Khuluma September 2017

GREAT ESCAPE TRAVEL

'There are at least 1 500 identified bouldering "problems"
against which to test your skills.'

GRIPPING ROCKS climbing. Many boulderers opt to stay at WRITING ON THE
CapeNature’s Kliphuis campsite, which WALLS
The Cederberg has become one of the also has off-grid self-catering cottages
most popular spots in the world for rock with gas geysers, stoves, fridges, solar With its numerous rock ledges and
climbing as well as bouldering (a form lights, and inside fire places and outside overhangs, the entire Cederberg
of rock climbing without climbing aids braais. If you prefer more privacy and a region turned out to be a perfect
and generally limited to heights of less touch of class, though, reserve one of open-air gallery for the work of
than 8m). The fine-grain, medium-hard the glamping units at The Storytellers our earliest artists – some of it
sandstone is rough but said to be great (thestorytellers.co.za). Its three safari breathtakingly preserved. When you
for climbing, and those in the know tents – Dassie Den, Tortoise Terrace and hear that some of these paintings
say there are at least 1 500 identified Porcupine Place – are off-grid but have may be as much as 10 000 years old
bouldering ‘problems’ against which to solar-powered lights, kitchens with gas – and executed with paints made from
test your skills – formations with names fridges and cookers, and hot water from grinding stones into animal fat – the
like Adultworld, Biscuit Wall, Orange either a wood-fired donkey boiler or a fact of their preservation seems close
Plasma Wall, Rubik’s Cube Wall and The gas geyser. Combining canvas with rock to miraculous. There are around
Bastille. The mecca is an area known features and some concrete, they each 2 500 discovered sites, and some
as Rocklands, near Pakhuis Pass, in the have a queen-size bed and a sleeper couch, paintings depict animals no longer
northern part of the Cederberg – it’s luxurious linens and blankets, handmade found here, including elephants.
just 15 to 20 minutes from Clanwilliam organic soap, and all the firewood, cutlery Protected as a national monument,
– while the Krakadouw and Table and crockery you might need. the easiest way to see some of the
Mountain peaks are the most popular for artworks is by undertaking the
Sevilla Rock Art Trail, a self-guided
pictures: xxxxxxx At 5km walk that winds along the
Bushmans Kloof Brannewyn River and stops at nine
Wilderness Reserve rock art sites – permits and maps
and Retreat – by far the most are available from Traveller’s
luxurious place to stay in the Rest Farm stall (027 482 1824,
Cederberg – there are 130 ancient travellersrest.co.za), which is 34km
rock art sites. Guests enjoy the from Clanwilliam on the Wupperthal
expertise of a resident ‘rock art road, and close to the trail.
curator’, who deftly unravels the
mysteries of the paintings.
bushmanskloof.co.za

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 99

TRAVEL GREAT ESCAPE

GNARLY WOOD MEET THE LOCALS Pictures: Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Content Pool, Bushmans Kloof, Supplied

It’s actually a cypress and not a cedar, If you’re lucky, you may spot one of these
but the Clanwilliam cedar (Widdringtonia unusual-looking reptiles. It’s an armadillo
cedarbergensis), from which these lizard and is among the numerous smaller
mountains take their name and which creatures worth keeping an eye out for
grow nowhere else on earth, shares in the Cederberg. The rarest thing you’re
characteristics with true cedars. Capable likely to see here, though, is the Cape
of reaching 18m in height, the tree grows mountain leopard, an extremely shy
against cliffs and overhangs within an creature that hunts baboons, dassies, grey
altitude range of 800 to 1 650 metres rhebok, klipspringers, duiker and grysbok.
above sea level in the so-called ‘cedar With patience and a lot of luck, you might
zone’. Research suggests that it has been be rewarded with sightings of porcupines,
steadily dying out for thousands of years honey badgers, Cape clawless otters and
due to ongoing climate changes. However, even aardvark and Cape foxes. Don’t forget
by the 19th century, settlers began to look up, though – more than 100 bird
harvesting these trees for timber and species occur here, with black eagles, rock
furniture – and then came the onslaught of kestrels and jackal buzzards the most
telephone poles. In 1879 alone, over 7 000 common raptors.
trees became poles for the line between
Piketberg and Calvinia. By that stage, MEET THE LORDS (AND LADIES) OF THE DANCE
Clanwilliam cedar numbers were in radical
decline despite early warnings from the ey dance as if possessed by otherworldly forces – their bodies gyrate wildly as
conservation-minded. It wasn’t until 1987 their toes tap the ground with the speed of sewing machine needles, kicking up
that a 5 250ha cedar reserve was created miniature dust bowls as they go. It’s like watching some raw, primal version of
in an attempt to prevent their extinction – Lord of the Dance. Considered the oldest indigenous dance form in South Africa,
each year there are plantings of thousands riel dancing traces its origins to the millennia-old trance dance traditions of the
of nursery-reared year-old trees, but once San, Khoi and Nama tribes. Its modern incarnation took hold when the ancient
transferred to the wild, they have less than rhythms were augmented with steps from Scottish and Irish reels –
a 20% chance of survival. lively, quick-tempo country-style formation dances. e traditional
riel was very popular in the forties, fi ies and sixties, but then
became neglected and, 15 years ago, had almost disappeared.
Over the last decade it has been revived, and one of the most
successful troupes today is Die Nuwe Graskoue Trappers
from Wupperthal – they’ve even represented the country at

e World Championships of Performing Arts.

