Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020

BALLITO • UMHLANGA 

Meet Umhlanga’s 

coolest barista duo 

WIN! 

a weekend 

away for the 

family 

African flavours 

at Simbithi’s Fig Tree 

AMAZING MAKEOVER 

for a Sheffield Beach 

bachelor flat 

Let’s celebrate 

the start of summer and the end of 2020! 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

NOVEMBER 2020

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27 November 2020 

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GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 032 946 0276 

Email leah@getitnc.co.za 

Ballito Business Centre • Ballito Drive 

Ballito • KwaZulu-Natal 

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Editor Leah Shone 

leah@getitnc.co.za 

Layout and Design 

Nicole von Metzinger 

ads@northcoastcourier.co.za 

Advertising Justine Douglas 

justine@getitnc.co.za | 082 454 9222 

Natalie Bertram 

Natalie@getitnc.co.za | 082 434 3442 

Sales and Online Support Lisa Smith 

lisa@getitnc.co.za 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor and National 

Sales Kym Argo 

082 785 9230 | kyma@caxton.co.za 

Distribution 

10 000 copies monthly 

Get It Ballito • Umhlanga is distributed 

free of charge in Ballito, Salt Rock, Umhlali, 

Umdloti, Umhlanga Rocks, Umhlanga 

Ridge and Gateway 

Published by The North Coast Courier 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Get it Ballito 

branch within 10 days or they will be forfeited. 

Prize winners’ names are published on our 

Facebook page monthly. 

Cover: Christy Ann du Plessis 

Shot by: Chris Allan Photo: 083 441 3144, 

www.chrisallanphoto.co.za 

Makeup: Kylie Black, @madeup_bykylie 

Dress: Bianca Warren, www.biancawarren.com, 031 

566 3570, @BiancaWarrenSA 

Floral backdrop: Love Laugh, Ballito Lifestyle Centre, 

www.lovelaugh.co.za, 083 875 4263, @LoveLaughSA 

Shoot location: Coco De Mer Boutique Hotel and 

Fiamma Grill Italian restaurant: 63 Compensation 

Beach Road, Ballito, 032 946 1029 

NOVEMBER 2020 

contents 

Why don’t you… 

2 Visit a market (yes, they’re back!), take a long, beautiful stroll on the 

beach (for the environment) and do your bit for the Sunflower Fund! 

Wish List 

6 Celebrating all the flavours and spoils of summer 

People 

8 Take a look at who we bumped into at two awesome 

North Coast events this month! 

12 Celebrity trainer and mother of three ... meet our cover girl 

from Mtunzini Christy Ann du Plessis 

14 Passionate about the sea and open water swimming ocean guide 

John McCarthy shares his priceless water safety advice 

Health & Beauty 

18 The Umhlanga trail running group has been going strong for a full 

decade - we meet the man who started it all 

20 For truly natural beauty ... try these awesome DIY beauty recipes! 

22 Teresa is helping people make the necessary changes to improve 

their health and quality of life 

24 Is your body summer-ready?! 

26 Fashion and art merge at Umhlali’s trendy Dala Art Bar 

28 Fashion never felt this good - spoil yourself and give back! 

Food & Drink 

30 Meet your barista: We met up with two of Umhlanga’s coolest 

baristas from Rox Coffee Company on the promenade 

32 Venishree Mayer went from a quiet life in the small farming town of 

Darnall to becoming an award-winning olive oil producer 

38 The Fig Tree’s Kenyan-born senior sous chef Godfrey brings flavours 

of Africa to the restaurant’s new menu 

celebrations 

42 We discover a hidden gem tucked away from the hustle and bustle 

and perfect for an intimate event, gathering or celebration 

44 Winding down ... how are you celebrating the end of 2020? 

46 Do something completely different with your friends or colleagues 

for some fun this year and host a cooking class! Take a look at ours ... 

50 Christmas is not cancelled ... and nor is the much-loved 

Christmas Fair Fund’s annual Christmas Fair! 

HOMES AND GARDENS 

52 Take a look at this marvellous bachelor flat makeover 

56 See how small changes really can make a big difference 

58 Incorporate the ancient art of macramé into your garden 

19910 copies distributed (January - March 2020) 

November 2020 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga 01

13 

YEARS 

EXCLUSIVE MANDATE 

BALLITO | THE ULTIMATE BEACHFRONT APARTMENT 

A furnished beaut with sea views to live for. A position of note in close 

proximity to shops and amenities - on the beach and on Ballito’s popular and 

picturesque promenade/boardwalk. 

R 3 500 000 3 2 1 176m 2 

BALLITO | PRIVACY – SERENITY - SPACE 

Emphasis on space, privacy and outlook and independently situated in a 

secure complex within a gated estate. Centrally located in Ballito. 

4 2.5 2 

238m 2 

R 2 950 000 

EXCLUSIVE MANDATE 

SIMBITHI | FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY 

Magnificent, beautifully renovated apartment with 180 degree elevated sea 

views. Tastefully appointed luxury with huge potential for short term letting. 

R 5 250 000 

4 

3 

2 

300m 2 

Fiona Crago 

082 551 2607 

fiona@fionacrago.co.za 

Janelle Maritz 

083 694 6338 

janelle@fionacrago.co.za 

Jackie Futter 

083 326 7958 

jackie@fionacrago.co.za 

Invest. Intelligently. 

02 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga November 2020 

032 946 1439 | www.fionacrago.co.za

A hot date! 

Market spoils and beach walks this November 

If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least a month in advance to leah@getitnc.co.za 

07 

Immerse yourself in the most beautiful 

Little Local Market at under the trees at 

Sage Centre in Salt Rock on the first Saturday of 

every month. The market is from 9am to 1pm, 

entrance is free and you’ll be able to connect, 

eat and play with talented local vendors, traders, 

gypsies, makers and creators. Sip on a gin cocktail, 

drink great coffee and listen to live music while 

browsing stunning stalls and shops. Let the 

children run free in a safe and fun kiddies’ play 

area. Details: Sage, Old Fort Road, Salt Rock, www. 

sagecentre.co.za or 032 525 8059. 

13 

It’s nearly time for one of our very favourite 

days of the year … Sunflower Day. If you 

haven’t already, then make sure you get yourself 

a beautiful Sunflower Fund tope and why not 

consider becoming a bone marrow donor? It’s not 

as painful think and it’s really the ultimate gift you 

can give another person! According to the Global 

Cancer Observatory, a South African is diagnosed 

with a blood disorder every five minutes, and 

there are only under 77 000 registered donors 

in the country. This year, Sunflower Day will be 

celebrated on 13 November and you can take 

part by either becoming a donor or buying a Tube 

of Hope (TOPE) and sharing some hope. TOPES 

are available online or at Pick n Pay stores and 

selected pharmacies nationwide for R30. You could 

also consider planning a mini-event or fundraiser 

to commemorate Sunflower Day and help with 

much-needed fundraising efforts to grow the 

patient support fund. Details: www.sunflowerfund. 

org, 0800 12 10 82. 

22 

We are absolutely delighted by the news 

that the incredibly popular SA musician 

Jeremy Loops will be performing live at the 

Chris Saunders Park in Umhlanga on Sunday 22 

November! Yay for live music concerts being a 

thing again! Loops will be supported by local 

artists and there will be a variety of food stands as 

well as a fully stocked bar available. The organisers 

have assured us that all Covid-19 protocols will be 

in place to make the event a safe environment and 

there will be plenty of space for social distancing 

and sanitizing stations available. Face masks are 

required. No food or beverages will be allowed 

into the venue. Tickets are limited to 500 people 

and are between R180 and R200 per person. Gates 

open at 12. Details: www.webtickets.co.za 

14 

The Philocaly Trail (Philocaly meaning the Love of Beauty) 

is a KZN beach walk that was initiated by nature lover Nikki 

Williamson, which sees participants donating money to 

marine conservation charities for each day that they walk. 

The event first took place last year, with 285 participants, 

and over R60 000 was raised and donated to WildOceans 

Conservation, Breathe Ocean Conservation and KZN Beach 

Clean UP. When 420 walkers took the beach (walking between 

Mtunzini and Sheffield Beach over five days) in September 

this year, a remarkable R100 000 was raised. Due to popular 

demand, a ‘mini’ Philocaly Trail has been organised on 14 and 

15 November. Participants can walk on one or both days and 

the event goes from Tinley Manor Beach to Salmon Bay Beach 

(15km on day 1) and then Salmon Bay to Umdloti (17km on 

day 2). Details: FB: https://www.facebook.com/PhilocalyTrail or 

email: philocalytrail@gmail.com 


Book club 

Real life thrillers and in-your-dream chick lit 

and great wine and a box of chocolates. Swoon 

The Family Holiday by Elizabeth Noble is just the most delightful book we’ve 

read in ages. It’s light and easy, with lovely characters you long to be your newbest-friends. 

Teenage angst, family tragedies, new wives and single dads and 

a holiday in a gorgeous luxury retreat in the country ... a warm, witty and really 

wonderful weekend read. • Equally as light and enjoyable is Sophie Kinsella’s 

irresistible new novel about falling in love with someone - but not necessarily 

with their life. A writing retreat in Italy and a holiday romance sounds lovely. 

But back home - with his eccentric, naked-sauna-loving family and her terribly 

behaved, shirt-shredding dog - things don’t look as rosy. We love a good chick lit 

read, and Love Your Life is really fun. 

There is so much to love about Groote Post Seasalter wine ... the elegance and purity of 

fruit, the vibrant acidity, the oyster shell minerality and saline finish, typical of Sauvignons 

from the maritime cool-climate Darling Hills terroir. Even the name captured the essence of 

the wine. Seasalter 2020 has just been released ... and it’s a summer beach escape in a bottle. 

Think grapefruit and zesty lime with hints of fynbos, sea-breeze and a touch of oak. Serve it with 

seafood, of course. Around R150 from wine merchants or groote-post-wines.myshopify.com 


Wish list 

Summer time ... and the living’s so easy 

These beaded wrap bracelets are the prettiest way to accessorise 

a Summer outfit. Made from Japanese Miyuki glass beads in 

gorgeous colours (we fancy this teal and aqua option), and 

dainty charms, they’re elasticated and wrap comfortably 

round the average wrist six times. Wear one, or a few, for a 

colourful boho look. R350 from themakerycollection.com 

A breath of French air 

There’s a recipe in Jan - A Breath of French Air, for a biltong 

and crisp sandwich. Made with simple fresh white bread and 

Mrs Ball’s chutney, Jan get tears in his eyes when he eats it. 

There’s also one for a naartjie panna cotta with Rice Krispies 

chocolate rocks. Tastes of home in Nice, France. Lots of them. 

Cape seed loaf and mosbolletjies and his mother’s souttert. 

Loads and loads of more sophisticated dishes too ... many of 

them suprisingly easy. No surprise at all that they’re delicious. 

This, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s second book, is page 

after page of deliciousness ... and there are dishes you’ll make 

again and again. We’re off for a biltong and crisp sarmie. 

Penguin Random House, R490 

Tastes of Clifton 

Sun-bronzed skin. A warm Summer breeze. Soft golden 

sand. Icy, clear water that refreshes like no other. That’s 

Clifton. And we don’t need to be heading there these 

summer hols ... we can just make ourselves a cocktail with 

the new Clifton gin. Created by SA born Silvana Bottega 

(who describes it as liquid sunshine in a sip), the gin’s 

already won two gold medals. There are two versions ... 

Clifton 1 and Clifton 2 (just like the numbered protected 

coves of Clifton beaches). Clifton 1 is a sipping gin, all 

orange and lemon peel, lavender and fynbos, and is best 

served on the rocks. Clifton 2 - the cocktail gin - is eminently 

mixable. With hues of the sea, it’s all about marine and 

fynbos botanicals, cucumber and buchu, all working in 

harmony to capture the spirit of the Atlantic Ocean. The 

gins cost between R429 and R498 a bottle and you’ll find 

them at good bottlestores or on cliftongin.com 

Compiled by KYM ARGO 

06 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga November 2020

Taking inspiration from nature 

We’re lusting over this Wanderland Collective Oceanum round 

pouch bag. Made of velvet fabric printed with a hand-painted 

design inspired by the ocean - shells, textured mosses, algae and 

darting jellyfish - it comes with a detachable tassel and 

gold-coloured chain strap, which is long enough so the 

bag can be worn cross-body. It’s just the right size for your 

phone, lipstick and credit card. Plus it ticks the 

‘support local’ box ... it’s made here, with the design by 

local textile designer and artist Nicole Levenberg. There 

are a few colours and designs to choose from ... we fancy 

this Moss version. R785 from equilibrio.co.za 

Africa from the air ... a collection of extraordinary images in one magnificent book 

The continent of Africa has always held an irresistible allure and fascination for aerial photographers Jay and Jan Roode, 

who, when they’re not taking visitors on bespoke aerial safaris, roam the skies, capturing awe-inspiring images of the natural 

wonders of far-flung regions. The pair have spent thousands of hours in their specially modified aircraft, and for more than a 

decade have flown to, and photographed, some of the most remote and spectacular wilderness areas of southern Africa. The 

magnificent Aerial Art is the culmination of their remarkable journey. With a vibrant collection of wild and enchanting images 

that are instantly recognisable by their unique style and approach, the photographs convey an intimacy with, and reverence 

for, the wilderness that reflects their passion for the conservation and preservation of the landscapes they’ve flown over. The 

book has a magnetic clip hardcover case, 65 glorious double-page spreads as well as a comprehensive index with a thumbnail 

of each image and a brief description at the back of the book. The book costs R980, but there’s also a limited run of 200 copies 

with an alternative cover, which costs R1960, which includes a R1000 gift voucher which can be used towards the purchase of 

a fine art print of any image in the book. You’ll find the book at Exclusive Books or order online from hphpublishing.co.za 


The Arch is open 

We were delighted to have been invited to the media launch of Umhlanga’s 

hottest new development, The Umhlanga Arch. With breathtaking 

ocean views, gorgeous boutique stores and an open plan market-style 

dining area called The Legacy Yard, this is an incredible new addition to 

the area and, if you haven’t already, make sure you pay them a visit! 

