Durban Diaries

At last

2010-05-30T14:12:00.001+03:00

At last the Durban beachfront nears completion. Residents and visitors can now cycle, run or walk the entire 6km stretch of revamped beachfront. FIFA's fan park is ready to roll and all the nooks and cranies that used to be home to the homeless are no more. In fact there is no place to hide and people almost feel exposed which is great when the sun shines as it always does this time of the year. Now if we can just keep the braai brigade off those new lawns and allow nature or the city sprinkles to water the lawns instead of the pee anywhere brigade!!

Please Sir can I have some more

2010-05-20T17:32:00.001+03:00

No Trains, no ships, no pipelines. Strikers enter their fourth day of no work no pay. This time thousands of rail commuters were forced to find alternate means of transport. The minibus taxi bosses were rubbing their hands in glee as the queues at their ranks grew ever longer by the day. Strikers gathered outside the Durban Metro rail HQ within site of the gleaming new football stadium. They even brought along their vuvuzelas to practice for the world cup. They vowed (as usual) to strike until all their demands were met. These mostly include a 16% wage increase and other benefits. In the meantime ships gathered outside Durban giving the crews ample time to try their luck at fishing as they waited for clearance to enter the closed harbour.

Indaba

2010-05-10T16:20:00.003+03:00

There were thousands of them. From Dubai to Japan they came to Africa's biggest tourism trade fair the Durban Indaba. Just when one thought all was lost what with clouds of ash and a Greek tragedy it seemed like the money was still changing hands. For the uber rich tourists the deal now is "you tell us what you want and we will arrange it" So... keen to stroke a cheetah or a great white shark , no problem for a small fee we arrange it.Walking through the stands was like a veritable tower of Babel with foreign languages rolling off the tongues of well heeled operators. Somewhere in the melee were the humble game ranches trying to take on the mining conglomerates who are planning open cast mines in adjoining sensitive area. Guess who will win in the end? In the meantime delegates blew on those awful monotone vuvuzelas hoping that the noise would frighten off the bad guys.

New Kid on the Block

2010-04-26T15:28:00.002+03:00

So new kid on the block COPE (Congress of the People) popped into Durban for a chat to their supporters. They played it safe and ensconced themselves inside the Diakonia Centre where access is strictly controlled. In an airless room they told the converted how well things were going and to keep the faith. One Smuts Ngonyama who is their “Policy Director” will always be remembered for his “I did not struggle to be poor” comment. Pity that this once booming party now have their own internal struggle with who sits on top of the heap. Such a pity as it is the first really multiracial party that could have mass appeal to take on the ruling ANC. They also need to learn a thing or two about their backdrops. White screens do not work well with TV. Still I guess give them a few precious years and they might get their act together or just simply implode upon themselves as more members also claim they did not struggle to be poor!

Room with a view

2010-04-09T15:01:00.003+03:00

What’s the good of having one of the best views in the Berg if you freeze to death at night. Just outside the town of Bulwer in the Drakensberg many people are wondering how they will repair their humble homes. No government relief, no emergency tents, no food parcels zilch. On Sunday last a violent storm swept the region casually tossing roofs hundreds of meters. Some of the traditional thatch survived but many steel roofs were simply blown away to end up in crumpled balls. Worse a mother and daughter were swept away in a raging torrent. The body of the mother was recovered but almost a week later the child was still to be found. No helicopters or major searches, just the anguish of not being able to bury ones family.

No Place to Hide

2010-03-30T16:15:00.000+03:00

“We will film them on the beaches, we will film them at their homes, we will film them at work”. Yes indeed there is no place that will be safe from Google’s street view coming soon to a PC near you. I came across this character at the ABSA stadium in Durban. He was peddling this contraption complete with 360 degree view multi cameras and on board generator to power all the goodies. He told me the tricycles go where the camera vehicles can’t. So if you see one of these in a neighbourhood near you, smile you might just be on Google street view for ever. Should be up and running by July.

Rollercoaster Ride

2010-03-30T10:35:00.007+03:00

One day you are riding high living the good life. No matter that you are leaving a trail of human destruction behind you as thousands of kids pour chemicals into their bodies. The next day your world comes tumbling down. A young couple was arrested for possession of mandrax tablets. After the police made "further enquiries" they were led to a derelict old farmhouse. In the renovated backrooms they hit the mother lode. Hundreds of liters of chemicals, every kind of contraption to manufacture drugs and bags and bags of the raw ingredients. While they went about their investigation the handcuffed duo stared silently and maybe wondered how their first night in jail might turn out. Police estimate the value to be ten million rands.

The Queen

2010-03-23T16:25:00.004+03:00

Queen Mary the second cruises into town for the day. Sad that you have to be old and rich to qualify for a cabin. Eat as much as you can then waddle down to the free gym to work it off. I spoke to one of the day trippers about to board a bus and she said she hoped to see some of Durbans city sights which would probably include the poverty which really upsets her badly. After that its back to her five star cabin and next stop Rio. Tough hey.

The Alternative Football World Cup

2010-03-16T16:12:00.004+03:00

If you have ever been whacked by kids at one of Durban's traffic lights best not to read further. These nimble fingered kids are now putting the boot in so to speak. Seven teams from around the world are here to play the beautiful game. Boys and girls from the streets of The UK to Brazil will put their feet skills to another use apart from fleeing crime scenes (sometimes) In the opening match the non football country of India taught the arrogant South Africans a thing or two about football. They managed to slot four goals into the small net. The showy South African street kids ....zero. The occasion will also be used to run seminars on what the real problems of the global street kids are all about and a declaration will be announced at the end of the tournament. So next time one of these urchins approaches you remember they might one day be football heroes….you never know.

(Update 23 March 2010 India cleaned up and won the tournament.)

100 Days

2010-03-02T15:31:00.004+03:00

So the countdown has begun in earnest. The worlds media were in town after being wined and dined on a spectacular stadium tour through South Africa. One of the African journalists challanged FIFA head honcho Blatter to allow more accreditation for journos from the African continenet and not to hog all the tops spots for his favourities. Ever affable he said he would look into it. Nothing fazes this man even accusations that he runs a mafia style operation with nepotism to boot. He said he sleeps well each night and trusts that all the media present do as well as he has nothing on his conscience. Local politicians laughed loudly when he said his B and C plan were actually South Africa and no one else. Got to hand it to this guy, he makes most sweet mouthed politicians look like amateurs in comparison. Meanwhile the Durban stadium reverberated with the sound of choppers flying overhead with the South African flag interspersed with wild screams from the bungee swing as local ladies took a leap of faith over the stadium.

Girls will be Girls

2010-02-26T12:58:00.008+03:00

Parents of 27 girls who were expelled from a school in KwaZulu-Natal are taking on the authorities. The pupils were kicked out of the school hostel after being accused of being lesbians. Parents are demanding the school take the learners back or they will take the matter to court. It all started after two girls were apparently seen kissing in a dormitory. They were apparently reported to the principal who then allegedly forced the high school girls to identify all those with similar relationships. All sounds like a storm in a b cup to me. With South Africa having a high rate of school pregnancies surely some fooling around between consenting girls is minor stuff. Let the girls get back to classes! South Africa has the most liberal constitution in the world and this case has caused a lot of head scratching. At what age can one be protected against discrimination on gender grounds. We await the outcome of the hearings. There is no truth in the rumour that the Katy Perry song "I kissed a girl and Liked it" has been banned at the school. Stay tuned!

Elephants and Mad Hatters

2010-02-15T14:42:00.010+03:00

Have we moved into the realm of the Mad Hatter? South Africans are accustomed to weird and wonderful happenings but this one ranks pretty high. An internationally acclaimed artist Andries Botha becomes famous for his Elephant sculptures. The Durban City Council thinks it’s a good idea to have some placed at a strategic entrance to Durban. He duly proceeds with the project. All of a sudden one of the ruling party heavies stops his SUV on the freeway and demands that work on the sculptures cease forthwith. The "heavy" says elephants are the logo of the IFP opposition party and have no place in an ANC run city. When the deputy mayor is asked for clarification he says "the commission must have “slipped through the cracks. What they really want is the “Big Five” to be represented" Council will debate the matter further. In the mean time the Durban Metro becomes the laughing stock of the art world.

Peace or Pieces

2010-02-11T16:13:00.004+03:00

At a Peace workshop today in Durban an interesting group of people gathered to discuss how to get along with each other. The occasion was to celebrate twenty years of Mandelas release and the Mandela foundation was the main sponsor. Durban's Albert Park has had its own share of xenophobic attacks. Last year foreigners were thrown to their deaths off buildings. A local city councilor has been accused of instigating the mob and was apparently captured on security cameras. The very same man was a guest speaker today. Truly the world is a strange place. Also present was a man who claims to have walked from Kenya a number of years ago. He believes there should be no borders and people should be free to go where they please. He dresses in traditional Massai regalia and is well spoken. For more info check his webpage http://www.maasaiwarrior.com

House of Death

2010-02-10T22:34:00.004+03:00

Eleven children and adults died in this house. Burnt beyond recognition. Sarah Holland was one of those people that was called to help others. She took in in all those in need be they orphans or just people down on their luck. Twenty one of them lived in this farm house just outside Newcastle in Kwa Zulu Natal South Africa. Somehow a fire started early in the morning and pandemonium ensured. Screaming children were overcome by the smoke and flames the adults including Sarah managed to pull out ten of them before they too perished. Firemen and police who arrived on the scene were reduced to tears and in a state of shock. Outside the horses, cows, sheep and pigs continued to graze and frolic in the warm sun.Such is life. May they rest in peace.

