South Africans Worldwide Newsletter

One little thing I've been grateful for this past week, has been that at my current location in Harare-Zimbabwe, I've escaped the very severe winter conditions experienced in South Africa.
Snow, floods, gales have all lashed the Southern & Eastern Cape escpecially, whilst Lesotho had their share as well.
Lives were lost and much damage has been reported.
There were reports of light snow falling in Johannesburg and the Vaal Triangle. Brrrr !

From now on we hope that Spring will follow without further severe winter conditions.

Thanks to Readers that have sent in contributions.
Till next week.

Letters to the Editor TOP

None received.

Quote/s of the Week TOP

Thought of the Day

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.
-- Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Submitted by Daniel Jan le Roux

All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.
-- Martin Luther King Jr., 'Strength to Love,' 1963

What makes the engine go? Desire, desire, desire.
-- Stanley Kunitz, O Magazine, September 2003

Beware of undertaking too much at the start. Be content with quite a little. Allow for accidents. Allow for human nature, especially your own.
-- Arnold Bennett

Today is the day in which to express your noblest qualities of mind and heart, to do at least one worthy thing which you have long postponed.
-- Grenville Kleiser

Ad Hoc Article/s of the Week TOP

SA Air Force plucks survivors from the snow

August 05 2006 at 09:50AM By Sheena Adams and Botho Molosankwe

A man, who was plucked from certain death after spending three freezing nights trapped in snow in his car, is fighting for his life.
So far 14 people - four of them South Africans - have been rescued from the Thaba-Tseka mountains in Lesotho but the SA High Commission says more could be still trapped.
Rescue teams are combing the area in heavy snow and icy conditions to search for any survivors.
As snow and flood waters swept across the country this week a total of nine people are known to have died, were injured and thousands have been displaced.
Rescuers in flooded regions are still battling to reach residents who have been cut off by the rains and to provide drinking water, food, blankets and medical assistance.

Read more…

http://www.int.iol.co.za

Hansie: Murder, or not?

05/08/2006 13:01 - (SA)
Pietermaritzburg - On Monday morning High Court Judge Siraj Desai, sitting with a senior assessor - expert pilot Bruce Hyde - will begin the inquest into the 2002 death of Hansie Cronje.
He will also investigate the deaths of the two pilots who were flying the aircraft that crashed with the disgraced SA skipper on board.
Among other things, Desai will have to decide if there is any truth in the widespread rumour that the crash was not an accident, but a deliberate act of murder.
This allegedly was aimed at preventing Cronje from spilling the beans on what he knew about corruption and match fixing in cricket. At the time of the crash, Cronje had been banned from playing cricket for life, and according to reports in the British Observer newspaper was considering spilling the beans on corruption in the sport.
Cronje had already named some of his accomplices in a match-fixing scam and, after his death, speculation mounted that he would have helped Indian police with their criminal investigations into match fixing.
At the time SA cricket bosses rubbished these claims, pointing out that Cronje's fatal decision to board the plane was made at the very last minute and that no one would have had sufficient warning to sabotage the aircraft. The bulk of the evidence will come from a report into the accident compiled by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com/

Study encourages diabetics to get flu jabs

August 04 2006 at 07:07PM

New York - Like other high-risk groups, adults with diabetes benefit from having a flu vaccination every year, regardless of age, Dutch researchers confirm.

The team reports that both first and repeat influenza vaccinations reduce all-cause mortality and hospitalizations for complications of respiratory infections.

The percentage of adult diabetics who get a flu shot "remains low," note Dr Ingrid Looijmans-Van den Akker from University Medical Center, Utrecht and colleagues in the medical journal Diabetes Care, perhaps because of uncertainty about the vaccine's effectiveness in people with diabetes.

The researchers looked into the effectiveness of first and repeat influenza vaccinations in 9 238 adults with diabetes during the 1999-2000 influenza A epidemic in the Netherlands.
Forty-four percent were between the ages of 18 and 64 years old and 56 percent were 65 years or older.

Overall, 131 hospitalizations and 61 deaths were recorded during the study period. These 192 cases were compared with 1561 matched "controls" within the group of diabetes patients who remained well.

One hundred forty-one of the 192 diabetic subjects (73.4 percent) and 1339 of the 1561 controls (85.8 percent) were vaccinated against influenza.

"Influenza vaccination was associated with a 56 percent reduction in any complication, a 54 percent reduction in hospitalizations, and 58 percent reduction in deaths," the investigators report.

There was no significant difference in vaccine efficacy between those vaccinated for the first time and those who received a repeat vaccination.

These data, the investigators say, support the value of annual influenza vaccination in adults with diabetes, as is currently recommended. They call for renewed efforts to increase vaccination rates in this high-risk group.

