Inner City Gazette

Economists expect global recession

While the report found the cost-of-living crisis to be among the world’s most urgent risks, the chief economists see the crisis potentially nearing its peak, with a majority expecting it to have become less severe by the end of the year

Johannesburg - A majority of the World Economic Forum chief economists expect global recession this year, and see geopolitical tensions continuing to shape the economy.

These are the key findings of the Chief Economists Outlook, launched at the recent World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Almost two-thirds of economists believe a global recession is likely in 2023; of which 18% consider it extremely likely, more than twice as many as in the previous survey in September 2022. However, a third of respondents consider a global recession to be unlikely this year.

There was however strong consensus that the prospects for growth in 2023 are bleak, especially in Europe and the US. All the chief economists expect weak or very weak growth this year in Europe, while 91% expect weak or very weak growth in the US. In China expectations of growth are polarized, with respondents almost evenly split between those who expect weak or strong growth. Recent moves to

unwind the country’s highly restrictive zero-Covid policy are expected to deliver a boost to growth, but it remains to be seen how disruptive the policy shift will be, particularly in terms of its health impacts.

On inflation, the chief economists see significant variation across regions, with the proportion expecting high inflation this year, ranging from just 5% for China to 57% for Europe. Following a year of sharp and coordinated central bank tightening, the chief economists said they expect the monetary policy stance to remain constant in most of the world this year.

However, a majority expect further tightening in Europe and the US (59% and 55%, respectively). They noted that 2023 is likely to involve a difficult balancing act for policy-makers between tightening too much or too little.

World Economic Forum director Saadia Zahidi said with two-thirds of economists expecting a worldwide recession this year the global economy is in a precarious position.

“The current high inflation, low

growth, high debt and fragmentation environment reduces incentives for investments needed to get back to growth and raise living standards for the world’s most vulnerable. Leaders must look beyond today’s crises to invest in food and energy innovation, education and skills development, and in jobcreation, high-potential markets of tomorrow. There is no time to lose,” she said.

Multiple headwinds are also expected to exert a drag on business activity this year. Nine out of 10 respondents expect both weak demand and high borrowing costs to weight on firms, with more than 60% also pointing to higher input costs. These challenges are expected to lead multinational businesses to cut costs, with many chief economists expecting firms to reduce operational expenses, lay off workers and optimise supply chains.

More broadly, the chief economists expect the global landscape to remain challenging for businesses, 100% of respondents expect global geopolitical trends to continue re-

drawing the map of global economic activity along new geopolitical fissures and fault lines. This wider economic shift will likely reverberate through trade, investment, labour and technology flows, creating myriad challenges and opportunities for business.

One positive signal is that supply chain disruptions are not expected to cause a significant drag on business activity this year.

While the Forum’s Global Risks Report 2023 recently found the cost-of-living crisis to be among the world’s most urgent risks, the chief economists see the crisis potentially nearing its peak, with a majority expecting it to have become less severe by the end of the year.

A similar trend is evident in relation to the energy crisis, with 64% expecting some improvement by year end. In addition, survey respondents highlighted a number of potential sources of optimism at the start of 2023, including strength of household finances, growing signs of easing inflationary pressures and labour-market resilience.

World Economic Forum director Saadia Zahidi

Living your passion through radio - a fulfilled career

Author Natalie Rabson for Boston Media House

Harry Seleke is living his dream

The Boston Media House Graduate works as a radio producer on a number of different shows ranging in topics from Travels with Kate Turkington, The Deep Dive with Brooks Spector, Dischem Medical Monday with Kathy Kaler and Beyond Governance with Dr Nimrod Mbele. He also produces the hugely popular Morning Mayhem with Howard Feldman at the only English-speaking Jewish radio station in the world.

Why did he choose radio as a career? Harry answers that, “I had a passion for radio since an early age, as it was the common mode of entertainment and news growing up. So, I always saw myself as part of the broadcasting and entertainment world, and had a goal to become an inspiration for the town I am from in the Free State.”