Enough is Enough

2010-02-08T15:11:00.005+03:00

Residents of Ntshawini near KwaDukuza on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast reckon they are tired of asking officials to install speed control measures on this notorious stretch of road. This morning they tore up road signs and threw rocks at cars and then blockaded the road with rubble, rubbish and poles.This after the death of two children who were knocked down by cars yesterday. They say there have been so many hit and runs over the years with no prosecutions. The fire department under a heavy police escort hosed most of the rubbish off the road by midday.

Slowly but Surely

2010-01-19T00:02:00.002+03:00

Durban's new beachfront is grinding painfully along. City fathers promise all will be complete in time for the football. Beautiful wide paved promenades stretching for seven kilometers will be the envy of the world. Strollers cyclists and joggers will eventually have their day. Out with low bush's and Australian trees and in with palms and wide open spaces. Begone greasy vendors like the Excell and Starfish restaurants..tear them down and start afresh. Let there be no place to hide. In the meantime kids use the giant sandbags that will become the foundations of the paved walk ways as jumping gyms. Some benches face directly onto hoardings but soon all will be revealed. Now if someone can just stop that darned east wind from depositing tons of sand on the new promenade.

Man with a mission

2010-01-02T19:31:00.004+03:00

One man one wheel seems to be the mantra of one Geoff Brink. He is attempting to cycle from Durban to Cape Town a mere 1 700 kms on his 36" unicycle. Why? To raise awareness for landmine victims. Yes folks can you believe some fiend sits in a workshop/factory somewhere and designs a device that when stood on leaps out the ground and takes your face off. Nice people us humans aren't we. Follow the tour and see the man with no face at www.fredhatman.co.za

End of An Era

2009-12-21T16:59:00.001+03:00

The Lady that the media sometimes called Ms Beetroot/garlic et al has succumbed. Dr Mantombazana Tshabalala-Msimang fondly remembered by some as Manto died of liver failure. The same liver that was transplanted into her two years ago from a young teenager. At the memorial service in Durban speaker after political speaker waxed on about her many achievements. This included speaking fluent Russian to helping the poor. Little mention was made of her AIDS stance on ARV's. Bizarrely one HIV pos lady went to the podium and addressed the packed city hall and praised Manto for her work in the AIDS environment. Strangely there were no speakers from the families of the alleged thousands who were denied the life saving drugs during the Manto/Mbeki reign. Another speaker claimed that he never heard of any death due to Manto's policies. A bit like Alice in Wonderland. I personally will always remember her for freeing up my sensitive asthmatic lungs with her bans on smokers in public places. May she rest in peace.

Floods and Droughts

2009-12-20T13:23:00.003+03:00

They came they talked they argued they fought they got loaded into police vans. There was plenty of action as well as inaction at Copenhagen depending on which side you stood. I wondered how many of the protesters had flown there or used other means of transport that made their own contribution to the CO2 emissions. Still I guess they meant well. I heard one of the young protest delegates from a first world country saying the solution was simply to stop buying stuff. I assume she meant other than food and medicine. I once read about an experiment where one did not buy any new item barring food and medicine for a period of about six months to a year. In the meantime back at the Durban ranch a group of children from the Merebank area sang and danced and did their own little protest. As far as I am aware it was the only one in my area. The rest of us simply got on with burning fossil fuels.

Wet and Wild

2009-12-01T13:38:00.002+03:00

So finally the new Soccer stadium built for the world cup was opened.Two local teams played each other and a total of 22 000 fans were allowed into the 50 000 plus venue. Touted as a dry run it was anything but. In typical Durban summer fashion there was a steady gentle rain falling throughout the day. No expense was spared on this state of the art stadium and nearly R3 billion later it was all systems go. As I stood on the fourth level well back from the covered roof I wondered why everything was sopping wet including the fancy new work station areas for journalists. I looked up and a gentle fine spray fell from the now covered roof. Maybe the stadium was designed for Durban's winters when there is very little rain ...who knows? If I had coughed up R3b I would want some answers.

Home Sweet Home

2009-11-27T15:40:00.005+03:00

A young man repeatedly battles to get an ID document from the state. He needs the ID to get a job which he has been offered. They say he has no birth certificate, tear up his application papers and chase him away. He goes home to his shack and hangs himself. Apart from the tragic suicide this is a common occurrence in SA when one deals with Home Affairs officials. After this all hell breaks loose. The officials are fired, the national minister arrives and before you know it the red carpet is rolled out. The sister is presented with a brand new fully furnished home (donated by "local businessmen") and everyone puts on a brave face. They even present her with a brand new birth certificate and ID book of her now deceased brother. A convey of over a hundred vehicles including ambulances, medical staff and security attends the hand over. Never a dull moment in SA.

Almost there

2009-11-18T22:23:00.003+03:00

After driving home through Durban's Warwick Triangle for the past 38 years I wonder if I will miss the buzz on the ground. Come April 2010 I will soar with the eagles or maybe just the pigeons thanks to the World Cup Soccer. Wonder how long until some fool does literally fly off this amazing piece of engineering. Hope not.

Suffer the children

2009-11-17T11:32:00.006+03:00

For years there have been mysterious deaths at this modern hospital in Phoenix near Durban. Health minister after health minister have done the rounds but still the babies keep dying. Locals protest about everything from nepotism to corruption and mount regular marches to the hospital. Nothing happens.... Enquiries and commissions are established but thus far no results have been produced. Just another day in SA. In the latest march protesters vowed to give the Mahatma Gandhi hospital six months to produce answers and there after court action will be taken. Don't hold your breath! (Update Mar 2010 Guess what nothing happened except a 15 yr old who accompanied a sick 11 yr old gets raped in the hospital by one of the staff)

Litter

2009-10-26T12:45:00.006+03:00

Yesterday I walked from Umhlanga Rocks to Durban along the beach. A distance of 15kms. The last five kms before the Umgeni river is pretty isolated and part of a nature reserve. This also means there are no regular cleanups of the beach. One passes endless debris that has been washed up from our consumerist society. Much is probably from the Umgeni river.Over time the worlds oceans have been covered with this junk and now marine animals are dying at a rapid rate. If you have the stomach for more of these horrific photos then take a look at http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=11 I rest my case

And now for something completely Different

2009-10-15T21:59:00.006+03:00

Today I took a ride on my old XT 250 to the Inanda Dam. My friend Budgie accompanied me on his trusty Chinese bike. Just as well as my GPS co ords told me to travel in the opposite direction. (and these were supplied to me by a pilot) We had come to see the opening of the "Worlds first Zero Carbon Home for AIDS orphans" A young couple from the UK decided to reinvent the wheel. The result is rather startling at first. A double story thatched hut using the finest materials powered by a wind turbine and solar heaters. Five AIDS orphans will soon take up residence here looked after by a house mother. They will taken to top schools by boat each day across the massive Inanda dam. A whole set of interesting dynamics could arise with the rest of the locals who will fend for themselves. Nonetheless this UK couple have put their money where their mouths are and have already adopted two of the thousands of orphans that South Africa has. Want to know more go to http://www.project-o.org/ Watch this space for a short video clip to follow.

Smoke on the Water

2009-10-05T21:57:00.006+03:00

They came they played and they had a good time. Nearly a thousand guitar players ranging from tots to ballies (mature men) thrashed away to the classic Deep Purple rock hit "Smoke on the Water" The idea was to set a new world record for most guitars playing one song. Seems like the current holders Deutzland will retain the title for now but be warned "we haff vays unt means" next year this motly lot vowed to re gather and re tune to bring the record to South Africa. Yours truly managed to bust a string during the mayhem while thrashing away. I'll be back!

(If the video is not working try the links to my videos at the top right)

Up She Rises

2009-08-07T12:21:00.006+03:00

Durban's new multi billion rand soccer stadium dominates for miles. Looking like some giant UFO that landed it has already drawn plenty of controversy. Ratepayers are worried what will happen after the chaps that kick balls around have returned to their countries. Plans for a gym and speciality shops have been touted. Tourists will also be able to ride a funicular to the top of the arch for a 360 degree view of Durban. Only time will tell.

Horses for Courses

2009-08-06T12:00:00.004+03:00

Not quite the Durban July but that did not deter thousands of rural folk from rocking up to the Dundee showgrounds. Now in it's third year these rural racing gigs are proving popular. Some may not have saddles and the horses are a little suspect but these young jockeys know how to get around a track. They come from as far as neighbouring Lesotho dressed in their traditional blankets riding their traditional ponies. This year the fashion sizzled with everything from modern to the traditional.

