World AIDS day

Today the world takes a unison stand against HIV and AIDS.
South Africa is ravaged by the pandemic which sweeps the world, and the goverment is finally taking a firmer stance on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala Msimang has been placed on the back burner while her deputy has been placed in charge of the AIDS Campaign.
Repeated calls for Msimang's axing has occured from all across the country and the world because of controversial AIDS treatment of African potatoes, garlic and beetroot. This has led her to be called Dr. Beetroot by those against her treatment.
Her deputy, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge , is considered by many to be the best candidate to lead the AIDS treatment campaign. She was the silent campaigner for ARV's but her voiced was not heard above that of Manto's. She is also the only ministry official to still be on speaking terms with the Treatment Action Campaign.

South Africa has taken a knock with regard to its AIDS campaign but that has made us stronger and more willing to fight the AIDS pandemic

National Smile Awareness Month

The month of Novenmber has been deemed National Smile Awareness Month. This picture is of learners from Fish Hoek Valley Primary School in Cape Town.

SMILE

Blue Flag

South African beaches has once again received Blue Flag status. As many of you guys are aware, Blag Flag status beaches tells visitors that the beach is clean, safe and environmentally sound, i.e when we say we have fish we mean it.
South Africa became the first country outside of Europe to receive Blue Flag status beaches. Currently the campaighn runs in 36 countries in Europe and the Caribbean including three African countries as well as Canada and New Zealand.
For 2006 the South African beaches with Blue Flag status are:

Eastern Cape
Dolphin Beach ~ Jeffery's Bay
Humewood Beach ~ Port Elizabeth
Kelly's Beach ~ Port Alfred
King's Beach ~ Port Elizabeth
Well's Estate ~ North of Port Elizabeth

KwaZulu Natal
Addington Beach ~ Durban
Anstey's Beach ~ Durban
Bay of Plenty Beach ~ Durban
Lucien Beach ~ South Coast
Marina/San Lameer Beach ~ South Coast
Ramsgate Main Beach ~ South Coast
South Beach ~ Durban
Umhlanga Rocks Main Beach ~ Outside Durban

Western Cape
Bikini Beach ~ Gordon's Bay
Clifton 4th Beach ~ Cape Town
Grotto Beach ~ Hermanus
Hawston Beach ~ Outside Hermanus
Kleinmond Beach ~ Outside Hermanus
Lappiesbaai Beach ~ Stilbaai
Mnandi Beach ~ Strandfontein

All these beaches have fulfilled 14 criteria grouped into 3 categories: Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information and Safety and Services.
This means that these beaches have excellent water, rescue services, top rated parking and clean toilets and/or changerooms.

Just because these beaches received Blue Flag Status does not mean the other beaches are inferior. In fact nearly all of South Africa's beaches are world class.

Happy sunny days

What Do You Like?

What about Southa Africa appeals to you? Is it the nature, the people or the food? Maybe it is something else which you like,
email me your list and it might appear on this site
mysouthafrica30@yahoo.com

South Africa Makes Splash at EMA

South African group, Freshlyground, has become the first South African group to win an EMA for best African Act.

At last years EMA, where the first African Act was awarded, South African musician and former South African Idols finalist, ZamaJobe, was nominated but lost out on the award.
South African musicians are finally being given the recognition they deserve from the international community.
Speaking of international recognition, South African films have also received awards, such as Oscars and the Berlin Bear Film awards.

South Africa, where talent is abundant.

Unite of the Stars - Cape Town

The Unite of the Stars concert kicked off its country wide tour yesterday in Cape Town.
The concert was brilliant with a "lekker" (cool) vibe coming from the crowd.
In my opinion Marcos Hernandez, The Rockers and newcomer - Shayne Ward provided the best entertainment. Bananarama, Will Young and Italian tenor Patrizio Buanne performance was brilliant.
I really can't wait for the next concert(s) in South Africa.
While on that topic, Patrizio Buanne is expected to tour South Africa on his own in the near future in order to promote his new album, which has already gone gold in its first week of release.

Security Council

As you all know, South Africa has finally been accepted as a non-permanent member of the security council for 2 years. Hopefully this will lead to bigger and better things,
like South Africa becoming a permanent member with veto rights.

South Africa, leading the African revolution.

Unite of the Stars

Featuring Will Young, Marcos Hernandez, Bananarama and Shayne Ward
Unite of the Stars concert takes place in November and won't only be in Jo'burg this year but also in Cape Town (3), Mossel Bay (4), Port Elizabeth (5), Bloemfontein (7)(with Ronan Keating) and Durban (11)(with Ronan Keating and Rene Olstead) with Jane Seymour hosting the concerts.
Book you tickets at computicket

Lebo Mathosa (1977-2006)

South African Superstar, Lebo Mathosa, was killed in a motor vehicle accident early monday morning.

My condolences to her family.

Lebo Mathosa could easily be described as the queen of South African music.

May she rest in peace and may the good Lord bring comfort to her family.

South Africa is becoming a haven. A haven for international celebrities. We have had celebrities coming here and just dissappering in our beautiful country.

They seemed shocked by that fact. Any South African will tell you we don't gape and go mad when we see a celebrity, we not anything like the Americans and British celebrity obsessed society.
So I say welcome famous people, you will just love it here. Ask any of those who have already been here: Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Will Smith, Naomi Campell, 50cent, Annie Lenox, Usher, Backstreet Boys and Westlife, to name but a few.

If South Africa is good for them, surely it is good enough for everyone else.
Welcome to South Africa, where a holiday is truely a holiday.

Welcome Superstars

This is a special and warm welcome to Rihanna, Jay Z and Beyonce.
Hope you guys enjoy our beautiful country of South Africa.
The Mother City, Cape Town, welcomes you with beach and mountain, vineyards and malls as well as with the friendliest people you will ever meet.
South Africa's Playground, Durban, welcomes you with warm seas, beautiful beaches and dancing people.
The Wealthiest city in Africa, Johannesburg, welcomes you with all the gold, platinum and jewels which has made it so wealthy.

Hope you have a wonderful stay and we wish you a safe journey.

Love you all

Welcome to beautiful South Africa.
This blog is setup to emphasize the positives of South Africa.

The first is Table Mountain. This internationally recognized landmark, with Cape Town at its foot, welcomes all visiors into the "Mother City".