”, and “The Power of Africa” by Yvonne Chaka Chaka,

//WWW.AFRICANCREAMSTORE.COM.

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@PLAY BITES

WHAT’S HOTAs Belvedere Vodka once revolutionised

the world with the creation of the

now Belvedere Vodka raises the

benchmark once again with the

introduction of Belvedere Citrus.

Belvedere Citrus is macerated with

fresh limes from Brazil and Mexico,

and then balanced with spring and

winter lemons from Southern Spain.

There is nothing more refreshing

than experiencing the invigorating

lemon-enhanced and zesty lime

infused taste of Belvedere Citrus,

whether you’re out on the town

or relaxing at home, enjoying it

in one of Belvedere’s signature

cocktails. Distilled four times,

Belvedere is also sugar, fat and

carb free for a guilt free indulgence.

For more information, visit

//WWW.BELVEDEREVODKA.COM

CHOCOLATEY GOODNESSThere is something about Easter chocolate that captures the

imagination, no matter what your age. Maybe it’s the ceremony

of unwrapping the bright foil, or the satisfying crack as your teeth

break the glossy chocolate shell. Whatever it is, Easter just wouldn’t

be Easter without chocolate. This year, Beyers Chocolates will

make over two million hollow chocolate eggs and one million

hollow chocolate bunnies, using 200 tons of chocolate to fill its

Easter orders from major retailers around the country. Beyers

Chocolates will also be producing thousands of Easter gift

boxes with hand-decorated chocolates and truffles

under its own brand this Easter, to ensure that there

is an Easter treat for all ages. To experience the joy of

Beyers’ delicious own-brand Easter treats, shop online at

www.beyerschocolates.com for all the latest creations

from one of South Africa’s greatest chocolatiers.

CHOCOLATAAThere is something

imagination, no mat

of unwrapping the b

break the glossy cho

be Easter without

make over two m

hollow chocolate

Easter orders fro

Chocolates w

boxes wit

under its o

is an Easte

Beyers’ de

www.beb

from

WINTER WINE WARMERSThe Cape Royale Luxury Hotel and Spa’s Bistro 1800 will be hosting

delicious food and wine pairing evenings monthly until July. These

will feature a selection of the Western Cape’s leading wine farms

paired to perfection with four fabulous courses. The cuisine will vary

each month, complemented by paired cultivars from each estate.

Bistro 1800’s sommelier, Ardiel Norodien, and chef Bevan Webb will

be hosting the pairing alongside the cellar master representing each

month’s selected estate. The four course dinners will commence

with an amuse-bouche and a glass of MCC, followed by a choice of

two starters and their accompanying white wine blends, an option

of two main dishes with a glass of red, and rounded off with sweets

and a dessert wine. For reservations call +27 21 430 0506, or email

//INFO@18HUNDREDDEGREES.CO.ZA

Naledi Kgaphola

“I am part of the foundation here; I have been around since the beginning,”

says Naledi Kgaphola with pride. Currently a shop steward for SATAWU, Naledi

started working at SA Express on 24th April 1994; three days shy of the birth of

the democratic South Africa. Starting as a Junior Cabin Crew member, she was

then promoted to a Senior Cabin Crew member. Naledi was on the very first

SA Express flight, from Johannesburg to Kimberley, and as she is an honours

student, studying Human Relations. She would like to work in SA Express’ HR

department in the future.

@PLAY

Indwe2 8

This month SA Express celebrates its 20 year anniversary. It is an achievement worth celebrating, and one that would not have been possible without the thousands of people who have worked tirelessly, both past and present, to make the airline what it is today. We spoke to a few of them to find out their stories.

TEXT: MOHLOMI MAUBANEIMAGES © BERNARD HELLBERG JNR

Behind Every Great Organisation…THE PEOPLE OF SA EXPRESS

@PLAY

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Yvonne Johannes

Fourteen years after joining SA

Express, Yvonne Johannes beams

with pride when she reflects on the

decade and a half she has spent with

the airline. When Yvonne started as a

foreign creditors administrator, there

was no system in place to deal with her

duties, so she had to set up the working

system herself. She is currently

working as a debtor administrator and

is proud of the fact that she was the

one who implemented the financial

system that SA Express uses for their

accounting services.

Lettie Mathosela

Having started at SA Express

in 2003, Lettie Mathosela’s career

evolution at SA Express has been

incredible. She started as a receptionist,

and then gradually moved her way up

in the company to her current post

as payroll administrator in the HR

department. To say that SA Express has

changed her life is an understatement.

In 2009, she was selected by her peers

as the winner of the CEO Award. The

prize was a house, the first she has ever

owned. The single mother is eternally

grateful to SA Express for the company’s

kind appreciation of her work ethic.

“When I arrived here at SA Express, I

was wet behind the ears and not that

knowledgeable. Now I have a house for

myself and my two children and I have

developed skills-wise since joining the

firm,” she says.

Katlego Marokane

Katlego Marokane has been with

SA Express since 2011 and works

in customer care. A self-declared

people’s person, there is nothing that

Katlego enjoys more that assisting

others in her line of work. “It does

not matter what a person visits my

desk for; whether it’s a complaint or

a compliment, I want make sure that

when they leave my desk they leave

with the impression that they have

been helped by a caring person,” she

says. What she has enjoyed most

about working at SA Express is the

spirit of ubuntu and camaraderie

among her colleagues.

@PLAY

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Mavis Bongi Matukane

Originally from Mpumalanga,

Mavis Matukane has been with SA

Express for ten years and currently

works as a team leader in industry

travel. Her highlights of her time

with SA Express have been her own

personal growth, as well as when the

company proved their faith in her by

appointing her as a department leader.

“I am very proud of my achievements; I

just wanted to work and did not expect

to be given such a great responsibility.”

David Radinamane Ramonti

A 20-year SA Express veteran, David

Ramonti started working at the airline

in August 1994. For him, the biggest

highlight has been witnessing the

equitable transformation in the company

which has afforded people like him the

opportunity to progress career-wise

within the airline. “It is a great thing that

people from previously disadvantaged

backgrounds are given opportunities.

There are people who came in as

cleaners and today they are technicians,

so there is plenty of personal growth,” he

says. David is also very happy that the

number of young people being trained at

the company is growing.

Alex Allers

Alex Allers joined SA Express in

2009 and works as a Product and

Catering Specialist. 2010 was his

most memorable year at the company.

Thanks primarily to his attention

to detail, Alex managed to save the

company R15 million that year. As a

result, he won the CEO’s award, which

came in the form of an all-expenses-

paid wedding. “It was a great gift;

I got married at the Westcliff Hotel

and was dressed by David Tlale.

Going forward, I would like to see

SA Express spreading its wings and

getting more routes.”

Monde Mkhwanazi

22-year-old Monde Mkhwanazi is

an economics graduate who started

working at SA Express as an intern

in 2013 and now works as a junior

business manager. His tasks include

evaluating gaps in the market and the

organisation, as well as monitoring key

performance indicators. SA Express

will always have a special place in his

heart because it gave him his first job,

and exposed him to aviation. “Prior to

working at SA Express, I was not well

informed at all about aviation. Now that

I have experienced the industry, I plan

to study for my master’s and further my

career in this field,” says Monde.

@PLAY

Indwe 3 3

Wildebeest Kuil’s Petroglyphs

His name sounds like the job was made for him.

Petrus Wilson is the original guide to the petroglyphs

at Wildebeest Kuil (www.wildebeestkuil.itgo.com),

situated just 16 km from Kimberley. Here the San

spent busy days creating over 400 rock engravings

that depict the wildlife they saw in the area. The !Xun

and Kwe San people own the surrounding land, but

have set aside the area sprinkled with petroglyphs to

allow the public to view them up close.

Starting from the visitors’ centre, an 800 m walk

weaves up a low hill and through the ancient outdoor

art gallery. Guides provide commentary and there

are also information boards along the way. The

experience is a little like game spotting in stone, and

you will see a variety of animals – from elephant and

hippos to rhino and wildebeest – all frozen in time on

the rocks. Some of the engravings are also believed

to relate to rain and rainmaking. Only discovered in

the late 1800s, the exact age of the petroglyphs is

still not known. Some have been dated at between

1,200 and 1,800 years old, but many are even older

than this.

The city is renowned for its plentiful diamonds, but Kimberley in the Northern Cape is lesser known for its unusual wildlife and ancient rock engravings. And these are more than enough reason to visit.

Kicking Around in KimberleyTEXT & IMAGES © KERI HARVEY

@PLAY

@PLAY

Indwe3 4

Unusual Wildlife

One of our newest national parks, proclaimed in

2007, is just 80 km from Kimberley. Mokala

(www.sanparks.org.za) is an unusual predator free

park. Here you can see buffalo, black and blue

wildebeest, tsessebe, and rare sable and Roan

antelope, along with eland and gemsbok. There are

three different accommodation options, and

the park has about 70 km of roads on which

to explore the park and view game. Mokala is

Setswana for "camel thorn trees", which are

plentiful in the area. This is the perfect place to

visit for a sense of true wilderness.

Dronfield (www.diamondroute.com) is just

8 km outside the city of Kimberley, and is a choice

game viewing spot with excellent self-catering

accommodation. Prolific bird life – around 200

species – can be seen on the reserve, plus there’s

a vulture hide on the property which offers close

encounters with these fascinating birds.

A little further from Kimberley (about 50 km down

the N8) is one of the country’s oldest conservation

areas. Rooipoort was set aside for conservation in

1893 and almost a century later was declared a

Natural Heritage Site. This massive 40,000 hectare

reserve boasts Kalahari, Karoo and Grassland

vegetation, as well as all the birds and animals that

choose to call these habitats home. There are also

Roan and sable antelope, African wild cats and shy

brown hyena. The reserve runs for over 30 km along

the Vaal River, and offers guests a range of beautiful

self-catering accommodation.

Birding at Kamfer’s Dam

Who would believe that Kimberley hosts one of

only four breeding colonies of lesser flamingos in

Africa? (The others are located in Namibia, Botswana

and Tanzania.)

It is one of the few permanent water sources

in the Northern Cape and attracts over 180 bird

species, of which flamingos are just one. The

flamingos, however, can number over 50,000 at

times, and now have an artificial island on which they

can breed undisturbed, and also be seen year round.

Kamfer’s Dam is just 6 km from the city.

Heritage Stops

There are some notable “must sees” when in

Kimberley, and The Big Hole (www.thebighole.

com) is top of the list. It’s the largest hand-dug hole

S A E X P R E S S C O N N E C T S K I M B E R L E Y T O J O H A N N E S B U R G A N D C A P E T O W N . S E E F L I G H T S C H E D U L E F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N .

First Page: Undoubtedly

Kimberley’s Big Hole, and

the attractions surrounding

it, is still the city’s biggest

tourist attraction

This Page Top Left: Mokala

National Park, just outside

Kimberley, is home to rare

Sable and Roan antelope

This page Top Right:

Kimberley’s Kamfer Dam

plays host to the only

breeding colony of lesser

flamingos in South Africa

This Page Bottom

Left: The petroglyphs

at Wildebeest Kuil are

thousands of years old and

offer fascinating into the

lives of the indigenous !Xun

and Kwe San people

in the world and has yielded 2,700 kg of diamonds

to date. The museum and guided tour of the area is

fascinating and extremely well presented. Then step

out onto the viewing platform that extends over The

Big Hole and see just how big it really is.

Also stop in at the Sol Plaatje Museum, which

is housed in his former home. Plaatje was born

near Kimberley, wrote the first South African novel

in an ethnic language, and translated numerous

Shakespeare plays into Tswana. He was also an actor

and a singer and the first person to record Nkosi

Sikelel' iAfrika, as well as being a powerful force for

political change.

Visitors should also make a point of visiting

Galeshelwe with Galeshelwe Tours (+27 53 832

0037), one of the oldest townships in the country, to

see the home of Pan African Congress leader Robert

Sobukwe, and to visit a local shebeen. Alternatively

you can enjoy a sundowner at the Star of the West

– the oldest pub in the city of Kimberley and an

institution among locals.

Kimberley may be located in a distant, dry corner

of the country, but its attractions are enticing and

diverse, much like the diamonds in the rough for

which it is famous.

SA Express’ First Choice

When SA Express first started flying 20 years ago,

Kimberley was the airline’s very first destination, and

continues to be a popular route for the airline over two

decades later.

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South Africa celebrates Freedom Day on 27th April each year in commemoration of the first democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994. Freedom Day is a reminder of the struggle against apartheid that culminated in the mark of an “X” on ballot forms from every South African over the age of 18 who participated in the making of our new country.

TEXT: BRONWYN WAINWRIGHTIMAGES © GALLO IMAGES/RAPPORT ARCHIVES, 123 RF & ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

SOUTH AFRICA’S FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

Free for All

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Two decades on and the 1994 elections

remain as clear in memories of the 22 million

South Africans who voted for the beginning

of a new era, as though it were yesterday. The

Born Free Generation is privileged with a

different perspective: 1994 is a history lesson

at school, and a dinner-table story from

parents. Yet, for every South African, the first

democratic elections are a reminder that

voting is the only key to the future of

democracy in our country.

