It's the holidays again!

Take a break, Take a Sho't Left 

It’s that time of the year again. If you are planning that well deserved and probably long overdue holiday, do not look too far – South Africa has everything that one needs this holiday season.

This is where the South African Tourism’s Sho’t Left Campaign comes in.

Sho’t Left, a streetwise term coined by mini bus taxi passengers and drivers, has been adopted by South African Tourism. It was launched as our domestic travel campaign in 2004. Six years later, the term has come to mean a short trip or quick getaway.

The South African Tourism is the national tourism agency responsible for marketing South Africa as a destination internationally and domestically.

Regional Director of South Africa Tourism, Mr Phumi Dlomo says:  “While our job as South African Tourism is to market the country to South Africans, it is still important that they ensure that our people are able to easily book an affordable holiday in the country,” he says.

“There is interest from South Africans in travelling their country and they are already travelling in one form or another. South Africans realise the fun to be had travelling Mzansi and they want in on the action. Sho’t Left helps in making it more affordable and accessible,” he continues. “What we also try to do and is what South Africans need is to provide them with information on where to go and what activities are enjoyable. They also really appreciate the travel deals as they ensure they travel the country with-out having to spend the same amount of money as international travellers.

The Tourism Growth Strategy aims to make tourism the leading economic sector in South Africa, and so promote sustainable economic and social empowerment of all South Africans. South Africa is marketed as an integral part of Africa and particularly the subcontinent of southern Africa.

To accomplish these goals, South African Tourism commits to meaningfully contribute to the government’s objectives of increased gross domestic product growth, sustainable job creation and redistribution and transformation through: increasing tourist volume; increasing the geographic spread, length of stay and tourist spend of all visitors; improving seasonality arrivals patterns; and working to transform the industry so that historically disadvantaged South Africans may benefit from the sector.

“The long-term objective of South African Tourism’s domestic strategy, through the Sho’t Left campaign, is to create a culture of travel amongst South africans. Short-term object is to get South Africans to take shorter breaks in Mzansi more often,” he says. 

When you travel in South Africa, you create jobs for fellow South Africans, invest in our economy and nationally growth, as well as support a vibrant South African industry that’s rapidly becoming a benchmark for international excellence.

Mr Phumi Dlomo admits that there have been challenges. “The market is still emerging and there is a huge opportunity to grow holiday travel. Getting South Africans to spend on a holiday versus purchasing a new accessory, be it a TV, a new mobile phone is the biggest challenge.

“Another challenge is ensuring that South Africans understand that when travelling to a different province to see friends and family they need to engage in tourist behaviour (i.e. participating in lesiure activities and visiting leisure attractions,” he says. 

South African Tourism celebrated the Tourism Month, September with a focus being on the Freestate – “the heart of Mzansi”.

The Sho’t Left experiences include: bus retreats, coastal getaways, city breaks, mountain escapes, countryside meanders, day trips, cultural discoveries as well as sport, adventure and events.

When calling the Sho’t Left call centre, a lady explained that; “Travel packages are broken down into nine provinces. The Backpacking Package is suitable for youngsters who usually travel with their packs on their backs, not looking for luxury accommodation and usually staying in chalets.

“The budget package is for those looking to stay for affordable two to three star accommodation within their means.  The family package is family-friendly, tailor-made for families with children. Then we have luxury, which are you five-star and boutique hotels, self catering and affordable packages – which are usually anything between one to three stars accommodation,” said the lady, who was reluctant to be named.

The new Sho't Left campaign – Tell us More – launched in March this year features a selection of seven of Mzansi’s hottest and most relevant trendsetters. The main aim of this new campaign is to show South Africans that travelling the country is quite fun. It is then the job of Sho't Left and the tourism industry as a whole to ensure that travelling the country is in fact accessible and affordable. This campaign has gotten Sho't Lefters excited, evidenced by the increase in social media activity on Sho’t Left platforms.

Mr Phumi concludes that it is enriching, surprising, delightful, fun and easy to travel locally. “It also introduces you to new ideas, new people and new places.” He says.

For more information on domestic travel and tours, more packages and experiences that one can have right here at home, visit: www.southafrica.net/shotleft.

Love for no Reason

Love for No Reason by Marci Shimoff

Rating: 5/5

Reviewer: Refilwe Thobega

If there’s one thing that can cure the world of hate, racism, poverty, sickness, crime, violence, abuse, greed and corruption, the list is endless. That one cure would not be music or sport, it would be “love”.

