Ignited Woman - Aug/Sep 2022

ditor's note E

The Courage to EVOLVE

Evolving takes a lot of courage

One has to shed so much deadness on oneself and this can be ever so daunting. It is intimidating because you have to be real with yourself and sometimes that is a challenge too big to carry out I have had a few hiccups myself A fear of sorts to become the person and the woman that I promised myself to become; to elevate my game and to evolve

But the past few month of shedding and getting rid of all things toxic have been helpful.

The introspection time has brought a lightness that I so appreciate

I have to mention that as I gained the courage to grow I became more open to taking risks Building a team that will assist me to grow the business has been one of the courageous moves I have made since embarking on this evolution journey

But enough about me In this issue we celebrate some formidable women who are intentionally shaking the earth and dominating their spaces

On the cover we have new Miss Free State Pageant owners Nthabeleng and Dipalesa. If this is not black excellence then I don’t know what is.

Love, Kamo

Founder & editor Kamogelo Seekoei

Content CREATOR melissa Nare social media Eliot Joseph graphic designer Nkane Mokhoke sales director lunga kakaza

SALES EXECUTIVES clive Masengere nokuthula Ngwane

EXECUTIVE ADMIN akhona gcaza

Subscriptions Visit www ignitedwoman com or send email To: info@kannamedia co za

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This Women’s Month, Pharma Dynamics – a leading local pharmaceutical company and an advocate for self-care – is encouraging women to make their health a priority by scheduling overdue health checks Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, says even though you may feel healthy, you might not be “Health screenings are generally done when you ’ re healthy The aim is to detect disease at an early stage before symptoms become noticeable In most cases, treating a disease early on provides a better prognosis Regular health checks can also help to reduce risk factors and/or treat abnormalities that could lead to more serious disease later on ”

MANY WOMEN TAKE ON A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND IN DOING SO, MAY NEGLECT THEIR OWN HEALTH.

Blood pressure screening

“It’s a myth that high blood pressure mainly affects men or the aged,” says Jennings “Research conducted in South Africa shows that high blood pressure rates among women have climbed in the last two decades”

A study sample comprising of 5 477 men and 7 740 women pointed to an increase in hypertension prevalence from 27% to 45% in men and 31% to 48% in women High blood pressure is called the silent killer since it typically doesn’t cause any symptoms, but has a devastating effect on your health “Almost all diseases, disabilities and deaths caused by high blood pressure are preventable So, roll up your sleeve and get your blood pressure checked This can be done at most pharmacy clinics or at your GP”

A blood pressure screening should be done annually from the age of 18 A normal reading is below 120/80 mm Hg

Cholesterol check

This check assesses your risk for developing heart disease or stroke, which you should have done at least every five years from the age of 20 However, if you have a history of cardiovascular disease in your family or suffer from it, you should have it done more regularly Normal cholesterol levels should be less than 5 mmol/l If it’s higher, make a plan to see your doctor,” says Jennings

Blood glucose

Women aged 45 and older should get their blood glucose checked every three years to detect their risk for diabetes “A fasting plasma glucose reading of 61 - 69 mmol/l and higher may indicate that you ’ re prediabetic, while anything over ≥ 7 mmol/l indicates diabetes”

HIV

Given the high rate of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, it’s recommended that women get tested once a year This involves a simple prick test or swab of the cheek that can be done at a GP or clinic

Pap smear

“A pap smear is recommended every three years, starting from the age of 25 to 65,” says Jennings “Your doctor will take cells from your cervix with a small brush, which then gets sent to a lab for analysis There they will look for changes or abnormalities that may lead to cervical cancer ”

Mammograms

This is a screening tool for breast cancer, which involves compressing the breast between plates so that X-ray images can be taken “As you age, your risk for breast cancer increases Women should start annual screenings at age 40 and can then switch to biannual screenings at age 55 However, if you have a family history of breast cancer, then talk to your doctor about starting screenings earlier”

Bone density

To screen for osteoporosis (a disease that weakens the bones), a bone density test is recommended for women from age 65 and men over the age of 70, but those with risk factors, like fractures or low body weight, should be screened earlier “The frequency of the test varies depending on bone density, but your doctor will be able to advise you on how often you should have it done”

Colon screening

The colon should be scanned for cancer from 50 years of age, and repeated every 10 years after that depending on an individual’s risk factors It can be done at the doctor’s office or in hospital by way of a sigmoidoscopy where a lighted tube and camera are inserted in the anus to examine the lower colon

Skin checks

In SA, about 20 000 cases of skin cancer are reported annually, which makes it the most common cancer in the country Therefore, self-examinations should be done monthly at home to check for any new moles or changes to existing moles If you find anything out of the ordinary, rather have it checked out by a GP or dermatologist

Dental checks

Regular dental check-ups can prevent plaque build-up, cavities and gum disease, which makes seeing the dentist at least once a year a must “Dont put off making a doctor’s appointment for yourself because you ’ re too busy taking care of everyone else,” says Jennings “

The screenings you’ll need typically changes as you age, but here’s a list of the ten essential health checks women should prioritise:

HEAR HER SPEAK

This Women’s Month we celebrate womanhood by asking a few of our ladies what womanhood means to them

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THESE APPS

If you are young, talented, and passionate, there’s ample opportunity to diversify your income, pay off debt, save money and grow your network.

