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Travel South Africa - online community of travel-minded friends

Looking to fly between Cape Town & Zurich? For the first time we have direct flights :) Edelweiss Air is flying in the route in an Airbus A330-200.

Cruise news: SouthAfrica.TO is having a staff teambuild, where we all go on a cruise together (with partners). Spoil your team with the same - book at cruises@southafrica.to - or come join our teambuild next year, by applying for a cruise ship job!

Last of the 40% cruise Discounts

Many of our readers are getting ready for their cruises! I still remember my excitement when I started packing my suitcase and realised, this is really happening! The MSC Sinfonia's cruise season officially starts on 8 November 2011 when it arrives in Cape Town and will return to European waters on 30 March 2012.

There are still some cruises available during early 2012 which have the 40% discount applicable. If you need a quote, fill in the form at MSC Sinfonia or MSC Melody.

Cruise	Itinerary	Day	Dep	Ret	Nts
SI 018	Durban, Durban	Sat	Sat, January 07, 2012	Mon, January 09, 2012	2
SI 025	Durban, Maputo, Inhambane, Durban	Mon	Mon, January 30, 2012	Fri, February 03, 2012	4
SI 027	Durban, Maputo, Inhambane, Durban	Mon	Mon, February 06, 2012	Fri, February 10, 2012	4
SI 032	Durban, Durban	Sat	Sat, February 25, 2012	Mon, February 27, 2012	2
SI 033	Durban, Maputo, Inhambane, Durban	Mon	Mon, February 27, 2012	Fri, March 02, 2012	4
SI 035	Durban, Bazaruto, Durban	Mon	Mon, March 05, 2012	Fri, March 09, 2012	4
SI 037	Durban, Maputo, Portuguese Island, Durban	Mon	Mon, March 12, 2012	Fri, March 16, 2012	4
SI 039	Durban,Portuguese Isl, Bazaruto, Durban	Mon	Mon, March 19, 2012	Sat, March 24, 2012	5
SI 040	Durban, Durban	Sat	Sat, March 24, 2012	Mon, March 26, 2012	2
SI 041	Durban, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town	Mon	Mon, March 26, 2012	Fri, March 30, 2012	4

MSC Sinfonia Cruise SI119 - Maputo & Portuguese Island

Day 4
We had “Cruise Fever”. Laziness and contentment set in and we became completely useless. We had a day at sea after leaving Portuguese Island early in the morning and lazed around next to the pool all day long. There were many activities to keep everyone busy if you felt like it, such as dance lessons, arts and crafts and Bingo. The Bingo was actually quite entertaining since they had a group of fit young men called the “Bingo Boys” as a supporting act.

Since this was the last full day of our cruise, we went to visit the duty free shops on board. There were some excellent deals and I could have easily spent a lot more money than I did. We also checked out our photos that were taken by the Sinfonia's photographer which were very good. There are 2 DVD packages available to purchase with highlights of the cruise. If you're not into taking photos, this is ideal.

During the afternoon we had the pleasure of enjoying a comedy show with the cruise director, Stephen Cloete. The massive theatre turned out to be too small, since our belly laughs drew a big crowd.

The last show of the cruise was spectacular; we were introduced to the “Dream Team”, the Starlight Cruises crew who were ever so helpful in arranging the shore excursions and disembarkations. They really took great care to look after everyone.

After the show, I went to collect the ridiculously cheap bottle of tequila I purchased from the duty free shop and on returning to our cabin, my wooden masks had miraculously appeared on the bed. We had to leave our luggage outside our door before 02:00, so you will need to pack a day bag for your toiletries, pyjamas and a change of clothes

Day 5
We got up at 04:30 to settle our cruise cards; this can only be done between 04:30 and 07:30 on the day of disembarkation if using cash. We received the balance remaining on our cards in South African Rands. Next time I go on a cruise, I will definitely link my credit card to my cruise card. This saves you the hassle of getting up at 04:30! After going back to sleep for a while, we got up, vacated our cabin at 07:00 and had our last breakfast on board.