Source: Diabetes Care, August 2006.

http://www.int.iol.co.za

'SA must sever Israeli ties'
05/08/2006 18:04 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Thousands marched through Cape Town to parliament on Saturday, to demand government sanctions against Israel for its strikes on Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.
Demonstrators carried pictures of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah fighters battling Israeli troops in Lebanon, and posters that read "Israel the new Nazis". They urged government to recall its ambassador from Israel, sever diplomatic ties, impose trade sanctions, and prosecute South Africans who serve in the Israeli defence force.
Government has called for an unconditional cease-fire to end the fighting that has killed more than 600 people, most of them civilians, and the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to aid the displaced.
Government has also pledged R2m to relief efforts in Lebanon.
Saturday's march is the latest in a series of marches across the country. It was organised by a coalition of religious, trade union and civil society groups.

Read more..

http://www.news24.com

E Cape mopping up after floods

05/08/2006 13:01 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Disaster relief in the Eastern Cape was well underway by Saturday morning, after the province was hit this week by flooding, disaster management said.
"We relocated 7 000 people yesterday (on Friday) to about 25 community halls in Port Elizabeth and East London," said Lourens Schoeman, spokesperson for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Municipal council.
A number of animals were also rescued. He said teams were calculating the damage. Figures would be available by Tuesday.
"Some roads are still closed in the low-lying areas and areas around the Chetty River ... electricity still can't be restored to some areas."
Water in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage and Despatch was stagnating.

Read more…

http://www.news24.com

SABMiller buys Fosters India

04/08/2006 08:40
Johannesburg - Global brewing giant SABMiller (SAB) has entered into an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Foster's India for a consideration of $120m on a cash-free debt-free basis, subject to certain conditions being fulfilled.
Under the terms of the agreement, announced on Friday, SABMiller will assume ownership of all Foster's assets in India including the Foster's brand in the territory. Foster's India currently operates one brewery based in Aurangabad in the state of Maharashtra with a licenced annual capacity of 350 000 hectolitres.
The company produces, distributes and supports Foster's Lager, Amberro Mild and Amberro Strong beer brands in the Indian market.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za

Low tariffs cripple Zim power

04/08/2006 10:33
Bulawayo - A former Zimbabwe power industry executive said the government should remove tariff constraints on the state power utility to allow it to raise sufficient money to boost flagging domestic generation.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has struggled to produce electricity at its two main thermal and hydro plants due to a critical shortage of cash to repair damaged equipment, which has led to frequent power cuts for consumers and industry.
The wholly government-owned company, the sole provider of electricity in Zimbabwe, has said it is required to charge what it says are uneconomic tariffs as the government seeks to keep a lid on spiralling inflation.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za

'Give us more free time'

04/08/2006 13:25
Cape Town - Not all South Africans are as obsessed with wealth as claimed by President Thabo Mbeki, a quick comments survey on Fin24 showed.
Addressing the fourth Nelson Mandela annual lecture at Wits University in Johannesburg, Mbeki said many South Africans had and come to the conclusion that personal success and fulfilment meant personal enrichment at all costs.
It appears there are many Fin24 readers who beg to differ.
On the question "Would you choose a 4-day working week or a R12 000 pay increase p/a?", 66% of respondents said they value the time over money, while 29% said they can do with more money.
Five percent of the users thought it was a tricky question, and said it depends on the circumstances.

Read more…

http://www.fin24.co.za

Bank charges probe takes shape

04/08/2006 14:39
Johannesburg - The Competition Commission on Friday released the names of the panel that will conduct an investigation into banking charges and access to the national payment system.
The panel will be chaired by Thabani Jali, with Oupa Bodibe, Mrs Hixonia Nyasulu and Rob Petersen SC as the other members of the panel.
The commission said that the panel would shortly issue guidelines and initial questionnaires for the assistance of those wishing or willing to submit relevant information to the inquiry.
First National Bank (FNB) has welcomed the investigation into charges, saying it will participate fully in this process.
The commission also released its terms of reference for the investigation on Friday following the findings of a research report on the national payment system and competition in the banking sector and continued public concern on the matter.
Reacting to the announcement, FNB, a division of the FirstRand Group (FSR) said: "FNB shares the commission's goals of ensuring that customers get value for money and understands the importance of having a highly efficient payment system and competitive banking industry.
"FNB competes aggressively on both product and price to attract and retain customers, and welcomes new competition in the South African market."
Added FNB CEO Michael Jordaan: "We welcome any step that increases competitive intensity in South Africa's banking industry. "Our view is that a competitive market drives innovation and change, improving our business, our customer's experience and ultimately our country. "FNB is keenly aware of the importance of the fees our customers pay, and has taken care to ensure that our fees are very competitive in the marketplace."

http://www.fin24.co.za

Bits and Bobs TOP

Interesting and Amazing Geographic Facts

Alaska: More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.

