Enrol: Six months photography programme

In an economic climate where entrepreneurship and specialized skills are more important than ever, the Orms Cape Town School of Photography wants to render a generation of well-equipped, highly-skilled and business-savvy photographers ready to build their own, successful businesses as practicing photographers.

We will be running, for the first time, a comprehensive 6-month part-time course in Digital Photography for photography enthusiasts of beginner and intermediate level in need of key skills to become well-rounded and successful photographers in South Africa.

#PayFast and Xero partner to include South African payments

As a leading online payment service provider, PayFast offers merchants the ability to receive funds via a variety of payment methods including credit cards, debit cards, Instant EFT and mobicred.

Xero has fast become a leader in the online accounting arena with a particular focus on small businesses.

The significant growth of e-commerce and strong SME market in South Africa, makes Xero a natural fit to add to PayFast’s extensive list of over 70 integrated platforms.

Customer centric businesses are the name of the game, and technology is offering more ways to create a positive customer experience. It is no surprise that businesses are looking for more ways to streamline their systems and offer more convenience to customers.

Connecting PayFast and Xero does just that by allowing a “pay now” link to be included on any invoice. Customers can immediately settle invoices creating a quick and seamless experience. Small businesses get paid faster with the added benefit of no longer needing to manually reconcile invoice payments.

“Xero is one of the leading cloud based accounting platforms used by hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world. We wanted to make it even more useful for South African businesses, by providing local payment options. Through integrating our great services, Xero and PayFast now provide a best of breed and locally relevant accounting, invoicing and payment solution for small businesses in South Africa” says Jonathan Smit, Founder and Managing Director of PayFast.

“Having freshly launched in South Africa we’re thrilled to now welcome PayFast – an innovative local business, to our growing ecosystem of third party tools,” comments Gary Turner, Xero MD EMEA.”South African small businesses will have access to an easy and secure payments processing service that is seamlessly integrated within their accounting software.”

With the recent official launch of Xero in South Africa, PayFast is looking forward to a partnership of continued support for the SME market.

South Africa expresses solidarity with Turkey

The South African Government has sent its condolences to the families of those who died after a terror attack at Turkey’s Ataturk Airport on Tuesday night.

Following a gun and bomb attack at the Istanbul airport, 41 people were killed – 13 of them foreign nationals – while 230 more were injured. Early indications are that this was an attack by the so-called Islamic State, but there is still not absolute clarity on who conducted the attacks.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of Republic of South Africa, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma has extended his heartfelt condolences to the Government and the people of the Republic of Turkey,” said President Jacob Zuma, in the aftermath of the attacks.

“South Africa shares in the grief of the Turkish people and the international community following the substantial loss of life and wishes the injured survivors a speedy recovery. Terrorism in any form and from whichever quarter cannot be condoned,” added Zuma.

The South African government has condemned the attacks, and expressed solidarity with Turkey.

“South Africa stands firmly with the international community in condemning all forms of terrorism and stands in solidarity with the Government of the Republic of Turkey and all countries affected as they mourn the death of their citizens,” added Zuma.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has revealed that it has been in contact with the Consular Services and South African Embassy in Ankara. At this juncture, no South African casualties have been reported but the investigations are still ongoing in this regard.

“Consular Services is currently dealing with enquiries from members of the public and will render the required consular assistance. South Africans in Turkey or family members in South Africa requiring assistance are requested to contact the South African Embassy in Ankara or the Department at   27 12 351 1000,” read a statement released by Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.

New Clover low fat milk is the real deal!

In keeping with its “Way Better®” promise and in line with the R260: Agricultural Product Standards Act passed by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Clover has implemented a change to the fat content of its low fat milk variant. A recent Government bill, which came into effect on March 28, 2016, dictated that going forward low fat milk should contain between 0.5% and 1.5% butterfat (cream) and accordingly, milk with between 1.6% and 3.3% will fall into a new medium fat category.

As a result, and by law, Clover was faced with the option of either reducing the milk fat in its 2% low fat option, or re-categorising it as medium fat milk. After careful consideration and in consultation with consumers, the leading dairy producer has chosen to reduce the fat content to 1.5%, thereby maintaining its low fat status and minimising confusion for the health-conscious shopper.

Clover Cares

“As a favourite household brand, we make a point of meeting the specific needs of our consumers. For this reason, we conducted research with a range of individuals to ensure that the new categorisation of our milk variants will not compromise the high quality and premium taste associated with Clover dairy products.”

“After listening to what our consumers had to say, and based on their feedback, the decision was taken to retain the red ‘low fat’ label and descriptor and lower the fat formulation to 1.5%, which going forward will be in keeping with government legislation and in line with many overseas standards,” explains Clover’s Marketing Manager of Dairy, Sherian King.

Less Calories. Same Quality

The delicious taste of Clover’s milk is no doubt part of what positions Clover as one of the leading dairy producers in the world. The good news is that after conducting blind tasting with consumers, the vast majority of tasters did not taste a difference in the reduced fat milk. It’s also important to note, Clover’s full cream and fat free milk products will remain the same tasty variants as before.

