A basic analysis of this handwriting style reveals somebody that is expressive, passionate and affectionate, but the style also appears to indicate that this person is idealistic and does not find it easy to have relationships.
The clear formation of the lettering seems to indicate that the person is interested in outward appearance as well as beauty and design. It also reveals the person appears to enjoy life and does not depend on the opinions of others.
Posted in ANC, Jacob Zuma, South Africa
The South African Ministry of Home Affairs has removed the visa requirement for all Zimbabweans in a move that has been described to discourage illegal entry and formalise the status of thousands of illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe living in South Africa.
The new rules allow all Zimbabweans visa-free entry into South Africa for stays of up to 90 days. The new rules also allow for visitors to partake in casual work during their stay. Many Zimbabweans do not have passports and as such, departure permits or border passes will be accepted as proof of identity. Those wishing to enter under the new rules are also required to provide evidence that they will return to Zimbabwe at the end of their stay.
Present rules allow for Zimbabweans who are currently illegally resident in South Africa permission to apply for a “special dispensation” permit which will allow them to avoid deportation and formalise their residency. This type of permit is valid for 6 months and also allows for casual work.
Similar systems are currently used by Lesotho, Swaziland and Botswana.
The new system is expected to be implemented by 19 May 2009 and will last for a trial period of 12 months.
Posted in ANC
The internationally recognised Got Talent series is heading to South Africa. The format has been adopted in over 26 countries since it’s American debut in 2006.
South Africa’s Got Talent calls for “any age, any act” (from singers, dancers and comedians to variety acts, animal trainers and acrobats) to compete for a top prize of R250 000 (£19 000) as well as the opportunity to perform at the Presidents Command Performance.
The show is expected to premiere on state-owned terrestrial broadcaster channel SABC 2 in August 2009. Hosting the show on SABC 2 will ensure a far wider audience as previous reality shows (such as Idols) have suffered from low ratings due to the fact that were hosted on the subscription-funded television channels.
The show will be produced by Rapid Blue – a South African production company which also produces the South African version of the Weakest Link.
Applicants are invited to register for auditions by calling 083 913 1120 or sending an email to talent@rapidblue.com.
Despite Jessie’s impressive CV, which features mismanagement to maladministration as well as abuse of state funds, she was promoted to ANC national media spokesperson.
The transcript below from the infamous interview is below. You couldn’t make it up.
Announcer: Political parties are using the internet to communicate with voters but do party leaders take a personal interest in the feedback they get in cyberspace? Sunday Times journalist, Philani Nombembe, put the question to ANC spokesperson, Jessie Duarte. This was her response.
Jesse Duarte: We have Twitter—we have—uh—Facebook… we have—blogs—several blogs of a—various leaders.
Philani Nombembe: Yes
DUARTE: Um—we’ve used every possible you know—also [inaudible] a very clear understanding that we’re—looking at a very narrow market
NOMBEMBE: Oh
DUARTE: …because it’s really middle class—uh—-people
NOMBEMBE: Yes
DUARTE: who—who do this. So it hasn’t been our base support.
NOMBEMBE: Okay
DUARTE: um—but we have invested in it—as much as we can—we’ve also used—uh—SMS’s…
NOMBEMBE: Okay
DUARTE: uh—-we’ve got our messages going out on an SMS line…
NOMBEMBE: Okay
DUARTE: uh… ja—um—we have WWW dot or—dot ANC dot org dot ZA—which is our link line
NOMBEMBE: Okay—
DUARTE: —or my anc dot org dot ZA which is another link line—uh—where you can—if you want to you can—it’s an interactive [sic] so can you speak to us—
NOMBEMBE: Okay—
DUARTE: uh—through those lines. Um—but I would be interested to know—-what—uh—is your interest in—
NOMBEMBE: Um—
DUARTE: because—I—if you know people it was anybody but The Times you—you always come from a negative—what’s the actual negative—so that we know wha—I know what to do.
NOMBEMBE: [laughs]
DUARTE: Uh huh
NOMBEMBE: [laughs] [inaudible] like we are trying to find out if it created excitement—like the—Obama campaign… like the—is…
DUARTE: [raising voice]—we did not try to emulate the Obama campaign—
NOMBEMBE: Yeah yeah I understand—
DUARTE: I think that we—I can see the negative now. Uh—we—we decided to use every possible means for communication.
