Jan Braai

Before 2005, you probably wouldn’t have heard of Jan Scannell, unless you had grown up with him in Stellenbosch.
Jan studied accounting and worked in financial services, but realised that it wasn’t really what he wanted to do. In 2005 he resigned from his job to focus all his energy into building the concept of ‘National Braai Day’.
Hi aim was to have one day where all South Africans could be united around a braai, creating an annual day of celebration in South Africa.
Now celebrated annually on Heritage Day (24 September) National Braai Day is growing every year with more and more South Africans adopting the holiday and choosing to spend it braaing with friends, colleagues, neighbours and even strangers.
In 2008, Jan was spurred on by the support of Emeritus Archbishop Doctor Desmond Tutu, who became the National Braai Day patron and in 2010 Jan Braai had great media coverage when he achieved the world record for braaing for 28.5 hours!
2011 has seen Jan become a familiar face thanks to his Braai4Heritage Tour and his Kyknet show which is currently airing called ‘Jan Braai for Erfenis’. During the tour Jan has braaied with some fascinating and famous South Africans and incredible places – including all 8 World Heritage Sites and the exact spot where Joel Stransky kicked the 1995 winning goal.

Personal
Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.
A: Jan Braai, 30, National Braai Day, CA(SA) MBA

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.
A: I don’t like cats, they make me sneeze and my eyes go red.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: Trail running in Table Mountain. It’s like playing TV games with your body.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?
A: Somewhere on a beach. It should basically be one big fireplace, surrounded by a few rooms.

Braaiing on Joel's spot

Braai Career:
Q: 5 Years ago you quit your job to focus on National Braai Day. How has your life changed since then?
A: I really miss my ex-colleagues at PwC. I miss the Excel spreadsheets and the office canteen. Sometimes braaing three times per day is simply not the same as getting up early and sitting in traffic to attend a meeting in a suit.

Q: What is/was your dream for National Braai Day?
A: To unite 50 million South Africans, one day per year -creating South Africa’s very own St Patrick’s Day.

Q: Your Braai journey is currently being aired on Kyknet. What were some of the highlights of the journey for you?
A: The film crew, editors, director & producer all worked very hard to make the TV show the success that it is. The viewership ratings are very high and we are all very proud and happy about that. During the tour & show we braaied at all eight World Heritage Sites in South Africa. I’m not sure how many people have even been to all eight.

Q: How do you think that National Braai Day has changed/developed over the last 5 years?
A: There is phenomenal support from the media and the public. Without all that support none of this would be possible. I think everybody is helping because the message is so simple: One day per year the whole country should be united around braai fires.

Q: What is your important advice for a 1st time braaier?
A: Use dry wood as wet wood does not burn well.

Q: What kind of meat is your favourite to braai?
A: Lamb chops and high quality boerewors. I also like ribeye steak and snoek.

Q: What are the essential ingredients for a good braai?
A: Dry wood, nice meat, good friends.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of National Braai Day?
A: By the time I die I hope that we will have this day on the SA calendar where once a year the whole country shuts down, comes to a standstill and just celebrates our nation by lighting a fire and having a braai.

On the edge of Kimberley's Big Hole

Life in South Africa
Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?
A: Yes, once in London my magazine got stolen on a tube train ride. We are very fortunate to not have the same levels of a place like London in the UK. Also, there is a constant threat of a terror attack in Europe and the United States and we are very fortunate here in SA that we don’t have that. The exception is OR Thambo Airport. The baggage handling at that place is a mess. Whatever is in your bag will be stolen. I always keep my valuable braai tongs in hand baggage when travelling through OR Thambo.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?
A: No, I love SA too much. But if SA disappeared off the map, I’d go to Amsterdam, Munich and Sydney. The lifestyle in those cities is not quite Cape Town, but very almost there.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?
A: Never over-braai your meat. It dries out and spoils the taste. You can always put it back on the grid if it’s not done, but once it’s overcooked, that process is irreversible.

Q: South Africa’s greatest cultural export is?
A: Charlize Theron.

Life in Cape Town
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Cape Town?
A: The combination of the mountain and the sea.

Q: Best places to braai in Cape Town?
A: There is a braai spot in the old harbour part, next to the ports authority.

Q: What is the one place in Cape Town that is a must visit for all tourists?
A: The two bars in Long Street, Joburg and Pretoria. It’s a great way to experience the Cape Town nightlife and it saves your travelling all the way to the northern part of South Africa but you can still tell people you were in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

General
Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?
A: My father. I’m happy with his performance thus far, so would pick him again.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?
A: The Braaible, by Jan Braai -out early 2012.

The Clefs d'Or

Ryan Van Zyl is the man behind the blog, ‘I am Concierge’. A respected industry professional with extensive experience in the hotel industry, he has received the prestigious Les Clefs d’Or or Golden Keys from the international organization of professional hotel concierges.

To join this organization, applicants must have at least five years of experience in the hotel industry, and be sponsored by two current members. They must then go through a rigorous board review. The application process is so stringent that the organization has just 450 members in the whole of the US.

Ryan grew up in Zimbabwe and soon realised that the hospitality industry was where he belonged. He has worked at the prestigious Meikles Hotel in Zimbabwe as well as the Mount Nelson, Hunter’s Country House & Tsala in Plettenberg Bay and is currently the Head Concierge of a 5 star hotel in Cape Town. His passion for the job led him to start the blog in August 2010.

Personal
Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.
A: Most colleagues would introduce me as being one of the best Concierge’s in the country since I have my Les Clefs d’Or or Golden Keys; also for my Twitter presence which I am very actively involved in.”

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favourite movie.
A: I have had chronic insomnia for over 8 years and a very severe case of vertigo.”

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: I love taking long drive. Given my passion for restaurants I love going into the Winelands and visiting my favourite estates and discovering new ones.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?
A: I’ve always loved Cape Town so it would definitely be in the city; so a great apartment in Fresnaye or somewhere in the city bowl perhaps. I find the energy and vibe of the city amazing & wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

Career:

Q: You are a proud concierge. Can you tell people a bit about what a concierge does?
A: A Concierge is basically the ‘Mr. Fix it’ in a hotel. We know all, see all and can do all. On a daily basis our tasks include booking transfers; recommending restaurants, sourcing tickets for concerts, sporting and other live performances and generally being the resident expert on any and all aspects of the city.

