South Africans Worldwide Newsletter

Our Editor-in-Chief, Maureen Cram, has undergone medical procedures recently and is now recuperating well. We wish her a complete recovery and the regaining of all her energy.

There have been more copious late rains over most parts of South Africa, so dams & rivers are mostly quite full now. My garden is showing the results too - weeds & all.

Readers will find a new column entitled “Advertising Costs “ . This was done to entice advertisers to contact us to place adverts or banners. Just click here as well to send a advert/banner/ text - editor@saw.co.za

As per popular request seen in the Readers Survey, you require information on:

1. Where to buy South African products wherever you happen to be. We’re working on that one, so please be patient.

2. More news about South Africans living abroad and how they’re coping. Readers are again invited to send me their stories about how they’re finding life there.

3.Where to find jobs. Click on www.vaaltriangleinfo.co.za/jobs to register for free and see the many openings available.

Last week I invited Readers to write about their interests or hobbies-but alas, so far nothing has been received! Come on! Use it or lose it! Write to:- editor@saw.co.za

The headlines this past week have had much about the general Municipal Elections and an interesting fact is how many women are either mayors or councillors now.

The sad murder of 4-year old Makgado, grand-daughter of Judge Ngoepe, resulted in such a major outcry that the alleged perpetrators are now behind bars-where they were attacked by other inmates. One can but hope that more crime prevention will result.

Enjoy your week! Till next time.

Theo

Readers Survey -closed TOP

Thanks to all participants. Might be repeated later , but Readers are also invited to write to the editor@saw.co.za

Letters to the Editor TOP

Far away from South Africa, in dreary old England, I await my regular newsletter from South Africans Worldwide with anticipation. Apart from catching up on news pertaining to SA, I constantly hope my eyes will find an opportunity or job which will allow me to come back to South Africa. Being in the hospitality industry, I had thought it would be easy to find a job. However, 2 years of intensive searching have been fruitless. My CV is superb, and I could really make a positive contribution to a business in this industry. Whilst this newsletter and website is mainly read by expats, I hope some South Africans involved in my industry will see this letter. If you know of any vacancy, please write to me via email to: udann@hotmail.com Your efforts are much appreciated.
Yours faithfully, Ulrich Dannecker.

---------------------

I must agree that I have no love of nanny states either. But I must disagree with a number of things regarding lung cancer and smoking.
First of all the charity he refers to is the only one that is solely devoted to lung cancer in the UK but there are many other charities that are involved in lung cancer research although it is not their only area of research.

Portugal is by no means the country with highest incidence of smoking; it is actually quite low down on the list of EU countries regarding the incidence of smoking in the population. The USA is indeed one of the countries with the highest incidence of lung disease but one needs to remember that it takes years for lung cancer to develop so the stringent anti-smoking laws passed in the USA will only be felt in years to come.

A form of lung cancer called adeno-carcinoma, is not related to smoking and with the decrease in smoking-related disease the incidence of this disease will naturally increase among those developing lung cancer. That’s my two pence worth.

Thanks for a lovely newsletter.

Regards, Bronwyn Prior

Quote/s of the Week TOP

The greatest danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark. - Michelangelo

To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. - Robert Louis Stevenson

To live in the presence of great truths and eternal laws, to be led by permanent ideals - that is what keeps a man patient when the world ignores him, and calm and unspoiled when the world praises him. - Honore De Balzac (sent by Desiree Cowie)

One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession. - Sophocles

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. - Benjamin Franklin

I always feel taller when I swim with my shoes on. - Pamela Anderson

Life Recipes TOP

Food for thought.

After my devotional about finding God in the trash, I received some amusing reports from some of our readers of similar sightings of God and lessons learned where you would least expect them.

One I enjoyed the most was from John, who volunteered for what he called "post Sunday morning trash collection duties" at his church. He reports that this lowly job has reaped rich rewards in the joy of serving. "As God had been so faithful to clean the trash out of my life, the least I could do was to clean up after some of His sheep once a week."