Amazon: The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% the world's oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea, off the mouth of the river; one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States.

Antarctica: Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds,however,Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches. Although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, i.e.), Antarctica is the driest place on the
planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

Brazil: Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around.

Canada: Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village."

Chicago: Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world.

Detroit: Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan carries the designation M - 1 named so because it was the first paved road anywhere.Damascus, Syria: Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

Istanbul, Turkey: Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents.

Los Angeles: Los Angeles' full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula --and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size: L.A.

New York City: The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple.

There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more
Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Wilderness. Percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28. Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38.

Ohio: There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one is man-made.

Pitcairn Island: The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia, at just 1.75 sq. miles/4.53 sq. km.

Rome: The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B.C. There is a city called Rome on every continent.

Siberia: Siberia contains more than 25% of the world's forests.

S.M.O.M: . The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a population of 80, 20 less people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is.
Sahara Desert: In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years.

Spain: Spain literally means 'the land of rabbits.'

St. Paul Minnesota: St. Paul, Minnesota was originally called Pigs Eye after a man named Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant who set up the first business there.

Roads: Chances that a road is unpaved in the U.S.A.: 1%, in Canada: 75%.

Texas: The deepest hole ever made in the world is in Texas. It is as deep as 20 empire state buildings but only 3 inches wide.

United States: The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

Waterfalls: The water of Angel Falls (the World's highest) in Venezuela drops 3,212 feet (979 meters). They are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.

Submitted by Maureen Cram

The Legal Beagle TOP

Nobody requested help this week.

Help Desk TOP

Nobody requested help this week.

Where are they now? TOP

Trying to locate Eldred Mervyn McLean of East/West Rand.
Family or ancestors of E.M.McLean
Please contact me in regards to the Family Tree.
Also looking for Muriel McLean, plus 2 sisters Olga and Lee McLean.

From :- Bradley Roll in the Netherlands, roll@home.nl

I'm trying to trace the family of Philippus Andrias van Heerden, who lived in East London.He was born on 19-6-1930, died on 15-03-1982.
He was married to Dorothy Edith Hall on 30-01-1951.
Sons names are Andre Hendrik van Heerden & Leon Theo van Heerden.
Deceased parents of Philippus van Heerden were Pieter Johannes van Heerden & Martha Elizabeth van Heerden.
Please contact me at
rdschroeder@hotmail.com
or
ritawithout@yahoo.ca

Club and Other News TOP

We really need more news from all countries-how about corresponding ?Nothing received this week.

Humour TOP

ESPECIALLY FOR THE LADIES, TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 9TH AUGUST,

After the party, as the couple was driving home, the wife asks her husband,
"Honey, has anyone ever told you how handsome, sexy and irresistible to women you are?"
The flattered husband laughed and said, "No, dear, they haven't."
The wife yells, "Then what the devil gave you THAT idea at the party ?!”

and remember ….
Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels
– Faith Whittlesey

And lastly ……
If you want something said, ask a man.
If you want something done, ask a woman
– Margaret Thatcher

Recipes TOP

The Value of a Drink

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink
I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think
about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes
and dreams.If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out
of work and their dreams would be shattered.
Then I sayto myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their
dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
~ Jack Handy

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your bra and panties.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they
wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're
going to feel all day. "
~Frank Sinatra

When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
~ Henny Youngman

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not."
~ Stephen Wright

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk,
we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all
get drunk and go to heaven!"
~ Brian O'Rourke

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
~ Benjamin Franklin

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
~ Benjamin Franklin

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Without question, the greatest invention in the
history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the
wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does
not go nearly as well with pizza."
~ Dave Barry

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To some ! it's a six-pack, to me it's a Support Group. Salvation in a can!
~Dave Howell

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And saving the best for last, as explained by Cliff Clavin,of Cheers.

One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the BuffaloTheory to his buddy Norm.
Here's how it went:
"Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalocan only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.

Sports News TOP

Springboks' tour from hell over

06/08/2006 16:23 - (SA)
Sydney - The Springboks headed home after a winless five-week Australasian tour looking forward to finishing the Tri-Nations series on an upswing with three home matches at altitude.

South Africa's players were heartbroken to go down to a converted try in the final minutes of their 20-18 loss to Australia in Sydney on Saturday, just three weeks after the ignominy of a record 49-0 thumping by the Wallabies.

They now trail leaders New Zealand by 12 points and will have to win all their remaining games with the All Blacks and Wallabies, and hope for New Zealand to be upset by Australia, to have a chance of winning the series.
Read more...

http://www.news24.com/

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Reader's Interests or Hobbies TOP

Nobody submitted anything !
Come on Readers !

Credits and Contact Info TOP

South Africans Worldwide - SAWmail Copyright © 1998 - 2006 Maesti

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Disclaimer TOP

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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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