News Bulletin of 16 May 2025, 5pm

Stellenbosch’s VUUR and Johannesburg’s The Blockman have proudly secured spots on the 2025 World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, ranking 87th and 97th respectively.

VUUR, nestled at Remhoogte Wine Estate, is renowned for its open-fire cooking using six different woods. Chef Shaun Scrooby’s seven-course menu features local meats, seafood, and vegetables cooked live at the table, creating a unique dining experience.

In Parkhurst, The Blockman brings butcher-to-table dining to life under chef and butcher Vassilios Holiasmenos. The restaurant ages and cuts prime South African beef on-site, grilling steaks over wood coals to highlight natural flavours with simple seasoning.

These accolades shine a global spotlight on South Africa’s exceptional steak culture, blending traditional techniques with local ingredients.

Cape Town resident and YesPlay staff member Monique Robin Ackers has released a moving memoir detailing her journey from drug addiction to spiritual redemption.
Titled I Survive to Tell My Story: A Mother’s Journey from Drugs to Redemption, the book launched earlier this month at Exclusive Books in the V&A Waterfront.
Ackers opens up about the loss of her father at age 42—a trauma that triggered her descent into substance abuse.
Her turning point came after a life-threatening heart attack, which she describes as a wake-up call that led her to faith and recovery.
She credits her mother’s unwavering belief and spiritual guidance for helping her through the darkest moments.
In a remarkable show of determination, Ackers wrote the entire memoir in just 12 hours, describing the process as deeply healing.
She says her goal is to help others facing similar battles realise that change is possible.

The City of Tshwane has set aside nearly half a billion rand to upgrade conditions in informal settlements, with plans to formalise 502 areas and provide basic services.
Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise revealed the R98 million allocation for formalisation, and an additional R400 million for water and electricity, during the city’s 2025/26 budget speech.
He said many of these settlements lack essential infrastructure and are located in unsafe areas.
Formalisation will begin in June, starting with the Marry Me informal settlement in Soshanguve.
Modise emphasised that migration in search of jobs has driven the growth of informal communities, and the city is acting to create safer, more dignified living conditions.