Avion

THE HARSH TRUTH ABOUT POLYGRAPH TESTING

THE NEW & IMPROVED LOTUS EVORA IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE FOR SERIOUS DRIVERS

THE MOST EXOTIC RIVER HOTEL CRUISING DOWN THE AMAZON

ROVOS RAIL

REASONS TO SEE 21AFRICA

BY TRAIN

EXECUJET TAKES PRIVATE AIR TRAVEL TO NEW HEIGHTS

MOUTH WATERING LAMB SHANKS • THE LOST ART OF SHAVING

C ON T E N TS

REGULAR 6 8 11 15 16 32

Letter from the Editor Contributors Latest Gadgets To Read Style News Route Map

DISCOVER 18 22 26 30 36 38

The Man Guide The Sky’s No Limit Crowning a Beauty The Finer Things in Life Baked Lamb Shanks True Fighting Spirit

50

18 TRADE 56

Business News

59

Rules on Polygraph Testing

60

Social Business Software Revolutionised

63

How Green is Your Company Really?

38 EXPLORE 44

Fairest on the Rails

50

Cruising Down the Amazon

54

Travel Destinations

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R E GU L A R

COCKPIT

explore...

LETTER

FROM THE EDITOR

W

elcome to the "take-off" edition of Avion! The word avion is the French word for airplane, originating from the Latin word avus, meaning bird. Due to my love for travel and creativity, I added a little French spice to complete this magazine's recipe for capturing the essence of travelling, together with the mystic beauty and diversity of Southern Africa. As a passionate South African, when creating Avion, I was inspired by the most beautiful, exotic and diverse destination in the world - Southern Africa. Our designer created the perfect look, capturing the warmth, history and mystery of the African continent.

Our team is very proud of this magazine and loved working on the project. We are very fortunate to have teamed up with great partners who will be part of our exclusive Avion distribution network. Please see page 32 for more information.

The response from our valued advertisers on this first issue has been amazing. They jumped right in and showed that they share our passion and vision for this magazine, ultimately wanting to talk to you, the reader.

As tourists, business owners, executives and entrepreneurs, I appeal to you to look after our beloved Africa. Mine responsibly, explore leaving only your footprints behind and travel with memories on your camera. Support a nature foundation to help the people that drive these initiatives to ultimately leave a legacy for the next generation.

Enjoy your flight, stay and experience! We hope to see you soon on-board, or in-cabin. Playground Southern Africa is waiting – all the best for your meeting, business decisions and happy Big 5 game drives...

Best regards,

Fanie Hendriksz

Fanie Hendriksz is the owner of Free Radical Media & Events. He is also a qualified pharmacist and Managing Director of Forrester Pharma. A passionate entrepreneur at heart, Fanie is a vintage and retro lover, with an appetite for life and creativity. He is a devoted husband and father of two.

We want to hear tales of your travels, adventures and successes in Southern Africa. Email us at editor@freeradicalmedia.co.za.

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R E GU L A R

C R E W

C ON TR I BU TOR S

Cover Shoot Team THIS ISSUE’S

FOR THIS EDITION OF AVION WE CHOSE MISS SA FINALIST, CHANTELLE SWART, TO GRACE OUR COVER AND HEADED OUT TO EXECUJET LANSERIA TO RECREATE AN AMELIA EARHEART STYLE PHOTO SHOOT IN AN EFFORT TO CAPTURE HER HISTORIC AND MYSTERIOUS SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE!

CHANTELLE SWART – COVER STAR Chantelle Swart (25) is a medical rep, oud-Affie, proud ambassador for the J9 Foundation and CANSA, and fitness fanatic. She married local rapper, Weez, four years ago and this year became a Mrs South Africa finalist. I aspire to be a woman of great influence, preferably working in the non-profit sector, were I can apply my talents for the greater good and help to change and inspire people's lives,” she says when speaking of her goals in entering Mrs South Africa. “One person truly can make a difference and I am on my way to proving that cliché. There is no greater role for Mrs SA than to educate and empower the nation’s youth. I want to set an example for other women and open doors so others can be successful too."

BEHIND THE SCENES THANK YOU TO EXECUJET LANSERIA FOR PROVIDING THE LOCATION FOR THIS ISSUE’S COVER SHOOT!

LOUISE VOLSCHENK – MAKE-UP ARTIST & STYLIST Louise has been a make-up artist from the age of 14 and did her first bride at the age of 15. Make-up has always been her passion, and she loves to see how someone can be transformed with the right styling. She has launched a make-up school, Halouw Make-up Academy, where make-up artists are trained to work in the industry and where ordinary women can learn how to do their own make-up like a pro! Halouw Make-up Academy is also the proud sponsor of the Mrs SA pageant for Mrs SA 2014. Contact Louise on 082 808 4533 or visit www.halouw.co.za.

DEON VAN WYK – PHOTOGRAPHER Deon is a renowned fashion and glamour photographer and CEO of BLCK Events. He has eight years of professional photography experience and together with his team does corporate image and clothing analysis, videography, fashion shows, photo shoots and much more! He is passionate about photography and people.

Deon has three talented individuals on his team – Tarien, Rikus and Stachia – and between them they have a wealth of knowledge on marketing, project management, styling, fashion and branding. You can’t go wrong with a total solutions offering like this! For information, visit deonphotos.wix. com/dwphotography, like his Facebook Page or follow him on twitter @DeonPics.

To contact Deon, call 083 456 9813 or email deonatpdp@gmail.com.

PUBLISHER: Free Radical Media Fanie Hendriksz Managing Director info@freeradicalmedia.co.za MANAGING EDITOR Nicola Weir editor@freeradicalmedia.co.za DESIGN & LAYOUT Aneska Meintjes: +27 82 851 1441 aneska@freeradicalmedia.co.za EVENTS & OPERATIONAL ASSISTANT Marichè Otto: +27 78 934 5090 mariche@freeradicalmedia.co.za OFFICE MANAGER Chantellle Wilsnach: +27 76 635 3889 chantelle@freeradicalmedia.co.za

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SALES DIRECTOR Pierre le Roux: +27 79 938 4344 pierre@freeradicalmedia.co.za SALES EXECUTIVES Patricia Kinnear: +27 76 742 3523 patricia@freeradicalmedia.co.za Veronica Breedt: +27 72 328 1062 veronica@freeradicalmedia.co.za Debbie de Jongh: +27 82 969 0341 debbie@freeradicalmedia.co.za Lazola Ndyamara: +27 82 637 3535 lazola@freeradicalmedia.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Oxigen Communications, Bowman Gilfillan Attorneys, Nicola Weir, Orange Ink PR, Joani Johnson, Candice Fehrsen.

AVION DE LUXE | LAUNCH EDITION

IMAGES © iStockphoto.com, 123RF Cover Image: Deon Van Wyk Photographer Editor's Image by Marita Keet Kotze Avion De Luxe Magazine is published on a bimonthly basis by Free Radical Media. Avion De Luxe Magazine is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without the written consent of the publisher. Unless specified, all rights are reserved in material accepted for publication. All letters and other unsolicited submissions (manuscripts, art, photographs and other materials) will be considered for publication unless clearly labeled ’not for publication’. All letters may be subject to editing. Avion De Luxe Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.

Free Radical Media reserves the right to reject any advertising at our discretion without explanation. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Free Radical Media or their clients. Information has been included in good faith by the publisher and is believed to be

correct at the time of going to print. No responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions. No material (articles or photographs) in this publication may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without specific written permission from Free Radical Media.

No liability is accepted by Free Radical Media, the publishers, nor the authors for any information contained herein. Neither Avion De Luxe Magazine nor its publishers are responsible for damage or harm, of whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any activity or health advice featured in Avion De Luxe Magazine.

Submissions of articles and photographs for publication are welcomed, but the publishers, while exercising all reasonable care, cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.

R E GU L A R

C A R G O

Garmin Adventures Explore. Chronicle. Share.

Garmin Adventures is a free, interactive way for you to swap your stories with a community of fellow explorers, brag to your buddies about your travels, or let friends and family find your favourite spots. After releasing a major update to their free mapping application, BaseCamp, Garmin has turned a new page within the adventure world! You'll now look at your Garmin Outdoor device a little differently. You'll see it not just as a reliable tool that gets you from point A to point B, nor merely a rugged navigation aide that keeps you on track. It will now be more of a diary, a record keeper of your experiences, epic journeys and weekend getaways. A way to share your adventures and allow those who were not with you to relive and experience those adventures again and again. You can make an adventure out of nearly anything, whether you’re climbing a mountain, hitting the highway, taming a single-track or geocaching. Just bring your Garmin Outdoor GPS-enabled device with you the next time you head outdoors. You can use any Garmin Outdoor device as long as it's capable of collecting and exporting track logs. Once your adventure is logged on BaseCamp, you can share it with your friends, family and with a community of fellow explorers who can see where you went and what you experienced along the way. You can also find inspiration for your next journey by searching BaseCamp for others’ adventures.

The Bush Baby

You can’t get any

The Bush Baby combined lantern and torch adopts the principle of cranking for power. By cranking the handle, the internal battery is charged, which then feeds a direct current to the unit’s powerful LEDs. The crank handle can then be neatly locked away after charging. The Bush Baby can be used as a camping lantern or a super bright torch, and has a self-locking hook on the bottom of the product for added convenience. It has a high and a low level LED light setting to produce both bright task lighting and a dimmer ambient light. The Bush Baby combined lantern and torch is available at The Lighting Warehouse and retails for R139.95.

Visit www.lightingwarehouse.co.za to find a store close to you.

The Marantz Consolette Premium Speaker Dock packs unbelievable sound quality into a highly functional and compact system. Using AirPlay and DLNA technologies, the Consolette lets you stream music wirelessly from your iTunes library or mobile device – whether it is an Apple, Android or Windows-based product. What’s more – six Internet radio presets reside on-board the Consolette making it possible to enjoy your favourite programming when your iDevice or smartphone is unavailable. The Consolette also comes equipped with a USB input making it easy to share music and since the Consolette is compatible with a wide range of file types, you'll enjoy high-fidelity streaming across all popular formats – the Consolette can dock with, charge and play media from almost any iPod, iPhone, or iPad. A set of gold-plated, high quality, analogue line inputs enable wired connections to other makes of MP3 players, smartphones, CD and SACD players, among others. The Consolette App that can be downloaded for all iDevices and Androids lets you control the Consolette’s broad array of digital audio features remotely and wirelessly. Visit www.marantz.co.za to find a retailer close to you.

combined lantern and torch

closer to music!

