Aug 2019 - Jhb North

JOBURG NORTHERN SUBURBS 

NTHABI TAUKOBONG 

Interior design royalty 

Hair clips 

to make 

heads turn 

The best of 

THE BEST 

in Joburg 

SPICE UP 

Scrummy 

curries 

Fab ways to 

7spoil yourself 

POWER 

CELEBRATING WOMEN OF 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

AUGUST 2019

Get StRap STRAP 

CONTENTS 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 087-285-7888 

Caxton House • 368 Jan Smuts Avenue 

Craighall, Joburg 

Twitter @getitjhbnorth 

Facebook Get It Joburg North 

Website joburgnorth.getitonline.co.za 

Editor Daniella Potter 

daniellap@caxton.co.za 087-285-8108 

Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett 

Subeditor Rose Chinery 

Contributors Kate Argo • Tayla Blaire 

Hannah Dhlamini • Melanie Tait • Geshika 

Vorster • Peter Whitfield • Lisa Witepski 

Sales 

Masego Leshoro 079-790-1788 

Sarah Singh 067-041-2907 

Eleen Du Buisson 074-613-5450 

Estelle von Berg 073-334-7142 

WHY DON’T YOU... 

5 Enter the Face of Spar Women’s Challenge contest, marvel at Hedy 

Lamarr’s inventions, chortle with a drag queen, picnic at a ballet or 

shop for a good cause 

7 Read about heart-stopping thrills, desire, love, loss, loads of laughs – 

books for everyone to enjoy this month 

WISH LIST 

8 August goes green with a bountiful botanical buzz 

SOCIAL 

10 Cheers! Sandton party celebrates famous bubbly as it turns 150 

13 Simon and Garfunkel songs a huge hit at Monte 

15 An inspiring story captivates guests at Hyde Park book launch 

PEOPLE 

16 Aviva Hanan takes pole position in an unusual fitness field 

18 Anthea Gardner lets us in on how to make your money grow 

BEAUTY & FASHION 

20 Oranges and lemons ring all the right beauty bells 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor Kym Argo 

kyma@caxton.co.za 

Facebook and Instagram: 

Get It National Magazines 

National Sales Manager 

Shirley Frattaroli 

shirleyf@caxton.co.za 083-633-6100 

Business Manager 

Norman Dawe 087-285-7888 

Distribution 087-285-7891 

Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs is 

distributed free of charge. For a full list of 

where it is available phone 087-285-7891 

Published by CTP Limited 

Competition rules 

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be 

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions 

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton 

employees or their families. Get It Magazine 

reserves the right to publish the names of 

winners, who will be contacted telephonically 

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton 

Northern branch within 10 days or they will be 

forfeited. Prizewinners names are published on 

our Facebook page monthly. 

AUGUST 2019 

SHOPPING 

22 Fringe benefits – lovely ways to enhance your crowning glory 

24 Seven magnificent must-have treats for women 

FOOD & DRINK 

28 Sharon Lurie gives traditional South African food a kosher kick-turn 

30 Spice up your meals to fight off Jack Frost’s final flurry 

DECOR & GARDENING 

32 Nthabi Taukobong shares the secrets of her success 

34 Brass and velvet, florals and stone – all fab new decor trends 

38 Get set for spring – make sure your garden’s in the pink 

BEST OF JOBURG READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 

44 See what desirable prizes lucky readers could win by voting for the 

cream of the crop in Jozi 

TRAVEL 

56 Eye-to-eye with ellies. Fabulous food. A blissful bush getaway at 

Mhondoro is a spectacular experience 

WIN 

59 A two-night midweek break for two at Brahman Hills’ 

Springholm Cottages 

Photographer/Image credit: 

00 Get It Sandton • Rosebank Month 08 

August 2019 Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs 03

If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least a month in advance to daniellap@caxton.co.za 

A hot date! 

Let these events rock your August 

A R5000 shopping voucher. 

The beautiful Hedy Lamarr 

Calling shopaholics – and 

01 A pair of Asics running shoes. 13 of the silver screen was an 27 especially those who can’t 

And a photo shoot. Become the Face 

of the SPAR Women’s Challenge and 

you’ll win these (and more). But hurry, 

entries close on August 1. Send a 

head-and-shoulders and a full-length 

shot of yourself, name, age, suburb 

and 100-word motivation. Details: 

faceofspar@caxton.co.za (Oh, and 

anyone can enter the SPAR Women’s 

Challenge on Oct 6 at Marks Park. 

Details: sparjoburgrace.co.za) 

07 

Rock ’n roll (and sing along) 

as you dine your way through 

a delicious three-course meal in A 

Musical Journey with Cito. This is the 

August edition of musical journeys 

at Calexico Rock ‘n Roll Bar & Grill ... 

these music nights take place on the 

first Wednesday of every month and 

promise to be a rocking good time! 

Calexico, 44 Stanley Avenue. From 

6.30pm. R350. Details: 011-482-5791 

or info@calexico.co.za 

09 

Lady Zamar, Matthew Mole, 

Desmond & The Tutus and a 

host of other artists will really set your 

three-day weekend in motion and 

help you to celebrate Women’s Day in 

splendid style. Take the family along 

and enjoy music and good food at the 

8th annual Parklife Gourmet Food & 

Music Festival. Emmarentia Botanical 

Gardens. From 11am to 6.30pm. From 

R150. Details: howler.co.za 

10 

Brace your stomach muscles ... 

comedy queen Bianca Del Rio is 

set to entertain in It’s Jester Joke. And 

it’s said to be her ‘most ambitious world 

solo drag show to date’! Prepare to 

hear tales of her travels ... and she’s sure 

to tell-it-like-it-is! Bianca’s the seasoned 

comic, Roy Haylock’s alter ego ... who 

won RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2014. Teatro 

at Montecasino. 8pm. From R300. 

Details: tsogosun.computicket.com 

unexpected scientific genius – did 

you know she invented technology 

for torpedoes in WWII that we still 

use today in cell phones? Now, writer 

and actor, Heather Massie, brings 

Hedy’s story to the stage in Sandton in 

Hedy! The Life & Inventions of Hedy 

Lamarr. Auto & General Theatre on 

the Square. Until August 24. From R75. 

Details: online.computicket.com 

resist a market. Browse the stalls of 

KAMERS/Makers’ opening night Gala 

Moonlight Market and help a good 

cause as the proceeds from ticket 

sales will go to non-profit organisation 

Realema Teacher Intern Programme. St 

John’s College, Houghton. August 27, 

4pm to 8pm. R150. Market runs from 

August 28 to September 1. From R70. 

Details: plankton.mobi or kamersvol.com 

24 

Dancing under the stars sounds terribly romantic ... and the Joburg Ballet 

dancers will do just that (and mesmerise audiences) in Ballet Botanica in 

collaboration with Friends of the Ballet. The dancers will entertain with a 

mix of classical and neo-classical pieces in two exclusive events. Enjoy an evening 

picnic in a Bedouin tent as dancers perform under the stars, or an afternoon picnic 

high tea. Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa. August 24 from 5pm and 25 from 

12.30pm. R800. Details: book@fotb.co.za 


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Book club 

Curl up with a terrific read this August 

Sheila O’Flanagan’s novels are always 

fabulous options for those who love 

a little chick-lit (don’t we all?). In Her 

Husband’s Mistake, perfect couple 

Roxy and Dave McMenamin first 

kissed when Roxy was 16, and they’ve 

been in love ever since. They have 

a great marriage and wonderfully 

happy life. Until the morning after 

Roxy’s father’s funeral, when she 

walks in on Dave in bed with their 

next door neighbour. Time, it seems, 

for Roxy to make some big, lifechanging 

decisions. Lovely, warm, 

funny ... a wonderful book for a 

weekend read. Headline UK, R325 

Also look out for the best 

Jack Ryan thriller yet! 

Tom Clancy’s Oath of Office, written 

by Marc Cameron, is a roller-coaster of 

heart-stopping action ... a thriller that 

will get your adrenalin going from 

the first chapter to the last. When 

US President Jack Ryan asks his new 

Secretary of Homeland Security what 

frightens him, Mark Dehart answers 

‘Three things’. Which three? ‘Any 

three. If they all happen at the same 

time.’ From a quiet beach in Portugal 

where a beautiful woman kills a 

French arms dealer, to protest against 

the oppressive regime in Iran, to the 

Russian troops and ships massing on 

the borders of the Ukraine, across the 

world a conspiracy is brewing ... one 

so darkly brilliant that no-one has 

joined the dots. There’s a madman 

with a plan ... a plan more devastating 

than President Ryan can imagine. 

This is the latest (and may well be the 

best) in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan series. 

Penguin, R275 

Oh. A new Catherine Alliott novel. Yay! 

Just the thing for a chilly weekend 

curled up on the sofa with a box 

of biscuits. In A Cornish Summer, 

Flora’s been in love with her husband, 

Hugo, for two decades. Just a small 

problem ... for 15 of those years he’s 

been married to someone else. Now 

she’s been invited to paint her exfather-in-law 

at the family home in 

Cornwall. It promises to be a blissful 

summer ... except for her awful exmother-in-law, 

and ... oops ... it appears 

her ex-husband and his (admittedly 

lovely) second wife are going to be 

there too. Not so blissful after all. A 

few lovely twists, great characters, 

many laugh-out-loud passages and 

you’ve a brilliant chick-lit read. LOVED 

it! Penguin, R290 

A nine month old baby is hard work. Sleep deprived Carolina and 

uncommunicative Aksel are having a tough time, but know things will get 

better. One evening they go to sleep, Carolina thinking ‘we have thousands of 

days ahead of us’ ... but they don’t. Aksel dies in his sleep, leaving Carolina’s world 

upside down. Based on author Carolina Setterwall’s own experiences, Let’s Hope 

For The Best is all about life’s small moments. It’s about motherhood and family, 

love and death. An emotional, honest, unforgettable read. Bloomsbury, R295 


Wish list 

Glamorous greens for all the gorgeous queens out there 

Cook your own cosmetics ... on the stove 

‘Cosmetics can be little miracles in a bottle,’ says qualified cosmetic 

chemist, Conny Oberrauter ... and don’t we know it! But how much 

do we really know about what goes into our cosmetics? It’s a 

question that led Conny to start her very own premium beauty 

brand, The Cosmetics Chef. She makes it easy (super-easy) to 

craft beauty products using natural and organic ingredients. 

We’ve made a (totally irresistible) serum from one of her readyto-go 

kits and goodness, did we have fun! The ingredients are 

measured out and you can use your regular kitchen utensils to 

whip up the products. Find more recipes (about 50 of them) 

in Conny’s book, The Cosmetics Chef – Crafting Cosmetics in Your 

Kitchen. R350. Details: thecosmeticschef.com 

Who really needs a 

reason to hang out with friends, 

talk about books and sip wine? If you do, 

we’ve got the perfect excuse to have a girls’ night 

out. Author Fiona Snyckers will entertain at our 

(very first) Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs and Sandton 

Chronicle Pages and Wine – Sandton. Enjoy 

delicious Indian cuisine, bottomless wine, inspiring 

storytelling and a fab goodie bag. It seriously sounds 

way too good to miss! The Raj, Michelangelo 

Towers in Sandton. August 21. R350. 

Details: events@stationroad.co.za 

Compiled by: DANIELLA POTTER 

You don’t need to visit France for iconic French garden decor ... in fact, with Block & Chisel’s collection of Anduze pots, 

you can create a garden landscape that resembles the French countryside. Not convinced of your green fingers? No stress. 