Harry graduated from Boston Media House in Sandton, where he made the most of his time and access to industry professionals.

“It was amazing, I personally understood the importance of the school after graduating and realising that Boston offers different sectors in media that most institutions don’t as others only focus on one major field of study. Yes, I would recommend it!”

Part of the Boston qualification requires students to complete WIL – Work in Learning, giving graduates real-time practical work experience. Harry completed his WIL as a sports news reader at a community radio station in the Free State called QwaQwa radio.

So what does his job entail? “My job entails finding high level guests from Ministers to CEO’s for the shows I produce especially the Morning Mayhem. What I love about my jobIt keeps me on my toes, up to date

and alert of global news making waves around the world.”

We asked Harry what he enjoys least about his job, but this producer and DJ’s passion for his job and zest for life means he loves every aspect of his job – he just needs to work on the self-inflicted pressure that comes with the job!

This great job comes with a very early start.

Harry’s average day goes something like this: “I wake up at 4am to be in studio for Morning Mayhem which is daily from 6-9am. After the show I have a coffee break for an hour, then start working on getting guests for the Morning Mayhem

and my other shows till I go home at 15h00. I still work more from home (my self-inflicted pressure) till 21:00 PM which is my bedtime.”

Harry says that there are three important traits required in his position: Patience, Determination and having an open mind. He advocates that one needs training but also believes experience is essential for growth in his industry, “I would say experience is better than training as the media world is a constantly changing industry, so one has to apply his/her own experiences to not be left behind in the changes that are occurring. In training you only know what you have been taught and I personally think that limits the thinking in a person. In terms of the radio world I recommend a Media diploma/ degree majoring in radio studies.”

Personality types that would enjoy his career are people who are open minded, always ready to learn, and obviously a happy bubbly personality as you will be dealing with different types of people.

Every job has its challenges, and for Harry this was having to adjust to always be up to date with news, and working on the biggest show of the station. “This in less than a week at the job without many connections.”

To those considering a career in radio, Harry says, “You must be passionate about radio or media studies as it is not an easy industry to get a breakthrough. Once you are in it’s a very broad informative world, you must start respecting time and prioritising what is important.”

Boston has a philosophy of lifelong learning with which Harry concurs. “Personally, I would like to get a doctorate in media as it increases one’s chances of having higher positions in the field.”

This producer is going places, watch this space!

Increase

in cyber-attacks expected this year

Tech Reporter

Following Microsoft’s recent Digital Defence report indicating a 74% increase in password attacks, in about 921 attacks per second, cyber-attacks are expected to increase this year.

ESET South Africa CEO Carey van Vlaanderen says passwords remain an easy win for threat actors, but that is often down to users lending this attack vector to them on a plate.

“Attackers compromise business networks prior to their phishing campaigns to look authentic, and even when victims believe to be carrying out diligence on a site, they still can be duped into believing they are in communication with a real deal,” van Vlaanderen says.

She adds that passwords continue to be an inconvenience in people’s lives, often down to not knowing or even trusting free security layers on offer.

“Implementing password managers on devices can force unique and strong passwords for all accounts. Introducing two-factor authentication on every account helps reduce the impact of phishing,” she adds.

The past year saw a tremendous increase in businesses and consumers embracing cloud, and this space will again be a target for cybercriminals.

Van Vlaanderen says the shift to cloud hosting applications and infrastructure elevates cybersecurity risks.

While cloud services offer incredible benefits, it is imperative to use a reputable cloud service provider; optimising and configuration using best practices; using the best cybersecurity software; multi-factor authentication; encryption; strong password policies and assigning credentials and rights only to those who require access.

“The damage caused by emails sent by cybercriminals that look like from within an organisation is extensive.

This fraud tries to create a sense of urgency or use scare tactics to coerce the victim into complying with the attacker’s requests. Emails with requests for quick payment should be handled with caution, as emails can be spoofed with legitimate invoices but with cybercriminal banking details,” says Van Vlaanderen.