Milk is often seen as a complete food due to its intrinsic properties and nutritional value. And while many consumers are unsure of the percentage of fat in full cream milk, the truth of the matter is that the fat content, in accordance with government legislation, for full cream milk is standardised by most dairies in accordance to legislation to 3.3%. “Indeed, our consumers with a preference for our low fat option or other alternatives, can rest assured that they can continue to purchase the milk they have come to know and love, without fear of compromise in Clover’s quality,” concludes Product Development Manager, Piet Laubsher.

From Farm to Table

Clover’s brand promise of “Way Better” remains firmly in place despite the adjustment to its low fat variant. Clover’s fresh milk undergoes 55 quality tests and is kept cold throughout distribution to ensure freshness. It is also sourced from specially selected farms.

“All milk is pasteurised by heating the milk in order to make it safe for human consumption. After it is pasteurised, we then use a process called bactofugation, which spins the milk so that additional bacteria can be separated and removed. While pasteurisation kills all the bacteria that can make one sick, bactofugation removes the bacteria that is safe to consume but will cause the milk to spoil. Not all companies do this, but we have invested in technology to provide consumers with better quality milk and a longer shelf life, which has now been extended from 12 to 18 days,” explains group manager for product innovation and technology, Anton Pretorius.

“As with all Clover milk products homogenisation takes place to prevent the separation of milk and fat (or cream), which creates an unwanted layer on top of milk. This is when the fat particles are broken down very finely. The milk is pumped through a tiny hole, which puts it under pressure of 250-bar. We do this so that no oily layer occurs on the top of tea or coffee, and consumers can enjoy a consistent taste throughout the use of their milk. The last thing we want is for milk to be full cream at breakfast and fat free at dinner!”

“Lastly, we fill our milk in what is called a ‘clean fill environment’. This is done so that the milk does not come into contact with airborne bacteria, because milk exposed to air spoils faster than milk kept in a clean environment. The combination of all these processes has enabled us to give the consumer the benefit of a longer shelf life.” adds Pretorius.

While it’s important to note that the requirement for reduced fat content in milk also applies to the rest of the dairy category, it is also good to know that discerning consumers can continue to enjoy the same great taste and quality that is so much a part of what we love about Clover.

Life cover takes care of your family

Your family is important and taking care of them is a priority and huge responsibility. While no one wants to think about no longer being around to take care of your loved ones, it is essential to consider that they will be able to financially cope should you pass away.  Will your family be financially stable in the event of your death? Life cover gives you peace of mind that your family will be taken care of when you are gone. Taking care of a family is a big financial responsibility, with assistance from your financial adviser you can ensure that outstanding debts and financial costs are covered in the event of your death with individual life cover.

Life Cover pays your nominated beneficiaries a lump sum after your death, this amount can be determined with help from your financial adviser, ensuring that your family will not be financially burdened when you are gone. As your needs change throughout your life, consider Liberty’s Lifestyle Protector which is designed to meet your life’s changing needs. It is flexible enough to give you the cover that you need to match your circumstances today, as well as adapt to your changing needs, as they unfold.  The Life Cover benefit available under Lifestyle Protector will provide your beneficiaries with a lump sum in the event of your death.   If you are diagnosed with a terminal illness, you can choose to be paid all of your life cover amount with the Terminal Illness benefit to get your financial affairs in order.

As financial advisers we can help you decide on life cover and other benefits to meet the needs of your family and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of.

“If you want to know the true value of life cover, ask a widow.” – Unknown

#WorldWiFiDay: AlwaysOn celebrates with free WiFi

On June 20, in celebration of World WiFi Day, AlwaysOn will be connecting the people of South Africa on a grand scale. The goal: complimentary Internet access to anyone who is in an AlwaysOn Super WiFi Hotspot and registers on our network, until midnight June 21.


Established by the Wireless Broadband Alliance – an organisation campaigning for better access to technology and Internet connectivity for all – World WiFi Day is a one-of-a-kind, global initiative that recognises the pivotal role WiFi is playing in cities and communities around the world, by driving innovative and exciting projects to “connect the unconnected”.

Commenting on World WiFi Day, Hayden Lamberti, MD for AlwaysOn, said: “South Africa’s prolific adoption of WiFi comes down to the huge growth in the use of WiFi-enabled devices and the search for credible, alternative mechanisms to connect to the Internet. Most people in South Africa do not have a broadband connection at home, but are well aware of the advantages and benefits of such a service. We want to grant them, and quite frankly anyone else who’s interested, the opportunity to experience seamless, free Internet for World WiFi Day.”

That drive for Internet access has resulted in AlwaysOn’s network seeing an average of 4 million connections per month, and data consumption is more than doubling year on year. That’s in part thanks to the 30 minutes to 1 hour of complimentary public WiFi data AlwaysOn provides for all users, no strings attached.

Interestingly, a large portion of that free data is used for job searching and general research purposes, making it a vital service given the struggle so many South Africans are having finding employment. “Imagine what those searching for jobs could do with a day of unlimited access to our network”, said Hayden. “We’re about to find out.”

For the best possible public Hotspot WiFi experience, we urge you to find our nearest AlwaysOn Super WiFi Hotspots, on the Hotspot Finder. AlwaysOn SuperWiFi locations are incredibly fast – possibly the fastest available public WiFi in South Africa.

