Spot-On June 2022

SPOT-ON Your Gateway to the Kasi Economy

INFORM • EDUCATE • EMPOWER • COMMUNITY ALEXANDRA

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EDITION 41

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JUNE 2022

HAPPY MAKHALEMELE

ON RUNNING A FAMILY BUSINESS DON’T BET ON IT: SPOTLIGHTING GAMBLING ADDICTION

ALEXBIZ

United in Growing of

Alex Businesses BEHIND BAILY’S PERFECT KOTA

THREE GENERATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURS

SPOTLIGHT ON ALEXANDRA

GOLDWAGEN STOCKS QUALITY OE Equivalent Parts NATIONWIDE

SPOT-ON EDITOR Bonginkosi Tiwane HEAD OF DESIGN Beren Bauermeister CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Tristan Snijders PRODUCTION & CLIENT LIAISON MANAGER Antois-Leigh Nepgen GROUP SALES MANAGER Chilomia Van Wijk BOOKKEEPER Tonya Hebenton DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Nomsa Masina DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Asha Pursotham SUBSCRIPTIONS subs@3smedia.co.za PRINTERS Novus Print Montague Gardens

CONTENTS SPOT-ON Your Gateway to the Kasi Economy

INFORM  EDUCATE  EMPOWER  COMMUNITY ALEXANDRA

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EDITION 41

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JUNE 2022

HAPPY MAKHALEMELE

ON RUNNING A FAMILY BUSINESS

ADVERTISING

Ansonette Potgieter e pr@janetteconsulting.co.za c 082 319 4698 Quraisha Moosa e quraisha@janetteconsulting.co.za c 060 841 6793 Adele Pretorius e adele@janetteconsulting.co.za c 083 557 7538 Esai Naidoo e esai@janetteconsulting.co.za c 079 673 0672 Shoneez Nadazen e shoneez@janetteconsulting.co.za c 071 181 9211 PUBLISHED BY

Publisher Jacques Breytenbach

3S Media Production Park, 83 Heidelberg Road, City Deep, Johannesburg South, 2136 Tel: +27 (0)11 233 2600 Email: enquiries@3smedia.co.za www.3smedia.co.za SPOT-ON Copyright © Novus Print t/a 3S Media.

NOTICE OF RIGHTS Spot-On is published by Novus Print t/a 3S Media. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher.

No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material.

The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in Spotong are not necessarily those of the Publisher or contributors.

www.SPOTONMAG.co.za SPOT_ONMagazine @SpotonMagazine

DON’T BET ON IT: SPOTLIGHTING GAMBLING ADDICTION

ALEXBIZ

United in Growing of

Alex Businesses BEHIND BAILY’S PERFECT KOTA

THREE GENERATIONS OF ENTREPRENEURS

SPOTLIGHT ON ALEXANDRA

RECIPES 21 Three perfect recipes to accompany Happy’s Premium Dombolo 21 Chicken with soul and sticky wings 22 Shaun’s outrageous oxtail and Ant’s New York bacon double cheeseburger

CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS 16 No flash in the pan: The 4Way Carwash

COMMUNITY NEWS 18 A lex FM rebuilds after the July 2022 riots

FAMILY

ON THE COVER Alexandra businesswoman Happy Makhalemele is the queen of dumplings and traditional cuisine.

We have a chat with the chef about her family business, while she also discusses overcoming the challenges of Covid and growing her business in the township. P08

24 Gambling addiction

ARTS & CULTURE 28 Alex Theatre Company and Academy keeps the flame burning 29 The artist’s role in community development and inclusivity

ENVIRONMENT 32 M aking community food gardens Water Wise

OP-ED REGULARS 05 Editor’s note

MAIN FEATURE 06 Building a family legacy

34 Times are tough for the youth of SA

PAGE 09

ENTREPRENEURSHIP 09 Ekasi evolution: Baily’s menu reflects the changing township landscape

EDUCATION 12 AVBOB’s young trailblazer, Mabore Sefara The ABC logo is a valued stamp of measurement and trust, providing accurate and comparable circulation figures that protect the way advertising is traded. SPOTON is ABC audited and certified.

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COMMUNITY 14 AlexBiz: Business working together to improve Gomora

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SPOT-ON INFORM • EDUCATE • EMPOWER • COMMUNITY

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EDITOR’S NOTE

A GATEWAY TO GOMORA

A

lexandra Township is commonly known as Gomora, a moniker linked with the Old Testament’s infamous Sodom and Gomorrah – cities destroyed by God for their wickedness. But the nickname is believed to be tied to the notoriety the township got when the Msomi gang roamed large in the 1950s in and around Alex.

The Msomis were one of several American-style criminal groups that had appeared in Johannesburg after the Second World War amid rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Over the years Alex has become one most densely populated areas in the country, where residents battle social ills such as poverty and unemployment. Yet you still find the most colourful people in that township, who love to look good and have a great time despite the pain that surrounds them.

This is one of the reasons why Alexandra is so unique.

In our first issue as Spot-On – following our name-change from Spotong – we focus on Alexandra and its people. Alex, like our other townships, is littered with businesses and entrepreneurs on the ground who keep the country moving forward.

What’s in this issue?

In this edition, I had the chance to talk to Thabiso Sebata, chairperson of AlexBiz, which is a group of over 200 entrepreneurs from Alexandra. He explains how the group helps its members in various areas of business, such as upskilling, sharing clients and information.

With our publication having a strong focus on community business and entrepreneurs, we took the opportunity to profile a few of the 200+ businesses that are AlexBiz members. One of them is our cover powerhouse, Happy Makhalemele, who – together with her family – runs the Moving Feast restaurant and catering business. She also shares some of her traditional Mzansi recipes in our recipe section.

We delve quite deep into the culinary side of Alex in this issue. We profile the booming Baily’s kota joint by speaking to Botlhale Baily, a third-generation entrepreneur who is driving his family’s legacy in the modern world.

With June being Men’s Mental Health month (and the month of Father’s Day), we thought it appropriate to look at an

issue that disproportionately affects men and is often ignored by society – gambling addiction. We chat with experts from the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF), as well as the Men’s Foundation South Africa, on how one can mitigate the effects of problem gambling.

A year ago, Alexandra was ground zero to some of the July riots that took place across Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Countless businesses were vandalised or destroyed, including community radio station Alex FM, which incurred at least R5 million in damages. Station manager Takalane Nemangowe shares how far the broadcaster is in its reconstruction some 12 months later.

Finally, we take a sho’t left to sister township Mamelodi in the issue, where we chat to self-taught baker and entrepreneur Sibongile Rakgatjane about bringing cafe culture to the Pretoria kasi through her bakery and coffee shop.

Bonginkosi If you know of a business in any township in South Africa making a difference in the community or have a story suggestion, send me a mail at Bonginkosi.Tiwane@3smedia.co.za.

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MAIN FEATURE

At the heart of many family businesses lies a strong woman. This rings especially true in the case of Alexandra’s Moving Feast restaurant and Happy Dumplings, run by family matriarch Happy Makhalemele.

Happy with her husband, Bushy (left), and her son Theo

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BUILDING A FAMILY

legacy A

s the CEO, Happy is the lynchpin spearheading this fast-moving establishment and the product of parents who were also incessant entrepreneurs – just as she is today. “My mom and dad were the first black people in the township to own a breakdown business,” she tells Spot-On. Visiting Happy at her restaurant, the mood is upbeat for good reason – it’s just a day after securing another deal with a corporate. “On 16 June, I start selling at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium. I now have a trailer that’s going to be situated there every day – selling African cuisine,” she says.

The partnership with the legendary stadium is a big deal, as her business will be selling to the 400+ employees at Wanderers every day – not to mention whenever there are matches that attract thousands of supporters.

To cater to the expanding business, she is planning on securing a large space, pulling out her phone to show me a Wynberg warehouse she’s identified and hopes to move into. “I want the one side of the warehouse to be designated for the dumplings and the other to be for the functions and catering.”

Get some recipes on page 21 www.spotonmag.co.za

MAIN FEATURE

Family sacrifices Happy and her husband, Bushy, have made sacrifices over the years for their business to grow. Their home in East Bank, Alexandra, has been turned into a place of work and a restaurant, while they squat in the backrooms of their house because renting out would be an expense. “As soon as we move into a factory, we’ll turn with whole house into a restaurant, with some rooms being conference rooms.”

Bushy and Happy have been in the catering business for well over two decades, first starting out at Alexandra Taxi Rank in 1999. She and her husband had full-time jobs at the time, but have now dedicated their lives to being full-time entrepreneurs. “What excites me most is that I’m doing what I love.”

