There are a set of images doing the e-mail rounds at present showing images of the Cape Town Stadium in the recent lightning storm.

It took me a bit of time (10 seconds using everyone’s favourite search engine if truth be told) to track down the photographer. He uses the internet handle GOTTOGRAPHY and we presume his first name is Simon as some overly familiar older ladies in his group refer to him as SI!

We can understand the older ladies having a bit of a thing for feeling Si up owing to his classic good looks in this image from his Flickr Account – “To all the MILF’s I’ve Loved Before …..”

Anyway, back to the other objects of lust doing the e-mail rounds (Click on any of the images to ORDER from SI):

Cape Town Stadium Lightning

Cape Town Stadium Lightning

Cape Town Stadium Lightning

Cape Town Stadium

Non-profit organisation, the Cape IT Initiative (CITi) and the IEEE Computer Society Chapter (IEEE South Africa Section) are bringing together industry, government and academia to discuss the growth and future of software and software engineering at the third Software Engineering Colloquium in Cape Town on 16 March 2010.

This Colloquium aims to establish tangible and immediate programs to build the South African software industry and create value through engineering.

“One of our primary aims is to put local software engineering on the map,” explains Jenny McKinnell, CITi’s executive director. “And to help achieve this, we have asked some very high-level individuals in the industry to partake in the Colloquium.”

Some of these role players include Prof Sonia Berman, Head of Computer Science Department at the University of Cape Town; Prof Johannes Cronje, Dean of Informatics & Design at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT); Prof Nico Beute, Former Dean of Engineering at CPUT; Jo-Ann Johnston, Chief Director of Trade and Sector Development for the Provincial Government of the Western Cape; Jenny McKinnell, Executive Director of CITi; Dr Joseph Balikuddembe, Systems Analyst for Sanlam Personal Finance; Dr David Hislop, CTO of Korwe Software, and Sian Evans, Attorney at Michalsons, Sian Evans & Associates, among others.

Attendees will include professors, lecturers and students from UCT, the University of Stellenbosch, the University of Western Cape and CPUT, as well as representatives from industry and government.
The technical advisory committee has been meeting extensively over the past few months, and has identified pertinent issues through a series of conversations and eight multi-stakeholder roundtable discussions.

While the Colloquium is not exclusively aimed at software engineers, the agenda is being driven by them. The engineers believe that without the software engineering profession being adequately recognised and accredited, there cannot be a continued growth of world-class software creation locally.

“The bottom line, is there are real people doing real work in this country in terms of software engineering,” says Dr David Hislop, CTO for Korwe and IEEE Senior Member. “They need to be not only recognised, but empowered in the industry.”

Some of the key issues that the technical team believes need to be addressed include the reference model of the Cape software industry; the ICT skills crisis and skills pipeline; innovation, research funding and access to capital; rewards and recognition for software innovators, inventors, designers and architects; legal compliance, IT governance and King III; and the professional recognition of software engineers. Agile development, cloud computing,and open source (FOSS) will also be discussed.

In a survey commissioned prior to the 2007 Colloquium which included input from SMEs based in the Western Cape, as well as software customers and development partners from the bigger enterprises, government departments and training institutions, issues surrounding a shortage of skills arose. “In terms of the supply of skills locally, it has been stated generally by respondents that there is definitely a shortage of adequate skills from the local employable workforce and that it hence makes sense to hire expatriates or even sometimes repatriate skilled workforce from overseas,” the report stated.

The report also highlighted a gap between what is being taught and what is needed by industry identifying “intellectual laziness for innovation and continuous learning” as a major cause of the brain-drain of the ‘gems’ and stagnation of average skills locally.

“Today, three years after the Second Colloquium, the ICT skills crisis remains an issue of critical concern to our industry and academic institutions,” says McKinnell. “It is clear that addressing the issue requires that we speak as one voice and take action. We are hoping that the discussion at the Colloquium will result in the creation of a multi-stakeholder initiative to grow the skills pipeline.”

These issues and more will be addressed and explored at this year’s Colloquium.

This post was submitted by Bonita.

Pat van Eyssen, NSRI Table Bay station commander said: “At 08h50 on Sunday, 07 March, NSRI Table Bay, NSRI Melkbosstrand, Lifeguards, the SA Police Services, a Police Dive Unit, Cape Town Fire an Rescue Services and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services launched a search for a 33 year old Khayelitsha man reported to have gone missing in the surf while allegedly trying to evade being apprehended by Crime Watch members at Milnerton Beach after allegedly stabbing a female believed to be his girlfriend.