She adds that many organisations still do not understand where their most valuable data and systems lie, and have inadequate protection.

“Build an understanding of all data points in your business, enabling a clear strategy on the data that is collected and stored. Irrespective of the size of the organisation data protection is a must. It can be in the form of staff training, following compliance guidelines, using appropriate software and ensuring data storage is secure and backed up, and a data recovery strategy in place,” she says.

She predicts that adoption of smart technologies, IOT devices, car connectivity and infotainment will also present new attack vectors this year.

“With attacks becoming more sophisticated people and organisations cannot afford to be without protective solutions in place,” she adds.

ESET SA CEO Carey van Vlaanderen

Harry Seleke

Awards for inspiring teachers

Johannesburg - Cambridge University Press has opened nominations for the 2023 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, and is inviting students, parents and colleagues from all over the world to submit stories about inspiring teachers.

Now in its fifth year, the awards were established by Cambridge University Press to showcase the resourcefulness and positive impact of inspiring teachers across the globe. Last year the awards received 7 000 nominations from 112 countries. While there are six regional winners announced every year, overall winners of the accolade have come from Pakistan, Colombia and the United Arab Emirates.

Last year’s winner, Khalifa Affnan continues to teach at Keningau Vocational College in Malaysia. Teachers in South Africa can follow in the footsteps of 2021 regional winner Nonhlanhla Masina.

Publishing Director for Education at Cambridge University Press, Matthew Walker said: “Over the last year, we have seen students across the world return to classrooms and in-person learning. As a result, teachers have had to effectively support students at varying levels of attainment and be constantly aware of the social and academic impact of lost learning caused by the pandemic. Teachers have never been more important, and their role in shaping young minds more vital. These awards are designed to celebrate everything they do around the world to support the next generation.”

Nominations can be made by going to www.dedicatedteacher.

Action plan set to boost energy supply

A team of independent experts has been set up to work with Eskom to diagnose the problems at poorly performing power stations, and take action to improve performance

Johannesburg - The National Energy Crisis Committee (NECOM) recently released a progress report on implementation of the energy action plan for the next six months.

The Eskom power utility is struggling to maintain supply due to breakdowns at its power plants, leading to rolling load-shedding.

cambridge.org/nominate and submitting a written entry, in English, of less than 150 words or a video no longer than two minutes. Nominations are open up to 16 March.

Once nominations close on 16 March, a panel of education experts will choose six regional winners who have made a difference to the lives of students. These teachers will receive a trophy and feature on a ‘thank you’ page at the front of new Cambridge University Press Education textbooks for one year from September. They will also win class sets of books or digital resources.

The public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite story when the regional winners are announced via social media on 24 April. Cambridge University Press will announce the overall winner on 22 May.

The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards stipulate that for an entry to be valid, nominators should nominate one teacher; and nominations may not be for family members, relatives or partners. For more information visit: www. dedicatedteacher.cambridge.org.

City Power condemns cable theft

“We appeal to residents to be vigilant and report all suspicious activities around the electricity infrastructure to the police.”

Johannesburg - City Power has expressed concern over several incidents of cable theft and vandalism in various parts of the city.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said about eight such incidents recently happened in the Roodepoort area, affecting Reef-haven, Princess, Glen Lea substation that feeds Fleurhof and surrounding areas, Florida substation feeding Florida Lake and Discovery among other affected areas.

“Cable theft disrupts power supply to consumers, and it is the reason we were dealing with many outages throughout the weekend. We appeal to residents to be

vigilant and report all suspicious activities around the electricity infrastructure to the police. We appeal to the police to do more to assist with patrols in the hotspot areas and ensure the culprits are arrested,” Mangena said.

The City of Johannesburg recently called on communities to play a more active role in protecting the infrastructure that is critical to providing basic services, as it remains ‘under siege from vandals and thieves’.

Cable theft can be reported to City Power using its 24-hour hotlines 011 490 7900; 011 490 7911 and 011 490 7553; and also on Whatsapp 083 579 4497.