NOMBEMBE: Okay—
DUARTE: And—and—it—it has indeed created—
NOMBEMBE: [inaudible]
DUARTE: an interest in people who have—uh—laptops and—and access to internet—uh—and the capacity in their homes—either in their homes or in their offices to—to engage us on the blogs – you know—so it has— it has had an impact—ja.
NOMBEMBE: Okay—
DUARTE: Uh—and—and it’s been good because in terms of our manifesto—
NOMBEMBE: Yes—
DUARTE: we—um—we—we ran a very short—uh— internet campaign and we had about four thousand hits—
NOMBEMBE: ah ha—
DUARTE: —people coming back to us to say these are the issues they’d like to see in the manifesto.
NOMBEMBE: Okay—but—uh some analysts say that when—when leaders actually—uh—uh—on these—uh—on these platforms actually respond to what—um—these supporters or—or—or—or—people who respond to—to—to—to—to these things—they create that emotional kind of link. Um—I just want to find out—
DUARTE: mmm
NOMBEMBE: does the ANC president also get to answer—to—to—to—to—to—these things—[inaudible]
DUARTE: He’s got his own blog—yes—you can write to him if you want to—
NOMBEMBE: Yes
DUARTE: uh—it’s the—a—ANC—a—President… uh—you—in fact if you go WW [sic] you can link straight from there—to any one of our blogs…
NOMBEMBE: Okay—
DUARTE: —ja.
NOMBEMBE: but he can get—[inaudible]
DUARTE: —ja—he does—he does read it… yes he does—he does. He actually—you know he can actually read—you know – contrary to your opinion.
NOMBEMBE: Okay… Okay… uh—Jessie— [inaudible]
DUARTE: —I mean how can you ask me a question like that—you know—does the ANC President actually read
NOMBEMBE: No it’s just—
DUARTE: Good God! Can you guys just get—get a life now
NOMBEMBE: Seriously— I understand what you’re saying but— [inaudible]
DUARTE: Ja you know you must get a life—you—you news people must get a life—you terribly class—classist and—and if you were not black I would say you are racist—but—well I suppose you could be a racist even if you are black like me—but um…
NOMBEMBE: Seriously—
DUARTE: You—you’ve got a very bad attitude—your newspaper has and you know seriously speaking now—this man whether you like it or not—gonna be the next president of the country and actually we—we are not concerned what The Times thinks—we know were The Times is coming from—and where your going to. So yes Mr Zuma can read and yes he does read his blogs.
NOMBEMBE: This is not the idea. What I’m asking is—is the interaction-–the excitement that they—these—uh—these—these platforms create [background noise] amongst they—[inaudible]
DUARTE: No—not necessarily. I think that for us the blogs are more—an information—um—uh—you know—it’s a conversation with voters—
NOMBEMBE: [inaudible]
DUARTE: its—its—it is that—and whether creates an emotion—I mean that’s taking it a bit far. I suspect that if you’re a blogger
NOMBEMBE: —Uh huh—
DUARTE: and you have a—a—a group of friends that you—or your Facebook friends that you—you generally—and—and—normally—uh—inter—interact with yes—then you have an emotional link—but in an election campaign it’s very unlikely to have emotional links with—of—uh—twelve to thirteen thousand people.
NOMBEMBE: I understand Jessie—but I hope you understand where I’m coming from—
DUARTE: No—no—listen I know who you work for—look—you guys—there is soap—that will wash a Times journalist in my eyes.
NOMBEMBE: Okay then—well that’s it I guess
DUARTE: Ja—no its not unfortunate—its reality and I think that if you are an South African who wants to see transformation—then you’ve got to join in the fight for it—not become part of the—um—of the—of the—of the third force—you know but you all sound exactly the same so there is not point but—have a good day and thank you for your call.
NOMBEMBE: Okay—just if I need something—can I just give you a ring—just to–uh
DUARTE: excuse me sir—
NOMBEMBE: If I’ve got something for accuracy—can I call you again—to—uh—
DUARTE: Yes you can—except if you insult my president I’ll just cut the phone down on you—I mean—how do I know you can read—your probably one of those people who might be able to be a whizz kid on the—on the—on the internet but maybe you can’t read at all—you know—so I don’t ask you questions like that.