Fortunately, digitisation has made it very easy and convenient for young people to start, develop and advance their businesses. There are a range of tools, resources, and information for you to familiarize yourself with, start honing your entrepreneurial skills and ultimately thrive in your expertise

Haven’t thought of starting a side hustle? Or perhaps you have, but need further support with growing your business? Look no further than AppGallery or Petal Search that enables users to search, download, manage, and share relevant apps Discover and explore suitable platforms to accelerate your presence in the marketplace and make your way to create a successful business

Here are a few suggested apps to help you start and grow your small business: TikTok

Creating your own content is one of the easiest and inexpensive way to promote your business on TikTok Plus One of the main benefits of TikTok is that you don’t need to create highly polished videos If you use TikTok in the right way, you can introduce your business, whether its services or products, to an extensive audience worldwide With over 500 million users, you can create informative and entertaining videos to build brand awareness and loyalty You can also extend your marketing efforts further through the following: a hashtag challenge, campaigns, collaboration, or even add an account The great thing about TikTok is that it’s fun. As a young person who might be already hooked on social media platforms, you’ll

find this platform simple to navigate and grow your following

Canva

The modern world is a visual place, and as Africans, we love exciting, eye-catching, and compelling imagery This has only become truer with new social media platforms and a shift to more engagement online As a result, your business must have high-quality branded images to compete, be seen and succeed by your desired target audience If you ’ ve never designed before or are too busy with other parts of your business, creating images can be overwhelming. Don’t worry, we recommend using Canva, an online drag-and-drop image builder that helps you design social media graphics, presentations, flyers, infographics and much more.

WhatsApp Business

Use WhatsApp Business and offer your customers a more personal experience, so you can better run your business WhatsApp Business is a free to download app that was built with the small business owner in mind You can create a catalog to showcase your products and services, connect with your customers easily by using tools to automate, sort and quickly respond to messages What are you waiting for? You can transform your business, engage audiences, accelerate sales, and drive better customer support outcomes on this platform

Business Ideas

Discover new opportunities to generate income without leaving your home If you are ambitious and dedicated to starting something, the digital world offers countless opportunities to create your own startup business Get ideas on the Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs & Startups app You can discover practical tips, tools, and details about what you need to start your next online project This app is ideal for those entrepreneurs who want to start an alternative business but do not know where to start or do not have a budget. We love the Business Ideas for Entrepreneurs & Startup app.

Meeting your expectations

For most start-ups, resources like printers and scanners may take longer to acquire especially at the beginning stages However, this doesn’t mean you have to go to others to print, scan or edit your important documents, this is because apps like PDF Scanner are powerful applications for scanning documents anywhere and anytime.

If you spend a lot of time on the move you will be able to send documents to clients and contracts even when you are out of the office, this is because PDF generation is completely offline and requires no internet connection It saves your PDF file in history and can be accessed quickly by accessing your recently used documents

Don't Neglect Rural SMMEs

Supporting the local economy

The Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) sector has been seen as a saving grace for the economy for some time, being that it’s a vital cog Economic diversification and job creation is collectively one of the pillars of the National Development Plan, which aims to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030, and it involves building capacity for small businesses

This is why it is critical for SMMEs, from all parts of the country, to be supported as much as possible due to their contribution to the growth of the economy and job creation Rural small businesses require the same level of support as their metropolitan counterparts, and there are programs in place to ensure they are not left behind

Supporting the local economy

With the high unemployment plaguing youth in South Africa, young people in rural areas have given up on finding jobs and are opting for entrepreneurial means to put food on their table This according to Thokoza Mjo, Head of the Anzisha Prize Fellowship, is a crisis

and an opportunity Mjo, who heads this initiative that supports entrepreneurship amongst young Africans between the ages of 15 and 22, says one way of ensuring that one makes a meaningful contribution to the economy of the area one is visiting is by buying from local small businesses By supporting these establishments, it will assist in fostering their entrepreneurial ambitions and bolstering the local economy

“Therefore, by buying their products and services, you ’ re helping enable growth that creates and sustains jobs”, says Mjo

“It is going to take all of us to end youth unemployment and so by spending our money where it’s needed the most we are doing a patriotic service to our country and the continent”

Easy access to the Internet

In 2021 Airbnb announced further investment and support of tourism SMMEs in South Africa This has been done in a number of ways One is by contributing to infrastructure and

tackling digital and financial accessibility With less than half of South Africas rural population connected to the internet, digital exclusion poses a significant barrier to entry for many potential tourism entrepreneurs

To tackle the digital divide, Airbnb has partnered with Ikeja, a company focused on providing fast, affordable wifi to townships Over the next two years Airbnb will work together with Ikeja to provide at least 100 Airbnb Academy Hosts and their communities with free wifi Each of these 100 Hosts will become a wifi hotspot within their community, giving 100s of others access, resulting in a powerful network effect

Encouraging local trade

South Africa has one of the longest road networks in the world as well as a healthy tradition of road trips Global travel search site Cheapflightscoza reports that searches for domestic car rentals are up by about 12% during the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year* This is despite the increase in petrol prices, which peaked at approximately R2151 per litre** at the start of May And with more people travelling by

car, ditching the highways for smaller, more obscure routes over the holidays will prove valuable in more ways than one In addition to visiting new places, travellers will spend money locally –on meals, at petrol stations, buying snacks and curios at local stores and more

Embracing technology to digital transform

One of the simplest and most impactful ways for SMEs to not only keep their heads above water but also remain competitive is through the acceleration of digital transformation However, a recent World Economic Forum white paper found that SMEs are still at the low to moderate level of technological maturity with only 23% of SMEs noting that the changes brought on by the pandemic had led to the acceleration of their digital transformation goals

But, it is also clear that those SMEs who are continuing to adopt emerging technologies like AI, machine learning and cloud computing into their organisations have seen a complete transformation in the way they operate and do business, enabling them to access new markets, reduce business costs and improve on efficiency

“It is going to take all of us to end youth unemployment and so by spending our money where it’s needed the most we are doing a patriotic service to our country and the continent.”