The team from Hello Hunny treated guests to a ‘royal’ hand sanitizer spoil 

Taryn Fleming and Sky Tshabalala 

Robert Mattison and Shane Yelverton 

at the trendy Back Yard roof top bar 

Umhlanga Arch developer and visionary Marc Rosenberg 

with Butterscotch store manager Noma Mondlane 


New beginnings 

Bubbles, beautiful clothes and happy smiles were the order of the day at 

the opening of Muze at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre recently. Owned by 

Wendy van Zyl, the beautiful boutique stocks stunning limited-edition, 

on-trend garments as well as accessories and gorgeous gifting. 

Jordan, Wendy and Seth van Zyl 

Caley Rosenberg and Nicola Grove 

Oliver and Casey Hardy 

Eula Barkley, Johanna Karlsson and Khosi Mathenjwa 

Dr Rohini Bisaal and 

Subashan Pillay 

Kim Noyce and Sue Friderichs 

Leigh-Ann Paterimos, Tes 

Jahnig and Nikki Stone 


Moving for your 

mind and body 

Text: Leah Shone | Photograph: Chris Allan Photo | Dress: Bianca Warren | Hair: Carlton Hair, Ballito 

Makeup: Kylie, madeup_bykylie | Location: Coco De Mer boutique hotel and Fiamma Grill 

Business woman, physiotherapist and 

celebrity fitness trainer Christy Ann du Plessis 

truly believes in the healing power of moving 

your body. In a time when many of us need 

to hit the reset button and pay more attention 

to our health, we decided to catch up with 

the inspiring Mtunzini mother of three. 

She’s a beautiful, petite blonde with a striking smile and an incredibly welcoming nature, and it’s hard not to warm to Christy 

Ann within minutes of meeting her. But there is a lot more to her than just a pretty face and a super fit body. 

If she looks familiar, it may be because you’ve seen her on social media, where her popularity is growing on a daily basis. Or 

perhaps you caught her on DSTV, where she was recently featured on SuperSport’s 5 Colour Fitness workout show. 

Although she is a highly qualified physiotherapist and body conditioning trainer, Christy Ann’s true passion lies in helping 

people, women in particular, improve their mental health through physical exercise. 

It’s something she has had first hand experience of in her own life, and it was her strong desire to share her knowledge that 

led to Christy Ann starting her blog and social media pages a few years ago. 

A busy mom to her three sons, Arthur (4), Charles (3) and Michael (18 months), Christy Ann, with her husband Peter, moved 

to the small North Coast town of Mtunzini three years ago, after he took up the position of chief financial officer at the 


University of Zululand. 

The couple were living in 

Bloemfontein before that, which is 

where Christy Ann owned and ran 

three highly successful physiotherapy 

practices. Christy Ann grew up on 

a farm in the Eastern Cape and met 

her husband while she was studying 

in Bloemfontein. They have been 

married for nearly 10 years. 

It was a conscious decision, she says, 

to have their children close together. 

She admits, though that it has been 

challenging at times. Especially when 

they had three kids under the age 

of three, all still in nappies! “We are 

adventurous and love getting out 

and camping. We wanted to get the 

‘nappies and bottles’ stage out of the 

way all at once. It seemed like a good 

idea at the time, but there have been 

moments where I’ve questioned our 

sanity,” she laughs. 

Before she had children, Christy Ann 

spent some time training overseas, 

which is where she learned more 

about the mind-body connection. “I 

was specialising in women’s health 

and sports rehab, but I became 

fascinated with the concept of using 

physical activity to improve a person’s 

mental health.” 

Having suffered with chronic fatigue 

while she was studying and then 

post-natal depression after the birth 

of her first son, Christy Ann says she 

saw first hand how she was able to 

heal her mind with movement and 

exercise in both instances. 

During lockdown, Christy Ann 

decided to offer free online exercise 

classes and they grew quickly in 

popularity. She still offers online 

classes, on a subscription basis. She 

does a live class every day at 8am with 

a recording available for those who 

can’t join the live class. 

“This has been a difficult year for 

everyone and after everything we 

have been through, a lot of people 

are suffering with chronic stress at the 

moment. I truly believe that moving 

your body (five times a week for half 

an hour a day, at moderate intensity) 

can and will make a massive change 

in your mental state and your life.” 

When Christy Ann was approached 

by the Fitness Health Active (FHA) 

network and recruited to be part 

of Season 2 of The 5 Colour Fitness 

show, she was thrilled! FHA and sister 

company, the Gresham Group, hosted the programme on DSTV’s SuperSport, 

airing it for five weeks, giving viewers exercise routines and showcasing healthy 

eating options and recipes from qualified trainers from around the country. 

“It was an amazing experience being a part of the show. I was actually still 

breastfeeding during the filming, so I travelled to Johannesburg to film as a mom 

of three … and was surrounded by all these young trainers! But it was so much 

fun. I am so thankful to have fallen into this space where I am able to really realise 

my dreams.” 

So, if you are feeling quite drained and emotionally spent, how do you get 

yourself into a fitness regime? “My biggest tip is to get yourself an accountability 

partner. It doesn’t have to be someone you run or do gym with, but just 

someone who is going to check in on you daily and make sure you are moving,” 

says Christy Ann. “The next thing I recommend is that you literally block out your 

exercise time in your diary. And make it a repeat activity. That way, if you do have 

to delete it and add something else, you are forced to really think about it and 

consider that you are, in fact, ‘deleting’ your health!” Changing your eating habits 

can also go a long way to improving your energy levels and mental wellness. 

“Changing my eating habits really helped me unlock more energy and feel better 

about myself. I like to think about what I put in my mouth and avoid refined 

foods. I try to eat food that is as close to its natural form as possible and I try to 

stick to the age-old ‘plate rule’ – so half your plate is fruit and vegetables (more 

vegetables), a quarter healthy protein and a quarter wholegrain carbs. I think 

if you keep it simple, you’re more likely to stick to it. I snack on nuts and raw 

veggies during the day and, if we spoil ourselves, with a burger or a pizza, I try 

not to have the bun and only eat the top off the pizza! It’s not for everyone, but 

this way of eating works for me.” 

Christy Ann says she has seen incredible changes in some of the women doing 

her online workouts, and has had some amazing testimonies. One lady has 

already lost 20kg’s! 

“My biggest dream has always been to be a positive influence, health wise, for 

women and I feel so lucky to really be living that dream right now.” 

Details: www.christyann.fit, FB and IG: Christyann.fit, info@christyann.fit 


Be ocean safe 

Our proximity to the ocean, incredible climate and outdoor lifestyle means it is in 

inevitable that many North Coasters - adults and kids - spend a lot of time in the water. 

As summer arrives, we asked well-known author, adventurer and ocean recreation 

safety instructor John McCarthy for some advice. 

Text: Leah Shone 

A former competitive surfer and professional lifeguard, John is probably more 

comfortable in the water than anywhere else. Having travelled the world 

extensively, he is also a veteran competitive canoeist, surf ski paddler and 

certified Master freediver. His true passion lies in open water swimming though. 

John was the navigation and safety officer for South African endurance swimmer 

Sarah Ferguson on two of her biggest swims and he designed the Underwater 

Swim Free Confidence course to help people be safer and more comfortable in 

and under water. He is also the author of two books. 

John shared his 2020 Swim Free Water Safety Guide with us – an 18-step guide 

to help anyone enjoy water activities more safely. He wants parents, coaches, 

facilitators and anyone working with children or adults where water activities are 

involved to read it. “In South Africa more than 600 children die by drowning every 

year and many more are disabled by a non-fatal drowning incident. This is a 

statistic that I, as a father, struggle to accept. I encourage people to their children 

through the swim free guide step-by-step,” he says. “It could save their lives.” 


We’ve pulled out just a few of John’s tips for 

being safe in the water. The comprehensive 

18-step guide can be found on the Swim Free 

website (details below): 

* Always respect water. We can survive extraordinary 

things in water if we approach it with respect and are able 

to operate in a calm and confident manner. It is easy to 

perish if we are ignorant, arrogant, impatient or foolish. 

* When evaluating risk, think in colours: green, amber, 

and red. Green is safe and red dangerous. Use this 

mindset to assess risk when approaching a body of 

water – whether it’s the ocean, a dam or river or a pool. 

Pause before entering and take time to colour the picture 

in your mind. For example, in a pool, the deep end and 

diving boards would be amber to red and the shallow 

end green. In a river the rapids, fast-flowing water, weirs 

and blockages would be red. A dam with clear water 

and easy access in and out would be green. In the same 

dam, but with murky water where you can’t see the 

bottom – that would be amber. In the ocean, the rocks 

and the rip currents would be amber to red, where a nice 

shallow sand bank with gentle foamies rolling towards 

shore would be green. If you look at a situation and you 

don’t understand what is going on, then by default you 

automatically mark that part of the picture red. Also, 

remember that nature is dynamic and always changing 

and a picture can go from green to red very quickly. 

* The first rule of lifesaving is self-rescue. You also need 

to use the colours to gauge how you are feeling in a 

situation. Green means ‘I understand my situation, I’m 

completely calm and confident in my ability. Amber is 

when doubt creeps in and red is, ‘I’m out of my depth and 

feeling overwhelmed’. You always want to be green – if 

you’re amber or red try to exit. Prevention is ultimately 

better than cure though, so if you have any doubt, rather 

do not enter the water and swim another day! 

* When entering the water, always use the buddy rule. 

When you buddy up, you watch out for and stay close 

to each other. If one of you is swimming underwater the 

other must stay on the surface until you come up. If you 

become separated immediately alert a teacher, lifeguard 

or person in authority. If you are in distress, the universal 

signal is one arm waved slowly above your head. 

* A drowning person doesn’t look like what they show 

on TV. Most often, a drowning person will simply slip 

below the surface with very little splash or fuss. Either 

because they can’t swim or are fatigued. 

* Parents – watch your children in the water. Even if they 

can swim and regardless of how old they are. Do not be 

distracted by social media. Drowning is silent and you will 

not hear splashes or screams for help. If a child says they 

can swim don’t believe them unless you witness their 

ability. 

Details: For more about John’s Confidence Underwater course 

or to find out about his other services, go to: www.oceanchild. 

co.za. For the full Swim Free guide to go: www.swimfree.co.za

Promotion 

There’s a new skipper on 

board at Suncoast 

When you work in the demanding world of casinos, hotels and entertainment, you need to be 

rational and have a great sense of humour - qualities Suncoast’s new director of operations and 

complex general manager has. We get to know the man behind the title. 

ehind his mischievous 

grin and Bristolian 

humour, lurks a 

level-headed man 

who is able to make 

informed decisions in 

the fast-paced world of business and 

entertainment. Adam MacIntyre has 

been in the hotel and casino industry 

for 31 years, and is proof of what he 

believes - what you put in, you will reap. 

Since his days as a casino dealer back in 

Bristol in the UK, his hard work, effort 

and continued commitment have led 

him to running the pearl in the Tsogo Sun gaming crown, Suncoast. 

Adam jumped at the opportunity to be part of Durban’s most loved entertainment 

destination when Mike Dowsley, who steered the Suncoast ship for the last 17 

years, was off on a new adventure. No stranger to the position, after helming the 

Emnotweni Casino in Nelspruit since 2017, Adam is ecstatic to be working with a 

world class team, providing a world class offering, and looks forward to being part of 

Suncoast’s exciting future. 

After growing up in West Wales and Bristol and starting his career in 1989, his 

experience abroad included working for Stakis Hotels and contracts in Europe and 

the UK. In 1992, his career started in South Africa at the Wild Coast Sun and, after six 

years at the coast, he found himself in Gauteng. Adam was part of the opening team 

and pit manager of The Dome and later Montecasino, the latter where he worked 

his way to tables manager in 2007. Five years later, he was managing the tables 

department at Gold Reef City Casino, until 2016, and then spent a year back at 


Montecasino before steering Emnotweni Casino. 

Adam says he has had many high and low moments in his life, but his biggest 

highs have been proposing to and marrying his wife, Olivia, as well as the day their 

daughter, Lily-Rose, was born. The almost three-year-old is her father’s delight and 

makes him smile every day. “We love the coastal life and I don’t mind getting my toes 

wet in the sea every now and again. Lily-Rose loves the beach and the sea, and is 

absolutely in her element with smiles that just keep on coming.” Adam says his career 

journey since joining Tsogo Sun is also a definite high, and that all the low points in 

his life have added to who he is, and who he and Olivia are as a couple. 

While working and still trying to find a home, Adam is trying to get back into running, 

and thinks the beachfront’s Golden Mile is the perfect route to get him on track 

again. A lover of bush and wildlife, places like Botswana and Zimbabwe are some of 

his preferred holiday destinations, and the Kruger National Park was his second home 

while living in the Lowveld. ”KZN has great wildlife opportunities, and it’s been a 

while since we visited Umfolozi-Hluhluwe. Walking safaris and camping have always 

been a favourite pastime, and being able to have some quiet time just listening to the 

wind through the veld can sometimes make all the difference.” 

Uncovering his bliss for the bush, it is easy to understand why Adam prefers being 

quiet and observing from the sidelines, as opposed to being the centre of attention. 

“I try and remain calm and keep my sense of humour, with the stress that comes with 

all types of work, along with the obvious stresses that are out there at the moment 

as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a real need to keep an even keel, and 

keeping my sense of humour does that for me.” 

What does it take for an 

operations director to function 

in this fast-paced environment? 

To continue the success of this 

incredible property, I need a 

passionate and dedicated team 

around me. I am lucky to have exactly 

that here at Suncoast. 

What are the demands of 

working in the business of 

entertainment? 

We need to offer an experience that 

leaves each and every guest coming 

back for more. 

What qualities do you need to 

work at Suncoast? 

