Exciting Times For Lotto, Lotto Plus, Sportstake, Powerball As Ithuba Promise More

By Farai Diza

The glowing speckle in any punters eye screams 'millions'. While some drool in dreams, a vast majority stake up their chances of becoming millionaires one day by playing Lotto.

From the first of June Gidani will be handing over the National Lottery reigns to Ithuba. Ithuba has relatively pledged to give their customers an exciting global experience. But what realy are they going to bring on board?

The AmazingAfrika blog tracked down Ithuba CEO,  Mrs Charmaine Mabuza for an exclusive interview to find out more about the company that will soon be unearthing millionaires and uplifting communities.

A sigh of relief for punters is that all Lotto, Lotto Plus, Powerball and Sportstake ticket prices will remain the same at launch.

"At launch all prices will remain the same for Lotto, Lotto Plus, Powerball and Sportstake. There are plans to add on more games and to increase jackpot prizes - to effect higher prize payouts, this may inevitably have an effect on prices. At this stage though all prices will remain the same," said Mrs Mabuza.

Lotto, Lotto Plus and Powerball tickets cost R3.50 a board. If you're lucky enough to match all winning numbers, the rewards are worth a whole lot more - like a jackpot big enough to realise your wildest dreams!

Sportstake has been one of the best platforms for soccer lovers to test their football knowledge by matching the results of 12 matches. But will there be any additions of sports codes in the Sportstake family?

"There are long term plans to add features to Sportstake however on the issue of adding more sports codes to this game - unfortunately cricket and rugby do not lend themselves well to the lotto format for which Ithuba is licensed for. The lottery is very different to sports betting so some games would not be appropriate. The idea of the game is to pick a home win, an away win or a draw - in some of these sporting codes this would not happen very often and would just not fit the lotto model of instant wins," she divulged.

Mrs Mabuza reiterated that Ithuba will investigate the feasibility of running Sportstake daily as game design is highly influenced by market popularity.

The future is, however, bright as Ithuba intends bringing new games that all South Africans will be able to relate to. Exciting promotions and big prizes will also be up for grabs.

"South Africans can look forward to new games that South Africans will be able to relate to. This will be a South African lottery designed for South African's - consumers can look forward to local nuances in game design. Secondly, consumers can look forward to winning big - there will be bigger prize payouts and a selection of prizes won more frequently and much more to come. Our marketing campaign will launch these exciting changes in due course - look out for these," lamented the CEO.

Punters will undoubtedly be salivating like children on Christmas day while the chicken roasts in the oven, and hoping June comes soon. As the long wait looms, Ithuba has promised to change the landscape and experience of the National Lottery for the better.

But just who are Ithuba and what do they stand for? Mrs Mabuza explained the company's history and growth.

"The South African Lottery provides an environment within which to unite national hopes, dreams and social development. Such an environment requires structure, progressive leadership, good governance and effective management. These imperatives were the driving force behind the creation of Ithuba.

"It is a South African company founded by the Zamani Equity Fund which through Zamani Gaming attracted a consortium of investors which created Ithuba Holdings - the new licence holder of the national lottery. Ithuba views it as an honour to be given an opportunity to reinvigorate and reenergise the national lottery; grow the lottery; foster pride in the lottery brand and introduce higher levels of service to local communities than ever before. Ithuba literally means “an opportunity”, one that promises to change the landscape and experience of the National Lottery for the better," she concluded.

So if you are an avid Lotto, Lotto Plus, Powerball and Sportstake player, and you regularly play your favourite lotteries every week, there's every chance that one day soon you'll hit the jackpot, and hit it big.

When that day gets here, how crazy would you go with your lotto winnings?

Bafana's Rantie And Bournemouth On Verge Of EPL Qualification

South Africa has had its fair share of superstars plying their trade in the English Premiership. Talented individuals such as former Leeds United captain Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish, Quinton Fortune, Aaron Mokoena, Benni McCarthy and Shaun Bartlett all left an indelible mark in a league described as the worlds best.

Another local gem is about to be unleashed.

AFC Bournemouth all but secured their promotion to England’s top-flight on Monday night following their emphatic 3-0 home over Bolton Wanderers, meaning South African striker Tokelo Rantie could feature in the Premier League next season.

The Cherries win all but cemented second spot in the Championship, with third placed Middlesbrough needing to overcome a goal difference of 19 to overhaul them with just one match left in the season.

Bournemouth will join Watford as the two automatically-promoted sides to the Premier League for next season. It however remains to be seen whether or not the club will retain the services of Bafana Bafana forward Tokelo Rantie, who was not in the squad in Monday night’s victory.

The 24-year-old, who was the club’s record signing two years ago, has only played a bit-part role this season, scoring twice in 12 League matches. Rantie still has another two years left on his contract with the club, after signing an initial four-year deal when he joined in 2013.

The Big Interview: Aces Brew Worx Founder And MD

Whether you like the frothy head in your craft beer or the crispy taste that pulls strings on your palate, there is no denying that the unique brewing process of craft beer makes it magical in more ways than one.

South Africa has a number of micro-breweries par excellence sprouted throughout the republic and one of these is found right here in the city of 'craft' gold - Johannesburg. The brainchild of university graduate, Dyllan Roach, Ace Brew Worx has grown from strength to strength satisfying the insatiable appetite of craft beer lovers.

AmazingAfrika caught up with Dyllan, founder and MD, and managed to distract him from his busy schedule to brew you the whole story behind this success story.

Farai Diza (FD): Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to venture into craft beer?

Dyllan Roach (DR): Well I started a mining supply company straight out of University with a school friend, the concept of the company was based on a niche product that we thought could do really well on the mines. After the financial crash, customers stopped buying so I looked for an alternative business to get stuck into, At the time my brother and I had done some overseas trips and were well aware of the Craft beer craze in the States and Europe.

FD: When did you start producing craft beer? How was your first ever batch? What mechanisms did you use to improve your standards?

DR: We had already set up a company(The Tap Room Brew Supplies) distributing craft beer to a number of outlets in Gauteng and we had problems getting enough supply to fulfil the demand, So we decided to create our own Brand(Aces Brew Worx) we approached the biggest craft brewery in Gauteng at the time(Brewhogs) to contract brew the lager recipe we had been developing. We brewed our first commercial batch in June 2013.

FD: Can you take us through some of thed challenges you faced when you first set up shop and how you managed to overcome them?

DR: The biggest challenge has always been access to capital, Even today with the business thriving on both sides(Brands and distribution), The Cash flow is always a massive problem. We are now looking to Venture Capitalists to assist with this challenge or the company simply cannot survive with the current speed of growth.

FD: How would you describe the craft beer industry in South Africa? Has it been well embraced?

DR: I would say it is still in early maturation stage, there is still massive opportunity for growth. Problem is there are too many people entering the scene with too much money and too little knowledge about Beer/Brewing, and this is causing a little bit of damage to the industry. Only the brands with massive financial backing will survive in the long run.

FD: How have you faired thus far in the industry? Can you also take us through a stroll of some of your beers and how they came about?

DR: Currently Aces Lager is the second biggest craft brand on Tap in Gauteng and we have just launched into the Western Cape. We are going to continue to push to be the biggest, the best, with the highest quality of products.

Aces Lager was our baby, and currently the only Lager commercially available brewed with the wonder hop J17 in the world. We then Launched our Irish Red Ale which is still in development and constantly changing as we are still trying to perfect the recipe. After that we Launched our Bare Naked Blonde Ale which is just delicious and available at a few sites in Gauteng. Most recently we launched our Krystal Weiss which is a wheat beer and has banana flavours with a hint of Clove. We are currently in Recipe development phase right now and will be launching a beer that will take SA by storm! Watch this space.

FD: Where do you see yourself, say 5 years from now?

DR: Running a beach bar off the Mozambican coast, Haha, Well I can dream at least.

FD: Have you benefitted from participating at festivals? How has the response been from your customers at these festivals?

DR: Yes festivals are important so consumers can taste your products and ensure they enjoy before purchasing at Pubs and Liquor stores. Customers absolute love our products, we brew beer to be session able, whether it’s a lager or an IPA and our consumers love that. Many people call Aces the entrance “drug” of craft beer. Because we help peoples pallets across from Lager drinkers to try something Craft that’s still easy on the pallet.

FD: On a parting shot, what advice would you give to aspiring craft beer makers?