Q: What made you want to be a concierge?
A: I was very fortunate to travel extensively when I was young and I was always in awe of how easily the Concierges at various hotels would handle any and all requests. It seemed as if they were magicians! I already knew I wanted to work in hotels, but until that point I wasn’t sure of exactly what I wanted to specialise in.

Q: How did you become a concierge? What were the steps you took in your career?
A: I did a 3 year in house training program at the Meikles Hotel in Harare, Zimbabwe and this was an amazing base for my future hotel career. The training was extremely specialised and I worked with some amazingly talented individuals during that time. I knew to become a great Concierge I would have to have an understanding of all operations of a hotel and this training allowed me to gain this experience.

Q: You write a blog about your job. What made you decide to do this?
A: Besides my passion for helping people, I also have a passion for passing on my knowledge and experience to those who may find it beneficial and of interest.
My blog “I Am Concierge” is still in its infancy; I certainly am no professional, but I really enjoy sharing my opinions on the hotel industry, restaurants and general Concierge to enable the public to really understand that great Concierges are not just another employee in a hotel. We have received very specific training, we have special code of ethics and rules which we follow to ensure guest satisfaction and they help us to exceed our guests expectations on a regular basis.

Q: You have been of service to some major celebrities over the years. What are some of your highlights?
A: I’m been lucky to have worked in some the country’s best 5 star hotels; as well as the best 5 star hotel in Zimbabwe and have met people such as the late Michael Jackson, Morgan Freeman, ex US Presidents George Bush Sr & Bill Clinton, Oprah as well as a bunch of international models, singers and other Hollywood actors. But the highlight would, of course, be meeting Nelson Mandela .

Q: What is the most outrageous thing a client has ever asked you to do/arrange?
A: This will be an unbelievable story to anyone who wasn’t actually working with me at the time; but I once had a guest come to my desk and mention that he wanted to buy an elephant. Naturally I assumed that he wanted a wood or stone carving so I started to make recommendations of stores he would find such things. He then interrupted me saying he wanted an ACTUAL living breathing elephant for an international wildlife reserve! I cannot go into the details of course, but after many, many phone calls and e-mails I managed to make this seemingly impossible task happen.

Q: What do you love most about your job?
A: I love dealing with so many people on a daily basis. The variety of the job is a big motivator. Working shifts seems like a drag for some people but I love the fact that I can be off on those dreaded Mondays and go to the beach during the week and avoid the rush at banks and markets as well.

Q: Are there any particular hotels in the world that you would especially like to work at?
A: Top of my list is The Peninsula in Hong Kong. It has an impeccable reputation for quality and service and has been at the top of its class for decades.

Q: If you weren’t a concierge, what do you think you would be?
A: I’ve never wanted to be anything but a Concierge so I can’t comment on that. I would just like to continue developing & becoming even better in the future.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?
A: Thankfully myself, and my family have only ever had to deal with the odd car break in over the years. We have been very lucky in that respect. I can certainly empathise with those who have had to endure tragedy and hardship. The country certainly does have many problems that are not being adequately addressed; but I still see amazing potential here.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?
A: Not at all. I love South Africa in general; and Cape Town in particular and I would only move if an amazing job opportunity presented itself.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?
A: I think the job of President is an immensely difficult one that no one really understands unless they have done it; so I’d probably just remind him to be humble, fair and consistent in his dealings. That’s all we can ask for isn’t it?

Q: South Africa’s greatest hotels are?
A: I think that traditionally hotels like the Mount Nelson, Cape Grace and Table Bay have always been at the top tier of hotels in South Africa. More recently the world has moved towards smaller boutique style hotels such as the Cape Royale, Ellerman House, The Bay Hotel and a whole lot of very upmarket and exclusive guest houses. It’s really not as easy as saying ‘this hotel’ or ‘that hotel’ is better than another. It’s all about the guest experience.

Life in Cape Town
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Cape Town?
A: The fact that in 30 minutes drive of the city I can be up the West Coast or on a wine estate or viewing whales or at Cape Point. The variety of amazing scenery and attractions within a short distance of the city is amazing. Certainly not hard to see why Cape Town was voted as the best holiday destination in the world by TripAdvisor; the world’s largest hotel, restaurant and location review site.

Q: Favourite restaurant in or around Cape Town for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch?
A: Depends on the company; but in the city I’ve always enjoyed Beluga on a Sunday afternoon; if I’m in the Winelands then Delaire Graff is my top choice. Breathtaking views & amazing food.

Q: What 3 places in Cape Town would you send tourists?
A: Top of the list and the country’s 2nd most visited destination is always going be Table Mountain. A Cape Peninsula tour and Winelands Tour would round off the top 3. I realise that most people would think Robben Island but it seems to have lost a little of its attraction to international visitors; or at least that’s been my impression. The numerous strikes and interruptions to service due to management or ferry issues haven’t helped this fact either.

Q: The hottest nightspot in Cape Town right now?
A: Depending on the age group it varies; but for the majority The Reserve behind The Taj Hotel is probably the ‘in’ place in Cape Town at the moment. Perennial favourites such as Jade Lounge and The Fez also draw the big crowds on specific nights. But Cape Town does really lack variety in its night life. 10 years ago there were clubs and bars covering all types of music and ‘scenes’ but nowadays every club plays the same music and attracts pretty much the same type of people. It’s a shame since the city and region offer such diversity.

Q: The best place to be in Cape Town on a sunny day?
A: Not my personal favourite place; but Camps Bay is always an amazing option. I would prefer sitting at the Harbour House or the brilliant Olympia Cafe in Kalk Bay and watch the world go by.

General
Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?
A: The CEO of the Meikles Hotel when I was doing my training has been a hotelier since he was 17 years old. He is one of very few people, like myself, who knew at an early age that the hotel industry was the only path we would follow. He has always been amazingly successful and well respected and I’d be lucky to attain even half of his achievements in the course of my own career.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?
A: I’ve not read a book in ages; I’m sadly hopelessly unequipped to answer that!

Nic Haralambous

Nic Haralambous is the co-founder of the latest media experience taking SA by storm.
He is a qualified journalist and media maniac who moved away from print media, through online and into mobile media production and management.
Nic and his partner, Vincent Maher, who was responsible for the rapid growth of The Grid, Vodacom’s location-based social network and the launch of Legends of Echo, the location-based mobile game, launched Motribe in August 2010.
Motribe is a platform enabling users, brands, agencies and publishers across the world to build and manage their own mobile social communities.
As Chief Ninja of Operations and Business development, Nic can take credit in part for the unprecedented growth of their project, which has racked up more than a million users in just over 8 months! We’ll let Nic tell you more about Motribe.

