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Est 2009 Issue 35 - 2020

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10 - 17 September 2020

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Inner City Gazette

Bid to secure Covid-19

vaccines for Africa Johannesburg - African countries are signing up to a ground-breaking initiative, which aims to secure at least 220-million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for the continent, once licensed and approved.

All 54 African countries have expressed interest in Covax, a global initiative which is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The partners are working with governments and manufacturers to procure enough vaccine doses to protect the most vulnerable populations on the continent.

Through the Gavi-coordinated Coviax Facility, the initiative seeks to ensure access for all, both higher and middle-income countries which will finance their own participation; and lower-middle income and lowincome countries which will have their participation supported by the Covax Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

Eight African countries have agreed to self-finance their vaccine doses through the Covax Facility. This will turn into binding commitments to join the initiative by 18 September,

with upfront payments to follow no later than 9 October 2020. In addition, 46 countries in Africa are eligible for support from the financing instrument, the Covax AMC which has raised approximately $700 million against an initial target of securing $2 billion seed funding from high-income donor countries, as well as private sector and philanthropists by the end of 2020.

WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti says Covax will include African countries and ensure they are not left at the back of the queue for Covid-19 vaccines.

“By reaching beyond the continent to work together with other governments and manufacturers on a global scale and pooling buying power, countries can protect the people most vulnerable to the disease in Africa,” she says.

CEPI is leading Covax vaccine research and aims to develop up to three safe and effective vaccines, which will be made available to countries participating in the Covax Facility.

Nine candidate vaccines are currently being supported by CEPI; two are currently being tested in South Africa, in addition to other regions around the world. CEO of CEPI Dr

Richard Hatchett says it is critical that African countries participate in vaccine trials, in addition to the clinical trials taking place in other regions of the world.

“Testing vaccines on the continent ensures that sufficient data is generated on the safety and efficacy of the most promising vaccine candidates for the African population, so they can be conDr Richard Mihigo fidently rolled out once vaccines are populations will be prioritised, and approved. CEPI is investing in the re- then vaccine availability will expand search and development of a diverse to cover additional priority popularange of vaccine candidates, with tions in participating countries. the aim of delivering safe and effecAfrican countries will need to have tive vaccines to those who need them the right systems and infrastructure most through Covax,” Hatchett says. to define the regulatory and ethical Through Covax, vaccines that have pathways for a quick approval of a passed regulatory approval or WHO candidate vaccine. They will need to prequalification will be delivered have logistics and supply chain sysequally to all participating countries, tems which can reach not only the traproportional to their populations. ditional target populations for routine Health workers and other vulnerable immunisations and campaigns, but be

Dr Richard Hatchet

ready to vaccinate a much larger target population.

WHO regional office for Africa programme manager Dr Richard Mihigo says to roll out a vaccine effectively across countries in Africa, it is critical that communities are engaged and understand the need for vaccination.

“It is important to already start working with communities to prepare the way for one of the largest vaccination campaigns Africa has ever experienced,” Dr Mihigo says.

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Inner-city Gazette

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music can make the world a better place - Jordan Aertes

Jordan Aertes Boston sat down to chat with successful Soul Candi Graduate to find out more about the man behind the mixer!

My stage name is Jordan Arts, and I qualified with a Higher certificate in music production and composition. This qualification has accreditation from the South African Board of People Practices.

Currently, I keep myself busy with daily activities which stem from the fact that I own my own production company and am a full time producer and performer. What led me to study music? I have always had a passion for music but didn’t have

the knowledge I needed to make it a sustainable career. Hence my registration with Boston.

From my studies to where I am now, I have grown a huge amount since I finished my studies at Soul Candi. Since then I have performed at shows like Oppi Koppi, H20 Festival and Rage festival, had my music play at It’s Personal festival and in a few clubs in Berlin and started a successful production company doing ads for Corona and Budweiser. My opinion of the South African music scene at the moment is that the South African music industry is under a

lot of strain right now due to Covid -but we have so much talent in our country that I’m sure it will pick up as soon as lockdown is over.

