This is the third edition of Waterwise Gardening in South Africa and Namibia. It’s fresh, new – and weighs 2.5kg! Why was it important to revisit and expand the book? It was long overdue – the first edition appeared 25 years ago. Knowledge and plant names are always evolving, so it was time for a fully updated version.

Ten years ago, when I retired from Kirstenbosch, Koos Bekker, owner of Babylonstoren, invited me to join their team, and I’m very thankful for his support. This new edition, published by Babylonstoren, is much thicker – with updated plant names, street trees for each region, and the most wonderful botanical illustrations. I’ve also added practical gardening tips and expanded sections on beneficial wildlife and pest control.

This book really is my life’s work. I’ve written many, but this one gave me the most joy. It’s the one I most wanted to publish as it represents a new garden philosophy: working with nature, not against it.

How would you like to see people use it? My philosophy is simple: Choose the most resilient local indigenous species for each biome and they’ll take care of themselves. Then, when planting and restoring a garden, follow nature’s pattern: start with the fast-growing pioneers and end with the long-lived perennials. That’s true ecological gardening. The book helps people choose wisely and bring a piece of the veld into their own homes. South Africa has nine plant regions: check the biome map to see where your garden falls, then head to the relevant chapter. It tells you exactly which plants thrive locally. I’ve chosen the best for each region, from fynbos and thicket to succulent Karoo, following nature’s lead.

In the wild, it’s the fast-growing pioneer plants that appear first after disturbances such as veld fires. So start your garden with these pioneers, then fill in with other species.

The book’s tables guide you on the best starting points, architectural plants and trees. Decades of experience at Kirstenbosch, Babylonstoren, and in the field have gone into these choices.

Afrikaans plant names spark joy: skilpadsam­ breeltjie, skoenveterbossie, skotteloortjie … Why was it important for you to include these common names alongside the scientific and English names? The Afrikaans names are part of our cultural history. Verneukhalfmensie, Kaokowolftoon …

They developed in everyday speech and are often very descriptive. Take, for example, the kanniedood – it literally means ‘the plant cannot die’! The folk names are also specific to certain regions, reflecting local culture and knowledge.

The reptile folk names are lovely too. One of my favourites is blafgeitjie (barking gecko). As dusk falls in the dry parts of South Africa, you can hear it ‘bark’.

The wine honeybells (Freylinia visseri) is one of Ernst’s favourite botanical illustrations in the book. He nursed this strandveld shrub back to life after it nearly vanished from the wild.

The book is filled with stunning photographs and illustrations. Do you have a favourite that captures the spirit of indigenous gardening? One of my favourites is the botanical illus- tration of the honeybells or suurlat (Freylinia visseri), a Strandveld shrub that came close to vanishing from the wild. In the eighties, I stumbled upon a dried, unnamed specimen in the Compton Herbarium – a real find for a plant sleuth. Some detective work led me to Grootklipfontein near Aurora, where I met oom Floors Visser. He showed me the last two remaining plants which he had saved from a region where it was ploughed up.

I took cuttings, nursed them back to life and had them painted by Ellaphie Ward-Hilhorst. I then named it after Floors Visser, who saved it from extinction! Today, the plant is flourishing, its lilac tubular flowers lighting up Strandveld and fynbos gardens. A beautiful example of ex situ conservation.

I also love the photo of the young Fynbos Garden at Babylonstoren, which I started a decade ago with fast-growing pioneer plants, exactly as I recommend for anyone starting a garden. The Babylonstoren garden has since matured beautifully.

You often say a healthy garden hums with life. Can you share an example of how planting indigenous species brings wildlife back? When we planted the rock garden at Babylonstoren, I started with colourful pioneer plants that attract insects. Soon indigenous predators arrived. The first lizard to move in was the striking three-striped Cape skink. Blue-headed southern rock agamas and girdle-tailed lizards adapted beautifully, feasting on pests like grasshoppers and moths.

We didn’t have chameleons until we planted restios, and now we have plenty of local angulate tortoises (Chersina angulata) munching on succulents. When you plant indigenous, the local critters follow. Just look at the aloes with their beautiful inflorescences bearing tubular flowers. They attract sunbirds that perch on their sturdy scapes.

Your own garden in Die Boord, Stellenbosch, is teeming with life. Tell us about that. The previous owner, a Kalahari native, had planted a little oasis of palms and tree ferns. The first thing I did was switch off the irrigation. I’m slowly transforming it into an indigenous garden with local wild olive trees. Next, we’ll replace the lawn with gravel and hardy groundcovers that can handle the heat.

It took me eight years to convince my wife to turn our chlorine pool into an eco-friendly one. After planting eelgrass, marginal aquatics and local water lilies, the water turned crystal clear. The finches noticed right away and started nesting in the tree above, which chlorine would have made impossible.

Now the evenings bring a chorus of frogs. I even raise young Cape terrapins (turtles) from Babylonstoren in the pool until they’re strong enough to go back. Every afternoon at four, their little heads pop up for a snack of mince or snails – they’ve become quite greedy! The water is so clean you could drink it. And I can still swim in it.

If you were to do a spot of guerrilla gardening in Stellenbosch, which street trees would you plant? Personally, I would want to turn the ‘Eikestad’ into ‘Olienhoutstad’. The oak is from Europe and doesn’t thrive here. The trunks hollow out and keeping the trees healthy is difficult. They get aphid infestations and then the sticky sap drips onto cars, so they have to be sprayed every year. Fortunately, the municipality started planting indigenous species, which is encouraging. I’d like to plant more Breede River yellow-wood (Podocarpus elongatus), Cape chestnut (Calodendrum capense) and the coral tree with its brilliant red flowers. The forest elder (Nuxia floribunda) is lovely too, bursting with white blooms in winter.

You’ve studied succulents for decades. What makes them so special to you? Succulents have been my passion since childhood. They range from tiny baby’s toes a few millimetres tall to the great baobab, and South Africa has the richest succulent diversity in the world. These plants are self-sufficient survivors shaped by hardship – drought, grazing and time – and they’ve become beautiful architectural forms that have endured for thousands of years.

Aloes and other succulents give nectar to sunbirds and bees, and shelter to lizards. Their sheer diversity, spread across some 45 plant families, makes succulents endlessly fascinating.

Some also make perfect house plants, ideal for small spaces. Dwarf succulents are sociable when grouped together, and cuttings are easy to share with neighbours. My advice? Give plants away freely; we’re all working towards something larger.

Mimicry, water storage, camouflage … Which survival strategy fascinates you most? I’m most taken with what I call “passive resistance” – plants that don’t fight back with thorns or toxins but simply endure and regrow. Take spekboom (Portulacaria afra), cotyledon or crassula; when grazed or trampled, their broken bits root and start new plants, turning damage into growth. That lesson from nature stays with me: don’t lie down under pressure, grow from it.

For my PhD I studied cliff plants: the cliff- huggers, cliff-hangers and cliff-squatters. The rock is their shelter, so they need no spines or poisons. Watching those patterns – how some cling, dangle or press flat between rocks – was endlessly revealing. Nature always finds a way.

At Babylonstoren you’ve helped create living plant museums, from the Succulent House to the arboretum and rockeries. Which of these projects felt most rewarding? The Welwitschia Garden is very close to my heart. During Covid, the owner of Babylonstoren asked me to build a large succulent garden between the vegetable garden and the greenhouse.

I asked if I could create a welwitschia garden there. It’s the only true evergreen plant in the world. It never sheds its leaves, just keeps growing two long ribbons like a slow conveyor belt and can live for up to 2 500 years. Flies pollinate it and its winged seeds scatter on the wind. The wonder of the Namib, the two-leaved kanniedood is found only from Swakopmund to southern Angola. A minimalist plant that carries no baggage. Even when grazed, it grows back, still the same two leaves.

I also loved the Babylonstoren rooftop garden with quiver trees. It’s a miniature South Africa in three layers: succulent Karoo on top, thicket vegetation on the side, and fynbos across the rest. Rugged, layered, alive.

What first sparked your love for indigenous plants? My earliest memories are from my grandmother’s apartment in Blairgowrie, Johannesburg. I’d help her transplant wandering Jews and hen-and-chickens, and watch them survive, regrow and thrive. It was magical.

Holidays on my grandfather’s farms near Heidelberg deepened my fascination. He gave me books on aloes and one called Trees and Shrubs of the Witwatersrand, and I learnt the plants’ names before I knew much schoolwork. I was always outside, climbing trees, exploring the veld – that’s where I really learnt.

In high school, seeing people replace our rich local flora with European and Australian plants upset me. That’s when I decided to make it my life’s work to teach people to plant indigenous species.

South Africa has the world’s richest plant diversity, from the Cape Floristic Region in the south to the summer rainfall savanna in the north, with deserts and tropical coasts in between. We are incredibly lucky to have so much to choose from, and it’s ours to cherish.

After all these years, is there something in nature that still stops you in your tracks? There’s a vine in the Bushveld called Aaron’s staff (Tinospora fragosa). It starts life as a climbing plant but because it’s an edible succulent, elephants eat it off the trees. Sometimes the poor plant hangs 10m above the ground, severed from the soil. And yet, instead of dying, it grows a survival root. A lifeline. That root grows 3cm–4cm a day until it finally reaches the earth.

I’m amazed every time I see it. From a broken stump comes a tiny root, refusing to give up. Once it reaches the ground, the vine grows again, stores water in its stem, and even if animals eat it off again, it just grows another root. Soon heart-shaped leaves appear and red berries form to be spread by birds. It’s a plant with immense resilience, a lesson for us all. Never give up, no matter how badly life bites.

If you could leave one message for future gardeners and botanists, what would it be? If a plant won’t grow, try again. You learn through mistakes. Don’t believe you don’t have green fingers. Start with a spekboom or a crassula. Watch it grow and develop, and your confidence will grow too.

Plants are like people – they want to live. Sometimes I find a tiny leaf on my windowsill and feel sorry for it. I put it in water, and when I see it start to swell and grow, it’s pure joy. It never gives up. It just starts again, becoming a whole new plant.

More Information

The new Waterwise Gardening in South Africa and Namibia is available from Babylonstoren’s online shop and the farm shop at R790. It is published by Tip Africa Publishing (publishers of Stellenbosch Visio) on behalf of Babylonstoren.

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Die Totota Stellenbosch Woordfees hou weer heerlike lente met meer as 400 ongeëwenaarde aanbiedings in nagenoeg 60 venues in en om die Eikestad: van die danser Gregory Maqoma se vaarweloptrede en ’n regte-egte Picasso in die vertoonkas, tot verkwikkende staptoere rondom die Bos – van die hart van die fees in Ryneveldstraat af tot in die Middedorp, óm die Braak en deur Idasvallei.

Daar is 12 afdelings op die program: die EasyEquities Skrywersfees, Visuele kuns, Klassieke musiek, Diskoers, Toyota Musiekfees, Komedie, Leefstyl, Filmfees, Dans, Toneel, Kinderfees en die WOW-fees.

Vanjaar se feestema is Speel, “wat nuwe moontlikhede ontsluit, wêrelde ontdek, en jou op onontginde plekke plaas waar jy net spontaan in die oomblik kan wees,” sê Saartjie Botha, direkteur van die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees.

“Om te kan speel, moet jy die pause-knoppie druk – halfgebak speel, is kroek. Speel vra totale oorgawe, verbeelding, en gewoonlik maats. Speel is ’n dans met die werklikheid, van ’n wêreld wat is, maar ook ’n wêreld wat word. Waar ander reëls geld, waar die onmoontlike haalbaar en selfs moeiteloos word.”

SPEELSHEID EN SPONTANEÏTEIT IN KUNSKYK

Die feeskunstenaar vir 2024 is die skilder en kleibeeldhouer Marlene Steyn. Haar benadering en kuns laat weergalm die feestema in die helder kleure, fantasie en vindingryke vorms waarmee sy droomagtige landskappe optower. Haar werk moedig ook waarnemers aan om hulle te verlustig in ’n eie speelsheid waarvan hulle dikwels nie eens bewus was nie. Sy bied vir die duur van die fees ’n uitstalling aan van haar werke wat al by verskeie versamelings en onlangse uitstallings ingesluit is, soos Home Bodies by die SMAC-galery op Stellenbosch en NON‑PLACES in die Powerlong-kunssentrum in Shanghai, China. Die uitstalling vind in die US Museum plaas en Marlene neem op 2 Oktober ook aan ’n gesprek oor haar werk deel in die US Museum-anneks.