A family business Moving Feast’s resilience Situated on East Bank Avenue in Alex, Moving Feast restaurant was started in 2015 and sells an array of food that includes pork trotters, samp and Happy’s idombolo (dumplings).

The latter thrived and saved the business during the hard Covid-19 lockdown. “Fortunately, during the first lockdown, I pushed hard to supply idombolo to Jay Jay Butcher – it was our only source of income,” Happy says. “I personally approached many stores – some rejected me, some accepted me, but I haven't given up.”

And her tenacity has paid off, with Happy Dumplings now supplying six Spar stores across Gauteng, three Food Lover’s Markets, one butcher and two car washes.

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Of course, her kids are also involved in the business, with Theo being the head chef and restaurant manager who runs pop-ups usually located around Alex and Sandton. “My second child assists with buying dombolo stock and distribution to retail stores, while my twins are business-minded kids,” says the proud mother.

Happy cites Bushy’s responsibilities as, “Criticism department, driver, buyer, curry cooker and the kids’ school transport,” she says. While Happy works on sales, expanding distribution and customer relations/complaints, she is also the restaurant’s menu designer. Above all, working with her whole family is “important for the loyalty and the legacy of the business,” she concludes.

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HYDROZONING

Hydrozoning in landscapes Why is it important to hydrozone in landscapes and gardens? Hydrozoning saves water and money. It improves the landscape design, mimics natural plant communities, minimises the impact on the surrounding natural environment, and simplifies maintenance The concept of hydrozones (hydrostations) is based on the theory that the correct plants should be planted in shade, semi shade or sun depending on plant requirements, as defined by the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS), developed by the University of California.

The Landscape Irrigation Model South Africa (LIMSA), developed

by Dr Leslie Hoy, is consistent with the WUCOLS model and focuses on individual assessment of each hydrozone within a landscape. Hydrozoning, in this context, is defined as: • • • • •

A grouping or bed of plants, Plants with the same water (hydrozone) requirements, Plants are watered with the same correct amount of water, Plants are positioned correctly in the landscape, Each hydrozone has it’s own control valve, and their own specific irrigation system.

The intention of this model is to allow for a more accurate water use on any landscape site to be determined. This is particularly important for sites that will rely on any form of supplementary irrigation over and above rainfall of the area where the landscape is located. This will also apply to sites that require additional watering beyond the initial establishment period.

www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo

FURTHER INFORMATION ON WATER WISE, PLEASE CONTACT US ON: 0860 10 10 60 SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 8 •FOR

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP

EKASI EVOLUTION: BAILY’S MENU REFLECTS THE CHANGING TOWNSHIP LANDSCAPE Being an entrepreneur in the township comes with many challenges and customers are often unreceptive to reimagined versions of their long-standing favourites. But the booming popularity of Baily’s and the restaurant’s creative approach to the humble kota show that change is afoot in Alex.

P

eople say, ‘Ah Baily’s, you’re gentrifying the kota,’ not understanding that at some places in Alex, the kota first began as a sandwich with just polony. It then evolved to adding chips, then an egg, and then the special – it’s just been a constant evolution,” says Botlhale Baily.

The Baily’s offerings are quite pricey – costing more than your average kota – but Botlhale believes their kotas reflect the evolution of people living in the township. “I feel like, as black people, we are moving up the social ladder. We can afford more, and our tastes are becoming… let’s just say we have a budget now to back up our tastes,” says Botlhale.

The family-run Baily’s restaurant in Alexandra is famous for its reimagined kotas and traditional food – but things have not been smooth sailing because of the family’s English surname. “On Twitter, there’s huge outlash all the time. We’ve trended a couple of times over people being angry,” says Botlhale. The anger stems from people not knowing the story behind Baily’s. “They think it’s a white family who’ve come to Alex to gentrify and steal from the township economy. And all of us are light-skinned, so it makes it a difficult thing.”

As I sit with Botlhale at their restaurant in Alex, it is yet another day during which most South Africans are stranded in the dark because of load-shedding... but nothing gets the Baily family down. “I’m a third-generation entrepreneur – my uncle and dad have business ventures,” the 24-year-old tells Spot-On.

Family history His grandfather, Ronald Boy Baily, together with his wife, Hilda Kedibone Baily, started out with nothing when they began selling alcohol out of their oneroom home, which became a makeshift tavern. They shared this business with their children and then Ronald

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP bought a vehicle to use as a maxi taxi. His business grew to a point where he owned a fleet of minibus taxis.

Building on this success, he began expanding his footprint by establishing various stores – including a hardware, coal yard, numerous general dealers, a pharmacy and, the most innovative of all, an educational toy manufacturer. While doing this, he also partook in a construction project that built some homes in Alexandra that still stand today. This was all done during the mid-1980s.

The space on which Baily’s stands – on the corner of Vasco Da Gama and 2nd Ave – was once the site of the general dealer, butcher and pharmacy. With the property being quite big, Botlhale’s aunt ran her spaza shop in only one section of the building for more than 20 years. At one point, she invited some of the local kids to utilise more of the space and turn it into a car wash, which still operates to this day.

Sadly, in 2019, Botlhale’s aunt, Nkele Baily, passed on.

Bothlale explains, “After my aunt passed away, my grandfather pulled me aside and said, ‘We’ve got this property, it needs to be used. It can’t be left vacant – do something’.” His grandfather feared that if the property were left vacant, people would begin to occupy the space.

“I remember I used to crawl around here when I was a baby.

When I was growing up, my aunt used to tell me, ‘This place belongs to you’, not knowing that when she passes away, my grandad is going to say, ‘You’re the one I can entrust this to’.”

A new chapter

Botlhale with his parents, Cyril and Sibongile, at their eatery

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Botlhale eventually heeded the call and, together with his parents, revamped the place, which was in pretty poor condition following his aunt’s passing. “We took about four months to renovate the place.”

They eventually opened their doors for business on 7 December 2019. “Eish, that day was terrible. Because it was raining during that time, we didn’t get to finish the renovations. We had committed and invited people, so we went ahead nonetheless. Those who arrived on time had to wait for us to finish up this and that. But we served kotas that day and people came in and had a personal experience.”

He goes on to admit, “We literally didn’t know what we were doing, truth be told!” But it helped that they brought in a professional to show them how to construct a kota, with Botlhale briefing the cook on what he wanted to see in his kota. “The signature of the fried onion rings on a kota is our invention – before us, that’s not something I came across.”

The popularity of their kotas took off like wildfire. By early 2020, they were interviewed on Power FM radio station, which provided a significant publicity boost – so much so that they attracted corporates from around Sandton, Woodmead and surrounding areas that would place orders so large they couldn’t even serve their sit-in customers. “They saw our stuff on social media and things got extremely busy. We started getting corporates making huge orders. At times, we had to close, as we couldn’t take any more orders because the kitchen was just too busy. And you must remember that we were still new to this process. But we prioritised and learnt along the

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP way. When a corporate calls us now, it’s not an issue,” an assured Botlhale says.

Botlhale with his grandparents, Ronald Boy Baily and Hilda Kedibone Baily

Then Covid struck Botlhale tells me they did various specials in the days leading up to that fateful date in late March when President Ramaphosa locked down the country, as a way of clearing stock because they didn’t know when they would open again. “We took precautions from the very first day, when the first few cases were occurring. Our staff were already masked and we asked people to sanitise when they walked in. We were doing those things before it became official in the country. Also, as part of our social responsibility, we closed down the gaming spot that we have for kids.”

The money made during this clearance sale was given to their employees. “We were like, ‘We don’t know when we’re going to come back, but here’s this money to try hold you down during this period’,” says Botlhale.

Learning lessons He says Covid was a big lesson for them. “We went home and got to re-strategise.” Having started this business just three months before lockdown, Bothlale says the break gave them the opportunity to ask, “What have we learnt?”

They reopened months after closing during Level 5 of lockdown, dedicating the first week to cleaning the place. When they started operating again, Botlhale insisted they adhere to Covid-19 protocols of mask-wearing. “We were serving literally through

Nkele Baily with a baby Botlhale at their property in Alex

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Then I signed us up with Uber Eats, which wasn’t in the area at the time. I remember we literally switched on the Uber Eats app and an order came in immediately,” says Botlhale.

And there‘s a fair bit to choose from too.

“Baily’s specialises in traditional South African food, so whatever you grew up eating, we sell – mogodu (tripe), chicken feet, beef stew and sheep’s head. We want people to reminisce and think of their time growing up,” he explains.

