Telling your mom you’re going to the CBD has an sinister new meaning from today (Friday 24 May 2019) after the latest victory in Dagga Wars... Cannabidiol (CBD), a compound extracted from cannabis that is found in everyday items such as skin creams, body oils and even beer, is suddenly the new buzzword in South Africa after the legal status of CBD got the green light on Friday.

The long and the short of it is that certain “medicinal” dagga products – Cannabidiol, or CBD, or dagga oil, to be exact – may now be sold without prescription. CBD is accepted as not being psychoactive. The oils containing this element are also NOT habit-forming and CBD does not pose any dangerous side-effect as long as the daily dose does not exceed 20 milligrams.

Also, the minister of health, Aaron Motsoaledi, announced that marketers are not allowed to claim their products Can cure or treat any medical condition. However, it is widely accepted that cannabidiol has an extremely positive affect on people suffering from anxiety and sleeplessness to chronic pain from arthritis. Apparently, it even helps with seizures.

CBD is immediately available from Vondel Premium (PTY) Ltd., an online concern based in Gauteng (see www.vondel.co.za). Vondel.co.za hosts an array of resources – from an intricate look into the medicinal benefits of CBD to the curing process of cannabis. “CBD products are notoriously expensive across the globe,” says co-founder Rian Kotze. “Vondel aims to limit margins in order to maintain pricing that is fair and more easily accessible to the general public. This is beneficial not only to the general public but might also seem appealing to interested investors looking to pair up with an early stage market disruptor.”

Products can be ordered online at www.vondel.co.za (payments are processed by PayPal) and delivery will take between 4 – 6 working days. This will soon reduce to 2-day deliveries as Vondel plans its own logistics solutions. According to co-founder and LGBT activist Jeandre Verster, Vondel is currently preparing for Series-A funding from potential Angel Investors. The company hopes to launch its first retail location by the end of the year, as well as develop their own range of CBD and related Cannabis Pharmaceuticals in preparation for full legalization coming 2020.

Interested investors can make contact via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Vondel also boasts a rather impressive Charity Policy, dedicating a staggering 20% of nett profit to Parkinson’s and Elder Relief organizations. ENDS Issued by www.vondel.co.za. Visit the website for more information.

With the Mr. Gay World finals just a few short months away at the end of May, it is all hands on deck to finalise preparations. There is a lot that needs to be done and, as the old saying goes, many hands make light work. Media exposure is a major part of the work ahead, and these days one needs specialists to get everything just right.

As a gay event, the gay media needs to be kept informed of the latest developments. GaySA Radio, Africa’s only online LGBTQ+ radio station, has stepped forward to cover the event and make the content available to these media outlets. Streaming live via its website, GaySA Radio will bring all the interviews and updates daily, with a weekly wrap-up on a Thursday at 15h00 (Central African Time). The weekly broadcast will also be available as a podcast. 

Of course the event reaches far beyond just this niche audience, as it speaks to LGBTQ+ visibility. Exposure in mainstream media is therefore equally important. Red Dot Public Relations has taken the responsibility upon itself to convey the right message to the right audience through their strategic PR planning. Red Dot Public Relations provides excellent PR strategies that will maximize Mr. Gay World’s reach. The very able team is led by Gavin Prins. 

Social media has become an important component of any campaign. Mr. Gay World is no exception. The Social Media Company will be looking after the social media pages and ensuring that users like and follow all the action as it unfolds over the next few months. The Social Media Company was formed a year ago and they are already making a big impression on its clients.  

These three companies will ensure that every moment of the Mr. Gay World 2018 event is covered, keeping you informed and up to date with the latest developments. At the same time, they will also cover all aspects of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival, which coincides with Mr. Gay World 2018. They are plowing their resources into this project pro bono, as it will contribute to the #KnysnaRises campaign during #GayMay. Mr. Gay World is excited to work closely with these three partners and thank them for coming to the party. You too can join the party on 25 and 26 May, when the President’s Ball and Finals take place.  