If you’re concerned about the safety of your personal information, we’re happy to report that we’re 100% ECA (Electronic Communications Act) and POPI (South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act) compliant. That means that we only ask for information that is absolutely necessary and required by law, for the protection of ourselves as well as you. Any information we do gather is secure and protected.

Need help? Here are a few simple steps you need to follow to connect to AlwaysOn.

Go to alwayson.co.za
Use the HOTSPOT FINDER to find your nearest SUPERWIFI LOCATION.
When you are in an AlwaysOn Super WiFi Hotspot, switch on your device’s WiFi.
SEARCH for AlwaysOn amongst the available WiFi networks on the list.
Click on AlwaysOn and your smart device will CONNECT.
Open your browser and you will be directed to the AlwaysOn Dashboard or Client Portal when you search.
Fill in your details to log in and register, and away you go!
We love – nay, adore – the Internet, it’s the reason we’re in this business, so we know how frustrating it can be to have something go wrong. We’re doing our best to prepare, but sometimes things go wrong anyway. If you’re struggling to connect, please contact our support desk on 0861 468 7768. They will be on standby to assist with glitches on the day.

Now it’s up to you to share the news! Hashtag: #FreeData4All    #WorldWiFiDay

Remember T’s & C’s apply, with our fair usage policy1!

Happy browsing with compliments from AlwaysOn.

Puleng's pregnancy predicament #eTV #RhythmCity

Friday, 24 June 2016 at 7PM on e.tv and eHD on OpenView HD (Channel 104) and DStv (Channel 194)

After a devastating miscarriage and multiple failed attempts at falling pregnant with Suffocate’s baby, Puleng visits an inyanga, to determine the cause. The inyanga gives Puleng dire news, but she is determined to find a solution.

She resorts to western medicine and steals some of Suffocate’s nail clippings to get a DNA test done. The DNA results come back with bad news: Suffo and Puleng’s DNA are incompatible and they will not be able to produce a baby.

They suffer from a rare condition called ‘Alloimmune Implantation Dysfunction’, where the male partner’s genetic material it too similar to the recipient’s genotype.Just when Puleng feels that all hope is lost and that she’ll never bear a child, Suffocate’s aunt Ntombizodwa offers her a cultural solution to her problem – but it involves Suffocate’s brother ,Themba…

Catch all the drama on Rhythm City every weekday at 7:00PM on e.tv and eHD on OpenView HD (Channel 104) and DStv (Channel 194).

#Sportstake R500 000 Guaranteed Jackpot up for grabs

The National Lottery's sports betting game, Sportstake, will for the first time offer a guaranteed jackpot of R500 000 this weekend.

Ithuba, the national lottery operator, is raising the stakes by putting up a R500 000 guaranteed Sportstake jackpot.

The weekend fixture list opens from today, Thursday for all betting to be made. This weekend's Sportstake fixture list will see the game's highest jackpot up for grabs for those correctly predicting the results of all 12 matches.

The highest Sportstake jackpot since Ithuba took over the running of the lottery last year, was R400 000 which was won in July last year, with the second highest being R300 000 won in December. This year's highest Sportstake jackpot was R235 000 won two months ago.

 The Sportstake game has had over 2.6-million winners already with 16 winners walking away with over R100 000-plus winnings. In just 103 draws, Ithuba has paid out over R135 million to Sportstake players.

The weekend Sportstake fixture list will be available from Thursday June 2 from the all retailers nationwide, national lottery website and Friday's Daily Sun newspaper.

 Players can play via the retailer or on the National Lottery website. The fixture will close on Saturday June 4 at 17:30.

How to Play Sportstake: You can play the SPORTSTAKE game by predicting outcomes of 12 predetermined match fixtures by choosing a home win, or a draw or an away win. A minimum price per wager per board is R1.00.

Acquiring the correct skills for entrepreneurship may be the solution to job creation

Recently Statistics SA announced that the country’s unemployment rate had jumped in the first quarter of 2016 from 24.5% to 26.7%. This means that today there are 8.9 million South Africans who want to work, are able to work, but are not able to find employment and most of these willing citizens are of South Africa’s youth.

Besides data from other emerging world economies suggesting that entrepreneurial activity increases job security and contributes positively towards Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) report notes that in South Africa such activity remains considerably low, and although it has increased marginally over the last 10 years, in 2014 it dropped by a staggering 34% (from 10.6% to 7%).

The report further states that there has been an increase in women’s entrepreneurship primarily due to government support, but that the perception of opportunities to start a business, and confidence in one’s own abilities to do so, remains alarmingly low compared to other sub-Saharan African countries.

This could be attributed to common belief that creativity, ingenuity, and passion are innate personal qualities which are the hallmarks of a successful entrepreneur. However, there is another school of thought which argues that entrepreneurs are made and not merely just born. They are made through dedication, hard work, sheer will power and more importantly through education where they can acquire the correct skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs.

Two inspiring stories of BA Graphic Design 3rd year students at the Design School of Southern Africa (DSSA), a brand of the Independent Institute of Education (The IIE), also affirm this belief.

