A group of 100 doctors from 30 nationalities has been specially selected from the 500-strong member WDO, due to their exceptional musical abilities, to perform in two benefit concerts in Cape Town and Johannesburg in February. Through the medium of classical music, the doctors will bring their special brand of attention to a global emergency – the spread of HIV/AIDS.

MBSA Divisional Corporate Affairs Manager, Nobuzwe Mangcu, explains why the automotive company has become involved in the initiative: “In 2000 Mercedes-Benz South Africa first heeded the call to act against HIV and Aids. For over 10 years we have raised awareness for, and actively spoken about the prevention of the disease – first amongst our staff, then expanding our successful model to small businesses around our manufacturing plant, and then into communities. The work done in the community of Elandsdoorn by the Hugo Tempelman Foundation has a direct correlation to the aims of our own corporate social investment focus on HIV/AIDS.”

The work of the Foundation at the Ndlovu Care Group in Elandsdoorn supports the holistic approach of Dutch doctor, Hugo Tempelman, in the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The approach focuses on education and advocacy about the disease and providing essential healthcare services. “This is exactly the sustainability model that MBSA ascribes to in the work we have done with employees in our Workplace HIV/AIDS programme, the small businesses on our Siyakhana project and the Trucking Wellness network of clinics that we support.”

The WDO is a non-profit organisation based in Germany that attracts membership from all corners of the world, with the common goal of focussing the world’s attention on curable infectious diseases that still plague many undeveloped countries. This includes illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria. In the process, they also raise money for beneficiaries in the countries where they perform. According to the WDO: “healthcare is a human right, and the precondition for human development”. Doctor-musicians participating in the WDO concerts cover their own travel costs.

The South African programme is the ninth of this nature, following on similar expeditions to Berlin, Cleveland, Taipei, Yerevan, Washington, Beijing and Shanghai. The WDO tour of South Africa kicks off in Cape Town with a concert on 9 February, followed by a concert in Johannesburg on Sunday, 12 February 2012. Concerts will be conducted by founder of the WDO, Prof. Dr. Stefan N. Willich – an accomplished doctor and musician.

Famous South African composers contribute to the program: Allan Stephenson’s Pastorale for Clarinet is interpreted by Maria du Toit, who is one of the foremost clarinettist in South Africa. South African composer Peter Klatzow, teacher of contemporary classical music at University of Cape Town, contributes with the commissioned work “Healing Melody”.

The World Doctors Orchestra

Daimler and Benz: The Complete History – The Birth and Evolution of the Mercedes-Benz

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Presents the official history of two of the world’s pioneering automotive firms, illustrated with over 400 color photographs. This title presents a decade-by-decade look at the evolution of one of the world’s leading car companies. It opens in early days of three pioneers, Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, and the birth of Mercedes.

List Price: £19.99

Price: £10.76

Concert goers can expect a stellar line-up of male and female singers performing well-loved local and international duets spanning a number of genres.

The show starts at 20h00 and tickets are available from Computicket from R100 to R180. Tickets cost between R60 and R100 for children between five and 16 years of age.

The awards event honours artists and productions that have been recognised as the cream of the crop at cultural festivals across the country, which includes predominantly Afrikaans theatre, but also dance, music, cabaret and visual arts.

Over 30 productions, 40 artists, musicians, dance troups and behind-the-scenes talent have been nominated for the coveted awards, with winners from 16 categories – as well as three Lifetime Achievement Awards – to be announced on the night.

Karen Meiring, channel head for kykNET, says Cape Town is a good fit for establishing the gala event as a must-attend on the annual arts and culture calendar: “Cape Town’s diversity and rich cultural heritage presented an easy choice for hosting the Fiestas in the Mother City. Cape Town’s recent appointment as World Design Capital for 2014 places the city at the forefront of creativity and recognises Cape Town’s use of creativity to boost social, cultural and economic development.”

Meiring says the event is much more than an awards ceremony, “Whilst the Fiestas give recognition to the best of the best performances at festivals around the country, it is also a production in its own right. Some of the biggest names in the South African entertainment industry will perform on the night, and the event is an opportunity for loyal fans and theatre lovers to rub shoulders with their favourite personalities.”

The kykNET Fiestas awards ceremony takes place on 23 February 2012 at 19:30 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town. Tickets are available at Computicket at R120. A special broadcast of the Fiestas awards show will be broadcast on 1 March 2012 at 19:30 on kykNET channel 111 on DStv.

