SABC Education African EduWeek Awards

The country’s leading teachers, suppliers, institutions and education professionals will be recognised and celebrated at the inaugural African EduWeek Awards that will take place at Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg on 1 July. It forms part of the ninth annual SABC Education African EduWeek, which is expected to gather more than 4000 teaching professionals and more than 120 local and international exhibitors at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.

“We regard the launch of the African EduWeek Awards as long overdue”, says event director Tanya Jackman. “The awards aim to recognise excellence across the education ecosystem. From the inception of the most innovative and life-changing products and/or services to our local heroes who go above and beyond to assist their communities and the lives of our precious learners.”



She adds: “it is gratifying to see how much excitement these awards have already created in the sector. We plan a beautiful, glamorous, sold-out evening, fit to honour and celebrate those organisations, companies, teachers and education professionals who have been responsible for pioneering new frontiers, pushing boundaries, for inspiring others and for achieving growth in education in Africa.”

“We remain an event for the education sector and by the education sector”, she continues, “and invite all teaching professionals on the continent to send us their nominations and we look forward to sharing their triumphs with their peers.”

Global education and publishing giant Pearson is the leading sponsor for the awards. “As an education company, contributing towards uplifting and recognizing the great success of some of the great work that the nominees have put towards making a difference in education is an honour to us.”, says Riaan Jonck, CEO of Pearson Education. “We hope to not only acknowledge the great work that has been done, but to further inspire them and others to keep going for a South Africa that we can be really proud of in the future.”

We also look forward to sharing our Award-giving platform with Argo, a multi-media solutions provider who will be presenting two awards on the night.

The Stars in Education Teachers Award honours our teachers, who inspire both learners and their communities. The campaign is organised by Argo who have partnered with the leading education publisher, Pearson South Africa, to honour and celebrate our teachers who go beyond the call of duty to inspire others. The national campaign has been profiled for 6 months on Metro FM, Mindset TV, leading education digital and social media platforms and supported by NGO’s to encourage teachers to enter and vote for each other.

The Future Stars Award recognises our youth and encourages them to believe in the power of education to change their world. The campaign is also organised by Argo Marketing, who believe in partnerships to inspire impact. CTI and MGI are the leading education providers for youth, and are invested in the future of South Africa. The national campaign has been profiled on Mindset TV, the leading youth event, SABC Education Career Indaba, as well as www.sastudy.co.za , www.studentbrands.co.za and social media to encourage youth to believe in themselves and apply early to get ahead for the future. The winners will also be announced at African EduWeek at a glittering evening to celebrate achievement in education.

Award Categories:



Awards for suppliers and/or distributors



Presented to suppliers and/or distributors that supply education establishments with high quality, safe products appropriate to every day teaching and learning needs.



Categories:



-          Basic Education

-          Higher Education

-          Early Childhood Development

-          Special Needs

-          ICT



Innovation Product Award

This award will be given to a product or service that demonstrates clearly that is new, original and ahead of current thinking.





Awards for teachers, schools and education professionals



Environment Award
This award aims to recognise those institutions or individuals that can demonstrate a positive impact either within their school or community of their sustainable initiatives either by increasing environmental awareness or by positively contributing to a more sustainable approach.



Community Award

This award will be presented to an educational establishment or individual who can demonstrate real value to the community it serves through the most imaginative attempt to aid the wider community socially, culturally or economically.



NGO of the Year

This award will be presented to a non-governmental organisations that can demonstrate real value to the community it serves through the most imaginative attempt to aid the wider community socially, culturally or economically.

Hospitality Sector's Minimum Wage Increased

South Africa’s Hospitality Sector minimum wage has been adjusted upward with effect from 1 July 2015.

The change in the minimum wage is in line with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) which empowers Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant to adjust wages in the sector.

According to the Department of Labour, the new minimum wage will be applicable until 30 June 2016.