I especially liked the other story he told about how every Monday night he and his neighbour both roll their full city-supplied trash-cans down the steep driveway they share to the street.

As an act of kindness, it occurred to John, as he was preparing to roll his empty can back up the hill one Tuesday, that it was no big deal to grab his neighbour's can with his other hand and roll them both back up to their respective places. This has now become his weekly practice. So far, he relates, his neighbours haven't acknowledged what he does, but he claims that is irrelevant. "In reality I'm not doing it for them, but I'll keep it up until I receive other instructions."

Two things about this comment I like. First, he's not doing it for them. When we serve others we are ultimately serving God. Jesus suggested that because of this, we need not make a big deal of it. No one even needs to know, actually, because our heavenly Father sees everything and will reward us in heaven at the proper time. This kind of thinking will keep us from the error of the Pharisees who served with great embellishment in public. As Jesus said, they already have their reward.

The other thing I like about what John said was that he would keep this up until he receives other instructions. John quietly initiated this service as an act of love and intends to keep it up until God tells him otherwise.

This is a perfect illustration of what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:13 that we were to be eager to do good. In other words, look for opportunities to serve those around you and when something appears, do it. We don't have to wait for instructions; we've already been encouraged in this regard, so grab what you can with that other hand and don't think twice about it.

Look for opportunities to serve others today, and don't be surprised where you find them. John affectionately calls his: “Trash Ministry Power! Who knows what ours might be.

Regards Mark Edgecomb - Jazz Spirit cc.
+27 11 968-2084 / +27 82 706 9247

News from Kiwiland TOP

Jan Coetsee is hopefully able to add his fortnightly contribution by the Next Issue-Ed

Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week TOP

Mandela lauds FW

Cape Town - There was almost "unchallenged recognition" of the role former president FW de Klerk had played to prevent a racial conflagration in South Africa, fellow Nobel peace laureate Nelson Mandela said on Friday. "Around the world people recognise you as a historic peacemaker and nation-builder," Mandela said at De Klerk's 70th birthday celebration at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. Mandela said De Klerk had shown courage as few had done in similar circumstances when he dismantled apartheid and minority rule.

Read more here http://www.news24.com

ANC mayors must deliver or leave - Mbeki

Action will be taken against African National Congress mayors and councillors failing to live up to expectations, President Thabo Mbeki warned on Friday. In his weekly newsletter on the ANC website, Mbeki wrote that he was confident the ANC's candidate mayors - elected by municipal councils Nwould occupy their positions as servants of the people, committed to advance the agenda of the national democratic revolution at the local level.

Read more here http://www.iol.co.za

South Africa’s Crime scene-Three kids a day-etc

Numbed by crime, South Africa goes about its business as police make inroads into the daily toll of hijackings, robberies and murders at such snail’s pace that citizens feel no safer. We have come to view violent crime as a part of life. Our national conversation runs as follows: “Your house was broken into – so was mine. You were hijacked -- so were my cousin and my brother.” Murdered friends, raped sisters -- the horrors have become banal and everyday.

Read more here http://www.mg.co.za

Cheaper cars 'a must' for SA

The South African motor industry needs to make vehicles more affordable if it is to sustain the growth needed to take sales to almost 1-million a year by 2010. That's the call from Brand Pretorius, chairman of McCarthy Motors, one of the country's largest retail motor groups, and a well-known commentator on the motor industry.

Read more here http://www.mweb.co.za/

Bits and Bobs TOP

Mandela 'towers like a giant'

Cape Town - The last apartheid president of South Africa, FW de Klerk, said his successor, Nelson Mandela, "towers out like a giant" in the transformation of South Africa.
Speaking before Mandela during a special joint sitting of the two houses of parliament - the national assembly and the national council of provinces - De Klerk said: "Today, in more than one sense of the word, is the day of Nelson Mandela, of Madiba."

