New on the Megaplex Website

After a lot of work, we have added a new page, Accommodation in Rivonia. This is a pretty exhaustive list of the places to stay in Rivonia.  If you know of others, particularly yours, please reply to the newsletter and let us know.

You can book many of the establishments listed there through Booking.com.  This is often quicker and easier than doing it directly. Also, booking.com offers many alternatives at various prices.  We get a small cut if you book via our "Book Here" links.

Get Counted in February!

The national census, a once-in-a decade event, is taking place in February and March.  A census is valuable to the country.  It allows government and commerce to understand what is going on, and how to allocate resources.  Hence helping with the census is an important civic duty.

I went to register our household for online or telephonic data collection at getcounted.statssa.gov.za.  Their statement "All households are required to register" got me irritated at the start.  I pressed on nevertheless. When I had tried a few weeks ago, I couldn't get past the first drop-down list. It had no choices and refused to budge without my making a selection.  The process is now working better, if haltingly. Several times it failed to save, but then saved on the second try.

We have a choice of self-enumeration online (which I chose), or assisted enumeration by telephone or face-to face.  Then they ask about the structure you live in (probably stand-alone house or block of flats for most of us) , its type, the main use and the description of how it looks.  This got messy: They wanted details of other dwellings on the property (like staff quarters) but on review seemed to have made that the main dwelling.  I couldn't finish the review because I got to a screen that did not allow editing, but would not proceed without it.

My initial registration took under 15 minutes.  Go do likewise, but don't be surprised if the system still has bugs.

For Conspiracy Theorists:  Back to top

Why is it the "National Institute for Communicable Diseases" and not the "National Institute Against Communicable Diseases"?

New on the Block, Movers and Shakers  Back to top

• Rivonia Bed & Breakfast has become Rivonia Premier Lodge, in Accommodation in Rivonia – Award-winning Guest House. Elegant, country-style accommodation. Business Centre. 3 River Road, off 11th Avenue.
• Melleneys Exclusive Guest House has become Hudsons On Twelfth, Rivonia 12th Ave in Rivonia North Shops – Full Service Guest House, Bed & Breakfast, recovery/recuperation residence: 8 Rooms, Wellness, Free Wi-Fi, Full Breakfast Included. At 149 Twelfth Avenue, Rivonia.
• Luca's Ristorante Italiano has moved from Building A, Rivonia Crossing 2 to 6 Gwen Lane, Sandown. Pizza, pasta, fish, meat, desserts. Fully Licensed.
• Silverwood Manor was a Luxury 5 star guest house and conference venue at 113 Mount Street, Bryanston. Now Livewell Bryanston, a specialised dementia and Alzheimer’s care facility.
• Aldeia Restaurant, Shop F3, Upper Level in Rivonia Junction – Portuguese-style Seafood Mediterranean Restaurant. Bookings are essential. On Facebook and Instagram.
• The Daily Coffee Café The Wedge, Shop 05, Upper Level in The Wedge, Morningside – Coffee shop franchise, South African with an international flair.
• Saffron Restaurant, Shop G03, Ground in Rivonia Junction – Persian cuisine: Ghormeh Sabzi, Gheymeh, Fesenjan, Zereshk Polo ba Morgh, Koobideh, Joojeh Kebab, Chelow Kebab, Bakhtiari Kebab, Shishlik, Baghali Polow (Lamb neck or Chicken).
• Thyme 2 Meat, Shop F2, Upper Level in Rivonia Junction – "The food emporium", with a sit-down section. Restaurant, coffee shop, artisanal bakery, Halaal butchery. Spices, lentils, grains, lamb, chicken, sauces, pickles, snacks. Delivery in Johannesburg area.
• Zwelakho Furnished Apartments, The Cube, Central in in Accommodation in Rivonia – The Cube, 11 9th Avenue corner De La Rey Ave, Rivonia. One-Bedroom Apartment.
• The Haystack on Homestead, Central in Accommodation in Rivonia – 13 Homestead Road, Off 7th Avenue, Off Rivonia Road, Rivonia.
• Muco Guest House, Central in Accommodation in Rivonia – 3 6th Avenue, Rivonia. Rates include breakfast, free WIFI, fridge or mini-bar, small office with internet ADSL backup wifi, full DSTV, main garden and swimming pool.
• Dunton Guest House, Central in Accommodation in Rivonia – 4 Dunton Road, Rivonia.
• Rivonia Guest House, Central in Accommodation in Rivonia – 47 Stiglingh Road, Rivonia.
• Bella b’s, Rivonia 12th Ave in Accommodation in Rivonia – 45 B Bevan Road Rivonia.
• Registered Dietitian, Ground in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Get your body in shape with the correct diet for you.
• Massage Therapist, Ground in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre.
• Browtique, First Floor Lower in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – 6D Microblading. Lash Lift. Henna Brows. Lashes.
• Plasma Tech Centre, First Floor Upper in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Theraphi Plasma Healing. Reduce stress and realise deep calm. Reduce pain and inflammation.
• Thermology / IV Drip Therapy, First Floor Upper in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Breast cancer screening using heat sensing, not X-Rays. Weight Loss, Breast Health, Health Transformation Program, Corporate Wellness, Health & Wellness Assessment, Bio-identical Hormone Balancing.
• ICT Integrators, Shop 10B, Ground in Petervale Shopping Centre.

