Howzit!

First off, a huge thank you to everyone who’s been sharing the newsletter—we’ve grown from 172 to 222 subscribers this week! It’s amazing to see our little community expanding, and I really appreciate each one of you for spreading the word. Let’s keep that momentum going!

We had quite an eventful journey to the Boerefees in Dawson Creek. Just before the Highway 97 connection on Highway 99, an RV coming in the opposite direction blinded me with its lights, and out of nowhere, a deer stepped into my lane. There was no time to react—less than a second later, I hit the deer. The front left of our car was completely smashed, but luckily it was still drivable.

We pulled over, and right behind us were our friends, the Haroldts—fellow South Africans. Gavin jumped into action, using a tiedown he had in his car to strap the remnants of the bumper together, so we could limp our way to Williams Lake. There was no cellphone reception at the scene, so their help was a lifesaver.

The next morning, we found out the car was too damaged to legally drive further, leaving us without transport. We rented a car to get to the festival and back to Williams Lake, but one-way rentals to Vancouver were unavailable, leaving us stranded in Williams Lake on Monday. That’s when Maggie Haroldt, their 14-year-old daughter, came up with the brilliant idea of renting a U-haul. It was the perfect solution! Thanks to Maggie’s clever idea, we managed to get back to Vancouver with all our gear.

A massive shoutout to the Haroldts—especially Maggie—for being absolute legends and helping us through a tough situation. It just goes to show how important it is to have a strong community around you, especially when things go sideways.

Anyways, In Today’s Newsletter, We’ll Be Covering:

• Upcoming Events

• Saffa Tips: The best way to send money back to South Africa

• Recipe of the Week: “Dadel Balletjies”

• Conclusion

Upcoming Events

Rugby Showdown: South Africa vs. All Blacks

Last Saturday, the Springboks beat the All Blacks 31-27 in an exciting match. This weekend, they go head-to-head again in the Rugby Championship. Catch all the action live at Dublin Calling in Vancouver—kickoff is at 8:00 AM. Come and show your support for the Boks!

Boerewors Roll Day Reminder

Just a heads up, Boerewors Roll Day is coming up fast on September 14th at John Lawson Park in West Vancouver! If you haven’t already, make sure to pre-order your Boerie rolls on TheSouthAfricanShop.ca. We’re serving up lekker big boeries with all the classic Saffa toppings, so don’t miss out!

Saffa Tips: The Best Way to Send Money Back to South Africa

If you’ve ever tried sending money from Canada to South Africa, you’ll know it can be expensive and slow with hidden fees and dodgy conversion rates. After trying just about every method, I’ve found the best way is through USDC—and trust me, it’s way simpler than you think!

Here’s how it works:

I use Newton here in Canada to convert my dollars into USDC (a digital version of the US dollar that doesn’t lose value while you transfer it). Then, I send it over to Valor in South Africa, where it’s converted back into Rands. The best part? It’s fast—about 20 minutes from start to finish—and way cheaper than the traditional methods.

Now, here’s why I know you’re getting the most cash on the other side: I always check the live rate before I send, and sometimes, you even come out ahead with a little profit compared to other methods.

If you want to see exactly how it’s done, check out my video [here]. It’s super simple once you’ve set it up, and you’ll save a ton compared to other ways of sending money home!

Recipe of the Week: Dadel Balletjies

This week, we’re diving into a classic South African treat—Dadel Balletjies (Date Balls). These sweet, chewy delights were a big favorite of mine growing up, and we recently rediscovered just how lekker they are. Perfect for a rainy day indoors, these date balls are super easy to make and dangerously delicious!

Here’s a video showing the process »Dadel Balletjies«

What You’ll Need:

• 230g butter

• 200g sugar

• 500g pitted dates (chopped finely)

• 1 packet Marie biscuits (crushed)

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

• Sweetened, shredded coconut for rolling

How to Make Them:

1. Melt the butter and sugar: In a pot on medium heat, melt 230g of butter and 200g of sugar together until fully combined.

2. Add the dates: Once the butter and sugar mixture is melted, add 500g of chopped dates. Let the dates soften and blend with the butter and sugar, stirring continuously until it becomes a sticky, delicious mixture.

3. Crush the Marie Biscuits: While the date mixture is cooking, crush a packet of Marie biscuits into small crumbs. Once the dates are ready, mix in the crushed biscuits.

4. Add the vanilla: Don’t forget the vanilla! Mix in 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence for that extra bit of flavor.

5. Roll the Date Balls: Turn off the heat and start rolling the mixture into small balls. Be careful—the mixture will be hot! Once rolled, coat each ball in sweetened coconut.

6. Let them cool: Let the date balls sit at room temperature to cool down. Don’t refrigerate them, as they’ll become too hard. Enjoy them as a one-bite treat, or two if you’re feeling generous!

These little date balls are chewy, sweet, and oh-so-satisfying. Not the healthiest snack, but who can resist when they taste this good? Enjoy!

Conclusion

Sorry the newsletter is a little light this week, but the 2-day trek each way to Dawson Creek, through large swaths of beautiful British Columbia with no cell reception, meant I ran a little short on time for the Saffa Spotlight and Thought of the Week sections.

Next week, I’ll have the full report and pics from the Boerefees, as well as the Saffa Spotlight ready.

A special shoutout to Vorster Gauché, his wife Hantie, and daughter Hanicia as well as everyone else that made the Boerefees happen—you guys are awesome! We had so much fun and really appreciate what you’re doing for the community.

To support Vorster and his family, head over to Netvleish and order some of the best Kaaswors in the world, along with biltong, droëwors, curry sosaties, and more.

Happy Fall to you all!

PS: Flings are back in stock at Serengeti in Lawley and online at thesouthafricanshop.ca.