There are so many opportunities in this industry. For DJs and musicians in South Africa an d globally. There are opportunities in this country but you have to be willing to put in the work or you’ll never get to what you want. You have to work harder than anyone else in your sphere and that is what will make you stand out. So keep pushing and working towards your goal no matter how long it takes, if it were easy everyone would do it.

10 - 17 September 2020

Mallware found responsible for airtime theft Jenna Delport

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early 1.7 million mobile subscribers are infected with mobile malware in South Africa alone, reports 2019 data by mobile security company, Secure-D. According to the company, malware is the main culprit responsible for airtime theft and mobile ad fraud evident in the country, with 18 000 instances found on South African users’ devices.

Mobile malware can either be downloaded on the device by the user via an app, or come pre-installed on the phone. Once activated on the device, mobile malware becomes part of a “botnet” (short for robot network) of infected devices. These botnets, networks of malware-infused devices, are being remote-controlled at scale by a “bot-herder”.

In the case of mobile ad fraud, the malicious application visits websites, clicks on banner ads and simulates a real person going through a subscription or other Direct Carrier Billing purchase processes. It even overrides a two-step authentication process, all the while remaining undetected by the user. The fraudsters’ goal is to claim pay-outs from advertisers for bogus traffic.

The result is unsolicited airtime charges with users being able to detect the early signs of malware infection when they see their mobile data plan being rapidly depleted with no apparent reason.

What is especially tricky about mobile malware is that it continues to operate without raising the suspicions of the user of the device.

Tricks include making sure the app functions well even when malware runs in the background or ensuring that excessive battery drain doesn’t

A woman on her cellphone

occur. Some apps change their name after they have been downloaded or remain totally out of sight, meaning they cannot be found at the homepage of a device with an app icon.

The worst offending apps in the country from June to August 2020, according to Secure-D, are Shareit, a sharing app with cross-platform transfer speed and free online feeds including movies, videos, music, wallpapers, GIFs; Vivavideo, an app for editing photos and videos. It has been downloaded more than 100 million times worldwide, and Secure-D has blocked more than half a million fraudulent transactions originating from the app in South Africa alone; StatusSaver, an app that shows users’ statuses from four different apps and environments.

To avoid falling victim to unwanted purchases or lose pre-paid credit, Android users, in particular, should check their phones to see if they have any of the apps flagged as suspicious installed. If so, they should uninstall them immediately and review any new mobile airtime charges for possible fraud. ITNews Africa

10 - 17 September 2020

Inner-city Gazette

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News

MMC raises concerns on student accommodation “The City has to create the regulatory and policy spaces to provide affordable, accessible and inclusive accommodation within areas that are identified as economic nodes.”

A fire services official extinguishes the fire as one of the vehicles burns Pic: Arrive Alive

Three killed in horror crash Johannesburg - On Tuesday morning three men were killed and 11 others injured when a bakkie, taxi, and car collided in Bapsfontein on the R25.

In a statement ER24 paramedics said they found a wrecked bakkie in the middle of the road, a car on fire, and a taxi parked nearby.

“The fire service extinguished the fire while paramedics attended to the patients. The medics found a man trapped inside the bakkie, while another was trapped inside the smouldering car. Unfortunately, both had already succumbed to

their injuries and they were declared dead,” ER24 said.

Five of those injured were in critical condition.

“Paramedics treated the patients and provided the critically injured with advanced life support interventions. Unfortunately, one of the critically injured men succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead.

One critically injured patient was airlifted to hospital while the remaining patients were transported by ambulance,” the medics said.

Police are investigating the cause of the deadly accident.

Johannesburg - City of Joburg Development Planning MMC Lawrence Khoza has emphasised the need to attend to the outcry of young people at institutions of higher learning, and stressed on playing more of a regulatory and facilitation role.

“The City has to create the regulatory and policy spaces to provide affordable, accessible and inclusive accommodation within areas that are identified as economic nodes.