Beirut by the sea

2009-07-21T13:46:00.006+03:00

Not to worry all be be complete for the massive influx of tourists come the 2010 world cup. Right now though Addington beach looks like a set for a war movie. The old life guard building is being demolished and the beach has disappeared under a mountain of sand as foundations consisting of 8 meters of stacked sandbags are being laid for the new promenade. In the mean time surfing icon Shaun Thompson was summoned to the city managers office for a chat on the status of Durban's beaches. What with ever diminishing waves some claim because of sand being washed away because of the open pier designs and one of the premier surfing competitions the Mr Price Pro migrating up the coast to Ballito for the next three years I'm sure there was plenty to share a cup of tea over. Would love to be a fly on the wall at that meeting!

Doctors on the March

2009-05-29T18:50:00.000+03:00

May 29 2009 History was made as thousands of doctors nationwide downed stethoscopes and took to the streets. I spoke to a patient who could only hop on one leg and had the use of one arm after a motor bike accident. He had elected to go home as there were no doctors to help him with further ops. He was fully behind the strike and said conditions at King Edward Hospital were real bad. The government has since upped some of the wages but many doctors are still not happy with conditions and vow there could be further action at any time. In the meantime SA's brand new subs costing billions lie mostly idle due to lack of suitable crew and other technical problems.

Up to Speed (At last)

2009-05-28T18:10:00.006+03:00

At last. A strange but welcome animal burrowed its way under the beach and jungle to come to rest in a smart new building. The quiet fishing town of Umtinzini on the KZN North coast is probably still unaware of this tiny hair like creature that has berthed here. Fact is, this tiny hair is actually a fibre optic cable that can carry massive amounts of data. Internet usage has just taken one giant step in Africa. As I stood and looked in awe at all the buzzing gizmos and goodies inside the purpose built cable station I couldn't help wondering how many more of us Africans will get addicted to the now non flickering screens of our charged up computers. Doctors will be able to perform live ops on instruction via the net and scholars will have access to the worlds databases in an instant.It will also open up reams of porno and on line movies to a new generation. No more sitting down by the river side and gossiping while collecting the days water. The Internet has arrived big time and all will soon be one global village thanks to this hair like creature.( Update Nov 2009..I am still waiting for the rush)

Fruit & Veg

2009-05-27T15:19:00.004+03:00

They have been there for the past ninety nine years. Stalls passed down from father to son/daughter. Durban's early morning market is something of an institution. The city fathers have other plans. Lets smash it down and build a shopping mall with national chain stores inside. We'll remove these people and plonk them in a disused shed nearby. None of them will be able to afford the new rents and hopefully they'll just go home and leave us alone. Meanwhile back at the ranch the aging grannies and Aunties hitched up their saris and marched on the city managers office down at the town hall. Lucky for him he had left the country. They sang chanted and perspired in the midday sun. Eventually one of the appointed suits emerged and accepted their memorandum. Promises were made to give them a week or twos grace before the bulldozers moved in. In the meantime international organisations have stepped in and the fight continues. Just another day in our new and fragile democracy

Update Nov 2009 After a "Rent a Crowd" using massive advertising attracted about 100 people who were for the demolition of the market the Early Morning Market traders turned out in mass force on 18 Nov in a further march to City Hall demanding the market be retained)

"Dr Livingstone I presume"

2009-05-14T13:36:00.008+03:00

So the last of the great white explorers sets off on another great African expedition. This time there are no local bearers to carry the whiskey over the great plains of Africa. Instead powerful metal beasts consuming vast amounts of fuel will tour across nine countries distributing soccer balls and chalk to mark out football fields. The Humanitarian and Community Objectives will be - Ongoing “Right to Sight”, One Net One Life Malaria Prevention and Teaching on the Edge Programmes. With dedicated TV crews filming every turn of the wheel sponsors are keen to get their product on international and local TV screens. Such a pity that that the biggest tobacco company in South Africa, British American Tobacco have their logo and name plastered over the expedition vehicles. In what is supposed to be a humanitarian cause I wonder if the participants pause to ponder how many premature painful deaths their sponsor has caused in Africa. With tobacco advertising banned in South Africa this is one of the only ways to still push out the companies killer products. Shame on you lot! Follow these modern day "adventurers" at http://www.boundlesssa.com/en/

Harley Davidson

2009-05-05T12:30:00.001+03:00

Way back in 1903 I wonder if this Harley fellow would have envisioned that his followers would one day gather in mass at the seaside town of Margate in South Africa. Thousands pitched up to admire and covert these once again sought after machines. After taking a serious dip some years ago the Harley brand has once again resurrected itself with a wide range of models. Appealing to a more mature (and well healed) rider these machines with their distinctive exhaust sound are now a common sight on South African roads. Each bike was meticulous and I'm sure many of them sleep in the lounges of their owners. Not surprising when some cost more than your average car. The first Africa Bike Week was certainly a humdinger.

Would you buy a used car from these people

2009-04-24T10:45:00.004+03:00

They came they saw they conquered. The masses made their mark and now are sitting back waiting for their lives to change. Wouldn't it be nice if the the new president reached out to all in SA on his inaugural speech. How about "lets all work together to lift South Africa from the doldrums and take on the worlds sinking economy". How about stamping out crime and going for the big one.... international tourism. 2010 is around the corner and what an opportunity going begging. Sadly many voters voted as they have been promised more grants and benefits. Trouble is with a shrinking tax base where will the billions come from. The government spokesperson Jessie Duarte instead accuses the South Africans abroad as being right wing because they voted for opposition parties. I guess Europe and the USA took hundreds of years to reach their democratic status so we have to be patient.

Humble Abode

2009-04-20T11:18:00.004+03:00

This is the rural home of Jacob Zuma soon to be made president of South Africa. Nkandla is located in the Zululand district and even in winter the sun shines warmly here. Consisting of a number of thatched residences for the various wives and offspring it looks like a tourist lodge. Outside the police protected kraal Africa continues as it always does. Goats climb trees for tidbits and the ever present litter blows across the dry earth. Poor neighbours living off government grants are convinced that a Zuma presidency will have a trickle down effect on their impoverished lives. Strangely the Zuma abode was practically deserted with family members preferring to gravitate to the bright city lights and using the traditional home merely for special occasions.

Another one bites the Dust

2009-03-11T15:53:00.003+03:00

The Ocean Conference Centre on Durban's beachfront goes under the hammer. All part of the cities new open beachfront look. The city fathers are promising a new modern restaurant once the dust has settled. Wonder if they will serve oats porridge for early breakfast like the old one did.

Every Five Years

2009-03-09T11:12:00.003+03:00

It's election time in South Africa. This means politicians hit the road, hold babies and press hands. The president himself does the rounds and what better place than the grave site of Albert Luthuli one of the founding fathers of the ANC to start. The church and grounds looked immaculate after a quick spruce up for the pres's quick visit and the solemn occasion was marked by a short prayer and the laying of flowers. Then it was onto the serious business of convincing the locals that if the ruling party was once again returned their lives would all be improved. In this case it is easy for the present incumbent to make promises as he is number two on the list and could easily take retirement instead of facing up to the voters.

Cope with Zuma?

2009-02-20T16:21:00.004+03:00

As I am in Cape Town on family business I have been neglecting this blog. On my many trips visiting Groote Schuur hospital I snapped this sign above a book shop. I get the idea that Cape Town people do not take politics as serious as those in KZN.

Blood River

2008-12-16T16:34:00.004+03:00

170 years ago the Boers promised their God that if He spared them from being massacared by the Zulus they would build a church and forever honour the day. Well the Boers superior firepower triumphed over the Zulus spears. Legend has it the river ran red with blood. Today the two groups will still not commemorate the day together. The Boers claim it is a day of prayer for them while the Zulus engage in cultural affairs like singing and dancing. The solid brass wagons will no doubt be around for some time. An attempt was made to build a bridge between the two monuments but only the pillars stand while the waters gently flow past for probably another one hundred and seventy years.

Sailorboy

2008-12-14T12:33:00.005+03:00

Ever since the first human floated off the land and ventured out to sea the lure of the ocean has continued to this day. Sixteen year old Zac Sunderland set off from California exactly six months ago. He wants to be the worlds youngest sailor to circumnavigate the planet as a solo sailor. Apart from storms at sea Zac has to keep his eyes open for modern day pirates who wouild hapily relieve him of his techinical gear on board. Zac told me that his mother took him straight from the maternity hospital to the family yacht. when I asked him about schooling he said he was taking a "gap year". I'm sure his current education in crossing the globe will far outweigh sitting in a classroom in California. Zac has been lined up for all the top TV shows and documentary programmes. He will be taking a Christmas break and fly back to the USA before continuing his journey. You can follow Zacs adventures at his blog http://www.zacsunderland.com/blog/index.html

Choppers

2008-12-12T17:09:00.004+03:00

Helicopters are great for getting to remote places quickly. They might seem glamourous to some but sitting for up to two hours in a confined noisy space soon loses the glitz. In this case we flew to the Swaziland border to cover a story on land re distribution which is always contentious. Sugar farms in the Pongola region have been bought out by the government. Selected tennants are then placed on these farms and given a chance to make them work. So far even by the governments admittance many have failed and once productive farms are in ruins. This time they feel they will succeed with more mentoring programs in place. After three years the co ops take over the farms. One can only wait and see. In the meantime SA continues to import food for the first time.

