#AKA lands crucial deal with #Cruz Vodka

AKA has landed a multi million Rands deal with Cruz Vodka.

The super mega who recently covered GQ mag as the first and only South African musician to ever grace the front page of GQ has scored yet another huge deal.

AKA who recently parted ways with his management team Vth season signed a new deal within few weeks with his own management company Beam Group. Aka took to his social media page to share the exciting news.

"I'm very happy to announce that I am now the face of @cruzvodka  I have said "no" to so many deals over the years because I always knew the right one would come my way if I stuck to my principles, stayed true to myself and did things MY way. Look out for my new billboards, my TV commercial hitting screens soon & so many more epic ideas we yet to bring to life. Thank You to the media who came out last night. Thank You to my friends & family. Thank You to David, Audrey, Prince & everyone behind the scenes who made this happen. He wrote

"This is a perfect fit as both Cruz vodka and AKA are international, aspirational luxury brands that have foundations in fashion, art and music. We are excited and privileged to have AKA – South Africa's No. 1 musician and the only South African musician to ever be featured on GQ front cover – as a partner and are looking forward to exciting future collaborations" said Cruz Vodka Africa Managing Director David de Mardt at the press conference held at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton over the weekend.

AKA and his woman Bonang presently represent two competing companies, while AKA is now the brand ambassador for Cruz Vodka, Bonang flags Ciroc high.

#Apples new MacBook Pro has style

The all-new MacBook Pro revolutionizes the notebook user experience.

Apple has introduced the thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro ever, along with a breakthrough interface that replaces the traditional row of function keys with a brilliant, Retina-quality Multi-Touch display called the Touch Bar. The new MacBook Pro features Apple's brightest and most colorful Retina display yet, the security and convenience of Touch ID, a more responsive keyboard, a larger Force Touch trackpad and an audio system with double the dynamic range. It's also the most powerful MacBook Pro ever, featuring sixth-generation quad-core and dual-core processors, up to 2.3 times the graphics performance over the previous generation, super-fast SSDs and up to four Thunderbolt 3 ports.

The groundbreaking Touch Bar dynamically adapts to the application you're using.

The Touch Bar places controls right at the user's fingertips and adapts when using the system or apps like Mail, Finder, Calendar, Numbers, GarageBand, Final Cut Pro X and many more, including third-party apps. For example, the Touch Bar can show Tabs and Favorites in Safari, enable easy access to emoji in Messages, provide a simple way to edit images or scrub through videos in Photos and so much more.

The Touch Bar, a built-in Retina Multi-Touch display above the keyboard, was designed to boost creativity and productivity.

The lightest MacBook Pro ever also features a larger trackpad and the most responsive keyboard ever.

Building on innovations pioneered in MacBook, the new MacBook Pro features an entirely new enclosure design and all-metal unibody construction that creates an incredibly rigid and dense notebook that is amazingly thin and light. At just 14.9 mm thin, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is 17 percent thinner and 23 percent less volume than the previous generation, and nearly half a pound lighter at just three pounds. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro, at just 15.5 mm thin, is 14 percent thinner and 20 percent less volume than before, and weighing just four pounds, is nearly half a pound lighter.
Touch ID Comes to the Mac

Touch ID enables quick and secure purchases with Apple Pay simply by reading your fingerprint.

Integrated into the power button is the convenience and security of Touch ID, one of the great features customers have come to know and love from their iPhone and iPad. Once you enroll your fingerprint in Touch ID on your MacBook Pro, you can quickly unlock your Mac, switch user accounts and make secure purchases with Apple Pay on the web with a single touch. Touch ID enables a quick, accurate reading of your fingerprint and uses sophisticated algorithms to recognize and match it with the Secure Enclave in the new Apple T1 chip.

Oskido proud of AKA and Cassper Nyovest peace pact

Being the guy who always came out to give both his support to AKA and Cassper when nearly the entire music industry had chosen sides in the feud between the rappers, Oskido has taken to Social Media to speak about the effort he put into AKA and Cassper finally putting their difference aside and squashing their beef.

Last year, when the beef between AKA and Cassper was escalating unsettled fans decided to call on Oskido to come out and declare what team he's on: #TeamAKA OR #TeamCassper.

And of course, Oskido responded to the calls, claiming that he is a fan of both and hopes they will one day be able to make peace.

Today is the day when we can officially say that the AKA and Cassper feud is buried in the dust and perhaps we can say it's all because of Oskido.

President Zuma urges economic transformation

President Jacob Zuma says economic transformation should be fast-tracked for the advancement of black businesses.

Speaking at the Black Business Pioneers Dinner in Sandton Friday night, Zuma said the African National Congress (ANC) played a big role in laying a foundation for black-owned companies.

“The ANC played a historical and significant role in laying the foundation for black economic emancipation to take root. Our collective task is to fast track economic transformation so that black business can be part of the mainstream and not be regarded as an alternative sector of the economy,” Zuma said.

Zuma said there is a need to regulate the informal trading sector including those from neighbouring countries.

“Also important is the need to register all our informal traders. We cannot have mushrooming businesses all over without knowing who the traders are, including those from neighbouring sister countries in the continent and beyond. This is one of the key projects of our Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration,” he said.

The event is held in honour of black business people who ran successful operations during the apartheid years and played leading roles in the development of South Africa.

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is 'like cocaine' to teens

Teenagers who mix energy drinks with alcohol react as if they were on cocaine, new research claims.

Purdue University in Indiana has conducted a study into the effects of highly caffeinated energy drinks and highly caffeinated alcohol in adolescent mice. These alcohol studies cannot be performed in adolescent humans, but changes seen in mouse brains with drugs of abuse have been shown to correlate to those in humans in many drug studies.

The scientists found that when energy drinks with high levels of caffeine were mixed with alcohol and given to adolescent mice, they showed physical and neurochemical signs similar to mice given cocaine.

“It seems the two substances together push them over a limit that causes changes in their behaviour and changes the neurochemistry in their brains,” said Professor Richard van Rijn. “We’re clearly seeing effects of the combined drinks that we would not see if drinking one or the other.”

With repeated exposure to the caffeinated alcohol, those adolescent mice became increasingly more active, much like mice given cocaine.

The researchers also detected increased levels of a specific protein, known as FosB, which is a marker of long-term changes in neurochemistry, elevated in those abusing drugs such as cocaine or morphine.

“That’s one reason why it’s so difficult for drug users to quit because of these lasting changes in the brain,” authors explained in a statement.

It was also claimed that caffeinated alcohol had given mice so many intense highs that it had stunted their brain’s reward centre. As a result, mice exposed to caffeinated alcohol during adolescence were less sensitive to the “pleasurable effects” of cocaine. It meant those mice would need more cocaine to get the same feeling that unaffected mice would get.

Professor van Rijn used saccharine – an artificial sweetener – as a substitute for cocaine to test the theory.

As predicted, the mice exposed to caffeinated alcohol in adolescence ate much more saccharine than the other mice.

