emsia.kruger - Letters Home

Braai is a South African tradition

24/06/2021 emsia.kruger

The love for braai is one of the few things South Africans share, regardless of race, language, or culture. Braai is a South African tradition. Therefore, Heritage Day in South Africa is also known as Braai Day.

Braai and BBQ are not the same

If I must explain braai to my non-South African friends, I will do it as follows. Although braai loosely means cooking food over the coals, braaiing is not synonymous with barbeque. Braaiing can take place at any time of the day and in any season. South Africans even make coffee and breakfast on a braai when we camp. It is normal to braai during the week to prepare meals. Braai is even sometimes done after a night out since it is a way of being social.

Switzerland has a BBQ season

In Switzerland, there is a definite BBQ season during the summer. During May, the stores start unpacking accessories and food items that are marked BBQ. BBQ items are only available until after the summer holidays. During September, all the BBQ items make way again for Fondue and Raclette cheese which is the Swiss’ traditional way of hanging out with friends and family.

Here abroad, we look at a braai with new eyes. It is like an umbilical cord that binds you to your people, culture, and tradition. With Charl as a vegetarian, we did not braai in South Africa as often as most other people. In Switzerland, we have rectified the situation and braaiing is now high on our agenda.

BBQ options in Switzerland

Compared to South Africa, the meat options for braai are limited and incredibly expensive. Options consist mainly of pork sausage, marinated pork, chicken, and hamburger patties. Fortunately, there is a large variety of vegetarian barbecue options. There are different types of cheeses as well as other vegetarian substitutes for meat. We are now systematically trying out exciting products.

We have inaugurated our braai tradition in Switzerland with a disposable braai, a popular form of braai in the summer along the lake. For the first time, we tried out the disposable braai on the table on the porch of our apartment. The smell and taste and Zander’s excitement were enough motivations to buy a weber braai that works with charcoal.

It took us a while to get up to speed. For example, there are no fire lighters here, but we found substitutes and, in the process, discovered new Weber-related products.

Our braai was causing problems

One Sunday afternoon, someone rang our front doorbell. It was our Swiss neighbour in her wheelchair. Luckily Charl opened the door, and I listened from the room. When she started her sentence with, “I do not like complaining, but …” I held my breath. She complained about the braai and the smoke coming into her house. She also brought along the apartment complex’s lease agreement to show that only gas grills are allowed. We have never read the fine print in German before.

We searched again for the lease on the computer, translating the rules from German only to see that she was right. It was a bitter pill, but we were obliged to return with our hat in our hand. An apology letter and South African rooibos tea had to put the awkward situation behind us.

In South Africa braai on a gas grill is not considered a braai

In South Africa, braai on a gas grill is not considered a braai. We realised that “beggars cannot be choosers”, and Charl ordered a gas grill. Putting the Weber gas grill together was a whole Saturday project. Fortunately, Charl already has good experience with these types of construction projects.

We have tried our new gas grill a few times now. It works very well and allows us to experiment with different items. We tried homemade pizzas, but it still needs process improvement.

Regards

Emsia

My husband enjoys his e-bike more than walking

22/06/2021 emsia.kruger

My husband does not like walking. He made this fact very clear to me while we were still dating. He lost a few points in my books because I love walking. However, Charl’s recent electric bike proposal earned him a few bonus points.
Zander is now at that age where he prefers his friends’ company and activities over his parents. His parents, therefore, had to find something to keep themselves busy during weekends.

E-bikes are popular in Switzerland

E-bikes are becoming more and more popular in Switzerland, with one in seven bikes being electric bikes. The e-bike enables cyclists to tackle more demanding routes and greater distances on their bikes than they would be able to do on a road bike.

It is a bonus when the bike’s electric motor kicks in and you have assistance with getting up a hill. The cyclists who ride ordinary bicycles get irritated when an e-bike passes them. We learned to be more respectful and remain behind them on the uphill sections.