Personal
Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.
A: They’d probably say something like: This is Nic, the hairest 27 year old mobile entrepreneur you’ll ever meet.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.
A: I can read and write Greek fluently but can barely speak it (thanks to very little conversation).

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: I play the guitar and am learning to play the harmonica too.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?
A: A home with a view, 3 kids, by the ocean.

Motribe
Q: Motribe launched in August last year. What is Motribe?
A: Motribe is a platform that allows anyone to build their own social mobile website optimised for the mobile web.

Q: Who should/could be using Motribe?
A: Anyone with a club, group, community, brand or interest could use Motribe to connect with like-minded people.

Q: What are the benefits of using a system like Motribe?
A: Motribe allows you to enter the mobile web simply – more simply than almost any other solution out there. You can choose themes, custom domains and control your users experience.

Q: Where did the idea for Motribe come from?
A: Vincent Maher and I were trying to plug a hole that we had discovered; we wanted to build a mobile social network, then another and another. We found ourselves repeating too many steps so we decided the best route forward was to build the solution for the problem we were facing.

Q: How long did it take to develop?
A: Vincent spent 6 intense weeks building Motribe from the ground up. The platfom is constantly undergoing upgrades, add-ons and new features.

Q: Motribe has accumulated an enormous amount of users in a very short space of time. What do you attribute this to?
A: We are very good at advertising our product and communities. We know how to market to groups that want to make use of our platform, join our networks and build their own. We also believe that there is a fundamental hunger in the emerging markets for new experiences, platforms and places to communicate.

Q: How important do you think mobile technology is in Africa?
A: It’s not a matter of how important any longer. It is undoubtedly important. It’s the most important technology available in the emerging markets for communication and Internet access. That’s it. The end. Mobile.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of Motribe?
A: Our hopes are global. We intend to continue building effective solutions for our users in the markets that we are taking on. We are planning to grow a very large user base in the upcoming years and to provide them with the best mobile Internet experience that we can.

Life in South Africa
Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?
A: Yes, my family has been affected by crime. No, it hasn’t changed my perception of our country. I try to let rational thought and fact overcome my emotional reactions. I understand where we’ve come from, where we are and where we need to be, this helps.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?
A: No, I haven’t. I’d love to live in other countries across the globe but never emigration.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?
A: I’d tell the president to start investing more heavily in education across the board. To start enabling the youth of our country to believe that there is a future in our country that they can build for themselves. I am a firm believer that entrepreneurs are going to make the change in South Africa. Instead of waiting and hoping for a job, people need to be taught the skills that allow them to build the businesses from the ground up that they want to work for.

Q: South Africa’s greatest entrepreneur is?
A: Still coming.

Life in Cape Town
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Cape Town?
A: The balance between work and play. Cape Town is about lifestyle and quality of life.

Q: Favourite restaurant in or around Cape Town for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch?
A: I wouldn’t spend an afternoon in a restaurant on a lazy Sunday in Cape Town.

Q: Three places in Cape Town that are a must visit for all tourists?
A: Robben Island, Lions Head paragliding, Clifton Beaches.

Q: Favourite place to go for a romantic dinner in Cape Town?
A: Fork.

General
Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?
A: Tough question, It’s a cliché and I know it is but Sir Richard Branson has had an amazing business life and done things that I can only look at with wonder.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?
A: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.

Neo Muyanga

Neo Muyanga was born in Soweto, into a long-line of traditional composers and makers of the Mozambican Timbila. He studied the Italian madrigal tradition with choral maestro, Piero Poclen, in Trieste, Italy.

In the mid 90′s he co-founded the acoustic guitar duo, BLK Sonshine, together with Masauko Chipembere (“Born in a taxi; Soul Smile”), touring extensively throughout Southern Africa, the United States and Europe.
Blk Sonshine were one of the most exciting and talked about new groups to emerge in the last decade. They blend melodic and sometimes percussive acoustic guitars with hiphop, jazz and folk influences as well as a huge helping of soul from their African motherland. The result is emotional music that owes no allegiance to any one culture but instead combines and then enlarges musical boundaries.

Neo has composed music for contemporary African dance; plays and film. His artist residency awards have included stints at British theatre director, Jude Kelly’s, Metal Culture and the University of Cape Town’s school of Drama. Neo writes stage plays and composes works for choir, chamber and large ensemble and continues to tour widely as a solo performer and as a member of BLK Sonshine.

He is also co-curator of the Pan African Space Station – a project that manages an archive of contemporary sound art and writings on global Africa on the internet as well as live in venues across Cape Town, South Africa.

Personal
Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.
A: This is Neo Muyanga, he’s 37 and he sings a bit.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.
A: As far as movies go, i like plenty made by Charlie Chaplin, ‘the great dictator’ being one.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: I like to read. Reading Ngugi wa Thiong’os ‘Wizard of the Crow’ at the moment. ‘Tis hilarious.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?
A: I like my house now. It’s a factory in Cape Town city centre and I’m quite happy to stay here.

Music Career:
Q: You’ve recently completed the production, “Memory of how it feels”. Can you tell us a bit about it and how you came up with the concept?
A: The production is a collection of 3 ‘new love’ stories that happen between strangers who meet for the first time, and who realize they are bound to one another. The first is between and an uncle and his niece; the second between two musicians – one younger and the other older; the third is between a man a woman.

Q: You’re most well known commercially for your role in Blk Sonshine. Where does your love/ knowledge of classical music come from?
A: I studied classical theory and then madrigals in Italy. Classical music is a big part of my listening life.

Q: How was your latest show received by those who saw it/ the media?
A: memory received a lot of wonderful reviews. We also had very warm and encouraging responses from many of those who came to see it. It felt nice.

Q: You’ve written numerous scores for theatre and film. What kind of process do you use to create these?
A: usually it starts with reading the script and then coming to understand the director’s vision. The music starts to happen all by itself as i see the actors inhabit their roles.

Q: You sing and compose in English as well as other languages. How important is language to you in expressing the story/ feeling of a piece of music?
A: the language of a piece is all important. Some things can only be said or sung in Sesotho or English or Zulu or etc. The lyrics to any piece of music are specific to the musical modes used depending on the kind of patterns the notes make. Lyrics are like a key – each one opens doors to different worlds.

