A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

As someone who stays in a township I know first-hand how social distancing and staying indoors can be a nightmare for many families living in these areas, and being part of an initiative that delivers food parcels to those in need, I have seen first-hand how families are really struggling to make ends meet.

I have also seen how many of these families are squeezed together like sardines, making social distancing really not practical, but some behaviours cannot go without reprimand, alas, especially in ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

In a highly anticipated address to the nation on Wednesday 13, President Ramaphosa missed an opportunity to provide direction on the state of the economy, which is in a state of disaster thanks to the nationwide lockdown.

The president acknowledged that the main reason for the lockdown in its initial phase was to flatten the curve and curb the spread of the virus, and that it has relatively achieved that.

However on Wednesday night when the rest of the country sat down to watch and listen to the President, South Africa wanted to know what’s the ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

Over the last decade or so we’ve heard the popular phrase “print media is dying” so often. Well, finally it’s proven to be true. Thanks to COVID-19, print media has finally been pushed off the shelves.

The nationwide lockdown meant people’s movement is restricted, except for essential services, but as people begin to work remotely and even consumers prioritizing essential needs on their shopping lists, the cancellations of advertisements prior to the lockdown was a sign enough that things were not going to be the same again.

The decline in advertising spend ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

It is estimated that 98% of all businesses registered in the country are SMMEs, and they’re the ones that stand to be hard hit by the impact of the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19.

While government has made a number of relief programs to assist SMMEs not go under, those in the fashion space (including seamstresses and those in the textile industry) have resorted to making face masks to make ends meet.

You are now required by law in South Africa to always wear your face mask whenever you go into public spaces, failure in which will result in ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

No more smoke breaks with colleagues under the shed, or bumping into each other at the cafeteria for a quick coffee fix. Nor will there be time for that office gossip. Yep, COVID-19 has drastically altered the world as we know it, leaving us with no choice but to change our ways.

Bestselling novelist Arundhati Roy puts it better when she wrote in the Financial Times recently, that “whatever it is, coronavirus has made the mighty kneel and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth, longing for a return to ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

You’re not a true South African if you don’t find humour in every problem, even if it’s a global crisis. Thereby the Twitter streets, the national lockdown declared by President Ramaphosa has been likened to a Netflix series, the extension being “Season Two”.

South Africa is currently on Season Two of the national lockdown, after the President has extended it until the month end. Season One was filled with much confusion, as most of us didn’t know or understand some of the regulations, others didn’t want to accept.

The lockdown came with strict restrictions of the ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”
Ellen Par

Unlike professional chefs, under normal circumstances, we don’t have the time nor the luxury to cook for the fun of it; we cook because we have to eat, and that’s it.

During this 21 day lockdown however, South Africans from all walks of life have been sharing cooking recipes on social media, with some telling us how they’ll go about making those potjies and so on.

For the first time in ages, we have time for the little pleasures ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

As South Africans are adjusting to the 21 day nationwide lockdown as part of the efforts to flatten the curve of COVID-19 spreading any further, there are a many things people out there have been doing to keep themselves sane, right in the comfort of their living rooms.

My favourite has been the online parties that have been popping up since the President declared the lockdown seven days ago.

We saw in Italy, one of the country’s most severely hit by the virus, people standing out of their balconies to create something beautiful, singing melodies and playing musical instruments. Together they ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

On Friday the 27th, day 1 of the 21 days lockdown due to the widespread CONVID-19 which took the world by surprise and caught us unprepared, it’s good to know that there are still some good Samaritans out there.

Trevor Jansen, the head of the family run traveling company based in Kranshoek, announced on their Facebook page that they’ll be offering free services to pensioners to collect their pensions, and also drive them to the Market Square and back for their shopping at no cost to the old timers and ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

Plett Conversations is a series of events that Plett Tourism has initiated, to tackle certain topics that are of utmost importance to the tourism industry. This year the theme is how best the industry can work together in making sure it excels in destination marketing.

It’s an event that’s increasingly becoming popular on our Plett calendar, and for a good reason because there are so many issues to cover, like now that we’re faced with the scourge of the COVID-19 which makes the future somewhat uncertain, and thus calls on us to chart new paths in addressing this epidemic, and these ...more

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

At a conference room in one of Plett’s fine hotels, Sky Villa, tongues were wagging and wine glasses were tinkling. The issue? Tourism!

Chairman Bruce Richardson welcomed members and other guests to one of the many programs of the Plett Tourism Association that has come to be known as “Plett Conversations”. It’s really an opportunity for networking. On the grand scale though, the vision is to bring people together, and unite under a common vision in what former Plett Tourism Chairman Peter Wallington used to call “One Plett”.

A blog by Wandisile Sebezo.

I went to Mel’s Place by a chance some weeks ago, well, on the insistence of a colleague. While our stay was for a brief moment, right there I was 'captured' by the kind of live music that was playing and I said to myself, "this is me right here".

I am a jazz man, that’s my first preference in music, but I vibe with whatever vibes with me. A little bit of country music from time to time gets me there, and a bit of blues there and there, for the soul you know. Who knew? Live jazz music in Plettenberg Bay.

One of my favourite American ...more