Sabelo Sibisi operates the brand, STRU, which is in the business of selling trendy street conscious apparel targeted at the youth. Although STRU is still in its infant stages, Sibisi says that he is encouraged by the fact that customers love and support the label and that it gives him an extraordinary sense of accomplishment seeing people wear the brand.

His time at DSSA has enabled him to nurture his vision, giving him the necessary knowledge and skills needed in order to work towards his goal of a sustainable design for the STRU brand which he hopes to successfully promote and position on social media using his new way of innovative thinking encouraged by DSSA.

Also seeing a gap in the market, Tayla Kohler took a hobby and turned it into a sustainable enterprise by custom making tapers and ear gauges. She then expanded into making interesting necklaces, which are far more universal as not everyone wants to stretch their ear lobes, and now she caters to both markets.

Kohler says DSSA opened her up to the defining truth of her business, “we all just want to be individuals in a world that is becoming ever generic.”
DSSA national marketing manager, Nicky Stanley says that the school balances natural creative potential with vocational preparedness through academic excellence and industry experience. “Sabelo and Tayla are a true testament that our inspirational, adaptable and innovative learning environment gives students the best chance of success, challenging and empowering them to become enterprising.”

South Africa faces a number of economic challenges that can only be met if it has innovative, well-educated, and entrepreneurial citizens who, whatever their walk of life, have the spirit and inquisitiveness to think in new ways, and the courage to meet and adapt to the challenges facing them.

A dynamic economy, which is innovative and able to create the jobs that are needed, will require a greater number of young people who are willing and able to become entrepreneurs, schools and tertiary institutions should play greater roles in shaping these young people’s attitudes and skills towards becoming captains of industry.

SXOLLIE HUSTLES TO THE TOP AT THE INTERNATIONAL CIDER CHALLENGE

PROUDLY South African cider brand SXOLLIE has made its first mark on the global stage, bagging three coveted awards at the prestigious International Cider Challenge held in London in April.

Competing against hundreds of ciders from a dozen countries, SXOLLIE strutted off with a Gold medal – and the title of Supreme Champion – in the sought-after Design and Packaging category.

"We work hard to get our branding right, but we never dreamed we'd beat out cider brands from across the world," says Laura Clacey, who co-founded SXOLLIE together with husband Karol Ostaszewski in 2014.

But South African cider lovers certainly aren't surprised.

Before the crown cap has been popped, street-smart SXOLLIE grabs your attention. There's no run-of-the-mill labeling here; each and every SXOLLIE bottle is screen-printed with its eye-catching 'X' mosaic, lending texture, tactility and an urban aesthetic inspired by the ethnic pottery designs synonymous with southern Africa.

"We wanted to capture something that is unique to the continent, and present it in a modern African fashion," says Clacey, adding that key to SXOLLIE's success is the sheer simplicity of the colourful design. "A lot of cider brands try to cram too much onto the label. We decided to let the brand and the product speak for itself; to let the bottle be eye-catching on its own."

However, it wasn't only SXOLLIE's striking packaging that caught the judges' attention. SXOLLIE sets itself apart from other South African cider producers through its dedication to personality-packed single-varietal ciders. That single-minded focus paid off at the International Cider Challenge with a coveted Bronze medal for the SXOLLIE Golden Delicious cider.

SXOLLIE certainly put some of the traditional cider-making nations in their place with their supreme champion win, and is fast blazing a streetwise cider trail across the globe. The brand is currently available in premium restaurants, retailers and bars across South Africa and the United Kingdom, and will this year begin exports to both the United States and Singapore. This year also sees SXOLLIE crank the cider revolution up a notch with the release of its maiden Granny Smith single-varietal cider.

This revolution may not be televised, but you'll definitely want to have a SXOLLIE in your hand as it unfolds into 2016.

#OpenView HD launch Trace Sport Stars

OpenView HD will launch a new sports lifestyle channel. TRACE Sport Stars channel 154 will go live on Friday 3 June 2016 at 12:00PM.

TRACE Sport Stars is the first global entertainment channel dedicated to sports celebrities. The channel brings a great variety of content where sport meets glamour. Viewers will see their favourite sport stars sharing and revealing their real lives during detailed and exciting interviews.

“TRACE Sport Stars will take a unique view on sport stars, giving our viewers access to content that is not currently available on the OpenView HD offering”, Said Ziyanda Mngomezulu, Channel Acquisitions Executive at Platco Digital.

Over the past few months, the platform has grown significantly and will soon hit another milestone of reaching half a million decoder sales, Mngomezulu added.
TRACE Sport Stars provides an intimate and in-depth understanding of the much loved international champions, their passions, commitments and their secrets 24/7. The channel will also delve into the lives of prominent sport legends who have made a significant difference in the history of sport.

“We are delighted about the new partnership with OpenView HD. Viewers will get the opportunity to know the real stories behind the sport stars they admire”, said, Leo Manne TRACE Senior Vice President Southern Africa.

Talented media personalities and presenters from the local and international entertainment industry will host different shows on TRACE Sport Stars. Popular London blogger Craig Mitch, together with the up and coming presenter Maya Jama and sports presenter Layla Anna-Lee, will host the show Star Rated. Star Rated takes the biggest stars in the world of sport and rates them to find out who’s at the top of their game. Who’s the coolest male sport star? Which footballer holds the craziest parties? Who will be crowned the sexiest WAG of all time?

