Feb 23 - JHB South East

JOBURG SOUTH • ALBERTON • BEDFORDVIEW

•

GREENSTONE • MODDERFONTEIN

Slow down

& recharge!

We’ve discovered the

perfect bush lodge

FEBRUARY WIN

An artisanal candle

up for grabs

Dan and Carmen

van der Vaart

prove love conquers all

It’s time for cocktails, fine wine and a

FAMILY FEAST

SHOPPING, PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

FEBRUARY 2023

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GIS0210_002_709703026.indd 2 2023/01/18 14:04:50

GET IT

Editorial

Instagram: @getitjoburgsoutheast

Facebook: @getitjoburgsoutheast

Website: getitmagazine.co.za/joburg-south

Pinterest: Get It

National Group Editor and National Sales

Kym Argo

kyma@caxton.co.za

Facebook and Instagram:

Get It National Magazines

Website: getitmagazine.co.za

Editor Carina van der Walt

albertongetit1@caxton.co.za

083 411 7146

Sub-editor Riaan Engelbrecht

Contributors Rialien Furstenberg,

Alice Coetzee

Workflow & Studio Manager Megan Brett

Layout Artist

Shanet Moodley

Design Studio

JP Du Preez

Sales Manager

Roxanne Cooper 072 821 0910

roxannec@caxton.co.za

Distribution

15 000 copies monthly

Get It JHB SouthEast is distributed free

of charge. For a full list contact

charmaine@caxton.co.za

Competition rules

The judges’ decision is final. Prizes cannot be

transferred or redeemed for cash. Competitions

are not open to the sponsors or Caxton

employees or their families. Get It Magazine

reserves the right to publish the names of

winners, who will be contacted telephonically

and need to collect their prizes from Caxton

Joburg SouthEast branch within 10 days or

they will be forfeited. Prizewinners names are

published on our Facebook page monthly.

contents

WHY DON’T YOU

4 Make a statement and wear your flip flops, book your Valentine’s dinner or

simply enjoy a night out at the theatre

6 Grab one of these must reads - from thrillers to romance

WISH LIST

8 All the things you long to have - well, you’ll love these

SOCIALS

11 Thaba Eco Hotel celebrates in grandeur

PEOPLE

12 No matter what life throws her way, Carmen van der Vaart is

ready for the challenge

14 Life is about living your own truth. We introduce Marita Jordaan

BEAUTY

16 Fill your February with fabulous fragrance

FOOD

18 Who does not love good food and a fine wine?

20 Cook up a family Valentine’s feast with Karen van der Merwe

DECOR

25 Natural, rustic and effortlessly stylish

GARDENING

26 Colour your garden in shades of violet, pink and purple

MOTORING

28 Are you ready for the journey of a lifetime?

TRAVEL

32 The perfect bush experience in true luxury

SPOIL

34 An artisanal candle up for grabs - you don’t want to miss out

COVER

Hair and Make-up by - Carmen van der Vaart.

Stylist by - Carmen van der Vaart.

Photographed by - Alisha Crossley Photography.

February 2023

February 2023 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein 3

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A hot date!

Tea parties, dinners and rock n roll - we’ve got it all

If you have a date for the Get It diary page, email the info at least one month in advance to albertongetit1@caxton.co.za

No more need for your baby’s car seat? Why not donate it to the Wheel

04 Well Car Seat Donation Drive at Group 1 Renault The Glen? They have

partnered with Wheel Well for Children in road safety to do a car seat donation

drive at the dealership on February 4 from 10am to 12pm. Wheel Well will be

handing over 20 donated car seats to anyone in need (for a small donation).

You can also drop off your second-hand car seats to Group 1 Renault The Glen

and enjoy a boerie roll with the team. Car seats may be dropped off at any

time during working hours as this campaign will continue throughout the year.

Details: 011 210 7600.

This highly entertaining show has proven to be a great success and has

08 had sell-out shows at Barnyards across the country. These highly skilled

musicians have the uncanny ability to sound like the original Creedence Clearwater

Revival Band. The deep south roots and swamp pop rockabilly sounds are

brilliantly captured as one is swept away by Bad Moon Rising, Proud Mary, Have

You Ever Seen the Rain and many other old favourites. Clint and CO and his

band have over 600 shows under their belt. Prepare for the ultimate CCR tribute

show! Book your ticket at Barnyard Emperors Palace for February 8 at 7pm at

R195. Details: www.barnyardtheatre

No Valentine’s dinner plans yet? Why not join Stepping Stone Hospice

14 & Care Centre’s Valentine’s Dinner which includes a three-course meal

including a bottle of wine for only R400 per couple. Pre-book before all tables

are booked out. Please also contact them for menu selection. Guests arrive at

7pm for 7.30pm. Details: Tess or Mariette on 010 442 5059.

Stepping Stone Hospice &

14 Care Centre invites you to

join them for a Twilight Walk of about

5km at Reading Country Club in Fore

Street Randhart, Alberton on February

14. Walkers will gather at 5pm with

the walk starting at 5.30pm. The entry

fee is R50 per person. All children

under 12 walk for free. Details: Tess or

Mariette on 010 442 5059.

12

11

The popular Lizz Meiring will be

performing live at Vista Del Monte for

a Valentine’s evening. The show will

start at 6.30pm for 7pm on February

11. There will be a cash bar available

and safe parking. Tickets cost R250 per

person. Details: Book via Whatsapp at

072 628 7647.

You are invited to a Valentine’s Day Tea Party hosted by the Animal Protection Network

(APN) on February 12, from 2pm to 5.30pm, at the Coffee Bean Café at 21 Joyce Street in

Randhart. This is APN’s first fundraiser after the year 2020 and all the proceeds will go towards

needy and injured animals. The guest speaker of the day will be comedian and master

chef winner, Chris Forrest. Tickets cost R200 per person excluding drinks. Details: Despina

Kandralidis on 076 889 5981.

4 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein February 2023

GIS0210_004_706055327.indd 4 2023/01/19 09:53:24

17

Did you know, in some way or form, every one of us is affected by childhood

cancer? While it may not affect you directly in some cases, it could

be someone close to you - a beloved family member or the child of a close

friend or colleague. CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa is an

advocate for the fight against this life-threatening illness. They are offering

psychosocial, emotional and patient support to families and children

and teenagers diagnosed with cancer. Flip Flop Day and Flippie have

stepped up to get every South African, young or old, corporate or casual,

the beach-side dweller or the city slicker to wear their heart on their soles

on February 17. Rise to join CHOC. Kick off those shoes and let your toes

be free on February 17 by showing your support and love for our warriors

by flipping on a pair of flip-flops. Partnered for greatness, you can get your

sticker for only R10 at your nearest PNA or Tekkie Town. Are you ready to

be flip’n awesome this Flip Flop Day? Details: www.choc.org.za or taryn.

seegers@choc.org.za

ABBA and Queen are two of the most influential pop and rock groups of

25 all time. This spectacular Barnyard Theatre Production takes you on a trip

through space and time in the 70s and the 80s when glitz, glam and some of the

greatest pop tunes emerged. Thank You for the Music features an eight-piece

cast that covers all the hits of the two super groups, featuring songs from the days

when ABBA lit up the music scene with their first hits Chiquitita and Waterloo, after

which they followed on with countless pop anthems such as Does Your Mother

Know, Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on me, as well as the power ballad The Winner

Takes it All. Also paying tribute to one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Queen,

you can look forward to their uplifting anthems such as Don’t Stop Me Now and

I Want To Break Free and The Great Pretender, from Mercury’s solo career. The unforgettable

hits We Are the Champions, Who Wants to Live Forever and A Kind Of

Magic add an electrifying flair to the show. Thank You for the Music is about showmanship,

charisma, harmony and the power of two pop and rock groups uniting

in one mind-blowing concert. Tickets sell at R195 per person. The show runs from

February 2 until March 12 at the Barnyard Theatre, Emperors Palace. Details: www.

barnyardtheatre.co.za

The multi-award winning and double-platinum

selling songstress Kelly

Khumalo will be performing at The

Palace of Dreams on February 18 at

8pm. ‘Her vocal highness’ as she is

known by her fans will be treating

her audience to songs from her new

instalment ‘From A God To A King’.