In her book Love for no Reason, Marci Shimoff – a celebrated transformational leader and a number one New York Times bestselling author – shares the Seven Steps to Creating a Life of Unconditional Love.

As living beings, we are created to receive and give love.

 I once heard that there are only two forces in life: fear and love. We do something because we either love it or we are afraid (of something) – if we don’t do it. A student studies because she either loves her subject or she is afraid that if he/she doesn’t, she will fail. We go to work every day because we either love what we do or that we are afraid if we don’t, we will starve.

Whatever that one does, let the force behind be “love” and not “fear”.  Because as I imagine, the reward will be greater as it will have a lasting effect.

Love for No Reason is “dedicated to those who hear the call of their heart to live in unconditional love”.  Loving oneself is something that we take for granted. And what the author “prescribes” for that is love, sweet love – which usually comes from within. 

With this book, may you be reminded of what the love and its ripple effect can bring into your life. This book is a love guru that comes in a form of a book. It is very well crafted. I definitely give it a “yes”.

Memories of a Hostage Drama back at the 'News

I don’t know what just reminded me of the hostage drama that I was a victim of while working for Independent Newspapers in 2007. 

Here goes:

I never knew that so many people cared about me. I didn’t know I had so many friends. My phone was ringing non-stop, I’m surprised my battery didn’t fail me, as if it knew what was going on.

It seemed like a prank at first when someone shouted that there was a man holding a gun in the building. “We are used to this”, I thought, “people come in here all the time and tune us shit”, and I continued with my work.

The noise gained momentum and there was commotion in the office but as I looked at my colleague who was a lot calmer.  I convinced myself that this was going to end in no time. There was a gunman in our building, the Pretoria news on Vermeulen street, Pretoria CBD! He was holding the lady from the Advertising Unit – on the first floor – hostage. I was on the second floor, in Editorial, just a few steps from where all the hard- core drama unfolded.

Someone called the police. I heard the sirens. Everyone was on their cellphones. Then we lined up on the window to see what was happening down there. The crowds on the streets were increasing. They were gesturing up at us. Then I started to get really scared. I wanted to call my mom but I stopped myself because I didn’t want to worry her.

I shortly changed my mind. I called. My little sister answered, and my eyes just filled with tears. My voice trembled. She didn’t say much but I could hear that she was taking me seriously and she feared for me. Time seemed to pass by so slowly, more and more police vans came through. The gunman was still in our building. We heard a loud bang.

Then he fired a shot. “That is a gun. He definitely fired,” a male colleague said. He firstly shot at the ceiling; then he shot a policeman on the leg.

Drama! We were all petrified but still one guy managed to ask “How’s the cricket score going”. You see, a journalist must never leave his/her sense of humour behind.) Australia was playing against South Africa.

Radios stations started calling in. ,Phones rang off the hook. The fear grew bigger and stronger. I thought “God I don’t want to die like this”. The gunman released a pregnant woman, then the second two followed, then the rest.

A policeman came to our floor and said we could also evacuate the building. Damn finally, I grabbed everything on my desk and ran. Flip, my keys fell. Something told me to forget them and run for my life, then I wondered how I would get into my flat. I ran back, grabbed them and followed the rest of the staffers down the stairs.

Outside, on-lookers were all over the place. It felt like in the movies. People were crying. I just wanted to go home and forget about it all.

This man was apparently angry about the crime.  It seemed he had been a victim of crime numerous times and he was just fed up. Apparently he said that he came to our offices knowing that we would listen. He said he wanted to make us feel how it felt like to be a victim of crime, as if crime is the fault of the media. We simply report of the matter. We are not responsible for it. We are as concerned as him. He asked what the Government would do if he cracked.

We were all out, but the man was still roaming around in the building. As I left, I kept on looking back, just in case a bomb exploded. I felt relieve overwhelm me. I could not believe I was walking away from all of it.

I was scared to go to my flat, afraid of being by myself, incase the whole drama re-played itself in my head. So I went to a reliable music warehouse store, I wanted an Enya CD to calm my nerves. They didn’t have it. I didn’t want to leave the store without any CD, so I bought the Skwatta Kamp’s latest offering at the time.

Then I got home. My phone ringing off the hook. One call after the other. The news made headlines. Every station was talking about us.

The following morning, a day after the ordeal, as I was looking out the window, everything was back to normal. It was business as usual. No one would really believe that that was the place that was crowded with police vans and people the previous day. All was just well. Indeed, Life goes on!  

