Yowzit – Home Affairs Before and After

Are you planning to visit Home Affairs any time soon, but quiver at your knees at the very thought and believe

you will require an entire day’s leave to get the necessary admin done?

Granted, there are Home Affairs Offices throughout South Africa that leave a lot to be desired, but again there are other t Home Affairs offices that have gone through a transformation and remarkable transition, offering the type of service so many South Africans have been longing for and deserve.

We all need to visit the Home Affairs Office from time to time for a variety of reasons. Whether we need to register the birth of a baby, require a change of name through marriage, or renew or apply for a passport. Suffice to say Home Affairs will always play a major role for millions of South Africans together with foreign citizens applying for a whole range of essential documentation.

We have given Home Affairs a bad name but did you know that there are offices that have gone through a fantastic transformation and are able to offer outstanding and excellent service to thousands of South Africans that pass through their doors?

The Home Affairs office in Edenvale until quite recently was a dismal, gloomy place where mothers with babies and children (obviously with no-one to take care of the little ones at home), often travelling great distances, had absolutely no-where to sit. There was no place to queue; furthermore old people could not even rest for a couple of minutes as the area was filthy and poorly run and had no chairs whatsoever?

The NEW Home Affairs Office in Edenvale is a pleasant, well-run and clean place to obtain all necessary documentation – perhaps other Home Affairs Offices can take this as an example?

The South African Post Office Teaches One Patience

Suffice to say, making use of the Post Office in South Africa is a place that teaches an individual great

patience.

Whether you are posting a letter and require a single postage stamp or are sending a whole host of parcels, this is one place that you have to have untold patience and plenty of time because a quick trip to the post office no matter where in South Africa, can become an adventure all on its own and a lengthy process.

This is the place you can have an hour-long chat #haveyoursay and become friends with an entire range of people from all walks of life – it is also a place where you can stand and eat your breakfast or lunch and take your time – you can even knit a jersey in one single session as the staff will never hurry it up and make your life any easier by insisting you be next.

As a matter of fact – this is the very place where you can stand in a line for an hour, only to discover the queue you have been standing in so patiently for so long is not the correct one at all!

Alternatively, you can stand in that long, long line and as soon as you are next, the cashier closes his or her till to go on tea, lunch, dinner, breakfast or some other important meal.

But to be fair – the post office is also the place where you can renew your car licence and forgo the long queues at the licensing department.

We all need to learn to toi-toi at the post office – thankfully the advent of the email has made standing at the post office something we only need to do from time to time.

The South African Post Offices is a place where one has to practice extreme patience, so if you are in a hurry avoid this Government Department at all costs.

Weddings in 2014

If you are planning a wedding anytime soon, you will first and foremost have to think of the “where” before you decide on the “how”. Why not be completely original and instead of having a destination wedding, choose a local venue at a third of the cost, and as an alternative choose a honeymoon that is completely out of the ordinary. There are pros and cons when it comes to having weddings close to home. The best part of all is that you can invite everyone that you know from Great Aunt Sarah to your eccentric cousin Arnold. Everyone that played a role in your life from the day you were born can attend, whereas a destination wedding could be limiting as the budget usually just does not stretch that far. Wedding planning is essential.

For those individuals based in Johannesburg, a venue such as The Stone Cellar is a great choice as it costs a fraction of what it would usually cost to hire a venue, say, in Muldersdrift, although Muldersdrift does offer some particularly lovely spots where you can tie the knot. If you would like to see what everyone else thinks of a local venue, whether in Joburg, Cape Town, Durban or anywhere else in South Africa, all you need to do is to visit us on Yowzit to fit out what the buzz is around about town. Whether you need to find photographers, caterers, someone for your cake, your wedding dress and more – someone out there has said something good (or bad) about a service close to where you live. Take full advantage and hear what the others have to say. Word of mouth is a powerful tool – the power lies in the art of listening to what others have to say.

The honeymoon is also important: Granted Mauritius is lovely and so are local destinations, but have you considered going somewhere completely original that won’t break the bank? Why not settle for a fabulous African destination such as Nigeria or perhaps India which is like nowhere else on Earth? As a destination, India is as diverse as its billion inhabitants; an alluring mix of incredible landscapes, palaces, temples, wildlife and beaches. Here you can experience mosques, mausoleums and Mughals. It is the land of Maharajas and more.

Think out of the box when tying the knot.

You need not do what everyone else is doing – have a peek at the Yowzit site to save money and disappointments for your wedding day; indeed weddings in 2014 need not break the bank, and neither should the honeymoon.