Exceptional personal trainer and TV presenter Lisa Raleigh, and South African male model, actor and television presenter Maps Maponyane present an insight into the world of World Cups in the 101 World Cups and 101 Exercises To Do Before You Die.

The Ultimate Sport Survival Guide is presented by the witty TRACE Sport Star presenter Will Best. The show uses hilarious home video clips to show the funny perils that await exercise enthusiasts. It provides useless tips on how to avoid injuries such as don’t ever stand directly behind someone holding a golf club.
Catch all the latest updates and interviews on TRACE Sports Stars (channel 154), on OpenView HD.

NIKEiD LAUNCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA WITH NIKE.COM

Nike.com and NikeiD will go live in South Africa on May 25. A 24-hours-a-day store, Nike.com is accessible through mobile, computer and device, giving athletes an all access pass to the best of Nike, including apparel, footwear and Nike+ services, to help them become better athletes*.

From gearing up for race day and looking to conquer a PR this year, Nike’s latest running innovations include the new Lunar Epic Flyknit.
Starting a new training regimen? The latest training tights, tees and tanks will help you reach your goals.

Looking for the perfect street to gym look? Check out the latest from Nike Sportswear.

From the football pitch to small-sided games, Nike has you covered.
Beyond products, Nike.com will offer the best of Nike+ services including Nike+, NTC (Nike+ Training Club), NRC (Nike+ Run Club), along with local insights into an active lifestyle from Nike’s community of expert running coach and trainers.

NikeiD will also enable consumers to customize clothing, shoes and accessories purchased through Nike.com.

*If you have a body, you are an athlete.

All bouquets catered for UEFA CL final: SuperSport #UCL

Every platform, every bouquet, every angle.

SuperSport is lifting the football game of the year to even greater heights with unprecedented levels of coverage.

Next Saturday’s much-awaited Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be available on all DStv bouquets from Premium through to GOtv.

And for those unable to watch the television broadcast, live streaming will be available on supersport.com, plus the SuperSport and DStv Now apps.

Snappy TV, via Twitter, will offer social media highlights, plus there will be live updates on supersport.com and long- and short-form highlights available on the CatchUp service.

Liverpool legend John Barnes will be part of the studio build-up while analysts Andy Townsend and Neil Andrews will be reporting live from Stadio San Siro ahead of the 8.45pm kickoff.

The studio build-up will start at 7.30pm for the English-speaking channels (Select SA and Select Go SA join late due to live sport) and at 8pm for the Portuguese channels

The countdown to the big match (SS 3/3A/3N) will begin next Thursday with a season review with highlights from every match through to the semifinals.

Next Friday, past finals will be highlighted.

There will also be five-minute highlights of every Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid match in the Champions League this season from 5.30pm on match-day ahead of the big game.

The match will be on the following channels:

SS 3/3A/3N
Select South Africa
Select Go South Africa
SS 11A/11N
Select 1
Go 1
Maximo 1
Max 360

Meanwhile, the battle for footballing supremacy will centre on the Spanish capital of Madrid when the city’s two foremost teams clash for the highest honour on the continent on May 28.

Real Madrid and fierce rivals Atletico meet for the second time in three seasons in the Champions League decider as they ensure Spanish dominance of the competition continues with a third successive win for the country.

Atletico were seconds away from claiming the title in 2014, but after Sergio Ramos equalised for Real in the third minute of injury time, the latter ran away with the game in extra-time to win 4-1.

Revenge would be sweet for Atletico manager Diego Simeone, who never won the Champions League during an illustrious playing career that included over 100 caps for Argentina and 15 years in Europe’s top leagues.

But stopping Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and James Rodríguez has been a task many have found impossible this season, with Real coach Zinedine Zidane hoping Champions League glory will prolong his stay in the Bernabeu hot seat after missing out on the Spanish La Liga.

Real are seeking to extend their record of 10 Champions League trophy wins, while Atletico have yet to lift the trophy after final losses in 1974 and 2014.

The time has come for answers from SANRAL: AA

Today (17 May) marks the end of the extended period for Gauteng motorists to pay their outstanding historic e-toll accounts at a reduced rate of 60 percent, in relation to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

In May last year, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 60% reduction as an incentive to get more Gauteng motorists to settle their historic debt with the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL). This offer expired on 2 May but was extended until today by Transport Minister Dipuo Peters.

“Following the announcement of the discounts, and now the subsequent extension, we believe it is an opportune time to assess the success of the e-toll system in so far as motorists who have paid their accounts. These numbers should indicate, once and for all, what the uptake of e-tolls in Gauteng has been, and therefore provide concrete evidence as to what extent it has been accepted or rejected in the province,” the AA said.

