Some cool and cheap South African wines to try out this #Easter

Three unique kosher wines, perfect for Passover, made just like other table wine consistent with Jewish dietary law.

SWEET

Kleine Draken Kiddush

Full-bodied sweet sacramental wine. Well balanced with dark fruit aromas.
R82

TROPICAL

Backsberg Chenin Blanc Roussanne

Tropical pineapple, hard candy and passion fruit on the nose give way to a fresh, crisp and well-balanced palate.
R85

CHERRY PLUM 

Cape Jewel Shiraz

Full-bodied cherry, plum and a trace of white pepper with pronounced berry flavours on the palate.
R95

#OpenView hold launch announcement and disclose that a new sports channel is coming plus lots more

Free-to-air services are getting a boost due to an unlikely collaboration between two competitors.

Private free-to-air service eMedia Investments, responsible for OpenView and e.tv distribution, is teaming up with public state broadcaster SABC in a new distribution agreement.

The partnership will see SABC 1, 2 and 3 on OpenView, plus three new channels, for sports and entertainment, and the digital broadcasting of 19 radio stations.

During the launch announcement at Southern Sun in Hyde Park, eMedia Investments chief operating officer Antonio Lee said this was a great way to expand their audience.

Currently, OpenView has more than 2.3 million subscribers and the big takeaway is how they would both make money from advertising in the free-to-air subscription space.

He said it would be easy: "Local draws audiences and audiences draw advertising.

"The entertainment and sports channels from SABC will be local. This should draw advertising for both parties."

The sports channel was set to launch in a month and the entertainment channels in the next three months.

Lee said when eMedia had launched its sports channel, it had seen a spike of about 200 activations a day.

"On entertainment, you will see even more. When lockdown eased, we saw a spike in box sales because people needed to watch some form of entertainment."

He added when new channels and better content were launched, the company sold more OpenView box sets – and the SABC offerings would see an upsurge in sales.

In a competitive market, linear TV wasn't just competing with MultiChoice, streaming platforms were challenging a saturated market as well.

"Streaming is slowly taking a hold of the market but it is still expensive if you look at data costs," Lee said.

Ultimately, the broadcasters want to produce quality content, and "there must be a balance between channels and the economic variability between the SABC and eMedia".

Use your mind to meet your goals! #MondayMotivation

The language we use is enormously powerful and, with some effort, we can use it to help us reach our career goals.

"The subconscious mind is equivalent to a five-year-old child, and five-year-old children do not process negative language. 

The subconscious mind hears: 'Do not eat that chocolate' as 'Eat that chocolate'.

"Here is how our language can change the quality of our lives. Reframing the language: 'I want to eat food that is healthy and will provide me with the energy that I need for the day' will align both the conscious and unconscious mind," says trauma therapist and life coach Peta Cline Feigin. 

She advises:

Set realistic milestones. 

"Setting milestones allows our attention to be deliberate. When we set milestones, it is imperative to be specific with timeframes, outcomes and intention."

Increase your exposure to new information. 

"Increase your exposure to developments in communication as well as leadership styles."

Keep like-minded, positive people close.

"The exposure we have influences the narrative and self-talk we sit with."

Keep track of your money. 

"This will allow you more options and more career choices in the future."

Thuli Phongolo finally speaks on pregnancy rumours #MotivationMonday

Actress Thuli Phongolo has shut down rumours that she is pregnant.

The former Generations: The Legacy star took to Twitter to let social media users know that whatever they've heard, it's not true.

"I don't know why there's a huge fascination with me being pregnant − every day, every day 'she's pregnant' ... well, I'm here to put you at ease, don't hold your breath guys! It's not happening any time soon," tweeted Thuli.

The star's tweet addressing rumours about her personal life came as a shock for many.

Especially when she kept mum about rumours that she was dating Duduzane Zuma.

Last year, she trended several times after rumours that the two were dating started making the rounds on social media after Phongolo apparently posted a now-deleted picture of a man who reportedly has the same tattoo as Duduzane.

The star hit back at rumours, saying she does not know the businessman and son of former president Jacob Zuma.

Phongolo set the record straight on Twitter after one user said Duduzane's denial of the pair's relationship in a recent interview with MacG was suspicious.

In the interview on Podcast and Chill with MacG, Duduzane denied knowing Phongolo, saying he is used to rumours being spread about him and that he has never met her.

The actress and DJ replied to the Twitter user, saying she has never met Duduzane, who is married to Shanice Stork.

She went on to further say that her fans did not know what they wanted and that they were reaching by trying to make her and Duduzane a thing. She also asked them to "let it go".

