A R2.3-billion project to upgrade the railways network from the manganese-rich Northern Cape province to the Port of Ngqura, in the Eastern Cape, has been approved, Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) CEO Siyabonga Gama revealed on Tuesday.

Speaking at a business briefing organised by the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gama said the investment was the first phase of a larger R27-billion railways and harbour investment programme aimed at eventually raising South Africa’s yearly manganese export capacity to 21-million tons.

The first-phase target, though, was to increase the yearly export capacity from around 5.5-million tons to 12-million tons by mid-2017, which would involve port and rail investments of around R15-billion.

In total, TFR would invest R10.8-billion between 2012/13 and 2018/19 on rolling stock and infrastructure to support the manganese-corridor project, which would become its third heavy-haul export channel after coal and iron-ore.

The manganese-related investment itself was also but one component of a larger R201-billion TFR capital expenditure programme, representing two-thirds of the Transnet group’s R300-billion Market Demand Strategy to modernise and expand its rail, ports and pipelines businesses.

The manganese-related investment would be used to upgrade the rail network from Hotazel, in the Northern Cape, to Coega to enable it to support axel loads of 26 t – the route would pass through Postmasburg, Kimberley, De Aar and Cradock on the way to South Africa’s newest deep-water harbour.

In parallel, portside investments would be made to facilitate the relocation of the existing Port Elizabeth manganese terminal to an enlarged and scalable facility at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), which is situated alongside the Port of Ngqura. There were also private-sector-led plans for a new manganese smelter to be established in the IDZ.

The option to export manganese out of Ngqura was selected ahead of an alternative proposal to use the existing iron-ore channel from the Northern Cape mines to Saldanha Bay, on the West Coast.

The Northern Cape is the epicentre of South Africa’s manganese mining activities, with both large and small mining entities either operating or building mines in the territory. These included BHP Billiton and Anglo American, through Samancor, African Rainbow Minerals and Assore, through Assmang, as well as emerging miners Kalagadi Manganese, Tshipi é Ntle, United Manganese of the Kalahari and Kudumane.

About 80% of the world’s known manganese resources, used to improve rust and corrosion properties of steel, are located in South Africa.

The first phase of the railways infrastructure upgrade would involve the doubling of certain sections and the introduction of new passing loops to accommodate 200-wagon trains, operated using dual-voltage locomotives.

A new export terminal would be developed at Ngqura in parallel, with the integrated system scheduled for completion by mid-2017.

“This is a new heavy-haul line that we are bringing to bear,” Gama enthused, adding that the project would require close collaboration with miners, as well as internally, between TFR and Transnet’s National Port Authority.

He also saw potential for private sector investment in common-user rail-loading facilities.

To subscribe to Engineering News’s print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.

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Oost-Kaap

–>

Regio’s en highlights in Zuid-Afrika

• Addo NP
• Blyde River C…
• Drakensberg
• Gauteng
• Kalahari woes…
• Krugerpark
• KwaZoeloe-Natal
• Limpopo
• Mpumalanga

• Noord-Kaap
• Noordwest
• Oost-Kaap
• Robbeneiland
• Tafelberg
• Vrijstaat
• West-Kaap

An awful lot of women – and men – wake up with Simon Rimmer, for he is the host and chef on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and before that, appeared on BBC2’s Something for the Weekend – both magazine-style shows aimed at easing viewers into the day while whetting their appetites for good food.

Next month he’ll swap the studio for Taste of Grampian, the popular food and drink fair which showcases the best products in the region.

Instead of exchanging jibes with TV partner, Tim Lovejoy, his verbal sparring partner in Inverurie will be chef, Nick Nairn.

“I love Nick – we go back a long way, but I don’t see him very often so it will be great to catch up with him at Taste of Grampian,” said Simon, who turned 50 this year.

“There’s usually a pre-festival dinner, but I shall try to sit a long way away from Mr Nairn as I’ve got too many memories of bad hangovers because of him,” joked Simon.

“This will be my third visit to the festival. There’s always fabulous produce. The last time I was there I tried the most amazing smoked langoustines – I can still taste them.

“They were so good we had them shipped down and talked about them on the show because they were so exciting.

“This time I’m confident I’ll meet at least 10 to 15 new suppliers who are doing new and exciting stuff.

“We’re in a recession and it’s harder to make money, but at the same time, it’s not such a big gamble to become a small producer and people are embracing that and having a go which is fantastic.”

Having a go got Simon to where he is now.

“When I was a kid I loved watching TV chefs such as the Galloping Gourmet and Fanny Cradock, but I’d no interest in becoming a chef.

“Instead, I got a degree in fashion and textile design.

“I’ve always worked for myself – designing textiles which were sold to the US, Europe and Japan and making hand-decorated ceramics and pottery which was sold in places like Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

“My pal and business partner, Simon Connolly, and I spotted a vegetarian restaurant, Greens in West Didsbury for sale.

“We wanted to buy it purely for the location as there were signs of the area becoming a cool place.

“Being creative with the truth, we persuaded the bank to lend us the money which it did on condition we continued trading as a vegetarian restaurant.

“Simon was working as a hotel manager and I’d some front-of-house experience as I’d worked in bars and restaurants, so we tossed a coin to see which one of us would become the chef.

“I lost. The only thing I could cook at that point was spag bol and a generic curry,” said Simon.

Armed with two cookery books, no culinary experience and a mild sense of panic, Simon found himself in the kitchen.

“I quickly fell in love with the idea of cooking meat-free food,” said Simon.

“Cooking vegetarian dishes makes you work harder because, while it’s easy to get blown away by a fantastic bit of meat or fish, it’s a lot harder to get blown away by an aubergine.

“Turning vegetables into something exciting takes an awful lot of effort but it also makes my non-veg cooking more interesting too.”

Within months, Greens was described by a food critic as one of the most exciting new restaurants in the UK.

Since then, Simon’s star has continued to rise and he’s now one of the most familiar faces on TV.

Possessing an insatiable curiosity, he’s constantly on the look out for the next big food trend.

“I go to New York every year and would say over there, they are a couple of steps ahead of us in terms of interesting developments in food,” said Simon.

“Over there, there’s a huge rise in blue collar American-style food such as pulled ribs and barbecued food.

“The food truck revolution, which is just starting here, is everywhere in America – it’s an exciting development.

“There’s no design element involved in creating a beautiful restaurant – so the trucks are all about the food,” said Simon.