ByKamogeloSeekoei

Amidst record-high unemployment, especially amongst our country’s youth, entrepreneurship has never been more important Yet as a 2020 study by the University of Stellenbosch Business School revealed an alarming 49 8% of South Africans continue to fear failure, deterring them from taking the leap and launching their own businesses

This same study noted that only 60 4% of respondents believed that there were opportunities out there, and that they had the skills necessary to start and successfully run their own business To the contrary, after years of observing the enormous talent and untapped potential of South Africans for innovation, it is not a lack of opportunity but rather flawed mindsets that are preventing more individuals from realising their entrepreneurial potential As a country, we urgently need to address these

mistaken attitudes, and work to instill more confidence in our youth if we are to achieve a thriving, job-creating economy Here are the five traits needed for aspiring entrepreneurs:

Courage

You do not need thousands of rands to launch a business

Some of the world’s most successful businesses were founded on shoestring budgets in people’s garages including the likes of Microsoft, Amazon and Google. Successful entrepreneurs don't wait for perfection.

Focus

Financial graveyards are littered with businesses who tried to be everything to everyone, and instead failed to satisfy anyone Define who your target market is, what unique need your business is fulfilling, and play to your strengths

Agility

In today’s highly competitive environment, it is important to remain agile to any market trends and opportunities to stay ahead of the pack Be stubborn about achieving your goals

Willingness to listen

Great people make a great business, and smart entrepreneurs not only surround themselves with the best talent but are willing to listen to their input and be guided by their expertise. Successful leaders learn from the successes and failures of others.

Self-discipline

Entrepreneurship is incredibly rewarding, but also demands your blood, sweat, and tears to be successful You will also need the self-discipline to avoid procrastinating over difficult tasks and to remain calm and work through stressful situations

Definewhoyourtargetmarketis,whatunique needyourbusinessisfulfilling,andplayto yourstrengths.

Building confidence through pageantry

ByKamogeloSeekoei

Mental health and gender based violence are issues we must empower our young ladies to deal with. The world of pageantry requires intelligence, confidence and an overall well balanced lifestyle. As we resume our lives post the global pandemic, as we chart a new normal for ourselves and our families, let us be inspired by the confidence, resilience and enthusiasm of the Miss Free State finalist as they tackle their Miss Free State journey under the " new norm "

The Miss Free State pageant aims to empower young women to be independent, confident and resilient New pageant owners Chief Executive Officer

Nthabeleng Kgabutlane and Chief Operating Officer Dipalesa Mbola say emphasis in 2022 is to champion mental health and related issues because of the surge in cases of mental health in South Africa with devastating consequences both for the victims and their immediate families and relatives They say Miss Free State is more than just pageantry, it is a foundation from which to build an inclusive socio-economic ecosystem that underscores the strengths and the qualities of women, especially young women, across the country Our editor Kamogelo Seekoei catches up with the CEO

When did you take over Miss Free State? The negotiations started 23rd of February 2022 and the final sale occurred the 1st of March It hasn't been an easy transition as we had to resume after 2-3 years of no activity due to lockdowns caused by the global pandemic We have had to refine and redesign the whole concept of Miss Free State to reignite it

What is the mission and vision of the pageant?

Our vision is to empower young women to be independent, confident and resilient And our mission is to empower women with skills needed to adapt and go back and enrich their communities through our Miss Free State pageantry and as the world is constantly evolves

What would you hope to achieve with the business?

We hope to redefine the industry of pageantry as a whole We would love to add on to the legacy that has been built by Ani and Yolande We look forward to being all about the empowerment of ladies who choose go be a part of our pageant, not only making the difference in the life of the girl who is crowned

Our workshops have played a critical role in our pursuit of empowering these girls Ensuring that the ladies will leave with life skills that they can use in school, in their personal lives as well as in their careers is very important to us because we understand that not everyone will be crowned on that anticipated night but the months they've spent with us should absolutely count for something

Our pursuit of inclusion

Miss Free State is more than just pageantry, it is a foundation from which to build an inclusive socio-economic ecosystem that underscores the strengths and the qualities of women, especially young women, across the country The vision is fundamental to the ideals of not only attaining an equal and just society but affording young women a platform for self-discovery, upliftment of communities and the pursuit of career development in their respective fields and disciplines.

ByMelissaNare

Telling her truth through her books A

uthor, publisher, youth mentor, motivational speaker and business woman, Nondumiso Toyi Mthembu knows a thing or two about the importance of basic life skills and how lack of these can only have far reaching effects into every facet of our lives including the business world This was her biggest inspiration for the Pietermaritzburg business woman to start her own company Qhudeni Skills Development and being a youth mentor

From Passion to Profession

After achieving her Human Resources and Office Management certificates, she worked for different companies in various industries including finance, motoring, property and mining She says the motivation behind how she started her company Qhudeni Skills Development was the desire to contribute to the empowerment and transformation of the society

She has also had some highlights since she started her business, from celebrating the book sales, mentoring the youths and public speaking

For Nondumiso, being a businesswoman is just one piece of the pie She extended her footprint into publishing, having written and published fifteen books to date She started writing in 2007, averaging a book per year Some of her titles include:

