Scott Balson's tour to South Africa -
book launches in October 2007 - as seen on SATV 50/50
NOTE: CNA Stock "Children of the Mist" nationwide"

Top fifteen photos taken on the tour

Date
(click on on dates in the blue blocks in the map right
or links below for photos and reflections on the tour) -

On the way to South Africa - Queensland to W Australia:
28th September - flight from Brisbane to Perth
29th September - first day in Perth
30th September - second day in Perth
1st October - last day in Perth
2nd October - Perth to Johannesburg

Expect delays in tour updates!

S African tour

• 3: Johannesburg
• 4: Johannesburg
• 5: Johannesburg
  Launch - Sandton Library,
  Mandela Square
• 6: Johannesburg
• 7: fly to Durban
• 8: Durban
  9: Durban
  Launch/Book Signing:
  University of Natal,
  Campbell Collections
  Adam Books
• 10: Pietermaritzburg
  Launch/Book Signing:
  Bookworld/ Cascades Centre
• 11: Pietermaritzburg
• 12: Kokstad
  Launch/Donation:
  Kokstad Museum
  and
  Willowdale Lodge
• 13: Kokstad
  Launch:
• 14: Matatiele, Ongeluk's Nek
• 15: Grahamstown
  Launch: Cory Library
  Rhodes University
• 16: Plettenberg Bay
  Book Signing (Grahamstown)
  Lunchtime: Reditts Bookstore
• 17: Plettenberg Bay
  Launch/Donation:
  Griqua community at
  Kranshoek
• 18: Cape Town
• 19: Cape Town
  Launch:
  Spier Hotel:
  SA Booknews Online
• 20: fly to Bloemfontein
• 21: Philippolis
• 22: Griquatown
• 23: Griquatown
  Launch/Book Signing:
  Mary Moffat Museum
• 24: Griquatown
• 25: Johannesburg
  Bloemfontein launch Trevor Barlow Library
• 26: - return to Australia

Email Scott

Launches:

1. Launch at Sandton Library, Mandela Square, Johannesburg on 5th October

2. Launch hosted by the Killie Campbell Library - University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban on 9th October

3. Launch hosted by Bookworld in Pietermaritzburg on 10th October

4. Launch hosted by Kokstad Museum in Kokstad on 12th October

5. Launch hosted by Willowdale Lodge in Kokstad on 12th October

6. Launch hosted by the Cory Library - Rhodes University, Grahamstown on 15th October

7. Book signing at Reddits Bookstore, Grahamstown on 16th October

8. Launch hosted by the Griqua National Council at Kranshoek (Plettenberg Bay) on 17th October

9. Launch at Spier Hotel in Cape Town featuring Griqua Roepers (singers) on 19th October 

10. Launch at Mary Moffat Museum in Griquatown on 22nd October 

11. Launch in Bloemfontein, 25th October

I was delighted to have my future wife Michele (right) join me on part of my book launch in South Africa.

One of the great revelations of my visit to S Africa was the independence of the media. Reporters and Editors who were being arrested for challenging the integrity of the ANC Government under Thabo Mbeki - they even compared him to Robert Mugabe in newspaper pieces.

The impact on me was even greater as, as an Australian, I have seen what happens when a power hungry media proprietor, Rupert Murdoch, strangles this independence out of the media in what is supposed to be one of the world's "great democracies" - Australia.

Yes South Africa faces enormous challenges but there are a lot of good people who have hung in there and continue to believe and hope that the corruption raging through the halls of power now will slowly be cleaned out.