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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Dine like Madiba: Culture and cuisine in the shoes of two great men
Two great men? The other man is my dad, my hero, but of course the shoes we are talking about in this story were worn by one great man: Nelson Mandela, with whom my dad happens to share a birthday. Last Sunday, we dined like Madiba on a very special day in our lives. My family's dining room table in our home in Jersey City is not only reserved for plates and utensils, but for my father's copy of Long Walk to Freedom. For as long as I can remember, the historical text has had an assigned spot on the table right next to his laptop, his unofficial workspace. The 500-page book chronicles Nelson Manelda's road to liberation before, during and post apartheid. The autobiography details his childhood until adulthood, with his continued fight for freedom. In November 2009, the United Nations recognised 18 July as Mandela Day, celebrating his life and legacy. Some people choose to observe the day by engaging in acts of service for 67 minutes. Across the street from my new internship at Market Photo Workshop, I watched community members pick up garbage to clean the premises. Dave Moletsane, digital communications officer of the Market Theatre, Aneesa Adams, social media and content manager, and Xoliswa Nduneni Ngema, CEO of the Joburg City Theatre could be seen walking around organising with a team as their commitment for Mandela day. 'We came out in large numbers to honor Tata and to work as a collective as a city and the Market Theatre as well,' said Ndudeni Negma. Though 'Tata's' (isiXhosa word for father) birthday was on Friday, it was also the birthday of an important man in my life, my father Roger Campbell. To pay homage to the humanitarian and create a memorable 60th birthday for my dad, we 'Dined like Madiba' at Insights Restaurant inside Sanctuary Mandela on Sunday, the result of an invitation by their marketers to dine there and write about it for Daily Maverick. Sanctuary Mandela opened in September 2021. Prior to the public reveal, the tranquil hotel was known as Mandela's first home in Johannesburg after his prison release in 1990 until 1998. The now reimagined home is a curated room boutique owned by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, a nonprofit aiming to uplift humanity through social change that honours the life of Madiba through the preservation of furniture, photographs and even a curated menu. Inside the boutique-style hotel is Insights Restaurant — and the Dine like Madiba experience, an opportunity to reintroduce traditional South African cuisine to locals using native spices while also introducing the Xhosa culture to tourists through the recipes of Xoliswa Ndoyiya, Nelson Mandela's cherished chef. Upon arrival, my parents and I took pictures of the Sanctuary Mandela sign outside of the gated restaurant while waiting to be buzzed in. I looked over at my father, a history enthusiast and Mandela admirer, to see if he approved of his birthday surprise. Truth be told, he has experienced a few of the Mandela gems in South Africa such as his home on Vilakazi Street and even Nelson Mandela Square, but not Robben Island due to maintenance issues, so I was eager to see his reaction to the Madiba-inspired restaurant in his former home. What I was not expecting was the in-depth historical tour of the country's beloved former president. After my parents and I entered the tranquil garden, including the pillars of Mandela's values such as freedom and democracy, we walked up the steps of the boutique. Our host, Tshepo (meaning 'hope' in Sesotho) Kunene greeted us. 'Welcome home,' Tshepo said. On my first day in Johannesburg, I went on a tour of Soweto. Walking around Vilakazi Street is when I heard 'Welcome home' for the first time since walking through customs in this country. How do I explain to people that a country that I have no residence in feels like home? You have to visit the country to experience the warmth for yourself. Hearing an unfamiliar voice warmly embrace me into their homeland was all of the comfort that I needed to feel as though I belonged, and that perhaps living in a new country for three months wouldn't feel so foreign after all. I smiled and shook Tshepo's hand. As I mentioned, I truly wasn't expecting a tour of the premises. Instead, I was prepared to sit at a table for three with my parents and try the dishes the humanitarian once ordered. Guests at the hotel are not the only customers who have the opportunity to receive a tour of Mandela's former home — diners also get a glimpse of the estate. After we were seated at our table, Tshepo asked if we were ready to begin our tour, and we surely were. The four of us walked back outside the boutique to start from the beginning. Reading the artefacts and scanning the photographs paled in comparison to Tshepo's ability to articulate the culinary and living