  

Sin Sushi & Survival

A memoir by Erla-Mari Deidericks

If Sin, sushi and survival was a film, the age restriction would definitely be  18 years and above. I feel that even the book should have a little notice somewhere on the bottom -corner of the cover, just to warn sensitive readers: vulgar language, nudity, sex, more sex, violence and suicide by a gun – in no specific order.

If you can read past all that…  

This lady’s true-life story will either inspire, owe or make you feel better about your own life’s mess.

Erla-Mari Deidericks finally finds the guts to leave her husband after years of abuse.  She has to find a place for her son and herself to stay.

Dating again after years of marriage can’s be easy – she tries internet dating, which makes her end up with the most interesting and dodgy characters.

As if her life is not-so-kosher enough, her best friend, make that her only friend, dies. She shoots herself. I’m not sure if I should mention that she was lesbian.

A journalist by profession, Erla-Mari is not new to the written word, and it shows in her writing. She has it all right, the flow, pace and structure.  She brings her unique voice and style to the party. Her unique voice and style come through. She knows when to make you read faster and when to relax, -- vividly “seeing” all the details and graphics.

Most female readers will definitely relate and identify with the writer, who just likes most of us, is not perfect, but tries to make perfect sense of her own confusion by starting over.

She survived.

Bottom line? Life goes on. And all that matters is what you make of it.

This memoir will make for a great film, I reckon.  The pages turn as Erla-Mari she “cuts” from scene to scene – I don’t know if that’s a good thing for a novel though.

A definite must read.

 Adults only. 

Inspire someone. Tell your real story, in your own language.

Refilwe Thobega asks Who are you?

ka Setswana ba re O mang?

My grandfather was born in 24 January 1919, five months after Nelson mandela's birthday: July 1918. He, my oupa, was a Chief at a small farm-village in die Noord Kaap -- Kikahela. He was recently hit by a stroke. He lives. His half-sister, Oumama Rabeka, is the current Kgosana.

Abraham Mochware had many children. About 12 or more, but less than 15. He had one wife, Mitjie Motshidisi Os. I am one of his grand-children (he also has dikokomana) -- I am the first daughter of Olaotse Virginia (Mochware) Thobega and Kagiso Alban Thobega.

My father’s father, Abel Thobega, just like my mother’s father was a moruti at his church (Anglican). My oupa was a mogogi at his church (London Missionary Society, later called UCCSA [United Congregational Church of Southern Africa]). I hear that Abel Thobega, was about to be given the chieftaincy by his forefathers (Boo rra Thobega ko Mmankgodi) when he decided to “rather” be a priest. So I hear he fled to a nearby village called Molepolole – a village I once stayed at, as well as Maung, Lobatse and Gaborone.

Owai! It was too late for monna mogolo... Royalty was already in his blood. You can’t run away from what you already are old man.

Mind you, these two men (both my oupatjies) were not friends. They did not even know each other, let alone, like each other. And one thing for sure, my mother’s marriage to my father was not initially blessed by either one of them. That’s why it made it difficult for us to leave Botswana (my father’s home) and come to South Africa (my mother’s home) in 1989. 

So my mother sent me to SA first. I stayed with my late aunty, Onkaetse Mochware (mother of Mpho Akinleye and Ontibetse Mochware). She is one of the strong black women who raised me at a time when my mother was mourning the murder and death of her husband, while at the same time fighting for her bed, sofas, fridge and TV.  So mmangwane Onkaetse became my mother for about 18 months. I was five or six years old. I was ready for preschool – a Roman Catholic pre-school at Batlharos Village (Kuruman). My sister, Botshelo Thobega, who was two-years-old at the time, remained in Botswana with my mother while she, with the help of her father, Abraham Mochware, fought for her belongings.

I think Abraham was more brave. My mother’s father. He took the throne. I think although he was too modest and a coward to accept what was rightfully his, my father’s father was powerful! His sperm created my father and my father’s sperm was one of the ingredients that led to my birth. One oupa was brave, another was powerful. Guess what I am: A cocktail. I’m cosmopolitan. I also love the taste of it! I make a killer cosmo.

My name is Refilwe Thobega, born in 25 December 1983. I have a long story ... so, I will cut it off here. Let’s wait for my memoir.

I know who I am and where I came from. I challenge you to do the same. Find yourself and tell us who you are. Connect the dots. I did.  Inspire someone, tell your story. In your own language!