To this end, the AA calls on SANRAL to answer the following questions:

1. How many of the 4.5 million registered vehicles in Gauteng are making use of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP)?
2. How many of these vehicles have been e-tagged?
3. Of the total vehicles using the GFIP how many have paid, and how many accounts are outstanding?
4. How many motorists have taken up the 60% discount offer, and settled their historic debt with SANRAL?
5. How many motorists have taken up the 60% discount offer, and made arrangements to settle their accounts with SANRAL?
6. How much money has been collected since the introduction of e-tolling in December 2013?
7. Of the money collected, how much has been retained for the management of the collections and collections infrastructure, and how much of it has gone to servicing SANRAL’s road-related debt and road development?
8. How much money does SANRAL believe it has lost through non-compliance of e-toll payments?
9. If SANRAL intends issuing summonses on all outstanding accounts, as it has indicated it will, how long does it anticipate this process taking to reach its conclusion?

“Since the inception of e-tolling in Gauteng, many numbers have been bandied about regarding the uptake, or lack thereof, by the Gauteng motoring public. By providing clear, and indisputable answers to the above questions, SANRAL has the opportunity to prove its assertion that Gauteng motorists have begun paying their debt and are, by extension, beginning to accept the system,” the AA noted.

The AA said should the numbers however prove to remain low at the end of this discount campaign, it will be a clear indication that motorists have voted with their wallets.

“If this is the case, then it will prove, that Gauteng motorists have rejected e-tolling and the costs associated with the collection of debts. Regardless of the result, there is an urgent need for a solution, one way or another, to bring closure to this messy saga which appears to have no end in sight,” the AA concluded.

Johnnie Walker Green Label is back!

Johnnie Walker, the number one Scotch whisky in the world, is reintroducing its much-loved blended malt Scotch whisky because of popular demand.

Johnnie Walker Green Label is crafted from malt whiskies from classic distilleries across Scotland that have been matured for a minimum of 15 years. Since 2012 its sales had been restricted but Johnnie Walker said it was bringing the blend back into its range in South Africa as well as globally.

Marketing Manager for the Reserve Portfolio at Diageo; Vongani Chinkanda said: “Johnnie Walker Green Label has always had a following and we have listened to our consumers and are responding to popular demand to reintroduce the blend and we’re thrilled to be able to respond to that. Johnnie Walker Green Label is an exceptional whisky which is a tribute to the craftsmanship of our blenders and their great skill in selecting and blending malt whiskies to deliver a rich, multi-dimensional and balanced flavour profile.”

Johnnie Walker Green Label is a blend of only malt whiskies, with no grain whisky content. It is crafted from a palette of Speyside, Highland, Lowland and Island malts, delivering all the character of a single malt whisky, but with a greater depth and wider flavour experience.

The unique flavour profile of Johnnie Walker Green Label is a result of the careful balancing of four key signature styles, represented by Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore and Caol Ila.

Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender, said: “The challenge of Johnnie Walker Green Label is to have a wide flavour spectrum from malts matured for at least 15 years in American and European Oak, ensuring that those flavours really complement each other and work in harmony to create a blend of great complexity which, at its heart, is true to the Johnnie Walker style of big and bold flavours with a signature smokiness.

“Crafting this blend is all about making the aromas more pronounced and vibrant, allowing us to shape a blend that has the depth of character which just isn’t possible from one malt whisky alone.”

Johnnie Walker Green Label has won a string of international awards including Double Gold and Best Blended Scotch at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in both 2006 and 2007.

Johnnie Walker Green Label will be available during May 2016 with a recommended retail price of R649. 95 for a bottle.  Look out for it in stores from around 16 May.

Celebrate the golden spirit with Whisky Live Pretoria

Whisky Live presents the Pretoria Whisky Live Celebration in partnership with Jacaranda FM and the Pretoria News at Brooklyn Square (top level parkade, Middle Street entrance) from 2 – 4 June 2016. The event is open from 18h00 until 22h00 daily and visitors can expect a range of whiskies – from single malt Scotch to Blends, Bourbon to Irish – presented by knowledgeable and passionate whisky experts.

Highland and Speyside Single Malts take centre stage, including a return to the Whisky Live circuit by Dalmore: try the Cigar Malt Reserve and look for notes of cinnamon, vanilla, red fruits and toffee. Taste golden drams of Glenmorangie and savour the distinctive quality of The Macallan, Harvey Spectre of Suits’ whisky of choice.

Expert connoisseur, Jonathan Miles will present the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Balvenie range, while the Glenfiddich Original is also on offer: a unique, limited edition that embodies the brand’s rich heritage, presented by Luthando Jezz Tibini, Glenfiddich’s charismatic National Brand Ambassador. Sample Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet, Glen Grant and The Singleton of Dufftown, as well as the premium range from the House of Walker – if you’ve never had the luxury of tasting Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Platinum or Blue, now is your chance!

The Whisky Academy will also be presenting a range of lesser-known Whisky gems, including Kilchoman and Glenfarclas: the Glenfarclas 60-year old – one of only 360 bottles which retails for over R360 000 each – will be on display at Norman Goodfellows at the show, together with a range of Whiskies for sale. Wolfburn Single MaIt Scotch Whisky arrives in South Africa just in time to debut at Whisky Live. It was bottled at the beginning of March 2016 at the Wolfburn Distillery, which until now has been closed for over 130 years.