Today's Mondegreen

"Last night I dreamt of / I fell in love with ... Plumbago" (really "...San Pedro" –song: La Isla Bonita.  Well, at least Plumbago is real.)

CBD May Inhibit COVID-19

From Tim Ferriss: "Cannabidiol Inhibits SARS-CoV-2 Replication and Promotes the Host Innate Immune Response". From the abstract: “Here we report that cannabidiol (CBD), a compound produced by the cannabis plant, inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection. CBD and its metabolite, 7-OH-CBD, but not congeneric cannabinoids, potently block SARS-CoV-2 replication in lung epithelial cells. CBD acts after cellular infection, inhibiting viral gene expression and reversing many effects of SARS-CoV-2 on host gene transcription.”

Note: This article is a preprint and is 10 months old. Preprints have not been peer reviewed.

Interesting African Customs

It is polite to sit immediately in the presence of your seated seniors, without being asked. It is rude to stay standing because you will literally "look down on them".

Gone Deep Six:  Back to top

• Asanka Afrika Cuisine, Shop F2 in Rivonia Junction – Fine-dining, blending western food and prominent African influences from Morocco, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, and beyond. Was Upper Level.
• Saravanaa Bhavan, Shop F3 in Rivonia Junction – Indian Vegetarian Restaurant chain. Was Upper Level, up the staircase on the right.
• bbq Workshop, Shop G01 in Rivonia Village – Restaurant with wood-fired oven: Pita, souvlakia, grills, ribs, chops, salads to your specification.
• H2O International Sandton Water, Shop G03 in Rivonia Junction – Supplier of water, water purifiers, borehole purification and coolers.
• Mguchi Cottage in Accommodation in Rivonia – a secluded garden cottage in the heart of Rivonia’s secure Rivonia Valley Estate. Offering the option of self-catering or Bed and Breakfast.
• Seven Point Five in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Sevenpointfive espouses a philosophy of systemic balance through the cleansing and nourishing of your body to heal itself naturally by dealing with the root cause.
• Healthy Nutrition Dietitian Services in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – For weight loss/gain & management, diabetes & insulin resistance, high cholesterol & high blood pressure, sports nutrition, IBO/IBS, nutrition during pregnancy & lactation, thyroid disorders.
• Chronic Disease Management & Alternative Medicine in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Chronic Disease Self-Management via Complimentary Alternative Medicine, Western Medicine and Behavioural Science to get the body in balance. Functional Diagnostic Medicine and Disease Specific Nutrition.
• Clinical Psychologist in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Adult individual psychotherapy, IMAGO relationship / couples therapy, individuation, unresolved emotional issues, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, loss and bereavement, divorce & relationship difficulties, eating disorders and weight issues, burnout, self-worth, self-esteem and assertiveness, midlife.
• Counselling Psychologist in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Registered Counselling Psychologist for adults, young adults, and couples.
• Hugo Aesthetics in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Cosmetic Procedures: Botox, Dermal Fillers, Chemical Peels, PDO Threads, Weight Loss Injections & program.
• Totally Me: Intimacy & Relationship Coach in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Helping individuals & couples “find each other”, taking relationships to a deeper level of intimacy. Individual and/or Couple Coaching, Workshops for Women, Workshops for Men.
• Energy Healing with Reflexology in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Entails Reiki and Chakra Balancing combined with Therapeutic Foot Massage.
• Drama Therapist in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – MA Psych Drama. Creative Communications, Drama Therapist, Family and Organisational Systems Constellations, Trainer and Facilitator.
• Beautiful Movement in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Certified Stott Pilates instructor, IndiYoga Certified instructor, Aerial Yoga Certified instructor.
• MQ Kinetic Therapy in in Naturally Yours Wellness Centre – Posture correction, back/neck pain relief, functional fitness, sports conditioning, body shaping/toning, core strength & balance, flexibility, posture awareness, posture improvement, Pilates rehab.
• Rawson Properties in Morning Glen Mall – Real Estate sales and rentals. Lower Level to the right of Pick 'n Pay.

Thought for the Week:

"The fruit and veg department is fully papaya compliant."

Small Business Not POPIA Compliant?  Master it while Government Dithers...

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA, or the POPI Act) officially went live on 1 July 2021.

That made it mandatory for every business in SA (no matter how tiny), to register an Information Officer. The Information Regulator's Registration of Information Officers Portal had failed a bit earlier.  Seven months later, it is still not functional, bearing the proud banner:

There are vindictive penalties for non-compliance –fines up to R10M and jail time up to 10 years.  Yet the agency tasked with the job has made it impossible to comply for over half a year.  This is mind-boggling incompetence, even for an already dysfunctional government.  Adv Pansy Tlakula (the Chairperson) was good at the IEC. but has messed up royally here.  Look out for her resignation...

One day they may get their act together.  In the meanwhile you might as well get ready.

Know what's involved so that you can protect yourself and your company: Take the FREE Online POPI Act Training for Small Business Owners. It's self-paced so you can do it at any time.  Share this with anyone who has a business.

Overheard Near the Checkout

"These sheets I bought here last week are too short!  They're about three-quarters of the right length for my bed..."
"Ah, yes!  You bought them on our 'After-Christmas Genuine 25%-Off Sale', didn't you?"