In terms of the new Sectoral Determination, the minimum wages for employers with 10 or less employees the rates will apply as follows: Monthly R2 760,59 (2015/2016) from R2 601,88 (2014/15), Weekly R637,10 (2015/16) from R600,48 (2014/2015) and Hourly rates will be adjusted to R14,15 (2015/16) from R13,34 in (2014/2015).

The new minimum wages for employers with 10 or more employees it will apply as follows: Monthly rates will increase to R3 076,98 (2015/16) from R2 900,08 in (2014/2015), Weekly R710,12 (2015/16) from R669,30 (2014/2015) and Hourly rates will be adjusted to R15,77 from R14,87 in (2014/2015).

The Sectoral Determination covers any commercial business or part of a commercial business in which employers and workers are associated for the purpose of carrying on or conducting one or more of the following activities for reward in a hotel, motel, inn, resort, game lodge, hostel, guest house, guest farm or bed and breakfast establishment including short stay accommodation, self-catering, timeshares, camps, and caravan parks.

It also includes restaurants, pubs, taverns, cafés, tearooms, coffee shops, fast food outlets, snack bars, industrial or commercial caterers, function caterers, contract caterers and includes all activities or operations incidental to or subsequent on any of the activities mentioned above.

The Hospitality Sector Sectoral Determination excludes workers and employers involved in the trade of letting of flats, rooms and/or houses.

It also excludes all workers and employers covered by another Sectoral Determination in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. It further excludes areas that are covered by a Statutory Council or a Bargaining Council.

The current wage increases have been determined by utilising the CPI (excluding owners’ equivalent rent) reported by Stats SA in April 2015.

The current level of CPI is 4.6%. The minimum wage increases is therefore determined by adding 4.6% plus 1.5% as stated in the current Sectoral Determination. The total increase is 6.1%.

– SAnews.gov.za

Forbes Names 100 Most Powerful Women

Forbes magazine has released their annual list of the world’s most powerful women.

The list features some powerful women in politics, multinational corporations, finance, philanthropy, education and entertainment.

A lot didn’t change about the list from last year as Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel made it to number one again which brought her tally at poll position to nine times.

American presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton is on Merkel’s tail at number two while Michelle Obama rounded up the top 10.

Other familiar faces and names include Oprah Winfrey who sits at number twelve and Beyoncé who is positioned at number 21 while Angelina Jolie, Sofia Vergara, Taylor Swift and Shakira took the 54th, 57th, 64th and 81st positions respectively.

The first female president of an African state Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf just made it at 96.

Media Giants Caxton Launch Caxton TV

Caxton has officially launched its latest offering, Caxton TV. At an event at its offices in Randburg the media group unveiled more details about its new venture. Michael Bratt attended the event and spoke to the role-players.

Before the announcement Anton Botes, general manager of Caxton Magazines, said, “Caxton is very bullish about its magazines and brand.” He also revealed the three pillars which underpin the media group’s business: client facing, solutions and, at the top of the agenda, innovation.

Explaining how the idea for Caxton TV came about Clive Vandervagen, head of client strategy at Caxton Magazines, said, “We looked at how magazines still matter. They are an emotional buy. But we wanted to put our money where our mouth is and expand our great content further through the creation of Caxton Television.” He went on to say that when Caxton says television, it is not only on the big screen but also through videos for the internet and mobile phones.

The first programme created under the Caxton TV banner aired in the last week of April. It was called Bona Mo, a creation that was associated with Bona Magazine. This particular magazine was chosen as a tie in because it was the easiest to roll out as it is uniquely South African. Bona Mo, which was paid for by Unilever, has already seen positive results with Unilever seeing a massive increase in entrants into the competition which it promoted through the programme. As with the Bona Mo campaign, going forward HB Pictures is partnering with Caxton to produce the video content.

Vandervagen explained that a partnership with HB Pictures was important because venturing into video content is expensive, but it is necessary. When asked why HB Pictures was chosen as a partner, Vandervagen said they came in with the most competitive price when requests were put out for quotes.

