Hey fellow Saffas

It’s been a busy week! We’re launching a new AI company called Intelligent Innovation, and things have been hectic getting everything sorted—from company formation to logo design and everything in between. The craziest part? We’ve already got our first meeting with a potential client tomorrow! The company represents two incredibly innovative AI products created in South Africa, but I’ll save all the juicy details for later.

The bright side of all this hustle is that it gave me a chance to record a video on how to set up your company in BC. If you’re interested in starting something of your own, check it out »here«—it’s a step-by-step guide starting with Name reservation in video one and followed by the actual registration process in the next video!

In this weeks Newsletter:

• Upcoming Events

• Saffa Tips: Cracking the Code on Your Credit Score

• Saffa Spotlight: Kobus De Villiers – Engineer, Author, and Adventurer

• Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day – Event Recap

• Recipe of the Week: Peppermint Crisp Tart (plus a special on the ingredients)

Upcoming Events:

Pub Night Meet ’n Greet

Wednesday, October 11th

Organized by Susan King, this pub night promises to be another fantastic gathering for our community. Kids are welcome, so bring the whole family! The venue will be confirmed soon—make sure to check the event page regularly for updates or reply to this mail and let me know, so I can keep you posted!

 Vernon’s Potjie Cook-Off

Saturday, November 9th, 2024

This long weekend event is going to be a blast! Whether you’re competing or just enjoying the Potjiekos, the day will be filled with good food, great company, and some friendly rivalry. I’ll be there myself, and I can’t wait to see who will be crowned Vernon’s Potjie King or Queen!

It costs $25 to enter a pot, and for a $5 donation, you can get a plate and taste all the pots. If you’re interested in competing or attending, reply to this email and let me know!

Vernon accommodation is getting very limited, so if you’re thinking of going, be sure to book soon! It’s about a 6-hour drive from Vancouver, so we’re heading out on Friday to stay over and be fresh for the competition on Saturday. We’ll stay the night on Saturday as well so we can “kuier” late and drive back on Sunday!

Saffa Tips: Cracking the Code on Your Credit Score

Let’s talk about something we all deal with but don’t always understand—your credit score. Whether you’re looking for a new car, a house, or even just a credit card, having a solid credit score can save you a ton of cash in the long run. The better your score, the better deals you can get.

So, what’s a good credit score in Canada? Well, credit scores range from 300 to 900 and here’s how it breaks down:

• Poor: 300 – 560

• Fair: 560 – 660

• Good: 660 – 725

• Very Good: 725 – 760

• Excellent: 760 – 900

If you’re thinking about getting a car loan, lenders generally like to see a score somewhere in the mid-600s. But don’t stress if you’re lower than that—you can still get a loan, it might just cost a bit more.

Check Your Score – It’s Easy and Free!

You can check your score for free with Equifax, TransUnion (Note: TransUnion offers a consumer disclosure which is a file that contains your credit information. Plus, credit scores are only free for consumers in Quebec), or sites like Borrowell, CompareHub and CreditKarma. It’s a good idea to check your credit report now and then, just to make sure there are no errors dragging you down.

How to Boost Your Credit Score (and Save Some Bucks)

•  Pay Your Bills On Time: This is the big one! Even if you just make the minimum payment, keeping things up to date will work wonders.

• The 30% Rule: Try to keep your credit card balances below 30% of your credit limit. Lenders like to see you’ve got things under control.

• Don’t Close Credit Cards: It might seem like a good idea, but closing cards can actually hurt your score. Keep them open and just use them responsibly.

Why You Shouldn’t Close Your Credit Cards

It might seem like a smart move to close a credit card once you’ve paid it off—after all, it’s one less thing to worry about, right? But actually, closing a card can hurt your credit utilization ratio, which is a big factor in your credit score.

Here’s why: your credit score looks at how much of your available credit you’re using. So, if you have multiple cards with a total credit limit of, say, $10,000, and you’re only using $2,000, you’ve got a healthy 20% utilization rate. But if you close a card and now your total limit drops to $5,000, suddenly that $2,000 you owe is 40% of your available credit—ouch! That higher utilization makes you look riskier to lenders, and it can bring your score down, even though you haven’t done anything “bad.”

Keeping the cards open (even if you just tuck them away and don’t use them) shows lenders that you have more credit available to you but don’t actually need it, which is exactly what they want to see. So, think twice before closing that account!

Saffa Spotlight: Kobus De Villiers – Engineer, Author, and Adventurer

This week’s Saffa Spotlight shines on someone with an extraordinary life story—Kobus De Villiers, a man who has worn many hats, from aircraft engineer to author. I had the chance to sit down with him after the Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day, and wow, what a fascinating chat it was!