Later is sy weer in aksie in Breath Of Gaia: Exhibition And Fashion Show, waarin sy en die ontwerper Lezanne Viviers mode deur die lens van uitvoerkuns verken.
In Picasso, Pinotage And Piano: A Sunset Celebration of Art, Music and Wine vang die sangeres Karen Petersen in ’n toonsetting die tentoonstelling van ’n outentieke Picasso in die Oude Leeskamer vas.

SPEELKAMERSESSIES MET BERTUS BASSON

Die stersjef Bertus Basson, bekend om TV-reekse soos In die sop, Ultimate Braaimaster en Kokkedoor, bied weer sy gewilde speelkamersessies aan. Kom beleef ’n kookdemonstrasie in sy hoogaangeskrewe Eike-restaurant waar hy spesialiseer in eg Suid-Afrikaanse geregte met ’n kreatiewe kinkel. Gaste sit ná die demonstrasie ook aan by ’n heerlike feestafel. Kaartjies na dié sessies kos R1 300. Vroegtydige besprekings word aangeraai.

Die Idasvalleigemeenskap bied ’n spesiale staptoer deur hul historiese, kultuurryke én biodiverse woonbuurt op Stellenbosch aan saam met die Walking by Faith Ladies. Gaste word verwelkom met koffie en tuisgemaakte koesisters of roosterkoek, waarna die toergids deelnemers meer vertel oor dié eiesoortige buurt en natuurgebied. Elkeen kry ’n inheemse boom om te plant in die natuurgebied wat deel vorm van die Idasvallei-gemeenskapsroete, deur die Wêreld Ekonomiese Forum as ’n top-innovasieprogram aangewys.

BEELDHOU IN DIE BEELDSKOON

’n Magiese natuurervaring wag in die Dylan Lewis-beeldetuin, waar 60 werke van dié beeldhouer ten toon gestel word. Hanlé Hill begelei ’n tuinwandeling met toegang tot kuns, ateljees en tuine. Let wel, die tuinpaadjies is ongelyk en met los gruis bedek, en dus gevaarlik vir diegene wat moeilik stap. Daar is geen parkeerplek by die tuin nie; gaste vertrek om 09:00 en 14:30 – ’n halfuur voor elke toer – per bussie van die Kochstraat-pendeldienshalte af.

DIE BESTE PLEK OM DIE BAL AAN ROL TE SIT – AAN DIE LANGTAFEL

Tussen die pragtige ou geboue van Ryneveldstraat word die Langtafel weer onder die bottende eike gedek – met feestelike kos en gesellige gaste wat glasies klink. Vanjaar verskaf kinkelkok Johnny Hamman die aand se spesiale spyskaart, wat alles oor kole voorberei word. Bespreek vroegtydig jou plek aan dié geliefde tafel.
Kaartjies na die Langtafel kos R1 200, met ’n afslagprys van R1 000 as jy voor 1 Augustus jou plek bespreek. Dit sluit ’n driegangete in en gaste word begroet met ’n glas wyn of borrels met die komplimente van Alto-wynlandgoed, Blaauwklippen, Dorp St Wine en Spier van die Stellenbosch-wynroetes.

Daar is 30 ander aanbiedings op die Leefstylprogram waarmee jy jou lewenslus kan verfris. Jy kan gaan stap, draf, twee-in-een kry met tuin-en-kuns-kyk, kookdemonstrasies bywoon, argitektuurtoere meemaak en alles proe en geniet wat die Wynlande en die Eikestad se koskultuur bied. Stellenbosch is ’n skatkis vol stories wat dikwels uit die dorp se interessante ou geboue opgediep kan word. Die kultuurhistorikus, Matilda Burden, sal jou met nuwe oë na die hart van die Eikestad laat kyk met staptoere na die dorp se argitektoniese juwele. Twee roetes word op alternatiewe dae aangebied, naamlik ’n verkenning van die middedorp en ’n wandeling om die Braak.

Albei toere vertrek van die Erfurthuis in Ryneveldstraat.

KLEURGLASVENSTERS

Die orrelis Zorada Temmingh van die Stellenbosse Moederkerk bied nuwe, verrassende interpretasiemoontlikhede van die simboliek van dié gebou se kleurglasvensters – veel meer as dít wat opgeteken is sedert die installasie van die eerste vensters byna 50 jaar gelede.

Oor son en sterre, duiwe en druiwe, visse en vlamme, windpomp en weerlig, kandelaar en kers – watter verhaal fluister die kleurglasvensters van die Moederkerk? Kuns in openbare ruimtes, kenmerkend van Stellenbosch se ryke kultuuromge- wing, kan ook te voet verken word.

Pule Dhoti en Hanlé Hill bied Kuns op straat aan, waar die besigtiging van wêreldbekende kunstenaars se handewerk nie beperk word tot die binnekant van geboue nie; dit kan deur almal op ons sypaadjies en in ons parke waardeer
word – gratis. Op dié begeleide toer sien jy beelde van nader en hoor meer oor
die agtergrond van elke werk waarby ’n mens so dikwels net verbystap.

Langs die Eersterivier kan jy ’n gratis sonsondergangstaptoer geniet op die pasgeopende Stellenbosch-kunsmyl, waar kreatiwiteit en natuur dinamies saamvloei. Die kunsmyl se 2024-’25-uitstalling,

Tapyt van tyd, word saamgestel deur Clara Babette. Gevierde kunstenaars
se werk besin oor die uitgestrekte geologiese tydperke wat die omliggende landskap gevorm het, sowel as oor die historiese ontwikkeling van Stellenbosch. Die staptoer begin by Eerste Kafee in Suidwalstraat. RSG-omroepers Martelize Brink en Johan Rademan saai Driesestig weer regstreeks uit by Die Khaya-kafee om jou op die hoogte van sake te hou. Hulle gesels met mense wat ’n verskil maak en ’n interessante storie het om te vertel. Kom gesels gratis saam.

AANDAG KUNSVERSAMELAARS – GROOT ÉN KLEIN

Die jaarlikse kunsuitstalling en -veiling van die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, in samewerking met Strauss & Co, vind vir die duur van die fees in die Stellenbosse stadsaal plaas.

Teresa Lizamore is die kurator van die uitstalling. Die kunswerke waarop vanjaar gebie kan word, sluit werke in van gevestigde én opkomende kunstenaars. Bieërs kan op hul persoonlike toestel aanlyn in die stadsaal bie óf van enige ander plek af.

Die res van die kunsprogram is op woordfees.co.za beskikbaar waar ’n PDF van die volledige feesgids in Afrikaans en Engels afgelaai kan word. Besoek gerus ook die webwerf om te sien watter produksies bekendes opgewonde maak.

Die gedrukte feesgids is gratis by die Woordfeeskantoor in die Erfurthuis (Ryneveldstraat 37, Stellenbosch) te kry en ook by verskeie biblioteke, boekwinkels, toeristeburo’s en gastehuise in die Wes-Kaap. Kaartjies is by Quicket te koop. V

The post Die Woordfees Speel en Spruit in die Blomtyd appeared first on Stellenbosch Visio.

In Son of Nobody, Yann Martel delivers a profound and imaginative exploration of identity, belonging, and the stories that shape us. Following a rootless young man’s quest to understand his enigmatic father, the novel weaves myth, memory, and sharp philosophical insight into a moving meditation on what it means to come from nowhere and yet yearn for somewhere. With Martel’s signature blend of wit, wonder, and emotional depth, this is a powerful tale about the search for meaning in a fragmented world — and the quiet courage of claiming your own narrative. Click here to order.

Siân Hughes’ No Such Thing as Monday is a tender, sharply observed novel about grief, motherhood, and the messy beauty of ordinary life. When a devastating loss upends her world, the protagonist must navigate the blurred lines between love and duty, memory and reinvention. Hughes writes with luminous honesty and wry humour, capturing the weight of unspoken sorrow alongside moments of unexpected joy. A deeply human story about learning to live again after everything changes — and discovering that healing often arrives in the quiet, unremarkable days that follow. Click here to order.

Cal Newport’s bestselling So Good They Can’t Ignore You challenges the “follow your passion” myth with a refreshingly practical approach to building a remarkable career. Drawing on research, real-world examples, and his signature clarity, Newport argues that mastery and the courage to pursue rare and valuable skills are what truly create fulfilling work. This revised edition includes new insights for the modern economy. Essential reading for anyone tired of empty motivational advice and ready to build a career that matters through deliberate, focused effort. Click here to order.

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In this timely and balanced guide, Anton Gomez-Escolar explores the modern renaissance of psychedelics. Covering psilocybin, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, and DMT, the book blends cutting-edge science, therapeutic potential, and harm-reduction wisdom. Perfect for curious readers and sceptics alike, it demystifies these powerful substances while acknowledging risks. A clear-eyed crash course in one of the most exciting frontiers in mental health and consciousness. Essential reading for anyone interested in how ancient tools are reshaping modern healing. Click here to order.

Award-winning journalist Julian Jansen meticulously investigates one of South Africa’s most haunting cold cases. Between 1986 and 1994, the so-called Station Strangler terrorised the Cape Flats, claiming at least 22 young victims. Jansen follows the trails of the disappeared boys and the flawed police investigations with gripping detail and empathy. A chilling, compassionate true-crime account that sheds light on a dark chapter in Cape Town’s history. Compelling and deeply human. Click here to order.

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In Theo of Golden, Allen Levi crafts a quietly luminous tale set in the small town of Golden, where a reserved doctor named Theo tends not only to bodies, but to the hidden fractures of the human spirit. Through a series of interwoven lives, Levi explores grief, grace, and the subtle ways people heal one another. Written with gentle wisdom and unhurried elegance, the novel unfolds like a conversation on a long porch… intimate, reflective, and ultimately redemptive.

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Billions stolen. Statues decapitated. Books and busses burnt to a crisp. And at the intersection of it all is Mac and his wife. A private contractor tasked with collecting tax, Mac is pursuing a case of missing billions that stretches back decades. Tejal, his wife, has been hired to defend a man in open and violent revolt against the inequalities and injustices of modern South Africa. As their separate cases progress and start to intertwine, what was mysterious before becomes murkier still. With intriguing characters and a cool, practiced prose, Coovadia’s latest novel is a gripping read that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

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Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre

In April 2025, Virginia Giuffre, a survivor of abuse and a key figure in the arrest of Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, tragically took her own life. In the years leading up to her death she worked on a memoir with the journalist Amy Wallace. Published posthumously, Nobody’s Girl is the story of her life, told on her own terms. Confronting some of the darkest moments of her life with a vulnerability that is both startling and admirable, Giuffre tells of a life that, whilst marked by tragedy, was governed by bravery and strength. An outspoken advocate for survivors of sex trafficking, Nobody’s Girl could not be more relevant.

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Ink and Iron 1: Forged in Rome by Conn Iggulden

The master of historical fiction is back with another epic tale of power, status and revenge. Rome, AD 37. The birth year of Emperor Nero. Cormac, an enslaved scribe to a wealthy and noble household, finds himself suddenly freed when his master dies under mysterious circumstances. Cast into a merciless society, he must navigate its many dangers and twists, utilising his unique skills to gain a foothold. Journeying from the slums of Rome to hostile Britannia and back, Cormac begins to climb the ranks of Roman society. The first book of what promises to be an exciting duology.

Speed by Vaclav Smil

The latest entry from the prolific and endlessly entertaining scientist. In Speed, Smil turns his attention to the concept in penetrating, and at times, startlingly creative ways. From hypothetical nuclear annihilation to the curious speed of mammalian copulation, he considers this fundamental dimension that, despite its universal presence, is often missed. Throughout, he asks us to reconsider our relationship with speed and interrogates the assumption that, in our modern world, faster is always better. Fascinating and well-researched, Speed is an ambitious undertaking that is well worth your time.