Lovers of peaty Whisky are in for a treat with Bowmore Small Batch and Laphroaig Select, two brand new peated malts of distinction, available for sampling. Taste Whyte and Mackay’s Jura Prophecy (look for cinnamon and sea spray undertones after its peaty kick) and compare it with the unchill-filtered and extraordinarily smooth premium Islay Single Malt, Bunnahahbain. Highland Park is another delightfully peaty Whisky available for sampling.

Proving the diversity of the “water of life”, the sexily-packaged and boldly spicy Bulleit Bourbon is guaranteed to make an impact. Another newcomer to Whisky Live, Wild Turkey, is also available for sampling. If bold Bourbon or powerful peat does not appeal, then ease into the evening with the famously triple-distilled Jameson or multi-award winning Bushmills, the oldest licenced distillery in the world, to experience the proud tradition of smoothness and richness synonymous with their whiskey portfolio.

Don’t end your Irish sojourn without trying Pernod-Ricard’s delectable range of the Irish Potstills of Midleton including Yellow Spot, Green Spot, Midleton and Powers John’s Lane.

The 100% South African, multi-award winning Whiskies, Three Ships and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, will be presented by the knowledgeable Distell team. Three Ships will be offering a sneak-preview taste of the Three Ships 10-year old to be launched later this year.

Blends are on the rise globally and at Whisky Live. Taste the Glenbrynth range from the 3-year old to the 21-year old, while Black Bottle will surprise and delight with a21st century taste poured from a charming bottle replicating the original design first produced by Aberdeen tea blenders in 1879.

Grant’s brand ambassador, Tshepo Pitjeng will be presenting the Grant’s 18-year old, which was a hit at the 2015 Whisky Live Festival in Sandton when it launched. Big news on the blends front is the new range of Scottish Cousin blends, a 5-, 8- and 12-year old – born from a love for Whisky by the “Fifth Cousin” (of van Loveren’s Four Cousins fame) who is of fourth generation Scottish ancestry!

Tickets for this not-to-be-missed Whisky Live Celebration are R220 each at www.ticketpros.co.za or R250 at the door – while tickets last – and include 15 whisky tasting vouchers, a glass and a 500ml Valpré Spring Water.

Download the Whizzky app, answer a few questions and get five additional tasting vouchers on the night. Return your voucher card on exit and receive a 2016 SA Whisky Handbook worth R75. For more information visit www.whiskylive.co.za or email
info@whiskylive.co.za .

Whisky Live supports responsible drinking through partnerships with Uber and 1 For the Road. Breathalysers are also available at the show. All visitors receive a 500ml Valpré Spring Water. No under 18s allowed.

Five Essential Benefits A Good HR Solution Should Offer

By Synergy Group CEO, Ashley Regenass



South African organisations face enormous challenges in improving efficiencies and cost control in their HR departments. One common problem is that HR departments spend too much time on administrative tasks and managing compliance at the expense of supporting managers in developing employee potential.



Another issue is that managers lack visibility into employee productivity and cost, which leads to poor estimates of labour costs in turn and eroding profits and competitiveness. For many mid-market enterprises, much of the difficulty in taking more control over the HR function lies in the fact that they rely on poorly integrated systems and cumbersome business processes.



These are all challenges we are grappling with inside our own business, which is why we have decided to implement Sage HR Management to modernise our HR processes and business systems. We looked at five core requirements for a new solution before we made our choice.



1.     Modern technology platform



Understanding that we wanted to take advantage of the latest trends such as mobility, we needed a business solution with a modern architecture. It would need to be flexible and modular, allowing us to introduce new features and functionality at a pace that would be comfortable for our business. It would also need to be simple and fast to implement and configure.



2.     Integration



Too many mid-sized businesses still store HR data in siloes. Outdated HR systems with loose or no integration with accounting and ERP systems create inefficiencies across the organisation and hamper visibility into business trends. The tight integration of Sage ERP X3 and Sage HR Management was, therefore, a big plus for us as a Sage ERP X3 user. A company with unified financial and HR data benefits from accurate and exhaustive data for all its employees, and this is core to improving productivity.



With Sage HR Management, we’ll have a complete HR solution that integrates with our ERP system, giving us a real-time view into HR productivity and costs.



That’s critically important to us since we are a consulting firm and our people’s time and expertise is the main product we sell. An integrated HR package will also help us reduce the need to recapture data across functions such as payroll, hiring, on-boarding and retaining talent, and statutory reporting.



3.     Tighter control



We wanted to empower our managers with unified HR and financial data that would allow them to forecast present and future costs while streamlining operations with automated workflows. Thus, we looked for a solution that automates processes from end to end. Sage HR Management also provides powerful tools for managing workflows and enforcing business rules.



4.     Better compliance and visibility



Gaining visibility of HR performance is a growing challenge, especially for mid-sized businesses. A related challenge is statutory reporting.  We wanted a solution that would provide a global, accurate real-time view of HR budget, workforce costs and performance, enabling faster, better-informed operational decisions. With its dashboards and analytic tools, Sage HR Management will give us greater visibility into the business so we can make better decisions.



It will also support us in managing internal processes as well as storing and accessing critical documentation.