DR: Sanitise, sanitise and then when you think everything is clean, Sanitise again. And just because you make a great beer don’t think you can take it to market. Brewing beer and have a commercially ready beer/Brand are two very different things!

So there you have it. Like famous author William Shakespear once penned, FOR A QUART OF ALE IS A MEAL FOR A KING, be sure to spoil yourself with some Aces.

You can visit their website www.acesbrew.com to find out where you can buy this golden liquid or call them on Tel: 011 334 6410.

They will be at the Jozi Craft Beer fest on the 9th of May.

Man United Most Popular Team In SA On Twitter: Report

Manchester United may not be at the top of the English Premier League log, but they certainly are number one on South African Twitter.

Twitter recently released stats on which EPL teams have the most fans and followers on Twitter in every country around the world, compiled into an interactive map.

Each team has been assigned a colour related to their team jersey and you can view the map with all or individual teams and compare numbers between two teams.

In South Africa, Manchester United leads with 23% users being Man U fans, Arsenal comes in second at 20.6% and Chelsea in third at 17.83%. Globally, it seems Chelsea takes the number one spot.

UCT Engineering Faculty Appoints First Female Dean

University of Cape Town (UCT) Professor Alison Lewis is now the first female Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (EBE).

According to the University’s Pat Lucas, Lewis had previously served as a senior lecturer, head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, and a Professor of Chemical Engineering.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Max Price spoke of Lewis’ ability to tackle inequality and open doors for black South Africans.

“She championed transformation initiatives by establishing four new academic posts in the department of Chemical Engineering, three of which have been filled by black South Africans,” he said.

Lewis is expected to begin her tenure on 1 June.

Established Brands vs New Franchise Brands

Many entrepreneurs entering the world of franchising often find it challenging to decide whether to go with an established brand or throw their hard-earned savings into a totally new venture.

“The dilemma of staying with the tried and trusted or going with something new that seems to offer great opportunities is something many potential franchisees face,” Nyembe says.

“However, if you are considering a start-up franchise operation, it is best to spend some time doing research and also asking a few probing questions.”

Below are the six points to consider before signing a franchise agreement with a newly launched franchise:

It is an opportunity to invest in a new concept and fresh products

The concept and products may excite you, but you need to look at both with a critical eye. For example, you need to know who you are targeting with your product, the size of the market (especially in the area in which you would like a franchise), whether the market is sustainable and growing, whether the product will be well-priced enough, and who your competitors would be.

If the product is unique, you would be well-advised to do some of your own market research to see how it would be accepted in your area; ask friends and family for their opinions, and search the web to find out how it fared in other cities/countries.

Start-up costs will be lower

On the positive side, lower costs mean it will be easier for you to get into business. You will also have an opportunity to build the business and, if you should decide to sell later, you would make significant profit on your investment.

Against these positives you must balance several things. These include knowing exactly what your money is going to buy. If the start-up costs are low, check what you are getting for your money in the way of marketing, signage, decoration and merchandising support, and the levels of stock you will be supplied with.

Avoid making any decisions before you have fully answered these questions, otherwise you may face unexpected expenses for things that are not included or are hidden in the franchise contract’s fine print. Remember the business saying that “if something looks too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true”.

What the total running costs will be

Having decided that the start-up costs are attractive, it is time to dig deeper. Find out all you can about the royalty structure and what freedom you have when sourcing stock. If equipment or stock is supplied by the franchisor, find out how their prices compare to the market price for similar items.

Look for the unexpected in the contract. You may find that it is a requirement that premises are refurbished every few years and the franchisee pays the bill. Find out whether you are committing yourself to paying for ‘co-operative advertising’ in your area and have to contribute to the costs of national brand advertising.

What support are you being offered?

If you have never owned a business, it is important that your franchisor provides the training and support you require to get the business on a sound footing. Find out if there are training courses offered as part of the package, and check the type and level of support services. For instance, does the franchisor help with setting up proper HR procedures and training for staff? Do they have consultants ‘on standby’ to visit and advise you when you need help?

The location of your outlet and the size of your exclusive territory

If the new franchisor is intent on opening as many outlets as they can, you could find another outlet selling the same products opening up in your backyard. You will then have to compete for market share. Get the franchisor to set out the policy on this issue in writing.

The franchisor’s business record

When a franchisor is selling franchise opportunities, they will present the brightest picture possible about their business acumen and the products they have developed. Investigate whether their claims are true.

Check whether the franchisor has joined a recognised franchise association and is therefore bound to a code of conduct.  If the franchisor has not done this, ask why.

“Perhaps the most valuable investigation you can do is to find out where franchisees are already operating stores,” Nyembe says. “Ask these people about their experiences with the franchisor, the support they receive and where problems exist. If you have the time, spend a day or two at different outlets. The strengths and weaknesses of the franchise will then become apparent.” - destinyman.com

Facebook Launches Free Video Calling Service

The gloves are off, as Facebook has set its sights firmly on Skype and Google Hangouts with the launch of free video calling for Facebook Messenger.

Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls to friends and loved ones around the world. The video calling works over LTE and WiFi, and is available now on iOS and Android.

“Today, we’re introducing video calling in Messenger. Now you can have face-to-face conversations with your friends and the people you care about, via Messenger,” Facebook said in a blog post on Monday.

There’s no word yet as to whether the feature will be coming to Facebook’s BlackBerry and Windows Phone apps.

-Source: theinquirer.net

A Craft Beer And Food Pairing Experience

City Of Joburg Tightens Screws On Illegal Use Of Properties

The City of Johannesburg is set to tighten-up the screws on the illegal use of properties in order to enforce compliance with the building control by-laws. The City proposes higher increases for the illegal use of properties. The proposal is made in the draft Property Rates Policy and proposed tariffs which have been tabled for public comment before 30 April 2015.

The City proposes a six percent tariff increase on the illegal use of properties on top of the fact that these properties are already paying four times more than residential properties.

Spokesperson for the City’s Group Finance Cluster, Stanley Maphologela says the proposal follows after the City held public meetings with customers across Johannesburg early in the year to get their inputs. During these public meetings some customers complained about the mushrooming of illegal businesses in their neighbourhoods.

“As part of the consultation process, our customers raised concerns about illegal businesses such as bottle stores in their areas. We are proposing these measures as part of enforcing compliance to the City’s building by-laws,” says Maphologela.

Maphologela explains that it was important for customers to obtain consent of use from the municipality, which would allow them to run their businesses from the residential area.

However, private properties with public benefit would get rebates. The proposal is for a 100% rebate for organisations protecting animals, 40% rebates for private sports clubs and 20% rebates for heritage sites.

The City uses rates revenue to fund some of the essential public services like health, safety and security, public parks, roads and other community related services.

The draft policy is currently available on the City’s website (www.joburg.org.za) and comments may be made in writing and submitted before 30 April 2015 by fax:  011 727 0189 or by email to RatesComment@joburg.org.za. The new Rates Policy will come into effect on 1 July 2015.

National Arts Festival 2015 Tickets Now On Sale

Aiming to satisfy, provoke and thrill both the discerning and the curious, this year's National Arts Festival line-up showcases the best of what South Africa's artists have to offer, as well as an unmissable selection of international acts.

Bookings for the Festival – which runs from 2 to 12 July in Grahamstown – open on Monday, 4 May.

"The 2015 programme at the National Arts Festival will be a barometer that measures the ways in which South African artists are responding to the complexities and accomplishments of our society,” says Ismail Mahomed, the Festival's Artistic Director. “From thought-provoking work by a younger generation of artists to soul-stirring celebrations of South African arts and cultural legends, all complemented by acclaimed performances by international artists, this year’s programme will cater for wide and diverse audiences.”


This year’s highlights include:

Irish comic Dylan Moran – with an extra show already added due to the overwhelming response the “Black Books” star is likely to receive in Grahamstown.

World premieres of Craig Higginson's "The Imagined Land", two Pieter-Dirk Uys productions: "African Times" and "The Echo of a Noise", and the Thambo Production of “Masote’s Dream”.

Ray Phiri, rocking the Monument for one night only.

Leading Zimbabwean contemporary dance company Tumbuka performing "Portrait of Myself as my Father" and the premiere of Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Luyanda Sidiya’s “SIVA (seven)”.

A stronger-than-ever music line-up: Beatenburg, MiCasa, Shortstraw, Thandiswa Mazwai and Standard Bank Young Artist award winner Nduduzo Makhathini.
Leslie Lewis in "Miracle in Rwanda", the incredible story of Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza.

