Two Bits – 18 September 2015

Heritage Day is one of those public holidays that sits awkwardly on the calendar. Originally it was Shaka Day, to honour the Zulu King Shaka, but was dropped from the list of public holidays drawn up for the New South Africa.

Those were touchier times and the ANC and Inkatha Freedom Party were at serious loggerheads. Much blood had been spilled in the run-up to the 1994 elections and when Shaka Day was dropped, IFP leader Mangosothu Buthelezi predictably threw a fit.

So it was hastily cobbled back onto the calendar with the androgynous title of Heritage Day, so understandably nobody knew what it meant. The Zulus continue to honour Shaka on this day, with a really unique ceremony in Stanger. You can’t call yourself South African until you’ve seen the impis in their finery, chanting and dancing their way past their present day King Goodwill and the monument to the legendary leader in, of course, King Shaka Street.

Others felt the day didn’t only belong to the Zulus, but what to do? Some bright spark came up with ‘braai day’, and anyone who was at a loose end was welcome to join in. After all, it is the national pastime!

We decided to present the whole heritage weekend as a Ilembe Heritage Experience, by bringing together a host of activities that will be happening on our North Coast over the long weekend.

On Thursday it will be our Orphan Fund bass fishing competition at Rain Farm, the I Heart market at King Shaka airport, plus a lot of braaing and fun at Sugar Rush in the afternoon.

On Friday it is the Litchi Orchard night market and on Saturday you will have three events to choose from: the first Strawberry Festival all day at Cappeny Farm on Compensation Flats, the Street Market all morning in Umhlali, while in KwaDukuza there are spectacular King Shaka celebrations.

The programme and details of the events are presented in the form of our Power Wrap, a new marketing concept for Caxton local media that is wrapped around this issue of the Courier. It is eye-catching and we hope will become a strong addition to our media briefcase.

We look forward to enjoying the Ilembe Heritage Experience right along with you!

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If Friday night’s rains made you feel relaxed and think that Spring rains might be on their way and the drought over, rewind.

Yes, the government has finally started work on raising the wall of the Hazelmere Dam, but it’s five years behind schedule. What with the rate the North Coast is growing and the added burden of the new airport, truth is they should be working out how to dam the Umvoti and build a desalination plant.

The UK Met Office says latest research predicts the next two years could be the hottest on record globally. It warns big changes could be under way in the climate system with greenhouse gases increasing the impact of natural trends.

The research shows that a major El Niño event is in play in the Pacific, which is expected to heat the world overall. While Europe might experience cooler summers and the four-year drought in California is expected to end, there is bad news for the southern hemisphere.

Two trends affecting weather patterns in the near and medium term are in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño happens when a Pacific current reverses on average every five years or so, bringing downpours where there is normally drought and drought where there is normally rain. El Niño tends to push world temperatures upwards.

This growing event is now looking similar to the 1998 El Niño, which bleached corals and brought havoc to world weather systems. The current event could increase drought risk in South Africa, East Asia, and the Philippines – and bring floods to southern South America.

If you haven’t already installed a JoJo or two and put bricks in your toilet cisterns, don’t delay!

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Look who poppped into town last week for the opening of the new GNC health and wellness supplements store at the Lifestyle Centre – none other than swimming superstar Chad le Clos. Chad is the brand ambassador for the new chain of stores that cater for the health and fitness market. Everybody’s heading for Ballito!

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Mom and Dad were trying to console Susie whose dog, Skipper, had recently died.

“You know,” Mom said, “It’s not so bad. Skipper’s probably up in Heaven right now, having a grand old time with God.”

Susie stopped crying and asked, “What would God want with a dead dog?”