Q: Do you still write/record/perform with Blk Sinshine? Any plans to release something new?
A: Yes, Masauko and I still perform and record together as Blk Sonshine. We put out a new record called ‘good life’ at the end of 2009. We will be playing together again in New York this July.

Q: Tell us about the Pan African Space Station.
A: PASS is a project I curate together with my associate, Ntone Edjabe. We host an archive of contemporary pan African sound and art on the internet (www.panafricanspacestation.org.za) and we also invite acts to perform inside iconic buildings in and around Cape Town. It’s a project about exploding the myths around what it means to make African music in the 21st century.

Q: How important do you think it is for musicians/ creative minds to meet and collaborate?
A: I think collaboration is a central tenet of how I conceive of the creative space. The confluence of minds and hearts with hands together makes for big magic.

Life in South Africa
Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?
A: Yes, crime affects us all. Life in South Africa is about competing tensions. There is much lack rubbing up against ostentatious largesse. One has to be awake to walk these streets. We know it is because we built them using the twin horrors of violence and a depravity of self-love. Now we must work to bring compassion into the open.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?
A: No. I like living here. The soil still tastes good.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?
A: I would say, it doesn’t matter who you are. What matters is we all are.

Q: South Africa’s greatest musical export is?
A: Miriam Makeba is still the head above our shoulders. The moment she, with her nappy head of hair, graced the U.N. in 1963 all sorts of new possibilities were suddenly opened to black women particularly, and women generally, all over the world.

Life in Cape Town
Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Cape Town?
A: I can walk almost everywhere. I like that a lot.

Q: Favourite restaurant in or around Cape Town for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch?
A: The problem is they shut the city down on Sunday. I say give us free!

Q: What is the one place in Cape Town that is a must visit for all tourists?
A: I like Tagores in Obz on Thursdays because that’s where Ntone DJ’s. It’s a small place though – hard to fit 20 people in all at once. It’s best to get there early and stay til the following morning.

General
Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?
A: I would pick not a person but two entities: the great library of Alexandria and the Google virtual archive of all known works (ahem … That would be copyrights permitting) because I would really be interested in doing a comparative study.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?
A: In Matric everyone should read “black sunlight” by Dambudzo Marechera – it opens up new worlds with the English language and is quite a short read.

Lauren Beukes

Lauren Beukes is a South African author, short story writer, TV scriptwriter and freelance journalist based in Cape Town. She obtained her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Cape Town and as a freelance journalist, has written for such publications as the Sunday Times, Elle, Cosmopolitan, The Hollywood Reporter and Marie Claire. She won Best Columnist Western Cape in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards in 2007 and 2008. Beukes’ first book, the non-fiction Maverick: Extraordinary Women from South Africa’s Past was long-listed for the 2006 Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and in 2010, she was named Book SA’s Author of the Year. Moxyland is Beukes’ second novel that sees the intersection between culture and high-technology in contemporary South African society. In 2010, Beukes’ critically-acclaimed muti noir Zoo City was published. A novel about magic, music, refugees and the possibility of redemption, Zoo City (2010) was a finalist in the 2010 British Science Fiction Awards. She recently made her directorial debut with the film, ‘Glitterboys & Ganglands’.

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: This is Lauren, she’s demented in an entertaining kind of way. She also writes books.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I’m a qualified level two reiki healer from back when I was 19 and still wanted to believe in magic. Now I believe in the power of good intentions and the placebo effect. Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all? A: Read. Ideally on a beach or by a pool.

Moxyland

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South Africa would you like it to be?

A: I used to design my dream home as a kid all the time, complete with secret doors and mazes and shark-infested moats. I’d still like something like that, with a big rambling garden and a pool that runs half-underground and maybe some evocatively creepy ruins and my own private rollercoaster. I guess I want to live in a theme park.

Writing

Q: You started your career in journalism. How do you think the experience prepared you for novel writing?

A: Journalism taught me an eye for detail and an ear for how real people speak (thanks to hours and hours and HOURS of transcribing interviews) and gave me a backstage pass to some very interesting places and into some very interesting people’s heads. I don’t think my writing would be anywhere near as interesting if I hadn’t had those experiences. But the other parts of my day job have also been useful. TV script writing taught me to start the scene as late as possible, how to use quick cuts for pacing and to dump anything that gets in the way of the story. Writing satire for The Big Issue and Hayibo.com taught me how to twist things around as a way of getting a fresh take on tired issues.

Q: Your books are undeniably South African. What makes you choose to write within the South African context?

A: The most facile answer to that is that I live here. I know it well enough to write about it. But it’s also a fascinating place (to call home and write about) full of surprises and inconsistencies and culture clashes and collaborations and gaping rifts in society and bridges over them, often tripped up by a horrible history, but never held back by it. It’s pretty amazing.

Q: You have explored/ continue to explore the apartheid era in your novels. What is it about this era that inspires you or that you feel you want to express?

A: It’s more accurate to say that I’m fascinated by apartheid and what it’s done to us and the artificially imposed divides between people. My novels are more apartheid allegories, about this idea that we live in parallel worlds and the divides are mostly between rich and poor. I’m also interested in the past as a burden we carry around with us, the way technology and culture intersect and really weird art.

Q: You have changed genres from non-fiction to fiction, ‘science-fiction’ to ‘crime thriller’. Was this a natural progression for you, or something more planned?

A: It’s organic. I write the story that’s speaking to me at the time. That might be about a maggot-like alien being tortured in a military prison or tentacled Japanese art monster or it might be about a woman who sells smileys (boiled sheep’s heads) in Langa or a Ghanian 419 scammer meeting up with his Mexican mark in a larney restaurant. I write what interests me. It’s territory already well covered by genre-jumping writers like Kazuo Ishiguro, Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell and Joyce Carol Oates.

Q: You’ve recently directed a documentary called, ‘Glitterboys & Ganglands’. Can you tell us a bit about it?

A: I’ve just wrapped up my documentary directorial debut, Glitterboys & Ganglands, about South Africa’s biggest female impersonation pageant, Miss Gay Western Cape. We followed three contestants through the prelim rounds into the back-stories of their lives and all the way up to the spectacle of the big night. It’s about Eva, the newbie on the ramp who dropped out of biochemistry when two of her brothers were killed to become the only gay mechanic in his workshop, and Kat, the popular favourite (she and her boyfriend, Errol are known as the “Posh ‘n’ Becks of the Cape Flats”) and Kayden, a pre-op transexual with 59 beauty pageant titles under her belt already, but who nearly got kicked out of the event because she has real boobs. It was crazy fun to work on and we’ve already had a lot of interest from local and international broadcasters. I’m hoping to do more doccies soon.