“Mice that had been exposed to alcohol and caffeine were somewhat numb to the rewarding effects of cocaine as adults,” he said.

The results were published in the journal Alcohol.

© Cover Media

Enrolment at higher education institutions on the rise

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) Statistician-General Pali Lehohla says the number of students that have enrolled at institutions of higher learning have been on the increase over a ten year period.

Briefing the media at the Imbizo Centre in Cape Town, on Tuesday, the Statistician-General said the Financial Statistics of Higher Education Institutions 2015 report shows that enrolments at universities have been rising since 2006 until 2015.

“Student enrolment in Higher Education grew by 32.5% from 2006 to 2015. So that’s the enrolment – it grew from 700 000 to almost a million in 2015,” he said.

He said first year students constituted 170 000 of those that were registered to study in 2015. He said before 2015, they were fewer.

Meanwhile, the Statistician-General said grants by national government to Higher Education increased by 144% over a ten year period from 2006 to 2015.

He said grants received by the public Higher Education institutions in 2015 amounted to R26.9 billion, which was R1.5 billion more compared with 2014 (R25.4 billion).

The increase could be attributed to an increase in transfer payments from the Department of Higher Education and Training to the University of Witwatersrand, Sol Plaatjie University and the inclusion of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University for the first time in the 2015 financial year, the Statistician-General said.

He said salaries of universities comprise about 58% of the total Higher Education expenditure over the ten-year period.

“On average, income from tuition fees increased by 12.7% per annum over the ten year period – well above inflation of 2006 to 2015.

“The annual rise in tuition fees for tertiary education (consumer price index) in 2015 was 9.8%. In 2016, it was 0% and for 2017, it has been set to not more than 8%.”

Nonhle Thema starts #YummyMommy Club

TV personality Nonhle Thema has confirmed the news that she has officially dropped the bait on entertainment industry to venture into another vision of hers.

Nonhle took to her social media account on Wednesday to congratulate Bonang Matheba who recently hosted the MAMAs on her new presenting gig and revealed that she has retired from the industry. She wrote:

“Shout out to Bonang who’s holding it down proper in this presenting game…I’m so proud of her. I have retired and I’m happy the industry is in good hands,”

Nonhle Thema has founded an organisation (yummy mommy club) which is into supporting and empowering women. Speaking at a recent interview with TshisaLIVE, The star revealed her passion to support and help other women struggling with life.

“I grew up and changed my focus. Now I’m exploring a new side of myself. I’ve been in this industry for a very long time and I want to do something different and make a real difference in people’s lives,”

“I really want to do a show that focuses on mothers and their issues. We have a lot of youth-focused shows but no real shows about dealing with the struggles and challenges that come with being a mom. If I return, it would probably only be for a show like that,” she said

Women spend more time working than men

As if staying late at the office wasn't bad enough, let this sink in: You'll likely work 13 minutes longer than your male peers today and every day, according to a new report. In many parts of the world, women are averaging 50 minutes more work than men each day for a whopping 39 additional work days every calendar year.

That's the latest from the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2016, which came with even more depressing news: The global gap between women and men—from the loathsome pay gap to political under-representation and even the number of STEM program graduates—won't close for another 170 years.

Last year's report estimated we'd close the gender gap by 2133. Now, it's 2186. To say we've moved in a very wrong direction would be a serious understatement.

Though implementing a major societal upheaval to bring forth gender equality may be a hard task for one person, there are simple ways you can close your own, personal gap: Take those vacation days you've been saving up since spring, get ready to negotiate a raise at your upcoming yearly review, and for goodness sake, make your partner do the dishes tonight.

#Amarula protects Africa's elephants

With less than 400 000 African elephants left and one lost every 15 minutes of every day to ivory poaching, experts indicate that this majestic species will be extinct by 2030! To protect Africa’s heritage and further entrench their commitment to conservation, Amarula has joined forces with Kenyan-based conservation organisation WildlifeDirect, working closely with their CEO Dr Paula Kahumbu.

Kahumbu, who is internationally acknowledged for her conservation work, appears in an extraordinary video, shot on location in the Amboseli Park – Kenya, in front of Mt Kilimanjaro. She introduces viewers to elephants by name, showcasing their behaviour in their natural habitat, likening their traits to those of humans.  The short film, shot by Felix Seuffert from Butterfly Films, has been specifically crafted to raise awareness of the plight of the African elephant, whilst building the bond between man and elephant.  The Amarula campaign entitled Name Them, Save Them makes the prospect of losing an African elephant personal to viewers by sharing how like people elephants truly are, then more powerfully through the simple action of inviting people to name the surviving elephants.

Through this campaign, viewers can actively participate in preserving the African elephant by casting a spotlight on the problem with their friends and family.  They will be guided through an immersive online experience into a virtual digital savannah, where they can choose an elephant, design it with a range of colourful patterns, then name and share it with friends online. “The world needs to know that the only way to get ivory is to kill an elephant!” Dr Kahumbu reiterates, “Once you know them by name, you would never dream of hurting them.”

“The African elephant is an integral part of our African heritage and culture.  Just like humans, each elephant is an individual with a unique personality.  We share many similarities with elephants.  They are intelligent, emotional and have a strong sense of family – just like us. This campaign is about creating a connection between us and elephants and becoming actively involved in raising awareness and saving our elephants. By getting to know elephants by name, we want people to realise that they are more important than an ivory trinket.  They say an elephant never forgets, but now they need us to remember them,” says Dr Paula Kahumbu.

In addition to funding this global campaign, Amarula will donate 1 USD to WildlifeDirect for every elephant named and shared per unique user.  As an authentically African brand, Amarula has been committed to the protection of the African elephant since 2002 and has donated 642 000 USD to the cause over this period.  The partnership with WildlifeDirect is expected to add impetus to Amarula’s conservation efforts.

“Awareness created by this campaign, combined with the expertise of Dr Paula Kahumbu and the WildlifeDirect team, will help us continue to protect the continent’s elephants that are such an important part of Africa’s heritage and Amarula’s story,” says Dino D’Araujo,  Amarula Global General Manager.

“Our objective is simple – to make sure that for generations to come, we continue to meet the elephants beneath the Marula trees.”

Cassper Nyovest ditches trademark ponytail

Cassper Nyovest surprised his fans on last week Saturday at the MAMAs when he broke the norm and released his signature ponytail. He performed and took home one award at the MTV Awards at the Dome, but it was his hair that truly stole the show. Instead of his signature ponytail, the rapper had a whole new look.

Nyovest is one rapper who knows how to make himself recognisable. Trademarking and branding oneself is important for any kind of business and the same bodes true for showbiz. For a long time, this was the most recognisable element of the Cassper Nyovest brand: His Ponytail!

South Africa’s Hip Hop artist, Cassper Nyovest, has ditched his ponytail trademark saying it is time for him “to boss up and do the suit more” to show that he is growing up.