From a frying pan to a fire Nectar for the soul Relationship you have with your own-self Ignite your inner soul Cannot swop death Behold! I am a product of Tenacity The seed of life is within you The power of a Fearless Woman

She describes her books as motivational and spiritual and explains why it is important to share her story with the world: “Sharing with the world helps those with the same challenges or those who went through the same, aim being to give hope My books also come as guidelines or manual because they mostly originate from my life, my journey and or from my observation They also help me when I do youth mentoring ”

a game of calculated risks in this woman’s world

ByMelissaNare

ith a vibrant smile and an even tougher spirit, Refiloe Nkosi is a woman to be reckoned with In a world that seems to still be dominated by men, she has made sure to break the stereotype that a lot of women in the corporate and business world still struggle with, to be seen and heard Originally from Tjakastad in Mpumalanga, the Daveyton raised Refiloe says she has always had a thing for business

The SAICA registered Associate General Accountant, studied Accounting and Internal Auditing and trained as an Accountant. After serving her articles and working as an audit supervisor at an audit firm for a year she knew she had to take the leap of faith and start her business

“I started consulting at Transaction Advisory Firm where I gained further experience in corporate finance and was later challenged by my passion to see businesses grow and assisting government in the area of financial

reporting, that is when I started servicing the SME’s through my company that was registered in 2018 ”

About the business

Noakalesse Business Solutions is born out of passion and desire to bring solutions to corporations, whether by simplifying business process, enhancing accountability and growth or by assisting incapacitating a company

Noakalesse Business Solutions provides a full range of tax and accounting services for businesses, government, and individuals across South Africa

“Our services help companies to grow sustainable businesses that are compliant We are forging our foot within the Small Business Sector assisting mainly in Tax and cash flow management,” she explains They also offer consulting services to government and private sector ranging from

finance, systems and controls, supply chain management, audit preparation services, asset management services and solutions, transaction advisory, valuations and due diligent services

“Our mission is to build and facilitate sustainable businesses by providing the analytics, advisory, training and business process solutions ”

For Refiloe building a solutions company is foremost on her mind She says the business philosophy for Noakalesse is to enable, empower and convey skills and knowledge to clients

Overcoming challenges

In her business Refiloe initially struggled with building a team that delivers the services in the manner and quality that she desires This was due to finances not being available while trying to build up the capital to retain talent.

She says the business is getting there as they continue to build strong relationships with their consultants and ensuring that they own what goes out to the client and therefore ensuring quality and timeliness.

However, it has been a satisfying journey seeing the SME’s that they have worked with grow, applying systems in their businesses to build legacies rather than just businesses to sustain one from day to day and when the owner passes on the business dies.

“It has been interesting to hear the pressures we have relieved from the

business owners since we stepped in to assist on the bookkeeping/accounting function of the business. We’ve come in businesses struggling to manage cashflow and paying suppliers on time and through our interventions we have seen them stabilise.”

No doubt that Refiloe’s journey as an entrepreneur and businesswoman has been tough but her passion and drive has propelled her forward to not only help her clients build a legacy for themselves but to build one for herself.

"I founded and registered Oak Monte Enterprises in August 2020. I had been looking for my true purpose and being an employee a couple of years before was not fulfilling for me."

Finding her true purpose in a pandemic

When a woman starts a company it is often to unleash her full potential and attain excellence The same goes for Botswana based businesswoman

Queen Kgotlaesele who us the founder and managing director of Oak Monte Enterprises Queen is a software consultant involved in the implementation and support of ERP systems

She says her mission is to provide exceptional and top standard service which exceeds customers’ consultation expectations Our reporter Melissa Nare catches up with her

I am also a proud member of the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA)

How long have you been in this business?

What are some of the challenges you have faced since you started?

Tell us about yourself and where you are from

I am a young woman from Botswana I was born and bred in a popular village called Tlokweng which is right on the eastern side of the capital city Gaborone

I am a kind, bright and passionate woman who always dedicates herself in everything she does I have a Bsc (Hons) Applied Business Computing from the university of Sunderland

I founded and registered Oak Monte Enterprises in August 2020 I had been looking for my true purpose and being an employee a couple of years before was not fulfilling for me I resigned from my job early 2018 and began the journey of finding myself It took years but I am here now Like everyone else the year 2020 and living in uncertain times of covid pushed me to introspect and that is how Oak Monte was founded, after accepting that I was meant to do bigger things in life

What would you like your company to be known for?

The name comes from an oak tree It is known to be a very sacred and strong tree which exhibits indomitable and uncompromising character and strength Like any other well known and big company I want the company to demonstrate

Capital in any new company is a factor I would be surprised if anyone with a company says they did not pass through that stage I have had to put together multiple streams of income to secure enough money to pay for company licenses and similar things to get started

Another big challenge we face as companies, especially women owned is acceptance I have a lot of women who will always tell you that they have had to put double the effort jut to be able to walk through boardroom doors or secure a contract

What has been the highlight of your business?