Ibsen's "The Doll's House" adapted by Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for Theatre, Christiaan Olwagen.

The Gala and Symphony concerts will be presented by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra (under Richard Cock), while Cape Town City Ballet will celebrate its 20th anniversary with two works by John Neumeier – "Spring and Fall" and "Le Sacre".


As South Africa's largest platform of artistic debate and expression, the Festival Fringe is bursting with a bumper line-up of more than 400 productions, including 56 comedy productions, 41 physical theatre productions, seven illusionists, and 34 dance shows.

There’s also a fascinating visual art programme; performance art; the Standard Bank Jazz Festival (Carlo Mombelli, Pops Mohamed, Kesivan Naidoo, Bokani Dyer, and others); Family Fare, which will see ASSITEJ SA collaborate with companies from Holland and Denmark; the Film Festival, showcasing the work of Afrikaans director Jans Rautenbach; and Think!Fest, which will bring together South Africa’s thought leaders to grapple with issues of self-expression and freedom.

The full 2015 Festival website also goes live on 4 May, and visitors can browse, plan and book their Festival experience all in one place. The dedicated ticketing system is both efficient and secure. See www.nationalartsfestival.co.za for the full programme and booking forms.

Printed programmes will be available from selected Exclusive Books and Standard Bank branches towards the middle of May.

How To Become A Millionaire By 30

Talking about money is taboo, so talking about becoming a millionaire and saying it can be done by the age of 30 can come across as delusional. But talking about getting rich shouldn’t be considered taboo. It is not a fantasy. At the age of 21, I left university broke and in debt, but by the time I was 30, I was a millionaire. Here are 10 steps to follow to become a millionaire by 30:

1. Follow the money

In today’s economic environment, you cannot save your way to millionaire status. The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that. My income was once R3 000 a month. Nine years later, it was R20 000. Follow the money. It will force you to control revenue and see opportunities.

2. Don’t show off

Rather show up. I didn’t buy my first luxury watch or car until my businesses and investments were producing multiple secure flows of income. I was still driving a Toyota Camry when I had become a millionaire. Be known for your work ethic, not the trinkets you buy.

3. Save to invest, don’t save to save

The only reason to save money is to invest it. Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use those accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I can’t access.

4. Avoid debt that doesn’t pay you

Make it a rule that you never use debt that won’t make you money. I borrowed money for a car only because I knew it could increase my income. Rich people use debt to leverage investments and grow cash flows. Poor people use debt to buy things that make rich people richer.

5. Treat money like a jealous lover

Millions wish for financial freedom, but only those who make it a priority have millions. To get rich and stay rich, you will have to make it a priority. Money is like a jealous lover. Ignore it and it will ignore you – or worse, it will leave you for someone who makes it a priority.

6. Money doesn’t sleep

Money doesn’t know about clocks, schedules or holidays, and you shouldn’t either. Money loves people who have a great work ethic. When I was 26, I was in retail and the store I worked at closed at 7pm. Most times you could find me there at 11pm making an extra sale. Never try to be the smartest or luckiest person – just make sure you outwork everyone.

7. Poor makes no sense

I have been poor, and it sucks. I have had just enough and that sucks almost as badly. Eliminate any and all ideas that being poor is somehow okay. Bill Gates has said: “If you’re born poor, it’s not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is your mistake.”

8. Get a millionaire mentor

Most of us were brought up middle class or poor, and then hold ourselves to the limits and ideas of that group. I have been studying millionaires to duplicate what they did. Get your personal millionaire mentor and study him or her. Most rich people are generous with their knowledge and resources.

9. Get your money to do the heavy lifting

Investing is the Holy Grail of becoming a millionaire and you should make more money off your investments than your work. If you don’t have surplus money, you won’t make investments. The second company I started required a R50 000 investment. That company has paid me back that R50 000 every month for the past 10 years. My third investment was in property, where I started with R350 000, a large part of my net worth at the time. I still own that property today and it continues to provide me with income. Investing is the only reason to do the other steps, and your money must work for you and do your heavy lifting.

10. Shoot for R10 million, not R1 million

The biggest financial mistake I’ve made was not thinking big enough. Go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough.

Apply these 10 steps and they will make you rich. Steer clear of people who suggest your financial dreams are born of greed. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes, be ethical, never give up and, once you make it, be willing to help others make it too.  -– Entrepreneur.com

Vodacom Inspires Townships With Mobile Data Solution

The rise of low-cost smartphones in South Africa is creating a new market of opportunity for local mobile operators and Vodacom is chomping at the bit to capitalise on it.

According to a City Press report, Vodacom is in the process of testing shipping-container base stations as a means to meet a growing demand for mobile data in Gauteng townships – almost double that of the national rate.

The number of smartphones and tablets in use on the network increased by 24% to 9,5 million last year, with the average person using 358MB of data per month.

“We’re seeing data volumes in Gauteng’s townships almost doubling year-on-year, which is well ahead of the average growth rate countrywide,” Vodacom’s Chief Technology Officer Andries Delport told the newspaper.

Capitalising on the high demand, he says, has in the past proved challenging because of security concerns.

“Identifying and building new sites to cater for these densely populated areas has been difficult and on top of that, site security can be an issue,” he says.

So, to overcome the challenges Vodacom engineers went back to the proverbial drawing board to develop a suitable time and cost effective approach for a structure.

“They repackaged the base station equipment inside a compact steel structure that is then bolted to the roof of existing shipping container shops. This means new sites can be rolled out quite literally within weeks as opposed to the typical 12- to 18-month lead time to build new base stations,” he said.

The container base stations cost significantly less to build than traditional stations, don’t take up as much space and are also more energy-efficient.

Delport says Vodacom will pilot five sites around Gauteng, with the first station to be tested in Alexandra.

The test sites will provide mobile coverage over a 1,5km radius and will be able to service around 5 000 subscribers during peak times.

Small business owners running a business from containers, he says, will also benefit from the innovation.

“With a base station located on their roof, we’ll support the shop with an additional source of income and they in turn provide us with added site security,” he says.

Source: City Press

Nedbank Cup Final: Its Ajax vs Sundowns

So we all know that the UEFA Champions League semi finals will pit four European heavyweights in the mould of my personal favourites Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Back home things are looking interesting. Hey, Kaizer Chiefs once again ruled the roost by clinching the Absa Premier League title.

And as if thats not enough to cap off a fine football weekend, two thrilling Nedbank Cup semi finals also lived up to expectations. Drama on Saturday and sheer sweat on Sunday.

That said, Its all down to the last two in the Nedbank Cup after Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns booked their tickets to the final this past weekend.

On Saturday evening, SuperSport United were left wondering what hit them when a spirited Ajax outfit showed their class by coming from behind to claim victory in the final stages of the match.

Thuso Phala gave Matsatsantsa the lead just before half-time, but the Urban Warriors would leave it late to stage a comeback as Mosa Lebusa and Tashreeq Morris struck in the final five minutes to clinch victory.

Mamelodi Sundowns were made to work for their place in the final during their 1-0 win over Vasco de Gama at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.

A Mzikayise Mashaba long-range thunderbolt was the difference between the sides in the end but, in truth, Vasco were the much better side over the 90 minutes.

The National First Division outfit gave their much-favoured Premiership opponents a good run for their money but were ultimately unable to make their dominance pay before Sundowns snuck the winner in the 60th minute.

Didier Drogba Foundation Raises £400 000 At Charity Ball

Didier Drogba, one of Africa and Ivory Coast’s most popular sportsmen, is living up to his promise of playing an immense role in improving his native country through various novel philanthropic activities. The striker, who currently plays for Chelsea FC, set up the Didier Drogba Foundation in 2007 with the aim of providing financial and material support in both health and education to the Africans.

In line with its goals, the Didier Drogba Foundation raised an impressive £400,000 at a charity ball in London a last week.  The ball was well attended by a stellar cast of famous footballers including some of Drogba’s Chelsea teammates. Among those present were Petr Cech, Eden Hazard, Bransilav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, Nemanja Matic, Thierry Henry, Louis Saha, Edgar Davids, Jermaine Defoe and Chelsea skipper, John Terry.

The funds will be directed towards kitting and completing the medical clinic which the Foundation has funded and built in the country’s capital, Abidjan. With the clinic near completion and set to open later this year, the Didier Drogba Foundation has also announced that it will fund and deploy mobile clinics that will operate in villages outside Abidjan.