Flesh by David Szalay

Winner of the coveted Booker Prize 2025, David Szalay’s sixth book has come away as one of the most celebrated novels of the past year. The story follows István, a social outsider, as he navigates a troubled adolescence and rises through the murky ranks of London’s social scene. As relationships both kindle and burn around him, István attempts to make sense of his turbulent life. Szalay manages to communicate a book filled with passion, adultery, and violence in a startlingly spare and sharp manner, resulting in a mesmerizing story that confronts its readers head-on.

Safe by Jessica Baum

From the author of Anxiously Attached comes yet another informed and compassionate guide to understanding how and why we relate to others in the ways that we do. Licensed therapist Jessica Baum draws on both attachment theory and neuroscience to explore these dynamics, and sheds light on how we might imagine safer, more secure relationships. Packed with practical tools, meditative prompts and critical insights, her book provides a useful toolkit to draw from for those looking to deepen their connections with their loved ones.

Skorpio by Deon Meyer

Deon Meyer is back with yet another pulsing thriller, and the stakes could not be higher. Seasoned detective Benny Griessel is stuck with an apparent suicide and no leads, while his partner Vaughn Cupido pokes around a minor arson, both unimpressed with their respective cases. That is, until a caravan explodes, and the two incidents don’t seem as unrelated as before. With BRICS delegates coming into town and the media in a frenzy, it becomes a race against the clock for Griessel and Cupido to unspin the sinister web that has unfurled beneath them. Sadly, English readers will have to wait for the translation, but, oh, will it be worth it…

Coffee Table Books

If there’s one thing every coffee table needs, it’s a coffee table book. Spoil a loved one this festive season with one of Stellenbosch Books’ specially curated titles. With books that range from art and science to animals and fashion, there is sure to be something for everyone. And for that person who you just can’t pin down, there are also some weird and wonderful esoteric gems (like this delightful book on a pioneer of early photography). Thoughtful, elegant, and endlessly browsable, these titles make lovely gifts for anyone who enjoys a beautiful book.

Kaweco Pens

Timeless and beautifully crafted, Kaweco pens make for an exceptional holiday gift for those who appreciate quality stationery. Known for their smooth writing experience and iconic vintage-inspired design, these pens bring a touch of elegance to everyday notes, journal entries, and creative projects. Whether you choose a classic Perkeo or a sleek Liliput, each Kaweco pen is made to last and feels wonderful in the hand. Both practical and stylish, they’re a sure-fire bet for the perfect stocking stuffer.

Cookbooks

For the foodie on your list, the cookbook selection covers a wide array of cultures and cuisines. From beloved South African classics to global best-sellers, these books are a great way to explore new flavours, try out different techniques, and discover the amazing stories behind them. Whether you’re shopping for seasoned home cooks or adventurous beginners, there’s something here to inspire every palate. Beautifully photographed and thoughtfully designed, these cookbooks will look great in anyone’s kitchen!

Puzzles

There are few activities that beat that late-stage holiday boredom better than a good puzzle. Perfect for a calm afternoon with the family, these puzzles bring together nature, literature, and whimsy for an easy holiday gift. Plant lovers will enjoy beautifully illustrated botanical puzzles, while bookworms can revisit beloved classics like The Great Gatsby or explore the wonderful world of Jane Austen. Ideal for anyone who loves a mindful, screen-free activity.

Sebastião Salgado. Gold

After numerous requests over many years, acclaimed photojournalist Sebastião Salgado was finally granted permission to visit Serra Pelada, the site of the largest open-air gold mine in history. The resultant photographs — capturing tens of thousands of barely-clad men scrambling over the vast pit, their skin stained by the earth they had excavated — held the world in equal parts shock and awe. This signed and limited Collector’s Edition is the first monograph gathering the astonishing portfolio in full. In grand-scale, museum-quality reproductions, the images are interlaid with transparent paper and printed with cutting-edge High Definition Skia Photography technology. The result is nothing short of mesmerising, like an exhibition in book form. Collector’s edition of 1,000 numbered copies.

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Dalí

The ultimate Salvador Dalí monograph. Presenting his key works in a size and detail never before seen in print, this multivolume project is a collector’s dream. Accompanied by a chronology book with essays, letters and reviews that trace the artist’s ascent into stardom, as well as a complete catalogue of his illustrated work. All contained in a black velvet bound box with gold foil embossing. Weighing in at 16kg, this assembly of the life and oeuvre of the surrealist master has cut no corners. Collector’s edition of 10,000 numbered copies.

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Issey Miyake

This TASCHEN Collector’s Edition offers an expert history of Issey Miyake design. Presented in an original MIYAKE-designed book bag, the book traces Miyake’s texture-driven originality from the earliest days of his career, when he first expressed his commitment to clothing as a field for enduring design rather than changing fashions. It bears witness not only to Miyake’s ongoing exploration of the relationship between a piece of cloth and the body, but also to his singular blend of tradition, futurism, and function. The book is stamped with Miyake’s own “inkan” – a traditional Japanese seal equivalent to a signature and used in daily Japanese life for all official paperwork. Collector’s edition of 1,000 numbered copies.

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Strong Ground by Brené Brown

“It’s time to reimagine the essentials of courageous leadership.” Distilling the lessons she has both learned and taught at her celebrated Dare to Lead workshops, Brené Brown guides readers through the many insights that make for good leadership. In line with her collaborative spirit the book also includes wisdom from other thinkers, such as Adam Grant and Amy Webb, which work to bolster an already rich text. The book is an invaluable guide for those looking to incorporate a more grounded approach to their strategies and leadership.

Katabasis by R. F. Kuang

Hell is less fiery pits and more a university campus in Kuang’s latest foray into the world of dark academia. The story follows Alice Law, a doctoral candidate in analytic magick, as she descends into the depths of hell in order to find her deceased supervisor and secure a vital recommendation letter. Complicating the matter is Peter Murdoch, a bitter rival, who has decided to go after him as well. An unconventional, fantastical take on the world of academia, Kuang’s latest book contains that imaginative flair her fans have come to recognise and love her for.

Not This Tender by Sarah Uheida

Launched earlier this year at the Franschhoek Literary Festival, Sarah Uheida’s debut collection of poetry weaves myth, loss and familial tension into a dazzling and deeply evocative tapestry. Uheida, originally from Libya, has been a resident of Stellenbosch since 2011, having left a home in the throes of civil war. Her collection flits between the sting of memory and the anxieties of uncertainty with a deftness and precision that is at once both surgical and vulnerable. Garnering praise from the likes of Joan Hambidge and Gabeba Baderoon, Uheida is that rare poet of substance and skill that promises to be a talent worth watching. Signed copies available on request. For more click here.

Bitterkomix: Sketchbooks and Journals

Bitterkomix fans, hold on to your hats. In their latest publication, long-time collaborators Anton Kannemeyer and Conrad Botes lift the veil on their infamous and hilariously satirical handiwork. With an extensive number of excerpts from the personal sketchbooks and journals of both Kannemeyer and Botes, the book provides an intimate look at their creative process. More than just a peek behind the curtains, however, it traces their journey from budding creatives to the artistic powerhouses they are now, exploring their influences (which are as wide as Hergé and Goya) along the way. Published on high-quality paper in a large format, one can pore over, in detail, all the mischievous magic produced by this synergistic duo. For more click here.

Malema by Micah Reddy & Pauli van Wyk

“This is not a biography of Julius Malema. It is the story of his money.” A topic that has long been a source of heated debate and contention, Malema and his money are brought into unflinching light in this damning book by investigative journalists Micah Reddy and Pauli van Wyk. Tracking controversies as they have dogged him from his early days in Limpopo to the widely publicized VBS scandal, Reddy and Van Wyk take a detailed inventory of the facts and figures that built an empire. Their work here provides a searing portrait of a man mired in infamy, painted against the wider backdrop of political corruption crippling South Africa and its people.

Unlocked by Eben Etzebeth

Unlocked by Eben Etzebeth is an intimate and inspiring autobiography that traces the journey of South Africa’s most‑capped Springbok lock. From humble beginnings in Goodwood, through the struggles of youth and early rejection (when he couldn’t make his high school A‑team), to rising into a world‑class rugby icon, Etzebeth gives readers a raw, honest account of what it truly takes to wear the green and gold. He doesn’t shy away from the highs or the lows: his mindset, leadership roles, controversies and what it means to unite a nation through sport all find space here. For anyone who loves rugby, resilience or stories of people pushing boundaries, Unlocked is a gripping reminder that greatness is forged, not given.

Sweetie by Nataniël

Sweetie by Nataniël is a poignant collection of short stories that beautifully captures the complexities of identity, love and longing. Each story offers a raw,
intimate glimpse into the lives of characters grappling with who they are and how they fit into the world around them. With lyrical prose and emotional depth, Sweetie invites readers into moments both tender and haunting, making it a must-read for
anyone drawn to powerful, character-driven storytelling.

Circle of Days by Ken Follett

Circle of Days by Ken Follett is an epic tale set in 2500 BCE, bringing to life the people, passion and vision behind the creation of a great stone monument.
Centred on Seft, a flint miner fleeing a brutal life, and Joia, a bold young woman determined to unite warring tribes through a structure that will stand for eternity,
the novel blends history, myth and human struggle. With drought, famine and violence threatening their vision, Circle of Days is a powerful story of ambition, survival and the enduring human drive to create something that lasts – ideal for fans of immersive and emotionally resonant historical fiction.

Al Die Swendelaars by Chris Karsten

Al die Swendelaars (All the Swindlers) by Chris Karsten is a gripping crime novel that follows detective Arrie Dogh in the final days before his retirement. What begins as a seemingly routine break-in at a horse farm in Wilderness quickly unravels into a complex web of deceit, involving a long-running Ponzi scheme, shady international deals and millions that vanished from a retirement home. As Dogh digs deeper, he uncovers layers of betrayal, greed,and hidden motives stretching back decades. Packed with twists, secrets and sharp suspense, Al die Swendelaars is perfect for fans of smart, tightly woven mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end.

Bare Bones by Nicole Engelbrecht

Bare Bones: Cold Cases from True Crime South Africa by Nicole Engelbrecht is a gripping true‑crime collection that re‑examines unsolved disappearances and murders she’s covered in her podcast. Nicole digs into public and private records, interviews and tips – many previously unpublished – to retell cases ranging from a Jane Doe found under a swimming pool to children taken outside their homes, to people vanishing inside the prison system. It’s a powerful, haunted look at stories often overlooked, driven by a search for justice and closure for the victims and their families.

Wild Ocean by Peter and Beverly Pickford

Wild Ocean: A Journey into the Earth’s Last Wild Coasts by Peter and Beverly Pickford is a breathtaking visual odyssey that captures the planet’s most remote and pristine wildernesses. Over four years and across seven continents, the Pickfords embarked on an ambitious journey to document these untouched landscapes – from the icy expanses of Antarctica to the arid beauty of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. Their 400-page book features over 200 striking photographs that not only showcase the grandeur of these environments but also highlight the diverse wildlife that inhabits them. This book is an essential addition for nature enthusiasts, conservation advocates and anyone captivated by the raw splendour of our planet’s last wild places.

Bloei + Blom by Nataniël

Bloei + Blom is a striking, full-colour coffee table book by Nataniël, celebrating over 200 trailblazers who have shaped the Afrikaans language and culture. From poets and chefs to architects, scientists and musicians, these individuals have pushed boundaries and inspired generations. Crafted with contributions from more than 70 writers – including journalists, family members and friends – this hardcover book offers intimate portraits and stories that highlight the resilience and creativity of Afrikaans speakers. Designed as both a visual and literary tribute, Bloei + Blom is a must-have for anyone passionate about South Africa’s rich cultural tapestry and the enduring power of language.

Ocean by David Attenborough

Dive into the mesmerising world of Ocean by David Attenborough — a breathtaking exploration of the mysteries beneath the waves. From vibrant coral reefs to the darkest ocean depths, Attenborough unveils the beauty, power and fragility of Earth’s marine life. This captivating journey will leave you in awe of the seas — and inspired to protect them.