“An extensive search which included 25 rescue swimmers deployed into the surf to conduct a sweeping line search, a Fire and Rescue Services rescue rubber-duck, an NSRI rescue craft and a Lifesaving rescue rubber duck has revealed no sign of the missing man.

“Police will continue with the ongoing search operation.

“The female involved in the incident was transported to hospital in a stable condition by a Metro ambulance.”

On Monday 1 March at 18h08 NSRI Kommetjie, NSRI Hout Bay, NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of a small yacht being swept out to sea between Kommetjie and Hout Bay and appearing to be in difficulty in gusting 45 knot winds.

During the search the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter located the yacht 5 nautical miles off-shore of Llandudno but they were under motor power and heading towards Port in Cape Town.

Ian Ruthven, NSRI Hout Bay duty coxswain, said that their progress was monitored until they were safe in port.

It is believed they sustained motor failure to their small yacht but were swept off-shore in the strong gusting winds before managing to get their motors started.

On Monday 1 March at 17h38 NSRI Bakoven and the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter were activated following reports of two surf-skiers in difficulty 1 nautical mile off Mouille Point lighthouse.

NSRI Bakoven launched their rescue craft Spirit of Rotary – Table Bay, the Metro Red Cross AMS helicopter responded, NSRI rescue vehicles and the Metro Ambulance and Rescue Services responded.

Johnny Albert, NSRI Bakoven duty coxswain, said that the 2 surf-skiers, friends from the United Kingdom, one from Northern Scotland and the other from London, had launched from the Three Anchor Bay slip-way into gusting 40 knot off-shore winds but the less experienced surf-skier, the man from London, had quickly capsized his craft and his friend was trying to assist him to get back on his surf-ski, without success, while the 2 men were being blown out to sea. They were not wearing life-jackets.

2 passing surf-skiers attempted to assist them but faced getting into difficulties themselves and had to abandon their attempts.

A fishing trawler was diverted to the scene by the Transnet National Ports Authority, but, being too large to render a rescue themselves they stood-by on-scene to provide a shelter to the 2 surf-skiers from the wind while rescue resources responded to the scene.

A smaller fishing boat that happened to be passing by at the time took both men and one of their surf-ski’s on-board their vessel and on the arrival of the NSRI rescue craft both men were transferred onto the rescue craft and brought in to the Three Anchor Bay slip-way where they were treated for mild hypothermia and released requiring no further assistance.

One of the surf-ski’s was lost to the sea and it is expected to wash ashore.

Stuart Burgess, NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty coxswain said: “On Tuesday, 02 March at 18h54 NSRI Gordon’s Bay duty crew were activated following reports of red distress flares being activated in the vicinity of Harbour Island.

“The NSRI Gordon’s Bay members were on base at the time preparing for a monthly crew meeting and immediately launched our rescue craft.

“On arrival on-scene a group of surf-skiers were found approximately ¾ nautical miles off-shore and it was established that one of the surf-skiers, a 49 year old local man, had sustained a suspected heart attack while taking part in a regular organised “downwind” paddle from Gordon’s Bay to the Strand in which 28 surf-skiers were taking part.

Sea conditions were gusting to 30 knot South Easterly winds and choppy seas.

“The surf-skier, who was being kept out of the water by three fellow paddlers who were using their surf-ski’s to keep the man’s body afloat, was immediately transferred on-board our rescue craft and he presented with no pulse and no breathing and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts were immediately commenced by our NSRI paramedic while the rescue craft returned to our rescue base.

“Once ashore paramedics continued with CPR but after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted he was declared dead.

“A brief search was then conducted for two men on a double surf-ski who had assisted in the rescue but they were found safe.

“While it is suspected that the man suffered a heart attack a post mortem will determine the exact cause of death.”

I was disgusted when my daughter came home and told me the principal at their school had made an announcement on the school intercom; “can all the black children come to the hall”. It was apparently to address their behaviour. Black pupils were totally humiliated by this announcement. Some girls were crying because of this. How are we going to become one nation if this happens at school level, where our future leaders come from?

This post was submitted by Mark.