"Being Afrikan" by Mandivamba Rukuni

Being Afrikan is a must read for all Africans and anybody who is proud of what and who they are. Back to roots. My take: the sun rises in Africa baby. We are such a loved nation.

I made myself a promise a long time ago – that I will be a fair critic – they are rare. I think people are so full of low-self esteem that they believe that giving true credit where and when it is due is a sign of weakness.

Not me.

Being Afrikan by Mandivamba Rukuni is the most inspiring, enlightening, educating piece of information I have ever read in a long time.

The blurb says: this “is a book that will change your view of what of what it is going to take for us to co-create the Afrika we want. It will take a higher level of consciousness in individual human beings to achieve transformation at family, community and national levels. This higher level of consciousness will take us beyond independence to the celebration of our interdependence as human beings. I am, because we are!”

The author is of African origin – a Zimbabwean who has lived all over the world. Google him. In his latest offering, he tells you what he has seen and heard all over the world. He acknowledges the uniqueness of different cultures, traditions, races, religions, practises, believes names, places and origins. His motto is: if you are an African, do not westernise, but, modernise. I am making this my mantra.

He encourages people, to stay true to who they are, irrespective of modern society expectations, all that jazz and drama that comes with every-day-living. At the end of the day, we all worship the same “higher-power” ­­-- whatever that means for you --  who cares? He specifically encourages children of the African soil to remain true to the dust, herbs and “powers” that saw their ancestors through turmoil.

I share the same worry as him, Europeans and others, come here and “expect” Africans to change into certain things that they are not. He advices “us” to borrow from the Indians (meditation), Chinese (technology), Europeans (English language) and others, only to better what we already are (soil; flora and fauna; African healing; uBuntu, and the list is endless). Let us not lose ourselves. Great Africans, among many others, such as: Credo Mutwa, Alemseged Tesfai, Barolong Sebon (he is one of my "forefathers" -- google him), Bessie Head and Nelson Mandela, have paved the way. Let’s follow.  

A much chopped-up version of this review is also published in The Citizen and http://www.facebook.com/thebluestockingreview on Facebook

In true Ubuntu-style, we give birth to our children. All of them. In true Afrikanism, there are no orphans. Vicky and David Beckham just had an extra child. Salute!

I've just read on Yahoo news that Victoria and her husband, David Beckham, have just welcomed their latest bundle of joy. A girl-child. I don't know, in total, how many children they have. Google it.

It read:
The couple's rep Jo Milloy tells Us Weekly the "happy and healthy" little girl weighed 7 lbs. 5 oz. "David and Victoria Beckham are delighted," Milloy said. "Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz are excited to welcome their new baby sister to the family."

With a testosterone-filled household, it's no wonder why Beckham longed for baby girl. "When we first found out, we went for the scan and they said, 'Oh, it's a boy,'" David told Jimmy Kimmel in March. "I was like, 'Great,' and Victoria was like, 'Ugh. Another penis in the house.' She thinks there's too many in the house already. So then we went back for the next scan and they said, 'Oh, we think it's a girl.'"

I'm happy for them. A healthy child, in this day and age, is nothing but a pure blessing. 

Now this reminded me of what Gareth Cliff said recently when he found out that Lauren Hill recently gave birth to another child. He threw a fit on his breakfast show. He was disgusted. He insulted sis Lauren for popping out babies like they are going out of fashion. 

I am personally disgusted by the likes of bo Gareth, who know nothing about Afrikanism. Black people give birth to their children. All of them. You know why? In Afrikanism, in true Ubuntu-style, no child is an orphan. When one's parents die, aunts and relatives step in to raise orphans and to help widows and widowers. 

Where I come from, dogs and cats (animals) stay outside the house. Let them bite and play with each other out there. We adopt children by choice. Not because we want to save the world (as Angelina is doing, and I applaud her. She and Brad have big hearts. God bless them).

Now, bo Gareth Cliff came yesterday, from no where, he comes here and talks rubbish in the radio about a fellow sister. Shame on him! 

People like bo Gareth Cliff abuse their privileges and power. He has been blessed with a fancy job, to entertain, educate and inform. And what does he do? Annoys the likes of bo Refilwe by talking misinformed and uneducated nonsense on the radio!

Who made him judge? Ke mang ene?

So flabbergasted! No respect. Totally. 

Now, raise your glasses, will the real DJ please stand up. 

My name is Refilwe Thobega... 'till next time, stay tuned!