Inner City Gazette

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Est 2009 Tel : 011 402 - 1977 Inner-City Gazette

Fax: 086 609 8601

Issue 38 - 2019

Email : info@inner-city-gazette.co.za @ICG_Sales

26 September - 3 October 2019

Website : www.inner-city-gazette.com

072 824 3014

Inner City Gazette

Distributed free to households, churches, schools, clinics, government departments, police stations, libraries and businesses in Bellevue • Berea • Bertrams • Braamfontein • City and Suburban • City West • Crown Gardens • Doornfontein • Fairview • Fordsburg • Hillbrow • Jeppestown • Jules • Johannesburg Inner City • Kensington • Lorentzville • Malvern • Marshallstown • New Doornfontein • Newtown • North Doornfontein • Park Meadows • Rosettenville • Selby • Troyeville • Turffontein • Village Main and Yeoville

Wits introduces innovation programme

Alison Gaylard

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its Business School (WBS) has developed its Master of Management in Innovation Studies, a programme that approaches innovation from strategic management of innovation, policy formulation and the impact of science and technology on society.

Director of the Master of Management in Innovation Studies at WBS, Dr Diran

Soumonni says the imperative to address climate change and other pressures means an urgent need to focus on environmental sustainability and producing solutions.

“Innovation needs to address the socioeconomic challenges of the country. Finding solutions to issues such as water, sanitation, health care, lead to building competencies that allow a country to compete on an international scale,” he says.

Soumonni adds that SA has one of the

more advanced systems of innovation in Africa, which means that private and public entities interact effectively to address national goals as they relate to the diffusion of new technologies.

“The innovation strategy is primarily located in the department of science and technology, but it should have a much wider reach within other government departments and sectors of the economy, to have a greater impact on areas such as

trade and industry, energy and water.”

The concept was first adopted in the 1996 white paper on science and technology, and was implemented by the department.

It was reviewed in 2008 and 2018, when a draft white paper was released.

“We need a new generation of innovation managers and business leaders who have an understanding of the drivers of innovation, and a concern for equitable, humancentred development,” says Soumonni.

Dr Diran Soumonni

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Inner-city Gazette

News

For further information contact Boston on 011 551 2000 Email: info@boston.co.za Visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook

Boston

gears up to train the next generation of African leaders

Our students of today are our leaders of tomorrow. If this statement is true then what kind of graduate does South Africa need? Boston City Campus and Business College (Boston) is a leading provider of Business Management training in South Africa. They have now taken up the challenge to further build South Africa with an exciting move into social science qualifications, starting with an innovative Bachelor of Social Science (BSocSci) that includes a range of Boston’s tried and tested business management subjects as electives.

It is no secret that Africa desperately needs a new generation of graduates/leaders to enter the marketplace, break from past practices, and work for social good towards an increasingly prosperous Africa.

Dr Patrick Awuah and Fred Swaniker are two leaders who have previously made the call for training the next generation of African leaders. Dr Awuah found that “what [industry leaders] urgently needed, and could not find, were trustworthy employees who could ‘think outside the box,’ who could handle complex, real-world problems, and who had strong leadership and communication skills.”

This is exactly the type of outcome that Boston seeks to achieve with this new offering. Boston CEO, Ari Katz, agrees that “tomorrow’s leaders must be equipped with new-age competencies in order to have successful careers. This will ensure that graduates will be in demand by employers.”

What can be done with a social science degree? “The short an-

Richard Mee swer is that you can do a lot,” according to Dr Linda Meyer, Dean of Institutional Advancement. “Your social science degree prepares you for many careers in many fields.”

Social science is a powerful academic foundation that provides you with the opportunity to develop skills employers need. These include: oral and written communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, technical, analytical and critical thinking, organizational and problem solving skills.

Social sciences improve our everyday experience of life, by helping us to build or create better institutions and systems. This is why British employers, according to Prof

James Wilsdon, “are queuing up to hire social science graduates.”