A New Day

On 27th April 1994, the divided queues of

apartheid merged in the long, flowing lines

of voters from all race groups. Never had

there been a time of greater equality. Leaders

such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu

cast their votes for the first time alongside

supporters and detractors alike. Such

would be the nature of democracy. The now

unmistakeable flag of the new Republic of

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South Africa had been adopted just days

before the election. Nineteen political parties

participated and, despite uncertain fears

of how the day would unfold, the voting

stations were peaceful, festive, and filled with

optimistic smiles and elated national pride. A

new picture of South Africa began to emerge.

Elections to the provincial legislatures

were held at the same time as elections to

the National Assembly. The African National

Congress (ANC) gained an overwhelming

majority vote with 62.6% to the National

Assembly, headed by Nelson Mandela who

became the first black president of the country.

The National Party (NP) took 20.39 % of

the vote, followed by the Inkatha Freedom

Party (IFP) with 10.54 %, the Freedom Front

(FF) with 2.2 %, the Democratic Party (DP)

with 1.7 %, the Pan African Congress (PAC)

1.2 % and the African Christian Democratic

Party with 0.5 %. At a provincial level, the

ANC won seven of the nine provinces; the NP

gained the majority in the Western Cape, and

the IFP secured KwaZulu-Natal.

The Build-up

Yet the first democratic elections did not

simply fall into place one fine day. In February

1990, FW de Klerk lifted the restrictions

against 33 opposition groups, including the

ANC, the PAC and the Communist Party. Nine

days later, Mandela was released from Victor

Verster Prison after 27 years ofincarceration.

The dismantling of apartheid was in full swing.

Violent outbreaks across the country

threatened to smother the seeds of democracy

that were just beginning to sprout, while

leaders worked together to smooth the way

forward. In 1993, the old and new regimes

were united under an agreement to form the

Government of National Unity. It was decided

that the new government would comprise

representatives of all parties securing more

than 5 % of the vote, and decisions would

be made by consensus. The Independent

Electoral Commission (IEC) was also

established to ensure the free and fair

administration of the elections.

As quickly as optimism grew with the old

and the new leaders working together, it was

just as quickly shattered by the devastating

assassination of Chris Hani, the secretary-

general of the Communist Party. The country

suddenly hovered on the brink of civil war. In

a televised address to the nation that same

day, Nelson Mandela appealed for calm and

for black and white South Africans to stand

together. It was a glimpse of the charismatic

leader’s ability to speak to the heart of people

across all cultures.

Riots erupted but the two sides quelled

any further uproar by swiftly agreeing that

democratic elections would follow so that, as

Mandela put forward, “an elected government

of the people, by the people and for the people”

would come to power. At the end of 1993

an interim constitution was agreed to by 21

political parties and elections were set to take

place on 27th April the following year.

Leading South Africa

Following the success of the democratic

elections, the National Assembly unanimously

elected Nelson Mandela President of South

How the South African Electoral System Works

Prior to the 1994 elections, an interim Electoral

Commission was established to ensure that the

1994 election process was in fact fully democratic.

When the new Constitution was established

permanent supervisory body over all elections –

national, provincial or municipal.

The South African electoral system works on

is entitled to register and vote. Votes are cast for

political parties, and based on the results thereof,

parties appoint members to sit in parliament in direct

proportion to the number of votes that they receive.

The IEC (Independent Electoral Commission)

is responsible for the impartial running of the

elections, from logistics and voting stations, to

the IEC reports to Parliament, their purpose is to

deliver free and fair elections and as a result, they

are completely independent of Government.

Africa on 9th May 1994. He was inaugurated on

10th May, along with Deputy Presidents Thabo

Mbeki and FW de Klerk.

Mandela’s presidency was characterised by

massive steps to restructure the country and

create a true democracy. He facilitated the

successful negotiation of the new Constitution

of 1996; the restructuring of civil services and

the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation

Commission to investigate the wrongs of the

past. Mandela entrenched the rule of law,

freedom of speech and free and fair elections

– all of which we as South Africans vote for

with every democratic election that has

followed this first and most historic one.

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Durban is consistently thought of as a place for sunshine and warm Indian Ocean surf, of dawdling and shopping, of dabbing sunscreen and unfurling beach towels. With around 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s easy for this warm-hearted East Coast metropolis to get under your skin. Discovering it properly, though, means looking beyond its surface temptations.

Democratic Durbs

TEXT & IMAGES © KEITH BAIN

FINDING FREEDOM IN AFRICA’S PLAYGROUND

The slow, sure-footed trudge up the stairs on the

basket handle seems to stretch on forever. There’s a

chunky safety harness slowing us down, requiring

adjustment every few steps. But once we hit the top,

there is a sense of satisfaction at having climbed

instead of taking the SkyCar, which involves merely

stepping inside for the steady, lazy elevator-crawl to

the top. Climbing each of the 550 steps makes us

feel like we have earned the 360 degree high-altitude

vista of Durban that is unfurled far beneath our feet.

From atop the sculptural arches of Moses Mabhida

Stadium (mmstadium.com), the city spreads out like

a tapestry softened by patches of subtropical jungle

and mangrove, and bookended by caramel-coloured

beaches and rolling hills tumbling away into the

misty KZN interior.

Bravehearts don’t just ogle the view, but instead

check their nerves at the door and sign up for the

bungee jump (bigrush.co.za), where the uphill stair

climb culminates with a leap into the abyss from the

world’s tallest swing (88 m), with a 60 m freefall and

top speed of 120 km/h.

A mellower way to explore the stadium is

on a guided Segway tour (segwayglidingtours.

co.za). You’re given a helmet and a quick lesson

in controlling the machine, and then set off to

check out the stadium’s key design features.

Longer Segway tours cover the entire beachfront

promenade, stretching all the way to the Golden

Mile’s southern end.

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If you’d rather control your own tour, get to

the beach at sunrise, grab a coffee and hire a

bicycle from The Bike & Bean (bikebeandurban.

com). Then spend the morning wending between

the joggers and power-walkers who frequent

Durban’s beachfront.

At the ends of the piers, just beyond the

breakers, we’re metres away from bronze-bodied

surfers waiting for the next wave. Watching them

bobbing on the water is borderline soporific, and

when they finally leap to their feet and ride towards

the beachfront, we can’t help but feel a rush of

shared energy.

Lifeguards set up their flags and boats for the

day, fishermen cast their lines, and youngsters on

skateboards and BMXes head for the graffiti-covered

skate park.

Durban’s beachfront changes its mood

throughout the day, but it’s always alive and

intoxicating. As we weave our way south towards

the harbour, we pass rickshaw pullers, curio sellers,

volleyball players, jubilant children splashing in the

public pools, out-of-towners frolicking in the waves

like they’ve never seen the sea, and enterprising

sculptors carving their one-of-a-kind sand

monuments, posing for tourist photos alongside their

clever creations.

We slow to a crawl to take in the details as the

carnival atmosphere steadily evolves, enhanced by

the effervescent whizz and whir of the funfair rides

and carousels at North Beach.

We know we’ve reached the beachfront’s

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far south when we hit uShaka Marine World

(ushakamarineworld.co.za), the epicentre of Durban’s

family scene. While there’s plenty of kitsch and

clutter and a sprawl of shops flogging everything

from cheap T-shirts to aromatic curry powers,

the Sea World aquarium is packed with unique

opportunities for visitors unfamiliar with ocean-

dwelling animals. You can ogle cute penguins, watch

seals demonstrating their intelligence, dive with

sharks from within the safety of a clear-walled glass

tube, or walk on a simulated ocean floor among rays

and sand sharks. And what child wouldn’t savour the

chance to meet a dolphin up close?

Having witnessed the city’s beachfront in all

its glory, we opt the following day to experience

Warwick Junction, where the country’s liveliest

markets pulse with humanity and commerce.

We join a tour offered by Street Scene

(streetscene.co.za) and arrive at Victoria Street

Market ready to get under its skin. Guides Richard

and Sthembiso are gifted storytellers, not only

peppering our walk with history and cultural insights,

but introducing us to some of the local characters

who hawk everything from spices for potent curries

to hand-carved Shembe staffs. We watch tailors

putting finishing touches on wedding outfits, and

guess at the sheer number of wood and stone

ornaments being offered for sale. Every kind of curio

and trinket is available for purchase and shopkeepers

happily tell the stories behind their wares.

Nearby, the Herb Market provides thrilling

insight into the traditional apothecary ingredients

prescribed by healers (inyanga) and diviners

(sangoma) to cure all manner of ailment. Here,

scores of stalls sell everything from medicinal

barks, roots and leaves, to dried sea creatures,

snake skins, and many more gruesome bits and

pieces, including wild animal organs and bones,

entire skulls, and grisly bits of flesh and fur. Many

of the stall keepers explain what kinds of relief each

powder or potion can bring, so it’s as enlightening

as it is bewildering to those of us who have always

put our faith in Western medicine.

If your diet includes meat, it’s worth sampling the

cuts of beef served up at the Bovine Head Market.

Here, tourists stare wide-eyed as ladies pound

through skulls and carcases to carve off tender bits

of flesh, the cheeks especially prized and tasty. Along

with a mound of steaming pap, the grilled meat is

served to us with a few pieces of raw chilli. Staving

off the assumption that Durban’s taste for spicy-hot

food arrived with the Indians who came to work

the sugar cane fields in the mid-1800s, Sthembiso

explains that chilli was growing here already, and

had long been part of the Zulu diet.

Back in the city, as we drive from Warwick

Junction towards the City Hall, Sthembiso and

Richard point out the decaying frame of Aboobaker

Mansions, a gorgeous building where Gandhi had

law offices more than a century ago. And across the

road stands the Juma Masjid, the largest mosque

in the southern hemisphere, right next door to a

red-brick Christian church. But when we stop in the

city centre, we’re shown the facade of the old court

S A E X P R E S S C O N N E C T S Y O U T O D U R B A N D A I LY. S E E F L I G H T S C H E D U L E F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N .

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building where Gandhi was once instructed by a

magistrate to remove his turban. Considered one of

the turning points in the Mahatma’s life, his refusal

to take off his traditional headgear helped fire up

what would eventually become his passive resistance

movement that ultimately led to India’s freedom from

colonial rule.

Today, one has only to descend on Durban’s

buzzing, exuberant beachfront to get a strong

sense of that same freedom on our own shores,

finally achieved merely two decades ago, thanks to

the sacrifices of great men and women. At

weekends, the swirling mass of people is

sufficiently intoxicating to suggest that this surely

is South Africa’s playground, reminding us that

being able to relax and enjoy oneself is a

fundamental part of human liberty.

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LA LIBERTÉ DANS LA COUR DE

RÉCRÉATION DE L’AFRIQUE

Quand on pense à Durban on imagine toujours le soleil, les vagues tièdes de l’océan indien, la crème solaire et les draps de bain étalés sur le sable. Durban, avec ses 300 jours de soleil par an, est une métropole chaleureuse de la côte est qui vous colle à la peau. Pour vraiment la découvrir il faut cependant regarder au-delà des tentations évidentes.

TEXT & IMAGES © KEITH BAIN

DURBAN LA DÉMOCRATE

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La lente et pénible progression le long de l’escalier

de l’arche (du stade Moses Mabhida) semble ne

jamais prendre fin. Cependant, on arrive au sommet

avec un grand sentiment de satisfaction. Une fois que

l’on arrive à bout des 550 marches, on a vraiment

l’impression d’avoir mérité la superbe vue de 360

degrés de Durban qui s’offre à nous depuis le ciel.

Ceux qui n’ont pas froid aux yeux ne font pas

que regarder : ils laissent leur peur au vestiaire

et se lancent dans le vide en saut à l’élastique

(bigrush.co.za). La montée de l’arche culmine

en un saut vers l’abysse depuis la plus grande

balançoire du monde (88 m), avec une chute libre

de 60 m et atteignant une vitesse maximale de

120 km/h.

Pour explorer le stade de façon un peu plus

sereine on peut faire une visite guidée en Segway

(segwayglidingtours.co.za). On peut aussi faire des

ballades plus longues en Segway sur le front de mer

jusqu’au point le plus au sud de la Golden Mile.

Si vous préférez vous promener au gré de vos

envies, pourquoi ne pas arriver à la plage au lever

du soleil, prendre un café et louer un vélo chez

The Bike & Bean (bikebeandurban.com). Ainsi

vous pourrez passer la matinée à pédaler parmi les

joggers et les marcheurs rapides qui fréquentent le

front de mer de Durban.

Les sauveteurs plantent leurs drapeaux sur la

plage et organisent leurs bateaux pour la journée,

les pêcheurs jettent leurs lignes à l’eau et les

skateboarders et les adeptes du VTT roulent vers le

planchodrome recouvert de graffitis.