The progress report is the first update since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced establishment of the crisis committee to oversee key interventions in the energy sector, in July last year. The plan is meant to provide vital interventions to help boost the energy supply.

Steps that have been taken include amendment of Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act, to remove licencing requirement for generation projects, which will accelerate private investment.

Since the licensing threshold was first raised to 100 MW, the pipeline of private sector projects has grown to over 100 projects with over 9000 MW of capacity. The first of these large-scale projects is expected to connect to the grid by the end of this year.

NECOM has instructed depart-

ments to streamline regulatory processes for energy projects, including reducing the time frame for environmental authorisations to 57 days from over 100 days; reducing the registration process from four months to three weeks; and ensuring that grid connection approvals are provided within six months.

A new ministerial determination has been published for 14 771 MW of new generation capacity from wind, solar and battery storage.

An additional 300 MW has been imported through the Southern African Power Pool, and negotiations are underway to secure a potential 1 000 MW from neighbouring countries from this year.

Eskom has developed a programme to purchase power from companies with available generation capacity through a standard offer, the first contracts expected to be signed in the coming weeks.

A team of independent experts has been set up to work with Eskom to diagnose the problems at poorly performing power stations, and take action to improve performance.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said residents’ anger to-

Start-ups get R34 million for climate change adaptation

Johannesburg - Pre-seed Venture Capital (VC) fund and accelerator Catalyst Fund have announced a R34 million investment into 10 start-ups building solutions to improve the resilience of climate-vulnerable communities in Africa.

This is the inaugural cohort of the new $30 million VC fund of Catalyst Fund, anchored by financial sector development agency FSD Africa, aimed at supporting earlystage founders to develop technology that will make Africa more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Each of the 10 start-ups will be offered $100 000 of equity investments as well as $100 000 of handson venture-building support. These companies will join Catalyst Fund’s existing portfolio of 61 start-ups across emerging markets and receive capital, bespoke and expertled venture-building support and direct connections with investors,

corporate innovators and talent networks that can help them scale.

Catalyst Fund’s portfolio companies have raised over $640 million in follow-on funding to date, and currently serve more than 14 million individuals and MSMEs globally.

The ten companies joining this next cohort of Catalyst Fund are Agro Supply, Assuraf, Bekia, Eight Medical, Farm to Feed, Farmz2U, Octavia Carbon, PaddyCover, Sand to Green and Vais.

Catalyst Fund managing partner Maelis Carraro says they are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with 10 African start-ups working to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

“Our goal is to back mission-driven founders that share our vision of a world where every individual has the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. From agritech to insurtech, waste management, di-

wards Eskom is justified.

“South Africans are right to demand immediate action to address the devastating impact of loadshedding on lives and the economy. The action plan provides a clear way out of this crisis. South Africa does not need any new plans; we are focusing on implementing this plan to achieve energy security for all South Africans. Further updates on the action plan will be provided more regularly,” Magwenya said.

saster response and carbon finance; these start-ups display finance, tech and business model innovations that will help communities better adapt to climate impacts and grow their resilience,” Carraro says.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya

Dedicated Teacher Awards previous regional winner Nonhlanhla Masina

Catalyst Fund managing partner Maelis Carraro

Each of the 10 start-ups will be offered $100 000 of equity investments as well as $100 000 of hands-on venture-building support

Tips on ways to prepare small business

Johannesburg

- Impact

Investing at Business Partners Limited general manager David Morobe has provided tips on how to get ready to face 2023 with renewed determination in business.

He says in the post-pandemic world, good customer service can make or break a business, due to the hyper-competitive nature of the current small and medium enterprise (SME) landscape.

“Customer experience has been identified as one of the key ways that SMEs can set themselves apart in the marketplace. Take this time to examine whether your customer experience is optimised in a way that nurtures a sale, from the beginning to the end of the sales journey, and that you make a lasting impression. When customers have a positive experience they will be more likely to provide your business a positive review, share their experience with others and return for a repeat sale. The cost of upselling to an existing customer is less than on-boarding a new one, so focus on building a loyal customer base in the years to come,” Morobe says.