Cassper debuted his new look on the MTV MAMAs red carpet on Saturday night at the Ticketpro Dome in Johannesburg.

Dressed in a slick black and white tuxedo — Mr Doc Shebeleza looked smoking-hot.

Speaking on the red carpet about ditching his ponytail which has been a huge part of his brand for years‚ Cassper said that it’s part of his ‘new image’.

©Youth Village

Katlego Danke joins #Isidingo

Award winning actress Katlego Danke is back on Mzansi TV screens.

This time she tackles a conniving character by the name of Khothala Mokoena on SABC 3 soapie Isidingo.

Khothala is an ambitious businesswoman who loves her husband and family.

While visiting Horizon Deep with her husband, Khothala has an affair with an unsuspecting person from Horizon Deep.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to be back on the small screens again, and I am looking forward to playing Khothala,” Danke said.

©Drum

Famous Brands executes on strategy to post impressive results

Famous Brands, Africa’s largest branded food services franchisor, has reported strong results for the six months ended 31 August 2016, growing revenue by 23% and operating profit by 17%.

The Group’s CEO, Darren Hele, says, “In the context of challenging trading conditions experienced during the review period, the Group’s unwavering focus on consistent improvement and investment in the business continued to deliver rewarding results.” He adds, “Management’s strategic drive to build capability and capacity across our Brands, Logistics and Manufacturing operations continued apace, with the successful integration of recently acquired businesses and the acquisition of additional new businesses.”

The Group’s vertically integrated business model comprises a portfolio of 30 brands represented by a franchise network of 2 626 restaurants across South Africa, the Rest of Africa, the Middle East and the United Kingdom. The Brand business is underpinned by substantial Logistics and Manufacturing operations.

Famous Brands’ logistics division reported a 24% increase in revenue to R1.66bn, while operating profit grew 14% to R49m.

Its manufacturing division reported a 53% jump in revenue to R1.3bn and 64% profit growth to R166m.

#Glenfiddich presents a one of a kind festive gift

The World’s Most Awarded single malt Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich, celebrates this festive season with a one of a kind limited edition gift pack, making it convenient for whisky enthusiasts to gift their loved ones.

Crafted with extraordinary care and attention, the premium packaging is embossed with the world famous stag and includes the signature 12 Year Old variant along with two Glenfiddich branded tumblers. Available at all leading liquor stores for R429, 00, the Glenfiddich limited festive pack is a perfect way to toast to this gifting season.

Glenfiddich is not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Drink responsibly. For more information, visit Glenfiddich's Facebook page on www.facebook.com/GlenfiddichSA or follow them on twitter @GlenfiddichSA

Black Coffee talks about growing up #Ekasi #MotivationMonday #Canada

During his first lecture at the Red Bull Music Academy in Montréal in Canada, House music DJ legend Black Coffee spoke on growing up in the township and spoke about how toxic it is

Speaking on the township he grew up in, Black Coffee said nobody in the township had any motivation to be more than what they were. “No one aspires to be anything,” he said.

He went on to speak about how the township is an imprisoning system that’s become something along the lines of an imprinted mentality. “Our biggest struggle till today is getting out of that system. It is the most imprisoning system to be in, because it’s not just about walking out of it. People get comfortable to the point that they love it and so even when they make it in life, they will spend most of their days living in the township, going to hang out the same way the people before them did and eventually they end up back in the township because it is such a toxic place.”

Reflecting on his dream as a child growing up in such an environment, he was different from the rest, he had a dream and he knew he the only way to achieve it was to get out of the township. “I used to sit there, the whole day and imagine this life of travelling overseas, probably here Montréal, not even knowing how to pronounce this place. I had all these visions and dreams, wanting a better life, wanting to do something greater with my life, wanting to get out of that system, wanting to be the best.”

©Drum

Handy #WhatsApp tricks you can try

WhatsApp has now become one of the most protected and safe messaging platforms, seems to be getting better with time. Whether you're a newbie or just not tech-savvy, here are a few cool tricks you should know about.  Here are some WhatsApp tricks you should know about.

1. How to italicise,strike through or bold words

The platform introduced the ability to format text a while back, so how do you do this then? To italicise a word or sentence, you'll simply need to add an underscore to either side of the word/sentence. Bolding is a similar affair, as you add an asterisk (*) on either side. And  creating a strike through is pretty much the same thing, albeit by adding a tilde (~) on either side of your desired word/sentence.

Did you know you can respond to certain messages (and quote them in the process) instead of a general response in a chat?

To do so, you'll need to hold down on the relevant message, then tap the arrow pointing to the left (the one next to the star) to create a quoted message.

This is useful if you're in a group and would like to respond to a specific person. Or maybe you and your contact exchange messages at breakneck speed. Whatever the case, this is a nifty solution.

2. Mute a contact or group

Know you can be able to mute group chats to avoid them from flooding your phone.  All you need to do is hold down on the desired contact or group and select the speaker icon with the strike through. This will then bring up another menu, asking you to set the duration of the mute (eight hours, a week, a year) and whether notifications should be shown anyway.

3. Enable security notifications

This is another one that you could do without, but security-conscious people will want to investigate it nonetheless. Enabling this setting merely means that you'll get a notification when a contact's "security code" changes. A changed code could mean that their account has been compromised or that they have a new phone. Either way, it's nice to know the option is there.

To enable security notifications, visit "settings", "account", "security" and then enable "show security notifications". And that's it.

5. Star messages or media to save for later viewing

Yep, quite a few people know about this feature too, but it's useful anyway. Want to save a contact's message for later? Then hold down on the relevant message and tap the star icon to add it to your "starred messages" directory.

To access your saved messages, you'll want to tap the ellipsis (three dots) in the top-right corner of the main menu and choose (surprise) "starred messages".

eTV to broadcast 2016 #MAMAs

e.tv viewers will get a chance to watch the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA). The awards will take place at the Ticketpro Dome on Saturday, 22 October at 9:00PM. e.tv will air the awards at 10:00PM.

The MTV Africa Music Awards Johannesburg 2016 celebrates musicians and achievers who have made the most impact on African culture over the past 12 months. The awards, which were established in 2008, by Viacom International Media Networks Africa, are a celebration of the most popular contemporary music across the African continent.

e.tv is partnering with MTV to bring viewers this globally significant event for the third time this year.

"We are, once again excited to be partnering with MTV Base to bring millions of our diverse free- to- air viewers the MAMAs. The event offers a fantastic, rare glimpse into both the vibrant continental and global entertainment trends." Says Marlon Davids, MD at e.tv Channels Division.

The 2016 awards will be hosted by entrepreneur and media personality, Bonang Matheba. The multiple award winning Matheba is former MAMA nominee.

Previously hosted in KwaZulu-Natal, the awards will be hosted in Johannesburg for the first time. Music fans, artists, music industry insiders and media are expected to attend the live event at the Ticketpro Dome, Johannesburg.