As we work in the ‘people’ industry, 

common courtesy and decency 

cost nothing, so we have to treat 

each other with respect always, be 

it a fellow team member or a guest 

visiting our property. Sometimes 

the thing we do in our lives, or the 

way we treat someone, may appear 

unimportant to us, but can have a 

massive impact on those around us. 

It’s kind of like the ‘pay it forward’ 

principle - doing good things for 

people, when there is nothing in it for 

you, is a reward all on its own. Maybe 

we should all be doing that just a little 

bit more. 

What are your goals for 

Suncoast? 

To keep pushing and building the 

Suncoast brand. We all have to 

weather a storm at the moment, both 

personally and in the business world, 

as a result of Covid-19, but this storm 

will end at some point and we are 

ready and eager to get back to full 

capacity and do what we do best, and 

that is entertain in true Suncoast style, 

with thrilling gaming, exciting events 

and the full entertainment offering for 

the entire family. 

Adam and Olivia MacIntyre and daughter Lily–Rose. 


A decade on the trails 

This month marks 10 years since Buzz Bolton started the Riverside Trail Running 

Group, which sees more than 70 people running together on a weekly basis, 

exploring the beautiful trails of Umhlanga and its surrounds. We found out a bit 

more about the group and the man behind it. 


After more than 30 years as a 

dedicated road runner, with 20 

Comrades marathons under his belt, 

Buzz Bolton accidentally entered a 

50km trail running race in 2007 ... and 

inadvertently discovered his new life’s 

passion. 

Afterwards, he signed up to join a 

friend in the gruelling Cape Odyssey 

event, comprising a 210km run over 

five days. “This not only introduced 

me to multi-stage trail running, but 

sent a loud and clear message to say 

that I was now obsessed, hook, line 

and sinker with trail running.” 

After two years of running on trails, 

Buzz took it upon himself to start 

a formal trail running group in 

Umhlanga. “Trail running is so big in 

the Cape, and with so many beautiful 

open spaces available to us, I couldn’t 

understand why we didn’t have any 

organised runs here.” And so began 

the Riverside Trail Running Group. 

The popularity of trail running has 

grown immensely in South Africa over 

the past decade, and the North Coast 

in particular has a wide selection of 

beautiful trails available to runners. 

For most trail runners, Buzz says, 

the real draw card is the simple 

pleasure of being able to immerse 

yourself in nature. “Unlike road 

running, trail running is not really 

about beating your previous time. 

Every run is different, with rivers to 

cross or mountains to climb, and we 

often stop along the way to take a 

photograph … and catch our breath,” 

he laughs. 

Buzz’s appreciation for the outdoors 

stems back from a childhood spent 

on sugar cane farms and in game 

reserves and on his wife (of 47 years) 

Hildegard’s family farm in Namibia. 

“This outdoor life was peaceful, 

interesting and ever-changing. Mud 

fights in the river, playing sticks with 


other boys and running in the sugar 

cane were the order of the day. In later 

life witnessing the beauty of nature in 

Namibia added to my appreciation for 

the beauty that surrounds us and its 

preservation.” 

When he first started the Riverside 

Trail group, Buzz says the interest and 

support wasn’t quite what he had 

thought it would be. “It became clear 

that trail running only appealed to a 

limited few and the mass envisaged 

support from local clubs did not 

happen. Very few joined on any of 

our training and pioneering runs.” 

But, they numbers grew slowly as the 

sport grew in popularity, both in the 

area and the country. 

In an attempt to grow the club faster, 

Buzz met with Umhlanga Tourism’s 

Peter Rose and together with other 

stakeholders they came up with the 

idea of including a trail run as part 

of the annual Summer Carnival in 

December. This was a turning point 

for the club. 

“Our Wednesday regulars group grew 

to around 30 and Saturday runs 15 

and, as time progressed and we did 

more Umhlanga trail runs, so did the 

There are so many 

things to love about 

trail running. It 

really allows us to 

enjoy the natural 

beauty around us 

numbers.” 

Apart from their love of running, Buzz 

says, the now tight-knit group of 

runners have other things in common 

too - including a shared passion for 

nature and a cappuccino problem! 

There are organised trail runs on 

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 

and Saturdays, always at 5.15am and 

starting at different points. Thursdays 

7km ‘stamina run’ is the most popular 

with between 60 and 70 runners 

taking part. “There are both fast and 

intermediate groups and you can 

even start off walking,” says Buzz, who 

has taken part in almost every single 

run over the past 10 years. 

The Virginia Bush and Izinga Ridge 

routes are among the group’s 

favourites and their Monday morning 

runs often take place along the beach 

if the tide is low enough. 

“There are so many things to love 

about trail running. It really allows us 

to enjoy the natural beauty around 

us. It also makes you super fit and 

time just seems to go by so fast when 

you’re on the trails.” 

The Riverside Trail group has become 

an integral part of the community 

and Buzz says it’s extremely rewarding 

to see people enjoying parts of the 

area they might never have seen 

otherwise, whether it’s running or just 

walking their dogs. 

Asked what’s next on his own 

personal bucket list in terms of 

running, Buzz says that while he 

doesn’t do too many long runs 

any more, he would like to try the 

beautiful Mnweni 40km in Bergville in 

the Drakensberg … at least once. 

Details: For more information or to 

join a run, contact Buzz via Facebook: 

RiversideTrail or on 082 777 7073

Naturally beautiful 

You’re staying safely at home this month. But - horror - you’ve run 

out of beauty essentials. We’ve rounded up some help ... straight out 

of the pantry. Here are 25 home-made recipes that actually work 

Body beautiful 

To soften bathwater, throw a cupful of milk powder beneath the 

running taps. If you like, add your favourite aromatherapy oils, but 

the milk in itself is beautifully skin-softening because of the lipids it 

contains. 

Olive oil is a fantastic body moisturiser (add a few drops of a 

favourite essential oil if the scent’s a bit grassy for your taste). 

You can create a spa-like experience in your shower. Choose a 

relaxing essential oil (think lavender) or an uplifting oil (neroli’s a 

great choice) and add a few drops to a damp flannel or sponge. 

Place this on the floor in front of you as you shower to allow the 

steam to release the scents. 

To create a free body scrub, mix in leftover coffee grounds with your 

usual shower gel and use in the shower for a free pamper session.

Kissable lips 

Exfoliate your lips gently – try a soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth. Apply a 

thin layer of raw honey on your lips before going to bed, then wake up to soft, 

smooth lips. 

Use cucumber to soothe chapped lips — mash a few slices and apply directly 

to your lips like a mask. You can also gently rub with slices of the cooled veggie. 

Leave the juice on your lips for 10 minutes before washing away with water. 

Replenish and hydrate your lips by mixing one teaspoon of honey with two 

teaspoons mashed avocado! Apply lavishly, leave on for a few minutes and 

rinse. Great to treat smoker’s lines. 

After steeping green tea, remove the bag and rub it over your lips to exfoliate 

them. Not only is green tea rich in antioxidants and minerals, but also 

reduces inflammation. 

Eyes bright 

Mix one tablespoon of turmeric and 

one tablespoon of buttermilk, apply 

the orange-coloured mixture to 

your dark circles with a brush – and 

expect to look infinitely better-slept 

after just 15 minutes. 

Caffeinated teabags have been 

shown to reduce under-eye 

puffiness. Steep two bags, squeeze 

out the excess liquid, allow them to 

cool, and you’re good to go. 

Bright smile 

Calling all coffee, red wine and 

fizzy drink lovers — if strawberries 

don’t quite do the job of whitening 

your teeth, then try rubbing apple 

cider vinegar on them and rinsing 

(thoroughly) with water. 

Get an A-list smile for less with a bit 

of lemon juice and bicarb of soda. 

Mix them together and rub over your 

teeth then rinse. If you do it every 

day you’ll see whiter teeth in as little 

as a week. 

Face fabulous 

Those of us who haven’t been blessed with tiny pores are always looking for 

ways to make them less noticeable. Combine two to four drops of lemon juice 

with one spoon of tomato juice, apply and leave on for 15 minutes. 

Say hello to papaya, your new BFF. This fruit acts as a natural exfoliator and 

reduces blemishes while hydrating the skin. Mash it up with a dollop of honey 

and yogurt and you’ll have one multitasking face pack. 

Apple cider vinegar can also double up as a pore-perfecting toner. It can 

regulate your skin’s natural pH, meaning your skin will fight breakouts and 

strike the perfect balance between dry and oily. Dilute the vinegar with two 

parts water and swipe over the skin with a cotton wool ball. 

Turmeric is great for helping to fade skin discoloration and post-acne scarring. 

Simply mix it with a few drops of lime juice and leave on the skin for 20 

minutes. 

Do you suffer from blotchy, oily skin? Whip up an egg white until frothy, apply 

it to your face and let it dry. Repeat and add another layer and leave it on for 15 

minutes. Finally, rinse with warm water. 

Show-off hands & nails 

Mash together an avocado and small 

banana (they’re mineral-rich and 

full of anti-oxidants) and pop inside 

plastic gloves (or sandwich bags) 

to minimise mess. Not only will it 

make your hands super-soft, but the 

mixture will nourish your nails and 

cuticles, too. 

A manicure wouldn’t be complete 

without showing your cuticles some 

TLC and there’s no better way to kick 

them into touch than with some 

cooking oil spray. Yep. Just make sure 

it’s garlic-free! 

Lemon’s a wonder product and a 

great nail strengthener — rest hands 

in a bowl containing lemon juice and 

warm water to strengthen nails and 

remove any leftover colour. 

Playing footsie 

Cracked heels? Warm a cup of honey 

and stir in two tablespoons of milk. 

Add juice from half an orange to 

form a paste. Apply on your heels 

and leave on overnight. Wear socks, 

obviously! 

For soft feet you’ll need a half cup of 

vinegar, pinch of salt, a half cup of 

Listerine mouth wash (yes, really), one 

cup of hot water and a few drops of 

peppermint oil. Soak your feet for 15 

minutes. With a brush or pumice rub 

the dead skin right off. 

Help for your hair 

Put the life back into limp or damaged hair by combining one teaspoon apple cider vinegar with two tablespoons olive 

oil and three egg whites. Rub into your hair. Keep your hair covered for about 30 minutes, shampoo and rinse. 

Revitalise your hair with bananas. Simply blend together two ripe bananas and half a cup of coconut milk. Coat your hair 

in the mixture and let it sit for half an hour, then wash the mask out of your hair. 

You may think of tea as a sore throat remedy, but you can also use it to give hair a natural shine. Use a cup of warm, 

unsweetened tea (freshly brewed or instant) as a final rinse after your regular shampoo. 

Compiled by: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG 


Holistic healing 

It is quite fascinating to see a drop of your blood being analysed under a microscope. In a 

time when many of us are suffering from ill health and chronic stress, Ballito holistic health 

specialist Teresa Vos is using naturopathic microscopy as a way of determining the root cause 

of people’s health problems and finding practical solutions to get them back to health. 


Millions of people suffer from 

ongoing, sometimes chronic illness 

that they just cannot get under 

control. Very often though, simple 

lifestyle and diet changes are all that 

are needed to address the cause of 

these problems (rather than just the 

symptoms) and ultimately lead to 

happier, healthier lives. 

Easier said than done though, right? 

Well, maybe not. A visit to Teresa’s 

Topform Holistic Health clinic in 

Ballito, we recently discovered, 

is a great way to get a clear and 

undeniable view of what is happening 

inside your body. And then finding a 

way to remedy it. 

Teresa started her Topform Holistic 

Health, Body Scan, Lifestyle and 

Weight Loss Clinic more than 12 

years ago and she has helped heal 

and transform the lives of literally 

hundreds of people since then. 

From weight loss to bringing under 

control serious health problems like 

stress, immune challenges, insomnia, 

gut issues, anxiety, post-nasal drip, 

eczema and skin conditions and a 

wide range of other illnesses and 

ailments, Teresa says she is ultimately 

driven by a passion for helping others. 

With the use of her body scan, live 

blood analysis and years of experience 

and knowledge she is able to create 

specialised and individual solutions 

for every person she meets. 

“I added the live blood analysis two 

years ago, mainly to help people to 

see for themselves the anomalies in 

their blood and to be able to confirm 

possible root causes of a number of 

symptoms. Some people find the 

answers they have been looking for 

for years and their families understand 

their health journeys better as a result.” 

Teresa says seeing the live blood 

results also helps inspire them to take the corrective measures needed to fix the 

problem. 

An analysis starts before you even arrive for your appointment, when you 

complete the comprehensive health assessment questionnaire (this is optional). 

On the day, Teresa does an electronic body scan, which is incredibly interesting 

and informative and afterwards, you have a quick and painless finger prick and 

then the live blood screening. It’s exciting (and quite sobering) having your 

blood analysed right in front of you. There’s no denying science after all. 

Teresa explains that toxins can lead to degradation and, in turn, trigger or are 

associated with chronic degenerative illnesses. “The cause of many health 

problems can be attributed to prolonged exposure to various toxic agents in 


Changing your eating habits and taking the correct 

supplement will immediately improve your health 

and can help bring chronic illness under control 

our environment and ‘bad’ foods. Some health challenges 

may be related to impairments or imbalances in your 

body’s ability to properly detoxify and remove these toxic 

compounds.” 

A lot of what is wrong with us, she says, can ultimately be 

fixed simply by eating the right foods in the right amounts 

and supplementing correctly. “Certain foods burden the 

detoxification machinery of your body, whilst other foods 

help the process. Your body needs to rid itself of these 

dangerous substances and so your ability and capacity to 

detoxify is of critical importance to overall holistic health.” 

Teresa says, over the years, toxins build up in fat, tissues, 

joins and the brain, potentially leading to a variety of 

health concerns. And no two people are the same, which 

is why it’s important to ensure that you are putting the 

correct things into your body, for you. 

“A healthy weight, nutrition and digestion play a huge role 

in health. Psychological and emotional stress relate directly 

to the gut-brain axis, linking our emotional and cognitive 

centres of the brain with the intestinal functions. 