There’s a range of faux plants that look like real ones ... but with perks! They’re low maintenance and water wise, yet still 

add colour and texture to interiors – at a time in which indoor plants are popular, they’re just the thing to create a peaceful 

ambience in our homes. Pots from R1295, faux plants from R295. Details: blockandchisel.co.za 

08 Get It Joburg Northern Suburbs August 2019

No more lost sunnies 

While in the past they may have 

been thought of as a dull necessity ... 

sunglasses chains have come a long 

way. Now, they’re super-trendy and 

disguised as a necklace. Although 

we don’t like to admit that we lose 

track of our sunnies more often 

than not, we have to agree these 

chains are really handy. In fact, they 

even make the list on many 2019 

sunglasses trends. So there you 

go! In the spirit of green glam this 

month (and our daydreams of the 

beach!), we’re eyeing this sea foam 

sunglasses necklace from the new 

accessories line, Gossa ... which has a 

range of phone necklaces, sunglasses 

necklaces and uniquely designed 

three-in-one cables. We think this 

sea foam sunglasses necklace will 

be much-needed when we frequent 

markets, concerts and even fan zones 

during the upcoming Rugby World 

Cup. It’s made with pom-poms, tassels 

and beads ... it’s sturdy and said to fit 

any frames. R169. Details: gossa.co.za 

Need some sage advice? Create 

a cosy little space and invest in 

some R&R this month. (It’s Women’s 

Month after all!). Coricraft has some 

new contemporary and classic 

accessories that’ll help you create 

this dream(y) space ... like this tribal 

sage scatter cushion. R350. 

Details: coricraft.co.za 

Bistro boasts botanical vibe and mushroom delights 

If green really is the colour of envy, then you’re sure to be super-envious 

when we tell you we’ve visited – and adored – the family bistro, Truffles on 

the Park. Green’s definitely the hue of this restaurant ... ferns, plants and plant 

boxes create the restaurant’s botanic vibe ... which is also played out in the 

menu with a selection of botanical cocktails, like the lavender-inspired, ginbased, 

Lavandula. It’s a theme that’s said to be inspired by the restaurant’s 

location at Mushroom Farm Park, and (unsurprisingly) mushrooms feature in 

many of the dishes – which you may have guessed from the bistro’s name. 

Actually, it’s just paying homage to its grounds. Sandton Central Management 

District tells us that according to The Heritage Portal, in the 50s and 60s, the 

park was a thriving mushroom farm. So on the menu, you’ll find mushroominspired 

dishes like a wild mushroom bake, and we can vouch for the dense 

and delicious black truffle fungi risotto. You can also expect a menu that offers 

world cuisine with African flavour ... and you can tailor some dishes to vegan 

or vegetarian. The saffron tagliatelle (think saffron-infused pasta ribbons, 

Moroccan spiced butter, pine nuts, mint and dairy-free herbed cheese) is 

beautifully presented and totally moreish. The desserts are decadent ... so 

we ditched the diet for the night and took a spoonful (and spoonful after 

spoonful) of the New York-style baked cheese cake ... and it was worth it! This 

spot’s already become a popular hang-out ... and we can totally see why. It’s 

well worth a visit – and will make a lovely treat this Women’s Month. Mains 

from about R115. Details: trufflesbistro.co.za 


Lebo Ramokhoa 

Cheers! 

Moët & Chandon Impérial gave us 150 reasons 

to say ‘cheers’ at its super-lavish 150th anniversary 

celebrations at the oh-so-classy Michelangelo Hotel 

... and we weren’t the only ones raising a glass. 

Apparently a million people worldwide said ‘cheers’ 

during the Moët & Chandon Grand Day celebrations. 

At the Sandton event, we mingled with celebs in the 

gorgeous black-and-gold-themed room with moody 

lighting. Dancers and a smoke machine really got 

the party vibe going. The fabulous Maps Maponyane 

played host for the evening and took us on the 

brand’s journey over the years ... which left us all 

toasting the famed bubbles. Every sip was delicious! 

Details: moet.com 

Taki Nkhumeleni, Zukie Siyotula, Nokuthula Selamolela 

Paledi Segapo, Mandla Mngomezulu 

Athi Mtusu, Gamuchirai Nyamayi 

Tshepi Vundla, Mawe Williams 


Aaron Moloisi, Sihle Masago 

Liesl Laurie 

Harmony Katulondi 

Caryl Stutchbury, Nicole Rosa 

Justin Mugwaneza, Lloyd Jusa 

Rachel Jikova, Mich’e Peterson 


Kerryn Ansley, Jessica Basson 

Kondwani and Tabitha Mahaka-Phiri 

Here’s to 

great hits 

Steve Smith, Marc Sage 

‘Cecilia, you’re breaking my heart, You’re shaking my 

confidence daily’ ... so the song goes. But if there’s 

one thing we’re confident about, it’s just how darn 

goosebump-rendering Here’s To You – The Simon & 

Garfunkel Songbook at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino 

Theatre was in July. An all-South African cast brought 

our favourite hits to the stage, and their opening night 

performance left the audience calling for even more 

renditions ... and to our surprise, the cast played on! 

Details: tsogosun.com/montecasino 

Gavin Brauns, Keryn Layton-McCann, Melissa Geddes 

Megan Rigby, Alyssa Harrison 


Race begins and ends at 

MARKS PARK SPORTS CLUB 

Judith Road, Emmarentia, Joburg 

GPS co-ordinates: S 26.1648° E 28.0041° 

SUNDAY 

6 OCT 2019 

START TIME: 

8AM 

DROP 

OFF A PAIR 

FOLLOW US ON 

SPAR Women’s Challenge Joburg 

@SPARJoburgRace 

@SPARJoburgRace 

the JOBURG SPAR Women’s Challenge forms part of the 

SPAR Women’s Challenge 10km Grand Prix Series 

Enter online www.sparjoburgrace.co.za | Enquiry line: 087 097 0011

Journey 

to inspire 

From immobilising fear to a mother’s unwavering 

determination ... who better to tell the story of her 

sons’ diagnoses of autism than mum and author 

Ilana Gerschlowitz herself! Many gathered at 

Exclusive Books, Hyde Park to hear Ilana’s inspiring 

story at the launch of her new, captivating book 

Saving my Sons – A Journey with Autism. 

Details: exclusivebooks.co.za 

Ilana Gerschlowitz, Deena Hesp 

Botumelo Rasego, Thabelang Ralefu 

Liora Meltzer, Jacqui Miller 

Jenna White, Kerry Carneiro 

Russell Clarke, Jaco du Preez, Marion Scher 


Text: TAYLA BLAIRE. Photo: PETER WHITFIELD 

iPole – do you? 

Pole dancing is not a hobby. It’s an addiction, according to one of 

Joburg’s best, Aviva Hanan, who may be a lawyer by day, but is also 

a ‘spin doctor’ on the pole! 


Long seen as something scandalous – 

thanks to strip club advertising – pole 

dancing is slowly but surely entering 

the mainstream as a popular fitness 

trend. And so it should. It’s a mediumto-high 

intensity form of exercise that 

targets main muscle groups – as well 

as those tiny muscles you’ve probably 

forgotten you have. 

It’s such a great workout 

because it requires 

you to rely on your 

own bodyweight while 

you resist gravity and 

spin around. 

Pole dancing scorches calories (yay!), 

resulting in weight loss while building 

muscle – and it improves your 

flexibility, reducing risk of injury. It’s 

a core and cardio workout all in one 

that improves your balance, dance 

co-ordination (hello, those of us with 

two left feet) but most importantly, 

it’s a massive confidence booster. It’s 

impossible to not feel sexier after a 

few weeks of pole class. And it’s so 

much fun. 

Pole dancers spend their lessons 

sweating it out but also laughing 

until their bellies ache – usually 

after watching their instructor do 

something ridiculous (usually upside 

down and involving a split) and then 

saying, ‘Now you go’. 

But don’t worry too much – you won’t 

do upside down spins and splits on 

your first lesson … but they’re not as 

far down the line as you may think! 

Aviva Hanan, the owner of iPole, 

started out as a total beginner back 

in 2012 and she loves every single 

second of what she does – especially 

‘watching the growth of [her] 

students’. 

Aviva completed her instructor 

training through BodyMind Studios 

shortly after she started pole dancing. 

She began by taking beginners’ 

classes, then took courses for full 

mastery of advanced tricks. She’s 

a registered fitness instructor with 

Pole Dance Community South Africa 

(PDCSA) and also qualified as a Pilates 

instructor through the Trifocus Fitness 

Academy in 2010. So you’re in very 

qualified (and fit) hands here. 

This pint-sized stick of dynamite 

is one of the best instructors in 

Joburg, but that’s not all. She’s also a 

qualified attorney. 

‘Balancing being a legal officer with 

running a pole studio is tough, 

but luckily I have a team of highlyqualified 

instructors whom I trust 

completely with my clients.’ 

The all-female classes involve lots of laughing, 

photos, exercise and bruise-comparing 

Pole is a bit of an extreme sport at 

times, and Aviva takes the utmost 

care to ensure the well-being of every 

dancer who comes into her studio. 

‘Safety is sexy! Pole is essentially 

gymnastics on a vertical pole instead 

of a horizontal one. There’s a reason 

they’re considering adding it as an 

Olympic sport,’ Aviva says. 

The beauty of pole dancing is that 

a total beginner can master an 

impressive-looking trick within a 

week – even though, as Aviva says 

when it comes to improving, ‘You 

should only compare yourself to you.’ 

Progress happens very quickly, 

which is a blessing in a fitness world 

where a thousand crunches don’t 

result in half an ab muscle. But 

progress comes at a price! Any pole 

practitioner will proudly display 

their bruises – ‘pole kisses, actually’ 

– as a demonstration of a recently 

mastered skill. And it makes sense: 

Scantily clad bodies are pushed 

against steel for extended periods 

of time. At least at the end of the 

session there are a hundred photos 

to show off your sexy self. If you’re 

going to get some bruises, at least 

earn them with something more 

than misjudging the gap between 

your legs and the underside of a 

table. The all-female classes involve 

lots of laughing, photos, exercise and 

bruise-comparing. ‘It’s far from the 

sexy show men tend to think goes 

down during pole classes!’ 

If you’re not quite ready to commit 

to a weekly class, there’s always the 

option of being the best bridesmaid 

in town by planning a bachelorette 

party that will never be forgotten 

with options of pole dancing, lapdancing 

or even burlesque dancing 

to choose from. The VIP bride-to-be 

is given a free gift of a month of 

pole lessons. These parties aren’t just 

limited to prospective brides. Aviva 

has hosted birthday parties – and 

even divorce parties 

… because nothing 

says ‘Bye, Felicia!’ 

like learning how to 

pole dance! 

It’s also guaranteed to 

make you giggle during the sleazy 

strip club scenes in TV shows and 

movies – mostly because you’ll 

realise they’re just gyrating in heels 

without a stitch of technique visible 

anywhere. Not even a ‘fireman’s spin’. 

Nothing. Where are the inversions, 

ladies? Suicide spins? No? Seriously! 

Pole dancing is also sure to make 

you glance at poles suggestively 

everywhere you go. No street pole 

will be exempt from your wandering 

eye as you search for the nearest 

route back to a pole class – that’s 

how much fun it is. 

If you’re ready to take your gymgame 

to the next level (and build 

huge self-confidence while you’re at 

it), head to iPole … but Aviva warns: 

‘Be careful – pole dancing is not a 

hobby. It’s an addiction.’ Oh, and 

don’t wear moisturiser to your first 

class. Just trust us on this one! 