Kgomotso Christopher covers #Bona magazine

Scandal! actress Kgomotso Christopher is on the cover page of Bona magazine. The sexy actress exudes style, looking beautiful and playful.

Looking ready for summer, the former Isidingo star brings the heat in the sexy cut out white top and blue jeans. Styled by Kgosilesego, Kgomotso took to her social media page to share picture of the cover page as she encourages fan to pick their copy.

She also shared pics from behind the scene of the photoshoot, showing off her team. She captioned:

The One with the Clothes…beautiful soul, and totally got me and my style @kgosilesego #TeamBehindtheCover

How to manage your cash flow. #StartUp

Starting a new business can be exhilarating. You have a solid business plan and now you need to pull out all the stops to make a success of your business in the real world. There is a great deal of enthusiasm for the road ahead and it's exciting to find the right people to join your start-up.

Start-Up Business? Here's How To Manage Your Cash Flow

What is not exhilarating is managing cash flow. This is one of the most significant challenges that new businesses face. While you may be feeling extremely satisfied that you managed to bring in a great new client or sold your new product, the reality is that once you have submitted an invoice, you can wait 30, 60 or even 90 days to get your cash.

This can be an extremely stressful situation for a new business. You know that you have money coming in, but there is a significant time delay before receiving it. In the meantime, you need to pay your suppliers, salaries and other business expenses that just can't be put on hold.

The solution to this problem is Selective Invoice Discounting. This is a short-term funding solution and it's a relatively simple way to manage cash flow. Once the facility is approved, you would submit your invoice to the bank and up to 80% of your invoice will be paid within 48 hours, reducing your cash flow worries.

There are various advantages to using Selective Invoice Discounting: you can choose when you would like to make use of the facility, there are no hidden or admin fees, you only pay a fee on each invoice,  there are no non-utilisation fees and no stipulated exit period.

In the early phases of your business, this facility will greatly reduce your stress levels when trying to manage your cash flow. In the long run, it will save you many grey hairs and make your business more profitable.

Caster and Wayde nominated for #IAAF Top Prize

South Africa's two Rio Olympic champions have both been nominated for the ultimate recognition in the sport – the World Athlete of the Year – following an announcement by the IAAF on Tuesday.

Van Niekerk was the first local Olympian to win gold at the 2016 Games in Brazil on August 15, when he smashed Michael Johnson's 17-year-old 400m world record of 43.18 by clocking 43.03 in an extraordinary run that shocked the globe.

Semenya produced the perfect tactical race in the 800m final on August 21 as she held fire for most of the way until there was about 200m to go, which is when she opened up and sped around the final bend to set a new national record of 1:55.28, beating her previous best of 1:55.45.

The only South African to have won either award since its inception in 1988 was high jumper Hestrie Cloete, who took the honours in 2003 after winning gold at the world championships in Paris that year with a new SA and African record of 2.06m.

They enthralled South Africa and the world with their outstanding performances, and now Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk are in line for the biggest award in athletics.

Most #Mzansi millionaires live in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the city in South Africa with the highest number of millionaires and billionaires, according to the World Cities Review.

Joburg is home to 17 600 millionaires and two billionaires, accounting for a total wealth of over three trillion rand.

Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria have also made it onto a list of the wealthiest cities in the world.

The fastest-growing cities in the world are Beijing, Shanghai, Mumbai and Sydney, while the world's wealthiest cities are London, New York and Tokyo.

Wealth intelligence company, New World Wealth, in their report said the number of millionaires and billionaires in South Africa is decreasing.

Released yesterday, the report showed that there were 40400 dollar millionaires and seven dollar billionaires whose combined wealth was about R8-trillion, which is seven times the national budget.

The number of millionaires who live in Cape Town dropped from 8900 last year to 7400 this year.

Durban has 2700 millionaires and one billionaire, with an estimated worth of about R630-billion.

Gauteng's electronic taxi payment system on course

Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Ismail Vadi has announced plans to introduce an electronic taxi fare payment system in the province with the first phase set to go live in February next year.

The system will involve passengers to pre-load money onto their FairPay cards at special terminals at kiosks and taxi ranks with a view to including retailers and stores later on.

The first route to have access to the new initiative will be the Johannesburg to Pretoria route because of the JPM Taxi Associations' involvement in a pilot project for the idea.

"The card-based project will be introduced on the Johannesburg, Pretoria and Mabopane (JPM) route. It was selected as the JPM Taxi Association has been involved in previous pilot projects and is experienced in dealing with the cashless system," the Gauteng Roads and Transport department announced.

"It will then be expanded to other taxi routes, with the aim of completing a national roll out within five years."

The e-ticket equipment to be installed in the minibus taxis will include a GPS device, which the department hopes will lead to improved driver behaviour and safer roads for all.

"The information gathered through the GPS device will go a long way toward improving driver behaviour and safety in the South African taxi industry, with records being kept of incidents such as speeding, harsh acceleration and braking, while skills levy contributions would further unlock millions in SETA and other funding for industry training," they concluded.

Pernod Ricard South Africa certified Top Employer in #Mzansi

Pernod Ricard South Africa, the company behind leading premium spirits brands including Jameson whiskey, Absolut vodka and G.H Mumm champagne have been certified as a Top Employer in South Africa.

This is according to annual, international research, undertaken by the Top
Employers Institute, based in The Netherlands, which recognises leading employers around the world - those that provide excellent employee
conditions, nurture and develop talent throughout all levels of the
organisation and which strive to continuously optimise employment
practices.

At the certification dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre, Andre Muller – Human Resource Director of Pernod Ricard South Africa said - "It is a great honour to have been certified as a Top Employer and is recognition of the emphasis on and effort we put into attracting, retaining and developing people at Pernod Ricard."

Pernod Ricard South Africa is a company in growth, offering opportunities for development for top talent. As a company distinguished by its convivial culture and dynamic team of people it is also a Top Employer for the first time in 2016.

Nosihe's #Idols journey crashes

The Showstopper Night was a spectacular two-hour show dressed in all the glitz, glam and dazzling lights befitting an Idols SA stage!

However, before the sweat had even dried on the contestants' foreheads after a sensational opening performance of Say My Name by Destiny's Child, host Proverb had the lights dimmed to announce the one who had received the least number of votes and was on their way out.

 Twenty-nine-year-old Nosihe Zulu became the latest casualty of a lack of votes, making her the contestant exiting the Idols stage. The singer, who first impressed at the Durban audition with her little brother taking over the judges' table, was this season's Afro princess and her dazzling smile and powerful voice saw her push this far.

To bring the mood back up, the Mabala Noise crew including Du Bois, Gigi LaMayne, Nasty C and Ricky Rick took over the spotlight to do what they are best known for – lots of awesome local noise.

Showstopper Night is about the contestants showing they deliver the consummate triple threat of showmanship – singing, dancing and performing.

AKA scoops another international award

The SupaMega has begged yet another award at the AFRIMMAs this year.

