Lucky Packet: 8 Stories From South Africa This Week

This week saw a South African win an award for his searing documentary, another magical multitudinous meditation on the beach in Cape Town and the opening of a hot new design centre in downtown Johannesburg. Plus much more.

Remembering Cecil – March in London

South African opponents of hunting, canned hunting and petting of lion cubs march with others in London at midday Saturday 28 November under the banner of Zimbabwe’s infamously killed Cecil the Lion. The March for Cecil goes from Bomber Command Memorial to Trafalgar Square.
On Sale – in Newtown

Johannesburg’s fabulous new collection of some 100 local design brands in Newtown’s revamped 1911 Potato Sheds – it’s called WORK|SHOP|NEW|TOWN – opened this week, and it’s having a sale today Friday November 27 to introduce people to what is bound to become yet another reason to visit the booming Newtown Junction of the CBD. Labels on sale include Black Coffee, Kat van Duinen, Kisua, Wolf and Henriette Botha.

The revamped Potato Sheds before it opened this week. Photos: WSNT Facebook page.

Jewellery by Henriette Botha.

Clothing by Unknown Union.
Grade A for South African school’s homework-less philosophy

Sun Valley Primary in Cape Town got a whole lot of attention this week for its programme of doing away with conventional and uniform classroom homework in the school across all grades, and the learners are excelling academically. Some quotes from principal Gavin Keller during an interview on Radio 702: “We had to rethink the function of education. We asked ourselves, ‘what is the purpose of homework when children are already spending 7 hours at school and how are these kids going to have a balanced life.'” “We have been astounded [by the parents’ response]. The 21st century family is so stressed that they don’t need to deal with homework in the evening.”
Bravo for Miners Show Down doc

Rehad Desai’s “Miners Shot Down”, a hard-hitting documentary about the police action against striking miners at the Lonmin mine in Marikana in August 2012, that left 44 dead, was awarded the International Emmy for Best Documentary this week. The movie has been shown widely, but the SABC has so far not shown it in South Africa. “We can only have hope that this [award] will further encourage the SABC to have the courage to finally show the film,” Desai was quoted as saying afterwards. Scroll down to watch the video:
Winging it from Amsterdam to Cape Town

Air France KLM will operate daily flights between Amsterdam and Cape Town all year round starting in May 2016, they announced this week.
Yay, Trev

As always, US-based South African cartoonist Trevor Romain gives us something to think about – and smile.
Peace, brother – meditation on the beach

With the full moon on Wednesday, Shift South Africa held yet another amazing meditation session on Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town. Aaaaahhhh.

Photos: Sullivan Photography

Photo: Sullivan Photography

See more photos of the event here:

Another beautiful evening spent with the Shift South Africa team on Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town. Please join next time…

Posted by Sullivan Photography on Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Down that road in fabulous Franschhoek

Here’s a popular shot we featured on SAPeople’s facebook page this week, taken by Craig Lee in Franschhoek. A good view with which to start the weekend…