THINGS TO DO JOHANNESBURG SOUTH AFRICA

Here in South Africa we just call it Jo’burg, Jozi or eGoli (City of Gold). It’s Africa’s version of the city that never sleeps, our New York. It is one of the 40 largest metropolitan areas of the world, and the largest city in Sub-Sahara Africa. Johannesburg was founded in 1886 and is one of the youngest major cities in the world. It is also known as the largest man made forest in the world with more than 6 million trees.

Image: Chris Kirchhoff - mediaclubsouthafrica.com

CAPE TOWN WINS DESIGN CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AWARD 2014

Cape Town has been named World Design Capital for the year 2014, ahead of fellow short-listed cities, Dublin and Bilbao. The sought-after accolade was awarded to the Mother City this morning at the International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress in Taipei.

MILITARY HERITAGE GROUP

The Heritage Group was formed by a number of individuals involved in Heritage Preservation.

© Noleen Kutash

THE MOST SECLUDED ISLAND IN THE WORLD

Medjumbe the 1km long and 500m wide island with a long sand-bar tail called the ‘spit’ lies on the edge of the protected Quirimbas National Park.  Quirimbas Archipelago in Cabo Delgado Province, Northern Mozambique, is a captivating chain of 32 coral islands. There are no inhabitants on this island other than the hotel guests and the staff that take care of them. 

VINTAGE CARS SOUTH AFRICA PART 3 of 4

DKW was one of the most fa­mous car and mo­tor­bi­ke ma­nu­fac­tu­res in Ger­ma­ny. The his­to­ry of DKW be­gins 1902 in Zscho­pau, Sa­xo­nia, with a com­pa­ny ma­nu­fac­tu­ring parts for steam en­gi­nes, con­ti­nues with au­xi­l­i­a­ry mo­tors for bi­cy­cles and elec­tric cars and cul­mi­na­tes in ge­ne­ral mo­to­ri­sa­ti­on in the fif­ties. DKW be­co­mes a part of the Auto Union con­glo­me­ra­te, after WW2 it forms part of Mer­ce­des, then of Volks­wa­gen and fi­nal­ly be­co­mes what is now Audi. In the GDR DKW is mer­ged in the In­dus­trie­ver­band Fahr­zeug­bau and forms the fo­un­da­ti­on of Wart­burg and Tra­bant, the in­fa­mous two stroke cars. Outside ger­ma­ny DKW cars are made under li­cen­se in South Af­ri­ca and Bra­zil to name a few. DKW cars were made from 1928 until 1966.

© Noleen Kutash

VINTAGE CARS SOUTH AFRICA PART 2 of 4

When in 1937 the company known as "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH" was founded, no one could have guessed that it would one day be Europe's largest carmaker. The history of the company - with all its trials and tribulations - is first and foremost a story of impressive success.

Volkswagen Kombi 1955 © Noleen Kutash

VINTAGE CARS SOUTH AFRICA PART 1 of 4

Hermanus Whale Festival 2011 has, as one of its highlights, the annual Whales and Wheels Classic Car Show organised by Hermanus Classic Cars.

 Jensen Continental Tourer 1939 © Noleen Kutash

AFRICA FASHION TRADE EXPO HELD IN JOHANNESBURG

OCTOBER 20 - 23, 2011 

The Africa Fashion Trade Expo is Africa’s one stop fashion sourcing and shopping platform: a showcase of Africa’s best and the launch of new collections of fashion and accessories from South Africa and the rest of the Continent.
Venue Information 
Sandton Convention Centre, Maude Street Sandton, 2196, South Africa.

Trade Visitors: 20 October 2011 10: 00 –18:00 hrs. TRADE VISITORS NEED TO REGISTER. General Public: 21 October 2011 10:00 – 19: 00 hrs. 22 October 2011 09:00 – 18: 00 hrs.

Regulations Please note: Minors under the age of 12 are not allowed to enter into the Expo, even if accompanied by adult(s). Photography is not permitted in the Expo Venue without the permission of the exhibitor or the Organiser.

www.afisa.co.za

SOUTH AFRICA'S MASTERS IN CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE part 2

Paragon Architects had a hand in delivering the Cape Town Stadium on time for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Soccer - Several firms were contracted to the project, with Paragon Architects focusing mainly on the design of the roof as part of POINT Architects and Urban Designers. Here is a look at some of Paragon's other projects...