Details: i-pole.co.za or email 

info@i-pole.co.za 


MANAGE MONEY 

YOUR 

Anthea Gardner’s new book, Make Your Money Work for You is about to change the 

way you think about finance, and she shares some of her hints and tips with us. 

Anthea Gardner never set out to be 

a finance writer. In fact, she didn’t set 

out to be an asset manager either – 

not after watching how many hours 

her father, feted as ‘the first nonwhite 

bank manager in South Africa’, 

invested in his profession! Yet after a 

former employer told her she ‘had the 

temperament of a trader’, she phoned 

a member of Standard Bank, told him 

he didn’t know her but should – and 

arranged a meeting. He agreed she 

would, indeed, make a fine trader and 

referred her to another industry player 

who helped her get a start in the 

industry. 

Several years and a few companies 

later, Anthea is now managing 

partner at Cartesian Capital, making 

regular appearances as a market 

commentator on radio and TV. It 

was in this capacity that she caught 

the attention of Jonathan Ball 

Publishers, who urged her to share her 

knowledge in book form. ‘I was initially 

very sceptical,’ Anthea says. ‘Because 

this is an intensely competitive and 

highly critical industry, I was worried 

my peers – and clients – might find my 

approach simplistic.’ 

Then she had an ‘aha’ moment – 

simplicity is precisely what’s needed 

when it comes to finance. 

‘I receive a lot of emails from people 

who want to know things like how 

they can double their money in one 

year, or the best way to invest R1 

million. My answer is always the same 

– finance doesn’t work like that. I can’t 

give you any advice unless I know your 

situation, from your cash flow to your 

assets and liabilities. People want easy 

answers, but there aren’t any out there.’ 

That’s why Make Your Money Work for 

You is such a useful read. It’s different 

to other financial guides because 

Text: LISA WITEPSKI. Photo: PETER WHITFIELD 


it’s not step-by-step information that 

will help you make a million. Nor is it 

written in lofty tones that confound 

the average Joe. Its emphasis is 

pragmatic and useful, so when next 

you sit with your financial planner, 

you’ll know exactly what questions 

you should be asking. And in case you 

don’t yet have a financial planner, or 

are not exactly sure how one differs 

from an asset manager, there’s also a 

chapter to help you with that. 

‘My aim was to help people gain a 

bit of insight into this world so they 

understand it better.’ 

What is the one message she hopes 

we take from reading the book? ‘There 

are no hard and fast rules when it 

comes to personal finance,’ Anthea 

answers. 

‘Time is on your 

side right now, so 

take full advantage of 

the wonders of 

compound interest.’ 

‘Everyone wants to do different things 

with their money, and that’s absolutely 

fine. One person can’t live without 

handbags, for example, while another 

has to get in an overseas trip every 

year. As long as you’re on track with 

your financial goals, you’re perfectly 

entitled – and you shouldn’t feel guilty 

about taking those pleasures.’ 

That’s one of the biggest mistakes 

women make, she adds. ‘We tend to 

feel less comfortable talking about 

money than men. It’s still regarded as 

a topic that’s impolite to discuss – yet 

I think it would be very healthy to ask 

your friends what they earn, because 

that knowledge would empower you 

to have money discussions at work 

and give you greater negotiating 

power,’ she says. 

Women are also stuck in the trap of 

abdicating responsibility for their 

finances, she adds. ‘It’s as if we’re still 

stuck in the 60s, and not allowed to 

manage our own money.’ 

What advice would she give women 

to help them avoid these pitfalls? ‘First 

of all – and this is especially important 

for women in their twenties and 

thirties – take control of your financial 

situation right now! It’s never too 

soon to start investing. Obviously, 

it’s tricky to save money at this age 

because you haven’t reached your full 

earning potential, but putting away 

even a small amount every month 

will allow you to live less frugally later 

on. Time is on your side right now, so 

take full advantage of the wonders of 

compound interest.’ 

Anthea emphasises the importance of 

having a pension or retirement fund, 

as well as an emergency fund that 

can be called upon when unexpected 

expenses arise. The amount of money 

you set aside for each of these is up to 

you, she says. What matters, though, is 

that you have a clear understanding 

of your financial goals and divide 

your salary accordingly – if you 

can’t imagine life without a five-star 

getaway every now and then, factor it 

in, just as you would need to plan for 

school fees. 

It’s probably best to consult a financial 

planner who can help you clarify 

these goals – and while you’re at it, ask 

to have your personal risk tolerance 

assessed. This will give you a clear 

picture of where you are right now, 

from a financial point of view, and 

how much risk you can take on in 

your current situation. That makes a 

great starting point when choosing 

where to invest. ‘Finally, whatever you 

do, whatever your ambitions or needs, 

resist the temptation to take money 

out of your pension fund. It’s almost 

impossible to catch up once you do.’ 

Anthea says writing the book is 

definitely a bucket list experience and 

she’s delighted when people refer 

to her advice. But she’s still addicted 

to the thrill of managing money and 

could never give up the satisfaction 

she derives from taking care of her 

clients’ financial well-being. 

‘I’m obsessed by this job,’ she admits. 

‘Although you need to be able to 

handle high levels of stress and 

anxiety, – and days when the market 

doesn’t work in my favour make me 

miserable – there are other days when 

I know I’ve made the right investment 

decisions for my clients, and I feel like 

an absolute hero!’ 

Longing to travel? Hoping to 

retire without money worries? 

Dreaming of a future with no 

financial stress? Investment 

specialist Anthea Gardner tells 

you how to get the most out 

of your cash in Make Your 

Money Work for You. She 

shows you how to grow your 

wealth to achieve your dreams. 

She explains key terms and 

describes how you can launch 

your financial future by 

investing just R100 a month – 

and put your money to work. 

Jonathan Ball, R230. 


From the wellrespected 

Dr 

Hauschka range, this 

Quince Day Cream is 

a light daily moisturiser 

for healthy, toned skin. 

R629 from Woolworths, 

Wellness Warehouse stores 

and tocara4.co.za • Vitamin C 

stimulates collagen production, 

reduces melanin production, acts as 

a powerful anti-oxidant to neutralise 

free radicals and has anti-wrinkle 

properties, improving skin texture 

and complexion. And Laboratoire 

SVR Hydracid C50 is a micro peeling 

foam mask described as pure vitamin 

C in a can. R600 from Clicks and 

Absoluteskin.co.za 

What about a little Sunset Orange on 

your nails ... one of our fave shades from 

Mavala Mini Nail Colour. R87 from Dis- 

Chem, Clicks and Woolies 

Freshest fragrances 

EVER ... this sensational 

Solinotes range 

includes Pomelo 

and Oranger. 

LOVE! R298 

from Foschini 

A shot of 

VITAMIN C 

We’re having a bit of a fling with 

all things orange, lemon and lime 

New INOAR 2-in-1 Shampoo & Shower Gel comes in a whopping one litre bottle, is 100 per cent vegan and has a 

relaxing orange flower scent. R320 from inoar.co.za • This Bramley Magnolia Tissue Oil is an exceptional product and so 

well priced. R36.99 from PEP • Get a citrus and ginger kick with Earthsap Body Wash. R79 from faithful-to-nature.co.za • 

All pink grapefruit and mandarin, the Superfruit Collection Exfoliating Shower Gel is a sharp, smart option for a wakeup 

shower. R70 from Checkers • We keep Morlage & Yorke Lemongrass and Verbena Handwash in our bathrooms and 

kitchen ... love the sharp, fresh scent. R89 from @Home 


Lamelle’s Correctives Vita C Lipid Serum offers the ability to deliver the age-reversing 

properties of Vitamin C to skins that cannot tolerate products containing ascorbic acid. An 

exceptional product with 20 per cent Vitamin C, plus jojoba seed oil and ginger root extract, it 

can be used on sensitive and dry skin with no need to acclimatise. R849 from lamelle.co.za 

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil, made from 100 

per cent plant extract, tones and restores radiance to your 

complexion. R590 from your local Clarins stockist. 

KIEHL’S Cilantro & Orange 

Extract Pollutant Defending 

Masque works on three levels ... it 

fights skin damage, strengthens 

skin and shields against pollution. 

Not much more you need, really. 

R695 from Edgars. 

SoyLites Lip Balm with lemon essential 

oil is fresh and leaves your lips feeling as 

if they’ve just been kissed by nature. R55 

from soylites.co.za 

We can’t live without essential oils, and 

SOiL has some of the best. These Sweet 

Orange (R30), Lemon (R40) and Lime 

(R65) are fresh and gorgeous. All from 

Dis-Chem or soil.co.za 

Love the packaging. Love the scent. 

Love the product. Mies Bubble Tub 

with scents of lemon and tangerine. 

Yum! R250 from miesetc.com 


For the newest hair trends, we’ve found XO Accessories – and we’re obsessed! The hair accessories are seriously fab ... think 

a pearl-style hair clip (pictured – R129), and we’re also going gaga over the selection of cowrie shell earrings and a newly 

launched clothing range. Details: xo-accessories.co.za 

Photographer: MAXINE ELPHICK. 

Model: STEPHANIE MUNDY. Compiled by: KATE ARGO 


Crystal Amour single hair barrette, 

R6000 from Gucci. Details: 011-326-7986 

Clam 

hair clip, 

R79 from 

Cotton On. 

Bright Blonde shampoo for 

beautiful colour, R750 from 

Paola’s Hair. Details: lynne@ 

quintessentiallyyours.co.za 

Replumping shampoo, R330 from Carlton Hair. 

• Your Hair Assistant prep shampoo, R360 from 

Carlton Hair. Details: 011-325-4916 

Pink marble hair clip set, R95 

from barethreadsfashions.co 

Hair essentials 

Statement 

We’ve got great hair all tied up 

Statement bow, R69 

from Cotton On. Details: 

cottonon.com/ZA 

Fleur large satin 

scarf, R199 from 

superbalist.com 

For unruly hair that needs a 

bit of discipline, try Kerastase 

Smooth-in-motion shampoo, 

R300 from everythinghair.co.za 

Gold, pearl and sparkle-embellished hair clip set, R115 from 

barethreadsfashions.com 


Seven 

Here are seriously fabulous ways to 

desires 

treat yourself (and the women in your 

tribe) this Women’s Month. 

Style. Quality. Oh, and don’t forget 

sustainability. We’ve always been huge fans 

of the French and English country-inspired 

homeware, furniture, fabric and accessories 

from Biggie Best. So when the decor brand 

unveiled its new collection of luxurious linen, 

we thought, oh yeah, this is our Women’s 

Day sorted. If you need us on the day (or 

throughout the month) you’ll probably find us 

tucked up in our new linen with a great read 

and a pot of tea. Choose from the textured 

Austria (a 600-thread count white linen with 

pintuck detail), Georgia (a 300-thread count 

Egyptian cotton with charcoal piping detail) 

or Milan (a 200-thread count cotton with 

both pintuck and piping) as well as white and 

charcoal flat and fitted sheets. Sweet dreams! 

From R877.63. Details: biggiebest.co.za 

2Own your desires 

According to lifestyle guru 

Rachel Hollis, too often 

women are afraid of their 

own goals. They’re afraid of 

embarrassment, of falling 

short of perfection – and most of all, of 

being judged for being ambitious. In Girl, 

Stop Apologizing, Hollis encourages 

women to own their desires, hopes and 

goals and reminds them they don’t need 

permission to want more. She urges 

women to stop talking themselves out of 

their dreams and identifies the excuses 

that need to be ditched and behaviours 

and skills to acquire to achieve growth, 

confidence and the best version of their 

lives. HarperCollins, R285 

Ruby red nails ... that last! 