What industry can possibly operate without people skilled in the social sciences? Richard Mee, Academic and Quality Manager for Boston’s BSocSci, notes that companies like Google pioneered a new wave of business leaders from around the world, in every industry, who have seen that long term success relies on understanding people and cultivating healthy relationships between people. He continues, “No organisation that wants to be on the cutting edge of ‘best practice’ can operate without social science graduates.

No organisation wanting to thrive can afford to ignore them any longer.”

What makes the Boston BSocSci special? Boston has intentionally created opportunities within the degree for students focussing on psychology, sociology, anthropology and economics to also take business management related subjects. Graduates will not only understand people systems, they will also be able to transfer that directly into good business practice and ethical leadership. This makes them immediately beneficial in the marketplace and society.

In order to train the change agents and influencers that Africa needs, Boston BSocSci develops graduates to think across disciplines to find and implement good solutions to complex problems, helping to build Africa’s businesses and institutions to be both financially and socially prosperous. Africa is ready for a new crop of leaders. Boston is ready to cultivate them.

26 September - 3 October 2019

The don’ts of social media marketing Jessica Barrella

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hen a customer searches the internet and finds you, not only do they expect to find an engaging site but they also look for you on social media.

Social media can help to expand your customer base, which translates into leads, conversions and sales. But if used incorrectly, it can damage a company’s image, which will cost them dearly.

With this in mind the don’ts of social media marketing can avoid the pitfalls.

Don’t be a fake - People quickly spot a fake and your reputation will be in tatters before you even start.

Don’t post without proofreading - A post with spelling and grammar errors will make you look very unprofessional. Someone who cares about their business will proofread and spell check to deliver the best possible content.

Don’t ignore negative comments or complaints - Some negativity is inevitable and the way you handle it makes the difference. Negative comments need to be prioritised and resolved.

It can be discouraging receiving a complaint and first instinct might be to delete it. Don’t! Tackle the issue and a negative can be turned into a positive.

Don’t push sales - Social media is just that. So apply the 80/20 rule and keep sales to 20%. We are bombarded with sales messages online and wherever we go. You can keep customers informed about products, specials, but don’t make every post about offerings. There are other facets to your business than sell, so make your customers know that.

Don’t ignore your audience - There is no quicker way to lose followers than by ignoring their questions, comments and messages. Nobody likes to be ignored, not even you. So, keep a close eye on your social media pages and respond promptly to your followers. If this is not a priority you could very well not only lose followers but create hard feelings that will damage your brand.

Jessica Barrella

Engage with your customers, create community and you won’t be missing those opportunities to turn followers into loyal customers that will boost sales. Get the order right and you’ll see the results you want.

Don’t complain - We all have our ups and downs and business is no different but don’t use social media to pass on your sadness or vent about another company or customer.

This is very important as it is a sure way of driving away potential customers. Rise above your competitors with positive and encouraging posts that inspire and inform your audience.

Don’t be a know-it-all - Being a knowit-all is easily translated as arrogance, a trait that I think we all resent. Humility is attractive and builds relationships.

Encourage your followers to share their opinions and comments and engage with them. Always be open to learning something new.

Don’t stress about number - Don’t get caught up in the numbers game. Remember, quality tops quantity. Increasing your brand awareness and social network takes time, so be patient.

Concentrate more on delivering thoughtful, inspiring, useful and relevant content to your growing audience.

Don’t write in all caps - You will leave your customers wondering if you are angry or if they have done wrong.

Remember your followers want to hear from you so don’t disappoint. Roll out those great posts and see your business become more profitable. Bizcommunity

26 September - 3 October 2019

Inner-city Gazette

News

Scientists test HIV vaccine About 220 000 people in SA are estimated to have contracted HIV last year, according to the country’s main AIDS model, but the annual number of new infections in the country is declining

Elsabé Brits

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n HIV vaccine candidate, initially tested in Thailand, where it had modest effects, has shown potential in a study in South Africa.

The vaccine is still experimental.

Its purpose is to prevent people who don’t have HIV from contracting the virus. It is not yet known if it will work.