Tickets can be found at www.webtickets.co.za.  

To listen to GaySA Radio, visit www.gaysaradio.co.za. Red Dot Public Relations can be found at http://reddotpr.com and The Social Media Company at http://socialmediacompany.co.za/ For more information, visit www.mrgayworld.com; www.pinkloeriefoundation.com and www.pinkloerie.co.za 

The organisers of Mr Gay World Southern Africa regret to announce that one of the delegates will no longer be taking part. 

Devon Llywellyn, #MRGWSA1, will no longer be able to participate in the upcoming competition. Due to work commitments, he is unable to join the delegates for the week-long event that culminates in a fundraiser on Friday 22 September and the Grand Finale on 23 September at the Atterbury Theatre in Pretoria. T

here are many beauty contests for the LGBTQ+ community, and the majority of them are easy enough to participate in. If you have above average looks and can wear clothes while walking on a stage, you can enter and stand a chance to win. Not so with Mr Gay World Southern Africa.

This local chapter of the Mr Gay World franchise is in a league of its own, and not everyone who enters will be able to make it. Apart from competing in various challenges, each delegate must run a campaign that benefits the community in some way. These could be existing or new campaigns, and each delegate is expected to prove that he has made a real difference.

The delegate chosen to represent his peers on a global stage will not only have the inner beauty of confidence, self-assurance, charisma and natural leadership abilities but how he maintains and portrays his outward beauty will also be considered. The delegate should treat his body as his temple and be active and outgoing. He must have impeccable grooming standards and needs to have a thorough understanding of what attire is appropriate for each engagement he is required to attend. During the week away before the main event, the delegates will stay in various Fortis Hotels where the pre-judges will get to know them better.

During interviews, the final jury will focus on the delegates who, among other things, must show an interest in the world and people around them; display patience, and have a compassionate and considerate nature. Delegates are expected to embrace change and articulate their thoughts and conduct an intelligent conversation. Charm and sparkle are just some of the qualities the judges will be looking out for, as well as the ability to be an ambassador that the nation and local community will be proud of.

The winner of Mr Gay World Southern Africa will be a diplomat of goodwill that will need to inspire his peers and the people around him. He must be willing to take risks and become something larger than he imagined; and ultimately, be willing to have fun, push the boundaries of his comfort zones, and meet many wonderful people around the country and be part of a very select and special group of men. 

Not everyone is cut out for this, and it will take a very special man to walk away with the crown for Mr Gay World Southern Africa.

You can now vote for your favourite delegate on the www.mrgwsa.com page. Tickets for the Grand Finale are available at Computicket.       

The Upper Room Communion – the leading sexual and gender diversity affirming church in Durban will be celebrating the International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia 2014. 

A march for free expression will take place along the city’s beachfront on 17 May starting at 09:30, from South beach to the North beach amphitheater.

 As a church and with the LGBT community in Durban, the parade will proceed along the Golden Mile, with all invited to be dressed to the nines in celebration of the international theme “Free Expression”.   They will also walk in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, Uganda and elsewhere in Africa where the freedoms taken for granted in South Africa could result in severe punishments and death.  

Even in progressive countries, violence and discrimination against LGBT people still exists in the form of discriminatory laws, unjust representations in the media, unfair treatment by employers, negative social attitudes, and even in everyday interactions with people we care about, and who care about us. On 17 May 2014, protesters will gather around the world to speak out against homophobia and transphobia

The ‘IDAHOT 2014 Beach Walk’ will take place on May 17, from 9.30 am starting at South Beach; and is a free event to which all invited to attend, either as colourful participants or allies walking in camaraderie.  

About IDAHOT 2014 In at least 77 countries around the world today, same sex relationships are illegal, at times involving life-time imprisonment. In 7 countries, same sex acts are even punishable by death. In almost all countries, freedom for people to live out and to express their true gender identities – and to have them rightfully recognised by the state – is harshly limited by transphobic laws and attitudes.  

For key facts on the global movement International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, visit http://dayagainsthomophobia.org