Switzerland caters well for cyclists

Switzerland caters very well for cyclists. There are dedicated bike paths, as well as bike stands available everywhere. The Kamoot App on my cell phone shows all the cycling and hiking trails. These bike routes take cyclists through the most beautiful rural parts and ensure they stay off the main roads.

Charl rides his bike to work

The traffic in Zurich is heavy, like in most cities. Cycling is one of the best ways to get through the city. Charl started riding the bike to work and forms part of a weekly exercise routine. Cycling is a great way to travel in an environmentally conscious country.

We explore the countryside over weekends

Cycling is a fun way to experience Switzerland’s beautiful landscapes and enjoy the tranquillity of the countryside. Our favourite is the road to Rapperswil, a medieval town at the bottom of Lake Zurich. We enjoy driving through the forest all along the lake to get there. On our journey, we see and smell the horses, cattle, and canola. At Rapperswil, we spoil ourselves with an Egg McMuffin and coffee by the lake. This way, we gather strength for the steep hill back home.

Cycling tourism

Bicycle tourism is a popular way to spend a holiday these days. It involves exploring the area by cycling from one town to the next. Alternatively, you can stay in one place and make day trips with your bike. There is a cycling route around Lake Constance that we would very much like to do. The road takes you through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with breathtaking views of the lake and the Alps.

I love speed and have already reached 60km/h on my bike. However, Charl warned me that if I fell or got a speeding ticket, I would lose a few points in his books!

Regards

Emsia

Zug surprised us with cherries and a scooter

17/06/2021 emsia.kruger

Great was my joy when I started to see cherries in the Swiss shops. I found out that Zug, which is close to us, is known for its cherries. The Romans planted cherries more than 1800 years ago. For the past 400 years, a cherry market has been held annually in Zug. Zug is also known for its cherry pie and its brandy (Kirsch).

Our outing to Zug exceeded our expectations. Various types of cherries, other berries, and related products were available at the market. We walked away with a box full of sweet cherries and cherry jam.

Cherries bring back fond memories

Bright red, sun-ripened cherries seduce me. I love their shape, colour and texture and the taste is heavenly. In South Africa, their scarcity contributed to the allure. I had precious memories of picking cherries in Ceres with the family during a Christmas holiday. We went home with tired children and bags full of cherries.

Cherries were that year’s Christmas dinner theme. With everyone’s creative suggestions, all the dishes on the Christmas menu contained cherries. There was cherry jam with the pot bread, a cherry and brandy sauce with the steak and a fruit salad with cherries. The meal was rounded off with a snow-white pavlova with bright red cherries as dessert. After Christmas, we were all healed of cherries for a year!

Many foreigners live in Zug

Zug is a beautiful town next to a turquoise lake. In Switzerland, each canton has its own tax rates. Zug is the canton with the lowest tax rate. It is, therefore, popular among foreigners and has an international school. Zug has a Swiss atmosphere, but more people speak English than in the other towns.

Zug, established 800 years ago, has a beautiful old town with cobblestone roads and historic buildings. Musicians with an accordion in front of a restaurant contributed to the atmosphere. They welcomed their guests with music and drinks. We celebrated the day with beer and pizza at an Italian restaurant next to the lake. Eating out in Switzerland is a luxury.

Zugersee surprised Zander with a scooter

Zander went prepared in his swimsuit. When we arrived, we sat on the rocks next to the lake to watch all the ducks and their fluffy baby ducklings. Zander braved the icy water and adapted enough to be able to swim around.

The next moment he saw something that excited him – a scooter that looked just like his scooter. After diving and splashing, he put the scooter, covered in green moss, down by the lake. He intended to clean the scooter and take it home.

Zug yielded far more than we had hoped for. The beautiful town exceeded all our expectations.

Cherry greetings

Emsia

Fun in the green rolling hills of Heidiland

10/06/2021 emsia.kruger

Different languages, cultures and landscapes in Switzerland offer a variety of experiences. Our visit to the eastern part of Switzerland was exceptional. The visit had the added benefit of visiting neighbouring Austria, Germany, and Liechtenstein in one day.