Pioneers African Travel would like to extend our apologies for services not delivered to the following clients in December 2009:

• Dr Marios Conidaris and family
• Dr Bruce Ilsley and family
• Dr Larry Malin and family
• Mr Mark Currie and Meeser Family
• Mr Nikos Amacaupolos
• Mr Spyros Bylos
• Mrs Roze Moodley and Mr Preggie Moodley

The company had no intend to mislead anybody. The company indeed ran into financial difficulties.

Facts:

1. We have refunded all travellers in full.
2. Our vouchers are a mere reference not actual tickets as we were a travel destination company not a TRAVEL AGENCY.
3. We never stated we had an agent in Bali and was always transparent that we booked through Clubmed.
4. Keith Mellor resigned from Pioneers in January 2009.
5. Stephanie Kohler’s cancer and health can be proven through hospital records. She was indeed hospitalised and never left the country.
6. There are NO monies are owed to her daughter’s school.
7. Her ex-husband denies all incorrect facts on this illegal website.
8. Couzyn Hertsog and Horak represent the company.
9. The company closed due to the owners current health and financial status.
10. Mrs Roze Moodley and family were compensated with a week all inclusive vacation and full refund.
11. The victimisation and smear campaign is illegal and have indeed affected the family severely.
12. Mrs Kohler only stated that she is the breadwinner and did not utilise her deceased sister as an excuse but merely what affect this smear campaign can have on the family.
13. Prior to the failed services the company provided successful bookings to Mrs Moodley, Toyota SA and many other satisfied clients.

Thank you for your support.

Couzyn Hertsog and Horak Attorneys

(See all the Stephanie Kohler Mentions)

This post was submitted by Werner Bruyns.

In Table Bay on Friday 19 February 2010 at 09h00, NSRI Melkbosstrand responded to North of Robben Island to assist the skipper of the yacht Morgenster taking part in a yacht Regatta to Langebaan.

The skipper knocked her head on the yacht boom and suffered suspected concussion.

NSRI Table Bay launched their rescue craft Spirit of Vodacom to tow the casualty yacht to the Royal Cape Yacht Club after medics from NSRI Melkbosstrand found the skipper to be showing signs of a concussion injury to her head and the yachts crew did not feel competent to sail the yacht back into port without the skills of their skipper.

NSRI Table Bay deputy station commander, Ian Gross, said that to add to the casualty yachts dilemma rope had fouled around her motors and the decision was taken to tow the yacht into Port at Table Bay.

Ian said that once safely in the port the female skipper was taken to hospital as a precaution although she seemed to be doing fine.

And in Hermanus on Saturday, 20 February 2010 at 09h25, NSRI Hermanus launched their rescue craft Hunters Gold rescuer to respond to Harder Bay following reports of a dinghy capsized.

NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, Ian Alton, said that on arrival on-scene a Mr. J de Kock, from Onrus River, and a Mr. C. Van der Merwe, from Somerset West, were found to have already been picked up by a private boat and they were found to not be injured.

The NSRI duty crew righted the dinghy and towed her to Harder Bay slip-way where no further assistance was required.

At 11h25 NSRI Hermanus responded to Kwaai Water following reports of a swimmer in difficulty.

Ian Alton said that on arrival on-scene the unidentified swimmer was found to have already made it safely ashore and required no assistance.

At 11h42 NSRI Hermanus were then activated to respond back to Harder Bay where a semi-rigid-rubber-duck had capsized.

On arrival on-scene both victims had been picked up by a private boat and they were not injured.

The NSRI duty crew righted the rubber-duck and towed it to Harder Bay slip-way.

Ian Alton said that the twist here is that it was again Mr. J de Kock who had capsized for the second time after requesting his friend, a Mr. PJ Swart, to take him out into the Bay to retrieve his fishing nets which he had left behind after he capsized in the dinghy earlier.

The same private boat that picked him and Mr. Swart up was again on hand to rescue him in the second incident.

The NSRI have suggested he doesn’t launch to go to sea again until at least tomorrow!

A Cape Town, South Africa Restaurant Manager, Charl Van den Berg, won the 2010 Mr Gay World pageant on 14 February in Olso, Norway, beating rivals from Australia, Hong Kong, China and Spain.

