You know what the coolest thing is about the South African Institute of Canada and this whole YouTube channel? It’s the people. I get to meet the most incredible South Africans—people with grit, with spark, with that get-up-and-go that makes you proud to be part of this tribe.

Last week, I spent time on a boat with Johan and Judy—two legends, aged 75 and 65—who rebuilt their entire vessel with their own hands. Then I met Nick, a Saffa married to a Brazilian, who’s lived everywhere from Denmark to Canada and still carries that same unmistakable South African spark.

And it’s not just them. It’s my mate Brad in the US. He got retrenched after the company he worked for went belly-up, and instead of sulking, he hit the pavement. He talked to people, knocked on doors, made phone calls, hustled—and landed a new job within two weeks. That’s grit. That’s energy.

And honestly, it helps me too. Some days I get overwhelmed. Life’s expensive. I’m stretched thin. I start feeling sorry for myself. But then I hear these stories, and it reminds me: we’re not built to sit still. South Africans are doers. We pick ourselves up, shake it off, and get things done.

So if you’re having one of those weeks—feeling a bit moeg, a bit stuck—just remember: you’re not alone. You’re part of a community full of people who don’t give up. And that, my friend, is your legacy.

Live up to it—and get it done.

In This Week’s Newsletter

• Upcoming Events

• SAFFA Spotlight – Johan & Judy’s Floating Dream

• Founding Member Spotlight – Vorster Gauché from Netvleish

• Thought of the Week – Lost in Translation

• Who Makes the Best Biltong in BC?

• That’s a Wrap

Upcoming Events

• May 16 – Festival Africa Québec

• May 17 – Spring Fling Picnic in Burnaby

• May 19 – South African Pub Night in North Vancouver

• May 21 – South African Pub Night in Toronto

• May 24 – Stellenbosch Women Alumnae Network Breakfast in Toronto

• May 31 – Boerewors Roll Day at Serengeti in Langley

• June 6–7 – West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest

Boerewors Roll Day at Serengeti – Pre-Orders Open!

Right, this one’s close to home. I’ll be at Serengeti Trading in Langley on Saturday, May 31st, with a team of volunteers from the South African Institute of Canada, braaiing fresh boerie rolls and having a good old kuier van 10 uur tot 3 uur.

Pre-ordering is now open, so please grab your ticket online and book your boerie in advance. That way, we can plan properly and make sure nobody goes home hungry.

And hey—while you’re there, stock up on your favourite South African goodies from Serengeti’s shelves.

Know of an event we missed? Just hit reply to this email and let us know—we’ll make sure it gets added to the list!

🌊 SAFFA Spotlight – Johan & Judy’s Floating Dream

This week’s SAFFA Spotlight goes to two absolute legends: Johan (75) and Judy Bester (65)—South Africans living in Nanaimo who bought an abandoned riverboat and turned it into a fully restored floating home. And they did it all themselves. Power-washing, rewiring, cutting holes, laying flooring—Johan was literally hanging off the side of the boat on a bungee cord while pressure washing. I kid you not.

The boat—now called Flagship—was once an illegal floating casino (true story), but today it’s a colourful, welcoming houseboat with bedrooms, a proper braai area, Judy’s zooty flair, and plans for a rooftop entertainment deck. They even hauled in furniture with a Costco trolley—21 trips in one night, nogal.

They didn’t just fix up a boat—they built an experience. You can stay overnight, go island-hopping on their yacht, or join a catamaran cruise through the Gulf Islands. It’s a full-on ocean lifestyle.

And the best part? They’re offering special rates to South Africans. If you want to book a night or plan a weekend away, just email [email protected] and she’ll give you the full scoop.

Oh—and be warned: you’ll probably be up chatting till 1am before you even realize it, listening to some of the amazing stories from their lives.

👉 Watch the full video of the Flagship tour

🙌 Founding Member Spotlight – Vorster Gauché from Netvleish

This week’s spotlight shines on Vorster Gauché, the man behind Netvleish in Dawson Creek. He’s way up there in the far north, but even from a distance, he remains one of the most solid members of the South African community in Canada.

Vorster is always up for a quick chat, always willing to help out, and regularly supports community events—even the ones he can’t attend in person. He’s one of the early Founding Members of the South African Institute of Canada, and we’re absolutely chuffed to have him on board.

Of course, none of it would be possible without the support of his amazing wife, Hantie. The two of them make an incredible team, and people like them are the backbone of this whole community-building effort.

Thanks, Vorster. You’re a legend.

And if you haven’t already—maybe it’s time to head over to netvleish.com and order yourself some proper traditional South African Boerewors & Biltong. You’ll thank us later.

💬 Thought of the Week – Lost in Translation

You know you’re a South African in Canada when you ask, “Where’s the bathroom?” and someone replies, “Why do you want to take a bath now?”

Or when you tell someone to turn left at the robot, and they look at you like you’ve just escaped from a sci-fi movie.

And then of course, there’s the whole “now,” “just now,” and “now-now” situation—don’t even try explain the difference. “Now-now” means later, “just now” means sometime soonish, and “now” is urgently later but not right now. Makes perfect sense, right?

There are so many weird little South Africanisms that sneak into our everyday speech—and confuse the living daylights out of Canadians.

So here’s the question:

What South African words or phrases do you keep saying that leave Canadians scratching their heads?

Hit reply and let us know—we’ll share some of the funniest ones in next week’s newsletter!

And speaking of things we all have strong opinions about…

Who Makes the Best Biltong in BC?

Let’s be honest—biltong is not just biltong. Every Saffa has their own taste, their own spice mix, their own secret recipe passed down through the generations.

Some like it dry and dusty. Others want it soft and fatty.
And then there’s the white vinegar vs brown vinegar camp—don’t even get us started.

I’ve been toying with this idea for a while now. Not just because I want to find out who makes the best biltong in BC—but because I want to know who makes the best biltong for me. Because let’s face it, we’re probably not all going to agree on a winner—and that’s the beauty of it.

So here’s the plan:

For $50, you’ll get a blind tasting pack shipped to you—filled with biltong from top BC sellers (Netvleish, Biltong Canada, Aikona, and more). Each sample will be numbered, with no labels or branding.

You taste them. You rate your favourites.
And then we tally the votes.

In the end, we’ll all find out two things:

1. Who makes the biltong that most people love

2. And more importantly—which one is your personal favourite

Keen to take part in the Best Biltong in BC contest?

Hit reply and say “I’m in!”—if we get enough people, we’ll make it happen.

That’s a Wrap

Alrighty, that’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being part of this growing, slightly scatterbrained, but always lekker community.

Hey—let me know how I did in today’s newsletter.

Is there anything you think should be better? Anything we missed? I read and reply to every message, so just hit reply and give me a shout. Always good to hear from you.