There are chronic student accommodation shortages as student numbers continue to rise,” Khoza said.

According to student accommodation developer STAG Africa founder John Schooling, it would take 10 to 20 years at a cost of R150 billion to deal with the shortfall.

“Universities, technical and vocational education and training colleges do not have sufficient resources to provide the units required to deal with the shortfall. Numerous

studies have estimated that there is a shortfall of more than 300 000 beds at our universities, and over 200 000 at technical and vocational educational and training colleges,” Schooling said.

Khoza said it is important to attract capital from the private sector.

“Through the release of land, expropriated buildings and incentives the City seeks to create opportunities for developers to play in the student accommodation space,” Khoza said.

According to the Ministerial Committee for the Review of the Provision of Student Housing at SA universities, proper student accommodation is an important element in student performance.

“This should therefore advise the different departments and entities as we execute the programmes that have been formulated as part of the student accommodation programme,” Khoza said.

MMC Lawrence Khoza

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Inner-city Gazette

10 - 17 September 2020

Entrepreneurs urged to

enter ‘jump-start’ contest

‘Building entrepreneurs is critical at a time when Covid-19 woes created unemployment of 30%, and the SA Reserve Bank forecast a 40.1% economy contraction, the worst since at least 1990.”

BPL general manager David Morobe

Johannesburg - The 11th annual Business Partners Limited (BPL) SME business plan competition for aspiring entrepreneurs is now open for entries, and offers a great opportunity for people to get equipped with skills to start and run their own micro or small businesses.

BPL general manager for impact investing David Morobe says building entrepreneurs is critical at a time when Covid-19 woes created unemployment of 30%, and the SA Reserve Bank forecast a 40.1% economy contraction, the worst since at least 1990.

“Having successfully jump-started

hundreds of young entrepreneurs over the past decade, this competition will once again assist ambitious individuals who want to start their own businesses, by providing free business training,” Morobe says.

He says the main difference to the 2019 competition is that everything will be online. This includes training material on how to develop a business plan, marketing and a cash flow forecast, as well as participation in online workshops and group discussions, leading to producing a business plan.

“Based on these business plans, 10 regional winners will be selected at

the end of October, and will receive mentorship assistance from leading business experts, to the value of R10 000. An overall winner will be announced in November and will get a further mentorship voucher worth R20 000, as well as a cash prize of R30 000. After submitting the online entry, training material will be provided to each participant, as well as access to selected mentors to assist with questions resulting from this,” Morobe says.

Those interested to enter the competition may search for Business Partners SME Toolkit on Google.

The closing date is September 30.

Men arrested in hijacked car Johannesburg - Police recently arrested two suspects aged 22 and 27 for possession of a hijacked motor vehicle at Makro, corner Hanover Street and Main Reef Road.

In a statement police said police officers on routine crime prevention duties at Makro shopping centre noticed two suspicious males sitting inside a red Toyota Conquest vehicle.

“When they saw police they drove off; they were stopped and searched. Police compared the vehicle and it came out positive that it was hijacked at Orlando in 2019. The vehicle was driven by a 37- year-old female when it was hijacked. While stationary at the traffic lights a suspect pointed a firearm at her and forced her out, and four suspects drove off in the car,” police said.

The police statement added that investigation is under way.

Joburg entrepreneur’s

journey to success

His entrepreneurial journey started in primary school, when he would sell sweets to make transport money. Later in high school during the holidays, he sold ice-cream in the Joburg CBD. Motlabana Monnakgotla

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Zibusiso Mkhwanazi and co-founder Veli Ngubane

ntrepreneur Zibusiso Mkhwanazi employs the ‘strategic creative firepower’ he uses in advertising to help businesses innovate and survive the current crises.

Today, he is Group CEO of M&N Brands and co-founder of Avatar, but his entrepreneurial journey started in primary school, when he would sell sweets to make transport money. Later, in high school, during the holidays, he sold ice-cream in the streets of Joburg CBD. Along the way he discovered love for computers that would groom him to start his website development business.

