Sunday Tribune 2024-09-15

In South Africa, tourism contributes a significant 3.7% towards the country’s GDP and creates 770 000 direct jobs (pre-pandemic figures), while beyond this economic impact, it also offers personal enrichment, opportunities to rest and recharge, connect with strangers and friends, and engage in new experiences, whether we seek physical or mental adventures. However, the problem of over-tourism cannot be ignored. In several destinations across Europe and parts of Asia, tourism no longer feels beneficial, with locals feeling squeezed out of their own neighbourhoods. For these communities, the benefits of tourism are overshadowed by its costs. South Africa is not at a point where over-tourism is a problem, though there are times during the December – when popular destinations experience tourism pressure. A recent study by consultants McKinsey &…

South African consumers will be waiting with bated breath this week, hoping for news of a cut in interest rates when the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets. On Thursday, the nation will find out if they will get some leeway in their monthly budgets as SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago announces the bank’s decision. The repo rate is currently at a 14-year high of 8.25% and the prime lending rate is at 11.75%. While the SARB has held firm on an 8.5% rate for months on end, there are plenty of whispers across the economic industry that a cut is finally due and may even be bigger than expected. Frank Blackmore, the lead economist at KPMG South Africa, told Business Report that the recent reductions in…

FRENCH beauty giant L’Oréal expressed its commitment to Africa during a celebration of the company’s 60-year anniversary in South Africa. Speaking at an event at its South African headquarters in Woodmead, north of Johannesburg yesterday, L’Oréal Global CEO Nicolas Hieronimus said the company had accompanied South Africa along its “transformation and resilience” journey. At the event, models showcased fashion from the 80s, 90s, and the 2000s. “We are the world number one in beauty, and we touch millions of people every day; men and women,” said Hieronimus. “We bring a touch of Parisian elegance to Johannesburg.” L’Oréal, headquartered in Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine in France, is home to brands such as Garnier, Maybelline, Valentino, and Diesel. It started life in 1909, when Eugène Schueller, a young chemist with an entrepreneurial spirit,…

THE resident sommelier at Vergenoegd Löw in Stellenbosch, George Young, has been honoured as the Best Young Sommelier of South Africa 2024 by an expert panel of the South African Sommeliers Association (Sasa). A sommelier, or wine steward, is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine restaurants, who specialises in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. Sasa said in a statement this week, “In an incredibly close contest held at Clara's Barn, Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate, George Young impressed the judges with his expertise and precision, securing the top spot.” Amos Sobashe, a Johannesburg-based wine consultant, claimed the position of first runner-up, while Gregory Lorimer of Oldenburg Vineyards finished as the second runner-up. Sasa said each candidate brought unique strengths to…

At a great restaurant, the things you don’t notice make all the difference. The way you are greeted when you arrive, the design of the menu, the way your plates are cleared, and the farewell when you are finished. Akhona Ndlovu is the master of these details. Ndlovu has been hugely influential in the Zai Restaurant brand. As managing director of the brand, she quietly helps steer one of the most admired restaurants in Durban. Ndlovu is not only revolutionising the hospitality industry but is also a passionate advocate for the empowerment and safety of women within the traditionally male-dominated space. Born in Margate and raised in Durban, the 25-year-old embarked on her journey as managing director when she was 23. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “Hospitality is not…

September is Heritage Month and September 24 is Heritage Day, and to help you celebrate, we have asked South African chefs to share their favourite traditional meals. As South Africans, this month allows us to celebrate all those proud and unique traditions and share the beauty of our rainbow nation. Our cuisine is a fusion of cultural influences, and dining out is one of the most popular things to do, especially if you are a visitor. Here are some great culinary ideas for your Heritage Day feast. Amori Burger’s harissa and rose lamb rump Serves: 4 Ingredients 2 x whole (+-350g each) lamb rumps 20g harissa paste 2ml rose syrup 2g salt 2 x small vacuum bags Baharat 125ml chicken stock, reduced by half 80ml cream 2g Baharat spice mix…