AIDS Day

2008-12-01T17:09:00.002+03:00

Busi Mhlongo still knows how to belt out a song or two. She was doing her thing for world AIDS day in Durban.The politicians were there in full force telling the selected audience to use condoms and in general behave themselves. The new minister of health Barbara Hogan did not once mention eating beetroot and garlic to stave off this killer pandemic. Once the speeches were over the masses were given polystyrene containers of food while the "VIPS" retreated across the road to the Expo centre for a proper sit down meal.With about 7.6 million citizens of South Africa infected there is plenty of work ahead for the various health departments. Maybe they believe in what Napolean had to say.."An army marches on its stomach"

Against all odds

2008-11-25T17:06:00.001+03:00

Asha Motala cuts a demure figure as she poses with her trophy. This diminutive thirteen year old managed to take on thousands of kids around South Africa and beat them all with a 100% test mark in the national science Olympiad. Asha comes from a humble family in Chatsworth. Mom is a refugee from Burma and her Dad was in exile in India. Asha said she started reading books at a young age and took on science as a special project. She would like to be a doctor one day. In her home there are the bare necessities. An old fuzzy TV and a tiny book shelf with some old encyclopedias . No computers or internet links just sheer hard work and a gifted brain. You go girl.

Birds of a feather

2008-11-18T15:33:00.004+03:00

The only place in South Africa where they breed. White-naped Cranes are native to northeastern Mongolia, northeastern China, and adjacent areas of southeastern Russia. Habitat loss and degradation are critical problems throughout the range of the White-naped Crane. Destruction of wetlands due to agricultural expansion in the breeding range poses the most significant threat. Critical habitat is also threatened by a proposed series of dams in the Amur River basin and the Three Gorges Dam in China. Fortunately for Durban residents we now have five of these rare creatures. Two babies were succesfully hatched this spring at the Umgeni bird park and mom and dad are proudly showing off their chicks to the public. The "teenage" first born has been relegated to his own pen and will eventually be swopped out to breed with other captive cranes.

July 2009 Update. Seems like Durban's famous bird park will be shut down due to lack of funds. A sad day indeed!

Justice for All?

2008-11-17T15:18:00.001+03:00

A man is accused of offering woman jobs for a fee. Together with his girlfriend the woman are then murdered and dumped in sugarcane fields. The first clue was when a dog was seen carrying a human head. Searches then revealed the bodies over a period of months. Finally the couple are brought to court. A contingent from the ANC womans league are on hand to protest the abuse of woman and children and lend their support to the victims families. A few are proudly wearing Jacob Zuma T shirts. Some might wonder at the irony of this.

Fatal Sequence of Events

2008-11-11T12:03:00.002+03:00

It all started with a tanker parked on the side of the freeway just past the Ballito turnoff on the N3 north. At about five thirty in the morning a small pick up drove into the stationary tanker killing the driver. Polive arrived on the scene and began directing traffic. Unfortunatly the police car had no flashing blue lights and a further vehicle ploughed into the scene. The policewoman redirecting traffic was hit head on and died at the scene. A further two vehicles were then involved before road traffic officials were able to block off the freeway.Two dead and five injured some seriously.

No where to go

2008-09-29T14:32:00.004+03:00

First they were hounded out of their own country. When they got to South Africa they were eventually met with a wave of zenophobia and once again had to run for their lives. Albert Park in Durban became their final refuge. They were given tents and food and encouraged to return to the Congo or the communties around Durban where they once lived. Some tried and were beaten up. Others managed to make their way back to the Congo. The tents and food supply were then removed. There is now only a small group of 56 living under plastic sheeting. They await the local authorities next move. The arrival of a TV crew gave the kids something to occupy their dull days with.(Update Oct 13 2008 Refugees are still there)

Operation Smile

2008-09-29T12:19:00.004+03:00

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For most people running a standard marathon is an exhausting affair. Two South African athletes have confounded sports scientists by completing a standard forty two kilometer marathon every day for the past three months.
David Grier and Braam Malherbe are no spring chickens but six days a week they set out each morning and run a standard marathon. They have already conquered the great wall of China and are now running the entire coast of Southern Africa - from Namibia to Mozambique. The idea is to raise funds for children with cleft pallets. Operation Smile has literally put a smile on thousands of disadvantaged children's faces who were born with cleft pallets and other facial deformities. (Update 13 Oct 2008 The intrepid two comleted the mammoth run finishing in Mozambique)

What's in a name

2008-08-13T15:01:00.002+03:00

Emergency services,police tourists and the locals will have to come to terms with Durban's new street names. To avoid confusion the council will leave the old names up for a year or so to give all a chance to memorise the new names. For some the old ones will never die and no doubt the new lengthy ones will be abbreviated into local street speak. "The times they are a changing" sang one Bob Dylan in the sixties.

Zoom Zuma

2008-08-11T11:30:00.004+03:00

South Africa's possible future president was once again fighting for his political future in the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The two day affair was to determine if the trial should indeed go ahead. Inside the court it was the same dreary affair with obscenely rich legal types sitting behind mountains of files and paperwork. Outside the court Zuma fans also stood behind paperwork, this time compliments of the Zuma support machine. No more hand drawn placards but mass produced newspaper style billboards were the order of the day. Massive sound systems conveyed the beat through the courthouse walls to remind those inside of the unfaltering support outside. Meanwhile in an adjoining road I snapped the apt sign of the local muti(medicine) man with his enticing message to cure all ailments. Maybe the future president could confer with him for a solution to his woes.

Reduced to Ash

2008-07-14T17:16:00.003+03:00

Kennedy Rd Settlement (Squatter Camp) next to Durban's main rubbish dump, (landfill site) caught fire this morning. No one can say for sure how it started but the usual suspects paraffin stove, candle etc were lined up. Once it got going the tightly packed wooden and scrap homes were soon devoured by the flames. By the time the local fire department arrived about eighty homes were reduced to ash. Some residents tried vainly to douse the flames with buckets of water to no avail. I was somewhat drenched by a fire fighters damaged hose. They told me getting their equipment to the fire is a hazardous business with illegal overhead electric cables and sharp objects that snag their extended high pressure hoses. Hundreds of people will have to find alternative accommodation tonight but will no doubt return to rebuild their shacks tomorrow. I was amazed by the acceptance of the calamity until the firemen pointed out the remains of old fires they had previously extinguished. It appears that squatter camp fires are a way of life which one has to live with. Fortunately no one was seriously injured this time.

Mass Action

2008-06-23T18:23:00.006+03:00

There were about ten thousand people who came to protest over a number of matters. Some were unhappy with the changing street names while others believed that a new history book was not fair to one of their leaders. Carrying traditional weapons they were a formidable force. In their exitement and mad waving of sticks and whips I managed to receive a few sharp reminders to keep clear of their path. A number of windows in shop fronts were smashed en route to the city hall but by and large little damage was done considering the numbers. On arrival at Durbans City Hall they handed over a memorandium to the deputy mayor stating their grievences.

New Life

2008-06-20T12:03:00.012+03:00

It's early in the morning and doctors at St Agustines hospital in Durban are busy with a unique operation in South Africa... Vertical Expandable Prosthetic Rib surgery may be a mouthful but the results are remarkable.
Professor Carol Hasler a Swiss based surgeon explains "WE LENGTHEN THE SPINE WITH THE HELP OF A TELESCOPIC ROD WHICH IS CALLED A TITANIUM RIB AND FIX IT TO THE RIB AND TO THE SPINE OR THE PELVIS DEPENDING ON THE DEFORMITY."

Seven year old Londiwe Dlangamandla was the first to go under the knife. The titanium "ribs" will be adjusted every six months with a minor op and eventualy the patient will be able to walk upright. The "ribs" cost R24 000 each. The op took two hours and that morning three young patients were fitted out.

Fishy Tales

2008-06-12T19:57:00.006+03:00

Each year this time for some unknown reason millions of little fish otherwise known as sardines make their way over a thousand kilometers up South Africa's east coast. Those that survive the sharks, dolphins and gannets have another hurdle to cross... Humans are waiting eagerly for them on the beaches of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Ski boats encircle them and drag them onto the beach in huge nets. Here other humans lose all control and grab as many as they can spilling from the licenced seine nets. Most are used for bait to catch more of our dwindling marine reserves with the rest devoured. Again and again the boats launch until the hapless fish are no more. They are carried away in crates still struggling to free themselves but to no avail. Ironically its called "The Greatest Shoal on Earth" Even this patroling dusky shark was caught by a game fishermen who posed for the camera then released the thrashing animal to cheers from the crowd.
Enjoy it while it lasts.