The Didier Drogba Foundation also plans to build schools in Ivory Coast in the future. Former president of the Cote D’Ivoire’s Football Federation (FIF), Jacques Anouma serves as an Honorary President of the Foundation. - Ventures Africa

HIV Infections Decline Over Last Decade

According to an International Labour Organisation (ILO) study, the number of HIV infections has declined steadily over the last decade in general terms.

“Thanks to key interventions such [as] behaviour change communications, condoms, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, widespread circumcision campaigns and other preventive measures, new HIV infections have declined steadily over the last decade,” Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant said.

Oliphant launched the ILO study on Friday.

“This is also confirmed by the studies elsewhere in the world, which indicated that in 2013, the world registered 2.3 million new HIV infections, a 33 percent decline from 2001 levels,” she said.

The minister said the Global Fund points out that the decline in the number of new HIV infections is not only the result of increased prevention, it also correlates with an increase in the number of people accessing HIV treatment.

“It also points out that putting an HIV-positive person on treatment reduces their chances of transmitting the virus by as much as 90 percent,” she said.

Oliphant said the study in its analysis concluded inter alia that;

Increasing knowledge on HIV and AIDS is not just a good outcome, but it is critical to the achievement of other good outcomes.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing is a proven strategy that empowers people to take the steps needed to know their HIV status and, if necessary, seek treatment
.
Changing or reducing risky behaviours is another good outcome that is critically important to slowing the advance of HIV and AIDS.

Reducing stigma and discrimination is an important outcome in that it has an impact on the successful achievement of the other good outcomes.

The life-saving potential of ART is well known and has significantly improved the global HIV and AIDS landscape, especially in terms of enabling employed People Living with HIV and their partners, families and communities to enjoy longer and healthier lives.

Management and Worker leaders are key in creating a conducive environment for these things to happen.

The total number of people living with HIV in South Africa was estimated at approximately 5.51 million in 2014, which is an increase from 4.09 million in 2002.

“This is a huge number and worrying by any standards and it could easily be equivalent to a total population of some countries in our continent,” Oliphant said.

– SAnews.gov.za

SA Marks Freedom Day

The day marks 21 years since all races voted in its first free and fair elections that included the country’s black majority in 1994, ushering in a new democratic dispensation.

Celebrations are expected to take place countrywide, with the main Freedom Day event taking place at the Union Buildings, in the capital Pretoria.

The event- which is observed on the 27th of April every year – is expected to attract thousands of people. It usually showcases South Africa’s diversity, from music and dance as well as military display.

As part of the Freedom Day programme, an interfaith prayer will be held in Freedom Park, Pretoria before President Jacob Zuma addresses the nation at the Union Buildings under the theme, “Celebrating the Third Decade of our Freedom through Accelerating Radical Economic Transformation”.

Government said the day will reflect on the progress the country has made in moving South Africa forward.

Over the last two decades, government has worked hard to construct a society that serves all its people by trying to address the economic, social and cultural challenges created under apartheid.

Great progress has been made in lifting South Africans out of poverty with access to water, healthcare, education, housing and many other basic needs which they did not have before 1994.

The celebrations will also provide an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on the road to democracy, deepen the understanding of how democracy was achieved and to appreciate and acknowledge the contribution made by unsung heroes and heroines in their respectful communities.

Further, it will mirror on the contribution of other African countries and the rest of the world in liberating South Africa.

This year’s Freedom Day celebrations also marks the 60th Anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter, the historic road-map to the country’s struggle for freedom and ultimately the achievement of democracy.–SAnews.gov.za

6 Steps To Get Your Business To Work Without You

Starting and then running a successful business can be stressful and time consuming. More often than not, entrepreneurs find themselves married to their business and estranged from family and friends. Successful entrepreneur and business coach, Themi Stergianos attempts to put an end to this problem with his latest workshop; detailing 6 Steps to growing a business that can function without its head.

1. Learn how to build a powerful profitable business that can work without you
2. 5 methods to triple your Income
3. Keys to a winning team
4. Get more done in your day than you have in over a year
5. 3 Business risks you can manage
6. Create a winning entrepreneurial mindset and more

#NoToXenophobia

By Pastor Lulamile Sifuba

Desmond Tutu once said, “To be neutral in witnessing injustice means one has chosen the side of the oppressor.”

With these words I want to take time and cheer everyone who took time to voice out their hearts against xenophobia – whether you blogged about it, or hashtagged it, or marched a kilometer; it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you didn’t keep quite when another human life was reduced to ashes or butchered to death.

Silence in this case is not golden. Your silence will only mean you support violence done against another human being.

If we go down the corridors of human history, it is clear before our eyes that human hands are full of blood because they have chosen to see violence as the best way of solving problems.

In movies that depict ancient life, wherein there are witch-hunters, we see a community of people gathering to blame one person for their problems. Interestingly, the person who is blamed for the problems is different (language, ethnicity and gender). If it’s a male-dominated community, the scapegoat will be a female or vice versa.

The victim will be killed and the community will celebrate its victory, but little do they know that their victory is temporal. This, therefore, will mean that for them to maintain their victory, they will have to keep on finding a scapegoat.

This is what has happened in South Africa in 2008. There was a strong xenophobia outbreak and the reason for that was, according to South African citizens, that foreign nationals are consuming the resources that rightfully belong to them.

“Foreigners” (remember the scapegoat has to be different) were attacked and killed, and South African citizens who participated in that were happy, for such an act brought peace to them. But the question remains: was it an eternal peace? Surely it was temporal because even post that we saw minor occurrences of xenophobia and we turned a blind eye on them until recently.

The recent xenophobic attacks have moved so many people into tears and many countries within the continent are retaliating too. Retaliation is normal because people always seek justice which in Biblical terms is what we call “eye for an eye.”

The “eye for an eye” tradition is seen even in the pages of the Bible: “The blood of Jesus speaks better than the blood of Abel.” The blood of Abel speaks vengeance (eye for an eye) and the blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness (sending off our guilt).

One of the reasons that Jesus came was to do away with vengeance or sacrificial thoughts. When the Jewish mob crucified Him, He forgave them while He was still dangling on the cross. “And you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses” – Acts 3:15.

It was the sacrificial system or mentality that led Jesus to the altar by the mob, but the Bible says God raised Him. This gives me comfort because it reveals that God is always on the side of the victim. May all the victims of xenophobia know that God is with them and He will comfort them in these trying times.

For South African, Jesus’ words are still true to you: “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Our evil and ungodly acts are forgiven by God but it will be noble of us to repent. It won’t hurt an inch if we swallow our pride and say sorry to the ones we have hurt and also say sorry to God. By doing so, we are recognizing what Jesus has done for us – He has forgiven us.

Paul was also violent towards the church but when the revelation of Jesus got hold him, we heard him saying: “Therefore from now on I recognize no man according to the flesh.” Paul is saying that if we limit ourselves in seeing people as originals and “foreigners” or black and white, we are missing out in seeing people as they are. They are the image of God and they are worth much more to God than we can ever imagine.

Sadly, it is in the aftermath that we recognise that people are people. If we are to be honest, how many of us tweeted or uploaded #NoToXenophobia posts but before the xenophobia attacks have said that “these people must go”, or “I don’t trust these Somalians”, or “they have contributed negatively to our economy”, or “why did they leave their countries”? To some degree, we have hated them, solely for being in South Africa. We did so because we recognised them according to the flesh and thus their existence was a hindrance to our “good” or “progression”.

What happens when we see the images of a human being burnt? You then recognise that we are together in this human journey and another person’s existence is not a bad thing at all. I can assure you now, when you posted #NoToXenophobia, you didn’t stop and think of their religion or sexuality or if they are criminals or not. Our perceptions were challenged because of the evil that befell our country.

Human life is precious, it needs to be valued at all times. Jesus Christ died for it. Let’s look past labels and see people with the mind of Christ.

No to Xenophobia.



Pastor Lulamile Sifuba

@LulamileSifuba

Change Bible Church, Daveyton
- Move

Oh Schuks! Leon Schuster Is Back With New Movie

Filming on Leon Schuster’s latest comedy caper has now completed. Fans can catch their first glimpse of Schuks! Pay Back the Money!, as the teaser trailer releases today in cinemas nationwide.

In Schuks! Pay Back the Money!, Schuks inadvertently loses rugby’s Holy Grail – the Currie Cup – and what follows is a hilarious journey to pay for what he has done.