While her knowledge and experience are vast, one of 

Teresa’s strongest points is her heart for people. She 

genuinely cares and wants you to be healthier and 

happier. “My biggest wish is just to help the many 

desperate people out there by taking a holistic, integrative 

approach with functional food and medicine to address 

the root causes. There is an effective solution for everyone 

Details: Teresa is currently offering free 15-minute 

consultations on an appointment basis only (in person, 

telephone call or on Zoom). Contact her on: teresa@ 

topformbodyscan.co.za; FB and IG: TopFormSA, 082 452 7936 


Promotion 

GET SUMMER READY 

Shake off that ‘lockdown look’ and get yourself ready for summer … and the festive season! 

Here are just a few great ways to get yourself looking and feeling ready for the party season. 

A summer glow … 

From a beach babe summer glow to tongue-waggingly 

gorgeous nails and best brows in town … national awardwinning 

Perfect 10 Ballito is so much more than just a beauty 

salon. They offer superior advice from medically-trained 

skincare experts for everyone from teens to grans, Biotek 

microblading, peels to suit every skin type and concern 

and anti-inflammatory massage therapy to address medical 

concerns. They stock Dermalogica, Guinot, Nimue and 

Placecol and have monthly specials to make it easy on your 

pocket. They also offer loyalty points on their exceptional 

rewards program. Perfect 10 Ballito has strict hygiene 

protocols and a wonderful ambience and are definitely worth 

a visit! Details: Perfect 10 Ballito, Ballito Junction, 

032 586 3368, 072 390 2239 

Reset your health 

The Thrive 10-Day 

Health Reset was 

designed by Alex Royal 

Dietetics to give you the 

foundation for optimal 

health. The program 

aims to nourish and 

support your body 

using wholefoods 

and delicious recipes, 

while also embracing a fully holistic approach to helping you 

achieve optimal health. Sign up with the Get It discount code 

to save 10% on your summer reset. Use the discount code 

ThriveWithGetIt at checkout. Details: www.thrive-wellness.co.za 

Emphasis on the eyes 

They say the eyes are the 

windows to the soul. With 

all emphasis on the eyes this 

summer (especially with the 

constant use of masks and 

hours of online meetings), 

a visit to Dr Harisha Karpath 

Aesthetics is a must. Facial 

rejuvenation improves sagging 

skin, pigmentation, wrinkles and improves skin health and 

Dr Karpath has various treatments available to suit each skin 

type and aging concern, with results that are sustainable with 

appropriate maintenance. Details: 032 586 3318, reception@ 

ballitoaesthetics.co.za, 6 Sanhall, Kirsty Close, Ballito 

Sun and summer ready 

The gorgeous new Skin Renewal 

Umhlanga Aesthetic Clinic is situated 

at the recently opened Umhlanga 

Arch … and we highly encourage you 

to pay them a visit to get your skin sun 

and summer ready! In the meantime, 

go online and get one of these 

Heliocare 360 Gel Oil-Free SPF 50’s - an 

ultra-light, mattifying gel that absorbs 

into the skin quickly. This will leave your 

skin with the necessary hydration, but 

dry to the touch, R450. Details: www. 

onlineskinshop.co.za, 0861 SKIN SA 

A little pampering spoil 

Don’t let 2020 get the better 

of you! Show some self-love 

and take a break … a little 

pampering pick-me-up so to 

speak. Visit Simply Be Spa and 

enjoy one of their amazing 

treatments. From massages 

and facials to waxing, manis 

and pedis, they even have 

packages for the kids! Their location at Sugar Rush Park makes 

for an ideal setting to enjoy a morning or afternoon of spoils 

… think coffee, treatments and fresh air! Details: Simply Be Spa, 

Sugar Rush Park, Esenembe Road, Ballito, 064 374 5654, hello@ 

simplybespa.co.za, www.simplybespa.co.za 


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part of renewal institute 

Umhlanga Arch, Shop 3, High Street Level, 1 Ncondo Pl, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga. 

Tel: 031 566 3590 • Mobile: 079 183 1107 • umhlanga@skinrenewal.co.za 

0861 SKIN SA 

0861 7546 72 

onlineskinshop.co.za 

• www.skinrenewal.co.za • www.bodyrenewal.co.za • www.brainrenewal.co.za • 

• www.healthrenewal.co.za • www.sleeprenewal.co.za • 

111088

Creative 

spirits 

With beautiful, locally-sourced 

artworks adorning the walls and 

trendy items of clothing hanging 

on the rails, we thought you 

might like to know a little more 

about this cool new spot, tucked 

away in Umhlali. 

The Dala Art Bar team, Gustaf, Claire, Caleb and Anthony 



They are a group of kindred, creative 

spirits who have come together to 

form a space for artists, designers and 

pretty much anyone who has the 

courage to put themselves out there 

and create something. 

The Dala Art Bar, situated at Burnedale 

in Umhlali, is, by day, a pop-up type 

shop featuring local South African 

talent in the form of artwork and 

clothing and, by night, a vibey 

outdoor bar and place to come 

together and enjoy good food, music 

and chilled, laid back vibes. 

Started by Gustaf Swart, Anthony 

Yared, Claire Howell and Caleb 

Swanepoel, the vision for Dala has 

evolved over the past few months 

and what was originally going to be 

a ‘book and pizza’ hangout, has now 

become this ever-changing creative 

hub. 

“We want this to be a space where we 

can celebrate art, clothing and people 

who are brave enough to create,” 

says Gustaf, who studied Geomatics 

We want this to be 

a space where we 

can celebrate art, 

clothing and people 

who are brave 

enough to create 

at UCT and was a cartoonist for the 

varsity newspaper. 

Fashion designer Claire, who heads 

up the fashion side of Dala, says the 

ultimate goal is to uplift and give 

creatives a platform from which they 

can hopefully connect and grow. 

The art and clothing in the store are 

sourced locally and they change on a 

monthly basis. They are also starting 

to introduce locally-made jewellery 

and other items. 

“It’s more about forming relationships, 

building connections and helping 

each other out than it is about 

competing or trying to make money,” 

says Claire. 

Having all been involved in events in 

The locally-sourced art and clothing 

change on a monthly basis 

one way or another in their lives, the group have also started hosting their own 

Dala events in the beautiful gardens at Burnedale. The ‘outdoor bar’ is the perfect 

setting for socially-distanced mingling with delicious food, good music and a 

dance floor always on the lineup! “The art is a big part of these events,” says Claire, 

“people can buy items on the evenings as well.” Apart from these events, they will 

also be hosting regular ladies and singles night get-togethers. 

While they are currently keeping the items in store quite local, the Dala team say 

they are looking forward to expanding their offering with items from other South 

African and African artists and designers. 

“We’ve already been approached by quite a few artists and we really want more 

people to come forward and show us their work. Artists often tend to be slightly 

introverted and not keen to ‘show off’ their work, which means they struggle to 

put a value to it. This is a great way for them to get exposure,” says Gustaf. 

The Dala Art Bar team would like to encourage local artists and fashion designers 

to make contact with them. 

Details: FB: dalaartbar; IG: @dala_art_bar 


Text: Elana Wagner 


Shopping has never 

felt this good 

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure - a saying that Durban North fashionista 

Vanessa Osterroht has turned into her sustainable shopping motto. Now, she has taken 

it one step further by turning her recycled fashion passion into a side hustle that will 

update your wardrobe and help out a stranger all in the name of Poppin Tags. 

e pinned 2020 

as the year of 

vision. Instead, it 

became the 

year of the virus. 

Bucket-list travel plans 

- cancelled. Getting that promotion 

- denied. Saying “I do” surrounded 

by your closest - postponed. Besides 

robbing us of our freedom, Covid-19 

also killed businesses - big and small 

- and forced people into dark places. 

We have had to reinvent ourselves to 

survive, start a side hustle to pay the 

bills or turn the pocket-money maker 

into the bread and butter winner. 

After seeing first-hand how businesses 

and people were struggling during 

lockdown, Vanessa realised that 

relying on her corporate day job was 

not secure enough. She saw a gap in 

the shopping industry and knew her 

thrifting hobby could be the answer. 

“Who can afford clothes nowadays? 

Seriously?! I started thrifting a while 

ago and now, pretty much my whole 

wardrobe is thrifted! I love a good 

deal, especially when it is a high 

quality, niche item that you won’t find 

anywhere else. Thrifting is life and I 

want to share that!”. 

Noticing that other thrift stores were 

upping their prices too much, she 

took a leap of faith and in July started 

her own feel-good start-up business 

called Poppin’ Tags. “I was inspired by 

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ hit song 

Thrift Shop. I had this vision of me 

wearing a big fur coat - not that I 

could wear fur because I love animals 

- being this cool pimp of a thrift shop, 

poppin’ tags all day long,” laughs the 

30-something, bubbly blonde. She 

Being able to pay it forward to a stranger 

and spread that sense of a community 

that cares is so healthy in these times. 

has taken savvy shopping to the next level by buying gently-worn clothes from 

overseas and selling them for a fraction of the usual retail price on her Insta shop. 

“I basically buy a massive lucky packet and have no idea what is in it. When I’m 

done with my day job, I come into my little shop room, blast some French jazz 

and unpack all the clothes. My evenings are spent sorting, washing, steaming 

and uploading the newest items on Insta.” 

Her clothes range from cute Mango tops to gorgeous Burberry cardigans and 

soon-to-arrive summer dresses. Pants, however, are a total no-no. “I have a golden 

rule - if it’s been on your bottom, it is rotten!” 

And for each item you buy, you get a free one to donate. “I am very serious about 

quality and super straightforward about what condition the clothes are in, 

because I have felt conned before. The items I don’t feel comfortable selling go 

to the donation side. When you buy an item, you get your biodegradable baggie 

to take home and enjoy and you get a second one to donate to anyone who 

crosses your path. You don’t know what is in there and it is not for you to open.” 

First-time shoppers are generally quite surprised by this novel idea and even 

feel rather startled. “Lauren Ginn, for example, is one of the ladies who randomly 

came through to buy a top one day. I gave her a second baggie and she was 

confused. At that moment, there was a mama going through the rubbish across 

the road and I suggested that she give the baggie to her. She did and it was such 

a happy moment. She put up this amazing post on social media and just blew 

me up out of the water. I owe a lot to her!” 

Giving people the opportunity to share in these tough times is what makes 

Vanessa’s day. “I wanted to change people’s mindsets and it has taken off 

incredibly well. It has created something that is way bigger than me, it is a 

movement. Being able to pay it forward to a stranger and spread that sense of 

a community that cares is so healthy in these times.” Feeling part of that local 

love network is a newly discovered feeling for Vanessa and one that she intends 

to grow. “As awful and destructive as this lockdown has been, it has brought 

back a sense of community. People are hustling. They have to and it is bringing 

us closer. We are getting to know our neighbours and we are supporting each 

other. We are bringing back that village living feel. Starting Poppin Tags has made 

me support local small businesses and I love it! The whole shift has been violently 

rewarding.” 

Details: Instagram: @poppin_tags031 


Meet your barista 

If you live in Umhlanga and frequent the promenade, chances are you have enjoyed a 

cup of Rox coffee at some point. If not, then it’s time you did! This month, as part of our 

‘meet your barista’ series, we chatted to two of Rox Coffee Company’s most popular and 

talented resident baristas. 

Meet baristas Bongani Sikhakhane and Njabula Bekwa 


Serving up coffee on the promenade 

at what is arguably one of the most 

beautiful beaches in the country 

might sound like a laid-back vibe ... 

but let us assure you, it’s anything but. 

In fact, when we arrived to interview 

Rox Coffee Company baristas Njabulo 

and Bongani on a random Tuesday 

morning, both were hard at work 

whipping up lattes and iced coffees 

and serving freshly baked croissants 

and giant pretzels. Amazingly, they 

were each doing so with a big smile 

and even a little dash of pizazz … two 

things that, in our opinion, go a long 

way towards making a truly great 

barista. 

When things settled down at around 

9.30am, we were able to sit down and 


spend some one-on-one time with 

the two baristas who make the magic 

happen at this popular coffee spot. 

Rox Coffee was started by Tregue 

Minaar who grew up in Umhlanga - 

an area that has lovingly been referred 

to as ‘Rox’ by locals for many years. 

He and his wife Bonnie now run the 

coffee shop with their hard working 

team. What started out as just a place 

to grab an excellent coffee and fresh 

croissant has evolved to include a 

wide range of beverage options, as 

well as delicious pastries and muffins 

and even footlong hotdogs (on the 

weekends). They also have delicious 

deli items such as biscotti, fudge 

and even some new plant based 

milks! Their fantastic coffee, however, 

remains the most popular item on 

their menu. 

“Rox Coffee is a family-owned 

and run business and we strive to 

maintain excellent service and well 

made coffees. We pay attention to 

small details like our jazz playlist and 

freshly baked pastries each day. We 

have a new branch on the R617 on 

route to the Underberg. It’s slightly 

bigger with a sit down area, open 

fire place for chilly days and a slightly 

more extensive menu. We are in the 

process of launching a deli section 

there, which will be fully stocked 

with beautiful pastas, olives and jams.” 

Definitely sounds like somewhere 

we’ll be stopping in at on our travels!

Meet Njabula Bekwa 

He is friendly, approachable and quite 

trendy - and 24-year-old Njabula 

knows how to make a mean cup 

of coffee. Having joined Rox Coffee 

Company in December last year, 

Durban-born Njabula has been 

making coffee pretty much since he 

left school. He’s passionate about the 

work he does and says his favourite 

part is meeting new people and 

getting to know the regulars. Njabula’s 

favourite coffee to make is a Cortado, 

which he makes with two double 

shots of coffee and the same amount 

of milk. Rox Coffee Company uses 

their own brand of Arabica coffee 

beans and Njabula makes everything 

from cappuccinos to lattes and 

everything in between. How does 

he like his coffee? Strong, and not 

too hot. Njabula hopes to one day 

own his own coffee shop because he 

believes it’s a good business to be in – 

and he really loves what he does. We 

asked Njabula what he thinks make 

a good barista, “I think character and 

personality are a big part it,” he said. 