experience available at Sanctuary Mandela. Each hanging painting tells a story about the significance of the room. The room called 'Mr President' has a painting of Mandela greeting children, showing his love for young people. Beyond the paintings and photos, the boutique attempts to resemble the original structure of the house. The fireplace, foundation of the pool and the famous balcony of the house have been preserved to represent the essence of Mandela's former residence. After the tour, your experience doesn't have to end with the admiration of an artwork of Nelson Mandela made out of wood — at 'Dine like Madiba', expect a five-course meal filled with history, culture and good company. Sanctuary Mandela is also the home for black and locally owned wine brands, including Carmen Stevens, who is the first black female winemaker in South Africa, inspired by Mandela himself; she includes his quotes on the back of her bottles. Tshepo wiped a bottle of Stevens' to show us — and behind the bottle was this quote: 'If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.' At first, I was hesitant to ask for a glass of wine or recommend we also try the wine pairing since I'd be dining with my parents, but when my father, who seldom drinks, and in his words 'only on special occasions', asked for another glass of the Boschendal Vin D'Or Noble Late Forest, I knew he felt the same way that my mom Joryn and I did — can a glass of wine really be this sweet? Wine it is. It was time to order our food after touring. On our tables were sealed white envelopes with the rusted-brown initials at the centre, SM, for Sanctuary Mandela. After opening the envelope, the five-course meal options were available as promised. 'Our menu is a historical 'food-print' of the modest tastes of Nelson Mandela, whose passion and integrity are reflected in the dishes that were inspired from Africa and beyond,' reads the menu. Recipes from the cookbook Made with Love, by his personal chef of 22 years, Xoliswa Ndoyiya, are also included in the menu selection. The cherished chef not only cooked for Mandela, but also his family. Our complimentary bite arrived first — homemade bread, which is freshly made every day, was placed on the table along with a mini board of three options for the spread — salt, black pepper and hemp butter. Although I am a pescatarian, I am quite the experimental person. I applied a thin layer of hemp butter on the bread and then sprinkled salt and black pepper before taking a bite into buttery and seasoned heaven. Let's just say, my dad asked for more. Next was the appetiser: mushroom and samp arancini with aïoli base topped with rocket microherbs for the garnish, paired with Boschendal Brut. The garlic base and the egg-white batter used to cook the crispy appetiser allowed us to taste hints of lime juice with the sparkling wine. As someone who is not a fan of mushrooms, the appetiser had me second-guessing the judgement of my taste buds. Next, we were served the starters: Cape Malay-style fish, butternut and saffron soup, and seared ostrich (all including rocket for the garnish). I am not the only one with a dietary restriction, though my mom's needs aren't by preference — she is allergic to fresh fish. She selected the butternut and saffron soup, which was paired with Carmen Stevens' Chenin Blanc. Tshepo shared with us that butternut squash was Mandela's last meal. Since my mom's dish was a vegetarian option, I picked up my spoon to try it. The creaminess of the soup was met with the immediate sweetness on the toasted slice of bread. Before I got carried away, I put the spoon back on the table. No one ordered the seared ostrich, which was plated with chakalaka, charred onion and an onion purée, not for any particular reason but my guess is none of us had ever tried ostrich, leaving my dad and I with the Cape fish: the crispy top layer of the kinglip, paired with the pawpaw curried salsa, pumpkin seeds and shavings paired with a Paul Cluver Riesling. Tshepo was right, the hint of sugar from the wine soothed the slight spice. Though I was craving more fish, I decided to switch up my order for my main course — buttery samp and mfino 'risotto', a dish inspired by Xhosa cuisine. The maize kernels, sliced carrots and creamy spinach topped with parmesan shavings with a Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay complemented the creamy dish while also cleansing my palate in time for the dessert. My parents both ordered the fillet on the bone, which was crusted beef with pink peppercorn, garlic mashed potatoes, finely trimmed carrot shavings, creamy Béarnaise sauce and port jus, soy sauce topped with rocket and a glass of Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon. In case you were wondering, the other main dish that was tempting to order was the coconut and lime sea bass, which would have been paired with the Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay. We all had a different dessert to satisfy our sweet