For the Bona Mo campaign, Debbie McIntyre, head of insights at Caxton Magazines, said the idea was to run content across multiple platforms including Bona Magazine, social media, Caxton’s website and TV. Future campaigns may also run using this approach. However she added that, “to run every single campaign across every single platform is expensive so most of the time we will tailor content for the most suitable platform”. However the production of video by Caxton is not completely new. The media group had previously created videos for Clover and Knorr.

Vandervagen explained why Caxton’s new offering will appeal to its clients. “We will create bespoke content for television and online using our brands to speak about your brands. There is credibility associated with our brands.” During the launch Caxton used the tagline, “It’s not our history that sets us apart, it’s our future.” Vandervagen concluded the launch by saying that Caxton was not launching television because it likes television but because it loves its magazine brands. He said the group believes it will enhance its magazine content, which is its primary focus, by offering it across multiple platforms.

Aside from its new TV offering, Caxton has three of the top five most read magazines in South Africa under its stable, including the only publication that is written in four different languages, Bona magazine. The media house also recently created an Insights Department to improve the client facing pillar and to deliver solutions. McIntyre, who runs the new division, says it is running effectively because, “We have a great balance between experience and youth.” She also emphasised multiple times that the department has a lot of resources, which are drawn on, to ensure that the needs of clients are fully met and exceeded. - The Media Online

Famous Brands Revenue Soars

South Africans may be feeling the financial pinch, but they’re still willing, and able to spend their hard-earned cash on fast food and eating out.

This is reflected in Famous Brands’ strong year-end results, which show that the franchisor grew revenue for the 14th consecutive year.

On Monday, the group, which owns fast food and beverage brands including Steers, Debonairs, Tasha’s, Mugg & Bean and House of Coffees, reported increased revenue and operating profits that grew by 16% and 19% respectively during the financial year ending 28 February.

Famous Brands opened 258 new restaurants over the year and ran at a “best-ever” 20,5% operating margin, while headline earnings grew to 467 cents per share, up by 15%.

“This strong set of results, delivered in extremely testing trading conditions, is a reflection of robust system-wide sales by the franchised brand portfolio and continued improvement in efficiencies and cost containment in the logistics and manufacturing divisions,” said group CEO Kevin Hedderwick.

Famous Brands has franchise divisions in this country, across Africa and the UK, as well as operations in the Middle East.

“Across the group’s total franchise network system-wide sales (which include new restaurants opened) increased 10%, while like-on-like sales grew 4%. A record number of 258 new restaurants were opened across the brand portfolio, bringing the total restaurant network to 2 545. During the period 160 restaurants were revamped,” Hedderwick said.
“Furthermore, our ambition is to expand the group’s presence in the table-service evening-dining environment, which affords strong growth opportunities for the business. Supplementing an internal focus on existing brands with offerings relevant to this market, management will also continue to explore suitable acquisition opportunities related specifically to this dining occasion.”

The group plans to up its Africa expansion strategy, planning to open 35 new restaurants on the continent, including a first-time entry into Ghana.

Hedderwick does, however, warn that weak economic growth and political and labour uncertainty will continue to put pressure on consumer spending.

“In this context, growth in the forthcoming period is expected to be muted,” he said.

Additional reporting: News24Wire

Eastern Cape To Get Free Wi-Fi

The Eastern Cape will be getting free WiFi in the near future thanks to non-profit organisation Project Isizwe, run by Alan Knott-Craig jnr.

The group previously made free WiFi a possibility in Tshwane in 2013.

New projects in Tshwane are underway, with the introduction of an internet TV service, as well as an instant messaging platform.

According to a report by Businesstech.com, the service is now available in 96 Wards with 575 live sites. Project Isizwe has 161 577 users, up from just 1 567 in 2013.

Tshwane mayor Kgosiento Ramokgopa confirmed in early May that more than 1800 new areas would be deployed for free WiFi.

The NGO confirmed to iAfrica.com that the for the free WiFi initiative launch in the Eastern Cape will be June 17 this year.