We couldn’t agree more! 

Rox Coffee Company is situated on the 

beautiful Umhlanga beach promenade 

Meet Bongani Sikhakhane 

Also born and bred in Durban, 

Bongani says he absolutely loves what 

he does. He started making coffee 

more than 10 years ago and has been 

working at Rox since 2017. One of 

Bongani’s career highlights was being 

named ‘Best Barista in Glenwood’ in 

2009. One of his favourite coffees is 

a Cafe Mocha, which he makes with 

espresso, chocolate powder and milk, 

but his absolute favourite is his own 

creation called Bongani’s Bliss, which 

is made with goji berries, coconut 

milk, chocolate powder and coffee! 

Yum! While Bongani says he doesn’t 

necessarily want to own his own 

coffee shop one day, he does hope to 

have his own business in the coffee 

industry . . . perhaps sourcing and 

supplying coffee. Asked where he 

thinks the best coffee beans come 

from Bongani says definitely Ethiopia 

… somewhere he dreams of one day 

visiting! 

Details: Rox Coffee Company, Umhlanga 

Beach Promenade, Umhlanga Rocks, FB: 

Rox-Coffee-Company, 076 886 0107 


Liquid gold 

From her humble beginnings in the small sugar cane 

village of Darnall to a multi-award-winning oil producer 

and the owner of Fraaigelegen Farm in the Cape 

Winelands, Venishree Mayer is proud to be the first Indian 

South African woman to produce extra virgin olive oil. 


aving recently won 

two silvers and one 

gold medal at the 

SA Olive Association 

awards, Venishree 

is celebrating by 

sharing her love for the liquid gold 

that is found in almost every kitchen 

in the world. 

Since the launch of her brand, Adhara 

Evoo premium extra virgin olive oil 

in 2018, Venishree and her husband, 

Juergen, have been the recipients of 

five awards and, as a small producer 

with just under 3000 trees, she is 

thriving on their ground-breaking 

success and her active role in the 

industry. 

She is also a strong advocate of the 

health benefits of olive oil. “There is 

a high rate of heart-related diseases, 

diabetes and arthritis within the 

Indian community. Olive oil is a rich 

source of antioxidants, reduces the 

risk of heart disease and is good for 

both the skin and hair. It should be a 

staple in all Indian kitchens. In fact, it 

should be a staple in every kitchen.” 

The youngest of four siblings, 

Venishree is a third-generation Indian 

South African who grew up heavily 

involved in the Indian culture and 

cooking, with lots of typical large 

family gatherings. 

She spent most of her childhood in 

the small, close-knit community of 

Darnall and both her parents were 

very involved in the community 

cultural and religious affairs. Her father, 

a dancer and musician, organised a 

number of events both locally and 

out of town and Venishree started 

dancing at four years old. “Growing up 

in Darnall shaped me and who I have 


ecome and I have so many fond 

memories of living there.” 

After completing a law degree, 

Venishree went into sales and 

marketing before heading to the 

United Kingdom where she did 

volunteer work with Oxfam and 

married Juergen. In 2011 Venishree 

took a sabbatical, spending time 

learning Spanish and giving 

Business English language lessons 

to entrepreneurs venturing abroad, 

before heading back into a corporate 

as global head of communications for 

a US company. 

“In 2015 Juergen and I resigned from 

our corporate roles and ambled off on 

a spontaneous road trip through nine 

European countries, after which we 

planned to move back to SA.” 

Venishree says their shared desire 

to ‘Carpe Diem’ increased after 

her mother was diagnosed with 

Parkinson’s and dementia. “It was 

time to be selfless and do something 

different, maybe run a guest house, 

live life, redirect and rejuvenate.” 

When they returned to SA, 

Venishree and Juergen fell in love 

with Fraaigelegen Farm in Tulbagh. 

Owning a farm was never on their 

‘to do’ list and they still refer to 

themselves as virgins at farming! They 

set about restoring the vineyards, 

olive groves and guest cottages. 

“It was quite a learning curve. Passion, 

determination and a few failures got 

us through the first two years. The 

farm was severely run down on both 

the farming and the accommodation 

side and there were multiple 

unforeseen challenges.” 

Much of the couple’s hard-earned 

savings went into restoring 

Fraaigelegen Farm. But it was worth 

it. Today this is a successful agritourism 

destination. “The ultimate aim 

is to attain a balanced relationship 

between the terroir and farming 

philosophy – we farm with the land 

not against it.” This is, she says, to 

improve the organic carbon content 

to sustain the soil’s life and fertility. 

“Through harmony and balance we 

strive to regenerate the soil biology so 

that we don’t need chemical fertilizers, 

pesticides, insecticides and fungicides. 

We have already started seeing the 

benefit of this farming method. It 

has been a long, but very rewarding 

journey.” 

For recipes for 

Venishree’s favourite 

simple Lemon Olive Oil 

Cake and Green Salad 

Vinaigrette visit our 

website: getitmagazine. 

co.za/ballitoumhlanga 

The couple’s motto and driving force became ‘quality over quantity’ and by 2017, 

a deal was signed with Paserene Wines (Franschhoek) as the exclusive grape 

producer. 

“Our focus turned to extra virgin olive oil and we launched Adhara Evoo in 2018.” 

Venishree broke the glass ceiling in the industry as the first female person of 

colour to win an award, as owner and producer! In 2019 she joined the SA Olive 

Association as a board member and director. 

Recently Cape Good online shop was launched in Germany, with the aim of 

bringing premium quality extra virgin olive oils of SA to Europe and a plan to 

extend the portfolio with authentic, premium goods from South Africa, like wine, 

tea and décor etc. Next on the list is the launch of their own wine label. 

Venishree is proud of the quality of the extra virgin olive oil they produce and 

says that SA ranks with the best in the world in terms of superior quality and 

taste. 

“There are so many health benefits from extra virgin olive oil. In spite of having 

Parkinson’s, diabetes, dementia and arthritis, my 83-year-old mum is still strong, 

and I’m convinced it’s because she gets olive oil in some form in her diet, every 

single day.” 

When Venishree is not receiving guests, hand-harvesting olives or grapes, 

helping build a shelter for the farm animals or volunteering with local NGO’s, she 

is very much at home in the kitchen. 

“At home we use extra virgin olive oil in many ways – in curries, to fry all our 

delicious Indian sweet and savoury treats (Murkoos to Gulab Jamuns) and even 

to make roti! I bake cakes with extra virgin olive oil - it really is so versatile. Olive 

oil is very stable when heated. It is a carrier of flavour and does not disturb the 

authentic Indian flavour and spices but heightens them.” 

Although she loves her farm, Venishree admits to still missing Durban and her 

view from her university residence that overlooked the harbour. 

“What an unforgettable view! What I miss more though is the never-ending 

opportunity to get fresh Indian veggies and authentic Durban spices, and most 

of all… a really good bunny chow!” 

Details: Adhara Evoo is available for nationwide deliveries. Email: info@adharaevoo. 

com or via WhatsApp on 071 404 2766. www.adharaevoo.co.za. 


Mocktail anyone? 

There is an indisputable trend amongst millennials to cut back on alcohol, with more and more people 

enjoying low- or no-alcohol beverages for various reasons. If you’re looking for a drink that has all the 

fun but none of the booze this festive season, then here’s one to try! We asked the talented team of 

mixologists at Alchemy at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre to give us a yummy alcohol-free adult drink that 

would make our taste buds soar … and they didn’t disappoint! 

Strawberry Nojito (Mojito 

without the Rum) 

Ingredients 

10 mint sprigs, 4 fresh strawberries, 

juice of 2 fresh limes, ice, soda water, 

chilled, extra mint sprigs, lime slices, 

and fresh strawberries for garnish 

Photograph: THE SHANK TANK; @theshanktank, www.theshanktank.com 

Instructions 

In a cocktail shaker, combine the 

mint sprigs and sliced strawberries; 

muddle. Add the lime juice and ice. 

Shake to blend and chill. Pour into 

a coupe glass half-filled with ice 

(Tip: crushed ice makes it that much 

better). Top with the soda water and 

stir. Garnish with mint sprigs and a 

fresh strawberry quarter. 

(This can easily be made into an 

alcoholic version by adding a good 

quality white rum of your choice into 

your cocktail shaker!) 

Details: Visit Alchemy Bar at the Ballito 

Lifestyle Centre and try their wide 

variety of fantastic bespoke cocktails 

and craft spirits. They also have yummy 

bar snacks! @AlchemyBallito, www. 

alchemybar.co.za, 032 648 0032 


Out of an 

AFRICAN KITCHEN 

Eating on safari ... dishes from Uganda and Zambia and Kenya for you to make at home 

How can you possibly feed guests who, when not on safari, eat in the best 

restaurants on the planet? This was the dilemma faced by Nicky Fitzgerald, 

founder and owner of Angama Mara, the glorious, extraordinarily exclusive safari 

lodge that sits high above Africa’s Great Rift Valley, overlooking Kenya’s Maasai 

Mara, considered by many to be the loveliest game reserve on the continent. 

The decision, finally, was to create dishes that were less fiddly, more authentic, 

with fewer imported ingredients, more home-grown, never fancy, always good. 

And whether the meals were served as a picnic in the middle of the grass plains 

of the Maasai Mara, in the kitchen garden where guests are encouraged to pick 

their own veggies and toss their own salads, or in a lantern-lit forest listening 

to the call of the hyena, they were always delicious and memorable Out of 

an African Kitchen is an anthology of recipes, reminiscences, anecdotes and 

stories from this bush kitchen ... it’s a book to linger over, earmarking recipes 

like North African casseroles and Moroccan minestrone, Maasai honey biscuits 

and Swahili chocolate pots, Goan fish curry and Ugandan Rolex (a flavoured 

omelette wrapped in a chapatti ... rolled eggs ... get it?). It’s safari food at home ... 

an absolute joy. PenguinRandomHouse 

Swahili muhamri coconut ice cream sandwich 

Everyone loves fried dough ... the Italians with their bomboloni, the 

French and beignets, koeksusters from South Africa and jelebi from 

India, for example. In Kenya there are two ways of frying dough, 

mandazi from the hinterland and the lighter, more elegant and 

utterly delicious muhamri from the coast. We’ve included the recipe 

for the Swahili muhamri on getitmagazine.co.za, but here’s the rich, 

delish and really easy coconut ice cream. 

COCONUT ICE CREAM 

You’ll need: 2 cups fresh cream; 1 x 400ml can coconut milk; 1 x 385g 

can sweetened condensed milk 

To make: Whisk the cream until soft peaks form, then fold in the 

coconut milk and condensed milk. Freeze until ready to scoop into 

the muhamris. 


Chilled beetroot soup 

All the fresh fruit and veggies at the lodge are 

grown in the shamba (the Swahili word for kitchen 

garden), where the challenge is not the successful 

growing, but keeping out the elephants and eland, 

the porcupines and baboons, and the nondescript 

speckled mousebird (the biggest thief of all). 

This beetroot comes straight from the shamba. 

You’ll need: 6–8 medium-sized beetroots, thoroughly 

washed; 2 cups cold water; 2 cups vegetable stock 

1 Tbsp sugar; 300ml buttermilk; 200ml yoghurt plus 

an extra 50ml for serving; 1 Tbsp lemon juice; salt and 

freshly ground black pepper; fresh dill, finely chopped. 

To make: Peel the beetroot then roughly grate (wear 

gloves!). Put the beetroot into a large saucepan and 

cover with water (use more if necessary – it must be 

covered). Bring to a boil slowly, then turn down the 

heat and leave to simmer very gently for 20 minutes 

(they must not boil too rapidly). Once the beetroot 

has softened, add the stock and sugar. Stir well and 

refrigerate until completely cold (for at least 4 hours). 

Before serving, liquidise the soup and add buttermilk, 

yoghurt and lemon juice. Season well. Serve with a 

swirl of yoghurt and dill (serves 6). 

Kitchen notes: At Angama Mara all the soups are made 

with their own vegetable stock (but a good storebought 

one in liquid form works well). This soup can 

also be prepared with a good chicken stock. 

Gazpacho with olive tapenade 

This recipe is from the lodge ... where guests dine out on 

the deck, looking down into the reserve, where they’ll see 

giraffe journeying across the open grasslands, a family of 

elephant and another of buffalo. We can’t help you with 

the view, but can give you the recipe. 

GAZPACHO 

You’ll need: 2 ½ cups diced cucumber; 1 cup diced red 

pepper; 2 cups diced ripe tomatoes; ½ cup diced red 

onion; 4 cloves garlic; 2 cups tomato juice; ½ cup olive 

oil; 2 tsps sugar; 2 dashes Worcestershire sauce; salt and 

freshly ground black pepper to taste 

To make: Blend all the ingredients together and chill. 

Garnish the soup with a generous blob of tapenade and 

a swirl of good olive oil. (Serves 1) 

OLIVE TAPENADE 

You’ll need: 1 cup pitted black olives; 2 Tbsps capers; 2 

cloves garlic; ½ tsp chilli flakes; ½ cup fresh basil; ½ cup 

fresh parsley; 2 Tbsps olive oil 

To make: Blend all the ingredients in a food processor 

until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep for 

up to a week. 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


Flavours of Africa 

We were taken on a wonderful taste adventure when we attended the launch 

of Simbithi Fig Tree restaurant’s new menu recently. One of the most fascinating 

elements, however, was the influence of East African flavours introduced by 

senior sous chef, chef Godfrey Kinyanjui. We met up with him a few days later. 

Text: Leah Shone | Photograph of Godfrey: Clinton Friedman | Food photographs: Chris Allan Photo 

The menu features a range of snack platters, which are 

served with signature onion rings and shoestring fries 


hether you’re 

a Simbithi 

resident or a 

North Coast 

local who enjoys 

popping in now 

and then to enjoy a meal, there is 

a very strong chance that, at some 

point, you would’ve met the Fig Tree’s 

senior sous chef, chef Godfrey. You 

can’t miss him ... he always has a big, 

welcoming smile and a spotlessly 

clean chef’s outfit! 