Read more here http://www.news24.com/

Mandela keeps Tsotsi cast spellbound

World leaders have their faults, former South Africa President Nelson Mandela said on Thursday, regaling the cast of an Oscar-winning gangster movie with tales of his own teenage years as a pig thief. "All of us were very mischievous in our younger days," he said after meeting with the cast of Tsotsi. "You know, we had a method as young chaps of about 16 or 17, of stealing pigs."

South Africa's first Academy Award-winning film, Tsotsi portrays a violent young gangster's journey of redemption after stealing a car and shooting its owner, only to discover a baby in the back seat.

Sporting a gangster-style hat, the 87-year-old Nobel laureate joked that he, too, had a wayward youth, roasting stolen pigs in the remote hills near his birthplace of Qunu, where he spent much of his younger days herding livestock.

Read more here http://www.filmmaker.co.za

Tsotsi cast, crew meets Helen Zille

Helen Zille, the new Cape Town mayor, says it was a proud moment for her to be welcoming the Oscar winning cast of the movie Tsotsi in the city as her first official engagement. The cast, which is on a roadshow around the country to promote the movie, was at the Cape Town International Airport and passed through Nyanga and Gugulethu, before meeting the mayor. Zille says 'Tsotsi's' success has contributed to nation building in a country with a deeply divided background. Later today the cast will meet with Nelson Mandela, the former president.

Read more here http://www.filmmaker.co.za/edition

Don't take life too seriously, says PW Botha

In his first public address in more than a decade, 90-year-old PW Botha on Saturday obligingly wagged his finger a bit, gave his opinions on the state of the nation and Nelson Mandela's abilities as an author and reflected surprisingly light-heartedly on death.

"Don't take life too seriously, because you won't come out of it alive," he told an all-white audience of about 70 people at the sales launch of two hours of interviews with him by former SABC journalist Cliff Saunders.

Read more here http://www.iol.co.za

Ramblings of A Francophobe - The French are revolting even more than usual

19 March 2006

This is not the same in meaning as: “The French are even more revolting than usual”, but refers to the current wave of protests in France against a new law, which, to put it in a nutshell, will allow employers to ‘hire and fire’ people under 26 at will in order to obtain some fluidity in the stagnant job market. Firms are more likely to hire when they are permitted to sack workers with no consequences. That is why the French riots are so counter-productive.

It seems like a good idea; my only argument against it being that it should apply to the whole work force, rather than only to the youngsters, a step which would probably result in a revolution. That might be the best possible solution to France's current ills. It would ensure that people stayed on their toes to keep their jobs and we would see a dramatic improvement in service standards and the work ethic. Of course it won’t happen as the government will never have the guts to push through all the necessary amendments to the system or create new laws to stimulate the economy, because all they are worried about is keeping the majority of the electorate happy in order to get their votes and secure their seats in the government. In any event most of the French workforce won't want to lose rights as workers for the good of the economy, a short sighted and selfish attitude, but what else can one expect of the French.

I am sick and tired of the abysmal service levels in this country, the ‘couldn’t give a sh!t’ shoulder shrugging attitude, and the belligerent ‘the customer is always wrong’ approach, encouraged by the socialist based job protection laws and it is time for change to a capitalist economy.

A few years ago the government decided to give the French a shorter working week, and they protested in favour of a longer one. So the government suggested going back to a longer one, and guess what? They protested because now they wanted a shorter one.

Currently they have job security and they complain that this hinders new entrants to the job market, so the government proposed a change towards a free market hiring and firing economy and they complain about that. The bottom line is that they don’t know what they want beyond the fact that there has to be something about which to protest and be miserable.

In my view, Western Europe has pretty much had its day, whilst Eastern Europe is flexing its muscles for the great leap westwards, hence the phobic, and justified, French fear of the 'Polish plumber', the archetypal guy who wants to come to France and stick his back into his work, something the French don’t know how to do. Part of the problem with French workers is that they spend the first hour of each day walking around snogging each other, the next drinking coffee and smoking foul smelling cigarettes, then it's lunchtime at 12 o’clock – the only thing about which they are unfailingly punctual... and so on.