Knott-Craig jnr, said, “The Eastern Cape is ideal because it is as rural as you get and densely populated. Until we solve connectivity problem there, SA will always have a problem. The idea is for the Department of Higher Education to deploy free Wi-Fi on campus and for surrounding communities (where students live) throughout the country”.

Understanding Shares

By Strive Masiyiwa

When I was still only 17 years old, I asked an elderly gentleman who was a headmaster at a school, about buying shares on a stock exchange. He was not particularly rich, but every day he would get a newspaper and begin to look at the stock prices, in much the same way many of you read the sports news.

"Do you need to be very rich to buy shares?" I asked him.
"Not really. Here in England, even working class people, like me, can also buy shares, if they know what they are doing."
"Can you teach me, sir?"
"Of course, I can. Why don't we start you trading right away!"
"But I have no money!"
He told me to bring a clean note book, which would act as my book on buying and selling stock.

"Let's create a fictitious £1000, as your share buying account.
Now what I want you to do is to choose some companies, and pretend you have bought some shares, using your money. And every day you must check how your companies are doing."

In less than half an hour, I was studying the stock prices of companies, and choosing which ones to buy with my £1000. I carefully wrote down which ones I liked.
Soon I was checking every day, how I was doing.

"The trick is to get to know your businesses. Remember you have "shares" which means you are a part owner in these businesses." He said to me gently.
Before long, I had become disciplined in checking prices of "my companies", because I had a "share" holding in these companies. If I heard anything mentioned about these companies, I was quick to check.

"Do your research, son; you must know "your" businesses. Those big managers, they work for you... Its your business, not just theirs."
Soon I was passionately debating companies with him, and others...just like some of you discuss sports scores. Only these scores could make me money!

When my companies were not doing well I would get distressed, and if they did well I got excited. If they paid a dividend, I recorded it in my book.
"Easy, isn't it?"
"Very easy, sir."
"You will be a millionaire one day."
"I hope so sir."
That was a long time ago.
There is an expression in my mother tongue, which literally translated means, "don't fear from a distance."

But you know I prefer bible:
"My people perish for lack of knowledge."
There are people coming from far and wide to buy shares in your country, who will make money from opportunities at your door step. Via Facebook

Africa's Top Twenty

1. Africa’s mobile industry is a success story that remains one of the best investment opportunities on the continent, with subscription numbers set to jump by 50% to 930 million by 2019, according to Sweden’s Ericsson. Penetration rates have exploded faster than anywhere else in the world, climbing to more than 75% by the middle of last year from around 1% in 2000 – fast closing in on the global rate of more than 90%. Revenues from the industry are set to rise from $60 billion in 2012 to $119 billion by 2020, which will be around 8% of Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP), higher than comparable regions. The industry’s also an important employment-creator: jobs generated are expected to rise from 3,3 million at present to 6,6 million in 2020. The trend’s largely been driven by rising incomes and falling costs, while mobile telephony has leap-frogged over fixed-line coverage. Mobile payments are also booming, with money transfers set to exceed $200 billion this year. Kenya’s biggest mobile operator, Safricam, has an annual transaction volume equivalent to one-quarter of the country’s GDP, while Zimbabwe’s Econet offers the cheapest services in the world and has become the first telecoms company in sub-Saharan Africa.


2. The value of African share offerings last year surged to $11 billion – roughly the same amount raised over the previous two years – while the capital raised through initial public offerings (IPOs) more than doubled to $1,7 billion, compared with 2013. The rapid pace of increase is being driven by the expansion of the continent’s economies, which have notched up average growth of 5,5% over the past 20 years, making Africa the second-fastest-growing region in the world, after Asia. Liberalisation of stock exchange regulations, together with regional harmonisation, have also been key. SA remains dominant, but only accounted for 44% of total IPO capital raised in 2014, as investor appetite for other markets on the continent improved.