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine Journal under the leadership of Professor Glenda Gray, president of the South African Medical Research Council.

This new work was based on the first HIV vaccine to date that has been shown to be modestly effective.

Ten years ago an HIV vaccine study (RV144) was tested in Thailand. After 12 months the vaccine was 60% effective, but after 36 months it dropped to 31%; promising, but not good enough for production.

The scientists learned that the vaccine lost its efficacy if booster vaccines are not given. A booster dose is an extra administration of a vaccine

after the initial dose, which enhances the effect of the vaccine.

The South African study enrolled 100 men and women, aged between 18 and 40 years from Cape Town, Klerksdorp and Soweto. They were followed for a bit longer than a year.

The participants were given the initial vaccine and then booster shots.

The aim of the study was not to directly test the efficacy of the vaccine; only to see whether people’s immune systems responded to it.

Gray explained that there are different subtypes of HIV called clades. The vaccine was designed for Thailand’s clades, where the dominant ones are B and E. The dominant clade in South Africa is C. Even so, the researchers decided not to change the vaccine to make it specific to the South African clade.

The South African population had an even stronger immune response than the Thai population. This was surprising given that the clades are different in the two populations.

“However, this was not an efficacy study but an immune response study.

It is an important study and a precur-

sor to an efficacy study,” which is the next step,” Gray explained.

The study team acknowledges that factors such as the types of HIV circulating locally and genetic factors may have influenced immune responses in the study. Some scientists also think that each region of the world may need a separate type of HIV vaccine based upon their circulating strains.

Gray said to find a vaccine is extremely difficult because the virus changes continuously. “No one has been cured naturally, so we operate in the dark. We play catch-up the whole time. So we look at the parts of the virus which do not change the whole time and try to focus on that.”

Despite improvements in HIV prevention, an estimated 1.8 million people contracted HIV worldwide in 2018, according to a press statement by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, a partner of the study.

About 220,000 people in South Africa are estimated to have contracted HIV last year, according to the country’s main AIDS model, but the annual number of new infections in the country is declining. GroundUp

Professor Glenda Gray

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News

Inner-city Gazette

26 September - 3 October 2019

Suspected cable thief electrocuted at substation ‘It is suspected that the man tried to vandalize the substation and steal cables from the transformer when he was electrocuted and died at the scene’

Gunmen killed in shootout with cops

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena

Modderfontein - A suspected cable thief died after he was electrocuted at the Westfield substation near Modderfontein on Friday, according to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena.

“Technicians found the body on Friday hanging from one of the transformers. It is suspected that the man tried to vandalize the substation and steal cables from the transformer when he was electrocuted and died at the scene,” Mangena said.

He added that it was not yet known how long the man’s body had been there, and police are investigating what happened, and who the man was.

The incident did not affect electricity supply in the area.

A week ago, a man who allegedly tried to steal cables at a sub-station at the Westdene Recreation Centre was burned and seriously injured, and taken to Milpark Hospital. At the time Mangena said the cable exploded while he was allegedly in the middle of the act. The transformer was severely damaged.

“We warn criminals against toying around with death by fiddling with electricity infrastructure.

Vandalism and cable theft cost the City millions of rands, money that could be used for other service delivery needs,” Mangena said.

Crown Mines - On Tuesday two suspected armed robbers were killed in a shootout with police in an operation which prevented a planned business robbery, according to police.

Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubele said police saw the suspects’ vehicle, a Nissan X-Trail that was stolen in Johannesburg in August, travelling towards Xavier Road in Ormonde at about 14.00h.

“The suspects allegedly failed to stop on instruction of the police, leading to a high-speed chase. Police returned fire after the suspects started shooting at them. The suspect’s were cornered at Lakewood Estate in Ormonde. They disembarked, ran off and continued shooting at the police. Two of them succumbed to injuries while the third was arrested,” Makhubele said.

He added that none of the officers were injured.