Charl van den Berg

Charl Van den Berg, 28, won after four days of competition which finished with contestants walking down a fashion runaway in an Oslo nightclub dressed in skimpy swimwear and various costumes.

The competition is aimed at “finding a leader who can take on the responsibility of being a spokesman for the community and who can also speak out on equality and human rights on the world stage,” a statement said.

Xiaodai Muyi, 26, from China took fourth place despite Beijing’s attempts to prevent him doing so.

The Chinese authorities blocked China’s own first gay pageant, in which contestants were vying for the right to represent China at Mr Gay World, last month.

Xiaodai’s identity had been kept secret in the run-up to the competition in which some 20 men from around the world vied for the Mr Gay World title.

Homosexuality was a crime in China until 1997 and it was officially considered a mental illness until 2001. Since then, however, an increasing number of visible gay and lesbian events has taken place.

Australia’s Byron Adu, 25, who works for the Australian government, was in second place followed by Rick Dean Twombley, 33, a dancer from Hong Kong while Spanish entrant Sergio Lara, a 26-year-old psychologist, came fifth.

The first Mr Gay World competition, held last year in Whistler, Canada, was won by an Irish man.

Charl van den Berg was crowned Mr. Gay South Africa in November 2009 in Pretoria.

The awarding of the Mr. Gay Soth Africa title to van den Berg, was mired in controversy when it was revealed that he and two other contestants had appeared in solo nude photo shoots for adult video company Liberate Studios. Organisers of the pageant insisted that the nude photo shoots had not affected the judge’s decision.

According to the organisers of the event, they and the judges, who included the Director of Africa of Mr. Gay World, Brian Merriman, were informed of the pictures by the finalists well in advance.

In a joint statement, they said that did not believe that the photo shoots, which did not include sexual situations with other people, reflected negatively on the contestants’ characters.

They added: “The winner and all finalists were thoroughly questioned by the international judges including Mr. Brian Merriman from Mr. Gay World over four days… and they were blown away by Charl’s character and involvement in the community such as with Health4Men and HIV issues.”

In a statement to the judges, van den Berg said that he did not feel that the pictures impacted on his ability to be a role model nor that he needed to apologise for his actions.

“I was raised to not be judgmental or prejudiced towards anybody, no matter their background, race, sexual orientation, status in society, or jobs they hold for that matter.”

He added that some people might think “this was a terrible mistake to have made” but that “just because I did a nude shoot, it didn’t make me less of a person, or mean that I had ‘stooped down’ to a substandard.”

Charl van den Berg’s Blog.

I as a parent am very disgusted at the way an emergency is handled at Strandfontein Primary. Every year you have forms to fill in who is the family doctor or if we are on medical aid or not. These forms, to me, are a complete waste of time if I look at the way that Strandfontein Primary handled a recent situation with my son.

On the 11th of February 2010 at 2:20 p.m. my son swallowed a drawing pin and at 3:05 p..m the school contacted me to fetch Ethan and take him to clinic to see if he can get a letter for the hospital. I had to leave work in Rondebosch opposite Red Cross Hospital to collect him take him to clinic which is around the corner at Strandfontein. When I got to the school the child was red and his eyes were closing, I was in such a state when I saw this child as I could see he was suffering. The school was in a STAFF MEETING and the Vice Principal said to me it is nothing to worry about. When I got to the Clinic the child was choking and they immediately sent me to Red Cross – take note I work opposite Red Cross, so valuable time was wasted from 2:20 until 4:30 p.m. getting to school, to the clinic and back to Rondebosch.

They sent him for X rays and indicated he had to have a procedure done immediately and was wheeled into theatre just past 7:00 p.m. where they battled to get the drawing pin out which was lodged in his wind pipe. The pin was close to his lung and they struggled to get this out.

I am concerned as this is the second incident where my children are concerned, firstly my eldest son was under lentegeur and the Est teachers were not even aware of this. How do they operate at this school, I was at the Auditor General that day and thank God I came back early to office that day as my phone was off, if at this stage I still could not take calls what would they have done to help my son. Could they not have rushed him to hospital and ask me to meet them their to save time.

What was more important the staff meeting or the well being of my son?

The kids are in the care of the school, why can’t they take proper care as far as their health is concerned. I can get the hospital report if needed. The one teacher Mrs Hendricks said she asked them to call and ambulance and they said they will take care of it. And how did they take care of this. Mrs Hendricks stayed with me most of the night at the hospital and the next day she was told this was not her responsibility by the HOD. Who’s responsibility is this then?