Appenzell

Green rolling hills characterise the Appenzell landscape. We could imagine Heidi and Peter laughing between the goats. We took a cable car up to the Ebenalp, the northernmost peak of the Appenzell Alps. Many people paraglide from the top of the mountain. They tested our nerves with their excited and nervous screams as they jumped off the edge to fly the 770m down.

We walked one of the many beautiful hiking trails on top of the mountain from Ebenalp. The hiking trail took us past prehistoric caves, where there is evidence that Neanderthal people lived 40,000 years ago. There are also bones of cave bears and leopards.

We ate cheese like Heidi in a wooden cottage

Our visit to the famous Appenzeller cheese factory was a pleasant experience. We were amazed by the variety of cheeses made with various combinations of mixed herbs.

We spoiled ourselves with fondue and a cheese platter accompanied by home-baked bread and fruit chutney for lunch. The restaurant looked like a Heidi cottage in the mountains, with everything made of wood.

We bought Appenzeller herbal liqueur. It is still made according to an old family recipe and contains 42 types of herbs.

Heidiland

The Heidiland region utilised the Heidi theme for tourism purposes with a Heidi House in Maienfeld and Heidi hiking trails. One of Switzerland’s well-known natural hot springs, Bad Ragaz, is also in the region. We visited the Tamina fountains that feed Bad Ragaz.

The steam from the hot water created a mystical atmosphere. We felt so small in time when we read that people discovered these fountains already in 1240. People travelled far and sat in the water for up to ten days with great faith in the healing power of the water. The sketches of the baths built of stone reminded me of the baths in biblical times that the sick visited regularly.

Austria and Germany

We were very close to the border and could not resist the temptation to drive through Austria and Germany. In Austria, we explored a beautiful nature reserve. The waterfalls between the autumn-coloured trees took our breath away.

In Germany, we went shopping. Many items are much cheaper in Germany than in Switzerland. On weekends, the Swiss flood the German towns close to the border. They take advantage of the lower prices and the 19% VAT exemption.

Lichtenstein

On the way home, we visited Vaduz, Lichtenstein’s capital, to look at the castle. It was built in the 12th century and is the official residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein. Lichtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world and a monarchy. Economically Liechtenstein has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world. It has a significant financial sector in Vaduz. As we stood at the castle, a shiny black car drove through the gates and kept our imagination guessing.

It is a great privilege to get to know Switzerland better. We use our opportunity to discover the different things that each area and each season has to offer. I share in a previous letter more about our experience of the French and Italian parts of Switzerland in the summer.

Kind regards

Emsia

The French and Italian parts of Switzerland

07/06/2021 emsia.kruger

After seeing a few warning lights burn in all of us after a challenging year, we realized that we need an effective pit-stop holiday despite masks, rules, and accommodation and transport cancellations that have flowed in due to Covid-19 restrictions.

We had the opportunity to explore and experience the different regions of Switzerland. Zurich, where we live, is in the eastern German-speaking region. We wanted to see and visit the western French cantons and the southern Italian canton of Switzerland. Each area has its beauty and charm.

The French side of Switzerland

The French part of Switzerland is known as Romandy. Valais, Vaud, and Geneva are three of the largest wine-producing regions in Switzerland. The green vineyards along the shores of the blue waters of Lake Geneva create a beautiful picture. We experienced many similarities between the French and South Africans, such as passion and strong will. Charl works with the French. He says even though he cannot understand their language, there is something in their essence that he can identify with.

We stayed in the Rhone Valley. The Rhone Glacier formed this valley but melted due to climate change. The Rhone River is a milky green colour, and the vineyards are in rows that stretch high up the mountain. One morning we walked over a bridge built over a 950m high rock crevice. We hiked on a hiking trail between the vineyards down to a Medieval village and enjoyed ice-cold apple juice as a refreshment in the heat.

The Italian side of Switzerland

Ticino is the Italian-speaking region in the south of Switzerland. Neighbouring Italy inspired the architecture, food and culture. In Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino, we visited beautiful medieval castles. We stayed in Lugano, which has a holiday village atmosphere. It is right next to a blue-green glacial lake with a lovely waterfront promenade.