The film reunites the South African funny man with another comedy giant Desmond Dube, who also appeared in Panic Mechanic (1996) and The Millennium Menace (1999), as well as Ivan D. Lucas and Gerrit Schoonhoven, reprising the roles of bumbling villains Bossie and Savage from 1991’s Short ‘n’ Sweet. Adding a touch of glamour, SA Idols finalist and South African theatre award winner Bianca Le Grange makes her big screen debut in the movie.

In addition to the laugh-a-minute missing Currie Cup adventure, the movie is also rich with candid camera gags for which Schuster is so well known and which feature a host of well-known South African personalities and celebrities – both past and current.

Schuks! Pay Back the Money! also reunites the highly successful Schuster team with producer André Scholtz and director and co-writer Gray Hofmeyr. Says Scholtz: “After I read the script I said that there was no way I wasn’t getting involved. The storyline was laugh-out loud funny and I knew that, together with the abundant list of fresh, new candid camera gags, this was going to be a truly hysterically funny film.”

Scholtz, who has worked with Schuster on films such as You Must Be Joking!, Panic Mechanic, Sweet ‘n Short and Oh Schuks…I’m Gatvol, says Schuster is returning to his roots as South Africa’s foremost prankster and funny guy in this movie.

Schuks! Pay Back the Money! releases in cinemas on 28 August, 2015 and will be distributed by The Walt Disney Company Africa under the Touchstone Pictures banner. - Channel24

Preview: Espanyol vs Barcelona, Arsenal vs Chelsea

La Liga BBVA: Espanyol vs Barcelona

This Saturday, the all-powerful Barcelona will travel to Cornella El-Prat to measure forces with their neighbours and rivals of Espanyol for round 33 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

Will Barcelona continue their winning streak?

Last Saturday, Barcelona had to dig very deep in order to overcome a well organized and hard working Valencia side at Camp Nou. A goal in the first minute of the match by Luis Suarez and another in the dying moments of the second-half was the best Barcelona managed to do to defeat a Valencia team which failed to convert a penalty kick during the early moments of the match.

After the break, the Catalan appeared to be fairly more confident and controlled the match the best they could until Leo Messi made his glorious walk towards the second goal just a few seconds before the final whistle.

To increase the team’s motivation levels, Barça granted another solid over Paris SG on Tuesday and booked their place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona won 5-1 on aggregate.

The upcoming clash against Espanyol will certainly be far from easy and Barcelona cannot afford any more slipups as the one from Sanchez Pizjuan against Sevilla if they want to maintain their advantage at the top of the table.

As for Espanyol, it is fair to say that the Blanquiazules have been having an overall good season so far. Their manager, Sergio Gonzalez, has been doing a very good job with the players he has at his disposal and the team is currently on a six match roll without a single defeat.

After defeating Athletic Bilbao two weeks ago at Cornella El-Prat, Espanyol failed to get anything better than a draw against the relegation-threatened Levante last weekend.

The match against their neighbours and rivals will definitely not be easy for the Periquitos, but they will surely do everything within their reach to cause Luis Enrique’s men a major upset.

My Verdict: Espanyol 0-2 Barcelona. FIXED ODDS BETTING : Take Barcelona to win to nil


Barclays Premiership: Arsenal vs Chelsea

There will be no London love lost on Sunday when an extremely motivated Arsenal entertain a surging Chelsea outfit at the Emirates Stadium in round 34 of the English Premier League.

Who will win the London derby?

After an excellent league run, Arsenal sealed their berth in the FA Cup final last weekend by defeating boogey Championship side Reading in extra-time. It was an extremely nerve wrecking match for the Gunners but the usual assasin, Alexis Sanchez, managed to find a way to overcome the opponents’ defence line on two different occasions.

As for the EPL, Arsenal are currently on an excellent streak. The last time they lost a league match was back in February at White Hart Lane at the hands of an extremely inspired Tottenham. That particular downfall and the defeat against AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League were truly an eye-opener for Arsene Wenger’s men who have won their last nine official matches.

This weekend’s clash against their city neighbours and rivals Chelsea will be a good test to this refurbished Arsenal and it will be interesting to see if they can, in a way, delay the Blues hypothetical EPL title celebrations for a few more weeks.

As for Chelsea, it is fair to say that the team has been affected by the somehow premature elimination from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Paris SG in London last month. Regardless of that knock, José Mourinho’s boys continued their winning streak in the English Premier League and they are currently on a fairly motivating row of four consecutive wins. Last weekend, the Blues showed Manchester United that having more ball possession and plenty of chances to score doesn’t mean anything these days. With some mere 30% ball possession percentage, Chelsea overcame the Red Devils 1-0 thanks to a goal from Eden Hazard and put an abrupt end to United’s recent positive streak.

The clash against Arsenal might become one of the most important matches of the season for the Blues, since, if they manage to win it, they will build up a comfortable 13 point advantage over their neighbours and rivals and they will certainly secure the 2014-15 English Premier League title.

My Verdict: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea. FIXED ODDS BETTING : Take Arsenal to win

R20 Million Awaits A Winner This Saturday

Have you ever reeeled off to your imaginary land thats worth R20 million? That dream can come true.

Its raining big bucks this Saturday.

Gidani, the National Lottery Operator, made an announcement yesterday that the guaranteed jackpot of R20 million is up for grabs on Saturday, 25th April 2015.

Now thats a big catch!

Just six lucky numbers can place your name in the millionaires club. Its time to stop reeling your mind to fantasy lands when you can play it to win it. Remember tickets cost just R3.50.

Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world: experts believe that someone’s identity is stolen somewhere in the world every two seconds.

Yet most people believe it cannot happen to them until it is too late and their credit worthiness has been destroyed.

Identity thieves are getting smarter and faster at stealing consumers’ personal information, consumers have to act smart and stay ahead of them. There are steps consumers can take to better protect their personal information, as well as products that keep watch over their identity, even when they can’t.

Here’s some tips to protect yourself against identity theft:

Ensure all your private correspondence stays private.
Lock your postbox;
don’t throw old accounts away without first destroying them;
don’t leave personal documents lying around where others could see them;
and protect your online identity.

Here’s some tips for creating strong passwords:

Different account? Different password. If a thief steals from one of your accounts, don’t make it easy for them to steal from others.
Don’t be obvious. The first passwords thieves will try are ones like:password, 1234567890 or similar.
Be random. Pick something obscure. Don’t use your name and stay away from real words
Misspelling is good. If your password is “I hate yellow” replace some letters with numbers and symbols like “1 h8 y3Ll0w
The longer, the better. The longer the password, the harder it could be to figure out.
Use a mnemonic. Think up a sentence, such as “My favourite colour is green,” and use the first or last letter of each word as your password (“Mfcig” or “yErsN” in the example).

South Africa To Host Africa's First Ever NBA Match

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the world’s biggest basketball brand, has announced that it will host its first game in Africa on the 1st of August 2015 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The game will see ‘Team Africa’ play against ‘Team World’. Team Africa will be made up of African basketball players and others with African heritage, while Team World will be largely comprised of players from the rest of the world.

The event marks a peak of NBA’s forays into Africa, having held 12 editions of Basketball without Borders (BWB) Africa tournaments. The tournament is a global basketball development programme that has positively impacted the game on the continent. The NBA contingent will also participate in other activities with communities in South Africa.

Two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng, born in South Sudan and currently playing for Miami Heat, has been selected to captain Team Africa. Deng describes the event as important for Africa and also said being part of it makes him feel honoured.  “I am extremely proud to be a part of the NBA’s first game in Africa,” said Deng. “Coming from South Sudan and having participated in the Basketball without Borders Africa camps in Johannesburg previously, I am truly honoured to be part of this historic event.”

NBA first opened an African office in Johannesburg in 2010 and has remained active on the continent with a range of programmes such as NBA Care. The game will broadcast live on pay TV channel, SuperSport. - Ventures

World Sports Betting Made Easy

Sport is a whole lot of fun when you become a part of it. Lets face it, we always wish to pop the champaign with our sporting heroes after a revered victory.

Yes i know. Not all of us were born to excel on the sporting fields. But great news is that you can cash in on your passion. Whether you are good at predicting the fall of wickets or a genius at masterminding half time or full time scores, this one is for you.

With World Sports Betting you can place bets online for national and international sports: golf, horse racing, rugby, cricket, soccer and more.