100 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com



gracious!GOODNESS
Africa is a place of won-er, mystery, intrigue – an- some of the
-own-right scariest creatures on earth. Delia du Toit unearths
a few local shockers from before the -ays of fake news.

102 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com

ALL THINGS WEIRD & WONDERFUL TRAVEL

THE WINGED VAMPIRE

The Impundulu, or Lightning Bird,
is the stuff of Pondo, Zulu, and
Xhosa legend. A gigantic weather-
controlling winged creature that is
said to manifest as lightning storms,
it supposedly summons the elements
using its wings and claws. The
creature is associated with witch
doctors and serves to protect them or
even do their bidding. Most worrying,
though, is that the Impundulu is said
to drink blood, for which it has an
insatiable thirst, and it is believed that
it can morph into a handsome man
in order to seduce women. Some
say the bird is just about immortal,
impervious to everything except fire.

KARIBA’S ROMANTIC SPIRIT

The Zambezi River Spirit, dubbed Nyami Nyami by the Tonga who inhabited the banks of the
river between Kariba Gorge and Devil’s Gorge, is a draconic creature with the body of a snake
and the head of a fish. In the 1950s, when construction of the Kariba Dam wall began, the
Tonga invoked the help of the beast as a show of resistance to their relocation. According
to the tribe’s elders, Nyami Nyami was responsible for the massive floods that halted
construction crews for almost two years in 1957 and 1958. Today, locals attribute Kariba’s
occasional earth tremors to the romantically inclined monster trying to break through the
dam wall to get to his wife, who is trapped on the other side.

The saga is rich and thrilling enough to have prompted plans for a full-scale animated
feature film – its producers are first creating a graphic novel that’s due for release early next
year; artist Daniel Clarke's Nyami Nyami is pictured right (karibamovie.com).

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 103

TRAVEL ALL THINGS WEIRD & WONDERFUL

BLOBBY THING FROM THE DEEP

On 25 October 1924, people on the newspapers as a polar bear-like fish

coast of KwaZulu-Natal witnessed with a headless trunk at one end and

a battle between two killer whales a lobster-like tail covered in white hair

and a giant, white sea creature. The at the other. Crowds of people came to

spectacle ended with the death of the view the decomposing mass and take

creature, which later washed up on photographs, though no scientist saw

Margate Beach. Said to be 14m long, the remains before the sea reclaimed it.

the unidentified mass was named Shuker theorised it was a dead whale

Trunko by cryptozoologist Karl Shuker that had floated around for months,
– and joked about as ‘the hairy elephant causing its metamorphosis. And yet the

whale’ on the internet and other places witnessed fight between the whales and

of speculation. It was described in Trunko does not fit with this explanation.

THE APPLAUDING SEA FOLK THE MILK-LOVING SPRITE

If you ever go to beautiful Coffee Bay hands, fell in love with a girl who lived Few local monsters are quite as legendary,
or as powerful, as the tokoloshe – the
on the Wild Coast, be sure to hike in a nearby village, but her people evil spirit of Zulu folklore. Some accounts
describe it as a gremlin with gouged-out
along the beach to see the Hole in refused the match. To prove his love, eyes, while others claim it is a bear-like,
humanoid dog. And others say it’s a
the Wall, one of South Africa's most her sea suitor one day called on a giant tiny water sprite. Either way, it’s always
short, stocky and covered in hair. It’s been
impressive geological wonders. Where serpent to break through the dolerite causing havoc for centuries, frequently
making newspaper headlines even today.
the Mpako River meets the sea, a giant rock at sunset, and then took her Some of its hijinks include terrorising
children or biting off sleeping victims’ toes
portal has been carved in a rock cliff with him. Even today, when the tide is (hence the reason for sleeping on a raised
bed). If you are lucky, though, it will stick
by the river’s ceaseless attempts at high, the sea people can apparently to its favourite trick of stealing milk from
the fridge.
freedom. But Xhosa mythology tells be heard clapping victoriously as the

a different, much more interesting waves slap at the hole. The isiXhosa

tale. Folklore has it that one of the sea name for the Hole in the Wall is

people, semi-deities with flipper-like esiKhaleni – the place of sound.

104 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com











WATER,
WATER...

110 SEPTEMBER 2017 EVERY...
WHERE?
kulula.com

THE GOOD TRIP LOCAL HERO

An exciting adventure and the chance to do

some good? The 10-1-10 Africa Expedition

combines the best of both, says Delia du Toit.