For the second time in a row, Kiernan Forbes was nominated for the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMAs). In 2015 AKA was nominated four times and brought home two awards for Best Male Southern Africa and Best Collaboration. 

Although he was nominated 5 times this year, the Baddest rapper managed to win Best Male Southern Africa twice in a row.

AKA could not attend the awards show which took place in Dallas, US on Saturday, but he took to social media to thank his fans and the organisers.

BEST SOUTHERN MALE ARTIST AT THE AFRIMMAS IN DALLAS LAST NIGHT …… And the winner is …… SUPA FUCKIN' MEGA. Ⓜ️

— AKA (@akaworldwide) October 16, 2016

Thank You to the fans who voted & to the organizers of @afrimma for this prestigious award two years in a row. Ⓜ️ #BestMaleSouthernAfrica

— AKA (@akaworldwide) October 16, 2016

Sorry I couldn't make it to the event in DALLAS this year. I will cherish this accolade and add it to the collection. @afrimma

— AKA (@akaworldwide) October 16, 2016

©Drum

Taraji P. Henson still wants more

Taraji P. Henson doesn't really know what "making it" feels like.

The 46-year-old actress has enjoyed huge success through her role as Cookie Lyon in U.S. TV show Empire. While she's taken home gongs including a Golden Globe award and BET award for the part, Taraji told America's Marie Claire magazine that she has yet to fully come to terms with her accomplishments.

"I don't really know what 'made it' feels like," Taraji told the publication. "I'm constantly improving and looking for other great opportunities."

Taraji was speaking as she completed the magazine's 29-question quiz, while promoting her book Around The Way Girl: A Memoir.

Among the questions Taraji was asked to consider was, what was her most agonising career choice, to which the actress replied: "Going back to television and taking the part of Cookie. I was so afraid people would hate her."

The actress' love of her art was clear to see in the interview, as she admitted: "I would act for free but, please, do not tell the studios or networks."

And asked what she thinks her career will look like in five years' time, Taraji replied: "I still want to be making art that moves audiences."

She is also keen to see "more women in charge" in her industry, "not just behind the camera, but actually as studio heads making the real decisions. You go, Dana Walden (chairman/CEO of Fox Television Group)!"

While her professional life is going from strength to strength, Taraji is currently believed to be single. When she was asked what qualities she previously thought she wanted in a partner, she replied, "Tall, dark, and handsome", before she was asked about the three qualities she knows now matter, replying: "A sense of humour, kindness to everyone, and honesty."

© Cover Media

Five foods that will give you better sleep

Most of the times when you tired you tend to have trouble sleeping and its one of the most annoying things ever especially that moment when you get into bed because you want to sleep and your body will be like just kidding…Lol…. If among the list of people having difficulties in falling asleep at night you definitely want to read this. Check Out: These 5 Foods That Will Give You Better sleep.

1. Lettuce

Lettuce contains  a substance called lactucarium, a natural sedative-like substance, which is said to have similar effects on the brain to that of opium.

2. Fish

Fish, specifically varieties like salmon and tuna, are loaded with vitamin B6, which is vital for the production of melatonin  a sleep-provoking hormone that is prompted by the onset of darkness.

3. Chickpeas

Rich in tryptophan, as well as sleep-friendly folate (a vitamin that helps to control our sleeping patterns) and vitamin B6.

4. Banana's

This fruit is packed with magnesium and potassium, two minerals that promote muscle relaxation. If you get muscle cramps at night, try eating a banana before bed.

5. ALMONDS*

Almonds are rmed with calcium, zinc, potassium and magnesium, this is one super-nut that packs a healthy punch. These nutrients, in particular, help to regulate activity in the brain, as well as relax muscles and boost the body's production of melatonin.

Glenfiddich unveils first ever IPA-Finished single malt whisky

Glenfiddich IPA Experiment Glenfiddich, the World's Most Awarded Single Malt Whisky, launched the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, a new range that combines the brand's passion for pushing Scotch whisky boundaries and collaborating with trailblazers beyond the world of whisky.

Available in South Africa from October 2016, the Glenfiddich Experimental Series is designed to inspire unusual and unexpected variants, and sees the unveiling of the first release, the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment, the world's first single malt Scotch whisky finished in India Pale Ale (IPA) craft beer casks.

Glenfiddich Malt Master, Brian Kinsman created the Glenfiddich IPA Experiment in collaboration with a Speyside craft brewer, who shares a passion for innovative flavours.

They worked together to pioneer a new single malt scotch whisky imbued with zesty citrus and tangy hops from the oak casks that had previously held a bold Speyside IPA. In the process of Glenfiddich crafting a new whisky for the Glenfiddich Experimental Series, the pair also created a brand new IPA craft beer.

To pioneer a brand new malt, the collaborators first had to design and create a new IPA craft beer that would go into whisky casks, which would later be used to finish the first experimental variant.

The intensive experimental process involved creating three separate brews of different strengths and levels of hops.

Brian seasoned up to nine American oak casks at a time with the IPA brews, varying the time the IPA craft beer spent penetrating into the oak casks, before filling the casks back up with whisky to assess the flavour profiles.

Anga Makubalo: Simply a Jack of all trades

Most entertainers are multi talented and as a result partake various arts assignments. As a result of the demanding work load, very few eventually excel in all their diversified roles.

One entertainer who has definitely claimed his throne in the arts industry is Anga Makubalo. This talented guy has the passion for the trade. His a seasoned actor, maverick TV personality and musician having recently released his latest album - Born To Entertain.

"It took me a year and half to work on the album. I wanted this album to be an all-round house album, ranging from deep, into commercial house right up into Gqom and Durban Kwaito, and it's exactly that. It's a solid project," he said in a recent interview with Drum.

Anga worked with the likes of Black Motion, Xoli M, Tira, Afro Maniacs, Mampintsha, as well as Danger on his album.

So what does one need to do in order to sink their teeth into the industry? Anga has some wise words for aspiring entertainers.

"There will be many people who tell you that your dreams are too far-fetched and won't come true – how you handle them will determine how far you get. Keep your chin up and walk with pride. If you put in enough effort, you'll reach the dream. Impossible is a myth. Good luck and Gold bless," the 27-year-old advised.

These are some wise words fellas. Keep believing and eventually you will get there. As the Johnnie Walker label says - 'Keep Walking'

South Africa takes centre stage at #BRICS2016

South African trade takes centre stage at the inaugural BRICS Trade
Fair in New Delhi from Wednesday 12 – Friday 14 October 2016.

Thirty three South African companies will showcase their value
proposition to business people and investors from the BRICS block
ahead of the annual Summit of leaders from Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa scheduled for 15-16 October 2016 in Goa.  The
Summit will be held under the theme "Building Responsive, Inclusive
and Collective Solutions."

Companies from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape and Eastern Cape
have been chosen, based on their applications to participate in this
programme through the Export, Marketing, and Investment Assistance
Scheme (EMIA) of the DTI.

