Simphiwe mkhize biography of rory

CAPE TOWN — It seems increasingly clear that the Proteas will hardly be weakened if Rory Kleinveldt finally gets to represent his country at home venue Newlands against New Zealand in the first Test from next Wednesday.

The born-and-bred Capetonian will earn his cap if fellow Cobras seamer Vernon Philander fails to recover from injury in time for the New Year encounter.

Philander aggravated an old left hamstring problem after bowling just five overs in a pre-Christmas Sunfoil Series match for his log-leading franchise against the Titans at the ground.

Considering that a recovery period of up to two weeks has been recommended, he is racing against time to make the cut for the January 2 start to the fixture against the Black Caps.

No. 1-ranked South Africa were due to start their preparation with a Newlands training session yesterday afternoon.

Of course, losing the services of one of the world’s best Test bowling finds of the last year would be a blow to Graeme Smith’s outfit, but if Kleinveldt is drafted into the mix instead, the national side will be fielding a player in an encouragingly resurgent mode.

Plenty of people, after all, were ready — and not without some justification — to brand the burly 29-year-old a “one-Test non-wonder” after a traumatic debut against Australia at Brisbane a few weeks ago.

There Kleinveldt returned unflattering figures of nought for 97 in the Baggy Greens’ mammoth lone innings and was more guilty than anyone of a no-ball virus that infected pretty much the entire front-line attack.

But he then got a selection reprieve in Adelaide, because of Philander’s absence for the second Test, and bowled vastly nearer his known potential, earning figures of three for 65 in the Aussies’ second knock.

Indeed, so improved was Kleinveldt that there was a strong case for fielding him in the series decider at Perth’s legendary, pacy Waca ground, although the tourists chose

STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FORMATION OF UMKHONTO WE SIZWE, DECEMBER 16, 1986

This day 25 years ago bomb blasts in several main centres rocked South Africa. Thus was born Umkhonto we Sizwe, the People's Army of our country.

By that time the demands of our people were loud, persistent and clear: all our efforts as a people, the whole record of relentless struggle under the leadership of the African National Congress, were being met with ever-increasing violence and repression by the racist State. The time had arrived when we needed to reinforce our mass political action with the hammer blows of an armed struggle.

The formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe was a response to these needs and the demands of our people. December 16, 1961, accordingly marked an historic turning point in our long march to freedom. With the formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe our people were now better equipped to grasp history into their own hands.

Born of the people, combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe pledged themselves in our Manifesto to complement the actions of our national liberation movement by means of organised revolutionary violence. These past 25 years are a proud record of a risen people making their own history with their blood, sweat and tears as we live out that commitment.

From those small beginnings Umkhonto we Sizwe has emerged today as the guarantor of our people's future and the indispensable fighting arm of our people.

Combatants of Umkhonto we Sizwe, you are the flower of successive generations of our youth tempered in the crucible of battle. On behalf of the African National Congress and its allies I salute you on this, the 25th anniversary of the birth of Umkhonto we Sizwe.

A Sense of Heavy Responsibility

Umkhonto we Sizwe was born out of a sense of the heavy responsibility that history had thrust upon our people. We had sought, by every no

LISTENING to Rory Rootenberg sing is like being on a musical rollercoaster, such is his incredible vocal range and falsetto of about four and a half octaves. But whatever he chooses to wrap his vocal chords round, the audience can rest assured they’re in for a quality performance.

Born in Johannesburg, Rootenberg, an Afrikaans-speaking Jewish boy, first honed his musical talent at KwaZulu-Natal’s famed Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School.

“Being at the school was wonderful,” he says, “we sang for two hours every day. It really was a foundation for me.”

He later studied singing with the well-known baritone professor, Werner Nel of Potchefstroom University, before going on to carve a niche for himself in professional show business, starring in shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, Me and my Girl and Crazy for You.

An undoubted career highlight was winning the coveted title role in the Phantom of the Opera in The Really Useful Company’s productions in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2004, but Rootenberg admits it wasn’t ever a huge dream to be in the Andrew Lloyd-Webber classic.

“Being in Phantom was never a dream of mine … but being in it was a huge bonus. It is an absolute highlight (of my life) and has done wonders for my career and my solo shows. People always want to hear a few songs from the show,” he says, adding that he would, however, love to perform in the musicals, les Miserables and Miss Saigon.

Rootenberg is currently in Durban performing with long-time friend, Ian von Memerty, in The Best of Ian and Rory at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN’s Durban campus. The show, which ends on Sunday, follows hot on the heels of Cadenza and More!, which he performed at the Sneddon last week.

Rootenberg admits he would never have had the courage to create his own shows if Von Memerty hadn’t encouraged him. “When I was plannin