Wednesday, November 16, 2016

SUPERMOON OVER PRINCE ALBERT

Some friends invited me along for drinks on the night of the 14th November, the night of the beautiful supermoon, which is not to be seen this close again until 2034, so I'm told.  We decided we'd reunite at the same place on that date.

This is what that beautiful moon looked like from the Weltevrede road, with the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains in the foreground.















MMUSI MAIMANE VISITS PRINCE ALBERT

On Monday, 24 October 2016, Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance in South Africa, together with Patricia de Lille, Mayor of Cape Town and leader of the DA in the Western Cape, Sharna Fernandez, speaker of the Western Cape Parliament, and Anton Bredel, chairman of the DA in the Western Cape and MEC for local government in the Western Cape.

Mmusi Maimane was entertaining, eloquent and at the same time put across a very strong message to us and all fellow South Africans.  "South Africa, your ship is sinking!" he told us.  He said that with the present governing party in place, our ship is sinking.  However he also said that we need to see and find hope in every situation.  He said that with the current state of affairs, the ANC is losing favour amongst the people of South Africa.

When someone voiced their fears about what is going on with the 'fees must fall' riots, he reminded us that they are not nearly as bad as the riots we have had in the past with the level of violence and even the necklacing that took place.  Although he sees this rioting in a very dim light, he says that in the end it will again weaken the ANC.

His very strong message that came across is that we as South Africans must stop thinking of ourselves as individuals, but rather collectively.  Not blacks or whites, but blacks and whites.  He said we must take it much further, not think of industry or labour, but industry and labour, and much more. He said until we change our mindset and start thinking of South Africa as being a country for all it's people, we will not overcome our problems.

He spoke about where changes need to be made in governance.  Starting with things like policing, where we need a Head Of Police who has a background in policing and and not in politics.  He said that education is another major factor that needs to be addressed, amongst others.

Mr Maimane gave us a bit of his background.  He said he was the son of a teller.  He said he was better off than most, by having been able to attend a Catholic School.  He also told us that if not for two whites who decided to take a chance, go into Soweto and help those less fortunate than themselves, he would not be where he is today.  Mr Maimane has a BA in Psychology from the University of South Africa, his Masters in Public Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand, and his Masters in Theology from the University of Bangor in Wales.  Certainly a far cry from the country's current leader!

I cannot sit here and repeat everything he told us that night, but his speech was positive, and we can certainly see that this is a man capable of running a country and taking it to new heights.


Mmusi Maimane




Anton Bredel, Sharna Fernandez and Patricia de Lille

Friday, July 22, 2016

JUST ME AND MY CAMERA

It's been a while.

Yesterday I needed time for me, and for reflection.














































INDIE KAROO FILM FESTIVAL (Part 3)


From here on are just photographs of the people and more of the actors, directors, writers and others who attended the festival this year.



Janice and Steph


Daniel Dercksen let the workshop on screen writing


Michelle and Valerie with Chivago Jacobs, who was once a gangster and is now an actor


Jamie, and Bokkie Botha


Regardt and Cecelia Voges with Fourie Munro


Marlene Malan, freelance journalist and Hannes Visser, editor of the Oudtshoorn Koerant


Regardt and Cecelia Voges


Movie goers


Daniel Dercksen, Independent educator and writing coach, Film & theatre journalist, Screenwriter and playwright, Director


The Expresso crew


Brent Phillip-White


Braam van Zyl who made the golden aloe trophies


Some of the crew manning points around Prince Albert for the festival


Stephan Munro who ran the bar


Daniel Dercksen and Gerard Rudolf


Toby Gous, Regardt Voges and Fourie Malan