The hitmaker of the 2021 anthem ‘Empini’

is set to release her album with

a visual performance that will take

the audience by storm. Tickets sell at

R400. Details: TicketPro.

18


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Book club

First book club of the year ... wine with a story, romance, thrillers, and,

it being Valentine’s month ... how to recognise a cad!

Oh ... bliss. A new Taylor Jenkins Reid.

In Forever, Interrupted we meet Elsie

Porter, an average twentysomething

who, one rainy New Year’s Day, heads

out to pick up a pizza for one. She

isn’t expecting to see anyone else in

the shop, much less the adorable and

charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is

instant and electric. Within weeks, the

two are head over heels in love. Within

months, they’ve eloped. Only nine

days later, Ben is out riding his

bike when he is hit by a truck and

killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens

outside her apartment, but

by the time she gets downstairs, he

has already been whisked off to the

emergency room, where she must

face the mother-in-law she has never

met, and who doesn’t even know Elsie

exists. Simon Schuster

Journey’s End ... wines with a story on every label

We love a wine with a story, and Journey’s End, the boutique estate on the

mountain slopes above Sir Lowry’s Pass Village in the Helderberg basin, have

released their rebranded new-vintage Tales Series range of wines ... new classic

labels but still with the tales behind the wine. This February we’ll be trying

Journey’s End Weather Station Sauvignon Blanc 2022. The Tale .... This wine is

named after the famed SB11 Weerstasie Kloon (Weather Station clone) which is

one of the core components used in this wine. First propagated in Stellenbosch

in the 1920s, it made a huge resurgence in the late 1970s. The clone is nicknamed

‘The Weather Station’ as the original plantings were made beside an old weather

station, which proved invaluable in enabling the farms to spot upcoming

changes in the weather and thus pick their fruit at its optimum condition.

The vegan-friendly wine is a refreshing aperitif but also enjoy with fresh oysters,

asparagus, smoked salmon, mussels, tempura prawns or seared tuna.

You’ll find it for between R100 and R120 from shop.journeysend.co.za


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One minute Lou is happily employed, with a perfect flat. The next, her home and

job have gone. The last thing she wants is to move to a tiny Cotswolds village,

and she certainly doesn’t intend to work for curmudgeonly eighty-year-old

Edgar Allsopp. But Edgar is about to make her the kind of promise nobody could

ignore. In return, she secretly vows to help him fall in love with life again. Then

there’s Remy, whose charm and charisma are proving hard to ignore. But Lou

hasn’t recovered from the last time she fell for a charmer. She needs a distraction

and luckily one’s about to turn up. Promise Me is Jill Mansell’s latest chick-lit read.

Headline • Every day, The Housemaid (by Freida McFadden) cleans the Winchesters’

beautiful house. She collects their daughter from school, and cooks a delicious

meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in her tiny room

on the top floor. She tries to ignore how Nina Winchester makes a mess just to

watch her clean it up, how she tells strange lies about her own daughter, and

how her husband seems more broken every day. It’s hard not to imagine what it

would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

But she reassures herself that the Winchesters don’t know who she really is.

They don’t know what she’s capable of. Little Brown

Nobody sits us down and teaches us

how to love. We’re often thrown into

relationships with nothing but romantic

movies and pop culture to help us

muddle through. Until now. In 8 Rules

of Love, instead of presenting love as

an ethereal concept or a collection

of cliches, Jay Shetty lays out specific,

actionable steps to help you develop

the skills to practice and nurture love.

He shares insights on how to win or

lose together, how to define love,

and why you don’t break in a breakup.

Inspired by Vedic wisdom and

modern science, he tackles the entire

relationship cycle, from first dates to

moving in together to breaking up

and starting over. And he shows us

how to avoid falling for false promises

and unfulfilling partners. Harper Collins

Are you dating Boring Bert (he wears

quilted anoraks and his mancave has

a trainset from his boyhood). Or a

Tradie Ted (he drives a bakkie, calls

you his woman and slaps your arse

as he walks past you). Are there red

flags in your relationship ... he asks to

borrow money, delays and evades,

sulks, withdraws and stonewalls you.

If there’s a resounding yes anywhere

here, it’s probably time to pick up a

copy of Caroline Hurry’s Flow - 21

secrets to refresh your relationship.

Full of hysterical descriptions

of Drunken Duncans, Stingy Steves

and Slobber Stans (his breath is beery,

and feels damp), Caroline doesn’t shy

away from nasty truths ... manipulation

and gaslighting, blame shifting

and abuse. She talks about dating

duds (don’t overinvest, or stalk him on

social media) and relationship flows.

All very tongue-in-cheek ... which

doesn’t mean she doesn’t get it spot

on! It’s not, she firmly points out,

another find-a-husband book (she did

that in Handbook for the Huntress),

but ‘more of an outstretched hand to

those who slipped on the treacherous

rocks of romance and need a little

help getting up again’. Hygge Books

Compiled by: KYM ARGO


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Wish list

Love. Lust. Longings. Here’s our list!

Longing, after the hectic festive season, for some quiet time and a cup of tea. So

let’s hear it for the (tea) girls. Tlou Tea is a 100 per cent female owned business ...

making hand-blended teas that aid mental and physical well-being. Herbs, spices

and carefully selected adaptogens (plants, herbs and functional mushrooms

which are known to assist the body’s natural performance against daily stress

and fatigue) ... the Tlou (Sepedi for elephant) range includes half a dozen options.

We’re drinking Sweet Sleep - with ashwagandha, chamomile, passionflower root,

blue butterfly pea flowers and lavender. Available from tloutea.co.za

The first locally-inspired

Birkenstock summer campaign

blends German heritage with

South African flair ... resulting in a

sizzling collection. If you haven’t yet

embraced this iconic global brand,

it’s time! Details: bashafrica.com

Have you little darlings discovered

JoyJoys? Interchangeable sneakers

that allow them to swap out their

looks at a whim. There’s a starter

box with a pair of white sneakers,

three velcro snaps of your choice,

and two mystery snaps. Then you

can add extra snaps as you find

more you love. R799 for the starter

box, then R179 for extra snaps sold

in sets of three. Details: joyjoy.co.za


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Shake. Strike a pose. Raise a glass!

Step into the sparkling streets of Hollywood

and be transported back in time with Michael

O’Mara’s Hollywood Cocktails, a gorgeous

collection of more than 200 classic cocktail

recipes from the 1930s. Discover the exclusive

rendezvous frequented by the biggest stars of

the silver screen, from The Embassy Club to the

Zanzibar, the Clover Club to the Palm Springs,

and learn how to mix the perfect night cap and

master classic recipes such as the Old Fashioned.

No gimmicks here ... great cocktails stand the

test of time and this is the essential collection.

Entertain, impress, shake well, strike a pose and

raise a glass to the golden age of glamour.

30 Valentine kisses ... in 30 shades of beautiful

It’s been top of beauty’s

wish list for years ... the

L’Absolu Rouge lipstick

by Lancôme. Now

reimagined as L’Absolu

Rouge Cream and

L’Absolu Drama Matte,

infused with extracts

from roses harvested by

hand, freshly picked early

mornings in late spring,

there are 30 shades with

pure pigments that dress

your lips in intense, crisp

colour. R530 from Edgars,

Woolies, Truworths,

Foschini and Superbalist.