LAUNCH EDITION | AVION DE LUXE

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C A R G O

Targus’ latest laptop and tablet case for the serious business traveller - the Targus 16-inch Transit Roller case – provides a protected space for both your notebook and tablet in separate compartments. With the roller wheels and an easy pull-up trolley handle, travelling with your notebook and tablet has never been easier. The separate laptop and tablet compartments with restraining straps and a durable, hardwearing construction provides you with the peace of mind that your mobile devices are protected from daily handling. An elegant two-toned black and grey design makes this a stylish option while additional pockets make this a functional option for business people on the move. In addition to separate compartments for laptop and tablet, the Targus Transit Roller features a spacious overnight clothes section with two additional mesh pockets for personal essentials reducing the number of luggage pieces that business travellers need to haul around with them. The Targus 16-inch Transit Roller is available immediately from selected resellers and leading retailers for a recommended retail price of R1 899.00 incl VAT. For more information, visit www.drivecon.net

Go Pro Hero 3 Smaller, lighter and 2X more powerful – again!

The Wi-Fi enabled HERO3: Black Edition is the most advanced GoPro camera ever. No expense was spared during its development, resulting in a GoPro that is 30% smaller, 25% lighter (weighing in at just 75 grams) and two times more powerful than previous models. Wearable and gear mountable, waterproof to 60m, capable of capturing ultra-wide 1440p 48fps, 1080p 60 fps and 720p 120 fps video and 12MP photos at a rate of 30 photos per second, the HERO3: Black Edition is the world's most versatile camera. Builtin Wi-Fi, GoPro App compatibility and the included Wi-Fi Remote (normally sold separately as an accessory) make the HERO3: Black Edition all the more appealing. Available at Due South.

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MUST HAVE

Tech in Transit

Flip Out for the

New Samsung GALAXY S4 Cover In addition to the vast array of technological innovations featured in the Samsung GALAXY S4 Smartphone, Samsung has also introduced the S-View Flip Cover designed to provide users with a fashionable protective accessory with an innovative screen window to view alerts, statuses, and other important information.

It utilises the Hall Effect sensor in the phone which detects when the cover is closed and displays battery status, time, and other updates in an area of the screen visible through a transparent window. The S-View Cover attaches to the phone by replacing its back panel, minimising the bulkiness associated with phone protectors. In addition to viewing updates through the window, consumers can also swipe on this area to accept or dismiss calls. It also extends the phone’s battery life as it uses less power due to a smaller display area which needs to be illuminated. Visit www.samsung.com/africa to find a stockist.

R E GU L A R

AFRICA: IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE GREAT EXPLORERS

By Kingsley Holgate Fans of Kingsley Holgate and his wild adventures will relish this series of epic exploits.

Always game to venture where many before him have feared to tread, Kingsley and his entourage have set out to honour those courageous early explorers of the African continent. David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley, Frederick Courtney Selous, John Hanning Speke and others faced starvation, fever and often death to open up Africa to the Western world.

Like these brave and tenacious individuals, the Holgate party tackle mighty rivers such as the Nile, Congo, Rovuma and Rufiji, negotiating angry rapids, thrashing with crocodiles and startling territorial hippos.

Circumnavigating Africa’s greatest lakes – Niassa, Victoria and Tanganyika – they battle demonic high winds and water, and endure the blistering furnace of the desolate lavabouldered Jade Sea’s shores.

These are tales of such daring, courage and endurance that it is impossible for readers to tire of the Holgate family’s adventures.

CELLARMASTERS IN THE KITCHEN

By Wendy Toerien The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG), founded in 1982 and which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012, is an association of South Africa’s top winemakers, committed to maintaining and constantly improving the quality of their wines, thereby upholding the reputation of South African wine globally.

This book primarily focuses on the winemakers and their thoughts, opinions and philosophies on all things to do with wine, from the growing, making and enjoyment of it, to its integral role in the culture and lifestyle of the Cape and South Africa. Each of the 45 Guild members is featured in a profile piece that includes anecdotes, insights and experiences of a life with food and wine. Also included are two of each winemaker’s favourite recipes, matched with his (or her) top wines.

D E L A Y

DIVING AND SPEAR FISHING IN SOUTH AFRICA

MUNCH

By Hein Scoltz

By Piet van Rooyen South Africa has over 2500km of spectacular coastline washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the temperate waters of the Indian Ocean along the east. This provides the country with a vast undersea wilderness and a staggering array of marine species that attract divers and spear fishers from around the world. In this book, Piet van Rooyen provides a comprehensive overview of all there is to learn about diving and spear fishing. Knowing when to dive, what equipment to use, which spear fishing and deep-diving techniques are most effective, and how to avoid the hazards of the sport is essential knowledge for any underwater adventurer.

Twenty-one major fish species are profiled in the book and prime diving and spear fishing destinations in South Africa and further afield are listed for help in planning where to go.

Regarded as the definitive text on the subject when it was first published in 1988, this new edition will appeal to novice and seasoned spear fishers, as well as scuba divers, shore fishers and boat anglers.

After suffering through a year of ‘res’ food at university, Hein Scholtz was more than happy to dust off his apron and put his lifelong passion for food and cooking to good use when he moved into his first apartment.

Now, after years of cooking healthy and inexpensive, yet satisfying meals for himself and friends, he presents Munch, an eclectic collection of recipes for students, young professionals and first-time cooks. From scrambling eggs and cooking chicken to grilling steaks and recreating classic takeaways, all 76 recipes in Munch make use of easily accessible ingredients and can be made in a basically stocked kitchen. Through the inclusion of social media (Twitter and QR codes) Munch provides a unique opportunity for interaction between reader, recipe and author.

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CARRY-ON

MUST HAVE

A Fresh Face to Home Décor David LIewelyn is South Africa’s freshest face in home décor and has just released their second collection. Each unique piece is a careful balance of vintage French design with splashes of artful colour technique. Handcrafted and inspired by the classics, David Llewelyn furniture is made from a combination of Mahogany and Mhindi timbers and stained with rich Walnut tones.

The collection is truly a signature one, as no two pieces are alike in style and customisation. Customers have the freedom to spec their furniture with the finish they desire to work with their decorative palate. The combinations of colour are limitless and clients have 15 unique shades to choose from. The collection is a mixture of bedside tables, chests of draws, corner chairs, bookstands, dressing tables, drinks trolleys, drop leaf tables, gate-leg folding tables, Georgian Canterbury’s, coffee tables and occasional chairs. The range is now available at the David Llewelyn showroom in Kramerville, Johannesburg. For more information, contact Roy Griffiths on +27 82 389 9392.

Nostalgia at

Weylandts Bold prints are a hot trend this season – think abstract prints with a hint of nostalgia.

Soft furnishings are one of the easiest ways to bring this trend into any space. Weylandts have introduced a new range of bold and eclectic prints that will work in any room. Just throw one of these onto a solid colour couch to add an exciting accent to your space.

Visit www.weylandts.co.za for more information.

Ultimate Comfort La-Z-Boy recliners have it all – comfort, quality, longevity and good looks, making them suitable for all kinds of applications, including comfort for avid gamers, back pain sufferers, movie and sport aficionados and the elderly. The seat tilt ratchet mechanism exclusive to La-Z-Boy recliners allows you to adjust the seat and footrest into 18 unique positions. Using this mechanism, the user can customise the position of the chair to suit their individual requirements. La-Z-Boy recliners are now available at Rochester stores nationwide. They stock a wide range of different La-Z-Boy recliner models starting at R4995. Visit www.rochester.co.za for more information or to find your nearest branch.

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DI S C OV E R

MANHOOD

Man Guide The

Rediscovering the lost art of an old fashioned shave

A PROFESSIONAL SHAVE OFFERS MEN AN INDULGENT GROOMING EXPERIENCE BUT PROPER SHAVING HAS BECOME A LOST ART. TODAY’S AVERAGE MALE HAS NO CLUE ABOUT THE FINE ART OF THE TRADITIONAL WET SHAVE THAT THEIR GRANDFATHERS AND SOME OF THEIR FATHERS USED TO TAKE PART IN. INSTEAD, THEY’RE ONLY ACCUSTOMED TO THE CHEAP AND DISPOSABLE SHAVING PRODUCTS THAT COMPANIES MARKET. WE’RE NOT SURE WHEN OR WHY IT HAPPENED, BUT THE TRADITION OF PASSING DOWN THE SECRETS OF A CLEAN SHAVE ABRUPTLY STOPPED. THANKFULLY, THIS GLORIOUS MALE RITUAL IS MAKING A COMEBACK. and the bristles feel a lot nicer on your face.

You can pick up a nice badger brush at any Crabtree and Evelyn. If you don’t have a Crabtree in your area, try Amazon.

DIY - THE TOOLS Safety Razor

Switching from a cheap disposable razor to a double edged safety razor is like upgrading from a Pinto to a Mercedes. A safety razor is a machine. It’s nice holding a piece of heavy, sturdy metal in your hand while you’re shaving as opposed to a piece of cheap-o plastic. You can find safety razors in a variety of places. First, ask your grandpa if he still has his. Chances are he does. If gramps doesn’t have one, try checking antique stores. If you don’t have any luck there, stop by eBay and do a search for safety razors. You’re bound to find a few there. Finally, if buying a used safety razor doesn’t appeal to you, you can always buy a new one from the several companies that still make them.

Some popular local pharmacies and even tobacconists stock them.

Blades

You can choose from a variety of different blades. Each blade has a unique sharpness

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Soaps and Creams

and cutting ability. Experiment with different kinds until you find the ones you like.