“My mom didn’t have the means to take me to varsity, so she gave me R2 000. I put it in the stock market and significantly turned it into about R14 000. I used that money to start my website business at a time when creativity was not implemented in the website industry,” says Mkhwanazi.

He also bought his first suit so he could attend meetings, printed his first company profile and started buying student website samples for about R2 000 and selling the designs to corporates for about seven times that amount. All of that enabled him to commence his business in 2001, when the internet was still new for most Africans.

“We saw a gap, the internet was growing, but ICT companies were designing horrible websites because they were not designers, but we knew people who could actually design and make something look really good,” Mkhwanazi says.

He worked with big brands and that accelerated the growth. In 2006, the company merged with Krazyboyz, a digital solutions

company present in Johannesburg and Cape Town. In 2012 he co-founded Avatar with business partner Veli Ngubane moving from web design to integrated marketing.

“We were just about ideas, whether for the web, the radio, TV or print; it was about ideas that solve human problems. We were building communication according to human truth and human insight, like how the consumer wants to be spoken to,” he says.

Mkhwanazi left Krazyboyz with nothing except a few customers and since then, Avatar has grown at over 100% every year, according to him. In the first year, the company turned over about R1 million and today, is one of South Africa’s largest black-owned and managed advertising agencies.

Like most business affected by the coronavirus, Avatar has had its share of issues and has had to adapt.

“It is very important to be there for our clients in a time of need, so we try as much to accommodate them. What we did was pivot as a business and said ‘we have strategic creative firepower that we create advertising work with, what if we could use the same firepower to help companies innovate, because coronavirus means they have to change very quickly and all of that requires innovation’,” says Mkhwanazi.

As a business, he adds, that is what they do daily, solving problems in creative ways.

“Some companies are not built around innovation, we became their centre of innovative thinking to help them rethink themselves and that is how we are helping many corporate companies survive the coronavirus under ‘the new normal’. The ultimate aim is to save as many jobs as possible,” Mkhwanazi says. ForbesAfrica

10 - 17 September 2020

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Residents volunteer to keep the streets clean During clean-up events, volunteers get to sanitise their hands; their temperature is taken and they answer Covid-19 related screening questions, before they can participate.

Johannesburg - Some Hillbrow residents have partnered with Clean City South Africa (CleanCitySA) to coordinate their efforts to remove litter from streets and a park in the area where they live.

Their effort coincides with the launch of the CleanCitySA Adopt a Street Volunteers Network.

The network is a community initiative that unites Joburg residents in restoring the inner-city to its former glory. The theme is By taking care of your street, you take care of the environment.

The volunteers have adopted 400 meters of Hadfield Road, 300 meters of Catherine Avenue and the lower part of Pullinger Kop Park in Hillbrow. The launch paves a way for other streets and open spaces to be adopted by residents, in an effort to clean the inner-city.

Volunteers conduct clean-up events every Saturday morning.

Each group is run by a volunteer

management team consisting of the director, timekeeper, logistics and health and safety.

CEO of CleanCitySA Dalu Cele said it is encouraging to witness the residents participating and owning this initiative, of taking back the streets and open spaces, to free it from litter that is damaging the environment and the economy.

“We take pride in ensuring that volunteers are able to participate under strict Covid-19 hygiene protocols and safety standards,” said Cele.

To participate in the Adopt a Street Volunteers Network, a minimum of 25 volunteers are required to register with CleanCitySA for a particular street, or open space they wish to adopt and keep it clean.

Each volunteer earns 10 points after participating on each Saturday cleaning up event.

After every 120 points earned by a volunteer, following participation in 12 clean-up events, they can re-

Some of the residents who volunteer to clean their streets

deem their points for either a R300 Shoprite Checkers food voucher, R300 data voucher or R300 airtime voucher from a service provider of their choice.

During clean-up events, volunteers get to sanitise their hands; their tem-

perature is taken and they answer Covid-19 related screening questions, before they can participate.

CleanCitySA issues T-shirts, caps, masks and gloves to the volunteers.