The Department of Trade and Industry's Deputy Director General of
Trade and Investment South Africa(TISA) Ms Pumla Ncapayi, briefing
South African business representatives ahead of the Trade Fair on
Tuesday 11 October 2016 said, "The BRICS formation aims to offer an
alternative to the commonly accepted global political and economic
architecture."

"Strengthening inter-BRICS trade and economic relations will be an
important enabler of this alternative narrative.  Furthermore the
BRICS Business Council Working Groups will also convene ahead of the
Summit.  This Working Group is seized with how to enable the ease of
doing business including matters related to projects that will advance
our developmental objectives in agriculture manufacturing, financial
services, infrastructure and skills development," said Ms Ncapayi.

PANDORA partners with SA Bloggers

PANDORA South Africa recently partnered with four bloggers who chose jewellery to express their unique look for the season and provide style inspiration that is local, relevant and accessible.

PANDORA jewellery is available across South Africa in Gauteng at Sandton, Eastgate, Fourways, Brooklyn, Menlyn Park, Woodlands, Clearwater, Cresta, Forest Hill, East Rand Mall, Rosebank, Mall of Africa and Greenstone; in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront, Cavendish, Somerset, George, Canal Walk and Tyger Valley: in KwaZulu-Natal at La Lucia, Pavilion, Ballito and Watercrest; in Nelspruit at Riverside Mall and in Eastern Cape in Bay West and in selected Edgars stores and fine jewellers nationwide and Mauritius, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

PANDORA designs, manufactures and markets hand-finished and contemporary jewellery made from high-quality materials at affordable prices. PANDORA jewellery is sold in more than 100 countries on six continents through approximately 8,900 points of sale, including more than 1,900 concept stores.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, PANDORA employs more than 17,800 people worldwide of whom approximately 12,000 are located in Gemopolis, Thailand, where the Company manufactures its jewellery. PANDORA is publicly listed on the NASDAQ Copenhagen stock exchange in Denmark. In 2015, PANDORA's total revenue was DKK 16.7 billion (approximately EUR 2.2 billion).

Babes Wodumo fully booked till next year #Wololo

Can we just make Babes Wodumo artist of the year already? If you thought Babes Wodumo was just another ordinary girl, think again! NEW kwaito sensation Babes Wodumo has shocked the music fraternity and the Wololo fever is still running in the veins of many.

If you were still hoping to get Babes Wodumo to perform at your party or event during this festive season, then you are already too late because the Wololo star is fully booked till February 2017. Like, can you believe it?

She announced the awesome news on her Insta account yesterday.

World Sight Day - How to look after your eyes

This World Sight Day Novartis and its eye care division, Alcon, are adding their voice to raise awareness and address the problem of preventable blindness and vision impairment worldwide. By highlighting the economic impact and burden that blindness and vision impairment can have on societies and individuals we hope to improve the quality of life limitations vision has.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 285 million people living with visual impairment1, the majority of which is due to chronic eye diseases. What is most concerning is that 80% of visual impairment could be avoided if it were diagnosed and treated in time!

How you can look after your eyes6

Get your eyes checked regularly (at least once a year) and especially if you have any of the following symptoms:

Inflamed (red) eyes

Loss of vision

Pain in the eye

Bulging eye

Altered eye movement

Know your family's history of eye disease. If you have a history of eye disease in your family, or are over 40 years of age, you may need to have your eyes properly examined more regularly.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthily and get regular exercise! Eye-healthy foods include fruit and vegetables, and fish, such as salmon, tuna and halibut.

Don't smoke! And avoid second hand smoke.

Wear protective eyewear when playing sport or when your eyes may be exposed to injury.

Wear dark glasses when going out into the sun. Look for glasses that block out 99% to 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.

Rest your eyes frequently. Take regular breaks (at least every 20 minutes) from reading or looking at the computer. Don't forget to blink.

Watch your hygiene! Be careful not to touch or rub your eyes with dirty hands. 

Always wash your hands thoroughly before putting in or taking out contact lenses. 

Make sure to disinfect contact lenses and replace them as necessary.

Black Coffee lectures Canadian students

World renowned South African DJ, Black Coffee took to Instagram to
share his experiences as a student, and now teacher at the Red Bull
Music Academy.

Coffee was a student at the Cape Town branch 13 years ago, and is now
giving lectures at the academy in Montreal, Canada.

"13 years ago I was chosen as one of the Red Bull Music Academy
students in Cape Town. That was a life changing experience for me," he
wrote."It changed the way I saw the world….how I consumed and produced
music".

He said that being a teacher at the same academy that trained him is "surreal".

At the time, he said he was asked about his future, and said "In 5
years I'll be one of the most important producers in South Africa."

"Today I'm sitting on the other side of the room giving my first
lecture in Montreal….Quite a surreal moment."

Terry Pheto dazzles London

Actress Terry Pheto this week showed the world just why she is South
Africa's leading lady, when she stole the show at the prestigious BFI
London Film Festival, where her latest international feature film
opened the 60th annual festival.

Award-winning writer and director Amma Asante on Wednesday became the
first black female to have her film, 'A United Kingdom', open the
annual BFI London Film Festival.

Pheto is part of the film's star-studded cast, which also includes
David Oyelowo (Selma) as Seretse Khama, and Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl)
in the role of his wife Ruth Williams.

Other cast members include the likes of Jack Davenport (Pirates of the
Caribbean), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Arnold Oceng (Adulthood), Jack
Lowden ('71) and Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey).

Pheto stood out at the annual festival, and was praised by the UK's
Daily Mail, which wrote: "Stunning: Terry Pheto stole the show in a
vibrant patterned dress with statement puffball sleeves"

"Centre of attention: The screen star commanded attention in her
beautiful dress as she made her way down the red carpet,"  the
newspaper added.

The 'Tsotsi'  actress commanded just as much attention at the recent
Botswana premiere of 'A United Kingdom', and her recent South African
Of The Year nomination and BET A-List honour as SA's most influential
actress are highly appropriate.

'A United Kingdom' tells the true story of Seretse Khama, King of
Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office
worker he married in 1947, in the face of fierce opposition from their
families and the British and South African governments.

Terry Pheto plays the role of Naledi Khama, sister of Seretse Khama.

To vote for Terry Pheto for South African Of The Year, fans can SMS
SATY 5 to 43043 or email SATY 5 to satyvoting@ann7.com.

Instroducing South Africa's first enriched milk - Clover Care

For more than 100 years, family has been at the heart of Clover. These
days, we know that a busy lifestyle makes it increasingly difficult to
ensure your family gets the best nutrition in their daily diet.

This is why Clover Care was specifically developed by food specialists
– to help your family get the healthy boost they need. Clover has
enriched their Way Better quality milk with nutrients lacking in the
South African diet. It's the first of its kind in the South African
diet!

It contains 11 vitamins, nine amino acids and three minerals, and is a
good source of protein and calcium. The whole family can enjoy Clover
Care just like regular Clover milk – by drinking it on its own, having
it in tea and coffee, pouring it over cereal or using it in cooking
and baking.