Shaving Brush

If you’ve never used a brush during shaving, you’re in for a treat. A brush helps hydrate the shaving cream in order to form a thick rich shaving lather. Using a brush to lather up helps get the shaving cream up under each whisker which results in a better, smoother shave. Plus, it just feels nice on your face to lather up with a brush.

Brushes are made out of two types of animal hair: boar and badger. Boar bristles are stiffer than badger bristles and hold less water. Boar hair brushes are also cheaper but if you really want to have a nice shaving experience, splurge and buy a badger hair brush. Badger brushes create more lather

If you’re like the average guy, you’ve probably been getting your shaving cream from a can. This blue/green, chemically laced goop does nothing for your face and smells like a hospital. Traditional shave creams and soaps on the other hand are full of natural ingredients that nourish your face and leave you smelling absolutely manly.

While these high quality creams and soaps may cost more than the canned stuff, but

DI S C OV E R

MANHOOD

LAUNCH EDITION | AVION DE LUXE

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DI S C OV E R

just a dab will create enough lather for you to lather up twice.

THE TECHNIQUE Prep your beard

If you want a clean shave, you need to prep your beard adequately. The goal during beard prep is to soften the hairs so shaving is easier and causes less irritation. The best way to soften your beard is to shave straight after you have showered. The hot water from your shower should hydrate and soften your beard enough for shaving. If you haven’t showered, at least wet your beard with some hot water. A hot towel is a great way to soften your beard as well.

Lather up

Take a small dollop (about the size of a 50c coin) of your shave cream and place it in a mug. Take your brush that you’ve pre-soaked with water and swirl the cream around until you get a nice thick lather. Apply the lather with your brush in swirling motions. When your face is nice and covered, take a few strokes to smooth everything out.

THE SHAVE Unlike shaving with cartridge razors, shaving with a safety razor actually requires some skill and technique. Once mastered, though, you should be shaving effectively in no time. The four keys to a successful shave with a safety razor are: 1. use as little pressure as possible; 2. angle the blade as far away from your face as possible; 3. shave with the grain; and

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MANHOOD

4. go for beard reduction, not beard removal.

This will take some getting used to if you have used cartridges your entire life. You don’t need to use pressure because the weight of the safety razor is sufficient to cut your beard. If you press down, you’ll end up hacking up your face. To help counter the tendency to apply pressure, try holding the razor by the tip of the handle.

Angling your razor is probably the trickiest part. The proper angle is somewhere around 30 and 45 degrees.

To get the proper razor angle, put the top of the razor head directly on your cheek, with the handle parallel with the floor. Now slowly lower the handle until the blade can cut your whiskers. Practice on your arm if you’re not comfortable practicing on your face.

While shaving against the grain can get you that smooth feel, you risk slicing up your face and causing ingrown hairs. When you’re first starting out, shave with the grain of your beard. If you lather up and pass the razor more than once over your face, you’re guaranteed to get a smooth finish.

The goal with shaving should be gradual beard reduction, not beard removal in one deft swoop. Most men try to get rid of their beard in one pass of the razor. This hack-and-go technique is what causes the majority of skin irritations. If you want to avoid skin irritation, lather up and pass your razor over your face several times.

Your face will thank you.

POST-SHAVE Rinse your face off with some cold water to close your pores. Treat your face to a nice aftershave. There are several to choose from, so pick the one you like best.

Aftershave helps reduce any irritation that may have occurred and will leave your skin looking healthy.

WHILE SHAVING AGAINST THE GRAIN CAN GET YOU THAT SMOOTH FEEL, YOU RISK SLICING UP YOUR FACE AND CAUSING INGROWN HAIRS. WHEN YOU’RE FIRST STARTING OUT, SHAVE WITH THE GRAIN OF YOUR BEARD. IF YOU LATHER UP AND PASS THE RAZOR MORE THAN ONCE OVER YOUR FACE, YOU’RE GUARANTEED TO GET A SMOOTH FINISH.

DI S C OV E R

IN FLIGHT

The Sky’s

THE EXECUJET AVIATION GROUP IS A GLOBAL ORGANISATION THAT OFFERS ITS CLIENTS A DIVERSE RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE PRE-OWNED AND NEW AIRCRAFT SALES, AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT FOR PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL REGISTERED AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT CHARTER, AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE, AIRCRAFT COMPLETIONS MANAGEMENT AND FIXED-BASE OPERATIONS.

T

heir headquarters are located in Zürich, Switzerland and they have facilities operating in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Their workforce tops out at about 830 experienced staff managing 150 business jets worldwide.

They operate 18 world-class fixed-base operations worldwide and carry out maintenance at several facilities within four of their six regions.

In Africa, ExecuJet has three main facilities; Lanseria and Cape Town in South Africa and Lagos in Nigeria and beyond these facilities they have agents operating in most countries on the continent. At the helm of their African operation is Managing Director Ettore Poggi whose role includes overseeing all financial operations in conjunction with

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AVION DE LUXE | LAUNCH EDITION

the financial director as well as overseeing all operations including maintenance, FBO, charter, aircraft sales and aircraft management. Most importantly, he says, he is the accountable manager for the company: “All the authorities hold me responsible.”

Poggi comes from a background in the IT industry where he worked for several years, rising through the ranks before becoming a Chief Executive for the Gauteng region where he oversaw about 6000 employees taking care of large outsourced contracts. At that time, almost 11 years ago, the then owner of ExecuJet was a founder of the company Poggi was working for and asked him to come on board to run ExecuJet. According to Poggi, his background has been helpful as ExecuJet moved with

WE HAVE LEARNED TO RELENTLESSLY PERSIST UNTIL WE CAN GIVE OUR CLIENTS AS CLOSE TO WHAT THEY NEED AS POSSIBLE

DI S C OV E R

IN FLIGHT

POGGI SAYS OPERATIONS AT EXECUJET ARE NOT WITHOUT THEIR CHALLENGES the times, embracing modern technology in its stride. “With regard to knowledge of technology it goes beyond the obvious need for communication in a company this size. Most modern aircraft for instance have sophisticated computer systems.

From all the aviation electronics for flying the plane to the on-board entertainment systems, it is all IT and computer based,” says Poggi. ExecuJet has certainly moved with the times in this regard, for instance, their staff use iPads for customer service and pilots use them to input information and data which previously would have been captured by hand.

“We also use tablets for remote work,” he says. “We are operational 24 hours a day and we often have staff working from home that use an application on their tablet to access our system and to keep customer service going at all times.

In this industry you have to use technology.

If you don’t you will be drowned in bureaucracy, in paperwork and I just don’t think that you can keep on top of what you need to do.”

And in terms of keeping on top of what needs to be done, Poggi says operations at ExecuJet are not without their challenges. “Our biggest challenge would be the little mistakes that can be made along the way – not just by or people but by the people that we deal with and these mistakes can cause delays.” Getting permits in some African countries, for example, can be difficult especially on last minute flights and can cause delays but this is a prime example of the types of hurdles that ExecuJet is equipped to jump over for their clients, says Poggi. “If we get somebody that confirms a flight very late in the day wanting to fly to three or four different locations the very next day – to get all of those permits takes time and so our staff and agents need to be on the ball. If a client confirms a flight on a weekend, many of the authorities in countries they need to fly to are closed and we take on the challenge to make flights like these happen.”

And ExecuJet bends over backwards to ensure that they do. “Besides our three main facilities we also have agents on the ground in countries in Africa so that we are able to facilitate these kinds of things,” Poggi explains. Communication in Africa is not always easy – trying to get hold of someone in an African country on a cell phone is sometimes impossible – and it can be a challenge to speak to agents and convey what we need on time but we have learned to relentlessly persist until we can give our clients as close to what they need as possible and to accommodate LAUNCH EDITION | AVION DE LUXE

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IN FLIGHT

– who have the need to travel from a business perspective. “We target people who understand that time is money and cannot afford to wait for a scheduled flight because their next appointment may be in a few hours time in another country and they cannot be tied down to a schedule where travel cannot happen immediately.

This is the core clientele that we serve on a daily basis” he explains.

When considering the second part of the statement, through professional management, ethical business practice, Poggi says: “To me and everyone who founded the company this means that we run our business ethically without having to persuade anyone to do business with us via financial or any other means. In this business where numbers are so large – one aircraft for instance can be worth $60 million – we can be faced with offers of kickbacks and we do not deal with people who choose to operate this way.” ExecuJet employees, Poggi says, their needs as much as possible.” This commitment to service excellence is perhaps the key to the incredible growth that ExecuJet has experienced since its inception in 1991. But, Poggi says, there is even more to it than that. There are three more factors that have been crucial to their success. “Firstly, we took a business model from the IT sector and brought it into this industry – this model was for us to be a total solution company to the aviation and business sector. We likened this to services needed by big mainframe IT users such as large banks, and so we made sure that with regards to our product, we could sell it, maintain it, buy it, facilitate services, and outsource it when necessary – all the while holding the client’s hand all the way.”

The second factor, he says, is that they did not expand into countries that already had highly developed aviation infrastructure – for instance there are no ExecuJet facilities in the United States which represents around 60 to 70% of business aviation. Looking into ExecuJet’s history, this is proven to be true as their expansion has always been into areas where aviation is relatively new and where there is a need in the market such as in the Middle-East, Asia, Australia, Africa and so on. Their last untapped market according to Poggi would be South America although they do have a facility in Mexico.

The third factor, says Poggi, is the working environment that they have fostered. “We are a group of people who knew each other intimately and

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worked well together as we had similar backgrounds and in fact some of us even worked together previously in the IT industry. And so the work culture that we have amongst the top management is a culture that we instilled back then and within our facilities in all the various territories across the world,” he explains.

This work culture has been deeply entrenched in the company and is clearly articulated in their Mission and Vision Statement. When breaking it down, Poggi reveals an insight and commitment to this statement that has found its way into every niche of ExecuJet’s day to day operations.

The first part of the mission statement reads To satisfy specialist executive and business aviation needs and this, says Poggi sums up who their clients are – executives, CEOs, entrepreneurs

are also ethical and loyal and work in this way because as a company, they pride themselves on taking their ethics through to the ways that they treat their people – with respect and mutual understanding.