tooths: my dad had the sticky toffee pudding, I ordered the poached pear and amasi ice cream or sour milk with homemade breadcrumbs for the base, and my mom had the creamy pear custard, almond and barozzi cake, which she took to go. Even with the hints of sourness, the breadcrumbs, and slight spice from the peach pudding, the Boschendal Vin D'Or Noble Late Forest makes you forget that you are eating fermented milk. Before we left the restaurant, in my father's traditional fashion he asked to have his photo taken with the staff at Sanctuary Mandela. If you know my dad, you become his friend after one interaction — his kindness and personality draws people to him. The group of us posed for the photo, and you would think we were regulars. From reliving history through a tour of Mandela's previous residence to tasting the meals his chef would cook for him, Dine like Madiba at Insights Restaurant inside Sanctuary Mandela is a unique experience of Tata's once-cherished cuisine and beloved home. 'The whole concept of their house is to give you the whole reflection of Tata's love for having people around. Hence you say 'Welcome home. You are more than welcome at home,'' said Tshepo with a bow, as we departed. DM
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Dr Moodley's tea tin and book serve as a daily reminder of Madiba's sacrifices
Seshni Moodliar Rensburg with her tea tin and book. Image: Supplied Dr Sesh DOCTOR Seshni Moodliar Rensburg has a book and tea tin in her kitchen in the United Kingdom that remind her of the sacrifices and contributions Nelson Mandela has made in South Africa. She said the items stood prominently in her home, and on Madiba's birthday today, she thought it was apt to give thanks to a "truly remarkable man". The book is Long Walk to Freedom and the tea tin bears his face with the words "Mandela Tea" - the organic honeybush variety. Moodliar Rensburg, formerly of Durban, now lives with her family in the UK. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "Through Mandela's fight, I was able to qualify as one of the first Indian doctors at the University of the Free State in 2000. I'm so grateful to him. This then paved the way for more non-white medical students, like me, at Kovsies in Bloemfontein," she said. "A beautiful memory is of my family and I visiting Robben Island in April 2019. I would recommend that anyone searching to know more about Mandela's struggles in prison, visit. It was a memorable trip to teach our three children about the former statesman." Moodliar Rensburg said many of Mandela's quotes inspired her and have become daily mantras. One is: 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Another, "It always seems impossible until it is done." "For the first quote, I am constantly learning. The second is a brilliant quote to have a vision and accomplish your goals. No matter how difficult it may seem, it's achievable. And then there is 'A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination'. As a doctor, a healthy body and mind are equally important. Madiba was such a wise man." She said as portrayed in the film Invictus, in which Mandela faced the task of unifying a country divided by race, he knew he had to forgive. "And through this he was able to achieve freedom. It's a message for all of us. Today I remember him on his birthday and celebrate all that he gave to us and the world. He was truly a remarkable man. The book, Long Walk to Freedom, and the tea tin are constant reminders in my home of Madiba." She said she recently completed a book on her great grandmother, Annama Vather (Moodley), from Pietermaritzburg, and she included two photographs of Mandela. "One picture is of him with Oprah Winfrey. There is another of him with my late uncle, Vasu Chetty, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, AS Chetty and Dr Motala." Her book, Annama Vather - A Matriarch, will be available from and at the Eduvos Durban International Book Fair from August 14 to 18 in Umhlanga. Her great grandmother was brought to Natal during indenture. THE POST
LeMonde
17-06-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
The failure of Obama's 'leading from behind' in Libya
No one would dispute Nelson Mandela's (1918-2013) expertise in leadership. In his 1994 autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, he offered a subtle analysis: Leadership, he believed, could be exercised from behind. "A leader," he wrote, "is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind." Was it from Mandela that Barack Obama drew inspiration to introduce the notion of " leading from behind" into US foreign policy in 2011, a term that was popularized by an anonymous adviser in an interview with The New Yorker? We do not know, but the adviser in question regretted revealing the concept, given how much controversy it stirred up in conservative circles. How could the world's leading power claim to "lead from behind" when its role was expected to be at the forefront?
