Some inventions from South Africa...

If you ever need any other reason to be proudly South African, here are a few more...


1. Cat Scan
The computed axial tomography scan, or CAT scan as its better known, was developed at Tufts University in the UK by South African physicist Allan Cormack and Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories. Their achievement secured them the1979 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

2. Oil from coal

Sasol is the world's first - and largest - oil-from-coal refinery. The history of Sasol began in 1927, it was realised then that, because South Africa did not have crude oil reserves, the country's balance of payments had to be protected against increasing crude oil imports. Sasol has developed world-leading technology for the conversion of low-grade coal into value-added synfuels and chemicals.

3. Heart Transplant

The world's first heart transplant was performed by Dr Chris Barnard in Cape Town on 3 December 1967.  In November 1967, Dr Schrire called Barnard and told him that there was a suitable patient for a heart transplant. Louis Washkansky was suffering from heart failure and Dr Barnard was prepared to take the chance. The rest is history.

4. Speed gun

The South African-made speed gun, developed by Somerset West inventor Henri Johnson, was formally launched at The Oval in England during the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

5. Kreepy Krauley

The swimming pool vacuum cleaner was invented by Ferdinand Chauvier, a hydraulics engineer who came to South Africa from the Belgian Congo in 1951.

6. APS Therapy

Gervan Lubbe, had always had a keen interest in medicine, but never thought he was clever enough to be a doctor. So in his spare time he studied human anatomy and physiology until he thought he knew enough about the causes of arthritic pain. Then he set out inventing a device that would alleviate the problem.
After building the first prototypes and obtaining approval from the health department and the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, Lubbe formed the company Tech Pulse in 1993 to produce, market and distribute the Action Potential Stimulation device.

7. Pratley putty

Pratley's famous glue is the only South African invention that has been to the moon. In 1969 the putty was used to hold bits of the Apollo XI mission's Eagle landing craft together.

8. Dolosse

Dolosse are large, unusually shaped concrete blocks weighing up to 20 tons. The structures are designed to break up wave action and protect harbour walls and coastal installations. Designed by Eric Merrifield and first installed in East London harbour, they are now used all over the world.

We all have two choices; We can make a living or we can design a life. 

Jim Rohn

Places I've been...

1. Windy day at Cape Point in Cape Town
2. At the statue of David Livingstone in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
3. Attended the Fifa World Cup 2010 in Cape Town
4. Styling it out at London Fashion week

Places I've been...

The Vale Karoo Farm

As my husband and I have just moved back to South Africa after being away for around 8 years, we decided to take a road trip from Pretoria to Cape Town one long weekend, and yes, it was worth the 16 hours of cheesy songs and losing all sensations in one’s butt. This is why we stopped over for a night somewhere close to Beaufort West a charming lodge called The Vale Karoo Farm.

Although we found this place on a whim (it is literally off the beaten track) so I was not sure what to expect. Once we arrived the staff was so warm and welcoming and went out of their way to accommodate us.

Our room was clean and spacious, with all the necessities (big comfy bed, coffee, tea, minibar, shampoos, lotions, clean fluffy towels, and a huge hot streaming shower - heaven)

We unfortunately did not make full use of the wonderful facilities and activities available as we had to hit the road quite early the next morning, but we could easily be tempted to try the horseback riding. I would recommend The Vale and would definitely go back if we were heading that way again, a true gem in the middle of the Karoo!

For more information see www.thevale.co.za