Dog Day

2008-06-08T10:01:00.001+03:00

Every dog has its day and today it was the turn of the mutts of Mafakathini a rural township near Howick in the Kwa Zulu- Natal Midlands. It was billed as dog show with a difference with all comers catered for.
The freezing cold and wet conditions were not going to deter over one hundred dogs and their owners from taking part in the fourth Hills Township dog show. From compact sporty types to sleek aristocrats they were all welcomed. Each dog was given a new lead and collar before undergoing a through examintaion by a team of vets. Rabies inoculations, deworming, pampering and powdering became the order of the day. The local schools classrooms were turned into lecture rooms for the bemused dogs and their keen owners.The show aims to encourage a sence of pride and appreciation of dogs and help reduce neglect, ignorance and cruelty.

SPCA officials confirmed that there has been a signigicant improvement in the welfare of animals where previous dog shows and clinics have been held in rural areas.

Needs a little TLC

2008-06-06T14:47:00.005+03:00

This is Addington Primary school. It is located on Durban's famous Golden Mile. This week the kids marched from the Point Police station to the school to highlight crime and child abuse. There are about three hundred foreign kids at the school. Some stayed home during the recent zenophobic attacks. Chatting to the principle I discovered that their main problems are the neglect of the school buildings. Roofs leak, ceilings have collapsed and lice from birds nesting in the ceiling fall on the learners. They need to find 2 million to repair the roof. Most parents cannot afford the meagre school fees. In the background are new luxuary apartments with starting prices of 2 million. Alongside is the multi million rand uShaka theme park. The adjoining Point development is costing in excess of 1 billion rands. Next door kids continue to scratch the lice from their bodies. The Department of Education says the school should be thankful they have windows. (Update Oct 2008. Roof has been repaired)

Justice (Part One)

2008-06-03T10:26:00.003+03:00

Jessica Foord a young girl from Hillcrest was gang raped by five men a few months ago. (See "Sad Day" blog) Yesterday she braved the TV cameras and told the world how she felt after the first conviction and sentencing. "I DON'T THINK JUSTICE CAN EVER BE SERVED, BUT I THINK THE SENTENCE HE GOT WAS OK, COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE PLUS FOREVER."

The judge said the accused showed no remorse for his action, but confessed only to save his own skin.The teenager was sentenced to ten years on the count of robbery, and 17 years for rape. The sentences will run concurrently. Eight years will be served at a juvenile rehabilitation centre.The judge commended Jessicca Ford for her bravery and courage.Foord says the sentence will give hope to other women, not to keep quiet about rape. The other four accused are due to appear at the Durban High Court later this Month.

Unsung Hero

2008-05-22T22:21:00.002+03:00

By pure fluke I was standing on the banks of the Umgeni today when I noticed a small team of litter collectors. When they finally heaved their bags up the steep embankment I asked who they represented. “I’m just a private citizen” said a modest Craig Dunn.” I got tired of driving by here each day and viewing all the litter. Today I brought three of my staff and in one and a half hours we picked up sixty bags of litter”
Now there’s dedication for you. Well done! ( See "Drowning in Rubbish" below)

Bin It?

2008-05-19T15:06:00.003+03:00

The Durban Metro has kindly placed these bins for recyled materials on their premier beach. An odd place one would think as who comes to the beach with their spare cardboard plastic and tins. Although they are clearly marked it appears that many people remain illiterate. If one takes a peek in the bins each one is filled with the same gooey mixture of polystyrene fast food cartons, tin cans, plastic bottles and other unmentionables. A strange world we live in indeed

Snakes Alive

2008-05-16T11:32:00.004+03:00

Durban's Fitzsimons Snake Park has been around for seventy years. As a young boy growing up in the Eastern Cape I used to catch snakes and send them by train to the park for pocket money. This week the Sherrif of the court issued them with an eviction notice. Apparently the city had warned the owners a year ago that the building would be demolished as part of the beacfront renewal plan. For some reason this was not communicated to the staff running the park. They now have three days to relocate four thousand animals from mice to pythons and crocs. I wonder if the adjoining beach will retain the Snake Park name. What a shame the beautiful wall mural pictured above will probably end up on a landfill site. "The times they certainly are a changing! "

Where's Polly Gone

2008-05-13T21:58:00.003+03:00

The Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus)is in trouble. Trouble is there are only about 1 000 of these wild birds left in the entire world. So each year a dedicated band of bird lovers go out in the freezing cold and attempt to count what's left of these rare birds. This year I joined these happy campers and went in search of this noisy bird. The main problem is as usual loss of habitat. Our pioneering forefathers were probably singing a version of Monty Pythons "I'm a Lumberjack song when they decimated massive forests of yellow wood trees so the gentile folk of towns like Pietermaritzburg could have nice wooden floors and furniture. Cape Parrots only nest and feed in old yellow wood trees. Hundreds more were captured for collectors to keep in cages around the world. Today a breeding pair can easily fetch R120 000. We eventually found a small flock (50-60) of these birds feasting on exotic pecan nut trees in the Bulwer area of South Africa. Filming them was no easy task but with patience and much strain on the old neck muscles we got the shots. Hopefully the numbers are stable for now but the day that endangered "tick" is removed from their species is a long way off.

(One week Later)
IOL Myrtle Ryan May 18 2008

Six men who cut down 86 yellowwood trees - some as old as 500 years - in the Gongqo-Gongqo State Forest near Umzimkulu in 2001, were given stiff jail sentences this week. Victor Terblanche, 65, and his sons Morne, 35, and Pierre, 39, were sentenced to an effective eight years' imprisonment, while their accomplices, Chief Wilson Ntlabathi, 66, Eric Sithole, 58, and Siphiwe Satywa, 68, received effective five-year jail terms. Chairperson of the KZN Wildlife Crime Working Group Rod Potter said "This case is the first of its kind in the country, both in the magnitude of the offence and seriousness of the damage to the forest, comparable to environmental rape" .

Fishy Stories

2008-04-29T00:02:00.005+03:00

Durban’s Bay has seen many incarnations. Hundreds of years ago it teamed with hippo and crocs. Then came the city of Durban and the bay became the harbour after much dredging and modifying. River courses were altered and the cities storm water drains now empty their load of litter into one of Africa’s busiest harbours. In all this time fishermen have been allowed to ply their trade here in ever decreasing and restricted zones, some for recreation and for others their livelihood. Not even shark attacks have kept them from fishing this rich harvest of food. Nine eleven was the turning point for them. New security legislation deemed these people a possible threat. First the boats were banned and then anyone fishing from the shore. On Sunday 27 April a gathering of fishermen defied the authorities and threw out their lines from the shore. A group of bored looking water police ignored them and cruised away in their naval patrol boat.

29/04/08 Latest...Seems like the boats can still fish for now and no action will be taken against the shore fishermen for a while)

Drowning in Rubbish

2008-04-08T09:56:00.000+03:00

I was sent on a story looking for dead fish from a recent sewerage spill in the Umgeni River near the Athlone Bridge. No dead fish (probably eaten by birds) but mountains of rubbish and litter washed down by the river waiting to be deposited on Durbans "Golden Mile" As thousands of commuters rushed over the bridge encapsulated in their cars I wondered how many were aware of their modern lifestyles and how this was impacting on the environment. To get to the river one has to clambour down a steep bank and walk through sticky mud so I guess only desperate fishermen, hobos and the like venture into this world of plastic debris. Oddly enough there is still a vibrant bird life on the Umgeni mud flats who happily forage amongst the garbage looking for food.

Splashy Fen

2008-04-05T17:31:00.000+03:00

Mud Glorious Mud turned Splashy Fen into Splushy Fen for the first two days. The sun then appeared and 9 000 party animals did their thing. With over seventy bands ranging from folk singers to hard core rock there was never going to be a dull moment. The Splashy atmosphere is hard to describe and one needs to be there to experience it. There is an overall sense of relaxation and peace. It is a small capsule away from the constant crime and violence that sometimes plagues SA. I guess it is simply a bunch of people who all have the same intentions. Have a good time and chill. Next year will be the 20th anniversary and promises to be a biggie.

Sad Day

2008-03-09T22:09:00.000+03:00

A 21 year old Hillcrest girl is gang raped in front of her tied up father while they were walking their dogs at a nearby dam. A private investigator easily tracks down five of the seven alleged rapists within days of the crime. Up to a thousand people arrive at the initial court hearing to make their voices heard. From schoolgirls singing Amazing Grace" to heavies in bandanas with megaphones, they were all there. In the meantime the police having got wind of the protest had simply switched the planned court date to the previous day. When the crowd found out they vented their frustration and anger on any police vehicle arriving at the court gates and rocked them off their wheels. They then proceeded to the Hillcrest police station where the offenders were being held and blocked roads and shouted death threats to the nearby holding cells. The police threatened some of them with arrest but gave up when the entire mob demanded to be arrested and thrown into the same cells with the alleged rapists. Part two will play out at the next appearence in a few weeks. Never a dull moment!!