Discussing food, showing how to make sensational dishes and having celebrity guests is all part of Sunday Brunch.

“My favourite guests are Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer – they always make me laugh,” said Simon.

“The show is two and a half hours long but doesn’t feel like work at all.

“Tim and I consider ourselves incredibly lucky.”

So, apart from a visit to Thainstone on Saturday, June 1, what else is in Simon’s diary?

“I’m working on a top-secret project which will kick off in October – I can’t tell you anything about it – and I’m also looking to buy a pub.”

Taste of Grampian takes place on Saturday, June 1 at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie. For further details, visit www.tasteof grampian.co.uk

Published in: Legalbrief Environmental
Date: Tue 09 April 2013
Category: General
Issue No: 0305

Thu, 25 Apr, 2013

Three lions were released into Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock yesterday, becoming the first free-roaming lions in the area after an absence from the area of more than 130 years.

The lone lioness was sourced from Karoo National Park outside Beaufort West, while the two males were brought in from Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo.

The female has been resident in the Park’s boma since February, while the two males arrived earlier this month – allowing them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, and each other, before their release.

Park Manager Megan Taplin says the decision to introduce lion into the Park was mainly for biodiversity reasons.

“Lions would have occurred here historically and it is SANParks policy to reintroduce the wildlife species which would have occurred in an area before hunting or habitat loss forced them to local extinction in earlier centuries.”

“They will also occupy the niche of large predator in the ecosystem, keeping the numbers of larger herbivores in the Park in check,” said Taplin.

The three were released from the Park’s boma as the third predator species in the Park – after the introduction of cheetah in 2007 and brown hyena in 2008.

“SANParks took the decision to allow cheetah to first establish themselves in the Park before introducing lion, which may compete with the cheetah for food. The numbers of large herbivores such as black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland and gemsbok have now reached levels deemed sufficient to support lion,” Taplin said.

The fencing of the two picnic sites inside the game viewing area was completed in preparation for the lions’ arrival.

The Park is already enclosed with predator-proof fencing, which was erected prior to the release of cheetah in 2007.

Apart from their biodiversity value, the introduction of the lion will add to Mountain Zebra’s tourism value – offering visitors a new species to look out for in the Park.

“I think it will be wonderful to hear lion roaring at right – nothing beats that sound,” said Taplin.

2013-04-25 14:06

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Cape Town – Three lion were released into Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock in the Eastern Cape for the first time today, becoming the first free-roaming lions in the area after an absence from the area of over 130 years.

The lone lioness was sourced from Karoo National Park outside Beaufort West, while the two males were brought in from Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo. The female has been resident in the Park’s boma since February, while the two males arrived earlier this month – allowing them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, and each other, before their release.

Park Manager, Megan Taplin, says the decision to introduce lion into the Park was mainly for biodiversity reasons. “Lions would have occurred here historically and it is SANParks policy to reintroduce the wildlife species which would have occurred in an area before hunting or habitat loss forced them to local extinction in earlier centuries. They will also occupy the niche of large predator in the ecosystem, keeping the numbers of larger herbivores in the Park in check,” said Taplin. 

The three were released from the Park’s boma this morning, as the third predator species in the Park – after the introduction of cheetah in 2007 and brown hyena in 2008. “SANParks took the decision to allow cheetah to first establish themselves in the Park before introducing lion which may compete with the cheetah for food. The numbers of large herbivores such as black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland and gemsbok have now reached levels deemed sufficient to support lion,” Taplin said.

The lion are collared so that Park Management can monitor them in the first few months or years after release and so that rangers and researchers can observe what habitats they use and which species they prey on. Taplin says this will enable them to measure the lions’ impact on prey species and determine if more should be introduced in future. 

Lion often explore the extent of the Park soon after release before establishing themselves in the areas where they have the most success hunting. “On release into a new area, lion often prey on a variety of species before settling down. However, we predict that they will prey mostly on species such as black wildebeest and kudu,” said Taplin.

Cheetah tracking and guided walks will continuing, led by the Park’s knowledgeable guides who are trained to walk in Big Five areas. The fencing of the two picnic sites inside the game viewing area was completed in preparation for the lions’ arrival. The Park is already enclosed with predator-proof fencing, which was erected prior to the release of cheetah in 2007.

Apart from their biodiversity value, the introduction of the lion will add to Mountain Zebra’s tourism value – offering visitors a new species to look out for in the Park. “I think it will be wonderful to hear lion roaring at right – nothing beats that sound,” Taplin concluded.

 

Israel airport security ‘read tourists’ email’

MassDOT officials and Medford legislative delegation members were on hand Tuesday night to present the Medford City Council new plans for the reconstruction of the Cradock Bridge.

The historic bridge is a major one for travel into and out of Medford Square, carrying traffic over the Mystic River on Main Street near the on- and off-ramps to Route 16.

A temporary bridge is part of the plans, as part of an effort by engineers to minimize the impact on traffic and local businesses.

The temporary bridge would extend from a temporary Route 16 off-ramp, over the river to Clippership Drive, with access to Riverside Avenue for vehicles turning left.

Two southbound lanes of Main Street on the Cradock Bridge will be maintained during construction under this plan. The temporary bridge would accommodate northbound traffic.

Current plans have the project commencing in the spring of 2014. There are two phases to the plans right now, the first reconstructing the southbound lanes of the bridge and the second working on the northbound lanes.

Earlier iterations of the reconstruction had the project taking close to three and a half years to complete. The current plan would take two years to finish, according to officials.

“I think this is a tremendous plan,” said Medford Rep. Paul Donato. “It’s a plan that’s not only going to allow for the flow of traffic but it’s going to allow for probably one-third of the time frame to be taken off.”

Donato called the project “necessary” based on the condition of the bridge and downstream flooding issues.

Flooding problems that stretch into Winchester, East Arlington and West Medford are expected to be addressed by the project. Concrete panels that impede the flow of water at the bridge will be removed and enlarge the bridge’s hydraulic opening.

MassDOT engineer Paul King told the council the original plan included “six-plus” phases for the project.

“We took a hard look at, ‘what can we do to improve this for the city?'” King said, which led to the idea of the temporary bridge.

According to the state’s Accelerated Bridge Program, which was updated in December, the budget for the project is approximately $12.7 million.

King said the design is still not complete and a 25 percent design public hearing is expected to be held in the coming weeks.

Councilor Bob Penta asked if the state had begun formulating plans for mitigation for businesses who may experience financial damage due to the project.

Donato said that was part of ongoing discussions.