Let’s face it, a chipped nail can really 

get us down ... and that’s why the 

L.O.V Cosmetics Lovinity 

Long Lasting Nail 

Lacquer sounds 

so appealing. It 

promises to give 

us up to seven 

days of gel-like, 

super-shiny 

nails ... and 

little to no 

chipping 

(yay!). R115 

from 

Dis-Chem. 


Sophisticated sipping 

Trust us, wine – hell, even water! – tastes 

so much better from a crystal glass. 

And Riedel (the wine glass company) 

is making it totally desirable for us 

gals to sip from its gorgeous range 

of stemless wine glasses. And here’s 

why ... specific glasses are suited to 

specific wines. You see, we’ve learnt 

(and tested) how a glass can highlight 

the tannins in wine. How? Well, the 

shape directs the flow of wine. (So 

you’ll need a different glass to really 

enjoy the taste of a Pinot Noir to 

that of a Sauvignon Blanc.) And the 

crystal adapts to the temperature 

of the wine. Because we women 

lead such busy lifestyles, we 

recommend the O-Riedel O to 

go stemless wine glasses. Perfect 

for women on the go. R259 from 

yuppiechef.com 

5 

We know our necks can really age us 

... but luckily there’s a solution. Enter the 

TheraVine Sculpting Neck Volumator, with 

Ice Crystal Technology. It’s a gorgeously 

velvety textured treatment lotion and, 

with highly specialised ingredients, it 

promises to improve your skin tone and 

it’ll seriously firm up your neck, décolleté 

and bust. Oh yay! R772. Details: 

info@lsenterprises.co.za 

Wine and chocolate ... oh, hell yes! 

Forget a wind-down ... why not ‘wine’ down (and 

sweeten up) this Women’s Day with – what sounds like 

a totally decadent and intimate – wine and chocolate 

pairing experience. The sweet treats are coming all 

the way from a chocolatier boutique in Knysna and 

they’re exclusively paired with Creation Wines (and you 

can try out the Riedel glassware). So take your friends 

(and menfolk) along for a day of sipping, munching 

and toasts to women on this special day in the comfort 

of the chic, new function venue. Clico Boutique Hotel. 

August 9 from 3pm to 7pm. R200 a person. 

Details: 011-252-3300 or email info@clicohotel.com 

Velvet body. Metallic handle. And a 

chain shoulder strap that makes it so 

easy to go hands free. This mini velvet 

messenger bag in maroon is on our 

list of must-have spoils. From R299, from 

Zara. Details: zara.com 

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT and DANIELLA POTTER 


PROMOTION 

Canon’s 

SNAPSHOT 

of the neighbourhood! 

Last year we launched our 

Canon Snapshot of the 

Neighbourhood competition 

... it was so hugely popular, we’re 

doing it again! What’s it all about? 

Well, our neighbourhood. And 

neighbours. It’s your opportunity 

to capture what’s best about the 

people and places where we 

live. Your chance to show off our 

neighbours and the ‘hood ... the 

streets, the parks, the restaurants, 

whatever you think best captures 

the mood of the area we call home. 

Plus, you’ll not only have the chance 

to win fabulous Canon cameras, but 

also to have your work published 

in your local Get It magazine. What 

are you waiting for? Get out your 

camera, get snapping and show off 

your skills and your neighbourhood.

Captured 

with 

Canon! 

Look what you can win ... 

Our overall winner from the six 

participating Get It magazines 

will win a Canon EOS M6 plus 

18-150mm lens kit, , valued at 

R13 999. Each of the five up winners will receive a Canon 

SX540 worth 

runner- 

R3999. 

Plus ... 

Each of the winners will have 

their creative entries published 

in Get It. We’ll feature the 

winners, their photos and a little 

about what they love in their 

neighbourhoods. Oh the fame! 

Five easy steps to enter 

Take a photo which captures 

1 what you love best about 

your neighbourhood. 

2 

Email the photo to 

snapshot@caxton.co.za, with 

GET IT JOBURG NORTH in the 

subject line. 

You’ll need to add the 

3 following information: 

Your full name, your daytime 

telephone number and email 

address, the name of the suburb 

in which you live. 

4 

Include a 100 word (or less) 

description of the photo and 

why you feel it captures your 

neighbourhood. 

5Make sure your entry reaches 

us by August 31, when the 

competition closes. 

All entries received will be 

eligible for publication in Get It, 

Caxton Local Newspapers and 

social media platforms of our 

choice. The winners will need 

to sign acknowledgement that 

the photographs they have 

submitted are their property. For 

full rules and more prize details, 

visit getitonline/joburgnorth. 

co.za.No professional 

photographers allowed to enter. 

We’ll be featuring entries on Facebook (Get It National Magazines & Get It Joburg 

North Magazine) and Instagram (Get It National Magaines & Get It Joburg North 

Magazine) ... look out for your photos and share with your friends

THE BRAAI 

QUEEN 

OF HIGHLANDS NORTH 

Traditional South African cuisine offers something for every palate, and Sharon Lurie 

turns a few favourite local recipes on their heads ... with a Jewish twist. 

Text: MELANIE TAIT. Photo: PETER WHITFIELD 

In her latest cookbook, A Taste of South 

Africa with the Kosher Butcher’s Wife, Sharon 

Lurie takes the home cook on an adventure 

encompassing many of the country’ s 

traditional foods – with an extra touch. 

‘I wanted to bring in real South African food.’ 

In her inimitable style, Sharon keeps readers 

laughing along the way and her latest book 

is also full of humour, meaningful anecdotes, 

family insights and a love of the Jewish culinary 

heritage. 

On a recent Friday – the sixth day and the eve 

of Shabbat, which was also the anniversary of 

her mother, Jill’s, passing – Sharon’s Highlands 

North home smells of freshly baked challah, 

ready for Shabbat dinner. 

‘Making challah is a spiritual and very 

therapeutic experience. Two loaves of challah 

are placed on tonight’s dinner table which 

represent the double portion of manna that fed 

the Israelites over Shabbat after their exodus 

from Egypt.’ 

Making challah it is known to be a spiritual 

experience filled with prayers and blessings 

… even if not spoken out loud. ‘Baking challah 

is a mitzvah given to women and is much 

more significant than combining ingredients 

in an act of baking. What starts as water, yeast, 

sugar, eggs, oil, flour and salt can transform into 

meditation, blessings and prayers.’ 

Sharon’s dining room table is set for Shabbat. 

‘But as it’s my mother’s yahrzeit (a Yiddish 

word referring to the anniversary of the soul’s 

passing), I’ve also decorated it with my mother’s 

favourite flowers. The yahrzeit is an observance 

intended to celebrate the life of a loved one, on 

the anniversary of their death, and today we are 

honouring my mother’s memory. 


‘My mother instilled in me a love of baking 

and she taught me the right way. She was 

a cordon bleu chef, trained in London, so 

everything I learned was through her.’ 

Many of Sharon’s earliest memories are of their 

time together in the kitchen – peeling and 

cutting, grating cheese, making a white sauce 

and baking cookies. 

Sharon writes that her mother was famous 

for her vanilla and cinnamon compote with 

yogurt and brûlée topping. ‘It became known 

as Jill’s best break-fast (breaking of the fast) on 

Yom Kippur.’ 

Sharon’s first book, Cooking with the Kosher 

Butcher’s Wife, shares her vast knowledge of 

meat cuts – how to select, cook, season and 

serve them. Her second book, Celebrating 

with the Kosher Butcher’s Wife, follows the 

Jewish cooking year and shares dishes for 

holidays, Shabbat and any day meals. In her 

third book, Sharon combines the influences of 

her culinary inheritance – cooking kosher as a 

proud South African. 

As she says, South African cuisine is as 

deliciously diverse as its inhabitants and 

the recipes in the book pay homage to the 

country’s most iconic foods with creative 

titles like Bobotie Fish Blintzes, Yentl Soup 

with an African twist, Shaka Sausage, Mealie 

Meal Toast, Brandy (Klippies) and Coke Malva 

Pudding and Mosbolletjie Rooibos Babka. ‘As 

a bread lover I had to include a mosbolletjie 

recipe, but I’ve replaced grape juice with 

rooibos tea. If you don’t finish the babka, you 

could slice them and dry them to make rusks.’ 

There’s nothing more South African than a 

braai or shisa nyama so Sharon dedicated a 

whole chapter to the one thing that unites 

food-loving South Africans. ‘My favourite 

method of cooking is braaiing and I’m the selfproclaimed 

braai queen of Highlands North. 

Whether I’m braaiing lamb shanks, then slow 

roasting them afterwards, or sizzling steaks, 

the flare of the flame just does it for me and 

chicken always tastes better on the braai!’ 

Sharon reveals that the secret ingredient in all 

her recipes is love. ‘Preparing food with love 

really makes a difference. When your intention 

is love, even if you make a mistake, the food 

just tastes better. And for tonight’s yahrzeit, we 

prepared my loving mom’s favourite dishes, all 

made with love.’ 

Details: A Taste of South Africa with the Kosher 

Butcher’s Wife by Sharon Lurie, published by Struik 

Lifestyle, an imprint of Penguin Random House 

South Africa. R297. 

Soup, glorious (Yentl) soup 

... with an African twist 

Ingredients 

1kg butternut, cubed; 2 large potatoes, cubed; water; 2 x 400g cans 

lentils; 2 x 410g cans whole kernel corn; 1 tsp harissa spice; 1 tsp curry 

powder; 3 Tblsps vegetable stock powder; 1 x 165ml can coconut 

cream; salt and pepper to taste; finely chopped fresh coriander for 

serving. 

Soup toppings 

1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds; 1/2 cup crunchy toasted corn; pinch 

of dukkah spice 

Method 

Place butternut and potatoes in a saucepan and add sufficient water 

to cover by 5cm. Bring to the boil and cook until vegetables are soft. 

Blend with hand blender until smooth. Add lentils, corn, harissa spice, 

curry powder, vegetable stock and coconut cream and return to the 

boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 30 minutes with lid placed 

loosely on top. Switch off heat, replace lid firmly and allow soup to 

absorb all the lovely flavours. Check the seasoning, as lentils love salt. 

Sprinkle with coriander and a topping of your choice (or all of them) 

before serving. 


CURRY 

NOTHING LIKE A GOOD 

When it comes to fighting off the last of winter's chill, 

you can't beat these wonderfully warming dishes and all 

the delectable goodies that go with them. 

Warm Indian dishes spice up any evening 

From the moment we stepped into the newly opened Thava Indian 

Restaurant at Montecasino, we knew we were in for an authentic dining 

experience. The restaurant’s opening night took us on an exotic journey to 

the eastern subcontinent... On arrival, we were treated to an infused Indian 

cocktail and straight-off-the-street-style panipuri ... YUM! Dancers enhanced 

the atmosphere, enveloping the venue with their colourful moves. The venue’s 

decor is a real eye-catcher ... the artworks are sourced from India and some 

paintings represent different dance forms. The highlight of the event was the 

blend of flavours that's prominent in the food ... Thava specialises in Indian 

cuisine and uses fresh local ingredients. The lamb ulathu is succulent and 

packed with flavour – a real stand-out dish. With cold weather still on the cards 

in Jozi, why not spice up a frosty evening by visiting this special gem. Main 

course prices range from R90 to R190. Details: 011-465-1306. 