Q: What advice would you offer other would-be authors?

A: Write the damn book already. Stop talking about it. Stop polishing the first three chapters. It’s hard and lonely work but the only thing that matters is getting your first rough draft out. It’ll be messy. It’ll be ugly. But you can fix a finished draft. You can only dabble with incomplete chapters.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Not in my immediate family, but I was deeply affected by the fatal assault on my domestic worker’s daughter. It cemented how much we live in parallel worlds, how rights come down to economics and education, how the poor don’t have a voice, how atrocities slip through the cracks unnoticed except by the victims.

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: I’ve considered building a teleporter so I can visit cool places without having to deal with the hassles and horror of air travel. The US would make more sense for my career (not least because it would be easier to attend more writing festivals) but this is home. I lived in New York and Chicago for a year and it was great, but it was hard and I missed South Africa.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: Stop fucking around and sort out education and policing and basic healthcare. Jobs will follow. Make contraceptive rights a priority. Re-instate the Scorpions or a similar INDEPENDENT investigative unit of great integrity and tackle corruption head-on.

Q: South Africa’s greatest writing export is?

A: It would have to be JM, surely, considering we exported him to Australia?

Life in Cape Town

Q: What do you enjoy the most about living in Cape Town?

A: That I have a lot of smart, interesting, creative, talented and funny friends here. (Elsewhere too, but the densest concentration is here).

Q: Favourite restaurant in or around Cape Town for a lazy Sunday afternoon lunch?

A: A picnic at the new Green Point Urban Park. It’s this great city space with playful design and plenty of things to explore with my toddler. If I had to pick a restaurant to source the food from, it would be Fork tapas bar.

Q: What is the one place in Cape Town that is a must visit for all tourists?

A: Long Street for shopping and nightlife, from haggling over Congolese carvings at the Pan-African market to the delightful arty whimsy of Imagenius or Misfit’s strange and cool (and alas, expensive) designer clothing. At night: Neighbourhood, The Waiting Room, Julep.

General

Q: If you were able to pick anyone as your mentor, who would it be and why?

A: Ai. That’s a tough one. Someone from a different discipline who could help me look at things from another angle maybe. Christopher Nolan. Ethan Coen. Theo Jansen (of Strandbeests fame), architect Pancho Guedes, Banksy. Writer-wise I’d love to spend time with Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell and William Gibson, but also TC Boyle or William Boyd or Joyce Carol Oates and Lorrie Moore and ack, too many to mention. Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils? A: Jane Bussman’s smart, dark, angry and hilarious non-fiction, The Worst Date Ever, about giving up celebrity writing to go to Uganda chasing after a totally hot aid worker only to uncover the atrocities of rape camps, the Lord’s Republican Army and enabling aid workers. It’s both gut-wrenching and gut-wrenchingly funny.

Q: Who are your favourite South African writers?

A: That’s a touch one too, because I have a lot of writer friends.How about favourite South African books I’ve read recently? Thando Mgqolozana’s hard-hitting novel about a botched circumcision A Man Who Is Not A Man, Kgebetli Moele Room 207, set in a bright, ambitious Hillbrow, Sarah Lotz in all her guises (including writing as SL Grey and Lily Herne), Deon Meyer’s 13 Hours, Adeline Radloff’s Sidekick, Jonny Steinberg’s 3 Letter Plague and The Number, Charles van Onselen’s The Fox And The Flies

Toni Rowland

Toni Rowland is a singer-songwriter, currently based in Durban. Her debut solo album was recorded in Spain with legendary Uriah Heap musician Ken Hensley.

Her ‘classic-rock/adult contemporary’ style was honed while still living in Pretoria performing with her band Mantis for many years.

Her album sales cover the globe from Brazil to Australia, South Africa to Norway (plus the US and UK) and her music has been playlisted on radio stations around the world.

After a long journey to recovery from Breast Cancer, Toni decided to go solo in 2007 and in 2010 she moved to Durban to be closer to her management team.

In 2009 she joined Rockstar Supernova diva Dilana on her South African tour.

In late 2010 she was approached by the Pink Drive campaign to write and record a theme song that would be used throughout the country to raise funds and awareness for Breast Cancer.

The result was the anthemic ‘I Rise’, which she performed live at numerous Pink Drive luncheons throughout October 2010, joined by Danny K and Louise Carver. She has just completed filming for the ‘I Rise’ music video.

Personal
Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?
A: This is my friend Toni…?

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.
A: I have an honours degree in Archaeology. Also I am cat mad.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?
A: I love to watch a good movie. I also enjoy a good braai with some friends. I’m pretty straight forward.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you want it to be?
A: Definitely a house by the sea. I lived in a house right on the beach during my recovery from breast cancer. This was certainly a wonderful period in my life and I wouldn’t mind settling down there one day. I’m a Cape Town girl at heart, but I have to say that I have come to enjoy Durban immensely since I moved here last March. Mind you there are so many beautiful places in South Africa. I am just thinking of Knysna and Plett too. Absolutely beautiful! So I will have to see where the road of life takes me.

Music
Q: In October you toured of SA in support of the PinkDrive. How was the experience for you?
A: The PinkDrive experience was very special. I never thought my own struggle would one day bring me to a place where I had the opportunity to share and inspire others through my journey. It was an incredible privilege and I also learned a lot from the wonderful people I came into contact with during the tour. I am hoping to continue my work with PinkDrive as this is a cause very close to my heart.

Q: As a Breast Cancer survivor yourself, how did you feel when you were asked by PinkDrive to compose a theme song?
A: I felt humbled and deeply touched. It came as a huge surprise to me.

Q: Who are your musical influences?
A: I listen to so many different artists. My music taste is very varied. What I like most is good melody and obviously meaningful lyrics. Of the older bands I love Fleetwood Mac, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Ken Hensley, Johnny Clegg, Billy Joel, Stevie Ray Vaughan. My new favourite is Adam Lambert. I think he is a brilliant vocalist. I even enjoy Lady Gaga.

