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June/July 2010
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Enter our 2010WC CompetitionWe're looking for the best stories to come out of the 2010 World Cup. You could be a local or a visitor; you don't have to have attended any of the matches or fanfests, but the story must have some relevance to the World Cup or life in South Africa during the period. Photographs and video clips may be included.
They will be published in our readers' blog – In your own Write. The three winners will be chosen at the end of August 2010 by CapeInfo and Wine Village in Hermanus, and will receive cases of fine South African wines. Prizes sponsored by Wine Village, who will despatch the wine to any destination worldwide that allows wine imports.
Hello
Showdown at OK Corral
NOTHING can compete with the air of expectation that marked the start of South Africa's World Cup game against France in Bloemfontein. Surely that was a highlight of the whole World Cup.
This was another 1994 moment – recalling SA's first democratic election. Maybe Madiba Magic has been replaced by a bumbling buffoon, but South Africans stood together as one – belting out Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika with fervour and passion as though their lives depended upon it. Maybe they were erasing the disgraceful memory of fans' behaviour after Uruguay scored their third goal against SA, when they left the stadium early in their droves.
When Raymond Ackerman was asked the secret of his success, he answered, "It's the fear of failure; of letting down those who trust and rely on you." Surely Bafana Bafana knew that too – they played a game of guts and passion that did them proud – the eighty-something-ranked team beat the former world champions.
It's been ordinary South Africans who have made this World Cup the most memorable ever and the world has learned a few new words – GEES! and vuvuzela. The passion for national symbols, especially the flag, reflected in traffic on CapeInfo where our page on the Flag and National Anthem was, by far, the most popular page on the whole website. You can learn the anthem's words and meaning there.
 Photo: Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town | Over one million people have already used Cape Town's fan facilities and it's projected that the number will reach 1.7 million by the end of the tournament. Other cities' facilities are as popular.
 From Andrew Boraine's blog: Cape Town shows the world how to street party
"We were hoping to get 100,000 people on the Cape Town Fan Walk for the Germany vs Argentina 2010 World Cup Quarter Final match. At its peak, the Fan Walk hit an estimated 153,000! This means that when 65,000 people were in the stadium, over 90,000 continued to enjoy the Fan Walk. No ticket, no problem!
"It may not be as big or as glamorous as the Rio carnival, but I reckon that a new Cape Town people's tradition has been born through the 2010 World Cup Fan Walk experience. People have walked at night, they have walked in wind and rain. And the Fan Walk has been getting bigger on every occasion as the word spreads amongst locals."
 Time to reflect
During June, 1,020,321 visitors entered the country, up 25% for the same month last winter. Of these, only 144,000 were from overseas (way down on the peak of 225,000) and well within the normal capacity of airlines. The top visitors were from Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia, followed by UK, US, Germany, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.
The biggest benefits of the 2010 World Cup are those that are still to be discovered. Like... Crime in South Africa can be beaten!
Public transport also took a step forward to becoming a meaningful service in most cities but it's still a service in name only. In Cape Town, Metrorail earned the ire of many fans. One hopes that when government's FIFA masters leave the country, they will continue with many of these programmes that should have addressed long ago.
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The Big Debate #1 – Is Cape Town unfriendly? Cape Town is often accused of being an unfriendly city. What do you think?
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The Big Debate #2 – Is SA Tourism losing the plot? SA Tourism is starting to promote accommodation establishments on their website, but deny that this is competition to all the websites that currently promote product owners, or that it will impact on the viability of local tourism offices that rely on booking commissions.
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Free Classified Ads– Make some money from the unneccesary things lying around your house. Or advertise a service you render. CapeInfo has a new classified ads system and posting ads is free. Read more.
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Weather – CapeInfo's home page now shows a snapshot of the current weather in South Africa's main cities. But, almost no matter where you are in the world, you can set our detailed, 5-day weather forecast to show your city or town. There are 4,892 weather stations worldwide linked to our weather page. Read more.
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New FAQ – We've replaced our Frequently Asked Questions section under the Help navigation tab in the ongoing quest to make CapeInfo easier to use. But we can't always win – the best anecdote from the past month was a call from someone: "I have registered before, to vote in the elections, but I don't know how to register on your site."
A drive around South Africa
Not everybody gets the opportunity to really explore South Africa but we are, and the story is starting to appear in Travels with Akela. After 9,000km, and more to come, the highlights to date are easy to identify but so many questions are raised that writing the story takes much longer. One has to ask if mining companies usurp the soul and entrepreneurship of the towns they inhabit. (I really need to speak to Anglo American's social responsibility department before writing more.) One has to understand the different challenges facing local government, who so often fail their citizens simply because citizens don't know or are not vocal enough. One needs to understand the differences between business and discretionary travel, and how accommodation establishments pitch themselves.
