South African-British cox Jack Nicholas led the Cambridge women’s crew to victory in the 2025 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, securing their eighth straight win.

A student of engineering at Cambridge, Jack has become a standout figure in the rowing world — and not just for his love of early mornings and zephyrs!

His journey from Pembroke College Boat Club to the Thames victory is full of heart, humour, and South African pride.

Catch the full story, including his sporting inspirations and rowing adventures, right here.

In South Africa, sunshine makes staying active easy. In the UK? Not so much. But don’t hang up your takkies (trainers) just yet—plenty of sports here thrive indoors, rain or shine.

Try squash or badminton for fast-paced fun, indoor football for a team fix, or hit the climbing wall for a full-body buzz.

Love rhythm? Join a dance or Zumba class.

Swimming, basketball, table tennis, yoga, even indoor rowing—there’s something for every mood and every weather forecast.

The trick? Choose something nearby and make it a weekly habit. Consistency beats climate every time.

South Africa’s warmth just got official! A 2024 Remitly study ranked South Africa the friendliest country in the world based on kindness, empathy, and cooperativeness.

Scoring 34.63/40 on the Big 5 Personality Test, we topped 27 nations. No wonder “howzit” feels like a hug—even abroad, that friendliness shines through.

Here’s to global gees!

Tomorrow, over 50,000 runners, including South Africa’s finest, hit London’s streets for the 2025 Marathon!

Cape Town’s Tayla Brons, a star occupational therapist, is lacing up for STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation, aiming to raise £3,000 for complex trauma survivors. “I feel SA’s warmth cheering me on,” she says.

With our nation crowned friendliest in Remitly’s 2024 study (34.63/40), Tayla’s 26.2-mile run past Tower Bridge and Big Ben will shine with heart.

Inspired? Cheer her on or nominate a Saffa marathon hero!

When we first moved to the UK, we took our young daughters out for a treat. They excitedly ordered flapjacks—visions of warm, rolled pancakes drowned in maple syrup dancing in their heads.

But when the waiter delivered a dense, oaty bar, their faces fell. “What’s this?” they asked, puzzled.

It turns out, in the UK, a flapjack is what we’d call a crunchie. And what we know as a flapjack? That’s just called a Scottish pancake here.

Confused? We were too. It’s one of those little moments that reminds you—you’re not in Pretoria anymore. But hey, now we get to enjoy both kinds of flapjacks. Win-win?

Shoutout to Linda for the Crunchie recipe (and many other to come!). This is the short newsletter version but the full version is on the website with tons of other goodies and tools.

Jungle Oats Crunchies Recipe
Craving home? Bake these buttery Jungle Oats crunchies!

Mix 2 cups Jungle Oats, 1 cup flour, 1 cup coconut, ¾ cup sugar. Melt 200g butter, 2 tbsp golden syrup; add 1 tsp bicarb.

Bake at 180°C for 20 mins. Share with mates!

📅 Date: Sunday, 4 May 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Location: Horse & Groom, 131 Merton High Street, South Wimbledon, London SW19 1DE
🎟️ Tickets: Free entry (just bring your meat!)
🔗 Book here: Skiddle Event Page
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🐶 Kids & dogs welcome

Details:
Join our Saffa family for a free Bring & Braai at the newly revamped Horse & Groom in South Wimbledon—under fresh, friendly management since October 2024! 🔥 Braais and charcoal are sorted—all you need is your favourite cuts. 🥩🎒

South African band Third Wheel will keep the vibes going all afternoon with live music. 🎶 Grab a pint from the pub (no outside drinks, please!).

Bring the family, bring the dog, and bring your appetite! 🍻🌭🐾

Shoutout to our main connection David for the incredible photos.

If there’s one thing you’ve reached out to Sarah and me about, it’s getting work, finding jobs, and keeping them here in the UK. So that’s where we’ve been putting our energy—building tools that help. We’re doing our absolute best for you. Use them. Share them. They’re free.

SAConnectUK.co.uk isn’t just a website—it’s your Saffa lifeline in the UK. Whether you’re job hunting, hiring, or just trying to find your feet, we’ve got the tools and resources to help you thrive.

Job seekers:
We know South African CVs tend to go long—and UK recruiters? Not so much. Use our free CV Converter to turn your SA-style CV into a clean, two-page UK-friendly version in minutes:
👉 Convert your CV

Want to take it a step further? Our powerful CV Optimizer Tool gives your CV a professional polish—tightens the format, boosts the impact, and makes you stand out to UK employers.
👉 Optimize your CV

Then head to our Jobs Board to find roles across hospitality, healthcare, admin, trades, and more—tailored for South Africans in the UK:
👉 Browse jobs

Employers & recruiters:
Looking for top talent? South Africans are known for their work ethic, warmth, and grit. Post your vacancy for free and reach a trusted, motivated community.
👉 Post a job

Another massive shoutout to Jesse (thank you so much Jesse) for pointing out what has to be the best jobs board we’ve ever seen. Please do take a look at adzuna.

We built this platform for South Africans in the UK, with South Africans in the UK. Let’s keep it thriving—together.

One of the biggest stress points for South Africans living in the UK? Visas. What do you need? What’s changed? And what happens next?

This Tuesday, we’re releasing a FREE SPECIAL REPORT breaking it all down—clearly, calmly, and in plain English. Whether you’re on a Skilled Worker visa, thinking about family sponsorship, or trying to wrap your head around ILR or citizenship, we’ve got you covered.

No jargon. No stress. Just the facts.

Watch your inbox Tuesday—we’ve got your back.