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GIS0210_010_714123544.indd 10 2023/01/19 10:23:00

Reuben Louw, Nellen Louw, Henk Louw,

Lara Nolan and Marius Botes

Bobby Ndlovu and

Yonela Mpingana

Raise a glass to 20

years of success

What’s not to celebrate if you can look back at 20 successful years of

not only running a business but also continuous growth. Thaba Eco

Hotel celebrated its 20th birthday in grand style complete with a couple

of performances and a best-dressed competition. And boy, what a

celebration it was where everyone had fun and enjoyed the birthday full

of joy and laughter.

David Mutambirwa

and Tiza Chilongo

Callan Neilson and

Jason Ullyett

Naledi Tsoela

Lara Nolan, Reuben Louw and Marius Botes

Sipho Ncube, Francine

Mocwaledi and Jeff Sibanda

Nkosi Moyo, Nhlanhla Mpofu, Denzel

Stewart and Proud Mapanda


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The greatest love of all

Carmen van der Vaart is quick to tell you that her spirit animal is a lioness which,

ultimately, describes her as a person. She is strong, nurturing, courageous, resilient, and

willing to face adversaries and challenges, even if she is fearful.

As an aspiring fashionista, wife, and

business owner Carmen van der Vaart

has high hopes for her future. The big

girl in a big world is ready to tackle

anything that comes her way. At 28,

she is full of energy and ready to take

on the world as the owner of Silta and

co-owner of Catstreet, a fashion boutique

in Meyersdal. For her, challenges

are what motivate her. We catch up

with Carmen about the love of her

life, her career, and her future goals.

Loving unconditionally

It is impossible to live and not think

of the things you most cherish. ‘I am

a newlywed, so my husband is the

first to pop into my head. If it weren’t

for the Lord guiding us toward one

another multiple times in our 10 years

of knowing each other before getting

married, I wouldn’t even have him in

my life,’ said Carmen.

‘Being the busy body that I am, I love

my career and that I get to build it

with the support of my husband and

the overarching grace and glory of

God.’

She holds Proverbs 16:3 close to her

heart because it reminds her to put

God in charge of her work, and then

what she has planned will come to

pass.

In the decisions she has made, from

school to university to entering the

sometimes overwhelming world of

adulthood, this verse has kept her

close to the Lord.

‘I would not be where I am today

without the love, grace, wisdom and

guidance of the Lord, who works in

ways I could never understand or

explain. What the future of my career

holds, only He knows. For a control

freak like me, it is nerve-wracking, but

for the dreamer in me, it is exhilarating.

‘As a little girl, we dream of what we


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will be one day and of our wedding day. The man I am honoured to call my

husband exceeded all my expectations and prayers for a husband.’

Carmen met her husband, Dan, 11 years ago while on holiday in Margate. The two

instantly connected and spent their days messaging each other and sharing their

life stories.

‘He was living in Johannesburg at the time and studying at a golf school. In

March 2012, we started dating and shared in each other’s greatest milestones,’

said Carmen.

In 2013, Carmen moved to Pretoria to study BCom Marketing at the University of

Pretoria. ‘This put a strain on our relationship because we were in completely different

places in our lives. I was studying and living the student life, he had just started

working and building his career. We then broke up but always stayed in contact.’

In 2016, she did her honours in strategic brand management and still lived in Pretoria.

By that time, Dan had moved back to his hometown, Newcastle, and they tried

their love story again, only this time, long distance.

Dan moved to Johannesburg in 2017, and their love grew even deeper.

Carmen took a sabbatical in 2019. She walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain

(130km in six days) and later met her uncle in Barcelona. She then went to Amsterdam,

where she and Dan enjoyed a holiday with his family.

‘Dan and I then left for Croatia, where we set sail on a Contiki yacht adventure, sailing

through the islands of Croatia. When we got to Dubrovnik, we walked the Wall

of Dubrovnik, and Dan went down on one knee and proposed. We were engaged,

and our forever journey had started.’

During 2020, the world was in turmoil, so the couple decided to delay their wedding

date until 2022 so that Dan’s family in the UK and Carmen’s family in Australia

could attend the wedding.

It was a magical day on March 19, 2022, when they became husband and wife at

the Inimitable Wedding Venue in Muldersdrift.

‘Every moment was a fairy tale. My husband gave each of my bridesmaids a letter

to give to me during the day, some taking me down memory lane and some having

me in tears with his love declarations.

‘Walking down the aisle, I had a little surprise for my Prince Charming - a voiceover

of my love declarations to him.

‘We then honeymooned in the Maldives. Our life after the wedding has had its

challenges, but he is extremely supportive of my hopes, dreams and career endeavours,’

she said.

Woman in business

Carmen gravitated toward creative outlets as a child, whether it was art, the

dramatic arts, or dancing.She has always been drawn to fashion, dressing up, and

different styles and fabrics.

‘Even though I always dreamt of a career in the fashion industry, my career kicked

off in the advertising and marketing industry.’

This led her to start the Silta Group, a marketing consulting agency that allowed

her to use her skills and knowledge developed during her years in the advertising

world.

Silta was only a few months old when the opportunity to enter the world of fashion

arose.

‘My aunt, business partner, and fellow fashionista, Corlia Booysen, and I decided to

buy the company Catstreet and take it to new heights,’ said Carmen.

Catstreet is a high-end boutique that imports exclusive collections from around

the globe, ensuring your wardrobe is on trend and uniquely yours.

‘We offer more than just world-renowned brands. We offer an experience by

giving each woman the personal attention she deserves to walk out and flaunt her

unique style awakened by Catstreet.

‘We started by opening the store in Meyersdal on November 8, 2021. A year later,

we expanded to an online store and this year we plan to open a store in the

East Rand.’

‘Being able to help women of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds, to awaken

their inner beauty through the power of fashion and expression, is the most

satisfying of all.’

The best part of her journey so far has been to build something she is proud of.‘

After years in ad land, living a highpaced

lifestyle filled with adrenaline,

deadlines, and creative solutions, I

decided to go on my own and start

my own thing. Learning new things

every day and, ultimately, being a

lifelong learner.

‘I love acquiring knowledge and new

skills and love the fact that my job

insists on such a life. I love that I get

to explore new avenues and allow

my creative side to flourish by allowing

myself the freedom to grow in all

aspects of a company, be it finance,

marketing, operational tasks, etc.’ She

says she gets bored quickly, and

having a fast-paced and ever-changing

career is something she

thoroughly enjoys.

As a fashionista, Carmen was blessed

to travel to Milan, Italy, with her aunt

and co-owner of Catstreet in the first

year of owning the boutique. ‘Milan

is one of the fashion capitals in the

world, and we went there to meet

with a fashion label called Twinset

so that we can introduce the label

to South Africa.’

You can now shop Twinset at Catstreet,

the only Twinset stockist in

the country.

Carmen’s mum, Irene Botha, is the

biggest inspiration in her career. ‘She

is a formidable businesswoman. She

owns her own successful company

and single-handedly built it up from

the ground while being a single

mother to three children.

‘She made strides in the integrated

reporting industry, which was not an

easy industry for a woman when she

started. But she flourished in a man’s

world. Her confidence, perseverance,

resilience, and endless knowledge

inspire me to keep going

and excel.’

When asked about her plans, she

replied, ‘This is a loaded question.

We all dream and plan for the future,

but I know that God’s plans will

always prevail.’

