South African Stories: 29 Years
Denyse Racine spent years promoting South Africa for the Canadian government. Not one day did she dread going to work. That is a rare thing to be able to say about a 29-year career, and she says it without hesitation.
Along the way she met prime ministers, diplomats, and countless people whose stories shaped her understanding of the world. Two of those encounters involved Nelson Mandela. She shook his hand in Canada during his citizenship ceremony. She also dined at his house in South Africa. Not many people can say that either.
INTERVIEW
South African Embassy: Interview with Canadian Denyse Racine
Denyse’s favourite city is Cape Town. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet there — a geographical fact that sounds like poetry and looks like it too. The Drakensberg mountains offer views that she compares directly to the Rockies, which is high praise from a Canadian.
One of the standout experiences was the Rovos Rail — a luxury train journey through the South African landscape where butlers attend to every detail. It is the kind of travel that moves slowly enough to actually see the country. She also visited the Vredefort Crater, one of the largest verified impact craters on Earth. She opted for a beer rather than the descent. A reasonable call.
On safety — Denyse is direct about it. South Africa is a safe country. The media narrative does not reflect her 29 years of experience there. The country has diverse cultures, deep histories, and a warmth that is difficult to find anywhere else on the continent.
Food
Bobotie. That is her recommendation — a spiced minced meat dish baked with an egg custard topping, deeply rooted in Cape Malay cuisine. It is the kind of dish that tells you something about South Africa’s layered cultural history in a single bowl. She planned to cook it the night of the interview.
Africa
Denyse’s broader message about Africa is consistent with her experience — go. The continent rewards the curious and surprises almost everyone who arrives with assumptions. Twenty-nine years of professional engagement with one country gave her a perspective that most visitors never get. Her advice is to stay longer than you planned and talk to more people than you think you need to.