Councilor Paul Camuso pointed to the success of MassDOT’s Fast14 project, which replaced 14 superstructures along I-93 in Medford in rapid succession in the summer of 2011, in saying with confidence the Cradock Bridge project will go smoothly.

“We’re in good hands,” Camuso said.

Lauren DiLorenzo, Medford’s Office of Community Development director, said she hopes her office can have more imput on the project before it goes to a public hearing.

“This is the first time I’ve seen this plan,” she said, adding local historical interest groups have also hoped to have input.

Councilor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said she hoped the state and Medford’s ODC would be able to more closely coordinate efforts going ahead.

John Costas of Medford Electronics on Salem Street, and the president-elect of the Medford Chamber of Commerce, thanked the officials for working hard to minimize the impact on Medford Square’s businesses.

“It has to be done,” Costas said of the project.

The original bridge was built 1637, rebuilt in 1880 and again in 1909, according to a Medford Historical Society sign on the bridge. The original wooden drawbridge was the first toll bridge in New England.

UPDATE, 6:35 p.m.: Turns out the presentation IS happening, but at 7 p.m. when the regular meeting happens and not at 6 p.m. as we originally reported. We will have coverage, as always.

UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.: Due to an apparent scheduling issue, there will be no MassDOT presentation on the Cradock Bridge tonight. We’ll pass along any information we hear on why.

ORIGINAL STORY: Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) officials are expected to present the reconstruction design for the historic Cradock Bridge in Medford Square to the City Council this evening.

The presentation is expected to take place at 6 p.m., with the council’s regular meeting to follow at 7 p.m. at City Hall. Here’s the agenda for the regular meeting.

“This is going to have major, major impact on Medford Square, on the traffic and the business community,” said Council President Bob Maiocco at last week’s meeting of the project, which is slated to take place in spring 2014.

A lengthy discussion about Medford Square ensued after the bridge reconstruction was brought up last week, and a further discussion developed in the Medford Patch comment section of that post.

The original bridge was built 1637, rebuilt in 1880 and again in 1909, according to a Medford Historical Society sign on the bridge. The original wooden drawbridge was the first toll bridge in New England.

Part of the design includes a temporary bridge that will allow for traffic in both directions during construction. 

Flooding problems that stretch into Winchester, East Arlington and West Medford are expected to be addressed by the project. Concrete panels that impede the flow of water at the bridge will be removed and enlarge the bridge’s hydraulic opening.

This spring MassDOT will hold a public hearing that “will provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed repair project,” according to a statement from MassDOT and Medford’s legislators last month.

This happened on Tuesday
on the farm Karoo Waters, said Captain Stefanie Smith.

The 14-year-old girl was
taken to a house where she was raped and held until the following day.

Smith said the girl
knew the man, and he was expected to be arrested soon.

A month into the Super Rugby season and the honeymoon is drawing to an end for the Southern Kings. The first weekend was an all-Australian affair, the second featured a win on debut against the Western Force, the third was a bye and the fourth brought a narrow defeat to the Sharks.
This Saturday, however, the Kings have to find a way to keep it tidy against the Chiefs.

The defending champions showed their lethal finishing ability against the Stormers. The Waikato franchise has never been one to repect reputations and even in the days when the team lost more games than they won they had a habit of embarrassing the big boys. Now that they have added consistency to flair, the Chiefs are the real deal.

The question to be asked is whether the same can be said of the Kings. The harsh criticism that surrounded their admittance in the first place has been kept in abeyance thus far, but it will not last long past a few one-sided encounters. To date, coach Matt Sexton has not been asked to look beyond the thrill of the new and an organised defence; soon that will end.

Against the Force the Kings were down at half-time and visibly shaky in front of a crowd that expected far more of the team than the players felt they had to give. A few things went their way in the second half and the dream start duly arrived with a win against foreign opposition. Moreover, the Kings discovered a new and home-grown star in Sergeal Petersen, a winger just three months out of Grey High School.

After a week to take it all in, the critics were sharpening their knives again, for clearly the Force were poor and obviously the Kings would meet their Waterloo against the Sharks.

Try famine
It did not happen for several reasons. Firstly, the much fancied Sharks have hit an early psychological barrier. They were involved in a war of attrition against the Stormers the previous week and the dazzling talents among the back line have now failed to cross their opponents’ line for almost 200 minutes.

Much of the try famine is because of the familiarity that is part and parcel of conference play. The Sharks play the Stormers and Western Province half a dozen times a year and each knows what to expect of the other. That is not the case with the Kings, a new franchise, but two former Sharks in the home side’s ranks knew exactly how to make their former colleagues’ lives a misery.

Andries Strauss is the defensive co-ordinator in the back line for the Kings. The former Free Stater spent five seasons with the Sharks and at 28 he is now the master of his own game. Never blessed with exceptional speed, he has needed to develop a more cerebral game to compete at this level. He made sure that the structure held in broken play and that no one dashed out of the formation under pressure.

Up front, the Kings’ pack leader is Steven Sykes, who played for the Sharks for seven seasons after leaving Marlow Agricultural College. Sykes is the epitome of the professional South African rugby player: hard as nails, drilled in the basics of the game and intensely loyal.

Sykes left the Sharks at the end of last season as a marquee signing by the Kings. There was no bad blood between the two franchises, however, as Sykes explained to his employer that he was needed back on the farm. The Sykes family farm is near Cradock, the town where Marlow is situated.

Competitive rugby
As he approaches the end of his 20s, Sykes is aware that there is a life beyond rugby and the move to the Kings presented him with an opportunity to prepare for retirement from the game.

The two-and-a-half-hour drive from Port Elizabeth to Cradock will test his commitment. But a generation ago Henry Honiball was accustomed to a similar routine, driving from the family farm in Bergville to Durban and back four times a week to train and play. Sykes is cut from similar cloth as the legendary Sharks and Springbok flyhalf.

Management at the Kings imagines a time when Sykes would never have left the Eastern Cape in the first place. They want to keep the talent that every year pours out of the likes of Grey High, Dale and Queen’s College.

In the short term, however, they have been forced to be pragmatic and try to piece together a competitive rugby team from what’s available to them.

A new academy at the franchise is hoping to churn out more Sergeal Petersens under the watchful eye of former Bok prop Robbie Kempson. There is talent aplenty in the Kings’ under-20 squad and with Petersen’s two-try debut fresh in the mind, it’s certain that the youngsters will get their chance sooner rather than later.