Without a mask and gloves, or facing a Covid-19 related risk from

Pic: Sithembile Moyo

screening, a volunteer is not allowed to participate in the clean-up event.

CleanCitySA seeks to introduce more open spaces to the volunteers; in anticipation that the campaign will grow, as more residents adopt the streets spaces where they live.

Truck crashes into hair salon

Rosettenville - On Saturday morning four clients were injured when a truck crashed into a hair salon in Bertha Street, Rosettenville.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said according to reports from the scene of the accident, the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and it crashed over the pavement and into the packed hair salon.

“Paramedics found that four people had sustained moderate injuries from the accident. They were treated at the scene before being transported by ambulance to hospital for further treatment,” Herbst said.

Scores of suspects held

in crime operation Johannesburg - Police arrested 89 suspects for various offences during crime combating operations that were conducted from 4 to 6 September, police said in a statement.

The police statement said the suspects were arrested around Mondeor, Booysens, Moffatview, Langlaagte, Fairlands, Sophiatown, Brixton and the Johannesburg CBD. “Among the suspects 11 were arrested for murder, two for attempted murder, four for possession of a hijacked

motor vehicle, five for armed robbery, six for common robbery, seven for domestic violence and eight for drunk and driving,” the statement said.

In the statement police added that the rest of the suspects were arrested for allegedly committing crimes ranging from possession of drugs, possession of suspected stolen property, fraud, shoplifting, malicious damage to property, assault common, assault with intention to cause grievous bodily harm, theft and theft of a motor vehicle.

Part of the accident scene when a truck crashed into the hair salon

Pic: Netcare911

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10 - 17 September 2020

10 - 17 September 2020

Communities invited to celebrate arts festival Braamfontein - With the arts sector among the hardest hit by Covid-19, the City of Joburg feels music, dance and cultural expressions can inspire hope and keep the nation united.

Joburg Mayor Geoff Makhubo launched the 28th edition of the Arts Alive Festival on Wednesday at Arts Alive action in a previous event Pic: Tim Moolman the Joburg Theatre in ing through until December this year.

Braamfontein.

“The digital programme will create In a statement the City invited communities to celebrate the 2020 Vir- many employment opportunities and tual Johannesburg Arts Alive Inter- skills sharing for both professional national Festival from September to and emerging artists, other artistic practitioners within the industry as December 2020.

“After five months of having to ad- well as service providers in the events just to living with the Covid-19 pan- industry.”

Arts Alive has over the years predemic, and the country having moved to Level 2, spring is here and The Arts sented brilliant arts and culture events is Alive. To keep the arts alive and for the past 28 years.

Some of the Arts Alive Highlights artists creating new work, we have gone digital and are observing all the for 2020 will include Jazz @ Arts Alive, 13 September; South African Covid-19 protocols,” the City said.

Arts Alive events will be recorded Legends Concert, 24 September; at the Joburg Theatre and in other re- South African Hip Hop Awards, 26 November; Global Dance Supreme, gions of the City.

The festival will showcase visual September -29 November; Webinar arts, educational workshops and mas- on Perspectives on the Visual Art ter classes, music, theatre, poetry, Market Platforms, 17 September and dance within September and stretch- Clash of the Regions, 12 December.

Inner-city Gazette

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The Arts

Youngest SA iconic author Book themes vary from culture, illiteracy, religion, respect, love, health, difference, abuse, role models, trafficking, family, friendship and security

Tshepo Moloi

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tacey Fru is a 13-year-old teen sensation, as South Africa’s multiple international award winning child author, activist, philanthropist, edutainer in an online Children’s Television South Africa (CTVSA), public speaker and brand ambassador.

She was born on 16 February 2007, the second child of Dr Emmanuel Fru, a political scientist and Victorine Fru, a master’s degree graduate in communication science.

She is a Grade 8 pupil at Sacred Heart College. Her five children’s books are entitled Smelly Cats (2015), Bob and the Snake (2016), Smelly Cats on Vacation (2018), Tim’s Answer (2019) and Where is Tammy (2019).