Places of Worship in South Africa, Nigeria and India

Babri Mosque - Thanks to http://www.shajiullahfirasat.com/

If you hail from South Africa you will soon discover that we are indeed a rainbow nation – especially when it comes to the diverse places of worship. There are Jews, Christians, Hindus and Muslims that all have their own churches, temples and mosques. Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Temples and Mosques – there is somewhere for everyone who’d like to devote, pray or meditate in his or her own special and individual way.

Worshipping in South Africa:

Are you new to your city and not too sure where to go to worship? Why not visit our Yowzit site to find out what others are saying about what they think and believe regarding this aspect of their lives.

We have a plethora of Temples , Shuls and churches but the Nizamiye Turkish Masjid in Midrand which boasts impressive domes and soaring minarets – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, is a landmark where you can get lost in its fine architecture and which was opened by President Zuma in 2012. Over and above the house of prayer, the Masjid includes a school for 850 learners, has boarding facilities, a clinic, shops plus restaurant. Some of the architectural marvels include courtyards, huge arched stained-glass windows, and little domes – to mention a couple of the interesting features. The splendidly ornamented Nizamiye Turkish Masjid has been designed to accommodate 3500 worshippers. There is also a huge basement-level dining and conference hall with a stage for public events.

Religion in Nigeria:

·         Christianity is perhaps the most popular religion practiced in Nigeria which was introduced to this country by missionaries from Britain.

·         Due to the establishment of hospitals which was a huge draw-card to the natives, Christianity soon became part of the lives of many Nigerians since.

·         Most interesting of all is that there are in excess of 50 million Christians in Nigeria although there are many Nigerians that are practicing Muslims, too.

Religion in India:

·         Of special interest is that India is known as the birthplace of philosophy and spirituality as well as being the land of many religions.

·         About 80% of all Indians are Hindus, although Indians are also practicing Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs among other religions.

If you are looking for places of worship in South Africa, Nigeria or India – you will indeed be spoilt for choice. 

Visiting the reviews of others should take away the edge of confusion, pointing you in the right direction. There is a place of worship for every religion; all you need to do is read the reviews of others on our site to find out more.

Additional information can be found here:

South Africa - http://www.southafrica.net/trade/en/travel-tips/entry/travel-tip-places-of-worship

India - http://www.incredibleindiatourism.net.in/worship_places_india.aspx 

Nigeria - http://www.touristlink.com/nigeria/cat/religious.html

Planning a wedding in 2014

If you are planning a wedding anytime soon, you will first and foremost have to think of the “where” before you decide on the “how”. Why not be completely original and instead of having a destination wedding, choose a local venue at a third of the cost, and as an alternative choose a honeymoon that is completely out of the ordinary.

There are pros and cons when it comes to having weddings close to home. The best part of all is that you can invite everyone that you know from Great Aunt Sarah to your eccentric cousin Arnold. Everyone that played a role in your life from the day you were born can attend, whereas a destination wedding could be limiting as the budget usually just does not stretch that far.

For those individuals based in Johannesburg, a venue such as The Stone Cellar is a great choice as it costs a fraction of what it would usually cost to hire a venue, say, in Muldersdrift, although Muldersdrift does offer some particularly lovely spots where you can tie the knot.

If you would like to see what everyone else thinks of a local venue, whether in Joburg, Cape Town, Durban or anywhere else in South Africa, all you need to do is to visit us on Yowzit to fit out what the buzz is around about town. Whether you need to find photographers, caterers, someone for your cake, your wedding dress and more – someone out there has said something good (or bad) about a service close to where you live. Take full advantage and hear what the others have to say. Word of mouth is a powerful tool – the power lies in the art of listening to what others have to say.

The honeymoon is also important:

Granted Mauritius is lovely and so are local honeymoon destinations, but have you considered going somewhere completely original that won’t break the bank? Why not settle for a fabulous African destination such as Nigeria or perhaps India which is like nowhere else on Earth?

As a destination, India is as diverse as its billion inhabitants; an alluring mix of incredible landscapes, palaces, temples, wildlife and beaches. Here you can experience mosques, mausoleums and Mughals. It is the land of Maharajas and more.

Think out of the box when tying the knot. You need not do what everyone else is doing – have a peek at the Yowzit site to save money and disappointments for your wedding day; indeed weddings in 2014 need not break the bank, and neither should the honeymoon.