Taste of the kota

pick-up. But, you know, being in the township, Level 4 lockdown meant nothing. As soon as the military had left, people didn’t have masks on anymore.”

While other eateries around did their sit-ins, Baily’s only took kerbside orders and made home deliveries, as opposed to before Covid, when they only did corporate deliveries. “Covid came and we realised that we have to do deliveries because people are sitting at home.”

The pre-Covid Baily’s frenzy that existed was reignited as soon as they reopened, with a huge influx of people wanting to try out their kotas.

“There was that boom when we reopened, for people try out Baily’s. We were doing deliveries in these, charging R15 a delivery,” Botlhale says, pointing to a Toyota Condor and Fortuner parked outside.

He and his father were the delivery guys, but it took a toll on them. “I remember I’d get home wanting to cry, because that’s how tired I was!

You’d get orders from one end and then have to rush to the other.” They did this for at least three months. Deliveries were revolutionary for the Baily’s business, as more people found it convenient. But it got to a point where they would have a cut-off time for taking orders on certain days. “At the end of the day, we were giving people like three-hour delays – so by 12:00 to 13:00, we’d stop completely.”

With people increasingly working from home, their corporate orders inevitably slowed, but the delivery services kept the business going. “We realised [delivering ourselves] was not sustainable.

And what about the famous kota, you ask? The first thing you notice is that it’s quite big, so you’re not exactly sure where to start. But that doesn’t matter because it’s overwhelmingly delicious – and there’s the secret Baily’s ingredient. “Love. Every single kota made here is made from love. But I think it’s also just being different… the onion rings, first of all – it’s something no one has tried.”

Botlhale says the journey your tastebuds go on when eating the kota is key. “It’s engineered that, when you bite, it’s this flavour first and then you go to this and to that. The first thing you always taste is the bread and the chips. It’s the softness and the sweetness of the bread, the chips second with the saltiness of the spice, and then the sweetness comes again with the sauces. But the sweetness of the sauces is completely different to the bread.

You’ll then get the crunch of the lettuce, then the atchaar and have the super saltiness of the meats and then the onion rings. It’s supposed to play with everything in your mouth,” he says.

But over and above anything else, he genuinely believes in the good taste of their food. “As long as someone tastes our food, they’ll come back,” Botlhale concludes.

MORE THAN A GAME Baily’s restaurant will be relaunching its arcade in collaboration with Tshepiso Malema, who runs Gamer’s Territory arcades. They are planning on revamping the gaming zone for kids adjacent to the restaurant: “We want kids to dream; we want kids to see beyond the reality of the township. Some kids here have grown up in Alex but have never been to Sandton.

With the virtual reality, we want to send the kids to Dubai!” Botlhale enthuses.

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EDUCATION

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“A teacher affects eternity, no one knows where his influence stops,” US historian and politician Henry Adams once said, stressing the vital role teachers play in a learner’s life.

For Mabore Sefara, live may have turned out very differently had it not been for one highschool teacher.

he 36-year-old Sefara would probably be out on a construction site planning, organising and overseeing all aspects of large and complex construction projects as a construction manager, which she had initially studied towards becoming after high school, before changing course to follow what was clearly sound advice.

Thankfully, Mrs Boshoff, Sefara’s high-school English teacher, advised her to rather study communications after matric. “I think I had a flair for the English language and writing, but I also think my talkative nature played a major role in her advice. I’m still talkative – that hasn't changed!”

Sefara tells Spot-On. She is now a corporate communications specialist at AVBOB Mutual Assurance Society and has been with the leading funeral company for six years now.

THE TRAIL THUS FAR After completing her NDip in Business Communication in 2010, Sefara landed her first job at the Department of Basic Education (DBE). She started as an intern in the Communications Directorate, which she says helped strengthen her character – from building a thick skin to being steadfast about what she wants to do. The environment also gave her a glimpse of the dynamics of hard-hitting news.

“The year I was an intern, the DBE received a lot of media coverage and being thrown in the deep end was the order of the day,” says Sefara. “But because I have a curious mind and asked a lot of questions, this set me on a path of learning more quickly about the ins and out of media relations and PR as a whole.”

At the time, the directorate had few available positions and Sefara was moved to a newly formed department to assist districts in ensuring that they met their mandate to provide support to schools.

“That’s when my journey as a personal assistant began and, from there, I didn’t want to think being a PA was just about doing admin.”

Ambitious and determined, she studied further while working at the DBE, acquiring a BTech in Business Communication and sharpening her writing skills so that she could prepare herself for a time when she may leave for greener pastures.

Some of her responsibilities involved arranging events for the department, including izimbizo for the Minister throughout the country and the planning of district meetings. But she eventually hungered for a new challenge and a friend serendipitously informed her about a PR post at AVBOB. She took a risk – and left a government job many would kill for – to follow her heart.

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EDUCATION

MABORE SEFARA AVBOB’s Young Trailblazer

ENTERING AVBOB “For me, I didn’t look at it as a risk. I took it as me spreading my wings. I was feeling rather underutilised in some instances and, being a go-getter, I needed to fly,” says Sefara. Yet she insists that she doesn’t take unnecessary chances.

“I’m not really a risk-taker – I’m rather strategic in how I move and ensure that I have a base to work on… then I fly.”

Sefara has been with AVBOB for over half a decade, since 2016, and says one of the things that surprised her about the organisation was how tight-knit they are as a working unit.

“The exco and corporate affairs teams welcomed me with open arms. Another significant surprise was that I thought I would have to communicate about the funeral industry all the time, but AVBOB is a living brand – whether it’s through insurance, our CSI initiatives or even assisting in matters that affect our communities such as the July unrest and the recent floods in KZN,” she says.

The corporate world can be a challenging space, especially as a black female. But Sefara has a palpable boldness that makes it difficult to scare her. “It’s like any other corporate but, like I said, I am very strategic in my thinking. I’m someone who bulldozes with a smile. What one person sees as a challenge, I see as an opportunity to grow and learn. But I can say that AVBOB has taught me that we live in a world of diversity and we’re all trying to make a world a better place.”

THE IMPACT OF COVID The Covid-19 pandemic pushed the funeral industry

to the limit, to a point where several operators couldn’t keep up with the rate at which people were dying. “The Covid-19 pandemic was very difficult for us in the funeral industry – more especially for those working in our funeral branches. Some of the challenges we faced as an organisation was moving most of the employees to work remotely, but our funeral agents were working full time at branches to assist the families of those who lost their loved ones,” says Sefara.

“What was impactful during these times was the group hired more personnel for branches, we strengthened our communication on employees taking up the free counselling provided to all staff, and the AVBOB agents who could go out to write up policies were paid over the duration of the hard lockdown. Our exco team was also readily available to handle staff needs.”

COMMUNITY MATTERS Last year, Sefara was appointed as part of the AVBOB Foundation’s CSI Committee for a period of 12 months. The committee is responsible for facilitating the goodwill of the group through sponsoring different organisations, including education departments, NGOs and businesses that assist in community upliftment.

“The CSI Committee is primarily responsible for assessing ad hoc projects that require less than R100 000. These are smaller than the flagship projects that have a set budget, but are rather impactful to communities that require assistance.

As a committee, we have funded electric fencing at an old age home,” she says. The group assisted 17 beneficiaries in Gauteng and KZN following the July unrest in the respective provinces, including Shape Café in Sebokeng, food vendors in KZN and Nguni Brand.

Sefara says she’s always seen herself as leader who would one day like to be a manager, if not a general manager of corporate affairs. “But in the next few years, I would like to explore the world of digital marketing and become a digital marketing manager – which is a post that’s not available at AVBOB as yet,” says the trailblazer.

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COMMUNITY

ALEXBIZ

Businesses Working Together to Improve Life in Gomora

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One of the most popular African proverbs says that if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together. These wise words reflect the mentality that drives AlexBiz, a group of entrepreneurs from the township commonly known by locals as Gomora.

e wanted to take away the responsibility of growing our businesses from government and other business hubs. We are therefore inviting people into our space – access to market opportunities, funding, training, and more,” Thabiso Sebata, chairperson of AlexBiz, tells Spot-On. Together with Sihle Mooi, former CEO of non-profit organisation Rays of Hope, Sebata founded the organisation in 2019. “[Sihle] was approached by Ikhokha to help them get Alex businesses who would like free swiping machines. [He] then approached me because I work with a lot of start-ups under my business Start Media, which helps [them] get marketing materials designed,” says Sebata. The two managed to get about at least 20 business and entrepreneurs in one room.

“Then after this meeting was done, we had to decide if we are closing the WhatsApp group or continuing to work with the businesses to connect them to more opportunities. We decided to keep going and see how far this will go – we are now sitting at 200+ businesses in our WhatsApp group.”