How Countries Go Broke by Ray Dalio

In How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle, Ray Dalio explores how nations fall into financial ruin by tracing the patterns of debt, political dysfunction and global instability that have repeated throughout history.

Drawing from a century of data across 35 countries, Dalio explains his “Big Debt Cycle” framework and warns that the US, with its soaring $36 trillion debt, is nearing a critical tipping point. Blending economics, history and current events, he offers powerful insights and practical tools for recognising the warning signs of collapse. It’s a must-read for anyone concerned about where the world is heading.

My Name is Emilia Del Valle by Isabel Allende

In My Name is Emilia del Valle, Isabel Allende introduces us to Emilia, a fiercely independent young woman in 19th‑century San Francisco who, raised by a loving stepfather, defies societal norms by writing under a male pseudonym before forging a path as a journalist. When she’s sent to Chile to cover the 1891 civil war, she not only discovers danger and romance but also uncovers her estranged father and wrestles with her identity and destiny. Allende weaves historical drama, passionate self‑discovery and vivid storytelling into a sweeping tale of love, war and reinvention.

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

Professor Robert Langdon returns in this high-stakes thriller set amid the Gothic spires of Prague. When his girlfriend, noetic scientist Katherine Solomon – on the brink of publishing a groundbreaking manuscript on human consciousness – is suddenly murdered and disappears, Langdon is thrust into a furious chase across Prague, London and New York. Hunted by mysterious forces tied to ancient legend, he must decode a conspiracy that could forever change our understanding of the mind. Filled with pulse‑pounding action, cryptic lore and Dan Brown’s signature blend of codes, art and cutting‑edge science, The Secret of Secrets promises a relentlessly dramatic ride from start to finish.

Death and the Gardener by Georgi Gospodinov

In Death and the Gardener, Georgi Gospodinov offers a deeply poetic and intimate elegy for his father, tracing the quiet unraveling of a once‑strong gardener as he succumbs to terminal illness. Through delicate vignettes – rich with memory, humor, myth and the rooted  imagery  of  cherries,  tulips  and roses – Gospodinov explores grief, legacy and personal history. As the narrator watches the garden he tended both sustain and slowly consume his father, he reckons with the vast emotional void left in his wake, crafting a striking homage to love, loss and the fragile persistence of memory.

Timeless South African by Ilse van der Merwe

In Timeless South African, celebrated food writer Ilse van der Merwe invites readers on a delicious journey through South Africa’s rich culinary tapestry with 101 beloved dishes, from everyday favorites like vetkoek, koeksisters and bunny chow to cultural staples such as bobotie and hertzoggies. Enhanced by striking full‑page photography and rooted in rich, well‑researched storytelling drawn from conversations with chefs and food lovers, this cookbook honours both heritage and innovation, illustrating how food connects us and defines who we are.

Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory offers a transformative approach to personal growth and self-discovery. In this empowering book, Robbins challenges readers to let go of the limiting beliefs and fears that hold them back, urging them to embrace their true potential. With her signature blend of practical advice, motivational insights, and relatable stories, Robbins provides actionable strategies to shift mindsets and build resilience. Whether you’re looking to break free from self-doubt, achieve personal goals, or simply find more confidence in everyday life, Let Them Theory is a must-read guide for anyone ready to make lasting, positive change.

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Our Evenings By Alan Hollinghurst

Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst is a masterfully crafted exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. Set in the serene yet charged atmosphere of a small English town, the novel delves into the lives of its aging characters as they navigate the quiet, often lonely realities of later life. With exquisite prose and a keen eye for detail, Hollinghurst paints a poignant portrait of personal histories, desires, and the delicate passage of time. Rich in emotional depth, Our Evenings is a beautiful, thought-provoking read that will resonate with anyone reflecting on the intimacy and fragility of life’s most meaningful connections.

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Greatest of All Time. A Tribute to Muhammad Ali

Hear the crowds clamouring and roaring through these pages, which trace Cassius Clay Jr.’s meteoric rise through the world of boxing and his evolution into the man we all know: Muhammad Ali. Exploring his life inside and outside the ring, GOAT brings together the many facets of an athlete defined by his discipline, charisma, and humanity.

 

Great Escapes Mediterranean. The Hotel Book

Struggling to decide where your next vacation should be? Look no further. Angelika Taschen has traversed the islands, beaches, and bays of the Mediterranean in search of the most beautiful stays the region has to offer. From 5 Star hotels like the Mezzatorre and Les Roches Rouges, to hidden gems like Pardini’s Hermitage, one is sure to find their slice of heaven.

Each hotel is accompanied by useful information and stunning photography that captures the essence of its atmosphere. Order here.

Michelangelo. The Complete Works. Paintings, Sculptures, Architecture

Pore over the astonishing creative achievements of this icon of the Renaissance in this stunning edition. Collating his varied oeuvre into ten fascinating and highly detailed chapters, this title leaves no stone (or easel) unturned. Art historians Frank Zöllner and the late Christof Thoenes guide us through his ascent to greatness, examining in surgical light both his artistic output and his personal life.

Soak in the breath-taking detail with full-page reproductions and prepare to be dazzled by the fold-out frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Order here.

Our London Lives by Christine Hickey

In her ninth novel, Christine Hickey brings into focus the Irish diasporic experience of London at the end of the twentieth century. The story revolves around two young outsiders: there is Pip, a talented boxer with a drinking problem, and Milly, a teenage runaway who finds a home working in a pub. Beginning in 1979, the twin narrative fashions together four decades of their lives, portraying not only their own development, but the evolution of central London during this period. Like two lonely bodies in space, Pip and Milly orbit each other; apart for much of the time but generating profound connection when they come near. This wistful, beautiful novel is perfect for anyone looking for something strongly character-driven, but outside the confines of a typical romance.

Money: A Story of Humanity by David McWilliams

Money, Money, Money! The ever-present substance that oils the wheels of modern society. But what exactly is it? And where did it come from? In his latest book, economist David McWilliams takes us on an insightful journey through the history of our relationship with money, answering these questions and many more. From Babylon to Bitcoin, he explores how currencies have had lasting effects on the societies that dreamed them up. Written with irreverent humour and an incisive eye, McWilliams brings his engaging tone to a topic most may have found tedious. More than just a chronological account, this book is a delightful history of the world as told through the lens of money.

Into the Uncut Grass by Trevor Noah

From the global comedic phenomenon (and our very own) Trevor Noah comes a new, richly illustrated fable of connection, curiosity, and compassion. We follow a young boy with a rebellious streak venture beyond the comforts of home with his wise teddy bear Walter. Through his magical encounters in this new landscape, he learns the value of listening and resolving conflict peacefully. In the same vein as The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, this gently profound book touches on some timeless virtues. A gorgeous gem for all ages, just in time for the festive season too!

The Paris Muse by Louisa Treger

‘Living with him was like living at the centre of the universe. It was electrifying and humbling, blissful and destructive, all at the same time.’

In this captivating exploration of troubled love, Louisa Treger brings to life the tumultuous affair between the French artist Dora Maar and the iconic Pablo Picasso. Enamoured by his eccentricity and creative genius, Dora is drawn into an intense and obsessive relationship. This fictional work, rooted in biographical fact, weaves together plot and historical events seamlessly, lending an authentic backdrop to Dora’s story. Written in the first person, the narrative centres her experience and brings her back into the focus of Picasso’s famed life. It’s a page-turner that not only captivates but also serves as a remarkable display of literary compassion, with Dora’s voice ringing powerfully, even long after the book is closed. Click here to order.

Patient 12A by Lesedi Molefi

In this exciting debut, Lesedi Molefi pens his experience of the time he spent in a psychiatric clinic in 2016. Born in Soweto, Molefi is a talented photographer and documentarian whose personal history sheds light on the profound effects of adverse childhood experiences. This powerful narrative not only explores the complexities of mental illness—a topic often stigmatized in South African families—but also serves as a poignant commentary on courage, vulnerability, and self-reflection. Molefi reminds us that psychiatric facilities can still be places of safety and healing in our country. While not a self-help book, by inviting the reader to empathize with its protagonist, it encourages them to reflect on their own lives with compassion too. An incredible read. Click here to order.

Capitec: Stalking Giants by TJ Strydom

In case you missed him during the Woordfees festivities last week, this is your reminder to pick up a copy of TJ Strydom’s latest book, Capitec: Stalking Giants. In this thrilling tale, Strydom traces the development of South Africa’s most popular bank from its cradle to its explosion. Ever wondered how a group of microlenders could evolve into an institution worthy of the World’s Best Bank title? Here is your chance. Witty, smart, and well-researched, this book is a must-read for entrepreneurs, as well as anyone hungry for an authentic South African success story. Available in both Afrikaans and English. Click here to order.

My Journey with Wine

There’s a lovely buzz around My Journey with Wine, the new book that beautifully chronicles the life of a remarkable woman, leading her from the elegance of a chateau to a garrison in the American Midwest, from the historic vineyards of Bordeaux to the bustling streets of Beijing, and from the prestigious Médoc estates to the lush Cape vineyards of South Africa.

May-Éliane de Lencquesaing, now a venerable 99 years old, hails from a distinguished lineage of Bordeaux wine growers and brokers, and an Anglo-Spanish family rooted in the Philippines. Her marriage to a career army officer saw her living a nomadic life with her children, before fate, through a draw, awarded her the vineyard of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac. With determination and vision, she revitalized this estate, elevating its wines to compete with France’s finest and earning global acclaim. At seventy-eight, her passion for viticulture led her to South Africa, where she embarked on a new journey, founding the Glenelly Estate.

Click here to order.

Crooked Seeds by Karen Jennings

Since her previous novel was longlisted for the Booker prize, Jennings’ work has attracted a growing readership. Her latest book further proves her ability in dealing with sociohistorical matters with an adept and creative hand. Set in Cape Town in the near future, where drought has ravaged the land, Deidre van Deventer sours away in her tiny public housing unit. Her unhappy life is suddenly upturned by the discovery of human remains at her old family home, and a subsequent investigation is launched into her brother’s involvement in a pro-apartheid group in the 1990s. With its spare prose and dark humour, Crooked Seeds is a cutting tale of memory and guilt that you will not want to miss.

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Medea by Rosie Hewlett

Love. Witchcraft. Betrayal. From the award-winning author of Medusa comes yet another fresh retelling of an ancient Greek myth. Medea explores the life of its titular character, a powerful sorceress and priestess of the goddess Hecate, who is trapped by her father, the King Aeëtes. The arrival of the hero Jason, on a quest to find the Golden Fleece protected by her father, is just the chance Medea needs to escape. Bold and ambitious, Hewlett does not shy away from the moral ambiguities of this classic tale, highlighting the contrast between naivety and power. This instant Sunday Times Bestseller is just the retelling you need to add to your shelves.

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Mortal Secrets by Frank Tallis

“Some cities are like stars,” Tallis writes of early twentieth-century Vienna. The lasting influence of this period on the art, architecture, and even music of today, is testament to this fact. But it is in the mind in which this city has had the largest sway, owed to its most famous inhabitant: Sigmund Freud. In this look at Vienna’s Golden Age, Tallis elucidates the life of Freud during this time, exploring his relationships and the evolution of the ideas that were generated in this city. Fans of Tallis’ fictional Liebermann Papers will appreciate this further illumination to the setting of his mystery novels. Critically balanced and wonderfully composed, Mortal Secrets is well worth your time.

Click here to order.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

Our fluffiest socks have been struggling to keep us from freezing our toes off. Luckily, we got a prescription for some hot chocolate, a fireplace, and a delicious novel to beat the chill. Should work for you too!

Available at Stellenbosch Books at 14 Andringa Street in Stellenbosch Central.

Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen

Panic. Shockwaves. Ash. We have all been warned of the threat that nuclear weapons pose. But what might an all-out nuclear war even look like? In this gripping and rigorous account, journalist Annie Jacobsen leads us through it, step by step. Centred around a fictional attack by North Korea on the USA, chaos reigns supreme and a deadly succession of decisions ensues. This creative work of non-fiction has been meticulously researched to portray the most likely chain of events. If that doesn’t sound promising enough, rumour has it that a film adaptation is in the works, with Dune director Denis Villeneuve being eyed to lead the project.