Enough about the revolting French, and on to another subject, the revolting air quality on board aircraft, and which has been the topic of a study published recently by a Professor at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, which coincidentally is where I will be staying for the next few weeks.

Causal links have already been established between the cramped conditions on board aircraft and the occurrence of DVT, deep vein thrombosis. As a frequent long haul traveller, this is something which concerns me, and I am also a fresh air fiend and believe that many of our ailments result from the poor air quality of the building in which many of us have to work, with permanently sealed windows and air recirculated through filters which are not changed often enough.

A team led by Frits Rosendaal, a professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Leiden University Hospital in the Netherlands, has now released a study which appears to confirm that poor air quality is another factor in DVT. I am convinced that since smoking on board aircraft has been done away with, and that is certainly something I am delighted about, air quality has got worse as the airlines save money by changing the air filters less frequently, so there is a downside to everything. I am not sure what we can do about it, but my little ‘bit’ is that every time I fly, I write to the airline afterwards and say that I felt that the air quality was poor with inadequate circulation. I have four flights ahead of me in the next few days, fortunately all short, so some letters will be written.

Tot siens

MIKE

The Legal Beagle TOP

Legal Beagle - South Africa

Please advise what the current legal ruling is in respect of migrated South Africans, who visit the RSA holding both a SA passport and one from their current country of domicilium.

Thank you.

Ian

Julian Pokroy replies:

A South African citizen who acquires the citizenship of another country by way of a “formal and voluntary act” stands to lose his/her South African citizenship in certain circumstances if they do not take the appropriate steps prior to obtaining citizenship of another country.

If citizenship of another country was obtained prior to October 1995 when the South African citizenship act came into operation, then they would have to apply for exemption from the loss of South African citizenship status, in order to preserve their South African citizenship status, as determined by section 26 (4) of the Act. My office can be of assistance with such applications. [queries may be directed via editor@saw.co.za or direct via Julian's web site/s]

It citizenship of another country was obtained after October 1995, without an application for retention of status having been brought prior to the acquisition of such foreign passport, then that South African citizen would have lost his/her selection of South African citizenship status automatically in terms of section of the citizenship act.

The loss is automatic and the first time such person would probably find out about it would be when they applied for renewal of a passport or for a fresh passport.

This latter loss can only be remedied by returning to South Africa permanently and applying for resumption of citizenship status. The right to reside in South Africa, work and carry on business or simply retire, still vests in South African born citizens. The topic and the reply is a minefield of law and it is best to consult a legal expert specializing in this field.

I trust that this answers the question?

Regards.

Julian

www.immigration.org.za

www.citizenship.co.za

Help Desk TOP

No requests received this week- Ed

Where are they now? TOP

No requests received this week- Ed.

Club and Other News TOP

SA Club Luxembourg

Dear friends,

Just a quick mail to let you know that the Freedom Day Celebrations will take place on the 30th April 06 at the Abby Neumunster. The great news is we will have the following musicians from South Africa. Jannie du Toit with his new show JANNIE EN SY TANNIE. Francois le Roux with his HI MAN show

Tombola tickets are also on sale already for the return trip to JHB or Cape Town on SA Airways and two weeks accomodation from Boomrang Reisen in Trier. Price of tickets are euro 2.50 and they are selling vry fast. If you are interested in selling any of the tickets please let me know and we will send some books on to you, there are 25 tickets per book.

In the following weeks you may check out the club website on www.saclubluxembourg.com to get a complete update of the day's events. There will also be plenty of entertainment for the children.

