SA Rocks

The incredible initiative by Photography.com that I have spoken of previously has come to an end. There are too many incredible photos for me to put up here so I suggest you hop on over to the results page and peruse the photographs that made it through to the end.

A brilliant day that illustrates the marvels that one tiny area in one tiny part of one large city can hold. Some of the inspiration included topics such as Tokoloshe, Bundu Bashing, Snake Eyes and Technophobia. If you think you know what I am talking about go and see what some of the photographers who took part saw.

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Pinotage is a cross between two grape varieties, namely Pinot Noir and the Hermitage (or Cinsaut as it’s more widely known). It is a South African icon and since it’s commercial inception in 1959, has received conflicting reviews and had mixed blessings in the world of wine.

On the one hand you have local guru’s, like Beyers Truter, labeling it as distinctly and wonderfully different – while on the other, you have Wine Masters around the world saying it’s reminiscent of ‘Rusty Nails’!

Whatever the common view, it is distinctly South African and when you come across a well crafted example – well it’s purely magic!

Here below are a selection of truly fantastic examples of well crafted Pinotage. The list is comprised of the 2006 ABSA Top 10 Pinotage award winners:

Allée Bleue Pinotage 2005
Boland Cellar Winemakers Selection Pinotage 2004
Camberley Pinotage 2005
Clos Malverne Pinotage Reserve 2003
Kanonkop Pinotage 2004
Morewag Pinotage 2002
Pulpit Rock Pinotage 2004
Stellenzicht Golden Triangle 2005
Tukulu Papkuilsfontein Pinotage 2004
Wellington Cellar Pinotage Reserve 2003

Make an effort to go out there and try some of these fantastic wines. Once you have, come back and let me know what you think about Pinotage!

(Check out The Pinotage Association for more about this iconic grape)

Cru Master

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This post courtesy of midnight jester.

THE MIRACLE COUNTRY

First let me say I see South Africa as The Miracle Country. Never in my lifetime has how bloody the struggle for democracy usually is been more evident than in Iraq right now.

My knowledge of history isn’t brilliant it being more a hobby than a serious study but I am hard pressed to think of another country that reached democracy peacefully. Well, fairly peacefully. England: war. France: revolution. America: 2 wars. We had 20 years of bombings aimed mostly at infrastructure, not people, but nothing compared to what these countries and much of Africa, Europe, South America or Asia has had to endure to achieve the same.

A minority population in a cushy position under a controlled media that had been telling them for 40 years that should they give up their power they would be murdered in their beds or, at best, lose everything they had voted to give up that power simply because it was the right thing to do. The did the right thing and decided to let the chips fall where they may.

If that wasn’t miracle enough the majority population, when they reached power, took no retribution for what was essentially 40 years of slavery. An essentially communist movement looked at the world and saw communism failing and moved their ethos toward social capitalism.

Rather than mass trials, death penalties or jail sentences for the Apartheid Regime we had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The principle being that the truth was more important than punishment. Political Crimes on both sides would be forgiven if they were confessed and proved politically motivated rather than for self-gain. Continue Reading

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Party Saturday night. Encircled in mountains looking out over a tranquil bay on a late summer’s evening in the bay that I used to call home. One of those perfect nights in paradise. I couldn’t really question why people who have the choice to live anywhere in the world, working for massive multinational corporations that would support their lifestyles wherever they chose to make home, would choose a quiet little bay at the far end of Africa.

The conversation meandered along the lines of what the hell it is about South Africa that makes it so damn sticky. I think this happens more in Cape Town than other cities in South Africa, but there’s something strangely addictive about this country.

South Africa is one of those places you fall in love with. It’s not one of those obvious, sensible kind of love affairs either. This IS a dangerous country, we all know this, no more needs be said. We don’t have the kind of infrastructure that gladdens the heart of anyone who enjoys decent telecommunications, reliable power, well administered health resources or public transport (if you think you should be doing the planet a favour by not driving your car everywhere – good luck to you!) But oh my goodness we have a VERY efficient 1st world tax collection system (PLEASE will Trevor Manuel go apply his power for good in other ministries now dammit!). Continue Reading

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It is with a great sense of pride that I can finally announce the four Weeklies that SA Rocks now offers its readers (click on the contributors name below to visit the “About me” sections on their blogs):

Max: The Monday slot or “SA Rocks to the Max”. Max is the first contributor on SA Rocks. She has already posted one amazing post and we hope to have the next one sometime today. She will be writing general posts from a CT lady about why SA does rock!