The third part of the statement; and service excellence encompasses everything that ExecuJet stands for, as Poggi himself sums it up: “This comes back from our IT days where we would bend over backwards to provide excellent service at a fair price. We are available to our clients 24 hours a day – including me, the Managing Director! Its instilling into the people who deliver this service an understanding of what the client wants and to be able to put themselves into the client’s shoes to determine how the client would best want their needs addressed.” The sky as they say, is the limit but in ExecuJet’s case it seems to be no limit at all.

DI S C OV E R

ON BOARD

Beauty Crowning a

in the Palace of Dreams

ON THE 5TH OF OCTOBER 2013, A NUMBER OF IDYLLIC ELEMENTS ARE SET TO COMBINE TO BRING ABOUT AN EVENT THAT IS NOT TO BE MISSED: MRS SOUTH AFRICA 2013 WILL BE CROWNED AT EMPERORS PALACE IN A SPECIALLY CREATED PRODUCTION, PRESENTED TO ENHANCE THE MRS SOUTH AFRICA FINALISTS AND THE EVENING EXPERIENCE.

Mrs South Africa 2013 contestants: Back Row: (Standing) Karien Henrico, Janet Potgieter, Debbie Braun, Chantelle Swart, Tlou Manyathela, Lydia Nxumalo, Welekazi Jabosigo, Chané de Kok, Genevive Williams, Natasha Le Roux, Tebogo Schäfer, Ezelle Andrews Front Row: (Sitting) Chimoné Kok, Leona Erasmus, Antoinette Debeer, Antoinette Terblanche, Danielle Steinvaardt, Izimagaliso Malatjie, Sumaya Creswell, Kholofelo Chademanah, Roeline Kroon, Izette Kruger

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DI S C OV E R

ON BOARD

FIKILE MEKGOE

THE CURRENT MRS SOUTH AFRICA Fekile (29) is a Computer Systems Engineer and will be representing South Africa at the Mrs Globe pageant taking place in China in late October 2013. Fikile has a heart for the people of South Africa and has used her influence within local and national government to facilitate change. She is an inspirational speaker and motivator and acts as a mentor to young ladies wanting to better themselves and the world around them.

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DI S C OV E R

ON BOARD

C OVE R SHO O T Mrs SA Finalist, Chantelle Swart graced the first ever cover of Avion. She was the perfect fit for our aviation themed cover shot at ExecuJet's facility at Lanseria airport.

She completely embodied the grace and elegance of private air travel. Read our cover story on ExecuJet on Page 22.

E

mperors Palace is the ideal venue to showcase the glamour and beauty that are synonymous with an event such as this, starting with Pageant Week activities from Wednesday the 2nd of October at the world-class venue. The top 22 finalists and celebrity judges will be accommodated by the contemporary styled Peermont Metcourt Hotel where the finalists will be kept very busy with judging sessions, photo shoots, media interviews and glamorous functions.

Judging the 22 gorgeous finalists from all over South Africa will be the elegant former Miss South Africa Melinda Bam (Principle Judge), Lourine Wannenburg (Eden Moon Productions), Marelize Steyn Earle (Former Mrs South Africa), Andrew Govender (Mr South Africa 2012) and Vuzi Zwane (Emperors Palace Executive).

The judges will have their work cut out for them as these finalists are as dynamic as they are beautiful. These women are all juggling motherhood, careers and successful marriages as well as managing to boast beauty queen looks!

Says Joani Johnson, Mrs SA Pageant Director: “Since taking over directorship of the pageant in 2011, the pageant organisation has been committed to driving new energy into the Mrs South Africa pageant. Our focus is on distinguishing the pageant in South Africa and to the women who live in our beautiful country.

This pageant is unmistakeably different to the beauty pageant norm – in most beauty

The finalists are put through their paces in a Boot Camp class by renowned local fitness instructor, Anna Wood.

pageants, the finalists are young single women who have aspirations of hopes and dreams, whereas the Mrs SA entrants are successful, married women who have already achieved many of their hopes and dreams and are driven to help others in their communities who are less fortunate.”

The evening is set to entertain and guests will be in good company with hosts Simba Mhere(Top Billing) and Amore Vittone who will be guiding the guests through an evening of elegance and charm. They will introduce the finalists to the crowd – all wearing designs by Michael Bezuidenhout, Josè De Canha, Kyna House of Design, Anel Botha, Dennis Lloyd and Lu-May Swimwear. Guests will also be kept entertained by various acts.

The Mrs South Africa Pageant takes place on the 5th of October at the Palace of Dreams. Tickets for the Black Tie event cost R850 per person and include a 3 coarse meal.

For more information and tickets, call 072 620 4127 or email info@ mrssapageant.co.za or director@mrssapageant.co.za.

For more information on Mrs South Africa, visit www.mrssouthafrica.co.za.

For more information on Emperors Palace, visit www.emperorspalace.com or contact +27 11 928 1000.

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Mrs South Africa would like to thank their pageant sponsors:

• Hosts: Emperors Palace • Main Sponsors: Veaudry International and Laser Beautique, Citroën and D’Orē.

• Official Make-up artists: Halouw Make-up Academy • Gala Designers: Jose De Canha, Kyna House of Design, Werner Dey, Anel Botha, Michael Bezuidenhout and Dennis Lloyd.

• Gala Swimwear: Lu-May Swimwear • Design and Printers: Matchstick

D I S C OV E R

CUISINE

Discovering the finer things in life

THIS MONTH WE TAKE A BOTTLED JOURNEY CELEBRATING THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF VINEYARDS AND DISTILLERIES – FROM A NEW LOOK FOR AN ESTABLISHED BRAND AND WINE ESTATE OPENING ONLINE CHANNELS TO AWARD WINNERS AND LOCAL WINES MAKING WAVES IN THE EAST.

Nederburg

Turns Heads in the East Who says white wine is the only option for poultry? Two Nederburg reds were selected as ideal partners for duck and chicken, in China's recent Perfect Pairing Awards run by wine journalist, judge and publisher of the esteemed The Wine Review, Ch’ng Poh Tiong. The Ingenuity Red, a blend of Italian varietals Sangiovese, Barbera and Nebbiolo was selected for Chaozhou braised duck. The Motorcycle Marvel, a blend of Rhône varietals, mainly Grenache, Carignan and Shiraz, was paired with Cantonese roast chicken. "These results are a real eye-opener and encourage us to be much more adventurous in our pairings" says Nederburg's global marketing manager, Lynette Harris.

She adds that sales to the East are growing in double digits. Visit www. nederburg.com/za for more food pairing suggestions and to view their range of versatile wines.

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D I S C OV E R

CUISINE

Clos Malverne Wines

The Mentors

Now a Virtual Reality

Clos Malverne Wine Estate, renowned for its repertoire of classic, handcrafted wines has created an online wine sales facility for all wine enthusiasts to gain access to its exclusive cellar.

“If you want to impress your friends at the dinner table with an elegant wine which you cannot buy at any supermarket or wine outlet then look no further than our online wine shop where you can find exceptional wines at a click of a button and delivered to your doorstep in no time,” shares Clos Malverne winemaker Suzanne Coetzee.

First time buyers get a 10% per cent discount and if you buy more than three cases of wine, the door to door delivery is complimentary in South Africa. To order your Clos Malverne wines online click on http://closmalverne.co.za/shop.

Meet a Legend This year, Hennessy Cognac is proud to announce the launch of the new collector edition bottle, Kyrios, the key to unlocking the codes of the legendary world of Hennessy V.S.O.P. As a tribute to the brands history and origin in 1817, the V.S.O.P bottle is presented with a stylish new matte carbon covering and unique codes which tell its rich story.

Every aspect of this exceptional collector’s bottle has a significant connotation – starting with the 3D label, adorned with 1817, giving the impression that the date is inside the bottle, an integral component of its beginning. The codes extend to the grapes, a symbol of the vineyards and grandeur of the House of Hennessy. The copper appearance used in the label design is a reminder of the pot stills, a deep tint which evokes centuries of distillation. Lastly, the emblematic ‘bras armé’ reflects the long history of Hennessy, an essential part of the seal for more than two centuries.

Epitome of Elegance Waterkloof Estate’s commitment to sustainable wine farming ethics, yields rosy results for this awe-inspiring cellar on the elevated outskirts of the Helderberg Winelands, which is evident in the latest 2012 vintage of its elegantly dry rosé – Cape Coral Mourvèdre – the blushing pride of the Estate’s expressive Circumstance collection.

It is not overly fruity with a dry, yet firm character and delicate spicy nuances. Sensual red fruit, spice and some earthiness linger with great persistence, ending with a tight, dry finish. Waterkloof follows time-honoured traditional winemaking techniques in its state-of-the-art gravitational cellar and in their pursuit of more individually styled wines, the team relied on natural, wild yeast fermentation which took five months to complete. The wine was left on the primary lees for another five months to add further complexity before bottling. For more information or wine orders visit www.waterkloofwines.co.za.

KWV has come a long way since 2006 and the release of the very first KWV Mentors wines.

From modest beginnings KWV have expanded the range from three to ten wines with the new vintage releases in May 2013, establishing the KWV The Mentors brand as one of exceptional quality and integrity. Red wines from 2011, include a Shiraz, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, The Canvas (Shiraz blend) and The Orchestra (Cabernet Sauvignon blend). The white wines from the 2012 harvest comprise a Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and two Sauvignon Blancs. The KWV Mentors range allows their team to express winemaking excellence and the pure expression of some very exceptional vineyards. Their goal in creating this collection was to pay total respect to terroir.

To provide the necessary diversity, their fruit is sourced from throughout the Western Cape, focusing on vineyards which produce outstanding quality and reflect regionality. The new KWV The Mentors vintages will be available at selected retail outlets and will retail for approximately R180 for the whites and R250 for the reds.