In broad strokes, she plans to have

children when the time is right and

for Catstreet and Silta to thrive and

become entities that let her make a

difference in communities.

‘To travel the world with my loved

ones and build multiple successful

businesses wherever the road takes

me. I leave the details of the future

to the Lord.’

Text: ELZAAN PIENAAR Photo: BARCLAY STUDIOS. Hair: JAKO STYLE BOUTIQUE. Make-up: ARTISTRY BY DYLLAN .Stylist: EVAN LENDEL FROM VONVE BRIDAL COUTURE


GIS0210_012_705994739.indd 13 2023/01/19 10:05:09

Live your truth

There is nothing unique about Marita Jordaan’s story. She is just an ordinary woman

making extraordinary decisions every day.

Besides being a mother, wife, business

owner, and ambassador for Catstreet

Boutique in Meyersdal, Marita is also

the Mrs SA brand ambassador, along

with another finalist, Zelri Steyn, for the

Southern African Animal Cancer Association

(SAACA).

In her journey to be the best version of

herself, her deeply-rooted values of authenticity,

kindness, gratitude, respect,

resilience, hard work, and excellence

are her compass.

We chat with Marita about her life and

journey in Mrs SA.

The meaning of love

Marita says that 1 Corinthians 13

explains it simplistically: ‘Love is patient,

love is kind. It does not envy, it does

not boast, it is not proud. It does not

dishonour others, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, and it keeps

no record of wrongs. Love does not

delight in evil but rejoices with the

truth. It always protects, always trusts,

always hopes, and always perseveres.

Love never fails.’

For her, love is unconditional.

‘Unconditional positive regard, unconditional

acceptance, unconditional

support, unconditional in all aspects.

It is not something we give because

someone else deserves it, it is something

we give because we choose to,’

she said.

She values family, friends, life, charity,

and personal growth. In her mind,

love is synonymous with motherhood,

which she prioritises above all else.

She most enjoys being a mom to two

children and says that motherhood is

many things, but it is not perfect.

‘Children are a mix of sweet and sour

because they aren’t fully grown. So

even the best of parents will have a mix

of sweet and sour moments. It is a mix

of beautiful and messy moments all

rolled into one.’

She said that to enjoy motherhood, you


GIS0210_014_684396940.indd 14 2023/01/19 10:06:13

must find joy in the chaos, because the

chaos reminds you that you have them.

‘A mother has a profound and long-lasting

impact on developing young

children’s brains, teaching them the first

lessons of love, shaping their consciences.

You and I have an opportunity

to influence the next generation by

what we do as a mother every day.’

She deeply loves her friends and family.

‘Spending time with family and friends,

laughing, and experiencing heart-felt

moments with a loved one are all

precious to me and give purpose to

my life.’

It is important to her to have a positive

effect on the lives of others, whether

humans or pets. As a brand ambassador

for SAACA, she wants to create

awareness of the organisation and the

valuable work they do. As the fourth of

its kind in the world, SAACA fills the gap

for animals with cancer in this country.

Cancer is often seen as a human illness,

but few know that animals are diagnosed

and die of cancer, too.

‘Helping these animals is a feeling I

can’t describe. We need to support

more charities and causes as it can only

make the world a better place.

‘No matter what life throws at you, you

can decide what these events mean to

you, and how you will integrate them

into your life.

‘Everything that happens is subject to

your interpretation of it. The life you live

is, ultimately, the life you choose. Once

you choose to focus on positive possibilities,

they gradually become realities

in your life,’ she said.

‘I am also in pursuit of personal mastery

to grow into a better version of myself.

I believe that my development and

growth are key for me, my family, and

the people I impact daily. I love living

my truth every day,’ she said.

For her, it is important to discover and

live your truth, not the truth of others,

‘Wherever your heart is, there you will

find the reality that brings you to life.’

Being unstoppable

‘When I entered Mrs SA, I was on a

quest to experiment with the awareness

of my inner sparks and started

pursuing them to see what results

from it. I don’t have any pageantry

background, I only did modelling for a

few years in high school to gain more

confidence.’

She even kept her entry into the pageant

a secret until they were encouraged,

during their first Mrs SA conference, to post about their journey on social

media.

For most of her life, Marita has hidden in the shadows, making decisions from a

place of fear and desperation.

‘Asking for permission. Waiting for validation. Trying to be perfect. I was stoppable. I

was staring at the edge in self-doubt, with every excuse not to take the step. What

if I fail? But, what if I fly?’

Choosing courage over fear, and following her inner sparks, brought her

to her Mrs SA journey. It was a quest to unleash her potential to become

fearlessly unstoppable.

‘My Mrs SA journey was life-transforming. Along with my first year of my

Master’s in philosophy and leadership coaching studies, 2022 was a year of

exponential growth.’

In her studies, she learnt about theories, models and techniques, which she applied

to her Mrs SA journey. She called it her ‘self-discovery and self-development on

steroids’.

‘I had an intense awareness of my growth during the journey. Although highly

uncomfortable at the time, it was extremely satisfying.

‘This journey has shown me how I can be a voice of change, and show up as the

strong, influential woman that I am. I’ve learnt that it is my imperfections that make

me perfect. I have become strong, confident, fearless and unstoppable!

‘Although I didn’t win the crown, I gained from this journey more than can be

explained in words.’

Marita was also offered an ambassadorship by Catstreet Boutique because of her

Mrs SA journey.

‘At the end of this journey, I stand tall, strong, fearless and determined, knowing

that it is my imperfection that makes me perfect.

‘My heart is filled with gratitude for the Mrs SA team. I’m also grateful to the sponsors

for the opportunity to be their brand ambassador. I am forever grateful for my

family’s unconditional love and support, which was the catalyst that accelerated

my transformation into a better version of myself.’

This and that

Marita was born in Kimberley and is the youngest of three children. She moved

around a lot because of her father’s work.

‘I was very fortunate to grow up in a healthy, happy family home, and my fondest

childhood memories are about our annual family holidays with our caravan in

Scottburgh (KZN).

‘These memories are a tapestry of love, fun and laughter: building sandcastles on

the beach, eating ice cream, swimming in the sea, family walks on the beach at

sunset, sitting on the rocks, mesmerised by the beauty of God’s creation, and feeling

the water as the waves hit the rocks, and so many more.’

In 1998, she matriculated in Secunda and, a year later, she and her best friend, Lindi,

left SA to work as au pairs in the USA.

‘I returned to South Africa and started my studies at the University of Pretoria in

early 2000. My undergraduate studies and Honours degree were a combination

of tourism management and accounting. After completing my degree, I had the

opportunity to work in England.’

After working there for a year, she returned to South Africa and started a career in

finance.

‘I worked as an accountant and tax specialist for 10 years. During this time, I obtained

my Master’s degree in South African and International Taxation and registered

with the SA Institute of Tax Practitioners as a master tax practitioner.

‘I worked as a tax consultant in 2016 and thereafter started my own tax company.

Tax Fanatix was established with one vision - to help all taxpayers!’

Marita and her husband, Gerhard, have been married for 12 years and are the

proud parents of Mikhe and Ruben.

‘Our family life is busy. Our daughter, Mikhe, is in Grade Five and my son, Ruben, is

in Grade Three. They love sports and are involved in all sorts of activities at school.

‘We enjoy spending time with family and friends. We love being in nature, hiking, or

just enjoying a picnic.

‘In the words of Maya Angelou: ‘I sustain myself with the love of family’.’

Text: ELZAAN PIENAAR. Photo: ALBERT BREDENHANN FROM PIXELPRO. Make Up: THE BEAUTYBRAND. Hair: CORNÉ FROM TOUCH OF STYLE


GIS0210_014_684396940.indd 15 2023/01/19 10:06:21

For you ...