Clover Care Enriched Full Cream Milk is available in fresh and
long-life options in one-litre packs, and hit the supermarket shelves
in September. More peace of mind for moms who care about their
families' nutrition, no doubt!

Sam Star Shoes launches Parkhurst showroom in fine style

Local high fashion footwear brand, Sam Star Shoes recently launched its showroom
in Parkhurst, Johannesburg.

Guests were warmly and stylishly welcomed to the relaxed French
Victorian Greenhouse showroom, where drinks and hors d'oeuvres freely
flowed. The new tastefully displayed SS16- 17 collection was unveiled
to all fashion media, fashion buyers and Sam Star VIP guests in
attendance.

According to Sam Lin who is the Creative Director and Owner of Sam
Star Shoes, the showroom affords both VIP clientele as well as fashion
buyers a bespoke and exclusive shopping experience.

Sam Star Shoes currently supplies 35 local boutiques with high quality
as well as on- trend footwear and leather bags.

Guests mingled and shopped up a storm, as Lin offered personalized
shoe shopping tips based on her vast knowledge of both fashion
clothing and shoes. As the footwear brand behind Ruff Tung's most
recent Mercedes Benz fashion week showcase, it's easy to see why Sam
Star Shoes adorns the feet of local songstresses Lira and Louise
Carver, and is regularly featured in key local fashion spreads.

The Sam Star Shoes Showroom is located at 122 12th street, Parkhurst,
Johannesburg and can be contacted on 061 412 1342;
info@samstarshoes.com

So you think you can spin - get ready for it!

The much anticipated car spinning show, So You Think You Can Spin will
premiere on e.tv on Friday, 07 October at 5:30PM. The show will be
hosted by comedian Mpho "Popps" Modikoane and car club owner, Victor
Pardal.

Searching for the best in Mzansi, the pair travel to four cities to
bring you top car spinners. The auditions are held in Cape Town,
Johannesburg, Durban, Nelspruit and the last city will be Pretoria on
Saturday, 08 October at Mahem Raceway.

Various spinners will be put to the test to show off their best tricks
in wheels spinning. Viewers will be treated to riveting action with
spinners drifting the car around in smoky circles. The selected finest
spinners will be vying for their judge's approval to earn the title of
the best spinner in Mzansi.

Nomzamo Mbatha talks about marriage

Nomzamo Mbatha confesses to once being engaged, having 'beef' with
someone in the industry and to dating someone with a name starting
with the letter M.

In an interview on SABC 3 breakfast show, Expresso this week, actress
Nomzamo Mbatha was asked personal questions by presenters Katlego
Maboe and Leigh-Ann Williams in a game of 'Never have I ever.'

Leigh-Ann asked Nomzamo whether she had ever been engaged before.
Without going into too much details, Nomzamo confirmed that she was
once engaged: "I have had a rock on my finger, I don't plan on having
a rock on my finger again," she said.

The Isibaya actress also came clean about dating a co-actor with a
name starting with an M. Could it be Maps Maponyane perhaps?

Nomzamo was also asked If she has ever had 'beef' with someone in the
industry and sadly vaguely answered, yes she has. "We were friends and
we're not friend anymore," she said.

There had been talks that Nomzamo had once been friends with Jessica
Nkosi and that the friendship came to a bitter end due to a
misunderstanding.

Nomzamo is now the face of cosmetics range Neutrogena SA and an
ambassador PUMA SA.

©Drum

#Telkom KnockOut Fixtures

The draw for the Telkom KnockOut has been made and there are some
interesting ties up the cards. Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns
entertain Polokwane City in what will be a tricky tie for Pitso
Mosimane's men against the improving Limpopo club.

MTN8 champions BidVest Wits face their cup nemesis int he form of Free
State Stars and must make the difficult away trip.

SuperSport United entertain Ajax Cape Town in another intriguing tie,
while Baroka FC host Platinum Stars. Highlands Park welcome Chippa
United in the last of the first round games.

Telkom Knockout Fixtures

Cape Town City vs Bloemfontein Celtics
Baroka vs Platinum Stars
Orlando pirates vs Golden Arrows
Free State Stars vs Bidvest Wits
Kaizer Chiefs vs Maritzburg United
SuperSport United vs Ajax Cape Town
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Polokwane City
Highlands Park vs Chippa

Manage your finances for improved mental wellness #FNB

The rising cost of food is placing a lot of strain on many South
Africa consumers, with those who are over-indebted being worse off.
Add to that the rising cost of tuition and medical fees and it's not
hard to see why many are affected by depression.

With 10 October 2016 recognised as World Mental Health Day, consider
for a moment the statistics of those who suffer from mental
conditions, courtesy of the South Africa Depression and Anxiety Group.
Some six million South Africans suffer from post-traumatic stress
disorder, roughly 8 000 South Africans commit suicide a year and,
compared with 14 other countries, South Africa ranks second for
substance abuse.

Ester Ocshe, FNB Financial Advisory Channel Head, says: "These
statistics alone are sufficient to heighten anxiety levels, and if you
are also experiencing personal financial pressure then your stress
levels can, understandably, result in depression, impacting on your
home and work lives."

However, she believes that by taking control of your personal spending
patterns, financial behaviour and planning, each and every South
African can at least soften the impact of external pressures and
influences on matters relating to money management.

"If you are in constant worry about mounting debt, and have
over-extended yourself in terms of monthly financial responsibilities
then your stress will be significantly higher than a consumer who is
working towards a budget, has an emergency fund and applied a
goal-based financial planning approach," says Ochse.

Drawing up a budget and a personal balance sheet can help you gain a
better sense of your financial position. "Once you are able to
articulate your goals, distinguish between wants and needs and also
prioritise paying off debt that has a higher interest rate, you can
slowly start getting your debt under control by a steady R100 or R200
or R1000 at a time."

While history tells us that tough economic conditions don't persist
indefinitely, the stress they cause during down cycles can be both
mentally and financially devastating. "When times are challenging,
confronting problems head on is a brave step to improving your state
of mind and wrestling control out of a difficult situation. A
professional financial planner can help you get your finances in a
healthy state for improved wellness," concludes Ochse.

Businesses needed to meet sanitation goals

Department of Science and Technology said South African business would
have a critical role to play in the development of new technologies
which will aid the South African government, in its endeavour to reach
its sanitation goals.

The department has already embarked on a relationship with the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation but an passionate plea has since been
made for South African industry to help improve the access to
sanitation facilities.

The South African government keeps claiming that it has made
tremendous progress since 1994. However, the reality is that large
sections of the population simply do not have access to proper
sanitation. It is envisaged that business could play a more active
role. Health and safety remain critical factors, while the drought
being experienced has compounded matters significantly.