Black Bottle Takes Double Gold Black Bottle, the iconic and distinctive whisky, has lived up to its bold, inability to be ignored reputation by taking double gold for the second consecutive year at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Capturing the very essence of Islay, Black Bottle is the only blended Scotch whisky to include all the renowned single malts from the Isle of Islay, the world-famous whisky producing island, balanced by the finest Highland, Lowland and Speyside malt and grain whiskies. With its bold taste, Black Bottle holds a fresh and fruity nose with a hint of peat that leads to a full, yet slight sweet palate and a delightful smokey flavour. The finish is warm and long with the unmistakable smokey, Islay character. Black Bottle is available, with or without a gift tube, from leading liquor outlets at around R220 per bottle.

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R E GU L A R

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Lagos

All Aboard on our VIP Partners

Federal Air: Non Scheduled route...

Scheduled route............

New Scheduled route...

ExecuJet Locations: .......................

• Lanseria International Airport • Cape Town International Airport • Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria

Rovos Rail: Train Route........

Flight Route.......

Airports This map is not to scale and highlights only some of the routes of the above companies.

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Swa W

R E GU L A R

TRAFFIC CONTROL

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Dar es Salaam

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

TANZANIA

ANGOLA

MALAWI Kafue National Park

E U BIQ M A OZ M

Lusaka

ZAMBIA Victoria Falls

Etosha National Park

Luderitz

Francistown Vilanculos

BOTSWANA

Windhoek

Sosussvlei Namib Naukluft Park

Beira

Bulawayo

NAMIBIA

akopmund Walvis Bay

ZIMBABWE

Chobe National Park

Maun

Harare

Livingstone

Gaborone

Mariental

Phalaborwa Private Game reserves

Madikwe Game Reserve

Pretoria

Springbok

Kimberley

SOUTH De Aar AFRICA Beaufort West

Saldanha

Inhambane

Kruger Mpumalanga Airport

SWAZILAND

Keetmanshoop Bloemfontein

Sabi Sands Reserves

Maputo

Johannesburg Upington

Bazaruto

Musina

Ladysmith

LESOTHO

Pietermaritzburg

Hluhluwe Private Game Reserves/ Beach resorts

St Lucia Durban

Umtata Queenstown East London Port Elizabeth

Cape Town Mossel Bay

Plettenberg Bay

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D I S C OV E R

T A S T E

Incredible

Baked Lamb Shanks

MANY PEOPLE HAVE A REAL AFFECTION FOR LAMB SHANKS, THINKING OF THEM AS A BIT OF A TREAT. I'VE COOKED THEM FOR YEARS AND REALLY LOVE THIS PARTICULAR STYLE OF BAKING THEM BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY AND COMFORTING – ALMOST LIKE WRAPPING UP A JACKET POTATO TO PUT ON THE BONFIRE. BY USING SIMPLE ROOT VEG AND A FLAVOURED BUTTER, AND BY TIGHTLY SQUEEZING THE TINFOIL AROUND EACH SHANK, THE MOST IS MADE OF THE FLAVOUR OF THE MEAT WITHOUT HAVING TO COVER IT IN SPICES OR TOMATOES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. Courtesy Jamie Oliver.com

Nutritional Information – Amount per serving: Calories 626kcal Carbohydrate 10.2g Sugar 6.5g Fat 42.0g Saturates 21.8g Protein 43.7g

It's very easy to prep the shanks for this dish and I think they look cool enough to be a lovely main course for a dinner party. The shanks should be eaten with all the veggies and any buttery juices. They're really good served with creamy mashed potato and steamed greens to contrast with the roasting stickiness of the lamb.

INGREDIENTS 6 sprigs fresh rosemary 100 g cold butter 15 fresh sage leaves 2 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves picked Sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 4 quality lamb shanks, crown- or French-trimmed 12 cloves garlic, unpeeled 2 large carrots, peeled and finely sliced 1 onion, peeled and finely sliced 1 leek, washed, halved and finely sliced Olive oil 2 wineglasses white wine

METHOD Preheat your oven to 180ºC. Pick the leaves off 2 sprigs of rosemary, whiz them with the butter, most of the sage and the thyme in a food processor and season with salt and pepper. Using a small knife, take one of the lamb shanks and cut between the meat and the bone from the base of the shank upwards. You want to create a hole big enough to put your finger in, making a sort of pocket. Do this to all the shanks and divide the flavoured butter between them, pushing it into the pockets. This will give a wonderful flavour to the heart of the shanks.

Tear off four arm-length pieces of tinfoil and fold each piece in half to give you four A3-sized pieces of foil. Divide the garlic and veg between them, making a pile in the middle of each square. Rub the lamb shanks with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, then put one on top of each pile of veg and a sprig of rosemary and a few sage leaves on top of that. Carefully pull up the sides of the foil around the shank and pour a swig of wine into each. Gather the foil around the bone, pinching it together tightly.

Any excess foil can be torn or cut off with scissors.

Repeat for all 4 shanks, then place the foil parcels on a baking tray with the bones facing up.

Put in the preheated oven for 2½ hours or until the meat is as tender as can be. Serve the parcels in the middle of the table so that your guests can open them up themselves.

SERVES 4

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DI S C OV E R

DRIVING

TRUE

Fighting Spirit

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DI S C OV E R

DRIVING

I

t’s been a busy year for Lotus: the arrival of the acclaimed Exige S; a featured marque at the Goodwood Festival of Speed; a new flagship retail store in Regent Street London; third place in the F1 Drivers’ Championship and fourth in the F1 Constructors’ Championship; and amongst various racing exploits, another series win for a Lotus with an Evora GTC taking the MSA British Endurance Championship.

Following the excitement of this race series win, Lotus has released the new Evora ‘Sports Racer’ – a visually enhanced and optimised version of the mid-engined 3.5 litre V6 sports car, available in either naturally aspirated or supercharged variants.

In terms of engine performance potential owners have a choice between the 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVTi 24-valve or the Supercharged power train variant.

The transmission options allow you complete control with either a slick shifting 6 speed manual transmission or an Intelligent Precision Shift automatic gearbox with steering wheel mounted paddles.

A free flowing exhaust system features special bypass valves that open at higher speeds or when in sport mode to reduce the back pressure in the system, increasing power and heightening the exhaust note. The car also boasts several race derived components such as the Bilstein dampers, Eibach springs and an AP Racing track tuned braking system. All of this rests atop lightweight, forged alloy wheels in 19”/20” diameter which are mated to sticky Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres that work in perfect harmony with the suspension and chassis.

The Sports Racer is available in a choice of four colours: Aspen White, Carbon Grey, Nightfall Blue and Ardent Red. To stand out from the crowd, the Sports Racer receives unique contrasting accents of gloss black across the roof, front splitter, rear diffuser and side sills, exaggerating its aggressive stance and sleek silhouette.

Further black elements include black rear badges, black door mirror pods and gloss black forged wheels with a choice of either red or black brake callipers which all work to give the ‘Sports Racer’ a more dramatic and focused appearance.

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DI S C OV E R

DRIVING

TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD, THE SPORTS RACER RECEIVES UNIQUE CONTRASTING ACCENTS

Step inside the cockpit and one of the Evora’s real surprises lies behind you. As the only midengined 2+2 in production, there’s rear seating including ISOFIX mountings for child seats, offering practicality without compromise. You’ll be cosseted in an interior that combines comfort with function, blending high quality materials with precise attention to detail and craftsmanship. Inside, the standard 2+2 seating option comes adorned with black leather Premium Sports seats, trimmed with red contrast piping and stitching. The dash, doors and centre console receive a liberal dose of Slate Grey SuedeTexTM with red contrast stitching, highlighting the car’s sporting character.

Like your interiors a bit louder? Go for Venom Red leather Premium Sports seats with black contrast piping and stitching. All Evora Sport Racer interiors are complemented by gunmetal dashboard panels, as is standard in the Evora S. Any state of the art and well thought out interior would of course mean nothing without offering a plethora of gadgets and the Sports Racer does not disappoint. The Sports Racer comes loaded with optional extras as standard.

The ‘Sports Pack’ provides switchable sports mode with sharper throttle response; increased RPM limit and sportier setting for Dynamic Performance Management; sports diffuser and cross-drilled brake discs.

The ‘Tech Pack’ provides upgraded speakers and stereo system; DVD player; 7" WVGA touch screen display; Bluetooth mobile phone connection;

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DI S C OV E R

USB connection for various iPod models, MP3 players and memory sticks; tyre pressure monitoring; cruise control and rear parking sensors. This is topped off with electric powerfold mirrors and a reversing camera as standard.

The fuel consumption comes in at around 13.2 litres/100km to 7.1 litres/100km for urban driving, with an overall combined consumption of 9.3 litres / 100km. The CO2 emissions are around 217g CO2 per kilometre.

In terms of pricing and availability, the Evora Sports Racer is already available in the UK and across Europe and adds outstanding value to the already exceptional Evora range, priced in the UK from £57,900 for the Evora with 280 PS or £65,900 for the 350 PS supercharged Evora S. For UK customers, the cost benefits are clear because by opting for the pre-packaged Evora ‘Sports Racer’ savings range from £6,450 to £7,150 respectively. How does this compare to what is available for South African drivers?

Contact your nearest Lotus dealership to find out. There are dealers in two locations in South Africa – contact the Johannesburg branch on +27 11 361 6500 or the Cape Town branch on +27 21 419 0595.

The Evora ‘Sports Racer’ proves its value on the pocket, as well as on the road and track delivering phenomenal performance, exclusive style, incredible excitement and genuine affordability. There are three main factors that set the Sports Racer apart from the existing Evora range; firstly, it receives a unique exterior colour scheme with an optimised interior to match. Secondly, it comes fully loaded, boasting Lotus’ ultimate specification. And thirdly, it’s more affordable than ever, representing great value.

DRIVING

DI S C OV E R

DRIVING

E X PL OR E

ARRIVAL

Fairest on the Rails THE GOLDEN AGE OF LUXURY TRAIN TRAVEL HAS BEEN RENEWED IN THE HEART OF THE AFRICAN BUSH. ROVOS RAIL, WITH ITS PRIVATE STATION AND HEADQUARTERS IN CAPITAL PARK, PRETORIA, PROVIDES UNIQUE TRAIN TRIPS THROUGH AND OVER SOME OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR SCENERY IN AFRICA.

