OCT 2020 - Highway DBN

HIGHWAY • BEREA • DURBAN NORTH 

GREEN THERAPY 

GARDENING IS 

GOOD FOR YOU! 

Living 

strong 

meet two brave 

breast cancer 

survivors 

MADE FOR KIDS 

Getaways, superstars & 

drive-by baby showers! 

SUMMER 

STYLING 

with the gorgeous Zanele Kamwendo 

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD 

OCTOBER 2020

contents 

GET IT 

Editorial 

Phone 032 946 0276 

Email leah@getitnc.co.za 

Address 115 Escom Road 

New Germany • Pinetown 

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Editor Leah Shone 

Journalist 

Bronwyn Forbes-Hardinge 

getit@dbn.caxton.co.za 

Layout and Design 

Nicole von Metzinger 

ads@northcoastcourier.co.za 

Sales Manager Giles Thomas 

031 716 4464 or 083 632 5931 

gilest@dbn.caxton.co.za 

Advertising Christine Kelly 

031 716 4598 or 082 972 1266 

christinek@dbn.caxton.co.za 

GET IT NATIONAL 

National Group Editor and National 

Sales Kym Argo 

082 785 9230, kyma@caxton.co.za 

Distribution 

10 000 copies monthly - Get It Highway, 

Durban North, Berea is distributed free of 

charge. For a full distribution list phone: 

031 716 4444. 

Published by The North Coast Courier 

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 Get it Ballito 

branch within 10 days or they will be forfeited. 

Prize winners’ names are published on our 

Facebook page monthly. 

Why don’t you… 

2 Celebrate gorgeous gardens and raise a beer to October! Prost! 

Wish List 

6 We’re keeping is fresh, simple and healthy this season 

SOCIALS 

8 Celebrating the beet 

People 

10 Inspirational stories from two brave breast cancer survivors 

12 Meet Neil-Stuart Harris - the carer of the clothes from Durban’s past 

16 Durban North’s Marisa De Barros Lamy shows us that beauty 

really can be ageless 

40 Wanderlust warrior and street stomper Alison Chadwick takes 

visitors on walking tours around Durban 

Health & Beauty 

20 Warm fashion vibes... cover girl Zanele gives us some awesome tips 

and hints for our summer wardrobes! 

22 WIN and slow your skin’s ageing with this incredible spoil! 

Food & Drink 

26 Former small-town Durban girl Venishree Mayer is proud to be the 

first Indian South African woman to produce extra-virgin olive oil 

28 Lovely lemons . . . we are zesting up our time in the kitchen! 

for the kids 

46 15-year-old Paris Subraya is talented, brave and inpiring! 

48 We meet two very special young boys who are both following 

their passions 

50 A drive-by baby shower? Yup . . . check it out! 

52 Rachel Carey tells us how to make play time more meaningful 

54 Mags tells us how to make baby nursery dreams come true 

Travel & outdoors 

60 For an awesome weekend away with the kids check out 

Gibaland Teepee Eco Village - so much fun! 

62 Yes please. This is what luxury safari dreams are made of 

Cover: Zanele Kamwendo 

Dress: Carol Clark designs 

Shot by: David Weeks, www.davidweeks.co.za, 

Location: The Grand Exotic, 

www.thegrandexotic.com 

October2020 

7 

October 2020 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North 01

BOOK AN 

APPOINTMENT 

WITH US 

Tel: 087 310 4990 

A&T Medical Centre 

22 Hopelands Road, Overport 

VISIT OUR DIGITAL MAMMOGRAPHY CENTRE 

DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AND 

RECEIVE A 10% DISCOUNT ON YOUR 

MAMMOGRAM. T’S & C’S APPLY. 

**A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITY** 

@justforwomen @lakesmitpartners Lake, Smit & Partners 

www.lakesmit.co.za

A hot date! 

Cheers to happy vibes this month 

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

11 

Gardens, no matter how big or 

small, have the potential to bring 

South Africans together. That’s why, on 

Sunday 11 October, we’re celebrating 

gardens and green spaces - indoors and 

out - in honour of National Garden Day! 

Created by Candide, the app for plant 

lovers, with the objective of encouraging 

people to reconnect with their gardens 

and share the joy of gardening, all garden 

and green enthusiasts are encouraged 

to show their support by wearing flower 

crowns and hosting a celebration - at 

home or virtually. From high tea with 

friends to plant styling parties with 

neighbours and buchu-infused braais 

with family, raise a glass or cup to 

toast this special day. Garden Day will 

host a programme of garden-themed 

activities like yoga, flower crown making 

workshops, garden-inspired gourmet 

and more and everyone is encouraged 

to join the celebration live on Zoom and 

Facebook. Details: www.gardenday.co.za/ 

events or follow @GardenDaySA on Candide, 

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter 

Prost! 

Guys, just because Octoberfest is cancelled, there’s no reason why you can’t 

still be part of this annual German tradition. Time to break out the lederhosen 

and dirndls and host your own Oktoberfest party at home! Set up a beer tent 

in your garden, hang a few blue and white banners, stock up on German 

beers and serve pretzels, sausages like bratwurst or knackwurst, eisbein, roast 

chicken, potato salad or sauerkraut. It’s not a party without the perfect playlist. 

Add some authenticity to the mix by playing Ein Prosit to get everyone in a 

happy mood… To end your shindig on a sweet note, we suggest you whip 

up a batch of apple strudel. Head to our website, getitmagazine.co.za for 

more tips and recipe. Wunderbar! 

17 

And now it’s time for something completely 

different! If are passionate about doing 

creative stuff you should not miss out on 

a four-hour introduction to working with 

epoxy and wood hosted by Alex Rhind 

of Epoxy and Wood SA. Held at a venue 

still to be advised, this workshop involves 

the selection and mixing of various 

casting epoxies and pigments. Safety 

aspects, preparation of wood, moulds and 

pressure casting will also be discussed. The 

workshop is designed for beginners and 

the cost is R600 a person. A small wood 

and epoxy pendant will be made on the 

day for you to take home. Payment can be 

made on the day and everything required 

for the workshop will be supplied. Due to 

social distancing regulations, classes will 

be limited to a maximum of eight people. 

Details: alexrhindpta@gmail.com, 084 911 1906 

(WhatsApp). 


Book club 

Hot reads and chilled liqueurs ... 

this month’s book club’s looking good! 

There are a few authors who have us leaping for joy when we see a new 

release ... and Lisa Jewell is right at the top of that list. Gripping, engrossing, 

disturbing, her books are thrillers with heart-thumping, unexpected twists 

that just take your breath away. Her latest, Invisible Girl, is about a missing 

girl, an invisible man, and how we often look in the wrong places for bad 

people, not noticing the real predators who walk freely among us in plain 

sight. Century 

The pay checks are huge. The work exciting. The drinks flow. But people 

sneak into the bathroom for a hit of cocaine, people sleep under desks, 

and sexual harassment is rife. The Boy’s Club by Erica Katz is set in a 

corporate Manhattan law firm ... a place where if you don’t turn a blind 

eye, the boys’ club is a dangerous place to be. Orion 

04 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North October 2020 

We’re not serving wine at book club this month. Instead, we’re bringing out 

the Limoncello. Why? Because it’s summer and we’re happy and in an Amalfi 

kind of mood. Also, a few of the books we’ve chosen are 

lip-puckeringly, cheek-suckingly, squeeze-your-eyes-shut scary. So a bit 

of a theme going, yes? Our favourite version is Bottega’s Limoncino ... you 

can find it at good bottle stores, or order online for R325 from takealot.com

Wish list 

All things fresh and healthy ... bring on summer! 

Fresh simple cooking! 

We are thrilled that one of our 

favourite foodie go-to’s has finally 

launched a cook book! With her 

cooking school having had to 

close due to lockdown, Danielle 

du Toit started sharing recipes on 

social media to inspire her fans and 

others new to the ‘Pheka tribe’ not 

to give up during those really tough 

early days of being cooped up at 

home. The phenomenal response 

she received gave her something 

positive to focus on and since 

then she’s been cooking, styling, 

photographing and learning editing 

skills to ultimately (in collaboration 

with a special publishing friend) 

make it all happen! A dream come 

true! Pheka fresh simple cooking is 

filled with easy-to-follow, healthy 

recipes with simple ingredients to 

bring exciting new flavours into 

your home in a fresh simple way. An 

A5 printed soft cover will cost you 

R160 (excluding delivery) and the 

eBook version is R100. Details: www. 

pheka.co.za or e-mail danielle@ 

pheka.co.za 

The kiss of collagen 

Where is the first place you can tell that you’re ageing? Yup, your skin. We 

recently gave Vivo Glow Collagen a try and we’ve not been disappointed by 

the results! Born out of a passion project taken on by three Durban besties with 

mixed skill sets, it’s a product that has been tried, tested and proven to work. All 

three women have been taking collagen themselves and they truly believe in 

the effects and results. This fuelled their drive to create a product that provides 

the perfect monthly mix of superior one hundred per cent pure type I and III 

hydrolyzed bovine collagen and vitamin C. All you need is one tablespoon of 

Vivo Glow daily to boost naturally declining collagen levels and you’ll notice 

improved skin elasticity and hydration. In addition, it also promotes functionality 

of the digestive system and central nervous system. Details: hello@vivoglow. 

co.za, FB and IG @vivoglowcollagen, R350 for a 350g jar. 

06 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North October 2020

Farm to freezer to fork 

Zoom calls, kids’ lunches, cooking dinner… most of us are 

always under pressure and don’t have enough time in the day. 

Using their home kitchens to make delicious, locally-sourced 

meals to go, Westville moms and founders of FreeFromFood , 

Christine van Niekerk and Chef Nell van Rooyen are hard at work 

preparing designer meal packages aimed at taking the worry 

out of your mealtime. Not only are they beautifully packaged 

and incredibly delicious to eat, but they are worth every cent. 

Plus, they are helping others through their FreeFromFood 

Give Initiative, which offers easy ways to give back to the 

people we know and love, or to those less fortunate than us. 

The FreeFromFood goals are simple: source locally, give it 

some farm-to-freezer-to-fork style (which means organic and 

ethically sourced vegetables and free range meat, with no 

added hormones and antibiotic free), and have a whole lot of 

fun in the kitchen creating, testing and cooking great quality 

meals to make it easy for you to enjoy a variety of delicious 

new dishes and flavours based on seasonality and food 

trends. FreeFromFood meals and snacks are available in Vegan, 

Flexitarian (mainly plant-based), Meaty, Kids and Auto Immune 

Protocol. There is a variety of delicious meals, treats, smoothies 

and homemade muesli available. Details: www.freefromfood. 

co.za, FB: freefromfoodza or IG: @freefromfood_za 

Traditional gone virtual… 

Business cards - we lose them, dump 

them in our drawers, our details change 

and we often forget them when we 

need them most. Created by Hillcrest’s 

Jacques Vieira, The ME Business Card 

gives users the ability to leave printed 

cards behind forever! This virtual sidekick 

allows you to update your contact details 

whenever you need to and connect to 

more people than ever. Details: 082 940 

6440, yourvirtualupline@gmail.com 

The latest beverage trend 

we can all get behind 

Now more than ever, people are 

aware of what they put into their 

bodies. As such, we’ve seen a quick 

introduction of many new nonalcoholic 

versions of our favourite 

drinks. A leader in the zero alcohol 

market, John Ross Virgin Distilled 

Botanicals is a first of its kind for 

South Africa and the world. Loaded 

with botanicals, perfectly blended to 

create a classic non-alcoholic spirit 

infused with honey bush tannin, John 

Ross can be enjoyed not only by the 

individual who chooses not to drink 

alcohol, but by pregnant women too! 

Details: www.johnross.co.za, R289 a 

bottle (750ml) 


Jolene Sayed, Dawn Dunn and Maria Valaskatzis 

Rita Kallideen, Leonor Fuller and Audrey Clark 

Celebrating 

the beet! 

In celebration of the purple root so many of us have 

grown to love, executive chef at Westville’s Salisbury 

Café, Jean Pierre Le Roux teamed up with rugby mama, 

Dawn Dunn, in a Beetiful Beets cooking demo, that 

went down a treat! From beetroot-infused vodka, to 

beetroot boiled eggs served with Shimeji mushrooms 

and lemon curd, and beetroot and king prawn soup, 

guests indulged in a phantasmagorial Friday afternoon 

of flavour and fun. 

Dawn Dunn and Maria Valaskatzis 

Shirley Sage and Lynette Lott 


Ruan Scheepers and Nomfundo Ngwenya 

Ilona Lamprecht and Carlene Kidwell 

Bavisha Kaylan and Vanessa Govender

Living strong 

Almost all breast cancer survivors will tell you that receiving a life-altering diagnosis 

and hearing the words ‘you have cancer’ changes you in more ways than you can 

imagine. October being breast cancer awareness month, we asked two brave warriors 

Turning pain into purpose 

to share their stories with us… 

Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge 

Shona Kelland 

When you’re in the prime of your life, 

things seem to be everlasting. You 

feel almost invincible, like nothing 

will ever slow you down or stop you 

from achieving your dreams. But 

for 48-year-old recruitment agency 

business owner Shona Kelland this all 

changed when she was diagnosed 

with breast cancer in March this year. 

After learning she had a rare and 

aggressive form of breast cancer 

(triple-negative), Shona had to act 

quickly. And, as if fighting for her 

life in the midst of a pandemic 

wasn’t enough, she also suffered the 

tragic loss of her mother. Instead of 

crumbling under the enormity of it 

all though, Shona has risen up and 

chosen to turn her pain into purpose 

in the hopes that it will change lives. 

We meet Shona on a good day. She’s 

feeling relatively strong after her most 

recent dose of weekly chemotherapy. 

