EDITOR’S NOTE
AN EBOLA-FREE FESTIVE SEASON Available at
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beyond the continent cannot distinguish between the different parts of Africa means that the continent in general has taken a reputational hit. The disease is quite topical and the epidemic - which we hope will end soon - must serve as a lesson on the need for proper strategies for disease identification and control.
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he festive season is upon us and as we take a break from a long year, that word Ebola must be the highlight of 2014 in Africa. The interview we conducted with Dr’s Trudi and Dan Echun in this magazine issue, really enlightened me as to the extent of the damage caused by the epidemic. An estimated 20% of doctors in Liberia are said to have lost their lives. Given that it takes close to a decade to train one of these, the loss of such critical skills is one that will be difficult to recover from. The Wall Street Journal reported that “Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have all been burning holes in their finances trying to curb the outbreak, and a dramatic downturn in trade— specifically timber and rubber—will compound those troubles.” The already fragile airline industry has taken a pounding as a result of massively reduced travel to and from West Africa. The fact that many people
Another topical subject continued from our previous issue is that of the environment. We stay with that theme in our interview of one of Africa’s unsung leadership heroes - Shepherd Shonhiwa of Egoli Gas, a company that offers a natural alternative to harmful energy sources. Also in this issue, we feature Yaw Dwomoh, a restaurateur who hails from Ghana and is now dedicating his time to educating other aspiring entrepreneurs on the do’s and don’ts of business. Be sure to read Steve Mululu’s profile and find out how a man who grew up in one of Africa’s most poverty-stricken slums ends up owning a fitness centre in the continent’s richest square mile. Our final profile is that of Peter Moyo, a recent winner of the CNN Multichoice Journalist of the year award who is now trying his hand in the hospitality industry. We cap this issue with our regular as well as new contributors. Please enjoy Issue 17 and from all of us at TAP, have a healthy and pleasant festive season. KC ROTTOK Twitter: @africankc
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Publisher: The Proud African Professional (Pty) Limited Reg. Number: 2010/012428/07 10 Madison Square, 195 President Fouche Drive, Randburg Republic of South Africa Tel: 011 251 6325 www.theafricanpro.com & www.expatriate.co.za Director: Carol Malonza – carol@africanpro.co.za Twitter: @mueni8 Managing Editor: KC Rottok – kc@africanpro.co.za Twitter: @africankc Deputy Editor & Content Advisor Leah Maina Publishing Executive Dumisani Hlatshwayo Edition Writers/Contributors Keith Kundai Wanjiru Waichigo Chioneso Sakutukwa Andreas Krensel Yaw Peprah Loveness Khunou Patrick Mpedzisi Shupikai Gwabuya Grant Bushby Hesta van der Westhuizen Grant Bushby Photography Mzu Nhlabati www.creativenation.co.za Design Mike Obrien mike@obriendesign.co.za Website Drutech Media www.drutechmedia.co.za Advertising Enquiries info@africanpro.co.za To subscribe or contribute an article, email us at info@africanpro.co.za All rights reserved. Excerpts may be usedas long as this magazine is credited as the source. Longer versions of our content may only be used with the written permission of the Publisher. Neither the publisher nor the editor accept responsibility for any of the information from edition writers or contributors. Whilst we have taken care in preparing this publication, the publisher/editor does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The editor retains the right to edit all contributions. Advertisers are responsible for their material.
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