The Kings enjoyed the luxury of naming an unchanged team this weekend to take on the Chiefs, but on Sunday they will have to pack their bags for the Antipodes. Time for a few boys to become men, then.

Eastern Cape biofuel project resumes

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Southern Kings lock Steven Sykes is looking forward to playing against his former teammates when the Super Rugby newcomers face the Sharks on Saturday.

Sykes joined the Port Elizabeth franchise from the Sharks on a two-year deal as one of their marquee signings and was instrumental in their debut victory over the Western Force a fortnight ago.

The 28-year-old, who hails from Cradock in the Eastern Cape, began his career at the Sharks in 2005 and went on to become a two-time Currie Cup winner with the Durban team, who he represented in 109 Currie Cup and 69 Super Rugby matches.

The second row forward signed a three-year deal with Leinster but was released by the Irish club after just four appearances and rejoined the Sharks on a one-year contract before he opted to return to his roots by linking up with the Kings.

The move reunited Sykes with former Sharks teammate, Andries Strauss, who traded Bloemfontein for Port Elizabeth after two years at the Cheetahs, and the experienced pair form part of the leadership group of the Kings.

Sykes said he is relishing the encounter and believes they have earned the respect of the visitors as well as the other teams in the competition with their gutsy 22-10 home win.

“I think the people will treat us with a bit more respect than what they had before the season. I think we did very well in the first game that we played and we showed that we are here and we are here to stay. I don’t think people will send their second string sides down to us, so it’s a nice challenge for us as well,” Sykes said.

He added that he is also looking forward to playing in front of a full house at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

“The atmosphere at the game against the Force was amazing, probably the best I’ve experienced, and I am hoping that everyone will come out and support us again as we take on the Sharks,” he said.

Kilcullen businesses who spent a substantial five-figure sum to protect their area from Traveller incursions will now have to move the electric gates they put in place, writes Brian Byrne.

The businesses in the Knockbounce Business Park had the gate system installed after Travellers tried to set up an encampment on a ‘road to nowhere’ built as part of the development on the Kildare County Council-owned site. The businesses were told last Friday that the Council is now taking the road in charge.

The road was built with a plan that it be a link thoroughfare between the Athy and Curragh road, easing heavy traffic that comes from the motorway as far as the Hideout Cross to go to Newbridge and the Curragh.

Councillors agreed to the road back in September 2005, and it was then thought that work would begin on completing it in the spring of the following year. But that never happened.

Much of the roadway is already in place as part of the developments on the Curragh Road end, and for the business park. But a 100-metre length had to be negotiated with the GAA and one of the developers back in 2005. The proposed road had to be realigned because of the position of two houses.

It’s understood that negotiations between the Council and the GAA on a land swap to facilitate the road have been ongoing since 2005, and the decision to take the road in charge could mean that these are close to a conclusion.

The businesses in the Park, who invested in excess of €4m in its development, are Structural Concrete Bonding Services Ltd in Newbridge, Trench Control Ltd from Naas, Murphy Surveys Ltd, and John Cradock Civil Engineering.

Namibian premiere of The Cradock Four

A scene from the film
AfricAvenir Windhoek and the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre present the South African film, David Forbes The Cradock Four, on Wednesday, 13 February at 18h30. This dramatic documentary about the brutal murder of four prominent Eastern Cape anti-Apartheid activists won the Best South African Documentary award at the Durban International Film Festival 2010

Late on the night of 27 June 1985, South African security forces set up a roadblock to intercept a car near the city of Port Elizabeth. Two of the four anti-Apartheid activists in the car had been secretly targeted for assassination.

Matthew Goniwe was a popular teacher in Cradock, and also a revolutionary. Fort Calata, another teacher and activist was also on the hit list. Sparrow Mkonto, a railway union activist, and Sicelo Mhlauli, a visiting headmaster and childhood friend, were also in the car. They were never seen alive again.

The police abducted the four and murdered them in cold blood. Their burnt bodies were found later near the Port Elizabeth suburb of Bluewater Bay. These murders are one of Apartheids murkiest episodes.

Matthews death was a turning point in the struggle. On the day of the funeral of the Cradock Four, President PW Botha declared a State of Emergency. It was the beginning of the end. Within five years, Nelson Mandela would walk free and lead the country to liberty.

The death of these gallant freedom fighters marked a turning point in the history of our Struggle. No longer could the regime govern in the old way. They were the true heroes of the struggle. Nelson Mandela

In 1800, Andries Pretorius, Commander of the Boers, lived on a small farm, Letskraal. The nearest town, Graff-Reinet, was capital of the fourth colony in the country at that time, following on from Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam and named after the first Dutch Governor Jacob van der Graff and his wife Rejnet. It lies an hour’s drive away from the farm by car, five hours away in an 1800s horse and carriage.

In 1838, Pretorius headed off to defeat 5,000 Zulus at the Battle of Blood River and establish a city in his name, now the capital city, Pretoria. His crusade was conceived here at Letskraal.

We leave town with directions provided by owner Johan Minnaar and after 45 minutes up the N9 the promised sign directs us right on to the dirt track. The instructions explain that the gate to the property has no indication as to its name to protect our privacy, so it is vital to keep an eye on the odometer and to hoot when we get there. Post hoot, John or Rose will let us in. Neither speak English but Rose has a few words, just enough. Our daughter (9) has not been looking forward to this experience at all; three days with no electronic vices are incomprehensible to modern kids who are permanently plugged. Letskraal has not a single electric plug socket.

Upturned potjies lie under the kitchen window at Letskraal.

As we pull up under a big old tree and park in the shade, eight eyes light up (we brought the puppy pug too.) It’s a picture. Whitewashed walls, all slightly crooked, are dotted with glossy green shutters. Old wagons, shattered and with bleached timbers enhance the picture as do the old upturned potjies and the massive fallen tree trunk now bedecked with spring pansies in all colours.

A red dusty clay area surrounds the house giving it an even more rustic feel and had been, in its significant entirety, raked by hand. One of those tall wild-west mini windmills squeaks in the early evening breeze, reluctantly pumping valuable water into a reservoir.

Letskraal wagon and the farm cottage

Rose wields massive ancient jail-like iron keys which open doors to the dining room, separate bathroom, and the front door, which is at the back. One bedroom has a four-poster, the other, two beds almost too high off the ground for a child to get on to. Old certificates and newspaper clippings adorn the inner walls, as well as grand antique furnishings, give up a little of the home’s past. It’s serene and steeped in history.