Weaknesses will be anything that is currently standing in the way of your growth and could include fac-

tors such as an inefficient sales or invoicing process, outdated digital systems or poor team spirit.

“Opportunities are external factors and can include any gap in the mar-

ket or well-timed marketing tactic that you could take proactively to grow your business. Threats are also regarded as external factors and will include any aspects that may be standing in the way of expanding your business. These could include more stringent regulations, rising material costs and changing consumer demands,” he says.

He adds that in the retail industry for example, more small businesses are finding ways to adapt to the global call for sustainable production and distribution.

“With changing consumer demands, ensuring that your operations are cleaner and greener may very well be what you need to get ahead of your competitors in the new year. Another one of the most prominent trends in retail has been the move towards more efficiency and accessibility in the mobile payments space. This year it may make sense for you to invest in a payment app, a digital wallet system, a buynow-pay-later option or a QR code payment system to add a new level of convenience to your offering, with the main aim of keeping your cash flow looking healthy,” he says. He adds that one of the first things to master as an entrepreneur is how to write a detailed business plan.

“You may do this to keep written detail of future plans, on-board a business partner, apply for business funding or pitch your idea to a potential investor. But your business plan should not be left to stagnate once you have achieved your end goal. As you wind down operations at the end of the year, look back at your business plan and review your strategy and goals, assess whether your forecasting has been accurate, make adjustments for market fluctuations, find ways to maximise your bottom-line and keep an eye out for any overspending,” Morobe says.

The report aims to provide a pathway for global businesses and investors to understand the biggest trends, opportunities and strategies to successfully invest and achieve high returns in Africa, developing local, sub-regional and continental value chains and accelerating industrialisation

Plan to unlock African trade

Johannesburg - African heads of state and global CEOs at the recent World Economic Forum meeting backed the launch of the first report on how public-private partnerships can support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

A new era for global business and investment in Africa outlines high-potential sectors, initiatives to support business and investment, operational tools to facilitate the AfCFTA and illustrative examples from successful businesses in Africa to guide businesses in entering and expanding in this area.

The report aims to provide a pathway for global businesses and investors to understand the biggest trends, opportunities and strategies to successfully invest and achieve high returns in Africa, developing local, sub-regional and continental value chains and accelerating industrialisation, all of which promote the success of the AfCFTA.

The report focuses on four key sectors that have a combined worth of $130 billion and represent high-potential opportunities for companies looking to invest in Africa; automotive; agriculture and agroprocessing; pharmaceuticals; transport and logistics.

AfCFTA secretary-general Wamkele Mene says: “Macro trends in the four key sectors and across Africa’s growth potential reveal tremendous opportunities for business expansion as population, income and connectivity are on the rise.”

The AfCFTA is the largest free trade area in the world, by area and number of participating countries.

Once fully implemented, it will be the fifth-largest economy in the world, with the potential to have a combined GDP of more than $3,4 trillion. Conceived in 2018, it now has 54 national economies in Africa, could attract billions in foreign investment, boost overseas

exports by a third, double intracontinental trade, raise incomes by 8% and lift 50 million people out of poverty.

To ease the pain of transition to its new single market, Africa has learned from trade liberalisation in North America and Europe.

World Economic Forum president Borge Brende says the wide range of partners and experience can help anticipate and mitigate potential disruptions in business and production dynamics.

“The forum’s initiatives will help to ease physical, capital and digital flows in Africa through stakeholder collaboration, private-public collaboration and informationsharing,” Brende says.

Given Africa’s historically low foreign direct investment relative to other regions, the report highlights sense of excitement as the AfCFTA lowers or removes barriers to trade and competitiveness.

Head of regional agenda, Africa, at the World Economic Forum Chido Munyati says: “The promising gains from an integrated African market should be a signal to investors around the world that the continent is ripe for business creation, integration and expansion.”