It's in the brand! Boity Thulo's fragrance sells well across Southern Africa #GirlTalkZA

THE first fine fragrance created and named for a black South African celebrity, by Halo Heritage, is now going to be made available at Clicks stores in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Swaziland.

The Boity Pink Sapphire Eau de Parfum will join a number of products fronted by celebrities since 2015 that have become multi-billion dollar businesses.

Inge Peacock, chief executive of Halo Heritage, creators of luxurious natural hair and beauty products, which developed this fragrance in collaboration with actress, musician, entrepreneur and style icon Boity Thulo, said celebrity fragrances – such as Fenty by Rihanna, and Kylie Cosmetics and Kylie Skin by Kylie Jenner – have been leading brands, completely outpacing those not endorsed by known-faces.

"The major change that has been embraced by the Boity brand is that whereas local consumers have up until now supported luxury fragrances created for and sold by international beauty houses and celebrities, they are now gravitating towards home-grown icons."

Peacock said that Halo Heritage, together with Thulo, had developed Boity Pink Sapphire Eau de Parfum during lockdown and launched it online through its own channels as well as Superbalist and Takealot.

Proteas star Lungi Ngidi bowls GBV out for a duck #MondayMotivation

Proteas fast bowler Lungi Ngidi wants to use his influence as a sports star to help the fight against gender-based violence in South Africa.

While the 24-year-old has always kept his work off the field private, Ngidi believes it's time he was more vocal about his off-field activities.

"I usually keep my work off the field private but I realised that using your voice and getting a lot more people to chip in is a lot more beneficial for the people you're trying to help. I've been trying to get a bit more vocal," Ngidi told the Saturday Star.

While Ngidi is working on a number of projects off the field, including helping educate youngsters, his main work focuses on helping women and children.

"We all know the statistics around gender-based violence. I'd like to make a difference in any way possible. It's been kept under wraps, but it's moving towards getting a lot more people involved."

The Titans cricketer is also passionate about the youth in South Africa.

Oprah Winfrey shows why she is still media royalty #MondayMotivationf

When Oprah Winfrey's interview with Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aired on Sunday night, it wasn't just a victory for those who like sharp inside-the-palace intrigue.
It was also a win for a cuttingly modern type of media business.

Since the ocean of content began swelling several years ago, top-end creators have cannily surfed the wave. 

They have signed major deals, sometimes committing fully to one company, such as Netflix. But the shrewdest and most clout-laden have made big deals that nonetheless leave them room to work with other platforms.

And few have been shrewder at this than Winfrey.

In the past several years, the former talk-show impresario has signed an overarching content deal with Apple. 

It was a grand announcement, made grander by her standing at a Cupertino event declaring: "They're in a billion pockets, y'all." So far the deal has netted such programmes as a limited-series Covid special and regular Book Club segments.

But it's far from the only significant media partnership she has made. 

Winfrey is currently producing a musical adaptation of The Color Purple for Warner Media's Warner Bros. Her production company Harpo is behind a number of popular syndicated shows such as Rachael Ray, aired by a host of station groups. 

And she sold the Harry and Meghan interview to CBS' entertainment division, the crown jewel of ViacomCBS, for a reported $7 million (about R107m). (Harry and Meghan were not paid.)

Zalebs talks about Nomzamo Mbatha's accent in #Coming2America

Author Zakes Mda has shared his thoughts on Nomzamo Mbatha apparently "putting on a fake" African accent for her role in the film Coming 2 America.

The movie, a sequel to 1988's Coming to America, was released on Amazon Prime over the weekend. Nomzamo plays the role of Mirembe, a young royal barber in the court of the fictional African kingdom of Zamunda.

While many celebrated her for flying the country's flag, her accent in the film quickly came under scrutiny, with some asking why she hadn't just used her regular accent.

Weighing in on the debate, Zakes said for some reason Nomzamo had to change her accent to fit in.

"Oh I agree completely about the accent! For some reason the actress had to change her SA accent, which is African, into something else that she and her director imagined to be an 'African accent' in keeping with the 'African accents' of the African American actors," he explained.

When Zakes was told it might have something to do with Zamunda not being a real nation and so its accent is undefined, he agreed but slammed the "generic accent that African Americans use when they play African characters".

"I mean I would go along with that explanation if this was an imaginary accent for an imaginary country. But it's a generic accent that African Americans use when they play African characters whether they're Ugandan, Nigerian or South African."

Speaking about using an African accent in the film, Eddie Murphy said Nomzamo had taught him just how horrible his attempt was.

"She's a wonderful actress. Beautiful. We had a great time working together. She made me realise how s**tty my African accent is; I thought it was good but she came with a real one and I realised that mine is horrible," he said in an interview last month.