The building is in a beautiful state; every room feeling authentically ancient apart from the slightly comforting gas cooker and fridge in the kitchen and one or two gas lights to cook by. Minimal necessities, morale comforts.

John comes at 6pm to stoke the donkey with massive amounts of timber which he has collected from the local woods. This should keep us in hot water until the morning and it does.

As the sun sets behind the Sneeuberg Mountains comes the realisation that the paraffin lamps and candles need to be lit now or darkness will prevail.

I fumble with the lamps, either lighting them with tape too far out, causing black smoke to stain the lanterns’ glass covers, or turn the widget the wrong way making the tape fall into the liquid. Soon dim flickering flames cast mysterious shadows. There are no sounds. The stars light up the garden.

The Sneeuberg Mountains at sunset.

Having spent a lovely day with no electrical diversions, sleep comes easily and deeply in this magical place.

We visit the Mountain Zebra National Park, Cradock and the very eccentric town of Nieu Bethesda with its famous Owl House and the Camdeboo National Park during our brief stay.

Our last night in the fabulous farm and three fires are lit. In the kitchen there is a large hearth, a grate in the dining room and the braai in the garden. There’s a lovely warm glow to the farm; one you take away with you when you leave.

It’s a five star experience.

Read more:

David Kramer joins debate on fracking in the Karoo

 

 

THE government’s target of ensuring that biofuels make up 2% (about 400-million litres) of the national liquid fuels mix by this year will not be met due to a lack of any funding model, the Department of Energy’s chief director for clean energy, Mokgadi Modise, told Parliament’s energy committee on Wednesday.

Ms Modise said incentives to encourage production of biofuels have not been enough to lure investment. Bioethanol was 100% tax exempt, but biodiesel fell within the tax net, although manufacturers received a 50% rebate from the general fuels levy, she said.

All renewable energy projects qualified for an accelerated depreciation allowance of 50:30:20 over three years.

Independent Democrats MPs Lance Greyling said the department had made extremely slow progress since developing its biofuels strategy in 2007. “The biggest stumbling block is encouraging the oil companies that own the refineries to invest in the blending infrastructure as there are no clear cost recovery mechanisms in place.”

Mr Greyling said much would depend on the Treasury finalising the cost recovery model and regulation before the end of the financial year on March 31. “I am just wondering if there will be anything in the national budget,” he said.

A major objective of the biofuels strategy is to create about 25,000 jobs by 2018.

Encouraging small farmers in the former homelands such as the Transkei to grow biofuel crops would be the main job-creation driver.

In terms of the strategy the Industrial Development Corporation would help develop two biofuels manufacturing facilities in Port Elizabeth and Cradock.

Mr Greyling said that while the Department of Energy had come up with this strategy, it was up to the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to work out how small farmers would get their crops to the manufacturers. “Rural development have to work out how this would be achieved,” he said.

Mr Greyling also said that a water-use strategy would have to be developed for these biofuels crops.

“We (the country) need to explore the use of biofuels in developing our rural economy and as an alternative fuel cost, but the slow implementation is not helping us at all,” he said.

Cradock preacher loses battle to own church

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Joanna Busk is editor of ‘Fork’ magazine

Karen Barnes is editor of ‘delicious’ magazine

Donald Reid is editor of ‘The Larder’, a guide to Scotland’s food and drink

Emma Sturgess is a food writer and restaurant critic and is on the committee of the Guild of Food Writers

The South

The Cornish Arms, Padstow

“I’m a fan of Rick Stein’s pub in St Merryn,” says Karen. “There’s Tribute and Proper Job on tap, plus Chalky’s Bark and Chalky’s Bite.” Sunday roast — beef with Yorkshire pudding or pork with crackling and apple sauce — £12.95.

Churchtown Padstow  PL28 8ND (rickstein.com)

The Beckford Arms, Tisbury

“Local ales, cosy sofas and exceptional food make a perfect Sunday lunch,” says Joanna. “Go for whole roasted chicken with all the trimmings for four or hire the private dining room and have a roast rib of 42-day aged beef for six.”

Fonthill Gifford, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6PX  (beckfordarms.com) 

The Hand and  Flowers, Marlow

“You can’t go wrong with Tom Kerridge’s food at the only pub with two Michelin stars,” says Karen. “I’ll mention one dish from the current menu: treacle-cured chateaubriand of beef with Yorkshire pud, roasties and red wine sauce £27.50… sigh.” 

126 West St, Marlow SL7 2BP (thehandandflowers.co.uk)

The Three Chimneys, Biddenden

“A long-standing favourite,” says Karen. “The menu tells you where the food is from and local suppliers include Frogshole Farm for asparagus, Morghen Park for potatoes, Park Farm for meat, and herbs from the pub’s garden.”

Hareplain Road, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8LW (thethreechimneys.co.uk)

The Gurnard’s Head, St Ives

“The Gurnard’s Head  used to be a shabby walker’s pub,” says Karen. “Now it’s spruced up with local beers  on tap, and hearty food  with a modern twist. Take a walk on the cliffs, then back  to the fire with a glass of  ginger wine and a book  from the shelf.” £15 two courses, £18 three; roasts  from £11 on Sundays. 

Nr Zennor, St Ives TR26 3DE (gurnardshead.co.uk) 

The Three Oaks,  Gerrards Cross

“There’s always a good roast at The Three Oaks,” says Karen. “My number one choice? Suckling pig. And there’s usually something interesting alongside, such as chorizo and apple jam.” Sunday roasts from £14.90per person for whole roast chicken for two. 

Austenwood Lane, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 8NL (thethreeoaksgx.co.uk)

The Kensington  Arms, Bristol

“The local pub everyone would have in an ideal world,” says Joanna. “Warm and inviting, full of families, friendly staff, laid back music and a roaring fire, the roasts (from £13) are large and consistently good. They’ll even do a whole roast suckling pig if you order  in advance.” 

35-37 Stanley Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6NP (thekensingtonarms.co.uk)

At the Chapel, Bruton

Smart restaurant in a former chapel; the dining room is spacious and light. There is food all day and pizzas from a wood-fired oven. Roasts include lamb shoulder, £17; partridge, £18; and fillet of beef with horseradish and potato gratin, £22, all locally sourced. There are bedrooms (from £100) and a bakery. 