I will always speak about the support

I get from people I don’t even know Social media has played a huge role in giving me the faith to be here now

The inboxes with words of encouragement from people in similar positions and even those in different countries I have never been to for that matter means a lot

Collaboration vitaltonew opportunities

ByMelissaNare

n a mission to close the gender gap in ICT Her passion for empowering young people with the right skills for the future and her focus on getting more black women in the IT sector, is uplifting

The 32-year-old Prudence Mathebula doesn’t just inspire, she walks the talk: at just 26 years of age Prudence claimed her place in history founding Dynamic DNA, the leading training and skills development company, empowering Africa’s ICT generation

Prudence is passionate about building the economy of South Africa one ICT youth at a time and closing the digital skills and gender divide in our country Having come from humble beginnings growing up in Soweto, Prudence was always a hard worker, excelling at Maths and Accountancy at her high school –Eldorado Park Secondary. She was also entrepreneurial in spirit; early on setting goals for herself that would culminate in her owning her own business by the time she was 26 Prudence started working at the age of 13 assisting her father in his mobile repair shop helping with customer service After passing her matric there were no funds to go to university, but applied for a bursary being offered by MICT SETA for a Vega diploma in marketing and advertising

Prudence also furthered her knowledge at the University of Witwatersrand where she completed a degree in B-BBEE Management in 2015 This is where her passion for skills development was ignited Her next prudent career step was to join software development company Dynamic Visual Technologies (DVT), which is part of the Dynamic Technologies Group of companies She joined as B-BBEE transformation Manager in 2016 and within two months had secured funding for their skills development programme and had it registered with the MICT SETA Whilst rolling out the programme over the next year, Prudence, spurred on by her ambition, business skills and strategic ability uncovered an opportunity that would see her become 51% shareholder and Managing Director of Dynamic DNA

“I saw an opportunity that other training providers were not doing which was desperately needed in the ICT sector and that was the practical learning and mentoring component,” Prudence says “Of course, my goal of owning my own company was also a big motivator for me, so I pitched a business model with commercials to the board ” In true proactive style, Prudence didn’t wait to hear back from the board, already thinking about the next step she set about securing funding that would be required to execute her plan In just three weeks the board accepted her proposal and Dynamic DNA was born “Many people grow up just like me without opportunities or access to technology and information, I wanted to reach those people and give them an opportunity in the ICT sector,” says Prudence Dynamic DNA will continue shaping the future by developing and empowering Africa’s ICT generation; the next step for Prudence is bringing in more corporate companies so that they can close the divide and decrease the unemployment rate of the country Scarce ICT skills are needed for economic growth, social upliftment, and adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and Dynamic DNA with Prudence at the helm, is at the forefront of advancing these skills and enriching lives in the process

Many people grow up just like me without opportunities or access to technology and information, I wanted to reach those people and give them an opportunity in the ICT sector.

"

T H E E V O L U T I O N O F A W O M A N

O W N I N G H E R P O W E R

At Ignited Woman we are all about celebrating women, a win for one is a win for us all As we celebrate women ’ s month what better way to do this than to spotlight the brains behind this magazine. Our reporter Melissa Nare speaks to founder and editor of Ignited Woman Magazine and seasoned journalist Kamogelo Arusha Seekoei, popularly known as Kamo

n 1972, feminist activists asserted that "The Future is Female ” That declaration seems to be coming true today, fifty years later True to this proclamation women from all works of life have been taking over the world and they deserve to be celebrated At Ignited Woman we are all about celebrating women, a win for one is a win for us all As we celebrate women ’ s month what better way to do this than to spotlight the brains behind this magazine We speak to founder, editor of Ignited Woman Magazine and seasoned journalist Kamogelo Arusha Seekoei, popularly known as Kamo

Born and raised in Thaba Nchu in the Free State she has been a journalist for 16 years Three of those were as a founder and editor of Ignited Woman magazine. Having had the privilege of working in an industry that she loves and wanted to be part of since she was a child, she has worked for various publications including Sowetan, Mail & Guardian and The New Age

As a woman and a strong supporter of women ’ s rights,Kamo loves women ’ s stories, as they are always of tenacity, resilience and faith With Ignited Woman she wanted to create a platform where women would be celebrated and new , talented as well as impactful women would be unearthed “

Also, I was raised by a single mother, beyond that there are other matriarchs in my family that played a pivotal role in my upbringing including my grandmother and my mom ’ s sisters The closeness of their relationship just opened me up to loving women I’ve always wanted to be a magazine editor since I was a child. I was inspired by Khadija from the American sitcom Living Single, which I used to watch when I was a child Back then I didn’t even understand what was going on I just loved that she was in charge and I wanted that But that steered me to seek understanding about magazine and journalism in general,” she alludes

With 21 issues published to date, the first issue of Ignited Woman magazine came out in February 2019 “ It was one of my proudest moments” she says

But what kind of impact does she want the magazine to have? For Kamo the magazine should unlock a space for women to showcase their work, raise their voices and celebrate themselves and their achievements “We always say that Ignited Woman is an emerging leading voice for women in business and a resource giving our readers strategic business content and insightful profiles on industry leaders We are cheerleaders for women, advocates for gender parity and equal pay in the workplace and we speak the language of our audience.”

The journey has not been easy Building a brand from scratch has not been the easiest of things she has chosen to do in her life, she says “So not being known in spaces that we needed to operate when we started was a shock and I had to learn fast and grow personally and business wise “

What keeps you going?

Faith. If I did not believe in my dreams and that they are valid and attainable I would have given up a long time ago because the challenges have been many But they have also presented me an opportunity to learn and grow

SOUND ADVICE

Give your dream legs Do the work so that it can come to life. Nothing beats seeing your thoughts manifest into real life things

FUN FACT ABOUT YOU!