She makes coffee and we sit in 

her sun lounge overlooking the 

picturesque valley below her Augusta 

Ridge Eco Estate apartment. This has 

been her home, her work station and 

her recovery centre for the last six 

months. 

Shona shows us photos from a recent 

shoot she did with her neighbour, 

a professional photographer. The 

powerful images without her hair and 

revealing her scar capture the very 

raw, life-changing journey she’s been 

on. She hopes they can be used to 

create awareness about the reality 

of breast cancer and the fact that 

nobody is an exception. 

“There is no history of cancer in my 

family. I think when this is the case 

we tend to shrug off any possibility - 

but I am living proof that it can affect 

anybody.” Shona was diagnosed after a routine mammogram on 4 March, the 

day after South Africa’s first COVID-19 case was announced. Her life changed 

drastically, and the things and people she’d come to rely on, the energy she 

thrived on and the adventures she looked forward to began to fade away. 

“They found a lump which I didn’t even know was there. They did an ultrasound 

and then a biopsy, which came back positive. I was shocked and asked myself 

what on earth I did to deserve this. Then, it was simply, what next?” 

Shona was diagnosed with Stage 1 triple-negative breast cancer which is 

considered a very aggressive cancer. 


“They did a lumpectomy to remove the lump from my breast, a BRCA gene test 

for breast and ovarian cancer risk (which came back negative) and a lymph node 

biopsy. Fortunately there was no sign of cancer in my lymph nodes.” 

Shona’s oncologist recommended four sessions of aggressive chemotherapy 

followed by 12 weeks of less aggressive chemo, and then radiation. 

“I had a port fitted and left the hospital. As the country went into lockdown, I 

started chemo at Hopelands Cancer Centre at Hillcrest Hospital. This became my 

second home and the wonderful staff and patients became a regular part of my 

life from day one.” 

As she describes the side effects of those first four sessions (three weeks apart), 

Shona’s body language changes. There’s tension in her body, her fists and her 

face as she recalls the agony she so desperately wants to forget. “Having the 

actual chemo was the easiest part. What it did to me afterwards took me to some 

very dark places. 

“Before cancer I was fit and healthy. I always lived life at 200km an hour. I had a 

partner and plans to move to another province and open up another branch of 

my business there. Then it all came crashing down. I was exhausted, constantly 

nauseous, always in pain and my energy and sense of humour had gone. I lost 

my self-esteem, my self-worth and my purpose. I felt useless and lonely and the 

lockdown restrictions made being sick harder.” 

There is silence in the room as Shona, who has managed up until this point to 

put on a brave face, starts to cry. She shares the heartache of losing her mother 

to Multiple Sclerosis-related complications the day before her third round of 

chemotherapy. 

“Losing my partner, my mother and my dreams and not being able to jump on 

a plane and be there for my dad completely broke me. But then, someone said 

to me ‘this will test your mettle. Cancer, Covid-19, chemo, loss ... how much was I 

expected to take? But you do take it and you do find it in you to pick yourself up 

and fight.” 

Shona says the support system through Hopelands and special group of friends 

(her sisterhood) who walked as much of the journey with her as they could 

(given the lockdown) made a huge difference. “Having a part of my breast 

removed was a big deal, but I am thankful that I did not have to have my breasts 

removed. Losing my hair was a pretty big thing. I was sitting in my car talking to a 

friend on the phone and running my hands through my hair when it hit home. A 

very good friend of mine came over. We sat on my patio and he shaved my hair 

and then his.” 

Cancer is a personal journey, she says. 

“I spent a lot of my journey angry, but 

then I realised it wasn’t helping me so 

I began to take accountability for each 

issue I struggled with. I realised I was 

learning about life and myself along 

the way. I began to cook and I learnt 

to knit.” 

Square after square, Shona knitted 

and sewed together what is now an 

unevenly unique patchwork blanket 

that represents everything she has 

experienced in the last few months 

- emotion, fatigue, anger, patience, 

tolerance, determination and survival. 

She adds to it regularly. 

“People often asked what they could 

do for me when I was at my weakest 

and my response was and will always 

be … go for your mammogram! 

Regardless of your age, check your 

breasts. If you’re not sure, ask a doctor. 

Mammograms are nowhere near as 

bad as people think. It’s 30 seconds of 

discomfort that could change or save 

your life. In my case, it did.” 

When all of this is behind her Shona 

says she plans to fly to the UK and 

go and celebrate her mother’s life 

and her survival. “I will never take 

my energy for granted again, nor 

my health, but I now believe I can 

conquer anything. I am not defined 

by cancer. I am defined by who I am 

and the scars are my battle wounds - 

a symbol of survival and a reminder to 

be responsible and grateful for life.” 

Living life despite the ‘what if’ 

Tamsyn-Claire Livingstone 

For Tamsyn, once a cancer patient, 

always a cancer patient. While this 

might sound like the words of 

somebody who has succumbed to an 

unknown fate, for her it is a reminder 

that life is short and that we should all 

make the best of our time, because 

there is always that ‘what if’. 

It was after seeing her aunt pass away 

from cancer despite having chemo 

that Tamsyn questioned whether the 

side effects were worth it. “I remember 

watching movies about people with 

cancer and I told myself if I ever got it, I 

wouldn’t have chemotherapy because 

I’d rather live my life for as long as God 

let me in the best way possible.” 

But, a few years later, when she was sat 


in front of an oncologist who gave 

her the earth-shattering diagnosis, the 

then 38-year-old wife (to Gary) and 

mother of two young boys (Zachariah 

and Noah) realised her aunt’s decision 

to do the chemo meant more time 

with her family, time to prepare and 

time to say goodbye. 

And so, despite numerous setbacks 

Tamsyn has had since her April 2019 

diagnosis, she believes she has seen 

the hand of God working in many 

ways to ensure she can tell her 

story…a story which she says is not 

yet over. 

“I have been a marine GIS Analyst 

(ecologist) for Ezemvelo KZN 

Wildlife for more than 15 years. My 

job involves mapping the ocean, 

conservation planning and marine 

protected area expansion.” 

Her diagnosis, over a year ago, was 

completely unexpected and took 

Tamsyn on a path she never thought 

would become a part of her life. 

“I woke up with a large, hot, hard 

and sore lump on my breast which 

I had not felt before. My doctor was 

concerned and an ultrasound also 

left the radiographers baffled. It was 

put down to being a cyst and an 

antibiotic was prescribed. A benign 

needle biopsy and more antibiotics a 

few weeks later resulted in no change. 

The pain got worse and a surgeon 

suggested a second, bigger biopsy. 

This time they noted my lymph 

glands were swollen, but still they said 

it was the infection.” 

Surgery confirmed a benign cyst with 

a hard casing which, due to its rapid 

growth had become infected in the 

centre. The infection was cleared and 

I call this day ‘the day time stood still’ 

because on hearing the news, everything 

that was truly important to me in life 

suddenly seemed so crystal clear 

it was believed the cyst would over time dissipate and be absorbed back into 

Tamsyn’s body. 

“Unfortunately, weeks later this seemed not to be the case. As the pain 

continued, I sought homeopathic treatment and was advised that I had high 

oestrogen levels, so I stopped birth control and found ways to assimilate the 

oestrogen. I tried CBD oil, THC and oxygen therapy but the pain persisted and 

it felt as if the lump (now named Lolly) was growing. Three months later, while 

searching the internet and praying for answers, I found the Durban Breast 

Clinic and booked an appointment for a second surgical opinion. Dr Reddy was 

amazing but extremely concerned about Lolly (which was now about the size of 

a tennis ball) and my swollen lymph gland.” 

Dr Reddy advised the removal of the lump and told Tamsyn to prepare for the 

possibility of losing her breast. Surgery was scheduled for two weeks later, but a 

delay on the day due to medical aid issues resulted in a further examination and 

concern that Lolly had grown another 2cm in size. A more representative biopsy 

was performed and follow up surgery scheduled for a week later was headed 

towards a mastectomy. 

“Then I received a phone call that changed my life. Stage 3, triple negative breast 

cancer that had spread to the lymphs. It’s very aggressive and required me to 

see an oncologist immediately. I call this day ‘the day time stood still’ because 

on hearing the news, everything that was truly important to me in life suddenly 

seemed so crystal clear - followed by the inevitable overwhelming feeling where 

everything around me came crashing down.” 

And so began her cancer journey – oncologists, treatments, the possibility of 

further spread, the reality of losing her hair. “It was so difficult to fathom that the 

oncologist was talking about me, and about my body.” 

Once the initial shock wore off, Tamsyn’s desire to fight and survive began 

to surface. “Ten days later I had a port inserted and two days later I started 

chemotherapy. After my first dose of what I call ‘the red angel’ I felt the full effect 

of my immune system crashing and I landed up in hospital. This part of the 

journey took endurance and was full of ups and downs, numerous delays, the 

pain of losing my hair and the very real understanding that you are fighting a 

serious battle.” 

The second part of Tamsyn’s journey however, involved losing a part of her body, 

and came with a host of emotions and pain. “I felt as though so much of what 

made me a woman was slowly being stripped away. I learnt to mourn and feel 

the loss and I was reminded that beauty is not external but comes from deep 

inside. I learnt to see myself the way God saw me, the way those who truly knew 

me saw me. ” 

With so much residual cancer left after her mastectomy, Tamsyn’s radiation was 

delayed and she was put on oral chemo. Comparing her journey to climbing a 

mountain, Tamsyn says that while it might seem impossible, one step at a time 

means progress. 

“It’s during these delays we are reminded that sometimes when we reach what 

we thought was the top of the mountain, it was in fact just the small peak in 

front, hiding a bigger one behind it. You have to learn to keep reminding yourself 

that, as with so much of life, this too shall pass. You may stumble and fall, you 

may even come around what you thought was the end of the path to find there 

is a whole other section that still needs to be climbed, but with support and 

determination, you keep climbing with the hope that one day you will reach the 

top!” You can read more on Tamsyn’s blog at https://hopewhenithurts.co.za 


Carer of the clothes 

For 15 years, Neil Stuart-Harris has presided over a remarkable collection of clothes 

and costumes from Durban’s past. He is the textile conservator at the Local History 

Museum’s Conservation Centre and he allowed us to stepped into this delicate, intricate 

world, where very few have been. 

“Each item of clothing or accessory 

is already a piece of history. The idea 

behind what I do is to preserve it well 

enough to make it last another 100 

years.” 

In charge of a collection of clothing 

and accessories dating back to 

1662, Neil’s role as a preventative 

conservator is to try and prevent any 

further deterioration of the items in 

his care. He does so through gentle 

vacuuming, washing and whatever 

physical intervention he may deem fit. 


METICULOUS PASSION 

It is clear that Neil is passionate 

about his job. “I love what I do. It is 

hellishly self-indulgent, but it’s what 

makes me tick! There are challenges, 

of course. My work involves making 

technical examinations, documenting 

conditions, performing conservation 

treatment, installing textiles for 

exhibitions and, after an exhibition, 

preparing textiles for storage. What 

most don’t realise is that once you 

start working on something like this, 

there is no going back. There is a fine 

line between preserving something 

and destroying it.” 

According to Neil, all materials 

respond to their immediate 

environment. High relative humidity 

is conducive to mould growth and 

fluctuating relative humidity causes 

organic materials like wood, ivory, 

and paper to expand and contract, 

leading to cracks, broken paint, 

and warping. Things like dust, sand 

grains and soot are carried into the 

conservation centre from urban and 

agricultural environments and sharp 

grains like sand lead to abrasion of 

object surfaces. Soot is grimy and 

acidic leading to discolouration, 

embrittlement of organic materials 

and corrosion of metals. 

“Nothing is indestructible. Items that were once strong and wearable have 

become fragile over time and can be destroyed upon the slightest touch. We 

live in a world where we consume and then we pass on or discard when we’ve 

outgrown or out loved. Since the museum was established in the 1950s, items 

of clothing have been donated with the purpose of being preserved and 

treasured. It is my job to make sure this is achieved in the most effective way.” 

Meticulous and dedicated, Neil says it took him an entire year to work through 

everything in the collection when he first started working at the Conservation 

Centre. He had to learn to make sense of it all with little information, no photos 

or proper descriptions. 

FROM THE STAGE TO THE MUSEUM 

“I’ve always had an interest in clothing and textiles. I’m a period costume cutter 

by trade and from 1984 the Playhouse was my playground as I worked my way 

up to head wardrobe and costume designer.” 


”Neil actually performed in the theatre 

when he was much younger, but 

soon realised his passion lay in the 

technical side. For many years, Neil 

was responsible for the dazzling and 

sophisticated costume creations for a 

wide variety of South African theatre 

productions including My Fair Lady, 

The Sound of Music, Chicago, Cabaret, 

Into the Woods, Oliver, Oklahoma and 

many others. It was a demanding and 

deadline-driven line of work, but he 

thrived in it. 

“Some of these productions required 

completing up to 200-plus garments 

leading up to dress rehearsals. Not all 

were started from scratch, but it was 

intense for what was required in a 

fairly short space of time. I was really 

passionate about what I did. 

After I was retrenched in 1998 I 

continued dressmaking in the 

wedding industry and for matric 

dances, and doing the occasional 

theatre work.” 

Neil took up his position at the 

Conservation Centre in 2005. 

“Being involved in a conservation 

treatment of any kind of accessory, 

tapestry or textile fragment is as 

thrilling as it is dreaded at times. 

“While it can be touch-and-go 

making the choice to wash, vacuum 

or intervene, I am always captivated 

by the transformation a piece has 

undergone during conservation. It 

could be an item of clothing dating 

back to 1770 or a piece of embroidery 

dating back to 1662. It’s not as 

simple as throwing it in a washing 

machine. There are special methods 

to vacuuming and washing, and it can 

take hours to do one piece.” 

