Gautrain up and running

The Gautrain will officially open for business on Tuesday the 8th June 2010. I was on it during a media trip and the entire trip brought back memories of traveling from Glasgow to Edinburgh and London. Hello First World, we're not there yet, but we sure are on our way.

Springbok Bafana

Springbok coach, Peter De Villiers presented his football counterpart Carlos Alberto Parreira with a special jersey to wish Bafana Bafana well for the upcoming World Cup during an event at the Southern Sun Grayston Hotel, Sandton.Bafana captain, Aaron Moekoena jokes with Springbok captain, John Smit about whether the Bafana shirt would fit him.

Ramaphoza

Residents of Ramaphoza informal settlement protest over housing and poor service delivery.There was a large contingent of police overseeing the protesters and the housing department promised to return to them with answers to their memorandum in two days. Typically in these situations the goverment people come and make a few promises and everyone disperses happy until a few months later, they realise nothing has changed and protest again, maybe the guy with the poster demanding back his vote has the right idea, at least until the next election comes and the ruling party come back with all the promises of a better life for all, hand out a few t-shirts and convince the people that they will get lots of free stuff and NOW is their time... If it wasn't so sad, it would be funny...

Football and Rugby in Soweto

Soweto was a busy place today, as two major events were held just a few kilometers away from each other. The Nedbank Cup final between eventual winners Bidvest Wits and Amazulu was held at Soccer City in its inaugural professional match, whilst Orlando Stadium hosted the Blue Bulls Super 14 semi final against the Crusaders from New Zealand.
This was the first time rugby of this calibre had been brought to the township and it was embraced by all and regarded by some to be as important a step in reconciliation as Nelson Mandela wearing the Springbok jersey in 1995.
It was a total success with the Bulls win securing a Super 14 final in Soweto next week, which will no doubt be a success, not only for Soweto, but for the entire South Africa as it's guaranteed to be a South African victory, as the two finalists are the Bulls from Pretoria and the Stormers from Cape Town. A victory for South Africa in so many ways...

Special Task Force

The Police's Special Task Force had a display of their skills during a simulated hijacking/hostage situation during an event in Sandton, Johannesburg to show their readiness to tackle any potential problems during the World Cup to be held in South Africa next month.