Strange but True

2008-03-04T23:15:00.000+03:00

This school yard is normally full of noisy kids doing their thing. Last Thursday about eighty out of 450 were suddenly smitten by a mystery ailment. They were vomiting had stomach cramps head aches and skin irritations. One collapsed and was airlifted to hospital. The governing body took action and closed the school. After three days no one had come to check what the problem was with rumours from toxic substances in the air to toxic chemicals in the air con. I stepped into the suspect class but it just smelt musty from being closed up. Some parents vowed not to let their kids back until the culprit was found. Some guys did apparently arrive to take air samples. All most odd!

Road Carnage

2008-03-03T21:00:00.000+03:00

I was called to a scene of horror first thing this morning. A bakkie carrying ten people was travelling on the north bound freeway when the driver lost control. In a bid to avoid the bakkie, a Fiat Palio heading in the same direction also lost control. Both cars then went across the centre medium and into the south bound lane. The bakkie then collidied head on with a red Citi Golf, before flying down a steep embankment.The bakkie landed about 25m from the south bound freeway. Two occupants of the Golf died on impact and fire fighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate them. Another eight people from the bakkie were declared dead at the scene. The scene inside the Golf will haunt me for some time. All this after two days ago I witnessed a cyclist being hit head on by a car who flew through the air then landed in front of me bleeding profusly and with a broken neck. Managed to apply a bandage to the wound until the ambulance arrived. His bike was in two pieces. Just another day at the office. (above: eTV crew do their thing)

Hijack

2008-02-18T14:37:00.000+03:00

Someone must have talked! These two baddies hijack a car then collect three more thugs and head off for an unpleasant mornings shopping. However waiting for them at the Marianhill Toll Plaza is half of Durban’s special police. When one character reaches for the cubby hole (glove compartment) they shoot his thumb off. The five are then unceremoniously thrown into the back of a police van to bake in the sun and atone for their evil deeds while forensic staff leisurely comb the hijacked car for evidence. Two loaded hand guns with serial numbers numbers filed off are found. No doubt they will be back on the street on bail soon as they await their trial.

Sticks and Stones

2008-02-12T16:35:00.000+03:00

I am really struggling to get my head around the problems on our campuses. Today a small bunch of students (200) at UKZN's Howard college marched around the campus and forced students out of some of the lecture rooms. When I tried to film I was warned by a young girl that they would attack me. I called her one side and asked how it was that a small minority could control a large majority. She reckoned that if she could not study then no one else should either. I then chatted to the "evicted" students and they said they were scared of the weapons (sticks knobkerries etc) some of the protesters were carrying so they abandoned their lectures. Grievances are over accommodation admittance and fees.

Free electricity

2008-02-06T16:06:00.000+03:00

The current electricity crisis in South Africa has caused a mad scramble for alternative sources of power. The tourism and hospitality industry have been particularly hard hit with many having to install generators to keep their customers happy. A small resort in the Drakensberg that has been self sufficient for all their power needs for the past four years is wondering what all the fuss is about. iKhayalamafu (Home in the Clouds) is adjacent to Monks Cowl in the central Drakensberg. It is well known to hikers and nature lovers for its scenic beauty and wide variety of flora and fauna. Four years ago Paul Brogan left the world of engineering with a major corporate and bought iKhayalamafu consisting of ninety acres of land including strong mountain streams. He investigated the feasibility of a joint solar and hydro scheme to power his small resort.
A small hydro electric generator that was sourced in Vietnam only requires nine litres of water per second to produce the two hundred and thirty volts required to charge an array of batteries where the power is stored. An inverter then converts the stored battery power up to 220v AC required for domestic use. Backing this up is a large solar panel in case of drought.
The solar hydro combination provides ample power for all the resorts electrical appliances and home comforts. Paul has calculated that even with a complete hydro and solar failure he has enough power for a week. Computer and Internet connections are via satellite allowing guests to make online bookings at any time. Even large washing machines required for the resorts laundry have enough power.

Litter

2008-01-28T23:37:00.000+03:00

It was back to work today after a six week break. First assignment was to travel to the city of Pietermaritzburg to find out why half of the three thousand participants in the worlds biggest canoe race became ill after and during the race. Seems like the city's sewer system can no longer cope with the rapidly expanding population and semi treated sewerage is entering the famous Umzinduzi river. As one of our erstwhile ministers commented recently on the power outages " We are victims of our own success". Does this mean citizens will be asked to restrict their visits to the loo in future? As I stood next to the river I wondered why it was that many South Africans are unable to use the ample bins provided and prefer to throw their rubbish outside these receptacles.

Poms Revisited

2008-01-23T23:40:00.000+03:00

Durban's NSA Art Gallery was purpose built for the trendy art set in town. The architects thoughtfully included an open garden area where people could sit and take in the great summer evenings. At the last members exhibition opening I had the chance to hear the South Jersy Pom Poms again. This time I could hear them and take a few pix. The waffle brigade were suitable spread out on the open lawns and the music lovers amongst us gravitated towards the band who were in fine form.

Praying Mantis

2008-01-21T23:51:00.000+03:00

My last week of leave so lots more time (especially during the power cuts) to observe the strange creatures I find in my garden. This Praying Mantis reminded me of some prehistoric monster. Imagine being ripped apart by those fearsome claws.

Poms and waffle

2008-01-13T23:05:00.001+03:00

It's been a while since I attended a CD launch. I think the last one was Scooters Union at the Bat centre some years ago. Anyhow the South Jersey Pom Poms had a nice ring to it so I braved the Durban Beachfront by night and paid the twenty bucks to get in to the venue. The Blue Waters Hotel was an ideal setting for this mellow group of musos who hark back to a bygone era. There were a few tables and chairs and I was pleased to see the audience was for the most part a mature one ( I thought). After an hour or so the band ambled onto the stage and after a brief intro they launched into some of their songs. The Pom Poms are almost an acoustic band with singer Eva Jackson from the Francois Hardy singing school. No yelling or shouting. By now the audience had swelled considerably and many appeared to be there to chat and waffle to their mates. Some didn't even bother looking at the band but proceeded to catch up on all their festive antics. The sound system was no match for these waffle machines. At the first break I ran off into the steamy night clutching the CD I had bought on entering and popped it into my car system. What bliss as the smooth mellow sounds gently lulled me home. Still beats me that their fans could be so insensitive on this special occasion.

Old Wrecks

2008-01-13T22:24:00.001+03:00

Spent New Years near the Berg at a guest farm. Just outside the village of Bulwer we came across this wreck in the veld. I wondered what stories this car could tell. We then ambled through the local grave yard attached to a quaint Yellowood church and tried to match some of the 100 year old names to the car. Who knows?

Choppers

2007-12-14T23:22:00.000+03:00

For some its a lifelong passion. Take a 1600cc customised bike engine and build a frame around it. Add a few extras and be prepared to write out a cheque for half a million rands. I was covering a car show at a local casino and came across these hand built choppers. One was dedicated to the local Sharks rugby team. Each part including a realistic shark fin on the tail had been hand made albeit some with the aid of computer technology. These machines became so powerful one could not apply full power on take off for fear of shredding the belt drive. The problem was solved by transfering power via a separate drive belt from the engine to the gear box. (thanks Mr Jee) They should really be displayed in an art gallery alongside the more mundane works of oil and pastels. I will be taking a break over the festive season so this blog will probably be a lot quieter as I attend to my overgrown jungle at home.

Christmas Shopping

2007-12-14T01:00:00.000+03:00

Need some extra cash for Christmas. Why not hit a convenient cash exchange office next to one of Durban's top shopping centers.

A brazen gang took on the Musgrave Centre office block but had to hand back the $90 000 they took after stabbing staff and holding up an unguarded office. Two baddies were grabbed by police and one took his chances to behave like superman and jumped from a seventh floor window. After breaking a leg he was overheard telling the ambulance man to call his grandfather and tell him there would be no turkey on the menu this Christmas. Terrence Stone from eTV news was on hand to capture the action.

Lunch Time Music

2007-12-05T04:00:00.000+03:00

Every two weeks the Durban Playhouse hosts a freebee concert in their Grand Foyer. The idea is to give local musos and performers a platform for exposure. This year alone 600 wannabes have strutted their stuff to appreciative audiences. Today was the grand finale and the lunch time crowd was treated to everything from traditional isiZulu singers to dudes playing John Lennon songs. Never a dull moment in this town!

Surf City

2007-12-03T03:00:00.000+03:00

Durban is not called “Surf City” for nothing. It is host to a number of top rated international surfing competitions. Hard to believe that for years the Gunston 500 was the surfing event in South Africa. I never once saw a surfer smoking a Gunston while riding the waves. What a bizarre concept to set fire to a bunch of dried weeds and then place them in you mouth. Anyhow I digress. Today saw the finals of the Roxy Wahine cup which is SA’s biggest surf event for girls. Commercialism being what it is the event is held at a prominent Casino not known for great surf. Surf veteran Heather Clerk knows a thing or two about waves and took home the winners purse of R10 000 . I quote from the interview I did with her.