 Two books added to the journey. First, I finally managed to find a copy of John Steinbeck's classic, Travels with Charley, In search of America, at Hemingways bookstore in Hermanus. From that I learnt that one can't write about each place visited without the perspective of the whole trip. Then, in Cradock, I met Chris Marais and Julienne du Toit, authors of the biggest little book I've come across in a long time. Karoo Keepsakes is a whimsical and invaluable record and guide to the characters and destinations of the Karoo that spans four provinces. Find out how to buy it.
You'll see links to write a review for all the destinations below. If you've visited any of them, we'd love to read what you have to say, and so will CapeInfo's readers. You do need to have registered and be logged in to CapeInfo before you can write a review. Please make your reviews as informative and balanced as possible.
Johannesburg highlights Johannesburg is a big city with no clear focal point. Where you stay depends largely on where you want to go because getting around the city can take a long time. Almost every area has its own advantages. We can recommend the places where we stayed – Pretoria, Bramley View, Edenvale, Auckland Park, Radiokop and Fourways.
Constitution Hill is a sobering and inspiring experience. All South Africans should visit it while visitors will gain an insight into SA's past, present and future. Write a Review
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Liliesleaf Farm, where many of the ANC's leadership were arrested prior to the Rivonia trials, is a world-class heritage centre. Write a Review
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Limpopo highlights Limpopo is an inside-out province. Most of its towns are abysmal and its real attractions lie in the rural areas. This is Bushveld country, big sky country. If mineral wealth is its nemesis, it does, however, have a number of gems. Haenertsburg/Magoesbaskloof is as stunning as the people are friendly. Thohoyandou is an authentic African experience. The Waterberg is a pristine Bushveld experience.
Dr Stanley Livingstone prepared for his trek into Africa by hiking around this mountain and the Waterberg Biosphere has retained much of its pristine beauty. WRITE A REVIEW
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Thohoyandou is a rich farming area and roadsides abound with fruit sellers. Set in the foothills of the Soutpansberg, the scenery is stunning! COMMENT
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Garden Route highlights The Garden Route is one of SA's premier tourist destinations for good reason – it works hard at balancing the preservation of a unique environment while managing development. And it understands the importance of tourism better than anywhere else.
Waking up at Lake Pleasant was beyond sublime. And the hospitality on arrival makes one wonder if Mantis is SA's best hotel group. Write a Review
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Knysna is a feel-good destination. There is the stunning location but it also caters for tourists so very well. Car guards are tourism ambassadors! Write a Review
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Cape Town highlights It takes visiting Cape Town as a tourist to really appreciate all that the Mother City has to offer. It's difficult to pick only four highlights because there is so much – the train to Simon's Town, the Boulder's Beach penguins, V&A Waterfront, Government Avenue, Camps Bay and Hout Bay, as examples. The biggest revelation that comes with comparison is how Capetonians use and enjoy their city far more than their compatriots in other SA cities. Mike, Sally and Peter at Dongola House in Constantia raised warm professionalism in hospitality to a completely new level.
It's a feeling one might have in a flying saucer hovering over the Fairest Cape in the world. Bezweni Guest Lodge on the mountainside above Sir Lowry's Pass Village is stunning! Write a Review
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Culinary delight on the outskirts of Somerset West at Capelands Estate's restaurant, Mangiare. Owners Johann and Laura are delightful hosts. Write a Review
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Two Oceans Aquarium revisited seems even better than before. It's a visit into a different world and, if you can experience it through a child'seyes, is even more rewarding. Write a Review
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Table Mountain cableway must be one of the slickest, most professional operations in the world, and a trip to the top is one of the most rewarding excursions one can make. Write a Review
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Route 62 highlights Provincial government hide behind bureaucratic excuses and Zille's office gets 0/10 for responsiveness on this one. Route 62 should be the main tourist route between the North and Cape Town. It's safer than the N1 and only 70km longer but passes through 11 villages that showcase some of the best the Western Cape has to offer. (Gert Lubbe at Montagu Country Hotel provides incomparable hospitality while Mooiplaas Guest House in Oudtshoorn must be one of the best establishments I've ever stayed at.
Is Montagu the perfect small town? It has an incomparable setting, well-preserved built heritage, a stable & educated population and has been enriched by tourism. Write a Review
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It's not just ostriches and the Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn has an outstanding architectural heritage and dramatic views. Write a Review
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Eastern Cape highlights The Eastern Cape is arguably the province with the greatest untapped tourism potential. It has beaches and the Big Five; it encompasses the warm Indian Ocean coastline and snow-bedecked winter playgrounds; it offers clear air and blue skies similar to those that make Cape Town such a sought-after filming location. But is also offers a fascinating built heritage.
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