I have a very serious face but I’m the most hilarious person in the room, you can spot my friends always having a chuckle when I’m around

The Premier Splendid Inn IN Bloemfontein is a gem right in the

RESTAURANT

The newly renovated hotel with its modern architecture and refreshing interior décor offers a tranquil energy smack in the middle of the buzzing Zastron Street

The hotel is conveniently located in close proximity to Free State Government Departments; the SARS office is directly opposite the hotel, sports stadiums, renowned schools, as well as historical and cultural landmarks such as the National Museum, the University of Free State and the Supreme Court of Appeal Also a short 10 km drive from Bloemfontein Airport and the Waterfront Mimosa Mall is approximately 1km from the hotel

CONFERENCE FACILITIES

Premier Splendid Inn Bloemfontein offers a magnificent boutique conference experience for organisers looking for something new The sound proofed conference room is equipped with the latest audio visual equipment incorporating screens, roving and lapel microphones, flexible lighting solutions for any set up and poster holders. Delegates can also enjoy dining in an enclosed rooftop area, whilst there are convenient pause and pre-assembly areas available.

The Fountains restaurant has a tempting menu with a variety of dishes available including Durban-style lamb curry, vegetarian, chicken or beef gourmet burgers, Macufe-mix grill and pasta dishes. Halaal meals are also offered The open plan kitchen behind the buffet area creates a vibrant atmosphere for customers Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner (a la carte & buffet style dining).

ROOMS

The hotel has 88 rooms that include 20 double rooms, 50 twin, 13 king, 3 executive and 2 disabled bedrooms in a comfortable, contemporary and spacious setting

heart of the city.

Science that boasts social impact

The Free State, Northern Cape and North West provinces are often hard hit by droughts with devastating effects on water availability, farm production and livestock holding In 2015 the Free State was one of the provinces that were declared drought disaster areas Not knowing when the drought is likely to happen often leave many farmers, especially small-scale farmers who do not afford paid-for research with no option but watch the drought kill their businesses

With small-scale farmers in mind, a Central University of Technology professor has developed a mobile app that will assist in predicting droughts

Innovation

Many innovations fail to create social impacts due to lack of involvement of targeted beneficiaries Given that Design Thinking emphasises on empathy, invention, and iteration, its adoption in creating social innovations can help in reversing this trend

Many innovations fail to create social impacts due to lack of involvement of targeted beneficiaries.

The Free State, Northern Cape and North West provinces are often hard hit by droughts with devastating effects on water availability, farm production and livestock holding

In 2015 the Free State was one of the provinces that were declared drought disaster areas Not knowing when the drought is likely to happen often leave many farmers, especially small-scale farmers who do not afford paid-for research with no option but watch the drought kill their businesses.

Design Thinking emphasises on empathy, invention, and iteration, its adoption in creating social innovations can help in reversing this trend.

Prof Muthoni Masinde, an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Information Technology in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology explains the application of Design Thinking in the creation of Information Technology and Indigenous Knowledge with Intelligence (ITIKI) tool, a drought predicting tool designed for Africa’s small-scale farmers, which she officially launched in June 2019 The tool is envisioned to bridge the gap between indigenous knowledge and scientific knowledge

She says drought is a threatening natural hazard that remains the number one disaster in Africa, and of all the people affected by all types of disasters, drought is responsible for over 88% of them

“The ITIKI was developed with the objective of delivering a high accuracy, affordable forecasting tool for Africa’s small-scale farmers that boosts yield, incomes and resilience through better cropping decisions and its success was to be determined by the level of community participation in building it This project acknowledges the fact that lack of an appropriate drought-forecasting tool for small scale farmers makes them continue to rely on their indigenous knowledge to predict the occurrence of rainfall and critical cropping decisions, but this knowledge seems to be disappearing due to climate change” she said The device is an integrated system (artificial intelligent algorithms, weather sensors and a Mobile Application) that combines weather data with the traditional knowledge of African farmers to predict droughts The weather and planting information is distributed to the farmers through text messages in their home languages and can be received on a simple and low-cost mobile phone The forecasts are sent to farmers via an app or SMS message and are also accessible through a web portal, emails and audio files.

Social impact Masinde acknowledged that the main driver of ITIKI was the local people’s knowledge on droughts, and that three design science tools were applied in the entire innovation process leading to high rate of adoption in Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa “If we stick to the core science with a fixed frame without thinking about the people whom we are creating the products for, we will then fail to create an impact Contextualised innovations built by, with and for local people, have a higher chance of succeeding and Indigenous Knowledge Systems bridges this gap because it supports ways that are culturally

appropriate and locally relevant to them ”

She also said that when the tool was developed, they followed the design process by involving farmers, listening to them, and having consistent contact sessions with them to find out where their challenges are. They then came up with prototypes, tested those prototypes and repeated the process

“We have found that what works in Mozambique does not necessarily work in Kenya and in South Africa because each perceive things differently and their Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) is unique We ensured participatory community driven technique through brainstorming, storytelling, prototyping, and repeated learning launches so that we see which one works and which one doesn’t ”

She further mentioned that there are many challenges that are not only faced by farmers but the world at large “We are now faced with COVID-19, and there are some places where locusts are invading farms, so there are many problems and I believe we can still use IKS in those domains as long as we use design science with our people Do not go to the office, develop a product, and deliver it, rather involve the beneficiaries, and work together with them When you do that, then we can say that you are an innovator Imagination is the highest form of research, be in a quiet moment, think about it and you will become an innovator Do you want to create innovations that are relevant and impactful to the society? IKS intertwined in the Design Thinking process is one of the best tools, and it works wonders ” Prof Masinde, grew up in Kenya and her own experiences inspired the draught predicting tool (ITIKI) The tool has been effectively implemented in Mozambique, Kenya and South Africa She has since presented her innovative tool at the renowned World Bank Water Week in Washington, DC in April 2019, and was among some 500 delegates including leading innovators, thought leaders and partners to the flagship event

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Once considered bad luck on board a ship, a new generation of women are challenging superstition and prejudice and asserting themselves in senior positions in the fishing sector

While it’s true that globally nearly half the industry’s workforce is female, most work is in production, processing and distribution rather than at sea and even less so in leadership positions.