Read more about the nominees here.

Photographic Print of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, from Robert Harding

• This 10×8 Print features an image chosen by Robert Harding. Estimated image size 254x169mm.
• Printed on 254x203mm Fuji Crystal Archive paper for stable image permanence and brilliant colour reproduction with smooth tones, enhanced sharpness, and excellent definition
• Image Description: Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe
• For any queries regarding this item please contact Robert Harding c/o Media Storehouse quoting Media Reference 3640980
• © Gavin Hellier

10×8 Print, Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine,. Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe. Chosen by Robert Harding. Printed on 254x203mm Fuji Crystal Archive paper for stable image permanence and brilliant colour reproduction with smooth tones, enhanced sharpness, and excellent definition.

List Price: £7.99

Price: £7.99

The Hollies will appear at the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town on 23 February from 20h00. Tickets will cost from R160 to R460.00 from Computicket.

The Hollies – Greatest Hits

Notwithstanding the entirely acceptable omission of 1981′s rather desperate Stars-on-45 style retro-medley Holliedaze, this rather definitive Greatest Hits collection contains every single Hollies song that ever tickled the mass fancy of record buyers anywhere in the world, ever. Even the sleeve notes dispense with the scantest of biographical detail to present a veritable Wisden’s Cricketer’s Almanac of impressive global chart statistics, including mentions of Number One singles in Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Holland, South Africa, Singapore, Ireland, Switzerland, as well as the UK. Of course, the Hollies were nothing if not adaptable. The grinning beat pop and “pap pap she waddy wops” of “Stay” through to the folky overtures of “I’ve Got a Way of My Own” (like an oestrogen-free version of the Mamas and the Papas) were obviously marvellous and yet entirely generic responses to the overriding cultural dominance of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. But much the same thing can be said for the majority of their peers.

Still, the 1960s were a golden age for the Hollies and to hear the Graham Gouldman penned “Bus Stop”, “Carrie Anne” (part Kinks, part Beach Boys, part calypso) or the sweet-shop bubble gum of “Jennifer Eccles” is to be reacquainted with a sunny lost world of short skirts, mini coopers and policemen on bicycles. Even the knee-jerk cod-psychedelia of “King Midas in Reverse”–a full-on trumpets-blaring, cello-charging microcosm of Revolver and Sgt Pepper-isms–deserves revisionist plaudits. There is one newly recorded track on the album (featuring Allan Clarke’s replacement, the former Move vocalist Carl Wayne) called “How Do I Survive”. Regrettably, it’s a disco-cum-AOR rock thing that sounds like the result of an unfortunate liaison between James Ingram and Foreigner. Still, when faced with the spine-tingling, classic gold timelessness of “He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother” and “The Air That I Breathe” it would matter not one jot if the bonus track was a three-part harmony rendition of a page out of the telephone directory. –Kevin Maidment

List Price: £8.99

Price: £4.19

Kurt Darren

Kurt Darren’s the captain and his ship of platinum hits is about to launch on Sunday, 18 March at the GrandWest Grand Arena.

Darren needs little introduction and his legions of fans have ensured that as many as 36 of his songs have gone platinum. He is also riding the crest of television popularity with appearances on KykNet’s Jukebox and through his weekly Radio Jacaranda show.

To date, Kurt’s accolades include 14 solo albums. His hit Meisie Meisie has been recorded by a German group called Klostertaler and over ten other hits have been translated for audiences in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. These include Hemel op Tafelberg, Staan op, Alleen, As jy my wil he and Se net ja.

A five piece orchestra and four talented dancers will join Kurt on stage during his platinum tour.

The show starts at 14h30 and tickets are available from Computicket between R80 and R140.

Grab your copy of Kaptein by Kurt Darren from Kalahari.

Kaptein Lyrics:

Kaptein – span die seile. Kaptein – sy is myne, daar waar die son opkom, daar oor die horison wag sy vir my.
Kaptein – span die seile Kaptein – sy is myne daar waar die son gaan lê, het sy gesê sy wag oh oh oh oh oh oh sy wag vir my.

Eendag lankgelede in my drome was daar ‘n girl soos jy en sy was ver te mooi vir my.
Daar was ‘n eiland vol meisies in bikinis en almal lyk soos jy en dit was ver te veel vir my.
Eendag op ‘n reëndag ons alleendag dit was net ek en jy ons het mekaar in ‘n droom gekry.
Daar was ‘n eiland vol kinders by dosyne en almal lyk soos jy en dit was mooier as mooi vir my.
Kaptein ek wens jy wil my hoor.
Kaptein ek wens jy wil ek gaan my droom verloor.