Director and professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management and co-chair of the World Economic Forum Regional Action Group for Africa, Landry Signé says: “These projections reveal an unprecedented opportunity for local and global businesses to invest in African countries and play a vital role in the development of crucial local and regional value chains.”

The forum is working towards implementing trade and investment tools through initiatives such as Friends of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, to align with the negotiation process of the AfCFTA. It identifies areas where public-private collaboration can reduce barriers and facilitate investment from international firms.

Impact Investing manager at Business Partners David Morobe

Weaknesses will be anything that is currently standing in the way of your growth and could include factors such as an inefficient sales or invoicing process, outdated digital systems or poor team spirit.

AfCFTA secretary-general Wamkele Mene

City honours automation officials

Johannesburg - City officials who oversaw the digital automation of the Construction Permit Management System (CPMS) have been honoured for increased investment across industries, stimulating job creation, expediting spatial transformation and advancing economic growth.

Plan examiners who pioneered the system received certificates of recognition for using technological affordances to streamline building plan approval within three days.

Some of the top achievers include Mark John Barnes, Leiben Naidoo, Ernestine Jacobs, Ronnie Mokondo and Mellaney Massyn, who got more than two awards.

Johara Anandlal, Barnes, Sindiswa Dlamini, Ernestine Jacobs, Council Mabeba, Kithue Masu and Nkamoheleng Mathaba were recognised for outstanding performance in handling voluminous building plans in a superb turnaround time. Sibusiso Langa, Massyn, Yonela Mwafulirwa, Naidoo, Petrus Sennelo and

Two men shot dead in robbery attempt

Kensington - Two men who allegedly attempted to rob a mosque in Kensington were shot dead last Tuesday night.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Sello said information indicated that three men tried to rob the mosque but a congregant fired shots and killed two of them. Two other people who included a police officer were wounded during the shooting incident, while one person was arrested.

“While police attended to the crime scene, an unknown person or persons started shooting. During the shootout two people including a police officer sustained gunshot injuries and the victims were taken to hospital for medical assistance,” she said.

Sello said two cases of murder, attempted murder and attempted business robbery have been opened for investigations, and anyone with information about the incident can contact Crime Stop on the number 08600 10111.

Mokondo were recognised for their outstanding performance in making efficient decisions when assessing building plans. Kedibone Moraladi, Pamela Ndovela, Noel Oberholzer, Aluwani Rambau, Dinga Sandlana, Olga Shibambu and Andiswa YiloStuurman were also recognised for outstanding performance.

The system has been endorsed by construction industry stakeholders, the Presidency, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Swiss government, World Bank, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and National Treasury.

Development Planning MMC Belinda Echeozonjoku said the Construction Permit Management System (CPMS) would end to insufficient spatial planning.

“This contributes to a priority that promotes the use of technology to improve ease of doing business.”

The Construction Permit Management System (CPMS) was piloted in Joburg in January last year to digitise

submission and approval of building plans. Hundreds of applications have been processed and over a thousand professionals have registered their profiles on the CPMS.

The manual process was time consuming and prone to errors. The digital one allows submissions to be processed remotely within three days. Echeozonjoku said the CPMS improves business efficiency, investment in the property sector, spatial design and urban planning. “This will reduce the amount of time developers spend attempting to obtain approval for their work.”

Dr Anthony Costa of the Presidency said state institutions can use technology to create an enabling business environment.

“The construction sector is critical to infrastructure development and job creation. The CPMS improves ease of business with the municipality, increases efficiency, grows the economy and increases property sector investment,” Dr Costa said.

Dept warns about school bullying

Last year some school bullying was linked to multiple cases of suicide of learners under the age of 16.

Johannesburg - The Basic Education Department has said that learners and parents are reminded that bullying on or off school premises could result in suspension.

The department has urged teachers and school governing bodies to implement appropriate punishment for such behaviour.

There have been videos of bullying in schools circulating on social media. Last year some school bullying was linked to multiple cases of suicide of learners under the age of 16.

The department’s spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the biggest challenge happens when learners fight outside school premises.