Kobus’s journey began when he saw the Sputnik satellite pass over his family farm at the age of five. That moment sparked his passion for engineering, leading him to a career that would take him across the globe. From working on secret projects in South Africa with Armscor to spending time in Russia building aircraft during the Cold War—his stories are nothing short of incredible.

In 1985, Kobus became the Chief Design Engineer on the Mirage project in South Africa. One of his crowning achievements was leading a team to create a spy plane for the South African Air Force—a project so secret, most didn’t even know it existed until years later.

After years of groundbreaking work, Kobus traveled the world, landing in Vancouver, where the city’s beauty caught him by surprise and convinced him to settle down. But his work didn’t stop there. Kobus was later called upon to help secure a contract for the F-35 fighter jet—one of the most advanced aircraft in the world.

On top of all that, Kobus has written five books, sharing his fascinating experiences, both in English and Afrikaans. You can find his books on Amazon under his name, Kobus De Villiers, or in South Africa through Malherbe Uitgewers.

Kobus’s life is a testament to the adventurous, resilient spirit many South Africans share. From South Africa to Russia and beyond, his journey proves that you never know where your childhood dreams will take you!

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/7kfDPas-5Ss

Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day – Event Recap

What a fantastic day we had at John Lawson Park last weekend for the Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day! A massive thank you to everyone who came out—you all made it an unforgettable event. We sold 190 boerie rolls and had more than 200 South Africans showing up. It was amazing to see so many familiar faces and new ones, with people traveling from as far as Chilliwack just to enjoy the day!

Despite a rainy start, the weather cleared up, and we even had to scramble for more rolls because so many of you showed up without pre-orders (we love the spontaneity)! Big shoutout to Belinda, Nicole, and Dries for rushing to get extra rolls, and thanks to Netvleish for providing the delicious boerewors—it really hit the spot.

One of the biggest takeaways from the day? The realization of just how lucky we are to have such a close-knit community. Living so far from home, it’s heartwarming to know that we’ve built a new family here in Vancouver. The support, the laughs, and the willingness to help each other out—it’s what makes events like this so special.

A special thanks to my Vancouver family, including Dave, Madeleine, Gavin, Maggie, Eldon, Nicole, Dries, Braam, Helga, Gerald, and many others who helped pull off this event. Without you, this day wouldn’t have been possible!

Looking forward to going bigger and better next year—we’ve got some exciting ideas in the works, so stay tuned!

Recipe of the Week: Peppermint Crisp Tart

Get ready for some nostalgia with this classic South African dessert—Peppermint Crisp Tart! Whether you’re sharing it with friends, bringing it to a braai, or just indulging by yourself, this sweet and creamy tart is a guaranteed hit. Best of all, it’s super easy to make with only four ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 4 Peppermint Crisp bars (the star of the show!)

• 1 can of Caramel Treat (cooked condensed milk)

• 1 pack of Tennis Biscuits (for that perfect coconut crunch)

• 500ml Whipping Cream (for the ultimate creaminess)

Instructions:

1.  Crush the Peppermint Crisp bars—place them in a Ziploc bag and give them a good whack with a rolling pin until fine (or chunky, depending on how you like it).

2. Smooth out the Caramel Treat in a bowl to get rid of any chunks.

3. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.

4. Fold the smooth caramel into the whipped cream until fully combined.

5. Add half of the crushed Peppermint Crisp to the caramel cream mixture and fold it in.

6. Layer Tennis Biscuits in a serving dish, then spread a layer of the caramel mixture over the biscuits.

7. Repeat with another layer of biscuits and the remaining caramel mixture.

8. Top it off with the rest of the crushed Peppermint Crisp.

9. Pop it in the fridge to set for about 4 hours. Then, enjoy every minty, creamy bite!

Want a step-by-step guide? Watch the video here: How to Make Peppermint Crisp Tart

Special Offer!

Craving a slice of this delicious treat? Now’s the perfect time to make your own! We’re offering FREE SHIPPING on the ingredients when you order from TheSouthAfricanShop.ca for delivery in BC. That’s right—no shipping costs because we want everyone to enjoy a Peppermint Crisp Tart this weekend!

You have to order before Thursday morning 9 am if you want the free shipping, so we can ship it off and get it to you before the weekend. Use this discount code for the free shipping on checkout: “Sweet Weekend”

Nothing beats the creamy, minty goodness of this tart—it’s a true taste of home. So don’t wait, get your ingredients today and treat yourself (and your family) to something special.

Order now before this offer runs out, and let’s make it a Peppermint Crisp weekend!

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