Le front de mer de Durban change d’ambiance

au cours de la journée, mais il n’en reste pas moins

un lieu dynamique et enivrant. Alors que nous

avançons lentement vers le sud en direction du port,

nous apercevons des pousse-pousse, des vendeurs

de souvenirs, de joueurs de volley-ball, des enfants

radieux jouant dans les piscines publiques, des

touristes s’amusant dans les vagues comme si c’était

leur première fois à la mer et des sculpteurs de sable

audacieux posant près de leur créations artistiques

d’un jour pour des photos.

À l’extrémité sud du front de mer se trouve

uShaka Marine World (ushakamarineworld.

co.za), l’épicentre des sorties en famille à Durban.

À l’aquarium de Sea World on peut admirer des

pingouins craquants, on peut aussi plonger en toute

sécurité avec les requins dans un tube en verre

transparent ou bien marcher avec les raies et les

requins taureau sur un fonds sous-marin simulé. Y

a-t-il un enfant qui n’adorerait pas l’opportunité d’une

rencontre avec un dauphin ?

Après avoir eu le plaisir de voir le front de mer

dans toute sa splendeur, on décide d’aller visiter les

marchés de Warwick Junction qui est complexe

dynamique commercial très animé. On opte pour une

visite guidée avec Street Scene (streetscene.co.za) et

l’on arrive à Victoria Street prêt à s’imprégner de son

atmosphère. Richard et Sthembiso sont nos guides

et aussi des conteurs de grand talent. Ils agrémentent

notre ballade de leurs connaissances locales et de

leur perspective culturelle, et nous font rencontrer

des personnages du coin qui vendent de tout, allant

d’épices fortes pour le curry à des bâtons Shembe

sculptés. On peut y trouver n’importe quel bibelot et

babiole, et les vendeurs ont toujours une histoire à

raconter à propos de leur marchandise.

Le Marché aux herbes qui se trouve tout près,

nous donne un aperçu fascinant des ingrédients

utilisés pour fabriquer les potions des guérisseurs

traditionnels (inyanga) et des sourciers (sangoma)

pour soulager toutes sortes de maux. Sur les

nombreux étals à votre disposition vous pouvez

trouver pratiquement n’importe quoi allant

d’écorces médicinales, de racines et de feuilles, de

créatures marines séchées, de mues de serpent à

des choses moins ragoutantes telles des organes

et des os d’animaux sauvages, des cranes entiers et

des morceaux de fourrure et de peau. De nombreux

étalagistes vous expliqueront comment leurs

poudres et potions peuvent vous soigner, et pour

la plupart d’entre nous habitués à la médecine

occidentale, leurs révélations peuvent être

instructives aussi bien que déconcertantes.

Si vous aimez la viande allez faire un tour au Bovine

Head Market (Marché de la tête de bovin) pour y gouter

leur bœuf. Les femmes dépiautent des cranes et des

carcasses pour y trouver les meilleurs morceaux, plus

particulièrement les joues très prisées, ce qui laisse les

touristes y bouche bée. La viande grillée, qui nous est

servie avec une sorte de polenta locale appelée pap, est

agrémentée de morceaux de piments crus.

De retour en ville, Sthembiso et Richard nous

montrent les ruines des superbes Aboobaker

Mansions qui logèrent, il y a plus de cent ans, les

bureaux du cabinet d’avocats de Gandhi. De l’autre

cote de la route s’élève Juma Masjid qui se trouve

être la plus grande mosquée de l’hémisphère sud.

Après cela ils nous montrent la façade du vieil

édifice de la Cour où il fut un jour requis que Gandhi

enleva son turban sur ordre d’un magistrat. Cet

épisode est vu comme l’un des moments cruciaux de

la vie du Mahatma puisque son refus d’enlever son

couvre-chef traditionnel contribua au démarrage de

son processus de résistance passive qui en définitive

conduira l’Inde vers son indépendance.

Aujourd’hui l’effervescence et l’exubérance du

front de mer de Durban sert à nous remémorer le

fait que la liberté acquise en Afrique du Sud il y a

seulement une vingtaine d’années le fut au prix du

sacrifice d’hommes et femmes extraordinaires. Le

weekend, la présence enivrante de la foule nous

suggère que Durban est en fait la cour de récréation

de l’Afrique du Sud et nous rappelle constamment

que se relaxer et s’amuser sont des libertés

humaines fondamentales.

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“!ke e: /xarra //keis”. Directly translated, this motto, which is written in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people, means “diverse people unite” and is inscribed in the South African Coat of Arms. It would be easy to casually dismiss it as a throwback to South Africa’s now romanticised early years as a democratic state; however, a glimpse at our history abruptly reminds us why such a motto was an inspired idea.

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD 20 YEARS OF DEMOCRACYTEXT: MOHLOMI MAUBANEIMAGES © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM & 123RF

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Ours, after all, is a past where the exploitation

of human beings by others was accepted and legal

custom. For example, the Glen Grey Act of 1894

reduced the number of black people who could live

on and own land, reducing many of them to poverty.

The Mines and Works Act of 1911 established an

employment quota that prohibited black people

from competing for skilled work. Laws like the

Group Areas Act dictated that only people of the

same race could live side by side, while the

Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act made marriage

between people of different races illegal.

Naturally, despotic laws of this kind elicited

opposition. This protracted struggle had many

episodes and by the early 1980s, South Africa

was a country teetering on the brink of civil

war and financial bankruptcy. Something had

to give. On 2nd February 1990, after years of

covert negotiations, FW de Klerk announced that

national liberation movements were unbanned and

that the world’s most famous political prisoner

would be released. On 12th February 1990, Nelson

Mandela was freed after nearly three decades

behind bars. His release can be euphemised as

the beginning of the labour pains that gave birth to

modern-day South Africa.

The Birth of Democracy

By late 1991, South African political parties

began negotiations under the guidance of

the Convention of a Democratic South Africa

(CODESA) where the groundwork for a

democratic state was being laid. After lengthy

debates, the country finally held its first free and

fair elections on 27th April 1994 with Nelson

Mandela elected as the country’s first democratic

president. Mandela’s tenure as head of state can

be described as one of peace and reconciliation.

Madiba had tea with the widow of the architect

of apartheid as well as the state prosecutor who

sought to have him executed. He simultaneously

allayed fears and won the hearts of many when he

attended the 1995 Rugby World Cup final clad in

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a Springbok jersey. These symbolic gestures were

necessary for a society with such a fractured past,

but they had to be accompanied by tangible action

to effect real change.

In April 1996, the Truth and Reconciliation

Commission began formal hearings to deal with

violations of human rights during apartheid. Later

that year, on 10th December 1996, Mandela signed

into law South Africa’s new democratic and globally

revered Constitution, transforming South Africa

from a former pariah to a role-model state. Nelson

Mandela served only one term as president and

was succeeded by Thabo Mbeki on 16th June 1999.

Refining the Running of a Country

Mbeki was a contrast to his predecessor. While

Mandela was charismatic and genial, Mbeki was a

reserved technocrat more adept at gradually building

the various organs of state and fine-tuning the ruling

party’s policies, than wooing a crowd. This was very

necessary, however, for as much as South Africa was

christened a miracle, there was no magic wand to

wave away its inherent and fundamental problems,

and Mbeki clearly enjoyed and excelled in identifying

and interrogating these challenges.

South Africa’s incumbent president, President

Jacob Zuma, was elected in 2009 and as the

country gears towards its fifth democratic elections,

it is worth pointing out a few of the strides it has

made in the 20 years since its liberation.

Strides Made and Strides Still to Make

Over 8 million school children are now

benefitting from no-fee policies. This has ensured

that secondary school enrolment has risen from

51 % in 1994, to 80 % in 2014. More than 1,500

basic healthcare facilities have been built and

refurbished over the same period. The number

of households that use electricity for lighting

increased from 58,2% in 1996 to 84,7% in 2011.

Every single sphere of South African life

has been transformed after the dawn of the

democratic dispensation and statistics do not fully

capture the many ways in which South African

citizens have been liberated. Arguably, most

important, is that today every South African has

the right to freedom of expression, association,

conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.

Our democratic Constitution also instructs that we

all enjoy freedom of movement, the right to own

property, the right not to be detained without trial,

and the freedom of sexual orientation, all which

were unimaginable just a few decades ago.

All of these are notable achievements that are

worthy of being celebrated. However, as South

Africa celebrates 20 years of democratic rule and

liberation from apartheid, it must charter a way

forward very much aware that its future lies,

literally in its future and not in its recent past. No

success story is driven by a narrative of a glorious

past, and if the South African storyline is going to

continue to be a successful one, it is going to be

determined by how the country confronts its

emerging problems on an ongoing basis. With the

apartheid beast slain, the country must now ensure

it rids itself of its standing as the most unequal

country in the world. This inequality is the biggest

threat to a prosperous and peaceful South Africa,

because a man who does not have running water in

his house will not always accept being a neighbour

to a man with a swimming pool.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH

BONI DIBATE

1994 will always be a special year for South Africans. This was the year when this country finally succeeded in freeing itself from the shackles of repression and elected its first democratic government. Freedom Day (27th April 1994) marked the dawn of this new era in our country and just three days prior to this, another significant event occurred. Thebe Investments, a pioneering black-owned company in partnership with the Deloisse brothers from Canada, established South African Express.

The Evolution

of SA Express

TEXT: MOHLOMI MAUBANEIMAGES © SA EXPRESS

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The airline’s first flight took off on 24th April

1994 with a trip from Johannesburg to Kimberley,

a clear indicator of the airline’s founding priority

of connecting passengers to secondary hubs, as

fittingly espoused by its founding pay-off line:

“We’ve got good connections”.

From a layman’s perspective, aviation seems

a complex, technical and highly regulated

industry to partake in. So just how does one

enter such a field?

“Firstly, by virtue of the nature of the

business that it is, to start an airline you

need to have a passion for the industry,” Boni

Dibate, a member of the SA Express Board of

Directors and Chairperson of its Remuneration

Committee explains. “You must first identify a

need for a route and then check the distance

of that route. It is the distance of that route

that will inform you what kind of aircraft you

need to deploy as well as the fuel consumption

traits of the aircraft you need. Then you have to

consider communication and legal obligations.

For an aircraft to be able to land it has to be

able to communicate with people on the ground.

So both the aircraft and airport must have

the prerequisite equipment. Legally, not all

airports can handle commercial aircrafts, so the

airports that are on your routes must have the

prerequisite landing strips and infrastructure for

your aircraft. It involves a lot of work, but when

you work with people who are as passionate

about the airline industry as I am, it's all worth it

when it finally comes to fruition.”

Dibate is on her second stint at the airline,

having previously served as its Chief Executive

Officer. Her first tenure was during the airline’s

first decade when SA Express was still finding

its feet, while also making its mark in South

Africa. In 1996, two years after its formation,

SA Express added to its number of routes

by acquiring the Skukuza, Richards Bay and

Gaborone routes from Comair. Two years later,

the airline had its first ever flight manned by an

all-female crew and in 1999, the airline grew

further when it began operating in Windhoek

and opened a base in Cape Town.

“My first task when I joined the airline was to

try to stabilise things. When the initial deal was

signed with the Canadians, the exchange rate

of the Rand to the US Dollar was 1 to 4. When

I joined it was 1 to 11. This had a negative

impact on the company’s financials. We had to

renegotiate the deal at a diplomatic level, and

by the time I stepped aside as CEO, revenues

were good operationally and expenses were

low,” says Dibate. Amid the compulsory growing

pains, SA Express continued to make strides

in its sphere of business. In 2001, transport

parastatal, Transnet, bought the airline from

Thebe Investments.

“Aviation can be a very fickle and expensive

industry. Our costs are related to foreign

exchange as our aircraft, equipment and fuel

are all dollar based. Plus the airline industry

is very sensitive to major world events, like the

tragic events of 9/11, or the bird flu outbreak

– all of these events have a bearing on us,”

explains Dibate.

2004 marked the first decade of SA

Express’ operations, and over the next decade

it continued to expand into new territories,

including Kruger Mpumalanga Airport in 2005.

The airline also boasts a fair number of awards

and accolades that it has racked up over the

years, including the Annual Airline Reliability

Award from Bombadier, the AFRAA Regional

Airline of the Year Award and the Allied and

Aviation Corporate Business Award.

From that initial flight from Johannesburg to

Kimberley, SA Express’ itinerary now includes

flights to Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana.

One of the airline’s founding philosophies is to

create an internal culture of “service before self”.

If it continues with this outlook, it will be able to

easily fulfil its ambitions to continue connecting

passengers to an ever growing list of local and

regional destinations.

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Up-to-the-Minute Décor and Design

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and have multiple uses. Homes are also

becoming places of refuge, with more attention

being paid to the decoration of sleep areas to

allow people to rest, recuperate and recover in

a nurturing space.

Another popular trend is the need to move

closer to nature. Outdoor spaces are becoming

indoor rooms or are now an extension of an

indoor space. This is where fashion meets

functionality. Consumers need fabrics that

are treated for outdoor use, or require more

resilient materials like leather or vinyl for

heavy-duty or child-friendly spaces.