Available at Stellenbosch Books at 14 Andringa Street in Stellenbosch Central.

The Levantine Vegetarian by Salma Hage

From the best-selling author of The Lebanese Kitchen comes yet another stunning collection of recipes. This time, she showcases the rich and vibrant dishes offered by the Levantine region. Winner of the James Beard Prize, Hage guides the reader through a glorious array of plant-based recipes; from classics like kofte and fattoush, to mouth-watering specialities such as the sumac and barberry salad. Sound good? Why not pop in, grab a copy, and then sit down at Man’oushe for some delicious Lebanese mezze next door!

Available at Stellenbosch Books at 14 Andringa Street in Stellenbosch Central.

Table For Two by Amor Towles

Elegance. Intricacies. Upset. Amor Towles dazzles once more with Table for Two, a collection of six short stories and a novella.

Set primarily in New York, the stories delve into the complicated interior lives of their various characters. We meet Russian emigrants, yearning writers, conniving retirees, and more. The true gem of the collection, however, can be found on the opposite coast with the novella, Eve in Hollywood.

Readers of Towles’ debut novel, Rules of Civility, will recall the effervescent Evelyn Ross. Here, we get to pursue her journey further as it plays out in the dreamy ‘City of Angels’ setting.

Why We Remember by Charan Ranganath

Have you ever wondered why you’re able to remember the lyrics to that song from your childhood, but not what you ate for lunch last Tuesday? According to neuroscientist and Professor of Psychology Dr Charan Ranganath, it has everything to do with emotions, intention, and even your imagination.

In this compelling new book, he dissects the phenomena of memory and shows how we weren’t designed to remember, in fact, but to forget!

Expect intriguing case studies and easily digestible explanations of the latest research on the topic. With its engaging discussions and Ranganath’s humorous touch, Why We Remember promises to be an unforgettable read.

Slow Productivity by Cal Newport

From the best-selling author of Deep Work comes another meticulous meditation on ‘productivity’ in the modern world, Slow Productivity. Our current understanding of what it means to be productive is broken, according to Cal Newport. We obsess over keeping ourselves busy with the idea that little-to-no rest must mean that we are accomplishing a lot.

However, with the aid of research, historical case studies, and demonstrated application, Newport proposes an alternative: “Do fewer things. Work at a natural pace. Obsess over quality.” He expands upon these principles throughout the book, showing how we can correct course and ultimately avoid burnout while still accomplishing a lot.

Maktub by Paulo Coelho

In the 30^th year anniversary of its original publication, Paulo Coelho’s Maktub has finally been given an English-language release. A compilation of some of his best columns printed in the newspaper Folha de São Paulo, Maktub is a tapestry of rich parable and tale woven together with beautiful line-art throughout. It promises to take the reader on a spiritual journey, shedding light on our interactions with the world and on our perennial search for meaning. Those who read and loved The Alchemist will find a similar comfort in the self-reflectivity of this “inspirational companion. Read more

How to hide inside a three by Jane van der Riet

 A local gem from clinical psychologist, anti-apartheid activist, and Cape Town’s very own Jane van der Riet. Set in the cushy Southern suburbs in 2017, Leigh-Anne grapples with a loveless marriage, unruly children, and an ominous letter from her father. Privy to her thoughts as her life unravels, she encounters the racist truths and mistruths within her, and is confronted with the guilt of a past misdeed. Whilst often light and humorous, this is, in the author’s own words, “a serious novel about whiteness and shame.” A debut with much to give, truly an enjoyable read. Read more

Victory City by Salman Rushdie

 From the master of magical realism himself, comes yet another dazzling triumph of fantastical literary fiction. After the tragic demise of her parents, Pampa Kampana is visited by a goddess who grants her supernatural power. From this she wills a great empire into existence, whispering its inhabitants to life. As the centuries pass, we are witness to its wars, its miracles, and to the girl who created it all… Stylised as the translation of a long-lost epic, Victory City is a gorgeous display of Rushdie’s ability to marry historical inspiration with his unbounded imagination. Read more

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

Darkly humorous and starkly jarring, Kuang’s latest novel is a satirical take on the world of publishing.

Following the aftermath of a freak accident, June Hayward finds herself in possession of an unpublished manuscript by her (much) more successful friend. Does tweaking something really make it yours? And how far will she go to defend her claim over it? Equal parts funny and disturbing, Yellowface even ropes in the phenomenon of the ‘Twitter sleuth’ to further complicate matters.

Fans of Babel and the Poppy War trilogy will be pleased to know that Kuang’s strong style translates well from fantasy to literary fiction. Read More

Metamorphoses by Ovid

Written over 20 centuries ago, Ovid’s Metamorphoses is still considered one of the most influential literary works of its era. Loosely considered an epic, it recounts various myths and stories in chronological fashion, starting with Creation and ending with the death of Julius Caesar.

While it has undergone multiple translations since the original Latin, the latest by Stephanie McCarter is a welcome addition. A professor of classical literature, McCarter manages to capture the polished style of Ovid while surfacing some of the nuance in his work that has been lost in previous translations. Where others have preoccupied themselves with passion as a thematic thread, McCarter is interested in the dynamics of power, particularly in its abuse. Read More

Who will rule South Africa? by Adriaan Basson and Qaanitah Hunter

As Human Rights Day will be celebrated across the country next week, it is a good time to reflect on the state of our democracy.

Veteran journalists Adriaan Basson and Qaanitah Hunter take a look at the past 30 years under ANC rule, and set their predictions for the next five years in Who will rule South Africa? Incisive and sharp, they measure up the key parties and players, with a view towards what a collaborative future might look like. Read More

Bahari by Dina Macki

Step into the world of up-and-coming chef Dina Macki, as she explores her heritage through cuisine.

With over 90 mouth-watering recipes, Bahari is an exploration of the amalgam of influence that make up the Omani food culture. Littered with personal essays and the fascinating stories behind the ingredients, this award-winning cookbook deserves a spot in your kitchen. And did we mention how visually stunning it is? One finds themselves poring over the photography so much that they are pleasantly surprised to find that it is accompanied by delicious recipes too! Read More

Last Year’s Favourites

2023 was a year for the books. Three titles that entranced their readers, rippled across best seller lists, and swayed judges for some of the top awards, stand out. They delve into everything from totalitarianism to psychiatric treatments, nostalgia to betrayal, and displacement to empire.

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Claiming the coveted Booker Prize, Paul Lynch’s Prophet Song is hauntingly good. In a dystopian rendering of Ireland, in which an ultra-right nationalist party has seized control, violence and paranoia reign supreme.

We follow Eilish Stack, mother of four, as she tries to keep her family from being torn apart by the powers that be. Read against a backdrop of perennial war and mass displacement, Lynch’s novel comes at a critical time. Fear, loss, and hope swarm the pages, making for a compelling read. Claustrophobic in its pacing yet brilliantly executed, this is not a novel you will soon forget.

Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodinov

Originally published in 2020, Georgi Gospodinov’s Time Shelter was translated from its native Bulgarian into English in 2022. Winning the International Booker Prize, the novel presents us with the possibility of treating Alzheimer’s patients by ‘recreating’ bygone eras in which they had once felt secure. Different floors in a psychiatric clinic are made to look, with surgical precision, like a specific decade.

Replete with political and historical innuendoes, Gospodinov’s novel cleverly blurs the line between recollection and imagination; highlighting how the weaponization of nostalgia can have far-reaching consequences. Witty, heart-breaking, and profound, Time Shelter strikes at the core of that which we are all too often preoccupied with: Memory.

Trust by Hernan Diaz

Previously longlisted for the Booker Prize, Trust deservingly snatched up the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2023. Hernan Diaz’s sophomore novel is a literary delight of embedded, unfolding narratives; each one more shocking and revelatory than the last. Set in New York across the 20^th Century, the book explores the elusive life of a powerful financier and his enigmatic wife. Competing tales weave together a delicious tapestry of power, betrayal, and love.

Fans of the book will be delighted to learn that it is being adapted into a limited series at HBO (with Kate Winslet attached to star and produce!).

More

Click here for more recommended reads, or vist Stellenbosch Books at 14 Andringa Street in Stellenbosch Central.

The post Good Reads appeared first on Stellenbosch Visio.

Stellenbosch’s oldest book club has been a literary oasis for over half a century, bringing together generations of readers in the pursuit of knowledge, friendship, and the joy of storytelling since 1970.

^{The current book collection of Elize’s Book Club. Photo: Karla de Bod}

Pages of History

The book club was established in 1970 by Elize Francis, a resident of Stellenbosch who wanted to create a space where women could discuss and connect over reading and books. While Elize sadly passed away in 1994 at the age of 67, her legacy lives on thanks to the members who have joined the club over the course of 50 years. 

“I was invited to join right at the beginning. I joined because I was new to Stellenbosch and wanted to meet more English-speaking women, as it was mainly English in those days,” says Anne Reinecke, current chairperson of the book club.

^{Photographs of Elize’s Book Club in the early 2000’s. Photos Supplied}

Anne attended one of the very first meetings of the book club, and has been attending every year since. She shares that it is the variety of books introduced by other members and the lack of pretension in the club that have encouraged her to keep coming back.

“Not much has changed since the beginning. Almost nobody has chosen to leave … [if they did, it was because] they either moved or passed away,” says Anne.

^{The typewritten rules of Elize’s Book Club as set by the founder in the 1970’s. Photo supplied}

Tales and Traditions

Today, there are about 10 women who are permanent members of the club. These women meet monthly to discuss books, discover new authors, and share their favourite books with each other. 

“I have loved reading and books since I was little,” says Karina Hauptfleisch, who worked in libraries in Pretoria and Stellenbosch for about 40 years. “Because of this, a member of the book club invited me to attend one of their meetings about 20 years ago. I immediately saw a few interesting book titles and [stayed] with great joy.”

^{Elize’s Book Club meeting in August 2023. Photos: Karla de Bod}

The book club’s meetings take place every first Monday of the month at the members’ houses. At every meeting, two members bring along books of their choice — these books then form part of the club’s reading list. Once the books have been read by every member, they are returned to their owners.  

“Books that you might have never noticed in a library come to your attention and become exceptional reads,” says Vea Tredoux, who has been a member since the 1970s.

Although Vea moved to Gansbaai in 2003, she still drives back to Stellenbosch every month to attend the club’s meetings.

^{Members of Elize’s Book Club getting ready to start their meeting in August 2023. Photo: Karla de Bod}

Timeless Friendships Formed

As the book club meetings have continued for over 50 years, timeless friendships have been formed. According to Karina, the unplanned exclusivity of the club contributes to its intimacy and informality, keeping the club rooted.

“My life is overwhelmingly enriched and broadened through my contact with the book club’s members, as well as the multitude of interesting books I have discovered during my 20 years of being in the club,” says Karina.

^{Laughter regularly fills the room during book discussions. Photos: Karla de Bod}

The success of the club lies in the fact that the members read books that they each enjoy, says Anne. 

“There are no pressures regarding what books you choose to bring when your turn comes around. It is all for the pleasure of like-minded people getting together to share their love of reading over a cup of tea and ietsie om te eet!”

^{Table are always stacked with books and tea cups at Elize’s Book Club. Photo: Karla de Bod}

In a rapidly changing world, Elize’s book club stands as a testament to the enduring power of literature and human connection. It’s a reminder of the timeless joy found in the pages of a book, and the lasting bonds created through the art of storytelling. 

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LIFELONG HEIRLOOMS

The kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that has become popular all over the world and can be worn for both formal and casual occasions. Mantua Silkwear honours the Japanese art of kimono-making as a specialised ancient craft and has recently launched a limited range of unisex silk kimonos, made in Stellenbosch.

The company’s founder and designer, Juandi Andrag, is drawn to the luminosity of silk and its ability to mould itself to the body, and is inspired by the spirited, colourful spirit of Africa. She uses watercolour artworks in her design process, printing them onto silk in limited editions and then crafting the silk into light garments that flow around the body. As a women- owned brand in Africa, Mantua Silkwear champions the development of local craftswomen, and is open to collaborate with artists and designers who speak the same visual language.