“I was the oldest in my heat. all the others were fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. they gave me a run for my money. the day I have my walking stick on the beach is the day I'll give up surfing.”

Budds

2007-12-02T23:10:00.000+03:00

One of Durban’s best kept secrets lies hidden amongst the hustle and bustle of Durbans harbour. “Budds on the Bay” offers some of the finest foods one can find in Durban.. If you stroll down from the deck of Budds there is a great view of some rustic old yachts hidden amongst the last remaining mangroves of Durban. Well worth a visit just watch out for the container trucks on Bayhead road.

Mercs and Trolleys

2007-11-30T02:37:00.000+03:00

I had just collected a repaired company vehicle from probably one of Durban’s most elite car dealers. Mercedes Benz, Jeep, Chrysler etc. Very chic showrooms with fancy coffee shops for their clients. Outside in the parking area I noticed this local supermarket trolley being used by the gardening service as a makeshift wheelbarrow. Thought it rather ironic that with the millions of dollars worth of high tech cars around me that a humble plastic supermarket trolley complete with logo had been hijacked for a higher purpose.

Pantomime Season

2007-11-28T23:00:00.000+03:00

It's Pantomime season in Durban and the public have a number of choices. If you are into the drag scene then Robin Hood might tantalize your eye buds. The unending legs of one Anthony Stonier are on display at the Seabrookes Theatre while across town at the Playhouse children try and figure out how the magic carpet ride is done in Aladdin . The kids are also wondering why an obvious girl is playing the part of Aladdin. At least they have been drawn away from their play stations and video games to be exposed to traditional theatre on a grand scale.

Durban Theatre Awards

2007-11-27T22:17:00.000+03:00

The Durban Theatre Awards is an annual event to recognize new and existing theatre talent in Durban. There is a hard core of regulars that scoop up the main prizes year after year. An impassioned plea was made by Aaron McGillroy for the arts community to unite and move forward. Not too sure how this would be achieved though. Many professional actors are forced to take on corporate gigs to survive. It never ceases to amaze me how brave some productions companies are by putting on new work to half empty houses. They are brave because how does one compete against DVD’s, DSTV, rampant crime and mass migration of the old faithful theater audiences. Maybe the Fixed Frame Film Festival (standing room only) is an indication of the future for new generation of Durban theatre goers.

FIFA World Cup

2007-11-24T07:20:00.000+03:00

There were red carpets, there were plates of snacks, there was a babble of foreign languages. Amongst it all was local muso Madala Kunene quietly strumming away amongst the hoi polloi. The event was the world premier of Anant Singhs movie "More than just a Game". It tells the story of how football developed on Robben Island amongst the political prisoners incarcerated there. In typical South African fashion people from the deputy president of the country to other lesser mortals arrived fashionably late. FIFA president Septh Blatter graciously adapted his speech to welcome the late VIP’s. Not to be outdone still more well coiffured ladies and gents strolled in half way through the movie. Outside the International Convention Centre police were in full force and two hapless street kids who must have escaped the original street blitz sauntered up to the ICC on their nightly patrol. The last I saw of them they were high tailing it down a side street wondering what all the fuss was about.

Another Day

2007-11-23T10:15:00.000+03:00

Two armed dudes bust into a "secured" office park next to the Pavilion and rough up some defenceless ladies in their beauty products shop. Steal their personal stuff like cell phones and jewelery and make a run for it. All of a sudden dozens of cops arrive complete with air support. Meanwhile staff say they have hidden themselves in the ceiling so the special forces arrive to flush them out. Big crowds gather to watch the action. After an hour the cops emerge empty handed and the two thugs simply vanished into thin air in a gated fenced office complex. The traumatised women are taken away in ambulances for treatment. Turns out the baddies simply drove off before the cops arrived. (So much for their access control) Next door the vast shopping complex has beefed up security after their turn for being hit last week where twenty five shots were fired.

Mother Nature

2007-11-21T11:09:00.000+03:00

It's storm season in this part of the world and loud crashes of thunder with lightning strikes are common. Each year a number of people die from direct hits and I have seen mud huts razed to the ground with all the occupants “frozen” as they were electrocuted.
This time Mother Nature unleashed one of her spectacular displays and ignited 7 million litres of petrol. The fire was still burning after three days. No one was injured in the blast but local residents had to endure a sky full of soot as the refined petrol burnt out of control.

Clipper Yacht Race

2007-11-19T22:22:00.001+03:00

The Clipper round the world race is in town. Ten gleaming hi tech identical boats that race each other around the world every two years. The idea is also to include some novices on board for some of the legs. From ex street kids to varsity graduates young people are given the chance of a lifetime. It was so nice of the local police to welcome the international sailors to our shores. They had set up a mobile police station complete with mounted cops on horses (for that elevated view of trouble makers) It was also kind of the city council to provide teams of cleaners that roamed up and down the now spotless quayside in search of every spec of unwanted litter.
Such is the welcome Durban puts on for our foreign visitors. Pity they don’t stay here year round.

Lights and Big Bangs

2007-11-15T22:46:00.000+03:00

Durban really knows how to celebrate the Festival of Lights otherwise known as Diwali. Some people go to great lengths to decorate their homes with colourful strings of electric lights. Others release huge fireworks which annoy a lot of pet lovers. Each year dozens of animals end up at the SPCA terrified by the loud bangs. Many die on the roads as they flee the noise. Then there is the usual array of kids and adults with blown off fingers and assorted burns. This year one kid managed to burn the home down with a sparkler. New legislation will limit fireworks to ten occasions in the year but with no cut off time on those days.

Swallows V Jumbo Jets

2007-11-12T19:27:00.000+03:00

Bird Lovers unveil a new information board at Mt Mooreland north of Durban.

Three million Barn swallows gather in vast swarms before settling to roost for the night. Only problem is they are directly in the path of Durbans soon to be new airport. Weighing in at 16 grams a large jet engine will simply vapourise this creature. Sucking in ten of the hapless birds might bother the pilot especially on the crucial take off stage. Bird lovers have quickly turned the site into a major tourist venue with hundreds of people and their families gathering to view this nightly spectacle. Airport authorities say they will use sophisticated radar to redirect flight paths when neccessary. Current score Swallows 1 Airport 1. (watch this space for updates)

Film Fests & Wannabees

2007-11-10T11:41:00.000+03:00

With the camera taped down shooting gets underway for the Fixed Frame Movie Festival on Durbans North Beach Pier.

Last night saw the launch of The KwaSuka Fixed Frame Film Festival. Simple rule..One had to produce a one minute video/animation etc without the frame changing. A lot of fun and creativity went into it with forty seven great entries. The theatre was so packed people had to sit on the stage. There was an after party and I felt my age as I could not relate to the rap and hip hop music that even the young uns didn't really want to dance to. Still a great evening for all. Wondering into the office this Saturday morning there were about thirty wannabee TV presenters. Some looked like they were still at school. A local company was giving "how to" lessons and the wannabees were all hoping that this training would get them onto the small screen. In South Africa one often hears of the "juniorisation" of the news room as compared to BBC CNN and others. I guess maybe the salary structures have something to do with it.

Serial Killer

2007-11-09T16:16:00.000+03:00

Protesters call for the death penalty for the "Umzinto serial killer".

This guy is accused of killing and probably raping ten woman and dumping their bodies in a sugar cane field. He duped them with a con that he had jobs lined up for them. They paid him money and he killed them. Today he faced the media for he first time as the cops have tried to hide his identity.A quiet pleasant character. The local governmnent reacts with a huge bash with preachers and free T shirts and food for all.It is meant to be targeted at men and explain to them not to kill and rape woman. Out of the huge crowd only about 10% were men. Just another day in paridise.The next day a further body was found.

Jethro Tull

2007-11-09T01:17:00.000+03:00

I was all set up to interview Ian Anderson from the seventies rock group Jethro Tull. He was going to lend his support to the Save The Wildcoast Project. Apparantly there was some dispute between the promoters and the band and the Durban leg of the concert was called off along with the press conference re the Wild Coast. I had dug out my old Tull albums and was hoping for an autograph like a regular groupie.
Above is a typical scene of the Wild Coast which an Australian mining company plans to "develop" Hike it while you still can!

Grey Day

2007-11-06T12:23:00.000+03:00

Durban's Island View starage facility exlodes in a massive fireball.

It's officially summer in this warm tropical part of the world. The forecast is for cold wet weather with snow in the berg! I'm currently waiting to interview some legal boffs on a recent explosion and fire in the harbour.Here is some BG...
Got a call in the early evening re an explosion and fire in the harbour. After almost coming to blows with a number of goofy city police who had blockaded the entire harbour we begged lied and sneaked ourselves to a good vantage point to film this awesome fire. One resident then showed us to a nearby flat with a great view. We managed to outshoot our rivals with some great visuals.
On the streets there was chaos as police told residents to evacuate their homes in case the fire spread or the toxic fumes from these burning chemicals changed wind direction. Most ignored the police and just watched the spectacle. We eventually got back to base and fed the story through after midnight.