Favour is also being given to products

made from natural materials. This has

brought about the need for finishes that

can withstand outdoor weather conditions

but not compromise on luxury. We are also

acknowledging the need for greener furniture.

As environmental concerns grow, the demand

for locally manufactured furniture over

imported furniture, which has a bigger impact

on our carbon footprint, increases.

Technology and our constant obsession

with it has impacted hugely on furniture

design. This is most obvious in the design of

entertainment centres and home theatres,

which now need to accommodate all of

our electronic devices, gadgets and gaming

consoles. The constant advances in technology

also allow the supply of furniture that is more

complex but simpler to manufacture. Mass

production has reduced the cost of furniture

and sophisticated supply chains have made it

easier to meet the demand in both the number

of pieces available as well the cost.

Despite these changes, clients are now

seeing a greater value in investing in one

quality piece of furniture. They are leaning

towards a “less is more” approach in their

purchasing decisions.

Added to this, there has also been a

mass movement away from furniture that

is produced on a large scale. Clients want

to express their individuality with pieces

of furniture that are created to suit their

needs. This is where Bakos Brothers and

their bespoke offering come to the fore,

by offering clients the individual pieces of

furniture that they seek. In essence, Bakos

is more than just a furniture store; it is a

place that offers turnkey décor solutions with

everything from fabric libraries, wallpaper

and paint options to furniture and any

other product or service required to help

customers create their ideal homes.

For more information, or to make an

appointment for a consultation to discuss your

décor needs, contact the Bakos Brothers Head

Office on +27 11 448 2410 or chat to a

consultant in any branch. Bakos Brothers

stores are open seven days a week.

With 20 years of experience in interior design and furniture design and manufacture, as well

as having run her own décor consultancy business, Joanne Taylor has what it takes to head Bakos’

incredibly creative and talented team of decorators.

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THE WORLD’S FIRST BLACK AFRICAN ASTRONAUT

BREAKING DOWN THE FINAL FRONTIERTEXT: MELISSA JANE COOK/MEDIACLUBSOUTHAFRICA.COMIMAGES © AXE APOLLO & ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

It is an extraordinary dream come true. Like music to Mandla Maseko’s ears, this part-time DJ will blast off into space… literally. No-one in Maseko’s family has ever stepped outside South Africa, but now this 25-year-old is preparing to rocket into space in 2015.

Maseko won the global Axe Apollo Space Academy

competition for an hour long sub-orbital trip of 62

miles, or about 100 km. Handpicked for the trip on

the Lynx Mark II Spaceship, Maseko is one of only

23 civilians from around the world to win a seat on the

space mission. He saw off a million other entrants to

emerge victorious.

The son of a toolmaker and a cleaning supervisor,

he hails from Mabopane Township near Pretoria. He

will be the first black African, and the only other South

African besides billionaire Mark Shuttleworth, to have

gone into space. (Shuttleworth is an entrepreneur and

philanthropist who bought a seat on a Russian Soyuz

capsule for £12 million and spent eight days on board

the International Space Station in 2002.)

“Excitement does not begin to describe how I feel

right now,” Maseko told the Pretoria News. “If there was

a better word than ‘excitement’ I would use it.” Maseko

was forced to put his civil engineering studies on hold

because he could no longer pay the fees, but now he

will get to experience zero gravity and a journey that

normally comes with a $100,000 price tag.

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Entering the Competition

In August 2013, Maseko heard an advertisement for

the competition on the radio and decided to enter, along

with thousands of other South Africans. “I needed to

send in a picture of myself jumping off something, so I

jumped off the wall in the backyard. I had to do it three

times before I was happy with the picture.”

Hopefuls from more than 105 countries competed

for a spot on the shuttle. Only 30 entrants from

South Africa were selected from a field of 85,000

determined individuals for the first set of challenges,

which took place in the Free State. Then they were

cut down to three, who went to the US for further

gruelling preparations.

For a week in December last year, Maseko and

fellow South Africans Dean Roddan and Haroon

Osman faced arduous challenges at the Kennedy

Space Center in Orlando, Florida. The challenges were

designed to test their resolve, strength and courage.

These missions gave the recruits a taste of the trials

faced by real astronauts, including learning to pilot an

Air Combat USA aircraft, and bracing themselves for

the strength of blast off in a G-Force Simulator at the

Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex.

Other challenges included skydiving, building and

launching a rocket, and conquering obstacle courses.

“Unfortunately we could not get our rocket to launch,

but we made up points because we were judged on

bravery, enthusiasm and teamwork,” says Maseko. “We

faced things head on. I knew I had to learn, master and

excel at the challenges, so I did.”

Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon,

was one of the competition’s judges. Maseko had the

opportunity to meet Aldrin when he was announced a

winner. “I got to shake his hand three times."

Aldrin is among 12 people – all American, all men,

and all white – to have walked on the moon. But Africa

has growing space ambitions: The majority of the

Square Kilometre Array, the world’s biggest and most

powerful radio telescope, will be spread across South

Africa and eight other countries on the continent.

Destined for Greatness

He was a “typical ekasi (township) boy” who still

lived at home with his parents and four siblings, says

Maseko. His father, who grew up in such poverty that

he only got his first pair of shoes when he was 16, was

determined that his children would never go hungry.

“My dad provided for us. He is my hero, and then

Nelson Mandela comes after.

“I’m not trying to make this a race thing, but we

blacks grew up dreaming to a certain stage. You

dreamed of being a policeman or a lawyer, but you

knew you wouldn’t get as far as pilot or astronaut.

Then I went to space camp and I thought, ‘I can

actually be an astronaut’.”

But he had known since he was a boy that he

was destined for greatness. “We were not brought

up to believe that we could be bigger than big, but

I always knew I would be.” His mom, Ouma

Maseko, agrees: “When I was pregnant

with him in 1988, I knew I would

give birth to a star,” she says.

The young Maseko’s

imagination was fired by the

science fiction series Star Trek, as

well as films such as Armageddon and Apollo 13. “No

matter what life throws at you, you can use it and come

out on top. My life has taken a total turn, and this is

my big break. People will be telling their children and

grandchildren that I was the first black South African

youth in space.”

Plans for the Future

During the long wait before his trip, Maseko hopes

to complete his civil engineering qualification. His long-

term plans are to study aeronautical engineering and

qualify as a space mission specialist, with the ultimate

dream of planting the South African flag on the moon.

“South Africa has come a long way. We have

reached a stage where we are equal and we are one.

This year is the 20th anniversary of democracy, and what

better way to celebrate than by sending the first black

South African into space?

“The vision of all youths here in Mabopane is to

drive a taxi, do drugs or work on houses. It’s good to

be a solution to your township, rather than a problem.

I want to break that system and this is a nice way to go

down in history. I believe that will motivate me. The sky

is not the limit.”

Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom

sees Maseko as a role model for “the future

generation of space professionals and enthusiasts”.

His experience could not have come at a better time

than “when Africa is gearing up its space ambitions”

as host to the world’s biggest and most powerful radio

astronomy telescope, says Hanekom.

The director of that project, Bernie Fanaroff, also

hails Maseko as an ambassador for science. “Anything

that raises the profile of science must be good,

because it brings to the attention of young people what

they can achieve in science and engineering.”

It is a big responsibility, but the last word must go

to the spaceman himself: “I have had to learn so much

about astronomy and space to teach others. It’s been a

dream, a lifetime dream come true, and I don't want to

stop here. When I come back, I want to become an

astronaut, and I will work hard to get there”.

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The recipe for a great holiday usually involves all, if not some of the following: a beautiful setting, exciting activities, space to relax, and a break from the norm. Tofo Beach in Southern Mozambique has all of this. And if you throw a good measure of the local rum Tipo Tinto into the mix and combine it with a healthy spirit of adventure, Tofo and its surrounds will surpass all expectations.

TOFOTEXT & IMAGES © JANE BARRY

TTOOFFOOO

Total Time Out

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Mozambique has a very long coastline.

Covering almost 2,500 km, and with a tourism

infrastructure that is still relatively underdeveloped,

there are idyllic beaches and tropical bays aplenty.

While there are many stunning sites and beaches

scattered along the coast, in recent years Tofo has

become something of a traveller’s paradise.

Tofo is roughly 450 km north of Maputo, in

Inhambane Province, and unlike many of the

beaches in Mozambique, the stretch of road to

the town is tarred the entire way. This makes it

easily accessible from the capital city, as well as

particularly appealing to those among us who do

not own a 4x4. Along the way, you will pass endless

towering coconut trees, with the characteristic

palm-frond houses of the region sitting neatly

below them. You will see the colourful and friendly

Mozambicans going about their daily lives, and

eventually arrive at Tofo Beach.

Tofo, although attracting large volumes of

travellers, is still pretty basic which can be a bit

intimidating, but the minute you step onto the

wonderfully white beach with the postcard perfect

sea lapping the shores, whether or not you can buy

AA batteries becomes completely irrelevant. Taking

your first plunge into the temperate waters of the

Indian Ocean and washing off the dirt and heat of

the drive, is exquisite – even more so with a 2M,

Laurentina or Manica (local beer) waiting for you

on the sand.

Tofo boasts excellent scuba diving and

snorkelling opportunities, including the thrilling

opportunity of snorkelling with the gentle giant

of the ocean, the whale shark. Tofo is also a good

surf spot for both beginners and professionals.

The sheltered bay is perfect for first timers who

can enlist the help of one of the local surf schools,

while there are also some decent breaks for more

experienced surfers.

As the sun goes down, Tofo’s thriving nightlife

is yet another reason why people flock to this

coastal town. The full moon parties are legendary

and Dino’s Bar and Restaurant is the place to get

stuck into Tipo Tinto and shooters, dancing the

night away, or sitting on the beach and meeting

new people. Live music, dancing, drinks and

beach bonfires take you late into the night. And, if

partying up a storm is not your idea of fun, simply

relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of a long walk

on the beach.

Tofo provides everything you could ever want

from a holiday, so it is hardly surprising that it

continues to attract visitors all year round. So, the

next time you are in need of a break and a little

beach time, rather than heading down to

Plettenberg Bay again, venture slightly off the

beaten track and whet your palate with an exotic

taste of Mozambique.

S A E X P R E S S C O N N E C T S C A P E T O W N T O M A P U T O . S E E F L I G H T S C H E D U L E F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N .

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Y

Freedom on the Dance Floor

It’s broad daylight and I’m surrounded by

thousands of like-minded people, all caught up in

the moment, stomping their feet, unleashing

anatomical rhythms improvised to the throb of

what’s cascading out of megawatt speakers. It’s

hypnosis by beats-per-minute as inhibitions are

scattered to the wind in the name of unhinged

dancing, bodies writhing and bouncing to music

they call psychedelic trance.

As I take a moment to take it all in, a girl,

beaming ear-to-ear, notices the concentration on

my face, skips across, and throws her arms around

me. “Smile!” she orders, then plants a kiss on my

cheek and disappears into the crowd, leaving a trail

of goodwill and shaking hips in her wake. I don’t

merely smile, but burst out laughing as I witness

a dude wearing a watermelon helmet and green

tights come whizzing by.

Partying in the outdoors, without dress codes

or concern for mainstream convention, is all part

of the inherent beauty of the scene. Anything

goes, in fact, as long as the vibe is positive and the

mood upbeat.

Adam Metcalfe, who goes by the stage name

Headroom, is among the most respected and

talented trance DJs in South Africa. He probably

plays as many international events as he does local

ones, racking up considerable hours commuting to

assorted venues around the world, from Japan to

Brazil, and Australia to Germany. Adam describes

Cape Town’s psychedelic trance scene combines magical outdoor locations, synapse-tweaking beats, free-flowing hedonism, and revellers with an insatiable desire to dance. Now in its 20th year, local trance culture is also a vivid expression of individual freedom and interpersonal connectivity.

20 YEARS OF TRANCETEXT: KEITH BAINIMAGES © STU SHAPIRO PHOTOGRAPHY (WWW.STUSHAPIRO.COM)

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psy-trance as a kind of “sonic hypnotism”, blending

“high-tempo looping grooves, complex synth

rhythms, tribal percussion, and otherworldly

sounds” to take the listener on a journey.

This explanation gives some idea of the kind

of technology-driven atmosphere of the genre. It’s

pretty intense, fast-paced music, relentless in its

delivery of beats, and complex in its arrangement

of different sounds and rhythms. Often, in

lieu of lyrics, you notice entire monologues or

bits of dialogue quoted from science-fiction

movies, frequently delivering thought-provoking

philosophical inferences that keep the mind active

while the body yields to the beat.

While creating trance music can be quite

technical, it’s clear the music has a spiritual

dimension. “My dream is to write music that

touches as many people as possible,” says Adam,

“and trance music is able to take people to a place

where they feel a resurgence of their primal spirit.”

This transcendent style of dance music landed

on South African shores some 20 years ago –

more or less at the same time as democracy. Its

roots are in Goa, a former-Portuguese enclave in

India where, since the ’60s, hippie culture and full-

moon beach parties have resulted in the evolution

of experimental music genres.