IOL News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Presley Chweneyagae's funeral: Warren Masemola and 'The River' cast honour the iconic actor
Award-winning actor Presley Chweneyagae's funeral was held at the Akasia Community Hall on Saturday. Image: X Beloved actor Presley Chweneyagae was given a heartfelt send-off during his funeral service which took place in Pretoria on Saturday, June 7. Following a memorial service in his home town of Mahikeng in the North West, on Tuesday, June 5 and a second one at The South African State Theatre, the ceremony took place at the Akasia Community Hall before he was laid to rest at the Zandfontein Cemetery. The actor, who rose to fame in the Academy Award-winning film, "Tsotsi", died on May 27 at the age of 40 of natural causes after sudden respiratory complications. He was also renowned for his theatre work, for playing the iconic Thuso 'Cobra' Mokoena on 'The River' and his role in the Nelson Mandela biopic 'Long Walk to Freedom.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Oscar-winner's funeral was attended by scores of mourners, including his wife and children, other family members, friends, industry colleagues, government officials and other distinguished guests. Actress Rami Chune presided over the proceedings while other stars who were in attendence included Dr Jerry Mofokeng, Warren Masemola and Oros Mampofu. Meanwhile, several of Chweneyagae's 'The River' co stars, such as Thembinkosi Mthembu and Winnie Mashaba, were also at the funeral. One of the most poignant moments of the ceremony was when Chweneyagae's wife, Charlaine Kirk as well as their sons, Preston and Aston delivered their tributes to him through a video feed which was played at the funeral. Kirk explained how she met the actor when she arrived from Swaziland to Pretoria in 2007 to study. 'He was a funny, loving guy and he very ambitious,' she said in the video. 'He was also a soft and gentle man who was very humble and respectful.' Kirk also descibed her husband's work ethic as 'unmatched.' 'He took his craft seriously and he have it everything.' 'On his bad days, he still used to make the whole country laugh.' She added: 'He was also a risk taker who taught me to push for the things that I want.' Kirk also described Chweneyagae as a man who 'loved his fans and community.' 'Presley really loved the people around him, not just his family and friends, he just loved people across the board.' Meanwhile, in a separate part of the video tribute, his sons, who could only be heard through audio, spoke of the best memories they had with their father, included how they loved listening to music together and how theey enjoying the times when he would drop them off at school. They also reflected on Chweneyagae's many achievements, declaring how proud they are of their father. Another powerful moment at the ceremony was when Masemola delivered a powerful speech to his dear friend and co-star, who he worked with on 'The Number.' Warren Masemola, who was a close friend to Presley Chweneyagae, speaking on stage during the late actor's funeral. Image: X The renowned 'Scandal!' star, together with Chweneyagae's colleugues from 'The River' and other entertainment industry figures, formed a guard of honour for the acting icon. Many of them were emotional as they stood on stage, embracing eachother as they sang along to the melodic sounds of the choir. In tears, he then took to the stage to describe his deep friendship with Chweneyagae and how he is still struggling to cope with his death. 'Presley and I fought a lot . I don't understand people who don't fight with their friends or the people they claim their love,' he said. 'We fought about love, life, work, professionalism, children, wives, family, we just fought all of the time but he was my friend and we loved each other a lot.' Meanwhile, Bonga Vilakazi, the producer of 'The River' also delivered a moving speech at the funeral. 'I am representing family, not born out of blood but of long days, of shared dreams and stories by the passionate and talented people from the cast and crew of 'The River.' 'When you spend 12 hour days together, five to six days a week for almost a decade, you become a family. You learn people's habits, their moods their silences and you celebrate their wins and you are there for each other in times of sorrow.' He added: 'I struggled to find the words for today because how do you sum up someone as great as Presley? He was a layered man, who has made enormous contributions. There was dazzling and uncontainable light within him but there were shadows too.' 'I don't say that to focus on the shadows but as a way to reflect the fullness of his humanity.' 'Presley was a man who felt things deeply, who who went through things that people often overlook but he always showed up and he still gave us his art, his generosity, his humour and his friendship.' Vilakazi also spoke of Chweneyagae's mischievousness and how he would befriend the drivers. The producer also adressed his family. 'To Presley's family, you love Presley and he loved you deeply. You are the reason he got through dark moments. 'Without you, we would have never have had the privilege of loving the man behind the magic. 'To his kids, may you always know your father was a rare soul and one of the greatest to ever do it.' Vilakazi concluded: 'May Presley's legacy not only be through re-runs of his shows but may we also honour through the loyalties that he so rich deserved so that his loved ones can carry on a dignity. Rest in peace Presley, we will never forget you.'