3. Africa’s middle class is booming, offering an increasingly attractive market for consumer goods and services provided by both global and domestic companies. Consumer spending already accounts for nearly two-thirds of the continent’s gross domestic product and is expected to double to $1 trillion by 2020, reaching $2,2 trillion by 2030. There are already 900 million consumers in Africa and the region’s total population is expected to more than double to 2,4 billion by 2050, making it bigger than that of either India or China. Estimates vary, but Standard Bank believes the number of middle-class households in 11 key sub-Saharan African countries rocketed to 15 million from 4,6 million in 2000. The total’s expected to grow to 40 million households by 2030.

4. Confidence isn’t an issue for Ugandan Proscovia Oromait, who became Africa’s youngest Member of Parliament in 2012 at the age of 19, after winning the Usuk County election for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the Ugandan government with more than 54% of the vote. The youngest legislator in the world at that time, Oromait decided to run for the Parliamentary seat previously filled by her father a few months after he died. However, she isn’t exactly following in his footsteps – he wasn’t a member of the NRM, but was an independent, and her focus is on the environment, education, health policy and gender issues. Opposition parties scornfully described her ascent as “juvenile politics”, but in a country where nearly half the population are under 25, it can be argued that she’s ideally positioned to reflect the views of Ugandans. At present she’s juggling her Parliamentary duties with studying for a Bachelor of Mass Communications degree at Uganda Christian University near Kampala.

5. Nigeria’s Nollywood has become one of the continent’s best-known phenomena since it evolved into a booming industry in the late 1990s, gaining markets in the country and elsewhere. It’s now the world’s second-largest film industry after India and ahead of the USA, valued at more than $7 billion, or around 1,4% of the economy (excluding the black market). Hollywood films have been nudged off the shelves, outsold by Nigerian productions in the country and distributed in some of the most remote areas on the continent, despite their relatively higher prices. Around 1 200 movies are produced annually in genres ranging from action to romance, gospel and horror. Some attribute their appeal to a greater family orientation, although the use of English – rather than local languages – has helped fuel their success.

6. Work is underway to transform Kenya’s booming information and communication technology (ICT) sector into a purpose-built hub dubbed the “silicon savannah”, with a price tag of $14,5 billion. The government hopes Konza Techno City, which is being built on 2 023ha of land 64km south of Nairobi, will create 200 000 jobs in business outsourcing by the time it’s completed in 2019. With Konza hosting a science park, convention centre, hotels and international schools, the long-term aim is to make it a world-class destination for ICT business, education and research. Kenya’s made solid headway towards achieving this ambitious goal: the country’s ICT sector already contributed 12% to GDP last year, compared with 9% in 2006. Critics say the techno city’s being placed too far from existing tech labs in Nairobi, but the World Bank’s funding the construction of a dual-carriage highway between the two centres, while China’s Huawei Technologies and Korea’s Samsung have already committed to a presence there.

7. The increasing number of Africans who’ve come up with home-grown innovations and inventions which could benefit the continent can showcase their ingenuity at Maker Faire Africa, an annual event which aims to identify, support and propagate their work.  Launched in 2009, it’s been held in Accra (Ghana), Nairobi, Cairo (Egypt), Lagos (Nigeria) and Johannesburg, displaying ideas to tackle challenges in agriculture, health, education and power relevant to tiny African villages or big urban centres. In 2012, four teenage schoolgirls won international acclaim for inventing an electricity generator that runs on urine – not a completely new idea, but one with huge potential for a region where many people lack electricity and power shortages have become a way of life. Other innovations have ranged from corn-planters to machines for making rope from grass, a prototype for solar-powered traffic lights and craft jewellery from discarded bones.

One of Africa’s homegrown creations.