A stroll down the history lane testifies that World Sports Betting was founded in 2002 and have since become one of the most acclaimed names in the sports betting industry; offering a friendly, fast and secure online betting experience.

They are South Africa’s premier online sports book and offer innovative markets tailored for the South African client. They have raised the bar for in play betting where their traders update prices while games are in play and in this respect they lead the field.

Their Contact Centre opens at 6am and closes only after the last live in play match, ensuring that clients are always able to speak with one of their representatives. Clients are also able to place bets over the telephone.

They handle millions of transactions a year and guarantee your security with their website by using the Thawte Secure Socket Layer ( SSL) technology.

Clients can bet on many sports including horse racing , American football , Aussie Rules , baseball , basketball , boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, floorball, Gaelic sports, golf, handball, ice hockey, lucky letters, mixed martial arts MMA), motor sport, lotto, power ball, rugby union, rugby league, snooker, soccer, tennis, volleyball, winter sports and specials.

Bet types range from multiple to fixed odds bets, double , pick 3, pick 6, trifecta , exacta, quartet, swinger , each way , lunch pot , jackpot, place accumulator and more .

Their unique and easy to navigate website has various exciting features such as links to racing audio, racing live video , up to date results, lotto results, live scores and a live chat feature where users can engage in sporting conversation.

They offer a great mobile service. Users simply select the Mobile Betting option on their website and fill in their cellphone number and World Sports Betting will send them an SMS with a direct link to their mobile betting site. The site is accessible using any
internet enabled phone.

The mobile site offers single and multiple bets, in-play betting, lotto and power ball betting, racing and sports betting, open and exotic betting as well as deposits, withdrawals and statement history.

World Sports Betting has branches in Northriding, Soweto, Krugersdorp and Johannesburg.

The minimum stake per transaction is R 1 for the mobile site, R 5 for the online site, R 10 for telephone lotto betting and R 20 for any other bets made via telephone. Minimum withdrawals are R 100 and there are no maximum amounts.

Bonus
World Sports Betting offers many promotions for their clients including birthday vouchers, refer a friend offers, last leg promotions, the spot a mistake and earn bonus, suggestion promotions, lotto refund promotion, power ball refund promotion, money back , first deposit 100 % bonus offer and the Easter egg hunt promotion .

The website also includes sporting highlights, quick links and an up to date sporting schedule .

Payment Method
They do not accept any foreign currencies and all transactions are processed in South African Rand( ZAR ). Deposits can be made through their website or telephone using credit cards , Ukash , electronic fund transfers ( EFT ), direct deposits, cash deposits, SID or over the counter payments.

They have bank accounts with Absa Bank, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Capitec and First National Bank. Much information is provided on their website to ensure clients have a safe and smooth transaction process.

So get clicking and prove how much of a sports genius you really are. Visit their website today www.wsb.co.za

Pioneer Foods To Buy 50% Of Futurelife

Fast-moving consumer goods company Pioneer Food Group [JSE:PFG] announced on Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a 50% stake in Futurelife Health Products.

Futurelife is a scientifically formulated, nutrient-dense food products company. The purchase price of the deal was not disclosed.

According to Pioneer Foods – which houses brands such as Weet-Bix, Bokomo, Liqui-Fruit, Sasko and White Star – the transaction will complement its existing product portfolio, as Pioneer is not currently represented in the functional foods category.

“The joint venture provides an opportunity for both companies to combine their expertise in both the food and beverage, and functional foods sectors in order to explore profitable categories outside of their respective traditional markets, and to unlock new product opportunities that may otherwise not be accessible to either company,” said Phil Roux, CEO of Pioneer Foods.

“Innovation is at the core of our business. This joint venture with Futurelife, provides Pioneer Foods with an opportunity to shape a winning brand portfolio by fast tracking product innovations and developing new product categories.”

Founder and CEO of Futurelife Paul Saad said the joint venture, which he will lead and manage, is set to be a win for the South African consumer.

“Combining Pioneer Foods’ scale and experience in the food and beverage market together with our functional food expertise, will result in exciting new health choices for the consumer,” said Saad.

The transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including Competition Commission approval.

Source: Fin24

Scottish Leader Showcases At Blackanese Pop-Up Event

Leading Jozi restaurant entrepreneur, Vusi Kunene of The Blackanese restaurant in Maboneng Precinct, invited the recently revitalised Scottish Leader Scotch whisky to team up with him to present at a pop-up event he recently hosted at Constitution Hill.

Although well-known for dishing up sensational sushi, Kunene and his team had a different idea for the pop-up event and delighted visitors with flame-grilled seafood and meat dishes, groovy music and a selection of delicious Scottish Leader whisky cocktails, featuring Scottish Leader Original and the newest kid on the block, Scottish Leader Signature.  The whiskies were also available to be enjoyed neat or with a few blocks of ice.

Scottish Leader not only has a new look but has also enhanced its recipe, upping the single malt content of Scottish Leader Original, unveiled first in South Africa before going worldwide. South Africans have also been the first to try the all-new, very premium Scottish Leader Signature, an enticingly complex and layered blended whisky with a very rich, smoky profile.

Taygan Govinden, marketing spokesperson for Scottish Leader in South Africa, describes the new, refreshed packaging as “modern, tall and proud, showcasing the new soaring eagle brand icon, an inherently Scottish symbol which conveys success, vision and power - the characteristics of a great leader and the essence of the Scottish Leader brand.”

Scottish Leader Original, in 1 litre, 750 ml and 200 ml, and Signature in 750 ml packaging, are available from leading South African liquor outlets.

Scottish Leader Original 750 ml
RRP: R139



Scottish Leader Signature 750 ml
RRP: R169

SuperRugby: Two South African Derbies This Weekend

Johannesburg and Cape Town will be the focus points in South Africa on Saturday afternoon for two local Vodacom Super Rugby derbies which could have a massive influence on the final standings in less than two months’ time.

The claws will be out at Emirates Airline Park when two former partners, the Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs, clash for the 12th time since the demise of the Cats franchise after the 2005 season.

The home team is on a four-match win-streak and a win on Saturday will be their best-ever run of results as a franchise and to achieve that, the Emirates Lions will have to record their seventh win over the Toyota Cheetahs.

All eyes will then move to Cape Town for the second North/South derby of 2015, between the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls – currently the two pace-setters in the South African Conference.

It will in all likelihood be a typically tough local derby yet again – the last time any of these two teams scored a try-scoring bonus point against the other, was almost five years ago, in 2010.

The Cell C Sharks have a bye and will leave on their Australasian tour this weekend. - SARU

Thoughts From Female Leader In The Tech Industry

- Move

The burning question that any female in tech is being asked at the moment is “How have you managed to cope as a female in tech? “After 17 challenging years in the technology industry, I am usually on the receiving end of this question about 20 times a year. However, recently the frequency of this question has shot up to about 20 times a month.



I made the choice to be in technology at a very early age, long before “geeks” were seen as cool. I was drawn to the tech space from the first moment I watched a turtle drawing squares on TV (anyone remember Logo?). This interest, combined with my natural grasp of maths and science and encouragement from my teachers and father, meant that the technology space was a natural fit for me.



I soon discovered that this field was constantly evolving and to be in it, you have to be willing to roll with the changes. Gender stereotypes were never an issue for me while pursuing my studying and my peers saw me as an equal, who spent most of her free time in the computer labs programming or playing LAN games.  My hard work and accomplishments throughout my studies was recognized when Standard Bank selected me as one of a top 20 group of students to complete a national internship programme, where I represented the IT sector.



My top three goals when I finished studying were achieving success in my career, travelling and living abroad, having children under the age of 30. All of which, I am proud to say, I achieved.  As the technology field is so diverse, I focused on the programming side, wanting to understand how code was put together and using my analytic skills to tie in the “why” by linking the business and human aspects of things. I had a gut feeling that this would benefit me later on in life and I was right.



At every different job, I made sure that I was aligned with a great mentor, all of whom were males in senior management, with most being chief technology officers. I was fortunate to find mentors that genuinely supported my career path and wanted me to do well. Yes, I was always the minority gender and this become noticeably obvious especially in the UK where I lived for eight years and was often the only female software engineer in the companies/projects that I worked on. Some of the remarks made by the developers could be viewed as derogatory to females but I took it with a pinch of salt and my male colleagues respected me enough to know when to draw the line. Let’s face it; at the end of the day, boys will be boys.