Kenyan-born Godfrey has been 

working at Simbithi for 10 years. While 

executive chefs have come and gone 

over the years, Godfrey has been a 

comforting constant for both the 

kitchen staff and the loyal patrons 

of ‘The Fig’. We sat down for a cup of 

coffee with the incredibly humble 

42-year-old chef. 

Godfrey grew up in Nairobi and 

discovered his love for cooking when 

he was just a young boy. One of six 

children, he spent much of his time 

in the kitchen with his mother before 

she passed away when he was just 12 

years old. Then, he says, it was up to 

him to cook for his younger brothers. 

Chef Godfrey always 

has a beaming smile 

Chef Godfrey’s Stuffed Lamb Shoulder stuffed 

with Pimento, Dates and rolled in Dukkha Spice 

“I started experimenting with my 

mother’s recipes and really enjoying 

cooking.” 

Godfrey loved growing up in the 

country’s busy capital city, which 

he says is still one of the friendliest 

cities he’s ever known. After school, 

he completed a two-year travel and 

tourism diploma, before starting his 

own event and catering business, 

which is still running successfully, 20 

years later, headed up by his brother. 

Losing his mother at a such a young 

age was very hard for Godfrey, but 

discovering his passion for food and 

cooking was, he says, somewhat of a 

silver lining. 

When a friend of his visited South 

Africa and told him about Durban, 

Godfrey’s interest was piqued. “I 

wanted to come to South Africa and 

qualify as a professional chef here. 

South Africa is considered the best 

country in Africa when it comes to 

chef training.” 

He came to Durban in 2004 and 

started his training at a chef’s college 

in West Street. After doing work 


experience at Coastlands Convention 

Centre, Godfrey worked at two busy 

Durban beach front hotels before 

reaching one of his ultimate chef 

dreams in 2008, when he was given 

a job working under well-known top 

South African chef, Dean Uren at the 

five-star Zimbali Lodge. 

“Working under chef Dean was 

amazing. He is such a fantastic chef 

and he taught me so much. He 

introduced me to fine dining and I 

worked at both the lodge and the 

country club.” 

When Simbithi opened the Fig Tree, 

Godfrey moved across and began 

working under another celebrated 

South African chef, Gerard van Staden. 

“I was incredibly happy to move 

here. It really does feel like we are a 

big family. I think chef Gerard turned 

me into a real chef. I learnt so much 

from him and he promoted me to 

sous chef and then senior sous chef.” 

Godfrey has since worked under two 

other executive chefs at Simbithi - 

Darren Bowers and Gary Opperman 

“I have a little bit of all the top chefs 

that I’ve been so lucky to work with in 

my career inside of me … they have 

all made me who I am today,” says 

Godfrey, who is currently doing an 

advanced diploma with the hopes of 

one day becoming an executive chef 

himself. 

Commenting on the Fig’s newly 

launched menu, Godfrey says putting 

it together was a team effort. “I’m 

incredibly blessed to work with such 

a strong group of chefs, all of whom 

had input and gave us their ideas for 

the new menu.” 

While they have kept many of 

the restaurant’s firm favourites on 

the menu, they have also added a 

few surprises – our favourite being 

Godfrey’s own Kenyan-inspired 

Stuffed Lamb Shoulder with pimento, 

dates and a wonderful Dukkha 

spice. “We eat a lot of meat in Kenya, 

especially lamb. There is also a lot of 

Arabic influence, thus the Dukkha 

spice.” 

Asked what he enjoys about being a 

chef, Godfrey says he loves learning 

new things all the time. “At the 

moment I am working on my pastry 

skills under the watchful eye of our 

own pastry queen, Philile Dlamini.” 

Despite his humility, chef Godfrey is 

no stranger to the spotlight and was 

Lemon & Herb or Peri-Peri 

Grilled Half Chicken 

Decadent Duo Mousse Slice 

even featured in author Erica Platter and photographer Clinton’s Friedman’s most 

recent cookbook, Durban Curry: Up 2 Date. The book features a dish inspired by 

Godfrey’s Kenyan heritage called Kuku Bizari Ya Pwani, which, in Swahili means ‘a 

chicken curry from the coast’. 

When he’s not at work, Godfrey and his partner Lungile (who is also a sous chef at 

Simbithi) enjoy cooking healthy food at home. Strangely enough, this man who 

is so skilled at serving up delectable meat dishes rather enjoys eating salads! 

Pop in to the Fig Tree and try out some of the wonderful new dishes on the 

menu. We highly recommended the Lamb, the Eisbein or the Chicken Tikka 

Burger ... and you can’t go wrong with their famous Cashew Nut Chicken or any 

one of the amazing curries! 

Details: The Fig Tree, Simbithi: 032 946 540, or to get yourself a copy of Durban Curry: 

Up 2 Date go to: www.durbancurry.co 


Tranquil 

creative 

The Place owner and 

founder Michelle Sykes 

moments 

Tucked away within a quiet 

nursery setting near Sheffield 

Beach, this tranquil spot is 

more than just a venue … it’s a 

creative space where memories 

are made, occasions celebrated 

and ideas and good food shared. 


With its warm, slightly rustic and 

eclectic interior and almost entirely 

glass greenhouse-type structure, The 

Place is anything but average. It’s 

obvious, from the moment you arrive, 

that true love and passion has gone 

into the conception of this space. 

Owner Michelle Sykes opened The 

Place five years ago when she saw 

the opportunity for a creative venue 

where people could host all types 

of celebrations, business meetings, 

product launches, and intimate 

weddings. 

Although she was born in Eshowe 

and grew up on a sugar and citrus 

farm on Nkwaleni Valley, Michelle 

spent countless holidays and 

weekends in Shaka’s Rock and Salt 

Rock with her parents and three 

sisters. Which is why, she says, the 

area is incredibly close to her heart. 

“Although it has grown, Salt Rock 

still has a quaint, village appeal. 

From playing tennis tournaments 

at Umhlali Country Club at the age 

of 10, to teenage discos at the Salt 

Rock Country Club and movies at 

the Salt Rock Hotel, this area formed 

an integral part of my childhood and 

life.” She married Darren in 1994 and 

moved to Somerset West in the Cape 


where both her sons, Justin and Shane were born. 

One of the biggest drawcards at The Place, as with any venue, is the incredible 

food on offer. Although she works closely with a number of top North Coast 

caterers for events, Michelle also has a background in food and catering and 

loves whipping up fresh scones or crepes for those just stopping by for a cup of 

tea or coffee. 

“My interest in food started while we were in the Cape, with the help of the Food 

Network on TV and plenty of reading and experimenting. I started an Asian Deli, 

ZoMoZ Pantry&Taste, which stocked all the items needed to make sushi and I 

even hosted sushi classes, private dining and wine-tastings in our cottage in the 

garden.” 

When the family moved to a family farm in Malelane in Mpumalanga in 2000, 

Michelle says oranges, grapefruit, paw paws, bananas, litchis and mangoes were 

in endless supply! She also worked at Leopard Creek Country Club for five years. 

When they made their final move to Ballito, they settled in Dunkirk Estate, where 

they still live. The Place is a culmination of Michelle’s experience and passion for 

hosting events and her love for the North Coast. 

“Over the years, The Place has hosted product launches, business meetings and 

all sorts of celebrations from surprise engagements to bridal and baby showers 

and birthday parties. It is perfect for anything from 16 to 50 guests but, with a 

marquee option over the lawn, we can host up to 80 people.” 

The beauty of this venue, Michelle says, lies in how easily it lends itself to almost 

any type of event. “Everyone’s function requirements are different. It can be 

as simple as just using the space and adding a few fresh flowers amidst the 

greenery to completely decorating to achieve your theme. We are open to 

collaborations and invite people to bring their ideas to The Place.” 

Good food is key to any event and Michelle has a number of catering options 

available, including catering yourself and simply using their cutlery, crockery and 

glassware – depending on numbers. From an intimate tea party, canapés and 

bubbly or a three-course meal or seasonal table, well-known caterers like Olive 

Twist, The Delish Sisters, Food Matters, Rocket Catering and ZoMoZ Pantry&Taste 

all have menus available to suit any client. 

You don’t have to be hosting an event to visit The Place. Since post-lockdown, 

The Place is now open from 9am to 4pm, Tuesday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm 

on Saturdays. They offer cappuccinos, a selection of teas, cream scones, cheese 

melts and crepes in the most magnificent, quiet setting with free WiFi. Definitely 

a hidden gem for anyone looking for a peaceful spot to get some work done 

away from home or the office. 

They have also started hosting ‘order and collect’ markets, which evolved during 

lockdown, on Saturdays between 10am and 12. Follow them on social media to 

find out more. 

Details: The Place, Claremont Farm, Sheffield Beach Road, Umhlali, www.theplacekzn. 

co.za, FB and IG: ThePlaceKZN, theplacekzn@icloud.com, 083 775 8537 

Ros Ivey from Olive Twist 

is just one of the many top 

caterers available at The Place 

The Place really is the ideal 

spot for a business meeting, 

conference or intimate event 


Promotion 

Winding 

down 

It’s been an upside year in many respects and 

we think that makes celebrating the end of 

2020 with staff and colleagues even more 

important. If you haven’t booked your yearend 

gathering yet, make sure you do so soon. 

Simbithi Country Club 

With a variety of bespoke conferencing 

and event venues, exquisite views 

and expertly crafted menus, Simbithi 

Country Club is the perfect spot to 

celebrate your year-end. Give them 

a call today, to bring your event to 

life. Details: events@simbithi.com, 

032 946 5409 www.simbithi.com, IG: 

@simbithicountryclub, FB: Simbithi 

Country Club and Fig Tree Restaurant 


The Chef’s Table 

The Chefs’ Table, located in the heart 

of the Umhlanga village, is beautifully 

designed and offers gracious hospitality 

and a sophisticated dining experience, 

while remaining contemporary and 

approachable. The open plan kitchen is 

at the heart of the restaurant, allowing 

diners to watch the chefs at work! 

Whether it’s for pre-drinks at the bar or 

a visit to the world class wine cellar, the 

mixologist and sommelier are always on 

hand. Details: The Chef’s Table, Protea 

Mall, Chartwell Drive, Umhlanga Rocks, 

031 001 0200, info@thechefstable. 

co.za, www.thechefstable.co.za, FB: 

chefstableZA, IG: thechefstableza 

Mindgame Escape 

Unleash your inner detective! Your 

detective expertise is needed! Bring 

your friends and colleagues to form 

your own team of adventurers - 

gather clues, solve puzzles, combine 

information, decipher secret meanings 

and trigger hidden mechanisms. 

Mindgame Escape is all about mystery, 

intrigue, and adventure with a twist. 

Details: adventure@mindgame.co.za 

087 238 2524 www.mindgame.co.za

& 

Giggles, wine 

a cooking class! 

Imagine turning your dining room and kitchen into a beautiful event location for a yearend 

DIY cocktail party with your closest girlfriends or colleagues. Well, that’s exactly what 

we did with the help of some awesome local experts! Here’s what went down … 

Jen adds the finishing touches 

to the Loaded Hummus 



Lots of laughter and fun as 

everyone takes turns trying 

their hand at cooking 

Our host, Roots Cafe & Deli 

owner Jennifer Swanepoel 

Wine chilled. Candles lit. Music on. 

Sounds like the start of a lovely, laidback 

dinner party, right? Well, that’s 

exactly what it was … sort of! 

Instead of coming together to just 

eat dinner though, the Get It girls 

were about to learn how to make our 

own delicious cocktail canapés (all 

plant-based!) with the help of Roots 

Café & Deli owner and our host for the 

evening, Jennifer Swanepoel. 

To add to the ‘glam’ factor and for a 

little extra interactive fun, instead of 

sitting down to a beautifully laid table, 

we also styled our own stunning 

cocktail benches with décor supplied 

by the team from The Creativity Lab. 

After the first glass of wine – and lots 

of selfies – the girls settled down and 

Jen told us a little about herself and 

what we were going to cook. She split 

us into three teams – starters, mains 

and dessert – and the dessert team 

had to get going first! Aprons were 

donned and the oven switched on. 

More wine may have been poured at 

this point. 

On the menu for evening? Polenta 

Bites with Avocado Dip, Summer 

Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce, 

Falaffel Balls, Loaded Hummus, a 

Cream Cheese Ball with Crackers and 

Pecan and Apple Blondies with Salted 

Caramel Sauce for dessert! 

A qualified teacher who has owned 

her own preschool and worked with 

children for more than 17 years and 

a mother of two, Jen actually has no 

formal chef training. This ended up 

Homemade Falafel Balls 

Fresh fruit and vegetables 

being one of the things we liked most about her! She cooks from the heart and 

manages to make every dish seem easy and unintimidating … even for the most 

culinary-challenged among us! 

Jen loves chatting and she loves people, which is one of the reasons, she says, 

she always dreamed of owning her own coffee shop. “I love getting to know 

people, and there really isn’t a better place to do that than around good food. 

There is something comforting and transparent about conversations that are 

shared around a meal.” 

When she opened the doors to Roots Café in Umhlali in November last year, Jen’s 

vision was to introduce people to delicious food that was both nutritious and 

free of any animal products. “I wanted to show people that following a plantbased 

diet doesn’t mean you have to live on lettuce leaves and broccoli!” 

Located in the beautiful garden setting at Burnedale, Roots Café offers a wide 

variety of plant-based lunches brekkies, desserts and dairy free smoothies and 

freshly squeezed juices. They also, apparently, have the best carrot cake ever! 


Polenta Bites with Avocado Dip 

Natalie and Nicole 

showing off their skills! 

Dessert was delicious! 

It was after she had quite a big 

health scare and was diagnosed with 

renal failure in 2015 that Jen started 

following a plant-based lifestyle (she 

does occasionally throw in some dairy 

and eggs). “While I was on dialysis, I 

had to make very specific changes 

to what I was eating and drinking. 