IT’S COME A LONG WAY

AlexBiz Team from left to right: Phindile Mabunda, Patience Tshabalala, Siyanda Luzipo, Mary-Ann Boroko, Nthabiseng Seleke and Thabiso Sebata

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It has been three years since that eventful day and plenty of other businesses have benefited from this united front of entrepreneurs in Alexandra. There are a diverse group of directors in the organisation today, which include Bridgette Mogoboya, Nthabiseng Seleke, Mary-Ann Boroko, Siyanda Luzipo, Patience Tshabalala and Phindile Mabunda. There is no fee required for businesses to be part of AlexBiz. “We are all in business and volunteer our time to run AlexBiz,” he says. “Once a

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COMMUNITY

Training, workshops and networking events take place through AlexBiz

Thabiso Sebata, chairperson of AlexBiz month, we have training and we host networking events every two months. If there is an urgent call for an opportunity, we would invite people to come to meet with us to apply.”

AlexBiz is also affiliated with Afrika Tikkun, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the reduction of youth unemployment in South Africa by tackling the socio-economic drivers that make it difficult for young people to access the economy as productive citizens.

“To date, we have helped over 100 businesses to get funding. We have built relationships with Sandton businesses and continue to find opportunities for Alex to work with Sandton,” states Sebata.

Alex is diverse, and its people are very resilient. Alex is unique, and has a vibrant culture, with impromptu restaurants and entertainment centres popping up on street corners all over the township. Alex has got a lot of talent!”

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TAPPING INTO SANDTON

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The proximity of Alexandra to Sandton is always brought up whenever people make a point of the inequality of the two adjacent places. Alexandra is one of the most densely populated areas in the country, where residents are battling social ills such as poverty and unemployment – while Africa’s richest square mile is located just a few kilometres away in Sandton.

“Currently, we have nine fashion designers showcasing their work in Sandton for a whole month. We also have another nine businesses receiving mentorship for one year from Pernod Ricard South Africa. We are definitely reaching our goal,” Sebata says with pride.

In April, Gauteng Premier David Makhura signed the much anticipated Township Economic Bill into law, legislating the Gauteng Township Economic Development Act (No. 2 of 2022). This move is the first of its kind in South Africa and is expected to make things easier for township businesses to operate, assisting them with permitting issues as well as challenges such as harassment by Metro Police for non-compliance with existing by-laws.

Sebata was unaware of the new Act when SpotOn asked him, opting for a broader response. “We welcome any intervention that government would like to bring in our community. We have not really read up fully on the bill but believe that, because we have created an open group, a lot of the businesses in our group share opportunities they hear about,” he said.

The new Act provides a regulatory framework that makes it possible for entrepreneurs living in townships to establish viable and thriving businesses, small enterprises and cooperatives in a less bureaucratic environment, making it easy to climb the economic ladder. It introduces an enabling framework to ensure that townshipbased retail malls and supermarkets partner with local service providers and manufacturers in sourcing products.

Despite all the ups and downs, Sebata believes Alexandra is a special place. “Alex is diverse, and its people are very resilient. Alex is unique, and has a vibrant culture, with impromptu restaurants and entertainment centres popping up on street corners all over the township. Alex has got a lot of talent!”

TOWNSHIP TRUTHS Running a business in the township is challenging in itself and having to run one in a place like Alex comes with some unique obstacles. “Space is an issue, so having your own shop or business premises comes with its own limitations, like electricity and water, parking, crime and pollution.

“We also struggle with the fact that people expect your service and product to be cheaper just because you are from a township. You have to really educate people to buy something new – people like familiar things,” Sebata says.

The effects of Covid-19 were felt by just about everyone. Many businesses were forced to close shop or let some of their staff go because they couldn’t stay afloat through the hard lockdowns.

But Sebata says he isn’t aware of any businesses in their group having to close their doors because of Covid. “Not that we know of. The people of Alex are resilient and we still push to grow every day.”

SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

15

CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

NO FLASH IN THE PAN The humble car wash is as common in the townships as silence is in the suburbs, which means competition is fierce. Expert service is also in high demand – and that’s what The 4Way Carwash in Alex has been delivering for more than half a decade.

16 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

S

ello Moloi is the owner of The 4Way Carwash in Alexandra, a popular spot that sits just next to Alex Mall. The establishment has been in existence for six years now – way longer than the sort of business school kids take up during their holidays to make a quick buck. “Running a car wash is not easy because you have to sacrifice a lot, including time with family and friends.

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CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

Running a car wash is not easy because you have to sacrifice a lot, including time with family and friends. It takes discipline and patience to run it.”

It takes discipline and patience to run it,” 37-year-old Moloi tells Spot-On. “I started out renting other people’s places, where some chased me away. But I’ve built my own from scratch, registered it, and also afforded myself a room to rent to lay my head.”

He says the inspiration to start the car wash was his joblessness. “I was down and out; I couldn’t find a job and I was homeless. I was tired of living off other people. I thought I

should try it, before opting for crime,” says the business owner. Moloi was born and bred in Soweto but moved to Alex after his parents passed away 15 years ago.

OVERCOMING TRIALS Founded in 2016, The 4Way Carwash of course fell victim to the trials of the past two years – the major one being Covid-19 and also the July unrest, which gripped parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. “Since people were stuck at home during Covid, I asked some of my customers to bring their cars to where I stay – but only a few could. So, I started selling alcohol and cigarettes since they were what people needed at the time,” the savvy hustler says. Moloi is part of the AlexBiz community of Alexandra entrepreneurs.

The fact that Moloi took a risk by selling booze and smokes during that time, because of the government’s lockdown restrictions, is a sign of the man’s character and determination to do what he must do for his kids. He currently has one employee after one of his workers left the car wash after securing a job elsewhere.

Last year’s July unrest didn’t make things any easier, as Alex was one of the few townships in Gauteng that were seriously affected. “Some of my stuff was stolen while other things were destroyed, causing me to lay off work for a month or two.”

EXPERIENCED HANDS It’s currently winter and no one wants to even dip their fingers in water, but Moloi has experienced all four seasons and acknowledges that each has its pros and cons. “I’ve endured all [seasons] throughout the years of working without a shelter. In summer, it rains all the time, and you can’t even work. While in winter, it’s cold and so is the water – and there are fewer customers and less work, since the days are shorter and nights longer,” the automotive ablutions expert explains.

For a normal sedan, Moloi charges R70 per car and R120 for a super wash. “The extras we have are engine cleaning, valet, carpet wash and body polish. Lately, we’ve started introducing a sneaker and house mats wash.”

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SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

17

COMMUNITY NEWS

ALEX FM BACK ON THE AIRWAVES

Almost a year ago, the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma on 9 July served as the catalyst for widespread unrest and looting across much of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Among the rom liquor stores victims of this lawlessness to furniture was Alex FM, which was outlets and briefly forced to shut its even funeral homes, so many businesses were looted last year. doors. Thanks to But one of the most puzzling stories invaluable assistance was the ransacking of Alexandra FM, from various players, where equipment worth millions was stolen.

“Indeed, on 13 July, the station was looted the station is back during the unrest. All our equipment, office with a bang.

F

value of R5 million – but fortunately none of the people [at the station] were injured on the day,” station manager Takalane Nemangowe tells Spot-On. These actions by the slew of unemployed and angry young South Africans weren’t really about Zuma, even though the arrest of the former statesman triggered it – it was citizens

furniture and everything was stolen – to the

Station manager Takalane Nemangowe

18 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

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COMMUNITY NEWS

showing their frustration with the government through these riots where 354 people died.

Nemangowe is disappointed that the community the station serves was the one that came to destroy it. “I don’t care what was perpetuating what was happening at the time, politically or not. The people that were looting are pure criminals. They themselves did not care about the political atmosphere of the country at the time – they just saw a platform [to commit crime] and utilised it. If the police responded in time, a lot of things could’ve been avoided. But that’s all in the past now,” he recollects.

“We’ve lost a lot of revenue because we depend on advertising as a community radio or the community media sector as a whole.

Some of the questions you’re asking – like, ‘How long did it take to come back?’ – are the very same questions we received from clients and people who were investing in the station.

Some are now sceptical to invest at Alex FM because they don’t know if we’re fully back or whether we’re operational, and all those sorts of things. So, you can imagine that transition; we lost a lot of revenue. But we continue to work around the clock to try recover, but it will take some time,” Nemangowe says.