Wild about white wine 

We’ve kept a keen eye out for new 

wines, and have just had a sighting 

of unbridled Survivor Wild Yeast 

Chardonnay. This free-spirited wine 

range, inspired by the hardy indigenous 

Nguni cow, has released its Wild Yeast 

Chardonnay 2018 after a complete 

sell-out of previous vintages. Which, 

trust us, is good news for adventurous 

Chardonnay lovers who prefer the 

unpredictability and unbridled 

expression of naturally fermented 

wines. This one, fermented in new 500L 

French oak barrels, is all oatmeal and 

lime leaping from the glass followed by 

invigorating layers of citrus. Lovely on 

cooler days, and exceptional with veal or 

pork, creamy butternut or rich seafood 

dishes. (We recently paired it with 

butter chicken curry, and it was delish!) 

It’s R175 from the cellar door, and you’ll 

find it at all good wine outlets. 

Details: www.survivorwines.com 

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT and DANIELLA POTTER 


Butter chicken curry 

Twin sisters Fatima Sydow and Gadija 

Sydow Noordien share their recipe for 

butter chicken curry. 

Ingredients: 

1kg chicken breast fillets, cut into 

bite-sized pieces; 250ml plain yoghurt; 

2 Tblsps lemon juice; 3 Tblsps oil; 

2 onions, finely chopped; 2 Tblsps 

minced garlic; 1 Tblsp minced 

ginger; 3 Tblsps roasted masala; 2 

tsps ground cumin; 2 Tblsps paprika; 

2 tsps turmeric; 1 tsp red chilli 

powder; 2 Tblsps tomato paste; salt 

to taste; 2 whole chillies (optional); 

250ml coconut cream; 1 bunch fresh 

coriander, chopped 

Place chicken, yoghurt and lemon juice 

in a bowl and marinate for a few hours 

or overnight. Heat oil in a large pot 

on medium heat and fry onions until 

golden brown. Add 250ml warm water 

and cook onions until all water has 

cooked away. Add garlic, ginger, spices, 

tomato paste and salt (and chillies if 

using) and cook for 10 minutes, adding 

a dash of water to prevent burning and 

stirring when necessary. Add chicken 

and yoghurt marinade and cook on 

medium heat, stirring occasionally. Do 

not add any water to the curry. After 

8 to 10 minutes add coconut cream 

and chopped coriander. Cook for 5 

minutes, stir once and switch off heat. 

Serve with white basmati rice or roti. 

No time to nip down south 

to indulge in a spot of 

South African Malay-style 

deliciousness? Twin sisters 

Fatima Sydow and Gadija 

Sydow Noordien have solved 

the problem in Cape, 

Curry & Koesisters. 

You’ll find recipes for 

masalas, soups, light meals 

and snacks (samoosas 

or pickled salmon and 

onion salad anyone?). 

Rice, sambals and atchar 

feature (of course), followed by the 

big guns of curry, breyani and ahkni. 

Here we dithered happily between 

butter chicken curry, frikkadel curry, 

slow braised lamb chops with 

apricot chutney and steak and potato 

braise. All look too scrumptious 

for words. Puds like melk tart and 

malva, along with luscious cakes 

(koesisters coming up), round off the 

book in diet-breaking style. Human 

& Rousseau, R330. 

The perfect 

accompaniment to 

any luscious curry – 

OrchidaceaE spicy 

pineapple chutney. R62 

from Cheese Gourmet, 

3rd Ave & 7th St, 

Linden. Details: 

011-888-5384 

Fancy a curry for breakfast? 

Butter chicken and garlic naan – made 

from scratch. Sri Lankan chicken curry 

with brown rice and tomato sambal. 

A home-made chicken curry pie (like 

those from the school tuck shop she 

spent class time dreaming about). 

Hungry? Then you should see the 

pics of these dishes – and a whole 

lot more – on self-proclaimed bornfoodie 

with a vivacious laugh and 

kind spirit, Varushka Padayachi's totally 

droolworthy Instagram account. 

It's called curry_for_breakfast and, 

seriously, she'll make your stomach 

grumble ... even when you're full! 

This Randburg-based blogger aims 

to educate on the hot, spicy and notso-creamy 

dishes of South African 

Indian cooking. 'It was uniquely 

shaped by the immigrant experience 

of our ancestors who came to South 

Africa as indentured labourers. Our 

cooking style changed, based on 

the availability of ingredients. Often 

poorer cuts of meat were eaten, 

as that’s what our ancestors could 

afford.' Dishes like trotters and beans 

and tripe and gadra were plated. 

'The close proximity to the ocean 

meant that South African Indians 

came to love seafood, cooking 

dishes like tamarind-based fish 

curry, fish breyani, crab curry and 

prawn chutney.' There's African 

influence too, like maize ... think 

curried samp and beans with lamb. 

Varushka lets her followers in on 

her hints and recipes ... from spices 

to layering flavours. Her Instagram 

account certainly is an education ... 

and seriously showcases her passion 

for sharing her love of SA Indian 

cuisine. It's well worth following! 


A lioness 

Interior designer-cum-author, Nthabi 

legacy 

Taukobong, shares her secrets to success, 

balance and personal development. 

Soweto-born interior designer, Nthabi 

Taukobong, is something of a national 

treasure. The founder and managing 

director of DITAU – African Luxury 

Lifestyle – is now also a published 

author and her new, inspirational 

book, The Real Interior, tracks this 

extraordinary businesswoman’s 

journey. She describes her childhood 

during apartheid’s zenith, her 

education (which involved stints 

as widely apart as Calgary and 

Marrakech) and her steady rise in the 

industry of interior design. Looking 

back on a trailblazing career that 

spans 23 years, Nthabi reflects on 

what it is to leave a #LionessLegacy. 

‘Life is everything and then some, 

and somewhere in the midst of all 

that chaos is its true, sweet essence. 

No matter your career path, the 

real aim in life is to master yourself 

and when you get that right, 

everything else falls into place. I came 

from nothing and life offered me 

everything and as I manoeuvred my 

way through good and bad personal 

and business decisions, I found that 

life was never against me. It was 

only moving me forward to a clearer 

understanding of self. 

‘I think it’s important, especially in 

South Africa, that we share our stories, 

of triumph as well as failures so even 

just one reader may be inspired to 

carry on and more than anything, 

know that it’s possible for them to do 

it too.’ 

Nthabi reveals a masterful storytelling 

ability in her book which was, 

somewhat unusually, inspired 

by a LinkedIn notification that 

congratulated her on being in the 

industry for 21 years (back in 2017). 

She asked herself: When I look back at 

my life in design, what are the greatest 

memories and lessons I want to take 

forward? And how do I record my 

highs and lows? She opted to write 

a letter to herself answering each of 

these questions, which then came to 

form the basis of her book. 

‘I don’t know of any other interior 

designer, especially in South Africa, 

who has written a memoir from this 

point of view (the REAL interior). As 

creatives, we usually get to a stage 

where we all want to do a beautiful 

coffee table book of our works and 

even though that was expected of 

me, I went deeper and shared my 

truth and journey of how I actually 

got to this point. The message of 

hope and inspiration the book has 

given to many has really shown me it 

was absolutely the right book to write 

and the right story to tell at this stage 

in my growing career.’ 

Her humility belies her exceptional 

achievements. Nthabi has worked on 

five-star hotels, residential and leisure 

projects for royalty and presidents, 

as well as industry behemoths. She 

even revamped the interior design 

of the Blue Train at the tender age 

of 25. Nthabi was clearly the right 

choice. ‘Our inspiration [at DITAU] has 

always been to create a style of home 

and products that are inspired by 

our African heritage and lifestyle. In 

Africa, life is about the simple pleasure 

of living well. This is complemented 

by our combination of luxury and 

raw materials that naturally ground 

an interior and create a healing, 

harmonious and balanced space.’ 

Nthabi is interior design royalty, a 

title earned by being hard on herself 

when she needs to be. ‘I was able to 

honestly critique my own installations 

and note what was still missing 

and what did not quite work in the 

space I had intended it for. I learned 

to decorate in a palette of colours 

and textures that allowed schemes 

to be moved around to different 

placements and still achieve the 

overall designer interior.’ 

With so much under her belt, it’s 

tough to imagine what else Nthabi 

could possibly aspire to next. ‘The 

book has landed me firmly in my next 

[endeavour], and that is to inspire and 

motivate others by sharing stories 

of my own journey through design 

and the lessons learnt in tackling 

all challenges. I’m working on my 

platform of online communication 

through my website where I will host 

workshops, podcasts and master 

classes. I’m also working on my 

online magazine as well as further 

developing my African Lifestyle brand 

of products made locally with a global 

appeal and relevance.’ 

Don’t miss Nthabi’s inspiring memoir. 

Details: nthabitaukobong.com 


Interior design in the home – advice from an expert 

• The home is actually a sacred sanctuary to heal and restore one’s soul, where 

individuals and families can really be themselves. Be open to design advice 

where required, but also don’t be afraid to express yourself as you see fit, with 

no judgement. 

• In order to achieve true design harmony, make sure there’s a good balance 

of the elements of nature such as earth, wind, fire and water. Let all these 

elements be equally represented and you’ll feel balanced, aligned, at peace 

and happy in your own space. 

• Let there be the right amount of space, wood, glass, water, fresh air, fabric and 

unknowingly you’ll connect with your essence and appreciation for design. 

Text: TAYLA BLAIRE. Photo: PETER WHITFIELD 

A tale of tenacity that led 

to stunning success 

The best things parents can give 

their children are solid roots, followed 

by wings. Soweto-born Nthabi 

Taukobong was one of the lucky 

ones, as she describes in the earlier 

chapters of The Real Interior, the 

story of her success in the tough 

field of interior design. Her loving 

parents taught her to strive for 

excellence in everything she did 

and, with township schools going 

up in flames during the late ‘70s, her 

father, with incredible determination 

and persistence, managed to get 

Nthabi and her older brother into 

an Anglican school for whites. She 

spread her wings during a year in 

Canada as a Rotary exchange student 

and finally, after studying at what 

is now the Durban University of 

Technology, landed her dream job 

with a top Johannesburg interior 

design firm. Within a week she 

jetted off to Mauritius to take the 

first professional steps in her chosen 

career. Now, 23 years on, she has 

designed for presidents, African 

royalty, captains of industry, fivestar 

hotels – forging success in the 

challenging world of interior design. 

Her journey continues, with all its 

highs and lows – and her story so far 

is an inspiration and encouragement 

to others. TMP, R275 


TRENDING 

Velvet sofas. Floral rugs. Brass accents. Each season sees new decor trends 

Velvet sofas. Floral rugs. Brass accents. Each season sees new decor trends 

and ideas ... here are some to watch for – and incorporate into your home. 

Florals 

Whether it’s over-the-top, extravagant designs or 

more classic botanical prints ... florals take centre 

stage in wall coverings, art and even rugs – like the 

Rachael rug, R2200 from Esque. Details: esque.co.za 

• Eden Queen carpet, R54995 from Weylandts. 

Details: weylandts.co.za 

Brass accents 

The subtle tones of brass 

add warmth to your decor in 

either bathroom or kitchen 

accessories – think basin 

mixers – or something less 

permanent but still 

eye-catching, like a brass 

pot plant holder in the living 

area. Brass mixer, R4100 from 

studio19.co • Aria planter, 

R349 from superbalist.com 

Velvet 

Luxurious. Rich. Warm. 