Kaptein – span die seile. Kaptein – sy is myne, daar waar die son opkom, daar oor die horison wag sy vir my.
Kaptein – span die seile Kaptein – sy is myne daar waar die son gaan lê, het sy gesê sy wag oh oh oh oh oh oh sy wag vir my.

Kaptein – span die seile. Kaptein – sy is myne, daar waar die son opkom, daar oor die horison wag sy vir my.
Kaptein – span die seile Kaptein – sy is myne daar waar die son gaan lê, het sy gesê sy wag oh oh oh oh oh oh sy wag vir my.

The dates for the Infectng the City festival are now from 6-10 March – so you have one less day to become infected with public art.

Watch below to get a better idea of how to become infected:

The new festival curator is Jay Pather:

Pather is Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town, Director of the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts and Artistic Director of Siwela Sonke. A Fulbright Scholar, he read for an MA in Dance Theatre at New York University and since then Pather’s work has traveled widely extending across discipline, site and culture. He has collaborated with visual artists, architects and urban planners, since 1984, taking his inter-cultural performances into public spaces and working with the architecture of Johannesburg, Durban, London, Zanzibar, Amsterdam, New York, Barcelona, Mumbai, Muscat, New Delhi, Copenhagen and Cape Town.

Pather has presented papers at amongst others the African Knowledges Workshop, the School for New Dance in Amsterdam, the International Leadership Forum at Aix en Provence, the UNESCO Conference on Art Education in Africa, at the Territoires de la creation Conference in Lille, the Metropolis Conference in Copenhagen, the World Cultural Forum in Brazil, the African Urbanism Colloquium in Cairo and at the International Theatre Institute in London.

Pather has served on the National ACTAG, the Arts and Culture Trust of the President, the Advisory and State Theatre Board and the delegation investigating cultural exchange with Cuba. In 2006, he was appointed onto the National Arts Festival Committee and elected as Chairperson for the Performing Arts Network of South Africa. In 2007 Pather was appointed co-curator for both the Spier Contemporary Exhibition and the Infecting the City Festival.

Awards include a Heritage Award, a Brett Kebble Award, the Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance and a UKZN Convocation Award for leadership in the Arts and Humanities. Following his CityScapes series, he was commissioned to present Body of Evidence at the FNB Dance Umbrella and the National Arts Festival. In 2009 his site specific Blind Spot was commissioned by the Metropolis Biennale. He has convened the pre-post-per-form colloquium for 2010 and is currently developing Qaphela Caesar as a result of an Award by the Gordon Institute of Performing and Creative Arts. Pather has been appointed Chairman of the National Arts Festival to succeed Sibongile Khumalo.

Infecting the City Festival Director - Jay Pather

Social Works: Performing Art, Supporting Publics

Shannon Jackson’s Social Works mediates between visual and performance studies, incorporating political, aesthetic and social discourses. This book uses case studies and contemporary methodologies to give insight into experimental art-making.Shannon Jackson’s Social Works mediates between visual and performance studies, incorporating political, aesthetic and social discourses. This book uses case studies and contemporary methodologies to give insight into experimental art-making.

Price:

The Gugulethu Tenors’ incorporate contemporary and subtle ethnic elements in their opera inspired music, embodying the culture-rich diversity of our “Rainbow Nation”. This vocal feast offers something for everyone – from opera favourites like Nessun Dorma and contemporary classics like You Raise Me Up, to South African favourites such as Meadowlands, Pata Pata and even Liefling, as well as their own moving compositions like O Afrika! and Nyamezela.

The Gugulethu Tenors perform at The Fugard on Friday 9 March 2012 at 20h00.
Ticket prices range from R100-R130 each and can be purchased at the Fugard Theatre box office and Computicket. Contact the Fugard Theatre box office at 021 461 4554 or visit www.computicket.com.

Author: Nicolette Michaels
Website: http://thefugard.com

The Township Plays: No-Good Friday; Nongogo; The Coat; Sizwe Bansi is Dead; The Island

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A collection of five plays (one of them, ‘The Coat’, published for the first time in the UK) drawing on black urban experience, conceived by the author in active collaboration with people from the townships of South Africa.

