Daily Maverick 168 weekly newspaper.
“It destroyed everything that was – 100% of our market. We are starting again from the beginning,” says Andrew Attwood.
He had run a successful IT software consultancy in Germany for 12 years, when he and his German wife Corinne decided to exit the European corporate rat race and return to South Africa, opening Antbear, a lodge about 30 minutes from Estcourt, where the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands bleeds geographically into the southern Drakensberg.
“This crisis hit us unexpectedly, with repercussions I could never have imagined. We had a sum total of R1-million when we came here. We have been building it for the past 19 years, a little bit at a time, and reinvested everything we made back into the lodge. So I have no idea what the real costs [of the loss] are”.
WATCH: Adventure and chocolate overload in KZN Midlands
By Clinton Moodley
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The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands has long been a destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. And with the pandemic, it makes for the ideal social distancing holiday option.
I ve been here many times, and each time I m surprised at its diverse offerings.
This time I m travelling with Tourism KwaZulu-Natal. We will spend the next 48 hours dabbling in adventure, sinking our teeth into some delightful cuisine and visiting landmarks filled with rich history.
Our first stop is Yellowwood Cafe and Restaurant, known for its majestic view of the Howick Falls and sumptuous food.
LOOK: Unathi s KZN Midlands adventure
By Clinton Moodley
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Singer and TV presenter Unathi Nkayi lights up a room wherever she goes, so it s no surprise that she lifted everyone s spirits during her trip to the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands over the weekend.
The ’Idols SA’ judge visited several attractions in the area, dabbling in adventure and immersing herself in history.
Hosted by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, the activation aimed to showcase the province s offerings and highlight the establishments Covid-19 protocols.
Unathi visited the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where she learnt about the history relating to the former president s 1962 arrest and took the Long Walk To Freedom to see the 35-metre sculpture designed by artist Marco Cianfanelli.
Ballo, a sunglasses manufacturer in Cape Town, is part of this new wave of sustainable fashion and accessories brands that create products out of recycled materials and wood offcuts.
Alistair Barnes, founder and CEO of Ballo, which he created in 2013, grew up in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands; his father was an architect and his mother an artist. From a young age, he was often found drawing pictures of shoes, cars and whatever he could lay his eyes on.
“Even though I never really studied entrepreneurship, I always knew I wanted to have a brand,” he recalls.
After a brief stint in advertising, marketing and web design, it all changed when Barnes’ friend sent him a blog post of a company selling wooden sunglasses, that they claimed were made in the United States. Barnes reached out and offered to distribute the brand locally.
A convoy will leave from Johannesburg, transporting the families of the deceased, as well as colleagues from Netcare and National Airways Corporation to the site to pay their respect in private