“DJs playing psychedelic rock started fusing

it with electronic genres such as techno, electro-

industrial, and acid house. This slowly morphed

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into a sound known as Goa trance,” says Adam.

Globe-trotting DJs started exporting Goa trance

to the rest of the world, and by November 1994, a

Cape Town-based outfit called Vortex held its first

psy-trance event, called “Essence of Fluorescence”.

By February 1995, the first outdoor party was held

in Scarborough, and the rest is history.

What started as intimate events for people keen

to combine the magic of open-air settings with the

type of hedonism that had taken off at rave clubs

and warehouse parties, evolved into a culture that

nowadays guarantees at least one outdoor party

every weekend throughout summer, with occasional

indoor events during colder months. Some of

these last for several days, with scores of local and

international DJs on the bill.

While the scene has flourished around Cape

Town, smaller movements have sparked off in

other parts of the country. Robyn Van Zyl, one half

of Festivals of Light, the team that organised last

month’s Freedom Festival near Durban, says that

although KZN’s trance culture is in its infancy, it’s

already developing a similar sense of community

that’s found at parties in the Cape. And what’s

gratifying, she says, is the “spirit of freedom” that

infuses the dance floor.

“Psy-trance isn’t just music,” says Robyn. “It’s

a way of life. There’s a certain code you take

on when you attend these festivals. The most

important thing is that you’re encouraged to be

yourself, to not feel judged for baring your soul.

We’re not about ego or conformity. We aim to

create a space that reflects how we’d like our

society to be: Considerate, compassionate, nature-

conscious. Besides, dancing on a heaving dance

floor has immense healing energy.”

These underlying tenets of the scene are in

many ways linked to the aspirations of old-school

hippie culture. Party organisers fill their websites

with messages of love and tolerance, broadcasting

their adherence to principles of open-mindedness,

community, mutual respect, and a commitment to

the planet.

Around us, the throb continues. I wonder out

loud if a party can in fact serve as a vehicle for

idealistic enlightenment.

“Connection,” answers Adam. “It’s as simple

as connecting with people. All kinds of people

you might never otherwise get to know. Not

merely online via the Internet, but in ways that

are meaningful and real. It’s a sense of freedom

rarely realised in today’s world. The music brings

us together on a dusty dance floor, and we connect

while dancing in these incredible locations, focused

on nothing more than this very moment.”

I look up again, reminded that we’re enfolded

by mountains and crisp blue skies, dazzling natural

beauty that’s mirrored by the energetic pulse of the

shiny, happy people all around us on the dance floor.

And I thank God that I am free.

Headroom will perform on the final afternoon of

Vortex Parallel Universe, a four-day trance festival

just outside Caledon from 18th to 21st April. Visit

www.intothevortex.co.za for more information.

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South Africa has a landmass of over 1.2 million km2, which means that there is quite a lot of space to go exploring. I have spent half a lifetime travelling around this wonderful country and still I continue to uncover gems – destinations both surprising in their natural beauty and their quirkiness. These are a few of my favourites.

South Africa’s Hidden GemsOFF THE BEATEN TRACK DESTINATIONSTEXT & IMAGES © ADAM CRUISE

Paternoster

Named by a group of marooned Portuguese sailors

who survived a shipwreck here in the 15th Century, this

quaint fishing village epitomises life on the wind-kissed

West Coast. Its white crescent beach is lined with

brightly coloured fishing boats and backed by a series

of fishing cottages. Here, among the whitewashed

walls, are some of the region’s finest and quaintest

seafood restaurants, mingled together with a clutch of

guesthouses and charming inns. The Atlantic sunsets

are sublime and the weather bracing, and it is the

perfect place for a romantic getaway.

The Towns of the Great Karoo

Like Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass,

the vast lunar-like landscape of the Great Karoo seems

distorted and surrealistic. The transforming interplay

between light and space in this part of the world is

dramatic, and plays out by the hour.

Pick any Karoo town, such as Nieu-Bethesda, Prince

Albert, Calvinia, Sutherland, Craddock or Middelpos.

All are bizarre kaleidoscopes of colour and culture, at

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once rich and unusual. The people that inhabit such

outposts are civilization’s outré culture and include

a wonderfully eclectic mixture of volunteer outcasts,

doomsday fanatics, recluses, artists, and even ex-CEOs

of multinationals who become culinary geniuses

with skills that would not be out of place in Europe’s

best restaurants. Yet they prefer the role of Karoo

village postman to eke out a living among a variety of

other eclectic mavericks displaying everything that is

outlandish, quirky and off-beat.

Kgalagadi

Only the Kalahari (a European mispronunciation

of the San word Kgalagadi) rivals the Karoo in

limitlessness and light. Its flowing flaxen fields of

desert grass among deep ochre dunes are interspersed

here and there by emerald green camel thorn trees and

white barked shepherd’s bushes. It makes for the most

striking of scenes, especially when the white-hot light

of the day softens into muted pink and orange hues at

dawn and dusk.

Tucked away in the farthest flung corner of the

country is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, an

expansive reserve that spills over into Botswana and

combines virgin landscape with the original inhabitants

of the country, the wildlife. Here the mighty lion still

reigns supreme, his roar thundering through the crystal

clear starry nights, while during the day a menagerie

of other species go about their daily routines in a place

that encapsulates the Biblical Eden.

Rocktail, Thembe & Ndumo

Take a beeline due east from the Kgalagadi all the

way to the coast, and one discovers another far-flung

corner of the country. Tucked away behind the mountains

of Swaziland and wedged between Mozambique and the

Indian Ocean are three choice pearls: Rocktail Bay and

the twin parks of Ndumo and Thembe.

Rocktail Bay is a little lodge situated among the

forested dunes that dominate this stretch of unspoilt

coastline. Beyond the crashing surf abound the finest

and most pristine coral reefs you will find in South

Africa, and only a select few are given permission to

sample this underwater paradise. During the summer

months visitors to Rocktail are treated to another

spectacle – the nesting and hatching of the mighty

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Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles.

Ndumo, further inland and bordering

Mozambique, boasts an unbelievable concentration of

bird species, while Thembe next door is distinguished

for its great herds of Loxodonta africani (or elephants

for the Latin-shy among us).

Fugitives Drift

South Africa is crammed with historical episodes.

One of the most compelling is the epic clash between

the forces of the British and the Zulus at Isandlwana

during the Anglo-Zulu War. The victorious Zulus

called it the “Day of the Dead Moon”, because the

battle took place in the eerie twilight of a partial

eclipse. The British prefer to highlight the sideshow

to that battle (which annihilated their entire force): the

defence of Rorke’s Drift. This occurred further away

from the main battle, where a small reserve company

of Welsh engineers and invalided soldiers successfully

repelled a sustained 11 hour attack.

That day (22nd January 1879) is brought to life

today by the raconteurs-extraordinaire of Fugitives

Drift Lodge, a continuation of the heritage that began

with the great late David Rattray. Be warned: This is

an intensely gripping and mesmerising experience.

Regrettably, these are but a few of the hundreds of

wonderful far-flung nooks that are scattered

throughout this glorious country. All the more reason

to start exploring!

Previous Page: Visitors to the

quaint town of Paternoster, on

the West Coast, can look forward

to breathtaking scenery and

friendly locals

This Page Top Left: Travel back

to the dark days of the Anglo-

Zulu war at Fugitives Drift

This Page Top Right:

Spectacular sunsets, seemingly

limitless space and magnificent

wildlife are the calling cards of

the Kgalagadi

This Page Bottom: Rocktail Bay

is famous for its pristine beaches

and superb scuba diving

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THE HALO EFFECTTEXT: BERNARD HELLBERGIMAGES © VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA

Just when you thought the Golf Mk7 GTI parked in your driveway was Das ultimate Auto Volkswagen, the second “R” version of VW’s Golf nameplate is now making its way to local dealers.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 7 2.0 R DSG

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Although only the second “R” badged Golf ever

created, this super hot hatch is indeed the third power Golf

to be slotted above the GTI – the first being the Mk5 VR6.

So why a more powerful GTI? Forgetting for the

moment that GTI owners everywhere have just developed

a fair amount of kilowatt envy, manufacturers actually

have a good reason to offer upgraded versions of even

their most successful and most popular cars.

By piling an additional 44 kW on top of the GTI’s

already special 162 kW, Volkswagen aims to add to the

allure of the GTI, as opposed to inspiring buyers in their

numbers to abandon the GTI in favour of the R. Why?

Because of the little-known concept of the “halo model”.

In a nut shell, a halo model exists purely to showcase

how far a manufacturer could push the technology and

performance envelope, with the happy coincidence

that it lifts the profile of other cars in a model range.

For example, you want an R but can’t quite afford the

additional R100,000, so you buy a GTI. You’re happy and

everyone wins.

Of course Volkswagen expects that the 2 litre Golf

R will still sell as many units in this market for other

reasons. And why shouldn’t they, considering the Golf R

is every good thing that the GTI is and more? For a start

there’s the 206 kW that a Golf 7 R DSG delivers between

5,550 and 6,200 r/min, and the 380 Nm of torque

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pushed out between 1,800 and 5,500 r/min – that’s

18% more kilowatts and 8% more torque than the

Mk6 R car.

With so much power on tap, it’s rather reassuring

that Volkswagen has also added its fifth generation

Haldex all-wheel drive coupling system to the mix.

4Motion sends power to the car’s front wheels, but will

calculate a balanced redistribution of up to 100% to

the rear wheels when needed. Since front/rear power

distribution is only half of the equation, a four-wheel

electronic differential lock system (EDS) manages left/

right power sharing by braking the slipping wheel and

sending torque to opposite wheels that have more grip.

Volkswagen’s XDS+ torque vectoring system also

comes standard, and adds noticeable cornering ability by

braking the inside wheels during high-speed cornering.

The Golf R’s suspension features a MacPherson

strut setup in front and multi-link system at the rear.

While the R carries all of Golf’s legendary handling

DNA, the optional Adaptive Chassis Control system

adds an exciting element of control between modes,

including Eco, Individual and Race.

A recent drive around the highways and byways of

the Eastern Cape gave ample opportunity to test the R’s

promising handling and acceleration properties. Even

alternating between typical freeway conditions and

winding rural roads – some with questionable surface

characteristics – couldn’t unsettle the R. Cornering is

tight and controlled, even in wet conditions, and the

ride quality is well-balanced between being necessarily

firm and comfortable enough for everyday liveability.

Jumping on the accelerator with launch control

engaged will send the DSG-equipped R to 100 km/h

in a flatlining 5.0 seconds and on to a limited

250 km/h at the top end. Despite imposing

performance figures, the R delivers noticeable

improvements in both fuel consumption as well as

carbon emissions from the R Mk6. By applying a host

of their BlueMotion technologies – including engine

stop/start with brake energy recuperation – Volkswagen

claim a combined fuel consumption figure of 6.9

l/100km (was 8.5 l/100km on the previous model) and

159 g/km of CO2 versus 199 g/km before.

Overall, the Golf 7 R DSG is a compelling buy for the

precision-inspired driver who appreciates sophisticated

technology in a compact form. For its R486,200 price

tag the R provides as much thrill per buck as its closest

spiritual rival, the Audi S3 Sportback.

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In his TEDx talk, entrepreneurship leader

Cameron Herold puts forward a compelling

business case for parenting and education that

unlocks the potential of would-be

entrepreneurs, as kids and as adults. The

traditional schooling system teaches kids to

aspire to be professionals in specific fields. The

media teaches them to become pop stars and

celebrities. Most MBA programmes teach MBA

students to aspire towards high-paying

corporate jobs. However, there are two big

flaws with this approach:

For generations, we were raised to go to school, matriculate, and get a degree in order to get a job. But the world has changed. Job security no longer exists. We cannot depend on anyone else but ourselves for financial and career security. We as parents should be training our kids to be entrepreneurs, so that they can create their own jobs. We should be teaching them to be resourceful, resilient and creative, so that they can create their own successful tomorrow and not depend on someone else for their future.

CREATING A SUCCESSFUL TOMORROWRAISING CHILDREN TO BE ENTREPRENEURSTEXT: COLETTE SYMANOWITZ/FINWEEKIMAGES © ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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1. Many of the jobs that are commonplace

today won’t be around tomorrow, and the jobs

that will be around tomorrow, don’t even exist today.

2. What if your child is bored in school,

failing their subjects, or has a knack for

selling things to their classmates? Traditional

schooling would label a child with this cluster

of symptoms as a problem child or a weak

student. And the typical school approach would

be to give the child extra lessons in the subjects

in which they are weak, or to clamp down on

their break-time selling activities.

A fantastic home-grown entrepreneurship

story is that of 13-year-old Je-Mé Baartjes

and her 7-year-old brother Viam, who live

in Johannesburg. At the tender age of three,

Je-Mé started her own business breeding and

selling dwarf rabbits. Her parents, Charlaine

and Neale Baartjes, helped Je-Mé to get the

business up and running. Their sage advice to

their children: Choose a business venture that

is fun, because then it will never feel like work.

Her parents also taught her the value of

having goals and dreams to strive for. From

age four Je-Mé’s big dream was to go to Disney

World and see her favourite character, Goofy.