5.     Employee engagement



Companies around the world agree that employee engagement is vital, and especially so in an industry such as ours where the best skills are in high demand. For us, implementing an HR solution should therefore focus as much on HR service delivery as it does on improving efficiencies.  Sage HR Management will give us powerful tools such as self-service HR services (via the web or a mobile device) for ensuring higher employee retention and engagement. It will also help us to manage employee development with faster and simpler access to skills and performance information.



We considered it especially important to give managers mobile access to key performance indicators and operational performance data. Providing web access to core HR data to managers - on any device and on any browser - giving them the freedom to take decisions from any location.

Vuzu Amp In Hunt For Mzansi's Next Big Star: The Hustle

M-Net’s premier youth channel, Vuzu AMP is proud to announce DJ Sam ‘Sammy Sosa’ Lehoko as the host for The Hustle talent show.

The vibrant TV and radio personality with extensive experience will be on the driver’s seat in the quest to find the ultimate hip-hop hustler.  Having worked at a youth radio station Sammy understands youth culture and is an inspiration to many. Her blossoming and successful television journey makes her the perfect choice to host The Hustle. She has just the right amount of spunk, a good ear for music and most of all an undying love for hip-hop.

“South Africa is filled with amazing talent waiting to be discovered, I’m so excited to be on the forefront of a show that will see young people transformed. This is history in the making and will be a step into the music industry for the winner. I’m looking forward to the experience and seeing someone become an overnight success because of their God given talent and really just pursuing their dreams” says Sammy Sosa.  

The Hustle continues its mission to discover the underground kings and queens of the rap game, entries remain open until the 15 May 2015.

How does one enter? Simply record a 15 second video busting the hottest rhymes, follow @vuzutv on Instagram and submit your video on Instagram with the hashtag #Vuzuhustle.

Contestants must be between the ages of 18-26.

The hunt for the ultimate hip-hop head continues. Join Sammy Sosa as she gears up for the search… The Hustle, coming to Vuzu AMP soon!

For more information will check out their website: www.vuzu.tv

What To Consider When Opting For A Linked Credit Card

While taking on the responsibility of assisting your partner with paying off their debt should be carefully considered, having an additional linked card* when you move in together or get married can actually prove to be a handy tool in managing household and shared finances.

“We have seen continued growth in the number of linked credit card applications. We currently have a quarter of our customers who have linked an additional card to their account. This suggests that more households see this as a good way to manage joint finances,” says Chris Labuschagne, CEO of FNB Credit Card.

Using a credit card for household expenses is a simple and effective way of paying and keeping track of all shared expenses, such as groceries, household maintenance and electricity. It is however important for individuals to clearly understand the difference between a linked credit card and a standalone credit card, and the pros and cons of each before entering into a credit agreement.

With a standalone credit card you are the only authorised user on the account and you will be responsible for all debt incurred on the account.

Similarly with a linked credit card, the requirement to repay the debt falls solely on the main accountholder’s shoulders.

However, the convenience of a linked credit card for ring-fenced spending and shared access to credit can outweigh the risk if you take a few simple precautions such as setting a low limit on the linked credit card to avoid abuse, enabling transaction notifications for ongoing updates on all transactions and ensuring that your linked credit card account holder is responsible enough to be given the responsibility of a credit card.

“The success of such an account depends on the level of trust and transparency in the relationship and the ground rules that are put in place,” says Labuschagne.  “Before you decide on a linked account, sit down and agree how you will run your linked cards”.

There are naturally pros and cons to consider.

Pro: An easy way to pay household accounts
Having cards linked to a household credit card account is the easiest way to keep the household up and running. Draw up a list of all the purchases and costs that are generally incurred in order to run the household.

Pro: Detailed credit card statement
 “Your transactional history can be accessed via your bank’s digital banking platforms. These are handy tools when you are budgeting and allocating expenses,” says Labuschagne.

Every swipe is recorded which means it is easy to reconcile at the end of the month.

“The smallest purchases such as bread and milk at the garage, will all be recorded. Using your credit card statement every month to add them up will give you a true reflection of your household expenditure.”

Most banks, including FNB will also give a detailed statement of purchases and summarised amount of each card on one statement. This makes it easy to see how much was spent by each individual.

Pro: Let it rain rewards
Migrating some of the spending you would have done as an individual, such as groceries, on to an account that you both use means that you have the opportunity to earn more rewards.

Most banks offer rewards programmes with their credit cards that give subscribers access to a range of products and services. According to Labuschagne, rewards programmes can prove invaluable, particularly in tough months.

“Swiping together on a credit card means that you are earning more points, which can be used to purchase items such as groceries and electricity. The saving made from buying these items with your rewards points can be used to fund other expenses or it can be used to pay off your debt faster.”

Cons: Covering the debt in a break up
In the event of a break up or a fall out, the main account holder will remain responsible for outstanding debt without any responsibility placed on the partner who held the linked card.

Build up a buffer for this in your savings account or ensure that your credit is paid in full in order to avoid this risk all together.

“If managed well, there is no reason to steer clear of a linked credit card. The benefits that you could enjoy such as more control over household spending, rewards and embedded services such as roadside assistance and travelling lounges often far outweigh the concerted effort of making sure that you manage the account well,” concludes Labuschagne.

*Note that adding an additional card to an account is likely to result in a small additional monthly card fee. - FNB Press Release

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