"The department, the BMGF and the Water Research Commission (WRC) met
industry in a workshop in Pretoria, hoping to form partnerships that
will bring lasting solutions to sanitation problems in the country
through the South African Sanitation Technology Demonstration
Programme (SASTEP)," said departmental spokesman David Mandaha.

"The idea is to support the development of innovative and
ground-breaking technologies to improve sanitation in South Africa,
while creating a new sanitation market in the country.

"SASTEP was launched in 2014 to promote research into new-generation
sanitation solutions that are innovative, off-the-grid, and affordable
to poor communities. The WRC is demonstrating innovative,
new-generation sanitation technologies in some parts of the country,
for example, in Indwe in the Eastern Cape, over 200 composting
toilets, Earth Auger sanitation units, are being tested," added
Mandaha.

Are you a movie maker? #Mnet is looking for you

Fantastic news for movie makers: M-Net is looking for fresh local
feature films in various genres

While celebrating 30 years of timeless magic this October, M-Net is
calling upon local storytellers to submit their original ideas for
contemporary films in any South African vernacular language, including
Afrikaans.

In the past three years M-Net has backed more than forty theatrical
feature films under the M-Net Movies, Mzansi Magic  and kykNET Films
banners. Among these movies are the smash hits Happiness is a Four
Letter Word and Vir Altyd, which respectively earned more than R13 mil
and R15 million at the South African box office.

This impressive list also includes Noem My Skollie, the film that has
been chosen as South Africa's official entry in the category of Best
Foreign Film for next year's Academy Awards; Akin Omotoso's Vaya,
which was invited to premiere at this year's Toronto International
Film Festival; and Tess, the hard-hitting film that received top
honours at the 2016 Durban International Film Festival.

M-Net is now specifically looking for feature films in certain comedy
and action sub–genres as well as films based on successful vernacular
novels that can be adapted for cinema. In a bold and exciting move,
kykNET Films is also planning to create and develop a Cape-based
romcom or family saga in Afri–kaaps.

If you want your film to tickle some funny bones, you have to pen down
the idea for a romantic comedy, wholesome family comedy or smart and
edgy comedy aimed at an adult audience that reflects modern trends in
cinema, but with a fresh local flair. In the action genre, M-Net is
inviting proposals for suspense thrillers and adventure stories.

Your suspense thriller should have an unpredictable and complex plot
built on narrative tension, mystery, fascination, anxiety or any of
those elements that create nail-biting moments. The adventure films
should contain strong characters, and an exotic setting or
unconventional backdrop.

The closing date for submissions is Monday, 14 November 2016.

For more background on M-Net's requirements, examples of movies within
the genres, the intended target audiences and the way the proposals
should be submitted, go to the M-Net Corporate website.

All proposals should also be submitted via the M-Net Commissioning
Portal on the M-Net Corporate site.

#Arsenal legend Ian Wright expected in South Africa

Arsenal was one of the dominant teams in the nineties. Led by legends
such as Dennis Bergkamp, David Seaman, Marc Overmars, Tony Adams and
Ian Wright, the Gunners were just out of this world.

Popularly known as Wrighty, Ian Wright will be visiting South Africa
on 25 October, where he will be partnering in Kaizer Chiefs and
Mamelodi Sundowns legend, Jabulani Mendu's foundation.

The Jabulani Mendu Foundation, through the UK based company Base
Africa, identifies and offers opportunities to talented footballers,
offering hope for a brighter future.

Wright is expected to attend two exclusive events that will be held in
Johannesburg.

"Considered one of the best Arsenal footballers of all time, Ian
Wright will be coming to South African to pay tribute to another
fellow former South African footballing great, Jabulani Mendu (former
Bafana Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns)," Optimize revealed
in a press-release.

The events consist of a Golf Day that will be held at the Killarney
Golf Course, and an exclusive dinner at the Montecasino.

Sensational cricketer David Miller to host live Q&A session on Facebook #Proteas

South African cricketer, David Miller, will be doing a live Q&A
session on Facebook on Tuesday the 11th of October at 2pm with the
team at Deep Heat. During this time cricketing fans will be able to
ask the 27 year old left-handed middle order batsman any cricket
related questions on their minds.

"I always enjoy an opportunity to interact with cricket fans," says
David. "And mediums like Facebook make it great to be able to chat
directly to other cricketing enthusiasts around the world!"

Domestically David plays for the VKB Knights, and is the former
Captain of the Kings X1 Punjab in the Indian Premier League and has
represented South Africa in both the One Day Internationals and
Twenty20 Internationals.

For more info please keep an eye on the Deep Heat SA (@deepheatza)
facebook page, otherwise make sure you tune into the page at 2pm on
Tuesday 11 October 2016 to chat live with David Millar. There will be
some great signed prizes up for grabs during the Q&A.

Sharapova's doping ban reduced, April 2017 will mark her return

Maria Sharapova says she is "counting the days" until she can return
to tennis after her doping ban was reduced by nine months to 15 by the
Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), meaning the Russian will be free
to compete again from April 26, 2017.

Sharapova was banned for 24 months in January 2016, but her appeal has
been partially successful, meaning she will only miss one more Grand
Slam tournament, next year's Australian Open, and will be able to
return to the court in time for the French Open next May.

How to be more confident at work

If you need a confidence boost in your day-to-day routine, check out
these tried-and-true tips. You'll bolster your sense of assurance,
come off more poised, and kick some butt in the workplace, too.

1. Ask Questions

Not knowing everything—whether that's because you're new on the job or
have incomplete information—can make you feel insecure and lead to a
lack confidence. But remember that (no matter what stage you're at in
your career) you're never going to have all the answers. So don't be
shy about asking questions, especially when you're feeling uncertain
or insecure. Instead, arm yourself with the information you need to do
your job well by asking for it.

2. Be Curious

Curiosity not only sends the message that you're ambitious and eager
to learn, it also positions you well to interface with more people and
take on new projects. So don't just do the work that comes easily. Try
something new, something that scares you just a wee bit—whether that's
asking your boss to lead the next client meeting or learning HTML.
You'll emerge more confident and empowered than if you stick to what
you already know.

3. Accept that Everyone Makes Mistakes

If you always need to be perfect, you'll always feel inadequate: that
standard is wholly unattainable. Everyone makes mistakes on the job.
You will too, and that's okay—you'll learn from them, and you'll move
on. Plus, once you let go of the need to be perfect, you free yourself
to take risks and take on new responsibilities.

4. Go Above and Beyond

With each new assignment, think of ways you can knock the ball out of
the park. Can you suggest new ideas, clients, or products? Make a
process easier or more streamlined? Or even just get the report on
your boss' desk three days early? You'll feel better about yourself if
you go the extra mile—and you'll probably get some good feedback from
others, too.

5. Ask for Feedback

Don't wait to be told that your work stinks or shines—ask for feedback
along the way. Doing so demonstrates that you care about your work and
want to succeed in your job. Plus, instead of anxiously wondering what
you're doing wrong, you'll gain a better sense of your performance,
your strengths, and your areas for improvement.