http://onlyinsa.com What makes South Africa so special Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:24:18 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en How will the 2010 impact our lives? 1)      Schools will  be closed for about over 4 weeks during the World Cup - it was apparently legislated last week. What do you do with your kids? 2)      Air tickets to Cape Town (for example) will cost about R8,000 ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/12/07/soccer-chaos-looms/ The number of national and provincial roads in "poor" and "very poor" condition is more than double what it was 10 years ago and the number in "good" or "very good" condition is a third of what it was 10 years ago. These are some of the shock findings made ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/05/14/going-back-to-ground-roads/ Here on the dark continent traditional healers can be found on virtually every street corner.  Competition is stiff now days with everybody doing a quick crash course in the bush. These so called healers have taken on the western ways to a degree.  They advertize via countless flyers on the street ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/05/12/medical-sick-note/ Will the city officials budget for inner city streets to be cleaned up. http://onlyinsa.com/2009/04/16/durban-ready-for-the-tourists/ South Africans will have a new passport – with undisclosed security features built into it – next month. Revealing this at a media briefing on Thursday, Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa said that the passport will have "highly complex security features". Minister of Home affairs, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula declined to say ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/03/08/new-passports-again/ Is it possible one tarnishes  one's city is that we want to save the lions in Kruger Park from refugees - “At present, it’s estimated that there are 2,000 lions in the Kruger National Park and studies suggest 90% have feline Aids. Some vets suggest the epidemic was started by ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/03/08/johannesberg-crime-stats/ Due to the political and financial stability achieved in Zimbabwe between Morgan “ organ grinder monkey” Tsvangarai and the compassionate Dr Robert “happy birthday” Gabriel Mugabe, the South African government has passed an urgent bill in parliament that will link the ailing SA rand to the Zim dollar.The historical land ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/02/25/new-sa-note-launched/ The Department of Home Affairs has urged people who have been erroneously declared dead to visit its offices to get their deceased status expunged. In a statement, the department said those who had been declared dead will need to “provide a sworn affidavit and a full set of fingerprints”. The department said ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/02/25/home-affairs-prove-you-are-alive/ > Zuma's Wives > Number One > Sizakele Khumalo - whom he met in 1959. She lives at his rural R1,5-million > home at Nkandla in northern KwaZulu- Natal and they have no children. > Ex-wife > Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma , with whom he had four > children: Msholozi, 24, Gugu, 22, ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/22/next-south-african-presidents-wives/ This man deserves the Nobel Prize in the 'Common Sense' category.     'They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: Why you ain't, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be... And I blamed the kid until I ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/20/well-said-bill/ I recall on "RRAAAACCCIIISSSTT" websites a while back, that it was stated that it won't be long before ANC Justice takes it toll and Shaik is released looooong before he has paid his dues to society. Judge for yourself: Jacob Zuma's former financial adviser, jailed businessman Schabir Shaik, could be home ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/11/freedom-soon-to-fraudster/ An officer of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) is due to appear in court for unauthorised use of a state vehicle and on suspicion of drug dealing, among other charges. JMPD Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said yesterday the officer, 40, who has been in the service for 15 years, was ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/11/dirty-cop-on-drug-deal/ Zimbabwe’s cash-strapped government has resorted to slaughtering elephants to feed thousands of hungry soldiers, sources told ZimOnline. The state Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has since last week supplied elephant meat to army barracks across the country that have run out of food, our sources who are senior officers in the ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/11/elephants-slaughted-to-feed-mad-army/ An elderly Brackenfell couple was found shot dead in their bed - both with wounds to their heads. Their 46-year-old son was found next to them, barely alive. Police said the Marina Strydom's sister had raised the alarm yesterday after arriving at the house in Eland Street, Brackenfell, to find ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/10/police-probe-shooting-of-elderly-couple-son-critical/ The descent of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe regime into thuggery has accelerated as his hold on power slips in the face of total economic collapse. But the news of the brutal mass murder of illegal miners by machine gun-wielding soldiers in helicopters has shocked the world. According to The Guardian newspaper: “Zimbabwean air ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/10/helicopters-used-to-kill-miners/ During the past four years, 111 members of the police's elite VIP Protection Unit - responsible for protecting the president, among others - have been charged with crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, armed robbery and the abuse of power. This is according to the Safety and Security Department in ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/10/from-hell-with-love/ Police Protection and Security Services boss Mzondeki Tshabalala has reportedly escaped punishment after causing a serious accident, allegedly