Fast forward to 2011, when, after seven years

of breeding and selling dwarf rabbits in her

business, Je-Mé had earned enough revenue

to pay for a trip to Disney World for herself

and her younger brother, Viam. In 2005 she

built her own website, www.dwarfrabbits.co.za.

“Today the site gets 2,500 visits per day from

around the world,” she says. The business

brings in a steady annual income of R60,000.

Not bad for a 13-year-old, and far better than a

few rand of pocket money a week!

Younger brother Viam is also earning his

entrepreneurial colours: With his dwarf rabbit

hotel, he takes care of dwarf rabbits when their

owners are away or on holiday.

In 2013, their parents also created the

R8,000 challenge for Viam and Je-Mé. Each

child was given R1,000, with the goal of

converting this into R8,000 each by September

2014. So far the two have generated R13,000

altogether, and they are well on their way

towards beating the R16,000-mark. After each

child gives back the R1,000 seed-money to

their parents and puts R8,000 into a trust, they

can keep whatever is left over. The kids want

to be millionaires by age 18, and what better

way than to start young? Already working on

her own book, big sister Je-Mé is quick to credit

her mom for their visionary thinking. “My mom

says I must ‘keep having dreams a size too big

so that you can grow into them',” she explains.

These kids are the ones who will come up

with creative, new ways of solving the world’s

problems in ways that previous generations

never thought possible.

How to Make it Happen

Every day, all around us there are many

opportunities to develop our kids into

budding entrepreneurs.

habits, says Herold. It teaches kids to think

about a job from a young age. An entrepreneur

doesn’t expect a regular salary. Even if it is tied

to chores, pocket money trains kids to expect a

regular salary. Even worse, they come to expect

hand-outs if they get pocket money without

having to work for it. Cameron has come up

with a better way to develop entrepreneurial

traits, which he uses with his own kids: He

teaches them to walk around the house looking

for things that need to be done. Then the kids

can negotiate with the parents as to how much

they’ll pay them to do the things they need

done. This teaches them about supply and

demand. Also, instead of giving them a regular

fixed allowance, they get more opportunities to

earn more money. It also teaches them how to

negotiate and how to spot new opportunities.

wonderful opportunity to develop

entrepreneurial traits in your children.

Instead of reading them bedtime stories seven

nights a week, cut this down to four nights a

week, and on the other three nights let them

tell the stories. Give them four random objects

to weave into the story. This teaches them

creativity, the ability to improvise and think on

their feet, and the ability to tell stories, which

is a key skill in getting people to buy into what

you’re selling.

your child to make a plan. If they are battling

with a challenge, don’t jump in and tell them

how to solve it, as tempting as it may be. Let

them come up with their own solution to the

problem. This teaches them improvisation,

resourcefulness and creativity, and empowers

them to become problem-solvers instead of

helpless victims.

in front of others and talk. This could mean

doing plays or dress-up stories in front of their

friends or family. This will help them to become

confident and comfortable speaking to an

audience from a young age.

opportunities for kids to develop

entrepreneurial ability. Over the years our

9-year-old son, Jayden, has collected piles of

books, many of which he has outgrown. After

giving a good deal of them to charity, he came

up with the idea of selling the rest to younger

kids. So we taught him how to create his own

website for free on Weebly.com, and he started

selling his second-hand books online via the

website that he built himself.

Cell

C created the “Take a girl child to work day”.

Why not extend this to both boys and girls? But

instead of letting them see what a job is like,

let them experience what an entrepreneur does

during his or her work day? My husband, Gavin,

did this with our two kids, Jayden and Kayla

(age 7). Gavin had an idea for a product to stop

adults having to nag their kids. He involved our

kids in the creation process. He also brought

them along to a meeting with a patent lawyer

and industrial designer, so the kids could better

understand the legal and practical design aspects

of bringing a new product or service to life. Only

a child could get excited about a meeting with a

lawyer, but needless to say, they were!

Colette Symanowitz is Founder/MD of

www.MBAconnect.net.

Copy courtesy of ‘Finweek’. Call

0860 103 911 to subscribe.

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A MOTORING SUCCESS STORY

It is the motoring success story of the 20th century, and it is continuing unabated in the 21st as the brand new Toyota Corolla drives off the production line.

NEW TOYOTA COROLLATEXT: BERNARD HELLBERGIMAGES © TOYOTA MOTORS SA

The word Corolla refers to “a group of

flower petals”, and was used to name the world’s

most successful car after the original brief to the

very first Corolla Chief Engineer was to create a

car that would cause full-scale, global

motorisation to blossom.

And blossom it did, as the numbers show.

The first generation Corolla started production at

Toyota’s Takaoka facility in Japan in November 1966

with around 240,000 vehicles produced.

Today, 11 generations on, with customers

in more than 150 countries and with 16 global

manufacturing sites (in America, Brazil, Canada,

China, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Africa,

Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam and Venezuela),

Corolla has clocked up more than 40 million sales

worldwide, making it the best selling car in history.

Although a global success story, Toyota South

Africa can also claim a part of that accolade, as

over 1 million Corollas had been produced and

about 980,000 sold in South Africa alone by the

end of November 2013. And you don’t have to go

far to see any number of those Corollas happily

being driven around.

Over the years the Corolla has been the catalyst

that created and sustained Toyota’s reputation for

reliability. Yes, many other Toyota products are

enjoyed by many thousands of South Africans, but

none have quite the chutzpah of the Corolla.

The one thing that Corolla could perhaps have

brought to the motoring party a long time ago was

more exciting looks, but that has changed with the

introduction of the 11th generation car. As Toyota

SA describes it: “The all-new 2014 Corolla is

ready to shake off its point-A-to-point-B image with

expressive styling, a premium interior, and extrovert

driving dynamics.”

The new Corolla certainly takes a massive leap

forward in terms of its looks. With sweeping lines,

an aggressive forward stance and handsome light

and grille setup, the Corolla has real presence.

Expect Toyota to continue its domination of the

B-segment sedan with the new Corolla. According

to Corolla’s Chief Engineer Shinichi Yasui: “I believe

this new model clearly breathes the Corolla DNA

that has been inherited over a period of more

than 47 years. That DNA sets forth the mission

of the Corolla to constantly provide concepts and

technologies that lead the times, and to create the

world’s best selling car, and that DNA has now been

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inherited for a new era.”

Toyota introduces the 2014 Corolla with four

distinctive variants that include bringing back the

Sprinter nameplate to its sporty 1.6 litre, as well

as a brand new 1.4 litre diesel powerplant. The

base model features the existing 1.3 litre petrol

powerplant (a frugal, yet competent intro model that

is a perfect fit for the fleet market) and tops out the

range with its proven 1.8 litre motor.

Paying homage to the 11 generations of Corolla,

the model line-up across these four engines

includes 11 variants that offer different levels of

trim. From the 1.3 Esteem to the 1.8 Exclusive

Multidrive (with sequential shift gearbox), the new

Corolla is available with trim and options to suit

your heart’s content.

The new Corolla benefits from a three-

year/100,000 km warranty and comes with a

standard five-year/90,000 km service plan.

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New Corolla Pricing

1.3 Esteem R214,900

1.3 Prestige R232,900

1.4 D Esteem R237,900

1.4 D Prestige R249,900

1.6 Esteem R225,900

1.6 Prestige R241,900

1.6 Prestige Multidrive S R252,900

1.6 Sprinter R248,900

1.8 Prestige R251,900

1.8 Exclusive R272,900

1.8 Exclusive Multidrive S R283,900

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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, TRI, TRI, TRIATHLON!

Almost 40 years ago, the debate around which

sport boasted the fittest athletes was at its peak. Which sport took the title as

the most hardcore? Was it swimming, cycling or running? I would have to say running, but then that’s a little biased, as it’s my favourite sport. And I wouldn’t want to debate this with a cyclist either. At least the swimmers won’t be able to hear the debate underwater. Of course, then you get triathletes who simply choose all three. I think therein lies the answer. No mass participation sporting event to date can trump Ironman.

IRONMANTEXT: STUART WAINWRIGHT

IMAGES © CHRIS HITCHOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

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Pick Your Battle

There are 26 Ironman races around the

world, including ones in Australia, Norway and

Canada. Only one takes place on the African

continent, right here in Nelson Mandela Bay,

Port Elizabeth. Now in its 10th year, Ironman

South Africa takes place in early April, when

chiselled athletes, their families, and thousands

of supporters, volunteers and media descend

upon this small coastal city. For five days,

the average body fat percentage in the city

is halved, and there is a buzz of energy and

excitement as the athletes register and relax

before the big challenge.

For those keen on getting less of a sweat

going, there is also the Iron Girl South Africa

(a ladies only 8.5 km fun run), the Vodacom

Corporate Triathlon Challenge, and the Spur

Ironkids. There is also a three-day long Health

and Fitness expo that precedes the event,

bringing the newest triathlon and sporting

equipment to our shores. Or, you can always join

the 70,000 plus screaming spectators who line

the roads, to witness just what the human body

is capable of achieving.

The race sets off from Hobie Beach at 07h00

on 6th April this year. The swim is a single 3.8 km

circular lap in the Indian Ocean. Athletes then

head out of the water and into Transition 1 (T1),

where it’s time to get cossies off and cycling kit

on for two laps of 90 km each. On this leg, there

are strict rules about drafting (riding in someone

else’s slipstream), and it really is every triathlete

for themselves. By now the African sun is out, and

there is little respite from the elements. However,

some comfort can be found in the natural beauty

that the Eastern Cape has to offer along the route.

This is said to be the most scenic leg of all of the

Ironmen events worldwide.

Upon completing the two laps on the bike,

athletes reach T2, and prepare for the marathon

ahead. This is often the point that makes or

breaks an athlete’s day. After hours of working

their legs on the bike, running can be painful and

incredibly taxing. The running route is flat and

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After the Race The Eastern Cape boasts numerous

private and national game reserves,

including the renowned Addo Elephant

and Tsitsikamma National Parks.

These would serve as the perfect

place to recover after a hard event.

On the adventurous side, horse riding,

commonplace, and not far away is

the highest bungee in the world, the

Bloukrans Bridge bungee. The Eastern

Cape takes pride in its clean beaches

and warm waters, and as a result, quaint

towns worth visiting are dotted along

the numerous bays. Take some time out

to enjoy the slower pace of life in the

Eastern Cape.

consists of three loops of 14 km each, allowing

for dense crowd support to keep spirits high.

Still, many athletes will struggle into the late

hours of the night with cramps, dehydration and

exhaustion, before finally claiming their right to

the title: Ironman.

There are probably few other sporting groups

that are as fanatical about their chosen activity

than Ironmen, but when you consider the

enormity of their challenge, possibly a little

fanaticism is required.

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SA Express hosted an aviation career day on 4th February as part of its “Back to School” campaign to identify future pilots at Ponelopele Oracle High School in Ivory Park, Tembisa.

INSPIRING PILOTS OF THE FUTURESA EXPRESS HOSTS AVIATION

DAY IN IVORY PARKText & Images © SA Express

The initiative forms part of the airline’s

Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programmes.

It was started last year at Fumana High School in

Katlehong and targeted Grade 11 and 12 Maths

and Science learners on Mandela Day. This year’s

career day also afforded the learners of Ivory Park

a deeper understanding of the numerous career

opportunities available in the aviation industry.

Speaking at the career day, Inati Ntshanga,

SA Express CEO, said: “We are pleased to be

making available the opportunities of the aviation

industry to learners in Ivory Park. We are based

in the City of Ekurhuleni and are committed

to giving back to this community. Hopefully,

through this career day, we will be able to inspire,

identify and support future pilots and engineers

who will shore up our strong credentials of the

most transformed airline in South Africa. Our

pilot complement far surpasses that of our

peers and it’s through resolute commitment to

training that we are now in a position to make

more pilots available to our sister airlines. This

wouldn’t be possible if we didn’t deliberately

prioritise this aspect of the business. As part

of our commitment to making a difference,

we will be encouraging our employees to

contribute their skills and time to their

communities throughout 2014.”

The aviation career day signals the airline’s

strong intent to create awareness of the industry

among disadvantaged communities in South

Africa. SA Express helps connect small and

bigger cities and through identifying more pilots,

it can better service these areas.

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The event also formed part of the airline’s

commitment to supporting the Department of

Basic Education’s “Back to School” campaign.

“This is the start of a journey in partnership

with the Ekurhuleni community and the

education fraternity. We are not fly-by-nights! We

are here to make a difference to the community

though education. For now, this humble gesture

will include distributing scientific calculators,

stationery and aviation booklets to encourage

learners to pursue careers in aviation. Through

this gesture, we are saying: ‘We care!’ We want

you to know we are not indifferent to your daily

struggles,” said Ntshanga.

Ntshanga also indicated that the involvement

with the Ekurhuleni community will continue and

that the airline’s CSI programme will be rolled

out to other parts of the city to create awareness

of aviation opportunities.