We swam in the lake, rented pedal boats, and tried to do Stand Up Paddling (SUP) at Zander’s request. We went up the mountain with the Funicular to see the world from above. On my recommendation, we hiked down. With the heat and all the complaints, it was clear that I was not eligible for the team member of the week award. I consequently suggested pizza and gelato ice cream as a peace offering. Covid-19 restrictions resulted in fewer tourists and short queues.

Como in Italy

We took the train across the border to Como in Italy. A heatwave arrived with us in Italy. The Italians are passionate and hospitable people who enjoy and appreciate beautiful and delicious things in life. I could not stop looking at all the historic old buildings and villas with colourful and well-kept gardens. They were built by the rich in Roman times and nowadays serve as tourist accommodations.

Early in the evening, when the sun begins to set, people come out of their living areas with the most beautiful clothes and fragrances. The girls look pretty with their red lips in their colourful and feminine dresses. The young men display their attractive tanned, and trained bodies in white cotton shirts. They socialize with charming music provided by street musicians until late at night. Early in the morning, the smell of freshly ground coffee hangs over all the street cafes. Sparrows stand cheekily closer for their daily bread.

My comparison between Switzerland and Italy

On the way back home, I tried to clarify the difference in experience between Switzerland and Italy. Switzerland is like those very organised families or friends you visit. Everything is orderly and structured. The garden is well-maintained, and the furniture is durable. Mealtimes are at a set time. The meals are healthy and balanced.

Italy is like spontaneous family or friends. There is a lot of freedom to come and go as you please. The house is full of artwork and detail. The visit is entertaining, and meals are made with available ingredients when everyone is hungry.

One visit is not necessarily better than the other. It is just different.

Ciao

Emsia

Unexpected people who become like family

03/06/2021 emsia.kruger

Family is not always blood. Family represent those people who choose to have you in their lives. They accept you just the way you are. These people will do anything to see you smile and stand by you through thick and thin. Sometimes they cross our paths in unexpected ways. They are gifts from Above.

Bettie taught me to cook traditional Cape food

As a young married woman with limited cooking skills and time, Bettie crossed my path as a domestic worker. Bettie took care of our household and cooked the most delicious meals. Easter weekends, Bettie spoiled us with a traditional Cape Easter speciality, pickled curried fish from Cape Malay cuisine. She and Abraham worked on a wine farm all their lives, and Abraham later became our gardener.

Our families got to know each other well and had a lot of mutual respect. We supported Bettie after Abraham’s death and during the drug addiction of a family member. She helped me through my divorce and sat at the main table at Charl and my wedding. When she died of cancer, my grief was the same as that of a family member. She was like a mother to me and an inspiration in many ways.

Au pairs that have enriched my children’s lives

With Zander’s birth, I could no longer keep all the balls in the air. I decided to enlist the help of an au pair. Inspirational young women crossed my path. Each of them was unique with unique interests and contributed to us in different ways. Their skills also complemented my skills and creativity where it was lacking, as with cake and party decorations. Many of them are now moms blessed with their children.

Their farewell letters confirmed the shared time with us was also meaningful to them. Within a week of our last au pair joining us, her long-standing love affair with her boyfriend, also with name Zander, ended. She utilised her passion for technology to play her hurt away with video games with little Zander. She was his computer gamer friend. She wrote in her farewell letter, “One Zander broke my heart, but another little Zander was sent across my path to heal it.”

Grandpa Frikkie, my husband’s ex-father-in-law

Grandpa Frikkie crossed my path through Charl. He is Charl’s father-in-law from his first marriage. Their bond was extraordinary, and both decided that their relationship would continue after Charl’s divorce. Grandpa Frikkie attended our wedding despite his own emotions.

His role in our lives has slowly but surely taken shape. With Zander’s birth, we agreed that he could be Zander’s Grandpa Frikkie. Grandpa Frikkie was at Zander’s christening and attended every birthday party. Once a month, he came to play with Zander on a Saturday morning so that Charl and I could have breakfast together. We were amazed at the projects they embarked on and the games they played.