High Street, Bruton, Somerset  BA10 0AE (atthechapel.co.uk)

The Royal Oak, Swindon

Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, also owns The Royal Oak, where the food is mostly organic; the meat top quality, and an allotment provides the vegetables. Sunday roasts are jolly and informal, accompanied by the papers and a roaring fire. 

Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Swindon SN6 8PP  (helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk)

The Horseguards Inn, Tillington

“A relaxed, friendly pub with wooden tables and chairs and oak beams,” says Joanna. “The menu is small, seasonal and full of local suppliers. Longhorn cattle are matured on pasture for 34 months and hung for at least 28 days and the roast beef is very good.” 

Upperton Road, Tillington, West Sussex GU28 9AF (thehorseguardsinn.co.uk)

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach

A hip Cotswolds inn with rooms with serious foodie credentials: pork belly with chorizo and butter bean mash (£12.50), roast chicken with gnocchi (£16) and a côte de boeuf for two (£60). The same team gave The Chequers at Churchill, a few miles down the road, a facelift. 

West End, Northleach, Gloucestershire GL54 3EZ (cotswoldswheatsheaf.com)

London

Anchor Hope

“The Anchor Hope in Waterloo is one of my favourite relaxed haunts,” says Karen. “The emphasis is on dishes to share, which works well with a roast, though there are individual dishes too.” 

36 Waterloo Road SE1 8LP (020 7928 9898)

Lamberts

“The delicious. team’s vote goes to Lamberts, where the focus is on local, seasonal ingredients, ethically sourced,” says Karen. “The menu is so good, it’s difficult to choose.” 

2 Station Parade, Balham  High Road SW12 9AZ (lambertsrestaurant.com)

The Abbey Tavern

An unremarkable pub  on Kentish Town Road  recently welcomed farmer  Tom Jones, who has supplied his meat to St John and The River Cottage Canteen, into  its kitchen. This is true  field-to-plate cooking and eating. And with dishes  from £8 to £15, the prices  are hard to beat.

124 Kentish Town Road  NW1 9QB (abbey-tavern.com)

Hawksmoor, Seven Dials

If you’re after an indulgent Sunday roast featuring the best beef in town, head here (there are outposts at Spitalfields, Guildhall and Air Street)  and share a bone-in prime  rib (£7 per 100g) with creamed spinach, triple-cooked  chips and beef-dripping  fries on the side. 

11 Langley Street, London WC2H 9JG (thehawksmoor.com)

The Modern Pantry

Even traditionalists are unlikely to be disappointed with experimental chef Anna Hansen’s roast pink peppercorn and rose-dusted venison haunch with carrot and miso puree, £19, or cumin and yoghurt roast lamb rump with Jerusalem artichoke, £21.50. Set lunch, two courses, £20, three courses, £25. 

48 St John’s Square, Clerkenwell EC1V 4JJ  (themodernpantry.co.uk)

The Albion

A Georgian mansion with a peaceful walled garden close to Upper Street, The Albion does proper posh pub food: roast poussin, chicken, Romney Salt Marsh lamb and Berkshire pork (from £14.50) plus a roast suckling pig for 10 at £300. Kids’ menu, £6.50. 

10 Thornhill Road, Islington  N1 IHW (the-albion.co.uk)

The Pig Butcher

“Specialising in rare breeds such as White Park cattle, Iron Age pigs and Hebridean lamb, the carcasses come straight from the farm into the kitchen before being butchered and cooked,” says Joanna. “The beef served rare is excellent but the roasted whole Norfolk free-range chicken for two to share, £15 per person, is popular. With craft beers and English wines, it’s getting quite a reputation. Get there early.”

80 Liverpool Road, Islington N1 0QD (thepigandbutcher.co.uk)

The Jugged Hare

This smart city pub boasts a ‘theatre kitchen’, with an eight-spit rotisserie and charcoal grill. It takes its meat seriously: haunch of venison (£21), half pheasant (£16.50) and seasonal game feature. Accompaniments include blood sausage and snails, with glazed pig’s cheeks to start. 

49 Chiswell St, London EC1Y 4SA (thejuggedhare.com)

The Admiral Codrington

A proper pub in Chelsea which has gained fame for its fabulous meat. The Sunday roasts menu is a thing of rare beauty: 28-day aged forerib of beef, Devon  lamb rump and Suffolk free range chicken, all under £20; with dripping roasties,  mac ‘n’ cheese and greens. 

17 Mossop Street, London SW3 2LY (headmiralcodrington.co.uk)

The Old Brewery

A restaurant, cafe, bar and microbrewery, next to The Cutty Sark. Whole roast  grouse with game chips, £24. Chicken with pancetta and baby onions, £12.95, each matched with a beer. 

The Pepys Building, The Old Royal Naval College SE10 9LW (oldbrewerygreenwich.com)

Midlands and East

The Bridges, Ratlinghope

“A fine old pub in the beautiful south Shropshire hills,” says Karen. “All the food is locally sourced and the Sunday roasts are legendary. It’s a memorable and leisurely lunch. The local beer is brilliant too.”

Ratlinghope, Shropshire  SY5 0ST (thebridgespub.co.uk)

The Crown at Woodbridge

Woodbridge is the ideal resting spot between Aldeburgh and Southwold for a genteel Suffolk weekend. You’re in safe hands with Stephen David and Rebecca Mackenzie, who ran the Hoste Arms in Burnham Market. The menu includes loin and confit leg of local rabbit with black pudding,  £16, and guinea fowl with  rosti potato, £16.50. 

Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AD (thecrownatwoodbridge.co.uk)

The Victoria, Birmingham

Roasts come ‘deep South-style’ here, in keeping with the rest of the southern US-influenced menu. There is cola-glazed ham and cajun-rubbed beef, with a chilled out Sunday soundtrack and peanut butter and Oreo cheesecake for pud. 

48 John Bright Street, Birmingham B1 1BN (thevictoriabirmingham.co.uk)

The Edwardstone White Horse Inn, Sudbury

A lovely Suffolk pub with locally sourced meat, nestled in pretty lanes and fields: perfect for a post-roast walk to its sister pub the Fleece in nearby Boxford. The menu offers pub classics for £5.95 at lunchtime, Monday to Thursday. Roasts include lamb, £12.95, and pork  belly, with chorizo and cassoulet for £14.50.  Mill Green, Edwardstone, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 5PX; (edwardstonewhitehorse.co.uk)

The North

Hambleton Hall, Oakham

“For poshness, there are few places like Hambleton Hall,” says Emma. “Wrap up to wander the grounds before a Michelin-starred lunch, which is not too grand to feature sirloin of beef with  horseradish hollandaise.” Three courses £45. 