After my kidney transplant (my sister 

lovingly shared her spare one with 

me), I started having gut issues and 

was diagnosed with Inflammatory 

bowel disease. After much trial and 

error with medication, I decided to 

follow a plant-based diet. I felt so 

much better within a few weeks. I 

have been in remission ever since and 

haven’t had any issues or relapses.” 

Jen says it’s important to remember 

that people choose plant based 

lifestyles for various reasons, whether 

it’s for health, weight loss, to lessen 

their carbon footprint or a love for 

animals. “We need to remember to 

The Get It girls: Justine Douglas, Lisa Smith, Natalie 

Betram, Nicole von Metzinger and Leah Shone 


DIY party 

décor! 

The Creativity Lab supplied beautiful 

ready-to-unpack boxes so each lady 

could set up her own place 

show kindness and consideration towards everyone and not make 

uninformed judgements if this is a not a lifestyle we would consider.” 

Meanwhile, back at our Get It girls night of fun … we were nibbling 

away and instead of sitting down to eat, we snacked (and sipped!) 

throughout the evening as each dish was ready. We took turns 

stirring, blending and plating up the yummy dishes and were all 

amazed at how delicious everything was, even without a single meat 

dish. 

While our evening took on more of a ‘cocktail party’ feel, Jen says her 

cooking classes can be adapted to suit whatever theme or vibe the 

host or hostess wants. The classes are held during the week and she 

can host groups of between five and 15 people. “We always have 

loads of fun and everyone learns a new cooking skill or two. We 

also change things up according to what you want: some people 

want to get down and dirty and be involved in the prep, others 

want a cooking demo and some just want to sit back and enjoy the 

delicious food and a glass of wine!” 

As for us? We felt like we did all three! The favourite dishes on the 

night (although they were all great) were definitely the Falafel Balls 

and Summer Rolls (which were so much easier to make than we 

thought), and we finished off with a coffee and delicious Pecan 

Blondies. Let’s just say the dessert team were very proud of their 

accomplishment! 

The most important thing to remember when hosting a dinner party 

or cooking experience like this, according to Jen, is to have enough 

wine! Haha! “It’s also important to create an atmosphere where 

people feel comfortable and at ease and make sure you know about 

any food allergies.” 

Details: Roots Cafe & Deli, Burnedale Farm, Umhlali, 082 822 9754; FB: 

rootscafedeli 

Instead of sitting down to a table that has 

been set for them, guests will love The 

Creativity Lab’s new DIY Cooking Class Box 

offering. Owner Tash Sutherland says, “The idea 

behind this was to ensure that we provide 

the essentials from concept to inception for 

each person to be able to ‘master’ the cooking 

class in their own space (at home) making sure 

they are equipped with their own cutlery and 

crockery, minimizing contact with each other.” 

We were thrilled when the team delivered 

and set up everything required for us for our 

cooking class. Tash’s team cleverly opted for 

a minimalist feel with earthy tones combined 

with a pastel pink … super feminine and on 

trend! 

Tash’s 2020 celebration trends: 

Sustainable Events 

This theme has been trending for the last few 

years, but it is more prevalent now that ever. 

It’s all about using sustainable solutions that 

promote a lower carbon footprint – like using 

glassware and linens instead of disposable 

options. 

Bohemian (BOHO) themes: 

The outdoors and nature are coming in strong 

for décor this year. ‘Boho chic’ has always 

been around, but is returning to support the 

outdoor and sustainable entertaining vibe. 

Boho promotes a simple, neutral colour palette, 

which includes natural elements - tans, cream 

and brown tones will definitely be dominating 

the festive season. 

The Outdoors 

Taking celebrations outdoors is sure to be a 

hot new trend – especially after being locked 

away for the past few months due to Covid-19. 

Space will be a new, important trend at events 

industry. From hosting events at your home, 

revamping you backyard for a baby shower or 

a full set-up corporate launch at a park … make 

sure you bring that ‘outside element of space 

to all your events! 

Details: The Creativity Lab: www.thecreativitylab. 

co.za, FB: creativitylab10, tash@thecreativitylab. 

co.za, 031 171 0895 


Christmas 

is still ON! 

It’s been a standing a joke for a few months now. Considering all that has 

gone wrong this year … would Christmas be cancelled? Well, we had a little 

chat to Santa and we can categorically say that it is still on! 

Oh, and so is our very favourite Christmas Country Fair! 



Africans have in large doses and can best be described in the word ‘ubuntu’, 

which means, ‘I am who I am because of who we all are’. This is the heartbeat 

behind the Christmas Fair Fund – together making a difference in our North 

Coast community in need.” 

Michelle says the Christmas Fair team have been inundated with requests 

for stalls by new creatives looking for a space to showcase their designs and 

products. “If there is anything positive to take out of Covid-19, it’s this: lockdown 

cleared space for creative thinking and follow through – the results of which we 

are so looking forward to showcasing at this year’s fair.” 

As always, the Christmas Fair ladies are hard at work creating a beautiful range of 

Christmas accessories and gifting items, as well as baking up a storm to sell their 

popular Christmas cakes and puddings – all of which will be available on the 

Christmas Fair stand. 

Christmas Country Fair 

convenor Michelle Blake 

It might be a few months late, but 

one of the North Coast’s most 

beloved traditions, the annual 

Christmas Country Fair, is set to take 

place at Collisheen Estate once more. 

The fair is going to be held over three 

days this year, from 2 to 4 December, 

9am to 5.30pm daily. 

Run by the dedicated team of 

volunteers at the Christmas Fair Fund, 

which has been going for more than 

65 years, the fair is always a highlyanticipated 

fixture on the calendar 

and is known for its huge offering of 

high quality, handcrafted gifts. 

Convenor Michelle Blake says, “It was 

touch-and-go at one stage and we all 

thought Christmas would be a nonevent 

this year, but this is certainly not 

the case. It’s with huge excitement 

that we confirm the dates for this 

year’s fair.” 

RESILIENCE AND CREATIVITY 

This year the organisers have aptly 

chosen ‘resilience’ as the theme for 

the fair. “This is a quality we as South 

ON TREND THIS CHRISTMAS 

As they are Christmas ‘specialists’ and always keeping their eyes on local trends 

and colour forecasts, we thought we’d ask the Christmas Fair Fund ladies to share 

their thoughts on this year’s Christmas trends. 

“We always keep an eye on global and local trends, focusing on colour pantones 

and trends within design, homes, gifting and the fashion world – as well as 

annual Christmas trends,” says Michelle. 

“We usually visit fairs, markets and design shows around the country to keep 

us up to date, but this year has been a little different with everything being 

cancelled. What we have found though, is that a response to the effects of this 

pandemic has been a desire not only for self-expression, but a strong need for 

hope, stability and well-being in a world overflowing with turmoil.” 

Because of this, Michelle says, the trend of recreating, recycling and upcycling 

has exploded. “Our team have fully embraced the trend for handmade 

repurposed and sustainable gifting and our Christmas Fair ladies are stitching, 

preserving and baking up a storm!” 

In terms of colour, Michelle says the team were gifted with off cuts of fabric 

and natural fibres in hues like saffron, ‘lush lava’, white, blue and various shades 

of green to work with – but they are still bringing in hints of the traditional red 

associated with this time of year in their décor range. “We are making a range 

of wreaths to compliment your Christmas Décor and Scandinavian-inspired 

Christmas tree décor and accessories that can be added to traditional trees, or 

used to create an elegant, contemporary tree from branches in your garden.” 

BOOK YOUR TICKETS 

Tickets for the fair are available online only and the price is R55 per person. 

Numbers have been limited per day to abide by Covid-19 protocols (which is 

why the fair is extending trading from two to three days). Vistors can look forward 

to 100 stall holders and a bigger food and beverage set up! As per last year, 

for everyone’s safety, this is a cashless event and only cards and Zapper will be 

accepted. 

Details: Buy your tickets at www.Quicket.co.za 

Some of the hardworking volunteers at last year’s fair 

Saffron is one of the 

trending colours this year 


Modern, masculine makeover 

The transition of this one-bedroom Sheffield Beach bachelor flat from dated, dingy and 

cramped to modern, masculine and functional is quite remarkable. We spoke to the 

designer responsible for this incredible apartment makeover. 


When designer Margaret Berichon 

was first shown this old, Sheffield 

Beach apartment, it was in desperate 

need of an overhaul. Owner Iain 

Cochrane had bought the flat from an 

elderly gentleman who had owned it 

for many years. He wanted to update 

and modernize it, while still preserving 

the basic structure. 

Margaret, the owner of Margaret 

Berichon Design, has a special interest 

in residential renovations and loves 

challenges like this one, which allow 

her to look back afterwards and see 

the remarkable transition a space has 

undergone. 

“I just love how this apartment turned 

out. It was really old an drab and 

in need of a new look and I think 

we managed to achieve it without 

doing anything too drastic. This flat 

has looked the same, I think, with the 

same built-in-cupboards and floors, 

for more than 30 years.” 

Although Iain had a clear idea in mind 

of what he wanted, Margaret says he 

was happy to hand over the reins and 

allow her and her team the freedom 

to create and design the new look. 

The first step was to remove the wall 

that separated the kitchen from the 

entrance area, opening up the entire 

kitchen, dining and living area. They 

also bricked up and removed one 

other wall, leading from the lounge 

into the bedroom. The builders 

chosen for the project were MCC 

Construction. 

Iain wanted to preserve the high 

ceiling and beautiful exposed beams, 

says Margaret, which now (especially 

with the beams painted black) is an 

eye-catching feature of the home. 

The kitchen, done by Blue Olive 

Design, is inviting and modern with 

wonderful unique features that are 

well-suited to the home’s owner. “Iain 

is a tall man and he lives alone, which 

means we were able to use the high 

The solid oak bathroom cabinets were 

custom made and parts of the original brick 

wall retained to add texture to the room 


After 

Margaret Berichon 

ceilings to our advantage and put in 

beautiful floating shelves and high 

cupboards.” 

Working in an apartment of just 

110m², the team had to find creative 

and clever ways to use the space 

they had. “It is not a big space, so we 

had to find ways around different 

things. One of the things we did was 

to include a cupboard in the kitchen 

for Iain’s inverter. We also added 

sliding cupboard doors to hide the 

appliances,” says Margaret. 

The striking black Franke Kubus 

range of sanware in the kitchen is 

both contemporary and masculine 

and gives a dramatic effect when 

coupled with the unique solid wood 

oak worktops. LED lights were added 

underneath the floating shelves for 

extra lighting, as they couldn’t put in 

downlights with the high beams. 

The once-stuffy bedroom and ensuite 

bathroom was completely 

redone and is now a contemporary 

masterpiece, which would sit 

comfortably in any brand new home 

or estate. 

After knocking out a small wall and 

adding a steel eye beam, the team 

managed to retain some of the 

original brick wall. Margaret decided 

to keep and paint it, bringing in 

texture and keeping some of the 

original feel. 

The shower, bath, basin and toilet 

were all gutted and replaced with 

a stunning double-volume toilet 

(complete with funky, striped 

Before 

wallpaper) and a fantastic, oversized shower with black sanware and towel rails. 

The simple herringbone tile pattern in the shower finishes off this beautiful 

bathroom feature. 

The solid oak bathroom cabinets were custom-made and the old tiles 

throughout the apartment chipped off and replaced with oak veneered flooring. 

Shutters were used to block off the bedroom from the living area and the sliding 

doors were replaced and new security shutters and a wooden deck put in to 

finish off the patio, which has the most exquisite sea view overlooking Sheffield 

Beach. 

One of the best things about the revamp, Margaret says, is that they were able to 

retain and use most of Iain’s old furniture. He brought a beautiful antique writing 

table with him, which has pride of place underneath the flat screen television in 

the lounge. 

Margaret’s company doesn’t only do renovations. They also specialise in new 

builds and their services include project management, full interior specifications, 

kitchens, built-in-cupboards, cabinetry and bespoke furniture design. 

“There are so many old apartments in the Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach and Ballito 

areas and it really doesn’t take a massive amount of money or big changes to 

update and modernize them,” says Margaret. “It’s amazing how far a new coat of 

paint and maybe taking out one or two walls can go to change the whole look 

and layout of an apartment!” 

Details: www.bdesignstudio.co.za, margaret@bdesigndstudio.co.za, 082 716 6914 


Promotion 

Small change 

big difference 

Isn’t it amazing how new curtains, a change of rug or a fresh coat of paint can spruce things up 

and make the world of difference? As we ready our homes for the holidays we’re looking at making 

some small changes that will make a big difference. 

Dandelion Design 

If you feel like there is something missing in 

a space, or want to bring a pop of life into a 

room, why not add a wallpaper? There are a 

number of wallpapers on the market that are 

affordable, wipeable and even sometimes, 

reusable! Wallpapers can be customised to 

the tones, hues and design style you love! 

Let the Dandelion Design team help you find 

the right one for your space. Details: www. 

dandelionsa.co.za, Caryn: 072 7077016 or Kath: 

072 8258418. 

Homestead Décor 

If you are unsure where to start and 

your budget is limited ... buy a rug! 

It is an investment for your home 

and can hide old horrible tiles, 

creates warmth and give a room 

a homely feel. Look at Homestead 

Décor’s beautiful range of décor and 

accessories for more inspiration! 

Details: www.homestead-decor.co.za 

(Image: Vanilla Photography) 

Onstyle Design 

Onstyle is an online e-design 

service which gives you access to 

the experience and expertise of an 

interior designer, regardless of your 

location or budget. Whether you’re 

looking to refresh, revive or revamp, 

the Onstyle Design team can guide 

you along the way. Details: www. 

onstyledesign.com, 084 505 3039, 

hello@onstyledesign.com 


The Design Group 

The Design Group is a personal 

interior design studio in 

Salt Rock whose services include 

spacial planning, custom design, 

specification and procurement of all 

finishes, fittings and furniture. 