But this is changing. A case in point is Sandisiwe Binda, a young second navigational officer on board Oceana’s Desert Diamond, Southern Africa’s largest fishing vessel Ironically and contradictorily, although superstition held that women were bad luck to have on board, sailors believed them to be excellent navigators, which is why female figureheads with their eyes wide open were often seen on the prows of ships While Sandi, as she’s known to friends and colleagues, is currently the only woman on the Desert Diamond bridge, she was fortunate that after graduating her cadet

Women bridge gender gap in the fishing sector

course, she served under a female chief officer on the Old Agulhas “Sailing under a female chief officer taught me so much – just about being a female at sea and growing as a female ”

According to Zodwa Velleman, Group Executive for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Sandi’s achievements are no accident, but part of a deliberate, unremitting approach that’s not just about challenging convention, but also makes good business sense.

“Organisations that prioritise gender parity are more successful They outperform their competitors on nearly every metric, from innovation to revenue growth to customer and employee satisfaction ”

But, she says, challenging long-held beliefs and institutional bias to implement change requires more than just good intentions and handy catch phrases Actions speak louder “Change requires proactivity It entails seeking talent, recognising ambition and commitment, and then coupling these with skills development and experiential training

Celebrating Free State Women in Agriculture

P A R T I C I P A T I O N O F

W O M E N

Encapsulated in my 2022/23 budget speech, is an intent to develop and support women in the Agricultural Sector to a level of Commercial farmers In the main, ownership of land is key to active participation in the sector It is only with ownership of land that women can be successful agriculturists

My budget speech has laid a programme and strategic goals for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to have, amongst it's main priorities, elimination of skewed participation of women These goals, recognises women's role in Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries as pivotal in ensuring food security and Job Creation thus pushing back underdeveloped This is in essence valuing the role of women in Agriculture, a role that has been undervalued overtime

It is in this context that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development(DALRRD) established the Female Entrepreneur Awards formerly known as the Female Farmer of the Year Awards, to recognise the outstanding contribution of the female entrepreneurs who participate in the sector

The FEA Awards are a Programme that attracts women of all races, young, old and differently abled

FEA focuses on women at subsistence, commonage, smallholder, commercial level and Agro-Processing sector

This programme is not a one day event Award activity, it is a vigorous programme that touches the land that these women work on

"

It is at this moment that I would like to salute, all women, in this august occassion, for shining so bright and helping us BUILD THE FREE STATE WE WANT.

"

A programme that touches on their daily activity as agriculturists At these Awards today, we recognise and Award them for their commitment, and our recognition to them as an integral Stakeholder towards achieving the set goals

Undoubtedly As we move forward, FEA will remain one of the Department's prime Programmes towards achieving sector transformation and gender mainstreaming

Our women Programmes are intended to champion women's economic empowerment as we strive to tighten up the fight against women abuse

Free State Agriculture MEC: Thembeni Nxangisa

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: CHANTELLE DE BRYUN SURNAME: DE BRUYN PROJECT NAME: BUTTERCUP COMMODITY: COFFEE & VEGETABLES CATEGORY: PROCESSING TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNCIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: SHELISHA

SURNAME: CLASSEN PROJECT NAME: VADERSGIFT FARM COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: LINDIWE SURNAME: MOROKA PROJECT NAME: LAMM J PTY LTD COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: MELISSA

SURNAME: REYNOLDS PROJECT NAME: NCEDANI PRIMARY COOPERATIVE COMMODITY: HORSES CATEGORY: EXPORT TOWN: BOTSHABELO MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: DIKONELO

SURNAME: MOTSEKI PROJECT NAME: SEDAN AGRIC COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: DIMAKATSO SURNAME: MOLUPE PROJECT NAME: LESIKA AGRIC CO OP COMMODITY: VEGETABLES, FLOWERS & HERBS CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BOTSHABELO MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: PULANE SURNAME: MONOAMETSI PROJECT NAME: SOMERSET AGRICULTURAL CO OP COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: TIISETSO SURNAME: LEBUSA PROJECT NAME: TSHEPO E NCHA FARMING PTY LTD COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: COMMERCIAL TOWN: BLOEMFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: MANGAUNG METRO

NAME: MANKINI SURNAME: MOSAI PROJECT NAME: DEE Y DAIRY COMMODITY: DAIRY CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: ODENDAALSRUS MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: CALLA SURNAME: VAN NIEKERK PROJECT NAME: BUFALLORCOR LANGKOP BOERDERY COMMODITY: GAME FARMING CATEGORY: COMMERCIAL TOWN: BOSHOF MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTWSA

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: KEKETSO

SURNAME: MOKHOTHU PROJECT NAME: MOTSWAKO IMMUNE BOOSTER COMMODITY: HEALTH BOOSTER CATEGORY: PROCESSING TOWN: ODENDAALSRUS MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: LERATO

SURNAME: MAKOKO

PROJECT NAME: GREENPEACE TRADING COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: ODENDAALSRUS MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: DIEKETSENG