No longer the stuffy, old- 

fashioned fabric choice of 

granny, it’s now one of the 

most popular fabrics in decor. 

Be courageous with colour ... 

try mustard, emerald or teal. 

Sherman couch in misty teal, 

R9999 from Esque. 


Metallic objects 

Shine baby, shine. Whether it’s a gold skull 

or crown, a silver beetle or vase ... eyecatching 

decorative metallic objects on 

an ottoman, sideboard or sofa table all 

add a touch of glamorous shine! 

Skull, R2206 from Generation. 

Details: 011-325-5415 

Natural elements 

Terracotta. Stone. Concrete. 

With the lean towards organic 

living growing stronger every 

day, it makes sense that the 

trend will creep into our homes. 

Kal small vessel, R249 from 

Country Road in Woolies. 

Black and white 

This colour combination really is timeless – and 

for good reason. It’s classic, bold,and visually 

appealing. You can’t go wrong with it, really. 

Medium basin, R5500 from Studio19. 

One of our favourite interior 

designers, Tristan Plessis, subtly 

uses black and white features 

to create a modern, clean and 

sophisticated space. 

Details: tristanplessis.com 


Yellow 

We’ve seen it on the catwalks ... 

now it’s waltzing straight into 

our living rooms. Yellow – and 

burnt yellow in particular – is 

big, bold and seriously dramatic. 

It’s sheer lounge-around 

happiness. Cotton cushion 

cover, R139 from Zara Home. 

Details: zarahome.com. . • Munich 

occasional chair, R6490 from 

SHF. Details: shf.co.za 

Millennial pink 

Trust us, this shade of soft pink isn’t going away. In fabrics (it’s 

sensational in velvet), decor accents and on walls ... it’s not just for 

children’s rooms. This is grown-up prettiness at its best! According 

to Engel & Völkers Southern Africa (specialists in the sale and 

rental of premium residential property), statement lighting, 

concealed storage and pops of colour are all kitchen trends we 

should be watching out for this year. Along with the handleless 

cupboards and eye-catching floor in this Caesarstone kitchen, 

we’re loving these pink stools … instant glam! 

Statement lighting 

No longer just for light 

... turn your fittings into 

statement art pieces. 

Carefully chosen, wellplaced 

lights become 

a focal point. Try 

industrial pendants, 

vintage chandeliers or 

contemporary hanging 

lights. And don’t forget 

standard lamps ... a lovely 

way to get soft lighting 

exactly where you need it. 

Cylinder marble pendant, 

R795 from Weylandts. 

Stella table lamp, R1690 

from SHF. 

Compiled by: KATE ARGO 

Canopy and four-poster beds 

Once bulky and overpowering, the new canopy 

beds are slim and modern while still being the 

ultimate in luxury. Choose one with classic, 

clean lines. Add crisp white linen and sweet 

dreams. Spati bed, R9450 from Weylandts. 

Details: weylandts.co.za 


75 S A N DP I P E R A V E N U E 

www.brettenwood.co.za 

@brettenwoodcoastalestate 

Brettenwood Coastal Estate is an award winning lifestyle estate 

situated along an exquisite stretch of KwaZulu-Natal coastline. 

Enjoy ultimate security, luxury, tranquility, exclusivity and world 

class amenities, with panoramic sea and forest views. 

3 0 7 P L O V E R C R E S C E N T F R O M R 6, 9 0 0 0 0 0 

NO 

T RAN S FER 

D U T Y 

H O M E S 

P R I M E P R O P E R T I E S O F T H E W E E K 

R ET I R E M E N T 

75 B R E T T E N W O O D L A K E S 

3 3 1 WEAVERS LAN E 

3 WOO L Y N E C K W A Y 

A well finished one bedroom apartment 

in the heart of Brettenwood Estate with 

great sea views from your living room 

and bedroom. Includes: open-plan living 

room and covered patio. 

Privacy, space and views are just the tip 

of the ice burg when it comes to this 

property. Includes: Fire place, large patio 

with pool, sauna, cinema room and 

spectacular views down the valley. 

Retire in comfort! A spacious modern 2 

bedroom, 2 bathroom open plan home. 

Includes: open plan modern kitchen, 

double garage, open plan living area, 

covered patio and beautiful garden. 

1 1,5 

4 5 2 2 

OFFERED AT: ZA R 2 , 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 OFFERED AT: ZA R 8,900,000 OFFERED AT: ZA R 3, 90 0,000 

LA N D F R O M T H E D E V E L O P E R 

F R O M R 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 

info@homeandcountry.co.za 

www.brettenwood.co.za 

Mark Harris 

Sales Advisor 

T 082 789 6340 

E mark@homeandcountry.co.za 

Sandra Schuit 

Rental Agent 

T 062 896 1814 

E sandra@homeandcountry.co.za

Perennially 

pretty 

We’re digging, picking and 

planting all things pink this month 

We’re planting... 

Osteospermum ecklonis Purple 

Sun, a new variety with vivid flowers 

that announce the beginning of 

spring. They feature several shades 

of orange that fade into a deep 

purple ring at the centre of the 

flower. Plants form a compact, wellbranched 

plant, 25cm high and 

40cm wide, with an abundance 

of flowers. Grow Purple Sun in full 

sun and in ordinary garden soil 

that’s been well composted. They 

also look good in containers and 

hanging baskets. In coastal gardens, 

plants should be sheltered from the 

wind. Fertilize in spring and again in 

autumn. Water regularly but don’t 

overwater as plants can tolerate 

moderately dry soil. 

Garden glory 

hose pipe, 

R2425 from Net 

Decor. Details: 

netdecor.co.za 

We’re mixing miniature arums with roses, peonies and ranunculus to 

make a charming bouquet. 


Leaves linen cushion 

cover, R699 from 

@home. Details: 

home.co.za 

Team Dr Joseph Gentle Rose Toner, 

R385.00 from futurethis.co.za 

Jo Malone 

London Lupin 

Patchouli 

Cologne, 

R1095 from 

Woolies. 

Garden tasks for August 

August is a windy month – secure 

climbers and stake newly planted 

trees. Check the ties of standard 

roses and all other standard plants 

supported by stakes. 

• In very cold areas delay winter rose 

pruning until the middle or end 

of August. 

• Increase watering to once a week 

for most plants. 

• Fertilize all plants. Flowering 

plants should get 5:1:5 or 3:1:5 

and shrubs and trees 2:3:2 (or their 

organic alternatives). Fuchsias like 

a nitrogen-rich fertilizer at the 

beginning of the season. 

• Remove the spent flowers of 

primulas, petunias, pansies and 

violas to encourage them to keep 

on flowering. 

• Give the lawn its spring treatment. 

Rake out all the dead grass, then cut 

the lawn with the lawnmower on its 

lowest setting. Compacted ground 

can be spiked with a garden fork 

or a hollow tine fork. Apply lawn 

fertilizer and water in well. 

• If the lawn has hollows, is uneven 

or there are dead patches, level it 

with lawn dressing. Fertilize and 

water well. 

• Remove leaves from gutters and fix 

any broken ones. Consider calling 

in a plumber to set up a system that 

diverts rainwater from the gutters 

into a tank. 

• Clean the garden furniture and 

treat any wooden garden furniture. 

• Check with your paint shop for 

suitable products. 

Calandiva Wrapped, R54,99 each from Woolies. 

Indoor/ patio plant of the month... 

Is the beautiful indoor mini-arum lily (Zantedeschia) that’s now available in 

sizzling shades of pink, deepening into burgundy. The trumpet-like flowers are 

available in eight different colours and many varieties have shaded or speckled 

leaves. They enjoy a warm, sunny room as plants can take some morning sun. 

Water the plants as soon as the soil’s surface is slightly dry. During spring and 

summer, add liquid fertilizer to the water about every two weeks. The leaves are 

toxic to cats and dogs so keep the plants out of reach. 

Cranberry, Rose and Vanilla 

Pukka tea, R101 from 

Faithful to Nature. Details: 

faithful-to-nature.co.za 

Compiled by: KATE ARGO and ALICE COETZEE 


ADVERTORIAL 

POWER 

OF PRAYER 

Threatened with life-changing situations, in the name of 

family, Shivani Nagiah overcame them all ... and now she 

owns the very first Africaz franchise in Jozi. 

Shivani Nagiah’s life journey has allowed 

her to remain humble, focus on prayer 

and be the anchor her family needs her 

to be ... which is fitting, considering she 

battled against all odds for her family. 

Now this mum and business mogul is 

instilling a sense of family in her recently 

opened Africaz Chicken store in Midrand 

... but to fully understand how she got to 

this familycentric point, you really need 

to know how she fought against – and 

won – a tremendous battle for her 

family. 

Just nine weeks after 

Shivani fell pregnant 

in 2011, she suffered 

complications that she, 

along with the doctors, 

believed would lead to 

a miscarriage. 

‘Doctors wanted to 

prepare me for a D&C 

[dilation and curettage], but 

when we did the ultrasound we 

heard a heartbeat. I bled so much the 

doctor said the baby would naturally 

abort in a few days. But I managed 

to continue the pregnancy into the 

sixteenth week.’ 

‘I hope to 

empower young 

women who face 

struggles beyond 

their control’ 

During those stressful few weeks, she had 

no idea that her mother was struggling 

with her own life-threatening situation in 

KwaZulu-Natal. 

‘My mom was diagnosed with breast 

cancer the day after I thought I 

miscarried. She kept it a secret from me 

just to make sure I didn’t stress and took 

things easy instead.’ She did and Shivani 

managed to continue until her 23-week 

check-up. It was then that doctors 

realised there was no fluid around the 

baby and her stomach was looking a lot 

smaller than it probably should have. 

‘At 25 weeks, I went for another checkup, 

and the baby weighed just 350 

grams. While I was at the doctor, my 

mother was going through radiation 

treatment.’ 

Doctors told Shivani she needed to 

deliver the baby at 28 weeks, but at 27 

weeks, she began to bleed severely. 

‘I remember that day well. I was in a 

panic, not only because I was bleeding, 

but because I had no idea what to 

expect if I had to deliver the baby now.’ 

But she did – and her precious 

baby, Ariana, was about 

the size of a block of 

margarine with arms 

as tiny as a Barbie’s. 

Shivani remembers 

doctors running with 

her just-delivered 

baby to neo-natal. 

‘The doctors were 

magnificent! They 

operated on Ariana’s tiny 

heart and all my husband and 

I could do was pray ... we prayed so 

hard for our little girl.’ 

Shivani spent the next 89 days 

with her baby in hospital, and her mum 

– who was then in remission – spent 

six weeks with her after Ariana was 

discharged from hospital. 

Today, amazing little Ariana is eight 

years old, and she has a sister. ‘I fell 

pregnant again in 2014 and have 

another healthy baby girl.’ And with her 

happy family at home, Shivani decided 

it was time to re-enter the workforce. 

‘After having to give up my career eight 

years ago, I decided to get back to work 

and recently opened Africaz Chicken in 

Midrand.’ 

Africaz is the first store from the 

franchise to open in Jozi (there are 19 

stores in KwaZulu-Natal) and it’s the 

first food outlet in Africa to have fully 

automated facilities. Think flame-grilled 

chicken and mouth-watering peri-peri 

pizza. Mmm! 

But the store does more that serve 

tasty meals ... Shivani and her family 

are firm believers in giving back. ‘I 

believe that everything in my life so far 

has happened for a reason and I’m so 

thankful for everything.’ 