Let them help you come up with 

ideas to make the changes your home 

needs! Details: www.thedesigngroupsa. 

com, 079 501 8244, 

hello@thedesigngroupsa.com 

Refreshed Designs 

By changing a light fitting or adding 

one, giving a room a fresh coat 

of paint or wallpaper, may be all 

that’s needed to make that fresh, 

new impact that you need. Speak 

to the qualified team at Refreshed 

for assistance with design & décor 

needs. Details: 032 815 2707, tracy@ 

refresheddesigns.co.za, www. 

refresheddesigns.co.za 

Shaves Paint & Décor 

There is nothing quite like a fresh 

coat of paint! The new Shaves 

Colour Collection is a curated 

collection of 48 beautiful, timeless 

colours which allows you to give 

your home a new life. 

Details: Shaves Paint + Décor 

Umhlanga, 031 566 5020 

Greenhaus 

A bold display of wallpaper or some 

new accent furniture can give your 

home an instant, dramatic change! 

Greenhaus also offer a wide range of 

beautiful handcrafted furniture, 

faux plants, mirrors, rugs, lighting and 

décor. Visit them at The Litchi Orchard 

or browse online! 

greenhausshop.com 

greenhausliving 

greenhausliving 

0825652819 


Back to nature 

Garden tasks for November 

• Water the garden at least once 

a week, and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. Early morning or evening 

watering is best. 

• There’s still time to sow quick 

growing annuals such as alyssum, 

cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, 

portulaca and zinnias, all of which are 

sun-lovers. 

• For shady spaces, plant out bedding 

begonias, Impatiens Beacon - a highly 

disease resistant variety - and New 

Guinea impatiens. 

• Plant summer flowering perennials 

such as coreopsis, rudbeckia, 

gaillardia, gaura, Shasta daisies, 

penstemon and perennial salvia. 

• Get ready for the festive season by 

filling containers or hanging baskets 

with red calibrachoa, begonias 

or impatiens. 

• Make sure hydrangeas get plenty of 

water and feed with hydrangea food 

to boost flowering in December. 

• Water shrubs and trees deeply 

once a week and mulch to reduce 

evaporation. 

A taste of Little Sicily 

If you love tomatoes but don’t have 

the space to grow them, patio 

tomato Little Sicily can change 

that. It’s a compact, tidy grower that 

flourishes in a mid-sized container 

on the patio or balcony. Being a 

bush tomato, it’s a compact, tidy 

grower that stays at a manageable 

height of 60cm with healthy, green 

leaves that always look good. It 

needs sun, and the best position is 

morning sun and afternoon shade. 

Water daily in hot weather. The soil 

should not dry out. Feed with a 

liquid fertilizer once a week or every 

second week. The medium sized, 

bright red fruit is packed with flavour 

and the first fruit should be ready for 

picking within 60 to 65 days. 

Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za 

Patio plant of the month 

Fuchsia Bella is a compact-growing pot fuchsia with 

gorgeous two-tone flowers that are carried throughout 

summer. There are nine different varieties, all with 

distinctive colours. They like bright shade and can take 

some morning sun. Water regularly, so the soil remains 

moist but not soggy. Plants don’t like to stand in water. 

Pour water directly into the pot, early in the morning 

or late in the evening. Feed with a liquid fertilizer 

once every two weeks and remove faded flowers to 

encourage new flowers. Details: www.ballstraathof.co.za 


The ancient art of macramé 

The origin of macramé stretches back thousands 

of years ... it’s an ancient, timeless art that, over 

the past year or so, has come back into fashion. 

We recently discovered Tide, a local business 

that creates bespoke, beautiful macramé art. 

Being hand-crafted, pieces are all one of a kind, 

each more lovely and intricate than the one 

before. Artist Gabi Morrell-Smith travels to the 

coast to collect the shells and driftwood she 

uses in her pieces ... work of art wall hangings, 

pretty garlands, shopping or beach bags. 

We’re after one of these plant hangers and are 

equally besotted with these little jar covers. 

Great, great gifts (if you’re like us and already 

thinking Christmas). Tide has a really fabulous 

range, but if you want something specific, chat 

to Gabi and she’ll make up a custom piece for you. 

Prices from R200 up to around R750. Details: Follow tide 

macrame on Instagram or Facebook for more ideas, or mail 

tidemacrame@gmail.com 

No space to grow your own veggies? 

Think again. These ready-to-use pocket 

panels hang on the wall and are 

perfect to grow herbs and vegetables. 

There are a few sizes available, from 

two pockets for those really short of 

space, to 15 panel options. Priced from 

R195, they’re lightweight and durable. 

Details: verticalveg.co.za 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO and ALICE COETZEE 


GET IT DIRECTORY 

PeppermintPix 

WEDDING & FAMILY 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

www.peppermintpix.co.za 

peppermintpixstudio@gmail.com

GET IT DIRECTORY 

If you love the idea of camping, but not the 

actual ‘sleeping on the floor in a tentʼ part, 

then perhaps glamping is more your style! 

Hluhluwe Bush Camp should definitely be your 

glamping destination of choice. A privately 

owned farm, the camp has five luxurious 

self-catering glamping tents, two adventure 

tents and 4x4 camping facilities. It overlooks 

False Bay and is only a 25-minute drive from 

the Hluhluwe/ Imfolozi Park. 

www.hluhluwebushcamp.com, 

trienke@hluhluwebushcamp.com 

078 396 931 | 079 107 5273 

Somerset Lodge Care Centre 

Home based care now offered to residents of Somerset Valley Estate 

• Assisted Living for adults of all ages 

• Care of the Aged and the Infirm 

• Frail Care 

• Alzheimer and Dementia Care 

• Palliative Care 

• Step down/post Hospitalisation Care 

• 24-hour Nursing 

• COVID-19 Screening in place 

Call us for tariffs and information 

031 940 1601

Hiking by numbers 

Energetic and challenging or slow and rambling, depending on your mood 

and fitness levels, there’s not much to beat getting outdoors and enjoying a hike. 

Still suffering a little fear of going out? Definitely. Fear of heading to the great outdoors? Never. While the world’s topsy turvy, 

one thing will never change. The joy of getting out on gorgeous warm day, taking a hike, and enjoying one of the amazing 

hiking trails our country has to offer. Be a it a soul searching solo walk for a few hours, or a day out with the family, having 

fun without a screen or a digital device in sight, you’ll come back maybe a little stiff, hopefully a little tired, and certainly a lot 

happier and less stressed than when you set out. We chatted to Thule’s resident hike enthusiast, who gave the low down on 

the gear we need. 

Three things to look for 

when buying a hiking backpack: 

1. A hiking backpack needs to distribute weight evenly. 

The most important factor to keep in mind is comfort. No 

matter how many cool features it has, if the bag does not sit 

comfortably on your back and shoulders, then it is not the 

right hiking bag for you. 

2. Size does matter. The size of the backpack is all important 

- work out if you’d prefer a bag that is wider and shorter 

or longer and thinner. Obviously a bag that isn’t absurdly 

huge is first prize, but think about the duration of your 

hikes and how much you would practically need to take 

with you for a short day hike (snacks and water) versus a 

full-day hike (light lunch, water, additional clothes). Internal 

storage becomes a big component here, as it means the 

difference between having enough room or potentially 

having to take multiple bags. 

3. Padding. The key to a comfortable backpack is a balanced 

load. Too little padding will not protect your body from the 

strains of weight and can cause painful chafing. Similarly, 

too much padding will cause awkward and uncomfortable 

pressure against your body, which might lead to soreness 

… or you standing in a strange way to ease the pressure. A 

decent backpack should have padding on the back panel, 

shoulder straps and hip belt strap. 

Six hiking essentials ... 

1. Comfortable shoes and socks 

2. A hat which covers your face and the back of your neck 

3. Sunscreen - the higher SPF the better 

4. Water 

5. Snacks or a light lunch 

6. A Thule hiking backpack and accessories 


3 great local hiking trails 

We undoubtedly have some of the most beautiful hiking 

spots in the country right here in KZN. Here are some close by 

options and, of course, the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains 

are not too far away either … 

Giba Gorge MTB Park The serious hiker will enjoy hiking 

upwards to the upper Mackintosh waterfall destination. This 

is a short 8.4km or 3-hour return hike and the rewards are 

bountiful. The extremist will add a few more kilometres and 

find another larger waterfall and perhaps even the early Rock 

Shelter predating all modern history in the area. Details: www. 

gibagorge.co.za 

Amblers Hiking Club 

Every person of any age group is welcome to join Amblers 

Hiking Club on Wednesday as well as Saturday mornings 

and on Sunday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm as they hike 

about seven kilometres, enjoying some beautiful scenery 

in and around the greater Durban area. Details: www. 

amblershikingclub.co.za 

Phezulu Safari Park 

With beautiful scenery and views, amazing animals and birds, 

you can feel the rhythm of Africa, face your fears and enjoy a 

day out with the family at Phezulu Safari Park. A Phezulu Hiking 

Pass is R50 and trails include: The Reptile Walk - a 1km Full Stop 

Rock Route; There & Back Trek – 2km; and the Game Reserve 

Loop - 3km. Two kid’s bike tracks are included. No mask, 

no entry and social distancing recommendations must be 

adhered to. Details: www.phezulusafaripark.co.za 

4of the best backpack 

collections to choose from 

The Thule AllTrail collection is a must for a day hike, 

as it gives you a singular pack for all your hiking needs. 

An adjustable torso fit is built into the back panel and 

combined with breathable shoulder straps, hip belt 

padding and back panel to make even the toughest 

day hike extra comfortable - and allow you to stay cool. 

All your gear is within reach thanks to the easy access 

side zippers and front shove-it pocket. The dedicated 

hydration sleeve frees up space for other essentials 

like keys and snacks. There’s even an integrated rain 

cover. This versatile all-rounder is available in men and 

women specific models and comes in various sizes for 

you to choose what works best for you. 

For something more lightweight, look at the Thule 

Stir range. A simple, clean design offers quick 

access via the top zippered mesh pocket and über 

organization for all your items. If you want it even 

more streamlined, simply remove the sternum strap 

and hip belt. Stash water bottles and other essentials 

in the expandable side pockets. With a weather 

resistant coated nylon fabric and the breathable 

backpanel and shoulder straps to keep you cool, it is 

a bag that will see you through all seasons of outdoor 

adventures. Again, different sizes and men and women 

specific models. 

For the ultimate in comfort, opt for the Thule 

Capstone collection. The tensioned mesh back 

panel provides unparalleled breathability, keeping 

you cool on your trail, while the high-visibility rain 

cover keeps your gear dry during storms. There’s 

even a customizable hip belt that is compatible 

with interchangeable VersaClick accessories (sold 

separately). There are a host of pockets – on the top 

and the side – to keep all your items for the day, no 

matter how many family members you are keeping 

things for. You can even lash gear to the front of the 

pack using the durable button hole webbing. 

If you’re hiking with young kids the Thule Sapling 

(and Sapling Elite) is an absolute lifesaver. This child 

carrier is safe and comfy, plus quick and easy to adjust 

to fit both parents, so you can take turns carrying. 

On-the-go adjustments are made even easier, as 

you can load your child from the top or the side of 

the carrier. The deployable sunshade means that 

your precious cargo is protected from the harsh sun. 

Store water, nappies, clothes and other bigger items 

in the zippered compartment and use the extra 

roomy zippered mesh pockets for emergency items 

like snacks, toys and keys. The ergonomic seat is 

height adjustable - the Elite model even comes with 

removable stirrups for your little one to rest their feet 

on and a viewing mirror – and a breathable padded 

backpack and support at critical contact points for 

you. All this means a cool and comfortable trail for 

everyone. Details: Available online from thule.com 


Spoil 

November 

Game farm splendour 

WIN! 

Fancy a visit? 

You could win two 

nights bed and breakfast 

in a self-catering unit for a 

family of four (including a 

game drive). Enter on our 

Facebook or Instagram 

pages: 

GetItMagNC 

If you’re looking for a quick getaway but 

don’t fancy a long drive, then a weekend at 

the magnificent Rain Farm Game & Lodge 

should definitely be on your radar. Founded 

on what was once a wildlife sanctuary, Rain 

Farm is a luxurious game lodge situated just 

15 minutes inland from Ballito. Not only do 

they have ten self-catering and six tree-top 

tent units, but they also have a wonderful 

restaurant and loads of fun activities on site 

for the kids. With game drives, paintball, 

archery, rock climbing, putt putt and a kids’ 

play area, there is definitely no shortage 

of entertainment for the smaller members 

of the family while mom and dad sit back 

and enjoy a sundowner overlooking the 

stunning African plains. Rain Farm Game 

& Lodge also offer conferences and team 

building, events and weddings. Details: 

www.rainfarm.co.za, info@rainfarm.co.za, 

032 815 1050 


STARTING 

FROM R1.6M 

Please call us to make an appointment to view. 

MORE OUT OF 

RETIREMENT 

FOR LESS THAN 

YOU THINK 

IT TURNS OUT, YOU CAN PUT A PRICE ON YOUR DREAM 

RETIREMENT AND WITH US, IT’S AN AFFORDABLE ONE… 

At Renishaw Hills, a mature lifestyle village and celebrated coastal gem located in Scottburgh, 

KwaZulu-Natal, we deliver unmatched value that goes beyond price alone. Our Reversionary 

Transfer Obligation model (similar to Life Rights) gives you the most for your money 

so that you can retire the way you’ve always wanted to. 

From as little as R1.64 million, you’ll get more than just stunning views, spectacular 

finishes and a well-designed home that celebrates the best of Mother Nature and 

indoor/outdoor living. You’ll be enjoying our laid-back lifestyle, inclusive community, 

state-of-the-art security and glorious weather. Our popular Phase 5 is going fast and 

every home is now available at RTO prices. Want to live the holiday the way our residents 

do? Book your private tour complete with strict health and safety measures when you 

email sales@renishawhills.co.za or take our virtual tours on www.renishawhills.co.za. 

THE START OF A NEW ADVENTURE 

Julieann: 084 514 8028 | sales@renishawhills.co.za | www.renishawhills.co.za

Ballito Umhl - NOV 2020

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