Well if you need to plan a wedding - you know where to start - http://www.yowzit.com/za/events-planning/wedding-planning 

Top 10 Spa's in South Africa

1. Rachawadee Thai Spa (Durban) “Friendly staff with amazing techniques that will relax and sooth you in no time” according to one enthusiastic patron. “You feel relaxed and rejuvenated after visiting this spa” says another. “Simply Fabulous” is the over tone of all REVIEWS. Read More 2. Rachawadee Spa (Joburg, Houghton) The City of Gold’s branch just loses out to its coastal cousin (by a drop of vanilla-infused oil). Situated in the oh-so-sophisticated suburb of Houghton, all therapists are professionally trained and certified in Thailand. Not a knot survives this place! Read More 3. Glamour by Design (Joburg, Bryanston) “A modern, visually stimulating environment where all your needs are taken care of.” A large variety of packages that also includes expert beauty treatments from head-to-toe is available to suit the busy lifestyles of Joburg’s northern-suburb dwellers. Read More 4. Kai Thai Spa (Joburg, Montecasino) A great location that many women find an alluring option while their husbands are guzzling beer and shouting obscenities at the giant screen in Montecasino’s famous “Boktown”. You are sure to find value for money and expert service at this fine spa. Read More 5. Puri Thai Massage (Joburg, Parktown) “Don’t ask why, just go Thai” seems to be the theme of this top ten as yet another establishment of this nature cracks the nod from Yowzit.com’s armada of REVIEWERS. “Well priced”, “Awesome”, “Love it!” they sing in unified bliss. Read More 6. Matis (Joburg, Rosebank) Not for bargain hunters but those who insist on pampered luxury, uncompromising expertise and high-end products will do well to find a better bet than Matis. “Try the Russian therapist,” says one Yowziter. “She talks a lot but she’s good!” Read More 7. Camelot Spa (Joburg, Houghton) Yes it does seem that Joburg’s residents go to the spa, A LOT, but you also have to understand that it’s a beach-less, mountain-less jungle where the number of potholes is only outnumbered by the number of. . , well, you know. . . So you cannot really blame residents for seeking respite from the madness in class establishments like Camelot Spa, can you? Read More 8. Lanna Ladies Thai Spa (Constantia Park) “A wonderful Thai experience – the decor and aroma reminded me of Thailand and I felt as if I was back in Phuket. I have enjoyed the Lanna Herbal Compress Thai Massage – just out of this world.” Hard to argue with a REVIEW like that! Read More 9. Kai Thai Spa (Durban, Suncoast Casino) “An absolutely beautiful and relaxing spa offering a wonderful selection of packages to suit all needs and budgets.” The only reason it finds itself at this end of the top ten list is due to lack of REVIEW volume. Go check it out and share your experience. Read More 10. Kai Thai Spa (Joburg, Parkhurst) Judging from REVIEWS posted it looks like this particular branch needs to do a little work in terms of general spa atmosphere. A dash of warmth, a splash of serenity, a generous helping of hospitality may be required to compliment generally good service. Read More

Having issues with your vehicle? Why not use Yowzit user recommendations

Are you tired of those greasy, nasty-type, back-street mechanic chop shops that always try to put in old parts then charge you the earth, only for you to go around the block and break down after collecting the car after three whole weeks. Man, at this point you are not only out of pocket but are ready to tear your hair out!

Where, oh where can you find a reputable motor service that everyone recommends, is happy with and who does a brilliant job every time?

The answer is really very easy, really. Recommendation is perhaps the key word here. If a service or product comes highly recommended, chances are you will be 100% more likely to want to use the same service or product that everyone is talking about; after all you don’t want to feel left out.

Is your mechanic the talk of the town or is there an auto-electrician out there who should be putting his hand-print in cement on The Walk Of Fame?

Find out what other people are saying about their best motor service experiences have been in the recent past ranging from and including auto-electricians, buying car parts, testing station experiences, vehicle tracking services, which vehicle insurance to make use of and which petrol garages  they frequent amongst others.

If you have had a bad experience you can air your views; all you need to do is to review these under the various categories on our Yowzit site, and if you have had a wonderful occurrence and first-rate service it is your duty to pay the service-provider a compliment - recommendations and word of mouth are there to guide consumers.

The best way to fix your car is to use one that is recommended by someone who has had a brilliant job done to their car, and the easiest way to find out is by seeing what other consumers have to say on Yowzit. 

#haveyoursay

Why your Yowzit reviews could help this up and coming election

Are you voting for the DA, the ANC or any other party on the list this up-and-coming Election Day? Do you feel as though you are being bombarded by posters, radio and TV ads from a million different parties and quite frankly don’t quite know which one is better than the other?