NOMBEMBE: [inaudible] that wasn’t the idea but—it’s not about—
DUARTE: I mean the fact that you’re a journalist doesn’t make you a—a genius [inaudible] you’re just a journalist. Yes you’re welcome to call anytime.
[recording ends]
Posted in ANC, South Africa
A touch of xenophobia: Baleka Mbete
Now here’s something that would surely make the most ardent football supporter cringe.
At a recent press briefing in Pretoria following a day-long 2010 inter-ministerial committee meeting, the deputy president of South Africa, Baleka Mbete, expressed her “disappointment” at the fact that South Africans (and Africans in general) were not scrambling to buy tickets for the 2010 world cup. She also expressed alarm at the fact that a large majority of the tickets were being purchased by non-South Africans in countries such as the US, Europe, Canada and Australia. She finished her rant with this deliciously xenophobic gem, “It will be sad to find stadiums filled with people from elsewhere”. Brilliant.
The South African Mint has quietly released the much anticipated 2008 proof-like Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday 5 Rand coin in a type set.
The type set contains two 5 Rand coins – the proof-like 2000 Mandela cupro-nickel 5 Rand as well as the “laser frosted” 2008 90th Birthday bi-metallic 5 Rand.
It’s not too clear why the 2000 Mandela 5 Rand was chosen to be included in this set, but it does seem as if the Mint has excess stock of this coin that they would like to get rid of.
There appears to be no explanation for the use of this “laser frosted” terminology, but one can assume that the SA Mint is referring to the manufacturing process of the proof coin die whereby the details that are traditionally “frosted” by means of a sandblasting technique, are frosted with a laser. This technique is purported to achieve a higher quality finish. Another mint that utilises this laser process to manufacture their proof dies is the Australian Mint.
Although the coins in this type set have a proof-like finish, they have not been manufactured individually like most proof coins. Their minting process is similar to that of a circulation coins – and although they look nice at first sight, they have come into contact with other coins resulting in many scratches. I’m sure this will result in few high-grade versions as well as many disappointing “impaired proof” grades from NGC and the like.
Sources reveal that this coin type set is currently being offered to SA Mint Loyalty Club members where after it will be offered for sale to the general public. The price for the type set is R390 (USD39)
The SA Mint also claims to have limited the sale to one per customer, but their oantiquated rdering process has once again been called into question – as a quick search on local auction websites reveals that some sellers are offering up to 50 sets for sale as bulk lots.
Dissapointingly, most of these sets will land up in the hands of speculators.
This 2-coin set has a very low issue limit of 14,000.
It is also alleged that the SA Mint will also release an additional 90th Birthday 5 Rand set towards March. There is also no official press release on this set.
It is alleged that this set will contain a “laser frosted” 90th Birthday 5 Rand coin as well as a gold and silver bi-metal medallion featuring Mandela.
The pricing of this set is R5000 (USD500) and once again with an even lower issue limit of only 5,000.
It’s also alleged that the 90th Birthday 5 Rand in this set will be manufactured individually with a quality control check and as such will have a higher finish that the proof-like coin that is contained in the cheaper 2-coin type set.
It does seem as if this will be the only official offerings from the SA Mint regarding the 90th Birthday 5 Rand. From an investment point of view, these low issue numbers are a dream.
Once again the dates and pricing mentioned here are unconfirmed, calls to the SA Mint are unanswered and no information is available on their website.
[Thanks Rashid]
UPDATE 15 FEBRUARY 2009: Closer inspection of numerous type sets containing the proof-like Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday 5 Rand coin reveals their disappointing quality. Almost all that were examined were covered in fine, almost hair-like scratches as well as small nicks. There are also various rim nicks to be found. It does seem as if the coin was minted with a proof quality die, but this proof state is greatly reduced by the SA Mints’ minting process.
Posted in 5 Rand, Reserve Bank, SA Mint, South Africa
Tagged 5 Rand, Currency, Nelson Mandela, SA Mint, South Africa
I’m surprised that nobody has done this before. A US design student has made a highly desirable lo-fi Chanel purse and Louis Vuitton wallet from hand sewn sheets of beef jerky.
Nancy Wu, the creator, is a design student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
Beef Jerky is similiar to the Southern African delicacy Biltong, but less spices are used in it’s manufacture.
www.nwudesign.com
Posted in Design