Mantua Silkwear has had international success with sales to Bloomingdales in New York, attended several trade shows in Paris and also took part in a group show as part of Paris Fashion Week in February 2022.
Instagram @mantuasilkwear

STORIES OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH

With more than 400 pages of inspiring imagery, Proud South is a captivating and visually stunning book produced by Lidewij Edelkoort and Lili Tedde that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contemporary creativity of the Southern Hemisphere.

A compilation of interviews, articles, essays and images, it presents the diverse perspectives, traditions and innovations of the Southern Hemisphere’s artists, designers and thinkers, offering a refreshing perspective on design and creativity. Images throughout the book are stunning, capturing the colours, textures and forms of the Southern Hemisphere’s creative expressions. Instagram @lidewijelko

DANCING IN THE 10TH COMPETITION

The South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) has announced that this year’s event will take place from 23 to 26 July as a hybrid event, with performances on the Artscape stage in Cape Town as well as online.

The SAIBC is regarded as Africa’s most prestigious ballet competition and attracts dancers of the highest calibre from all over the world. There are three age groups – ages 9–12 (scholar), 13–16 (junior) and 17–22 (senior) – and they feature classical ballet and contemporary dance.

This year, to celebrate the 10th competition at Artscape, it will present the SAIBC Recognition Award, which acknowledges the significant contributions made by South Africans to the growth and sustainability of ballet. Another exciting new element to be introduced is a choreographic category, in which local and international choreographers have been invited to enter new works.

Photographers who have been capturing the competition since its inception will exhibit outstanding images of dancers in the foyer at Artscape in honour of the late Pat Bromilow-Downing, one of South Africa’s most distinguished ballet photographers. Submissions close on 1 July 2023.

www.saibc.com

HEAD TO HERMANUS FOR ART

Home to the FynArts Festival, Hermanus offers an invitation to immerse yourself in art and the finer things in life. However, any visit is also a chance to savour the magnificent environment and Walker Bay, where the first whales will be arriving.

Stay at the Hermanus Boutique Guest House, situated opposite Fick’s Pool. From here it’s a short walk along the cliff path to the centre of town and when the bustle becomes too much, you can withdraw to the tranquillity of the guest house. Taking an understated approach to luxury, the spacious rooms are comfortably appointed in neutral tones with accents of colour. Plush chairs invite you to sit back with a book, and there’s a spa bath that promises pure relaxation.

“We want our guests to feel comfortable and at ease; they must feel like they are at home,” says the general manager, Mariane Maree.

Good to know: Stellenbosch Visio readers get a 25% discount on bookings of two nights or more. Send an email to reservations@hermanusguesthouse.co.za with promo code Visio2023. Offer valid from 1 June to 31 August 2023.

THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN

Clout/SA is a creative agency that believes an understanding of the business world is vital for creative people to gain an edge and be successful. It aims to help young South African designers to master the basics of business and ultimately transform the country’s design landscape.

“Many designers have incredible creative talents, but are missing foundational business principles and practices,” explains Clout/ SA’s managing executive, Nokuzola Jennes. This led to the development of a business mentorship programme for local designers in partnership with Enterprise Room, a business management consultancy.

The programme provides on- site training to prepare participants for the ongoing off-site training programme, where mentors are allocated to assist them with finances, production and other aspects of running a successful business. Clout/SA also provides designers with exhibitions and opportunities for production and manufacturing.

The founding project was Nando’s Design Programme and its latest is Nando’s Portal to Africa, an online shopping platform for designer furniture. Since its launch in 2018, the platform has facilitated more than R80 million worth of sales across 20 900 products, thus one of the largest exporters of South African design. Instagram @clout_sadesign

A TASTE OF THE WINELANDS

The people who work with wine are often deeply rooted in their terroir. That profound connection is captured in Harvest Table, a book by Oddo Vins et Domaines, the multi- national firm behind local wine estates Pink Valley, Taaibosch and Le Chant. Taking inspiration from their farms in Stellenbosch, Provence, Sicily and Rioja, Oddo’s executive chef Monché Muller explores the food heritage of these winelands. Across 70 recipes and 312 pages of captivating photography and text, it is not only a love of the land that comes through, but strong family bonds.

“I knew from the beginning that I wanted it to be a family-orientated book. That extends from the owners, father and daughter Pascal and Lorraine Oddo to my own daughter, who’s in the book, making bread with our winemaker, Schalk-Willem Joubert,” says Monché. “We all belong to the same family of Oddo Vins – that’s why there’s a picture of everyone who works on our farms in the book. Around the world, we’re living by the same motto: we want to get the best produce and make the ingredients shine.”

Although Harvest Table is beautiful enough to justify its place on a coffee table, it would be a shame not to cook from it. To capture authentic tastes, Monché met with local suppliers and made food alongside them. Immersing herself in each region’s food culture was a rewarding experience, she says. “Whereas the fresh produce markets in Europe are absolutely wonderful, here we have great meat. But you can be in South Africa and attempt a French recipe or vice versa. It is food that people can actually cook without feeling intimidated.”

Regulars at Pink Valley may recognise the rooibos butter, a favourite heritage recipe of Monché’s that has its roots in her childhood. “I grew up cooking food over the fire and I learnt how to smoke butter when I was quite young. But perfecting the recipe was a process.” Heritage is clearly important to the team at Oddo Vins and the chef is quick to explain the reason. Simply put, they’re building a legacy for years to come.
Good to know: You can buy Harvest Table (R750) at Pink Valley Estate or from leading bookshops.

SPONTANEITY IN FRANSCHHOEK

For adventurous thrill-seekers and the curious at heart, a mystery weekend in Franschhoek is a must-do activity for winter. The Franschhoek Mystery Weekends are all-inclusive getaways that are meticulously planned and tick all the boxes that Franschhoek is renowned for.

The experience begins with a check-in event where you’re invited to mingle over a glass of wine before opening your special Mystery Weekend box, which contains all the details of the next few days. Winter is the season of indulging in red wine, the charm of roaring fireplaces and the comfort of warmth, and a mystery weekend in Franschhoek saves you the hassle of weeks of planning.

The confirmed dates for this year’s Franschhoek Mystery Weekends are 16–18 June, 28–30 July and 25–27 August. Each booking includes two nights’ accommodation, break- fast daily, a surprise event on the Friday night, dinner on the Saturday night and lunch on the Sunday. Terms and conditions apply.

For bookings or queries, contact mysteryweekend@franschhoek.org.za.

The post News & Reviews appeared first on Stellenbosch Visio.

Ware vertellings roere. Weerspieël dit verhale van vroue buite tradisionele grense, sit ek penorent. Joan Kruger se Wieg weef ’n web waarbinne die leser ook leerder word.

Die menswees en omstandighede van Maria du Plessis, née Marie Buisset, boei. Leergierig, leerder, leerkrag. Eggenoot, stiefma, reisiger, bloedma. Vroedvrou, boer, sakevrou. Weduwee, konvensiebreker. Heelmeesteres, geloofwaardige getuie voor die hof. Driehonderd-drie-en-veertig jaar ná haar geboorte in die stad Sedan, Frankryk, hou dié formidabele vrou my dae lank gevange in Pretoria, Suid-Afrika. Dus Kaap toe om die skrywer uit te vra.

Ons ontmoet in Woodstock, Kaapstad, in die kantoor van Tip Africa Publishing, die maatskappy waaraan Joan steeds verbonde is. Sy staan fier. Petite, hartlik. Ontdaan van enige fraiings wat mens sou kon verwag by ’n deurwinterde joernalis, redakteur en skrywer.

Rondom Joan rinkink energie. Midde-in die tasbare, lewegewende uitstraling setel ’n diepe kalmte. My eie dwarreling bedaar. Helder oë agter die brilraam onder haar silwer elfiestylkuif koggel konvensies oor ouderdom. Sewe dekades lê agter haar. Haar hele wese weerspreek dit.

Maria, die voetnoot-vroedvrou, het Joan deeglik aan die baadjiepant beet. Sedert navorsing oor vrouetaal, in 1999, waar sy Maria bloot raaklees in ’n “taalkundige dokumentjie”. Joan verkneukel haar in herroep. “As kind op Kakamas het ons meisiekinders soos seuns grootgeword; ons het trekker bestuur, katoenbale getrap… ek’t nooit die ding beleef van vroue hoort in ’n hoekie nie. Die vrouebevryding van die sestigerjare het ook seker onbewustelik meegespeel dat ’n buitengewone vrou met ’n mens sal praat. Vroue is nou nog maar altyd my gemeente! Maria het mý gekies… hoe meer ek oor haar ontdek het, hoe meer het ek besef: Maria, ek en ander vroue is dit aan jou verskúldig. Én aan die vrouens van jou tyd, om die waarheid omtrent julle te weet.”

Vier jaar gelede begin Joan Maria du Plessis se lewe mikroskopies ontleed, meer ondersoekende joernalis as geskiedskrywer. “Jy begin op ’n pad, wie weet waarheen, maar
dis onweerstáánbaar… wat wás die werklikheid; is ons beeld van daai werklikheid reg? Joernalistiek laat jou in die voorste gestoeltes toe, waar jy vrae mag vra… jy kap en kap, soekend na brokkies waarheid.”

Legkaartstukkies van Maria du Plessis se prentjie was maar ’n handjie vol, boonop oor kontinente heen versteek. Die tyd van die Hugenote aan die Kaap laat nie veel geskrifte van vroue na nie. “Gelukkig is soveel dokumente sedert die draai van die millennium gedigitaliseer, anders sou ek nóóit by al die navorsing uitgekom het nie!”

In 2020 du die pandemie Joan se gedrewenheid om Du Plessis se verhaal neer te pen, al dringender. “Ek was so bang ek gaan dood, en al hierdie inligting raak verlore, sê nou niemand anders stel daarin belang nie! Hier oor die sewentig staan ons mos in die voorste ry… toe gaan sít ek, en ek skrýf. Skryf is vir my swaar. Om so sy aan sy langs daardie tyd se mense te beweeg, asof met oop sinapse, is pynlik.”

Emosie versluier haar stem tot fluister. “Die Hollanders sê: Wie schrijft, blijft, en ek wil dit aanvul: Wie schrijft, blijft léven. Oprah Winfrey uiter gereeld een slawevrou se naam hardop. By die noem daarvan lewe daardie vrou weer. Ek’t gevoel, Maria, jóú naam moet genoem word. Jy wat ongehoord, ondenkbaar, ’n verswakte slaaf by jou op ’n perd se rug gelaai het…”

Joan raak stil. Die ruit bo die spoorlynvlegsels anderkant die gebou kaats oggendlig blink onder haar regterkantse brillens.

Geen sprokie nie

Marie Buisset se kinderlewe was geen sprokie nie. Uit kerkboekinskrywings spruit die aanname dat haar ma, Anne Buisset, née Guiri, nie die geboorte van haar tweede kind oorleef nie. Die baba sterf binne dae. Marie is pas twee jaar. Haar pa se naam word nie weer in kerkrekords aangeteken nie.

“Daar is wel vermelding van ’n tante wat getuie was by haar doop- en ‘ondertrou’-dag. Ontheem deur godsdiensvervolging in Frankryk, waarskynlik aangewese op genade van ander, kan mens die lot van die Hugenote-gemeenskap aflei… Soos vandag steeds met vlugtelinge, bly onderdruktes mekaar se aanspraak en familie,” sê Joan.

Op 29 Augustus 1700, in Amsterdam, trou Marie met die 62-jarige wewenaar en chirurgyn, Jean Prieur du Plessis. Die bruidegom is drie maal so oud soos sy, ook vader van twee tienerseuns en ’n sesjarige dogter. Die verbintenis is waarskyklik ’n geriefshuwelik vir beide partye. “Sy gaan ook ’n lewenslange verbintenis aan met die heelkunde, ’n nering wat sy as vroedvrou tot haar dood sou beoefen. Met Jean as haar leermeester sou sy selfs op die duur die grense van ‘vrouewerk’ help verskuif.”

