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Flute In South Africa, traditional fl utes are made from natural materials like small animal horns, wood, hollow bones and river reeds. Some end-blown fl utes are open at both ends and the player produces a variety of notes by closing and opening the bottom end with one fi nger and selecting high or low pitches depending on how hard it is blown. Flutes serve a number of purposes, for example herd boys use them to signal to their cattle or to each other from a distance Xylophone Xylophones, also known as marimbas, are most highly developed in Mozambique, where they play an important cultural and social role. The mbila mutondo of the Venda is the only traditional marimba in South Africa. Although the instrument has been adapted by many South African cultures and has become popular over the years, the original Venda mbila is now quite rare. Rattles Rattles and shakers are used to create percussion in dancing. Rattles are either handheld or worn on the ankles as part of a dance costume. In South Africa, rattles were traditionally made from cocoons, fruit shells, goat skin or palm leaves tied up and fi lled with stones or seeds. Ankle rattles emphasise a dancer’s leg movements and add some rhythm to a dance. Bows Bows enjoyed widespread popularity in pre-colonial days, but many are no longer made or played. South African bows were traditionally made from natural materials. The stave is made from wood and the string from twisted fi bre, sinew, hair or wire. Bows can be plucked with the fi ngers, struck with a light stick or grass stem or rubbed with a dry stick. Some bows are also activated by blowing. Reference: The Drumcafé’s Traditional Music of South Africa, Laurie Levine, Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd, 2005 Technical information: Stamp issue date: 30 June 2011 Layout and design: Hein Botha Stamp size: 38 x 29.07 mm Stamp sheet size: 210 x 78.14 mm Paper: Yellow Green Phosphor 102g/m2 Gum: PVA gum Quantity printed: 40 000 sheets of 10 stamps Colour: CMYK Printing process: Offset Lithography Printed by: Cartor Security Printing, France 9 Setempe May-Aug 2011
new issues... The beauty of South Africa’s forest birds Forests are a vital part of global sustainable development. According to World Bank estimates, more than 1,6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. To raise awareness and strengthen sustainable forest management, as well as development and conservation of all types of forests for the bene t of current and future generations, the United Nations declared 2011 the International Year of Forests. To coincide with this, the South African Post Of ce chose forest birds as its theme for a new set of stamps in the South African bird series. Forests are integral to the quality of human life and the environment. They provide people with food, fuel, shelter, medicine and employment. Forests are also home to 70% of the world’s terrestrial animals and plants. Forests clean the air we breathe, reduce concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keep sediments from entering rivers and lakes and provide protection against fl ooding, mudslides and erosion. Forests also provide shelter to some of South Africa’s most spectacular birds. Global warming According to the World Bank, deforestation accounts for up to 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that the world’s forests and forest soil store more than one trillion tonnes of carbon – twice the amount found in the atmosphere. The World Bank estimates that forests provide habitats to about two-thirds of all species on earth, and that deforestation of closed tropical rainforests could account for biodiversity loss of as many as 100 species a day. South African forests Indigenous forests cover only about 0,25% of South Africa’s land surface. They are mainly patches scattered through areas of high rainfall and high humidity and on sheltered mountainsides. They include the indigenous evergreen and semi-deciduous closed forests of the coastal lowlands and 10 Setempe May-Aug 2011 escarpment slopes. With a few exceptions, such as the forests of the Knysna area and the KwaZulu-Natal coastal dune systems, forests are small, usually occupying less than 1 000 ha. Despite the small land surface area they occupy, South African forests have relatively high species richness. Only fynbos exceeds the species richness found in our forests. Because of their importance many of South Africa’s forests are conserved either as State forests or they are protected in formal conservation areas. However, some also occur on private land. Indigenous woodlands cover almost one third of the surface area of South Africa. This includes proper woodlands of tall trees, as well as bushveld. Birds Indigenous forests and woodlands are home to some of South Africa’s most beautiful birds. The birds depicted on the set of fi ve stamps are the green twinspot, olive bush-shrike, Cape parrot, Knysa turaco (lourie) and the African crowned eagle. The artwork is by André Olwage. Green twinspot (Mandingoa nitidula) The green twinspot is mainly green with white-spotted underparts and a red patch around the eyes. Immature birds are mainly green. The twinspot is an elusive, shy bird that frequents the edges of forests and coastal bush. It is usually seen either singly or in pairs and feeds in areas of open ground, but dart into thick cover if disturbed. Nests are built high up in tree canopies where they are protected from predators by branches and the dense green foliage. Olive bush- shrike (Telophorus olivaceus) The olive bush-shrike is near endemic to the southern African region, which means it is found mainly in this region, but also occurs in other parts of the world. Locally, the olive bushshrike is common in most of southern Africa’s forests and is also is found in the African bushveld. Olive bush-shrikes vary in colour and the physical features of the male differ slightly from that of the female bird. The head is mainly olive with a grey bill, chestnut eyes, a white throat, yellow legs and an olive back.
Page 2 and 3: Managing editor Johan van Wyk Edito
Page 4 and 5: interview ... Muano Mainganye - hon
Page 6 and 7: Principles contained in Schedule 4
Page 10 and 11: Cape parrot (Poicephalus robustus)
Page 12 and 13: 13 Setempe May-Aug 2011
Page 14 and 15: Setempe adverts dates & rates... SE
Page 16 and 17: This year sees the Rugby World Cup
Page 18 and 19: Bellville post office... From left:
Page 20 and 21: Sipho’s father, who was a wealthy
Page 22 and 23: The Old Arts Building, which is a N
Page 24 and 25: CASH ORDER FORM Account number: ___

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