It was hard to say farewell to Grandpa Frikkie when we moved to Switzerland. He keeps in touch with each of us and shares news from South Africa. He also calls Zander regularly to connect and better understand his world.

Even though Grandpa Frikkie is already 74, he is up-to-date with technology. They live in a retirement village, and he uses all his knowledge and skills to help others. He played a cardinal role in assisting the residents with online Covid vaccination registrations. He invited me to join an online bible study, which I experienced as positive and informative. I enjoy the wisdom and stories that he shares.

My father went to heaven shortly after my thirtieth birthday. Grandpa Frikkie is the closest to an earthly father I have. I am grateful for having someone who feels like a father, even though he is my husband’s ex-father-in-law.

Our angels here on earth

People who feel like family are those people who will support us, help us grow, encourage us and be there for us when we need it. God selected them carefully to be our angels here on earth.

Kind regards

Emsia

Growing up in another country

31/05/2021 emsia.kruger

The school year in Europe is coming to an end. Excitement is in the air as people are starting to get ready for the summer holidays. However, many people have to say goodbye to friends and prepare for a new beginning in another country.

Adapting to a new school and country

Zander joined the international school in August 2019. He settled in well. He has awesome friends from all over the world, and together they are adapting to a new country. We enjoy the new adventure but still have challenges. Due to the language and culture of another country, we often do not understand certain things. The long dark winters and the loss of family and friends are challenging. Covid-19 certainly also made its contribution to the list of challenges.

The reality of an international school like the Inter-Community School Zurich (ICS) is that people come and go constantly and must regularly go through changes and adjustments. Most families at school live in a country for an average of three years and then move on to another country. A response to my semi-Afrikaans farewell letter, provides a good example of this.

Comments from a Dutch mom preparing for their move

Thank you for the note. I cannot really say that we are returning home. We left the Netherlands (NL) 22 years ago and hardly ever went back. We were always joking that we only went back for weddings and funerals. Of course, the kids are Dutch but never lived in NL. They see Switzerland as their home. Out of 22 years abroad, we lived 11 years in Switzerland (in 3 entries). When living in Dubai or Germany, we went to Switzerland for home leave. There are mixed emotions in the family.

It will be good for the kids to live in their ‘native’ country for some years. It is a good career opportunity for my husband, but we are not all happy to be moving to the NL. My son just does not want to go. His first reaction was to find another family in Switzerland to live with. He received some offers! It is funny to read and understand the Afrikaans language!

So many languages

ICS Parent Association Facebook Profile picture

The international school has many processes to help these parents and children who arrive and depart deal with the change. Many of the children who arrive at the school cannot even speak English properly. There are dedicated English teachers to help them. The children must learn German as a second language and from grade 6 also French or Spanish. Zander is doing well with the German but finds the Spanish very challenging. He must also maintain his Afrikaans for when we go back to South Africa.

Third Culture Kids

As a result of globalization, there is a group of children growing up in countries other than where they were born. These children are referred to as Third Culture Kids (TCK). They do not learn the culture of their country of birth. Because they move around, they also do not acquire the culture of the residence country. They learn the mixed culture of the families of the international school which they attend. It is therefore called a Third Culture.

The advantage of the situation for the children is that they are very adaptable and have many contacts and knowledge of different countries and cultures. The disadvantage of the situation is that children struggle with identity. Culture is critical for the development of your identity. It helps individuals answering the questions of “Who am I?” and “Where do I come from?

Change is part of life

Change is part of the rhythm and nature of life. We need to see the role of change positively and integrate it into our lives without fear. Change helps us become aware of new things, learn new skills, and in the process, get to know ourselves better.

Kind regards

Emsia

Cheese is part of the Swiss culture

25/05/2021 emsia.kruger

Food and drink form a critical part of any culture and heritage. When people share their food with you, they share their culture and a piece of their heart.