’n Maand later vertrek die hersaamgestelde gesin na die Kaap, op een van die handelskepe van die VOC se Kermisvloot. Die wêreld wat Maria du Plessis leer ken nadat sy haar lewe as Marie Buisset in Amsterdam agterlaat, lees warempel soos ’n wildernisverhaal. In 1701 vestig die Du Plessis’s hulle op Stellenbosch. Die nedersetters haal die kromme note met huis bou, boerdery aanlê en die eise van ’n groeiende gesin. Maria leer die jong spruite Nederlands, Jean werk as chirurgyn en lei sy vrou algaande op as vroedvrou.

Ons gesels oor die varia ervarings wat Maria beleef, van vlugteling tot voorvatter. Buiten tallose bevallings wat sy behendig behartig, getuig sy ook van die geboorte van ’n nuwe land, volksgroep en taal. Sy begraaf twee eggenote.

Sakevrou

Teoretiese kennis put sy waarskynlik uit vroedvrouhandleidings, ’n poespas van mites en feite. Hoofstuk Een van die sogenaamde Leerboek vir Vroedvroue waarsku byvoorbeeld: “Ondanks haar onversadigbaarheid moet ’n getroude vrou haar bedeesd gedra in die egtelike bed.”

“Maria was twee dinge; vroedmoeder, maar ook gesinshoof; mater familias, die dryfkrag. In haar latere lewe bereken sy skuld, koop ’n huis op Stellenbosch, spekuleer daarmee, en slaan boonop ’n goeie slag. Haar rekeninge is soos ’n professionele sakevrou bygehou. Haar gerespekteerde hofgetuienisse oor geweld teen vroue is buitengewoon vir daardie tyd.”

Joan weeg haar woorde “Miskien is dit vandag vir vroue belangrik om te weet, jy kan albei wees… vroedmoeder en stamhoof. Ook by die werk is daar mense wat soms bemoeder moet word.”

Die roerende getuigskrif van Maria en die vroue in haar omte wyk nie uit my gedagtes nie: “Haar werk het haar tot op die einde deel gehou van die intieme belewenisse van vroue. Die wonder van nuwe lewe. Die gebrokenheid en verwonding van grootword. Als deel van haar dagtaak. Sy moes getuie en helende hande wees as ’n jaloerse minnaar se mes, die vuiste van ’n godsman of die luste van ’n verkragter hul teikens gevind het. Want soos dit nou is vir vroue, so was dit ook tóé.”

Hierin lê ’n skrikwekkende onmiddellikheid. Die leser is geplaas, midde-in die vervlegte lewens van die gemeenskap waarbinne Maria leef. Joan leun vorentoe. “Ek het probeer eerlik skryf; dit kon net sowel vandag wees. Lesers moet dáár wees.”

Die skrywer onder wie se onverskrokke oog en sekure hand ’n klein, edele lewe van voetnoot na vandag verhef is, glimlag. Dit kos een onkonvensionele vrou om ’n ander terloops raak te lees, te benoem.

The post Ontmoet Maria, Stellenbosch se Franse heelmeesteres in ‘Wieg’ appeared first on Stellenbosch Visio.

Kanonkop: The Making of a Legend

Where else in the world would you find a wine estate that rubs shoulders with Château Mouton Rothschild yet celebrates new releases with a snoek braai? A place that has had a Springbok rugby player and the Prince of Pinotage in the cellar and is the first South African wine to earn a perfect score from Master of Wine Tim Atkin? In his engaging story of this family farm, wine writer Emile Joubert reveals the characters and visionaries who have made Kanonkop one of the big guns.

R500. Click here to order.

Hazendal 320

Among the Winelands’ grand and historic estates, Hazendal stands out for its singular fusion of South African and Russian heritage. Fancy enjoying an authentic Russian tea ceremony? At Hazendal you can do so in an elegant Cape Dutch setting. Known for its fine wines, the estate today also produces vodka from grapes and offers visitors a wealth of culinary, cultural and outdoor experiences, as demonstrated in this richly illustrated book.

R950. Click here to order.

Dine with Locals

Get to know the people of Stellenbosch around the dinner table as you explore isiXhosa, Cape Malay, Khoikhoin and Cape Dutch heritage. The Dine with Locals initiative empowers residents to host visitors for meals that weave together culinary and cultural traditions. Between these pages you will meet some of the local hosts and discover stories, pictures and recipes that feed body and soul.

R100. Click here to order.

Hoër Jongenskool Paarl 150

Die Wynland is ongetwyfeld goeie teelaarde vir tradisieryke seunskole. In die Paarl vier Boishaai een-en-’n-halwe eeu se bestaan. Dié boek betoon eer aan die skool en oudleerders se prestasies, maar nog belangriker is die insig wat dit in die gees van die instelling bied. Deur middel van staaltjies, verslae, argief-  en kleurfoto’s word die storie van die skool vertel deur die mense wat dit die beste ken. Shimalaya wah!

R500. Kliek hier en bestel.

Paul Roos Gimnasium 150

Die Maroen Masjien is Stellenbosch se trots, ’n skool wat oor 150 jaar merkwaardige manne opgelewer het, van eerste ministers tot baanbrekers, van sporthelde tot groot geeste. Paul Roos Gimnasium is ’n skool met ’n ryk tradisie, maar gerigtheid op die toekoms. In foto’s en vertellings word die dinamiek tussen onderwysers en leerders vasgevang, en die boek is ’n kleinood vir elke Paul Rooser, of hy nou jare of dekades gelede op die skoolbanke was.

R750 (hardebandeksemplare), R3,500 (leergebinde eksemplare in beperkte oplaag). Afleweringskoste ingesluit.

Kliek hier en bestel.

Kuns: Die Bloemhofversameling

Toe die skoolhoof, mej. CCG van der Walt, in 1939 die eerste skildery vir die Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof aangeskaf het, was dit die begin van ’n merkwaardige kunsversameling. Oor die dekades heen het die kunswerke aangegroei en 67 werke word in die glansblaaie van dié boek vervat. Die afbeeldings word aangevul deur profiele van die vernaamste kunstenaars, insluitend die drie oud-Bloemhoffers wat by die Venesiese Biënnale uitgestal het.

R300. Kliek hier en bestel.

A Century to Celebrate

Over a hundred years ago, as the world was reeling from the Great War, a remarkable company was founded in Cape Town. As the businessmen formulated their plans in the Royal Hotel on that day in 1917, they had one goal: to help build a future for the people of South Africa. This book tells the story of how Sanlam grew from a small, homegrown insurance company into a multinational financial services firm.

R130. Click here to order.

Waaraan ek dink as ek terugdink

Piet Beyers se boek van visvangherinneringe is saamgestel uit dagboekinskrywings, briewe, gedigte, staaltjies en stories van familie en vriende. Dit vertel hoe ’n seun ’n visserman geword het en Beyers skryf oor wat visvang hom steeds dekades later leer. Die boek bevat ’n magdom foto’s sowel as illustrasies deur Stellenbosch Visio se redakteur, Francé, getroud met Piet Beyers. Deels memoires, deels reisverslag, is dié publikasie geheel en al onvergeetlik. 

R450. Kliek hier en bestel.

South Africa’s Wildest Places 

Photojournalist Scott Ramsay’s book is a vibrant celebration of the landscapes, wildlife and people that make our country’s parks great. Yes, you’ll find Addo’s elephants here among the pages, as well as the Kgalagadi’s magnificent black-maned lions, but Scott’s lens also picks out unexpected treasures: flowers in the desert, a secluded swimming hole, patterns and textures. It’s a visual feast and a powerful reminder that we live in a land of heart-stopping beauty.

R895. Click here to order.

Contact Tip Africa Publishing  

For more information on Tip Africa Publishing‘s various content offerings, send an email to content director Igna Schneider on igna@tipafrica.co.za.

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We hunt and gather as much as we can on our farms. Living 200km from the nearest town we’ve learnt to make the most of what we have. And we like it that way. It’s a good excuse to fill the corridors with the smell of freshly baked bread every morning. We make our own cakes, croissants, rusks and a host of jams to smother them in. We milk our Jersey cows to make butter, cream, yoghurt and ricotta cheese. We grow our herbs and vegetables despite an occasional but aggressive black frost during our short winter months.

At the beginning of spring we collect ostrich eggs and freeze most of them to last us until the next spring. The end of the summer rains is the time to scour the cracked earth for !/nabbas, the prized Kalahari truffle. Winter is the main hunting season. There is no time to rest as we prepare the meat for the year ahead. We use every part of the animal, from steaks and stews to biltong and wors. There is an incredible variety of endemic game on our farms: gemsbok, springbok, eland, kudu, hartebeest, zebra, impala and more. For game bird we have a choice of guinea fowl, sandgrouse, francolin and ostrich. Warthog is our substitute for wild boar.

Apart from the good of conservation and the environment, what I love most about living off the land is discovering delicacies in unusual places. Porcupine? Crackle up the skin over naked flames for delicious crispy canapés.

!/Nabba soup (Kalahari truffle soup)

!/Nabba is the Khoekhoe (or Nàmá) word for truffles of the Kalahari. !/Nabbas grow close to the surface, leaving tell-tale cracks and protrusions in the red soil as if drawing a treasure map for avid truffle collectors. They grow in the wet season but only when the weather suits them. More often than not, we have to wait patiently for the end of the season before we gather our treasures. But if you can’t wait any longer, you can substitute the !/nabbas with white truffles, mushrooms or even biltong.

• 500g !/Nabbas, thinly sliced (or substitute with truffles, mushrooms or biltong)
• 3 large onions, finely chopped
• 100g Knorr mushroom soup powder
• 2ℓ milk
• 1ℓ water
• 1ℓ cream
• salt and pepper
• 60ml sherry

Sauté the !/nabbas together with the onions in a heated pan for 3–5 minutes until soft and golden. Add the mushroom soup powder, milk, water and cream. Bring to the boil and cook for about 3–4 minutes, making sure it doesn’t burn. Season with salt and pepper and add the sherry. Bring to the boil and then quickly remove from the heat. Serve immediately with fresh bread and lots of salted butter. Serves 8–10.

Stuffed red hartebeest sirloin

I don’t usually marinate game as it can spoil the unique taste, but in this recipe the marinade works wonders:

Red hartebeest sirloin, 1 whole (1½kg)

For the marinade:

• 125ml lemon juice
• 80ml soy sauce
• 125ml olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped

For the filling:

• 500g mushrooms, chopped
• ¼ cup onions or shallots, chopped 
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp butter
• ¼ cup cognac or brandy
• ¼ cup beef or chicken stock
• salt and pepper, freshly ground
• fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• 250g cream cheese

Using a large-bladed knife, make a slit that runs the length of the sirloin. Be careful not to cut through to the other side. The sirloin should remain whole with the slit forming a pouch for stuffing. Place the meat and all marinade ingredients in a covered dish for up to 12 hours, turning every two hours. When you’re ready to prepare the meat for cooking, soak a few wooden toothpicks in water. Sauté the mushrooms and chopped onions in olive oil and butter. Add the Cognac and stock. Simmer to reduce the liquid. Season with salt, pepper and fresh parsley. Allow to cool before stirring in the cream cheese. Stuff the mixture into the slit in the sirloin. Close with the soaked toothpicks. Grill on the fire until medium rare. Let the meat rest for 5–10 minutes. Remove the toothpicks and cut into 3cm-thick slices for serving. Serves 6.

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Twenty years ago it was dismissed as a ‘fly-by-night’. Today Capitec is the largest digital bank and the largest bank by active banking clients in South Africa. 

As Capitec’s sleek new head office celebrates the beginning of a new era, the current team under the leadership of CEO Gerrie Fourie is keen to advance to new frontiers, while jealously guarding the distinct culture of the company.

André du Plessis, Capitec’s CFO since its inception, described this culture in a recent interview with CFO Magazine: “We wanted to create a family environment where people feel safe to try things and make mistakes. At the same time, we wanted a culture of accountability and brutal honesty.”

The founders of Capitec never regarded themselves as corporate managers or bankers. They saw themselves as entrepreneurs, adventurers, even. “What we did was new and it was scary,” André admits. That did not deter them.