“That is when ordinary community members need to play their part and stop violent tendencies among children of school-going age,” he said.

Mhlanga added that bullying is a violation of the Constitution.

“Schools are expected to take action, they can call the parent or

The organisation aims to contribute towards a transformed digital economy led by African youthowned, empowered women, people with disabilities, and SMEs that eradicate poverty through providing jobs and technology innovation

Partnership delivers cybersecurity skills

Johannesburg - The Pan African Information Communication Technology Association (PAICTA) has partnered with Check Point Software Technologies to distribute cybersecurity training materials to tertiary institutions across Africa, as they work towards bridging the skills gap for these professionals.

PAICTA advocates for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), young people, women and people with disabilities by creating an integrated society through digital platforms.

PAICTA was established in 2020 to address digital challenges faced by SMEs, youth, women, and persons with disability.

The organisation aims to contribute towards a transformed digital economy led by African youthowned, empowered women, people with disabilities, and SMEs that eradicate poverty through providing jobs and technology innovation.

Check Point Software Technologies SADC manager Charnie-Lee

Adams Kruger says this partnership supports the vision of upskilling more people and creating job opportunities.

“As a global organisation it is imperative to partner with local organisations who can engage with communities Check Point can support and offer training to. PAICTA is the perfect partner due to their incredible networks in Africa with government and tertiary education facilities,” Kruger says. Check Point will provide PAICTA with online access to training and instructors.

able to access Check Point cybersecurity training online for free.

PAICTA will ensure the dissemination of Check Point training throughout Africa, especially to tertiary institutions currently not providing cybersecurity courses. Once faculty members at these institutions complete their basic Check Point Certified Security Administrator certifications, the opportunities to undergo advanced training in different areas are limitless.

PAICTA founder Sonwabo Mdwaba says over 50% of African youths are unemployed, according to data portal Trading Economics.

“Digital skills development is therefore a critical building block to grow communities and economies. PAICTA was established to help close the digital divide. With partnerships such as the one with Check Point we advocate for equitable access to cybersecurity training regardless of age, ethnicity, language, education and socioeconomic status,” Mdwaba says.

Additionally, PAICTA is running internships for learners in South Africa with 46 pupils having completed their Check Point courses. PAICTA has also introduced a sign up page for those interested in taking Check Point online courses.

PAICT board advisory member Professor Nobert Jere says from software development and cybersecurity to IT change management skills, the youth across Africa can find opportunities in the SMB sector.

Education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga

guardian and discuss the matter, and suspend the child or children if it is necessary. School governing bodies are also expected to take a tough stance against violence of any type at schools,” Mhlanga said.

This will give universities working with PAICTA means to ensure their lecturers are certified and empowered to train students themselves. University students and faculty members will also be

“This is where focus must fall to enhance skills and empowering them to be entrepreneurs and grow this vital sector of the economy. Check Point provides a perfect starting point especially when it comes to getting essential cybersecurity skills,” Jere says.

Some of the officials who were honoured for developing the City’s automation system

PAICTA founder Sonwabo Mdwaba

Set in the 1950s, the play is led by renowned theatre practitioner Dr John Kani, Khutjo Green, Tumisho Masha, Hlomla Dandala, Atandwa Kani and Sbusiso Mamba, who will help audiences gain access to this emotional tale about a family navigating hurdles that surround them

Theatre celebrates Black History with Fences production

Fences explores the evolving African American experience, while examining race relations and other themes which resonate with what South Africa experienced during apartheid, into democracy and celebrated over the years

Bongani Maseko

Joburg Theatre will present August Wilson’s Fences with renowned theatre practitioner John Kani, from 2 to 26 February.

The African American playwright August Wilson, referred to as “theatre’s poet of Black America”, is best known for his remarkable works on the 20th century African American experience including Fences, Piano Lesson, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Pittsburgh Cycle. Two of these plays earned him Pulitzer Prizes for drama for Fences in 1987 which also earned a Tony Award that same year and The Piano Lesson in 1990.

