South African fan site

The Sharks didn’t win the super 14, but we came close. So close. Then Butch James kicked the ball to the other team with less than a minute remaining allowing them to score their winning try. Apparently the ball went out (before the so-called try was scored) and the ref missed it so the Bulls shouldn't have been awarded that try anyway! I am glad though that the trophy was won by a South African team for the first time since--- I don’t know, maybe ever. And I guess the real winner is Durban for hosting the final, a great one at that.

Bulls versus Sharks at a packed ABSA stadium

Who they are: Durban's Rugby team

Why we love them: because they are so good, they have a shot at becoming the first South African team to win the Super 14 in however-long, they train at my gym and look even bigger in person than they do on telly, and they often make me feel that proudly South African feeling!

Team

• Most points in a match: 75 (v Highlanders, 1997)
• Most points in a season: 453 (1996)
• Most tries in a match: 9 (v Highlanders, 1997)
• Most tries in a season: 56 (1996)
• Biggest winning margin: 38 (v Chiefs, 1996)

Coaches

• Ian McIntosh (1996 - 1999)
• Hugh Reece-Edwards (2000)
• Rudolf Straeuli (2001 - 2002)
• Kevin Putt (2003 - 2005)
• Dick Muir (2006 - present)

Captains

• Gary Teichmann (1996 - 1999)
• Wayne Fyvie (2000)
• Mark Andrews (2001 - 2002)
• Shaun Sowerby (2003)
• John Smit (2004 - present)

Info from Wikipedia and pictures found somewhere on Google

There are small things we can do to make a big difference in this country. I would like to invite anyone with ideas, energy or resources to please contribute!

Here are some examples I have come up with which are really simple but have massive community boosting potential.

1. A town called Clearwater in the USA had a novel way of turning a dark and dodgy alleyway into a quaint and symbolic pathway. Members of the community were invited to ‘buy a brick’ for $40-$60 and submit a short message which would be inscribed on their brick. The money went to cleaning up the area and stringing lanterns up along the previously unlit part of the town.

There is an small abandoned building in the Bulwer Road park which could be used for the message bricks, and the money raised could set up a recycling system in the neighbourhood or to aid the local soup kitchen.

2. Another idea which I thought could work brilliantly here was something I saw happening in Malaysia where the corruption levels were high. Ours are extreme. Malaysian police were compelled to wear badges reading "I'm against corruption" as part of a campaign to clean up the force and discourage people from bribing officers.

That is a great idea! If a cop approaches your car window and the statement “I’m against corruption” is made at the outset, my guess is that few will dare to question that. Let’s get
about 40,000 badges distributed, along with 20,000 car stickers featuring similar slogans. Who can help?

umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu - a person is a person through other persons

Claim to fame: contestant in Survivor South Africa

What you should know about him: Mzi has a BSc Honours degree in Chemistry and extensive general knowledge

Star sign: Taurus

Residence: Honeydew Ridge, Johannesburg. Grew up in Bethulie.

Marital status: Single

Occupation: Principal Energy Adviser for big fuel company

Home language: Xhosa

Pets: Pit bull named Sasha.


Survivor stats-

Character profile: The uncomplicated, unfazed, problem-solving guy who describes himself as a bit of a clown.

Potential downfall: He’s gullible — a trait that could cost him dearly...

What he'd take to the island: Diving goggles

What he thought he'd miss most: Electricity, music, TV, hot shower, cooked meals, coffee and his family and dog.

Why the producers think Mzi could win 'Survivor': He is practical and likes working with his hands. He’s an excellent negotiator and loves joking around, which could make him very popular with his fellow contestants.

Quote: “It is a game, let’s play it fair and may the best player enjoy the spoils.”

Some favourites:
Colour: Blue, black and white
Scents: Anything pleasant, even better if it is food
Flowers: Roses (red or white)
Sports to play: Soccer and golf
Sport teams: Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United
Outdoor activities: Fishing, hiking, camping and adventure stuff
Movies: 'Gladiator', 'Usual Suspects', 'Con Air'
Actors: Nicolas Cage, Al Pacino, Lawrence Fishburne
Actresses: Salma Hayek (she is hot), Terry Pheto (she is pretty), and Nia Long
Music: Soul and R & B
Books/Authors: John Grisham, Steve Martin and lately, Dan Brown
Foods: Chicken, Italian dishes and cooked puddings


http://entertainment.iafrica.com tells us how Mzi’s fish rewrote 'Survivor' history:

On the American and other international versions of 'Survivor' contestants usually struggle for weeks on end before they manage to catch a fish. Trust our own Mzi Tyhokolo to rewrite 'Survivor' history: in the very first episode of 'Survivor South Africa', he starts feeding his tribe from the ocean’s basket.


What I think:

Mzi's game-play impresses me more and more each episode- in fact, he is the only thing I enjoy about this season of Survivor. I loved his chirp about having to play Dr. Phil to sort out the feud between his team-mates, and if anyone could, it would probably be him. He’s such a nice guy, funny, smart, very well spoken and though he has been the sole provider for his team, he is never arrogant or misogynistic. Go Mzi! Keep strong boetie. We hope you win

Claim to fame: Published author, executive producer, actress, poet, independent record producer, corporate and independent event MC, life skills facilitator/speaker and television series presenter.

Lebo Mashile was named by Cosmopolitan Magazine as one of South Africa's Awesome Women of 2005.

Can be seen currently in: L'atitude
(SABC 1, I watch it on Wednesday mornings but apparently it's also on at 19h00 on Tuesday nights.)

Profile

Why we love her: She is the beauty and intelligence behind and in front of a brilliant, honest and original truly South African magazine programme.

I first 'met' Ms Lebo when i was flicking through Tv channels one morning and found L'attitude. Lebo, a poet and feminist, is the host of this travel documentary series. But L'attitude is so much more than the average magazine show. An impressive range of issues are explored including identity, culture and gender in a way that only the eloquent and perceptive Lebo Mashile could. Each week she travels to a different place around the country to discover and illuminate the dynamics of our complex cultures. The way in which Lebo facilitates the explorations always inspires me. She sensitively uncovers the positions occupied by South Africans by meeting them in the spaces they inhabit. She is so good at adjusting her behaviour to suit the situation and responds without judgement to all those she meets along her journey through the landscape of a developing South Africa. Lebo is provocative and refuses to accept easy answers. She gives her own particular take on what she hears and closes every programme with one of her poems.

Above information gathered from here

when we were africans

when we were africans
we knew the price of life
was paid from birth
the stagnant air was cleared
when mind
met heart
met soul
met deed
met word
a divine standard of excellence
an expression of worth
if I am better than the next man
in my truest self I am worse
in a world stripped of material
all that is left is work
the footprint on the pavement
of possibility is work
the harnessing of the heaven
promised to me is work
even death is a seed to work
until grace is a tree deserved

Buy her books
An interview
A gripe
NBF (Nathaniel's new best friend)
An article