Mr Mars is my neighbour and not once did he even phone or show concern. I am not leaving this matter like this.

A CONCERNED PARENT.

Kind Regards

This post was submitted by LEONIE ABRAHAMS.

On Sunday 14 February, NSRI Hermanus responded aboard Hunters Gold Rescuer to assist a rubber-duck at Skilphoek, near Hermanus, with engine failure, with 2 men and a female on-board, all from Cape Town’s Northern Suburbs.

NSRI Hermanus deputy station commander, Ian Alton, said that on arrival on-scene the crew aboard the casualty boat were found to be safe but drifting without motor power.

A tow-line was rigged and the NSRI duty crew towed the rubber-duck to Hermanus harbour and once safely in the harbour no further assistance was required.

The Cape Town College is one of the 13 recipients of Volkswagen of South Africa sponsored Citi Golfs, worth R1 million, to technical high schools and further education and training centres.

The vehicles will specifically be used by learners at the Cape Town College as training vehicles – they can be stripped down and re-assembled or used to teach engine tuning and fault-finding.

Speaking at the company’s Uitenhage plant at the handing over of the vehicles, Johann Arpin, Technical Learning Academy Manager, explained why the company made the donation. “This sponsorship is made to further enhance the practical training provided at colleges and schools as this is vital to ensure smooth progression from these institutions into technical training offered by industry. The better the quality of candidates applying for apprenticeships and learnerships, the better the artisan that eventually fills a position in industry.”

Addressing the institution’s representatives, Arpin said “We rely on your support and therefore we give you ours in terms of these vehicles for training purposes.”

The other institutions which benefited are:
Newton Technical High School, Ithembelihle Comprehensive School, Gelvandale High School, Eastcape Midlands College, Daniel Pienaar Technical High School, UDDI Skills Development, Otto du Plessis High School, Bergsig Special School, Belcomec Training – George and Keurhof School – Klerksdorp.

I urgently need to highlight the dangers that we people must face staying in a so-called security complex named Summerville. There are breakins, stealing of washing clothes off the line and a wall that has not even have electric wire to keep the thugs out. My house has been burgled twice and that was the end of story. The police were only there once and that was it. I am so fed up with whats happening that sometimes I feel like taking the law into my own hands and burn the bushes creating these problems and on top of it all there are snakes scaring off people.

I can guarantee you that a lot of my neighbours will agree with what I am saying. Access control is a problem, because most of the time anybody can pass through the so-called security. We feel that we purchased the property from the bank as secure living and not for people to destroy our assets. We did established a committee to raised our concerns but nothing came from it.

We need action now.

This post was submitted by Edmund Abrahams.

I would like to offer a testimony on behalf of my aunt Veronica in Italy. She was diagnosed with lymphatic leaukeamia. Her Chemotheraphy session was due to commence on Thursday. On Wednesday evening Pastor Mark visited the home of my Mom by her invitation – she had been to his service the Sunday evening. He spoke to my aunt via the telephone and prayed the prayer of healing, inviting her to accept that JESUS is the great healer and that by GOD’s grace she was healed. On Thursday my aunt went for her scheduled chemo session where they did the pre tests. The medical staff was astounded that they could not find the “bubbles” that were identified a few weeks previously. She is healed by HIS stripes and her faith in the greatest HEALER this world will ever know.

Thank you Pastor Mark for your obedience to our Father – you responded to the call to serve and answered “send me”.

This post was submitted by Cherrel.

The first event of the highly anticipated annual BMW International Polo Series takes place on Saturday, 27 February at the prestigious Val de Vie Wine and Polo Estate, Paarl.

Guests can witness sporty dynamism and impeccable style in equal measure when South Africa take on the Italians.

Guests will be accommodated in luxury, enjoying a relaxing day of fine wine, exquisite food and good company whilst absorbing the beautiful surroundings of the Paarl and Franshhoek mountains.

Gates open at 2pm and entrance to this stylish event is R110 (excluding food and drink). Tickets are available at Computicket. A wide range of delicious food and beverages will be on sale at the Estate and a superb range of BMW cars will be on display.

Hospitality packages are available – visit www.circa.co.za at for more information.

This post was submitted by CIRCA.