Oakham, Rutland LE15 8TH; (hambletonhall.com)

The Durham Ox, Crayke

“Atmospheric pub with rooms in a lovely Yorkshire village, The Durham Ox’s professional, friendly staff could run a Sunday lunch service – roasts around £14 – standing on their heads,” says Emma. “It’s a reassuring atmosphere in which to guzzle smoked haddock rarebit followed by herby roast porchetta.”

Westway, Crayke, York  YO61 4TE (thedurhamox.com)

Shibden Mill Inn, Halifax

“In a valley just on the edge of Halifax, Shibden Mill is a 17th-century inn with a lovely garden and a secluded feel,” says Emma. “Sunday lunch for £12.95 is a cracker, with pork raised in the valley served with homemade black pudding. Carb fiends note: they serve roasties and mash. 

Shibden Mill Fold, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 7UL (shibdenmillinn.com)

Eagle and Child, Ramsbottom

“The Eagle and Child is a pub with a heart: it runs a social enterprise scheme and the garden is devoted to growing project Incredible Edible,” says Emma. “Food is local and bolstering, and the classic roast is Bowland beef sirloin with duck fat potatoes. Veggie options don’t feel like an afterthought.” Three courses are £15.95. 

3 Whalley Road, Ramsbottom, Lancashire BL0 0DL (eagle-and-child.com)

Damon, Stockport

“For more crushed velvet and polished glassware than a pub can provide, consider Damson, where the set lunch (roast leg of lamb or Cheshire sirloin for the traditionalists) comes with restauranty accoutrements,” says Emma. “Damson will expand to Salford’s MediaCity soon, but Heaton Moor is home to the mothership.” Three courses £17.95. 

113-115 Heaton Moor Rd, Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 4HY  (damsonrestaurant.co.uk)

The Yorke Arms,  Pateley Bridge

“Sunday lunch at Frances Atkins’ Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms is the ultimate weekend treat,” says Emma. “Classy takes on seasonal ingredients are hard to resist. Grouse, turbot and red deer are roasted alongside Dexter beef with trimmings.” Three courses £40. 

Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale, Pateley Bridge, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 5RL (yorke-arms.co.uk)

The Highwayman,  Kirkby Lonsdale

“One of Nigel Haworth’s pubs, The Highwayman has a children’s menu that won’t make parents shudder, so it’s great for family Sundays,” says Emma. “They serve their roasts, replete with local produce, right through until 8pm, and you can check online beforehand to see whether the star protein (a roast is around £14) is lamb, pork, beef or chicken.” 

Burrow, Kirkby Lonsdale LA6 2RJ (highwaymaninn.co.uk)

Blackfriars, Newcastle

“They might flog the medieval monastery setting but there’s a fine kitchen ethos at this former Dominican refectory,” says Emma. “Troy Terrington’s menu is loaded with local produce and the surroundings give roast beef a ceremonial air.” Three courses £18. 

Friars St, Newcastle NE1 4XN (blackfriars-restaurant.co.uk)

The Feathers Inn, Stocksfield

“This old drovers’ inn feels a long way from anywhere, but plenty trek to Rhian and Helen Cradock’s much-loved pub,” says Emma. “Slow-roast saddleback pork comes with cauliflower cheese made with local Doddington’s cheese.” Three courses with tea and coffee £20. 

Hedley on the Hill, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7SW (thefeathers.net)

The Beagle, Chorlton

“A relaxed bar and restaurant, the result of a mind-meld between some of Manchester’s best beer, wine and food teams,” says Emma. “It gives local favourite The Parlour a run for its money with roasts of Goosnargh chicken, forerib of beef or hay-smoked salmon. The Sussex pond pudding is alarmingly delicious.”  Two courses £17.50.  456-458 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, Manchester  M21 0BQ (beaglesabout.com)

Scotland

The Cumberland Bar, Edinburgh

“One of the most civilised  bars in the New Town,” says Donald. “Tweed jackets  aren’t compulsory, but  you might feel underdressed without one. Proper but  not pretentious pub grub includes organic pork,  lamb, mutton and veal  roasts from Peelham Farm near Berwick.” Two courses £13.95, three £15.95.  1-3 Cumberland Street, Edinburgh EH3 6RT  (cumberlandbar.co.uk)

Eat on the Green, Ellon

The ‘kilted chef’ Craig Wilson takes meat seriously, as  you must so close to the  origins of Aberdeen Angus, with Scotch Beef Club  membership. Local sources include The Store and  Presly Co Butchers in  Old Meldrum.Two courses £24.95, three £29.95. 

Udny Gn, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 7RS (eatonthegreen.co.uk)

Guy’s Restaurant Bar, Glasgow

“Former Holywood film-catering chef Guy Cowan is  one of the characters of Glasgow’s dining scene. He likes nothing better than playing host to a convivial Sunday roast,” says Donald. “The menu offers Scotch  Beef Club credentials  along with eclectic tales.” Three courses £15.95. 

24 Candleriggs, Merchant  City, Glasgow G1 1TD  (guysrestaurant.co.uk)

Cail Bruich, Glasgow

“This sophisticated restaurant in the West End of Glasgow serves up a three-course Sunday feast including roast rib eye of Buccleuch Estate beef with duck fat roast potatoes,” says Donald. “Walk it off with a stroll round the nearby Botanic Gardens.” Three courses £18.95. 

725 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 8QX  (cailbruich.co.uk)

Kyloe, Edinburgh

“Book a table for Sunday lunch, with classic views over Princes Street and the Castle, and a fine rib roast from pedigree grass-fed Aberdeen Angus at Hardiesmill in  the Borders,” says Donald. “The joint comes with trimmings, a bottle of wine  and traditional puds for £100. Feeds four or five.” 

1–3 Rutland Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AE (kyloerestaurant.com)

The Lodge at Carfraemill, Lauder

“A place worthy of honour whenever beef is roasted in  the UK,” says Donald. “It was here, in December 1997, that Jim Sutherland challenged  the ban on serving beef on  the bone with a defiant  rib-roast banquet for local farmers, suppliers and supporters. Two years later,  all charges were dropped  and proper Sunday roasts  were back on the menu.”

Lauder, Scottish Borders TD2 6RA (carfraemill.co.uk)

The Sorn Inn, Sorn

“Craig Grant’s homely pub-restaurant punches well above its weight as a long-standing Michelin Bib Gourmand holder and Scotch Beef Club member, with a roast dinner packed with local produce,” says Donald. Three courses £16.95.