Presented on behalf of Samuel French Inc and in arrangement with Concord Theatricals, Fences is a 1985 play and the sixth instalment in his ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle

Set in the 1950s, the play is led by renowned theatre practitioner Dr John Kani, Khutjo Green, Tumisho Masha, Hlomla Dandala, Atandwa Kani and Sbusiso Mamba, who will help audiences gain access to this emotional tale about a family navigating hurdles that surround them.

Keeping with the Pittsburgh Cycle themes, Fences explores the evolving African American experience, while examining race

Programme to improve film skills

Johannesburg - The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) has opened its intake for its film skills development programme.

Eligible graduates who are passionate about telling their stories are encouraged to apply for the programme and stand a chance to improve their skills and contribute to the growth of the local and Pan-African film and broadcasting industries.

relations and other themes which resonate with what South Africa experienced during apartheid, into democracy and celebrated over the years.

Kani said August Wilson is the most performed playwright in America today.

“Most of his plays have been adapted into great movies, including Fences starring Denzel Washington. Viola Davis won an Oscar for Best Actress for playing Rose. It is so fitting that the Joburg Theatre celebrates this great writer during Black History Month in February. Would it not be wonderful if we here in South Africa could also have a season in all theatres celebrating our writers as well?” he said.

Joburg Theatre artistic director James Ngcobo said: “We are honoured to be presenting August Wilson’s iconic work Fences in celebration of Black History Month. We will also include several activities programmed around Fences. With a cast as magnificent as this one we are also excited to welcome theatre patrons in the new year with this production. We urge patrons to follow our social media platforms for ticketing information to this presentation of an authentic Pittsburgh story in large numbers.”

For more information visit www.joburgtheatre.com.

Now in its eighth year the MTF is a 12-month long industry readiness programme that affords the opportunity to learn from some of the leading TV producers in the country, while acquiring experience in directing, producing, cinematography, commissioning, art direction, and many other skills.

MultiChoice

Talent Factory South Africa director Bobby Heaney says:

“The MTF Academy is our commitment to the future of our industry and gives young Africans a chance to hone their television and film production skills through a world-class training programme. After so many successful years, we are proud to

announce a new call to entry and look forward to meeting the next generation of African film makers.”

To date 293 storytellers from across Africa have been trained through the MTF over the past eight years, and are making their mark in the video entertainment industry. MTF interns have been part of major local productions including Miss SA 2022, Survivor South

Africa and Gomorra, The River

About 28 Mzansi Magic movies have been produced by participants of this programme and 22 graduates have started their own production companies, A Tribe Called Story, Eccentric Circus, Zethu’s Tales and Ad Astra Productions.

Applications are open on https:// multichoicetalentfactory.com/mtfacademy and close on 28 February.

The programme helps improve skills and contribute to the growth of the film and broadcasting industries

About 28 Mzansi Magic movies have been produced by participants of this programme and 22 graduates have started their own production companies

Playwright and actor John Kani

Boost for Banyana’s World Cup preparations

Sports Reporter

World soccer governing body FIFA has allocated $960 000, or R16 million, to Banyana Banyana to help with the team’s preparation for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20.

Safa chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo said the funding from Fifa is to prepare Banyana for the World Cup tournament.

“We received $960 000 from Fifa to be used to prepare the team for the World Cup tournament this year,” Hluyo said.

Banyana are planning to play at least six matches before the start of the World Cup tournament.

Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said they will soon announce their

opponents for the friendlies.

“Those teams will be similar to Argentina, Italy and Sweden, with whom we are in the same group for the World Cup tournament. The next Fifa international break is in April, but we are looking at having played against two opponents. We are targeting opponents that are similar to our opponents in the World Cup,” she said.

Ellis added that they will also send programmes to the core group of players they have.

“The next Fifa date is in July but we are looking at having a short camp in May for local players because the overseas players are currently active. At the beginning of July we will begin our full preparations, first at home and then in New Zealand,” Ellis said.

Banyana action during the previous World Cup Pic: Tim Clayton