DON’T HAVE TIME FOR A FULL TRIP ON BOARD? Book one of Rovos’ unique and fun dinner trips. During the course of the year they run 3 – 4 hour dinner excursions, entertaining a maximum of 72 guests.

Arriving at Rovos Rail Station at 17h30, dinner guests will be treated to champagne, orange juice and canapés accompanied by some light classical music played by a string duet. One of the steam locomotives will be parked on the platform, adjoining the station lounge, allowing guests numerous photographic opportunities before moving off the platform at 18h15 to collect the train.

At 19h00 the train embarks on a circular tour around Pretoria and arrives back at Rovos Rail Station, Capital Park at 22h00.

The dinner train allows guests access to, one or two 42seat Dining Cars, a Bar/Lounge Car (smoking), a Lounge Car (non smoking) and an Observation Car with bar and open balcony. The package includes champagne reception at Rovos Rail Station, Steam locomotive and string duet on the platform, all food and beverages consumed whilst on the train, flowers in the station building and on board the train, use of the PA system, safe and secure parking for guest vehicles and agent's commission.

For more information or to make a booking, call Rovos Rail on +27 12 315 8242, email reservations@rovos.co.za or visit www.rovos.com.

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E X PL OR E

ARRIVAL

H ER E A R E TW EN TY-ONE R E ASONS WH Y T H E ROVOS R A IL TR A INS A R E T H E MOST LUXUR IOUS A ND UNIQUE IN T H E WOR L D.

04 Deluxe and Royal suites have

01

Rovos Rail has its own unique 60-acre private station facility allowing for maximum security, cleanliness and efficiency. The station also boasts convenient free parking areas for cars and buses within the station facility.

permanent beds which are made up 24 hours a day. 90% of the suites have full king sized beds (188cm x 188cm). A different bed configuration for single beds – an L-shape – is available.

05 Pullman Suites have couches

which can be converted to single or double beds.

02 A champagne reception is provided for all

departing passengers and the owner of the train endeavours to meet and greet departures and arrivals of the trains.

03 Each sleeper carriage is 22 metres long and

accommodates five Pullman Suites at 7m², three Deluxe Suites at 11m² or two Royal Suites at 16m² making these by far the largest suites on any train in the world today.

06

Both the Royal and Deluxe Suites boast two comfortable chairs while a daytime couch is provided in the Pullman Suites.

07

There is a bar fridge in each suite and all alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are complementary.

08 09

There are tea and coffee making facilities in each suite.

10

Storage space in each suite is large enough to accommodate 5 large suitcases and a set of golf clubs.

11

Rovos trains boast 25% more cupboard space than the nearest competition.

12

Each suite is equipped with individually operated air conditioners for heating and cooling.

There is a digital safe in each suite.

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E X PL OR E

ARRIVAL

The windows in each suite open up to provide fresh air and communication with the outside and smoking is allowed in suite.

13

19 The Observation Car at the rear of the train has an open deck allowing passengers to take in scenic delights as the train travels.

14

The bathrooms are 25% larger than the nearest competition.

15

All Royal suites boast a full bathtub and separate shower.

16

Toilets are standard household flushing units and wall mounted hairdryers are provided in every bathroom.

17

20 The train travels at a maximum speed of 60 kilometres per hour allowing for greater comfort and scenic appreciation.

Meals are at one sitting allowing guests to linger as long as they choose.

21

18 A separate smoking lounge is situated in the last sleeper carriage.

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Rovos boasts 25% more train tonnage per passenger than the nearest competition (11 tons per passenger).

E X PL OR E

CHECK-IN

Cruising

Down the Amazon

THE AMAZON RIVER The Amazon River is arguably the largest river in the world rivalled only by the mighty Nile in Africa. The Amazon River’s headwaters in South America originate in Peru with the Upper Amazon area in Peru consisting of a series of major river systems that flow North and South into the Marañón and Ucayali (major Amazon River tributaries) and the Amazon River. At its widest point the Amazon River is 11 km/7 miles wide during the low water season, but during the high water season, when the Amazon floods the surrounding plains, the Amazon River can be up to 45km/28 miles in breadth.

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E X PL OR E

CHECK-IN

THERE IS A RIVER THAT TAKES US DEEP INTO THE HEART OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST SPECTACULAR JUNGLES. ITS LANDSCAPE GOES BEYOND THE LIMITS OF YOUR IMAGINATION – HOME TO MORE THAN 1000 SPECIES OF EXOTIC FLOWERS AND ANCIENT TREES, HUNDREDS OF MAMMALS, OVER 400 SPECIES OF BIRDS AND SO MUCH MORE. TO REACH IT TAKES A JOURNEY THAT FEW TRAVELLERS HAVE EXPERIENCED BEFORE. THE M/V ARIA IS CERTAINLY NOT YOUR AVERAGE CRUISE SHIP. IT IS DESIGNED TO BRING YOU AND THE EXOTIC AMAZON WILDLIFE TOGETHER. IT IS A DREAM THAT TURNS INTO REALITY.

T

he M/V Aria can accommodate a maximum of 32 cruise ship guests plus crew. This luxury cruise ship is the perfect size to sail along the Amazon River, providing extremely comfortable lounge, dining and sleeping accommodations and modern navigation technologies and standards for cruise ship travel and safety on the water. The Aria’s story starts with Aqua Expeditions who are recognized worldwide as the leader in luxury, small-ship cruising on the world’s greatest rivers. After bringing the first luxury cruise line to the Amazon River in Peru in 2008 with the M/V Aqua – an architecturally designed, custom-built vessel offering travellers 5-star accommodations, gourmet cuisine and privately guided shore excursions – they sought to expand their offering. “I had long dreamed of taking visitors to the Amazon – the world’s last great unexplored region. I wanted to give people a chance to see and feel this mighty river and its tributaries up close without sacrificing creature comforts.

We launched our first five star vessel, the Aqua in 2008. Almost immediately we were selling out and we realized we needed a second ship to meet demand,” says Aqua Expedions Founder, Francesco Galli Zugaro.

And so began the challenging process of building the Aria, a 147 foot luxury cruise liner that now explores and navigates through the remote waters of the northern Amazon River in Peru and the build itself is as exciting a story as any voyage aboard the completed vessel.

Zugaro explains, “It was a great challenge – total construction time for the 32 passenger

Aria took 13 months as we gathered everything we needed to create a five star vessel sourcing goods from all over the world.

We built in Iquitos. It was a tough task – we had to battle extreme heat and bad rain forest storms, logistical issues surrounding sourcing supplies and finally the logistical component of building in the furthest inland seaport in the world.”

The Aria was custom built by architect Jordi Puig and the challenging logistics included employing over 200 people who worked for 395 days to build the vessel in one of the most remote shipyards, in one of the most remote cities in the world. The builders worked on land for 300 days and it took 10 days and just over 80 people to bring the vessel from the shipyard to the water. Goods were purchased and imported from all over the world including light fixtures from Spain, the best cottons and linens from Peru, state of the art kitchen supplies from the United States, encapsulated noise reducing generators and exclusive custom-made furniture from Brazil, bathroom fixtures from Italy, and wallpaper and interior décor from Malaysia. The purchase list culminated in two new Cummins 405 Marine Engines to power the vessel along the Amazon River.

On board, the Aria now boasts amenities from the best natural products in the Amazon, 16 250 square foot designer suites, unforgettable movie screen sized picture windows, central air conditioning, a menu created by executive chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino and a luxurious sun deck. All LAUNCH EDITION | AVION DE LUXE

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assembled and designed, Francesco says, by 100% pure Peruvian Human Talent.

The Aria can accommodate up to 32 guests in 16 handsomely decorated, air-conditioned designer suites measuring approximately 240 square feet. Four of these suites can be interconnected to cater to families. Each suite boasts outside facing panoramic picture windows, en suite lounge areas, internal communication systems, and en suite bathrooms with a round the clock supply of hot water.

The crew consists of 24 cruise ship staff including a Cruise Director and a paramedic, plus four English-speaking naturalist guides. The Aria’s social areas include an indoor bar-lounge, dining room, outside lounge, outdoor Jacuzzi, exercise room, an observation deck and even a boutique.

There is no better way to experience the diverse wildlife and learn more about the many Amazon rainforest animals than by sailing down the river.

Aqua Expedition’s ability to travel quietly by water into the remote areas of the Amazon jungle, many of which have seldom been visited by travellers, allows guests to experience the Amazon’s animals in a more intimate manner – from the Amazon’s dolphins to its fish, monkeys, insects and birdlife.

You will start your luxury cruise floating down the Amazon River in Iquitos, an hour and a half long flight from Lima, Peru. Iquitos can be reached only by air or water and touring the lively city includes many highlights such as a building designed by Gustav Eiffel.

What you see along the Amazon River depends on the length of your stay.

The heart of every visit, however, will be Pacaya Samiria Reserve, a protected wildlife area deep within the Amazon rainforest and jungle – a world filled with birds adorned in neon-brilliant colours, playful Amazon monkeys, graceful hawks and herons and millions of butterflies. The highlight of each day’s journey on your luxury cruise down the Amazon will be experiencing, on shorter excursions, the pristine wilderness areas teeming with the Amazon’s wildlife and amazing plant life, such as the colossal Victoria Regia water lilies. You will have the opportunity to see hundreds of species of Amazon wildlife, including the endangered pink Amazon dolphin, the three toed sloth and perhaps, if you are very lucky a sleek, black jaguar.

You will also encounter—and have the chance to interact with—local people who have been living in villages along the Amazon River for centuries. When the day’s sightseeing is over, the comforts of your luxurious floating hotel await you.

“In the end our goal is to take you on a breathtaking Amazon adventure while providing all the comforts – including the level of service that you would find in a five star luxury hotel,” says Zugaro. “We are here in one of the last pristine places on earth. Aqua Expeditions will keep it that way.”