When I had my first child and returned to work after maternity leave, I found that the challenge of working as a woman in the tech industry had taken on a different form. The time I used to dedicate to work just could not be the same as I had a new baby. Juggling the challenge of being in a foreign country with a newborn and no family support was considerably tricky and I often had to take time off work to tend to a sick baby.



A question I am often asked is: why did you not take up the option of having your husband become a stay-at-home dad? Truth be told, I didn’t want him to. As a first-time mother, maternity leave was a special time during which I formed a life-changing, irreplaceable bond with my child. During this time, mothers also learn about endurance and we have an opportunity to build up our strength and resilience. Our ability to manage our life, family, household also takes the role of project management to a whole new level. I also learnt that if I wanted to return to the work world, I needed to find a way to integrate both of my worlds, as a mother and career woman who loved what she did to create one ‘seamless’ world for me where I could excel in both aspects of my life.



The hard-truth is after you have nursed and looked after a new-born baby, re-entering the workplace (irrespective of the sector), will never be the same. Instead of being overwhelmed by it, I simply had to accept that things would be different and then applied my mind with a willingness to embrace solutions around making both my family and work responsibilities work. No one ever said that this would be easy, but with the right mindset and support structure, anything is possible. This can-do, positive attitude later stood me in good stead as I moved into key management roles.

How To Score Using Your Loyalty Rewards Programmes

Too much month at the end of your money? It might be time to start really paying attention to your loyalty rewards programmes so that you can get the best value for your money. Neesa Moodley and Maya Fisher-French have a look

This week, FNB announced that eBucks members had earned R5 billion in eBucks since the inception of the programme 15 years ago. Of this, R4.2 billion had been redeemed – a spend-to-earn ratio of more than 80%, which even by developed-market standards is considered exceptional.

“In developed markets, a spend-to-earn ratio of 70% is considered good,” says Jolandé Duvenage, CEO of eBucks Rewards.

She says this R5 billion milestone was achieved just 13 months after eBucks Rewards reached R4 billion. In other words, it took eBucks 13 years to reach R4 billion, but little more than a year to grow by a further 25%. This indicates not only the demand for eBucks, but also the rising popularity of loyalty programmes in general.

Loyalty programmes have developed so significantly in the past few years that consumers are starting to plan their monthly budget around their reward programmes.

City Press reader Lindiwe Mshibe maximises her eBucks by doing her grocery shopping at Shoprite and fills up with petrol at Engen – because she earns eBucks for using these partners.

“I normally use my eBucks to buy airtime and play Lotto. I also book my travel online with kulula.com, and that helps boost my eBucks,” she says.

Nodumo Mthiyane gets the whole family involved when it comes to using loyalty rewards programmes. “Items at Clicks go on special in the sense that you can earn double or triple points on your ClubCard, and we wait for those specials to earn more points.

“However, we save our points to buy school stationery and groceries in January, when cash is usually tight. This January, we had accumulated R2 050 on our Pick n Pay Smart Shopper card alone,” Mthiyane says.

Nelly Hlatshwayo uses her loyalty cards with Clicks, Pick n Pay, Pep and Edcon to get discounts on already discounted items. “I usually keep my points until they get to a certain value or for when times are really tough. I will go to Pick n Pay, redeem my points and buy whatever I need without having to pay a cent. I do the same with my Clicks points.”

As times have become tougher, many service providers have recognised the need to partner their programmes with retailers and petrol stations.

In 2013, FNB’s eBucks included Shoprite/Checkers as a reward partner, and Momentum’s Multiply rewards programme recently signed up as a partner to the Pick n Pay Smart Shopper programme.

Lianne Williams, head of marketing at Multiply, says: “Increased petrol prices, raised personal taxes, rising food prices and an economy under pressure all mean consumers’ pockets are considerably stretched.”

Rewards programmes are the new “emergency fund” and a way for people to manage their finances, especially at month end, when the real money has run out – when school uniforms need to be bought or emergencies occur.

How to choose your programme

People handle loyalty rewards programmes differently. You might be one of those diligent shoppers who has a loyalty card for every shop you go to, or you might choose to focus on a handful of loyalty rewards programmes and maximise the benefits you receive. For example, you might choose to have just one loyalty card that rewards you for grocery spend, one that rewards you for your petrol spend and another that rewards you with travel miles when you fly.

However you choose to do it, you need to do your research beforehand to ensure you are receiving the maximum benefits.

Get the best out of your programme

. Find out who the rewards partners are for each loyalty programme you use. For example, you earn more eBucks if you do your grocery shopping at Shoprite. Then make a point of using those partners as often as possible.

. Be aware of any limits on your earning period. For example, you might find that you have to earn a certain number of points each quarter to reach a certain rewards level.

Find out which level you are currently on, how many points you need to earn to reach the next level and then work out how much you need to spend to achieve that. Then set up a reminder on your phone so that you can keep track of what you spend.

FNB eBucks has introduced a calculator on its website – ebucks.com – to help you calculate your reward levels.

. If your loyalty-programme points expire, set up a second reminder for expiry dates on points that you can redeem.

. People often lose out on their rewards simply because they forget their loyalty cards at home. There is no way that all your cards will fit in your wallet, so carry a small purse in your handbag with all your loyalty cards in it. You can transfer the purse when you change handbags so that you always have your loyalty cards with you.

. Check the loyalty programme’s website regularly for special offers.

Trying to keep track of which store is partnered with which loyalty programme can make you feel like you need a personal assistant.
We compiled this handy list of grocery and fuel partners for loyalty programmes to help you maximise your rewards

uCount
1 Standard Bank’s partners are Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper, Food Lovers Market, Fruit & Veg City, Pick n Pay, Makro, Spar and Woolworths. This loyalty programme seems to have covered all the bases.

However, make sure you read the fine print. For example, you do not earn points for liquor or in-store pharmacy purchases. You can earn points and use them to buy fuel at Caltex garages.

eBucks
2 Partners are Shoprite, Checkers, Checkers Hyper and Makro. You can earn eBucks by filling up at any petrol station, but if you want to spend eBucks on fuel, you have to fill up at Engen. Check the eBucks website for a list of participating Engen garages.

https://www.ebucks.com/web/eBucks/partners/engen.jsp

Absa
3 This programme does not appear to have a grocery store partner – instead, it focuses on lifestyle.

Partners include furniture stores such as Hirsch’s, Bradlows and Morkels, as well as online shopping partners such as NetFlorist. You earn Absa rewards at a rate of 5% cash back for buying fuel at Sasol garages. Note that you also earn rewards for purchases made at Sasol garage convenience stores. Absa does not use a points system, but pays out cash, which allows you to spend the money however you choose.

Greenbacks
4 There is no specific appointed grocery store partner for this programme. But you earn Greenbacks whenever you swipe your Nedbank credit or cheque card or American Express credit or cheque card. You can redeem or spend your greenbacks at Makro.

Nedbank also does not reward you for buying fuel, but you can load your Greenbacks on to a prepaid card and use it to pay for fuel at any service station – or simply draw your Greenbacks as cash.

Discovery Vitality
5 You earn 25% cash back on purchases made at Pick n Pay and Woolworths. Note that this is limited to healthy food purchases, which are clearly marked on the products. If you have a Discovery credit card, however, you earn 25% cash back on your total spend at these partners.

Momentum Multiply
6 If you belong to Momentum’s Multiply rewards programme, you can literally multiply your smart shopper points at Pick n Pay. Your smart shopper points are multiplied depending on your Multiply status. Bronze members multiply their smart shopper points by two, Silver members by four, Gold members by six, Platinum members by eight and Private Club members by 10.

Clicks is GOING digital
One of the first loyalty programmes to hit the South African market in 1995, the Clicks ClubCard, recently went digital in a bid to keep up with changing technology. Instead of having your vouchers posted to you as coupons, you are now informed of any vouchers available to you in store before you pay for your purchases.

You have the option of using your discount vouchers or keeping them for use at a later date. Your points and rewards will be visible on your till slips, so you are constantly kept informed of the rewards available to you or the points you have earned. This removes the hassle of keeping vouchers in your wallet and also ensures that you receive your rewards.

David Hazell, Clicks’ customer marketing executive, says the move was spurred by customer insights. As part of a nationwide launch recently, Clicks loaded R150 million in cashback rewards on to existing ClubCard members’ cards.