8. Mosunmola Abudu is often described as ‘Africa’s Oprah Winfrey’, but the glamorous Nigerian talk show host, TV producer, human resources management consultant and entrepreneur may have accomplished even more. Her TV talk show, Moments With Mo, was the first of its kind on African regional TV when it was launched in 2006 and is now available to eight million viewers across 48 countries. In addition to showcasing Africa, Abudu’s hosted guests as diverse as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, International Monetary Fund Chief Christine La Garde and former South African President and Nobel Laureate FW de Klerk. Two years ago she launched EbonyLife, Africa’s first pan-African TV channel, which targets 18- to 34-year-olds in the continent’s growing middle class. “Not every African woman has a pile of wood strapped over her head and a baby strapped to her back!” she declared at the time.

9. Mozambique design collective Piratas do Pau (PdP) – which employs and trains under-privileged youth in Maputo – has launched a premium furniture collection made of scrap wood. It uses a combination of pinewood from recycled pallets and umbila, a local hardwood, to create coffee tables, cupboards and shelving units. All products are sold locally and PdP both reduces waste and encourages people to consider recycling, rather than buying new or imported items.

A creation by the Piratas do Pau design collective

10. South African fast food chain Nando’s is one of the continent’s most successful retail brands, expanding to more than 1 000 locations in 30 countries and five continents since opening its first restaurant in 1987. Its sales had climbed 10% to more than £535 million in the UK alone by February 2014. Part of its appeal among young consumers can be attributed to its witty and often controversial commercials, including one which depicted Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe reflecting on happy moments as he dined with fallen dictators. Advertising Age magazine named Nando’s as one of the world’s top 30 hottest marketing brands in 2010.


11. Like an increasing number of other African designers, Ghanaian-born Akosua Afriyie-Kumi has created a luxury product inspired by her background, employing local craft workers with traditional skills. Her AAKS design label is the brand for a range of colourful, eclectic handbags woven by women in the rural community of Bolgatanga, in the northern region of the country, for export to the UK and SA. The handbags are woven from locally sourced raffia, an organic, natural, biodegradable fibre. Afriyie-Kumi markets them online, a strategy she believes is necessary to popularise African products.

12. Tourism is becoming increasingly important to the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, with the number of visitors growing by 300% to 33,8 million from 1990-2012. Receipts from hotels, tours and other attractions rose to more than $36 billion and contributed around 2,8% of the region’s GDP, according to the World Bank. Faster growth as well as improved foreign perceptions of the region, are helping to drive the trend, although there are stubborn obstacles such as land ownership and transfer rights, access to finance, taxes on tourism investments, lack of security and daunting bureaucracy. The most popular destinations are South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Swaziland and Tanzania.


13. Highlands Trout in Lesotho has literally burst onto the commercial fish-farming scene since it began harvesting trout in 2012, producing larger amounts than its neighbour SA and exporting hundreds of tonnes of fish to Japan for gourmet sushi.  Located 2 200m above sea level in the Maluti mountains near the Katse Dam – the continent’s second-largest – the fish are hatched from eggs imported from Denmark and fed on pellets imported from France until they reach approximately 2,8kg in weight, when they’re processed. The company’s fish harvested for exports have grown from 500 tonnes in 2012 to more than 1 500 tonnes last year and it expects this amount to rise to 4 000 tonnes by 2018. Japan takes 80% of its produce, while 15% goes to SA and the remaining 5% is sold locally. It aims to become the largest trout aquaculture project in Africa, uses environmentally sustainable farming methods and employs about 100 people, nearly all of whom are locals.

14. Swaziland’s House of Diva is one of the few fashion labels to be designed with curvaceous women in mind. Started by Phiwase Nxumalo, the ready-to-wear garments are inspired by fabrics sourced from the DRC, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Swaziland and SA. Her “Under the Sky” range of colourful dresses and skirts are available in sizes 30-52, with the main focus on women wearing sizes 40 and above. Nxumalo also designs jewellery made from materials such as wood, bright buttons and pearls. Although the clothes are only available in small quantities, they’re also affordable to middle-class Africans. “The fuller figure isn’t just yada yada – it’s what we do,” she said in a recent interview.