Although treatment of an object 

may sometimes be necessary, Neil 

says treatment alone is not sufficient 

to preserve collections for future. 

“Objects inevitably deteriorate, 

but my goal as a preserver of 

material culture is to slow the rate 

of deterioration as far as possible. 

Preventive conservation efforts aim 

to reduce damage and deterioration 

to collections by improving their 

environment.” 

How Neil handles (with gloves and 

care), how he stores (in imported 

boxes and using material that doesn’t 

contribute to the degradation of 

the piece such as acid-free material, 

pure cotton or melinex that does 

not give off gas or chemicals that 

can further harm the already delicate 

textiles) all matter to his day-to-day 

tasks and when it comes to how well 

something will be preserved. 

From frocks, collars and neck ties to 

army uniforms, purses and calling card 

pouches, everything is researched, 

preserved, tagged and stored with 

ease of reference so that they can be 

easily accessed. 

“The most exciting piece I ever 

worked on was a rickshaw puller’s 

headdress in 2007. Apart from the 

massive task involved in cleaning it, 

just seeing the layers of history passed 

down from father to son, each having 

added their own embellishments, was 

incredibly exciting. 

Although Neil is retiring soon, he will 

be continuing his work in a private 

capacity. 

“There is so much more to learn from 

what I do, which makes working on 

these textiles so inspiring. I wake up 

knowing that I am responsible for 

preserving a piece of Durban’s history 

and feel privileged for having had the 

experience.” 

C O R P O R A T E F U N C T I O N S & D R O N E F O O T A G E 


Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge | Current photos: Sandra Keddie Photography www.sandrakeddiephotography.co.za, 0797522124 

“Much like all of us, I’ve carried life 

experiences, lessons, tragedy, sadness 

and pain with me throughout my life. 

In spite of this, I still believe there is 

good in people and that I am worthy. 

So many people see beauty as purely 

external, but there is more to life than 

being a poster girl.” 

Born in Lourenço Marques in 

Mozambique, Marisa was always 

considered a ‘black sheep’ of her 

family. Forced to grow up before her 

time, her parents’ divorce left her 

in the care of her mother who sent 

her off to boarding school at the 

age of nine and forced her to marry 

someone she hardly knew at the age 

of 17. “I didn’t understand, and I hated 

what was happening, but I had no 

choice in those days, so off I went to 


Beauty iS 

ageless 

Durban North’s Marisa De Barros Lamy has lived a colourful and interesting life. Having 

been a professional model for more than 30 years, she recently decided, at the age of 

63, to step in front of the camera once more and recreate photographs from her past, 

proving that true beauty is ageless. She shares her journey with us. 

Angola where I ended up falling pregnant and having my daughter, Barbara. The 

marriage didn’t last and a year later I found myself at the airport where I spent 

three days trying to get back to my home country with my child. Looking back 

I do believe that my mom loved me and was doing what she thought was best 

for me.” 

In 1976, Marisa arrived in South Africa with nothing. Her first job was at the 

Malibu Hotel in Durban, where she met pianist and composer, Miguel Oscar 

Sabino. He became the love of her life. 

“I started work for a clothing agency, where I ended up working for the next 30 

years. It was then that my modelling also career took off. Miguel and I travelled a 

lot and spent seven happy years together before he died from colon cancer.” 

The couple had one son, Paulo Sérgio, who was born on Miguel’s birthday. 

Marisa continued to model post baby number two, and at times worked for 

Caçador Restaurant to make ends meet. 

“When I met former sports anchor and broadcasting legend, Martin Locke, my 

modelling career was really starting to take off. I was honoured to model with 

Miss Universe at the time, Margaret Gardiner, as well as Miss SA, Linda Phillips, 

who I actually taught to walk the ramp. I also had the privilege of meeting icons 

like Tina Turner, Tom Jones and Rita Coolidge. These were great memories with 

loads of beautiful ladies and lots

of laughter. But it was short-lived. I 

went to Portugal and came back to 

find out that my mom had plans to 

marry me off again. As a model and 

single mother, this was a blow to my 

confidence knowing that I was still 

being judged by my family. I actually 

liked my independence and enjoyed 

the life I was living.” 

Regardless, at the age of 33, Marisa 

married popular comedian and 

entertainer, Fernando Lamy, whom 

she’d known through family friends 

all of her life. Together they had a 

daughter, Daniella. 

“I was fortunate that both of my first 

two pregnancies had very little effect 

on my body. But the third almost 

killed me. I developed Toxemia, also 

known as pre-eclampsia, and my 

husband had to choose whose life 

to save, mine or our baby’s. In the 

end, our gynaecologist, Dr Jill Grey, 

managed to save us both.” 

Marisa and Fernando were married for 

30 years, during which time she says 

she took a back seat from her own 

career and interests to raise her family 

while her husband provided for them. 

“I did a few episodes for Portuguese 

TV and Interkom, but I’d given up 

what I loved and this weighed heavy 

on my soul. Fernando was talented, 

he had a beautiful voice and while 

the marriage wasn’t always easy, we 

pushed through. He suffered from 

heart problems, and in the end I took 

care of him, as I’d promised, until he 

passed.” 

The couple owned a restaurant at 

Cabana Beach Resorts, which did 

really well for a while. “But after my 

husband died I was left with R99 … 

and was forced to sell everything 

I had and start from scratch. As a 

widow, and with thyroid problems 

that made losing weight very difficult, 

I carried a heavy burden in terms of 

my own self-image and worth.” 

But then, Marisa says, she started to 

realise that beauty is not just about 

what you look like - it is about who 

you are. She believes that inner 

character, courage, strength and 

kindness all shine through far greater 

than just physical appearance. 

“Women are strong. Life doesn’t 

stop when we start ageing. I’m a 

Sagittarius with a big sense of humour 

and I stand tall now, through all I’ve 

survived, with the belief that I still am 

At 63, Marisa De Barros 

Lamy posed for a 

photoshoot to recreate 

some of her favourite 

photos (seen below) that 

were used in Darling 

Magazine in 1982 

enough and worthy of finding true love again.” 

When photographer Sandra Keddie offered to recreate photos from Marisa’s 

modelling days she says it was a huge boost for her confidence. “It made me 

realise even more that I, with my body and my character, am a beautiful woman. 

Every one of us is. And we all deserve to be loved and happy. 

Age is just a number. I’ve had silver hair for so long now, and I believe that with 

age we begin to see life as it really is, and we learn better to accept this. Wrinkles 

are wrinkles, they all tell a story. I always bath with baby oil in the water, and I 

use Eucerin when I can, but for the rest, I am okay with the fact that I am who I 

am and my body is the way it is and it will continue to change, but my sense of 

humour remains and keeps me going. I would love to model again as a means 

of doing something for me, and also as a way of inspiring other women in the 

hopes of helping them accept change and love themselves regardless.” 




Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge | Photograph: DAVID WEEKS | Location: THE GRAND EXOCTIC | Dress: CAROL CLARK 

Your Summer style 

Armed with her strong belief that less is more, image consultant and Mrs SA 2020 top 10 

finalist Zanele Kamwendo thrives on helping women look and feel their best. With her 

life-long passion surrounding image and style, she shares what’s hot this summer (her 

favourite season) and tells us why image management is not a luxury but a necessity. 


espite being 

partially deaf, 

Zanele holds 

an Electrical 

Engineering 

qualification 

and a Masters’ 

Degree in 

Business 

Administration. She runs her own 

business in Kloof called Sparkle 

Image Consulting, through which 

she strives to empower women. 

Recently appointed a brand 

ambassador for the well-known Skin 

Renewal aesthetic clinics in Durban 

and Umhlanga and short-listed as 

the ‘Face of Mangwanani’, Zanele’s 

gorgeous physique, positive attitude 

and winning smile all add to the 

package, making her someone you 

want to talk to about your image. 

Her skills and image interventions 

have positively impacted 

organizations across SA within a wide 

scope of fields including corporate, 

finance and investment, engineering 

and construction, banking, church, 

entertainment and more. 

“Women need to embrace their 

unique, beautiful features and 

highlight them in subtle ways. We are 

all diamonds possessing a luminosity 

within, waiting to be unleashed; 

all we need is a professional cut 

and polish and we are well on 

our way to fulfilling our destiny. 

Image management is not a luxury 

but a necessity, as we constantly 

communicate who we are in our daily 

activities. We need to ensure people 

are receiving the correct message.” 

At home, Zanele is a loving wife 

of 17 years and a mother to two 

teenage boys. At work she thrives on 

excellence in everything she does 

and is a hard-working go-getter who 

believes in uplifting the livelihood and 

social skills of others. 

“A big part of my life also involves 

outreach. Education is key for 

our future leaders, so I make a 

huge effort to collect donated 

books for distribution to children 

in underprivileged communities 

through an organization called 

Isinamuva Book Club. 

“I also work with Mpact recycling, 

where I teach children about 

the importance of recycling and 

encourage them to collect their paper 

waste and drop it off at their schools 

or closest recycle centres. Since I 

believe every woman should have the 

opportunity to learn how to better 

unleash their inner and outer beauty, 

I do charity image workshops with 

organisations that empower women 

and young girls.” 

Through image management 

and soft-skill expertise, Zanele 

specialises in improving the personal 

and professional images of those 

who seek her help. She evaluates, 

enhances and transforms appearance, 

behaviour and communication skills 

to help her clients keep their image 

consistent with their personal and 

professional goals. 

“My life-long passion for image and 

style, and my genuine desire to see 

people embrace their individuality 

and reach their full potential has seen 

me dramatically improve the image 

and lives of those I have come into 

contact with over the years, even 

before I was qualified. 

NEW LOCATION - Umhlanga Arch 

0861 SKIN SA 

0861 7546 72 

part of renewal institute 

onlineskinshop.co.za 

Umhlanga Arch, Shop 3, High Street Level, 1 Ncondo Pl, Umhlanga Ridge, Umhlanga. 

Tel: 031 566 3590 • Mobile: 079 183 1107 • umhlanga@skinrenewal.co.za 

111090

“I didn’t mind spending the whole day 

helping someone shop or clear out 

their wardrobe or show them how to 

apply make-up that suits them.” 

Zanele studied image consulting part 

time while working in the Electrical 

Engineering field. She also appeared 

as a regular guest at a local radio 

station doing a series of image talks 

and for the past three years has been 

handling the styling and makeup for 

a TV programme that airs on DSTV 

Africa. She is a task-team member 

with the services SETA profiling the 

occupational qualification for Image 

Consulting in South Africa. 

“I’ve been doing corporate image 

consulting and workshops for 

business establishments where I teach 

the staff corporate etiquette and 

professional grooming. I even design 

and supply uniforms for their staff.” 

“Through it all, whenever I have 

observed a positive change in 

someone (job promotion, elevated 

confidence levels and improved 

exercise, wellness and nutrition), it’s 

always left me with such a sense of 


fulfilment.” 

Zanele loves Summer because, she 

says spending time outdoors gives us 

all a little natural glow. “It is important 

to balance an active lifestyle with 

good skincare and nutrition because 

they work hand-in-hand to create a 

happier, healthier you. In Summer we 

transition from darker shades, heavier 

makeup application and matt finishes 

to dewy, radiant, glowing skin with 

more of a natural sheen and a sunkissed 

look. We are talking strobing, 

reflective skin, lacquer effect lips 

and neon highlights on eyes. This is 

fantastic because it requires minimal 

products that are not heavy on your 

skin, so you can look and feel natural 

and fresh as you transition from a no 

makeup lockdown look.” 

Zanele says it’s important to 

remember that how clothing looks 

on you is not about your size, but 

rather about the shape of your body. 

“I highly recommend a body analysis 

to know your body shape in order 

to select the right clothing. I also 

suggest finding your style personality, 

which helps you understand how 

best to express yourself. It informs 

your clothing choice, minimising the 

amount of orphan garments in the 

closet, ultimately saving you money.” 

Equally important, Zanele says, is 

finding out what your colouring is. 

“This enables you to wear colours 

that highlight and accentuate 

your features giving you a glow, as 

opposed to draining you. Every colour 

affects us differently because of our 

natural colouring. Colour assessments 

also help with choosing flattering hair 

colours, jewellery colours, makeup 

colours, textures and of course fabrics 

and prints.” 

And you don’t have to break the 

bank to make effective changes. “Get 

creative with your wardrobe and try 

pairing outfits you’ve never paired 

before. Keep your classic look items 

and give them new life by adding the 

latest trend in scarves, belts, shoes, 

bags, current colours and prints. I 

recommend spending more money 

on quality timeless pieces, which will 

carry you through many seasons.”

What’s trending? 

Graphic polka dots are happening this Spring. Feel 

free to experiment with other colours of your choice 

(preferably within your colouring). 

The neon hue is here this summer for the bold and 

adventurous. If you’re more subtle, opt for a neon 

accessory instead. 

Hot pants staged a comeback on the Spring 2020 

runways and will be a street style favourite paired 

with sneakers or heels. Chanel styled their look with 

black tights underneath (an option to wear them if 

you’re more conservative). 

Crochet has an artistic cool update with creative 

colours and designs whilst tapping into the 

‘sustainable fashion’ trend. 

Bermuda shorts as a business suit or casual, 

depending how you style them, will keep you trendy. 

Bra tops and blazers paired with a high-waisted skirt 

or pants have come through. Try to use subtle, classy, 

non-lacy, non-see through bra tops. 

Loose fitting blazers are not going anywhere yet! 

Wide leg or loose fitting pants have been updated 

in new styles. 