The next day we chartered a plane and tried to fly overhead but Air Traffic Control warned us away as the area over the harbour is restricted. Had a bumpy ride with the planes doors off and the pilot tried his best to give me a steady shot. One person was incinerated in the blaze.
Well no legal boffs were prepared to speak to us so its pier jumping time. Oh yes there were four people shot dead in a botched heist at a pension pay point but too far for us to get there in time. We did dispatch a crew later in the rain and dark to cover twelve old people burnt to death in a mystery fire in an old age home. Such is life.

Surf & Murders

2007-11-05T15:58:00.000+03:00

Durban Diaries Blogger Clive Read leaps off North beach pier for a quick body boarding session.
Durban is a far cry from New York City although our traffic is rapidly approaching gridlock at times. Timing is everything. We are sitting here on the East Coast of Africa with some of the best weather in the world. So what does most of this cities folk do come 4pm? They head home in rush hour traffic when there is this warm ocean to leap into . My office is five minutes from the beach and one does not even have to swim out to sea and can leap off the pier into the surf with a board. A quick surf or swim followed by a Wimpy coffee and most of the traffic is on its way.

Today is a real quiet day at the Television news station where I work. Just the usual murders hi jackings and daily crime in this great country called South Africa. We don't even bother any more unless its a mass killing or some celebrity. I covered the funeral of local reggae star Lucky Dube last week who is just another stat on the crime books. Of course the top cops were put on the case and three guys are now on trial. The most pathetic thing was one of his young sons (about 8) who approached me at the funeral and told me his dad played in a band in Jo'burg. I asked him what his Dads name was and he replied "Lucky Dube" So the grieving family had decided not to break the news to this innocent child and here he was at his fathers funeral with hundreds of mourners proudly telling me about his dad who played in a band.

If you don't become thick skinned in the news business in SA you will be doomed or leave for New Zealand. As I am typing this my mobile pings to notify me off the latest housebreakings and hijackings in my neighbourhood for the day. I check on the streets involved and carry on with my day.

Nigeria Elections #8

2007-04-23T12:13:00.000+03:00

Well finally the votes were "counted" and the new President gave a press conference. We crowded into a tiny room where if you passed out you would not fall over. Such was the crush of media. All remained peaceful and traffic was flowing again. In Nigeria all traffic is banned on voting days with the streets deserted.

Nigeria Elections #7

2007-04-22T11:47:00.000+03:00

Not much to report this Sunday.Results are trickling in but no one believes them. When we went to the new ops centre they eventually let us in but I noted that most of the screens were blank and there were no reps of the parties or other observers. We were invited to dinner with Dr Brigilia Bam who is the chief of the SA IEC team. We were now operating on diplomatic level and twenty of us sat down to dinner in a Lebanese restaurant. So at last I got a few of my taxes back. Amongst the diplomatic corps was a chap sitting opposite me who was in the invasion of Lesotho. He went to great lengths explaining what a success the operation was. There were some very interesting speeches from these countrymen of mine about the places they had been and how they had got there. It really is another world this diplomatic corps with many of them being activists or in exile or imprisoned at some stage of their lives. Also interesting to hear how their kids were not interested in being stationed in these far flung places but were happy to hang out in Germany America etc. There is a story waiting to be told just on the new generation of kids of the new SA diplomats and high commisions. We could only get away after the birthday cake was cut (Dr Bam) so here I sit at two in the morning feeding the days story back to Jhb for airing tomorrow morning.

Nigeria Elections #6

2007-04-21T11:40:00.000+03:00

All quiet on the West African front so far. The INECHQ (Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission) where we hang around for hours waiting for press briefings was almost blown up this morning. Some guys in a petrol tanker stuck a rock on the accelerator, loaded gass bottles with detonaters into the cab and pointed this lethal weapon at the building. They were thwarted by a lamp pole and the fire from the cab failed to spread. Nice one... We then went in search of a polling station which was meant to open at ten. We found another squatter camp and waited nearly three hours for the officials to arrive. Once again I was hit on by the locals who insisted I tell the world that the whole procedure was meaningless as the votes cast meant nothing and all figures were simply manipulated to suit the ruling party. Most people have given up with the government and will just struggle on regardless. Once again I retire to the business lounge a few doors down from my room on the 8th floor. Here you will find anyone from Arabs to French men and woman. Most sitting behind their lap tops usually chatting via skype so you can join in on their half of the conversation back home to loved ones. Rather bizarre actually as each is in their own little world connected to the great either in the sky. I have toa dmit I have fallen in love with this Powerbook G4 and an Apple is something else. Here one can have free unlimitted coffee capuchino expresso biscuits and fruitjuice. Tonight I tried the room service menu(again) and had fish with the local rice called jollef rice which is just a spicy rice. Outside the temp mustbe about 29c even though the sun went down ages ago.Lets hope Nigeria has a peaceful night and the vote counting goes OK.

Nigeria Elections #5

2007-04-20T11:35:00.000+03:00

Final countdown to the presidential elections tomorrow. The populace has resigned itself to the fact that they (elections) will go ahead. New ballot papers have been printed outside the country (SA?) to avoid fraud. Another holiday has been declared today and tomorrow although for most people life carries on as usual. The police and security services will be out in force so it remains to be seen how any violence will be contained. At our regular press conference this morning with the election bosses the heavyweights arrived... CNN and Al Jeereza with their large cameras and in the case of AJ their large egos. Tattooed Arab cameraman with bad attitude and bandana to match. Arrives late and expects to push in the bunfight. I have lost respect for this sheik bank rolled news station that has unlimited budgets. All the networks are using the same gear to transmit as us viz the Bgan satellite link. Picture is then compressed using various software and transferred back to the base server. Local TV is very laid back and badly shot but has a reality quality to it unlike the slick brief sound bites favored by western media. Interviews are unhurried and all get their say in good time. Lots of shaky hand held shots and distorted sound with varying levels

Nigeria Elections #4

2007-04-19T11:27:00.000+03:00

Only one more day to the presidential elections. All
quiet so far but no doubt the losing parties will make
trouble come next week. After the usual politcal speak
at the official election HQ we went to the ruling
party spokesperson who became hugley irate at some of
the questions posed by the media. At least the media
here is pretty robust with plenty of print and TV
channels albeit a little ropy. We then left
"millionaires av" and went into a nearby township. After
filming a few shots some gangster type approached me
saying I could not take "snaps" without permission of
the chief. He said "hey white man what are you doing
here" I told him to speak to my black boss which soon
kept him quiet.We duly located the chief and he sang
the praises of the ruling party. Not sure why I felt a
feeling of de javu (Spelling not my best point) We
then got an interview with a guy moaning profusely
about the government and the sordid conditions they
live in. Open sewers and no basic water or light. The
kids then latched onto me and where ever I pointed the
camera they would gather and grin. So I organized to
have a shot taken of me with them as you can see. Once
you get to know them they really are friendly people
with the little they have. In town there are these
giant modern corporate buildings of the oil companies
and a twenty minute drive lands you in the slum of
slums. There have been announcements that huge new gas
and oil reserves will be exploited soon. So it appears
the usual...the rich get richer and the poor stay
poor.. One guy told me the reason why Nigerians turn
to corruption etc is because of high levels of
frustration. The churches are of course huge here and
seem to get along with the Mosques. Although there is
a huge one right near our hotel I do not hear the call
to prayers. Pollution and the non existance of
recycling are also problems here, I filmed the
election officials casually dummping massses of
election training manuals on the pavement dump outside
their HQ. People then just burn everything. The city
(Abuja) has really bad air with constant haze and one
person I spoke to considered their city to have clean
air. I guess it is all relative. This is a country of
generators and air cons. The power goes off a few
times a day but no one notices and you simply wait
about thirty seconds for the hotels genies to take
over. Massive generators belch out more fumes outside
any building of vague importance. remember fuel is
cheap by our standards (R3 per liter) What amazes me
is the amount of businnessmen wearing dark suits.With
temperatures in the thirties and high humidity they
are obviously used to the clammy heat. Of course many
also wear the traditional flowing garments. Was given
a book today by an activist we interviewed. It has the
chilling title of "Political Assassinations in
Nigeria" Lists the hundreds that have been killed here
and are still being killed for political reasons. Then
one turns on the TV and the massacre in Virginia is
repeated infinitum. The questions of Americas gun
culture and the violent movies on TV are barely
mentioned. Their main concern is the threat to tighten
gun laws. I digress but am currently in a violent
society where the police commissioner has just
anniuced that they will shoot to kill if anyone takes
them on. On that happy note I will beam this missive
off into the wet night sky of Abuja as a storm hovers
over the city.