Make the most
How different programmes reward you

Almost everyone has a bank account, so it makes sense to use the loyalty programmes offered by your bank. However, each bank has a slightly different way of structuring your rewards.

1 FNB rewards you for the product you use
FNB offers double eBucks points for using a credit card – you can work the system without taking on credit by transferring funds, for example for groceries, to your credit card and then using your credit card to pay for your monthly grocery shopping trip at Shoprite.

2 Absa rewards the number of products you have
Absa’s rewards programme is based on the number of products you have. The percentage of rewards you earn per rand spent is the same irrespective of which card you have. It does, however, increase based on the number of products you have with Absa.

Rewards start at 0.25% cash rewards per rand spent on the card up to 1% for tier-three members, who need one transaction and three products from any of the other six product categories to qualify.

To further reduce hurdles in earning rewards, all Absa rewards are paid as cash and not points. This means you can easily understand your rewards and redeem them.

3 Nedbank rewards using American Express
Nedbank incentivises the use of American Express cards by offering double Greenbacks points for every R5 spent on American Express cards – and no limit applies.

4 Standard Bank rewards banking behaviour
Standard Bank’s uCount rewards programme sees you earn tiered points for specific behaviours, such as a minimum monthly deposit amount, using the Standard Bank app or internet banking, consenting to receive marketing material as well as having additional products at the bank.
R560m - City Press

Tina And Mshoza Bare It All To Khanyi

In another sensational episode, Khanyi catches up with kwaito star Mshoza and afro-pop singer Tina Dlangwana. The ladies clear up some of the most talked about rumours that are doing the rounds about them in the media.

Tina who has recently lost her partner, the late businessman Prosper Mkwaiwa, has been in the news for the vicious fights she has been having with his “ex” wife, well known actress Tina Jaxa. Tabloids have  been speculating that Tina has moved on and has found another man.

Mshoza, who previously caused a furore after bleaching her skin to look a lot lighter, has also been hogging the headlines for fighting over a married man.

In an emotional conversation, Tina opens up about her marriage to Prosper and why she is not mourning him. Mshoza talks about the married man issue, her hopes of getting married again and plans to have more kids.

The ladies tell all to “bad girl, turned good” chat show host Khanyi Mbau.

Catch Katch it with Khanyi  on Friday 24 April on eKasi+ channel 105 on Openview HD at 6PM and Monday 27 April on e.tv at 6PM and find out the answers to the and more.

eKasi+ To Broadcast Naledi Theatre Awards

eKasi+ (channel 105 on OpenView HD) will broadcast the 11th annual Naledi Theatre Awards which took place on Saturday, 14 April at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre.

The Awards, which recognise and honour excellence in professional theatre, is the biggest and most highly anticipated theatre award event of the year. It showcases the best of what South Africa has to offer in music, dance and song.

Some of South Africa’s best-known performers graced the stage.  Guests were treated to, performances from some of the theatre productions that were staged during the year such as Marikana – The Musical, The Sound of Music, Peter Pan and many more. Newcomer, Michael Riff Thema, who was  nominated for a Naledi in the “Best Performance in a Musical: Male” category,  performed a number from Peter Pan, giving the audience a taste of his vocal capabilities. The indomitable PJ Powers soared with a song from her award-nominated one-woman show, Firefly.

There were hot items from ShooWop Shop. The Vuyani Dance Company enthralled the audience with a new item direct from their European tour. World-renowned performers Keith Smith, Timothy Moloi and Janelle Visagie took to the stage with breath-taking performances. Janelle Visagie was nominated for her performance as the Mother Superior in “The Sound of Music”. Joburg Ballet  performed a segment from Swan Lake.

The MC’s were  popular TV presenter, poet and actress Lebo Mashile and the famous Chester Missing, a puppet whose curt comments on matters political have sent the Nation into stitches. Celebrity presenters included Kgomotso Christopher, Jack Devnarain, Aubrey Poo, Sylvaine Strike, Zuraida Jardine as well as Dali and Rachel Tambo.

Twenty-five awards were handed out on the night, each carrying a trophy made of crystal and a cash cheque. One of the highlights was the Lifetime achievement award, presented to an individual who has made an indelible contribution to the arts. A special award was presented to the WarHorse production as well as to its South African producers, Pieter Toerien and RMB.

Bold New Move To Reclaim Heart And Soul Of Inner Joburg

The City of Johannesburg has introduced a new strategy to breathe life back into the inner city.

The Inner City Roadmap – spearheaded by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau –has taken over from where the Inner City Charter, developed in the previous administration.

“The Inner City Charter was a regenerative strategy focusing on property and environmental upgrades. The Inner City Roadmap, on the other hand, is a transformative, precinct-based approach,” says Councillor Roslynn Greeff, a Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning and an MMC assigned to Region F.

The battle against crime, grime and urban decay started way back in 2007 after the inner city lost its allure following the flight of investors and capital to upmarket areas such as Rosebank and Sandton. Under the Inner City Roadmap, the fight to restore the inner city to its former glory has now moved up a gear.

In his State of the Province address, Gauteng Premier David Makhura said the provincial government would over the next five years mobilise R10 billion in public and private investments to regenerate the Johannesburg CBD, “the seat of the provincial government”.

These two bold steps are probably the strongest indications yet of the City and the Gauteng Provincial Government’s determination to deal a decisive blow to the degeneration of the inner city, once the pride of many who live, work and play in Johannesburg as well as the visitors.

Councillor Greeff agrees, saying: “We are reclaiming the heart and soul of the inner city.”

The Inner City Roadmap was developed following an extensive review of the progress, successes and shortcomings of the Inner City Charter and alignment with the City’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040.

Almost R2-billion had already been spent around the city – greening public spaces, upgrading derelict buildings, developing the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, upgrading housing and other infrastructure and making the city more eco-friendly – under the Inner City Charter.

At times the heart of the city seemed like a huge construction site – first with the construction of the Rea Vaya system lanes and stations, and then with the laying out of cycling lanes and the building of new malls.

The Troyeville Hotel was restored, so was Chancellor House, the building that housed the law firm run by struggle stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo in the 1950s.

Unlike the Inner City Charter, whose lifespan was five years – from 2007 to 2012 – the Inner City Roadmap is a long-term strategy.

"This is a holistic approach to addressing the challenges in the Inner City. You want to have a productive inner city. This strategy is very comprehensive. It’s not static and all projects are aligned with the City’s vision of being an inclusive city,” says Councillor Greeff.

The strategy was approved by the mayoral committee in September 2014 and it has since been all hands on deck.

“Implementation is under way. We are planning to officially launch the Roadmap before the end of this financial year,” says Greeff.

As he was speaking, the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) was handing over keys to 168 homeless inner city residents to their new flats at the newly renovated 10-storey Europa House.

Europa House, previously an office block, was one of the rundown properties that Joshco, the City’s social housing company, had bought and refurbished after it had been hijacked by slumlords.

The company plans to buy more such buildings and refurbish them to provide much needed low- to-mid income housing.

Hijacking of Buildings

In the past year alone, 1 294 people were arrested in connection with hijacking buildings in the inner city. Of these, 57 were prosecuted and 37 convicted. At least 45 buildings were secured and handed back to their owners.

“Building hijacking has been an ongoing problem. Getting these people to justice is a lengthy process, but we are now on top of it,” says O’Shea.

The City recently passed the problem properties bylaw, which will enable it to address slumlords more effectively.

“Crime has also decreased tremendously in the inner city since CCTV cameras were installed.  Crime is not as prevalent as it was five years ago. Of course, petty crimes are still a sporadic occurrence.

“The number of problem properties has also declined. We have very good relations with the South African Police Service, the Hawks, South African Revenue Service, National Prosecuting Authority and other stakeholders,” says O’Shea.

Major companies, led by Absa and others, are returning to the inner city.

“Our vision is a 24-hour city, where people can work, live and play,” says Gounden.

“So much work has been done over the past 10 years to regenerate the inner city. There has been so much development by the City and its partners, including private property developers, who have invested millions into projects such as Maboneng, Westgate and Newtown precincts. Gandhi Square has been regenerated too.”

The South Hills mixed housing development, which forms part of the Turffontein Corridor, is expected to get off the ground soon.  More than 5 000 mixed-housing units are to be built in the area, which is 6km from the Johannesburg CBD.

O’Shea admits, though, that there are still challenges.

“Taxi and waste management are still big issues but we are working around the clock to address them.”