R emember the first time you Each year, the 10-1-10 Expedition
experienced the African bush? travels around southern Africa for
And I don’t mean the kind of two weeks installing water-filtration
bush you ‘experience’ from a lodge stoep systems in communities without access
while sipping on Amarula. I mean the bush, to clean water. This year it kicks off in
where all around is wild, raw wonder. Joburg, with various stops in South Africa
and Swaziland.
When I was about 10 years old, our
family took a trip to Gonarezhou National ‘What’s great about the trip is that
Park in Zimbabwe and I got my first taste our members and donors get to see
of raw Africa. We ventured off the beaten first-hand the work that we do. It’s the
track, car in 4x4 mode, pitched our tents best of both worlds: giving back, but also
on a patch of open ground and just … sat. enjoying beautiful Africa on an amazing
For days. There were hikes, safaris and expedition,’ says Ken Lister, financial and
potjies bubbling on open fires, but what operations director of H2O International
I remember most is the sitting. Listening SA and a trustee of Wishing Well SA.
to hyenas, watching fiery-red sunsets, and
waiting to spot the next animal that might Ken and his business partner, Tony
wander close enough to us. It was, to use Marchesini, established the Wishing
the touristy cliché, magical. Well International Foundation (WWIF)
trust, a public-benefit organisation, in
And for a group of adventurous South Africa in 2012. ‘As directors of H20
do-gooders, that’s exactly what goes International SA, a for-profit company
down during the annual 10-1-10 Africa in the water-purification industry, we
Expedition that concludes on 3 September decided to give back,’ says Ken. ‘We’ve
– only, of course, with far more noble travelled all over the world to install
purposes and a lot less sitting. these water filters – Mozambique,

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 111

LOCAL HERO THE GOOD TRIP

Swaziland, Tahiti, Japan, 'More than And people are
the Dominican Republic 884 million falling head over
and various parts of
South Africa. The heels in love
with the idea.

goal is to provide people around Adéle Schultz,
safe, clean drinking the world owner of Teal
water for 50 000 do not have Marketing
people over a in Somerset
10-year period.’ access to safe, West, first
clean water.' heard about
The task at hand the project
is motivated by from a friend.
some shocking ‘I immediately
statistics: more than

884 million people wanted to get

around the world do not involved,’ she says. ‘I’ve

have access to safe, clean water, had my own challenges in life

while over 1.6 million children die each and believe in paying it forward.’

year from waterborne diseases. For her, and most others, it’s a very

The WWIF’s premise is simple. emotional cause. ‘We’ve had harsh

For just US$10 (about R130), one water restrictions in the Cape this

person can be supplied with clean, year, and complained all the way,

disease-free water for 10 years – it’s but it doesn’t remotely compare to

from this easy equation that the what those people go through,’ Adéle

name ‘10-1-10’ is derived. ‘We go into says. ‘I’m quite worried that I’ll be an

developing communities that only have emotional wreck the entire trip! Some

access to unfiltered water, and target of those people drink water from the

crèches and schools to install the same dams they bathe in, wash their

filters,’ says Ken. ‘Unsafe water is clothes in and even use as a toilet. On

a problem for young tummies, past expeditions, there have been dead

especially, and it’s humbling to see animal carcasses lying not 50m from

those kids so happy.’ the water source.’

112 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com





THE GOOD TRIP LOCAL HERO

'Many for-profit business, we are privileged
people to make a decent living. It is utterly
don’t realise important to give back to those who
that the water are underprivileged. Without corporate
is making involvement and support, fewer people
them sick.' will be reached. We hope to inspire
people who have the means to see
Pictures: Picsfive/shutterstock.com, Vik Y/shutterstock.com, Supplied Education is a part of the problem, Treatment in the USA and a member this mission from the eyes of the
which the expedition also aims to of the board of directors of the Water children we serve.’
address, she says. ‘Many people Quality Association, a multinational
don’t realise that the water is making organisation in the water treatment For Quinty Roux, owner of
them sick. They fetch it, wait for industry. ‘My wife, Denise, and guesthouse Villa Candilabra in
the sediment to settle, and drink it I wanted to get involved in the cause Komatipoort, one of the expedition
– without even boiling it. So we also of Wishing Well International from the stop-overs, that’s exactly the payoff.
provide educational sessions with day it was a concept,’ he says. ‘The ‘Most people don’t realise what they
translators in every community.’ organisation is operated purely have, and how little others have,’ he
by a group of volunteers and not a says. ‘I’ve been on the expedition for
The desire to make a difference has single cent is spent on salaries or the last four years, and even though
been catching on, Adéle says. ‘The bonuses. If we can save a single the outdoor adventure is exciting,
project started with just two people and life, then all the work put in will be I keep going to see those people’s
it’s grown to an international effort.’ well worth it.’ faces light up. For the old lady who
looks after orphaned children in her
One of the international guests and Corporate involvement in efforts village and has to walk 5km with
sponsors on the expedition is Issa like these, he says, is crucial. ‘In a a wheelbarrow every day to fetch
Al-Kharusy, president of KDF Fluid them water – and her face when
she realises she won’t have to do
that any more!

‘With everything going on in South
Africa and the world today, it’s so
important that we stand together and
help each other in ways like these.’
wishingwellintl.co.za

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 115

stay!

SIT!

heel!

116 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com

dog!GOOD HOW TO TRAIN YOUR HUMAN BEHIND THE SCENES

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
Probably not, says the man who seems
to have an insider’s perspective on the
matter. Katherine Graham goes walkies
with the human dog…

pictures: xxxxxxx W hen my friend Jane tocd me she said he most definitecy had. ‘Our dogs Chris cacced the motcey group of
about Chris Brookin, whom kept running out the gate, and we cive in dog owners and wackers in the park to
she cacced ‘the human dog’, a busy road. Chris came and threw an attention. ‘Right, now we are going to
I was intrigued. An animac behaviourist object that made a coud noise every time teach our dogs to stay,’ he instructed.
with an acternative take on pooch training, the dogs ran out, and they stopped doing ‘When mommy wicd dog needs to go
Chris doesn’t becieve in trying to teach an it straight away.’ hunting, she teaches her pups to stay
ocd dog new tricks – at ceast not in any behind in the den. If they move, she growcs
conventionac manner. So I attended one of Chris’s dog at them to go back. That’s what we’re
training sessions to see for mysecf, going to do now.’
‘Don’t you mean “the canine human”?’ and heard more taces of his unusuac
I asked. training methods. ‘I was a bit offended By ceaving their dogs behind under
when he cacced my dog a rat,’ said Caroc a tree, the humans were abce to step
‘No, I mean the human dog,’ she insisted. Green, owner of Becca Trix, a cross forward a few paces – 10m, 20m or even
‘He gives advice to peopce cike, “Pee on the Labrador retriever. ‘But I didn’t cike the 30m away. Some dogs, cike the Border
irrigation pipes so that your dog doesn’t soft hippie approach I’d seen at another coccie, Dexter, waited obedientcy for their
chew them.” And he hunts rhino poachers training schooc. It was too treat-based. humans’ return. Others needed some
for fun. The guy is crazy.’ Everything your dog did right, you had cajocing. Chris had to intervene to hecp
to give him a treat. Chris is more acpha an exuberant young Labrador to remain
Ecize was micder in her appraisac. ‘When mace. You as the owner are most behind when his person wacked away.
he came to our house, he said, “Throw important, not the dog.’ Some dogs get attached, I guess.
this dog food away. It’s rubbish!”’ But
when I asked her if Chris had hecped her,

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 117

BEHIND THE SCENES HOW TO TRAIN YOUR HUMAN

threw it to his own dogs. They

pounced on it, desperate to

chew it. ‘You see, that stick

meant nothing to them before

Chris I touched it,’ he said. ‘Now
Brookin holds that I’ve touched it, they both
dog training classes want it.’
every Wednesday and
Saturday from 9am to 11.15am I was about to leave when
in Cumberland Avenue, I spotted Mini, the rescue dog,
Constantia. If you need help peeing on my bag. ‘Never leave your bag
with your pooch, call him on the ground,’ Chris chided me. ‘If a dog
on 021 761 5236 or 082 sees your bag, there are three things he’ll

664 5383.

do to it: sleep on it, eat it or pee on it. When

he pees, he’s just marking his territory.’

There is universal praise among Chris’s The problem Chris has with positive I made a mental note and gingerly
followers of how his classes have helped
them. ‘Every time I left the house, Fergus reinforcement is that it rewards the wrong picked my bag up. One last question before
would set the alarm off,’ said Sphokazi
Bangiso. ‘I asked Chris for advice, and the kind of behaviour. 'Fluffy jumps up when leaving: ‘If you could be any animal, what
problem disappeared almost straight away.’
guests arrive, so what do you do? You give would you be?’
Georgie’s human, Seamus Wishart, likes
coming to the Wednesday morning classes Fluffy a treat to stop her from doing it Chris took a long time before
because of the opportunity for social
interaction – Georgie’s, that is. ‘Georgie is again.’ This, according to him, is all wrong. answering. ‘My girlfriend’s dog,’
a bit anxious, so being around other dogs
is good for him,’ Seamus explained. ‘It ‘What you need to be doing is setting he said with a wry smile.
teaches him to socialise well.’
healthy boundaries for your dog. They
All the people I spoke to are happy their
dogs can now be taken anywhere – to the need to listen to you and do what you say. Ever wondered how
park, restaurants, the beach – without our pets feel about us?
creating havoc. Anne Stewart has a I think a lot of the time owners become too ‘All animals are individuals
reputation among the group because of with their own thoughts
her beautifully behaved ‘bank’ dogs, Bailey clingy to their animals and they’re not able and feelings about their
and Bentley. ‘Once my bank card was lifestyles,’ says professional
swallowed by the ATM, so I had to go inside to learn correct behaviour.’ animal communicator
the shopping centre, even though dogs are Anna Breytenbach. ‘Pets
not strictly allowed,’ she explained. ‘They I guessed there might be some military enjoy their relationships
lay down and stayed put for a whole hour with us. ey trust humans
while I sorted the problem out.’ training in Chris’s background from the with their most basic needs.

After the training, I chatted to Chris, who way he swaggered around the field issuing ey’ve given up their right
somehow seemed less intimidating up to feed themselves, trusting
close. ‘Some people may not like my firm commands – it turns out I was right. ‘I’m that someone will come
approach, but it works,’ he said. ‘I have a home to feed them. Many
five-year waiting period for adult dogs to originally from Manchester (that explains domestic animals mirror
join my classes.’
the accent), although I spent a long time and develop human
illnesses, particularly
in Durban ’n all,’ he joked. 'I did a two-year neuroses, depression,
even cancer. ese
stint in the SA Navy and graduated top of illnesses don’t exist in
wild populations.’
my class from the dog

unit, so even though walkies! Pictures: 000000/shutterstock.com, Supplied
I’d always dreamt of

becoming a game

ranger, I turned to

training dogs instead.’

When I asked him how his

approach differs from other dog

behaviourists, he chuckled.

‘I know what I’m doing.’

He took a stick and

118 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com





SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GREAT FASHION & DESIGN

Boom!
Inspired by his love of
vintage good looks, You
entrepreneurial designer can order your
Tshepo Sedumo is handcrafting custom-built Grove
boomboxes that could be Audio boombox directly
mistaken for works of art. from Tshepo; contact him on
082 054 8503 or
H aving spent many of his When Tshepo first [email protected], varnishing, wiring – while
pre-adolescent years in started making boomboxes or visit facebook.com/ his ‘pistons are firing at
Nelspruit, Tshepo Sedumo as a hobby, he worked with groveaudio.btn.

100%’. This labour-intensive

didn’t listen to much music unless his offcuts from cupboards and kitchen part of the job can take up to nine

parents were playing it in the house fittings. ‘I don’t make things like the hours, depending on the complexity

or on road trips in the car. Now the speakers, but a large part of each of a particular design.

25-year-old listens to anything that boombox is handcrafted,’ he says. Tshepo sources raw

appeals to him, with his favourite ‘Even the leather-textured fabric on materials from a variety of

genres being hip-hop, house and the handlebars is sewn on.’ suppliers, most of which

1990s RnB. Each day begins with the actual are in Joburg, where

Much of what he listens to issues craftsmanship – woodwork, painting, he’s now based.

from one of his very own custom-made

boomboxes, bold and eye-catching

in a range of unique designs with a

retro feel.

‘Nostalgia is at the foundation of what

I do because, as you know, boomboxes

are old school and kind of retro,’ he

says of his start-up audio-electronics

company Grove Audio. ‘But it’s not

necessarily baked into my designs.’

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 121

FASHION & DESIGN SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GREAT

‘I find that the more
boomboxes I build, the
more ideas come along.’

Some of the internal electrical Tshepo says he’s primarily driven although Tshepo’s dream is to have Grove Words: Eugene Yiga; Pictures: Supplied, LHF Graphics/shutterstock.com
components have to be sourced from by a love of what he does. ‘No one pushed Audio on shelves across the country in
overseas, which is also where the me into this direction; it’s something that major retail stores – which means that
inspiration for some of his designs can be happened naturally over the years. It’s right now he’s pretty focused on building
found. ‘There’s this great American-based my own unique thing and one day it will his empire. ‘It’s all about the hustle,’ he
company called Boom Case, founded be my legacy.’ says. ‘If I’m not building boomboxes for
by a guy who calls himself Mr Sim,’ he the business, then I’m building or working
says. ‘They create boomboxes using Right now, Tshepo sells his boomboxes on my own boomboxes. This stuff is
vintage suitcases; they’re incredible and mainly at markets, through direct orders,
unconventional. I get a lot of inspiration and via online platforms such ingrained in my DNA. I can’t
from those guys.’ as bidorbuy. A dedicated even distinguish it from my
Grove Audio online store personal life, because it is
Tshepo has developed three boombox is coming later this year, my life.’
ranges that can connect to smartphones
via Bluetooth. The latest is his R-Series – a
range that will soon be available to rent.

‘Consistent work is the key to
reinvigorating and reinventing my designs,’
he says. ‘I find that the more boomboxes
I build, the more ideas come along.’ The
material he works with also provides clues
about what can be done. ‘That’s the great
thing about working with wood – the sky is
the limit in terms of what’s possible.’

122 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com





THE HIGH-FIBRE DIET TECHNOLOGY & GAMES

connGeOOcD tions
Fibre. It’s enough to get your guts aflutter. Not that tasteless brown stuff
that some people inflict on themselves for breakfast, but fibre as in the
hi-tech magic elixir that’s changing connectivity – and our lives – forever.

Technologically challenged Gaynor Lawson chews on the roughage.

L et’s start at the beginning for broadband penetration, the policy admits, (digital subscriber line) connections, which
those who, like me, haven’t a clue has been poor compared to that of other make broadband available via the copper
about how we get connected to low- to middle-income countries. wiring in the network of telephone lines
begin with. It’s all about broadband, really, (without affecting voice calls). There are
the thing that, like a ‘broad’ multi-lane But there is a vision: South Africa about four million DSL connections in the
highway, allows a wide stream of data to Connect aims to achieve 100% broadband fixed-line network.
be transmitted simultaneously. penetration by 2030, and by 2020 it
aims to have 90% of citizens enjoying ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber
In December 2014, the government a connection with a minimum speed of line), which is DSL with different speeds
launched South Africa Connect, its 5Mbps, for which they'll need to spend for downloading and uploading data, is
national broadband policy, which 2.5% or less of their monthly salary. currently the main technology in South
acknowledges the slow deployment By that time, too, at least 50% of the Africa, used by about 850 000 home-
of fixed broadband services and its population should have access to internet users. Copper DSL lines can
relatively high cost, explaining why mobile high-speed 100Mbps broadband. produce faster connectivity in the form
broadband rapidly became our primary of VDSL (‘very fast DSL’), but super-fast
form of broadband access. South Africa’s Right now, Telkom still has a sweet deal: connections require fibre.
it is South Africa’s only supplier of DSL

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 125

TECHNOLOGY & GAMES TpE pIGp-FIBRE DIET

The fibre technology uses fibre optic Such technology has, until recently, powever, once the easy to reach and
cables to carry information or data via light been available to a very limited extent profitable residential and commercial
impulses, in contrast to electrical impulses in South Africa. Until December 2005, areas are connected, fibre will likely prove
transmitted on traditional ADSL copper only Telkom could provide fixed-line too costly to install in the rest of SA. It’s
cables. Fibre currently provides speeds infrastructure. This changed when Neotel likely that those living a bit further away
of up to 100Mbps, achieved because fibre was allowed to become the so-called from it all (like me, on a farm near the
works with light impulses whizzing along second network operator. Drakensberg), will have to be happy with
thin glass fibre tubes at the speed of light wireless technology for the so-called ‘last
– so incredibly fast it can handle 1 000 Providing broadband is a two-phase mile’ – such tech, I’m told, is apparently
times more information than traditional process. After gaining approval from already competing with fibre in terms of
copper lines. Put plainly, it ensures you authorities, an infrastructure provider digs performance and is much cheaper to build.
get your data a lot quicker than before. trenches and lays the fibre optic cables or
Plus, since there are no copper cables, sets up the wireless infrastructure. Then Fibre is here and here to stay. Lucky
it’s impervious to theft, rain, storms and an internet service provider (ISP) buys you if you live in the suburbs – super-
high temperatures. access to that infrastructure and sells fast movie downloads and internet and
communication packages to residents. streaming TV await. Personally, I’m happy
The service provider uses the cable with the speed and quality of my ‘last mile’
network provided on a wholesale basis by wireless connectivity – and not being able
operators such as Telkom and Neotel. to see or hear my neighbours. Or their
choice of entertainment.
While the government has good
intentions, the roll-out of fibre takes time
and is massively expensive. According to
Finance24, if the country replaces all of its
five million copper cables with fibre optics,
costs could be in the region of R60-billion,
although, as the digging and laying
of cables rolls out across priority
locations, costs should come down.

THE BENEFITS OF A FIBRE DIET Pictures: VectorMan2017/shutterstock.com, BAndrei_M/shutterstock.com

Okay, so fibre is lovely and fast. But what difference will it actually make? According to the experts, these are the plus factors:

It’s greener. Kiss copper mining goodbye It’s weather- and the -proof. It’s also more And the way we play. Gaming,

– fibre is glass, so it’s made from sand. durable than copper and will last longer. downloading movies and music, watching

Hello sand mining. It’s cheaper in the long run. A er the YouTube videos … everything will happen

It consumes less space. More fibres can initial phase, since no high-voltage in the twinkling of a fibre optic cable.

be bundled together in the same space as electrical transmitters are required, fibre It will add value to your property.

a copper cable. should save your service provider money, It’ll ultimately be considered a household

It’s a clearer, more efficient connection. which will hopefully reduce the cost of must-have.

Fibre won’t lose the signal the way their services to you. It is the future. Fibre will enable you

old-fashioned copper does. Because It’ll change the way we work. We’ll be to transform your home into one of

light signals don’t interfere with other able to pack even more into our day those space-age places known as ‘smart

fibres in the same cable, you get clearer (and feel even more stressed with having homes’ where you can manage

connections. to meet even more deadlines). everything remotely.

126 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com



the futureANDNOW,
Aaron Borrill hones in on five of the most innovative
automotive technologies taking us into a new world.

128 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com

GOOD TECH ROAD TRIP

Y ou can thank the concept car for all the technology you find in your vehicle today. The bold imaginations
of designers, visionaries and engineers, and the collaborations thereof, have spawned a revolution of
sci-fi-inspired engineering that will eventually filter its way into your car. Some of it is already here,
and the unbridled move towards minimalism, buttonless cockpits, keyless entry and electric mobility is just the
beginning. The only limit, really, is the human imagination.