List Price: £10.99

Price: £4.99

The concert takes place on Sunday 5 February 2012 at 16h30. Tickets cost R120.00 each and can be booked at Computicket. Children under the age of 10 enter free of charge. Only food and beverages purchased at Nitida will be allowed. Picnic blankets welcome. Gates open at 15h00.

Author: Nicolette Michaels
Website: http://www.sterlingeq.co.za

First, however, there’s an appointment with the show’s notorious judges and South Africa’s next Idol will have to start stretching those vocal chords with immediate effect. The doors to the audition rooms for Idols season 8 will swing open in February 2012.

Pierre Cloete, M-Net’s Channel Head, says last year’s Idols 7 proved again that it can catapult the careers of hard-working, previously unknown singers. “It’s exciting to know that we will unearth more talent at the upcoming auditions in February. Idols offers contestants an astronomic amount of airtime and publicity and, with the support of the public, they can have a bright future in the world of showbiz.”

Singers who believe they have what it takes to embark on a life in the limelight, will have an opportunity to wow the judges at the following audition cities:

• Johannesburg: Sandton Convention Centre – Saturday, 4 February
• Durban: Ushaka Marine World – Saturday, 11 February
• Cape Town: Grandwest Entertainment World – Saturday, 18 February
• Soweto: Walter Sisulu Square – Saturday, 25 February

“The Idols 7 simulcast on Mzansi Magic was an enormous success and introduced the show to a new audience,” says Lebone Maema, Channel Head: Mzansi Magic. “For the first time, DStv Compact viewers could witness how Idols turns dreams into reality and they passionately supported the show and their favourite performers. Mzansi Magic is a proud host of Idols 8 and we encourage our viewers to be part of the action right from the start by joining us at this season’s auditions across the country.”

South African citizens between the ages of 16 and 30 are eligible to enter Idols. Those younger than 18 have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian and all contestants will be asked to present their ID documents at the registration, which will take place on the day of auditioning.

Musical instruments will again be allowed in the audition room.

But how should you prepare for the audition and what will impress the judges?

Idols SA Executive Producer and Series Director, Gavin Wratten, from the show’s production company, Nevermachine Entertainment, shares some tips: “Choose an upbeat song; stand out from the crowd; if you use an instrument, make sure it’s tuned; let your personality shine through; and show the judges that you’re an original talent, who can confidently follow in the footsteps of previous Idols.”

Universal Music has already released the debut album of last year’s winner, 21-year-old Dave van Vuuren, who became South Africa’s seventh Idol in November 2011. Runner-up Mark Haze, whose first single has been topping the charts, was also signed to the prestigious record label, as was Top 5 soul singer Lefa Pike.

They are joining a long list of successful Idols contestants – from first winner Heinz Winckler to season five’s Elvis Blue, Lloyd Cele and Sindi Nene. Some Idols have even been snapped up by local soaps. The beautiful Gail Nkoane, who made it to the Top 10 of season 6, is currently a leading lady in M-Net’s popular soap, The Wild.

For more information about the Idols auditions, visit www.mnet.co.za.

Fallen Idols

Everyone would kill for their fifteen minutes of fame…A Premiership footballer is shot dead in cold blood on a busy London street, and a country is gripped by terror. Who is behind this apparently motiveless killing – and who’s next in the firing line?Jack Garrett is determined to find out. A small-time journalist who’s left behind his Lancashire roots for the glitz and glamour – and seediness and squalor – of the capital, he’s convinced this is no celebrity stalker.Aided and abetted by DC Laura McGanity, desperately trying to juggle police life with motherhood and her feelings for Jack, the trail takes them back to Jack’s home town of Turner’s Fold – and his past.What’s the connection between the recent murder and the death of a young girl 10 years before?Conspiracy, revenge and the high price of fame all combine in this stunning debut from a dazzling new voice in crime fiction.Everyone would kill for their fifteen minutes of fame…A Premiership footballer is shot dead in cold blood on a busy London street, and a country is gripped by terror. Who is behind this apparently motiveless killing – and who’s next in the firing line?Jack Garrett is determined to find out. A small-time journalist who’s left behind his Lancashire roots for the glitz and glamour – and seediness and squalor – of the capital, he’s convinced this is no celebrity stalker.Aided and abetted by DC Laura McGanity, desperately trying to juggle police life with motherhood and her feelings for Jack, the trail takes them back to Jack’s home town of Turner’s Fold – and his past.What’s the connection between the recent murder and the death of a young girl 10 years before?Conspiracy, revenge and the high price of fame all combine in this stunning debut from a dazzling new voice in crime fiction.