A HELPING HAND Alex FM is one of oldest community radio stations in Gauteng, having been established in September 1994 by the Alexandra Community Trust. After the looting, the station was forced off air for at least nine hours due to the equipment theft. “Our sister station LM Radio assisted us in terms of finding a studio so that we could continue with our broadcast.

So, after nine hours, we were back on air, but from a different location.”

“Our sister station LM Radio assisted us in terms of finding a studio so that we could continue with our broadcast. So, after nine hours, we were back on air, but from a different location.”

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The community radio station broadcasted from Rivonia in Sandton and Nemangowe confirmed to Spot-On that the stolen equipment is yet to be recovered. The studio break-in made the news, which saw Alex FM receiving aid from donors – including a R2 million cheque from the National Lotteries Commission.

“We had a lot of assistance from a lot of organisations, companies and also ordinary people. National Lottery was one of them; we also got some assistance from Primedia, Afrika Tikkun and a number of other organisations for the station to recover some of the lost equipment, so that we can continue to broadcast and be the voice of the community,” Nemangowe says.

BACK TO NORMALITY This sense of community and comradery from industry peers and greater Gauteng has helped the station in its recovery. The station’s broadcasters have returned to their old building in Alex. “One can say we are at 70% of rebuilding the station,” says Nemangowe.

“But it will take us some time to be 100% back to where we were, because there’s quite a lot of things we have lost. There are other things that are not replaceable like our recordings, our archives – those are the things we will never recover. We’re talking about archives that go as far back as 1994 when the station started, so we lost our history as a station… but so far, so good. We have managed to come back, and we are operating 24/7 like we used to. It’s work in progress,” shares the station manager.

We serve as the main source of information for our people; we’re also a developmental institution to young people from the community. We absorb them from the community, give them skills, experience and expertise – we ready them for [the] mainstream.” everything that happens in studio in the cloud, in case something similar occurs again in future.

The station plays a huge role in the Alexandra community, as many people see it as their trusted source of information. “We serve as the main source of information for our people; we’re also a developmental institution to young people from the community. We absorb them from the community, give them skills, experience and expertise – we ready them for [the] mainstream,” says Nemagowe.

Some of the Alex FM’s alumni today work at stations such as Power FM, 702 and the SABC. “We continue to play that role and see ourselves as a community leader.”

LESSONS LEARNT He says the devastation has in some way, fast-tracked the station’s development in certain areas. “Looting has taught us to implement certain things that we did not have. For instance, we did not have insurance and now the The station station is insured. received a lot of We beefed up on assistance from security.” Nemagowe many organisations, adds that they’ve companies and also now begun backing ordinary people up their audio and to recover

SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

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RECIPES

THREE PERFECT RECIPES TO ACCOMPANY HAPPY’S PREMIUM DOMBOLO (DUMPLINGS)

Read the story on page 8

Tomato Base for Beef Stew Ingredients: 400 g onion, chopped 80 g garlic, crushed 300 g green peppers, diced 500 g fresh tomato, grated

50 g Rajah Mild Curry Powder 8-10 Knorrox Beef Stock cubes 410 g tomato paste 410 g tomato puree

Method: 1. Heat up a pan and add 100 ml of cooking oil.

2. Once oil is hot, add in chopped onion and garlic, and fry until browned.

3. Once browned, drop in 8-10 beef stock cubes.

4. To help dissolve the cubes, add 8 to 10 grated tomatoes.

5. Add 50 g of Rajah Mild Curry Powder.

6. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes.

7. Add tomato puree and tomato paste.

8. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Happy's top tip: Always boil beef on the side.

When that is ready, just add it to the tomato base.

Mogodu (Tripe) Method: 1. Wash the tripe thoroughly.

2. Once clean, boil it with chopped onion and beef stock. Let it simmer for five hours.

3. Once the tripe is soft and cooked, add salt and pepper to taste.

Mleqwa/Hardbody Chicken Method: 1. Boil a whole chicken with chopped onions for three hours and 30 minutes until tender.

2. Once chicken is ready and soft, add oil to a clean pan and heat until hot.

3. Add chopped onions to the hot oil, season with salt and pepper, and add in the broth from the boiled chicken.

Happy's top tip: Always keep your seasoning simple, preferably using just salt and pepper, when preparing mogodu and mleqwa. www.spotonmag.co.za

SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

21

RECIPES

CHICKEN WITH SOUL It’s not just chicken, it’s chakalaka chicken! Chicken with soul, marinated with true South African flavour!

Chakalaka Chicken Total time to make: 55 minutes Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes Ingredients: 1 kg chicken thighs and drumsticks Salt and ground black pepper 1 tin chakalaka 125 ml mayonnaise or salad cream

5 ml Illovo Brown Sugar 125 ml milk 60 ml cake flour 15 ml chicken stock

Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. 2. Grease an ovenproof dish with non-stick food spray.

3. Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper and place in the dish.

4. I n a bowl mix together remaining ingredients and pour mixture over chicken.

5. B ake for about 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve with rice.

SWEET & STICKY Always a hot favourite, chicken wings dunked in a sweet and sticky sauce are great as a snack, appetiser or even a main meal.

Chicken Wings with Sticky Sauce Time to make: 30 mins Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 15 mins Ingredients: For the sticky hot sauce: 2 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed ¾ cup Illovo Golden Syrup ¼ cup soy sauce 1-2 Tbsp hot sauce, or to taste

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IllovoSugar Website: www.illovosugarafrica.com

22 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

For the chicken: Oil, for frying 16 chicken wings, cleaned and dried 1 egg, beaten 1 Tbsp water ¼ cup cornflour Salt and pepper to season Sliced spring onion to serve

Method: 1. In a small pot, heat olive oil and fry garlic until softened, about 30 seconds.

2. Add Illovo Golden Syrup, soy sauce and hot sauce, to taste. Stir until well combined, allow to simmer for 8-10 minutes on low heat, watching it carefully. Remove from heat when sticky and glaze-like.

3. Pour oil into a medium-sized pot until 10cm deep, and preheat over medium heat.

4. Place chicken wings in a large bowl. In a small bowl whisk 1 tbsp of water into beaten egg and pour over chicken wings, stirring to coat.

5. In another bowl add cornflour and season with salt and pepper. Using a fork or tongs, toss chicken in cornflour until well-coated, allowing excess egg to drip off.

6. Fry chicken wings in hot oil in batches until golden, crispy and cooked, about 8-12 minutes per batch. Transfer chicken to drain on paper towel.

7. Dunk the crispy chicken into the sticky hot sauce, ensuring each wing is dripping with sauce. Serve the spicy, sticky chicken wings with sliced spring onion. Serves 1.

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RECIPES

ONE-DISH WONDERS Often slow-cooked, with only a few simple aromatics, inexpensive cuts of meat or bold winter vegetables.

BURGER VS BURGER Beauty is in the eye of the burger holder.

Shaun’s Outrageous Oxtail Ingredients: 1 kg oxtail flour, for dusting 1 Tbsp sunflower oil 2 onions, 1 roughly chopped,1 finely chopped 3 carrots, 2 roughly chopped, 1 finely chopped 2 celery stalks, 1 roughly chopped,1 finely chopped 1 tsp minced garlic 3 tsp dried oregano ½ bunch thyme 2 rosemary stalks 2 bay-leaves 1 tsp salt 2 tsp black pepper 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 tsp brown sugar 330 ml beer or white wine 100 ml beef stock Method: 1. Dust oxtail with flour and brown in a small lidded pot in oil.

2. Deglaze the pot with stock, loosening any bits stuck on the bottom.

3. Add finely chopped carrot, onion and celery, sauté until soft.

4. Add garlic, herbs, seasoning, tomatoes, sugar, beer/wine, stock and cover with a lid. Simmer covered in oven on a low heat for 2-3 hours.

5. Add the large diced carrots, onion and celery, simmer covered for another 1-2 hours until meat begins to fall off the bone.

6. Finally, season to taste and serve with buttery mash, green beans and eat in front of a movie you can fall asleep to.

Ant’s New York Bacon Double Cheeseburger Ingredients: 500 g lean beef mince, max 20% fat Salt and pepper 2 Tbsp sunflower oil Processed cheese slices Creamy mayonnaise Sweet mustard Raw red onion, sliced into rings Sweet and sour pickles, sliced Lettuce Tomato 2 soft white buns 4 slices streaky bacon

Rock The Kitchen with Ant Ellis ant@rockthekitchen.co.za

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Method: 1. Before you cook the burgers, prep the buns. Toasting isn’t necessary.

2. Stack as follows: On the bottom start with a lashing of mayonnaise, then top with lettuce and tomato. Coat the inside of the top bun with mustard.

