News on our radar
One less public holiday in 2025
Because of the Public Holidays Act, we will be off work on 11 weekdays next year, one fewer than in 2024.
Although South Africa officially has 12 public holidays, the number of days people get off work depends on which day of the week the holiday falls on. When it falls on a weekday between Monday and Friday, it is automatically a holiday for workers. However, weekends are treated differently.
The Public Holidays Act determines that whenever a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be a day off work. If the public holiday falls on a Saturday, people will not have a day off work. It essentially falls away for most workers.
National Women’s Day, August 9 2025, will be on a Saturday, so it will not be observed as a workless day.
(See how South Africa compares to the rest of the world in terms of public holidays.)
Big shake-up for school calendars
The department of basic education changed school dates this year so that schools will start simultaneously in both coastal and interior regions. In 2025, all school terms will begin on January 15 and end on December 12.
The start date will be two days earlier than the 2024 school year, meaning the academic year will be 200 school days.
A new security town
With South Africa's crime problem worsening, security villages are becoming more popular than ever. Midstream is an exclusive “private town" established in 2003 by the Bondev group between Johannesburg and Pretoria.
It differs from most other security estates in that it contains several smaller estates, such as Midstream Heights, Midstream Meadows, and Midstream Ridge. It sells itself as offering a “small-town lifestyle".
There are shopping centres, schools, hospitals, churches, sporting facilities, restaurants and a retirement village.
A 50 km long and 5 m wide double security wall perimeter surrounds the 1 300 ha estate to safeguard the town.
Lees hierdie artikel in Afrikaans
#2 Oceanic Microplastic-free Salt. Anneliese, one of our Fomolistas, recommended this in her Sunday newsletter. In the meantime, we checked out their entire range, and the sea salt, calamari salt and pepper combo, at R250, looks like a great Christmas present.
#3 Pienaar & Son: Cocktails in a can. Our favourite is the Dirty Martini Spritz: Gin, Dry Vermouth, olive brine, celery, tonic, and soda water. R339 for a pack of six. They also do a Cherry Bomb and Espresso Tonic.
What we are reading
Two book recommendations from readers
Erika Oosthuysen, head of non-fiction at NB Publishers, says her tip for book of the year is Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. “I'm only three-quarters of the way through, but it's an incredible, multi-layered book. Akbar gives me enormous reading pleasure with wide, broadening references and lovely writing. Plus poems."
And Anelle Burger says Dr. Casey Means' book, Good Energy, which deals with metabolic health, has turned her life around positively.
#5 Mexican sizzlers in the Mother City
Are you craving tacos, tapas, birria, burgers or burritos? If you live in Cape Town, you have many wonderful options.
#1 Margaritaville in Kloof Street: A 1990’s Venice Beach vibe.
#2 Mamacita’s in Harrington Street: Mexico meets LA experience.
#3 Flirt in Church Street: Cocktail bar.
#4 Bigga D’s Food truck is in Metal Lane, an alley off Kloof Street. This little truck serves big street food flavours.
#5 Hacienda in Bree Street: A refined take on coastal cuisine paired with selected tequilas and mezcals for an outstanding dining experience. Half-price margaritas from 16:00 to 17:30.
What we’re drinking
Simple food for the seasons
We are a bit late to the party – British chef Julius Roberts' cookbook, The Farm Table, was published in September 2023, but Anneliese ordered it and says it was like a slice of sunshine in the mail. She has been following Roberts for some time on Instagram.
Roberts got tired of the rat race and moved to a small piece of land in the countryside where he farms on a small scale. He shares honest stories of his farming existence and simple, thoughtful dishes to reconnect us with nature and the seasons. It's a cookbook, but also a book about the joy of a simple, unadorned existence. We give it five stars! Absolutely lovely.
See how he makes Pan con Tomate with sardines and then goes down the rabbit hole on his page – the tarragon chicken is in his book. We've already made it and it's a hit.
Quote of the week
#6 more quotes by the maestro
#1 Good artists borrow, great artists steal.
#2 It isn’t necessary to paint a man with a gun.
#3 The meaning of life is to find your gift.
#4 Youth has no age.
#5 Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.
#6 I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.
Video of the week
If you read nothing else today, at least check out this amazing South African young man who, with just one leg, is mesmerising the world on Britain's Got Talent.
Until next week.
♦ VWB ♦
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