The Nagiah family ensures than they 

care for their community, from giving 

food and clothing to the mentally 

handicapped to regular feedings for the 

homeless in Midrand. This family makes 

sure that kindness is at the forefront of 

their daily lives. 

‘Even our Africaz store has a sense of 

family. We love our staff and customers, 

and cater to all needs across the board. 

All are welcome to enjoy the good food 

and great service provided.’ 

To bite into Africaz Chicken flame-grilled chicken, visit Shop 16,Midway Mews in Halfway House. Details: 010-494-9986

MEET 

FABIENNE 

FRANCIS 

Red. Green. No, not amber 

... purple! These are colours 

associated with people and 

personalities (not traffic 

lights), and profiler and 

published author, Fabienne 

Francis, can tell you why! 

When Fabienne Francis enters a room, 

she radiates warmth and kindness that 

instantly puts one at ease. Her humble 

and charming demeanour is what allows 

her to be the massive influence she is ... 

both locally and abroad. 

A born entrepreneur, Fabienne lived and 

studied in countries such as England, 

America, Austria, Germany and Mauritius 

and, from the age of 19 when she began 

her journey in the diplomatic world, she 

realised she had to deal with different 

personalities. 

But it was her love of South Africa – 

and its people – that inspired her to 

create her own Personality Analysis 

System called Identity DNA or iDNA. 

She spent years doing research and 

studying people’s behaviour to write The 

Personality Book. 

Fabienne believes that everyone has 

a unique contribution to make in this 

world, and that by understanding 

who you are and identifying 

your strengths and challenges, 

you have the power to live a 

fulfilling and happy life. 

This is just what the book will 

teach you ... it’s written in a way that 

makes it easy to understand different 

personalities – which are presented 

with beautiful, colourful illustrations. 

And you can answer a questionnaire 

to receive a detailed 

personality report ... it won’t 

only reveal your strengths and 

challenges but it will also tell you 

how you behave in the seven main areas 

of your life. 

You’ll also find you’ll learn how 

to read the body language of others 

– things like tone of voice and various 

signals people send us from the very first 

moment we meet them. Just think, it’s 

like being equipped with the tools to 

form great relationships with everyone 

you meet because you’ll know how to 

make an immediate snapshot of people’s 

characters. 

‘So many misunderstandings occur in 

life, simply because people just do not 

understand each other,’ says Fabienne. 

This can be avoided by 

using her 

‘When someone 

shows you their 

true colours, 

believe them the 

first time’ 

ADVERTORIAL 

Personality tool which is sure to help 

you build genuine relationships, without 

judgement. 

‘We do live in a rainbow nation – we’re 

either red, green or purple personalities!’ 

But to know more about what she means 

by this, you’ll have to grab a copy of her 

book! 

There’s no age limit to this learning ... in 

fact, soon Fabienne is to release a series 

of books to help everyone from the age 

of four to 80 to embrace themselves and 

live an authentic life. One of these is The 

Love Personality Book which teaches you 

everything about love and relationships 

... it’ll be out in just a few weeks! 

Fabienne’s not stopping there! This 

author is joining hands with 

businessman Colin Goodman 

to pen The Personality 

Book for Entrepreneurs, as 

well as a book for teens 

alongside her youngest 

daughter, Yentl. 

Studying personalities 

and penning books 

definitely seems to be 

something that runs in the 

family as her other daughter, 

Francoise Goosen, has written 

The Personality Book for Young Children 

... a great read for four to seven 

year-olds. 

For those who just can’t get enough 

of her books, why not try one of her 

workshops, motivational talks or 

individual sessions. As Fabienne puts it, 

no matter where you are right now in 

your life, whether you’re in business, a 

mother, single, married or just wanting 

to find your purpose, you’re sure to 

find a workshop suited to you – and it’s 

seriously likely to change your life. 

‘My message to all woman out there is 

to firstly not judge someone else – we all 

have a story and, as woman, we should 

embrace each other. Secondly, don’t 

live your life to fulfil someone else’s 

purpose. We woman have such 

a huge role to play in society, 

so find your own passion, 

find the real you and when 

you live an authentic life, 

everything else will fall 

into place.’ 

Grab a copy of The Personality Book 

– prices range from R380 to R410 from 

Exclusive Books or online at idna.world

ADVERTORIAL 

THE JEWELLERY 

QUEEN 

Mother, ideas-generator and lover of 

photography, Kim Goeller is passionate 

about all things exuding colour and 

natural beauty. 

Personal service. Fine quality. Oh, and 

the most gorgeous gems and jewellery 

... which are responsibly sourced. This 

is a pinch of what one can expect from 

Kim Goeller’s private gem and jewellery 

service, Umbala (which means colour 

in Zulu and Xhosa), here in Joburg, and 

internationally too! 

Kim sources one-of-a-kind stones and 

jewellery from all over the world for 

distinguished clients. ‘I love what I do. 

I’ve always been involved in creative 

work – from photography to bespoke 

shirts. I was always open to any design 

and artistic activities. While working in 

Australia, I was exposed to the pearl and 

opal industries and found that hugely 

fascinating. Shortly thereafter, I was 

employed at South Africa’s 

then largest diamond 

wholesale company 

as their marketing 

manager. In this role I 

was quickly exposed 

to all areas of the 

industry and years 

later I found myself in 

the gemstone wholesale 

side of the jewellery 

world. ‘Now, thanks to that 

exposure I’m designing jewellery 

and sourcing gems for private clients 

and simply can’t get enough.’ 

The relaxed mother of three 

young children focuses a lot of her time 

on family but she also works tirelessly 

to make her business a success. ‘I’m 

an ideas-generator, I don’t switch off. 

I’m always thinking of new ideas and 

creative ways to make my clients’ briefs 

come to life.’ 

Kim’s a visual person… who loves 

colour, originality in design and the arts. 

The late Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey 

Bawa resonates strongly for her as a 

creator of spectacular work 

‘In the jewellery world, Neha Dani does 

the most exotic one-of-a-kind pieces 

‘Stay grounded 

with friends, family 

... and diamonds 

from the organic 

underground of 

course ‘ 

I’ve ever seen. Although I’m 

not necessarily a pearl wearer, I 

think the Paspaley pearls are gorgeous – 

their brand message and design is 

totally unique and grand.’ 

For some downtime, Kim takes long 

runs through leafy Joburg, sees her 

family and tries to do small, meaningful 

outreach activities with her children. 

On her to-do list: Travel. ‘I haven’t 

travelled as I did in my earlier years, so 

it’s time to play catch-up and revisit my 

my favourite haunts, India being one. 

Here jewellery is an iconic symbol and 

you see the most ornate designs, fine 

gems and lots of gold. A treat for the 

eye.’ 

But ... back to business, Kim urges all 

aspiring entrepreneurs not to give 

up – no matter what! ‘So many people 

present hurdles and give you a sense 

that “it won’t work” when you tell them 

of your latest cracker business idea, 

and so often we stop, or second-guess 

ourselves at other people’s barricades. 

‘All I can I say is, this is your journey and 

you must continue to see beyond that, 

push through with your idea, believe in 

it and gradually start with your concept, 

whether it’s large or small ... you can 

do it.’ 

And while you chew on that food for 

thought, it’s time to dig out the old 

rings, brooches and necklaces (even 

sentimental pieces) from the bottom of 

your jewellery box and let Umbala give 

them a terrific makeover. To see some 

of the exquisite bespoke pieces, visit 

the Umbala Gems Instagram page ... we 

guarantee it’s all the inspiration you’ll 

need to spoil a friend (or even yourself) 

this Women’s Month and beyond! Kim’s 

itching to start designing your piece. 

‘I can’t wait to make your jewellery. On 

meeting my clients I get a sense of who 

they are and an understanding of the 

sentimental value behind the piece. 

It’s this that makes it easy to design 

something that will last a lifetime!’ 

Details: umbala.co.za 

Kim 

personally 

hand-picks 

the finest diamonds 

and gems for her 

clients. These are 

responsibly sourced 

and flawlessly cut.

7 BestofJoburg 

reasons to vote in 

Honestly, we could give you hundreds of reasons why you should vote 

in this fabulous competition ... but here are seven really good ones! 

Let’s be real ... we Joburgers love our City of Gold, and we all experience it in our own 

unique ways. We know which are our favourite hang-out spots ... from our local pub 

to our go-to Italian restaurant on date night and our perfect place for celebrations. We 

know who we trust to do our nails and hair (and who we don’t). We know our local 

butcher will always have a really great cut (which brings a sense of calm to organising 

family braais ... especially when our in-laws are coming round). We know who to call 

for lazy Friday night takeouts, where to go to entertain the kids on long days of school 

holidays and we know our favourite malls. We all know what, where and who are the 

best in our city ... and now it’s time to cast your vote to ensure they’re named ‘the 

best’ in Joburg. Enter the annual Best of Joburg Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 .... the 

competition’s now in its 24th year – so we know you know what it’s all about – but 

here’s a refresher anyway. Grab a copy of your local newspaper (Sandton Chronicle, 

Fourways Review, Randburg Sun, Rosebank Killarney Gazette or Northcliff Melville Times) on 

week ending August 2 and flip to the Best of Joburg edition of Leisure Options. Inside, 

you’ll find the ballot. Have a pen handy and – ready, steady – fill out your best for each 

question. Not a fan of the ol’ pen and paper? No problem! Go to bestofjoburg.co.za 

and type your way through the digital version of the ballot. Hurry, hurry, hurry! Voting 

closes at midday on August 12, so there’s no time to dilly-dally. Then, once all our 

readers’ votes have been tallied, we’ll reveal the winners of each of the categories 

and we’ll present them in a classy little book that we guarantee will live in your car’s 

cubbyhole as your guide to the hottest spots in Joburg. 

Why should you vote? That’s easy to 

answer ... our savvy readers know 

the best people, places and things 

to do in Joburg and these spots, 

activities and locals deserve your 

vote in a bid to win. So come on, 

weigh in. There are some seriously 

awesome prizes to be won (there’ll 

also be spot prizes during the 

voting). Once you’ve cast your votes, 

your name will be entered into a 

lucky draw ... and you could be one 

of the winners! Win what? Here are 

the deets ... 

Stressed out? Then it’s time 

for some rest and relaxation 

When we think of Fairlawns Boutique 

Hotel & Spa, we think ‘luxury’ ... and a 

luxurious night’s stay for two people in 

the presidential spa suite could have 

your name on it. Oh how lucky you’d 

be! And you’d be pampered ... think a 

totally relaxing back, neck and shoulder 

massage. Enjoy a delicious dinner, and 

before you set off the next morning, 

you’ll enjoy a scrumptious breakfast – 

and take in the lush lawn, trendy decor 

and classy architecture of this boutique 

hotel – which is rich with history and 

right in the heart of Sandton. That’s one 

helluva reason to cast your vote in this 

year’s Best of Joburg Readers’ Choice 

Awards. Details: fairlawns.co.za 

1 


You’ll seriously be able to shop until you drop – and then some – with a whopping 

R20 000 in vouchers from SPAR. Gobsmacked? We were when SPAR offered this 

irresistible prize ... and we’re sure you’ll feel the same way. So, go on, what in the 

world could you be waiting for? There are twenty-thousand Rands worth of reasons to 

get hold of a Best of Joburg ballot and cast your vote. Details: spar.co.za 

2Fancy a sweet escape? 

We love our city – love it – but 

who can resist a little road trip 

once in a while ... and when you 

win one, that’s a cherry on top. 