3. Place beef mince in a bowl, season with salt and pepper.

4. Divide mince into 4 balls and compress tightly in your hand, then flatten out between sheets of wax paper or cling film so patties are the same diameter as your bun.

5. Add sunflower oil to a flat-bottomed frying pan, heat until just before smoking.

6. Add bacon and cook until crispy, then remove and set aside. Add patties and cook for about 2 minutes, then reduce heat and turn, topping with cheese slices and covering pan with foil so cheese melts.

7. Stack two patties on the bottom half of the bun, layer on pickles, onion rings and 2 slices of bacon, then the finish with the top bun.

Tasty tip: Add a medium fried egg.

SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

23

FAMILY

WITH YOUR FUTURE Spot-On takes a look at the issue of problem gambling among young men and its association with other forms of addiction.

U

nlike what seems like a million years ago when people needed to physically be at a casino or horse racetrack to place a bet, you can now stake your money anywhere you want, right from the palm of your hand.

Gambling is one of those addictions that many people, particularly men, struggle with, yet society often downplays

24 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

the effects it can have on the lives of many individuals and families. People often don’t see gambling in the same light as other addictions like substance abuse, food addiction and even medication dependency.

SPOTLIGHTING HOLISTIC HEALTH “There has been a growing body of research suggesting that disordered gaming is associated with several other mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, problematic substance use and personality disorders. However, an understudied area in this field is the co-occurrence of disordered gaming with other potentially addictive substances and behaviours,” Nyanisa Gqwede, senior treatment and counselling specialist at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation (SARGF) tells Spot-On. “Evidence supports the co-occurrence of addiction for both substances and behaviours – i.e. the

presence of a behavioural addiction increases the propensity for addiction to develop for other behaviours. Indeed, this may create a cycle of reciprocity, wherein mutual exacerbation occurs between two or more problematic behaviours. Moreover, those who do experience co-occurring problematic and addictive behaviours are at higher risk of poor mental (e.g. depression) and physical health,” says Gqwede.

The SARGF provides free, confidential treatment and counselling to those affected by what is termed ‘problem gambling’ and their immediate family members. For the past 18 years, the SARGF has treated more than 18 500 people. The organisation also educates South Africans about the potential harmful effects of problem gambling, as well as how to practise responsible gambling.

THE MASCULINE MINDSET As June is Men’s Mental Health Month, we saw it right to zoom in on some of the biggest challenges men come up against today – and gambling is one of them.

“It is important to understand the root causes of gambling and how this aligns to men’s behaviour, more so toxic masculinity.

Traits of toxic masculinity include the need to control, dominate and to have power, which aligns to displaying traits of mental and physical toughness, self-sufficiency and emotional insensitivity,” says Garron Gsell from the South African Men’s Foundation.

The Men’s Foundation – which also manages the Movember campaign in SA – is part of the Cancer Alliance, a group of nonprofit organisations and advocates for the prevention and control of cancer.

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FAMILY

“[It’s similar to] the thrill or rush experienced with risk-taking behaviours such as speeding and taking chances on the roads. While gambling may be undertaken in a ‘safer’ environment, this still leads to deeper issues, including another symptom of depression – one of the leading causes of suicide. Studies have found that men are more prone to gambling addiction and from earlier stages in their lives, while women have been prone to developing these addictions later in life.

This would align with young men’s societal influence to impress from gaining status from their financial positions and need to be seen as successful. There are unique social pressures for young adult men that may lead to involvement in addictive behaviours,” says Gsell.

A SERIOUS DISORDER According to Gqwede, the American Psychiatric Association includes ‘Internet Gaming Disorder’ as a form of behavioural addiction in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in Section 3 (‘Emerging measures and models’). The World Health Organization has also recognized ‘Gaming Disorder’ as an official disorder with addiction-like properties in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

She, however, points out that gambling is an often-underestimated addiction because it’s largely seen as just entertainment. “It also does not make it simple that gambling addiction is a hidden addiction, [without] physical implications like substance use/drug abuse.

This may result in people hiding and struggling to open about their issues with gambling.”

Gsell echoes Gweqe’s sentiment. “Much like alcohol, which can be consumed for enjoyment or relaxation without a need or dependency, gambling can be used as

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a method of entertainment or enjoyment.

Gambling can stimulate the brain’s reward system, much like drugs or alcohol can, leading to addiction. Gambling is a problem if it causes a problem, so it’s important to differentiate between gambling and problem gambling.”

THE ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE He explains that accessibility to gambling has also not made things easier for those struggling with the addiction. “Sports betting venues and online apps enable men, in particular, to monetise their passion for sports aligned to our innate competitive behaviour to risk and reward associated with recognition among our peers for our choices of support of teams for ‘bragging rights’.

There is a correlation between addictions and accessibility, like supply and demand. There are various forms of gambling, which has evolved from our forefathers who had to visit the horse track to place a bet, to casinos and scratch cards, to lotteries and, more recently, digital platforms, such as phone apps, etc.”

“There are very few pubs that don’t offer slot machines as an additional element of drawing customers, so gambling has become a lot more mainstream in our society, yet we don’t witness the damage, since this is often evident behind closed doors,” concludes Gsell.

Gweqe says the SARGF, through its awareness programmes – such as training, a schools programme and treatment – is trying its best to bring about awareness and how to respond to the harmful effects of problem gambling.

“Family members can help their own through providing them details of the places that offer treatment for gambling. They too can attend therapy to provide support to their own, as well as seek third-party self-exclusion to help their family members. But most important is supporting them and letting their own know that they are there for them,” Gweqe concludes.

PROBLEM GAMBLING RUNNING THE NUMBERS

912 In its 2020/21 financial year, the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation saw 912 clients that received one-on-one psychoeducation counselling with treatment professionals. Of the 912, 555 were male clients compared to 357 female clients.

555 The 555 male clients are further broken down: • 3 were family referrals • 269 were problem gamblers • 383 applied for self-exclusion.

1 365 In FY 2021/22, 1 365 clients received one-on-one psychoeducation counselling with treatment professionals. Of the 1 365, 776 were males, compared to 589 females.

776

The 776 male clients are further broken down: • 5 were family referrals • 477 were problem gamblers • 13 were clients who had received treatment before • 281 applied for self-exclusion.

Across both genders, the top three preferred modes of gambling are casino slot machines, online betting through bookmakers, and sports betting with bookmakers.

SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41 •

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27

ARTS & CULTURE

ALEX THEATRE COMPANY AND ACADEMY

Keeps the Flame Burning

Before the dawn of democracy in South Africa, theatre played a vital role in society and was another wing of the anti-apartheid movement. But following the end of the unjust system in 1994, theatre began to exist in a vacuum.

T

oday, support for the theatre has dwindled so much that the State Theatre has been forced to collaborate with cinema chain Ster-Kinekor as a way of piquing people's interest in the performing arts, by taking plays to the big screen. But the Alex Theatre Company and Academy works tirelessly to keep the theatrical flames burning.

ACCESS TO THE THEATRE SPACE It was established in 2018 by industry leader Mpho J Molepo, who partnered with various practitioners in the creative industries. One of the greatest feats of this partnership is that all the stakeholders are from Alexandra and have been exposed to both formal and informal educational programmes in their respective journeys in the arts.

The intention behind establishing the Academy lies on the bedrock of being inherently concerned with giving back to the community of Alexandra and creating a centre of excellence, while bridging the gap between formal and informal creative training programmes.

Archie Matsetela, a director of the theatre

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“The role of the Company and Academy in Alexandra Township is to create access for arts training and arts development in dance, music, acting and technical production studies, and also to use performance arts as medium of communication to address social issues,” Archie Matsetela, a director of the theatre, tells Spot-On. The directorship of the company includes the cofounder directors Molepo and Mpho Masilela. While the founding directors include Alfred Madiga, Ms Tsholo Thipe and the late Otto Moloto.

A NEW NAME “We have been operating as Alex Arts Academy, so this year we decided to add the performance company and decided to rebrand. We are now Alex Theatre Company and Academy,” Matsetela says.

“We do part-time theatre classes for children and youth class; we have a full-time performance company; and we also host workshops and events.

So, we have impacted more than 900 children and youth since the inception of the Academy through training, performance, events and workshops.”

Founder and director Mpho J Molepo

The Alex Theatre Company and Academy has students from as far as Ekurhuleni, Soweto, Midrand, the Joburg inner city and Orange Grove, among others. “We might be operating in Alex, however, our training and accessibility are not only limited to the area,” says Matsetela.