Denim never goes out of style. This time it comes in 

mid-wash colour, classic cut and high rise with a bit 

of skin at the ankle and raw hems. 

Light tiered dresses and skirts have made an 

appearance as well. 

BODY & STYLE ANALYSIS 

COLOUR ANALYSIS 

WARDROBE PLANNING & CO-ORDINATION 

PERSONAL STYLING & SHOPPING 

MAKE-UP APPLICATION 

Offered in-person & online 

RECEIVE A swatch with colours that suit you, to use when 

selecting clothing colours and an electronic booklet with 

all you need to know about your colouring. 

Get an online profile showing garment options for your 

body shape that you can access from your device 

and use when shopping. 

TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE VISIT: academy.sparkleimage.co.za

Spoil 

Beauty 

Yes… slow skin ageing! 

WIN! 

We’re giving 

away five Thoclor Labs 

GF2 bottles valued at 

R799.25 each. To enter visit 

the ‘competition’ section 

on our website www. 

getitmagazine.co.za/ 

highway-berea 

While getting old may be a gift, seeing ourselves 

(and our skin) age doesn’t always feel like one. 

Research tells us the primary cause of ageing of 

the skin is subclinical inflammation, also known 

as inflammageing. This is directly linked to 

environmental factors like exposure to UV, pollution, 

toxins in skin products and poor lifestyle habits. 

The ageing process causes changes in the cosmetic 

appearance of the skin, which shows up as changes 

in the skin’s structure and function, and let’s be 

honest, we are all affected by this and we hate it! But, 

there’s a new product on the market designed to 

reverse inflammation and environmental damage on 

your skin, normalising skin-cell function and offering 

you natural skin rejuvenation with continuous use. 

It’s called Thoclor Labs GF2 Skin Rejuvenation, and 

thanks to its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory 

effects, it has also been found to be beneficial in 

the treatment of acne, rosacea and cold sores. The 

anti-bacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties 

of Thoclor Labs GF2 far exceed any known 

disinfectants, and it’s completely safe to use. The 

anti-inflammatory action is also very effective in 

relieving sunburn ... definitely a winning skincare 

product! Details: www.thoclor.com 


Liquid gold 

From humble beginnings in the small sugar village of Darnall to becoming a multiaward-winning 

oil producer and the owner of Fraaigelegen Farm in the Cape 

Winelands, Venishree Mayer is proud to be the first Indian South African woman to 

produce extra virgin olive oil. 


aving recently won 

a gold medal and 

two silvers at the SA 

Olive Association 

awards, Venishree 

is celebrating by 

sharing her love for 

the liquid gold that is found in almost 

every kitchen in the world. 

Since the launch of her brand, 

Adhara Evoo (extra virgin olive oil) 

in 2018, Venishree and her husband, 

Juergen, have been the recipients of 

five awards and, as a small producer, 

with just under 3000 trees, she is 

thriving on their ground-breaking 

success and her active role in the 

industry. She is also a strong advocate 

for the health benefits of olive oil. 

“There is a high rate of heart-related 

diseases, diabetes and arthritis within 

in the Indian community. Olive oil is 

a rich source of antioxidants, reduces 

the risk of heart disease and is good 

for both the skin and hair. It should be 

a staple in every kitchen.” 

The youngest of four siblings, 

Venishree is a third-generation Indian 

South African who grew up heavily 

involved in the Indian culture and 

cooking, with a lots of typical large 

family gatherings. After completing a 

law degree at Howard College, UKZN, 

she went into sales and marketing at 

Mercedes Benz SA before heading to 

Cambridge in the United Kingdom 

where she did volunteer work with 

Oxfam and married Juergen. In 2011 

Venishree took a sabbatical, spending 

time learning Spanish and giving 

Business English language lessons 

to entrepreneurs venturing abroad, 

before heading back into a corporate 


ole as global head of 

communications for a US company. 

“In 2015 Juergen and I resigned from 

our corporate roles and ambled off on 

a spontaneous road trip through nine 

European countries, after which we 

planned to move back to SA.” 

Venishree says their shared desire 

to ‘Carpe Diem’ increased after 

her mother was diagnosed with 

Parkinson’s and dementia. “It was 

time to be selfless and do something 

different, maybe run a guest house, 

live life, redirect and rejuvenate.” 

When they returned to SA, 

Venishree and Juergen fell in love 

with Fraaigelegen Farm in Tulbagh. 

Owning a farm was never on their 

‘to do’ list and they still refer to 

themselves as virgins at farming!. They 

set about restoring the vineyards, 

olive groves and guest cottages. 

“It was quite a learning curve. Passion, 

determination and a few failures 

got us through the first two years. 

The farm needed much attention 

and there were multiple unforeseen 

challenges.” 

Much of the couple’s hard-earned 

savings went into restoring the 

farm. But it was worth it. Today it is a 

successful agri-tourism destination. 

After the accommodation business 

was up and running, focus turned to 

agricultural methods. “The ultimate 

aim is to attain a balanced relationship 

between the terroir and farming 

philosophy – we farm with the land 

not against it.” This is, she says, is to 

improve the organic carbon content 

to sustain the soil’s life and fertility. 

“Though harmony and balance we 

strive to regenerate the soil biology so 

that we don’t need chemical fertilizers, 

pesticides, insecticides or fungicides. 

We have already started seeing the 

benefit of this farming method. It 

has been a long, but very rewarding 

journey.” 

The couple’s motto and driving force 

became ‘quality over quantity’ and by 

2017, an exclusive deal was signed 

with Paserene Wines (Franschhoek) as 

the exclusive grape producer. 

“Our focus turned to extra virgin olive 

oil and we launched Adhara Evoo 

in 2018.” 

For recipes for 

Venishree’s favourite 

simple Lemon Olive Oil 

Cake and Green Salad 

Vinaigrette visit our 

website: getitmagazine. 

co.za/highway-berea 

Venishree broke the glass ceiling in the industry as the first female person of 

colour to win an award, as owner and producer! In 2019 she joined the SA Olive 

Association as a board member and director. 

Recently Cape Goods online shop was launched in Germany, aimed at bringing 

premium quality extra virgin olive oils of SA to Europe and, next on the list is the 

launch of their own wine label. 

Venishree is incredibly proud of the quality of the extra virgin olive oil they 

produce and says that SA ranks with the best in the world in terms of superior 

quality and taste. She strongly recommends customers be very selective in their 

choice of extra virgin olive oil. Always look out for the green CTC (Certificate of 

Compliance) seal on the bottle. This guarantees it is 100% extra virgin and 100% 

locally produced. This seal is issued only after intensive tasting and testing by the 

SA OLIVE ASSOCIATION. 

“There are so many benefits associated with the consumption of extra virgin 

olive oil. It really is so worth including it in your daily food intake. In spite of 

Parkinson’s, diabetes, dementia and arthritis, my 83-year-old mum is still strong, 

and I’m convinced it’s because she gets olive oil in some form in her diet, every 

single day.” 

When Venishree is not receiving guests, hand-harvesting olives or grapes, 

helping build a shelter for the farm animals or volunteering with local NGOs, she 

is very much at home in the kitchen. 

“At home we use extra virgin olive oil in many ways – in all dishes including 

curries, to fry all our delicious Indian sweet and savoury treats and even to make 

roti! I bake cakes with extra virgin olive oil - it really is so versatile. Olive oil is very 

stable when heated. It is a carrier of flavour and does not disturb the authentic 

Indian flavour and spices but heightens them.” 

Although she loves her farm, Venishree admits to still missing Durban and the 

view from her university residence that overlooked the harbour. 

“What an unforgettable view! What I miss more though is the never-ending 

opportunity to get fresh Indian veggies and authentic Durban spices, and most 

of all… a really good bunny chow!” 

Details: Adhara Evoo is available for nationwide deliveries. Email: info@adharaevoo. 

com or via WhatsApp on 071 404 2766. www.adharaevoo.com 


Life. Lemons. etc. 

If we’re going to be 

spending (even more) 

time in the kitchen ... it’s 

out with banana bread, 

and in with lemons. 

We’re looking for a little 

zest in our lives. 

Italian tiles lemon apron, 

R405 from rosehipdesign.co.za 

Fresh Lemon Zest hand wash and 

lotion set, R159 from Woolworths. 

Get squeezing 

Two of the easiest, zestiest lemon recipes ever for you to whip up this weekend. 

We love these ‘Lemons and Leaves’ 

botanical lemon bread towels, R249 

each, from laperle.co.za 

Let’s start with breakfast. Some lemon curd, to stir into your yoghurt. Or spread on a scone. Or eat from the jar. Simply take 

half a cup each of lemon juice and white sugar and 60g of salted butter, heat in a pot until sugar has dissolved and the 

mixture is almost boiling and set aside. Whisk three extra-large eggs really well until lovely and frothy, and then pour into the 

cooled but still warm mixture, whisking frantically. Return to the stove - keep the heat low - and keep whisking until it thickens 

(which it does all of a sudden, so don’t ignore it for a second). Leave to cool in the pot, and then store in a glass jar in the 

fridge. This recipe doubles up perfectly, so make for a friend, too. 

Moving onto cocktail hour ... Limoncello is one of our favourite summer drinks, and it’s so easy to make. Start by taking the 

peel off nine or ten large lemons with a veggie peeler, making sure you don’t get any white pith. Discard the lemon juice (you 

can keep this to use for your lemon curd). Put the lemon peel strips into a 750ml bottle of vodka, replace the lid and leave 

for at least four days at room temperature. Once it’s nice and infused, make a syrup with three cups of water and two cups of 

sugar. All you do is place the sugar and water in a saucepan and heat up over medium heat until the sugar has dissolved and 

the liquid thickens slightly - about 10 minutes. Cool completely, then pour into a jug or large bottle with the vodka mixture. 

Cover it, and leave for 12 hours or overnight. Strain, discard the peels and pour into bottles and chill, preferably in the freezer, 

before serving. It will keep in the fridge for a month or so. 

Compiled by: KYM ARGO 


Tastes from a 

Levantine kitchen 

When life gives you lemons ... you’d better hope it gives you chickpeas too. 

Then, with just a few more ingredients, you’re set for a celebratory feast. Dip into the 

new Hummus to Halva cookbook for the most delish dishes for a spring party. 

Mint & Ginger Lemonade 

Easy to make and really refreshing on a 

hot summery day, this drink is great for 

parties too. Just scale up the quantities 

and, for those who like an extra hit, try 

it with a splash of white rum. 

(Makes: 6 glasses. Prep: 10 minutes. Cook: 

5 minutes. Chill: 2–3 hours) 

You’ll need: 

150g granulated sugar; 150ml water; 

70g piece fresh root ginger, scrubbed 

and sliced (there’s no need to peel 

first); juice of 8 lemons 

To serve: 

Chilled water and ice cubes; 6 fresh 

mint sprigs; wafer-thin strips of fresh 

root ginger, cut with a vegetable 

peeler (optional) 


To make: 

Put the sugar, water and ginger into 

a small saucepan and heat over a 

low heat, stirring until the sugar has 

dissolved. Bring to the boil, then take 

off the heat, cover with a lid or plate 

and leave to cool at room temperature 

for two to three hours for the flavours 

to develop. Strain the lemon juice into 

a large measuring jug – you should 

have just over 400ml. Strain in the 

ginger syrup and stir to mix, then top 

up to 1.7 litres with chilled water and 

ice cubes. Stir together, then pour into 

6 glasses and add a mint sprig and 

strip of ginger, if using, to each. 


From Hummus to Halva ... hello spring food 

Winter’s been great ... all heavy stews and lovely warm 

puds with custard or cream. But we have to admit, we love 

it when the weather turns a little warmer, and spring is a 

fabulous season ... all new beginnings and light food and 

dining al fresco. Hummus to Halva is the most wonderful 

cookbook. Crammed with recipes from a Levantine kitchen, 

it’s been compiled by Ronen Givon – born and raised on a 

kibbutz in Israel and, he confesses, obsessed with hummus, 

and Christian Mouysset – who didn’t taste hummus until he 

went to uni ... then he ate it with anything and everything 

he could. The book is just a fantastic celebration of food to 

share. There’s hummus every which way (with mushrooms 

or slow cooked chunky beef (Christian’s favourite dish in 

the book), with lamb and pine nuts or Moroccan meatballs. 

There are lovely salads – tabbouleh and fattoush, and breads 

and dips and gorgeous labaneh – sour yoghurt cheese. The 

halva cookies, cardamom coffee and ouzo and grapefruit 

slush round off a delicious book. Food to make, to share, to 

celebrate. Published by Pavilion. 


Singing the blues 

There’s nothing new about blue and white, or about Delft design - the pattern of the 

gorgeous earthenware originally designed and produced in the Netherlands. But it’s a look 

that never goes out of style ... and is perfect for hot October al fresco lunch tables. 

We cannot rave enough 

about the linen - Delft design 

or otherwise - that you’ll find 

on the La Perle website. These 

natural linen napkins in Delft 

blue pattern are on our to-buy 

list, as is the coordinated 

tablecloth. Napkins 

R195 each from 

laperle.co.za 

It’s not Delft, 

but we’re 

fairly taken 

with this 

indigohued 

Marrakech 

embossed 

porcelain 

crockery 

collection ... 

deep blue, it’s 

really lovely 

mix-and-matched 

or used with plain 

white. Priced from 

R89.95 for the side plate. 

Add to the table these blue 

Hedone pressed tumblers, and 

if you’re eating outdoors and are 

celebrating Italian style with all 

the bambinos, these Bistro acrylic 

tumblers are perfect. R49.95 to R59.95. 

