Young and old, male and female, they came with a purpose – and they came naked.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) Asia, Fur Free South Africa and the South African Naturist Federation shed their clothes and painted their bodies in various flags before striding towards Hyde Park corner at the intersection of William Nicol Drive and Jan Smuts Avenue.
Shuddering from the cold and screaming slogans like ‘No to fur’ and ‘Unite against cruelty’, the protestors were quick to talk about why they braved the weather – and potential embarrassment – to protest.
The New Zealand flag splashed across his blue body, George-Gabriel Berkozits of Bloubosrand explained, “Wearing fur and animal pelts to keep warm made sense to our ancestors, but now we have so many alternatives there is no excuse to wear fur. Especially because of the inhumane way animals are treated and killed. How can we be so cold and callous?”
Peta Asia senior campaigner Ashley Fruno said, “We’ll gladly show some of our skin if it will help save animals’ skins.”

Did you know?

• According to Peta, animals on fur farms spend their entire lives in tiny, filthy cages. Some are driven insane from confinement and pace endlessly in circles.
• Animals used for their fur are killed by electrocution, poisoning, gassing or by having their necks broken.
• In China, the world’s leading fur exporter, animals, including dogs and cats, are commonly skinned alive. Fur of household animals is often deliberately labelled as fur from other species, before it is distributed.
• Many of the world’s top designers, including Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and Stella McCartney, refuse to use fur.

Details: www.PETAAsiaPacific.com
kateh@caxton.co.za

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A near-capacity crowd stuffed the Innisfree Fan Park on the occasion of Bafana Bafana’s match against France.

While those at stadiums might be subjected to the blare of South Africa’s national musical instrument, at the fan park it soon died away as fans concentrated on the game. At times you could hear a pin drop.

But when Bafana scored their first goal the explosion of noise rocked Jozi back on its heels. Fans jumped and screamed and blew vuvuzelas into the sky.

The crowd was extraordinarily well-behaved. One minor argument between two pickled fellows was squashed in seconds by alert security guards, who led the duo away to cheers from fans. Then it was back to business as Bafana ignored what was happening in the fan park and went on with winning.

The sending off of French player Yoann Gourcuff for an elbow to the jaw of midfielder Macbeth Sibaya brought a happy calm as certainty of a win for South Africa settled over Innisfree Fan Park.

At the end of it, happy fans continued to blow their pride in the national team on their way home on a chilly Tuesday night. The fan park is an experience not to be missed.
-amandaw@caxton.co.za

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The streets of Sandton were brought to a standstill as more than 300 colourful performers paraded in the Hyundai Goodwill Carnival.
The festivities started on 5th Street as 32 of Hyundai’s giant inflatable soccer balls representing qualifying nations of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ were paraded along Alice Lane, West Street, Maude Street, Rivonia Road and into the Hyundai Skye Park.
The carnival stretched across 2km with a variety of colourful performers, stilt walkers, musical bands and the open top Hyundai buses.
Spectators increased at every corner and were wowed by the colourful parade.
At the Skye Park, musical talents Watershed and Lira performed while the crowd viewed the Bafana vs Denmark and Springbok vs Wales matches.
abed@caxton.co.za

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A little bit of elbow grease can help a city shine.
It was with this in mind that the Sandton Chronicle joined forces with sister paper the Rosebank Killarney Gazette and a few eager residents to give a small section of Johannesburg a spruce-up before it welcomes the citizens of the world.
The annual Pikitup Clean Up Day saw similar scenes at several sites across the city, with everyone eager to make their home a place to be proud of.
While more help would have been appreciated, the pile of bags that sat at the corner of North and Oxford roads, Illovo was testament to the determination of the cleaning crew.
One of the most eager participants was Phumudzo Tsanwani. Last year, he came from Soweto to pick up seven bags of litter. This year he outdid himself in honour of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™, and picked up 10 – and just kept on going.
Unfortunately, Pikitup did not come to the party – its own event. Despite its assurances that the bags would be picked up within a few hours after the clean-up team left, by Sunday morning they were still there.
In Jan Smuts Avenue in Craighall, just outside the Sandton Chronicle offices, bags that hadn’t been collected were torn open with rubbish strewn across the street.
kateh@caxton.co.za

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After failing to get a positive feedback from the Johannesburg Roads Agency regarding the problem, they picked up shovels and set to work. The photos below show how they do it.

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Mzansi football fans united in their hundreds to sign a giant Bafana Bafana jersey to show their support for the 2010 Fifa World Cup™ at the Southern Sun Grayston hotel in Sandton.
Members of Bafana Bafana joined in the fun and excitement of the day and signed the jersey.
“It is always wonderful to see so many people rooting for us. We appreciate it,” said striker Benni McCarthy.
The Unite Mzansi Unite campaign was launched by Adidas to encourage all South Africans to stand proud behind their national team.
The massive 60m by 48m version of the jersey the host nation’s team will wear for the World Cup weighs 240kg and has travelled by truck around the country.
Diski dancers entertained fans while they queued up to climb on the truck and leave their mark on the garment.
Bafana supporter Kgadi Zondo said, “I have been waiting for ages to sign the jersey and am so excited it is here. Good luck Bafana Bafana.”
Fan Keabetswe Hlahla said, “The World Cup is on African soil for the first time and this is where the trophy will stay.”
Zaskia van Zyl of Southern Sun said the hotel was very excited to accommodate the national team.
Some messages on the jersey read, Good luck boys, we know you will do it whether they like it or not, and, Hi Bafana, lets go roll the ball for Africa.
leonad@caxton.co.za

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