Kate Spade Chérie, R1399 from Truworths,

Dis-Chem and Clicks. Oscar de la Renta Bella

Rosa, R1399 from takealot.com. Berdoues

Pivoine & Rhubarbe Eau de Toilette,

R525 from orleanscosmetics.co.za

Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia, R2415

from Woolworths.

Scent-sational

Make this a fabulously fragrance-filled February

For your home ...

Kate Sunley peony and rose scented soy wax candles

(R340) and room spray, R340 and R180 from katesunley.

com. Charlotte Rhys Rose large rose fragrance sachet

R133.50 from Woolworths. Glasshouse A Tahaa Affair

triple scented soy candle, R899 from Woolworths


GIS0210_016_714231894.indd 16 2023/01/19 10:12:41

God Is A Woman. . Ariana Grande’s new

fragrance is described as empowered,

breathtaking, natural. It’s vegan, clean,

cruelty-free, and with notes of juice pear,

Turkish rose petals and Madagascar

vanilla, is simply glorious. R1099 from

Edgars, Clicks, Foschini and Truworths



GIS0210_016_714231894.indd 17 2023/01/19 10:13:35

Food

True love story ... an air fryer romance!

Brownies in less than half an hour

Brownies. The universal fave. Bake in a

Vortex ClearCook air fryer, watch them

turn into the perfect treat, allow them

to cool and serve with vanilla icecream.

Joy, right there!

Prep time 15 mins, cook time 15 mins,

serves 9

You’ll need: 1 1/2 cups chopped dark

chocolate; 1/2 cup butter at room

temperature; 1/4 cup cocoa powder;

3/4 cup flour; 2 large eggs at room

temperature; 1 cup light brown sugar;

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp salt;

and for serving, vanilla ice-cream.

To make: Line a 20cm x 20cm

brownie pan with baking paper. Melt

chocolate and butter together and

mix until fully combined. Sift in the

cocoa powder and stir to mix. In a

separate large bowl, beat the eggs,

sugar and vanilla extract with an

electric beater until light in colour

and frothy, about 3-5 minutes. Add

the warm chocolate mixture and stir

to combine. Sieve in the flour and

salt and mix gently to ensure all the

flour is incorporated. Spoon into a

prepared pan and spread evenly.

Turn on the Vortex Plus ClearCook, set

to bake, 170 C and 15 minutes.

Place the pan into the preheated air

fryer and bake until the top is set and

a toothpick inserted into the centre

has a few moist crumbs on.

Remove and allow to cool completely

in the dish before cutting. Enjoy with

a scoop of your favourite ice cream.

Recipe from instantpot.co.za

Don’t judge. But we’re really late with this air fryer romance ... indifferent to the

wooing over the last couple of years. Who needs a new gadget - no matter

how sexy and sleek, we asked. We have a great relationship with our handsome,

steady oven. But then the smugness of those who were dishing up crunchy

roasted pork belly, fresh donuts, crispy chicken schnitzels ... we admit, it got to us.

So we thought we’d have a clandestine try. Well. Did we have to eat (well cooked)

humble pie. Fell head over heels with the Instant Vortex Air Fryer - designed to

incorporate all those features we’d heard about ... superfast cooking times, large

enough for a family of four (5.7L so you can fit in a decent sized chicken), easy

to clean and really simple, user-friendly controls. The Instant Vortex incorporates

Instant Pot’s smart program technology to deliver great results, the stylish design

takes up minimal countertop space and the intelligent touch screen and dial

controls makes it an absolute pleasure to use. It air fry’s, roasts, bakes and reheats,

and is quicker, easier and healthier than cooking with oil in the oven. Win, win

and win! While we have no intention of cheating or double dating, there are

others to choose from ... depending on your needs and budget. Like the Instant

Vortex Plus ClearCook range, with six smart cooking programmes (air fry, roast,

grill, bake, reheat and dehydrate) and the revolutionary ClearCook window

with internal light, which allows you to check on cooking progress without

continuously opening the drawer and losing heat. Even snazzier - the Instant

Vortex ClearCook DUAL air fryer, with two drawers to allow you to cook two

different dishes at the same time. Whichever catches your eye and steals your

heart ... you’ll find them at @Home stores, Yuppiechef and Hirsch’s Homestores.


GIS0210_018_684201483.indd 18 2023/01/19 10:14:40

Wine

Let this be the year of fine wine

If we’re looking for fine wine, we take advice from

Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2023 - where we

found it’s been a star-studded year for Steenberg

Vineyards. And in particular for their flagship Sauvignon

Blanc, The Black Swan. Acclaimed as one of the country’s

top Sauvignon Blancs, this 5-star wine is fresh, with

scents of lime zest, white blossom, elderflower and

persimmon supported on the palate by bursts of fresh

grapefruit and subtle hints of nectarine and mange tout.

This wonderful food wine pairs well with Asian-style

grilled line fish, calamari with an apple and sumac salad

or a tomato salad with ricotta and basil. You’ll find it for

R255 at steenbergfarm.com.

A year of drinking only fine

wines. Not necessarily the

most expensive, but definitely

the best in their class. So we’ll

be keeping our wine bible

- Platter’s South African

Wine Guide 2023 - on hand.

This is the 43rd edition of

the authoritative South

African wine guide - and

it features the Five Star

wines out of the more

than 8000 reviewed

(nice job!). There are

descriptions of producers

across the wine regions

of South Africa and has

useful info for learning

about and traveling in

our gorgeous winelands.

R399 from Exclusive

Books.

Another one topping the Platter’s charts ... the guide honoured

Trade Winds Wine with one of the highest accolades ... that of

Platter’s 2023 Newcomer Winery of the Year. So this month we’ll

be trying the Trade Winds Sauvignon Blanc 2021, , described in

the guide as “Melange of ripe tropical flavours mingle with bright,

zingy acid & citrus vivacity. Light lees contact in tank adds structure

& length”, and the Trade Winds Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ...

“Confident debut of 2019. Fruitcake-toned body given spice from

18 months in seasoned French oak. Inky depth & concentration

delivered without loss of refinement, 18 months mellowing in

bottle at cellar adding to the elegance.” Details: tradewindswine.com


February 2023 Get It Joburg South • Alberton • Bedfordview • Greenstone • Modderfontein

19

GIS0210_018_684201483.indd 19 2023/01/19 10:16:42

Eat, love

... and eat some more

There is no better day to tell, and show,

family and friends just how much they

mean to you than Valentine’s Day. Karen van

der Merwe sure has become a household

name when it comes to cooking and she

shares her Valentine’s feast with us.

Alberton mum Karen van der Merwe, the recent winner of Colour your Plate with

KOO and former runner-up in MNets’ My Kitchen Rules SA in 2021, is thriving as

she takes 2023 by the horns and keeps the country on its toes.

The mother of two loves baking and cooking and she thrives in the kitchen. The

kitchen or any place she can cook is her happy place, or at least her second happy

place as their farm is first on her list.

Karen is not just a pretty face with a bubbly personality but she knows how to

make food that will make your taste

buds explode. Karen is a keen cook

and she likes to experiment with new

recipes and challenge herself with

something new to cook or prepare.

‘I want to inspire other women that

you can still enjoy cooking meals while

being a working woman, a mum, a

wife and do everything that goes with

that,’ said Karen.

‘Who is passing on your grandmother’s

or family’s recipes if you are not

trying them or even teaching them

to your little ones? Someone needs to

pass down our traditional food recipes.’

Something very close to her heart is

‘PROE’, which is a brand created by

Karen and her MKRSA partner, Tenille

Dreyer. Their mouth-watering gourmet

platters called PROE plankies have the

whole of Alberton talking. They also

offer private fine dining experiences

where you will be guaranteed to be

blown away by their extraordinary

flavour explosions.

That’s not all, PROE gourmet spices will

soon be joining the well-known brand

with exciting flavour combinations as

well as a few surprises that will awaken

the chef in everyone.

Those who know Karen will know

that she’s all about quality time spent

with family and friends. She celebrates

every occasion with memorable food

and experiences.

No matter what the occasion is she

will always think outside of the box.

For Valentine’s Day this year, she will

be setting a table for her tribe and her

children.

‘This year is all about celebrating the

people around me, my tribe, the ones

who hold my heart and who have

supported me throughout my journey.

This is exactly why I’ll be preparing a

Valentine’s feast for everyone this year.

‘Let us celebrate love this year and

be grateful for the small things we so

easily take for granted,’ says Karen.


GIS0210_020_710276858.indd 20 2023/01/19 10:17:55

Love is in the air

When setting a table Karen always takes a stroll through her house and sees what

grabs her attention. It always changes, depending on her mood, the occasion, the

season or who she will be inviting.

Using different textures and heights immediately creates a mood for your table.

Don’t be afraid of letting loose your inner artist. ‘I often use empty jars or containers

and spray paint them in a colour that will fit my theme.’

Once you have established which ornaments, vases, jars or candles you will be

using, it is easy to choose a colour to focus on.

‘I like to choose one colour, but then I play around with different shades of it.’

For her Valentine’s Day table, she picked an earthy pink.

She is not too fond of big bouquets on a table and she would rather use sprigs of

leaves or single flower stems and arrange them along the centre of the table with

all the other elements she has chosen to use.

‘One of my favourite flowers at the moment (it changes with the seasons) is the

glorious King Protea. It immediately just lifts a table with its presence.’

To fill those empty or odd spaces on her centre piece she will raid her garden for

sprigs of leaves and if she doesn’t find anything to fit the colour palate she will

immediately drive to her friend, Marietta Barnard’s garden and raid hers.

‘This happens often,’ said Karen laughingly.

Remember you know what each person who you have invited means to you and

you will know sort of what they like and what not so keep that in mind.

‘There is no specific way on setting a table, you just be you and go wild.’

Some general guidance on how to

set a table are as follows:

• Cutlery is set in the order of use,

working from the outside inwards.

Outer utensils are for the first courses

with the innermost set reserved for

the main course.

• Forks always go on the left of the setting

and knives always go on the right.

• Glassware is set above the knives.

There are different glasses for different

drinks but they are all grouped

together in the top right corner of the

setting.

• If serving dessert, the dessert spoon

and fork should be placed above the

plate. The spoon handle should be on

the right, while the fork handle should

present to the left. This is so that the

right hand can easily pick up the

spoon, and the left hand uses the fork.

• Napkins can be placed either to the

left of the forks, or underneath the

forks. If space is limited on your table,

you can also place the napkin in the

middle of the setting, or on top of the

charger plate.

• Use a charger plate. This is placed in

the centre of the setting upon which

other plates are set and it has multiple

functions. It serves as decoration and

adds to the aesthetics of the table. It

ensures your guests’ setting is never

empty during the dinner, and crucially

it is a tool useful for hot plates where

guests can adjust the charger plate

without risking burning their fingers

on a hot plate. The charger plate

doesn’t have to always be a plate,

it can be a traditional placemat, or

something more contemporary, for example,

a piece of slate, or wood.

Text: ELZAAN PIENAAR. Photo: Karen van der Merwe


GIS0210_020_710276858.indd 21 2023/01/19 10:18:17

Easy no proof Caprese pizza with balsamic reduction

Ingredients:

375g plain flour; 1 tbsp salt; 1 tbsp caster sugar; 1 packet dry yeast;

2 tbsp Willow Creek olive oil; 225 ml warm water; mozarella cheese; cherry tomatoes;

Willow Creek’s chilli, ginger and garlic balsamic reduction

Method:

Mix warm water and yeast in a separate bowl and let it stand for five minutes.

Add the rest of the ingredients to electric mixer with dough hook. Add the water/

yeast mixture to flour mixture. Let machine knead for 5 minutes. Remove dough,

divide into equally sized balls. Roll out each ball, place onto floured baking sheet.

Top with mozzarella, oven roasted cherry tomatoes and salt. Bake for 15 minutes.

• Remove from oven, sprinkle with salt add fresh rocket or basil leaves. Finish off

with a generous drizzle of Willow Creeks’s chilli, ginger and garlic balsamic reduction.

Time to feast

Karen’s Valentine’s Day menu consists of a ravioli as a starter, peachy duck as a

main and as a dessert she will make ice cream with lemon. Eventhough these

dishes look like they can only be made by proffesionals, Karen is here to prove

you wrong and to show you that you can also make these dishes.

Drink up

Another important part of entertaining

others are the beverages.

‘I always like to offer my guests a

welcoming drink and depending on

the time of the day and season I would

offer them something like mimosa,

margarita or in winter even a nip glass

of sherry.’

To accompany the meal, Karen chose

a wine and her all time favourite go-to

wine is a Rupert & Rothschild Classique

or an Anthonij Rupert Optima.

‘I am also quite fond of the new

Jakkalsvlei Pink Moscato for a lighter

day-time beverage.’

1. Starter - Ricotta and mushroom ravioli with burnt butter

Mushroom stuffed ravioli with burnt butter sauce is a classic Italian dish. It is

one of those fancy looking restaurant dishes which can be made at your home

kitchen easily.

Pasta dough ingredients:

1 whole egg; 3 egg yolks; 2 cups all purpose flour; pinch of salt; 1 tbsp olive oil;

2 tbsp water (or more if needed)

Method:

Mix together all the ingredients. Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and

knead it for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes smooth. Wrap dough tightly with

clingwrap and rest in fridge for approximately 30 minutes before rolling out. After

30 minutes divide the dough into four equal pieces and roll out into long strips.

Ingredients for the ravioli filling:

1 punnet mixed mushrooms finely chopped; 1 brown onion finely chopped; 2

garlic cloves minced; 2 tsp thyme leaves; a

squeeze of fresh lemon juice; salt and white

pepper; ricotta cheese; parmesan cheese

Method:

Fry above ingredients in a splash of olive

oil and set aside to cool. Once cooled mix

with one whole tub of ricotta cheese and

¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese. Then

scoop out tablespoons size portions onto

the pasta sheets. Cover the mixture with a

second layer of pasta. Now firmly seal the

two layers together with a touch of water,

making sure to press out all air around

the filling. With a round cooled cutter, cut

out raviolis and boil for approximately

four minutes or until al dente. Once done,

remove and serve.

Burnt butter sauce:

Heat butter in a saucepan until melted and

it starts to sizzle. Immediately remove the

pan from heat as soon as the butter turns a

slight light brown colour. Pour sauce over

each serving of ravioli.


GIS0210_022_710420277.indd 22 2023/01/19 10:19:17

3. Dessert - ice cream

with lemon

Ingredients:

2 cups flour; ½ cup castor sugar; 1

cup stork bake butter; vanilla ice

cream; whipped cream; Willow

Creek’s lemon flavoured olive oil; mint

leaves

Method:

Mix the flour, castor sugar and butter

together. Press the mixture down on

a greased baking sheet and bake in

oven at 180C for about 15 minutes.

Let it cool and crumble. Scoop servings

of the vanilla ice cream on top

of the homemade crumble. Arrange

a few dollops of whipped cream and

drizzle a generous amount of Willow

Creek’s lemon flavoured olive oil over

the ice cream. Decorate the dessert

with a few mint leaves and serve.

2. Main – duck with crispy

skin and Thai-inspired carrot

and peach purée

Peachy duck:

You will need about 180g of duck

breast. Bake seasoned breast in a pan

at 180C for six minutes skin side down

and for two minutes bottom side and

set aside.

Thai inspired carrot and peach purée:

Ingredients:

2 cups KOO’s mixed vegetable carrots;

¾ onions sliced thin; 1/2 cup coconut

milk; 2 cloves garlic; 1/3 cup honey; 1

tbsp dried chili flakes; 1 tbsp butter;

1 tbsp honey; salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Sauté 3/4 chopped onions before

adding the carrots of the KOO mixed

vegetable sautee. Then add the crushed

garlic. Add the seasoning, dried chilly

flakes, butter and 1/2 cup coconut

cream. Slightly reduce heat and set

aside to cool before blending. Transfer

to blender, add honey and blend until

smooth. Reheat before serving.

Peach and corn salsa

Ingredients:

A tin of KOO peach halves; fresh corn;

chopped rosemary; finely chopped

red onion; white wine vinegar; fresh

lemon; chopped red chillies; sugar;

salt; olive oil

Method:

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients

until well mixed. Let rest on counter 10

minutes until flavors have a chance to

blend.

Text: ELZAAN PIENAAR. Photo: Karen van der Merwe.


GIS0210_022_710420277.indd 23 2023/01/19 10:19:33

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

GIS0210_024_684211545.indd 24 2023/01/19 10:20:58

A passion for decor

We’re passionate about our

homes, about unusual and

beautiful pieces, and about

quality. So it’s no surprise we’re

having a love affair with Ethos -

an online interior and homeware

store with a focus on high-end

quality and an eclectic mix of

carefully curated homeware

and bespoke décor (with some

jolly stylish extras - think bags,

ponchos and darling baby

accessories - thrown in, too).

We have our eyes on these

Galangal wooden bowls, the

coconut-inspired Assam set of

white-enameled bowls with

a tray, and textured scatters.

Ethos delivers for free across

South Africa, and all products

are wrapped in beautiful earthfriendly

packaging with a gift

card. Details: ethos-store.co.za



GIS0210_024_684211545.indd 25 2023/01/19 10:21:22

Plant pretty

Keep your garden beautiful with love(ly) shades of violet, pink and purple

Veggie of the month

It is worth making space to sow

globe artichokes. These beautiful

plants are a feature in any garden,

and not just the veggie garden. Plants

need at least 1m by 1m to thrive and

should be planted in full sun, in rich,

fertile soil that drains well. Artichoke

Violet de Provence from RAW seed

is an heirloom variety with large,

serrated silvery leaves and purple

buds. Water deeply, especially when

the buds are forming. At the end of

the first year the plant will produce

small buds which can be picked

and eaten or left to flower. From the

second year, many more buds will be

produced and will be larger. The best

harvests are from the second and

third year. Details: rawliving.co.za

Text: ALICE COETZEE


GIS0210_026_709755280.indd 26 2023/01/19 10:23:52

Indoor plant of the month

For a Valentine’s treat, drop hints or spoil yourself to Curcuma

Sweet, a soft pink lily, or Curcuma purple Splash. This lush, tropical

lily, aka Siamese tulip, will flower indoors for the next month or

more. Display it as a coffee table beauty, or anywhere with bright,

indirect light. Keep the soil lightly moist but not soggy. Curcuma

is a perennial that can be transplanted into a frost free garden

in partial shade or in a pot on the patio. However, it does go

dormant after flowering. When the leaves start to go yellow, stop

watering, cut off the leaves and let the potting mix dry out. Store

the pot in a cool place during winter and sprinkle with water

occasionally. In spring, plant out the tubers in the garden or leave

them in the pot to sprout. Details: lvgplant.co.za

We’re planting …

Bidens Pretty in Pink - because it’s

one of the failsafe plants that copes

with dry or wet conditions, grows in

ordinary garden soil and is tolerant of

urban pollution. It produces masses of

beautiful hot pink daisy flowers with

gold eyes and creamy white tips at

the ends of the stems from late spring

to mid-autumn. The plants are bushy,

low growing and compact and the

tiny, fernlike green leaves add a fine

and delicate texture to the garden.

Pretty in Pink grows in sun or partial

shade and is a versatile garden flower

for mass planting, rockeries or borders,

as well as filling pots and hanging

baskets. Details: ballstraathof.co.za

Garden tasks for February

• Water in the morning or late afternoon.

• Mulch all beds to keep the soil cool

and moist for longer. • Remove dead

blooms to extend the flowering period

of your summer annuals and perennials.

• Lightly trim lavender, pelargoniums,

and other bushy plants that need tidying

up, as well as topiaries and hedges. •

Divide agapanthus and irises. • Water

containers daily and feed with a liquid

fertiliser at half strength every second

week. • Water lawns and mow weekly. If

it is very hot don’t cut the lawn too low. •

Pick fast maturing vegetables like beans,

cucumbers, chillies, and tomatoes at least

twice a week. • Watch out for red spider

on your herbs, vegetables and flowers

and spray with an organic insecticide like

Ludwig’s Insect Spray.


GIS0210_026_709755280.indd 27 2023/01/19 10:24:09

We love a little

VROOM VROOM

Jaguar Classic Black - seductive, high-class and charismatic.

• Bentley Intense boasts excellent staying power and offers a

long-lasting, truly intense and daring fragrance experience.

R1049 • Dunhill Driven Black is old-school charming and

seductive.R979. All from Clicks.

This limited edition gold car diffuser attaches to the

aircon vents of your car and releases a consistent fine

fragrance. R475 from wickfragrances.com

An intoxicating and masculine

blend of musk, patchouli, sage

and mahogany cologne for your

car. Midsummer’s Night is one

of the Yankee Candles Ultimate

Car Jar options ... if your car’s

the love of your life, give it a

signature scent. R120 from

yankeecandlesa.co.za

Attach this

Diptyque Perfumed

Car Diffuser

to your car’s

ventilation grill and your car will be

awash with the tart, exuberant scent

of blackcurrant leaves, accented with

rose blossoms. The adjustable metal

grill allows you to control the intensity

of fragrance in the car, and if used

correctly the cartridges can be kept for

up to three months. R2600 from skins.co.za


GIS0210_028_684217774.indd 28 2023/01/19 10:25:18

If life is a highway ... we want to be driving the all new Proton X70

It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.

Does that still stand if the destination is a first class,

luxurious, been-dying-to-visit spot? To be honest, we didn’t

think so. But then we jumped into the Proton X70 and my

heaven ... we could have driven for days!

Massive, comfy, soft Nappa leather power seats, which went

waaaay back for passengers needing a snooze (those early

morning departures are a bugger). Loads and loads of leg

room and space for coolers and coffee and padkos (we’re

all for too-many-snacks on any journey). A really impressive,

six speaker sound system for the 70s Road Tripping play

list. Add the voice command (“Hi Proton - roll down the

windows”) and touch screen monitor infotainment system

which has smart phone and Bluetooth connectivity, and

USB ports ... so all those necessary boxes firmly ticked.

Our route included freeway (so a chance to open up and

feel the power, and to test the cruise control), detours

through rural towns with pothole-strewn roads (and here

we use the word roads in the loosest possible way) as well

as a short stretch of gravel and dust ... so we could really

experience the car every which way. Add to that drizzle and

downpours (hello auto-sensing wipers) followed by the

sweltering heat and dust of the Kruger area (so a massive

welcome to the Proton Intelligent Air Purification System

– a combination of N95 cabin filter which is incorporated

into the air-conditioning, and air purifier system ... combined

these work twice as efficiently to improve the air quality

inside the cabin).

A big plus on a long trip is the excellent fuel consumption

- 7.8l per 100km in the Proton X70 (and 6.5l in the smaller

Proton X50) ... certainly a lot more impressive than some

of the other SUVs on the market. In fact, affordability was

a major influence in the decision by Combined Motor

Holdings and Geely when bringing Proton back into

the country from Malaysia. With so many luxury brands

launching SUVs, there was a massive gap, they felt, for a

quality SUV within an affordable price bracket.

Another long-distance journey plus is the five-year roadside

assistance which comes standard - as, by the way, does the

five-year, unlimited mileage (yay to many long road trips)

and transferrable warranty, the five year/80 000 km service

plan and the five-star ratings in financial packages ... so bit

of a high-five all round, here, too.

Talking the safety of knowing road-side assistance is just

a call away, other safety and security benefits are the six

airbags and the advanced driver assist system, which

includes blind spot info, lane departure warning, adaptive

cruise control and forward collision warning (jolly helpful

when the driver ahead of you suddenly reduces speed).

Add to that the traction control, hill hold assist and hill

descent control, electronic and anti-lock braking systems

with brake assist and auto brake hold. There are also

daytime running lamps, which means greater visibility in all

weather conditions.

We’re not, we admit, the best reverse-parkers in the

forecourt, so the 360 degree camera and parking sensors

were a jolly useful addition for us (and no doubt for others

in the area!).

Stops at padstals along the way drew loads of envious

glances from fellow travellers ... and stepping back to

admire our ride, we knew why. From the chrome finishing

on the front and rear bumpers to the rear diffuser with dual

exhaust outlets to the alloy wheels to the power tailgate

with foot sensor (oh my, how we loved that ... bought extra

goodies just so we had an excuse to open (and fill) the

enormously spacious boot).

The Proton comes in six rather dashing colour choices -

Snow White and Armour Silver, a dark and dashing Jet Gray

and look-at-me Ruby Red, Space Grey and our favourite

Cinnamon Brown.

There are, obviously, kilometer-long technical specifications

... none of which mean a single thing to us (we’re all for

the ride, not the deets) ... so best you download the Digital

Brochure on proton.cars, navigate your way around that,

and then once you’re revved up, it’s all ready, steady, go and

book a test drive.



GIS0210_028_684217774.indd 29 2023/01/19 10:25:34

GET IT DIRECTORY

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GET IT DIRECTORY

We supply:

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GDS20210_031_709711413.indd 31 2023/01/19 10:30:11

Love a safari

Luxurious rooms + impressive meals + a massive roar = a perfect bush experience

Room with a view

The invigorating feeling of the unknown, not

knowing what’s around that very next bend,

what sounds and smells will trigger your

senses … this is what makes us fall in love with

the bushveld over and over again.

So, when we arrived at the newly opened

Letamo Lodge at Qwabi Private Game

Reserve in Waterberg of Limpopo, we knew

we were going to be catching all the feels that

wildlife brings ... paired with an indulgent stay.

With 11 000-hectares of Big Five land to

explore, divided by wide-open paths and

lush terrain, we were relieved to be with the

fabulous guide Brendan - always cracking a

joke, an impressive knowledge of both rhino

and birdlife and he makes a decent cup of

Amarula coffee!

We’d hardly even set out on the first drive for

a minute when we had our very first sighting

… three hippos, the bull with his mouth wide

open showing off his dominance. And as

much as it was captivating to view from the

4x4 game vehicle, it’s a sight that can easily be

viewed from the lodge’s large rim-flow pool

which overlooks the river. And the sightings

on our drives just kept getting better and

better. Even the pouring rain didn’t keep

the animals away ... we spotted a cheetah

gracefully walking along, crossing our path

into the bush, a rather drenched wildebeest,

a rare sighting of foam-nest tree frogs going

about their business. Highlight, if we had to

choose, was a close encounter with a lion ...

who gave a warning roar so fearful that one

The African wild cat that let out a roar

Qwabi 4X4 game vehicle

Stripes among the wild daisies


GIS0210_032_709817028.indd 32 2023/01/19 10:26:50

Lemato Lodges rim-flow pool overlooking the river

guest (could have been from Get It ... we’d never tell!) dropped her camera in fright.

A perfect ending to the final game drive, since Qwabi means ‘African wild cat’ in the

local Sesotho language.

Back to the lodge ... G&T firmly in hand, we chatted to General Manager of Qwabi

Private Game Reserve Dr André Uys who told us the reserve is a conservation

stronghold which is committed to preserve, protect and populate the African

species. You can appreciate the passion behind their anti-poaching efforts and

admire the focus on genetic management.

It’s a large lodge ... a whopping 58 rooms, which has standard rooms (still jolly

spacious with a king size bed, lovely white cotton linen and a private patio), as well

as inter-linking room for families, and luxury suites with private plunge pools. It’s all

very natural with calm tones and an Afri-chic vibe.

For those who’re looking for a little hedonistic luxury, there’s an incredible wellness

spa ... the perfect place to get pampered and feel re-energised and our ideal spot

to be spending our leisure time, but those with more energy can also hit the gym

or padel court. For parents looking for some down time while they laze by the pool,

there’s a really cool junior conservation ‘HQ’ where the staff will care for your little

ones. They have set activities, arts and crafts, a jungle gym, PlayStation, swingball and

so much more. What’s more Letamo offers thoughtfully curated child-friendly safaris

and a Junior Conservationists Programme designed to instill the passion for nature

at a young age.

And on the menu. Glorious indulgent breakfasts, light lunch-come-tea mid

afternoon, bush dinners outdoors if the weather plays fair or in the lodge restaurant

overlooking the bush. Loads of African-inspired dishes (we tucked into a hearty

oxtail potjie with polenta followed by a the most delicious malva pudding) and an

award-wining selection of Southern African wines.

This lodge is a part of the Newmark Hotels & Reserves group, and they’re currently

renovating two additional lodges on the grounds. Letamo Lodge, where we

stayed is the perfect spot for a luxury family bush vacay, but if you are looking for

something more intimate, Babohi Lodge will be opening soon and is exclusively for

adults. The third lodge to open will be Semela, and promises to be the ideal spot for

corporate getaways.

The rates at Lemato start at R6650 per person sharing, per night for full board,

including daily game drives. For more details, visit newmarkhotels.com/

accommodation/qwabi-private-game-reserve or follow them on

social media @qwabiprivategamereserve

First sighting of a

bull showing off

Cheetah gracefully crossing

Compiled by: MEGAN BRETT


GIS0210_032_709817028.indd 33 2023/01/19 10:27:04

Spoil

February

Get into the

CIRCA fragrance zone

Our Feb Spoil ... to win a Circa candle, simply pop over

to GetItNationalMagazines on Instagram or Facebook

and follow the prompts. Entries close Feb 20.

No matter how chaotic your day may be, the ritual

of lighting a candle gives you back a moment of

peace. Allowing your breathing to slow down,

recharging your senses and calming the soul. Circa,

the Australian home fragrance brand, is an artisanal

range of simple, uncomplicated products to elevate

your everyday. We’re besotted with the Soy Candle

in a luxurious faceted glass jar with gold lid ... 70

hours of glorious burn time. Exclusive to Dis-Chem.


GIS0210_034_684222917.indd 34 2023/01/19 10:27:53

GIS0210_035_713700087.indd 35 2023/01/18 10:12:48

ADVERT De Hoop.indd 2

7/13/2022 2:20:10 PM

GIS0210_036_713781890.indd 36 2023/01/18 10:14:45

Feb 23 - JHB South East

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