while drunk, says the Democratic Alliance. · Did VIP unit delete SABC footage? Source · Blue light bullies off the hook Source · VIP unit investigated Source The police VIP ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/10/vip-police-boss-under-spotlight/   Day One of 2009. Starting as it ended. Limpopo saw a wave of crime over the last 24 hours, including four murders, a rape, an armed robbery and various other crimes, said police on Thursday. Police spokesperson Superintendent Mohale Ramatseba said police were investigating the murder of an elderly couple at ga ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/03/a-new-year-with-crime-as-usual/ Over 300 Cape Minstrels are in hospital this morning after taking part in a traditional street carnival to celebrate January 2 without realizing that the day was not a public holiday. According to one Minstrel bandleader the carnival was "just starting to go lekker" when it was crushed by morning ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/03/carnival-chaos/   Driving in town yesterday, I saw what seems to a brand new niche industry in Arsezania obviously in anticipation of the 2010 World Cup. There was this white MB Vito van driving along and on the side and the rear, it proudly proclaimed that it was a funeral parlour, which "specialises ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/03/new-industry-boom/ African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma is suing Jonathan Shapiro, the Sunday Times and its holding company for R7-million over a controversial cartoon published earlier this year, the Times reported on Thursday. n the cartoon, Shapiro, who uses the pen name Zapiro, portrayed Zuma unbuckling his belt as he ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/03/zapiro-told-to-pay-r7million-or-else/ When you share a last name with Texan racing legend Carroll Shelby, your supercar company better be very good. America’s supercar hero, built to defend top speed bragging rights against the likes of Bugatti’s Veyron, is the Shelby super cars (SSC) Ultimate Aero. Built by SSC (owner Jerod Shelby, no relation ... http://onlyinsa.com/2009/01/03/worlds-fastest-car-at-947kw/ Bushbuckridge - Eight men are being sought after a single mother and her two daughters were robbed and gang-raped near Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga police said on Friday. Superintendent Abie Khoabane said the armed gang robbed and attacked the women in their Calcutta home on Thursday night. "The family was sleeping when ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/12/06/mother-daughters-gang-raped-by-8-men/ National departments spend R2.19bn on hotels, travel and restaurants 18 out of 26 national departments spent R2.19 billion during 2007/2008, a R356 million (or 19%) increase from the previous financial year. This drastic increase in spending is indicative of government departments' complete disregard for the country's worsening economic climate where ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/12/06/equality-for-all-people/ Its good to see reports like these. Just a pity it happens so seldom, that it actually makes the news...lets hope the cops don't nail the owner...! Johannesburg - A man was shot dead on Friday minutes after he and his accomplices blew up an  in Mabopane, Pretoria police said. Four ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/12/06/justice-returned/ What can motorists do when they are pulled over? Do they have any rights? The short answer is NO. You are at the mercy of the metro cops. Now that's a pleasant thought huh? They can detain you and do with you whatever they want, even arrest you for no ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/12/06/motorists-have-no-rights/ Going quick, hurry.  Perfect for a drive around Joburg. Hijack-proof.   It's the perfect item for crime-weary Joburgers - your very own armoured vehicle. The police are selling off 205 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) that they don't need anymore. Unfortunately they're wrecks. Most are being sold without any registration papers and "voetstoets", meaning with ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/12/06/wanting-a-casspir/ The ANC has defended using taxpayers' money to provide Jacob Zuma with a 33-car motorcade for electioneering in Limpopo last week. According to a spokesman Zuma required 28 cars for his wives, one for himself, one for Jesus Christ in case He returned as Zuma has been promising, and three for ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/11/24/33-cars-required-for-zuma/ Confusing times ahead for GPS users. Here's something we hadn't considered. What will soccer tourists do for the 2010 world cup when their maps or GPSes are wrong and they get lost? It is all very well warning them to stay out of crime hotspots but if those areas are ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/11/04/confusing-times-ahead-for-gps-users/  Muti is a Zulu term for black traditional medicine. In southern Africa, muti is sometimes associated with murder and mutilation in order to excise body parts for incorporation as ingredients into medicine and concoctions used in witchcraft. Often children and the elderly are the victims, both male and female. ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/11/04/cutting-body-parts-alive/ The explosion ripped through the cash van, peeled off its roof and reverberated through a residential neighbourhood 800m away. The robbers used four separate sets of explosives - possibly dynamite - and despite the earth-shattering blasts, they still couldn't get to the money. Several minutes after they stopped traffic on the busy ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/11/04/cash-van-ripped-apart/ Now your house alarms are no longer effective. Just peachy. Pass this on to friends and family (click on the envelope icon at the bottom of the post). Umbrellas and wet blankets shield thieves from sensors. How in the world did they suss this out? Durban thieves have found an innovative ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/10/23/house-alarms-fooled-by-umbrellas/ An article makes reference to a study which suggested that working with idiots can be just as hazardous to your health as cigarettes or greasy food, due to stress impacts. Personally I have been enraged often at the level of stupidity around me, that I have often wondered whether it ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/10/23/working-with-idiotes-can-kill-you/ Former Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has denied reports that her new job as Minister in the Presidency will be limited to serving double vodka tonics to visiting heads of state and cooking African potato snacks for President Motlanthe. Her spokeswoman also denied that she had been asked to return the ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/10/01/mato-new-post-den/ http://onlyinsa.com/2008/10/01/south-african-politics/ President Mbeki was knifed by his own party last week. This is not unusual. For over 2 000 years, political leaders have been knifed by their parties. But two questions must frighten all South Africans. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar, perhaps the greatest soldier in history, was assassinated by his ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/24/scary-question/ Watching President Mbeki’s resignation speech, DA leader Helen Zille said, “The future depends on how we react to the tumult. This is a time for bold leadership and fresh thinking.” Despite my concern for our country at this time, one thing I can say for sure, is that we could do ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/24/its-the-crime-stupid/ Don't believe the lying face of Zakumi, the WC2010 mascot... British tourist, SA woman gang-raped by six-man armed gang at Hippo Lodge, Honeydew. Sept 23 2008 - HONEYDEW. Police have set up a task team to probe rape attacks, hijackings and armed robberies targeting families inside their own homes as well ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/24/south-africa-not-safe-for-tourists/ If you're ever faced with the task of transporting three live sheep, but don't have a trailer, truck or pickup, what can you possibly do? , just tie them to the roof and boot of your car ! This sight occurred in  Queenstown, Eastern Cape recently. It seems the black ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/22/life-stock-transport/ Actual writings on Mpumalanga (Northern Transvaal - S.A.) hospital charts: 1. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night. 2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year. 3. On the second day the knee ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/22/only-in-south-africa/ Well, what's new huh? Same old same old. Australia, like many western countries offers these people an opportunity to start a new life and instead they resort to crime. What is it about African cultures in particular that says you have the right to steal? Talk about biting the hand that ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/20/australia-hit-by-african-crime/ Man tries to break world record by spending more than 110 days with snakes, while the criminals try and break the world record for crime in South Africa. The money, donated by visitors to the park, was meant for the charity Save-a-Child. "I’ve had many close encounters with snakes these past 85 ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/19/snake-park/ The conviction rate for murder was 12,6 percent in 2007/2008, the DA said on Friday, quoting from the South Africa Police Service's annual report. Overall, the conviction rate for contact crimes was 19 percent, said DA safety and security spokesperson Dianne Kohler-Barnard. "It is difficult to know which is worse - the ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/19/conviction-rate-less-than-twelve-percent/  Lampposts are being cut down and sold as scrap along with the copper cable. About 50 have been stolen in parts of Blue Downs, Bonteheuwel and Atlantis over the past two months, costing hundreds of thousands of rands. Blue Downs will soon have no street lights left to be sold at the ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/19/lampposts-going-going-gone/ Six men in their early 20s have handed themselves over to the police and are to face murder charges after two bodies were found in Langa at the weekend. It was believed the six men and the two victims were part of a gang consisting of young men in the area. It ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/19/thief-on-thief/ Cape Town, South Africa, You are warned be careful of fish and chips. Now the copper cable is not enough for the thieves anymore. They are draining the cooling oil from transformers and selling it to fish and chips shops in townships. This oil is called Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCB’s for ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/19/oil-warning/ Letters to the Ministry of Labour   The following are genuine extracts of letters received by the MINISTRY OF LABOUR (SOUTH AFRICA) from people enquiring after money on the grounds of hardship. They are exact copies as they were received. Neither the wording nor the spelling has been altered.    Extract:  1. ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/18/sentence-construction-unicque-to-sa/  Examination Instructions: 1. Please write all answers between the lines. 2. No part of this answer book may be rolled and smoked. 3. No children of students are allowed to participate. 4. Please leave all firearms in the possession of parole officers. 5. Bribes will be accepted at a minimum of R300.00 6. If this ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/18/an-example-of-future-math-examination-questions/ Signs that you won't find anywhere else in the world except in Africa. In a restaurant in Zambia:"Open seven days a week and weekends." On the grounds of a private school in South Africa:"No tresspassing without permission." On a window of a Nigerian shop:"Why go elsewhere to be cheated when you can come ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/18/africa-and-how-its-done/ This hilarious account is guaranteed to set the tone for a good weekend.  Sipho and his mates decided to go on an affirmative shopping trip to the East London Museum. Clearly Sipho is a lover of the fine arts, and a veritable SBG (Sophisticated Black Gentleman) culture vulture to boot when ... http://onlyinsa.com/2008/09/06/self-impaling-technique/