“In coming months, we will further engage

with this community to ensure that we continue

to look for imaginative ways of identifying pilots

in the area. Our aspiration is to deepen our

engagement with the community of Ekurhuleni

and to be actively involved in their lives.

“Our philosophy is that community

upliftment is at the heart of our values and we

believe real development will only come when

we join hands with like-minded partners; both

state and non-state actors. This is why we

found Ponelopele High School an ideal

partner,” concluded Ntshanga.

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speaker. It delivers omni-directional, beautifully precise sound with

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devices. It allows you to stream music from the cloud, your personal

music collection, or to use a wide variety of apps including Pandora,

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construction make it very portable. It also has a built-in high-

capacity lithium-ion battery pack that provides up to 20 hours of

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GADGETS

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Position Yourself as an ExpertBY DOUGLAS KRUGERThis book is a guide to no fewer

than 50 practical things you can

do to position yourself as the guru,

the thought leader and the “go-

to name” in your industry. If you

aspire to becoming widely revered

as the thought leader in your

sphere, you will need to learn how

to frame issues in the media, how

to communicate complex ideas through particular structures, and the ways

in which your fee structure may peg you as a beginner or a valued veteran.

Douglas Kruger explains how to develop a title, become a face and a voice in

the minds of key industry players, and use simple positioning techniques to cut

through the marketing clutter of your competitors.

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@WORK BOOKS

Decay and Economies Die BY NIALL FERGUSON The decline of the West is something that has long been prophesied.

Symptoms of decline are all around us today: slowing growth, crushing

debts, aging populations. But what exactly is amiss with Western

civilisation? The answer, renowned historian Niall Ferguson argues, is

that our institutions – the intricate frameworks within which a society

free market, the rule of law, and civil society were once the four pillars of

Western European and North American societies. In our time, however,

these institutions have deteriorated.

The Chicken Thief BY FIONA LEONARD

way in a southern African country wracked by political unrest and

a crumbling economy. Through a chance encounter, Alois is set to

make some fast money. But the enterprise goes horribly wrong, and

war hero and transform the political landscape. Though an unlikely

hero, Alois discovers, in this charming and fast-paced adventure, that

both dreams and justice are within his grasp. Described as a cross

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reads at a cracking pace, is dramatic and colourful, and will appeal to

URBAN HOTELS

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Airline informationSA Express fleet

De Havilland Dash 8 Series Q400 Turboprop

Manufacturer: Bombardier

Maximum cruising speed:

360knots/414mph/667kmph

Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney

Canada PW150A

Range: 1,565 miles/2,519km

Maximum altitude:

25,000ft/7,620m

Seating capacity: 74

Crew: Two pilots, two cabin crew

Wing span: 93ft 3in/28.42m

Overall length: 107ft

9in/32.83m

Overall height: 27ft

5in/8.34m

Maximum take-off weight:

64,500lb/29,257kg

Minimum runway length:

4,580ft/1,396m

Canadair Regional Jet 700

Manufacturer: Bombardier

Maximum cruising speed:

473 knots/544mph/875kmph

Engines: Two General

Electric CF34-8C5B

Range: 1,477m/2,794km

Maximum altitude: 41,000ft/12,496m

Seating capacity: 70

Crew: Crew: Two pilots, two cabin crew

Wing span: 76ft 3in/23.2m

Overall length: 106ft 8in/32.51m

Overall height: 24ft 10in/7.57m

Maximum take-off weight:

72,750lb/32,999kg

Minimum runway length:

4,580ft/1,396m

SA Express’ aircraft are made by Bombardier Aerospace

Canadair Regional Jet 200 BER

Manufacturer: Bombardier

Maximum cruising speed:

474 knots/545mph/879kmph

Engines: Two General

Electric CF34-3B1

Range: 1,662miles/3,080km

Maximum altitude: 41,000ft/12,496m

Seating capacity: 50

Crew: Two pilots, two cabin crew

Wing span: 69ft 7in/21.21m

Overall length: 87ft 10in/26.77m

Overall height: 20ft 5in/6.22m

Maximum take-off weight:

51,000lb/23,134kg

Minimum runway length:

6,295ft/1,919m

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We fly for you

CORE VALUES

Safety first We never compromise on safety,

no matter what.

Customers Our customers are our most

important investors.

Partners We partner with people across all

operations.

Speed & Quality We deliver with speed

without compromising on quality.

Improvement We strive for continuous

improvement.

Simplify We keep it simple.

We Fly For You SA Express Airways prides

itself on aiming to offer incomparable service

standards. In addition to building on our

motto to express excellence and consistently

striving to provide the best service, we know

that “you” is the most important word in our

airline. SA Express proudly launched its new

brand on 2 December 2009 at OR Tambo

International Airport. The new brand is set to

ensure that it’s distinctive and positioned to

build awareness and affinity in the domestic

and regional markets.

The new proposition “We Fly for You” is set to

position SA Express as a premier intra-regional

African brand. The main objective of the re-

brand is to ensure that SA Express is distinctive

yet still aligned to the country’s mainline carrier.

SA Express’s unique positioning as an airline

that provides a bespoke, personalised travel

experience was the rationale behind the

proposition “We Fly for You”. The new brand

mark is in line with the symbol and colours of

the national flag, encouraging national pride.

The new brand will be applied to all brand

touch-points throughout the operation as well

as the staff uniform.

Awards SA Express has won the AFRAA

Regional Airline of the Year Award at the end

of 2009, and the Allied and Aviation Business

Corporate Award. Our airline was also the

recipient of the Annual Airline Reliability Award

from Bombardier at the end of 2007. Other

previous awards include the International Star

Quality Award, which indicates our commitment

to service excellence, while our prominence as

one of the top 500 best managed companies is

proof of our success as a business.

Onboard service The airline’s onboard

service is unique and offers passengers

a variety of meals or snacks. The airline

pioneered its unique meal-box concept,

and meal choices are frequently updated

and designed using balanced food criteria:

appearance, taste and nutritional value.

Passengers can also enjoy a wine and

malt service on specified flights as well as

refreshments on all flights.

Our customers can expect a safe, comfortable,

quality air-travel experience, with the added

benefits of frequency, reliability, on-time

departures and unmatched value for money.

SPECIAL SERVICES Special meals Passengers with special dietary

requirements are provided for through the

following special meals: kosher, halal, Muslim,

Hindu, low-fat and vegetarian meals. Orders for

special meals should be placed at the time of

making flight reservations. The airline requires a

minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to departure in

order to assist with confirmation of requests.

Passengers requiring special attention Requirements for unaccompanied

minors (passengers under the age of 12 years)

or passengers requiring wheelchairs should be

stated at the time of making the reservation.

Owing to the size of the cabins on our aircraft

types, the airline is not in a position to carry

stretcher passengers or incubators.

Cabin baggage SA Express will accept one

piece of cabin baggage not exceeding a total

dimension of 115cm and 7kg in weight. For safety

reasons, cabin baggage must fit into approved

stowage spaces: either the overhead luggage bin

or under the seat. Owing to limited storage space

in the aircraft cabin, cabin baggage may be placed

in the Skycheck at the aircraft for hold stowage.

Skycheck This is the airline’s special hand-

luggage facility that assists with in-flight

comfort, speedy boarding and disembarking.

When boarding one of our flights, simply place

any hand luggage that will not be required

during the flight on to the Skycheck cart at the

boarding steps of the aircraft. Your hand luggage

will be waiting for you as you disembark from

the aircraft at your destination.

Baggage liability Valuable items such as

cameras and accessories, computers – including

laptops and notebooks – mobile telephones,

perfumes, aftershaves, colognes, legal and company

documents and legal tender – including cash, credit

cards and cheques – bullion, leather jackets, all

types of jewellery and any other items with a value

in excess of R400 must be removed from either

checked-in or Skycheck baggage as the airline is not

liable for loss or damage to these items.

Verified baggage claims are settled on the basis

adopted by IATA (International Airlines Transport

Association): payment of US$20 per 1kg of

checked-in luggage, to a maximum of 20kg ($400).

About us SA Express is a fast-growing airline

business operating primary and secondary hubs

between domestic and regional destinations

within Southern Africa.

Our objective of improving intra-Africa travel is

in line with South Africa’s mandate to increase

aviation’s contribution towards sustainable

economic growth and job creation.

The flexibility and reliability presented by the airline’s

FACT principle (Frequency, Availability, Competitive

rate and Timing of flights) affords both consumers and

service providers a unique and convenient service.

The FACT principle is important to us as it enhances

the country’s prospect as a preferred air travel

destination and major trade and tourism capital.

Our vision is supported by the airline’s aspirations

and strategy. Also underpinning this vision is our

set of core values and unique selling propositions

that drive profitability.

Vision To be a sustainable world-class regional

airline with an extensive footprint in Africa.

Purpose A sustainable, integrated regional

airline connecting secondary and main airports.

Indwe 1 1 71 1 7Indwe

Safety information

For your comfort and security, please comply with the above safety regulations at all times while on board

Health regulations Health

regulations at certain airports

require that the aircraft cabin be

sprayed. The spray is harmless, but

if you think it might affect you,

please cover your nose and mouth

with a handkerchief.

Remain seated As a safety

precaution, passengers are

requested to remain seated

with seatbelts fastened after

the aircraft has landed, until the

seatbelt sign has been switched

off by the captain.

Portable electronic equipment The use of

personal electronic devices (PED’s)

will apply to all domestic and

regional flights on the CRJ700/200

and DH8 Q400. Passengers will be

permitted to use PED’s such as cell

phones, e-readers and electronic

tablets in flight-mode.

Cellular telephones Cellular

telephones may be used on the

ground while passenger doors

are open. Cellular telephones,

smartphones or any device with

flight mode must be switched

off as soon as the cabin doors

are closed and when the senior

cabin-crew member makes an

announcement on the public-

address system.

Laptop computers Laptops

with CD ROM and DVD drive,

handheld calculators, electric

shavers and portable personal

listening devices may not be

used on the ground during taxi

but may be used during the

flight when the seatbelt signs are

switched off and with permission

from the captain. Should

circumstances dictate otherwise,

a public-address announcement

cancelling this concession will be

made by a crew member.

Prohibited equipment Portable printers, laser pointers,

video equipment, CB/AM/FM/

FHF/satellite receivers, two-

way radios, compact disc and

mini-disc players, scanners,

remote-controlled toys and power

converters are prohibited for use

at any time.

Safety pamphlet Read the

safety pamphlet in the seat pocket

in front of you and take note of

your nearest emergency exit.

Smoking In accordance with

international trends, smoking is

not permitted on board any SA

Express flights.

Seat belts Please fasten your

seat belt whenever the seat belt

signs are illuminated. For your

own safety we suggest that you

keep it fastened throughout the

flight.

ImportantWhen in doubt, please consult our

cabin crew.

SA Express:Johannesburg

Bloemfontein

Cape Town

Durban

East London

Gaborone

George

Hoedspruit

Kimberley

Lubumbashi

Lusaka

Maputo

Port Elizabeth

Richards Bay

Walvis Bay

Windhoek

Pietermaritzburg

Nelspruit

Route map

Indwe1 1 8

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

SA EXPRESSRESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION

EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

1 1 8 Indwe

JOHANNESBURG - BLOEMFONTEINFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1001 05:55 06:55 DH4SA 1003 08:00 09:05 DH4SA 1005 11:20 12:25 DH4SA 1011 13:55 14:40 DH4SA 1011 13:50 14:55 DH4SA 1013 14:55 16:00 DH4SA 1017 16:35 17:35 CR7SA 1021 17:55 19:00 DH4SA 1023 18:30 19:35 DH4

BLOEMFONTEIN - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1024 06:20 07:25 DH4SA 1002 07:20 08:20 DH4SA 1002 07:25 08:25 DH4SA 1004 09:35 10:40 DH4SA 1006 12:55 14:00 DH4SA 1012 15:25 16:30 DH4SA 1014 16:30 17:35 DH4SA 1018 18:20 19:20 CR7SA 1022 19:40 20:40 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - EAST LONDONFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1403 07:15 08:45 CR8SA 1403 07:30 09:15 DH4SA 1403 08:30 10:00 CR7SA 1405 09:10 10:40 CR2SA 1407 13:15 14:45 CR2SA 1413 15:40 17:10 CR7SA 1409 17:30 19:00 CR8SA 1411 18:45 20:15 CR7

EAST LONDON - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1412 06:40 08:20 CR7SA 1404 09:15 10:45 CR8SA 1404 09:50 11:30 DH4SA 1404 10:30 12:10 CR7SA 1406 11:10 12:40 CR2SA 1408 15:30 17:00 CR2SA 1414 17:40 19:10 CR7SA 1410 19:40 21:10 CR8

JOHANNESBURG - GEORGEFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1501 06:50 08:40 CR8SA 1503 08:55 10:45 CR8SA 1503 08:55 10:45 CR2SA 1505 11:25 13:15 CR7SA 1505 11:00 13:15 DH4SA 1509 15:25 17:15 CR8