Themes in her books vary from culture, illiteracy, religion, respect, love, health, difference, abuse, role models, trafficking, family, friendship, safety and security. Her books support why she is surreal for her age.

She has become South Africa’s, Africa’s and perhaps even the world’s, youngest international multiple award-winning author in the genre of children’s books.

She wrote her initial book, Smelly Cats, aged seven in 2014 without her parents’ awareness.

The message of the first book focuses on variances ensuing from social and religious beliefs. Smelly Cats made her the youngest winner of the Na-

tional Development Agency’s (NDA) Early Childhood Development award as Best ECD Publication 2015: Special Mention Category’, a prize donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Furthermore, Smelly Cats has been approved by the Department of Basic Education as a recommended text for pupils, from the early childhood phase up to primary school level.

In Bob and the Snake (2016) the key message centred on friendship. In the third book, Smelly Cats on Vacation (2018), a sequel to the first book Smelly Cats, focuses on study habits, rest and respect.

Her fourth and fifth books, Tim’s Answer and Where is Tammy? were concurrently published in July 2019. The former deals with the theme of role models and the latter focuses on safety and security. She has stated that her ensuing book will be a novel.

Stacey’s age defying accolades are enlisted at www.staceyfru.co.za. They include her selection as the youngest Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 influential South Africans in 2016; winning the African Child Award for Creative Writing and Social Impact awarded by the Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PALEDEC), in partnership with the International Human Rights Commission, hosted inAccra, Ghana in 2019; the

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By Prophet Philip Banda

Young author Stacey Fru

Egyptian President El Sisi’s acknowledgement of Stacey Fru as the Youngest Promising and Most Inspiring Arab African Youth, at the World Youth Forum’s Arab and Youth Summit, hosted in Aswan, Egypt in 2019; recipient of The Global Child Prodigy Award, received in the category of writing, hosted in New Delhi, India in 2019; appointed as custodian of the annual African Children of the Year Awards (partnering with UNICEF to celebrate World Children’s Day, every first Saturday of November) and being selected as an ‘Ambassador of the Youth Café (to champion ‘Youth Empowerment in Africa’) in 2020.

Ex-Bucs star boosts

women’s football Nkululeko Dladla

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ormer Orlando Pirates defender Kamaal Sait has taken it upon himself to make a difference in women’s soccer.

Sait, who retired in 2004, is working on developing professional players and coaches through The Footballers Lab. “Our focus is on ladies’ soccer, we want to improve them mentally and on the pitch. We do fitness, coaching and other things we only see in male teams. We want to make sure we close the gap,” Sait said.

There have been many complaints about the lack of support to empower former male and female players, and Sait feels football’s leaders can do more to grow the game.

“SAFA of late is trying to support ex-players, but I feel more can be done. There should be more in terms of education. Even the Department of Sport could do more in supporting the game,” he said.

Bafana prepare for

Afcon with friendlies After the October FIFA window period, Bafana will take on Sao Tome on 13 November at FNB Stadium before travelling to the islanders for the return game on 16 November this year Sports Reporter

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afana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki has announced that he is planning to have two friendly matches against Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) opponents before taking on Sao Tome in back-to-back 2021 Afcon qualifiers.

Ntseki has been busy trying to tie down two friendly matches, one set for 7 October, and another for 11

October this year, against two Cosafa opponents.

“We have already identified the two opponents, but will announce their names once every detail has been finalised,” Ntseki said.

After the October FIFA window period, Bafana will take on Sao Tome on 13 November at FNB Stadium before travelling to the islanders for the return game on 16 November this year.

Bafana Bafana will round off their

Afcon qualifiers in March next year, playing a home match against Ghana before rounding off the campaign with an away game in Sudan.

Meanwhile, the ABC Motsepe League matches are expected to resume on 1 October and end on 31 October this year.

The national play off matches will be played in Gauteng from 9 to 15 November this year, in which the two finalists will be promoted into the National First Division.

Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki