Umhlanga Rocks

UMHLANGA ROCKS
sunny place for shady people

UMHLANGA
ROCKS


A Novel by: Bryan Britton

UMHLANGA ROCKS

This work is dedicated to the memory of Mr Nelson
Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, whose lifetime
of endeavour and empathy for his fellow man must
continue to inspire.

This is the authors first attempt at a work of fiction.
He leaves the world of fact with great reluctance
and so the backdrop to the story is mainly factual.

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Direct quotations have been lifted from the Fourth
Pillar upon whom South Africans are forced to rely
in order to maintain their faltering democracy. In
doing this he has often not acknowledged
individual pieces but rather recognized the works
of members of the Fourth Pillar as a collective. The
author is massively grateful for their combined
effort in preventing South Africa becoming yet
another failed state on the African Continent.

Many of the players in this book are real but yet
others have had their names changed to protect
their innocence.

The conclusions, assumptions, assertions and story
line are of the authors making and anyone
offended or disapproving is offered a sincere
apology.

It is the authors intention only to amuse and
inform whilst advertising the amazing place on the
eastern shores of South Africa known as Umhlanga
Rocks and the inland travel opportunities of the
South African province of KwaZulu Natal.

- Bryan Britton May 2014

The Index

UMHLANGA ROCKS

Chapter 1 The Place

Chapter 2 The Tribes

Chapter 3 The Players

Chapter 4 The Attraction

Chapter 5 The Underbelly

Chapter 6 The Drama

Chapter 7 The Outcome

Chapter 8 The Morality

Chapter 9 The End

Chapter 1 The Place
_______________________________________________________

UMHLANGA ROCKS
The Colonel blustered into the Sizzling Steak with
an exasperated good morning all to nobody in
particular. The drunk in the corner, a remnant of
the chaotic night before, raised his crimson eyes to
the blare of the cricket on television and then
slumped once more into Neverland. These English
players are the worst in the world the Colonel
pointed out to Brian, the disinterested Zulu
barman polishing glasses. They cant even field
useless bloody lot really. In my day you had famous
professionals, not these sissies The weary-eyed
barmen agreed, nodding over a smile that
admitted to his total ignorance of the silly game of
cricket.

The sun was climbing ever higher into the cloudless
South African sky and the morning was promising
to turn into a balmy, humid afternoon. Slowly, the
regular crowd shuffled in with baggage from the
night before and first rounds were ordered. Soon
seconds followed and, as if someone had waved a
magic wand, the mists in the minds of the revellers
began to lift. Chuckles were heard, and then giggles
from the girls which became guffaws and later gales
of laughter and by the time the noon cannon went
off and the Boeing had flown over, the party in the
Umhlanga Rocks Village was back in full swing.

The Colonel was the first to agitate.

Rosy, darling he asked where would you like to
eat today?

Rosy, in deep discussion with Kendall, simply
ignored him. It was far too early to even think about
such gastronomic triviality.

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Kendall was a beautiful
and fascinating lady
with wide indigo eyes,
curvy body, flashing
smile and sweeping
black hair that fell
across part of her
flawless face. She had
mesmerised many a
keen, unsuspecting and
panting young man in
her time. As if God had
not endowed her with
enough goodies, He had thrown in a caring nature
and loads of smarts. She was a budding creative
author, dynamic mom, gorgeous friend, astute
bookkeeper and she beguiled all in a charming and
humble way.

Would you like to lunch at Larrys Linguini or
perhaps Pedros Cantina or maybe you would
prefer sushi at Tung Thaid the Colonel persisted.

Kendall you come too, Ill pay.

She declined graciously. He was getting agitated,
hungry and pissed off as his watch crept closer to
two oclock. No one took any notice as this was a
daily occurrence.

In the nineties the Colonel had excelled as a trader
in London and was lucky to retire very early in life.
Only he knew what was being traded and he was
very good at it. He had been persuaded to change
from being a Sterling millionaire to being a Rand
multi-millionaire when seeing the natural beauty
of the KwaZulu Natal Coast. He had moved into the
Village of Umhlanga Rocks some fifteen years
UMHLANGA ROCKS
before. He had been fascinated by the place and
remembered researching all about the area at the
time.

The North Coast of Durban, South Africa, which
included the Umhlanga Rocks area, probably owed
its origin to the shortage of cotton which was one of
the results of the American Civil War in the mid-19
th

Century. In those days The Natal Cotton Company
had bought large areas of the bush countryside for
20 cents an acre and the German immigrant
owners had attempted to create a cotton industry in
the current area of New Germany.

The venture was a complete disaster and the land
reverted to the Government of the day.

Following this failure John Moreland introduced
British immigrants to the area where they were
allocated farms to grow cotton. As this also failed
Moreland turned to the more suitable sugar cane
crop and formed the Natal Sugar Company at
Compensation just North of Verulam.

This was followed by the floatation of Natal Sugar
Estates by Sir Marshal Campbell in 1895 when he
sold 2,000 acres of his sugar lands for the formation
the township KwaMashu.

His son William was instrumental in founding
Umhlanga Rocks as a quiet holiday resort for the
sugar mill workers and their friends. He built a
cottage called Oyster Lodge on the present site of the
Oyster Box Hotel. An artesian well was sunk at the
site presently in the park opposite Malindi and soon
other wood and iron cottages sprang up.
The first hotel followed in 1923 and the Victoria
Hotel was an immediate success. Built by Marcus
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McCausland, it was graced in those early days by,
amongst others, the famous Irish Dramatist George
Bernhard Shaw.

The hotel later changed its name to the Umhlanga
Rocks Hotel and progress continued with the 1931
development of Wave Crest which is the present day
Umhlanga Sands and the Durban View Hotel which
is today the Malindi.

As recently as 1960 Umhlanga Rocks was a small,
secluded enclave providing shelter to monkeys,
loeries and snakes.

Not much has changed mused the Colonel as he
considered the shady people of the sunny village.

By God, Rosy blustered the Colonel surfacing from
his day-dream. Look at the time, Im bloody
starving see you at the Pickled Pork Chop and
in the blink of an eye he was gone.

Rosy continued her discussion with Kendall.

Whilst impatiently waiting for Rosy at his table in
the Pickled Pork Chop, the Colonel started recalling
the rest of his research notes from all those years
ago.

Many bridges had been built and replaced when
destroyed by floods. The most famous was the
Queens Bridge, which was opened in 1894. The
bridge did not last long as it washed away without
trace only three years later.
UMHLANGA ROCKS

The lighthouse was built in 1952 because of the
numerous times that ships mistook, to their
extreme cost, the Umgeni River Mouth for the
Durban Harbour.

The South African Railways and Harbours had sold
a large tract of land to the then owners of the Oyster
Box Hotel. They later sought permission to build a
lighthouse on this land. The Oyster Box refused to
give up any of the land and so the SAR&H was forced
to build the lighthouse on the beach. The lighthouse
was built in a staggering twenty four hours to
prevent the structure from cracking.

Since that time Umhlanga Rocks has been a
continuing story of progress, proliferation and
pulchritude.

As Rosy entered the Pickled Pork Chop the Colonel
blurted Rosy, where the hell have you been? I
have, in the meantime, nearly starved to death

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What do you feel like to eat? demanded the
Colonel.

Rosy pulled a face, rolled her eyes heavenwards
and muttered you order for me dear

Any further antagonism was avoided by the arrival,
quite co-incidentally, of the Mayor and Mayoress of
Umhlanga Rocks. This elegant couple of friends
were the pinnacle of good manners, good humour
and chic fashion. No one dared misbehave in their
company and the Colonel and Rosy sheepishly
sheathed their daggers for another day.

The Mayor was a demure, smiling darling who had
not a bad word to say about anyone and her
informal election to the nominal position of Mayor
was considered
mere formality
by the villagers.

Her clothes were
chic, jewellery
expensive, her
demeanour
friendly and as
Mayor she was a
whole bunch of
fun. Her friend,
the Mayoress, was equally well liked by the locals
and was well respected for her bravery in
undertaking lone ventures into the wild South
African bush-veld. When on official duty she
changed her hunting gear for the most elegant and
becoming outfits. These dignitaries commanded
much respect as they smilingly carried out their
mayoral duties.

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Will you be joining us for lunch, your honours?
intoned the Colonel expectantly.

Not today thank you very much Colonel. We are
here merely to arrange for an upcoming luncheon
for the Ladies Club said the affable mayor of
Umhlanga Rocks.

When the mayoral party had departed the Colonel
puffed Ladies Club indeed. More like a nest of
vipers, if you ask me.

Rosy have we ordered yet. Its getting late.

My good man, may we see
the menu? Tell me, have
you any specials today?
What was that thing that I
ordered last time? May I
have another Tom Collins?
Oh! and bring some more
ice

Rosy have you decided
what to eat yet, its getting
really late. How is your
drink darling? Are you
alright? Hurry, for I must leave soon.

Rumour mongers in the Village insisted that the
Colonel had once known Lewis Carroll.

Umhlanga Rocks is a growing sub-tropical village
washed by the warm Indian Ocean on the East
Coast of South Africa. The weather throughout the
year is sublime with cool summer rains interposed
with scorching days, blue skies, subtle waves and
balmy nights. The vegetation is lush, pretty, very
UMHLANGA ROCKS
colourful and green throughout the year giving this
wonderful place an air reminiscent of paradise.

Umhlanga Rocks is called the gateway to South
Africa and it is perfectly positioned for any leg of a
foreign visitors South African adventure. It's just a
ten-minute drive on the N2 (southbound) from King
Shaka Airport and is situated on the northern
beaches of KwaZulu-Natal, 16 kilometres from the
centre of Durban. From Umhlanga it's also an easy
three-hour drive north along the superb N2 toll road
to the many and
varied Zulu Kingdom
Game Reserves, or
still further north to
Swaziland and
Mozambique.
Alternatively, you
can go south on the
N2 to Port Shepstone and the holiday resort of
Margate and then onto the Wild Coast, or continue
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all of the way to the Cape Garden Route and
ultimately on to Cape Town. For those who want to
explore the mountains, head inland on the N3 to
the world heritage site of Ukhahlamba Drakensberg
Mountain Park and then onwards to
Johannesburg, Mpumalanga and the fabulous
Kruger National Park.

*************

There are two distinct populations in Umhlanga.
Visitors from inland South Africa, other African
countries and the rest of the world - and then you
have the locals.

The locals are a fascinating lot. They are made up
mainly of the Rand Lords, who own all of the
commercial property in the Village and the Rand
Barons, who converted their modest overseas
fortunes into the ailing local currency, at staggering
exchange multiples, to now enjoy the luxury life.
Included in this latter group is many a successful
local entrepreneur now enjoying the fruits of the
sale of his or her lucrative past business venture.
Others are up-country retirees who, having spent a
miserly lifetime bringing up families and investing
UMHLANGA ROCKS
wisely, now seek some sort of rest and pay-back in
their declining years. Ladies left wealthy by the
death of their long suffering husbands abound and
others, left wealthy by smart lawyers in divorce
proceedings, now seek younger company as
reparation.

And then you have the chancers who are drawn to
the bohemian sub-tropical lifestyle but cannot
really afford it.

Bohemia is historically a country of Central Europe
occupying the western two thirds of the old Czech
Lands. This is now the Czech Republic with its
capital in Prague. It once, long ago, spawned a
lifestyle of marginalized artists, writers, journalists,
musicians and actors who all enjoyed living an
unconventional lifestyle amongst like-minded
people. Free love, frugality and voluntary poverty
were the cornerstones.

The movement spread to nineteenth century Paris
and Mark Twain, Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, Oscar
Wilde, Henry Miller and F. Scott Fitzgerald all drew
inspiration for their now famous literary works
from this bohemian crucible of inspiration.

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Henry Murger also dipped into this crucible. In
writing the book La Boheme, later made into an
opera by Puccini and
still later into a movie
by Baz Luhrman,
Murger popularised
the bohemian lifestyle
in Paris that
ultimately earned two
academy awards for
the movie Moulin
Rouge.

With its plethora of
busy pavement cafs,
wine bars, coffee shops, informal restaurants,
holiday resorts, swanky new hotels, busy pubs,
energetic nightclubs, and exclusive fine- wining
and dining venues, Umhlanga Rocks was likely also
born out of the crucible of the bohemian genre, all
of this depicted so well and so vividly in Moulin
Rouge.
The modern, brightly lit, promenade along the
Umhlanga Rocks beach front, with its fabulous
beaches, water sports, surfing and boating, welds
the South African seaside and the Umhlanga
Village into a nineteenth century bohemian Paris.

Serious business and commerce is pass and has
been banished to the nearby suburbs of Umhlanga
Ridge and La Lucia some three kilometres away.
UMHLANGA ROCKS

Gambling, shopping and things to do on rainy days
have also been relegated to Sibaya down the road a
piece and to nearby Gateway.

The Village is reserved solely for La Boheme.

Sunny Place for Shady People
(Teddy Bears Picnic)

If you go down to the village today
Youre sure in for a big surprise
Youd better go in disguise.

For everyone thats usually there
Will gather there for certain, because
Today as usual is just another drinking day.

Everyone who is faulty or shady
Is sure of a drink today
There are lotsof marvellous things to eat
And people playing the games that people play.

Seated on bar stools and pub benches
Theyll hide & seek as long as they please
Cause thats the way the faulty ones spend their day.

Youd better not go alone
Its lovely down in the village today
But in Ambush Alley you will fall prey.

Drinking time for the faulty people
They are all having a lovely time today
Watch them, catch them unawares
And see them go about their shady affairs.

See them gaily fall about
They love to drink & eat & shout
They never have any care.

At pub closing time
They will stagger back home
Wherever home might be that night

Kendall
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Chapter 2 The Tribes.
________________________________________________________

In any society it is natural for the inhabitants to
seek out the company of others who enjoy the same
language, religious principles, cultural habits and
outlook on life. The tribes of the Village were no
different. Newcomers to the Village gravitated to the
tribe that best suited their own interests, persona,
aspirations and natures.

Rosy belonged to just such a grouping. She was
definitely of the glass half full variety and saw the
good in everything and everybody. She laughed and
giggled her way through each day. It was infectious.
Whilst in her company it was impossible to be sad,
even if you had that morning cut yourself severely
whist shaving. Her tribe included the vivacious
Kendall, the irrepressible Norma and the colourful
Thandi.
Norma was friendly,
bubbly and very sexy.
Estranged from her
husband, she impatiently
waited for word from the
courts which would once
more free her to be able to
express her wonderful
extravert temperament.
That temperament had
been supressed through too
many years of boring
marriage. She was euro-
centric, beautiful, cosmopolitan, fiery and fun.

Thandi was an exceptionally well off and well
groomed French-speaking lady from West Africa.
She too was chic and cosmopolitan and shuttled to
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and fro between Europe and Umhlanga as if it were
a daily commute. Thandi was forthright,
forthcoming, fiery and a lot of fun when anyone
could decipher her frigging French laden English.

The Girls Club met regularly to discuss their
agenda with hilarity, frivolity, bonhomie and
liberal sprinklings of the sparkling variety. This
group were responsible for the phenomenon - the
pop-up party. This unique custom entailed
unsuspecting tenants of the Village being
descended upon in their homes by the Girls Club
and followers. They would bring with them
delicious food, snacks, munchies, a truck load of
liquor and their favourite brand of good humour.
Many of the Villagers are today still suffering from
the after-effects of one of these infamous pop-up
parties.

The Ladies Club on the other hand was a more
sombre and elegant grouping where the members
met regularly to impress other members with the
latest fashion trinket or item of clothing. This was
also the cauldron where the reputations of the
Villagers were placed on the table, discussed in
hushed tones, examined and then medically
dissected or amputated. Many poor amputees still
roam the Village today.

When the Mayor and Mayoress presided over the
meetings of the Ladies Club, the agenda took on a
more friendly tone and then charities were
discussed, help that was needed for suffering
Villagers was debated and notice was given of up-
coming events of interest for members to attend.
Besides the mayoral dignitaries, membership of the
Ladies Cub included Kim, Lisa, Sarah, Maureen
and Jennifer.
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The third clan in the Village was affectionately
known as the Witches of Eastwick. Unlike the
Ladies Club this grouping were inelegant, sordid,
manner less and dangerous. They were much
younger than their more elegant counterparts and
were revellers of note. Their meetings were
infinitely longer, the agendas less demanding and
the after-meeting drinks party dominated the
minutes of their meetings. They were foul-mouthed,
totally undisciplined and uncouth. Any strangers to
the Umhlanga Village, falling unwittingly into their
cauldron, would slowly but surely have the life
boiled out of them. Their membership core
included Jocelyn, June and Alison.

Belonging neither to the Witches of Eastwick nor the
Ladies Club was Meg Ryan. This fun loving lady
was too young for the latter
and too refined for the
former and so she
gravitated between the two
clubs whenever she
ventured into the Village.
Jacques had once got a
little too friendly with Meg
and had received a severe
rap over the knuckles from
his friends. So, despite his
natural inclination, he now enjoyed Megs company
as a concerned friend and sometimes drinking
companion.

The boys of the Village were far too macho to group
into clubs. Instead they frequented two watering
holes which catered for specific interest groups.
The Fishing Rod was obviously where ski-boat
enthusiasts gathered to talk about their favourite
hobby drinking. And whilst supping happily on a
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cold one, they got to talking about their next
favourite preoccupation women. And when the
conversation dried up and embarrassing silences
crept in, they resorted to talking about angling,
deep sea fishing, ski-boats, tides and monstrous fish
that got away.

The other watering hole was the Lifebuoy. Here
enthusiasts gathered to talk about their favourite
pastime drinking. And when the conversation
dried up and embarrassing silences crept in, they
resorted to talking about their next favourite thing
women. When those topics were exhausted they
merely listened to the proprietors amazing feats of
endurance, bravery and fitness in the serious
business of lifesaving.

The Dragon Slayer was by far the biggest club in
Umhlanga. There was no restriction on club
membership other than having a voracious
appetite for beer and an unquenchable thirst.

Membership ranged from the Rand Barons, ex pats
and retirees to, in the evenings, the earring and
tattoo brigade. The Dragon Slayer was never
empty. Members sometimes spilled drinks, they
now and again spilled outside and into the road
and sometimes they spilled sprawlingly onto the
road. A prerequisite at this venue was the ability to
mime and lip-read as the noise levels there defied
conversation.

Smaller clubs existed and were made up of
individuals chastised and castigated by the
mainstream clubs in Umhlanga Rocks. The
Grumpy Old Men, for example, consisted of only two
members. They met regularly to discuss the days
misfortunes and how to get through sundowners
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and supper unscathed. Ryan and Jacques shared a
terrible secret. They had both once been loved,
affluent, popular and dynamic. They both aimed to
rise from their current impoverished state to once
more join mainstream society.

Another club which invited members of both sexes
was the Sports Lovers Club. This unique gathering
had no agenda, no minutes and in fact members
very rarely spoke to each other. Their main activity
was to gather in front of the largest and clearest
television set in the Village to watch endless hours of
international table tennis matches, provincial
bowls tournaments, toboggan races, league
badminton tourneys, lacrosse encounters and
steeple chase events.

And then you have the annual gathering of all of
the locals.

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Club Colours are left at home for one day in the year
when everyone celebrates the bohemia of the
Village together. Called the Umhlanga Summer
Festival all of the players in the Village pull out all
of the stops on this day.

The Summer Festival has gained traction over the
last couple of years and appears to be a staple on
the Villages calendar.
The KZN Surfing Association hosts the Summer Surf
Session, which pits top local surfers against each
other for the title of winner in the pro division; while
the amateur division is open to social surfers, so
even first timers can give it a go.
The Granada Square Carol Service gives vocal
expression to the festive time of year and is held for
everyones enjoyment with less fortunate citizens
benefitting from the proceeds.
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The now famous street party in Chartwell Drive
gives everyone the chance to participate in year-
end revelry and enjoy live music, fresh food and
street dancing.

Behind the festive masks the locals lose their
identity and inhibition, as if they had those things
in the first place.

On this day the pop-up party girls were in full cry
with Thandi, balancing on Everest high heels,
wearing a West African Death Mask and twisting in
some Hutu gyration that had other dancers gasping.

Rosy lost her shyness behind a mask, reminiscent of
a seventeenth century Venetian Arlechino, and
jived and boogied vibrantly in cognito all night.

Kendall wowed with a seductive ensemble of dance
that saw all of her essential body parts moving
tantalisingly in different directions. This show had
drawn a large crowd of panting men, resembling
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werewolves, who stood
drunkenly applauding
and cheering the super
stars every move.

Jacques wobbled
around rhythmically to
the music, at times
dancing with the ladies and, at yet other times,
dancing completely on his own. His strange East
Pakistani style of dance
often resembled a clumsy
initiate painfully
attempting to perform the
Polynesian firewalk ritual.

Ryan went to that place in
his head which imagined
low candle lighting, subtle
mood music, sweet
nothings whispered, bold
cleavages and taut
buttocks, as he romanced
with his eyes closed around
Chartwell Drive.

The Colonels spectacles threatened to fly off of his
face and presented a potential hazard to innocent
by-standers as he jived uncontrollably with Rosy
who just jiggled and giggled.

Norma wore a Venetian Moretta mask but would
have been better advised to wear a Roman
breastplate because her ample chest threatened, at
times, to get out of control as she performed her now
famous strut and wiggle down Chartwell Drive.

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The mayor and mayoress performed an elegant
waltz in a refined and dignified manner while some
of the Witches of Eastwick stumbled around
grabbing onto each other in a theatrical version of a
Sharks loose scrum.

*********************

The following days debriefing occurred at Larrys
Linguini where drunken recalls were woven
together to form a complete quilt of the previous
nights frivolity, mayhem and fun. The festival
would be remembered for a very long time but the
following day not so much. The mood of the next
day was sombre revolving more around Garonsans,
Disprins, water-bottles and sleep. So the Linguini
encore flared briefly spluttered and then quietly
went out.

Hey Ryan said Jacques what do you say we get a
pizza, buy a bottle and do a bit of networking.

Sounds more like trawling to me mumbled Ryan.

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Call it what you like, its better than watching the
paint dry on this wall said Jacques.

Oh, whatever said the unenthusiastic Ryan.

The two rose slowly, slung their bags over their
shoulders and headed down Ambush Alley
ponderously in search of a liquor store, a pizzeria
and a means to resuscitate their flagging hopes for
yet another day in the bohemian village.

Chapter 3 The Players
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My name is Tony. I lead a simple life. The Villagers
give me odd jobs and I do them well. I can feed and
clothe myself and I pay my helper too. I am very
well known in the Village and the people there are
kind to me. God looks after me as well and every
Sunday I go to church to thank him for his
blessings. I do not drink or smoke or have a
girlfriend but hope one day that I will find someone
who likes me.

I have been in the Village all my life and know
everyone and everyone knows me. That makes me
very happy. They all greet me and sometimes give
me things. This also makes me happy but, after I
thank them, they dont see me anymore. I think
that I become invisible. I like that because I can
watch them and watch what they are doing and no
one minds at all. My friend types all my stories
down in his computer so that we do not forget any of
them. He says that he is better at English than me
but I dont think that he is.

Tony watched as Ryan and Jacques dragged
themselves through the Village this night.

Have you got fags Jacques asked Ryan

Jeez, why dont you just move in, it would be
cheaper whined Jacques.

I have moved in you clown. Have you not noticed
said Ryan.

Here, knock yourself out said Jacques offering the
crumpled pack.

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Where did you get these anyway? You told me you
were broke accused Ryan.

The Colonel bunged me a few bucks defended
Jacques.

Man that is one kind dude. He has helped me that
many times that I cant remember them all. When
I am out of all my shit I will repay his kindness said
Ryan quieter now and more respectful.

Absolutely right, me too said Jacques joining into
the sombre moment he has heart of gold.

You know that, as a friend, he has never let me
down or even given me a bum steer in fifteen years.
He is a handful but he is a genuine mensch said
Ryan

Jacques nodded sagely and was silent because he
was sure that he had detected a watery glint in the
big mans eyes.

Jacques put his hand on Ryans shoulder, patted it
a few times and the two continued to stagger up
Ambush Alley. The busy thoroughfare between the
vibrant restaurants was a crescendo of giggles,
guffaws, screeches and quaffing noises.

Tony crept from his place in the shadows and went
in the opposite direction.

************

The following day was a scorcher and it was
Saturday. By seven in the morning the early
shoppers were fighting the heat as evidenced by
their shimmering brows. Make-up ran, hair grew
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frizzy and armpits were an embarrassment. Food
however was a priority this morning and the aisles
were a hive of sweaty activity. Norma, Ryan and
Jacques, sitting at Jochens Java, were having their
first coffees of the morning whilst nursing throbbing
heads. Ryan and Jacques were admonishing
Norma for the disappearing act she had pulled the
night before.

Just tell us where you are going grouched Ryan

And do not drive when you are pissed admonished
Jacques

This brotherly affection and concern for Normas
safety stemmed from both of them being secretly in
love with the blonde bombshell. Both had been
unable to make an impression on her. The reason
was their hopeless financial positions they each
privately told their over-developed macho egos.
Nonetheless, they enjoyed Normas company
immensely and the three were often seen as good
friends teasing and laughing together.

This morning the trio
were only able to
grimace and wave at
the passing parade
from behind seriously
dark glasses.

Cuan also had on
heavy shades as he
slowly fumbled his way
to the nearest watering hole. He was the most fun-
loving of the Rand Barons and resembled Dudley
Moore from the movie Arthur.
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At parties in the Village he was outrageous, life and
soul of the proceedings and was followed by hilarity
wherever he went. The discernible difference was
that Cuan was far more mischievous and naughty
than the fictional young Arthur could ever be.

Gooday all beamed the affable Cuan Cannot
dawdle, must recover, places to go, people to see.
Clock you all and for the moment he was gone.

Swimming not drinking demanded the gorgeous
Norma and the trio of friends rose painstakingly
from their table and headed towards the beach.

Tony slipped silently from his watch at Peters Prego
and went on his way. He did not like swimming.

Willy was an aging hippy. His long grey stresses and
beard made him resemble the singer Willy Nelson
and hence earned him his nickname.

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Nobody actually remembered his real name but all
enjoyed his music.

Willy was humming the latest country and western
number to himself as he busily packed his gear into
his also aged Kombi. Willy was singer, guitar and
keyboard player, road manager, sound engineer
and the accountant extraordinaire for his solo act
The Ageless Wonder. So lonely was this job that the
minute Willy saw
any of his friends,
he would blurt out
details of all of the
defects on the
Kombi, the cost of
its upkeep, the
number of gigs he
had recently
garnered while
giving a detailed
account of all the
people that had pissed him off in his lonely pursuit.

As a musical act he was superb. He usually began
with a slow and quiet set, then stepped it up in the
second with a foot-tapping medley of evergreens
from the seventies and then finally he relapsed into
an orgiastic, gyrating crescendo of wild,
unstoppable, soul jerking and eye-glazing numbers
of the hard rock genre that added several years to
the effervescent Willys already long tooth.

Tonight he was playing at his favourite music venue
Larrys Linguini.

He knew many of the locals who frequented Larrys
and he felt at home there. The managers and
owners of Larrys, Robyn and Daniel, treated him
UMHLANGA ROCKS
well, bought him drinks and made sure that he
had enough post toasties. The invariably inebriated
crowd sang and hooted along and, if Willy missed a
cord or sang the wrong note, nobody noticed.

As Willy said his good evenings through the
microphone he noticed that the Ladies Club, Girls
Club, Witches of Eastwick, Grumpy Old Men and
Sports Lovers Clubs, as well as several locals from
the Dragon Slayer, Fishing Rod and Lifebuoy Clubs
had shuffled in. It was a full house!

Norma did her normal sexy strut and wiggle up and
down Ambush Alley at times appearing more
undressed than dressed. This caused several older
locals to clutch desperately at their heaving chests.

Jacques did a poor imitation of the Comrades
runner Loop n Val Motshwarteu trying to keep up
with Norma and Ryan did a soft shoe shuffle
normally reserved for admiring breasts in dim light
at close quarters in seedy nightclubs.

Cuan was impressive as he performed a pole dance
using his knitted boa-constrictor as a stage-prop
and the Colonel showed traces of his misspent
London youth by jiving dizzyingly with Rosy.

Kendall oozed sex appeal as she drifted back and
forth to some exotic beat in her head and, not to be
outdone, the members of the Witches of Eastwick
performed a stumbling group hip-hop on the
tables.

All the while Willy went to a rock n place in his
head which caused his eyes to mist over, grow
murky, distant and myopic.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
The locals loved letting it all hang out with their
fellow locals on these wild and balmy nights.

Tony watched the drunken sance from the
seclusion of the next door Tung Thaid restaurant
and then seamlessly welded into the dark.

****************

The sun drifted like a red balloon higher into the
next day and again it promised to be a scorcher.
Gary cleared his foggy head with two Disprins and a
gargle of mouthwash.

He was meeting Sally for breakfast and must not be
late. He jumped into the safari suit with his name
emblazoned above the zebra
skin logo, grabbed his keys and
slammed out of his tiny flat. Sally
was already waiting at a table at
Jochens Java. She looked
radiant. Although no longer a
spring chicken, she had
maintained a flawless face and
slim body which made her the
favourite model of several
advertising companies. She was
typecast by these agencies as the
ageless mom, the favourite sister or the pretty wife.
She came from upper class breeding in nearby
Zululand where her father was a sporting legend
and medical guru. She presented a pretty and
refined juxtaposition to the noisy, brash and fun-
loving Gary.
Gary had been an executive in the insurance
industry, had brought up four lovely daughters,
had gone through a divorce and now supplemented
his retirement funds by using his knowledge of
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South Africas turbulent history and wonderful
proliferation of fauna and flora. He was the host
and guide to foreign visitors keen to see nearby
game reserves, historical sites and local places of
cultural interest. And he was pretty good at it.

Hey Jacques, come sit shouted Gary.

Hello guys, whats up, all good? said Jacques
choosing not to sit.

Yes great. I have a safari this morning to a game
reserve and Sallys got a photo shoot. Will you be in
the Village tonight? enquired the bustling
Gary.

Sure lets hook up at Larrys later said Jacques as
he departed and left the two lovers to their coffees.

Tony watched the interaction from the nearby
Pedros Cantina.

*******************
Meanwhile Jacques was on his way on foot to see a
mysterious newcomer to the village. He had spoken
to her only a few times in the last few weeks but had
nevertheless managed to get her to agree to have
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coffee with him. As Jacques had already been
rejected by some of the available talent in the
Village, he was keen to keep this latest liaison under
wraps. He hastened to a distant coffee shop that the
locals seldom frequented.

Jacques was very aware of the disparity in their
ages and knew that this could pose a problem down
the line. However, this did not seem to bother his
stunning girl-nextdoor coffee guest in agreeing to
meet this morning. He, with the festering
trepidation of a pimply sixteen year old, pressed
cautiously forward to meet with the lovely Linda.

He had learned that she had grown up in a very
strict Afrikaans family and was, as a result,
courteous, religious,
had extremely good
manners, was very
respectful and was ly
oblivious of her
astounding good
looks.

Her flawless English
gave no clue of her
Afrikaans ancestry
and whilst the
flowing blonde hair,
cautious white smile
and sparkling green
eyes had attracted
Jacques initially, it
was her calm nature, assured manner, cheerful
disposition and cute body that he was anxious to
explore.

She was waiting.
UMHLANGA ROCKS

Jacquess heart lurched in his aging chest as he
croaked morning Linda, good to see you again.

She rose with that easy and winning smile and gave
the trembling Jacques a soft hug.

Jacques would have died a happy man if he passed
on at that very moment.

Tony watched from the nearby Pink Prawn
restaurant and smiled benignly.

Jacques sipped his coffee while Linda told him how
excited she was to be living in Umhlanga. She had
graduated from Stellenbosch University and had
joined a major bank almost fifteen years before.
Since that time she had progressed to a senior post
on the marketing side of the bank and when the
recent Umhlanga opportunity was advertised, she
jumped at it. She was recovering from a break up
with her long term boy fiend and needed to get out
of Cape Town.

Jacques, will you show me some of the sights in
Umhlanga. I am so keen to get to know this
wonderful place.

Jacques pushed aside his cup, stood up, held out
his hand and said Alright, lets begin with the
name. Ill show you where the beautiful place got its
name.

Hand in hand they headed towards the beach.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
A short distance down the beach, Jacques pointed
to a silted lagoon fed by a river that meandered
under the road bridge and seemed then to
disappear amongst the profusion of reeds further
inland. This is the Ohlanga River he explained it
is the Zulu word for place of the reeds. The word
Umhlanga refers to a colourful and symbolic dance
which is performed
annually by the regions
Zulu Maidens. This dance
is known as the reed
dance.

The Ohlanga River forms
part of the 26 hectare
Umhlanga Lagoon Nature
Reserve and includes the
coastal dune forest system known as the Hawaan
Forest.

Can we actually go into the forest? asked Linda
excitedly.

Sure, keep your eyes peeled for vervet monkeys
and I believe there are bushbuck and duiker too
but I have never
once actually seen
them. The two
stooped and bent
between the old
gnarled trees and
low canopies that
proliferated on
the sandy dunes.
They weaved for
some time on the
man-made foot
path between the lush and tangled vegetation. All
UMHLANGA ROCKS
the while the monotonous roar of the ocean could
be heard.

After a short time the two new friends emerged
from the damp and dappled tunnel-sauna of
colourful sub-tropical jungle into the blazing
sunshine and onto a pristine white beach. The
constant roar of the azure Indian Ocean crashing
against the rocks grew louder and they smelled the
saltiness of the spewing white breakers as they
surged toward the shore.

That was cool said Linda flashing that shy smile at
Jacques and showing him excited green eyes.

Jacques could not help himself and he bent slowly
and kissed Linda softly on the lips. She did not resist
and gently returned the kiss. There was a spark
and the two stood mesmerised for an eternity.

Returning from that hypnotic place Jacques tugged
Lindas hand gently and set off up the beach. Let
me show you the Lifebuoy Club. We can watch the
ocean from the balcony while we have lunch and
something cold to drink.

Tony got to the Club first out of breath and panting.
He was pleased for Jacques but could not wait to get
his friend to write down all of the mornings events.

********************

Ryan and Kendall sat chatting at Larrys Linguini.
She looked stunning as usual and Ryan was
drooling all over her. Her short mini showed her
long, slim, tanned, athletic legs and the halter top
left her swimmers shoulders bare. She was the
pinnacle of good health and beauty and Ryan was
UMHLANGA ROCKS
finding it difficult not to stare. Eventually, he
dragged on his dark shades which allowed him to
admire her amazing
arrangement of traits
beauteous maximus
more discretely. It did
not, however, stop any
of the drooling and he
had constantly to dab
his wet lips with a
serviette.

Ryan was grinning a lot and Kendall was giggling a
lot but this liaison was never going to happen. The
two had on several occasions in the past attempted
to hook up but each time the spark had spluttered,
flared but failed to ignite into a fire. So, they were
now reduced to mutual admiration, platonic
friendship without benefits, a whole bunch of
sweaty imaginings and some drooling.

Enter the Dragon, stage left.
Ray was a stalwart local in
the Village and also had
had several attempts at
attracting the luscious
Kendall. Also to no avail
and the two now professed
to be just friends with no
medical aid and no pension
scheme.
The two Alpha males
bristled, circled each other,
showed the sharpness of
their teeth and then
obediently sat down opposite Kendall. She should
have been a lion tamer.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Ray was showing the afternoon effects of an old
brown sherry and biscuit breakfast and smiled
inanely even at the sad stories. He complained his
usual complaint which was Jeez, Im pissed as if
he was an innocent by-stander at this unhappy
event. Waiter, please bring me a white wine and
ice. Is anyone else having? he asked the two heads
opposite him that were shaking vigorously from side
to side.

Ok, be like that, see if I care

The injection of white wine ignited his usual chat-
up-the-bird routine.

So, my darling Kendall said Ray when are we
doing that nude swimming thing again? I have
been practising, you know. I suppose marriage is
out of the question. Why dont we just have kids like
everyone else? Is it my breath? Ill change for you, I
promise he slurred endlessly along.

Finally Oh well, I will just have to die unhappy.

Nimporte quoi giggled Kendall because she had
heard it all before.

Ray was quite a successful businessman and he
owned property in the village, drove a fancy car
and had a string of girlfriends whose actual names
he battled to remember in the morning. He slept far
too much, golfed badly and regularly, lunched for
far too long, attended sundowners that lasted all
night but somehow he still managed to earn a very
good living.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
He had once tried to live in the same digs as Ryan
and Jacques but that just ended up in tussles as to
whose girlfriend actually was interested in whom.

So Ray had moved on.

Just then the Rand Baron Cuan strode up Ambush
Alley and, seeing many of the Village locals huddled
protectively over their sundowners, did a military
eyes right and right wheel into Larrys Linguini. His
habit was to kiss all of the
ladies first and this took
ages.

When he finally arrived at
Kendalls table he grinned
Saved the best for last. Then straightening his non-
existent tie, slicking his unruly mop and his
eyebrows and practising a few messy French kisses,
he hoarily went after Kendall. Giggling she covered
her beautiful face with her long black hair and
attempted to climb under the table.

Stranded yet again at the altar, boys complained
Cuan as the entertainment for the afternoon drew
polite applause and the curtain came down for
intermission.

Right hands shot into the air from several different
parts of the restaurant and, from this practised
gathering, emanated a deafening choral chant.

Waiter, another round, pleeease!!!.

Good news is just to hand chirped Cuan. Mother
Hen has informed me that drinks are the order of
the day at our home pub on the twenty third, at six.
Im in charge of invitations. Mother Hen was
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Cuans long suffering better half
who, whilst putting up with his
spirited antics, had built up a
fine reputation as a community
spirited individual in the Village.
She was liked, kind, caring and
smart. The fact that she was also
beautiful and sexy rounded off a
woman to be taken seriously.

Cuan got to Kendalls table he
said stoutly to the guys You and you are not on the
list. Smiling like a naughty schoolboy he said to
Kendall you, my dear, will of course be there as my
special guest but dont let her ladyship suspect
anything. She has got me on a very short leash at
the moment.

You will all hear about the party in upcoming
dispatches and he was gone before his wave of
farewell had time to sink in.

**************

The Colonel thumped his mail, magazines,
newspapers and books noisily onto the bar counter.
Bloody hell man, the service in this place is non-
existent.

Waiter can you please make me a Tom Collins.

The customer with the crimson eyes, slumped in his
usual corner, lifted his head just long enough to say
That is not a waiter, its the fridge mechanic
before returning to Neverland.

Bloody hell, never mind. Mr Mechanic, do you
perhaps know how to pour a Tom Collins. I have my
UMHLANGA ROCKS
own soda here. Its in a three gallon drum in the
meat fridge

I dont know why I even come here. A person cant
seem to get good help anywhere these days what
with bloody Pakistanis and Taliban everywhere.

Rosy, where are you. Im getting hungry. Shall we
lunch at the Sizzling Steak? Im already here.
Shall I keep a table, its filling up fast. I will order
you a drink, what will you have? Rosy! Are you
there?

The Colonel cussed and slammed the counter
because his aged cell phone had once again lost its
signal. Bloody Chinese rubbish, whats happening
to the discipline in the Empire?

****************
Across the other side of the Village Gary clasped
both of Sallys hands in his large mittens and said
intensely Sally, I would like to make an honest
woman out of you

But I am not dishonest, Gary she fluttered through
long dark lashes.

I..errknow that Salwhat I ..err. mean is

What do you mean, Gary? said Sally smilingly as
she enjoyed Garys fumbles.

I want to take care of you said Gary bolder.

But you do already Gary and I really appreciate it

Goddam it woman, I want you to move in with me
blustered the now red-faced Gary
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Oh that. Well why didnt you just say that in the
first place said Sally using those fluttering lashes
again.

Waiter, bring me my bill roared Gary

So Sally, what is your answer?

Sir, you have asked for the same bill three times
already interjected the waiter. Would you perhaps
prefer us to post a monthly statement or send you a
sms?

Of course Gary that would be very nice grinned
Sally and yet another match was made in heaven.

*******************

Yo-Yos on the Umhlanga beachfront was yet
another place for Fun. To the usual sance of
drinking and dancing was
added the additional vice of
singing. For many years now
Yo-Yos had featured the
outstanding talents of the
ageless Slider March. An
outstanding musician
himself, having been a
legend on the South African
music scene since Jim
Reeves was popular; he now
chose to run a Karaoke
Evening.

Locals lost their shyness,
inhibitions and dignity by the third cold one had
submerged and they then happily participated in
the fun of Karaoke. Those locals unable to see
UMHLANGA ROCKS
themselves as budding rocks stars, despite
enhancing libation, simply boogied, lap danced
and shimmied enthusiastically around the Yo-Yos
dance floor whilst their mates giggled at the vain
local singers reliving their youth.

Once in a while, when Slider had had enough
toneless flat note yodelling from the locals, he
would, dimming the lights, adjusting his stove-pipe
pants and singing perfectly over the top of the
microphone, deliver gut wrenching, tuneful, note
perfect renditions of songs no longer remembered
by the younger locals.

Jacques recalled that on one particular Sunday the
Grumpy Old Men, Girls Club and some of Ryans
family attended. After Ryan had done his slow
shuffle examination of several young ladies chest
assets, he asked Slider if his daughter could
possibly sing. Slider rolled his eyes, looked at his
watch, sighed and gave Ryan a lop-sided, seventy
year old smile. Ok, if she must.

That night Yo Yos became famous. Ryans
daughter Candy put Slider into a bad spin as she
warbled the latest hits in a voice borrowed from an
angel. The dancers came out as one, the crowd
provided background harmony and the bohemians
left their drinks to gyrate around uncontrollably on
the floor. Slider lost control of the venue that he had
commanded for twenty years.

Bohemia extended that night to Yo Yos and Slider
could only watch as the younger generation took
over.

********************

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Luigi had previously flown freight charters around
Africa in this continents turbulent post-colonial
era. When puppet regimes flourished and
kleptocrats slimed into the gap left by the departing
pirates of Europe, Luigi had flourished.

The departure of former military regimes that had
enforced the colonial pillage of the continent meant
that the remaining defences, rules, authority and
discipline went out of the window. This left a huge
gap in international borders, allowing skilled pilots,
like Luigi, to fly into countries under the radar, so to
speak. Manifestos, bills of lading, import permits
and letters of credit were colonial terms for resource
control and therefore, in the new kleptocratic era,
they simply did not exist. Meet me under the bridge
at midnight and bring cash.

Luigi was a brilliant pilot and was able to get under
several of these bridges well before midnight.

When the kleptocrats were overthrown one by one
and some semblance of political and economic
stability returned to the continent, Luigi retired
gracefully.

He opened his own restaurant called, strangely
enough, Luigis and settled for a more stable and
honourable life. Or so he thought.

The restaurant game in the Village is akin to the
casino game in Las Vegas.

A handful of Rand Lords preside over all of the
buildings in Umhlanga Rocks that housed
restaurants. And in the very small precinct of the
Village there were sixty nine such restaurants.
Leases were therefore loaded substantially in
UMHLANGA ROCKS
favour of the house and many unsuspecting
restaurateurs were blown out of the water before
the ink on the leases had time to dry. Luigi was an
unfortunate victim of this cartel and he lost a fair
chunk of his fortune.

Luigis was sold and now Robyn and Daniel fought
daily with the Rand Lords while Luigi stewed in the
renamed Larrys Linguini over copious amounts of
Bicardi.

One bright spot in his life was Kim. This bubbly lady
laughed, chortled and smiled at the drop of a hat
and made the stewing Luigi just a little happier.
She seemed never to be in a bad mood and was the
complete antithesis of the stern Luigi. She
sometimes dined with the Ladies Club members
but was by no means a regular, preferring to spend
her time drinking with friends with whom she could
have a giggle and a laugh. And then she sometimes
she just simply danced on tables to express her
deep love of life.

*************************

Jacques still had not introduced Linda to his
friends. She had not pressed him but he knew that
he was going to have to do it soon. So, for the
moment, they frequented the Ale House in La
Lucia.

On one of these afternoons Jacques and Linda were
having an early supper there when they noticed
Juanita sitting in her car in the restaurants
parking lot. Juanita was well known in the Village
having worked at various outlets. She was fairly
attractive, must have spent fortunes on clothes,
UMHLANGA ROCKS
make-up and surgery and did not see the loving
couple at supper.
A short while later an acquaintance pulled into the
car park. His arrival was not a surprise as these two
were often seen together. After a short exchange the
acquaintance drove off leaving the buxom Juanita
still patiently seated in her car.

Jacques and Linda continued their intimate
supper.

The arrival of a sports convertible, driven by a
stunning blonde in a short skirt, drew the pairs
attention. She had hair
flowing to her
shoulders, long legs and
high heels. They both
noticed the Gauteng
number plates. She
wiggled over to
Juanitas car and the
tinted drivers window slowly lowered. There was a
brief exchange and, in a blur, the long-legged
picture blonde pirouetted on her spiked heels and
returned to her vehicle. In a flash of thighs, flying
blonde hair, smoking tyre rubber and ruby brake
lights, the modified coupe screeched out of the
parking lot.

Drugs said Jacques to his gorgeous dinner
companion.

Jacques did not tell Linda that he had seen Tony
also watching the exchange from deep in the
surrounding bushes?

*******************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Mayor and Mayoress, your honours, I would like to
introduce you to my new friend Linda. The elegant
couple affectionately grasped Lindas outstretched
hand in both of theirs, held the greeting and
smilingly began to tell Linda about all of Jacquess
bad points.

Whilst the three slowly sipped wine, chatted and
laughed, Jacques tried not to look like a spare tyre
on a motor cycle.

We must do this again Linda, it was so much fun.
Try to keep Jacques on track

Then with regal waves, nodding heads and mayoral
smiles they were gone.

*****************

Jacques did eventually manage to introduce Linda
to the rest of his friends and managed also to
endure all of the disreputable things that they said
about him. Jacques just had to absorb it all with a
nod and a weary smile.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Chapter 4 The Attraction

Linda was like a breath of fresh air. Sometimes girl,
sometimes woman, always positive, always smiling,
often cute and always considerate. Seldom selfish,
very practical, extremely curious and forever
willing to try new
things. She could be
serious, thoughtful,
frivolous and fun all
in the space of a day.

Jacques rejoiced in
her happy, novel and
youthful approach to
everything and the
renewed energy that
she brought to him. He thanked his maker daily for
sending him this charming angel at such a late
stage in his life. Jacques felt her pain. He too had
been disappointed in previous long term
relationships in his life. For the first time in years he
once more became caring, loving, kind, proactive
and he looked forward to each day that he spent
with this lovely lady. She was a world of fun.

He drank less, his work ethic returned, he lost
weight, he lost his degenerate beach bum look and
he started resembling the retired executive that
had come to Umhlanga all those years ago. Linda
noticed and she encouraged him.

His income as a result started to sky-rocket.

They found that they shared many interests and
delighted in sharing these varying pursuits. They
wined and dined and danced their way through
UMHLANGA ROCKS
all of the many restaurants in the Village. They did
research together in the library, attended live
shows and concerts,
read interesting books
and regularly went to
the beach for picnics.
Health improved, tans
got deeper, respect
grew, spirits soared,
they both became
fitter and each day
they grew closer to
each other. As a
consequenceof all of these things, their new love for
each other grew in leaps and bounds.

She had told him that she could not have children
and rather than drag that cross around with her,
she delighted in making a fuss instead of Jacquess
grandchildren.

One morning, out of the blue, she hooked a hand
behind Jacquess head, drew him into the orbit of
those limpid green eyes and whispered I totally get
you.

Jacques showed Linda
all that the sub-tropical
paradise of Umhlanga
Rocks had to offer. They
explored the seascapes,
enjoyed the amazing
sunrises and sunsets,
sheltered from tropical
storms and spent idle
times learning about each other over endless cups
of cappuccino or glasses of cold chardonnay at the
exclusive Dreamers restaurant.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
They devoured fresh imported oysters harvested
and shipped in from the West Coast of Namibia,
grilled crayfish from the Western Cape, scampi
from Maputo and healthy green salads from
Tongaat.

On special occasions, they sipped slow glasses of cold
Veuve Clicquot enraptured with one another.

At these times she was like a child at the circus for
the first time eager, excited, impressed and wide-
eyed. She babbled
incessantly, sometimes
pointed excitedly,
often covered her mouth
in awe and giggled at
times. Those gorgeous
green eyes twinkled and
darted from one thing to
another and, every now
and then, when they
fixed on Jacques, she would wrinkle her nose, smile
knowingly and squeeze his hand tightly.

At the end of a long day
of excitement she would
lean her head against
his shoulder and walk
barefoot along the
beach. Sometimes they
took wine and, as the
sun sank in a sleepy
crimson glow below the
horizon, they would cuddle and kiss lovingly in its
afterglow.

Lazing on the terrace at the Lobster Box on one of
these glorious sunset afternoons, overlooking the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
calm azure sea, Linda had told Jacques about her
long term relationship with Clive in Cape Town
the good times, the bad times and the stormy
break-up. Clive wanted to have kids and, even
though he knew about her condition at the
beginning of their relationship, when push came to
shove, he admitted to Linda that he was going to
find someone who could give him heirs.

She was devastated!

She felt betrayed and could not understand why
Clive had let her invest so much of her life in a
relationship which could never succeed.

She had cried quietly as
she spoke and, when she
had finished her story,
Jacques circled around
to her side of the table,
wrapped his arms
around her from
behind, rocked her
gently from side to side
and held her tightly for a very long time.

Jacques could see that she was not yet over it and
he resolved to replace that terrible experience with
a whole lot of fun memories.

***********

Jacques said Baby, I have a surprise for you. Ive
booked for a romantic supper at the Heavenly
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Bills Hotel to celebrate your birthday in style. Its a
package deal which includes for madam, a sauna,
massage therapy, nails and hair followed by a
fancy supper. Champagne and Sushi breakfast
follows the next morning.

The couple had not yet slept together and Jacques
had no idea how Linda was going to take this
arrangement. So he had just plunged right ahead.

Linda lit up, grinned and said Great babe, its
about time.
that I bought a new
nightgown. I definitely
cannot go five-star in
tatty flannel. Ill buy
one to-day.

She grinned once more
and watched Jacques
intently with those laughing green eyes. The
sheepish Jacques was decidedly uncomfortable at
his very amateurish invitation to advance the
relationship.

Goodbye Baby said Jacques as he nuzzled her
neck. See you at the Heavenly Bills Cocktail Lounge
at six. Enjoy your pampering today

UMHLANGA ROCKS
You are very special to me, Jacques whispered
Linda as they parted.

*************

Jacques sat at the Cocktail Bar at the Heavenly Bills
Hotel uncomfortable in his dark suit which he hand
not worn in ages. As he
watched the sun fade on
the Lighthouse he
fiddled with the iced
Mojito in front of him
wondering why he had
ordered it. He wondered
also if he had done the
right thing by buying a
free spirit like Linda, a
pretty necklace and he stressed that the orchid he
had bought was too far over the top.

Then she was there.

She was waving from the entrance to the bar. She
was a vision in a long black strapless pencil-dress
that was cut low enough to reveal the tops of her
tanned pert breasts. Her long blonde stresses had
been piled up by her hairdresser onto her head and
wisps trailed down her neck and forehead. She
looked mature, sophisticated, tanned and
stunning.

Jacques nearly spilled his Mojitos as he clambered
to his feet and crossed the floor from the bar to meet
her. He spread his arms wide to embrace her and
when he held her at arms length, he said Linda,
you are not from this planet.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
She held him tightly and said Oh yes I am and I
belong to you.

He held her face between his hands gently, looked
deeply into those dancing green eyes, kissed her
carefully on her perfect mouth and said And I am
over the moon that you do.

They dined on love and bubbly.

After coffee and liqueurs, Linda stretched and said
that she was ready to retire. The couple departed
from the restaurant to the lift in each others arms.

Tony wandered into the lobby from his vantage
point on the veranda. Gee, they are so lucky he
murmured I wonder if that will ever happen to
me?.

Jacques was sitting on the bed undoing his tie when
she appeared from the bathroom. The short
kimono that she had bought
ended mid-thigh and showed off
her magnificent slim, tanned
legs. Jacquess mouth went dry
and his hands froze on the pesky
knot in his tie.

Her eyes were ablaze as she
reached up to her shoulders
and, in a murmur of silk, the
kimono slithered down her body
and onto the carpet. She was
tanned all over and her pert breasts were thrust
forward arrogantly. Her nipples were dark and
rigid. Her flat tummy led to a vortex of fine blonde
hair that barely concealed delicate pink lips.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jacques sucked in air as she slowly moved towards
him. Having trouble with that tie there mister she
said in a theatrical drawl let me fix it for you As
she drew close Jacques smelt the heady mixture of
lavender and rampant woman. Still sitting, he
embraced her around the waist and drifted gentle
hands down her spine and onto her smooth
buttocks. He heard her sigh.

Jacques drew her toward him and then carefully
twisted her onto the bed under him. He kissed her
open mouth and suckled her tongue while he
scrambled out of his suit.

Her eyes were closed and her breath came in erratic
pants as Jacques trailed feather fingers across her
taut breasts, down her tanned stomach and
between her parted thighs. When he felt the pulpy
lips of her sex become slick to his touch, he followed
the same route that his fingers had taken but now
with his nipping and laving lips.

He licked her inner thighs and puffy lips,
penetrated her with his tongue and lapped her
clitoris until it was prominent and dewy. Every time
he heard her rasping and moaning with
excitement, he slowly returned to kissing her
voluptuous mouth until she recovered her breath.
She murmured more than once I love you Jacques
and he returned the affection by holding her tighter
and whispering I love you too lovely lady.

When he sensed that she was close, Jacques moved
between her thighs, nestled his rigid penis between
her moist sex-lips and, sucking gently on her
darting tongue, he penetrated her slowly to the hilt.
He waited patiently for her initial gasp to subside
UMHLANGA ROCKS
before he began, with languid strokes, to firmly and
rhythmically consummate their love.

Orgasm arrived with an inaudible scream which
sent her, at first rigid and later quivering, to a
distant climactic ecstasy. Almost simultaneously
Jacques shuddered his release and he filled his
loved one completely.
They slept soundly in one
anothers arms until the
pastel morning sun crept
stealthily over the railing
on the balcony, past their
morning breakfast table
and into their luxury room
at the Heavenly Bills Hotel.

*******************

Ryan, old buddy, the time has come the walrus
said to talk of many things.. said Jacques

Whats on your mind you old fart. Want to borrow
my Viagra again

Piss off man, Im serious retorted Jacques. We
have been sharing this house for years now. It has
been fun but the time has come to move on said
Jacques seriously.

Oh! I suppose that you are going to move in with
that gorgeous chick of yours. About time. I was
starting to have these funny dreams about her

That is the reason, she has complained that you
are giving her weird looks lately teased Jacques.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Im cool with that and yes it has been fun. Actually
I have been putting off moving in with Andrea
because I thought that you would not get along
without me smiled Ryan I suppose a foursome is
out of the question?

Yeah right chuckled Jacques

*************************

Ryan threw a farewell Party for Jacques and
invited all of the usual suspects.

The lads from the Lifebouy Club were there, the
Girls Club pitched sans Norma, the Ladies Club
demurly attended, the Sports Lovers Club arrived
quaffing and immediately sought out the sports
channel.

Her honour the Mayor presided, giving the opening
speech and firing the gun to send the drinkers on
their way.

All of those invited attended and there was only one
gatecrasher. Willy, the predictable music for the
day, started things off with a bang. He somehow
mis-judged the turn in the driveway on arrival
and removed one of the huge gateposts.

Ryans family also attended and soon joined in the
bohomie of the Village People in party mode.

The usual two drink allowance saw polite
conversation, jovial greetings of distant friends,
chit-chat and orderly debate.

Once the tanks had been filled the noise level grew
appreciably, the chuckles became laughter
UMHLANGA ROCKS
outbursts, neckties were abandoned and some
started dancing around the pool. Predictably one
fully clothed show-off danced in the pool.

Willy went to that place in his head where there are
no gatepostses and he began to slide into a medley
of hard rock numbers that made his myopic eyes
water.

Beer sipping became beer quaffing then turned to
wine guzzling. Wine guzzling later turned to hard
stuff requiring mixers and finally the Jagermeisters
was scootered in from a neighbouring village.

The engines by then were at full throttle.

Couples became singles as disgruntled partners
departed home alone by taxi. Misty heads were
cleared by a dip in the freezing pool and early
starters to the party were seen dozing contentedly
on top of cooler boxes.

A daring attempt to destroy all of the basil in a
plant pot, by diving from the veranda, failed.

The neighbours were treated to a free rendition of
the Afrikaans Haka performed with gargoyle
immitations and grotesque tongue wagging, all at
ear perforating decibel levels.

Renditions of I Love A Rainy Night and Where Do
You Go To My Lovely, sung by a tipsy wedding
singer, were definitely distinguishable from the
original versions.

A disorderly debate saw the early departure of one
reveller who received a red card and two match
suspension.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Members of the Lifebouy Club were seen reviving
fallen members of the party by administering
mouth to mouth resuscitation and liberal dosages
of Jagermeister.

The parking lot resembled the dodgem cars at a
funfare as some of the part-goers seemed not to
know whether they were coming or going.

And when it was all over Ryan and Jacques sat
drunkenly with their barefeet in the pool and
watched as the blistering Umhlanga sun rose to
torment sleepless crimson eyes.

Thanks Ryan croaked Jacques its been a blast.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Chapter 5 The Underbelly

Tony was whistling to himself as he passed Jochens
Java. Suddenly a tanned arm reached out from the
doorway and Tony was yanked inside the
restaurant. With eyes bulging he was pushed onto a
chair and was confronted by the owner of the
tanned arm. Jacques, whaa..t..s up? stammered
Tony.

If its all the same to you, I will ask all the
questions..when my witness arrives. In a
while Ryan arrived and said to Tony in a scowling
voice So Tony, what have you been up to

I dont know whaat you mean RRyan?
stammered Tony.

Tony my boy, Jacques here tells me that you have
recently taken up spying far from home. You know
that nobody here in the Village gives a damn if you
spy because you are invisible. But spying up on the
Ridge or in La Lucia now that is another matter
altogether. Care to tell me about it?

No I cant. I promised said Tony

Ryan brought his face close to Tonys and spoke
really slowly. Tony, if you do not tell me who you
are working for in the next two minutes I am going
to see Father Bryce

No, not Father Bryce said Tony as he began to cry.

Its OK Tony, just tell Ryan here who is paying you

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Sniffling and wiping his nose on his sleeve Tony then
admitted.. The Police

Jacques and Ryan looked quizzically at each other.

Do you mean Detective de Villiers here in the
Village they asked together.

No, not him sobbed Tony David Mosenke

Jacques blew out and rubbed his head. Tony,
David Mosenke is not a policeman, he is an ANC
Collaborator. Jacques looked at Ryan and
thumbed for him to get Tony out of there. Ryan
shoved Tony out of the restaurant and pushed
twenty Rand into his hand.

When he returned Jacques said Jeez, Ryan I
thought he was giving the information to that guy
writing the book. What the hell does Mosenke want
with information about people in the Village. He
reports way up the tree to big hitters in the African
National Congress. You havent been sleeping with
any of Zumas wives have you?

Dont be stupid Jacques, shall we speak to de
Villiers? queried Ryan

I dont think so said Jacques frowning I dont
know whether he is sympathetic to the ANC or not

Well he should be they pay his bloody salary
grinned Ryan.

Perhaps we should speak to that mate of Daniels.
The guy that turns tall people into short people
suggested Jacques.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Well, set it up then. Ill come with you said Ryan
stroking his two day growth.

Shame poor Tony, he probably has no idea. Just
enjoys the money thought Jacques

***********

Cocaine is a purified extract from the leaves of the
Erythroxylum coca bush. This plant grows in the
Andes region of South America. Different chemical
processes produce two main forms of cocaine coke
which is snorted or injected and crack which may
be smoked. It is an
expensive way of
getting high and has a
mystique and an
unfortunate cult
following. Called the
caviar of street drugs,
cocaine is seen as the
status drug of many
movie stars, sports and political celebrities, fashion
models and stock market traders. Cocaine has
powerful negative effects on the heart, brain, and
emotions. Many cocaine users fall prey to addiction,
with long-term and life threatening consequences.
Even occasional users run the risk of sudden death.

In a euphoric place like the Village highs are made
even higher with the recreational use of cocaine.

Have you ever done coke asked Ryan seriously.

Too expensive for me replied Jacques once
smoked some dagga but Im not really a fanatic.
Have all of the other vices though.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
There is plenty of it going on in the Village and the
other day the cops bust a gang of drug-dealers right
here in Chartwell Drive informed Ryan.

I am not really surprised considering all of the
goofy things that happen in this place said
Jacques.

I battle to afford cigarettes. I wonder how the hell
these guys can afford that stuff pondered Ryan.
You are right. I sometimes wonder how any of us
can afford to drink said Jacques thoughtfully
Well stop pondering Professor Doolittle, I believe
that its your round
Remember that chick the other day in the
Sizzling Steak who literally fell asleep at the table
after only one drink. Everybody said that it looked
like the effects of Rohypnol said Jacques returning
with the drinks.
Isnt that what you use to pull chicks, old man
teased Ryan.
Even then he can only pull ugly ones chirped an
arbitrary barfly.
Go ugly early is his motto chirped arbitrary barfly
number two.
Lay off you guys Im serious. How many of you wise
guys have sisters? challenged Jacques.
The crickets stopped their chirping and the evening
grew quieter and more sober, if that were possible.

***********

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Rohypnol, more popularly known world-wide as
the "Date Rape Drug", holds a very serious threat
for users. It is a drug that is abused more and more
especially at teenagers house parties. Rohypnol's
most active ingredient, Flunitrazepam, is an
essential part of
the dangerous
Benzodiazepine
drug type which
is known world-
wide for its use in
various cases of
rape. This drug
was recently
reclassified as a
schedule 6 Drug
and can only be obtained from a registered
chemist on a written prescription from a medical
professional. The drug is prescribed as a sleeping
tablet.

Rohypnol has various street names of which
"Rosshies" is the most popular because of the fact
that the producer's name is printed on the face on
the tablet. There are various cases noted in South
Africa, where Rohypnol is obtained by means of
forged prescriptions and sold and marketed on the
street by dealers as a recreational party drug.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Rohypnol is most often used by crushing the tablet
and mixing it in powder form into drinks. It can
also be taken as a tablet which severely aggravates
the effects of alcohol. In other words, the person
imbibing the mixture will experience an
extremely dangerous level of intoxication.

The danger is when Rohypnol is mixed with a
person's drink or cool drink without their
knowledge. Girls' drinks are sometimes spiked
with the sole intention of raping them.
It often happens that a person, who is being raped
under the influence of Rohypnol, realizes that
someone is busy having sexual intercourse with
them but that they are unable to do anything to
stop it. The next day victims cannot remember any
details of how they got drunk nor how they ended
up being raped nor who raped them.
It is clear that Rohypnol presents, not only in South
Africa, but world-wide and especially in the USA, a
serious danger to the safety of teenagers and young
ladies. The use of this tablet is growing at an
alarming rate and it is the intention of all
legislators to curb the misuse of Rohypnol by
placing it in a higher prescription schedule than
the ineffective and outdated current Schedule 6
status.

Because of the random use of this tablet by young
men at parties and in pubs, ladies are warned to
make sure they only accept drinks from others
whom they know and trust and do not leave their
drinks unattended at any time.
The last time I was raped, I simply lay back and
enjoyed it an arbitrary drunk chirped.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Those goddam crickets are back said Ryan sagely.
Jacques sat for a long time pondering how much of
the euphoric behavior in the Umhlanga Village, was
caused by misuse of alcohol and drugs.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Chapter 6 The Drama

Do you know what day it is today? the Colonel
asked Brian the Zulu barmen at the Sizzling
Steak
You cant catch me Bwana Colonel, it is Guy
Fawkes.
No that is not correct Brian, Guy Fawkes is on the
fifth of July and, before you embarrass yourself any
further, it is also not the American Day of
Independence even though that is, as you may
know, also today
No Brian, its the day in history one hundred and
thirty five years ago that Zululand became subject
to British Rule beamed the Colonel. So, get to it
then my good man. I expect superior service from
you all of today Brian
Brian chuckled as he poured the first Tom Collins
for the Colonel.
Was the Bwana Colonel there perhaps at the time
smiled the affable Brian
Bugger off Brian. You Zulus have learned nothing
in one hundred and thirty five years.
The Zulu Kingdom has
always been centered on
the sub-tropical South
East coast of Southern
Africa between the
majestic Drakensberg
Mountains in the North
and the warm Indian
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Ocean in the South. It emerged as a powerful force
in the nineteenth century under the astute
command of the great Zulu warrior-king Shaka.
The Zulu Nation originally had no quarrel with the
British Colonialists who had founded a Colony on
the southern border of Zululand in the 1840s.
By the 1870s Britains aspirations in South Africa
had escalated following the discovery of huge
mineral deposits in this country. As a result the
British saw their neighbors in Zululand as a
potential threat to their plans of domination in
South Africa. When the Zulus failed to respond to
diplomatic aggression, the British resorted to force.
Lord Chelmsford at first succeeded in overcoming
smaller Zulu resistance on the Southern border.
This encouraged a much larger British force to be
sent into the hinterland of Zululand. This British
force was camped the base of a 300 foot sandstone
outcrop at Isandlwana, when they were descended
upon by 25,000 Zulu warriors.
The British forces were decimated and some 1,300
soldiers lost their lives in three hours of Zulu
brutality in defense of their nation.
The Zulu Nation
had summoned
the audacity to
challenge the
might of the
British Empire!
The response
from the colonial
British Empire
was exceedingly
swift, vengeful and uncompromising and by the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
time the Zulu King Cetshwayo finally surrendered
to the British army, under Lord Chelmsford, the
Zulus had been decimated and humbled.
The once proud Zulu Nation duly capitulated to be
ruled by Britain from the 4th of July, 1879.
Why did the British not just leave us alone, Bwana
Colonel? Asked the frowning Zulu descendant
called Brian.
Gold, my friend. The British just wanted the gold
said the erudite Colonel.
Ah yes Bwana Colonel, I see, just like the Zulu
muggers of today, they just want the gold. Bwana,
nothing has really changed in a hundred and thirty
five years said Brian thoughtfully as he polished a
glass in readiness for the Colonels next Tom Collins.
But Colonel how come the Zulus are back in
charge now? asked the affable impi.
**************
On the eighth floor of a building in the Durban
Central Business District, David Mosenke was being
shown into an office by an armed captain. The boss
will be with you shortly, do you want something to
drink?
Just then a loud voice boomed out from inside the
darkened office Is that you Comrade David. Come
in, come in ..is there any news?
**************
Jacques and Linda moved into a townhouse on the
edge of the Village. It had a pool, braai area and
plenty of tropical plants and vegetation in a
UMHLANGA ROCKS
beautiful garden setting. With use of garages and a
reasonable rental, it was perfect. They furnished
the second bedroom as a study where the necessary
work needed to keep their jobs going, could be set
up. It was the closest they could come to La Boheme
with a serious side.
One evening the pair strolled into the Village for
supper. At Larrys Linguini they bumped into Ray.
Sit down lovers, join us, we have also just arrived.
Jacques and Linda accepted the invitation to sit
with Ray and his stunning date.
This is Germaine. Shes in love with me. What will
you have to drink Im already pissed. Jacques
wondered if Ray had a tape recorder concealed that
he secretly activated to announce
all of his trivia.
I have good news. The lovely
Germaine and I, whom I met just
a few short days ago, find that we
both have a Swiss connection. So,
without a minutes hesitation, we
have decided to accept job offers
in the same city in Switzerland.
She will be moving into my
brothers place with me. Work
and pleasure found all on the same bandwidth.
How do you like that? slurred Ray.
Congratulations to both of you said Jacques and
Linda simultaneously and they shook the new
couples hands.
Lets drink to your success said Jacques ordering.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
And yours old man. I have heard that Linda has
brought you back from the twilight zone. Good news
for all us creditors. I understand that our chances of
repayment have moved from 100/1 down to 10/1
Ray those are not laughter lines on your face; they
are actually ugly wrinkles Jacques retaliated.
Germaine did not laugh.
Speaks very little English explained the verbose
Swiss immigrant-to-be. Ill teach her everything
though when we are there - English as well.
************
Daniel said Jacques, Ryan this is my friend whom
you asked to meet. You can call him Benny
Hi Benny intoned the two friends thanks for giving
us the time
Sweet said Benny what is on your mind
Benny was over six foot, well-built and stern. He had
a fearsome reputation in the Village and was
known as a bodyguard, bouncer and equalizer.
Just for the record I charge a thousand Rand an
hour, OK
The two nodded obediently.
Jacques and Ryan related their earlier
confrontation with Tony and his mention of David
Mosenke.
Tony is harmless said Benny he does odd jobs and
spies for David Mosenke. He does not know the
difference between spying and washing windows
UMHLANGA ROCKS
What is David Mosenkes agenda?
No one can be sure. He is officially with the National
Prosecuting Authority and more specifically the
Integrity Management Unit or IMU. They are
supposed to do investigations where the integrity of
NPA or any of its divisions has been compromised.
With a canvas that large Mosenke is known to
doodle all over the place guided by some pretty
suspicious individuals.
He came off the scrapheap of the NPA Directorate of
Special Operations Unit known as the Scorpions.
This unit was disbanded in July 2009 informed
Benny now quite clearly on familiar territory.
So he is either looking for evidence to prosecute
someone in the NPA or he has a hidden agenda
asked Ryan.
Benny nodded.
Do we need to talk to Captain de Villiers? asked
Jacques.
Captain de Villiers in the Village is a straight arrow
as a policeman. He is incorruptible, smart and very
perceptive. He does not approve of the security
services that I offer but, if it suits his cause, he uses
me for information and pays me in coffee said
Benny frankly if you want, Ill set up a meeting
with the Captain and that will be how I earn my
fee.
Cool said the two not knowing where the money
was going to come from to pay Benny.
*************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Captain de Villiers was in civilian clothes looking
relaxed while he sipped coffee at Jochens Java.
Benny, Ryan and Jacques joined him with brief
handshakes. Ryan ordered.
So, Benny tells me you two are doing a bit of
amateur detective stuff. Whats your concern, dont
you trust the police? he joked.
Ryan laughed nervously, cleared his throat and
addressed the Captain actually no, we want to stay
well clear of this. We are concerned for Tony and
also want to clear up where his information is going.
We previously knew that he is being paid to feed
tidbits to some writer in the Village who is writing a
book on Umhlanga Rocks. That seemed cool and
harmless but when Jacques spotted Tony spying on
a drug deal going down, outside of Tonys normal
beat, he was concerned
Does Tony have a car asked the Captain obtusely.
No intoned Ryan.
Then someone had to give him a ride. Someone
who could be working with him said the Captain
Go on
Ryan continued Jacques and I questioned Tony
and under a bit of pressure he gave up the name
David Mosenke
Why did you not come to me about the drug
exchange the Captain asked Jacques.
Ugh, that was because I have an outstanding
parking fine?
They all laughed.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Seriously though, we did not know the name David
Mosenke and sought out Benny for an answer. He
then set up this meeting said Jacques.
You were right to bring this to me. You have
probably read about the drug bust at a house in
Chartwell Drive. That is an ongoing case that we are
following up on and this David Mosenke lead may
have something to do with that said the Captain
officially but then again, given Mosenkes role
within the IMU, it could be a departmental breach,
ugly politics, favours for gangsters or a personal
vendetta. Have you guys any other questions?
Yes, one said Ryan what do we do about Tony now
that he knows we know about Mosenke
Nothing, I will talk to Tony and assure him that you
two scoundrels have been reprimanded and will
not bother him again. We will do our own
surveillance on Tony to see who he meets. So guys
thanks but from here on butt out. Let me know
directly of any other incidents that might occur.
Benny, I owe you one
With that the police Captain rose, shook hands with
all and departed. Benny shook hands with the two,
reminded them of their now outstanding debt and
also departed.
Jacques and Ryan out breathed heavily, ordered
another coffee and sat pensively for a moment.
Hows your credit at Jochens Java chirped Ryan
at last.
Bloody lousy responded Jacques.
****************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jacques and Linda had chosen to have an early
supper at the Pickled Pork Chop. They sat holding
hands at an outdoor table on the first floor balcony
overlooking the bustling Umhlanga Village. It was a
warm afternoon and both had had a busy day.
Time it was now to chill out and have a slow meal
with a few glasses of cold Chenin Blanc.

After the sun had sunk sluggishly for the day and
the waiter had lit candles on the table, Jacques
asked Are you feeling settled in your new home
madam?
Jacques, I love you and it. I am happier than I
have been in a very long time
Me too volunteered Jacques more relaxed than I
can remember. I really love you little one
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Ditto smiled Linda and
let Jacques do a little
swimming in her deep
limpid pools of green.
Shall we order, Im
famished? said Linda
glancing through the
menu Im dying for oysters
Careful with those things or we will have little
children running all over the place joked Jacques.
And you are whatcomplaining?
Waiter, two plates of oysters please he grinned
If you cant beat them join them but then there
might be the children thing
Jacques, behave yourself, I am a lady you know
And an outstandingly beautiful one at that too
Jou vleier, next you will want me to pay the bill
Jacques leaned over the candle and gently kissed
her on the lips.
********************
She switched off the light and snuggled into the
warm cradle of Jacquess arms, pecked him on the
cheek and whispered I am so glad that I chose
Umhlanga Rocks as the place to start my new life.
********************

UMHLANGA ROCKS

King Zwelithini, the incumbent monarch of the
Zulu Nation, sometimes dined in the Village. On
these occasions his motorcade of expensive luxury
vehicles, with their ominous darkened windows,
could be seen trawling slowly through the Village
down Chartwell Drive in a sort of regal fly-by.
Nobody noticed, nobody saluted, nobody cheered
and hardly anyone cared. The motorcade always
stopped in the vicinity of the Chinese restaurant
that had done business in the Village for forty years.
Locals seldom saw any other visitors dining at this
particular venue during the week and therefor
deduced that the King must be eating the most
expensive noodles in the universe.
On the nights that King Zwelithini attended the
Chinese eatery, the place was a hive of activity
given the Kings six wives, eighteen children and
legions of body guards.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu became king
of the Zulu Nation in 1971. Following the
democratization of South Africa in 1994, the kings
position became solely symbolic, cultural and
ceremonial a
Traditional Leader.
He has no role in
any of the decision
making processes of
either the KwaZulu
Natal Provincial
Government or the
National Assembly.
The King is however
the Chairman of the
Ingonyama Trust, a
corporate legal
entity established to
administer the land
historically owned
by the Zulu for the benefit, material welfare and
social well-being of the Zulu Nation.
The land administered by the Igonyama Trust
constitutes 32% of the South African Province of
KwaZulu Natal. The land area is over three million
hectares and is home to four million Zulus.
Jacques wondered about the Kings predilection
with Chinese food given his Zulu heritage. He also
wondered how a restaurant with only one customer
could survive under the same Chinese owner for
forty years. And he wondered why that Chinese
restaurateur still worked at age seventy eight.
Who was paying the rent?
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jacques decided that he needed to know more.
Using the internet facility at Post Net in the
Lighthouse Building in the Village, he did a bit of
rudimentary research.
He discovered that there had been four periods of
Chinese influx to South Africa.
In the 1870s Chinese, mainly from the Canton
Province, immigrated to South Africa. Many of this
group are now third and fourth generation South
Africans.
In the 1970s many Taiwanese were attracted to
South Africa by incentives under the Apartheid
Governments Industrial Development Policies.
In 2000 many middle managers and professional
people were attracted by the African National
Congress Government to help administer the
country.
After 2000 many small traders arrived from the
Fujian Province in China.
He wondered where the report that he had read
was, which claimed that several million Chinese
from one Chinese Province had latterly entered
South Africa illegally through Zimbabwe,
Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. The report
simply was not there. That seemed to Jacques to be
very strange.
Jacques found that the perception of China
operating as a remorseless monolith to be untrue,
as confirmed by research conducted by the
Oppenheimer Familys Brenthurst Foundation.
This research found that Chinese immigrants to
South Africa found endless problems in doing
business with the local population and authorities
UMHLANGA ROCKS
and they received little coordinated diplomatic or
government assistance from China.
This is certainly not the popular perception.
On the Chinese investment front, he found some
interesting information.
In an article written by the leading South Africa
scenario planner, Clem Sunter, he noted All the
easy-to-find, easy-to-mine, easy-to-treat mineral
and energy deposits have been found, mined and
treated. We are now into the remoter deposits
which require more infrastructures to get the
product to the customer or more difficult deposits
which require new methods of processing such as
fracking. By the middle of this century this picture
can only get worse which would signify that the next
big technological wave, after IT, will be about
improving resource utilization efficiencies as well
as making substitutes such as solar energy better
priced for the average consumer.
A growing scarcity of water and food is also
developing which is why the Chinese are purchasing
land in Africa and why nations on large rivers are
beginning to be more aggressive about the way
water is shared. Marine mining and offshore
drilling are also being stepped up with nations
quarrelling over ownership rights in places like the
sea off China and Japan. Outright conflict cannot
be ruled out.
China was investing in South African mineral
resources. Through the newly formed BRICS
organization and directly, China was very
interested in minerals. However, rather than offer
beneficiation facilities to the local industry, they
UMHLANGA ROCKS
simply shipped out the raw materials with no
thought for creation of jobs for South Africans.
Elias Khumalo, a close ally of President of South
Africa, Jacob Zuma, had infamously invested R600
million into the Aurora
Gold Mine in Orkney.
The money had
emanated from a rich
Shanghai based
business partner and
was invested through
Khumalos company,
BEK Holdings.
A former trade unionist and now Zumas personal
adviser, Elias Khumalo had seen his influence grow
steadily after Zumas dismissal as vice-president of
South Africa by Thabo Mbeki, then the President of
South Africa. He first made contact with Zuma in
1993 as a member of a concerned Zulu group
seeking help in negotiating an end to KwaZulu-
Natals political violence. He has since moved into
the world of black economic empowerment (BEE),
co-founding information technology company
Multi-consult. Zuma delivered the keynote address
at the companys launch at a Durban hotel in the
late 1990s.
A Zuma family member had infamously been
involved in that Orkney investment, which turned
out to be a debacle of asset stripping and illegal
mining with dire consequences for those who were
employed by the mine.
Now Jacques found that the Pengxin Group from
Shanghai Province, which had been the earlier
investor in BEK Holdings, and had interests in real
estate, infrastructural development, hotels,
UMHLANGA ROCKS
agribusiness, mining and equities, had been
allocated 50,000 hectares of land to do
agribusiness. This is King Goodwill Zwelithinis neck
of the woods and the home of the Ingonyama Trust,
chaired by the good Zulu king. BEK director Dr
Reuben Govender confirmed to the City Press
newspaper that BEK had secured approval from the
provincial cooperative governance and traditional
affairs department to make use of the 50,000
hectares of this land owned by the Ingonyama
Trust.
The word allocated bothered Jacques. Did
allocated require any payment to be made or was
a piece of Ingonyama
Trust land in KwaZulu
Natal simply being given
away to China?
The name Elias Khumalo
once again popped up in
the 2013 announcement of
Shanghai Provinces new
investment plans for
KwaZulu Natal.
Kenneth Wang, a director at the Shanghai Pengxin
Group, together with the KwaZulu Natals Economic
Development and Tourism MEC, Mike
Mabuyakhulu and Elias Khumalo, head of BEK
Holdings, had signed a new FDI (Foreign Direct
Investment) agreement with the Shanghai
Company.
Speaking at the announcement of the Shanghai
Pengxin Group deal, Mabuyakhulu said their
investment plan of between $150 million and
$200m (R1.4bn and R1.8bn) in KZN would unlock
UMHLANGA ROCKS
business opportunities in the hotel, development
infrastructure and agri-processing sectors.
Under the Co-operation Agreement contemplated
between the Shanghai Province and the Province of
KwaZulu Natal, nineteen factories involved in the
clothing, steel furniture manufacture and the
electrical appliance manufacturing industries
have been targeted for investment.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
participated in the South Africa - China 10 year
diplomatic relations celebrations in Beijing and
Shanghai recently. The delegation from KZN was led
by MEC for Education, Ms Ina Cronj, MEC for Arts,
Culture and Tourism, Mrs Weziwe Thusi, the
Director- General: Dr Kwazi Mbanjwa and Head of
Departments of Education, Cassius R Lubisi [PhD]
and Arts Culture and Tourism, Mrs C N Khumalo.

China has been prioritized in the KwaZulu-Natal
international relations agenda in order to establish
a comprehensive set of partnerships with selected
provinces. The aim of the visit was to build on the
already identified projects as well as to establish
links and identify opportunities in skills exchange.
This is a humongous investment right here under
our noses thought Jacques and he wondered was
David Mosenke somehow involved with Elias
Khumalo?. Also, was it agribusiness that the good
king, the old restaurateur, the mining magnate,
the Zuma family and their Chinese mates were
planning or just some more monkeybusiness.
He left the Post Net facility in the Lighthouse
Building perplexed. Politics or drugs?
**************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Ryan was from a wealthy family and had gone to an
expensive private school in Kimberly. He became a
man overnight on the South African border,
defending his country against the forces of evil.
Communism, die swart gevaar
and green Cuban gremlins with
machine guns were stories
exaggerated by the government of
the day to convince voters that
there were indeed evil forces at
work. This was simply to advance
Apartheid idealism and ambitions
within the borders of South Africa.
The government of the day put the
lives of the youth of the nation at
risk defending a policy which was untenable. That
stupidity tore a hole in the class of 1972 onwards as
many young people of Ryans age, who had hardly
had a date or slept with a girl, were senselessly
mowed down in the lonely and arid west coast
deserts of Africa.
Before being dragged into war at age nineteen Ryan
had been a star cricketer and had earned
provincial colours at school level. He made it
through the senseless war to marry his first
sweetheart from his schooldays. Three children and
twenty six years later Ryan divorced.
He had moved to Umhlanga and by the time he
came to share digs with Jacques, he worked out
that he had been in the Village for fifteen years.
Now that Jacques had moved on with Linda, Ryan
wondered if it was time for him to settle down.
Andrea was a lovely lady with whom he had been
going out for about six months. It was decision time.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
*************
Mr. Mosenke, they know trembled Tony.
Who are they, Tony, and dont be frightened
soothed Mosenke.
The Police, Mr. Mosenke, Captain de Villiers came
to see me
What did he want, Tony asked Mosenke.
Somehow he knew that I was giving information to
you, Mr. Mosenke. I dont know how but he knew
Tony lied.
It does not matter anymore said Mosenke to Tonys
relief. But I have one more job for you. Here is R500
for you to get a copy of all of the information that
you have passed to that writer friend of yours. I
dont care how you do it, just meet me here same
time next week and dont arrive without a copy of
his notes. Now go Tony. You dont need to watch the
drug deals anymore but those writers notes are
very important. Dont let me down.
With that the tinted window slid silently up and the
black four by four seamlessly merged with the
crawling traffic in Chartwell Drive.
Oh dear! How am I going to get those notes from my
writer friend? wailed Tony as he put the crisp new
banknotes in his billfold.
Captain de Villiers moved unseen out of the ticket
hut at the parking garage exit boom and headed
for his office.
*****************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Look how much weight that you have lost. You
have got all of your curves back said Jacques as he
got a huge smooch from the now trim Mary. How
did your trip go?
Danny, her
boyfriend, was
an experienced
yachtsman and
had trained
Mary for six
months before
undertaking the
trip which had
taken them
halfway around the world on a twenty two meter
ocean going yacht.
It was so cool and I am really pleased with all the
weight I lost, Im determined to keep it off now.
Dave and I saw so many new and
fascinating new things and places
said an excited Mary I will fill you
in on everything but first a white
wine sil vous plait maitre
dhotel.
And what have you been up to,
you scoundrel Mary teased
Jacques.
Hope you behaved while I was
gone
You know that for you, bella, I
killa da bull. For a your a sista I killa you joked
Jacques.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Whats changed in the Village while we have been
gone asked Mary inquisitively.
Same circus different tent drawled Jacques
except that I have moved into Ocean View across
the road.
Did you and Ryan have a fall out asked Mary
concerned.
Well no, you might say we had a fall in said
Jacques I have moved in with a new lady and
Jacques is thinking of moving in with Andrea
My goodness! I cant leave you two for a minute and
you go off the rails chirped Mary So who is the lady
someone that I know
No, Linda is from Cape Town, you will meet her
soon said Jacques leaving.
Mary landed another smooch and, brandishing her
empty glass above her head, she yelled Another
white wine sil vous plait maitre dhotel
*************
Umhlanga, and specifically the former sugarcane
fields of Umhlanga Ridge, has become the focus of
development eastwards from the greater Durban
area with many businesses relocating offices from
central Durban to La Lucia and Umhlanga Ridge,
similar to Sandton now forming the new centre of
Johannesburg. This movement has been criticized
by many for fragmenting the urban fabric of
Durban and furthering the new apartheid
In 2010, Durban International Airport was moved
to La Mercy, near Umhlanga, and reopened as King
Shaka International Airport.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Umhlanga Village, Umhlanga Ridge, La Lucia,
Conubia and Sibaya, once linked by the new
Ridgeview project, will consolidate Umhlanga into
the new central hub of KwaZulu Natal. Business,
communications, logistics and residential
communities will be in easier reach of the old
Zululand precinct of King Zwelithini and the
Ingonyama Trust.
The Chinese have noticed and have investment
ambitions in this development node of KwaZulu
Natal. Jacques pondered if this was the prize that
all the prominent players, appearing suddenly on
his radar screen, were seeking.
***********
On the 28
th
of March 2013 announcing a $300
million investment Khumalo said that the
Shanghai based Pengxin Group would split it
$150m for KZN projects and the $150m for the
Orkney mine. They were awaiting an approval from
the Treasury for they had submitted the Foreign
Direct Investment application.
Khumalo said the $150m earmarked for KZN was
for a hotel project and other infrastructural
investments. They are
considering the Dube
City precinct at Dube
Trade Port for a five-
star hotel.
They have seen the
councils plans for
Dube Trade Port and
they are very excited.
They have also
developed plans and
UMHLANGA ROCKS
a business case for a major hotel there. It makes
sense for us to come in with much of the foundation
work already done said Khumalo.
A Chinese spokesman elaborated We are looking to
bring in the luxury Bayan Tree Hotels and Resorts
brand to be Shanghai Pengxin Groups first hotel
project in South Africa.
Bayan Tree is a strong emerging hotel operator
based in Singapore and has a number of new hotels
across China and other parts of Asia. Shanghai
Pengxin Group already has a relationship with
Bayan Tree operating their property in Shanghai
said Khumalo.
************
Captain de Villiers said Found any more spooks
yet, Jacques. He was sitting, one leg crooked over
the other, enjoying a coffee at Jochens Java. Join
me he said pushing out a chair with his foot.
Officer I would just like you to know that I have now
settled that outstanding fine said Jacques sitting.
OK, no need for any arrests then laughed the
Captain.
Seriously though Jacques, has anything else come
up on David Mosenke
Not a thing. Tony seems to be washing a lot more
windows though
The Captain laughed I did have a little chat to our
super spy but he did not have anything useful to
say. Mosenke must be doing legitimate work for the
Integrity Management Unit
Jacques was silent.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Something on your mind Jacques
Naah, a hunch, more spooks said Jacques.
Go ahead, tell me Im interested said the Captain
leaning forward.
Its a theory in progress and I cant really
substantiate it deferred Jacques.
The Captain pressed so tell me your theory.
Jacques gathered his
thoughts, had second
thoughts but then
decided to proceed.
What if David Mosenke
was moonlighting for
Elias Khumalo.
The Captain tugged at
his goatee, slowly stirred
his coffee looking deeply
into his cup, blew out
audibly and then looked Jacques directly in the
eyes Juslaaik man, waarvan praat jy nou
I told you that it was just my overactive
imagination said Jacques.
Daaie overactive ding van jou gaan jou in the
moeilikheid beland, ou pal but tell me anyway
continued the Captain shaking his head slowly
from side to side.
Jacques, feeling a little foolish, raced through his
story starting with Tony, Dave Mosenke, drugs, the
internet research, Elias Khumalo, King Goodwill
Zwelithini, the old Chinaman, Orkney Gold Mine,
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Shanghai, Pengxin, the Zuma link and his research
on the Umhlanga Development Node.
That cant be all said the Captain you left out
Jiminy Cricket and Julius Malema
I told it was just theory defended Jacques.
More like Hollywood smiled the Captain.
butI like it
Whaaat said a high pitched Jacques.
Your story ties into something that I am working on
which I unfortunately cannot share with you for
security reasons. Your theory is seriously
interesting and you should continue thinking along
those lines
Is there money involved said Jacques perking up.
Not for you unfortunately laughed the Captain
but I will pick up the tab for the coffees today.
Jacques shook hands with the Captain and left
Jochens Java very much more perplexed than
when he had arrived.
*****************
Jacques baby, where have you been cooed Linda
She had just washed her hair and it hung down
onto her face in fine gold ringlets. Her emerald eyes
peeked at him from below long dark lashes. She
smelled like fresh lemongrass and jasmine. Her lips
puckered in a my lipstick has just been applied
pout. The bathrobe was tucked up to her armpits
and her taut breasts peeked over the top of the
towel. It took Jacques a while to draw himself back
UMHLANGA ROCKS
from that place which was demanding his urgent
attention.
With Captain de Villiers he sighed
Nothing serious, I hope she said brushing out those
long gold stresses.
No love, just coffee and a
routine discussion said
Jacques crossing his legs
and avoiding looking at the
cute little rump in front of
him.
She bounced across the
room, hair flying, grabbed
his face between her
hands, squeezed his lips
into a pucker, kissed him
and said Later, after we
have got back from the
restaurant. I am keen to meet your friends Dave
and Mary.
There will be dancing and I will feel like a tripod all
evening moaned Jacques. Poor little baby
clucked Linda anticipation, imagination and
delay will give impetus to that lust. Be a good boy
now and get ready
I am ready said Jacques perking up again
I meant for the party you horny little goat
There was dancing and drinking and frivolity. The
foursome got on like a house on fire. Mary took to
Linda and the two chatted and laughed all evening.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jacques and Linda heard all about the couples
world sailing adventure, ate delicious food and
danced occasionally. Late that night the new
friends said their cheerful goodbyes and arranged
to meet again.
Jacques clasped Lindas hand, gave her his own
green eye treatment and whispered in her ear
alone at last
She giggled and said ditto
*******************
Jacques was still perplexed about Mosenke,
Khumalo and Pengxin. He knew instinctively that
he was on track to uncover something about their
agenda and their connection to Zwelithini, Zuma et
al. He wondered what Captain de Villiers knew and
could not tell him and how this all affected
bohemian Umhlanga Rocks. He had so many
questions and so few answers. He returned to the
Post Net Facility to do more research.
**************
Before 1994 South Africa followed a Two China
policy recognizing both Taiwan and The Peoples
Republic of China. In 1998 they dropped their two
country stance in favour of support for only the
latter. This was after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, the Peoples Republic of Chinas arch
communist enemy and after the dismantling of the
previous Apartheid Regime in South Africa. This
opened up the possibility of discourse between the
two nations and Official Relations were established
between the two countries in January 1998.
By 2010 trade had increased to $25,6 billion
annually and in the same year South Africa was
UMHLANGA ROCKS
invited to join the Developing Country Forum
known as BRICS.
In 2011 The Peoples Republic of China and South
Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on
geological exploration
and mineral resources.
The Peoples Republic of
China had been accused
of funding the African
National Congress in the
2009 elections at which
Zuma prevailed. Others
similarly accused of
illegally funding those
elections included the
Congress Party of India, Colonel Qaddafi of Libya
and the oil-rich country known as Equatorial
Guinea. Some four and a half years later President
Zuma may be forced to answer opposition parties
call to have him impeached over improper conduct
on the R246 million building of his personal
residence, Nkandla, with public funds and with a
beneficial lease from the Ingonyama Trust chaired
by King Goodwill Zwelithini.
South Africa today has the largest number of
resident Chinese of any country on the African
Continent.
Underpinning much of the criticism of China's role
in Africa is the claim that they are only interested
in extractive industries and are plundering the
continent's vast resources. They've attracted
prominent critics, notably the Nigerian Central
Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi. Africa is now
willingly opening itself up to a new form of
imperialism, Sanusi wrote. China is no longer a
UMHLANGA ROCKS
fellow under-developed economy - it is the world's
second-biggest economy, capable of the same forms
of exploitation as the west. It is a significant
contributor to Africa's deindustrialization and
underdevelopment.
Damian Grammatikas, of the BBCs Chinese Desk
raises further concerns about bi-lateral trade
between China and many African countries. He
says that this is not an equal exchange, he has
concerns that the investment deals are opaque and
open to corruption, that Chinese infrastructure
projects often import Chinese labour rather than
developing local skills, that Chinese firms may
exploit local workers, that cheap Chinese products
undermine Africa's ability to build its own
industries, that for all the new roads, railways and
ports, this is not a mutually beneficial relationship.
Yoon Jung Park, a Senior Researcher at the Centre
for Sociological Research at the University of
Johannesburg reported:
Continued media representations of the Chinese
Invasion and Neo-colonization of Africa contribute
to a negative perspective of all Chinese on the
African Continent. The large number of legal and
illegal Chinese immigrants from mainland China
will continue to change the South African social,
economic and political landscape.
Jacques slumped back in the chair at the Post Net
Internet Facility. His mind was racing and it was
becoming abundantly clear to him what this was
all about. He felt sure that drugs were a tangential
but unrelated element.
The real issue was whether the Umhlanga Region
was being targeted as part of a new Chinese Canton.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The thought was untenable but the coincidences
were simply too many in number.
The former territory of Zululand, annexed by the
British in the first wave
of colonialism one
hundred and thirty
five years ago, was
again being targeted
in 2013 by new
foreigners in the
second foreign wave of
colonization.
Jacques switched off the computer and stared at
the blackened screen. He summarized his findings
in his head:
>The old Zululand region clearly defined by history,
culture and ethnicity.
>A Zulu, who happened to be the President of the
Republic of South Africa and who was able to use
Public Funds amounting to R246 million, for his
own benefit in Nkandla.
>A traditional titular head in charge of 32% of the
land area of KwaZulu Natal, the second biggest
economy in South Africa, with control of four
million, mostly out of work, Zulus. As Chairman of
the Ingonyama Trust King Goodwill Zwelithini had
allowed the President of South Africa to lease land
on benign terms to the detriment of the Zulu
Nation.
>An arable land mass of over three million
hectares.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
>A booming area receiving new infrastructural
development and becoming more distant and less
reliant on the traditional port city of Durban
>A new airport and modern logistics hub and
burgeoning industrialization programme called
the KwaZulu Natal Northern Growth Corridor
moving ever northwards towards Ulundi, Nkandla
and the port of Richards Bay.
>A mineral exporting harbor at Richards Bay
falling within the target area and currently
receiving massive upgrades.
>A convenient illegal immigrant corridor through
the independent neighboring countries of
Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique.
>A burgeoning tourism destination.
>An incomparable climate
This would all be very attractive to an incoming
investor, colonialist or both.
****************
China has spent nearly $100 billion in African
projects over the last decade.
In an interview with Agence France-Press recently
published, a long-time activist, who had spent most
of her life on the African Continent, compared this
Chinese investment with old-school British
colonialism.
In Africa, is China merely doing what the European
colonialists did? They want raw materials for their
economic growth, just as the earlier colonialists did
when they went into Africa and took most of the
natural resources leaving the local people poorer
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Between 2000 and 2011, China spent more than $73
billion investing in natural resources, mines, oil
wells and other projects in Africa, according to
statistics from Aid Data and the Centre for Global
Development in the map shown above.
HHoly crap this is too big for me alone thought
Jacques I must find out what Captain de Villiers
knows.
He hastily gathered his research notes, looked to see
if he was being watched and, as the coast seemed
clear, he left the Post Net Facility shaking badly.
************
Bloody hell Rosy flustered the Colonel where have
you been?
UMHLANGA ROCKS
I have been at the doctor said Rosy quietly
Whats the matter, are you sick enquired the
Colonel
No said Rosy still quietly
We must go to lunch. Where do you want to go?
Shall we do the Outlook today? Im tired of the
Pickled Pork Chop and Tung Thaid suggested the
Colonel.
Anywhere, I am not fussy murmured Rosy pre-
occupied
All right that is settled then. The Outlook it is, I am
ravished said the Colonel satisfied shall we go, its
getting late
Bloody hell Rosy, you are pale and quiet. Is
everything all right? What did the doctor say?
The Colonel looked over the top of his spectacles
expectantly Come on Rosy, spit it out. You are
being very obtuse today and its getting late
Ok Colonel said Rosy but please sit down first and
listen carefully
The Colonel puffed, looked at his watch and said
Ok Rosy, I am sitting now, what is it
Colonel, you are going to be a father again
***************
Jacques phoned Captain de Villiers on his cell.
Captain, I need to see you urgently. As you
requested I have continued with my research and I
dont like where this is headed
UMHLANGA ROCKS
All right Jacques but will you please calm down. I
can see you at four at our usual table at Jochens
Java said the calm officer.
Captain, the time for being coy is over. I will share
the information that I have only if you disclose the
data you would not share before
Jeez, you are excited, blackmailing and bolshie.
You havent been smoking anything have you
Jacques?
No, see you at four said Jacques and cut the call.
************

Jacques read the report which the Captain had
thrown with disdain onto the table at Jochens
Java. The Captain quietly sipped his coffee while
Jacques scoured the report intently.

China has made a great deal of investment into
infrastructure, energy and resources in Africa in
the last decade. Many of the largest projects were
oil-related. For instance, a $5.38 billion project in
Nigeria that involved infrastructure in exchange for
UMHLANGA ROCKS
preferential oil rights bidding, or $4.04 billion spent
in Mauritania for oil exploration, sewage systems,
iron mine and roads.

From 2000 to 2011, there are approximately 65
Chinese official development finance projects
identified in Kenya through various media reports.
These projects range from a 108 million USD grant
from Chinese government to build the North and
East Ring Road sections in Nairobi, to a concessional
loan to finance the construction of the Kenyatta
University Teaching, Research and Referral
Hospital Project in 2011.
An increasing number of Chinese companies are
seeking business opportunities in Kenya, amid the
African country's efforts to push ahead with
industrialization.
Chinese investors are eyeing sectors such as
property, tourism, hotel and infrastructure
construction in east Africa's largest economy.
Jacques contained his excitement and read on:
Yu Wu, director of investment and business
development at Beijing Hasan International
Investment Management Co Ltd, told China Daily
that Chinese firms are showing great interest in the
country, especially in sectors related to tourism.
Investing in Africa, including Kenya, has great
potential and we feel lucky that we're going there
earlier and have found many business
opportunities, said Yu at the Kenya-China
Investment and Business Forum, held in Beijing.
President Xi had earlier congratulated Kenyatta on
his election victory, saying, I believe, given your
vigour and vitality, you should be able to lead the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Kenyan people in registering even greater
accomplishments on the road ahead toward your
national development.
China would like to continue measures to increase
imports from Kenya and promote a balanced
growth of bilateral trade the President had said.
He urged both sides to strengthen cooperation in
special economic zone construction, agriculture,
wildlife protection and fighting cross-border crime.
Kenyatta said his country, which is committed to
realizing industrialization and improving people's
living conditions, wants to learn from China's
development, as the two countries share similar
historical experiences and visions for the future.
China has become Kenya's largest source of foreign
direct investment and second-largest trade
partner. By June, China's cumulative direct
investment in Kenya had reached $474 million. The
bilateral trade volume reached $2.84 billion last
year.
Kenya, an important bond between China and
Africa, also hopes China, a strong and true friend,
will play a bigger role in promoting Africa's peace
and prosperity, said Kenyatta
Jacques finished reading the document, took a sip
of his cold coffee and said to the Captain. We are on
the same page. The same pattern, same modus
operandi and same blur between foreign aid,
business opportunism and outright colonisation.
Meneer, I think we are in the poo said Jacques as
he handed the file with his own findings to the
Captain as agreed.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The Captain weighed Jacquess report in his hand
and said seriously Jacques, I will take a day or two
to absorb this and then we can meet again
The two shook hands and the Captain said Good
work Jacques and thanks. Oh and by the way your
girlfriend Juanita has had a warrant issued for her
arrest for dealing in drugs. Prepare yourself to
testify
Jacques said over his shoulder Still no money I
suppose, only coffee
The Captain laughed.
**********************

How are you and Linda getting on in your new
place asked Ryan

No you cant come and live there responded
Jacques

Seriously Jacques, Im thinking of moving in with
Andrea

Well at your age there are not many Christmases
left so you better decide soon

Jacques we have each had long periods of
marriage in our respective lives and I dont know if
I am up for that again

Since you seem to be asking for my advice, here it
is. Andrea is a lovely lady with good motives, a
strong work ethic and a solid religion, has a fun
nature, is good looking and is a good homemaker.
Knowing your sleazy habits, she must also be good
in the sack. So, I really cant see why you are
dithering about. If its your good-looking playboy
UMHLANGA ROCKS
image that you are concerned about losing, then
latest census in the Village is, sadly, that you are
over the hill and should be
put to stud.
Jeez, and I thought you
were my mate cringed Ryan
when you give your opinion
its with both barrels.
Sorry buddy but you did
want the truth?
I know and thanks, my
mind is made up said Ryan
So you are going to ask Andrea? said Jacques.
No, I have decided that I dont want you as a friend
any more
They both laughed.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Chapter 7 The Outcome
__________________________________________________
Are you into jokes, Jacques asked the Captain as
he sat down at Jochens Java?
Ja, I enjoy a good joke, Captain said Jacques.
Well here is one for you. Neighbors, one English the
other a Boer have a son and daughter respectively.
The youngsters go out on a date and are not at home
on time. The two concerned and angry fathers, in
their gowns and slippers, confer over the fence.
Jannie, you drive to the Club and see if they went
there perhaps, Ill check out the roadhouse.
Goed so, Peter. We can meet at the Police Station at
four to compare notes
At four on the dot the two now desperate fathers
meet at the Police Station.
Nothing says Peter.
Also nothing says Jannie.
We must look some more. The dawn is nigh says
Peter
Ja, ek weet, maar waar? says Jannie.
They both laughed heartily and then sipped their
coffees thoughtfully.
This business is like the joke said the Captain
finally we both have separately come to the
conclusion that the buggers are having sex but
UMHLANGA ROCKS
where is the burning question. And how do we
prove it.
Jacques rationalized
Even then who is going to
prosecute? The NPA? The
IMU? They may also be
implicated in the thing
and then attempt to cover
it up. Do we go the political
route through Parliament
to expose it or do we rely
on the famous Fourth
Pillar of Democracy the
Press.
First we have to prove that there is something to
prosecute. This whole saga may all just be what
South Africa needs bona fide Foreign Direct
Investment without which we as a country are
screwed anyway.
I agree said Jacques the British blurred the
boundaries between colonization, foreign aid and
outright piracy for their entire tenure in this
country. This time it is not only South Africa
involved but there are new insurgencies by the
Chinese in most of the fifty four countries on the
African Continent.
Then who ya gonna call said the Captain trying to
lighten the conversation.
Ghostbusters said Jacques realizing that he was
getting a bit carried away.
Where do we start Captain? asked Jacques
Roles said the Captain is where we start. I am a
Commissioned Officer in the South African Police.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Above me is a truckload of prosecuting authorities
and security agencies and even organizations
overseeing those State Institutions? If this becomes
official, then I am duty bound to disclose my
findings which will have every chance of being
covered up or made to go away. So the official route
is out. By not going the official route I run the risk of
dereliction of duty and perhaps even treason. So,
my friend, my hands are tied
Where does that leave me? asked Jacques
It leaves you as an inquisitive concerned citizen,
patriotic to his country, who doesnt want that
country to be sold out to foreigners. The only guys
that will be sympathetic to helping you in that
cause would seem to be the Fourth Pillar.
So basically Im on my own then said Jacques
Not entirely, there is at least one other concerned
citizen said the Captain
Who is that said Jacques
Johannes Gerhardus de Villiers said the Captain.
Jacques rose, shook the Captains hand, nodded his
understanding and said Totsiens Johan, ek sal jou
bel.
*********************
Before Jacques could contact Johan he got a call
from the concerned citizen. Good evening Jacques.
I cannot talk long, so take down this number and
list it under the name of the guys ya gonna call.
Then delete this record. Meet me at Larrys, not
Jochens, at four tomorrow. Must go. Cheers.
Jacques entered the number under ghostbusters
UMHLANGA ROCKS
in his phone and then deleted the Captains
previous number and the record of all calls made to
and received from that number.
***************
The next day Jacques got to Larrys Linguini first
and chose a table outside at the very back of the
restaurant. Johan arrived a few minutes later and,
while tugging off his sports jacket, he threw a
dossier on the table.
Whats this Johan said Jacques shaking the
concerned citizens hand as he sat.
Our little spys file
Do you mean Tony?
Yes said Johan.
The other day I was watching from the parking
cubicle to see who our little friend was waiting to
meet. It turned out to be David Mosenke. I saw
money changing hands so I knew Mosenke wasnt
on a social visit. I then called Tony to come to the
station to see me. He was a nervous wreck when he
got there. He admitted to getting paid R500 from
Mosenke forwait for thisthe notes
on events and people that Tony had been passing to
the mysterious writer.
Long story, short, I have contacted the writer, have
his undertaking of silence and his permission to
copy all of his notes.
So Sherlock Holmes, your copy is in the file in front
of you. Figure it out. Johan sat back pleased with
his achievement and was moved enough to order
two beers for the table.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jacques rattled through the notes very quickly
while they waited for beers to arrive. Hope he is not
planning to get rich on this book, it looks like a
bunch of drivel to me.
Jacques said Johan taking a long sip of the ice cold
beer when you see a fin in the water you shout
Shark! Shark! How do you know that it is in fact a
shark? Dont answer that. You know because you
have seen pictures before, had lessons in school,
have seen it with your own eyes at the Aquarium
and have heard stories at the Sharks Board about
it.
The writers notes are the sharks fin; it is what lies
below the surface that will determine the value of
the notes and you have to find it.
Thanks a lot for that said Jacques sarcastically I
have no idea where to begin
The beginning would be a good place grinned
Johan and read slowly and often Mr. Holmes.
Is Tony in any danger now that we have the same
notes that Mosenke will receive? asked Jacques
concerned.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
I dont think so but I took the precaution of getting
him a job on my brothers farm in Dullstroom. Tony
will be out of the picture for a while said Johan
The two finished their beers, shook hands and
departed in opposite directions.
**************
For the next few days Jacques labored over the
notes that had been intercepted between Tony and
David Mosenke. They were an eclectic collection of
misspelt names, misspelt places, dis-connected
events and juvenile rubbish.
Tony had obviously been given neither any
direction nor any particular targets to spy on and
had simply therefore spied on everyone in the
Village. Jacque tried to detect patterns, tried to
make significance out of dates, tried to connect
groups of people. Unfortunately the information
appeared quite random.
What could David Mosenke possibly want with all of
this rubbish wondered a baffled and weary
Jacques after three days of futile effort.
Early on the fourth day, before Jacques began his
umpteenth trawl of the notes, he gathered the
entire sheaf of notes to knock them on the table to
align them. As he did this he noticed one page had
drifted slightly out of alignment. In attempting to
straighten the delinquent page Jacques opened the
sheaf at that place and read the contents. The page
was slightly shorter than the other pages but, as
expected it contained nothing of interest. Jacques
did notice that the page was thicker than the rest of
the pages. Inquisitive, he turned the page over. It
was typed on an IMU letterhead. Jacques read the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
contents but it was just a routine memo between
David Mosenke and some other operative called
Vusi Twala. The Memo must have mistakenly
ended up in Tonys notes whilst Mosenke was
reading them thought Jacques.
Despondent, he was about to turn the page when he
noticed a name scribbled in pencil near the bottom
of the memo. It said simply Cornubia
****************
Ok boetie, spit it out said Johan we are off the
record
Jacques took a gulp of tea and began I think David
Mosenke is not deployed by the IMU but is
moonlighting for a person or persons unknown. The
motivation is Cornubia, the new area just down the
road, and the opportunities that development
might throw up in the Umhlanga Rocks Village.
What opportunities questioned an anxious looking
Johan.
Johan, we both know that the Village is highly
sought after by wealthy and retired, mainly white,
locals and ex patriots. It is also the favored
destination of well-heeled local and foreign tourists.
The tone of the village is highly cosmopolitan,
upmarket and sophisticated. The Cornubia
development may cause an influx of lower income
people which will cause a degeneration of the spirit
and image of the flagship retirement and tourist
destination Umhlanga Rocks and throw up
opportunities for new incoming investors.
UMHLANGA ROCKS

On the subject of person or persons unknown
Jacques continued I am hazarding a guess that
deep throat is Elias Khumalo for and behalf of the
Nkandla Architect and Pengxin. You know of course
where that axis leads the Nkandla Owner and the
Chinese Premier. Between the evidence and the
president stands one man, Zumas private
architect, Minenhle Makhanya.
He became, according to a recent report, the go-
between and de facto principal agent of the
government in its implementation of the security
upgrades at Nkandla after Zuma introduced him
to the official government team.
The report said officials with the responsibility to
control spending on the project bowed to the will of
Makhanya, believing he was in constant touch with
Zuma, and afraid that questioning him would be
construed as defying the president.
In the face of this predicament, almost every
official involved, with the notable exception of the
Public Works Departments top quantity surveyor,
threw up their hands and allowed the scope and
UMHLANGA ROCKS
costs of the project to escalate without limit from
an initial estimate of R27m to R246m when all has
been said and, obscenely, done.
In his written submission, one of the official project
managers stated that
Mr Makhanya became
the de facto project
manager and that it
was difficult to
exercise control over
him, leading to a case
of the tail wagging the
dog.
It is not difficult to comprehend why government
officials, particularly at a fairly low level of the food
chain, would have difficulty controlling a
consultant who was presented by and claims to
speak with the presidents concurrence or
authority.
My opinion is that even a cabinet minister could
have had difficulty countermanding Mr Makhanya.
While minutes of meetings show Makhanya was
repeatedly given the task of getting Zumas
approval for measures like the swimming pool and
the landscaping, there is no documentary evidence,
other than further minutes suggesting the president
had agreed, to show he was properly kept in the
loop.
The president, the architect, the ambassador and
the presidents financial adviser this is a familiar
template.
Further research threw up a press representatives
summary of similar other Zuma shenanigans in the
past explained Jacques
UMHLANGA ROCKS
When wedding guests of Zumas benefactors and
friends, the Gupta family, took the astonishing
liberty of landing at a South African military air
base, in a breach of national security, the principal
blame quickly settled on one man: chief of state
protocol Vusi Koloane.
As in the case of Nkandla, an interministerial
investigation was launched in the face of
snowballing public indignation.
It concluded, in the words, again, of Cabinet
Minister Radebe, that Koloane and senior SA Air
Force official Christine Anderson had acted on their
own, while giving the impression they were under
instructions from Number 1.
Anderson has subsequently confirmed this referred
to Zuma but, in the proceedings of a military board
of inquiry, has argued Koloane told her Zuma had
authorised the landing.
Radebe told Parliament the two were neither fall
guys nor scapegoats, but masters of this
manipulation of process.
Koloane, in an internal disciplinary process,
pleaded guilty to charges including abusing state
diplomatic channels by facilitating an illegal
request for the aircraft carrying the Gupta wedding
guests to land at the base, misrepresenting facts to
facilitate the illegal landing and compromising the
processes and procedures of the Department of
International Relations and Co-Operation.
He was demoted and served with a final warning.
The board of inquiry has not yet finalised
Andersons case, but the charges have been
substantially revised since Radebe claimed she was
a principal actor in the scandal, dubbed
Guptagate.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The man who may feel hardest done by through
Zuma, is Schabir Shaik, his one-time financial
adviser.
He was convicted on charges, among others, of
soliciting a bribe on Zumas behalf from Arms Deal
beneficiary Thales.
Zuma was later indicted, among more than 700
other charges, on a main charge of benefiting in a
corrupt manner to the tune of about R1.3m from
his relationship with Shaik.
The corruption charges against Zuma were
controversially dropped by the National
Prosecuting Authority shortly before the 2009
elections, in which he stood as the ANCs top
candidate. Today, he is once more Number One on
its list.
*****************
So you see Johan there is a familiar pattern to all of
Zumas corruption and deceit said Jacques.
Jeez, why dont you just go right to the top? You
understand of course that your assertions are so
dangerous that they could come after you said
Johan.
You send me out to catch a shark and then, when
Ive hooked it, you want to throw it back?
Waiter, we need something stronger than tea over
here. Two double spook and diesels, no pun
intended said a very serious Johan.

*************************

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Back down in the valley near Umhlanga New Town,
across the waving sugar-cane fields, is a stretch of
land destined to become a $2.7 billion mixed-
income residential and industrial area dubbed
Cornubia.

A public-private partnership between the local
municipality and agri-processor Tongaat Hulett, it
will be an experiment in eliminating class
differences. It will be the only area in Africa where
youll get middle, low and high-income people
living side by side. If the authorities can pull this
off, they will have defied what is surely one of the
most fundamental human tendencies: the instinct
to self-segregate. In fifteen years time one will be
able to assess whether the experiment has worked.
A multi-billion rand project, Cornubia, as a mixed
use and mixed income development, will span the
next 20 years. It is the Province of KwaZulu Natals
and Ethekwini's Municipalitys first national
UMHLANGA ROCKS
priority and will alter the skyline of Umhlanga in
the future.
Cornubia will be the home of the next major
industrial area in the north, with approximately 80
hectares coming on to the market in 2012.This will
be a key industrial development with linkages to
the new international airport and destinations
further northwards along the Indian Ocean coast.

The planning of Cornubia is based upon the
principles of sustainable development with higher
densities, a wide range and integration of income
levels, employment and economic opportunities,
substantial provision for schools, clinics and other
social facilities predicated on viable non- motorized
systems, public transportation and extensive open
spaces.

The development is proposed to provide in the near
future some 20 000 homes of which 15 000 are
proposed for subsidised housing and the balance
for a much wider range of affordability levels.
RESIDENTIAL
Cornubia will comprise fully subsidized houses for
the indigent (those that qualify for a provincial
housing subsidy), affordable housing for low-
income housing (rental) as well as middle to high-
income bonded housing. Approximately half the
site will accommodate affordable housing - with
fully subsidized housing comprising 30% of the total
project.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
COMMERCIAL
With a gross area of 300ha, Cornubias commercial
and mixed use developments will make provision
for almost 2 million m bulk. These commercial
opportunities will be located close to the N2 freeway
and proposed Cornubia interchange, as well as
along the M41 corridor in the vicinity of the existing
South African Sugar Association.
INDUSTRIAL
The 200ha gross development will cover 90ha of
industrial platform and will consist of
approximately 90 industrial stands, ranging in size
from roughly 300m
2
to about 500m on smaller
units to bigger units of 10 000m and larger,
providing a total of 700 000m of bulk. Subdivisions
will be designed to allow flexibility for all the needs
of developers and purchasers.
The development is strategically located (some
15km south of the new King Shaka International
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Airport) between the historically created and
disadvantaged areas of Phoenix, Ottawa and
Waterloo and newer areas of Mt Edgecombe and
Umhlanga and has been planned to integrate these
very different and disparate communities in a
manner which adds value and enhances linkages
and opportunities to all.
Jacques stopped reading at this point. He
instinctively knew what David Mosenkes role was
he was the advance party, the scout and the sniffer
for whichever of the big-hitters was employing him.
The words that Jacques stared at over and over
were integrate disparate and enhances
opportunities to all.
Jacques investigated the word disparate in terms
of tax matters in South Africa and found that the
Solidarity Research Institute claimed that there
were approximately 50,0m people in total in the
land of which 15,5m or 31% were on welfare. He also
found that only 3.2m or 6% of South Africans
contributed 99% of all tax collections. In terms of
tax collected from companies 60% came from only
1% of the total number. SARS would raise nearly a
trillion Rand in 2013.
It was estimated that 70% of ANC voters were jobless
and 80% of taxpayers do not vote for the ANC.
Jacques shook his head and whistled Jeez, how
disparate can you get.
This was the forced integration of the New South
Africa as opposed to forced removals of the
Apartheid era. It did not work then and it will not
work now thought Jacques. Taxpayer meets
Welfare Recipient, East meets West, La Boheme
meets Township, Zulu meets Red Coat, Cheek meets
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Jowl, Boer meets Zulu and China meets Africa. This
is a helluva lot to digest in just one sitting. It has
taken us fifty five years to digest the British-Dutch
appetizer and we still have indigestion. thought
Jacques as he closed the lid of his computer,
disconnected the device and, putting his research
notes into his leather satchel, he headed home to
Linda.
**************
Linda was in a pale blue housecoat, her feet were
bare and her tongue peeped out of her delicate
mouth as she carefully arranged a vase of flowers.
Hi sugar, looks as if you have had a hard day. Wait
here she said disappearing into the kitchen
When she returned she reached up to kiss Jacques
while hiding a cold beer behind her back. Too
right said Jacques hooking an arm around her
waist and pulling her close.
Sit and tell me all about it she said pouring a glass
of wine for herself.
Jacques summarised his findings occasionally
stopping to take a sip of his beer. Linda listened
intently sometimes nodding, sometimes scowling
and sometimes sipping.
When he had finished she crawled across the couch
and put her head in his lap and gently patted his
hand.
**************
KZN Northern Growth Corridor (KNGC)
The KwaZulu-Natal Province can be seen as the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
eastern trade gateway of Southern Africa, with
Durban being the busiest container port in Africa
and Richards Bay housing the biggest bulk cargo
port in Africa.
Between these two seaports, the Dube TradePort,
adjacent to King Shaka International Airport, now
operates as an air logistics platform allowing
Durban to access even more global trade
opportunities. These two ports have attracted
enormous capital investment thus far in putting in
the necessary infrastructure.
This significant development that is currently
underway on the North coast of KwaZulu is the focus
of what has been defined as the KZN Northern
Growth Corridor (KNGC).
The KNGC area is the coastal zone stretching up the
N2 from Durban in the South through Richards Bay
and up to the Mozambique border. It covers the
district municipalities of eThekwini (Durban),
iLembe (Ballito and Stanger), uThungulu (Richards
Bay) and uMkhanyakude (Mkuze).

The areas of particular interest within this Corridor
are: Cornubia, Dube TradePort, Ilembe and
Richards Bay.
Cornubia
A multi-billion rand project, Cornubia, is expected
to alter the skyline of Umhlanga in the future.
Cornubia will be the home of the next major
industrial area, some 15kms south of the new King
Shaka International airport.
The development is proposed to provide some 24
UMHLANGA ROCKS
000 homes of which 15 000 are proposed for
subsidised housing and the balance for a wide
range of affordability levels.
The development is strategically located between
the historically created and disadvantaged areas of
Phoenix, Ottawa and Waterloo and newer areas of
Mt Edgecombe and Umhlanga.
Dube TradePort
Dube TradePort, located 30 km north of Durban, is
a catalyst for global trade and a portal between
KwaZulu-Natal and the world. It is the only facility
in Africa that brings together an international
airport, a state-of-the-art cargo terminal; and an
agrizone, a 20-hectare development for flower and
vegetable production. Located 30 km north of
Durban, Dube TradePort is positioned between the
two biggest sea ports in Southern Africa, and linked
to the rest of Africa by road and rail.
iLembe
iLembe District Municipality situated about 65km
north of Durban is endowed with a wealth of rich,
fertile soil and has comparatively good rainfall
more than 1 000mm a year making agriculture
and hence iLembe central to the KZN economy.
iLembe is recognized for its sugar-cane plantations
and subtropical fruit along the coastal belt. The
farmers in the hinterland concentrate on
vegetable, dairy and stock-farming while the areas
of Vryheid and Eshowe are known for forestry and
furniture manufacturing.
Richards Bay
Richards Bay is considered the centre of operations
UMHLANGA ROCKS
for South Africa's aluminium industry. Richards
Bay Minerals is the largest sand-mining and
mineral-processing operation in the world while
The Richards Bay Coal Terminal is instrumental in
securing the country's position as the second-largest
exporter of steam coal in the world. Richards Bay
also has a designated Industrial Development Zone
focused on economic development in the export
market.

A busy harbor and a diverse economy make
Richards Bay an attractive investment destination.

Established as a harbor to supply British troops
engaged in battle against the Zulu kingdom in
1879, the Port of Richards Bay really came into its
own nearly a hundred years later when it was
converted into a deep-water port and connected to
the Highveld by railway lines.
That connection remains strong today, and the
export of coal from Mpumalanga is the sole function
of the Richards Bay Coal Terminal. RBCT, a
privately owned operation, is the single biggest coal
UMHLANGA ROCKS
export terminal in the world. Delivery by Transnet
Freight Rail (TFR) averaged 63.3 million tons (MT)
per year for the five years to 2011 but hit a record
high of 68.5mt in 2012. Among the owners of RBCT
are Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton, Sasol Mining, Xstrata
and Exxaro. The owners and TFR are working
towards using the full 91mt capacity of the RBCT.
Meanwhile, Transnet is investigating opening its
own coal terminal, with the aim of opening up new
markets for smaller coal mining companies.
Other parts of the Port of Richards Bay are receiving
significant capital injections. Investments by the
Transnet Group in freight rail and locomotives
(R200-billion) and the general freight business
(R150-billion) will have a direct impact on Richards
Bay.
The rail corridors serving Richards Bay and Durban
will receive nearly R40-billion in additional funding
between 2011 and 2015, giving a further boost to
economic development in the region.
Richards Bay Minerals and Exxaro KZN Sands are
major players in the mining industry with titanium
slag being produced from ilmenite. BHP Billitons
two aluminium smelters are the biggest industrial
entities in the area. Foskor has a large fertilizer
plant in the city and internationally renowned
heavy-equipment manufacturer Bell Equipment is
also based in Richards Bay.
The hinterland has plentiful supplies of timber and
sugar cane where companies such as Sappi, Mondi
and Tongaat Hulett are active.
Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone
South Africa's newest operating Industrial
Development Zone is boosting Richards Bay's
already robust economy. The provincial
government of KwaZulu-Natal now holds 100% of the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
RBIDZ through the Department of Economic
Development and Tourism.
The Tata Steel ferrochrome smelter was the first
investment in the RBIDZ, with input of more than
R700-million that has created 320 permanent jobs.
South Africa has three active Industrial
Development Zones (IDZs), which include East
London Industrial Development Zone and Coega in
the Eastern Cape Province. The idea behind an IDZ
is to create attractive conditions under which
manufacturing can thrive, thus stimulating foreign
direct investment. The provincial government has
budgeted R57-million to make the RBIDZ a
preferred investment destination.

China has found investment opportunity in
Richards Bay - announcing deals this week to ease
bottlenecks that hold up exports of coal.

The China Development Bank has agreed to lend
UMHLANGA ROCKS
South African state rail freight group Transnet up to
$5 billion to revamp ageing track, used to carry
commodities such as coal and iron ore.

Chinas Chery Holdings has signed a deal valued at
several billion dollars to build and repair ships at
its Richards Bay port according to documents
obtained by Reuters.

The final terms were being worked out at a summit
of the BRICS emerging market powers in the South
African coastal city of Durban, a senior South
African government official said.

South Africa has been pushing to expand the port to
attract industry and create jobs in an economy that
has seen its unemployment rate stuck at around 25
percent for years.

********************

Linda baby, have you ever been to any of the
inland venues in KwaZulu Natal? asked Jacques
one morning. I need to get away from all of this
research and clear my head. Besides I want to
spend some quiet, quality time with you, angel

No, yes you do and yummee, in that order replied
Linda grabbing Jacques around the neck and
wrestling him back onto the bed. Sitting on
Jacquess chest with her hands on either side of his
face she said Where will we go to Bwana.

I am thinking like Cathedral Peak in the
Drakensberg Mountains and perhaps some place in
the Battlefields. We can enjoy history and have
lounge lizard spa recreation n the same trip

UMHLANGA ROCKS
That will be seriously cool Jacques, I will put in for
leave at the Bank

Jacques duly booked
accommodation for he
and Linda at the
Champagne Sports
Resort situated in the
tranquillity of the
Central Drakensberg,
which boasted the most
spectacular view of
Champagne Castle and
Cathkin Peak. The
impressive brochure had said: Champagne Sports
Resort is more than a hotel in the mountains, it is
an experience.
From the 18-hole championship golf course to the
roaming herds of Blesbok and Impala and the rare
birdlife that inhabit the estate, there is something
for everyone to enjoy. And, with five dams stocked
with either bass or trout, as well as outstanding
sporting facilities and cultural activities, this
enduring resort provides a balance between
recreation for sports enthusiasts and tranquillity
for those seeking relaxation'.
From the moment they arrived at the hotels
reception they felt that the stress of the city had
been left far behind. The self-contained, free
standing thatched cottage provided the finest
accommodation and they found delectable fare
and sumptuous banquets at the hotel. These
delights coupled with every possible creature
comfort, made their Champagne Sports Resort stay
the ultimate 'berg experience.

UMHLANGA ROCKS

The Resort offered a variety of superb, fully serviced
accommodation. The 62 hotel bedrooms were made
up of twin rooms, family rooms, and various suites,
all with well-appointed bedrooms and either
mountain views or garden views. A further 41
Timeshare Units on the estate are used for hotel
accommodation subject to availability. The hotel
has wheelchair access throughout and all bedrooms
are linked to the main hotel buildings by way of
thatch covered walkways.
They found that the southern end of Africa's Great
Rift Valley, the 9,700 kilometer scar that is slowly
tearing the continent in two - centimeter by
centimeter, millennium by millennium - should
actually be a mountain range. The final thrust of
the fault is South Africa's formidable Drakensberg,
a 200 km arc of jagged mountain peaks that run
roughly north-south through Kwazulu-Natal,
forming the border with Lesotho. Known to the
Afrikaans as Drakensberg - Dragon's Mountain, the
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Zulu name is perhaps even more evocative
uKhahlamba - the Barrier of Spears.
Jacques and Linda
explored the nearby
attractions, from the
home of the world-
famous Drakensberg
Choir, which holds
weekly performances, to
the famous Ardmore Art
Studios. They visited the
nearby game reserves of Spionkop and Weenen and
the mountain vulture hides. They were also
impressed with gentle beauty of Meadowsweet Herb
Farm.
In the evenings they dined splendidly by
candlelight, sipped glorious red wine and chatted
lovingly over cheese and biscuits before retiring to
the warmth of their hearth fired cottage.
They made slow love in the glow of the fire and fell
asleep each night exhausted by the excitement of
the long day.
****************
Zulu wars, Shaka, Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift,
Colenso, Spioenkop, Ladysmith, Dundee, Churchill,
Blood River, Cetshwayo, Boers ... these are some of
the terms which are associated with the
internationally renowned KwaZulu-Natal
Battlefields area of South Africa.
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The brochure had said: Walk in the footsteps of
famous military strategists -Shaka, Winston
Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis
Botha - they were all part of the KwaZulu-Natal
Battlefields. The wind sighs and whispers the
secrets and sorrows of great battles, made visible by
lone forts and small graveyards on these
undulating landscapes ringed with rocky outcrops.
The legacy of our Zulu Kingdom's critical, blood-
soaked conflicts today lives peacefully - reconciled
in this fascinating region's myriad Battlefield sites,
historic towns, national monuments and museums
- and in HQs of the British regiments who make a
'pilgrimage' to these fields of bravery and supreme
sacrifice
After a long drive over bumpy roads from
Ladysmith the two turned into a large open valley
to see the iconic Isandlwana hill in Zulu - little
house.
There on the right of the valley nestled into the
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iconic hillside is the now famous Isandlwana Lodge.
Jacques and Linda had chosen this five star
establishment as their base for a couple of days of
history and relaxation.
As Linda was getting the dust of the trip out of her
hair Jacques read to her from the brochure:
Why leave all of this to the imagination?
Knowledgeable guides will accompany you on tours
of the Battlefields, talking you through each battle,
debating the strategies used, the numbers who
perished and the medals and rewards won by the
brave and very heroic departed British soldiers.

If these legends inspire your adventurous spirit,
there are more pleasurable ways of assuaging it
than in battle. White-water rafting down the rapids
of the mighty Thukela, sailing on the Chelmsford
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Dam, and hunting in the designated hunting
reserves - this region offers you all of these pursuits.

The happy couple also visited the Midlands
Meander, an area providing purchase
opportunities at any of the large number of factory
outlets selling everything from blown glass to pork
sausages, goats cheese and baby products.

There are also a number of other KwaZulu-Natal
towns which fall outside the core of the KwaZulu-
Natal Battlefields area or experience and these
include the Zululand towns of Paulpietersburg,
Vryheid, Ulundi and Eshowe; the Elephant Coast of
Mkuze; the area around the Thukela Mouth on the
North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, and in the city of
Durban.
From the private balcony of their room they
enjoyed a breathtaking view of the battlefield
plain, the mountains in the distance and the
village below. They watched the village come to life
early and then slow down at the end of the day.
They experienced the warm hospitality of the Zulu
staff, tasty food prepared by an all Zulu women
chefs brigade and enjoyed enthralling, interesting
and emotional tours of Isandlwana and Rorkes
Drift guided by resident historian and author, Rob
Gerrard, FRGS.
Jacques and Linda listened intently as the heard in
detail about the massacre at Isandlwana all those
years ago.
The main Zulu attack began at 12h30 with 20,000
men, 4,000 being held in reserve. At first the British
line, comprised mainly of the 1st and 24th
regiments, held firm with the two guns keeping a
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steady fire. However, as many as a third of the Zulus
were armed with some type of firearm, which
eventually began to take its toll and the warriors
advanced to within 800 metres of the somewhat
extended British line, due to a shortage of men who
had also begun to run short of ammunition. A
simultaneous partial eclipse of the sun during the
fighting added an eerie quality to the battle.

Realising that the initial attack had failed, the Zulu
commanders sent Ndlaka and an induna forward
to encourage the warriors. At this point Durnfords
position on the right collapsed and his men fell
back towards the saddle, through which the
warriors surged across the British line. As their line
fell back from the Zulu advance, the right horn of
the Zulu force had made its way behind the hill to
cut off any British retreat back towards Rorkes
Drift.

By about 3pm the British position had been
overrun, and those who tried to escape the
slaughter attempted to flee via the saddle between
Isandlwana and Blacks koppie. Most of these
fugitives were stopped by the Zulus right horn, and
only a few British soldiers on horseback got away.

Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill bravely attempted
to save the battalions Queens Colour but were
killed in the attempt, the colours being washed
downstream and recovered on the 4th of February.

Chelmsford, who had been operating in the hills to
the south-east, was informed of the disaster at 3pm
and the remnants of the central column cautiously
returned to Isandlwana as evening fell. The reality
of the situation together with the reports of the
ongoing battle raging at Rorkes Drift made him
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resume his march before dawn, reaching the
Mzinyathi River shortly after the Zulus had
returned with their army into Zululand.

Both sides lost heavily in the battle of Isandlwana.
Estimates of British losses were 1,357, and
approximately 3,000 Zulu warriors were also killed.
At this news, King Cetshwayo said ...'alas, a spear
has been thrust into the belly of the nation'.
The also explored the birding, star-gazing,
authentic cultural village tour, horse riding, a
photographic safari and short hikes.
Before getting ready for supper each afternoon they
lazed around the pool that is built amongst the
rocks.
In the evenings they improved on their waistlines
from an endless five star menu. They ended the day
sipping Cointreau on the balcony overlooking the
haunting plains that had shaped South Africas
brutal history.
Later, at night in bed, they cuddled warmly against
the cold eerie breeze which wafted off of those
historic, ghostly and blood-stained plains and
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curled menacingly around their luxurious room on
the hill at Isandlwana.

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Chapter 8 The Morality
________________________________________________________

Morality refers to the concept of human ethics
which pertains to matters of right or wrong used
within three contexts: individual conscience,
systems of principles and judgements - shared
within a cultural, religious or political grouping. A
system of standards used to produce honest, decent
and ethical results is considered moral.

Albert Schweitzer, author of On the Edge of the
Primeval Forest, the Decay and Restoration of
Civilisation and Civilisation and Ethics has this to
say on the matter: Ethics are nothing but
reverence for life. This is what gives me the
fundamental principle of morality, namely that
good consists in maintaining, promoting and
enhancing life, and that destroying, injuring and
limiting life is evil.

Jacques considered the definition before him
deeply. .shared within a cultural, religious or
political grouping.. and it bothered him. It
meant that concept of morality could change, as
long as you had enough people sharing the same
principles and judgements. How many times in
history had those principles and judgements been
morally incorrect, yet because a great many people
believed them to be moral, those ethics became
acceptable.

Christianity had perpetrated the most dreadful
and immoral atrocities against women, non-
believers, foreigners et al but because these deeds
were considered moral by the cultural, political
and religious orders of the day, that became the
prevailing and acceptable morality. Hannibal,
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Napoleon, Japans military leaders in WW II, Hitler,
Verwoerd and Apartheid, Mussolini, Saddam
Hussein, all came to mind.

He understood that he was dealing here with three
conflicting moralities born of different ethnicities
and forged in different eras in history African,
Anglo Saxon and Chinese.
He would have to cling to the last remaining tests for
morality: individual conscience and reverence for
life.
Chinese Morality
The above mentioned evil leaders had their
temporary victories and glories, but over time, they
incurred the combined wrath of those countries
they invaded and oppressed which in turn re-
grouped and made the aggressors and their people
pay heavily for their meglomanic, oppressive and
grabbing ways. Eventually, other countries they
had not yet invaded, realized that they could be
the next victims. They allied themselves with those
similarly situated and went to the rescue of the
conquered countries whose citizens also fought
from within to defeat the invaders.

Is China heading in the same destructive direction?

With its recent remarkable economic success,
China has expanded and re-armed to now be the
largest military force in the world in terms of the
number of military personnel. Will Chinas
arrogant behavior and immoral policy decisions,
showing no respect for other nations who are much
weaker militarily, lead the Chinese people along a
dangerous path where, eventually, the entire world
will ally to bring China down as a rogue evil nation?
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China, with its support of corrupt oppressive
governments and disrespect for the patent rights
and intellectual property rights of other countries,
is fast heading downward road of global opposition.

Anglo Saxon Morality
The changes from colonialism to imperialism must
be understood from the historical changes in the
colonisers home countries in Europe. Capitalism in
Europe started as a system of local markets where
craftsmen sold their produce, often to specialised
traders who were themselves not craftsmen. The
traders in turn sold to consumers.

Still lacking was industry, where large factories in
which lots of people worked in an organised way to
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produce something for a wage. Craftsmen operated
in a small scale, often in their own house, usually
with nothing but a few apprentices. They made
cloth, candles, furniture, steel products like knives
and ploughs.
Sea trade was practised along the near coasts,
Dutch, for instance brought herring to Scandinavia
to exchange for wood to build ships and houses.
Sailing down the African coast was first
accomplished by the Portuguese. Later the
Spaniards, Dutch and English followed. The aim
was to get natural resources that could be sold to
home consumers: spices, tea, coffee, sugar.
Then ready-made cloth was brought to Europe from
India. This trade was most cheaply and thus most
profitably practised by leaving the foreign countries
as they were and just building coastal fortifications
to collect the valuables to be shipped.
The industrial revolution increased enormously the
quantum of goods needed for production in the new
factories in Europe. These industry inputs rose in
significance as a part of trade from the colonies:
cotton, wool, oils, jute and dyestuff are important
examples. Moreover, since factories can produce
vast amounts of goods, any item that could be
produced at home, such as textiles, ceased to be
imported from colonies. In the textile case, for
instance India was quickly deprived of its textile
exports to Europe.
Moreover, in their existing state the colonies did not
produce enough of the industry inputs needed in
Europe. European settlers thus went, and organised
the increase of production of cotton etc. as well as
the increase of the production of food for the
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increasing number of those who were put to work on
the cotton fields.
Here, they ran into problems because the habits of
the colonised people now had to be changed; the
home economy needed more supply of the industry
inputs produced in the colony. European capitalists
felt the flow of goods from the colony was no longer a
luxury, an additional source of profit, but that they
became basically dependent on a growing mass of
such imports, because these imports were no longer
chiefly luxury consumer goods, but basic inputs for
European industry.
African Morality
Nelson Mandela explained Ubuntu, the unwritten
African Morality, as follows:
A traveler through a country would stop at a village
and he didn't have to ask for food or for water. Once
he stops, the people give him food and attend him.
That is one aspect of Ubuntu, but it will have
various aspects. Ubuntu does not mean that people
should not enrich themselves. The question
therefore is: Are you going to do so in order to enable
the community around you to be able to improve?
Another person, Tim Jackson, refers to Ubuntu as a
philosophy that supports the changes, that he says
are necessary, to create a future that is
economically and environmentally sustainable.
Judge Colin Lamont expanded on the definition of
Ubuntu in summarizing his ruling on the hate
speech trial of Julius Malema:
Ubuntu is recognized as being an important source
of law within the context of strained or broken
relationships amongst individuals or communities
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and as an aid for providing remedies which
contribute towards more mutually acceptable
remedies for the parties in such cases. Ubuntu is a
concept which:
1. is to be contrasted with vengeance;

2. dictates that a high value be placed on
the life of a human being;

3. is inextricably linked to the values of and
which places a high premium on dignity,
compassion, humaneness and respect for
humanity of another;

4. dictates a shift from confrontation to
mediation and conciliation;

5. dictates good attitudes and shared
concern;

6. favours the re-establishment of harmony
in the relationship between parties and
that such harmony should restore the
dignity of the plaintiff without ruining the
defendant;

7. favours restorative rather than
retributive justice;

8. operates in a direction favoring
reconciliation rather than estrangement of
disputants;

9. works towards sensitizing a disputant or
a defendant in litigation to the hurtful
impact of his actions to the other party and
towards changing such conduct rather
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than merely punishing the disputant;

10. promotes mutual understanding rather
than punishment;

11. favours face-to-face encounters of
disputants with a view to facilitating
differences being resolved rather than
conflict and victory for the most powerful;

12. favours civility and civilized dialogue
premised on mutual tolerance

A commentator at the above case, which
precipitated a momentous shift in African Morality,
supposed at the time that the might of Zuma's
supporters had taken control of the ANC's ancestral
wisdom on this particular issue.
The ANC leadership, motivated by fear of the
firestorm they might ignite from furious Zuma
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supporters, if Zuma were not reinstated, simply
froze.
The Zuma saga is as much about power and
ambition as it is about the characters of Zuma and
Mbeki. Unfortunately the anonymous masses are at
the mercy of the tyranny of the minority.
The commentator asked What can be done uphold
and advance Nelson Mandela's vision of a peaceful
and cohesive society and Thabo Mbeki's vision of
economic stability to give the new nation, the
Republic of South Africa, a competitive global edge?

The commentator concluded Clearly, our society
needs to groom new, younger leaders. How do we
cultivate them? Would it help to create a moral
leadership forum, involving schools: moral
development and leadership skills to be cultivated
early among the young at school and tertiary level;
teaching the young on how to use their power
towards moral goals; encouraging leaders in the
corporate sector and their employees to follow
ethical codes of conduct and to engage beyond the
mandatory corporate social responsibility code?.
The degradation of morality has been an issue since
1998 when Nelson Mandela stood aside to enjoy
what was left of the life he had so unselfishly given
to his people, his country and the world.
Since then it has been a bun-fight to fill the
enormous moral chasm left behind by the
departure of the Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
South Africa and its people have been subjected to
the most deplorable stampede for wealth matched
only by the gold rush in America. In South Africa
morality flew out of the window and the previously
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disadvantaged were trampled upon by the new
African Kleptocratic order. Today South Africa is
the most disparate country in the world and the
new order is bereft of all of the moral codes
ingrained by Madiba.
The Press, the last bastion still standing, attempts
vainly to report on all of the vice and corruption. Its
depth and breadth are such that the media is
losing the battle. The law has failed also to keep
pace. South Africa now have police who watch other
police who watch other police, reminding one of
another once powerful regime that has since
faltered on the world stage. Many of the current
South African ruling elite unfortunately received
their academic training in that failed state.
A Reporter in the Press at the time wrote South
Africans have recently witnessed the incredible
spectacle of the Minister of Public Works, the until-
then-relatively-credible former trade union leader
Thulas Nxesi, making a complete ass of himself as
he tried to defend the fact that taxpayers' money is
being used to build the president a R246million
palace in his home village, Nkandla.
The reporter continued Nxesi - instead of being
absolutely outraged that his department is being
abused to build the president a private palace,
while the man has the use of at least three massive
residences in Pretoria, Cape Town and KwaZulu-
Natal, used all manner of excuses to try to justify
this blatant looting of the taxpayers' money. First
we heard that Zuma deserves such largesse because
he is the president of the country and therefore his
security needs to be ensured.
Then we couldn't be given details of the
expenditure because the place is a national key
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point. Really? His three state-owned houses may be
national key points (that is, sensitive from a
national security perspective) but I still have to find
a reason why this man's private residence is a
sensitive security installation deserving of a R238-
million upgrading.
When journalists cornered Nxesi he then revealed
that, actually, all were judging the president from a
middle-class viewpoint.
I think the country is going to the dogs when we start
saying that looting the state is part of African
culture, which is basically what Nxesi was saying.
Then the man said he would hunt down and
prosecute whoever leaked this story to the City Press
newspaper. The whole thing makes one want to
puke.
So the outrageous spending of R246million of
taxpayers' money is not worth investigating but the
whistle-blower will be hunted down and punished
by the minister? Is this really the ANC of Oliver
Tambo? Any self-respecting head of state who had
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overseen what Zuma's administration went
through in one week would throw himself on his
assegai. Scandal is everywhere.
The former wife of the key security minister in
Zuma's cabinet was sent to jail for 20 years for drug
trafficking.
Then the smell of the Nkandlagate looting
continued to spread and was defended by the
president's spokesman and Nxesi. Then nearly the
entire board of SA Airways resigned, citing
government incompetence for their decision. A
man linked to a dodgy company was then
appointed chairman of the new board of SAA.
Zuma's appointment of Menzi Simelane as head of
the National Prosecuting Authority was declared
invalid by the Constitutional Court.
Strikes continue to spread like wildfire throughout
the mining industry, with transport workers
becoming increasingly violent. The police
reportedly stood and watched them break the law.
Two leaders of the National Union of Mineworkers
were killed in the most horrific way in North West.
As all this takes place, the Department of Education
still has not delivered textbooks to some pupils in
Limpopo - with only a month to go before
examinations start. Non-government organisations
had to go to court for the third time last week to
force the government to deliver the textbooks.
Take all these incidents, all within a week, and you
realise that Zuma is not a leader. He is not even a
puerile head of state. This administration is a
nightmare, a horrific accident lurching from one
disaster to the next every single day. It is no wonder
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that the Financial Times declared that ours is a
country that is in political drift the reporter
festered.
We cannot afford this sort of thing. About seven
million of our fellow countrymen are unemployed.
Nearly 16million of us are receiving social grants. A
small minority enjoy extraordinary lifestyles,
making us one of the most unequal societies in the
world.
What this means is that we are a country on a knife-
edge. The levels of inequality and poverty we have
here, if left unaddressed or in the hands of the likes
of Zuma, mean that we are headed straight
towards social upheaval.
Here is the depressing thing, though. Last week
Zuma sent out Nxesi to do his dirty work for him. It
is not the first time that Zuma has done this -
hundreds of ANC leaders did exactly the same thing
for him in the run-up to the ANC conference in
Polokwane in 2007.
In the next two months many ANC leaders, like
Nxesi, will work for Zuma to ensure that he gets a
second term as ANC president and therefore a
second term as president of the state.
And the devastation Zuma has wrought on the
country for the past three years will continue.
The devastation of South Africa certainly did
continue said Jacques out loud. Report No. 25
2013/14 Secure in Comfort released in March 2014
by the Public Protectors Office gives details of a two
year investigation by the Protector, Advocate Thuli
Madonsela. The report covers allegations of
impropriety and unethical conduct relating to
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installation and implementation of security
measures at the residence of President Jacob Zuma
at Nkandla in KwaZulu Natal.
Corruption in the public service has been a
headache for the SA government. The findings of
Transparency International's 2013 Global
Corruption Barometer show that almost 50 percent
of South Africans have reported paying a bribe in
the previous year.
South Africa has lost 675 billion Rands (about 61
billion U.S. dollars) due to corruption since the end
of apartheid in 1994, according to the latest figures
made available by the Institute for Accountability
in Southern Africa.
Secure In Comfort A Report of the March 2014
Public Protector

Executive Summary

Given the very humble
beginnings of this
project, nothing short of
a full township
establishment is now
required
(Comment of the
Director: Architectural
Service of the
Department of Public
Works addressed to the
Acting Director-General
of the Department on
the Nkandla Project at
the end of August 2010).

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Our government is the potent, the omnipresent
teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches people by
example If the government becomes a law
breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every
man [person] to become a law; unto himself

Justice Louis D Brandeis, US Supreme Court Justice.

(i) Secure in Comfort is my report as the Public
Protector of the Republic of South Africa on an
investigation conducted into allegations of
impropriety and unethical conduct relating to the
installation and implementation of security and
related measures at the private residence of the
President of the Republic of South Africa, His
Excellency J G Zuma, at Nkandla in the KwaZulu-
Natal Province.

(ii) At the time the remark of the Director:
Architectural Services of the Department of Public
Works (DPW) is made, the cost estimation for the
project was R145 million. By the time I concluded
this investigation R215 million had been spent
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while the total cost to conclude the project was
conservatively estimated at R246 million.

(iii) The investigation was conducted in terms of
section 182 of the Constitution,

The President of South Africa was given fourteen
days to respond to the report in Parliament.

In response to the release of the Public Protector,
Advocate Thuli Madonselas report, Democratic
Alliance released this statement:
The party welcomed the findings of Public
Protector Thuli Madonsela that Zuma and his
family had unduly benefited from the upgrades to
his Nkandla private residence.
Given these damning findings, I will submit a
formal request to the Speaker of the National
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Assembly, Max Sisulu, to recall the National
Assembly as a matter of extreme urgency to initiate
proceedings against President Zuma in terms of
Section 89 of the Constitution of the Republic of
South Africa.
Impeachment is the correct course of action for this
flagrant abuse of public money.
The party noted that there was no precedent for the
impeachment process.
It refers to the power the National Assembly holds,
in terms of section 89 of the Constitution, to remove
a president from office if he has acted in serious
violation of the Constitution or law, or is believed to
have committed serious misconduct, Mazibuko
said.
It is a fitting sanction for a president who abuses
his office for personal gain.
The party expected the ANC to block the process
from going forward.
However, as the Speaker has himself pointed out,
the fourth Parliament remains in session until 7
May 2014, Mazibuko said.
I urge the ANC and the president to respect the
findings of this report and to co-operate with all
processes to ensure that every person including
President Jacob Zuma is held to account.
DA Leader, Mazibuko, said that the party would
likely also be tabling substantive motions against
members of Zuma's cabinet implicated for
wrongdoing in the report.
We will announce further action going forward.
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**************
President Jacob Zuma is unfit to run the country
as he continuously claims to be unaware of
everything; from the Waterkloof scandal to the
billions of dollars reportedly cached in South Africa
by former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi said
United Democratic Movement (UDM) Bantu
Holomisa in a statement.
Clearly the president cannot be entrusted with the
stewardship of South Africa, he added.
Holomisa was responding to Zumas denial of any
wrongdoing in the Nkandla scandal in which
almost R250million of public funds was spent on
security upgrades to his private residence in
Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
A political commentator attending the release of
Madonselas report said As I watched Public
Protector, Thuli Madonsela painstakingly
ploughing through the long report, I wondered what
former South African President Nelson Mandela
would be saying had he still been alive.
It is ironic that in a year when the country is
supposed to be celebrating 20 years of democratic
rule, President Jacob Zuma has been found to have
violated the very rules he is meant to protect.
The most devastating line was when the softly
spoken, but tough Ms Madonsela stated paragraph
10.10.1.6: His failure to act in protection of state
resources constitutes a violation of executive ethics
code and accordingly, amounts to conduct that is
inconsistent with his office as a member of cabinet
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She ends the report with this quotation from Mr
Nelson Mandela:
Let it never be said by
future generations that
indifference, cynicism
or selfishness made us
fail to live up to the
ideals of humanism
which the Nobel Peace
Prize encapsulates.

This noble, unselfish
gladiator (1918-2013) passed away recently leaving
a clear and moralistic blue print for democracy,
diplomacy and truth that will outlive all of the
festering African Kleptocrats and new rogue
colonialists.
In his tribute at Madiba's funeral service, President
Jacob Zuma made a promise to the beloved icon:
We commit to work more intensively to deal a
decisive blow against the persistent poverty,
unemployment and inequality. Indeed, South
Africa will continue to rise because we dare not fail
you.
The Fourth Pillar again called it right: Now if the
president is sincere about these salutary
commitments, and honest with himself, he should
start by resigning the presidency with immediate
effect, before the inevitable recall. He must admit
to himself that during his tenure he has been
unable to come close to living up to any of the
Mandela principles. In fact, he has already failed
the great man.
True enough, he started out with Mandela as part of
the struggle, but has strayed along the way,
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choosing rather to fraternise with criminal
elements.
And it didn't end there. He proceeded to build
himself a palace with taxpayers' money, money
that could have been used to build more schools,
clinics and homes for the poor. So his promised
decisive blow against persistent poverty has a
hollow ring.
If he really respects the Mandela legacy (and in his
heart of hearts he probably does) he should do the
honourable thing by passing the baton to someone
who, as the Malawian president put it on the same
occasion, loves and is loved by the people and is a
respected leader and an honest one.
With this act, Madiba would in his inimitable way
say to Zuma: That is very good. We understand and
still love you.
Cliff Buchler, George
**********************
Jacques wondered why the Protector, Thuli
Madonsela, having resisted pressure from four
Cabinet Ministers and several other self-serving
government sycophants, had not taken the final
step in finding that Zuma had mislead Parliament.
The expose tiptoed around the word lied. Most
South Africans above the age of seven were of the
opinion that he had lied. Notwithstanding, the
Protector had shown immense courage in resting
life-threatening pressure put on her by male
individuals who had yet to attain the mental age of
seven.
So outraged was one South African citizen named
Visser, over the blatant theft of tax payers funds to
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finance Nkandla, that he laid through his lawyer
the formal charge below against Zuma.
Advocate Madonsela found that Mr Zuma
improperly benefitted from the Nkandla project in
that certain expenditure incurred was of a private
(that is, not security-related) nature. The
expenditure was incurred in making
improvements of a private nature to Mr Zuma's
Nkandla residence at the time of upgrading
security at Mr Zuma's residence.
Advocate Madonsela found that Mr Zuma
improperly benefited from the unlawful
expenditure of taxpayers' funds by the construction
of a house (used by Mr Zuma and his family for,
amongst other events, traditional ceremonies;
expensive paving; a swimming pool; a cattle kraal
and a chicken run at Mr Zuma's residence.
Advocate Madonsela found that Mr Zuma, directly
or via his architect, gave instructions to Ministers of
State, state officials as well as the de facto project
leader of the Nkandla upgrades (who happens to be
Mr Zuma's personal architect) to unlawfully divert
taxpayers' funds to build the aforesaid private
structures at his Nkandla residence. At the time Mr
Zuma was aware that his actions were unlawful
and constituted the crimes of theft of state (that is,
taxpayers) funds; corruption in that Mr Zuma, both
personally and via his private architect, unlawfully
and intentionally, instructed and induced state
officials to act contrary to their official duties and
obligations by allocating state funds to build
structures for Mr Zuma's private use, and fraud in
that Mr Zuma, in full knowledge of the fact that
state funds were misused during the Nkandla
project to build structures for his private use at his
Nkandla residence, misled the South African public
UMHLANGA ROCKS
and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa
by stating in in a parliamentary address that Mr
Zuma and his family personally paid for all homes
built at his residence whereas in truth Mr Zuma
knew at the time that state funds were used to build
a house and other private structures at the
Nkandla residence.
I refer the detective(s) assigned to investigate these
charges to the official report of the Public Protector
that can be obtained from the offices of the Public
Protector situated in Pretoria.
I reiterate that I as a taxpaying citizen of the
Republic of South Africa have the right to lay these
charges and request the SAP's detective branch to
investigate these charges to the best of their ability.
As a taxpayer, I pay a not inconsiderable portion of
my earnings to the Fiscus and have the right to
expect that my tax Rands be utilised by the State
for lawful purposes only.
I suspect on reasonable grounds that my taxes and
those of other taxpayers have been used by the
State to benefit Mr Zuma in an unlawful and
corrupt manner.
I reasonably suspect that the crimes occurred in the
district of Nkandla and such other places where Mr
Zuma gave instructions to Ministers of State, state
officials as well as the de facto project leader of the
Nkandla upgrades (who is Mr Zuma's personal
architect) to unlawfully allocate state funds to build
the aforesaid structures at Mr Zuma's Nkandla
residence.
In conclusion, I have full confidence that the South
African Police will conduct a comprehensive
investigation into the aforesaid charges without
UMHLANGA ROCKS
fear or favour and thereafter place the docket
before the Public Prosecutor once the investigation
has been completed.
The South African Police have opened the docket.
The opposition Democratic Alliance Party have
similarly opened a docket at the Nkandla Police
Station. Julius Malemas Party has had a docket
opened in Sunnyside.
The state's spending of R8.8-million on attorneys
representing President Jacob Zuma over the past
four years is a blatant act of discrimination,
Congress of the People had said prior to the Nkandla
Scandal.
This affirmed Cope's position that Zuma made no
distinction between the money of the state and his
own, spokesperson Johann Abrie said in a
statement.
As early as 2008, the
Congress of the People
warned South Africans
that Zuma is a
compulsive spender,
unable to live within his
means, and his
understanding of the
perks of his position is
that it means access to unlimited cash, it said.
I hope someone checks the lease given by the
Ingonyama Trust and King Goodwill Zwelithini so
freely to Zuma thought a confused Jacques. Does
the R246 million spent to date on the Nkandla
improvements to the property belong to South
Africa, The South African Receiver of Revenue,
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Zuma or the Zulu Nation represented by the
Ingonyama Trust?

Bruce Myburgh, a property specialist from Myburgh
Attorneys in Pretoria, said: A person cannot take
out a bond on land they do not own. Only the person
or entity registered at the deed office as the deed
owner can take out such a bond on the property.

He said this applied to property held in trust too.

The assets may even belong to a foreign power
thought Jacques.

The DA have calculated the tax benefit received by
Zuma to be R42.2m and this should be added to his
annual salary of R2.6m and taxed at 40% and then
recovered by SARS from Zuma.

What Jacques did know thus far was reported by
City Press:

City Press this week obtained details of the leases
for Zumas Nkandla homestead through access to
information legislation.

The documents reveal that:

> The president pays R800 a month for the 8.9ha of
land on which his sprawling complex is situated

> Zumas lease is for 40 years with an option to
renew

> Public Works pays R1 300 a month for the 6.6ha it
has leased adjacent to the presidents homestead

UMHLANGA ROCKS
> A letter from a Public Works official in which the
Ingonyama Trust which owns the land was given
less than a day to agree to a permission to occupy

> Images attached to the lease application show
that substantial security upgrades including two
large perimeter fences had already been
completed at the time the department and the
president applied for leases.

Jacques wondered why so little had been made
about the road infra-structure that was given
priority to service the Nkandla homestead of the
President. It reminded Jacques of the road between
Umtata and Coffee Bay in the then Transkei. Kaiser
Matanzima had similarly prioritized that
particular road for his personal use. The Fourth
Pillar had previously reported: Two new road
networks worth R582 million have been built in
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President Jacob Zumas village in KwaNxamalala,
Nkandla.
The Mercury reports that the road linking the
village to Kranskop, the P15, is a 32.4km stretch
and was built for R290 million, while the road from
Eshowe linking it with the village and Nkandla is
54.4km long and cost R292 million.
KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Willies Mchunu also
opened two pedestrian bridges across the Nsuze
and Mposa rivers in the greater KwaNxamalala
area. These would link villages to schools and cost
R4.5 million.
According to the Mercury, Mchunu said the projects
were considered before Zuma became president.
In fact former president Thabo Mbeki identified
Nkandla and Msinga as priority areas needing
development. This has nothing to do with President
Zuma, Mchunu said.
*******************
Jacob Zuma has also before defended the building
of a new town near Nkandla, saying it is part of
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government's strategy to improve the conditions of
rural people.

The president has not instructed ministers to
provide funding and a budget for the Nkandla-
Mlalazi Smart Growth Centre, he told Parliament
during a question and answer session.
He conceded that the rural development and land
reform department supported the Masibambisane
Rural Development Initiative with the detailed
planning of the Nkandla initiative.
In August 2010, the Mail & Guardian reported on
the R2-billion development being built just 3.2km
from Zumas home. Half of the cost is set to be
carried by public funds with the other half coming
from private investment. Jacques again wondered
Chinese perhaps?
The emerging town of Zumaville, which will cover
200 hectares and could comfortably accommodate
10 000 middle class homes, is envisaged to include
government facilities, including offices for home
affairs and social development; new community
UMHLANGA ROCKS
facilities, such as a library, theatre and recreation
centre; a new school with boarding facilities; a
community safety centre and additions to an
existing clinic, a recreation centre featuring a
swimming pool and tennis courts, light industrial
units, including an agricultural market and
housing centred around community gardens.
The project is the brain child of Masibambisane, a
rural development organization that Zuma chairs.
Its believed that the agriculture department was
also set to make an R800-million contribution to the
organization for the project.
Government later clamped down on information
concerning the project, with former government
spokesperson Jimmy Manyi saying any information
on the development would be contained in annual
reports submitted to Parliament and that
interested parties should monitor the presentations
and interact with information they contained for
further details.
Zuma said no other national departments had
made commitments to the delivery of facilities and
infrastructure on the site and that the smart centre
was part of a provincial programme to revive small
rural towns and formalise rural unplanned towns
and urban settlements.
He said other towns that would benefit from this
programme included Ndumo, Manguzi, Msinga,
Mbumbulu, Nkandla, Charlestown, Jozini,
Ngwavuma, Dududu, Weenen and Colenso.
It is important to emphasise that even at a
national level, Nkandla is not the only district that
is receiving attention for rural development, he
said. Zuma listed 23 districts that had been
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identified by government for interventions to
alleviate poverty.
Many of the programmes Zuma mentioned were
small in scale involving infrastructure
development and upgrades like the building of
roads, bridges and walkways, crches and
recreational facilities.
He said the rural development and land reform
department is working with the Sekhukhune
district municipality to plan a rural node similar
in size and scope to the Umlalazi-Nkandla Smart
Growth Centre, for the Jane Furse Township.
It is a pity that only Nkandla seems to generate
interest, he said.
DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko asked
whether Zuma could justify the spending of R2-
billion in one area that just happens to be just 3km
from his homestead, while other areas a few
kilometers away are without the most basic
services.
In response Zuma said: Why should people at
Nkandla, 3km from where Zuma stays, starve? Why
must they be isolated? Why should others who are
in other areas be more important than those?
Should they be punished because they are
neighbors of Zuma? I dont think so.
He said that Nkandla was well-known for being a
poverty stricken area and that development was
also happening in many other rural areas but that
you dont talk about those.
He defended the variable spending by the rural
development department different areas, saying:
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The money will never be the same, one size fits all.
The developments are not the same.
Zuma said he would never be embarrassed by
development in rural areas and that rural
development had to start somewhere.
Last August, Mazibuko said she would formally ask
the chairman of the standing committee on public
accounts (Scopa), Themba Godi, to investigate why
the government had decided to spend so much
money on a single village when the money could
have been spread across many impoverished rural
areas in KZN.
This after Mazibuko had said formally to Max
Sisulu in July 2012: I will today write to the Public
Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, and request that
she extend her respective investigations into the
upgrade of President Zumas home at Nkandla,
and the spending of R2-billion on Zumaville, to
include the possible improper benefits afforded to
members of President Jacob Zumas family using
diverted state resources at Nkandla in KwaZulu.

This after reports today allege that Michael and
Joseph Zuma had supplies worth R545,249 by
Electricity Company Voltex delivered to their
homes as part of the prestige project the same
project which has been used to pay for the upgrade
to President Zumas private home in Nkandla.

I will also send this most recent development in the
Nkandlagate scandal to the Speaker of the
National Assembly, Max Sisulu, to further justify
my call for an urgent Parliamentary Inquiry into
this matter. It cannot be acceptable for Parliament
to remain silent, while skeletons continue to tumble
out of President Zumas Nkandla closet daily.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Using public funds for the unjustifiable benefit of
any individual is not only grossly unethical but it
also stands in clear violation of the Executive Ethics
Act of 1998, which prohibits Cabinet Members,
Deputy Ministers and MECs from doing the
following:

Using their position or any information entrusted to
them to enrich themselves or improperly benefit
any other person
On Sunday, the DAs representative on Scopa, Dion
George, had criticized Mzobes involvement in
another alleged scandal, a R1-billion food-for-the-
poor development.
Speaking to the
Cape Argus, George
said both the more-
recent food matter,
as well as
Zumaville, would
be the subject of
investigations by
the DAs team on
Scopa, with a view
to them both being discussed formally and publicly
at Scopa.
Last October, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela
announced that her office would investigate
Zumaville - Cape Argus.
On May 4, 2014 the Sunday Times reporter Bongani
Mthethwa said that Jacob Zuma was pressing
ahead with the plan to build South Africas first
post-apartheid town right on his Nkandla
homesteads doorstep. The project was known as
the Umlazi-Nkandla Smart Growth Centre and
UMHLANGA ROCKS
challenges that had previously been encountered
would be resolved in the next few weeks.
Jacques wondered if this related to an assured
outcome in the May 7, 2014 elections. He also
pondered whether the Private Investors,
mentioned but not named by Uthungulu District
Municipality Mayor Thembeka Mchunu in regard
to the financing of Zumaville, could possibly be
from another colonising force from another
continent.
Municipal Manager Sthembiso Mthembu of the
Nkandla Municipality, which reports to Uthungulu
District Municipality, said that he knew nothing
about this development, other than what was
reported in the press. He wondered why Nxamalala
was chosen for the intended development when in
fact more people lived in Nkandla. The population
of Nxamalala is 3,316 with a 56,47% unemployment
rate and the youth unemployment rate of 60%
Questions by the Sunday Times reporter addressed
to Mtobeli Mxotwa, the spokesperson for the
Department of Rural Development, drew no
response.
Zumas cousin and co-chair of the Masibambisane
Development Initiative, Sibusiso Deebo Mzobe, is
driving the Zumaville Project. A feasibility study
completed reveals plans to spend:
Mamba One Stop Development Centre R12,8m
Lindela Thusong Service Centre 14,2m
Educational Facilities R179,0m
Agricultural & Industrial Facilities R146,0m
Commercial Facilities R68,0m
Environmental Facility R46,0m
Government Complex R69,0m
Housing R136,0m
UMHLANGA ROCKS
An astute Free Press spoke to its audience His
reaction to the Nkandla scandal and his refusal to
ever accept responsibility for his actions bring
questions of morality, integrity, leadership and his
understanding of democratic and legal process into
the equation. He also does not act like someone who
knows his tenancy of the Presidency is at the mercy
of those very processes, his party and the voters, nor
does he act like someone who is about to serve his
final term as President of the Republic of South
Africa.

Given Zumas actions over his entire term as
president and given the ANCs wish for a two-thirds
majority in the upcoming general election in order
to be able to change the Constitution, it is perhaps
time to ask the critical question: will Zuma be
prepared to step down and relinquish power at the
end of his final term, or will he finally complete the
Zimbabwefication of South Africa, change the
Constitution and stay on in the Presidency as one of
Africas Big Men, the next Robert Mugabe, making
South Africa his personal fiefdom?
Zuma responded to Parliament on the fourteenth
day as required by Madonselas Report.
In the statement Zuma has decided that he will give
full and proper consideration to the matter only
once he receives a report from the Special
Investigating Unit (SIU). The SIU is also investigating
the R246-million upgrades at the presidents
request. Only once its investigation is concluded,
will Zuma provide Parliament with any
interventions he considers appropriate.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
The SIUS website mysteriously changed the status
of their Nkandla investigation from complete to
incomplete on that day.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) head advocate,
Vas Soni, has since told Eyewitness News that he
hopes to give a final report to President Jacob Zuma
on his Nkandla investigation within the next six to
seven weeks. Soni also said that he will investigate
the mysterious change of status on the website.
Zuma said on Wednesday he would wait for the
SIU's report before making further submissions to
Parliament in response to Public Protector Thuli
Madonsela's findings that he benefitted from
government spending on his KwaZulu-Natal home.

Madonsela said Zuma
violated the Executive
Ethics Code by failing to
protect state resources.

Speaker Max Sisulu will
now consult with all
political parties on
Zumas response, and
how Parliament should
deal with the Public
Protectors report. Parliament is currently in
recess, but MPs can be called back from their
constituencies to deal with this matter.

Zumas response was generally seen as yet another
delaying tactic given the imminent elections.

The Fourth Pillar was justifiably outraged and
eloquently expressed the sentiments of all
democratically minded South Africans How safe
are we as a nation when the president claims to
UMHLANGA ROCKS
have no knowledge of what is happening
immediately around him?
The nation has every right to be angry.
According to President Jacob Zuma, he did not ask
for the upgrades. When the contractors moved in at
Nkandla, he did not know what they were up to. He
just allowed the upgrades to happen. Zuma might
fool some of his cabinet members but this nation is
aware that the head of state is being economical
with the truth.
The Clergy too was outraged: Anglican Archbishop
of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba called on Zuma to
take responsibility for the lack of trust in the
current government.
He's led an interfaith march from District Six to
Parliament against corruption and abuse of power
in government.
Makgoba who is accompanied by his predecessors
archbishops Desmond Tutu and Njongonkulu
Ndungane, has appealed to Zuma to prove that he
neither directly nor indirectly personally benefited
from the multi-million-rand security upgrade at his
private residence in Nkandla.
Makgoba says South Africa deserves leaders who
take responsibility for their actions.
We want to believe our President when he said that
he didnt rob our nation's treasury. But if he didn't,
did he hold the step ladder? If he did hold the step
ladder, sadly he's as guilty as the person who
climbed through your window. All this lead me to
some questions. Mr. President, how much longer do
the citizens of South Africa have to wait for you to
UMHLANGA ROCKS
explain how you came to make the decisions you
made on Nkandla?
He said Zuma needed to address South Africans on
the matter urgently as there were historic levels of
distrust towards the government. We need to hear
the voice of responsibility speak Makgoba said
South Africa's current historic opportunity was not
the celebration of two decades of democracy, but
rather how Zuma decided the fate of the country.
It's in your moments of decision or indecision that
our destiny is shaped.
As the ANC extends to Zuma a rope with which to
hang himself, the damage to the country continues.
For Zuma to state that he owes no one a cent is
laughable.
Though some in the ANC are angry about what has
happened there is nothing they can do about it.
Zuma has huge support and members of his faction
occupy top party posts.
But the Nkandla scandal will never go away.
What we have in Zuma is an imposed leader. He has
no feelings for this nation.
For him to say he owes us nothing points to a
leadership that has lost its compass.
The amount of money spent on Zuma's house
cannot be swept under the carpet. An explanation
will have to come from his office.
It's becoming a worrying trend that Zuma claims
not to know that he is responsible for issues that
clearly demand leadership. With the Nkandla
UMHLANGA ROCKS
debacle, we are waiting to see whether Zuma will
fall on his sword or fire one of his ministers. The
masses should be out on the streets demanding that
Zuma resign. But the
president is digging in
his heels, safe in the
knowledge that ANC
members won't lift a
finger. The sooner we
change our electoral
system, the better - or
we will continue to be
led by men who know nothing and are responsible
for nothing while all around them everything
burns.
Jacques was aware that at this point that Advocate
Madonselas Report on Nkandla contained issues
and questions put to Zuma which remained
unanswered despite intensive follow up by
Madonsela prior to the release of her report. These
questions were on key issues that would reveal
whether or not he had misled Parliament. This
failure creates a further suspicion around his
intentions.
The questions which the President failed to answer
on record for Advocate Madonsela's investigation
are:
Whether he or the Presidency requested that
security measures be installed at his private
residence;
Whether he was at any stage informed of the
cost of the proposed security measures;
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Whether a notice declaring his private
residence a National Key Point was served on
him;
What he understood to be his responsibilities
as the owner of a National Key Point;
What measures he took to secure his private
residence as required by the National Key
Points Act;
Whether he was advised that some of the cost
of securing his private residence as a
National Key Point would be recovered from
him;
Whether he was presented by Mr Makhanya
with the designs of the project;
Whether he received the letter consisting of a
detailed report on the progress made with
the project that was addressed to him by
former Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde on 5
November 2010;
Whether he received the document setting
out the apportionment of cost for the project
that was prepared by the Department of
Public Works;
Whether Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu
discussed the conversion of the fire-pool to a
swimming pool with him and whether he
was aware of the reasons for this conversion;
Whether he was consulted about the
relocation of the households that were
affected by the implementation of the
project;
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Whether he was opposed to more contractors
working on the site during phase 2 of the
project;
Whether Deputy-Minister Bogopane-Zulu
discussed the design of the Military Clinic
with him;
Whether he would be willing to disclose the
amount that he paid for the construction of
the new dwellings on his property;
How often he uses his private residence for
official business;
Why he would prefer using his private
residence for official business rather than
one of the official residences available to
him;
Whether he at any stage enquired into the
cost of the project; and
If not, whether he as the head of state did not
feel obliged to do so as a substantial amount
of public money was obviously being spent.
The President eventually responded, not with clear
answers to the 29 questions put to him, but with a
statement on the matter.
In this statement, he noted that I deem it neither
prudent nor proper for me to comment particularly
where the Public Protector has had access to a
range of Ministers and officials properly tasked with
this responsibility.
Since most of the questions were not answered, the
Public Protector wrote to him again on 8 October
2013, listing the outstanding questions.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The President responded, again not with the
answers, but with a request for evidence to be
furnished to justify the questions.
He also refused to provide proof of the bond.
Where evidence was necessary, which was only for a
few of the questions, the Public Protector submitted
these, as he had requested.
To this date, he has yet to reply and no further
correspondence was received from him, which left a
large number of the questions asked, unanswered.
Furthermore, in a letter sent to the Public
Protector, responding to the Provisional Report on
14 February 2014, President Zuma accused the
Public Protector's investigation of being tainted by
lack of proper procedure and he claimed that it
lacked integrity as this has been compromised by
several leaks.
What is crystal clear from the information set out
above is that President Zuma treated the
investigation with disdain, did not fully cooperate
with it, blatantly ignored correspondence from a
Chapter Nine institution, and failed to provide all
the information requested of him.
No answers have ever been forthcoming and have a
direct bearing on possible future impeachment
proceedings. The basis of the charges, and the
ultimate directive of Madonselas findings, was for
Zuma, with the assistance of the National Treasury
and the police, to pay back part of the total cost of
upgrades that she found did not pertain directly to
the security at the compound.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
These include the visitors centre, amphitheatre,
cattle kraal, chicken run, and swimming pool, all
which total nearly R79m.
Jacques found a four year old report from the
Fourth Pillar which indicated that one of the main
contractors had a Chinese connection. He read the
report:
In mid-November 2009, when the public works
department was already in a flurry over the
increasingly complicated security upgrades at
President Jacob Zumas Nkandla homestead, the
director of one of its main contractors was rubbing
shoulders with ANC top brass in Guangzhou, China.

Pamela Mfeka, the sole director of Moneymine
Enterprises, which was already on site at Nkandla
in 2009 doing private work for Zuma, was
accompanied by her husband, Michael Mfeka, on
the five-day trip to the Peoples Republic of China.

Pamela, who also owns Igugu Training and
Investments and Igugu Functions Venue, was a
member of the delegation, organised by the African
National Congresss Progressive Business Forum.

The trip was led by the African National Congresss
former treasurer general, Mathews Phosa.

Michael Mfeka, who is not listed as a director of his
wifes companies, worked as Moneymines project
manager at the controversial Nkandla building
site.

Towards the end of 2009, the department was
already spending money it had not secured -- it was
following instructions from the Police and the
Defence Department for extensive and expensive
UMHLANGA ROCKS
security upgrades to Zumas private residence.

The estimated cost at that stage was R27.8-million;
the projected cost by October 2012 was R270-
million.
In March 2010, a few months after the China trip,
the departments Jean Rindel, who was overseeing
the Nkandla upgrades, explained why Moneymine
had been appointed as a phase one contractor
despite the deviation from normal procurement
procedures.

Rindel noted: The owner of the property had
appointed a contractor, Moneymine Investments,
to construct new accommodation at the site. The
current status of that project is that the contractor
is on site and construction is 15% completed. The
state has the obligation to include the security
measures in the existing and the new
accommodation.

Rindel noted that, as no other contractor could do
the job, the work could not go out on open tender.

It is essential that Moneymine construction be
appointed under the negotiated procedure to
eliminate risks. The contractor is security cleared
by the National Intelligence Agency and is trusted
by the owner of the property.

It is thus essential that the same contractor,
Moneymine Investments, be appointed to complete
the works, he wrote.

Shortly after the memorandum, Rindels pleas
were answered in the affirmative, despite the fact
that Moneymine had in effect been appointed to do
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the security installations and other works in the
initial phase of the project.
In January 2011, the firm Moneymine was again
guaranteed work for phase two of the Nkandla
Project.

Another department document suggests that the
decision to go with a negotiated bid at that stage
was also indirectly prompted by Zuma: A meeting
was held with Deputy Minister [of Public Works]
Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu (and other senior
officials) on 21 December 2010 in which she
confirmed that the principal [Zuma] indicated that
he does not want other contractors on site in phase
two.

Phase two related mostly to the installation of
additional security measures, including 31 new
buildings, police accommodation, bullet-proof glass
and installation of a security surveillance system.

Rindel and other public works department officials
consistently motivated for Moneymines
appointments to be rolled over to ensure the
integration of Zumas private upgrades with those
works of the Public Works Department.
The company was also handed the remainder of
work left by Bonelena, which the department fired
in April during phase three, for which Moneymine
received an extra R3.47-million in cash.

Moneymine has also received a number of other
lucrative contracts from the Public Works
Department.

Michael Mfeka said neither he nor his wife could
comment on Moneymines involvement at
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Nkandla. He said that they were not allowed to talk
to the press and that the department has all the
information. -- Additional reporting by Xanthe
Hunt
Jacques saw the connection between the imposed
Architect Menzi Simelane and Michael Mfeka,
Moneymines project manager on Nkandla. Why
would the owner of the main contractor and the
project manager, her husband, be keen to visit
Guangzhou in China. Again Jacques lifted from the
Fourth Pillar the record of that visit.

The ANC's Progressive Business Forum (PBF)
yesterday (16 November 2009) returned from
Guangzhou, People's Republic of China, where it
hosted a successful Tourism & Trade Seminar over
the period 12 - 15 November 2009. Over 80 South
African Businessmen and women accompanied the
PBF.
ANC Treasurer General Mathews Phosa and
Minister for Social Development, Edna Molewa
accompanied the delegation. The CPC Vice-
Minister for the International Department, Li
Jingjun, as well as other senior officials from
Beijing, the Guangdong Province and City of
Guangzhou also attended and addressed the
seminar.
The PBF worked closely with the China Economic
Cooperation Council (CECC) and the China Council
for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in
organising the event and for mobilising Chinese
business delegates. The PBF also entered into
cooperation agreements with the two Chinese
organisations.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The event was organised in a manner intended to
empower South African delegates in doing business
in China and to introduce the Chinese participants
to the South African economy. Pre-arrangements
were also made whereby South African companies
were introduced to appropriate and similar
Chinese enterprises for the purpose of exploring
trade and investment opportunities, and to
introduce businesses to each other in order to
establish relationships between them, which could
potentially lead to mutually beneficial trade. In
terms of the agreements entered into between
the PBF, the CECC and the CCPIT, companies can in
future also work through these organisations in
order to make contact with like-minded
enterprises.
The PBF has been embarking on trade missions
such as this since November 2008 in order to give
further practical content to the bi-lateral trade
agreements between the two countries. The
primary intention is to broaden the global footprint
of South Africans in the developing world, and to
further promote South-South trade relationships.
Jacques wondered about the Zwelithini, Zuma and
the Chinese link to Zumaville and Nkandla and
whether all of this tied into the Chinese investing in
Nkandla, Cornubia and the KwaZulu Natal
Northern Growth Corridor. Surely major contracts
were involved in the infrastructural upgrades.
********************
A member of the Fourth Pillar nostalgically wrote a
piece on Nkandla:

I knew Nkandla before it was a thing? I used to
drive past it on my way home to Gingindlovu, on
UMHLANGA ROCKS
that drive I miss so much. From Johannesburg, I
used to leave the N3 at Villiers and head through
Memel and Vrede,
down into Newcastle
and across to Vryheid,
and then skim past
Ulundi and Nkandla on
my way down to
Melmoth and Eshowe.
The Western Cape, with
some reason, gets a lot of the plaudits. But, at the
right time of day, Im not sure there is a more
beautiful part of our country than the hills of
Zululand. There is softness to the light there, a light
that some cinematographers often labour to
reproduce and so seldom get right. Dennis Hopper
caught it for the happier moments in Easy Rider.
George Roy Hill got it right in Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid. But it is so special that its all but
impossible to reproduce.
It is breathlessly hot in summer, sending crickets
and cicadas into a frenzy. If theres a breeze, it
ripples lazily through the cane, never in a hurry.
Nkandla Forest is an
indigenous mist-belt forest
that sports astonishing
biodiversity and birdlife. It is
cut through with deep gorges,
waterfalls and soaring trees.
It is also a place full of myth
and history, and features in
Zulu lore as a place of refuge and retreat. The name
itself derives from a word meaning to wear out, or
tire.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
It was to Nkandla a natural redoubt at the top of
the 15m Mome waterfall that, in 1883, King
Cetshwayo fled after his homestead at Ondini was
attacked by a rival. Cetshwayo had been in exile in
London and on his return the kingdom, shattered
as it had been by the British at Ulundi in 1879 and
divided into compartments by the colonial
government, had descended into feuding and civil
war. Incidentally, in his kings defence, one
Ntshingwayo Khoza was also killed at Ondini.
Khoza had commanded the kings forces at
iSandlwana, where Britain had suffered its greatest
ever colonial defeat, a shock that would
reverberate around the world but, perhaps,
surprised nobody who really knew the Zulus. It was
an ignominious end to a scandalously overlooked
great South African.
Cetshwayo died a few months later at Eshowe. The
spot is marked with a slightly depressing
monument in the middle of a traffic island. The
king is buried in a remote part of Nkandla Forest.
His grave site is cared for by the community there,
and it is notoriously hard to find and a good 4x4 is
required. I have never been but with permission
one day I hope to get there.
Khozas grave was unmarked and, so far as I am
aware, its location has been lost. Chief Bambatha
kaMancinza also sought refuge from Natal colonial
forces during the Bambatha rebellion at Nkandla.
I suppose the most heartbreaking thing about the
story of independent KwaZulu is that its founding
by King Shaka in the 1820s and its demise in 1879
are separated by much less than a healthy human
lifespan. It is said that the old folk who witnessed
UMHLANGA ROCKS
the humiliation of Cetshwayo could remember a
time before the Zulus were more than just a family.
This history lives and breathes in the hills around
Eshowe, Melmoth and Nkandla. Its tangible and
beautiful, a persistent reminder that this place is
different, that these unassuming little places are at
the heart of the Mfecane history of civil upheavals
and the implications that followed for the
subcontinent. If you havent been, you really
should go.
But, of course, Nkandlas real history now faces
popular oblivion in the face of this grotesque thing
that President Zuma has done there. For me,
Nkandla has always been about an extraordinary
history and an extraordinary people; a semi-secret,
almost sacred place at the centre of one of our
countrys greatest stories, and of one of our most
storied peoples.
I suppose it will forever be my privilege that it still
is. Zuma will go one day, and people will not seek
out his headstone. In all of the anger about what he
has done (or not done), I find great catharsis in this
epitaph.
************************
Jacques remembered a long forgotten piece of
wisdom from Confucius on Democracy:
From the loving example of one family, love
extends throughout the state; from its courtesy,
courtesy extends throughout the state; while the
ambition and perverse recklessness of one man
may plunge the entire state into rebellion and
disorder.

***********************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Finally, late on April 8, 2014 it was reported by the
Beeld newspaper that National Assembly speaker
Max Sisulu had decided
to investigate the
Nkandla report before
the May 7 elections.
Sisulu had decided to
set up a multiparty
parliamentary ad hoc
committee to consider
Public Protector Thuli
Madonselas report
about costly security upgrades to President Jacob
Zumas private home in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
The mandate of the ad hoc committee is to consider
the submissions by the President in response to the
Public Protector's Report and make
recommendations, where applicable.
The ad hoc committee would be made up of seven
African National Congress members, two from the
Democratic Alliance, one from the Inkatha
Freedom Party, one from the Congress of the
People, and another single member from an
unnamed party.
It would determine its own procedure, frequency
and time of its meetings.
The committee is to report no than later April 30,
2014, Parliament said.
Madonsela had published her report on Nkandla on
March 19.
Among the findings were that Zuma unduly
benefited from the upgrades to his KwaZulu-Natal
UMHLANGA ROCKS
homestead, and that he should pay back a portion
of the money.
********************

In terms of the Executive Members Ethics Act of
1998 the Public Protector is also empowered to
investigate breaches of the Executive Ethics Code
passed in terms of the Act.
Section 2.3 of the Code of Ethics state that Members
of the Executive (which includes the President and
any other member of the cabinet) may not wilfully
mislead the legislature to which they are
accountable; act in a way that is inconsistent with
their position; use their position or any information
entrusted to them, to enrich themselves or
improperly benefit any other person; expose
themselves to any situation involving the risk of a
conflict between their official responsibilities and
their private interests; or receive remuneration for
any work or service other than for the performance
of their functions as members of the Executive.
*********************
Nkandla is SAs Watergate moment. Watergate was
forty years ago, but memories of a secret security
project gone very badly rogue and that ended up
being traced right into the presidents office and a
whole host of lesser officials caught by its tendrils as
well came flooding right back as the Public
Prosecutors briefing took place on television. In the
end, in Watergate, a president was compelled to
resign rather than face being found guilty in a vote
by the US Senate, so maybe the end game will be
rather different; it is still early days- Pierre de Vos
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Nkandla is very damaging to the ANC. I think they
will lose votes because of it. I think Jacob Zuma is in
trouble. I cannot see how the opulence of Nkandla
wont be very damaging.
The fact that Public Protector Thuli Madonsela is
fighting this with so much courage is an enormous
plus for the South African constitution and for our
ability to attract foreign investment said veteran
South African Politician Dr. Alex Borain.
This is our Watergate moment. If Nixon had
managed to suppress the evidence, what kind of
America would have emerged? That is the kind of
moment were all in right now
*********************
City Press reported on April 13, 2014: The ANC is
deliberately delaying the work of the
parliamentary ad hoc committee of inquiry into
the improvements to President Jacob Zuma's
private homestead in Nkandla to let him off the
hook, says DA federal chairman Dr Wilmot James.
James told a DA public meeting in Hartenbos,
outside Mossel Bay in Western Cape, at the weekend
that he was certain the ANC in parliament would
take the full 10 days it was allowed to nominate its
members to the ad hoc committee.
He said this would, in reality, leave the committee
with only two days to finish its work, given the April
30 deadline and the number of holidays in
between.
James said the Nkandla saga showed that Zuma
behaved like an old-style king who enjoyed living in
luxury while those regarded as his subjects
wallowed in abject poverty.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
As we approach the May 7, 2014 elections in South
Africa Jacques thought it appropriate to remember
James Myburghs informative report released prior
to the last elections where Jacob Zuma prevailed
with monetary assistance from, inter alia, China.
Is the ANC selling out our sovereignty?
James Myburgh
24 March 2009
In its section on party funding in Africa the IDEA
handbook notes that those sources of funding most
incompatible with democracy are kickbacks from
recipients of government contracts and other
largesse, diverting state resources to the governing
party through front organizations, and donations
from foreign sources such as business owners,
multinationals and governments. In addition in
many African countries the use and abuse of state
resources is a corrupt form of massive public
funding available only to the governing party.
The advantages that can accrue to ruling parties
are a major contributing factor to democratic
atrophy in Africa. As IDEA notes: In many African
countries Governing parties' use of state resources,
with evident impunity, and their brazen demand
for and acceptance of kickbacks explain much of
the apparent electoral impregnability of many
African governing parties, even those with clear
records of economic and human rights failures.
They manage to build such formidable electoral
war-chests that their impoverished opponents
usually have little chance.
Apart from donations from foreign sources, there is
already much evidence in the public domain of the
ANC using these other dubious means to advantage
UMHLANGA ROCKS
itself and secure its position. The dangers for
democracy in South Africa are also similar. At a
time when this country should be looking forward
to a more pluralistic and responsive democracy -
and the ruling party to a much reduced majority -
the ANC may succeed in simply buying its way back
to a two-thirds majority.
Meanwhile in the current election campaign it has
been revealed that the Nuclear Energy Corporation
(Necsa) used state resources to fund the ruling
partys election drive casting a shadow on an entity
that will soon adjudicate over the biggest public
tenders yet awarded. This year bidders from
Russia, China and France will be vying for contracts
worth more than R1,0-trillion to build nuclear
reactors in South Africa.
Last time it was the despicable Arms Deal
debacle.
We get the money from government. How can we
use it to fund the ANC? said a Necsa board member
who spoke to the Fourth Pillar on condition of
anonymity.
President Jacob Zuma attended this election drive
event to launch the ANC election manifesto in
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga in January 2014.
******************************
In an interview with the Sunday Times on April 27,
2014 the Chairman of Nedbank, Reuel Khoza, said
that when the countrys leaders begin to steal in a
manner that is difficult to unravel, there is a
kleptocracy at work, not a democracy.
He argued that if people led without the necessary
moral authority, chances were they would soon
UMHLANGA ROCKS
mislead effectively, as had Zimbabwe President
Mugabe.
****************************
Jacques went on to read a spoof by Matthew
Burbridge of the Mail & Guardian on April fools Day
which may be closer to the truth than any self-
respecting South African realises.

The M&G can reveal that China's relationship with
its smaller Brics cousin has just become a lot cozier,
with a rural residence for its president. Diplomatic
sources, who were not authorized to comment
officially, told the Mail & Guardian that China's
President Xi Jinping and President Jacob Zuma
sealed a new bilateral deal on the sidelines of the
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics)
summit in Durban last week.

The deal provides for the aggressive enlargement of
Zuma's rural homestead in Nkandla and will
include a new residence for Xi, his family, and
entourage.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The deal is apparently being kept under wraps. The
Nkandlagate scandal came to light after a string of
reports revealed that over R246-million would be
forked out for infrastructural improvements at the
president's private residence at Nxamalala in rural
Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
The M&G has previously reported that there would
be a clinic, as well as a helipad, medical clinic,
bulletproof glazing and air-conditioning in certain
residential units as well as a bunker at Nkandla.
The upgrade is
currently the
subject of an
investigation by
public protector
Thuli Madonsela,
although a public
works department
report on alleged
abuse of public funds during the upgrades found no
signs of wrongdoing.
The plans for the expansion which the M&G has
seen include a tea house and small tea estate,
which is likely to thrive, given the area's high
rainfall and fertile soil. The plans also provide for a
small Chinese take-away.
Comment from the Department of International
Relations and Cooperation was not immediately
forthcoming.
President Zuma, a prominent tea drinker, has
often been seen sipping Rooibos and honey, said to
be his favorite drink. It is not known whether Xi
enjoys tea.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
So was this the agribusiness for which 50,000
hectares of precious South Africa soil had been
allocated to the Chinese by King Goodwill
Zwelithini and the Ingonyama Trust? pondered
Jacques as he recalled the report on Pengxin given
by Elias Khumalo. BEK-Pengxin Agritech
eventually hopes to have access to one million
hectares of land across the country, producing
regional products from province to province.
Trustee Govender of Ingonyama Trust had told City
Press that the initial tract of land identified stood
at about 40000 hectares, but that they hoped to
increase this to about 60000 hectares after
negotiations with the KwaZulu Natal provincial
government.

The idea is to create sustainable agribusiness
around the country, starting with the pilot project
here in KwaZulu-Natal, which we would replicate in
other provinces as time goes on.

This surely was a sell out by South Africa to
colonialist China.

Jacques thought of Zulu barman Brians question
to the Colonel at the Sizzling Steak way back.

Well Colonel, how come the Zulus are back in
charge now?

The answer Brian is that they are not, the Chinese
are.

President Jacob Zuma has defended China's
surging investment in Africa, telling an audience at
Beijing's Renmin University that China was making
UMHLANGA ROCKS
an important contribution to the development of
the continent.

We are still at an early stage of what will be an
exciting journey, a journey out of poverty, a journey
to sustainable improvements in the lives of our
people, here in China, and on the African
continent, President Zuma said on Wednesday, the
second day of his state visit to the country.

Zuma's comments come as the debate over China's
role in Africa continues to rage. Critics have raised
concerns about China's support for countries like
Sudan and Zimbabwe, as well as its questionable
worker safety rules.

Chinese assistance in infrastructure development
in some of the less developed parts of Africa is
certainly making an important contribution to
future African development, Zuma said.

African countries remain an attractive destination
for Chinese investment funds, though Africa is
looking for China to expand its investments beyond
mining and resources.

South Africa, for its part, is looking to the world's
second-largest economy to increase its investment
in the country. South Africa is strategic for China in
that it is Africa's largest and most advanced
economy.

South African President Jacob Zuma and Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao signed the Beijing Declaration,
outlining 38 cooperation agreements, following
their one-hour talks in the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing on Tuesday

UMHLANGA ROCKS
And on the same day, Chinese and South African
companies signed more than a dozen agreements
covering investments in railways, power
transmission, construction, mining, insurance,
telecoms and nuclear power.
Zuma was accompanied on his trip by over 370
representatives from the business community, the
largest ever contingent from South Africa to visit
China.

******************

Ryan was the first to notice the new interest in
industrial property. He stood in the waving sugar-
cane fields with the
Land Surveyor trying to
identify the survey pegs
on a monstrous hill of
sugar cane in Cornubia.

The sellers are going to
have to flatten this hill
between those pegs that
I have just pointed out to
you said the Land
Surveyor.

What will they do with
the soil and the cane
asked Ryan.
Probably sub-contract the locals to find a use for it.
Then we will end up with beach sand and cane
plants in Kloof said the Land Surveyor packing this
survey instruments into the back of his pick-up.

Who are your buyers anyway Ryan

UMHLANGA ROCKS
They are some wealthy dudes from China. They
speak through an interpreter and then, on a given
signal, they all smile and bow at the same time. I
am then expected to smile and bow in return.
Bleeding circus laughed Ryan.

Once the hill has been removed, your clients can
bring their Offer to Purchase and their own
surveyor to confirm the perimeter said the
surveyor departing in a storm of dust.

Bloody British came here and planted all of this
shit, now the goddam Chinese are here to dig it all
up again. Dont we South Africans do anything for
ourselves? thought Ryan as he wheel-spun out of
Cornubia in search of the first cold one of the
afternoon.

********************
President Jacob Zuma officially opened The
Cornubia Project on Sunday, 06 April 2014. It forms
part of government's initiative to integrate the
South African society through decent human
settlements as well as deliver housing to people for a
better life for all.
At completion, the Cornubia Project will finally
yield 28,000 mixed income housing units, light
industrial factories, retail parks, schools, various
businesses and recreational parks.
This enormous development is anticipated to create
approximately 48,000 new and sustainable job
opportunities over a period of 15 years. The close
proximity to the King Shaka International Airport
will further increase employment opportunities for
the project beneficiaries. Government remains
committed to address and eliminate entrenched
UMHLANGA ROCKS
apartheid spatial patterns and is working hard
towards building cohesive, sustainable and caring
communities with improved access to work and
social amenities by providing decent human
settlements.
The Cornubia Project is a joint venture between the
National Department of Human Settlements, the
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements
and Public Works, eThekwini Metropolitan and
Tongaat Hewlett.

President Zuma performed the official opening
ceremony and was accompanied by Minister of
Human Settlements, Ms Connie September,
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Mr Senzo Mchunu, and
UMHLANGA ROCKS
eThekwini Executive Mayor Councillor James
Nxumalo.
In an interview with SAnews, Kwanele Ncalane,
spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for
Transport, confirmed that an agreement had been
reached by all parties involved regarding the
funding of the future interchanges. The KwaZulu-
Natal Department of Transport is going to
contribute. However at this stage, we are not in a
position to disclose the actual investment in the
project, Ncalane said.
Jacques wondered who was in the party of funders
regarding future interchanges mentioned by the
spokesman for the KwaZulu MEC for Transport.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The Peoples Republic of China is very fond of
funding infrastructural projects and road linkages
elsewhere in Africa.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Chapter 9 The End
________________________________________________________
The news broke in the Village early one Saturday
morning. Soft rain fell out of grey skies and brought
respite to the stifling low pressure system that had
built up through several hot, sailing, swimming
and sweating days. That relief, caused by water
laden clouds drifting in off the warm Indian Ocean,
propelled by a gentle north easterly wind, was now
sifting down gently and had the locals huddled over
their drinks far earlier than usual.
Daniel, I believe that you and Robyn have sold
Larrys Linguini and are buying the Pickled Pork
Chop said Ryan, the Villages own property guru.
Thats right said Daniel looking a bit sheepish.
That is a real tragedy. The locals had so much fun
here over the years and you and Robyn have
become family said Ryan solemnly.
We are not dying, just moving across the road
countered Daniel.
Ja, but your position on Ambush Alley made
Larrys a secluded, plant shrouded hide-away for
all of the shenanigans that take place in the Village.
And besides, Ambush Alley is a natural dance
floor.
Larrys is not moving. It will still be here, so whats
your point Ryan
Just wont be the same mumbled Ryan and
stooped into the whispering rain.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Wait till he hears that the buyer is the original
Luigi said Daniel to nobody there.
*************
Jacques sat waiting at Dreamers for Johan to
arrive. We cant have a pattern of venues and
must present a moving target at all times Johan
had explained in setting the venue. Seated at the
back of the restaurant Johan began furtively.
Meneer, I have been through your summation and
in Police terms there is enough here to investigate,
substantiate, question and seek repudiation. As a
dossier it is substantial and alarming. Now the
problem is where we now take it.
Im in your hands said Jacques
On the contrary skattie, I am in yours
What do you mean said Jacques
My route to prosecuting this is compromised by
several spooks in high positions. We have to find an
unimpeachable source to expose our findings. Any
ideas?
Jacques gazed absently around the bustling
restaurant, chewed his gums, nodded and smiled
to some acquaintances then blurted out far too
loudly
Ek het dit!!
Softly admonished Johan
Sorry. I dont have much experience at this but
here goes nothing said Jacques.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
There was a man in this similar position just after
1994. He shall remain nameless but from the story
you will know exactly who I am talking about.
Johan leaned forward intently and Jacques
prolonged his agony by ordering another coffee.
He was an admirer of the African National Congress
and after 1994 became a Member of Parliament. He
served on several committees including the
Parliamentary Ethics Committee. In fulfilling his
duty to his country, he pointed out several breeches
in the procurement process in the acquisition of
assets by the South African Armed Forces. When his
findings were covered up by several executive
dudes in our Government, he resigned from
Government and from the ANC.
Jacques raised his hand for a waiter so as to create
more suspense and drama.
Jacques, vergeet nou van die bliksemse koffee!
boomed Johan now in cop mode ek weet wievan jy
praat maar hoe kry ons hom in die hande.
Simple said Jacques I will phone him.
Jacques explained Around the time that our
mystery man left South Africa and moved to
England, I wrote to him praising him for his moral
courage and sympathizing with him for his loss of
faith in the ANC and his shabby treatment by them.
We have stayed in touch ever since. He has since
written an outstanding book on the South African
Governments shameful ethics and another far
more powerful expose on the shenanigans of
Western Governments.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Now how do you like that, jou bliksem said Johan
slapping Jacques on the shoulder and running the
risk of attracting attention.
Johan dug into his briefcase and unfolded the
morning paper in front of Jacques and said We are
having a bumper week my mate.
Jacques read from The Mercury: KwaZulu-Natal
police are searching for a Durban man they believe
is the kingpin of a massive heroin and mandrax
drug-dealing syndicate which was operating from a
rented Umhlanga Rocks property.
Police believe the syndicate was selling roughly
about 15,000 straws of heroin a day.
Twelve people charged in connection with the crime
appeared in the Verulam Magistrates Court on
Thursday on drug-dealing charges.
The group were arrested at a Chartwell Drive house
on Monday after metro police acted on a tip-off and
raided the property.
Police found at least 20,000 mandrax tablets,
several hundred straws of heroin and 4.5kg of
heroin powder at the house. The police estimate the
drugs have a value of R5 million, and the house was
being used solely for drug packaging.
Police also found R220,000 in cash at a nearby
International Bank Vault safety deposit box.
The drug-packaging operation appears to be
similar to the set-up at a Gillitts home where police
recently seized mandrax and heroin worth R40m.
In the Gillitts case, police said the home was being
used as a drug-packaging facility, and that there
were seven workstations which had been manned
by foreigners to package heroin straws.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
On Thursday, in the Uhhlanga case, prosecutor
Dinesh Nandkissor said the State was opposed to
bail, and that it needed a seven-day adjournment
for the police to verify the personal circumstances of
the accused.
The investigating officer, Warrant Officer Jean-
Pierre van Zyl-Roux, who was called to testify by
magistrate Ruby Poobalan, said the house had
been used solely for drug packaging.
There were seven workstations in the home where
drugs were being packaged.
He added that the group, and particularly the main
accused, Ommie Sheik Mohamed, were flight risks.
He said Mohameds relative, who was believed to be
the kingpin behind the operation, was being sought
by the police and had sub-leased the property from
the lease-holder.
The rent was R15,000 a month, with an additional
R2,000 a month for electricity and water.
Under cross-examination by the groups attorney,
Faizel Kara, Van Zyl-Roux conceded that Mohamed
had handed in her passport and ID to the police.
However, he said she could obtain fake documents.
Mohameds relatives Nawaaz Sheik Mohamed,
Rafiq Sheik Mohamed and Jameelah Sheik
Mohamed, along with Sizeka Mangaliso, Haroon
Omar, Faiza Khan, Philiswa Kolisile, Altaaf Hoosen
Sayed, Zaakir Bobat and Laila Sayed are her co-
accused.
Van Zyl-Roux added that one of the accused,
Hassan Gihunga, was a Rwandan national, and his
status in the country had to be verified with Home
Affairs.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Kara said his clients should have appeared in court
on Tuesday and that their rights had been
infringed
The two pals departed on the basis that Jacques
would send an Executive Summary of their findings
to the man in England and seek his advice on how
to leak the details.
Jacques woke suddenly to smokey green eyes and a
hand gently stroking his hair. Tousled blonde hair
fell about her face and her pixie smile was, this
morning, a little more severe.
Jacques baby, I am worried!
Jacques held her head a planted a kiss amongst the
curls on her forehead.
What can Jacques do to make it go away?
He can give up the investigation she said bluntly
Why stress now babe?
You have been ok with
all of this stuff until now
and I have kept you up
to date all of the way
soothed Jacques.
Because I had a dream
last night she said, her
brow furrowing under the golden locks.
What was it about, girl said Jacques holding her
face between his hands.
Being alone again she said through welling sad
eyes.
****************************
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Hello Jacques boomed the voice on the speaker
phone how the hell are you. Thanks for taking this
conference call. I received your Executive Summary
here in London yesterday and sat up reading until
late. Reminded me a lot of the first fiasco in which I
was involved
Hi Andy, I am well, hope you are too. I have Johan
with me here. You have his details in the dossier.
Hello Andy pleased to finally meet you. Jacques
here has only good things to say about you said
Johan bending to addressing the dispassionate
machine in front of him.
Guys, Ill be brief. Clearly I know many of the
people involved and have more than a bone to pick
with most of them. I believe that according to
Treasury deputy director Andrew Donaldson, the
total nominal expenditure on the SDPP [Strategic
Defence Procurement Package] between 2000/01
and 2013/14 has been R46, 666 billion.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
However, I have moved on since then. After my
International Expose was released I gained the
respect of several International Intelligence
Agencies not to mention an inside track to many
forensic auditors and a tranche of investigative
reporters, all with impeccable track records. I
think you guys have done a great job considering all
of the cover fire from the usual South African
sycophants. We will fill in all of the blank spaces by
using our resources in the UK and with help from
our European and American partners. We are
especially interested in your Chinese assertions. It
will be my pleasure to use my trusted channels to
filter the story judiciously to reliable members of
the Fourth Pillar. For obvious reasons, I cannot
disclose these channels to you but be assured that
the dossier is leaking all over the floor even as we
speak. We will not be in contact again. Look in your
favorite newspaper for the outcome of your good
work. Well done again guys and cheers.
Cheers Andy chimed Jacques and Johan. The
light switched from green to red, the machine
clicked off and went silent.
Johan and Jacques sat quietly with their thoughts
for a while then Johan grinned and said:
My maaitjie, die koel is nou deur die kerk.
***********
Jacques, Linda thanks for coming said the mayor
looking impeccable as usual in her blue jacket with
white piping, blue and red scarf and white bag. She
removed a list from that bag while the mayoress
placed a tea order with the waiter.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
After small talk, the tea arrived and the mayoress
began. The mayoress and I have come, after good
deliberation, to a decision in fact two decisions
Jacques and Linda leaned forward with interest.
Firstly, I can announce that our popular mayoress
has decided to call it a day after ten years in office
and wishes to hang up her mayoral chain. It is long
overdue that she puts her feet up and so has
decided to retire to her beloved farm in the bush-
veld. Her term of office in Umhlanga Rocks has at
times been fun, exasperating, hard work but she
always performed her duties with a smile.
Jacques intoned The locals have enjoyed and loved
her honour, the mayoress, and will be sad to see her
go. She will be sorely missed by all?
That brings me at this point to our second decision
said the mayor.
Linda we have watched you interacting with the
locals these past many months and believe that you
have the personality, dignity and bearing to fulfil
the role of mayoress. We both would be very pleased
if you would accept the role of mayoress when my
good friend here retires shortly.
Linda was flabbergasted.
Jacques hugged her and said Baby, this is a great
honour, will you do it?
I would be delighted to serve with you, your honour
the mayor said Linda.
Lovely, perfect, congratulations said the dainty
mayor. Now mayoress our first job, in the spirit of
dtente, will be to unite the two most distant
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factions in the Village the Ladies Club and the
Witches of Eastwick Club Linda could you please
bring Meg Ryan with you to our meeting next week.
I have a feeling that we are going to need her help in
uniting the foes
**********************
King Goodwill Zwelithini has had R300,0m set aside
for a cultural village at his Enkonyeni Palace in
Nongama in Northern KwaZulu Natal. The
Department of Arts & Culture says however that the
costs of the project could escalate to R600,0m
reports Bongani Mthethwa of the Sunday Times.
Ground has been broken on the first phase of the
project which will see
the construction of 12
of 16 sleeping areas
and shower and
ablution facilities for
some 30,000 Zulu
maidens attending the
annual reed dance.
A senior spokesperson
from Government recently emphasised that the
development and the infrastructure was not only
for the king but for the entire Zulu Nation.
The development, known as the Eyokeni Cultural
Precinct includes a security fence.
The initiative which is being implemented by the
Independent Development Trust and not the
Ingonyama Trust, will transform the village into a
maze of paved walkways that will link the royal
square and existing pavilion. The existing pavilion
is also being upgraded.
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The development includes a VIP Area to seat 2,000
visitors.
Improvements will be made to all existing arterial
roads to cater for visitors to the September 2014
reed dance.
Mogomotsi Mogodiri, a spokesperson for the
Department of Arts & Culture said that the village
would also cater for other royal events such as the
first fruit festival that takes place in early
December each year.
***********************
As part of the Ingonyama Rural Development
Forums Brics Programme, King Goodwill Zwelithini
addressed a delegation of academics from Fujian
Agriculture and Forestry University. The king said
that as a result of his collaboration with the
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university, the amakhosi would be enrolled at the
institution and he wanted them to be part of the
programme because the future is east. It is my
wish that in the near future we also have similar
projects where universities in China can offer
isiZulu lessons, as that will ensure that there is
more understanding between our two nations, he
said. The relationship between Zwelithini and the
Fujian University goes back to 2005, when they
helped establish a mushroom project at Cedara.
This project will be further expanded and the king
has also appealed to China to open its markets to
farmers. South Africans who had gone to China to
learn about mushroom planting had also been
taught how to cultivate rice. The king said this
would grow well along the coast. Professor Lin
Zhanxi, of the Fujian university, said the
mushroom research centre at Cedara was the
biggest in Africa. He said they had already
expanded the mushroom farming to seven
Ingonyama Trust sites in KZN and wanted to use
their technology to benefit people around the world.
China and South Africa are strategic partners. This
is not for commercial purposes its for skills
development and empowerment he said.
The king launched the Ingonyama Rural
Development Forum in 2012 to bring together
traditional leaders, experts, research institutions,
businesses and policymakers to discuss rural
development.
Jacques read a summation on Chinese agricultural
ambitions in Africa.
It is perhaps naive to believe that China will not
ultimately take advantage of vulnerable food
resources in Africa to some degree or that China
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would readily agree to an international standard
on foreign agricultural investment. And indeed,
African nations may be best served by enacting
stronger local land-use policies and demanding
more specific agreements, as suggested by Van
Braun. However, despite the potential pitfalls,
Chinas investment in Africa has the potential to
significantly change agriculture on the continent.
Unprecedented improvements to infrastructure,
increases in education and available technology,
and an influx of investment capital could bring
sustainable solutions to Africas food troubles.

Upon closer analysis, China has not earned its
harsh reputation. Perhaps in an attempt to
reassure its increasingly important African allies,
China appears to be exhibiting more caution than
it has in the past. Thus far, this caution has
differentiated Chinas agricultural investment in
Africa from its other investment projects on the
continent. How long this caution lasts and whether
the advancements discussed above will ultimately
outweigh the potential negative consequences of
Chinas investment in Africa remains to be seen.

Report by: Carl Rubinstein, who is with the Centre
for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington, D.C. USA.
*****************
Jacques recalled the words from his own earlier
research: The large number of legal and illegal
Chinese immigrants from mainland China will
continue to change the South African social,
economic and political landscape. He shuddered
as he studied the direction of illness and poverty in
the 2001 Cholera Epidemic Diagram above. The
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movement was clearly from Nkandla towards the
KwaZulu Natal Northern Growth Corridor and down
into Durban. Where would the illness and poverty
tide meet the industrial, commercial and
residential development tide? Could it perhaps be
in Cornubia and adjacent bohemian Umhlanga
Rocks?
The link between the Zulu King, the Zulu President,
the Cornubia Development, the KwaZulu Northern
Growth Corridor, the Richards Bay infrastructural
port upgrade and the Chinese President was fast
coming into focus.
*******************
Nobody was sure how it all started. Thandi was
away in Brussels at the time and the Girls Club was
thus reduced to three. First Rosy was seen giving
Norma a tongue lashing causing Normas beautiful
features to crumble into tearful submission. Next
Rosy was seen scolding the gorgeous Kendall
reducing her also to a sobbing wreck. Pop-Up
Parties ceased, the Girls Club Wednesday meetings
ceased and the members were seldom, if ever, seen
in the Village together. What caused this
disintegration of formerly fun-loving friends was a
mystery to the Villagers who now missed the Pop-Up
Parties.

There was a common denominator for the cause of
this disintegration and it appeared to be Rosy. Rosy
was the one causing the Girls Club to slowly fall
apart. It was only after careful scrutiny that this
could be seen as it went unnoticed by the Villagers.

Rosy lived a peachy life. Her daily routine included
lunching with the Colonel or whoever was available,
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consuming a bottle or two of wine then waiting for
the evening get-togethers.

On the early evenings when the Girls Club got
together, Rosy was often already well on her way.
Norma and Kendall would arrive after a long day at
the office, looking forward to a few glasses of wine to
relax. Low and behold, Rosy would then have a go
at either Norma or Kendall usually Kendall
about issues in their personal lives. They would be
told to suck it up and to get a life. So as time
passed, a distance grew between the girls
especially for Kendall. Kendall didnt live in the
village, so she tended to be seen less and less this
was her excuse for not being around as often, but
there was more to it.

With Thandi still in Brussels, Kendall felt she no
longer belonged to the Girls Club and felt alienated.
Thandi and Kendall had a very close friendship,
regardless of the distance between them. Kendall
at one stage could confide in Norma about certain
personal issues but Kendall no longer trusted Rosy.
Norma and Rosy still met up often as they both lived
in the village, meeting at the Sizzling Steak.
However, Kendall was the only one who had the
daunting task of driving home after a few glasses of
wine.

Another issue that came to the fore, albeit a small
issue but an issue nonetheless, was that Kendall no
longer picked up and dropped off the girls when
going for drinks outside the Village. Rosy had to
take on this task which she clearly didnt
appreciate the responsibility. Thus the tension still
remained between Rosy and Kendall.

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On the night of Rosy scolding Kendall, Kendall
surprisingly retaliated and told Rosy to suck up
her own issues. Clearly Rosy didnt like this, for a
change someone was telling Rosy her fortune and
she was getting a taste of her own medicine. The rift
within the Girls Club was growing.

Kendall noticed that she no longer received text
messages, especially from Rosy, to include her in
lunches and get-togethers. Kendall knew all this
was going on but she had other friends in the
village. This saddened Kendall at first, but she then
realized that she really didnt need friends like
that, that were being two-faced. Norma & Rosy
seemed to still have a connection, perhaps it was
Rosy poisoning Normas mind. We wonder how long
this will last, perhaps forever as these were the
trysts of the faulty Villagers.

So Kendall was not too perturbed when she met her
billionaire Australian wine farmer she was swept
off her feet at last she had found love & happiness.
She would form her own Girls Club in the winelands
of her new country of abode.

Thandi will always be the gracious, beautiful lady
she is. She will be in whatever country her family
needs her to be in, her duties as a wife and mother
being fulfilled to the utmost. She will be true and
honest to her friends, even if at times some have
taken advantage of her and given her incorrect
information. Her days of being part of the Girls Club
are numbered, Brussels calls once again.

Normas future is still uncertain. As sexy and
outgoing as she is, she still cannot decide whether
she wants to settle down with one man there is too
UMHLANGA ROCKS
much excitement in hunting down the men in the
rainbow nation that we live in.

As for Rosy, she will live out her life wanting to know
everyones business and putting in her few cents
worth. She will still talk about throwing Pop-Up
Parties but seldom will one actually transpire. As
long as she can appear in the local newspaper once
in a while, for whatever reason, she will carry on
her daily trysts.

********************

It has begun said Johan throwing copies of The
Economist, The Financial Times and The
Telegraph onto the table in front of Jacques at
Dreamers. Your mate over in London is mobilizing
the Foreign Press on Zumas criminal charges issue.
I dont get the New York Times but I am sure they
will pick up on the story from the The Telegraph.
The follow-up story will probably introduce the
Chinese involvement which is of immense interest
to the American readers.

I love it when a plan comes together said Jacques
smiling and shaking his co-conspirators hand.

*************************

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Mr Zuma has failed to tackle the scourge of
corruption. The ANC under his aegis has sought to
undermine the independence of the courts, the
police, the prosecuting authorities and the press. It
has conflated the interests of party and state,
dishing out contracts for public works as rewards
for loyaltyhence the bitter jest that the
UMHLANGA ROCKS
government is in hock to tenderpreneurs. This has
reduced economic competitiveness and bolstered
fabulously rich black elite. As a result, too little
wealth trickles down.

The Economist also offers some advice to improve
integrity and bring about change, including the
disposal of the president. One of the parliaments
worst features is its party-list method of choosing
members, who are thus entirely in thrall to ANC
bosses rather than to the voters: a constituency-
based system would make them more
accountable.

Although the ANC still has no obvious alternative
leader, the party should look to chuck out Mr Zuma
when it holds the next party election though
pollsters consider that unlikely.

The publication also states that South Africa needs
political competition. The best hope for the country
in years to come is a real split in the ANC between
the populist left and the fat-cat right to offer a
genuine choice for voters. Until that happens, South
Africa is doomed to go down as the rest of Africa goes
up.

*************************

UMHLANGA ROCKS
Financial Times
May 4, 2014 12:10 pm
S Africas stuttering economy adds to
gloom in run-up to election
By Andrew England in Johannesburg
The International Monetary Fund forecasts growth
of 6.5 per cent for Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding
South Africa this year. But it has revised
downwards its estimate for South Africa from 2.8
per cent to 2.3 per cent, which compares to growth
of 1.9 per cent in 2013.
Mr Zuma defends his record by pointing out that he
took office in 2009 at the height of the global
economic crisis. South Africa the African nation
most exposed to global trade and one of the most
liquid and traded emerging markets slumped
into a recession that year that cost 1,0m jobs.
But Mr Zumas first term has been characterized by
complaints over policy indecision, coupled with
concerns that corruption and cronyism are on the
rise.
Under his watch, labor relations are perceived to
have become more volatile and rating agencies
have downgraded South Africa. Moodys and
Standard & Poors have the country on negative
outlook and rating agencies will be watching the
elections and the composition of the next
government closely.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Last month, Moodys cited strike-related business
losses, high unemployment and wide income
disparities as credit challenges for the country.
In December, S&P warned it could lower South
Africas ratings if the business and investment
climate weakens further, for instance if labor
disputes escalate again or GDP growth weakens
significantly further, or if political tensions rise.

*******************

UMHLANGA ROCKS
________________________________________________________
The Telegraph
London
Saturday April 26, 2014
_________________________________________________
President Zuma is accused of
using 13.8m of public money
on home improvements
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters.
Criminal charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud
and theft of public money were laid against South
Africas President yesterday.
Jacob Zuma is accused of using public money to
pay for a swimming pool, amphitheater, chicken
run and other improvements to Nkandla
UMHLANGA ROCKS
amounting to R79-million at his country home in
the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa.
Mr. Zuma was heavily criticized by the countrys
corruption watchdog yesterday. Afterwards, two
South African opposition parties visited police
stations to lodge 12 charges, including corruption
and racketeering.
********************
The Fourth Pillar said that in his inauguration
speech, he had told his future government: We
must hold ourselves to the highest standards of
service, probity and integrity.
Instead, he has presided over some of the lowest
points in South Africas post-apartheid history,
shielded corrupt cronies and used his background
as the ANCs intelligence chief to deflect critics.
The conclusion of a public inquiry into the fatal
August 2012 shooting of 34 striking miners by police
at Marikana has been repeatedly delayed. The poor
state of the countrys education system is rarely out
of the headlines since 1.7m children in one
province were forced to go without textbooks for
almost a year because of local government
corruption.

*************************

Jacques looked back at Zumas time in office and
the progress made by the African National Congress
since 1994 and found a report by the Fourth Pillars
Stephan Mulholland that alarmed him. The edited
gist of Stephans article read: South Africa now
employs more staff than the private sector. We now
have more people on the State Payroll than the
United States of America which has a population six
UMHLANGA ROCKS
times the size of South Africas and a Gross
Domestic Product 45 times the size.

This occurs while unemployment in the private
sector rose.

Public service costs in South Africa are
proportionately amongst the highest in the world at
about 12% of Gross Domestic Product. This
compares to Russia 3.7%, Nigeria 4.0%, Ruanda
3.5%, and Egypt 6.9%.

And you can bet your bottom dollar that the bulk of
the 3,03 million civil servants, making up 22,6% of
the South African workforce (most governments
11%) will back to the hilt a ruling party that has
created for them the largest gravy train in Africa.

In addition, corruption in South Africa has been
rampant devouring R30-Bn in public funds a year.

*************************

Jacques naively thought that this ludicrous state of
affairs must surely be grounds for a taxpayers
march, a taxpayers strike or even better, grounds
for a taxpayers to withhold their taxes in revolt.

He was given the draft of an as yet unpublished
book called African Kleptocrats in which he read:

The book deals with the fifty four African countries
that have descended into kleptocracies after the
departure of the European colonialists. The book
traces in detail the attempts at democracy by the
worst ten of these post-colonial African countries
and how each has descended into a failed state at
the hands of black despots. The book follows the
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history of these foul regimes and the methods used
by their kleptocrats to claim national assets for
themselves and their despicable elite connections.
These criminal acts are always to the detriment
and extreme discomfort of the populations of the
affected countries.

Muammar Gaddafi Child soldiers

Mabuto Seseseko King Maswati

Robert Mugabe Idi Amin

UMHLANGA ROCKS
That author had concluded The purpose of the
book is to alert young South Africans to the danger
signs which went unheeded for forty or more years
in each of Africa's newly democratised countries.
South Africa is well down the same road unless their
young people become educated, instil Christian
middle class values into their societies and throw off
the shackles currently placed on them by the
greedy and ignorant post Mandela kleptocrats.

Jacques went on to read from a book by the same
author called Stepping Stones:

Kleptocracy derives from the Greek words kleptes,
meaning thief, and kratos, meaning rule. It is a
word used to describe a government widely engaged
in corruption to extend the personal wealth and
political power of individuals in the ruling class.

A corrupt and dishonest government, characterised
by greed, is described as kleptocratic. Such a
government is typically run by rulers who are
thieves and who pillage public funds to the
detriment of the poor, sometimes without the
pretence of offering any form of honest public
service.

These kleptocrats then exploit a countrys natural
resources for their own greedy benefit.

The money on which these evil managers of men
prey is almost always funds earmarked for the
building of public amenities, schools, hospitals,
roads, parks and public facilities. Thus the
ordinary citizen is prejudiced, inconvenienced and
deprived by these selfish kleptocrats.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
The term kleptocrat was first used in the 1960s to
describe the activities of the ruler of the
independent Congo, Colonel Joseph Mobutu
Seseseko, who plundered the rich natural resources
of that country for his personal benefit.
However, the term could equally have applied to his
colonial predecessor, King Leopold II of Belgium. It
is said that the megacity of Brussels, a European
Union bastion, was built with the kleptocratic
proceeds of the resources of the Congo Basin.

The story of Africa is one of the Europeans
plundering the natural resources of the continent
and then, when caught with their hands in the
cookie jar, hastily effecting a democratic handover
to the most likely African kleptocrat.

Same circus, different tent thought Jacques as he
pondered the new wave of colonialism. This time
the rape of Africa was being perpetrated by China.

Jacques was curious why King Zwelithini had
mentioned the Fujian Province in many of his
speeches and initiatives. He remembered from his
earlier research that a report that he had once
read, on the illegal influx of Chinese immigrants to
South Africa, had mysteriously disappeared from
the internet. So he went in search of that report. He
felt that missing document may explain a whole
bunch of things.

Despite scouring the net for several hours again - it
definitely was not there.

A day later, on looking up some other topic on his
own computer, he found that he had in fact made a
copy of the controversial report.

UMHLANGA ROCKS
It appeared that the report had in fact been
withdrawn from the site but Jacques included it in
his research because many South Africans were
seeing new Chinese retail outlets springing up in
their neighbourhoods without explanation.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
CHINESE FLOODING SOUTH AFRICA
Hannes Engelbrecht

The new colonials have arrived.

Without as much as a whisper the South African
government allowed at least 400,000 Chinese to
swamp the country during the past six years.
Chinese migrants, mainly from the overpopulated
Fujian province in China, have been shipped off to
South Africa at an alarming rate.

Spreading all over the country.....

Even in the remotest parts, between 6,000 and
12,000 Chinese shops sprang up indicating that
the phenomenon is well-orchestrated by both China
and South Africa.

Prof Colin McCarthy, retired from the University of
Stellenbosch, first noted the Chinese colonization.
Says Prof McCarthy: All the evidence indicates that
the project to set up such an extensive network of
Chinese shops, all following the same pattern and
targeting the same market, was well researched,
well planned, well organized and well financed.

The young, unemployed couples from Fujian
province settled into the network pushing up
cheap Chinese plastics, products and clothing into a
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lucrative retail chain far bigger than Pick n Pay,
Pep Stores or Edgars. And to make matters worse:
most of the Chinese shops are not registered and do
not pay any taxes in South Africa; not even import
or export duties in fact, China put its clothing
exports to South Africa to R11,3 billion in 2010;
while South Africas failing statistics put the
Chinese clothing imports at only R6,7 billion! It
means that in one single year R4,6 billion worth of
Chinese clothing entered South Africa illegally.

A South African Revenue Services employee spilled
the beans on a small Chinese shop in a rural area
where, when raided by SARS, R1,2 million was
found under the counter.

Janet Wilhelm of the HSRC observes: It is amazing
how so many people can enter a country seemingly
unnoticed! She quotes the SAPS Aliens
Investigation Unit as saying many Chinese travel to
South Africa via Mbabane, Maputo and Maseru
from where they enter South Africa with false
identity documents by road.

Patrick Chong, chairman of the Chinese Association
of South Africa, says: Many would enter on tourist
or student visas then simply stay.

Researchers of Noseweek followed the Chen family
where one pioneer settled illegally in South Africa,
spreading within four years to 172 members of the
family scattered across Lesotho trading Chinese
products.

What is even more mind-boggling and sinister is
that the South African ANC government officially
proclaimed Chinese as honorary blacks, making
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them exempt from affirmative action, quotas and
Black Economic Empowerment.

The whole Chinese experiment has been carefully
planned, criminally enhanced, and no doubt
vast sums of money are involved, lining the pockets
of very influential South African politicians.

It is ironic that while populists like Malema and
Shivangu walk about claiming land and minerals
for the South African people, the ANC government
has allowed at least 400 000 additional Indians and
Pakistanis, at least 400,000 Chinese and at least 10
million illegals from Zimbabwe, Nigeria,
Mozambique, Angola and now also Zambia into the
country

********************

Martin Welz, the editor of Noseweek, had published
the above cover story on the phenomenon of
Chinese shopkeepers in South Africa. It's a humid
conspiracy theory wrapped in the guise of
journalism, and when it isn't racist and
xenophobic, its plain wrong. Journalists Kevin
Bloom and Richard Poplak took issue with its loose
facts and downright dangerous perpetuation of
stereotypes.

Poplak and Bloom concluded Of course, Prof
MacCarthy, you are not a conspiracist. How could
you be? Even if the article in which youre quoted
implies that there is a conspiracy afoot. Because
without saying outright what that conspiracy might
beNoseweek seems to believe that its fans are sly
enough to know how to read between the lines,
having lived in a Banana Republic since 1994 and
allthe best we can make out is that Beijing and
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Pretoria are in collusion, with Pretoria turning a
blind eye towards illegal Chinese immigrants and
shopkeepers who arent registered with SARS, so
that the bilateral relationship can continue apace.

From these divergent views Jacques rationalized
that the offensive original article related to Chinese
traders taking over shopping centres such as the
one in Edenvale in Gauteng and other centres
around the country and was confined to the retail
space in South Africa.

Jacquess own conspiracy theory differed as it
related to the Chinese infrastructural, mineral
resource and agribusiness spends in Africa, all of
which were a factual reality. At the centre of this
new development is the thorny issue of ownership
or not of sovereign soil by foreigners.

The real questions that remain are why are there so
many new Chinese visible and how did they get
here?
Jacques speculated
was this why Zuma
was planning a Home
Affairs for Zumaville.
Was this to legitimize
an influx of Chinese
through the illegal
immigration corridor
from neighbouring
Lesotho, Swaziland
and Mozambique?

The theory of Zululand, including the palaces at
Ulundi and Nkandla, becoming part of a Chinese
Canton was becoming a more believable possibility
with few definitive rebuttals.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
Meanwhile the Executive of the African National
Congress continued to drag their heels in
nominating their seven appointees to attend the ad
hoc Parliamentary committee meeting called by
Max Sisulu. As the May 7, 2014 deadline for polling
loomed, Mazibuko reform the Democratic Alliance
requested an extension to May 5, 2014 in an effort to
get Zumas full response to the Madonsela Report
findings prior to the election.

Finally on April 29, 2014 the South African
population witnessed the inevitable demise of the
democratic effort to hold Zuma accountable as
reported by Rebecca Davis:

Its official: nothing of any
value will come out of the
Parliamentary committee
set up to consider the
Presidents response to the
Public Protectors report on
upgrades to Nkandla before
the elections. That dream,
always faint, is now dead,
seen to by an ANC majority
on the committee. They
insist that the committee
can still be re-constituted
after the elections, but were
not holding our breath. Lets all just take comfort
that were not living in a democracy where people
who question the President end up in body-bags
as one ANC MP on the committee reminded us.
Comforting?

Even if elected Zuma could nevertheless still be
faced with impeachment and criminal prosecution
when the fifth session of Parliament convenes. If so,
UMHLANGA ROCKS
would these charges be immorally spirited away,
just as the previous seven hundred charges against
him before the last election, simply went away?

Meanwhile, beleaguered Public Works Minister
Thembelani Nxesi has suffered another setback
after he was ordered to provide the Mail & Guardian
Centre for Investigative Journalism with a full set of
Nkandla documents

The Fourth Pillar reported: Judge Vuyelwa Tlhapi
has given Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi 28
days to deliver full disclosure on President Jacob
Zuma's Nkandla residence.
Thats how long Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi
has to deliver full disclosure on how ministers and
top officials went about spending nearly R250-
million on President Jacob Zumas private
residence.
On Tuesday, Judge Vuyelwa Tlhapi ordered Nxesi
and the department to disclose crucial Nkandla
documents thus far kept hidden from public view.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
The judgment flows from a Promotion of Access to
Information Act application launched by
amaBhungane in July 2012.
At that stage, public works issued a blanket refusal,
claiming that the whole project was so sensitive;
nothing at all could be disclosed.
In June 2013, on the proverbial steps of the
courthouse, the department capitulated and
offered to release about 12 000 pages in 42 files.
That disclosure formed the core of amaBhunganes
award-winning reporting on Nkandla, and also
proved decisive when the security cluster sought to
veto the release of public protector Thuli
Madonselas draft report.
Madonsela was able to point to the 12 000 pages
already in the public domain, which disposed of
the states claims to a secrecy prerogative.
However, what was clear from the documents was
that they were drawn exclusively from the files of
the Durban regional office.
There appeared to be no material included from
head office in Pretoria, save for copies of things that
might have been shared with the Durban office.
Especially tantalizing were references to regular
meetings between President Zuma and his
architect, as well as numerous Zuma meetings with
ministers or deputy ministers, all of which one
might expect to be minute or recorded in some way.
Level of involvement it is these documents that
might reveal just how much the president was
consulted or gave instructions about the extent and
cost of the so-called security upgrade.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
This void formed the crux of amaBhunganes high
court application in November last year, arguing
that Nxesi had not made full disclosure.
Lawyers for public works were forced to concede
that there was no disclosure from head office and
that no search was ever conducted in Pretoria for
any relevant documents.
The department has tried to argue that there had
been sufficient disclosure. Despite not looking, it
also tried to suggest that such documents did not
exist.
Judge Tlhapi would have none of that. In an
important passage of her judgment, she noted: The
possibility of no records being kept pertaining to
top management decisions, especially those records
like in this matter that have financial
implications is a serious indictment ...
The judge said keeping proper records was one of
the most important obligations of a government.
She decried as a dereliction any suggestion of a
failure to keep records or a tendency to lose
documents, or to hide them or deal with
government business under a cloud of secrecy
where it is not justified.
Judge Tlhapi gave the department 30 court days to
make further disclosure, including documents filed
by the Pretoria head office, and ordered director
general Mziwonke Dlabantu to produce an affidavit
accounting for all the documents the department
claimed could not be traced or did not exist.
Past conduct, however, suggests the dilly-dallying
may not be over.
UMHLANGA ROCKS
On election day Zuma will cast his ballot at
Nkandla at a school across the valley from his
home. The cameras which will be on hand to
capture the moment will no doubt pan across to his
homestead. There is simply no escape from
Nkandla. It will be there for years to come, and long
after Zumas retirement, as a constant reminder of
rot and corruption, and how to escape the
consequences Pierre de Vos

Jacques closed the lid of his computer and sighed.
He felt helpless. He remembered the overwhelming
euphoria at the overthrow of the last Apartheid
government. He remembered the tear jerking
emotion of Madiba and Francois Pienaar holding
aloft the Rugby World Cup. South Africa had
promised so much then as the world welcomed the
country back into the International Fraternity.
South Africas forty five odd years of abhorrent
Apartheid rule were forgotten. After twenty years of
democracy the country was sadly now at the mercy
UMHLANGA ROCKS
of African Kleptocrats and Chinese Colonialists.
Paradise Lost.

It was Sunday and Jacques was delighted with how
he had managed to pull his life together. He could
not remember ever being happier. As he hurried to
meet Linda for the Sunday Buffet at the Heavenly
Bills, a memory of her impish shy smile, her
tangled straw blonde hair, her slim body and
delicate hands all flashed through his mind. He
thought of the incredible companionship, love and
fun she had brought into his life and how that love
and security had motivated him, encouraged him
and revitalised him. Her many dittos told him that
she felt the same and he could tell that she was very
happy, relaxed, contented and over her previous
heartbreak. He choked back the warm emotion
and offered a silent thanks to his maker as he sped
down Ambush Alley this Sunday.
He remembered her infectious giggle, her flashing
green eyes, her whisperings as they made love and
her warmth when they woke each morning. He
loved her work ethic and her quick mind and how
she had helped him regain his lust for life.
His step quickened at the thought of her waiting for
him at the Heavenly Bills.
As Jacques crossed the palm lined boulevard and
rounded the still closed Argentina Steaks
Restaurant, he slowed to allow a tough looking
Chinese character, coming up the other way, to pass
him on the narrow pavement.
So pre-occupied was Jacques with the warm
thoughts racing through his mind that he barely
heard the stranger murmur Jacques as they
passed each other. Unsure, Jacques turned slowly,
raised an eyebrow, faced the stranger and said
UMHLANGA ROCKS

politely Yes, sir do I know you?

Sorrow is better than fear. Fear is a journey, a
terrible journey, but sorrow is at least an arrival.
When the storm threatens, a man is afraid for his
house. But when the house is destroyed, there is
something to do. About a storm he can do nothing,
but he can rebuild a house.
- Alan Paton: Cry, the Beloved Country

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