Made in SA

HOMESICK AT HOME Homesickness. I think I’m doing it wrong. I spent quite a bit of time away from South Africa recently, and when I’m outside the country, I obviously miss my family, friends, the weather and the wine (yoh, the wine). But I read the news and … it’s mostly not good. Corruption, crime, load shedding, policy missteps, diplomatic faux pas – there’s plenty in the regular news cycle to get you bleak about our country and its prospects. Then I land back here and am greeted with a smile at Cape Town International Airport’s passport control (nobody anywhere smiles at passport control), then drive to my family home gawking at the scenery, the variety of people, the colour, chaos and character of Mzansi. It’s a little insane, and frightfully uneven (and unfair), but quite intoxicating. There’s a reason people come back here, despite how tough things are and despite the bad news. That’s why this magazine aims to present news of a different sort – about things of which we can be proud.

Things, such as our extraordinary cultural heritage, both ancient and contemporary, which is on display at several stunning agrarian venues across the country (see page 5). Then there’s our culinary heritage, which a local chef is helping people to reimagine through fine dining (page 11). And our wine-making heritage, which sees merchants and producers supporting each other and growing the industry (page 17). There are the entrepreneurs driving economic growth, such as the businesswomen we profile on page 20, and those flourishing despite the challenges of load shedding (page 25). And we end it all with a sober yet promising perspective on South Africa’s investment potential (page 28).

Anthony Sharpe, Editor