“Five unlicensed firearms were recovered, three rifles, two handguns and ammunition. Police also seized the vehicle, a police hand-radio and other items that would have been used in committing the robbery,” he said.

Gauteng police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela has instructed an urgent investigation to establish possible links between the suspects and the unlicensed weapons to previous serious and violent crimes.

Makhubele said police believed the suspects could be behind a recent spate of robberies, where Chinese business people were targeted and others robbed along the M2 highway and in the Crown Mines area.

26 September - 3 October 2019

Inner-city Gazette

Jailed drug mule arrives back home

News

‘I want to thank all South Africans for their support over the past eight years.

It hasn’t been easy, I’m back stronger’ Johannesburg - Convicted drug mule, Nolubabalo Nobanda touched down at OR Tambo Airport on Thursday after spending eight years in a Thailand prison.

She was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on 12 December 2011, after landing from a Qatar Airways flight. That was about 1.5kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of R1.2 million, was found in her dreadlocks.

At the time of her arrest she told Thai authorities that she had been hired to deliver the drugs to a customer at a hotel in Bangkok.

She was initially sentenced to 30 years in prison, which was later reduced by half, and then further reduced by a further two-and-a-half years earlier this year.

In August Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Nelson Kgwete announced that Nobanda would be released.

Nobanda was released from prison in late August, after which she was transferred to an Immigration Detention Centre where she underwent

more administrative processing.

At the airport on Thursday Nobanda said it felt good to be back home, and expressed her appreciation to South Africans for their support while she was in prison.

“It’s good to be back home. I want to thank all South Africans for their support over the past eight years.

It hasn’t been easy, but I just want to thank my country for their love, support and prayers. I’m back home and I’m back stronger,” Nobanda said.

She said her top priority is to spend time with her family. But she said: “It’s not the last time South Africans hear from me.”

Another drug mule, a friend of Nobanda, Thando Pendu, returned to South Africa in June this year after being released from the same prison. Pendu, from Welkom in the Free State, arrived at OR Tambo Airport on June 27, where family members and supporters welcomed her. She had been in prison for drug smuggling since October 2009, press reports indicated. At the time of her arrest, she was 23 years old.

Nolubabalo Nobanda (centre) with relatives on arrival at OR International Airport.

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Inner-city Gazette

26 September - 3 October 2019

26 September - 3 October 2019

Homeless find a home in theatre Sharmini Brookes

Since 2013 they have been performIn a theatre in Hillbrow ing on street corgroup of homeless men ners and in shelters, turn up once a week, earning a few rands washed and brushed, to pay for a bed in a and ready to begin their homeless shelter and warm-up exercises. a bite to eat. Soon The work is more than they were being likely to be either an exasked to perform at cerpt from a Shakespearhigh schools such as ean play, one of his 154 St Stithians, or at the sonnets or a poem from Mayor’s banquet and the canon of English poeven at the Johannesets - DH Lawrence, TS burg Theatre.

Dorothy Ann Gould Eliot, Sylvia Plath, Louis Today, although MacNeice or Emily Dickenson. some still live on the streets, many The group is called Johannesburg have agents and get bit parts as exAwakening Minds (JAM). tras in TV soaps or in student films.

JAM is the brainchild of Dorothy Others have found new artistic outAnn Gould, director, lecturer and a lets in painting and have sold their notable actress, who has shared the works at markets. stage with South African-born luGould says she teaches them arminaries such as Anthony Sher and ticulation but never tries to change Janet Suzman. their voice or accent, rather letting At a friend’s suggestion, she vis- the feeling drive the rhythm and the ited a soup kitchen in the St Michel’s pregnant pause. and St George’s parish in Mitchell Michael Mazibuko, who performed Street, Hillbrow. the famous soliloquy from Hamlet Many of these young men are all To be or not to be. As someone who alone, far from family, sleeping had himself contemplated suicide, rough, addicted to drugs and living the poem spoke to him. “He will in fear of their lives. never think of committing suicide Gould soon realised that theatre again,” says Gould. and Shakespeare offered more. “In They perform regularly at the Pizza Shakespeare’s plays they discover a e Vino restaurant in Auckland Park huge receptacle that can hold all the and accept invitations to perform at emotions they need to release; the high schools and other venues. rage, the feelings of abandonment, Find them on www.facebook.com/ of fear and of hoped-for love.” johannesburgawakeningminds.