The whole ship was divided into colours for disembarkation; we were in the brown group, the last to disembark. We waited our turn in the Manhattan bar and were back on land at 09:30. It was well organised and went smoothly. The only problem was getting to our luggage, which was unceremoniously dumped in the middle of nowhere for us to dig through. Most people managed just fine, but it could have been dealt with much more swiftly and professionally. It wasn't the way I envisioned my cruise to come to an end.

Upon exiting, we were able to catch one of the hundreds of local taxis back to our accommodation in Durban. The meeting area for the Starlight shuttle is clearly marked and is excellently priced (R110 per person, per trip) compared to the local services.

I am very happy that I was able to go on this cruise, first-hand experience is best. Cruising is for everyone, whether you are a social butterfly or enjoy your privacy, whether you are adventurous or prefer to laze around the pool. You are sure to find something which will tickle your fancy and you will want to make it a repeat experience! I am dying to go on my next cruise, who knows, maybe I'll go and experience the delights of the MSC Melody next year, watch this space!

Chelna Maré

Congratulations to the Izulu Hotel in Ballito for going green, with eco-friendly showerheads, energy efficient light bulbs & an organic herb & vegetable garden.

SA's Blue Flag beaches have grown from 23 to 27. In the Western Cape there's Bikini Beach, Camps Bay, Clifton Fourth, Grotto, Hartenbos, Hawston, Keurboomstrand (provisional), Kleinmond, Lappiesbaai, Llandudno (provisional), Mnandi, Muizenberg, Robberg 5, Santos, Silwerstroomstrand (provisional), Strandfontein and Witsand.

In KwaZulu-Natal there's Lucien, Marina, Margate, Ramsgate, Trafalgar & Umzumbe.

In the Eastern Cape: there's Dolphin, Humewood, Kariega, & Kellys.

Well done Cape Town on being named World Design Capital for 2014: "The year 2014, then, is the moment when the past and the future will come together for Cape Town, in contemplation and in action. It is a reflection of how the city has socially and physically reinvented itself. " said Mayor Patricia de Lille

The Purple shall rule! "Bring Velvet Sky and Mango in for the cheapest flight. How many times I flew to PE from EL (returns) and this cost me nearly R3000 and this is really a rip off. Come on there are lots of people that want to fly but not enough flights or far too expensive". Adele

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The Bottom Line: The informal sector of the economy is where lawlessness prevails - people who're doing business but aren't submitting tax returns and are possibly circumventing labour laws. In South Arica about a third of those employed work in the informal sector, and it's also the fastest growing sector (7.7%). "There are thought to be 2.1 million employers each employing on average 2.9 workers in the informal sector" according to Adcorp. "The data suggest that South Africa's formal labour market is gradually disintegrating."

As a small business owner, I know that making my employees accountable for their productivity is core to our business success, so it was unsurprising to read that the inability to do so was one of the reasons for the shift to the informal sector: "The collective effect of these regulations is to make employees' unaccountable for their personal productivity and remunerated according to government strictures rather than business performance or productivity. It is predictable, in the circumstances, that a growing number of employers are opting out of the formal labour market in order to circumvent labour laws and regulations."

The manufacturing sector is the heart and lungs of the economy, other sectors like financial services, travel and retail depend on the health of the manufacturing sector. The 17% reduction in the manufacturing sector jobs reflects a massive drop in our ability to make things. Not that the mining industry is growing fast, but the collapse of manufacturing is heading South Africa in the direction of becoming a resource economy, where raw materials are dug up and shipped to China, Europe & the US. One cant blame companies - they might be staying in South Africa, but cant compete and go bankrupt, or they are shifting operations to where it's less risky and more profitable to operate - e.g. South Korea rather than in business-unfriendly South Africa. There few start-ups in the manufacturing sector.

I am impressed with the high growth rate in employment of 7.7% for the informal sector - my guess is that this is the type of growth rate the entire economy of South Africa could be achieving if it created a business friendly environment, a fully functioning educational system & skills upliftment programs.