Western Cape, South Africa

When I moved to the Western Cape, my Stellenbosch friends introduced me to wine. Wine knowledge forms an essential part of any student’s informal training. The various wine estates in the Western Cape offer many wine-tasting opportunities. The Western Cape added seafood and Cape Malay cuisine to my favourite food list. We inherited Cape Malay cooking from the slaves from Malaysia, Indonesia, and East Africa brought to Cape Town during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Swiss cheese

We are expanding our Swiss cheese knowledge. There are numerous Swiss cheese varieties and different regional specialities. Just like wine, cheese-making is an art form. The Swiss take pride in their cheese made with local milk and excellent craftsmanship.

There are more than 450 different cheese varieties in Switzerland. Cheese-making consumes almost half of the milk produced in Switzerland. The top-produced Swiss cheese is Le Gruyère. Emmentaler cheese, with its distinctive holes, is the variety of cheese most exported.

Both Gruyère and Emmentaller cheeses are marked as fromage d’alpage / Alpkäse. This badge means that the cheesemakers produce the cheeses during the summer when the cows graze in the mountains. Many Swiss farmers take their cows to the pastures in the spring and bring them back in the autumn. The herbs and flowers the cows eat where they graze give the cheese a specific character and flavour.

Gruyère

We recently had the privilege of visiting a cheese factory, La Maison du Gruyère, in the medieval town of Gruyère in the Alps, close to the French border. The farmers in the village have been making this cheese since the 12th century to survive the winter months. They later started exporting some of the cheese to France and Italy, but the world only officially recognized the name during the 17th century.

We have seen them heat the unpasteurized cow’s milk in copper pots and add enzymes to thicken it. The ageing of Gruyère cheese lasts between 3 and 10 months. Like wine, the cheese gets better with time. We grew up with Heidi and Peter’s stories. I now realize that they ate Fondue cheese every night with Grandpa in the winter, just like the people still do.

In Gruyère, we visited the old castle built on a hill in the 13th century. The white landscape, caused by the previous night’s snowfall, took us back in imagination to those times. The walls are thick, the windows few, and the giant fireplace in each room had to keep the people warm and cosy. They socialized around long tables while drinking wine and eating their melted Gruyère cheese and bread. In the dark winter evenings, they enjoyed music together in the music room.

ICS International Festival

The families at Zander’s international school are from all over the world. Every year the International Community School (ICS Zurich) Parent Association organises an international festival during which everyone can see and taste each other’s traditional food of their country of origin. As social contact is still limited, they will release an ICS international cookbook this year. I submitted our Cape Malay curry and rice recipe as a South African contribution to the Cookbook.

Kind regards

Emsia

Are dandelions weeds, wildflowers or herbs?

18/05/2021 emsia.kruger

During spring in Switzerland, the fields are coloured yellow by the masses of dandelions visible everywhere. After only a few days, the yellow flowers turn into white round seed heads easily dispersed by the wind. When we look at dandelions, we can see weeds that are difficult to eradicate, beautiful wildflowers or precious herbs.

Beneficial medicinal properties

I have only recently become aware that dandelions have many beneficial medicinal properties, and herbalists see them as precious herbs. Dandelions are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex and C, minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc.

In the northern hemisphere, people have used dandelions for healing since the 10th century. The Indian, traditional Chinese, and European herbalists used it for liver and gallbladder support and as an antidote to an upset stomach. Nowadays, scientists do studies to test their effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of cancer and to assist in reducing cholesterol.

Inspiration for healthy drinks

The plant is related to chicory, and people roast and use its roots as a caffeine-free substitute for coffee. They also use dried or fresh roots to make herbal tea with many health benefits. I read that the Americans use dandelion flowers to make wine and the British to make beer. I smiled at the comments that people drink it more for the health benefits than the taste.

Dandelions are an attraction for bees and other insects

Dandelions are rich in pollen and nectar and are a great attraction for bees and insects that flock to them and disappear into the calyxes of the yellow flowers. When you walk through a field of yellow flowers on a warm summer day, you hear the buzzing sound of bees collecting nectar.