Located at the western edge of the bustling Sandton Central area, the glass and aluminium towers of 15 Alice Lane rise as statuesque architectural statements on the skyline of Johannesburg’s north-western suburbs. This 24,000 square metre double tower structure is the new office space of well-known legal firm Deneys Reitz. Set atop a six-storey basement the two towers rise 17 storeys into the Johannesburg sky.

15 Alice Lane Towers – Sandton

VOTE FOR TABLE MOUTAIN

The winner of the Seventh Natural Wonder of the World to be announced this month.  Please go here http://www.votefortablemountain.com/  to vote for Table Mountain in Cape Town South Africa.  Make your vote count.

 

INVEST IN SOUTH AFRICAN ART Part 2

Arguably the most important Freida Lock to come on to the open market in recent history is Interior with Green Hat. Painted in 1949,

this work is very much a portrait of the artist despite her not being physically present in the composition. Lock references her travels to Zanzibar with the inclusion of the paintings hanging on the walls of her bedroom as well as her sea-green hat caught of the top rail of the chair in the foreground.

SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL AND FASHION

MUHAMMAD ALI AND OTHERS BY PHOTOGRAPHER: JAMES BARNOR

Now on exhibit: Sep 07,2011 – Jan 29,2012

Iziko South African National Gallery

James Barnor was born in Accra, Ghana, in 1929. He started his own portraiture studio, Ever Young, in Accra in 1949. In the early 1950s, he began working for The Daily Graphic newspaper and later Drum magazine. He came to England in December 1959 to study photography at Medway College of Art in Rochester, Kent.

BIKER GETS TAKEN OUT BY BUCK WHILES ON BIKE

AFRICA'S RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES

Washington DC, 25 September 2011—Eskom and the African Development Bank (AfDB) today signed two loan agreements for a total value of USD365 million that will enable the first large-scale implementation of renewable wind and solar generation in Eskom’s history.

THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT IN ANY SA PHOTOGRAPHERS DIARY

 The PHOTO & FILM EXPO - is finally upon us!  Africas largest photographic event takes place for the 3rd time at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg from the 13th - 16th October and tickets are selling out fast!

TRAVEL SOUTH AFRICA THE CEDERBERG SIX

On October 2nd I posted an article about the Award Winning Hotel, In The Western Cape Mountains of South Africa called the “Cederberg.”  My photo club “Helderberg Photographic Society,” organized an outing there recently; to the mountain that is, not to the luxury "Bushmans Kloof Hotel" I’m afraid.  In all, 6 of us spent 2 days and nights photographing everything in sight.  Rachel Gemmell one of our members wrote a short story for our monthly newsletter, and kindly gave me permission to use her words in this post including the clever title, thank you Rachel.

There is another matter I would like to bring to your attention before we continue with our main story here.   One of our members, Florian Breuer, who also came along on our trip this weekend; just received the best possible news - his image “Baobab & Bicycle” (see below) won National Geographic’s photo competition called “Eye on Sustainability.”  /http://www.nationalgeographic.com/vale/eyeonsustainability/winners-gallery/

VINTAGE MERCEDES BENZ SOUTH AFRICA

In 1959, this Mercedes 220 S - was purchased as the official car for the Mayor of Bellville, in the Western Cape.   And in 1967 the Mayor’s car was replaced with a new vehicle.  In the meantime the then Chief of the Fire department of Bellville; Mr. B.D. Schoeman and his deputy Mr. W.J. Bodenstein had an issue with their official vehicle.  They could not fit in the car with their fireman’s helmets nor could they manoeuvre the pedals with their heavy boots.  And so the mayor’s old car found a new home with the Bellville’s Fire Department, and was in service there until approximately 1990.

AWARD WINNING HOTEL, IN THE WESTERN CAPE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTH AFRICA

This National Heritage Site in the Cederberg, Western Cape of South Africa and the
• Global Winner of Wildlife Conservations Programs in the Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards (2009)
• As well as the prestigious Relais & Chateaux Environment Trophy (2007).
• Also voted Best Hotel in The World 2009 by Travel & Leisure USA.

The reserve provides a sanctuary for the rare Cape Mountain Zebra, and has been pivotal in replenishing endangered Clanwilliam cedars into the area. They work closely with the local communities, providing training, support and employment and purchasing their products for the lodge. They are also playing an instrumental role in the community by involving the local schools in a tourism and conservation project called Footprints for the Future. Only a 3 hour scenic drive from Cape Town