Pieter-Dirk Uys still a man of Artfluence at 75

DAYS after celebrating Freedom Day, we take a closer look at how democracy has played a hand in transformation in performing arts.

And we do so through the seasoned eyes of Pieter-Dirk Uys, who is a national treasure in South Africa, especially as his alter-ego Evita Bezuidenhout.

The respected playwright, satirist and social justice activist will be delivering the keynote address at the Centre of Creative Arts inaugural Artfluence Human Rights festival on May 5.

While South African artists such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, used music to fight against apartheid, Uys did so through his satirical skits.

And he continues to be a beacon of hope, change and resilience.

True to form, he kicked

off

the interview on a lighthearted note. He said: “After 400 lockdown days in a pandemic, it is good to find time to focus on art and human rights.

“We take freedom of speech and expression too easily for granted and are surprised that during a health crisis, those freedoms could be sidelined.

“The importance of art and culture is also taken for granted as we have seen with the Covid arts funding debacle run by grasping bureaucrats who have little sensitivity and understanding. We could do with more Artfluences and less social media ‘Influences’.”

The 75-year-old thespian will be delivering his speech from his home, in Darling, a picturesque small town in the Western Cape.

He added: “At my

age

taking chances with an invisible enemy not worth the risk.

“I would have loved being there in real-time, real me with a real you, but like in they will press a button and beam me in and there I’ll be.”

For more than four decades, Uys has used “humour” as a powerful tool to address some of the country’s burning issues – and it is most effective.

“One definition was ‘tragedy plus time equals satire’. During apartheid, there was no time.

“What happened today had to be exposed tonight.

“The fact that everything was basically illegal – either banned, sub judice, secret, ‘vieslik’ or ‘setting the racial groups in disharmony against each other’ – made the challenge even more

is daunting. Wearing a dress and hiding behind the mask of Mrs Bezuidenhout certainly helped.

“She was the first person to demand my arrest. A message then came back from the minister of police. ‘Liewe Evita, I can’t put Pieter-Dirk Uys in jail, because our jails are full of everyone else.’

“Good for a laugh!”

The theatre legend insists humour became his weapon of mass distraction.

The festival, from May 5-8, is freely accessible and can be watched via www.facebook.com/artfluencefest and www.youtube.com/centreforcreativearts. For more information and the full programme, visit artfluence. ukzn.ac.za.

WHEN it comes to afternoon tea, South Africa is brimming with hotels, cafés, restaurants, and tea houses that offer a superior experience. Whether you are all about the setting or on a mission to uncover the city’s best scone, we are sure you will love the places we have gathered for you below.

GAUTENG The Trea Garden

The café offers different teas (normal tea fruit infusions and ice tea). Their tea is from the Toni Glass Collection, which is a remarkable infusion of both tradition and new-age tea-drinking, sourced from all corners of the world. They also have House Blend from Earthen Coffee roasters, blended different African origins, Kenyan coffee from BLK, which is a Kenyan origin coffee roasted in Centurion by a blackowned roastery.

Located: 26 Swart Drive, President Park in Midrand Gabriella’s Tea Room

Gabriella’s Tea Room is inspired by her life, a combination of European cultures spanning both Hungarian and Italian traditions. Nestled in a world of its own, behind La Cucina di Ciro in Parktown North, the café offers a delicious selection for all diets, including special dietary requirements.

Located: 43 7th Avenue, Parktown North

WESTERN CAPE Taj Cape Town

Taj Cape Town offers one of the most popular high teas, in the heart of the city. This beautiful hotel takes a decidedly sweet approach to the concept, with almost all dishes including varying amounts of chocolate. You’ll find everything, from chocolate scones to chocolate éclairs on offer, as well as a wide selection of loose-leaf teas to help you wash them down.

Located: Corner Saint Georges Mall, Cape Town City Cellars-Hohenort

High tea at Cellars-Hohenort is a more adult affair, with a wide range of savoury treats with a deliberately low-carb angle. You can expect roasted red peppers and goats’ cheese tarts, beef skewers, and broccoli, followed by sugar-free fruit pavlovas and dark chocolate, and beetroot cupcakes.

Located: 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town KWAZULU-NATAL Birds Tea & Coffee

Located under a covered verandah, the restaurant boasts eclectic decor that makes it memorable and interesting. The menu is so simple it almost adds to the quirkiness. It’s scrambled eggs on toast, boiled eggs on toast, avos, you guessed it – on toast – and a quiche of the day. Beyond that, there are freshly baked scones and a selection of cakes.

Located: 185 Durban North Lothian Road,

Pieter-Dirk Uys