Q: What are your music plans for the near future?
A: Well I am going to start performing more regularly with my new Durban band this year. Also I am hoping to tour overseas in America later this year and after that Europe and Australia will follow, my management are busy working hard on these projects . It takes a lot of time and effort to plan and organize these things but I remain hopeful and positive (and frustrated!). I would like to record another album with Ken Hensley, he has already said that he has his studio ready for me! At the moment, we are shooting a music video for the ‘I Rise’ PinkDrive breast cancer awareness drive, I’m really excited about that!

Q: How have you found living and performing in DBN as opposed to PTA and CT?
A: I think performing is basically the same everywhere. It really depends on how you look at it. The venues in Johannes burg tend to pay better. I try and remain realistic about these things. It is a process and one must just keep on building your profile until you get to play the better paying venues. As musicians we count on our income from gigs, so this is an important factor, no matter how shallow it might seem.

Life in South Africa
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?
A: Our country is truly beautiful and there is so much to experience and see. I also enjoy the diversity of all our cultures.

Q: When asked about crime in South Africa, what is your response?
A: It’s a bit much. I try not to focus on it so much anymore because it used to depress me no end. I think people must be realistic about this. It is a problem and it needs to be addressed. If we can solve this crime problem our country would be the best place in the world to live, for sure. As it is we unfortunately cannot ignore the reality of it.

Q: To which three local attractions would you first take an international visitor?
A: Hangklip in the Western Cape so they can see the most awesome sunsets they’ll ever experience, a game park, Teasers :-D. Gosh there are so many great things to do. Recently I took my mom to uShaka Marine World to the aquarium and the dolphin show and it was so great. We had such a fun day. South Africa really is not shy of options to take visitors.

Q: South Africa’s greatest musical export is?
A: Johnny Clegg. He is my favourite.

Cofield Mundi

Cofield Mundi hardly needs any introduction to South Africans.

The self-penned singer-songwriter recently licenced her second album ‘The Big Question’ to Universal Music Group, South Africa and her distinctive voice and prolific songwriting talent have seen her achieve things many SA artists can only dream of.

In 2007 Cofield was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance alongside Madonna, Jessica Simpson, Nelly Furtado and more of the world’s largest pop talents.

She was selected from 100,000 people worldwide to perform at the prestigious CMJ New York Music Festival in November 2006 alongside bands like The Cardigans.

Her 2004 debut album ‘Ceremony’ received a SAMA nomination for Best Pop Album and her 2009 follow up, “The Big Question”, earned her a Best Adult Contemporary Album nomination.

She had five hit singles from ‘Ceremony’ on AC radio (5fm, Highveld, Jacaranda, KFM, OFM, East Coast, Algoa) and campus stations countrywide namely, “River”, “Count me out”, “Shine”, “Give it up” and “Trust yourself” and got extensive airplay on US radio with the single, “Count me out”.

Cofield has performed in the US, UK and has done various key performances in South Africa from the Nelson Mandela 46664 concert in George through to the 94.7 Highveld Sunday Sessions; Woodstock and the Kirstenbosch Appletiser outdoor and indoor concerts.

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: I’d like to be introduced as Cofield. It’s already hard for people to get their heads around my first name, never mind my last!

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: One of my best moments, that most people don’t know about me, is that I have recorded in the Beatles Abbey Road studio in London and played on John Lennon’s piano.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I go to Arniston, which is one of SA’s best kept secrets. It’s about 2 hours from Cape Town. I can swim for hours on end as the water is so warm.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you want it to be?

A: Simple cool modern space with no clutter, either on the Western Cape Coast or in the bush on the SA/Botswana border.

Music

Q: You’ve been a part of SA’s music industry for quite some time now. How do you feel the industry has changed in recent years?

A: It’s booming and brimming with talent! I don’t know where it all comes from and how come it’s become so prolific, but its great! I can’t wait to see what is next.

Q: Of your achievements in the music industry, what are you most proud of?

A: I’m proud of the fact that I’ve been able to make a career out of doing what I love. What more can I wish for?

Q: Can you give us an insight into your creative process?

A: I try not to think about it too much. I create when I’m in the mood and I don’t worry if it’s not my best piece of work, as long as I’m still creating. I find that if I think about it too much, I lose touch with the magic of the moment- although I usually know straight away when I’ve written something of substance.

Q: What can we look forward to from you in the near future?

A: I’ve got a new remix of a single going to SA radio at the end of January with a video, called “Im gonna fly”. I’ve also got a single going out on US radio at the same time. The song is called “Give me the feeling”. Both are available off my current album, “The Big Question”.

Q: You were nominated for a Grammy in 2007 in the category of Best Female Pop Vocal Performance alongside Madonna, Jessica Simpson and Nelly Furtado. How did you feel when you found out?

A: It was my “skydiving” moment.

Life in South Africa

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?

A: Beauty and good looking boys everywhere

Q: When asked about crime in South Africa, what is your response?

A: I won’t tempt fate by answering that question.

Q: To which three local attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Cape Town, Arniston and the North Eastern Transvaal.

Q: South Africa’s greatest musical export is?

A: Seether

Grant 'Twiggy' Baker

Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker is a professional big wave surfer, based in Durban.

He won the Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeons in 2008 and made history the same year by riding arguably SA’s biggest wave ever (over 70 foot) at Tafelberg reef the same year.

In April 2010 Baker was nominated for the Ride of the Year, Monster Paddle, Monster Tube, Best Overall Performance and Wipeout of the Year awards for waves he rode at Mavericks in California in February during the Mavericks Surf Contest.

The passionate South African succeeded in winning the Ride of the Year and declared it a victory for his home country.

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: Grant “Twig” Baker is how I’m usually introduced but both Grant and Twig work

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: My family has an orphanage in Inanda Kwazulu, it’s based on the family unit idea from Uganda and we hope to have up to 800 kids within the next two years.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I like being active and don’t like just sitting around and relaxing so for me if I’m not surfing I’m snowboarding, kiteboarding or travelling.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you want it to be?

A: I live in my dream home with my girlfriend Kate and it’s in Umhlanga Rocks which is the only place I think I could live.

Twiggy in action riding giants

Surfing
Q: You’ve had an amazing last few years in Big Wave Surfing, winning the Billabong XXL earlier this year as well as the Big Wave Africa in 2008, being invited to surf Mavericks and getting your SA colours. What has been your proudest achievement?