SURNAME: MAHLELEHLELE PROJECT NAME: MAHLEEZY INVESTMENT COMMODITY: CATTLE, SHEEP, GRAINS CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BRANDFORT MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: NTHABISENG

SURNAME: MTIKRAKRA PROJECT NAME: VREDE FARM COMMODITY: CATTLE, SHEEP, GRAINS CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: BRFANDFORT MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: FUMANE

SURNAME: SOKUWE

PROJECT NAME: FARM KALKKUIL 2/153 RD COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: ODENDAALSRUS MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: MAMOTSIBI

SURNAME: MOTSOENENG PROJECT NAME: ACCESS TO SUCCESS COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: WELKOM MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: MALEFU

SURNAME: CHOMA PROJECT NAME: CHOMA GREEN GARDEN COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: VIRGINIA MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: ENICA

SURNAME: MBELE PROJECT NAME: MONYAKENG DISABLED PEOPLE COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: WESSELSBRON MUNICIPALITY: LEJWELEPUTSWA

NAME: LAHLIWE

SURNAME: LEBAKA PROJECT NAME: NANTEES FARM COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: ZASTRON MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

NAME: THENJIWE

SURNAME: MAJOLA PROJECT NAME: MOHLODING GREEN PROJECT COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: ZASTRON MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: LUCY SURNAME: MONYETSANE PROJECT NAME: ITOKOLLENG BASADI COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: TROMPSBURG MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

NAME: BELINDA SURNAME: LAWERLOOT PROJECT NAME: SAMYA BROEDERY COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: ZASTRON MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

NAME: REFILOE SURNAME: MONOANA PROJECT NAME: MONOANA FARMING TRUST COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: ZASTRON MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

NAME: ANNA SURNAME: TSELETSELE PROJECT NAME: ONGEGUND COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: JAGGERSFONTEIN MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

NAME: MERRIAM SURNAME: DAKA PROJECT NAME: MIDDELBULT FARM COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: PETRUSBURG MUNICIPALITY: XHARIEP

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: SIBONGILE SURNAME: MATJELOANE

PROJECT NAME: SODUKE PIGGERY COMMODITY: PIGGERY CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: PARYS

MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: VUSELWA SURNAME: MASEKO

PROJECT NAME: VUVU-COJ TRADING COMMODITY: BEEF CATEGORY: COMMERCIAL TOWN: KOPPIES

MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: SELINA SURNAME: MOFOKENG

PROJECT NAME: MAMORITSHANA VEGETABLES COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: ORANGEVILLE MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: POPPIE SURNAME: MNGOMEZULU

PROJECT NAME: MAHLASANE FARMING COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: CORNELIA MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: NCANYANA SURNAME: MADLALA

PROJECT NAME: CORNELIA VEGETABLES COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: CORNELIA

MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: ALETTA SURNAME: MOKOENA PROJECT NAME: KWENA SLANG COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: DENYSVILLE MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: JOSEPHINE SURNAME: MOTLOUNG PROJECT NAME: EMMANUELE ( MOTLOUNG) PROJECT COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: HEILBRON MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: MMATHOTO SURNAME: MOKHOMONG PROJECT NAME: MAKGULONG A MATLE COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: SASLOBURG MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: DIMAKATSO SURNAME: MOTSUMI PROJECT NAME: RE GROUNDNUTS COMMODITY: PEANUTS CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: VILJOENSKROON MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: PUSELETSO SURNAME: TJANTJIE PROJECT NAME: WYNN-WITH MILK FARM COMMODITY: DAIRY CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: PARYS MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: MAMPONE SURNAME: KHARETSI

PROJECT NAME: TSOHANG BASADI COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: KROONSTAD

MUNICIPALITY: FEZILE DABI

NAME: NTHABISENG SURNAME: MATLA PROJECT NAME: RENEILOE MATLA TRADING COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: TSESENG

MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: MAMCY

SURNAME: MOKOENA PROJECT NAME: IMPACT LUST FARM COMMODITY: MIXED FARMING CATEGORY: BEST WORKER TOWN: HARRISMITH

MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: PATRICIA

SURNAME: MTHOMBENI PROJECT NAME: RE MMOHO KA MATSOHO COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUSBSISTENCE TOWN: KESTELL MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: MMALEFA

SURNAME: MOKOENA

PROJECT NAME: PIGGYSHA ENTEPRISE 101 COMMODITY: BROILER CATEGORY: SUSBSISTENCE TOWN: FOURIESBURG

MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

FEA NOMINEES

NAME: MPHO SURNAME: TWALA PROJECT NAME: MPHO VEGETABLES COMMODITY: VEGETABLES CATEGORY: SUBSISTENCE TOWN: MONONTSA MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: PORTIA

SURNAME: MOKOENA PROJECT NAME: PORTIA POULTY PROJECT COMMODITY: POUTRY CATEGORY: DISABILITY TOWN: KESTELL MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: FAITH SURNAME: MOCWAGAE PROJECT NAME: MOCWAGAE POULTRY COMMODITY: POULTRY CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: MONONTSA MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: MANEO

SURNAME: LIPALI PROJECT NAME: LIPALI BOEDERY COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: SENEKAL MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

NAME: NADIA

SURNAME: BEHARIE PROJECT NAME: ROCKY PEAK COMMODITY: LIVESTOCK CATEGORY: SMALL HOLDER TOWN: LADYBRAND MUNICIPALITY: THABO MOFUTSANYANA

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