Are you disappointed or ecstatic about the service you're getting from your local Department of Home Affairs or find that you are thrilled to bits with the service you received at your neighborhood Government Hospital oncology unit or are pleased with the overall education your children have received through the Government system despite the doomsayers that are always belittling what is and what is not happening around the country in general?

Read the reviews of other “Yowziters” and see what they have to say before you decide which way the wind blows or why not add your bits and pieces if you are thrilled or terribly disillusioned about a Public Service.

If you don’t say anything about your experiences no-one will be any the wiser. You don’t have to toi-toi to get your point across – but if everyone says their bit about a service whether it is good or bad, then once the word gets out a chain reaction could ignite disgruntled consumers to speak out about their equally bad experiences; otherwise they could end up singing  praises where deserved. 

If no-one says anything and keeps deadly quiet, wrongs cannot be corrected.

On the flip side of the coin, if everyone was pleased with a particular Public Service perhaps there are others who will follow suit, but a little shy to speak out and speak up.

Reviews regarding your experiences could have a domino effect on the way in which people view a party this Election Day – being brave by speaking out is perhaps the only way forward, and what better way than to join the other brave “Yowziters” with your opinion.

Who you vote for this Election Day is up to you – but if you are not happy by not voting will mean that nothing can be corrected – remember that voting is a privilege – cast yours and tell it like it is on Yowzit.com.

Yowzit is now in over 6 countries! South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Mauritius and India!

#haveyoursay

Use reviews to help you spend money wisely this payday

If you, like so many other individuals find that one payday melts into the next one – take a breather, stop for a minute to think what you are going to do with your spare change. Once all those debit orders have gone off and you are left with a couple of pennies, this is when you need to have a little fun; after all, what is life without a little fun?

But fun costs money – actually plenty of it! But wait – you have not done your homework properly. You know all those reviews that you are so eager to poo-poo away – well maybe there is method to the madness of people sending in good stuff and bad stuff about the places they have been to, the shows they have seen, the movies they have watched with their girlfriends while munching popcorn and holding sweaty hands in the dark.

Take the review written by Priyesh Kasan forexample who chatted about the Grillhouse in Rosebank. If you are a vegetarian for example and simply don’t where to begin as far as eating out is concerned – read his reviews as well as what others are saying and be a little serious about them. They are there for your benefit. Not only does this save you time and money driving around looking for somewhere “nice” to have your next meal – but surely ten out of ten individuals cannot be wrong if they sing the praises of an establishment, time and again?

Word of mouth is really what life is all about – if all your mates are raving about a certain movie, it has won a gazillion Oscars – why are you dragging your feet?

Reviews are a great way to get an idea to find that best kept little secret; this could be a live show, restaurant, movie or other cool spot you never knew existed. 

All you need to do is to visit us on Yowzit.com to find out more about what’s happening this payday and all the other future paydays – spend your money wisely, avoid costly and disappointing mistakes because it only takes a couple of minutes to  scroll through all those interesting reviews to impress your friends.

#haveyoursay - Share your good and bad experiences with the world on Yowzit.com 

Be the voice of South Africa this human rights day

We have recently celebrated the public holiday of Human Rights Day on the 21^st of March; but honestly how many of you out there view this as anything else but a day in the sun over a braai cooking the traditional boerewors over some hot coals while chatting to friends and sipping beer?

Human Rights Day is a serious holiday; on Monday, 21 March in 1960 police opened fire on a crowd that had gathered at the Sharpeville station that were protesting against the unfair and cruel pass laws. No fewer than 69 unarmed people were shot dead in cold blood with a further 180 injured.  

The great thing about South Africa is that we are now a democracy where everyone has the freedom and the privilege to speak out about what they think and what they feel about anything and everything, are able to vote and  in power today happen to be women, which is a far cry from the 60’s!

Whether you are campaigning improvement s in the service in our libraries, hospitals and schools, we have devised a user-friendly site for you, the consumer, to talk the talk if there is something that needs to be said.

The power of speech is indeed powerful

For example – what is your opinion on our Mass Media in this country – do we really have the freedom of speech and are we really able to say things the way we want them said about our Government and the way in which the country is being run?

Do you feel that the Mass Media are making a media circus, for example, of the Oscar Pistorius case?  What is your personal opinion about our TV stations, and how they are run. Do you feel that some of the DJ’s on the various radio stations are way out of line or are there certain programmes that blow you away every time you switch on to listen and would love to compliment them?

We are the voice of South Africa – if you don’t tell it like it is no-one will hear you. Reviews have been devised to give you that voice – all you need to do is to use it.

So be part of the Yowzit.com movement and #haveyoursay