15. The number of dollar millionaires in Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world, increasing by 150% between 2000 and 2013. This 150% increase can be compared with a global growth rate of 73%, according to UK-based New World Wealth. Overall, the continent has 165 000 high net-worth individuals with a combined wealth of $660 billion. SA is the leader, with 48 800 millionaires, followed by Egypt with 23 000, Nigeria with 15 900 and Kenya with 8 400. However, the number of millionaires in Ethiopia, the Ivory Coast and Zambia is expected to grow the fastest over the next few years. Ghanaian capital Accra is likely to be the African city with the most rapidly growing group of millionaires, expected to increase by 8% annually until 2020.

16. Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi is a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist and human rights activist who’s arguably the most internationally recognised cultural icon to have emerged from that country. He sings in Zimbabwe’s dominant Shona language about political violence and the hardships of everyday life (without directly criticising the regime of President Robert Mugabe), incorporating different musical traditions and amassing a following across Africa and elsewhere after a series of overseas trips. Mtukudze’s released more than 45 albums which have sold millions of copies. He’s also a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for eastern and southern Africa.

Picture: Getty Image

17. The DRC has introduced unique solar-powered, humanoid robots across Kinshasa in a bid to decrease the number of road accidents across high-traffic areas of the capital, and to replace corrupt policemen. The 2,4m robots, operated by the country’s National Commission for Road Safety, regulate traffic by raising and bending their steel arms and helping pedestrians to cross streets safely. Equipped with rotating chests and surveillance cameras, they’re made locally and designed by engineer Therese Izay, who runs a women’s technology co-operative in the DRC. She hopes the robots will be installed in cities across Africa and beyond, to create jobs for female engineers.

18. Linah Mohohlo has been Governor of the Bank of Botswana since 1999 and is known for both her skilful handling of the country’s monetary and financial policies and her outspoken, sometimes controversial views. During a panel discussion of top African officials in Johannesburg a few years ago, she said one of the biggest obstacles to the continent’s development was its work ethic. She also told a journalist at a dinner hosted by former SA Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni that women did most of the work in Botswana. Mohohlo’s received a number of national and international awards and was named Central Bank Governor of the Year for Africa by both the Financial Times and Euromoney in 2001, 2003 and 2008, respectively. Forbes magazine ranked her among the 10 most powerful women in Africa in 2011.

19. Skateboarding in Uganda has literally grown in leaps and bounds, despite traffic, potholed streets and cracked sidewalks, and is now spreading to Tanzania and Kenya. Jackson Mburo kicked off the trend in 2006, when he personally built a skateboarding park in Kitintale, a suburb of Kampala, using cheap mortar and leftover bricks. To avoid paying a construction fee, he and his friends told the authorities they were building the enclosure for a pet crocodile. He went on to found the Uganda Skateboard Union, which aims to give the country’s youth access to a sport which will ward off boredom and demoralisation. Last year the organisation won the Skate-Aid award for 5 000 euros, presented at the annual Bright European Skateboard Awards in Germany.

20. ‘Black diamonds’ may have become the catch-phrase for SA’s rising African middle class, but in Namibia it refers to the black pelts produced by the country’s Swakara brand and derived from its Karakul sheep industry. Swakara experienced a recent rise in demand from big European fashion houses, with 64 462 pelts sold at a bi-annual auction in Copenhagen, Denmark, last year. A black pelt fetched a record price of N$2 964 from Elena Furs of Moscow. Namibia produces 140 000 pelts per year, harvested from new-born Karakul lambs which originate from the desert regions of Central Asia. Brought to the country by German colonists, they cost so little to rear that a producer can take home 90% of sale proceeds.

THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE MAY 2015 ISSUE OF DESTINY

Sorele Media Launches Online TV

Sorele Media has launched its online TV – the Aza TV, aiming to provide excellent lifestyle and entertainment content. The TV is live from today.

The founders, Stephina Zwane and Salamina Mosese are passionate about providing alternatives to media consumption and distribution; in line with industry and market trends.