A: I think I have three that all seem very special to me….Winning Mavericks in 2006 was what put me on the world stage in regards to surfing and what enabled me to live my dream of travelling and surfing, winning Big Wave Africa in 2008 because we had put so much into that event and for it to run in such good, big conditions and put Dungeons and Cape Town on the surfing map once again was amazing and the winning the Billabong XXL this year which to us as big wave surfers is our world title kind of cemented me as one of the best from the past decade.
Q: What do you enjoy most about big wave surfing?

A: I think finding and surfing a new wave is what keeps me intrigued and I love the whole process of what it takes to do this….It’s amazing how much time and effort it takes to make a new discovery and score publishable waves and I find this very exciting and fresh.
Q: Where are some of your favourite breaks in the world?

A: South Africa to me has the best and most diverse waves in the world with the least amount of surfers so for me, home is where the heart is!!
Q: What’s your next big challenge in big wave riding?

A: Finding and surfing the first 100ft wave, I think we have pushed it as far as humanly possible within the paddle –in category and all that’s left is to discover and surf bigger waves using PWC assistance.
Life in South Africa
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?

A: It’s home and from all my travels to so many different places and cultures I have never found a better place to live then South Africa. I can promise you the grass is not greener anywhere else.
Q: When asked about crime in South Africa, what is your response?

A: There are almost 6 billion people in the world with only so much in the way of wealth and resources and when you have a gap between the haves and have not’s that’s unjust and unfair there will be crime. Until the haves take responsibility for this and realise that wealth and power mean nothing in the long term and that greed will only lead to the downfall of everything we are trying to create will we be able to fix what we have. South Africa could easily be transformed into the most amazing place on earth if only we would all work together to correct what the economic system of the past has created and into a more socially responsible system.
Q: To which three local attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Northern Kwazulu, the Transkie and the North Western Cape.
Q: South Africa’s greatest surfing export is?

A: It still has to be Shaun Tomson, he showed us what was possible and taught us how to behave as surfers abroad coming from South Africa, with dignity and respect moulded with a strong fighting spirit.

Hanli Prinsloo

Hanli Prinsloo is the 8-time South African Freediving record holder and, is sought out by watermen around the world to teach them at her school in South Africa I am Water.

She started freediving over 12 years ago in Sweden, where she was studying at the time.

As well as being a passionate ocean and nature lover and conservationist, she has a background in acting and documentary filmmaking. Her documentary work has taken her into the front-lines of social political conflict all over Africa, from Burundi to Uganda, South Africa and Zimbabwe to name a few.

Hanli has recently focused all her energy on the ocean, surfing, sailing, long distance swimming, conservation and freediving. Her work with the world´s best big wave surfers has won her international recognition and acclaim. She has been nominated for the Cosmo Awesome Women of the Year Awards, Outthere Adventurer of the Year, Gsport´s Women in Sport as well as a ´strider´ in the Johnnie Walker Celebrating Strides Awards.

Hanli is also a much-loved keynote speaker. Her visual material from the underwater realm combined with her vibrant storytelling captures the imagination and inspires audiences of all ages and walks of life.

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: Ocean Lover and freediver.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I collect Orchids. These amazing flowers have personalities like humans. Some like attention, some just want to be left alone. All my orchids have names. My first ever Orchid is called Ophelia, her flowers hang down over my bed.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: There’s not much in my life I want to get away from as I truly am living my passion. But surfing is an amazingly feel-good activity!

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you want it to be?

A: Honestly, at the moment I am living that dream. I live in an old stone house in Kalk Bay, up the road from Kalk Bay harbour, around the corner from friendly tasty Olympia Café, I do wish I owned the house though. In the future I would like to live somewhere more remote where I can get straight out of bed and walk into the sea without seeing a single other person.

Diving and Conservation

Q: What has been your most life-changing ocean experience?

A: I have been priviliged to have some incredible ocean experiences, but dolphin encounters are always very deeply touching. I have spent some amazing times with Spinner Dolphins in Mozambique where a whole pod of dolphins surrounded me, I dived down to the sandy bottom with them, their whistles and chirps filling my being.

Q: Of your achievements in the free diving and conservation world, what are you most proud of?

A: About a year ago I started working with big wave surfers, and many of the guys have said that the techniques I have taught them has directly impacted on their surfing, and kept them safe in some seriously gnarly situations. This I am proud of.

Furthermore, I have been teaching freediving on the KZN South Coast, where I take people out to freedive with sharks: tiger sharks, black tip reef sharks, zambezi/ bull sharks. Every single persone, no matter their level of fear- has a complete turnaround when they get to encounter these spectacular fish up close. Their perceptions shift and they realise the beauty and importance of sharks. On the way home they curse the murderous shark nets as we cross over them, and I swell with pride!

Q: How would you help someone who is afraid of the ocean, to overcome their fear?

A: When I teach freediving, I not only teach people how to move in water, how to be a technically proficient diver, I teach them of their own connection with water. The powerful adaptations we have to being in and under water. Often what is needed in people who have a fear of water, or any fear in fact, is a mental shift. Realising that you are perfectly adapted for aquatic submersion removes the false belief that water is an alien environment, to be feared.

Q: What are your plans (career-wise) for the future?

A: I have recently founded the I Am Water Ocean Conservation Trust that aims to foster ocean conservation through human experience. My hope is to spend more and more of my time fighting for ocean conservation, while continuing with my own freediving training and traveling.

Q: What made you choose the sport of free-diving ?

A: I’m not quite sure that I chose freediving. Sometimes it feels as if the ocean chose me!! Freediving as a sport is not my main focus, freediving is a tool to experience the sea. Every time I step into the water I am suffused with such a sense of well-being and belonging. And it feels as if the ocean loves me back, showering me with dolphins, whales and good waves! Competitive freediving is something I do to push my own limits and challenge myself, but it is not the reason why I freedive.

Life in South Africa

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?

A: I love South Africa. I lived in Sweden for seven years and had a very good life there. But I missed SA too much! I love the diversity of our people, our nature and our heritage. We are very privileged to live in such a beautiful place!

Q: When asked about crime in South Africa, what is your response?

A: I have never been the victim of crime myself, so I always tend to tell my foreign friends that it’s ‘not as bad as you think’. But I do know that my safe little village life is not a reflection of what some people have experienced. My hope is that we can overcome this as we overcome so many other challenges.

Q: To which three local attractions would you first take an international visitor?