Please do not hesitate to call me on 091 33 55 71 if you would like further information. Elaine is away at the moment in sunny SA so please call me if you need. Groete. Pat

Humour TOP

In a recent poll, one in four people said they'd donate a kidney to a complete stranger. Yeah, sure! Ninety-percent won't even let a stranger merge in traffic. —Jay Leno

Recipes TOP

Garlic-Citrus Marinade

This is a delicious way to marinate skirt, sirloin, or flank steak, but it’s also good with chicken, pork, lamb, fish, or vegetables. Guess we like this with everything! Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice (4 to 5 limes)
1/4 cup fresh orange juice (1 to 2 oranges)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Preparation: Place all the ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. Cover and shake to blend. This marinade will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Sports News TOP

First gold just the beginning

Melbourne - "The four musketeers from Africa have their first gold. A jubilant Roland Schoeman said: "Isn't this great? And this is just the beginning. "The South African cricketers showed us how to beat the Aussies. We're definitely going to win more medals."

Schoeman was speaking after he and teammates Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns and Gerhard Zandberg won the 4x100m freestyle relay. Their winning time of 3min 14.97sec is a new Commonwealth record and nearly two seconds faster than the Aussies' record time of 3:16.42 recorded in Manchester in 2002.

Read more here http://www.news24.com/

Schoeman fastest in qualifying

Melbourne - Roland Schoeman and Jodie Henry won their heats at the on Friday, while England's Ross Davenport qualified fastest for the 200-metre freestyle final. Schoeman swam 23.59 seconds to qualify fastest in the 50 butterfly, while Henry set a games record 54.52 in a tough field of her Australian teammates in the 100 freestyle.

Read more here http://www.news24.com/

Du Toit over the moon

Melbourne - Natalie du Toit made certain that South Africa had its second golden moment in the swimming pool at the Commonwealth Games when she won the 50m freestyle event for handicapped women in a record time. And she was not the only South African swimmer who managed to get on the winners' podium. Gerhard Zandberg is now the foremost medal winner after winning bronze in the 50m backstroke. Lize Mari Retief (19) was joint third in the 50m butterfly stroke.

Read more here http://www.news24.com/

Boertjie Worldwide TOP

This is your weekly reminder that the Cam has been updated and can be seen at www.rayscam.com. Enjoy!

Please make a point of visiting the Cam's sponsor's website by clicking on the Single Entry Systems logo at the bottom of the web page, thus thanking Lyle Olivier for his generosity.

Note also that the Azores Cam has also been updated; just click on the Azores Cam logo.

Week 150

Odds and Ends

It was another of those weeks: too many other things to take care of and therefore no time for a photo shoot, so the images below are ones I grabbed here and there. One comes from my visit to the Motor Show, the others were taken at work or around the house. Sorry there's nothing more exciting, but I hope what is on offer will at least bring a tad of enjoyment!

This week's Guest Photo is below the last image. There are 10 images this week. Please feel free to vote for your favourite image of the week!

The photographs are rather heavily compressed in order to shorten download time. Unfortunately that means a loss of image quality, so if you are interested in seeing any image at full or higher resolution, please do not hesitate to email me.

Ray

Advertising on South Africans Worldwide TOP

Readers are invited to place adverts on the website, www.saw.co.za asa well as place ads in this newsletter, SAWmail.

Costs:

An article about your service or site - R 3000
Your banner - R 3000/month [on SAW home site & run of site]
Ad in SAW-mail- 4 lines of text - R 1000/issue.

Four issues gets you a 15% discount.
13 issues gets 25% discount & the option of 50% discount on a banner for the length of your ad-campaign.

Editing of a text ad can be done by us. No adult or spam content will be accepted.

Contact editor@saw.co.za

Reader's Interests or Hobbies TOP

Well! Well! What a state of affairs! Nobody rose to take the bait offered last week! Come on Readers! This is your chance to write about your interests or hobby/ies - Ed.

Send to editor@saw.co.za

Credits and Contact Info TOP

South Africans Worldwide - SAWmail Copyright © 1998 - 2006 Maesti

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Subscribing and Unsubscribing TOP

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Disclaimer TOP

The editors, publishers, directors and shareholders of Maesti Web Consulting (being the holding company that publishes SAW) place on record that opinions and comment published in this newsletter are those of the authors, contributors and correspondents.

It should not be construed that we agree or disagree with any of the material. All information about events is published in good faith as received from the correspondents.

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