“Aza TV is not only about breaking new ground, but also about answering some of the world’s best questions about Africa,” says director and co-founder Salamina Mosese.

What makes Aza TV so appealing is that it is easily accessible from the comfort of your home and even when you are on the move.

This is all made possible through the website and free mobile app that can be downloaded. Giving viewers the power to join the revolution in shifting and influencing how Africa sees itself.

The young and dynamic team at Aza TV has created content that is engaging and relevant to its specific audience. “We want people to know that we are serious about Africa,” explains Mosese.

“We have rich, bold and powerful stories to share; and Aza TV will give that content a voice.”

Aza TV will host both originally-produced content and at a later stage content bought from producers across the continent, to appeal to a vast audience.

Shows such as Aza Muzika; Yummy Mammi and The Sit Down will ensure that viewers have access to relevant and authentic shows right at the tip of their fingers.

Miller Launches 'Sound Clash' In South Africa

Miller Genuine Draft today announced that South Africa would be one of the 12 countries participating in Miller’s global music platform, Miller SOUNDCLASH, this year, following on from its neighbours Botswana, Zimbabwe and Swaziland who took part in 2014.

Miller SOUNDCLASH is the ultimate international global DJ search competition and is open for entry to all DJs globally hosted by Mix Cloud, a global music streaming service which offers a blanket music license and can legally host DJ mixes. Miller SOUND CLASH South Africa brings a high energy fresh twist to the competition by encouraging competition entries to submit mixes that Mash-up Hip Hop, House or other  suitable South African music genres to Electronic Dance Music. This fresh twist to the competition will ensure that the winner of Sound Clash South Africa is able bring a South African beat to the popular EDM sound of Las Vegas.

In search of the South African winner who will battle it out against other international finalists, Miller will host a local heat in Johannesburg with local judges DJ Sphe and Naves of Metro FM. An additional renowned DJ personalitywill be announced later this month, and will feature on the judging panel.

Miller SOUNDCLASH will culminate in a grand finale on-site DJ battle in Las Vegas with the winners of all the different countries performing at a premium Las Vegas super club in late September 2015.

The South African Miller SOUNDCLASH winner will be offered a once in a lifetime experience in Las Vegas. The 5-day programme will take the winning DJs behind the velvet ropes of the city’s elite clubbing scene, after which one final winner will take the grand prize.


The 12 participating countries this year including South Africa are Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Paraguay, Columbia, Canada, Hungary, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Panama, Argentina, and Costa Rica.
‘The Miller SOUNDCLASH is a fresh global property and allows the MGD brand to support new local talent in the music industry. The Miller SOUNDCLASH will partner with DJ Mag and Mix Cloud to facilitate engagement between our upcoming local and the international DJ’s,’ says Marketing Manager Themba Ratsibe.

Miller SOUNDCLASH entries are now open and aspiring local DJ’s are invited to load their music on Mix Cloud with the hashtag #MillerSoundClashSA over the next 5 weeks. Entries close on 21 June 2015 go to www.millersa.co.za for competition details.

LOCAL PRIZE INCLUDES:
·         Title of SA’s number Sound Clash DJ
·         Access to exclusive MGD Mansion Las Vegas
·         5 star Stay at 4 nights
·         All Travel costs (VIP)
·         Access to all the hottest clubs in Vegas
·         Daily Perdiem
·         Mentorship with DJ Sphe and Naves
·         Support on partner social channels – Mixcloud and DJ Mag
·         Custom DJ merchandise courtesy of V-Moda and UDG
·         Ambassadorial support from MGD Global

INTERNATIONAL PRIZE INCLUDES:
·         Title of the ultimate Sound Clash Global DJ Champion
·         DJ Mag editorial support
·         Support on partner social channels – Mixcloud and DJ Mag
·         Custom DJ merchandise courtesy of V-Moda and UDG
·         Ambassadorial support from MGD Global
·         DJ Gig at a Las Vegas superclub
·         DJ Mag Profiling piece

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*Press Release