Inner-city Gazette

The Arts

Author launches short-story collection The stories grapple with a range of themes and settings; from the marginal to topical issues like land reform and racism Lusanda Zokufa

T

he Market Theatre will soon launch a collection of short stories by Siphiwo Mahala, titled Red Apple Dreams and Other Stories.

In this book, Mahala is in the company of prominent South African authors including Can Themba, James Matthews, Njabulo Ndebele and Zukiswa Wanner. Known for his excellent re-imagination of Themba’s The Suit, which is also featured in this collection, Mahala recasts fresh perspectives on Matthews’s classic story, The Park, and embarks on an intergenerational dialogue with other prominent South African writers.

Red Apple Dreams is a compilation of Mahala’s best stories, some new and others previously published in different anthologies. It retraces his journey in literary apprenticeship over nearly 20 years.

“This is my most important book, not only because it features some of my best sto-

ries, but also because I am published alongside some of the most distinguished exponents of the short story genre in South Africa,” says Mahala.

The 15 stories entailed in this publication grapple with a range of themes and settings; from the marginal to topical issues like land reform and race and racism.

At times comical, at times intensely emotional, but always captivating, these stories deftly capture the complexity of life in contemporary South Africa with the flair and sensitivity of a master storyteller.

The launch will be held on 17 October at the Market Theatre.

Writer Siphiwo Mahala

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112 Kerk Street & Mooi, 7th Floor Executive House, Jhb CBD, Close to MTN Rank)

Health Caregivers Course (Homebased Care) Child Minding Course HWSETA Accredited

Entry Level Requirements: Grade 9 - 12 or equivalent

SA Under-17 team sets scoring record Sports Reporter

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n Saturday the SA nder-17 women’s team set a new record as they beat Seychelles 28-0 in the Cosafa championship in Mauritius.

That was the biggest score in an international match in Africa‚ the biggest winning margin in a women’s competitive international and the

highest margin of victory by any SA team.

The performance was at the St François Xavier Stadium.

Coach Simphiwe Dludlu’s team led 15-0 at halftime‚ which included six goals from Oyisa Marhasi, who was taken off.

Captain Jessica Wade was the first to get a hat trick in the opening 18 minutes. Nabeelah Grant scored on the stroke of halftime‚ another a minute into the second half and did a hat trick in the 74th minute.

Tiffany Kortjie scored within two minutes of coming on

Some of the players involved in the record win.

in the 47th minute, and scored six times in the next 30 minutes. The team had 11 different goal scorers.

The previous record for a South African team was the 17-0 win for Banyana Banyana over Comoros in the Cosafa Women’s Championship

in Port Elizabeth on July 31.

That is also a world record for a competitive women’s international.

The previous record score for a match involving a South African team was the 24-0 win for Mamelodi Sundowns over Kimberley

amateur club Powerlines in the Nedbank Cup in 2012.

The record score in any international is a 31-0 victory for Australia over Samoa in World Cup qualification in 2001‚ which included 13 goals by Archie Thompson.

Runner breaks FNB race record Johannesburg - Kenya’s Alfred Ngeno and Tadu Nare claimed gold in the men’s and women’s race respectively at the 2019 FNB Joburg 10K CITYRUN on Tuesday 24 September 2019.

Ngeno said before the race that he would win the race.

He was true to his word as he crossed the line one second ahead of Kevin Kibet in a new record time of 29:16, taking 11 seconds off of the previous record set by Filman Ande of Eritrea in 2018.

Junior Tadu Nare came within one second of the record of Irvette van Zyl when she won the women’s race in 33:53.

Alfred Ngeno

Gerda Steyn

Tadu Nare Pics: Tobias Ginsberg