The Company comprises 15 graduates who have signed a one-year contract, through which they are offered an opportunity to participate in the industry. This, after having gone through an extensive and intensive training programme over the last two years.

BEING SUSTAINABLE The co-director says the theatre doesn’t have a set budget to operate and depends on external funding. “We survive by project-based funding, so we keep applying for funds for our projects.

Sometimes we get it and most times just receive rejection letters. We don't have funds to run the Academy, but we can't stop because of this. We keep going and looking for other alternatives to generate funds. The Company was created so we could produce our own shows and do corporate gigs.”

At the time of writing, the Alex Theatre Company and Academy was organising a film screening for children and youth, in partnership with the Gauteng Film Commission.

Co-founder and director Mpho Masilela

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Theatre director, educator, writer and AND INCLUSIVITY

actress Gcebile Dlamini uses her talent and artistry as a vehicle to address social issues and help bring positive change.

H

er most recent theatre production – The Stories We See – saw her working alongside BigBoy Ndlovu, with whom she has a formidable creative collaborative partnership.

“I have been working with BigBoy Ndlovu as a choreographer since I was at Outreach Foundation.

We both worked on a piece, In My Mother’s Womb, with the Johannesburg Society for the Blind (JSB),” Dlamini tells Spot-On. The pair yet again demonstrated true craftsmanship and activism working with participants from Thembalethu Child Welfare and JSB. The production featured participants with visual impairments, tackling and reflecting on inclusivity and raising awareness about blind and partially sighted persons, says Dlamini. The creative process began in February 2022 and gradually matured into a full theatre production, being showcased in five different community spaces and theatres in Johannesburg during May and June.

CREATING MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING In staying true to community development and creating meaningful partnerships, Dlamini and BigBoy partnered with ASSITEJ SA, Market Photo Workshop and Goethe-Institut SA to bring the production to life. Dlamini explains how art can be used as a force for advocacy and says the role of an artist is not only limited to making people aware of issues around them but also educating the masses on how to face those challenges.

Painting a picture of how impactful the project is, she mentions how – through process-led workshops – the team came up with a moving production that speaks to the realities of the cast members that is relatable for wider society. Considering how paramount the story is, one can only imagine the intensity behind the cast learning to fully embody the characters and be instruments to shift minds.

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other modes should be included in all schools, her response was a definite yes.

A BIGGER PICTURE

A PLAY ON REALITY Through the lead character, Luthando, the play takes us on a journey of the stories she sees as she learns sign language. She is intrigued to teach and make the different participants from Thembalethu learn through sound, sticks and the different stories told by the visually impaired. This speaks to education and how the play not only teaches the audience but the process begins with the team and cast. But it doesn’t end there.

Through assimilation, the story also reflects that the sticks of the visually impaired become a reflection of spirituality, acting as eyes for the visually impaired, used by the youth to take the audience on a journey in search of direction, knowledge, understanding and inclusion of the stories being told.

When asked how important is it that the production and story genuinely reflect the experiences of the cast, Dlamini says because the intention is to teach the cast, it really needs to reflect their research journey, their understanding, and what it means for them to be performing this reality of their community. When asked if she thinks skills such as sign language, brail and

“That is the bigger picture to the project actually.

It’s something on the move in our NGO. We have already approached a few government organisations.” Dlamini's highlight in the journey was in their first performance, when an audience member claimed that there was only one blind person on stage: “I knew, as a team, we achieved our goal of inclusiveness. That we are all the same and we need to work together to make the world include everyone.”

Staying true to the idea of an all-inclusive society, Dlamini explains, “We aim to make this thoughtprovoking production accessible to as many people in the City of Joburg as possible, where they will be able to critically engage with the work. We want this production to be a moment for reflection, with a session for dialogues after each performance.”

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29

Nurturing CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

THE NEXT GENERATION

As illustrated by Kliptown Youth Program, targeted youth development can make a real difference and serve as a strong catalyst for educational empowerment incapable, but because they lacked access to in South Africa’s basic necessities and, in most cases, English is townships. taught as a second language in schools, which

I

t’s no secret that so many families across the country are facing difficult circumstances – adjusting their lives while they try to ensure they can still feed, educate and develop their children, both physically and mentally. Yet, many are struggling to find this balance and – coupled with the reality that one of out of five children has been orphaned and at least 64.5% of children are already living in low-income households and impacted by poverty – children’s rights are being substantially diminished, intentionally or not.

In fact, this is where initiatives like Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) become crucial. “Our aim is to provide opportunities that will enable our children and youth to rise out of poverty,” says Thulani Madondo, executive director of KYP. “We service a community that faces many challenges, where three of four adults are unemployed, there are high rates of teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and food insecurity, among other disheartening socioeconomic challenges. Added to this are the many barriers to education, like the cost of school fees, uniforms, supplies and underperforming schools, all of which can make it that much harder for many children to see a brighter future for themselves.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Since opening its doors in 2007, KYP has offered tutoring support for 3 292 children, all the way from grade 1 through 12, many of whom have grown to become reputable young people in their communities. “On average, we assist 902 children a year, who, when they first join the programme were struggling at school – not because they are

30 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

children, this is the only meal they get, making our role even more important to ensure they don’t go to bed hungry and that they can feed their has meant that the probability of passing matric potential, today and tomorrow.” was low,” adds Madondo.

KYP also has 50 university graduates under its “However, through our programme, we have belt who are doing great things and employs 75 seen a pass rate of 80% with matric students young people in the community. The programme where one in three Kliptown students is has also recently expanded its services to three expected to pass matric. And today we not new neighbouring communities – Dlamini, only offer tutoring services, but Klipspruit Ext 6 and Pimville Zone 4 food programmes, online in Soweto – given the success of learning access, psychological the existing interventions support, vocational and support. training, and an arts and With a staff complement culture programme.” of 22 young adults, the vast majority of whom ADDING HOPE grew up in Kliptown The impact KYP has been able and faced the challenges to make would not be possible that members live with if it were not for the support it each day – KYP is able to Andra Nel, receives through its partners – bring understanding and real purpose manager, KFC one of which is KFC Add Hope. insight into the children’s daily Add Hope delivers 400 meals a struggles. The programme day to the programme – a total of 22 000 meals takes pride in having passionate and motivated a year. A good meal is a crucial component to staff that see their work not only as job, but as education and overall development. Children something that contributes to and makes change in this community often don’t have access in their community. to adequate nutrition – vital for young and “Change takes time, it takes commitment developing bodies and minds. and its take support from partners Speaking to this partnership, like KFC Add Hope. KYP could Andra Nel, purpose manager at never do the work it does KFC, says; “This partnership every day for the children was an effortless one of Kliptown if not for the due to the alignment of generosity of organisations, our ambitions – KFC Add foundations and companies Hope’s sole purpose is to that have helped fund ensure we give children from our programmes and come disadvantaged communities a together with the same goal Thulani Madondo, chance to realise their potential in mind – to give back and executive director, Kliptown Youth and the work done by KYP uplift the next generation,” Program speaks to that. For many of these concludes Madondo.

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CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

MO’S

CHANGING KASI STEREOTYPES ONE CUP AT A TIME Chances are, if you’re someone who enjoys a nice cup of coffee and a slice of carrot cake while reading a good book, you’ll probably either have to stay home or leave the kasi to get your fill. Mo’s bakery and coffee bar, however, is stirring up a caffeine culture in Mamelodi.

O

ur townships may be littered with shebeens and taverns, where you can quench your thirst at just about any hour, but there’s a notable lack of spots for those coffee-lovers among us who are looking to sip on something a bit less strong. Simply put, there just aren’t a lot of cafés in the township.

One famous Indian lawyer and anticolonial nationalist by the name of Mahatma Gandhi once intimated that we should be the change we wish to see in the world and Sibongile Rakgatjane, owner of Mo’s in Mamelodi, seems to have heeded Gandhi’s words.

THE GENESIS “I love baking and I love hanging out at cafés – the township does not suit that lifestyle and I thought of introducing the café as a form of daytime fun in the township,” Rakgatjane tells Spot-On. She founded the café in 2015 after leaving corporate and hasn’t looked back since. Rakgatjane is a self-taught baker who learnt the trade at a young age. “So, we are a cakery and recently reopened our café.

We sell handcrafted celebration cakes, and the café serves as a pick-up point where people can also order light lunches, coffee and smoothies,” she says.

Today she bakes specially designed birthday cakes, with themes ranging from

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Ferrari to Jameson whiskey! These cakes vary in design and Rakgatjane says they take her about five days to make.

Situated on 41 Nkwane street, Mamelodi West, the store operates from Tuesday to Friday between 07:00 and 18:00 and from 08:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays. “On Sunday, we are open for bookings only,” she says.