THE DRIVERLESS CAR

The age of the fully autonomous car is almost upon us.
Volvo has already claimed that by 2020, no one will be
seriously injured or killed in any of its new cars – part of the
reason is its plans for the roll-out of autonomous driving
tech that’s evident in its S90. Like Tesla Autopilot, or to a
lesser extent Merc’s Steering Assist, the S90 and its Pilot
Assist II will accelerate, brake and steer at speeds up to
130km/h – all on its own. I’m not kidding, I’ve tried it myself.
And while it’s quite disconcerting at first, it doesn’t take
long before you begin to trust this new technology – much like the early days of cruise
control. Of course, the system requires occasional steering input from the driver; fully
autonomous mobility is not yet legislated. The Swedish carmaker’s stance on autonomous
systems forms part of Volvo’s Vision 2020 ethos, a self-imposed goal to eliminate deaths
and serious injuries in its cars within the next three years.

pictures: xxxxxxx BE YOUR OWN CONDUCTOR is allow you – the driver – to intuitively
operate every onboard process by swiping
BMW is at the forefront of interactive your hand through the space just ahead of
gesture technology, and has already rolled the LCD screen. This lets you control such
out what it calls Gesture Control (GC) facilities as your mobile and audio systems
on its higher end, ultra-luxurious 5 and without touching a button. Building on
7 Series models. What it does essentially, this technology, BMW is developing
via 3D sensors fitted into the roof lining, HoloActive Touch, an evolution of its GC.
Just wave your hands and a free-floating
projection will mimic interactions like that
of a physical touchscreen à la Minority
Report. A control pad appears next to
the steering wheel on the centre console
and can be configured to perform various
functions via finger gestures. A camera
tracks the position of the driver’s fingertips.
Fascinating stuff, indeed.

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 129

ROAD TRIP GOOD TECH

ACTIVE WINDOW DISPLAYS EMISSION CONTROL

There’s nothing particularly new about the South African-born Elon Musk and his global
head-up display (HUD). Passed down from conglomerate, Tesla, are leading the charge
fighter pilots, the HUD essentially projects (get it?) in terms of the development of fully
data that would normally be found on electric passenger and supercars. And while
the aircraft instruments onto the cockpit there are plenty of electric vehicles already
window, enabling the pilot to concentrate available here in South Africa, Tesla is leading
without having to look down to see the the pack in terms of battery units, PowerWalls
altitude and air speed – thus nullifying (rechargeable lithium-ion battery storage) and charging stations. Most modern electric
the eye’s propensity to refocus. In the cars such as BMW’s i3 and Nissan’s Leaf are hamstrung by their range (the distance you
automotive realm, the HUD has come a can travel on a full charge), which currently sits anywhere between 110 and 160km,
long way from the dim, washed-out green depending on driving style. Tesla is at the forefront of battery-pack development and
digits that some cars projected on their has already manufactured vehicles (the Model S) capable of driving more than 500km
windshields some 20 years ago. German on a full charge. Of course, for electric mobility to truly thrive here in SA, we’ll need a
carmaker Audi has adopted a different comprehensive charging infrastructure set up throughout the country.
way, whereby all ancillary information, the
satnav and vehicle instructions can reside
within the confines of an LCD instrument
cluster called Virtual Cockpit. But as good
as these HUD systems are in their various
iterations, sometime between 2020 and
2025, we’ll be seeing something far more
supreme. It’s called Active Glass, and this
technology will be capable of displaying
vibrant, full-resolution images across the
entire length of your windshield. Imagine
a navigation system that actually
highlights the next turn (seen from your
perspective, through the windshield)
as you approach it. Incredible.

BIOMETRIC ACCESS key-less entry and engine start. You’ll be Pictures: Omelchenko/shutterstock.com, Supplied
able to unlock and start your car without
Ag, shame! Remember the good old- anything more than your fingerprint (or
fashioned car key? Well, it’s on the verge perhaps your eye, but I doubt a retina
of becoming obsolete. You see, the scanner is feasible at this time). And
switch we’ve seen in recent years from if it sounds a lot like the latest form of
physical keys to keyless entry has been cellphone security, that’s because it’s
seamless and intuitive; you’ll never have essentially the same concept.
to worry about losing your keys again.
However, the next big thing is more about

130 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com





SHOOT FOR THE MOON MONEY MATTERS

What’s your Moonshot?
is published by ournet Media. In it, John
Sanei decodes the megawtrends that are
reshaping human behaviour and the way
we do business – and, of course, the way we
live our lives. He basically explains how to
innovate your business with the ultimate aim
of becoming the new type of billionaire:
someone who positively affects billions

of people. It’s definitely worth
a shot! johnsanei.com

pictures: xxxxxxx newBRAVE world
Cape Town-based trend specialist, business innovation strategist and entrepreneur
John Sanei has written a book that helps you ask bigger, bolder and more courageous
questions about the future. It’s called What’s your Moonshot?, and we have a delectable
excerpt to get you hyped up about tomorrow.