TheCru: Tuesday has been taken on by our regular wine connoisseur in “Wine around the corner”. Brendan will be outlining various SA wines every Tuesday so keep an eye out for this little gem of a weekly! Brendan has already posted on SA Rock!

Justin: Only yesterday Thursdays became “Technology Thursday”. Justin promises to offer amazing insight in to the techno world of South Africa. The developments, happenings and forthcomings of a market that is booming in SA!

Cooksister: Fridays are our days to prepare for the weekend right? Well Jeanne is going to be outlining hot SA foods/products/restaurants and the like. Prepare to be overwhelmed by a flavour sensation from a sister who knows!

The Wednesday weekly slot is still available plus two weekend slots. If you are interested in contributing on a weekly basis please feel free to email me (editor@sarocks.co.za)!

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Thanks to Aiden Choles for this contribution. The complexity that is South Africa never ceases to amaze me.

When I think of the state of culture and language in South Africa, it’s almost as if someone has swung a pendulum in the language sphere of South African culture, and his name is Bok van Blerk

We are one of those nations where culture equates to language, and vice versa. From the bloody years in which Afrikaans was a forced language of education for all South Africans in the 1970s, and even before, South Africans have found solitude in the culture their language reinforces. Since 1994 however, there has been one language that has suffered at the swing of the pendulum – Afrikaans. Democracy has heralded the freedom of language and culture in our country and the Afrikaners have been struggling to find a cultural foundation on which to stand that honours their culture. (At least this is what I have perceived in the way Afrikaaners are fighting for their Story – I’m English speaking).

And so, Bok van Blerk came on to the scene with a song, Delarey, that tells the story of a general in the Anglo-Boer war who courageously lead the Boere in the fight against the British many a year back. The songs chorus of “De la Rey, De la Rey, sal jy die boere kom lei? [De la Rey, will you come to lead the Boers?]“, and how well the song has done (SA’s best ever debut album) is a salient narrative indicator of where the Afrikaner culture finds itself – in dire need of expression and solidarity. From M&G :

In an interview, Van Blerk, real name Louis Pepler, said the inspiration for De la Rey was his desire to “do something for the language and culture of Afrikaans people. I am a musician, not a politician.” The picture is not all rosy though, as right-wingers are touting the song as a call to arms for the Afrikaners. Against whom? The blacks naturally. Continue Reading

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I came across a great post from South Africa Logue. A wonderful site promoting travel, food, places, things in SA, a tourism site of sort if you will. This post picks out Rooibos tea as a “Southafricanism”. Great word, great product, gotta love Rooibos tea!

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The 5th World Summit on Media for Children is being held in South Africa this year. You may be asking what the 5WSMC is? Let me try and answer that question for you.

The Foundation is a not-for-profit public company incorporated in Victoria, Australia. The 5WSMC is organised by the Children and Broadcasting Foundation for Africa, in partnership with SABC, Icasa, and the Department of Communications and with support from Telkom and the MDDA. It was put in place to promote the values and goals of the World Summit. Some of these goals are listed below:

• To draw to the attention of key players in media globally the importance of children’s media issues.
• To encourage continental and global collaboration on the production of programme content.
• To ensure that media plays an active role in the social development of youth, with a focus on HIV and AIDS.

As I said, the above are just some of the goals of the foundation. visit the goals and objectives section of 5WSMC site to get the full list.

Participants in the summit include many child delegates who will benefit from various workshops taking place throughout the summit. Various youth parliaments will be given time to present and discuss various issues and according to the Agenda on the website Obesity, HIV/Aids and many other issues will be raised in regard to the media.

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I recieved this post from the SA Rocks Facebook group. Thanks Bevan and welcome to the supporters list!

“We have Ghost Pops, Mrs Balls Chutney, Rascals, Shweppes granadilla, BILTONG!!!!!!!!!!, Boerewors, Braais, sunny skies, mountain ranges, perfect beaches,1982 Ford Cortina’s are still cool, a bakkie doubles as both a work and luxury vehicle,you buy everything you need on the side of the road and to top it off we have the best looking woman in the whole damn world!!!!!!!”

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Ideate just blogged about the following two businesses. These two initiatives definitely deserve a mention on SA Rocks because they are doing some rocking things to better our country and help charitable causes!

ArgusX2: www.argusx2.co.za

These guys are going to do the Cape Argus cycle challenge twice in one day to raise money for charity. You go boys!!

2twenty6: www.2twenty6.co.za

2twenty6 has set themselves a goal of R4 million to raise for 2007. They intend on using all the money to help find a cure for Leukaemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma.

Thank you Ideate for the heads up and thanks to these two incredible initiatives for their positivity! Visit their sites today and help them reach their goals!

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