35 Main Street, Sorn, Ayrshire  KA5 6HU (sorninn.com)

The Roost Restaurant, Kintillo

“A gem on the fringes of  rural Perthshire, with chef  Tim Dover revelling in a  wealth of local produce, including whole carcasses  of lamb from farmer Hugh Grierson Organics, which appear as roast leg or shoulder on the menu,” says Donald.  Two courses £19.95, three £22.50. The wine list is  excellent too.

Forgandenny Roadd, Kintillo, Bridge of Earn PH2 9AZ (theroostrestaurant.co.uk)

Sutor Creek Café, Cromarty

“Boasting one of the few proper wood-fired ovens in the Highlands, this cosy, quirky, harbourside café majors on artisan pizzas and shellfish landed just yards away,” says Donald. “On Sundays the oven  is reserved for succulent roasts, blackboard specials and lazy lunches.” Make sure to save some time to observe the harbour over coffee after  your meal.

21 Bank Street, Cromarty,  Black Isle, Highland (sutorcreek.co.uk)

Tibbie Shiels Inn, Selkirk

A historic wayside inn, once frequented by playwright and poet Sir Walter Scott, overlooking St Mary’s Loch. Sunday roasts come from one of Scotland’s premier small beef farms, Hardiesmill. 

St. Mary’s Loch, Selkirk,  Scottish Borders TD7 5LH (tibbieshiels.com)

Wales and Northern Ireland

The Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd

“A great gastropub owned by the Otley Brewing Company, which takes its ale, and food, seriously,” says Joanna. “Sunday lunch from £9.50 might be deep-fried Perl-wen cheese with chicory, watercress, apple and pecan salad, then roasted leg of Breconshire lamb with pearl barley, Otley ale and rosemary jus, and they’ll match ales to match.” 

Ynysyngharad Road,  Pontypridd CF37 4DA (bunchofgrapes.org.uk)

The Foxhunter, Abergavenny

This pub is part of a vigorous food revival in the area. “Another gem,” says Karen, “serving food with robust flavours – hearty and modern but not fancy.” Sunday lunch costs £23.95 for two courses, £28.95 for 3. 

Nantyderry, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire NP7 9DN  (thefoxhunter.com)

YPolyn, Capel Dewi

“This former country pub is now a friendl y restaurant serving simple, gutsy food. It’s a lovely place for a roast,” says Joanna. “Local seasonal ingredients feature. Sunday roast might be white onion, cider and thyme soup with Hafod cheese, crispy roast belly pork and caramelised apples, followed by treacle tart with vanilla ice cream.”

Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, SA32 7LH (ypolyn.co.uk)

The Olde Bull Inn, Anglesey

Anglesey has become more desirable since a certain couple made the island their home, but Beaumaris has supported a drinking hole on the site of The Olde Bull Inn – The Good Pub Guide 2012’s best pub in Wales – since the 15th century. Try roast pheasant breast in pancetta and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with champ mash, both £14.25. 

Castle Street, Beaumaris,  Isle of Anglesey LL58 8AP (bullsheadinn.co.uk)

Ginger Bistro, Belfast

Ginger Bistro has grown from a few tables into a thriving restaurant, but the food is still outstanding and well-priced. Pork belly with fennel, haricot beans and black pudding, £14.50, or roast hake with oyster mushroom and brown shrimp butter, £17. 

7-8 Hope Street, Belfast BT12 5EE (gingerbistro.com)

SITHANDIWE VELAPHI

The provincial ANC is gearing up for the launch of a book about the centenary history of the ANC in the Eastern Cape.

The launch is set to take place on Friday evening at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and will also see the launch of the ANC provincial website.

Titled Umbutho Wesizwe, the 106-page ANC history book carries pictures and profiles of ANC struggle heroes, among other things.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the book, which forms part of the ANC’s centenary programme, is aimed at educating more South Africans, especially the youth, about the role of the Eastern Cape in the liberation struggle but most importantly, to celebrate the contribution made by the people of the province in efforts to liberate black people.

“Through this book, we hope to inspire many of our members to adapt to the political outlook and character of our leaders as we face the second phase of our transition as a country.

“The book is congruent for the current epoch as it has been declared the ‘decade of developing a cadre’. Information in these pages will inspire all our members to do more in the total liberation of our country through growth and development,” said Mabuyane.

He said members profiled in the book include leaders of Umkhonto weSizwe, the Cosas Two (Siphiwo Mtimkulu and Topsy Madaka), the Cradock Four (Matthews Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli), Vuyisile Mini, King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo, Walter Rubusana, Mesach Pelem, Cannon Reverend James Calata, Walter Sisulu, Florence Matomela, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and many others. The book will be sold for R200. Anyone who wants to buy a copy can contact the provincial ANC headquarters in King William’s Town on 0436433396 or 0436433396.

provinces@thenewage.co.za

Since the Second World War, Britain has lost about 1,000 of its finest grand houses and now, nearly a third of the nation’s stately homes no longer exist.

In the 1950s, the Government raised death duties as high as 80 per cent and mysteriously, after surviving centuries, many stately homes suddenly went up in flames.

Their demise was also due to various reasons, including reduced income, societal changes and poor maintenance.

Leicestershire lost several stately homes, not least the magnificent piles at Gopsall and Garendon. Had attractive Gumley Hall, pictured here, survived another decade, it may have escaped demolition.

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It was built in 1764 by Joseph Cradock, a friend of both Dr Johnson and David Garrick. He was also influential in county affairs.

In Cradock’s day, the hall was the centre of the county’s artistic and social life and it had extensive grounds, including a lake.

The original caption, from September 1963, wasn’t so much concerned with the demolition, but the immediate happenings.

It said: “Hundreds of valuable slates were smashed when the west wing roof of Gumley Hall collapsed during a fire.

“It is estimated 70 per cent of the roof was damaged in the blaze, which is believed to have been started by sparks from burning rubbish.

“The hall, former home of Lieut-Col O A Murray-Smith, a joint master of the Fernie Hunt, is being demolished and unwanted wood and other debris is being burnt in the hall grounds.

“Firemen from Kibworth and Market Harborough fought the outbreak using water from a hydrant at the hall entrance, then running more than 1,000 yards of hose to the lake in the grounds. Some of the hose was damaged when it was buried under debris as the roof collapsed.”