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 133

MONEY MATTERS SHOOT FOR THE MOON

A ccording to estimates, seven The rapidly advancing technology of Reality
billion people are going to be photovoltaic cells – along with wind check:
online and connected to free, turbines and other renewable technologies Drones and
fast Wi-Fi within the next five to 10 years. – will see this new energy becoming 3D printers
That’s correct. Seven billion people on the more accessible and increasingly potentially are
internet by 2023. This means more access affordable in the near future. (Similarly, no longer sci-fi
to information and knowledge, more nuclear energy appears to be on the cusp dreams.
connectivity and more digitisation. of a new technological revolution.)
resulting access to what was previously
But this growth isn’t going to magically Communication as we know it today ‘lost time’ will have profound effects on
become a fact on 1 January 2023 – it is has largely moved to the internet, which our lives – never mind the profound safety
happening right now at an exponential has also changed the way we expect benefits we will enjoy.
rate and it is laying down the gauntlet communication to occur, the frequency
for us to change. at which it occurs, and the price we pay So we can see that things aren’t just
for it – which is effectively nothing. ‘speeding up’ or ‘becoming more efficient’;
In the process, the way the world we are in the midst of a profound change
does business – even the very nature When it comes to transport, the in modern industry, which is affecting the
of business – is undergoing the most emergence of pilotless drones and way people interact and do business. I like
dramatic changes we’ve seen in a century driverless cars no longer seem like to think that we used to live in a linear
or more. We’re in a transitional phase in something from sci-fi movies; they are world where taking 10 steps forward
modern human history, so bear with me happening right now and they will only meant moving 10 metres ahead – that
as I channel my inner history teacher. make transport more efficient. As more was logical and sensible. But modern
Energy, communication and transport are and more cars controlled by artificial
the foundations of Western capitalism as intelligence appear on our roads, the
we know it today, and these are the critical reduction in traffic congestion and the
factors that have influenced how global
trade and business takes place.

Today we can see that we stand on
the cusp of a new era, one in which fossil
fuels are being replaced by renewable
energies, communication and culture
are being constantly and profoundly
shaped by the influence of the internet,
and transport is transforming under the
influence of modern technology. While
the communication transition is the most
visible to us right now, both as individuals
and in business, the other two are fast
following suit.

Though the industrial world still
relies heavily on fossil fuels, the
movement towards renewables has
begun and the pace with which we
make the change will only increase.
Solar power, in particular, has enormous
potential; not only is it a ‘clean’ energy,
but it is abundant and decentralised.

134 SEPTEMBER 2017 kulula.com





SHOOT FOR THE MOON MONEY MATTERS

'Though the industrial world still relies heavily
on fossil fuels, the movement towards
renewables has begun.'

Pictures: Chombosan/shutterstock.com, Antart/shutterstock.com, Supplied technology, powered by computational of exponential growth on both a personal We might be very good at reviewing the
speeds that double on a regular basis, and a business level. If we take just one history of our business and extrapolating
has led us to a tipping point after which example, namely the rapid advancements success tactics, but this supposedly logical
quantum leaps have become the norm. in 3D printing, how will life as we know it move won’t work if the future is an entirely
change when we start 3D printing our own new creature. Looking into the rearview
Today, business – and society in general knives and forks? mirror is becoming increasingly irrelevant
– is engaged in a symbiotic relationship in the face of exponential growth.
with modern technology, and as a result How will manufacturing be affected,
we are seeing exponential progressions considering that brands like New Balance, A business used to stay profitable
everywhere. This means that we are Adidas and Nike are already exploring the by keeping the proverbial ship afloat,
moving towards a future that allows us prospects of custom, on-demand 3D shoe keeping operations on track and services
to make massive strides as opposed to printing? Now that 3D printed pills are also consistent – this used to almost guarantee
incremental micro-steps. Now taking a reality, how will our health and wellness success. Now, in order to remain profitable,
ten steps forward may mean you’re a be affected when we can wake up to a we have to be asking brand-new questions,
thousand metres ahead – or perhaps customised tablet that can be produced on in particular: how do we rapidly and
you’re in a different place altogether. the spot, catering for our daily mineral and continuously innovate, and how can we
vitamin deficiencies? create a future-forward company culture?
We’ve only just begun this trajectory and As a result, in the United States, the role of
it’s still early days, but by 2020 we have How will we remain profitable (and a chief future officer (or head of innovation)
to be prepared to think about the effects sane) in a brave new world that’s so is fast becoming an integral part of the
different to the world we thought we business decision-making group; a voice of
knew? The future will be a very different reason that drives evolution based on what
animal, and the world ahead won’t is coming, rather than what has been.
look anything like the world behind us.

ADAPT OR ... DIE

I was a multimillionaire by the age of 28. My success was measured by my financial wealth, and I was running on fuel-injected
ambition; working hard and riding high. By the age of 30, I had lost it all. Although it felt like sudden death at the time, if
I think about it now, the blow happened in slow motion, right in front of my eyes. Too busy hanging on to the initial years of
success, I didn’t adapt to a shape-shi ing business environment. And I didn’t adapt because I was not mentally prepared to even
comprehend that it was in fact changing. In the rapid-paced, exponentially evolving digital age, this inability to see the wood for
the trees is becoming more and more common in business. I have spent the past 10 years of my life climbing back up the hill, while
doing my best not to fall down again. is book is a personal recount of my journey and the methodologies I’ve developed as a result of
identifying the need to harness my internal dialogue and mind-set to keep up with the ever-changing world.

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 137



SLOW DOWN KEEPSAKE

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NOW OPEN AT LANSERIA
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Photograph: Supplied

kulula.com SEPTEMBER 2017 139



khlassifieds

Well done to our lucky
EvaKool winners!

Dominic
Marsburg

Pranduth
Maharaj

Lance
Efron

Megan
Swemmer

Photograph: Gareth Hubbard, Images: cobalt88/shutterstock.com, GraphiTect/shutterstock.com, Shaun Lynn
Rootman Botha

Chris Daphne
Pieters Mufamadi













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