GEORGE - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1502 09:10 10:50 CR8SA 1504 11:25 13:05 CR8SA 1504 11:25 13:05 CR2SA 1506 14:10 15:50 CR7SA 1506 13:50 15:50 DH4SA 1510 17:50 19:30 CR8

JOHANNESBURG - DURBANFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1285 12:20 13:35 CR2SA 1287 14:35 15:50 CR2

JOHANNESBURG - HOEDSPRUITFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1225 10:15 11:20 DH4SA 1227 12:15 13:20 DH4

DURBAN - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1286 17:15 18:25 CR2

HOEDSPRUIT - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1226 12:00 13:00 DH4SA 1228 13:55 14:55 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - KIMBERLEYFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1101 05:45 07:00 DH4SA 1103 09:20 10:35 DH4SA 1105 13:10 14:25 DH4SA 1107 14:25 15:40 DH4SA 1113 17:10 18:25 DH4

KIMBERLEY - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1102 07:30 08:45 DH4SA 1102 07:50 09:05 DH4SA 1104 11:10 12:25 DH4SA 1106 14:55 16:10 DH4SA 1108 16:10 17:25 DH4SA 1114 18:55 20:10 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - PORT ELIZABETHFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1453 07:10 08:45 CR7SA 1455 10:00 11:55 DH4SA 1457 17:50 19:45 DH4SA 1457 18:05 20:00 DH4SA 1459 19:35 21:15 CR7SA 1459 19:55 21:35 CR7

PORT ELIZABETH - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1460 06:10 07:45 CR7SA 1454 09:20 10:55 CR7SA 1456 12:45 14:20 DH4SA 1458 20:40 22:35 DH4SA 1458 20:45 22:40 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - RICHARDS BAYFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1201 06:10 07:25 DH4SA 1203 08:30 09:45 DH4SA 1207 13:15 14:30 DH4SA 1213 16:55 18:10 DH4

RICHARDS BAY - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1202 08:05 09:20 DH4SA 1204 10:30 11:45 DH4SA 1208 15:05 16:20 DH4SA 1214 18:40 20:00 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1585 13:50 16:05 CR2SA 1587 13:45 16:00 CR2

CAPE TOWN - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1586 18:20 20:30 CR2SA 1588 18:50 21:00 CR2

Indwe 1 1 9

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

SA EXPRESSRESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION

EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

1 1 9Indwe

JOHANNESBURG - GABORONEFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1761 05:55 06:50 DH4SA 1763 07:55 08:50 DH4SA 1765 09:55 10:50 DH4SA 1767 11:55 12:45 CR2SA 1767 11:05 12:00 DH4SA 1767 11:40 12:35 DH4SA 1775 13:30 14:25 DH4SA 1775 14:30 15:25 DH4SA 1783 15:15 16:04 CR2SA 1779 18:10 19:05 DH4SA 1781 18:10 19:05 DH4

GABORONE - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1762 07:45 08:40 DH4SA 1764 09:25 10:20 DH4SA 1766 11:25 12:20 DH4SA 1768 12:35 13:30 DH4SA 1768 13:10 14:05 CR2SA 1768 13:10 14:05 DH4SA 1776 14:50 15:45 DH4SA 1776 16:05 17:00 DH4SA 1784 16:40 17:30 CR2SA 1780 19:45 20:40 DH4SA 1782 19:45 20:40 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - LUBUMBASHIFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1797 09:20 11:45 CR8

LUBUMBASHI - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1798 12:30 15:00 CR8

CAPE TOWN - BLOEMFONTEINFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1081 06:00 07:45 DH4SA 1083 08:00 09:30 CR2SA 1087 13:15 15:00 DH4SA 1089 14:20 16:05 DH4 SA 1091 17:15 19:00 DH4

JOHANNESBURG - PIETERMARITZBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1271 07:20 08:25 DH4SA 1273 11:20 12:25 DH4SA 1277 16:45 17:50 DH4

BLOEMFONTEIN - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1082 08:15 10:15 DH4SA 1084 10:30 12:15 CR2SA 1088 15:40 17:40 DH4SA 1090 16:35 18:35 DH4 SA 1092 19:40 21:40 DH4

PIETERMARITZBURG - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1272 09:00 10:15 DH4SA 1274 13:00 14:15 DH4SA 1278 18:25 19:40 DH4

CAPE TOWN - EAST LONDONFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1361 06:00 07:55 DH4SA 1363 08:00 09:40 CR2SA 1363 08:00 09:55 DH4SA 1371 13:30 15:10 CR2SA 1371 13:30 15:25 DH4SA 1375 17:20 19:00 CR2

CAPE TOWN - GEORGEFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1531 06:20 07:20 CR2SA 1533 13:00 14:00 CR2

EAST LONDON - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1362 08:25 10:25 DH4SA 1364 10:25 12:25 DH4SA 1364 10:45 12:25 CR2SA 1372 16:00 18:00 DH4SA 1372 16:20 18:00 CR2SA 1376 20:05 21:45 CR2

CAPE TOWN - HOEDSPRUITFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1241 09:30 12:10 CR2

HOEDSPRUIT - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1242 12:45 15:20 CR2

JOHANNESBURG - WINDHOEKFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SEFFECTIVE 1 SEPTEMBER NAMIBIAN TIME REVERTS TOSA 1733 06:10 08:15 CR2SA 1731 06:15 08:15 CR2

WINDHOEK - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SEFFECTIVE 1 SEPTEMBER NAMIBIAN TIME REVERTS TOSA 1734 09:15 11:15 CR2SA 1732 09:15 11:15 CR2

GEORGE - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1532 07:50 08:55 CR2SA 1534 14:30 15:35 CR2

JOHANNESBURG - WALVIS BAYFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SEFFECTIVE 1 SEPTEMBER NAMIBIAN TIME REVERTS TOSA 1701 11:55 14:10 CR8

WALVIS BAY - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SEFFECTIVE 1 SEPTEMBER NAMIBIAN TIME REVERTS TOSA 1702 14:45 16:55 CR8

JOHANNESBURG - KRUGERFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1231 07:10 08:10 CR2SA 1237 15:55 16:55 CR2

KRUGER - JOHANNESBURGFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1232 08:40 09:40 CR2SA 1238 17:35 18:35 CR2

Indwe1 2 0

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

SA EXPRESSRESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, SUSPEND OR AMEND THIS PUBLISHED SCHEDULE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION

EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO OPERATE AS PER THE PLANNED SCHEDULE

1 2 0 Indwe

CAPE TOWN - WALVIS BAYFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1721 08:00 10:00 CR2SA 1721 11:15 13:15 CR2

WALVIS BAY - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1722 10:30 12:30 CR2SA 1722 14:00 16:00 CR2

CAPE TOWN - WINDHOEKFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1751 06:15 08:20 CR2

WINDHOEK - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1752 09:00 11:05 CR2

CAPE TOWN - MAPUTOFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1785 07:45 10:10 CR2

MAPUTO - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1786 10:40 13:15 CR2

DURBAN - EAST LONDONFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1301 06:00 07:05 CR2SA 1303 08:30 09:35 CR2SA 1305 12:00 13:05 CR2SA 1309 16:50 17:55 CR2

EAST LONDON - DURBANFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1302 07:35 08:35 CR2SA 1304 10:05 11:05 CR2SA 1306 13:35 14:35 CR2SA 1310 18:25 19:25 CR2

DURBAN - PORT ELIZABETH FLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1330 06:00 07:20 CR2SA 1334 09:15 10:35 CR2SA 1336 11:55 13:15 CR2SA 1340 13:35 14:55 CR2SA 1348 17:40 19:00 CR2

PORT ELIZABETH - DURBAN FLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1331 07:50 09:05 CR2SA 1335 11:05 12:20 CR2SA 1337 13:40 14:55 CR2SA 1341 15:35 16:50 CR2SA 1349 19:55 21:10 CR2

DURBAN - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1850 06:10 08:25 CR2SA 1852 08:00 10:15 CR2SA 1854 13:40 15:55 CR2SA 1858 15:35 17:50 CR2SA 1854 16:30 18:45 CR2SA 1862 18:50 21:05 CR2

CAPE TOWN - DURBANFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1851 09:05 11:05 CR2SA 1853 10:45 12:45 CR2SA 1861 16:15 18:15 CR2SA 1855 16:30 18:30 CR2 SA 1859 18:15 20:15 CR2SA 1855 19:15 21:15 CR2

DURBAN - LUSAKAFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1601 10:10 13:00 CR2

LUSAKA - DURBANFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1602 13:40 16:30 CR2

DURBAN - HARAREFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1611 10:20 12:45 CR2SA 1611 14:00 16:25 CR2SA 1613 13:55 16:20 CR2

HARARE - DURBANFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1612 13:25 15:50 CR2SA 1612 17:00 19:25 CR2SA 1614 17:00 19:25 CR2

CAPE TOWN - PORT ELIZABETHFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1801 06:00 07:30 DH4SA 1805 09:00 10:30 DH4SA 1807 10:10 11:40 DH4SA 1809 10:45 12:15 DH4SA 1813 13:00 14:30 DH4SA 1813 13:45 14:55 DH4SA 1819 15:00 16:30 DH4SA 1821 16:00 17:10 CR2SA 1821 16:30 17:40 DH4SA 1823 18:30 20:00 DH4

PORT ELIZABETH - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1802 08:00 09:40 DH4SA 1806 11:00 12:40 DH4SA 1808 12:10 13:50 DH4SA 1810 12:45 14:25 DH4SA 1814 15:00 16:40 DH4SA 1814 15:25 16:45 CR2SA 1820 17:00 18:40 DH4SA 1822 18:00 19:20 CR2SA 1822 18:00 19:40 DH4SA 1824 20:30 22:10 DH4

CAPE TOWN - KIMBERLEYFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1151 05:50 07:20 CR2 SA 1157 12:50 14:20 CR2SA 1155 14:00 15:30 CR2SA 1155 15:55 17:25 CR2

KIMBERLEY - CAPE TOWNFLT NO DEP ARR A/C M T W T F S SSA 1152 08:10 09:50 CR2 SA 1158 15:10 16:50 CR2SA 1156 16:00 17:40 CR2SA 1156 17:55 19:35 CR2

Indwe 1 2 1InIndwdwe 1 2 11 2 1

Good day

I would like to extend a word of appreciation to Mr Leon Hufke at the George Airport for the excellent service he

offered me earlier this year. My father had unexpectedly passed away and I urgently needed to fly to Johannesburg to be

with my mother. As a result of the school holidays, all the flights were fully booked.

Mr Hufke went out of his way, however, to not only accommodate me on a flight that day but then went that extra

mile to phone me back as he had managed to put me on an earlier flight.

His assistance in this difficult time will be long treasured.

Kind regards

Marianne Alberts

Congratulations to Marianne Alberts who wrote our winning letter this month. She has won a

Samsonite B’Lite Beauty Case valued at R995.

THE WRITER OF THE WINNING LETTER IN THE APRIL

EDITION OF INDWE WILL RECEIVE A SAMSONITE LAPTOP

BACKPACK VALUED AT R995.

The Samsonite Network Collection is a contemporary range of business

bags, including laptop bags, laptop backpacks, tablet cross-overs and

messenger bags. It is the ideal companion for busy executives and the

laptop bags fit all of the latest laptop sizes, as well as Ultrabooks. The

laptop backpack offers a handy zipped front pocket for media players,

cell phones or sunglasses, making it ideal for those on the move. Visit

www.samsonite.co.za for more information.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY?

Let us know what is on your mind by sending an email to

customercare@flyexpress.aero.

Letters may be edited, shortened or translated from their original language.

PASSENGER LETTERS@WORK

Good day SA Express

Some of us spend a lot of time travelling and it can sometimes be quite tedious. Sometimes we also forget about the

good experiences when we should be sharing them instead.

So I would like to commend one of your crew on my recent flight from Cape Town to Durban.

Her name was Bronwyn. She attended to all of our needs, with a consistent smile on her face. Nothing was too much

trouble for her; she was very professional and I definitely feel that she needs to be recognised for doing an excellent job

for SA Express.

I only wish, as Sales Director for Antalis South Africa, that I had an opening for her on my team, as more people with

an attitude like hers would certainly improve our results.

Please pass my thanks onto her again and recognise her for the good work she does.

Best regards

Nick Gillings

Dear SA Express

A big thank you for the wonderful treatment we received on our recent Durban-Harare flight. I travel all over Africa

and, without a doubt, you give the best service and your food is excellent. Keep up the good work.

Instead of detracting from our holiday, we arrived home fresh and relaxed to face the Zim potholes and power cuts!

See you again later this year.

Dr Doug McClymont

Harare

Indwe1 2 2

Africa's talent revealedPA

RT

ING

SH

OT

This month, in honour of SA Express’ 20th anniversary, we are featuring an image of a SA Express plane taken by Jan

Henning. It is of a CRJ200 in front of the SA Express Hanger at OR Tambo International Airport.

If you think you have what it takes, send your photos (1 MB each), details of where they were taken and your contact

details to nicky@tcbmedia.co.za, with the words “Indwe Photo” in the subject line.

We can’t wait to show them off!