All from woolworths.co.za 


If you’re redecorating on a budget, 

these vinyl tile stickers cover your old 

outdated tiles ... a really affordable 

kitchen make-over. They can also be 

stuck directly to your wall to create 

the illusion of wall tiles, and are water 

resistant. There are 24 patterns in 

the range, and cost R16 per vinyl tile. 

Details: fantastick.co.za 


Spring is in the air… 

let’s decorate! 

Now, more than ever, home is our haven and safe place. We’re being asked to distance ourselves 

from each other and stay home as much as possible for the foreseeable future. It’s scary. It’s strange. 

It’s really hard. But, it’s also a great time to make home a pleasant place to be. 

In this issue, HABIT@T Hillcrest owner 

Cindy Austsen shares some simple 

spring decorating ideas in hopes that it 

will help give you ideas on how to make 

your home look and feel like a place you 

want to ‘hunker down’ and stay in for a 

while! 

Add plants and greenery to 

your space 

‘Bringing the outdoors in always makes 

a space feel more alive and fresh. 

Having plants around (even faux ones) 

lifts your spirits and mental state. I know 

adding these beautiful branches and 

succulents to a dining room table helps 

keep one’s emotional state more stable 

- it’s silly, but true! Add succulents to 

open shelves or simply pop them into 

a cup or vase, they look effective and 

sooo cute! Not all plants have to be real 

to be effective, a beautiful faux plant 

will still bring life and depth to any 

room or dining table.’ 

Use pops of spring colours 

and special pieces 

‘It’s really no secret that nude neutrals 

are everybody’s favourite colours to 

decorate with. I’m just loving the 

splashes of yellow and blush pinks to 

add a little something special. From 

cute pink pots to beautiful yellow 

scatters, these little pops of colour as a 

lot of cheer and sweetness.’ 

Use the “Less is More” 

approach 

‘While we love to pile on layers upon 

layers upon layers during the winter 

season, it’s a really good idea to scale 

back for spring. Choose just a few decor 

pieces that you really love rather than 

going overboard. 

This spring, choose a lot of neutral 

pieces with natural wood tones and 

mix in with your greenery. Choose a 

simple piece of artwork with soft spring 

colours to place on a bedside table or 

server, bringing in subtle hints of spring! 

Keeping it simple also helps to keep one 

calm…which is a must at this time.’ 

Use floral and botanical 

prints 

‘My last idea for spring decorating is 

incorporating beautiful floral art and 

printed fabrics into your home. With 

the current botanical trends, we are so 

spoilt for choice. Floral art looks and 

feels springy and can stay for a while!’ 

For more tips and tricks or décor advice 

and consultations please visit us at: 

HABIT@T Hillcrest Shop 7 The Yard Office 

Park, 71 Old Main Road Hillcrest or 

alternatively contact Cindy Austen on 

079 294 5337/habitathillcrest@gmail. 

com or reach on any of our social media 

platforms Facebook or Instagram. 

Facebook: @habitat hillcrest 

Instagram: #habitathillcrest_ 

We would love to hear from you! 


Promotion 

Challenges and opportunities 

for seniors … in a pandemic 

The pandemic took us by surprise. Who would have imagined that within the space of a few weeks, 

the world would transpose from ‘normal,’ to a ’locked-down’ environment? Retirement experts, 

Kloof Retirement Villages, share some ideas on how to turn challenges into opportunities. 

A legacy of challenges 

Some of the seniors who were worst 

affected by the pandemic included 

those who had decided that, although 

alone, they would continue to live in 

their own houses. Being unable to go 

out or even receive visitors for months 

on end can be extremely lonely and 

depressing. Some were unable to go to 

shopping malls for essential foodstuffs. 

Had they have been in a retirement 

complex however such errands could 

have been arranged for them. So too 

for those nervous of going to medical 

centres - most retirement facilities have 

on-site medical care available. 

A legacy of opportunities 

It wasn’t all bad new though. Some 

previously unconsidered opportunities 

presented themselves, including: 

• Eureka moments! For example, the 

realisation that all the clutter we were 

tripping over as we negotiated our 

locked-down ‘caves’ was unnecessary 

and in the way! 

• We were forced to take up art or 

hobbies in order to maintain our sanity, 

bringing about a realisation for many 

of what we had been missing. Passions 

and pastimes that could improve 

the rest of our retirement years were 

revealed to us. 

• An awareness that self-reliance is a 

perquisite for a contented life in an 

unpredictable future. 

• Friends and even relatives who we 

perhaps haven’t contacted for decades 

are valuable and we needed to reestablish 

contact with them before it is 

too late. 

• The risk of procrastination! Some seniors had previously placed their names on 

retirement facility waiting lists, but when suitable units became available, they 

continually delayed purchasing. 

And so, it would seem that the pandemic’s legacy has left us with some benefits as 

well. Lessons have been learnt and we have been left with choices to make. Now is 

the time to convert challenges into opportunity. If you haven’t opened a box in five 

years – get rid of it! Donate excess things to family or the needy and re-establish 

meaningful relationships with important friends and relatives. 

We now also know that COVID’s may not depart and could either take up permanent 

residence or become a seasonal visitor. So perhaps when considering whether to 

move into a retirement complex, instead of adopting an ‘in the future’ attitude, 

perhaps the future is now? Put your name on a waiting list and don’t think to yourself 

‘maybe next time’! 

Written by Henry Spencer BA, MPhil (Cum laude) 

Author, public speaker and Gerontologist. Consultant to Kloof Retirement Villages. 



Gardening 

is good for you 

Spending regular time in the garden and in green spaces has undisputed health 

benefits. Research has shown that gardening is good for our physical and mental wellbeing, 

creating a sense of belonging and connection. With spring in the air, Garden Day 

on 11 October is the perfect opportunity to take a well-deserved pause to appreciate 

the green spaces in and around our homes. Flower Crown Ambassador and Master 

Gardener at Babylonstoren, Gundula Deutschlander shares some insight (for those who 

are not naturally green-fingered) on how to grow your own garden. 


For the rookie who wants to 

start a garden… 

Think about how you would like 

to engage with your garden. What 

is its purpose? Take note of your 

specific environmental challenges 

(predominant wind direction, 

difference between winter and 

summer sun, soil condition, access 

to water, marauding animals and 

nosey neighbours) to access the most 

practical ways to create your safe 

haven. 

Your soil is your foundation and so it’s 

worth investing time and effort here. 

Show your garden love by keeping an 

earthworm farm or making your own 

compost - your garden will respond in 

kindness. 

Mulch, with any available material, 

to help keep your soil as moisture 

retentive as possible and also to help 

stabilise the soil’s temperature and 

keep the micro-organisms in soil 

active and alive. Work towards a vision 

that makes your garden loveable and 

fun. It’s going to be a process, but 

that’s what’s so enjoyable. 

The benefits of growing your 

own vegetables… 

They will feed you mentally and 

physically (there is pleasure in picking 

fresh and flavoursome food). You can 

also grow interesting varieties that are 

often not found in shops and, if you 

add sufficient compost and organic 

fertilizer, you can be reassured you 

will be receiving proper nutritional 

value from your own vegetables that 

most commercially grown vegetables 

might not provide. 

Best vegetables to plant this 

time of year… 

Sow now solanums: tomatoes, 

aubergine, peppers. 

The cucurbits: melons, marrows, 

cucumbers and pumpkins. Beans and 

maize. Chard, lettuce and herbs can 

also be planted. 

Tips for starting a vegetable 

garden…. 

• Start small with good soil. 

• Choose a sunny spot. Vegetables 


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• Make use of good quality seeds and space them 

correctly. 

• Mulch well, especially with summer on the way. It will 

keep your soil moist and will serve as an extra source of 

food. 

Tips for creating an urban garden space... 

• Observe your surroundings to assess what you have and 

how you can use it. 

• Be creative by using old buckets and tyres. You can also 

think of vertical gardens, but start small. 

• Open your mind to study nature and expose yourself to 

garden design. 

Tips for people who want to start gardening, 

but live in small spaces… 

• Choose your plants wisely. 

• Some plants like the butterfly bush (gauras) or roses 

have beautiful flowering times but are high maintenance. 

Others involve using technical skills like espaliering of 

fruit trees, but it is so rewarding. There are plants that stay 

evergreen and grow slowly like the popular spekboom 

or many kinds of aloes. Do some research and see what 

grows well in your area to make sure every plant that you 

choose has a functional role in your garden. 

• Use pots. They make beautiful displays and you can play 

with the collection of plants you use in them. Also, they 

can add height when placed inside flower beds. 

• Think out of the box. Vertical or hanging plants can be an 

interesting addition in small spaces. 

• Invite nature in. Use your garden to create a haven for 

butterflies, birds, bees and other insects by using things 

like water. The sound of running water is so soothing 

and little creatures like frogs can help you control those 

mosquitoes and flies in the summer. 

October 2020 Get It • Highway • Berea • Durban North 37 

Keeping you safe, securing your assets.

Coming 

up roses 

Fresh ideas for garden roses 

Mix roses with grasses for a natural look, one that brings movement and texture. Bushy, free flowering 

groundcover Sunsation roses, Deloitte and Touche, My Granny and Butterfly Kisses go well with compact 

ornamental grasses like Carex China Blue, Carex Amazon Mist, Carex Oshimensis, and Juncus Blue. 

Feed body and soul ... grow roses and veggies together. Plant leafy veggies as a border for roses and under 

standard roses or use tall roses as a backdrop for herb and veggie beds. They all like the same treatment - full sun, 

fertile soil, and regular watering. 

Turn your palisade fence into a feature by espaliering roses against it. Tie the stems of a climbing rose in a fan 

shape onto the palisade. The trick of tying the stems that way forces the rose to flower all along each stem. Result, 

a wall of roses. 

What’s new in roses 

Eco-chic: no need to spray for fungus disease. That is the priority for modern roses that are bred with diseaseresistance 

in their genes. Look out for the ‘ladybird’ logo that indicates the Eco-chic disease-resistant roses. 

Drought-tolerant: roses that can withstand irregular or limited watering are those with spreading bushy growth 

that shades their powerful, extensive roots. They still produce beautiful pickable blooms on shorter stems. The new 

group name for them is Stamina roses. 

Easier, quicker rose care with controlled release fertilisers and long-lasting pesticides. Controlled release Vigolonger 

fertiliser provides a continual, steady release of nutrition throughout summer. Dig it in at root level after pruning. 

Koinor is a drench that keeps roses free of sucking insects, especially thrips and aphids for up to six months. 

Woo bees with a 

pink rose bush 

Did you know that pink (as well as 

white, and yellow single and semidouble) 

roses are magnets for bees? 

With their exposed stamens and pistils, 

the pollen is always fresh, and the bees 

love it. Because roses have such a 

long flowering season, there are 

always flowers, and pollen, for the 

bees. Bonus ... they attract 

butterflies, too. Lovely! 

Gloria Mthunzi (LUDbabfil) is a 

Ludwig bred rose, that is a vigorous, 

tall and upright growing hybrid tea 

with exquisitely shaped blooms in 

a blend of orange, pink and cream 

shades. What’s to like? Well, the large 

blooms hark back to the days when 

perfect exhibition-shaped blooms 

were popular. The blooms are carried 

on long stems and last well in the 

vase, so this is a very good garden 

cut-flower variety. As for garden uses 

plant it towards the back of a rose 

border or group three or five together, 

with lower growing roses planted in 

front. The plants will also stand out as 

a feature in a mixed border. 


Promotion 

Launched 

in lockdown! 

Whether they’ve just kickstarted a brand-new business or evolved their existing product line, here 

are some amazing local lockdown business happenings you need to know about. 

Dabbawalla 

Authentic Indian food 

Dabbawalla serves authentic Indian food that is made from ageold 

recipes that have been passed down through generations. 

Having launched in lockdown, they decided to make their food 

convenient by packing and freezing the meals hygienically and 

then delivering them to customer’s homes. The name comes 

from a 100-year old Indian profession, that of the “Dabbawalla”, 

who carried and delivered prepared lunch boxes or “dabbas” 

from people’s homes. “It was scary opening during lockdown,” 

says owner Tarannum Banatwalla, “and we told ourselves that 

either we must be absolutely crazy to be spending money on 

a new business when everyone around us was hanging on to 

every last cent, or we must be totally brilliant!! Which one of the 

two it will turn out to be remains to be seen!” Both Tarannum 

and her husband Deepak have been in the food business for 

over two decades and Tarannum having been born and raised 

in India, the authenticity of their food is incredible. Details: www. 

dabbawalla.co.za, orders@dabbawalla.co.za, 083 254 9462 

Hair Junction 

Experience and passion 

Having been in the hair industry for more than 40 years Alicia 

Simpson had been toying with the of opening her own salon for 

some time. “I’ve worked like a trojan for someone else for most 

of my life it was time to go on my own.” Alicia’s mother, who is 

90 years old, lives with her, making lockdown somewhat of a 

struggle. “Deciding to work from my home based in Waterfall 

was a no-brainer ... but also a massive leap of faith. I have to 

give an enormous shout out to each and every one of my 

clients. I couldn’t have done it without their love and support. 

It has been overwhelming and truly appreciated.” Alicia’s salon 

is spacious and very well ventilated, with loads of natural light 

and a beautiful view across the valley and out to sea. “With my 

extensive experience in the industry I am able to provide my 

clients with a sound understanding of their needs and respond 

with the creativity and attention to detail that they deserve.” 

Her services include: cutting, blow waves, colour, foiling/cap, 

treatments and MIC Treatment. She is a predominantly Goldwell 

salon. Details: 082 499 6986, simpsonalicia2806@gmail.com 


Durban on foot 

There is no better way to experience Durban than on foot! Your feet can take you to 

those places where cars and buses and taxis don’t reach, so that you can explore every 

nook and corner with its character and beauty, and ultimately its story. 


t the age of 58, trailblazer, 

wanderlust warrior and 

street stomper, Alison 

Chadwick, followed her 

heart and passion to 

become a tour guide 

in our walkable city. Her mission, 

through Durban Walking Tours, is to 

educate and fascinate locals and outof-towners 

with the hidden treasures 

of our vibrant city. 

“I have always been interested in 

travel. I love hiking and trail running 

and enjoy reading mostly non-fiction 

books. And I love photography.” 

Alison started Durban Walking Tours 

after working in the Point area for 

12 years. “I would often drive or walk 

around after work, taking photos of 

some of the old remaining buildings 

or houses, and then either go to the 

Don Africana Library in town or delve 

into my big collection of books and 

research the area.” 

This soon became an obsession for 

Alison, who then started exploring 

in other areas. When a friend of hers 

joined Alison on a walk one day she 

was blown away by her knowledge 

and passion. She encouraged her to 

take her journey further. So, Alison 

invited a group of 20 friends to join 

her on a walk. The rest, as they say, is 

history! 

“From that day onwards the interest 

and demand continued to grow. I 

qualified as a registered tour guide in 

October last year. My walking tours 

appeal to locals and overseas visitors 

and I have taken school groups, 

camera clubs, birthday parties, a really 

delightful group of farmer’s wives 

from the Ladysmith area and, more 

recently, a Matric student who is 

studying design and making a film on 

regeneration in the city.” 

While Alison is able to tailor her 

Photo: Anthony Grote 


walking tours to suit almost anyone, 

she doesn’t like to give away too 

much upfront. She says she loves 

the element of surprise, especially 

when she takes a group into an 

extraordinary place she has also newly 

discovered. 

“I think the part I love the most 

about this journey is how people 

have embraced my groups along 

the way. On one of my Florida Road 

walks, attorneys John Hudson & Co 

invited my group into their beautiful 

offices and had the boardroom set 

up with tea and coffee and the most 

delightful eats for us to enjoy; then 

further down the road, the owner of 

Next Chapter Restaurant was looking 

out for my group and proceeded to 

hand everyone a voucher for R100. On 

my Point Walk, we’ve had the pleasure 

of meeting Mr Ndabo Langa on a few 

occasions, who has kindly opened up 

The Chairman - an exclusive jazz club 

- which is so tastefully decorated with 

gorgeous old artefacts and interesting 

pieces of art. I always say you see 

so much more on foot! It’s the little 

things that sometimes leave the best 

impressions!” 

Taking larger groups out has posed a 

problem for Alison during lockdown, 

but she continues to rally up smaller 

groups keen to get out and explore, 

and she’s created a few different 

walking tours which don’t involve 

going into too many establishments, 

also favouring bigger, more open 

spaces. 

Here are some of Alison’s 

most popular walks… 

Point Walk 

“This is by far my most popular walk 

and probably the longest as it takes 

roughly three hours. In 1860 the Point 

area was the heartbeat of Durban 

and it’s steeped in history. The very 

first steam train in South Africa 

serviced the Point in 1860. The Point 

also has a lot of new and interesting 

developments.” 

Florida Road Walk 

“We follow the path the elephants 

took 170 years ago when they made 

their way down what we know as 

Florida Road today to drink from 


Durban’s Maritime Museum 

the marsh in Greyville. Along the 

route, I point out many significant 

old buildings and the history 

behind them, plus the new vibey 

developments like Florida Fields. 

We walk past the oldest house on 

the Berea - built in 1850 and aptly 

called The Elephant House, because 

when the house was being built, the 

elephants would rub themselves 

against the veranda poles.” 

The Berea – the good, the bad 

and the ugly 

“The Berea, at one time, was 

considered a country suburb where 

our early settlers chose to set up 

big homes with lush gardens with 

sweeping views over the harbour. 

There are many interesting homes 

in this area, which were built in the 

late1890’s and early 1900’s. We pass 

the former homes of the two biggest 

retail rivals Sir Benjamin Greenacre 

and George Payne.” 

morningside mansions 

“We get to admire the former home 

of Sir Liege Hulett, we then pass John 

L Dube House (unfortunately I haven’t 

received an invitation from President 

Cyril Ramaphosa to visit for tea), we 

then visit at the beautiful Audacia 

Stunning street art 

on the former police 

station building in 

the Point 

Manor and St James Anglican Church before ending off for tea and treats at the 

glorious Holland House.” 

Maritime Moments and Art Deco Buildings 

“The Victoria Embankment, which was established in the early 1900’s, houses 

the oldest yacht club in Africa. We stop at the Maritime Museum and then it is 

over the road to admire the remaining art deco buildings from the 1930s. We 

also take a peek inside the Durban Club. I am proud to say my Great Grandfather 

Henry Anthony Chadwick made the green cast iron railings on the Victoria 

Embankment which still stand today.”” 


A sustainable 

roof top 

garden on the 

City Walk 

City Walk 

“The city walk incorporates some of the exciting 

rejuvenation in the city - the Nedbank Building with a 

wonderful roof top restaurant, which now houses the 

legal fraternity and the former Stuttafords Building which 

is now trendy lifestyle living space. We step inside a 

mosque which was previously a church and a visit to the 

magical roof top garden is always a highlight.” 

Alison’s walks are an average of two to three hours 

long and the distance varies from 5km to 8km. Costs 

are between R100 and R200. “I have also introduced 

destination walks, which involve a bit of exercise and 

some learning. I have a list of more than 30 places to visit 

in and around Durban like the 1860 Heritage Centre, 

Warrior’s Gate, the Holocaust Museum, Amazulu African 

Palace, Saint Giles – the list is endless and grows every day 

as I think of something else. I want people in Durban to 

discover and learn more about their city. I love it when 

people tell me that they’ve lived in Durban for decades 

and never knew about something I have introduced 

them to. I have received so much positive feedback and 

encouragement, and this makes it all worthwhile. I’m 

living my dream, sharing it with others and loving every 

minute of it.” Details:www.durbanwalkingtours.co.za, FB & IG: 

Durban Walking Tours, 082 777 7073 

Win We’ve got a Durban Walking Tours 

voucher for a family of four to give 

away. To enter visit the ‘Competition’ 

section on our website 

www.getitmagazine.co.za/highwayberea 


Durban Girls' College 

Inspiring Young Women 

We inspire our young women to realise their potential by building on tradition, innovation, diversity and 

excellence, all with the aim of enriching our world. 

Founded in 1877, Durban Girls’ College is a Christian independent school from Grade 00 

to Grade 12, with weekly boarding from Grade 7. 

APPLICATIONS FOR 2022 ARE NOW OPEN: 

admissions@dgc.co.za 

BOOK A VIRTUAL MEETING OR A TOUR: 

marketing@dgc.co.za 

Contact us now to secure your daughter's future www.dgc.co.za. 

INTEGRITY | EMPATHY | COURAGE | CONFIDENCE | COMMITMENT

Kids 

Whether you’re fumbling through 

lockdown learning, hosting a ‘drivethrough’ 

baby shower or looking for 

a beautiful outdoor space to let your 

small humans run free ... our Get It kids 

feature is full of ideas and tips to help 

you while you #parentinapandemic! 


A voice through art 

Because of, rather than in spite of, her autism, 15-year-old Parkhill resident, Paris 

Subraya, shows others exactly how to defy the odds. Diagnosed with Autism with 

severe mental impairment at the age of three, and non-verbal at the time, today she 

wows art lovers with her extraordinary ability to express herself through painting. 


oung Paris is 

determined to share 

her art, and her story, 

with the goal of inspiring 

and raising awareness 

about autism. On the 

day we visit her, Paris 

steps out of her bedroom dressed in 

boots, her best outfit, make up she’s 

put on herself for the first time ever 

(and immaculately done at that) and 

a hair clip with peacock feathers in it. 

This, she says, is because the peacock 

is her spirit animal. 

Home schooled by her parents 

Sheraine Reddy, a qualified teacher, 

and Yugen Subraya, a welder by 

trade, with a curriculum especially 

designed for her, Paris has found a 

voice through art. She’s bright and 

funny and dreams of having an 

independent life one day when she 

is able to leave the safety of home. 

Clutching her favourite dog, Coco, 

she talks candidly about life on the 

Autistic spectrum. 

“Autistic children can achieve 

anything they want, just like any 

other person. Some can be better 

hairstylists or illustrators like me,” 

she says in the strong American 

accent she’s picked up from studying 

people, psychology shows and 

educational programmes such as 

National Geographic on YouTube. 

Autism spectrum disorder refers to a 

range of conditions characterised by 

challenges with social skills, special 

interests, speech and non-verbal 

communication, as well as by unique 

strengths and differences. 

Paris was diagnosed at the age 

of three when she was unable to 

communicate verbally like a typical 

child of her age. Determined to find 

a way to help their daughter learn to 

talk, Sheraine and Yugen embarked 

on a journey, through Makaton Sign Language (a programme that uses signs, 

speech and symbols to enable people to communicate), to help Paris develop 

essential communication skills. They attended every course available to learn 

more about autism in order to help improve Paris’ quality of life. 

At the age of six, Paris’ school teacher identified that she had a brilliant picture 

memory. As time went by she also began to show huge interest and skill in 

mixing colours and painting. Realising this was her attempt at communicating 

with them and expressing herself, Sheraine and Yugen stocked up on canvas 

and paints. They watched in awe as their daughter began to sketch, draw, paint, 

create and discover her own potential in a way far in advance of her age. 

“I am a feminist,” says Paris. “I have strong opinions, I am a strong human, and I 

know this is because I have parents who cared to show me how. Without them, I 

would not be the person I am today.” 

And there’s a great deal of truth in what she says given that both Sheraine and 

Yugen gave up their full time occupations to open their Autism Learning Centre. 

It now caters for autistic children with various abilities. 

“Watching other kids in the school learn to read made me sad and frustrated 

because it’s something I can’t do. But my parents have taught me that you don’t 

have to be wise to be able to read. You don’t have to try and make yourself 

perfect. You are allowed to embrace your own unique beauty, and that’s what I 

do. I’m also just a kid, trying to fit in.” 

When asked about her best traits, Paris proudly speaks of her ability to show 

kindness towards people and animals. This kindness is however marginalised 

through her struggles with physical touch and her inability to tolerate large 

social gatherings. 


However, she has learnt to selfregulate 

through drawing. Paris 

loves to dance, (she often wears 

headphones as a means of noise 

cancelling), has an extensive general 

knowledge and is passionate about 

politics, animals, anything non-fiction 

and human pregnancy. She wants to 

be a doula one day. 

“Sometimes I feel like a tail. I am not 

aware of myself. But I have good 

parents who help me to understand 

myself better and also teach me 

about situations - like boys. I have to 

have a conversation with someone to 

identify what is a good relationship 

and what is a bad one. I choose not 

to wear skirts and I carry a baseball 

bat with me because I know about 

child-kidnapping and paedophiles. 

My parents have taught me about 

these things, just like other children 

are taught, for my own safety. I am 

stronger because of this.” 

Paris says that drawing is a part of who 

she is, but is adamant that she will 

never draw on demand. “I can swim 

like a fish, I love drawing cartoons and 

I love to paint and draw when I want 

to - and that’s okay. Sometimes I get 

an idea and I work with it. Other times 

I don’t feel like painting, so I don’t.” 

But when she does, she’s 

phenomenal. Paris can sit for hours 

sketching, drawing, painting or 

making a collage out of other pieces 

she’s previously painted and has 

a new vision for. One of her most 

incredible pieces is a portrait of their 

helper, Fortunate Ezechi, which was 

created using cut up pieces of her 

own version of Vincent van Gogh’s 

Starry Night, which in itself was 

outstanding. It’s a piece that often 

leaves onlookers with dropped jaws. 

Her skills with a paintbrush have 

resulted in numerous requests for 

Paris to paint, sketch and showcase 

her art professionally. Some of these 

her parents chose to turn down 

because they believed at the time 

she was still too young to work. But, 

in the last few years she’s proved 

herself a confident and successful 

artist. She was invited to exhibit at 

ArtSPACE, Etchings etc Art Gallery and 

commissioned to do a number of 

private works. 

In fact, she’s been so successful, that 

one of her stories (she loves to inspire) 

was published as a book about 

acceptance and love. At the age of 

10 she was awarded a scholarship to 

attend Durban’s Centre For Fine Art 

Animation And Design, where she 

now sits, amongst adults, and studies 

with a curriculum adapted to suit 

her. She’s also started her own line of 

merchandise. 

“Art for me is a form of escapism. 

When I’m painting or sketching I feel 

safe and good. I feel like I’m back to 

myself. Autism is like a birthmark and 

I have embraced it. I want others to 

do the same. I have dreams just like 

every other person. They are quirky 

and weird. I even dream about dating. 

That doesn’t make me any different to 

any other kid. Unlike others, who may 

fear mortality, I believe that we should 

forget about dying and learn to live. I 

don’t want to be defined by autism, I 

want to be liked and loved because of 

who I am and defined by me.” 

Details: FB: Paris’s Art Diaries, www. 

parisautisticartist.com 

Enroll now 

and pay 

NO ENROLMENT 

FEE!

Bright young stars 

A brilliant sportsman and a passionate environmentalist … we thought you might like 

to get to know these two incredibly bright young lads. 

Mambo Mkhize 

Hailing from a small township in 

Inanda, Westville Boys’ High School’s 

Mnqobi Mambo Mkhize enjoyed the 

kind of 18th birthday any aspiring 

young rugby player would dream of - 

being signed up by the Cell C Sharks 

(on his actual birthday)! 

The Grade 12 learner currently plays 

for the school’s first rugby team and 

makes wearing the number 12 jersey 

look easy, which is impressive given 

the fact that he began his rugby 

journey as a loose forward. He is set to 


start his journey with The Sharks in 2021. 

“Growing up in a township, there were a lot of things I didn’t have access to. Yes, 

I was underprivileged, but I believe you can let this either make or break you. 

Fortunately I had parents who provided for me, especially my mother who has 

always been there for me regardless of the circumstances. So with this support 

system, being poor made me stronger.” 

Identified as a brilliant sportsman by the school, Mambo (as he is affectionately 

known) has been on The Sharks’ radar since he started playing U17. Prior to this, 

throughout primary and high school, he made every single Sharks Schools 7’s 

and 15’s teams. 

“I made the SA 7’s squad and SA U17/U18 15’s squad. I also received the “Best 

7’s Player” award at school last year. I cannot wait to join the Sharks Academy - a 

world-class rugby academy. They have watched all my games, including the 

Craven Week tournament and the U17 camp where they really saw my potential, 

and I am so proud of this.” 

Mambo attributes his success to God and to having worked with the best 

coaches in South African high school rugby. 

“My current coaches, Mr Mclaren and Mr Zulu, have not just helped make me 

a better player, but they have helped make me a better man. I also believe 

wholeheartedly that God created me to be a brilliant sportsman. He has put me 

into situations that have made me stronger as a player and, most importantly, as 

a person. He gave me a very strong mind and a very driven spirit. It is because 

of Him that I understand what I have to do to get where I want to be. I am 

committed to working super hard towards my vision.” 


Romario Valentine 

At the age of six, Romario Valentine 

played the part of an orca in a 

school play - a role that led him to 

researching these and other sea 

creatures. When Romario learned that 

the orca numbers were dwindling 

due to contamination of the ocean he 

set out on his first “Save Our Ocean” 

project in 2017. Today Romario, aged 

9, is an active child environmentalist 

who cleans the beach once a week 

with his parents and clings to his 

ultimate dream of becoming a 

scientist one day. 

The Reddam House learner, who 

lives in Umhlanga, has not only 

inspired peers and adults through 

his passion and dedication, but has 

also captured the interest of the 

media. Romario was featured on SABC 

50/50 environmental programme in 

August this year, as well as being in 

the September 2020 issue of National 

Geographic Kids. He is very proud of 

both achievements. 

Now Romario has his eyes on Durban birdlife. Prior to Covid-19, Romario regularly 

visited the Umgeni River Bird Park. Established in 1984, the park is home to a 

variety of beautiful endangered birds like cranes, macaws, storks, hornbills and 

many more. Romario finds peace in this sanctuary. His visits inspired a love for 

birds, which resulted in him painting a number of beautiful pictures of them. 

“What started out as a hobby has turned into a huge love for art,” says Romario. 

“My mom taught me mathematical art lessons from the age of five, which I 

believe have given me a greater ability to draw and paint - something I am now 

using to make a difference.” 

When he couldn’t spend his birthday at his favourite sanctuary due to lockdown, 

Romario realised the impact lockdown was having on the bird park and other 

wildlife sanctuaries. He asked his mom to create a crowdfunding account on 

BackABuddy. 

“I didn’t want the birds to be extinct or go hungry, so I asked my friends, family 

and ‘eco-warrior’ fans to donate to my campaign instead of giving me presents 

for my ninth birthday.” 

On 25 July, the day before his birthday, Romario was invited to Umgeni River 

Bird Park by the facility’s curator, Tarryn Bristow, where he was presented with a 

Certificate of Excellence. He was also taken on a short-guided tour which was 

his only other birthday wish. “I got the chance to see a Galah Cockatoo, called 

George, up close. Grant also told us that there was a nest of the Hamerkop bird 

above some trees close to the magnificent waterfall. These birds have returned 

to the bird park during the lock down after more than 20 years. This is amazing!” 

As Romario left the park, his mom says he received a fluttering ovation from the 

Macaws and the White Cockatoos, even including a little ‘hello’! This proved to 

him the need to continue to help the ‘Inspire to conserve’ campaign and, by the 

15 August 2020, he had successfully raised R32, 121. 

Last month, Romario was invited by Grant Aggett-Cox (Education and Awareness 

Co-Ordinator) to do some of the shopping for his 900 feathered friends.. The 

products and plants will create a safe and eco environment for them where they 

are already cared for in pristine conditions closest to their natural habitats. 

He became the youngest ambassador for Ocean Sole in Kenya. They recycle 

flipflops found on the beaches and turn them into marine and wildlife art 

sculptures, and selected Romario because he is an active eco-warrior making 

change on the planet and to date has done 120 beach clean ups. His proud 

mum, Delsha Moodley, has this to say of her son, “we are proud of Romario 

and everyone who has supported his campaign. He is a visionary and we will 

continue to support him in all his endeavours.” Details: Follow Romario on Twitter: 

@ArtistRomario 


Just driving by… baby! 

There’s a new trend in town when it comes to baby showers thanks to our current 

‘living in a pandemic’ situation - and we think it’s awesome! The drive-by baby shower 

allows you to celebrate your pregnancy with loved ones at a safe distance. Model, 

business woman and ‘momfluencer’, Aamirah Jano, tells us about this very cool 

concept, which is being followed by celebrities globally. 


While being pregnant doesn’t mean 

you are sick, it can mean that your 

immune system is compromised, 

putting you at higher risk for 

contracting COVID-19. There are 

also a host of other birthing 

regulations to consider, fewer prenatal 

appointments being allowed and 

many women having to face the 

possibility of having to cancel baby 

showers. 

But, Aamirah says, just because you 

can’t have the shower you originally 

envisioned, doesn’t mean you 

cannot celebrate your new bundle 

of joy at all. “I have had a fair share of 

pregnancy experiences during this 

global pandemic and I must admit it 

has been quite a challenge. A friend of 

mine recently organized my drive-by 

shower for me, brought about by the 

need for social distancing.” 

Aamirah was a little apprehensive 

and not sure what to expect. “I mean, 

a drive-by baby shower? I had never 

heard of such a thing it before. As 

time went by though, I slowly grasped 

the concept and came to like the idea 

a lot.” 

They sent out digital drive-by invites 

and most of their friends and family 

were invited. “Some even decorated 

their cars with balloons. I decided 

to go with a blue theme and kept 

it small and cute. My décor was 

supplied by Pearl Events, Mammas 

Flowers and Imbali Blooms. We got 

creative and organized thoughtful 

thank you gifts from Pots About 

Plants, Truly Good, Sweet Little Things, 

Angeliq Gifts and Gourmet Treats, The 

Cupcakery and Snazzy Cakes. Last 

but not least, my beautiful cakes were 

from Pretty Baked and Firdaus’ Frosty 

Bites.” 

Aamirah Jano loved her drive-through baby shower 

With help from her ‘posse’, Aamirah 

set up tables outside in their driveway 

and let friends and family come in 

one by one, sanitizing at the entrance 

and donning their masks to drop off 

presents. Photos were taken and each 

received their thank you gift. 

“My drive-by shower lasted about 

two hours, and while I was so glad 

it ended quickly because I was 

so exhausted, it was a beautiful 

experience and one that I would 

definitely recommend to all expecting 

moms.” 

As difficult as it may be to accept 

that you can’t have your dream baby 

shower with all of your friends and 

typical games, safety is paramount for 

the mom-to-be as well as any guests. 

The best ways to be safe during a 

pandemic-time baby shower is to 

ensure social distancing, commit to 

wearing a mask, and keep the crowd 

small. “We are all new to this, and 

there are no rules regarding the set 

up and procedure of a drive-by. It’s 

all about making you smile and feel 

loved and special.” 


Tips for a successful drive-by shower: 

Weather - Make sure you are following the weather for the day you plan on 

having the baby shower. Notify guests - Send out invites with all important info 

and details and include a window period for guests to arrive instead of having 

them come by randomly throughout the day, which can be exhausting. 

Set the mood - Decorate the front lawn, set up the tables and mom-to-be chair. 

Be creative - Asks guests to decorate their cars and dress to a theme. You can 

even have them playing music from their cars. 

Designate a photographer/videographer - It’s vital to capture these moments. 

The way you would like to go about it is entirely up to you. You can either set up 

a quick photo section where guests can take a quick pic with mom-to-be or have 

someone video the entire drive-by experience. 

Be informative - Make sure guests understand that they should keep a safe 

distance from mom-to-be. They should arrive with their mask and sanitize before 

entry. Gifts should be dropped off and allocated to a specific area. 

Thank you gifts - Make sure all thank you gifts and treats are suitable to take 

away and easily packed. 

Opening presents - Plan a zoom call for mom to unwrap all gifts, giving her a 

chance to thank everyone. This is best done the following day so mom can get 

her rest. Details: Aamirah’s MumzLuv Blog: www.aamz.co.za 

Win Are you planning a Baby Shower Soon? We have an amazing giveaway for one lucky 

mom-to-be to help create a beautiful baby shower during these tough times. Sponsors 

include Imbali Blooms, Angeliq Gifts & Gourmet Treats, Pots About Plants, Sweet Little Things, 

Pearl Events and Cartel de Flores. To enter visit the ‘Competition’ section on our website www. 

getitmagazine.co.za/highway-berea 

MARIS STELLA Nurturing Tomorrow’s Women, Today 

At Maris Stella, we encourage critical and creative thinking, 

instilling in our girls the necessary skills and confidence for them 

to make significant, positive contributions to our ever-changing 

world. Our Maris Stella family values respect, kindness, 

teamwork and integrity, as we help each other to become the 

best we can be. This is not just a place where girls come to 

learn and grow, it is a place where they can feel at home. 

031 209 9426 

www.marisstella.co.za Applications open for 2021

Play with meaning 

In a time when parents are faced with a barrage of information and advice on how to 

teach their kids at home, it can be hard to decipher right from wrong. One of the easiest 

and most effective ways to teach kids though, is through play. Occupational therapist 

Rachel Carey offers some advice on how to make meaningful the time you spend 

playing with your child. 

Text: Leah Shone | Photographs: SAMANATHA MABER 

A qualified occupational therapist 

and mother of two small boys, 

Rachel strongly believes that a child’s 

learning should be playful and fun. 

“I read a statistic the other day, which 

says it takes approximately 400 

repetitions of an activity to create a 

new synapse in the brain, unless it is 

done in play, in which case it takes 

between 10 and 20 repetitions,” says 

Rachel who lives in Ballito with her 

husband Andrew and two sons, Joey 

and Benji, aged 5 and 3. 

At the beginning of lockdown, Rachel 

says she realised how much help and 

support parents needed in terms of 

development for their kids, so she 

started an Instagram account to 

share some ideas. “I use the account 

to give daily developmental play 

ideas. The platform also allows me to 

share my passion for early childhood 

development and what is happening 

in the child’s brain at this key time.” 

We asked Rachel about the 

importance of occupational 

therapy in the current pandemic 

circumstances. 

“Imagine development as a wall made 

up of bricks, with each developmental 

skill represented by one of those 

bricks. At the top, resting on the wall, 

are the child’s functional skills like 

reading, writing, maths, spelling etc. 

The more bricks you have in this wall, 

the sturdier it will be. Remove one 

brick and it gets a little shaky. Remove 

another and another and another and 

soon you have a very wobbly wall 

onto which few functional skills can 

rest. Unfortunately, in our modern 

society, our children don’t have as 

much exposure to all the experiential 

learning that they once did. A huge 

emphasis is placed on cognitive 

learning without them always having 

the basis of sensory learning needed 

for a strong learning base. 

“This coupled with other things like 

screen time, childhood seats and 

walkers, anxious parents, children 

who are anxious themselves, and 

sometimes a familial and genetic 

predisposition all contribute to 

removing blocks from that wall. 

“In our current time of pandemic, 

children’s play opportunities, 

engagement and anxiety levels 

are all further affected making it 

a particularly at risk time for them 

developmentally in some ways. 

Occupational therapy is a play-based 

way to strengthen this developmental 

wall so that children can reach their 

potential with their functional skills 

resting on the wall.” 


Rachel’s tips for making 

play meaningful: 

• Let your child lead you: Often, we 

plan what we think is a fun activity for 

our children and they are interested 

in it for about five minutes after which 

they move onto something else, 

abandoning our carefully planned 

activity. Children will seek out learning 

and sensory experiences where they 

most need it. Letting them choose 

their own play and then guiding 

them and facilitating them to extend 

this play, is going to make it most 

meaningful. If you let your child 

choose the play they are interested in 

and that meets their sensory needs, 

and then build on this play to extend 

their learning, you create meaningful 

play for the child. 

• Lose the instruction: Once you have 

your child playing in an activity of 

their choice, don’t try to ‘teach’ them. 

Connection is key and connecting 

with you in play is what is going to 

make that learning spontaneous. 

Inserting a silly little song or rhyme 

or posing questions to them and 

helping guide them to the answer are 

strategies that keep that connection 

key. 

• Don’t get caught up in the end 

product: For children, it is the process 

that is important. It is good to have 

your eye on the goal but don’t 

let this rob the activity of fun and 

spontaneity. Your child will gain far 

more from making the lopsided, 

finger squished biscuits that they 

have enjoyed and had fun making 

and experienced a whole heap of 

tactile sensory feedback while doing, 

than they will from watching you 

make perfect biscuits. 

Details: Rachel Carey: rachiecarey@ 

gmail.com, IG: @rachie_ot_mom, 076 

624 8164 

Rachel’s top 3 play tricks: 

1. Have a dress-up box – it doesn’t need to be fancy or elaborate but pop a few 

different items in there to promote imaginary play. We have a very haphazard 

dress-up box with toilet-roll binoculars, paper masks, puppets, old sports 

medals, a toy fishing rod, a snorkel set and some odd clothing items in it. It is 

amazing what the boys come up with and how they turn these items into their 

pretend and fantasy play. Imagination is almost always for us the key that turns 

the lock to the world of child-led play. 

2. Have a few tools in your play tool kit to help you. I am never without tape 

and a variety of different ropes – and I probably hold the record for having the 

most children’s scissors in one place outside of a school or shop! I also keep 

boxes and packaging to make all sorts of props. You know your children and 

the things that they like. These are the items which work well in our house and 

I know that whatever the game, I can extend it using one or some of these. 

3. Don’t always feel that you need to entertain your children. Let them come 

up with the ideas sometimes. We have the most amazing basket of items for 

making things (it’s pretty much my recycling bin) and we call it our creation 

station. Sometimes I suggest we make something for a particular game that we 

are playing but sometimes I just empty it out onto the floor with some scissors, 

tape, glue sticks and stickers and let the kids come up with whatever they want 

to make themselves. I’m there to help if they need me but it is entirely their 

ideas and motivation.

Project nursery 

Designing a nursery for your baby can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it can 

also seem a little daunting ... especially if you don’t know where to begin. We found 

a ton of inspiration in this gorgeous nursery decorated for Hillcrest social influencers 

Kwanele Kubheka and Thabo Cele by Mags from Margaret Rose Interiors. 

Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge | Professional Photos by Jason Daniele’s @diaryofjason 


The family are excitedly awaiting 

their new little arrival 

The nuts and bolts… 

“We contacted Mags in the midst of lockdown with nothing but an idea in our 

heads of what we wanted, but we didn’t know if it would be possible. We didn’t 

really know of many interior designers within our suburb, but we know Mags and 

had followed her journey with Margaret Rose Interiors on social media. We felt 

we could trust her with our home. As a rule we like to support friends in business, 

so it was the best decision we could have made,” says Thabo. 

Having left East Coast Radio and walked straight into lockdown with her own 

brand new interior design company, Mags says she was thrilled to work with the 

glamorous couple. “Thabo had asked me to keep a secret and please help him 

organise their baby’s nursery. It was an honour even to have the conversation, 

especially considering the fact that the whole country had been locked down 

and times were tough for everyone financially. To be trusted with their design 

dream and, more importantly, the sensitivity to budget, was an amazing honour. 

It was a project I leapt into without hesitation.” 

Kwanele sent Mags a picture of what she had in mind and then, quite literally, 

let her run with the design input and installation. “It took me right back to 

when I was about to have my baby and it became a love project for me. I was 

meticulous in choosing items that were highly ‘mom and baby sensitive’, from 

lighting to tented nets, soft plush feels underfoot and breathable items to 

ensure baby’s safety … all while adding a little sparkle to allow mommy some 

glamour during the early hours of the morning. As part of the brief, the clients 

requested the nursery be set up in their main bedroom. This came with its own 

set of challenges, as there were many things to consider. But working with a 

‘power couple’ who trust you and allow you design freedom makes the process a 

breeze!” 


Mags from Margaret Rose Interiors 

loved desiging this nursery 

We asked Mags to share some baby nursery 

do’s and don’t’s … 

Ensure your child is learning in a modern way that is 

relevant and equips them with the tools they need to stay 

ahead of any challenges that come their way. 

A Personal System of Instruction (PSI) and a blended learning 

approach to education provide a dynamic and innovative 

platform for your child to reach their full potential at their own 

pace. Whether they are working from home or on the Redwood 

premises, seamless online support ensures they can work 

confidently without the fear of falling behind. 

Give your child the best advantage and book a meeting today. 

Direct your queries to Redwood College on 031 572 7182 or 

email info@redwoodschools.co.za 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE 

@RedwoodLaLucia 

www.redwoodschools.co.za 


Lighting: This is simple, but it’s a winner - make sure your 

lamps have a foot switch! They are easy to use when you 

have baby in your arms and you have just settled baby in 

the middle of the night. Consider changing your down 

lighters to dimmer switches. 

Don’t clutter: Keep the room simple and functional. It 

helps limit your stress - you have enough to deal with, 

so don’t add clutter and make your new role as a parent 

more difficult. 

Measure, measure, measure: Don’t order items without 

measuring or you’ll end up jamming them into spaces 

that simply don’t work. Taking time to quickly pencil draw 

the room with measurements will put you in the winning 

seat when laying out your baby’s room. 

Hygiene is number one: No matter how cute or how 

sweet the project is, hygiene protocol comes first. COVID 

affects interior designers, and with this type of project it is 

paramount that the strictest protocol is followed. 

Trends for your baby’s space and arrival: No longer are 

baby’s rooms a complete design segment removed from 

the rest of the house. It is now completely acceptable to 

bring colour and accents into baby’s room with a giant 

‘on trend’ feature wall. Don’t be scared - it’s just wallpaper 

or paint! Once baby is older, you can change it to be a 

little less dramatic. Enjoy some wow in this room! 

Plush rugs used to be considered a bit of a ‘tripping 

hazard’ and a no-no, but if you’re after the gorgeous, 

soft feel underfoot, you simply have to consider and 

reposition your rug in a way that tripping isn’t possible! 

Watch out for annual style and colour trends and use 

them in your baby’s room. Don’t fall into the ‘safe zone’ 

with perfectly pink and boring blue. Step out, have fun. 

It’s a short period of time where you can quite literally 

let go in a situation where you are completely strapped 

down! 

Details: Follow @fafa_kubheka and @touch_Hefner or 

contact Mags: @margaretroseinteriors, www.margaret-rose. 

co.za, e-mail design@margaret-rose.co.za or call 

064 550 7626.



Teepee fun! 

If you love the idea of a weekend getaway with the kids, surrounded by 

the peace and serenity of mother nature in a luxurious tented camp, then a 

breakaway at Gibaland Teepee Eco Village is the ideal place to find that respite. 


On a recent leisurely hike to one of 

the beautiful waterfalls of Giba Gorge, 

we meandered past Gibaland Teepee 

Eco Village, nestled under a canopy of 

trees. It was begging to be explored. 

So, kids in tow, we adventured, and 

soon discovered that Gibaland is as 

interesting as it is beautiful. Gibaland 

is a kids’ dream holiday destination. 

It is a part of everybody’s favourite 

mountain bike park where a perennial 

stream with magnificent waterfalls 

and loads of walking and horse trails 

drift through the forest, And likewise 

for their parents! 

Who wouldn’t want to swap busy life 

at home for a back-to-basics, downto-earth 

affordable weekend away in 

eco-glamping bliss? You get to ‘shack 

up’ in sophisticated teepee shelters 

that are big enough to meet all your 

needs and can sleep up to six guests 

per tent. The kids (and you) can burn 

off loads of steam on more than 

45kms of trails perfect for mountain 

biking, hiking, trail running and more! 

The brainchild of Luis Goncalves, who 

built this glamping experience on a 

small piece of the 22-hectare ‘little bit 


of heaven’ he calls home, Gibaland 

was designed, to leave as small 

a footprint as possible from an 

ecological point of view. It is selfsustaining, 

off-the-grid and utilises 

materials from the land, where 

possible. Considered an ongoing 

project, Gibaland is aimed at making 

Giba Gorge more accessible and 

affordable for everyone (children 

especially) to connect and learn from 

and about the land. Ideally, Luis would 

like for children to express themselves 

and learn skills that schools no 

longer teach, in a safe and happy 

environment. 

The Teepee Eco Village echoes that 

vision through a completely unique 

experience with extra elements of 

fun. Not only does it offer the chance 

to slumber safely under the stars in 

a cosy teepee with artificial grass 

surrounded by African bush, but it is 

solar-powered glamping at its best. 

There are hot showers and ablutions 

close by, dinner, bed and breakfast 

packages available, a bonfire at night 

and full moon drumming circles. Trust 

us, you’ll love it! 

What you need to know: 

Rates: Weekdays (Monday to 

Thursday): R700 for one night/R600 

per night for two nights; Weekends 

(Friday to Sunday): R800 for one night/ 

R700 per night for two nights; Dinner 

and Breakfast: R200 per adult per day 

and R150 per child under 12 per day. 

Guests can order lunch from Café 

Umfula’s soul food menu (they make 

the best rustic pizzas and gourmet 

milkshakes) for their own account. 

Firewood is R80 per wheelbarrow (you 

are very welcome to bring your own). 

There are no self-catering facilities, 

however, should you wish to cook/ 

braai, this can be arranged with 

management. 

Details: 082 309 5983, info@cafeumfula. 

co.za, info@gibaland.co.za, Facebook: 

Gibaland Instagram: cafe_umfula 

Win We are giving a family of four the chance to 

win a two-night stay at Gibaland. To enter visit the 

‘Competition’ section on our website getitmagazine. 

co.za/highway-berea. 


Leadwood Villa, 

for a family safari 

Luxe 

safari 

A once-in-a-lifetime 

offer at what is arguably 

the finest safari lodge 

in the country. 

Thornybush’s Saseka 

Tented Camp is, quite 

simply, beyond perfect! 

The romance of a safari 

... mosquito-netted beds 

and oversized baths 


Let’s be honest. It’s been a long, hard slog this year. Lockdown. Curfews. 

Restrictions. But now travel’s open. We can cross borders and head off to 

hotels and guest houses and lodges. And we can have a glass of wine 

when we get there. Life is good. And particularly good, we have to tell 

you, if the escape you’ve planned is to Saseka Tented Camp. 

The jewel in the crown of the Thornybush collection of lodges, 

an escape here is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. Not only because it’s 

sensationally beautiful, but also because of the special end-of-lockdown 

rates ... it’s one of the few times - heck, perhaps the only time - this lodge 

will be South African friendly, cost wise. 

So what’s so special? Designed by architects and designers Silvio Rech 

and Lesley Carstens, the lodge cleverly and seamlessly combines classical 

style with cutting-edge design, and takes attention to detail to a whole 

new level. From the roof over the massive, tiered deck which mimics 

the dappled light of a tree canopy to the botanical prints on the tents’ 

ceilings, which, besides being aesthetically pleasing, also educate since 

they include the Latin names. 

The colours used throughout the lodge delight and surprise ... although 

they shouldn’t, since they reflect the hues of the surrounding bush. 

Think ivory for the environmentally-friendly flooring that mimics the 

colour of the sand in the river below, dark olive, sage and apple from the 

Jackalberry, Apple Leaf and Leadwood trees, and occasionally touches of 

pink, picked up from the flowers in the area. 

The main area, with a sexy little bar and wide open deck, overlooks the 

dry, seasonal Monwana riverbed, and has comfy intimate areas for sitting 

and doing as little as possible, and dining tables set along the edge so 

you don’t miss the ellies stroll past while you’re lingering over breakfast. 

Glamping is taken to luxe new heights in the tents ... it’s all eye-catching 

black mosquito nets, draped floor to ceiling windows, bespoke furniture, 

a romantic bath and adventurous outdoor rainfall shower, and each 

with a private deck and plunge pool. It would be unusual for you not to 

sometime during the night hear the low grunts and moans of a lion or 

the whooping call of a hyena. 

For groups of up to six, there’s an uber luxury, private villa, with its own 

central lounge, dining area, pool and an outdoor area from which you’ll 

find it difficult to tear yourselves away. Villa guests also get their own 

private game vehicle and chef, and children are welcome. Massive spoil! 

Meals, too, are created to surprise ... so dinner may be around a fire in the 

river bed with traditional - albeit really glammed up - lodge options, or 

up on the deck with true gourmet options. It’s all great platters of tapas 

or grilled calamari or tempura prawns or lamb loin, it’s mango salsa, and 

ashed brinjal, and smoked raisin puree. Sounds pretentious ... it’s not. 

Obviously, game drives are the highlight of any trip to the bush ... 

and with exceptional trackers and guides and an animal-attracting 

combination of terrain, rivers and vegetation, sightings are frequent, 

close up and exciting. Although nothing’s guaranteed, this area is known 

for it’s leopard ... spotting a massive male leopard on the hunt (we did), a 

female with her kill up a tree (we did) and a mum with her babe basking 

and playing in the sun (we did) made for an unforgettable trip. 

Okay ... let’s chat about the once-in-a-lifetime offer. A stay at Saseka 

usually costs R15805 a person a night, but the post lock-down special 

(for South African residents only), is R4999 a person a night, with a 

minimum two night stay. This includes accommodation, all meals 

(breakfast, lunch, high tea and dinner), hot beverages, early morning and 

late afternoon game drives, and local sundowner drinks. Extras include 

optional guided walks, and laundry, and the lodge does (unfortunately) 

have Wifi. These rates exclude peak season (December 16, 2020 to 

January 5, 2021). Details: www.thornybush.com 

Extraordinary attention 

to detail throughout 

Well styled G&T 

before the game drive 

OMG puds! 


First impressions count. And a collection of blue and white Delft-inspired vases 

and pots on an entrance table make a stylish, classic statement. The idea is to 

have a collection of different sizes and shapes (matchy-matchy doesn’t work 

here), displayed together. We’ve searched, and found the best selection of 

different vases at Biggie Best (we should have known!). Tall and shapely urns, 

round little ginger jars, flat plates for your keys and loads that would be perfect 

for pot plants ... simply stunning. More good news ... Biggie Best is 

now stocked in selected Volpes stores ... so double shopping fun. 

Details: volpes.co.za/biggie-best. We’ve got a set of these to give 

away to one lucky (and stylish) Get It reader ... simply visit 

@GetItDurban on Facebook, find our Biggie Best (ever) competition 

post and follow the rules. 

Entries close October 25. 

Spoil 

October 

A collection of vases 

from Biggie Best

OCT 2020 - Highway DBN

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