Price:

Infecting The City is by far the largest and most diverse annual public arts festival in South Africa. This year, celebrated local and international artists will create artworks that unlock the communal spaces in the Cape Town City Centre. The art will encourage audiences to see, hear and smell the extraordinary by taking a fresh look at the Mother City, its citizens, and themselves in radically different ways.

Prepare to see Cape Town in a whole new light! For more information, visit http://www.infectingthecity.com, like the Festival on Facebook, follow ITC on Twitter (@infectingthecit) or call the Africa Centre on 021 418 3336.

From Cape Town to Brasilia: New Stadiums by GMP: Neue Stadien der Architekten von Gerkan, Marg und Partner

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This book showcases GMP’s groundbreaking stadium architecture.

List Price: £45.00

Price: £15.99

The band, first formed in the 1960′s, are regarded by many as one of the most successful British bands of all time and, during their heyday they enjoyed more hits than even The Beatles. Like fellow British band The Rolling Stones, the band has remained a tight knit group and has never broken up.

Their distinctive harmonies and prolific song writing talent led the band to produce 19 studio albums, 22 compilation albums and 67 singles. Since their first release in 1963, they had 30 songs in the UK singles chart and 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.  A further 15 albums have appeared in the UK Albums Chart and 13 on the Billboard 200.

Over the past 50 years few people can claim not to have heard a Hollies song, with perennial hits from 60s classics such as  Just one look, Bus stop, Carrie Ann, Jennifer Eccles, Sorry Suzanne and their smash hit He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. Later Hollies hits that made an impact on subsequent generations include I can’t tell the bottom from the top, Gasoline alley bred, Long cool woman in a black dress and The air that I breathe.

In 2010 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The two-hour show starts at 20h00 and tickets are available from Computicket between R160 and R460.

The Hollies current line up comprises:

• Guitarist and vocalist: Tony Hicks
• Drummer: Bobby Elliott
• Vocals: Peter Howarth,
• Bass: Ray Stiles,
• Rhythm guitar: Steve Lauri
• Keyboards: Ian Parker

Look Through Any Window 1963-1975 [DVD] [2011] [NTSC]

THE HOLLIES sono stati uno dei gruppi inglesi più famosi degli anni 60. Look Through Any Window racconta l’apice del loro successo, gli anni in cui hanno mandato nella Top 10 britannica ben 17 singoli. Ci sono le immagini d’epoca ma anche nuove interviste con i componenti del gruppo (Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks e Bobby Elliott).

List Price: £13.99

Price: £9.98

“In Concert” 1969.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

The DJ set between 18h00 and 21h00 will be followed by a live performance by jazz band Urban Groove.

Urban Groove comprises of saxophonist Marc de Kock, who holds an honours degree in Jazz from UCT’s College of Music and keyboardist Tony Higgins who will be remembered from other popular bands such as Late Final, Brother to Brother and Panama. The trio is completed by TJ Simons of vocals. Simons has shared a stage with many South African music icons and needs little introduction to jazz or pop audiences.

Entry is free to the Urban Groove Jazz Band on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday during January 2012 from 21h00 onwards. From 18h00 to 21h00 a DJ will help smooth those blues away.

New Orleans

A celebration of jazz, blues and swing, New Orleans style!

List Price: £8.99

Price: £6.98

The group, first formed in 2004 by reality TV guru Simon Cowell, consists of French pop singer Sébastien Izambard, Spanish baritone Carlos Marín, American tenor David Miller and Swiss tenor Urs Bühler. The foursome was selected by Cowell following a worldwide talent search.

Il Divo has since amassed an impressive array of accomplishments, nominations and awards which include worldwide sales of 26-million albums and over 150 gold and platinum awards in 33 countries. In 2011 they were named Artist of the Decade at the Classic BRITS Awards ceremony.

In keeping with Il Divo’s multinational identity, they perform in English, Italian, Spanish, French and even Latin. In November 2011 they launched their much anticipated album Wicked Game, and songs from the new album will be included in their shows.

Tickets for the Il Divo and Orchestra in Concert world tour are available from Computicket from R375 for the GrandWest show and from R320 for the Carnival City show. All shows start at 20h00 and doors open at 19h00.