- Robben Island- for it’s history and whales, seals and dolphins en route!

- Muizenberg- for a surf and some true African Surf Culture

- Mountains- not necessarily table mountain, but up any of the gorges or trails up our incredible mountains!

Vanessa Haywood

Izimvo has the pleasure of introducing talented actress, model and business woman; Vanessa Haywood.

Propelled into the international spotlight for her leading role as Tania in the 2009 smash hit District 9, Vanessa  is not only a talented actress but also a successful business woman, model and sports woman.  Some of Vanessa’s many career highlights include roles in “Hey Boy” and “Blood Diamond“, Shape Magazine’s Cover Look of the Year winner in 2007 and 4th place in the 2005 international Miss Fitness competition.

Website: http://www.vanessahaywood.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VanHaywood
Location: Cape Town

Vanessa was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: THE “One and Only”…. Vanessa Haywood!!! Ha ha! Just kidding! Actress and business woman, Vanessa Haywood??

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite scene in a movie.

A: I am completely terrified of spiders. I have proper arachnophobia.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Riding on my mountain bike, going for a walk on the mountain, reading, watching a movie.

Q: How would you describe your dream holiday home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: Dream holiday is spent doing nothing but reading, running, cycling, sleeping and watching movies! I’m in love with the wild and grew up on various game farms so I’d love to spend time at a luxury game farm anywhere in SA!

South African Film

Q: South African film has gone through a renaissance with the recent success of movies such as Totsi and District 9. To what would you attribute the success and do you feel that enough is being done to promote South African film to local audiences?

A: We have great “movie makers” in SA! Our production companies are world-class, professional and very hard-working. We have amazing crews and very good actors. I really don’t think enough is being done for actual South African films though and they are not marketed nearly well enough!

Q: How did the District 9 adventure start for you and looking back, what did you enjoy the most from the experience? Did you ever expect it would become the international blockbuster it did?

A: It all started with an audition… and then a few call backs… and then the phone call saying “You got it!” I enjoyed every moment on set but the defining moment was definitely when we watched the pre-screening a week before the premier when my name appeared on the screen. It was surreal! We all knew that District 9 would be successful but not that it would be at number 1 world-wide for weeks and rake in so much cash!

Q: Do you have any news regarding a District 9 sequel? Do you think Tania and Wikus will ever reunite?

A: I don’t! I know it’s on the cards but nothing set in stone as yet! I hope Wikus and Tania will reunite and I hope Tania gets to kick some butt in the sequel too! Ha ha! I’m an action gal!

Q: Which young South African film makers have recently impressed you and who do you consider as South Africa’s greatest film maker?

A: Neil Blomkamp (District 9 – obviously!), Gavin Hood (Tsotsi) , Jan Turner (White Wedding)

Q: What advice would you offer those wanting a career in film?

A: Mmmm…. persevere! It is an extremely difficult industry which doesn’t depend only on how good an actor you are! It involves your education, background, networking, experience and a whole lot of luck! Set yourself a time period and if you haven’t got any roles by a certain date, it’s time to move on! You don’t want to be stuck running after your dream your whole life when it’s simply not meant to be!

Life in South Africa

Q: What do you enjoy most about being a South African?

A: I am proudly South African because we are such friendly, warm-hearted people in general! I have traveled all over the world and have lived in many places but there is no place like home! The beauty of this country is also something you cannot find anywhere else in the world!

Q: What advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking for the ultimate South African experience?

A: It’s not nearly as dangerous as you think! Like any other place in the world, look after your valuables and don’t visit dodgy areas. Absorb our diverse cultures, eat our food, visit our beautiful popular sights like Table Mountain and historical places like the Castle of Good Hope.

Q: Looking back, what was your favorite moment of the recent Soccer World Cup?

A: Watching the Spain – Portugal game live at Green Point stadium in Cape Town! What a vibe!?

Q: Favorite holiday destination for a relaxing holiday with family?

A: We had many family holidays on the South Coast when I was younger. I have so many fond memories of that area and those holidays!

General

Q: You have recently completed the grueling BIG 5 challenge raising money and awareness for Starfish Greathearts Foundation. Tell us about the challenge and why you selected Starfish as your charity?

A: The Big 5 involved 218km of running and cycling over a few days. 50km Mountain bike race, 100km road bike race, XTerra (off-road) Duathlon, 21km half marathon, 15km trail run. I chose the Starfish Foundation as it’s a foundation close to my heart. They look after children affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS. I lost a friend to AIDS and her children are now all alone!

Q: Which 80′s television series remake would you most like to star in?

cheetara

A: Mmmm…. Cheetara from Thundercats! Would love to do an action film with loads of special effects and martial arts!

Q: If you could invite any three South African personalities to join you for a long weekend break, who would you invite and which destination would you pick?

A: Trevor Noah (comedian) to make me laugh and keep the group entertained! Ryan Sandes (my other half- world champion ultra marathon trail runner) cos he’s a big part of my life. Jo-Anne Strauss (Miss SA 2000) – she’s been a friend since the year we were both Miss SA finalists in 2000 and I love her to bits! I’d take them to my friend’s game farm, Kichaka in the Eastern Cape. I’ve been there with friends before and we had the best time ever!!!

Q: As a fitness athlete you placed 4th in the international Miss Fitness competition and were chosen as Shape’s 2007 cover of the year. Do you have any health and fitness secrets for those wanting to improve their overall fitness?

A: Life is all about balance! Eat well, exercise a few times a week, sleep/relax enough, laugh a lot, wear sunblock always, don’t smoke and don’t drink excessively. As far as fitness is concerned, the best thing to do is exercise regularly! Try get to gym/power walk/cycle/run at least 3 times a week.

Q: What advice would you offer parents whose children display a natural talent for the performing arts from a young age?

A: Wow! I’ve never been asked that! Well, I would never discourage my children from doing something they love. The only problem with the film industry is that it doesn’t have a lot to do with talent… your location, drama education, agent and who you know have a lot to do with your success. Your talent is only a part of the whole equation. It has a lot to do with luck which is unfair! As far as musical and dancing talent is concerned… parents must always encourage children to pursue their talents!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Someone like Elizabeth Taylor. She’s not going to be around for much longer and she is a legend! She’s had a crazy, incredible life. I’d ask her all about her journey into film and her experiences.

We’d like to thank Vanessa for taking the time to answer our questions and wish her every success for the future.

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