IOL News
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Anant Singh's long walk to the studio
South African filmmaker, Anant Singh. Image: File. THERE are probably very few in our country today who know more about Hollywood than Durban businessman and movie mogul Anant Singh. He's been there, done it all and he's got the T-shirt. As producer of more than 80 films since 1984 - including classics like Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom and Cry The Beloved Country - Singh has won a host of international awards and today rubs shoulders with such stars as Idris Elba, Whoopi Goldberg, James Earl Jones and Hillary Swank. Last week, we got a chance to meet the new Anant Singh - the consummate actor. My guess is that he picked up these new skills through his close association with such Hollywood a-listers. Delivering an Oscar-worthy performance before a group of ANC big wigs in Durban, he fought desperately to save his R7.5b film studio project on the beachfront. It was not his fault, he pleaded, that this long delayed city attraction had not got off the ground despite being first mooted some 23 years ago. Showing dramatic emotional intensity, he pointed an accusatory finger at the eThekwini Municipality, claiming they had failed to provide water and electricity to the old Natal Command property. There were gasps of exasperation from his audience as he complained the municipality had unfairly raised the property valuation from its original R71 m to a whopping R1b, meaning he would now have to pay much more in rates. And then, as tears appeared to roll down his cheeks, he uttered this dramatic appeal: "I think I am being sabotaged by politicians and administrators of the city. However, I do not know for what reasons they do this to me." Finally, his parting plea to his ANC comrades: "I know we have been talking and talking but can we walk the talk now?" The audience clapped in enthusiastic response, with ANC provincial task team convenor Jeff Radebe expressing shock at the long delays and promising an investigation. I have no idea whether Singh is contemplating a change to his career, but his commanding performance last week has certainly helped re-ignite hopes that Durban will get its first movie studio soon. To be fair to the municipality, this is a rather complicated contractual issue and its officials have undertaken to respond to Singh's claims once they've received legal advice. So, it looks like Durbanites will just have to wait and see. I'm hopeful, just as long as it doesn't take another 23 years to materialise. Donald Trump's karma? Hands up all those who believe South Africa is a happy country. I certainly believe that, generally speaking, we are a happy people - despite our many challenges of economic instability, load shedding, water cuts and high crime and corruption levels. And we tend to express this happiness as well as our spirit of resilience in our instinctive behaviour. Where else in the world do you find people who break out into song and dance whatever the occasion - whether we are protesting, in mourning, celebrating, and even in the midst of political campaigning? Mzanzis love talking with their hips, young and old, including our president, Cyril Ramaphosa who's often seen swaying to the strains of popular freedom songs as if to dance his troubles away. It therefore comes as disappointing news that South Africa appears to have slipped from 83rd to 95th place in the recently published World Happiness Report, which evaluates the quality of life of people across the globe. Donald Trump Image: Kamil Krzaczynski / AFP As expected, European countries - Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands - took up the top 5 spots. I often wonder what they've got that we haven't? It was also surprising to see Israel finish in the top 10. What are they so happy about? Another interesting ranking was that of the United States which finished at No. 24, its lowest since the inauguration of the Happiness Report some 13 years ago. I wouldn't blame some South Africans for seeing this as president Donald Trump's karma especially after his vindictive and ill-informed campaign to cut aid funding to our country and spreading untruths about SA persecuting white farmers. What's in a person's name? Many people believe your name is part of who you are. It's crucial to your personal identity and embodies one's individuality and persona. Others however think names are over-rated. They are nothing more than a way of telling one person from another. To find out more, I've been delving into the history and origin of my own name in recent weeks and made some interesting discoveries - not all complimentary. For instance, I discovered - to my eternal shame - that when read backwards, my name spells SINNED. I later learnt that the name originates from Dionysis, the Greek god of wine and revelry - which, I must confess, sounds a lot closer to the truth. But the most astonishing revelation came when I began studying the history of legendary figures with the same or names similar to mine and learned about St Denis, the third century Christian martyr and patron saint of France. According to legend, on the day he was beheaded for his religious beliefs, his body was seen to rise and to gather up his head in his own hands as if he was still alive, carrying it for several miles to his burial site. That probably accounts for why so many of my friends complain I lose my head too often. And when I do, I get carried away with myself. Dennis Pather Image: Supplied Dennis Pather is a retired newspaper editor, author and columnist. Email him at kaydenpather@ From newsroom gofer to award-winning editor, join South African media legend Dennis Pather on a fascinating trip down memory lane in his captivating memoir, Copy Boy. This heart-warming journey takes you inside the newsroom, filled with laughter, hard-earned wisdom, and the power of family. As a special offer, readers of POST can now get a copy of Copy Boy, for just R100. WhatsApp 078 593 0585 for delivery details or 083 452 2831 for direct collection. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media. THE POST