Wicked Game

Wicked Game (Melanconia)
Crying (Llorando)
Don’t Cry for Me Argentina
Dov’è L’amore
Falling Slowly (Te Prometo)
Come What May (Te Amare)
Senza Parole
Stay (Ven a Mi)
Sempre Sempre
Time to Say Goodbye (Con Te Partirò)

List Price: £15.99

Price: £4.99

Sara Baras estuvo divirtiéndose en El Hormiguero


Image by ElHormiguero
ara Baras nos visitó el 19 de diciembre y se lo pasó en grande con la magia de Jandro, la ciencia de Marron y con la múscia de Il Volo

Paying tribute to the mania caused by mop-haired John, Paul, George and Ringo, the show All You Need Is Love will transport audiences back to the unforgettable sound of The Beatles and the ‘swinging’ 60’s from Friday, 3 February to Saturday, 17 March at the GrandWest Roxy Revue Bar, Wednesday through to Saturday.

The group shook their generation, threatening conservatism to its core and unleashing beatle-mania.  Today they are regarded as the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed band.

Setting the tone for the evening, Director Cedric Vandenschrik uses original footage to recreate the public hysteria of the time, such as performances on the Ed Sullivan show and the famous meeting with Bob Dylan.  Fans can expect to hear all the band’s best loved hits such as Help, Lucy in the sky with diamonds, I wanna hold your Hand, Ticket to Ride, Sgt Peppers, Hey Jude, Back in the USSR, Yellow Submarine and many more.

Taking the audience on this Magical Mystery Tour are vocalist and guitarist Cedric Vandenschrik, vocalist Chad Zerf, guitarist Aldert du Toit, drummer Adam Coolsaet, bassist Rob Nel and keyboardist Tracy Johannes.  Adding a pretty touch and a different interpretation to the music will be Candice Malander-Thorne.

Doors open at 20h00 and the curtain rises at 20h30.  Tickets are available from Computicket at R67.  The show will be open on Valentine’s day, 14 February.

1967-1970 (The Blue Album)

• The Beatles – The Beatles 1967-1970 [2009 Digital Remas

New ArrivalsNEW ARRIVALS

List Price: £21.99

Price: £8.88

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera


Image by mikkelz

In the past year, there have been some difficulties in the tourism sector, with hotel occupancy levels decreasing and tourism operators going out of business. Anyone who has been to even a couple of Economics 101 lectures will be able to tell you that tourism is one of the hardest hit industries in an economic recession. However, with this comes opportunity for Cape Town, as cost of living (and travelling) in the City remains reasonably low. According to du Toit-Helmbold, “Our visitors are extremely price sensitive and are looking for the best value packages across the board – whether staying in or just experiencing our city.”

In an effort to increase tourism in the city, Cape Town Tourism has made the smart move to partner with group buying site UbuntuDeal.co.za. UbuntuDeal offers people lifestyle experiences in and around Cape Town, at 50 – 90% discounts, from travel specials, to restaurants, activities, events and more! These deals are not only meant for people visiting the city, but also for Capetonians themselves.

The deals appear on the site for a few days, and create massive buzz in online communities, where most of us seem to be spending more and more time. The exposure gained promotes the destination and, even though the vendor is providing a discounted rate, there is always the opportunity to up-sell. Repeat business is where the real money is… treat a guest well and you’ll have a guest for life. ??UbuntuDeal is an extremely versatile business that can tailor a deal for any operator, and the success has been so great that small B&Bs to Five Star hotels are lining up to be featured on the site.

This partnership is the perfect marriage to convert dreams of visiting into stories of having visited.

Check out www.UbuntuDeal.co.za for Cape Town’s latest travel (and other) deals.

Author: Dean Pharo
Website: http://www.ubuntudeal.co.za

Tourism Entrepreneurs

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Tourism is one of the world’s fastest growing sector and is regarded as one of the industries that can alleviate poverty through job creation. This book offers guidance on various aspects of starting one’s own business, including recognising a business opportunity; understanding ten simples rules for a start-up; and, choosing a location.

List Price: £27.99

Price: £14.85

During the concert, GrandWest CSI presented Mayor Patricia de Lille with a cheque of half a million Rand for her Mayoral Special Fund. This money will be used to help the organisations and individuals who care for abused and abandoned and those living on the street.

GrandWest CSI also announced at the concert that it will be extending its support for the bursary fund and UCT’s Shawco health project with contributions of R4.2 million, for a further period of one year.

The concert took place at the Grand West Grand Arena on Thursday, 15 December 2011. See: Love The Children to Raise Funds for Mayoral Special Fund.