Rakgatjane’s business wasn’t spared from the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown regulations, which forced businesses to close their doors until it was deemed safe to operate. “I had to close shop and lay off about six employees,” she says. Mo’s coffee bar currently employs three workers. The businesswoman rents the café premises but still also works from home. “I actually do both. I bake from home and the rental is for the café.”

THE FUTURE The business is not funded by government or any external investors. “Not currently however, when I started years ago, friends and family helped out.” But she says if there was someone offering assistance for the business’ growth, she would welcome help in the marketing and PR side of things.

Running this business in the township has its obstacles, as most township folk aren’t used to the culture of going out to a café for a cup of joe. “It’s seasonal and you have

to always be creative and come up with sales initiatives. It’s 50/50. We have local loyalists, and we also have those that come from outside who want to see what it’s all about,” explains the owner.

Mo’s coffee bar has cult-like clientele in parts of Johannesburg and Rakgatjane says that, in a few years’ time, she would like to open other branches to serves those customers. “Being a household name and hopefully replicate to two more townships,” she says of where she envisions the business in a few years. “I also want to open a pick-up spot in the Fourways area because of my clientele that side.”

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31

ENVIRONMENT

MAKING COMMUNITY FOOD GARDENS

Water Wise

Photos taken at Success-Mpumelelo-Katleho during training

Rand Water’s Water Wise has adopted two community food gardens in the Sebokeng Township near Vereeniging to help make a difference in local communities.

T

he Tshepong Old Age Centre group was adopted by Water Wise on 27 September 2017. This group consists of six members of ages ranging from 60 to 70 years. The food garden is an extension of their various extramural activities that they partake in to keep healthy. The aim is to help feed people in the centre as well as their family members. Currently, the community has received training that has assisted in upskilling them with the necessary agricultural competencies to maintain successful, waterwise food gardens. Water Wise has been able to put a fence around the garden for security purposes and provide the community with gardening resources.

32 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

The other Sebokeng-based community food garden is the Success-Mpumelelo-Katleho community group, which was established and registered as a non-profit-company in 2018.

This community group, with its four members, was adopted by Water Wise on 16 September 2021. There are an additional 15 members, mostly pensioners, who also participate in the company’s activities.

The aim of the vegetable garden is to help alleviate hunger in the community by donating vegetables to feeding schemes, as well as selling produce to make a profit and maintain livelihoods. Moreover, the community group entails other extramural activities such as sewing, coal production and the use of

recycled material to create decorative items.

Currently, Success-Mpumelelo-Katleho has received gardening resources from Water Wise and is still undergoing training.

WATER WISE FOOD GARDENS In an attempt to alleviate socio-economic issues in Gauteng, while educating the

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ENVIRONMENT

public about water conservation and its importance in sustaining all life, Water Wise offers community programmes such as food gardens and community activations designed to address these issues. The Water Wise food gardens are an initiative that focus on assisting community members on how to initiate, maintain and sustain a food garden.

The programme entails customised training (theoretical and practical components) on criteria that include the following: • Soil – techniques used to identify soil type, as this determines soil amelioration techniques, as well as water-use patterns.

• Hydrozoning – the grouping of plants based

on their watering needs to help eliminate the needless watering of plants.

• Seed sowing and transplanting – community members are trained on how to sow seeds in trays or directly in the ground, as well as how to transplant seedlings.

• Companion planting and crop rotation – companion planting is the planting of crops that benefit one another. Crop rotation is a procedure that involves the restriction of planting crops in the same soil for a period of years for disease prevention, insect control, nutrient balance and nutrient enhancement.

• Watering – the importance of water

conservation in the garden is echoed through the use of watering cans (which direct water straight to where it’s needed), drip irrigation, the use of greywater, rainwater harvesting, and other water-saving practices.

• Mulching – Mulch is referred to as nature’s blanket, and is any material that can be placed on the surface of the soil to help retain soil moisture. This technique reduces the need for irrigation.

Tools and resources that are necessary for gardening, as well as participation certificates, are provided to the community groups.

Materials include garden tools, rain tanks, fencing and seeds.

Photos taken at Tshepong Old Age Centre during training

ABOUT WATER WISE Water Wise is Rand Water’s environmental brand, which has been active since 1997. Its responsibility is to provide education and awareness about water and environmental conservation to various target markets (adults, green industry, business, communities, general public) in an effort to promote the sustainable use of water. The necessity of the brand is informed by the increased drought events

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occurring in South Africa.

Currently, water resources have been put under pressure due to increased demand by consumers, as well as the impacts of climate change.

The increase in potable water demand by consumers will lead to an increase in the extraction of water from natural water sources, impacting severely on downstream users and the aquatic ecosystem.

Water Wise is committed to assisting community groups – in Sebokeng and other areas – with sustainable food gardens. For more information, visit the Rand Water website and click on the Water Wise logo, or email waterwise@randwater.co.za.

Alternatively, have a look at the Water Wise social media content on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

And remember, always be Water Wise!

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33

OP-ED

the chaos it caused. Of course, Covid-19 has had adverse effects on various levels – not only has it taken thousands of lives, but throngs of people have also lost their jobs and many entrepreneurs have seen their businesses fall before their very eyes, without being able to do much about it. And now Russia’s invasion of Ukraine also hasn’t helped in the constant hiking of the petrol and food prices, which has also forced some businesses to let go of their employees.

But true to our government’s cunningness, they have used the pandemic and ongoing war in Ukraine as an excuse to shield themselves from criticism – yet the truth is that corruption is our country’s biggest Achilles heel.

It is because of corrupt officials that the country’s youth languish at home without jobs, many of whom have taken to abusing substances or resorting to crime as a means to put food on the table.

TIMES ARE TOUGH FOR THE YOUTH OF SA Bonginkosi Tiwane contemplates the precarious situation facing South Africa’s youth.

I

don’t really watch the news, it’s quite depressing for me,” a friend of mine once said. This is a person who works for the South African Defence Force, who I suppose sees the bad side of the world time and again whenever he gets deployed.

As a journalist and an active citizen of this country, I’m compelled to watch the news and keep abreast of what’s happening in and around the country. But I understand where my friend and many other young people are coming from.

The last three years – if not the decade – have been very difficult for South Africa’s youth. If anything, you want to spare yourself the trouble of hearing how much worse things are becoming.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT TO CELEBRATE? Every June, South African youth are expected to celebrate being young but we’re actually just commemorating what the valiant students of 1976 did in fighting against the forced introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of

34 • SPOT-ON l ISSUE 41

instruction in local schools. Today’s young people have a different enemy – the country’s socioeconomic issues such as crime, unemployment and corruption, which are a deterrent to growth.

In the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for Q1 2022, the unemployment rate was recorded at 63.9% for those aged 15-24 and 42.1% for those aged 25-34 years, while the current official national rate stands at 34.5%.

In March, Statistics South Africa released the latest unemployment numbers and showed that in Q4 2021, the numbers rose to 35.3% from 34.9% in the previous quarter. This was the highest level since the start of the QLFS in 2008.

Under the expanded definition, which includes discouraged job seekers, the unemployment rate declined to 46.2% from 46.6%. The manufacturing sector shed 85 000 jobs during the quarter while construction lost 25 000 jobs.

When I listen to government officials speak, I can’t help but get the sense that the Covid-19 pandemic was in some way good for them because it provided an opportunity to hide behind

SEEMS LIKE IT’S UP TO US Some people look at today’s youth and think they are a lazy bunch but if you actually take note, you’ll see throngs of young people who have started their own businesses.

Unfortunately, what’s really lacking is a conducive environment in which their start-ups can thrive. It’s more about who you know that can get you ahead. This often leads to growing frustration and anger, which, as we saw with last July’s looting, leaves the country in worse state.

And when government simply does nothing or responds too slowly, this leaves room for vigilante groups, where things tend to get out of hand, regardless of the initial intentions.

Further, the young people of this country don’t have a sense of urgency when it comes to being active citizens. The Municipal Elections that took place last year saw a huge drop in the number of voters – about 8 million people cast their ballots by 17:00 on the day of voting, out of a total 26.2 million registered voters, the IEC stated.

That suggests that voter turnout was about 31% four hours before polls closed, compared with 58% in the last local government poll in 2016.

If young people don’t vote out corrupt officials, though, then nothing will change. If there’s anything today’s youth should take from the class of 1976, it’s that our nation’s young people should be more politically astute and active, or at least be participant members of society who are engaged and concerned with what’s happening around them. After all, it affects every single one of us.

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