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A Wellness Experience in Breathtaking Surroundings Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat is a place of ancient and untamed beauty unlike any other. This extraordinary property, nestled in the foothills of the Cederberg Mountains, is the ideal wilderness and wellness getaway to escape, restore and relax. Malaria and predator free, the reserve is a natural playground for those who want to reconnect with themselves and the essence of life surrounded by wide open plains, mystical rock formations, crystal-clear waterfalls, and an abundance of flora and fauna. Bushmans Kloof is a luxurious ecological oasis of 7500 hectares, situated in the foothills of the breathtaking Cederberg mountains. Here majestic views, staggering rock formations, open plains, invigorating outdoor activities, 16 luxurious rooms and suites, awardwinning Cape cuisine and a wellness experience deeply rooted in nature, all combine to create an unforgettable, luxury wilderness adventure. For more information, visit www.bushmanskloof.co.za.

Amani Spa, Ivory Tree Game Lodge

wins Safari Spa of the Year Amani Spa, Ivory Tree Game Lodge, has walked away with the title of “Best Safari Spa, 2013” in the Les Nouvelles Esthétiques Spa Awards. Ronleigh Gordon, Founder and Managing Director, says “I am so proud of my team for this fantastic accolade! It is only through a collective passion, belief and commitment – coupled with practical skill and service excellence – that we are able to do what we do. I also need to acknowledge the team at Ivory Tree Game Lodge for their supportive partnership.” This is the second time that Amani Spa, Ivory Tree has won the title which further endorses its reputation and credibility within the industry. What sets Amani apart from similar service providers is their 360° philosophy of health, beauty and wellness, embracing all aspects of holistic health and beauty. In keeping with international trends, Amani has moved beyond beauty and traditional luxury spa services such as massage, to promote a lifestyle that enhances overall well-being, and includes alternative health treatments such as hydrotherapy, salt therapy, colour therapy and crystal healing – while still offering luxurious facials, manicures, pedicures and sumptuous body treatments. For more information, visit www.amanispas.co.za.

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DEPARTURE

Joburg’s Jewel

Cruising Down the Lake in Luxury

Lying along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe is the magnificent Lake Kariba. The world’s largest artificial lake and reservoir by volume and fourth largest by surface area will soon become home to the first super yacht ever built on it. The name Matusadona is the perfect fit; the Matusadona National Park is situated on the Zimbabwe shores of Lake Kariba and is a game viewing enthusiast’s dream – from herds of Buffalo up to 1000 strong, lions and over 240 species of birdlife. The team consists of three crew members: the captain, cook and deckhand. The Dam has a number of beautiful islands to moor on. After arriving at the next spot after a few hours of cruising across the Dam, guests can go out on one of the smaller boats or the pontoon to explore the shallower and narrower parts of the Dam, such as the stunning Sanyati Gorge. The 110 ton, 28.6 m by 6.5 m yacht, boasts three spacious decks and stylish air conditioned cabin accommodation for up to seven people, with plenty of additional space under the stars on the upper deck. Hearing the frequent grunt of the hippos, the distant lion’s roar, the cough of a leopard, the eerie cry of the Fish Eagle and all the sounds that make Africa so special, leaves no doubt that you’re in the real bush whilst cocooned in luxury.

Thaba Ya Batswana is a rare and valuable jewel, surrounded by the Southern Johannesburg metropolis, which captures the spirit of the African renaissance. It is situated in the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve area and has an abundance of indigenous trees, plants, birds and wildlife. The Tswana name meaning “Mountain of the Tswana People” is an apt description due to the discovery of Tswana settlement ruins that date back 300 and 600 years. The historic remnants of the Tswana people are scattered throughout the eco Hotel where visitors are able to observe them from many of the paths and trails. Thaba Ya Batswana are passionate about professional service-oriented hospitality. This along with their beautiful facilities and breathtaking natural surroundings ensure that Thaba Ya Batswana is the venue of choice for both the corporate and leisure markets.

Kruger’s First Total Solar Energy Solution After many months of planning, Hamiltons Tented Camp has proudly unveiled their biggest green initiative to date – an entirely solar powered camp! The luxury tented camp is located within the Imbali Private Concession, approximately 50km South East of Orpen Gate in the Central Kruger Park. Set within a wilderness zone the camp was too remote to be electrified with Eskom power and to date has relied entirely on generator power. The solar powered system is capable of generating sufficient power to run all the camp’s 220 V electricity demands including the six luxury tented suites air conditioning, ceiling fans, geysers, lighting and of course boreholes and pumps. Other green initiatives at Hamiltons include reed beds, water saving mechanisms and removal of all waste from the park to approved recycling operations. Wouter Pienaar, General Manager, said, “This is truly a giant green step in the right direction, we foresee a saving of around 54 000 litres of diesel per year which impacts on our pristine environment. Although noise pollution has always been kept to a minimum by ensuring that the generator housing was sound proof, we can almost hear the silence now.” Visit www.extraordinary.co.za for more information.

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Royco declared Iconic SA Brand

Royco, one of South Africa’s most trusted food brands, has earned the title of an iconic South African brand and has won outright in the Soup Category for its entire Packet Soup range in the TGI ICON Brand Survey for 2013.

Typically South African, TGI Icon Brands are considered rainbow nation brands with a loyal following. Loved and enjoyed, often on a daily

TOP

MTN

Business’ Strategic Partnership MTN Business has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Britehouse, a SAP channel and services partner. Through this partnership, MTN Business becomes one of the first telecommunications providers of the SAP Business One Cloud solution in South Africa. The solution will be branded MTN Business ERP and is the first product

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basis, these Icon Brands instil a common experience in the hearts and minds of consumers irrespective of cultural backgrounds who literally put their money where their mouths are to demonstrate their commitment.

Royco relaunched its entire packet soup range earlier this year with bright red, eco-friendly packaging and new, great tasting recipes. The new look packs demonstrate Royco’s commitment as part of a nation-wide soup kitchen initiative that feeds 10 000 South Africans living in poverty every day. “We are thrilled by the phenomenal growth that our brand has enjoyed, especially as we were flagged by the TGI poll as a potential icon brand in 2010. In just three years we have reached iconic status, cementing Royco as a true rainbow nation brand,” says Mandy Murphy, Marketing Director - Mars Africa: Food.

With the brand promise of ‘delicious every time’, ROYCO has been trusted by consumers for over 60 years to help them prepare hearty and delicious meals for their families.

offering within the MTN Business ERP portfolio, with more solutions to be added in the future. MTN Business ERP is a cloud based, integrated business management solution designed for small businesses or subsidiaries of large enterprises. Available for purchase from MTN Business, it is a full end-to-end solution that integrates all core business functions across a company, including financials, sales, customer relationship management, inventory and operations.

Unlike many other small business solutions on the market, this solution offers businesses a single application to manage critical business processes, eliminating the need for separate installations and complex integration of multiple modules. MTN Business is currently the only service provider that can offer this complete solution to the market, encompassing connectivity,

STORY device, and solution access as a single offering. What’s more, as it is a cloud based solution, it is easy to set up, use and customise to meet changing business needs. MTN Business is leveraging its extensive network footprint to provide access to the solution for customers looking to manage their businesses from anywhere, anytime. This means that customers can have up–to-thesecond information and control business activities no matter their location. Access to the solution is done via an online portal or through an app. This partnership is another example of how MTN Business is creating a full comprehensive ICT value proposition to the market. SAP Business One is used in more than 120 countries globally with localised versions offered in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, and now in South Africa.

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The Ugly

Truth

Employers face harsh consequences for failure to use polygraph tests correctly IT IS APPARENT FROM RECENT CASE LAW THAT THERE ARE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF POLYGRAPH TESTS BY EMPLOYERS IN THE CONTEXT OF PROMOTIONS, WITH HARSH CONSEQUENCES FOR FAILURE TO USE THE TESTS CORRECTLY.

H

elen Wilsenach, partner at Bowman Gilfillan, the leading pan-African corporate law firm commented that, “When contemplating promoting employees, some employers run polygraph tests on the candidates in order to assess their integrity. In terms of South African law, polygraph testing is permitted when employers consider candidates for promotions. It is the manner in which the lie-detector test is used that becomes an issue.” The Labour Court recently dealt with this issue in the case of Sedibeng District Municipality v The South African Local Government Bargaining Council and Others 2012 JDR 1522 (LC).

In this case it was accepted that polygraph testing can be used by employers as a legitimate tool in considering promotions, and that such use would not be at odds with South African jurisprudence. The issue, however, was the finding by the arbitrator that the reason the

employees were not appointed was simply because they failed the polygraph test.

Said Ms Wilsenach: “In this case, there was no other independent evidence that the two employees rejected for promotion were previously implicated in some wrongdoing. The polygraph test result was the sole reason for not appointing candidates who would otherwise have succeeded.

“This resulted in the test not merely being one of many factors to weigh up, but a deciding one. The court held that even if polygraph test results constitute relevant material in determining a person’s integrity, the question remains whether it is fair to rely exclusively on them as a touchstone of integrity in the recruitment context.

“The court held that the exclusive reliance on the polygraph test results to eliminate candidates for appointment on the basis of their ‘deceitful character’, in the absence of any other information placing a

question mark over their integrity, is unfair.”

The relief granted by the court was that the employer was to place the employees in the same financial position they would have been in had they been appointed to the new position if their application had succeeded.

It is apparent from this case that there are stringent requirements for the use of polygraph tests by the employers in the context of promotions. There are also harsh consequences for failure to use the test correctly.

“Employers must ensure that when using a lie-detector test in recruitment processes, the results may not be decisive on whether or not the candidate is appointed. Employers need to look at many factors, including the results of the polygraph test, but such results should not be relied on exclusively as the courts may view this as an unfair labour practice,” Ms Wilsenach concluded.

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Social Business Software

Revolutionised

THE USE OF SOCIAL SOFTWARE IN A BUSINESS CONTEXT IS ALREADY AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BYPASSED AFRICA ALTOGETHER IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE MOBILE VISION OF SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL BUSINESS SOFTWARE VENDOR WYSETALK.