You could be the lucky winner 

driving off into the sunset with 

your partner or friend for a twonight 

midweek stay at the oh-solovely 

Walkersons Hotel and 

Spa in pretty Dullstroom. You’ll 

enjoy delicious dinners and wake 

up to scrumptious breakfasts. Try 

your hand at trout fishing or take 

a stroll as you admire the rolling 

hills. Sounds like food for the soul. 

If this feels like just the break you 

need, then there’s only one way 

to stand a chance to win ... grab a 

ballot and cast your vote. 

Details: walkersons.co.za 

3 

Sooth your senses 

4Ever tried a Middle 

Eastern mud ritual? How 

about floatation therapy? 

Doesn’t an aromatherapy 

massage sound totally 

soothing? And what 

about a pedi after the 

dry winter? Cast your 

vote in this year’s Best of 

Joburg Readers’ Choice 

Awards, and you could 

try these ... and so much 

more at the chic Life Day 

Spa Rosebank. If you 

win this journey of life 

spa prize, you and three 

friends can max out the 

spa’s facilities and even 

enjoy a lunch. Go on, do 

your best to win a destress 

package. Details: 

lifedaysparosebank.co.za 


5It’s getting toasty 

The saying might be, ‘If you can’t stand 

the heat, get out of the kitchen,’ but 

Adams Discount Centre is seriously 

turning up the heat ... and you’re 

sure to want to stay in the kitchen! 

The homeware and appliance store has offered two 

gorgeous kitchen necessities ... a black DeLonghi kettle 

and toaster set that’s totally stylish. (They’ll certainly 

make you feel all the more sophisticated when making 

your warm cuppa and slice of toast in the mornings.) By 

now you know the drill ... cast your vote in the Best of 

Joburg 2019 readers’ competition, and you could win! 

Details: adamsdiscount.co.za 

B Y W ORD OF M O U T H 

WON BEST CATERER AWARD FOR 19 YEARS IN A ROW 

IN THE LEISURE OPTIONS BEST OF JOBURG COMPETITION 

Happy snappy 

Time really does fly ... and if there’s one thing we know 

for sure, it’s that we seriously need to capture fleeting 

special moments on camera ... and when we do, they 

become our treasures. Which is precisely why this 

prize should be on your wish list. The amazing Canon 

PowerShot SX740 is one of the oh-so-desirable prizes 

up for grabs. This little camera is small enough to slip 

into your everyday handbag to ensure you always have 

it nearby ... and it’s versatile. In fact, professional 

festival photographer Bart Heemskerk says 

the SX740 (with image stabilisation) takes 

quality photographs that really capture the 

atmosphere of summer festivals. It’s a lovely 

little camera that’ll have you getting your 

family to ‘say cheese’ at any given moment. 

Details: canon.co.za 

Tel: 011 553 7600, E-mail: sales@bywordofmouth.co.za 

www.bywordofmouth.co.za 

During the voting time (ahem 

... until midday on August 12), 

there’ll be fabulous spot prizes to 

win. The first is a biggie for all the 

gamers out there: Four PlayStation 

4 games. Details: playstation.com 

• The second is a chance to get 

inked by Sally Mustang Tattoos 

in Sandton. Details: sallymustang.co • 

And date night for 2 couples just got 

hotter with prizes 3 & 4 – a dine-andshow 

experience at Montecasino for 

a delish meal at Malt Barrel & Fire and tix 

to the show, Stomp, on August 20. Details: 

tsogosun.com/montecasino 


BESTOFJOBURG.CO.ZA

BESTOFJOBURG.CO.ZA 

FOR 

• #MAKEITWITHMICA • #LETUSSHOWYOUHOW •VOTE 

A Feast for the Senses

PROFESSIONAL 

Tattoo & PIERCING 

Studio 

info@sallymustang.joburg 

@sallymustang_tattoos 

www.sallymustang.co 

BESTOFJOBURG.CO.ZA 

Punjabi Tadka is now delivering food 

Punjabi at restaurant Tadka prices is now delivering food 

at restaurant prices 

Order from our App 

get a Free naan and rice with any 

curry of your choice. 

You can download 

can download 

our Punjabi Tadka App 

our Punjabi Tadka App 

130 11 th St, Parkmore, Sandton 

Tel: 130 011 11 026 th St, 2666 Parkmore, 

- Tel: 011 883 Sandton 

1875 

Illovo Junction 178 Oxford Road 

Tel: Cell: 011 067 026 722 6726 2666 - Tel: - Tel: 011 011 268 883 1595 

1875 

punjabitadka1979@gmail.com 

Illovo Junction 178 Oxford Road 

Cell: 067 722 6726 - Tel: 011 268 1595 

punjabitadka1979@gmail.com

Mythos.pdf 1 2019/07/17 11:38:55 

BESTOFJOBURG.CO.ZA

BESTOFJOBURG.CO.ZA

GET IT DIRECTORY 

Registered hypnotherapist (non-medical) 

LORNA FERGUSON ATTORNEYS 

34, 4 TH Avenue 

Parktown North, 

Johannesburg, 2193 

F 

Tel 083 606 1044 | Cell 082 601 2578 | Fax 086 433 7183 

admin@lornaferguson.co.za 

lorna@lornaferguson.co.za 

www.lornaferguson.co.za 

LABOUR, FAMILY & ART LAW SPECIALISTS


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time. Experience satisfaction and 

personalised protocal including 

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Do you need a promotion at work? 

Or are you looking to find that 

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all this, and more! 

Call or Whatsapp 

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August Advert for mag 2019-2.pdf 1 2019/06/26 11:27:37 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K

FOURWAYS 

MEMORIAL PARK 

A safe, serene and beautiful final resting place. 

PRICES STARTING FROM 

R32 000.00 

For more information call 011 465 1715 

A place to be remembered and celebrated. 

calgrom3memorialparks.com 

The way to a dignified burial begins here.

Mhondoro 

We love a bush getaway ... and one where ellies drink from the pool, 

the rooms are OTT comfy and the food’s five star really is a special treat 

When you’re sitting having lunch on the verandah and an ellie 

strolls past, stopping to drink from the pool in front of you, you 

know you’re at a special spot. 

More so when an hour later on a game drive you see a leopard 

stalk, then chase and bring down a springbok, her five threemonth-old 

cubs chasing after her as if to cheer her on. 

We’ve just spent a couple of days at Mhondoro Safari Lodge & 

Villa in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, and it was indeed a 

special treat. 

Although the 

area’s malaria free, 

mosquito nets still 

drape the beds. Very 

Out of Africa! 

The Honeymoon Suite ... 

romance in the bush 

Very casually strolling by ... the ellies are 

regular, and hugely welcome, visitors to the 

lodge and, more specifically, the swimming pool. 


The Welgevonden area is fairly 

rocky and hilly, but the lodge is 

built overlooking a flat plain, with a 

waterhole in front to which animals 

drift all day ... families of warthog 

and a dazzle of zebras ... the ellies 

appear to ignore it completely and 

head straight for the pool, much to 

the delight of the guests – most of 

whom are international, so imagine 

the thrill! 

Besides what turned out to include 

some sensational animal sightings, 

a highlight of our stay was also the 

food ... this five-star lodge prides itself 

on the fine dining options offered, 

and deservedly so. While the boma 

dinner was been-there-eaten-that, 

other meals were exceptional ... 

think eggs Benedict with truffle oil 

hollandaise or French toast with 

thyme-infused honey and nuts for 

breakfast, or later in the day a dish of 

beetroot elements (pickled beetroot 

and beetroot sorbet, goat’s cheese 

and rocket, topped with pumpkin 

seed ... bliss), a wonderful wild 

mushroom risotto with truffle oil and 

Parmesan, and quite possibly the 

best rack of lamb we’ve ever eaten. 

As much of this as possible comes 

from the lodge’s large, flourishing 

veggie and herb garden – and it’s 

leaning towards being totally selfsufficient 

and off-the-grid within the 

next year or so. 

Accommodating just 26 guests in 

total, there are a few chic-African and 

edgy European-decorated suites to 

choose from, as well as a romantic 

Honeymoon Suite, which has a 

Honestly. Is there anything 

more dramatically wonderful 

than an African sunrise or 

sunset? We think not! 

Fine dining with a view. 

heated plunge pool and outside 

deck with day bed that overlooks 

the waterhole. The suites – think 

mosquito-net-draped beds and 

roaring fireplaces – sleep either 

two or four guests ... but there’s a 

magnificent three-bedroom villa. A 

marvellous choice for a family or 

group of friends, the villa comes with 

a private butler, chef and ranger, 

is exceptionally equipped with a 

pool, lounge, dining and outdoor 

entertainment areas, (it even has its 

own gym for heaven’s sake). 

Other standout features at the 

lodge, where children of all ages are 

welcome, include the underground 

waterhole hide, which is connected 

to the main lodge by a tunnel, 

allowing you to safely race off and 

see the animals close up, a lovely 

spa for those who need even 

more spoiling than being out in 

the bush provides, a heated pool 

and sauna and two great areas 

for youngsters – one indoors, one 

out. There’s a shooting range, and 

rock art excursions, bush walks and 

rhino tracking, and really brilliant 

yoga retreats can be arranged – get 

together six or more yoga friends 

and experience yoga in the bush at 

dawn or sunset ... how amazing! 

Rates range from R5675 a person a 

night, sharing, with children under 

two free; three to nine paying 50 per 

cent of the adult fee, 10 upwards 

paying full rate. The Villa exclusive-use 

rate is R45455 for four guests, R9091 

per extra adult and R5051 per extra 

child between three and 11. There are, 

however, often specials, so keep an eye 

on the website. All rates are inclusive 

of meals, selected house drinks, two 

game drives a day and reserved 

entrance, as well as scheduled transfers 

from the Welgevonden main gate. 

Children can’t go on regular game 

drives, but Bumble Drives can be 

arranged and there are babysitters, 

as well as fun activities. The area is 

malaria free, and the drive is a little less 

than three hours from Joburg and OR 

Tambo airport – unless you happily 

drive along in a daze and miss the N3 

turn-off, when you could, as we did, 

take the road (much) less travelled, in 

which case add, oh, say two hours or 

so to your drive time! 

Details: res@mhondoro.com, 

087-150-2314, mhondoro.com 


Spoil 

August 

A two-night stay for two 

in the Natal Midlands 

If you’re jolly lucky, you’ll have already visited Brahman Hills in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. 

This spot, in the 1000 hectare Blue Crane Reserve, has for a while been a top choice for weddings, 

conferences and idyllic country escapes. Now the 4-star destination has just added a new option we can’t 

wait to experience ... Springholm Cottages. Just four-and-a-half kms from the hotel, these cottages 

are self-catering, but you’re close enough to the main venue to enjoy, if you wish, the extensive facilities 

- we’re talking two great restaurants, two lovely chapels (the Glass Chapel overlooking a lake, and the 

new Valley View Chapel, built partially underground), a purpose-built venue for conferences and private 

functions, and a state-of-the-art spa (trust us, you’ll want to book something relaxing and pampering 

here). If you can bear to leave, you can visit the Midlands Meander and the neighbouring The Windmills 

Kitchen. Details: brahmanhills.co.za or 033-266-6965. We’re giving one reader the change to take a partner 

for a two-night, midweek break in one of these new self-catering Springholm Cottages at Brahman Hills. 

The prize, on a bed and breakfast basis, includes a dinner at 89 on Copper. To enter, simply visit Get It 

National Magazines on Facebook, like our Springholm Spoil post, and tag a friend. Entries close August 25.

Aug 2019 - Jhb North

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