SaffaSays – Page 5

SA plans to ease visa admin for holders of valid US, UK or Canadian visas

When it comes to making it easier for key markets to visit South Africa as well as concluding key travel business deals, the "proof is in the doing", says Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom. Speaking to Traveller24 over the weekend after Indaba 2018 took place in Durban, Hanekom says he remains positive about tourism's potential. “Indaba was really excellent, having spent four days there and meeting with eight African ministers and one deputy, it was packed with a good turnout.” In total 22 African countries were exhibited, with a total of 1 120 exhibitors representing “thousands of African products, along with 135 small businesses or hidden gems – who were incredibly enthusiastic to be on the same floor as the bigger businesses, says Hanekom. There were also an estimated 1 740 buyers at the event. “Between my many meetings, I covered most of the hidden gems and those in attendance were excited about being there, the networking opportunities as well as the marketing exposure…

Weekend travel information for 11 May 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 12 -13 May, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground On Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May, there will be: Circle line No service between Baker Street and Hammersmith/High Street Kensington, due to line modernisation District line No service between Edgware Road and High Street Kensington, due to line modernisation There will also be no service on Saturday and Sunday before 09:00 and after 21:00 between Earl’s Court and Kensington (Olympia), due to line modernisation and track replacement Hammersmith & City line No service between Baker Street and Hammersmith, due to line modernisation London Overground After 22:30 tonight, Thursday 10 May, there will be no service between Sydenham and West Croydon, due to Network Rail track work. On Saturday 12 …

South African thespian, Pieter-Dirk Uys performs in London this May and June

Since 1985 satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys has performed in London (mainly at the Tricycle Theatre, sometimes at the old Donmar Warehouse and now at the Soho Theatre) around twenty times with his one-man shows; sometimes with his plays. It’s a city that knows him well and he returns to London in June, this time without his usual armour of false eyelashes, extreme characters and their sketches which helped to deflect the poison arrows of government censorship and political correctness throughout the years of apartheid and even now in the present kleptocracy of the Rainbow Nation. Now in his 72nd year, he no longer glances back at the successes and failures that have strengthened his belief in a constant improvement of his work, but at those small signposts that throughout his life subconsciously have pointed him in a right and original direction – growing up in a white South Africa with his Afrikaner father and his German-Jewish mother, confronting diverse influences on him from gran…

A re-invented, revived version of SA’s best-loved shoe is now available in the UK and Europe

South Africans abroad – this good news is for you! - Actually, it’s good news for anybody who wants to own a pair of SA’s most loved and well-known shoes – the humble (and highly sought after) VELDSKOEN™ are now available online. A bit more about the shoe The company has revived and re-invented the classic brown leather shoe by adding soles and laces in eight bright colours. Now you can get yourself a pair delivered straight to your door all over Europe and the UK! The shoes – which come in red, green, blue, pink, yellow, orange, and the more traditional black and grey – launched in South Africa exactly a year ago, in April 2017, and will now be leaving tracks all over Europe after the official UK and European launch in London, at the end of April 2018. How the shoe was reborn Company founders, Nick Dreyer and Ross Zondagh decided to make their own, updated version of the South African classic in August 2016, while watching the Olympic Games. They saw that the South A…

Weekend travel information for 5 May 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this bank holiday weekend, 5 - 7 May, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground On Sunday 6 May, due to Network Rail track works, there will be no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone From Saturday 5 until Monday 7 May, due to line modernisation, there will be: Circle line No service on the entire line District line No service between Tower Hill and West Ham Hammersmith & City line No service between King’s Cross St. Pancras and Barking Metropolitan line No service between King’s Cross St. Pancras and Aldgate London Overground Today, Thursday 3 May, there will be no service between Hackney Downs and Chingford after 22:30, due to Network Rail track work. From Saturday 5 until Monday 7 May, trains will not stop at Whitechapel, due t…

SA rugbyspeler vir hoë Engelse toekening benoem

ʼn Speler wat vir Suid-Afrika se naasbestes uitgedraf het, voor hy sy rugbyheil in Engeland gaan soek het, is vir ʼn hoë Engelse toekenning benoem. Ruan Ackermann (22), die seun van die Springbok Johann Ackermann, is een van vyf spelers op die lys waaruit die toekenning vir die Premierliga se vonds van die jaar gedoen sal word. Hy speel vir die klub Gloucester, wat deur sy pa afgerig word. Ackermann jr., wat deur sommige as ʼn toekomstige Engelse toetsspeler beskou word, is glo een van die gunstelinge om die toekenning te wen. Hy het reeds vier wedstryde vir die Barbarians gespeel – onder meer teen die Springbokke (2016) en die All Blacks (2017) – en het verlede jaar twee wedstryde vir Suid-Afrika A gespeel.

Weekend travel information for 27 April 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 28-29 April, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground On Sunday 29 April, due to line modernisation, there is no service Circle line On the entire line District line Between Edgware Road and High Street Kensington Hammersmith & City line Between Moorgate and Hammersmith Metropolitan line Between Aldgate and Wembley Park London Overground On Sunday 29 April, there is no service between: • Romford and Upminster, due to Network Rail infrastructure work • Surrey Quays and New Cross from 20:45, due to Crossrail construction work • Sydenham and Crystal Palace from 20:45 until 23:15, due to Crossrail construction work • Highbury & Islington and Shadwell from 21:15, due to Crossrail construction work From Monday 30 April until Thur…

Weekend travel information for 20 April 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 21-22 April, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. Strike action is taking place on the DLR from 04:00 on Friday 20 April, until 03:59 on Tuesday 24 April. The strike has been called over a dispute with KeolisAmey Docklands who operate the DLR on behalf of TfL. We aim to offer a limited service over the four days, which coincide with the London Marathon on Sunday 22 April. For up to date information on what services may operate. London Overground * On Sunday 22 April, there is no service between: * Euston and Kilburn High Road until 12:15 and after 20:30, due to Network Rail track work and Network Rail work at Euston to enable High Speed Two (HS2) * Surrey Quays and New Cross after 20:45, due to Crossrail construction work * Sydenham and Crystal Palace from 20:45 until 23:15…

Are you eligible for a British passport?

Fast facts about British nationality for South Africans - You could be eligible for British passport if you were: Born to a parent (father or mother) who was born in the UK before 1983. Born before 1983 to a parent who was born after 1949 – as long as that parent Was a British citizen, or Had a parent born in the UK Born in South Africa after 31 May 1962 but before 1983, and you have a UK-born grandparent Born after 1948, and your parents were married before 1949 and your paternal grandfather (your father’s father) was born in the UK Born between 2 March 1970 and 18 April 1980 in (Southern) Rhodesia, and you have a grandfather born in the UK.

Weekend travel information for 13 April 2018

Here is our weekly travel update to help you get around London this weekend, 14-15 April, and also the following week. Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check if any of the following affect you. London Underground District line All weekend there is no service between Turnham Green and Richmond, due to Network Rail signalling repairs and track replacement. Metropolitan line On Sunday there is no service between Aldgate and Wembley Park until 09:30 and after 20:30, due to ballast & track replacement. London Overground Today, Thursday 12 April, there is no service between Hackney Downs and Enfield Town/Cheshunt (via Seven Sisters) after 22:45, due to Network Rail track work. All weekend there is no service between Willesden Junction and Richmond, due to Network Rail track work. On Sunday 15 April, there is no service between: • Romford and Upminster, due to Crossrail construction work • Camden Road and…