Healthy feed for animals

The cows in Switzerland delight in the yellow flowers when you look at the contrast between their pasture and the area next door. Ideal cattle grazing should be like a ‘salad bowl’ of grasses and legumes for the cattle. Fortunately, plants that people consider to be weeds in their lawns, such as dandelions or clover, are very nutritious for cattle, and they enjoy them.

Legends and symbolic meaning

According to legend, if you can blow all the seeds off the dandelion bud with a single breath, then the person you love will love you too. If there are seeds left, the person you are in love with may have doubts about their feelings for you. This video by Emmy award-winning British photographer Neil Bromhall shows the transformation of the dandelion flower to the seed head, leaving me in awe.

Dandelions have many positive symbolic meanings. They represent perseverance and endurance to overcome the challenges that life throws at us. Dandelions adapt very well to their environments. They are often resistant to many herbicides and grow in different soil types.

I will hold on to the positive symbolic meaning of the golden yellow flowers in the times when life throws challenges my way.

regards

Emsia

South Africa in the Swiss news

11/05/2021 emsia.kruger

People’s reactions are interesting when I introduce myself as a South African in Switzerland. Those who have travelled to South Africa will comment on the beautiful scenery or the friendly people. Others whose impressions depend on the news carefully search for words. South Africa has been in the Swiss news during the past few months for various reasons.

Kruger coins

One of the lighter topics that made the news was about South African lost treasures. In a Swiss safe, they recently discovered a bag with gold Kruger coins placed there in World War II for safekeeping. After many decades, the coins are now available at the SA Mint. Charl is a coin collector and has started to collect Swiss coins to commemorate every year we are here in Switzerland.

South African billionaire Johann Rupert

South African billionaire Johann Rupert made headlines when he flew to Switzerland for a Covid-19 vaccine. Johann Rupert is a resident of Geneva, where his Swiss company, Richemont, is located. However, he drove to another canton to get the vaccination at a vaccination centre run by Hirslanden. Hirslanden is part of the South African Mediclinic group, of which the Rupert family’s Remgro company is one of the largest shareholders.

In a country like Switzerland, with many rules and fairness, his actions have been openly criticised in the newspapers. Swiss residents criticised him for travelling to a canton other than where he lived. In addition, he was not yet 75 years old, in line with the first grouping of vaccinations. He justified his actions in the newspaper by saying, “I’ve been in Switzerland for 31 years, and I pay my taxes and health insurance here”.

Bloomberg article with Headline - Billionaire Angers Swiss With Early Covid Shot

Daniel Liedtke, the CEO of the Hirslanden group, very carefully chose his words in his response to the newspapers. The article reads: “On 11 January, the Hirslanden Group carried out pilot vaccinations in the Münsterlingen Hospital with twelve test persons. In retrospect, we made mistakes in the considerations of the project. We had underestimated the symbolic power of vaccinating a wealthy patient. Rupert was entitled to an immediate vaccination because of his severe heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. The consideration is more serious as the billionaire is a co-owner of the group, and this inevitably gave the impression that we had treated him privileged, continues Liedtke”.

Hirslanden is part of the South African Mediclinic group

Switzerland has good state-funded healthcare with high-quality medical services and infrastructure. The situation presents significant challenges to a private hospital group, such as Hirslanden in Switzerland, having South African owners. People question Hirslanden’s efforts to cooperate with the state to serve the needs of the whole community during the pandemic. We read the following in the newspapers:

“What drives the highly profitable and efficient hospital group to work together with inefficient and insufficiently financed public hospitals? Is there a pure pursuit of profit behind it? Do the unpopular South Africans want to make themselves indispensable or do they want to create goodwill and take the wind out of the critics’ sails? Probably all together.

The countries in which Mediclinic operates

Hirslanden plays a critical role in supporting Covid-19 mass testing, which is now free for everyone in Switzerland, regardless of symptoms. According to the government, this is a significant step in managing the pandemic. Feel free to read more about this on the Hirslanden blog, where there is a photo of Charl. Several vaccination centres have also been allocated to Hirslanden to manage on behalf of the cantons.

Regards

Emsia