Social business software for Africa shatters adoption barriers with marketleading smart phone support ABOUT WYSETALK

SOCIAL REVOLUTION

Research firm IDC pegs the annual revenue growth of social business software (SBS) at 40%, and predicts it will reach $4.5 billion in 2016. WyseTalk CEO Gysbert Kappers says companies use it in all areas of the business to enhance communication, productivity and ‘ideation’, either as standalone applications or by embedding social elements including collaboration, information sharing and communication into enterprise software.

“Unlike other communications or collaborating platforms, SBS tools lend themselves to mass participation, realtime communication, openness and constructive engagement within qualified communities,” Kappers comments.

He adds that companies that communicate well tend to increase workplace efficiencies. “In addition, they will co-create better, more nuanced ideas at a faster rate – ultimately a source of competitive advantage.”

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However, until recently these benefits have not been available to African companies, he continues. And where they have, it’s come at an extraordinary cost with no local support. Some of these social business platforms only support desktop and laptop device formats, hampering adoption in emerging markets where smartphones are king.

Mindful of the difficulties this presents in the African market, WyseTalk has turned the market on its head by making its platform available as a mobile app, downloadable from the major smart phone platforms. At the time of writing, the company offered free download versions of its software for Apple iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Blackberry 10 and Windows mobile.

Kappers explains that in addition to a highly functional browser system and WyseTalk’s mobile apps they also have a desktop app. The pared-down desktop version of the app consists solely of a

WyseTalk is the secure social enterprise platform that accelerates the performance of organisations that believe in the power of engaging communities to collaborate. A cloud-based software solution developed by a South African team, WyseTalk enables companies and communities to speed up the decision-making process, enable large-scale collaboration, improve all-round communication, encourage idea generation, and facilitate an open innovation environment to drive critical business success. Available as a web service, desktop, mobile and tablet app, WyseTalk is more feature-rich than other products and offers unrivalled pricing, branding, and integration capabilities suited to local companies. The system does not restrict community participation on the basis of domains, and conversations can be triggered from events created from a company's internal systems (financial, production, customer, sales) and public triggers (news sites, customer queries). www.wysetalk.com

notifier of new messages and other activity, prompting desktopactive users to respond on their phone (or via a desktop browser). “It is one unified platform on which to respond in real time, wherever you are,” adds Kappers.

MOBILE CONTINENT

WyseTalk’s mobile strategy is a decisive first strike in African markets, where wired Internet and PC penetration is remarkably low at 4.1% and 6.4% of households respectively, but mobile phone subscriptions are more than 53.1% according to the ITU (2011 figures). In the same year mobile broadband subscriptions stood at 8.5% on the continent – almost twice the number of fixed broadband subscriptions.

For now, varying estimates for African smartphone penetration average out at around 10%. When taken in combination with the low Internet penetration on the continent, this does not equate to an enormous market opportunity yet, but at about 40% growth, the maths is sounding pretty attractive.

Add to that, recent advances in international connectivity, and the sky is the limit, says Kappers.

MOBILE WORLD

He says global browser activity indicates that mobility is on the rise everywhere. With the exception of the Americas, mobile Internet connections doubled in all regions between 2011 and 2012. “It’s a globally-applicable value proposition, and there are opportunities in the developed world, Middle East and elsewhere, but our objective is to gain a strong foothold in Africa first,” he notes.

GETTING IT

Kappers says fears of social elements disrupting the work environment are unfounded. “The corporate conversation happens at any rate – informally around the water cooler, in boardroom meetings and in project teams. SBS merely harnesses the chatter, gets rid of the inefficiencies and costs of other channels, and structures conversations into accessible groups and areas of interest.”

He says it is crucial for companies to attune themselves to the objectives of SBS software and to strategically direct adoption in consultation with WyseTalk. “The bottom line is that social software has enormous viral potential, and executives must steer the ship, or the conversation will get away from them.”

On the users’ side, some familiarity with Facebook-like features of sharing, updates, feeds and personal profiles is all that’s needed.

OPEN INNOVATION

SBS is ideal for giving employees a safe and familiar place to listen, participate and contribute. “The openness of a social environment guarantees visibility to all ideas. Because it is open and democratic, ideas will attract fair consideration, and when it passes scrutiny will earn people personal reward for contributing to the common good – the company’s success.

It is a good day when that sort of competitive advantage is available to Africa,” concludes Kappers.

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About ENPROTEC:

How green

is your company really?

“GOING GREEN” IS NO LONGER A NEW CONCEPT OR CATCH PHRASE. ACROSS THE GLOBE, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE ADOPTED A “GREEN” ATTITUDE – WHERE THEY FEEL A SENSE OF ECO CONSCIOUSNESS, AND ACT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRESERVE THEIR IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT AND HOPEFULLY PLANET EARTH AT LARGE. HAVE THE MEASURES PUT IN PLACE

BY BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY ROLE PLAYERS REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE? Provided by Oxigen Communications

O

ver the past few years, the emphasis has really been placed on the environment, and how consumers and suppliers can soften the blow to our planet. As a result of this socalled eco consciousness, large companies, mines and other manufacturing businesses are constantly looking for alternative and sustainable ways to play their part in saving their environment – but has it made a measurable difference at all? How do we compare, as South Africans, to the rest of the world in terms of our “greenness”?

Only once companies are aware of the facts and statistics – how far and wide their carbon footprint on the environment really stretches, the lasting effects of biological disturbance and the magnitude of our mines’ waste water streams – will they be able to make informed decisions, or even call upon the expertise of external companies like ENPROTEC (Environmental and Process Technologies) to help them come up with sustainable solutions.

The spotlight has always been set firmly on South Africa’s mining industry

ENPROTEC (Environmental and Process Technologies) was established based on the need for a mineral processing company with the capability to provide solutions for the recovery of ultra fine coal material and they pride themselves on their knowledge and experience to provide sustainable and viable solutions to their clients. ENPROTEC has the capability to carry out environmental, economic and technical feasibility studies to determine the most viable solution to turn waste stream into a viable product stream. The company operates from three key fields: the Projects and Engineering Services Division, the Operational Division and the Process Equipment Division. Key technologies and expert skills are the cornerstone of ENPROTEC’s business – now and into the future.

– especially over the last few months, where there have been many trials and controversies. And in the midst of all this, investors and international industry peers have looked to our country to see how our mines relate to the rest of the world’s, and what we are doing on a global scale to ensure that the impact which our mines have on the environment is substantially minimised.

“Although the concept of ‘going green’ seems like an amicable and admirable one to most South African companies, we have been a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to implementing the necessary changes and looking for permanent solutions,” says Jayson Jacobs, ENPROTEC’s Operational Director. “We believe that part of the problem is that companies don’t really know where to start or what to look out for, and they end up believing that they can’t really do much to save our environment. Of course this is not true, as we have proved time and again that there is much to be done – companies just need to know who to turn to. The smallest changes can have the biggest impact.”

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it that this precious resource is one of the most vital to the systems of our planet.

Yet water is one of the first things which go to waste at a mine – and we are not talking a couple of litres, but literally thousands of litres per day. By making use of ENPROTEC’s expertise, the Hakhano Colliery in Middelburg was able to reduce their water consumption from 298 litres per ton to 51 litres per ton. This in turn saves lots of money, and dramatically reduces the mine’s water footprint. With the help of ENPROTEC, many companies have also been able to turn their waste water streams into revenue generating streams.

Immediate Biological Impact

The concept of immediate biological impact refers to the damage that is done to the environment right here, right now.

Of course it would have an impact on the environment in years to come too, but in most cases there are immediate effects on the environment, which can be measured in real time. These immediate biological impacts are easier to point out, and therefore easier to rectify and manage or prevent in the future.

Dumping Reduction

In November 2012, JSE-listed Company Exxaro Resources launched a “mine-of-the-future” concept, which promised South Africans that “you won’t see the waste”. This concept was launched under the acronym of NXXT, and the ideals targeted were zero waste, zero effluent, wash-to-zero and sustainable engineering. The positive influence that this “mine-of-the-future” concept has had on the environment is a far-reaching one, but Jayson believes that we are still only scraping the surface.

“There are so many factors and parameters which to take into consideration when trying to measure the carbon footprint of one’s company, and these will ultimately decide how one should go about attempting to significantly make a difference to the environment,” comments Jayson. “As a team who has years of collective expertise, ENPROTEC has really been positioned in South Africa as leaders in the field of carrying out environmental, economic and technical feasibility studies to determine the most viable solution to turn waste slurry streams into viable product streams. Not only have some of the biggest names in the South African

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mining industry turned to us to find the perfect, turnkey solutions for the optimal operation of their mines, but companies abroad are taking notice too.”

Based on this field of expertise, Jayson has compiled a list of the most important factors which companies – in particular mines – need to consider when it comes to measuring, and ultimately reducing, their impact on the environment. These factors include:

Environmental Impact Reduction

In order for a company to commit to the concept of reducing their impact on the environment, it is imperative that they first assess what their current impact on the environment is. With all the facts and statistics at hand – in most instances by means of an environmental impact assessment – companies are able to assess which steps to take next to dramatically reduce their impact on the environment.

Lessening Water Consumption

Water is life. There is no doubt about

Because of the large scale on which mines work – the amount of water they use, the amount of earth they turn, and ultimately the amount of resources they produce – there will always be tons of waste which get dumped onto our earth. The problem that this poses is that mines don’t know what to do with this waste, and ultimately it can do nothing for them. ENPROTEC have developed processes which dramatically reduce the magnitude of mine dumps, and they have also developed systems which turn mines’ waste into saleable product.

By ensuring that as little goes to waste as possible, mines are able to reduce the size and the impact that their dumps have on our environment.

“I do believe that many mines and businesses in South Africa have seen the light in terms of trying to minimise their carbon footprint, but I do think that there is still much to be done,” concludes Jayson.

“Currently we are still lucky enough to be living in a country where the water coming from our taps is safe and drinkable; we haven’t exhausted our energy resources just yet and there is still some soil which remains unturned, but the question is – how long will this last? In order to be able to mine for the following 50 years and thereafter, we need to make the sustainable changes today to ensure that we are able to see the benefits tomorrow.”