Besides André, all the members of the new bank’s ‘dream team’ (dubbed so by staff) had first made their mark in the liquor business before moving on to banking. Like Michiel le Roux, the first CEO, Riaan Stassen, who succeeded him, had been at Distillers Corporation (now Distell) at the time of Dr Anton Rupert. They knew how to cater to clients, and especially those who did not have access to banking at the time. 

Besides André, all the members of the new bank’s ‘dream team’ (dubbed so by staff) had first made their mark in the liquor business before moving on to banking. Like Michiel le Roux, the first CEO, Riaan Stassen, who succeeded him, had been at Distillers Corporation (now Distell) at the time of Dr Anton Rupert. They knew how to cater to clients, and especially those who did not have access to banking at the time. 

Rounding out the founding team for the bank-to-be were microlender Keymatrix’s MD, Gerrie Fourie – another Distell man – and Henk Lourens, its head of acquisitions. Today, the remaining three founders hold the reins: Gerrie as the CEO, André as CFO and Henk as executive for retail banking. 

Recent Capitec Board Changes & Strategic Leadership Transitions

The retirement of co-founder Dr Chris Otto marks the conclusion of a significant 25-year foundational era for the banking group. Alongside billionaire Jannie Mouton, Otto co-founded the PSG Group in 1995, which instrumentally backed Capitec’s launch in 2001. Following his departure on 31 July 2026, Capitec’s Risk and Capital Management Committee will transition to be comprised of Stan du Plessis (Chairman), Nadya Betthay, Naidene Ford-Hoon, Vusi Mahlangu, Piet Mouton, and Grant Hardy.

As it celebrates its 20th birthday, Capitec can lay claim to a variety of ‘fathers’. There was Jannie Mouton’s PSG, which first saw the opportunities offered by microlending, held a bankrupt bank’s banking licence and had cash. There was also Keymatrix, a PSG subsidiary, which bought out cash loan shops to create a network of branches. And then, of course, there were the visionaries who had dreams about a different bank with different ways. 

Michiel was the one who brought everyone together, André says. Looking back, he sums it all up: “Without the management skills of the executives, the knowledge and know-how of the bankers, the strategic skills of the planners, the faith of the funders in the doers, the hard work and life dedication of the employees and the income from the unsustainable microlending business, we could never have achieved what we have created.” 

A ‘tjoppie’ for a vegetarian

When Michiel le Roux’s plans to build a bank were underway but for the lack of senior management and a banking system, he received a call in early 2000 that was music to his ears. The entire senior management he had worked with at Boland Bank, he was told, were leaving and interested in joining him. When the negotiations were finally over and the deal put to bed, celebrations were in order. 

Michiel remembers the evening. “We were all at my house, André du Plessis and Carl Fischer, Riaan Stassen and Christian van Schalkwyk (André Olivier and Chris Oosthuizen joined a few months later) and I called Jannie Mouton and Chris Otto to come and braai with us. But when I went into the kitchen, all I could find was frozen meat. No bread, not a salad leaf, not a single tomato. So we had wine and braaivleis and only afterwards I learnt André Dup was vegetarian.” 

The next level

When Gerrie took over as CEO in 2014, there were massive expectations that he would take the business to the next level. He did that, and more. He steered the company through significant crises, not least American short seller Viceroy Research’s onslaught in 2018 and the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. 

The Viceroy Report hit them hard, André recalls. “Of all the unpleasant happenings we had to weather over the past 20 years, that was the lowest point. For 18 years we had given our all to building an organisation with high moral values and to make a massive impact on the lives of all South Africans. Our ultimate aim was to create full inclusion for all in the financial markets, which, for many reasons, had not been the case before the establishment of Capitec. Our running of the business is structured to be honest, to have good corporate governance and to live what we set out to do through deeds, communication and delivery.

“Viceroy came out of nowhere and accused us of wrongdoing, being dishonest, ripping off clients and misleading investors; in short, ridiculing our values. They even attacked us personally. We worked day-in and day-out to clear our name and to ensure Capitec continues to deliver and improve the financial lives of our clients.

“The similarity between Viceroy and Covid-19 is that both came from nowhere, of no wrongdoing by ourselves. Viceroy was an attack that required time, management and action, but caused no real long-term damage. Covid-19, on the contrary, brought real hardship to clients and loss to the bank.” 

Temporarily closing the entire head office, call centres and 50% of the branches would previously have been unthinkable. When the direction in which the world was heading became clear, the leadership’s natural survival instinct as entrepreneurs kicked in and they started preparing.

With the release of the latest annual report, the bank could report a total of 8.6 million digital clients as of the end of February 2021 and a 35% increase in the number of digital transactions to 1.1 billion, confirming its leadership in the country’s digital banking race. Capitec had started prioritising digitalisation long before the pandemic hit. “The advantage of Level 5 lockdown was to recondition us about the way we do things. Online shopping, using digital methods to carry out banking as well as other transactions, optimising the use of smartphones, notepads and computers have all increased and improved since then,” André says. 

Twenty years ago Capitec started as a small, insignificant bank with large dreams, principles and plans. The bank is now important to many clients, but its leaders are also hungry to do more. In October 2019, the South African Minister of Finance and other regulatory authorities formally approved Capitec’s purchase and acquisition of Mercantile Business Bank and on 7 November, Capitec bought all Mercantile Bank Ltd’s shares. In the newly created structure, Mercantile handles the ongoing clients, while the new Capitec business bank model concentrates on building something fresh and digital. 

André, in visualising the future, says, “I believe we have very smart people in the organisation and everyone who left has been replaced by people who have taken the organisation further – in some cases, to an even higher level. Teamwork becomes a lot easier if all the members have the skills and competence to perform their tasks.

‘You will never, ever make it’

When Capitec listed on the JSE on 18 September 2002, only nine days after the collapse of Saambou Bank, the outcome was dismal. The share price of the bank – a newcomer and a microlender to boot – was valued at about R5 per share at the time of listing, expected to open at R3 but opened at R2.75, then plummeted to an all-time low of R0.80 a share. 

“In the wake of that, one of the leading fund managers in South Africa, Kokkie Kooyman, told Michiel and me that we would never, ever, ever make it,” André says. “And when Kokkie speaks, everybody listens. So we did everything, I mean, we almost pawned our wives and children to get our hands on cash to buy shares.” 

Today, Kokkie is one of the most informed analysts on Capitec’s business and a regular commentator on the business.

Trust in teamwork

“As we hand over the reins, however, we have to ensure we are keeping our culture intact. That is critical. We may think we have arrived but we haven’t. We still need to deliver on our mission to become the financial friend of all South Africans and the best bank in the world.” The team knows that to accomplish this they need to make it possible to do transactions anywhere, at any time, to anyone. 

The reality, however, is daunting. The situation in South Africa includes unemployment, lower salaries, retrenchments and unaffordable loan repayments. To this can be added rampant corruption, the theft and blatant dishonesty in government and some private entities, money stolen from the poor. The current financial landscape is indeed hugely challenging.

“As any adventurer will tell you, tackling a new challenge is about teamwork and planning and realising beforehand that things can, and will, go wrong,” André says. “The advantage we had then was that no one saw us coming. That’s not the case any more. If we try something new now, we have one chance and one chance only.” As their good performance shows, they know how to steer clear of the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ – the risk department’s nickname for arrogance, complacency and ignorance.

At Capitec the adventurer bankers haven’t lost their taste for adventure or their trust in teamwork. 

South Africans will be the richer for it.

This article is based on an interview with André du Plessis by Elmari Rautenbach for an upcoming book about the success story of Capitec. The next issue of Stellenbosch Visio will feature an interview with CEO Gerrie Fourie.

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How did Einstein help create Eskom? Why can an Indonesian volcano explain the Great Trek? What do King Zwelithini and Charlemagne have in common? These are some of the questions author and economics professor Johan Fourie explores in this entertaining, accessible economic history spanning everything from the human migration out of Africa 100,000 years ago to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Win a copy

Simply click on the button below and you could win a copy of Our Long Walk to Economic Freedom. Remember to include your full names, contact details and courier address. Make sure to use LONG WALK in the subject line. Competition closes on Friday 28 May 2021 and winners will be notified via email.

WINNERS: Christine Havenga, Cobus Smit

Herewith an exclusive extract:

The world can be divided into two types of people. The first group believes the world is like a game of Monopoly: only the strongest, smartest or most fortunate survive. For this group, life is a zero-sum game; for you to win, I need to lose. If you have a world view like this, then you will inevitably also believe that wealth is acquired through the acquisition of something owed by someone else, whether it is their property (as in the game), their land or their forgone wages. The second group, by contrast, believes that the world is more like a game of Catan. They hold the belief that you can prosper while I prosper too. In fact, those in this group might even believe, as do the best Catan players, that you have to prosper for me to prosper, that our fate is irrevocably joined together.

Unfortunately, Monopoly is the board game most associated with wealth and prosperity. It is unfortunate, because the real world is nothing like a game of Monopoly. Let me give one example, very close to home. I teach at Stellenbosch University, a university town about an hour’s drive from Cape Town. The population of Stellenbosch increased by a factor of eight between 1911 and 2016 – from almost 22,000 people to more than 170,000 in little more than a century. Back in 1911, according to the census, there were only 10 people who owned cars in the entire town. Today, that number is at least 62,000 – we don’t know exactly how many cars that is, as the census only counts one car per family.

The point is that the number of car owners has gone up from 1 in 2000 inhabitants to 1 in 3. If Stellenbosch was a game of Monopoly, then only one person would have ended up with all 10 initial cars – and the game would be over. But because it is more like Catan, because our prosperity depends on those of our neighbours, there is far more wealth to go round. Instead of just one family monopolising everything, thousands of Stellenbosch families now own a car.

We find it hard to believe that the modern world is less like Monopoly and more like Catan. One reason is that we are constantly bombarded by negative economic news – of tech billionaires and their ballooning fortunes; of company closures and job losses; of debt and deceit and destitution. Our world view is also informed by our experience. Behavioural economists have identified that we have a ‘negativity bias’, that negative things have a greater impact on our psychological state than positive things, even if the two are of equal proportion. It is therefore very human to focus disproportionately on the negative and ignore the positive.

A third reason we find it hard to believe that the world is not a zerosum game is that our education curricula have shortcomings. History courses focus almost exclusively on political and social history. Economics courses focus on formal models and technical tools. Economic history courses have almost disappeared from university programmes. The shift towards postmodernism, as we will see in chapter 1, has not helped. Topics that deserve our attention, like slavery and colonialism, have been appropriated by fields of study where empirical fact has been displaced by subjectivity, relativism and a general suspicion of evidence and reason.

Power and ideology, instead, are touted as the only tools to understand the past. While there is ample reason to doubt the ‘objectivity’ of colonial sources of evidence, that is no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The only way we can uncover what happened, and why, is to construct a theory, collect source material – sometimes using innovative new (statistical) methods – and test whether the hypothesis holds up against the evidence. This book is based on research that uses such an empirical approach.

Alternative approaches, I would argue, can only result in reinforcing the researcher’s own beliefs and biases. History, then, becomes the study of our own fantasies. Having self-reinforcing fantasies rather than solid evidence of how the world works has consequences. If we believe that everyone is competing in a zero-sum game, that I can only become successful if I overpower and subdue you, then that will make us dislike rich people, the implication being that they could only be where they are because they took advantage of others. But if we believe that success requires cooperation and interaction, that we can only be successful because we depend on and trust others, then we will come to appreciate that wealth creates more wealth.

You don’t have to worship at the feet of Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk to appreciate their companies’ contributions to the profound improvement in our standards of living. Recognising that wealth requires a shared dependence also allows us to identify where wealth is unsustainably, unethically or illegally obtained. A government official misappropriating taxpayers’ money or a business manager cooking the company books breaks down our trust and cooperation, weakening our economic freedom; whereas an entrepreneur who builds a thriving business increases it.

Get your copy

Our Long Walk to Economic Freedom can be purchased at leading bookshops in Stellenbosch and is also available on Amazon Kindle.

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