Biden inauguration #poet Amanda Gorman is living the life

They say the journey to a thousand miles begins with a single step. 

Many first heard about Amanda Gorman when she recited a deep thought poem during American president Joe Biden's inauguration. 

But she has been in the poetry game for a while now. Infact, her over 2 million followers on Instagram prove just how popular her poems are. 

The Afro Poetry Times March 2020 edition documents her rise in the poetry world and what makes her stand out. 

This edition also features:

* The Botswana poetry culture

* How a teen is using poetry as a median to tackling poetry 

* A Zimbabwean poet whose stealing the show

* A short story from Tanzania

* Some cool competitions were you can win cash

* Many unpublished poems 

And a lot more. 

Poetry is the heart beat of our existence which narrates powerful messages to our souls. 

The Afro Poetry Times is the perfect tonic to read about the people who write the poems, read some unpublished poems, discover writing opportunities and competitions. 

Get your digital copy from wherever in the world you are. Get it from PressReader - the world's leading digital press distributor. 

http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/afro-poetry-times/20210301

Nadia Nakai's presenting journey starts today on Channel O

Rapper Nadia Nakai has proven to be a jack-of-alltrades after she landed a role as a presenter with Channel O's new show Genzsouthafrica which will start airing tomorrow.

The Imma Boss hitmaker took to Instagram and Twitter to announce her new role in the show.

"Announcement: I am the new presenter for a new fireshow called @genzsouthafrica alongside the amazing Prezo @president that will be airing on @channelotv the first episode airs this Thursday at 6pm Set your reminders now!!! Cos we are coming in hot," she posted.

Born of a South African father and a Zimbabwean mother on the southern side of the Limpopo, Nakai made her first television appearance on the e-TV hip-hop show Shiz Niz in 2013, where she won the Mixtape 101 competition.

Likened to United States female artiste Nicki Minaj, Nakai wrote her own piece of history as she became the first female artiste to win the competition.

She released her debut single Like Me in 2013 and the following year, she was featured on the remix of Riky Rick song, Amantombazane, among various acts and since then she has not looked back.

Nakai discovered her passion for hiphop and rap music at the age of 16, before recording her first studio song at 18. She is now signed to South Africa's music icon, Cassper Nyovest's Family Tree label.

The label is also home to Tshego and Gemini Major. Nakai has continued to shine in the competitive showbiz industry where she boasts several local and international accolades.

DJ Zinhle steps up the bubbly game

DJ Zinhle has launched BLVD Signature edition Nectar rosé MCC.

The internationally renowned entertainer who recently acquired equity in the Boulevard brand and was appointed chief executive has been hard at work to not only grow the brand, but extend it.

Her much-anticipated signature edition MCC was launched late in December.
The different hand selected cuvees are expertly blended, resulting in a fine, refined and perfectly balanced MCC that is then matured for 15 months in cellars, creating an elegant Cap Classique.

BLVD Nectar Rosé has delicious accents of fresh strawberry and red berries, complimented by expressive notes of sweet apple and white pear, making it the perfect celebratory drink of choice.

"I am extremely excited to launch and share my very own BLVD Signature edition MCC Nectar Rosé with the world.

"Not only is it a super luxurious looking bottle wrapped in my favourite colour [which is super personal to me], it's also the right amount of sweetness I love in a tall glass of bubbly which makes it the perfect accessory for any celebratory occasion," said Zinhle.

The newest addition to the Boulevard family can be found at Makro liquor stores nationwide.

Things people do for their friends. Minnie Dlamini buys a R2.8 million Range Rover Sport for Basetsana #MondayMotivation

IMAGINE your friend rocks up at your house with a new car for you, and not just any car, a Range Rover Sport.

Well, stop imagining because that is exactly what happened last week when media personality Minnie Dlamini-Jones rocked up at Basetsana Kumalo's house.
In a video posted on her Instagram account, Basetsana received the R2.8 million car from Minnie.

Minnie is seen driving up to Basetsana's mega-mansion saying: "I'm so excited, I'm surprising a very special lady with a very special car, I hope she likes it".

The former Top Billing presenter then walks out of her front door.

Minnie then screams "Surprise",19780 and goes on to tell Basetsana the car is an SVR carbon edition.

Basetsana captioned the post: "Hello @landroversa It is the very first and only one in the country and it's in my porte cochère.

"Delivered by the gorgeous @ minniedlamini… it's been an amazing day!!!

"Supremely proud and delighted to be the brand ambassador."

At a starting price of R2 831 000, the Range Rover SVR Carbon Edition feautures performance seats finished in perforated Windsor leather which deliver a 30kg weight saving and a 423kW 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine that can powers the vehicle from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.