Destiny Careers Magazine April & May Edition

MAY 2020 R50,00

MAY 2020 Issue 05

STICKING TOGETHER WHILE STAYING APART Finding growth & opportunity in the midst of chaos

If you would like to study at CTC College in the heart of the country that focuses on changing the world for a better tomorrow, then you’re choosing the right place. We do not use special formulas to select students. We look at every single application individually — academic and personal — to select students who suit our community, with a variety of backgrounds.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Follow the link to our website for detailed course information, e-learning programmes and online registration and learning.

OUR TEAM SPECIALISES IN THE

OUR TEAM SPECIALISES IN THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWING • • • • • •

• Education Education training andand training • Career Career guidance and advice guidance and advice • Management Management • Mentoring Mentoring capacity building andand capacity building audit andand analysis • Skills Skills audit analysis of prior learning • Recognition Recognition of prior learning

COURSES INCLUDE COURSES INCLUDE • • • • •

Environmental Practice and Management

• Environmental Practice and Management Engineering and Construction Management • Engineering and Construction Management Public Management Leadership and Governance • Media Public Management Leadership and Governance • Media Agriculture • Agriculture

Hey

Publisher’s note Abraham Lincoln once said; “The best way to predict the future is to create it”, and that is exactly what I am doing on a day-to-day basis, crafting the future I envisage.

Publishing DESTINY CAREERS magazine is an absolute honour. The prospects of the magazine speak directly to what I believe in as a human being and fundamentally aids in my quest of creating a future where I assist people to make informed decisions pertaining to their career choices. I am a firm believer that careers are at the core of not only building a nation, but also building one’s self, and for this fundamental reason, career guidance ought to be prioritised in society.

My hope as a publisher is that young people will take advantage and make use of the information and content found in this magazine. DESTINY CAREERS is a unique magazine because the majority of the content is not time-bound, thus making it a very useful handbook that doesn’t age. Of course ‘careers’ is a broad concept and presents a challenge when it comes to covering scope, however, the team working on the magazine is equal to the task. I pride myself in having a team consisting of 100% youth, leading and working on the magazine. This excites me because it means these young people are not only crafting their future but they are also assisting other young people in also crafting their future and that of the country.

I urge all of us to work collectively in using our careers as vessels and tools that produce a better future for us all.

DESTINY CAREERS will play its role as a trusted authority when it comes to issues of career development and guidance, and we will strive to always be in the forefront where careers are concerned. Let’s walk this journey together and remember that the “South African Dream” is heavily dependent on us.

Mpho Madzibadela Mpho Madzibadela

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DESTINY CAREERS

“I will either find a way, or make one.�

- Hannibal, military

Hey

Editor’s note

For those of us privileged enough to have jobs, or shelter, or food – or all three – the Covid-19 lockdown has been an unnecessary inconvenience. Many of us are frustrated, tired, perhaps losing our minds, feeling lost and/or anxious and having nightmares (neuroscientists and psychologists say that the trauma we’re all currently experiencing is the culprit).

As Nine Inch Nails sings on the aptly titled 2005 song, Every Day is Exactly the Same: “I think I used to have a purpose. But then again, that might have been a dream.” Many of us find ourselves hanging in the balance, unsure of what to do next and where the future will lead us. While we have never been fully in control of life, we’ve always had that illusion (and this is speaking from a place of privilege), but the pandemic has shown us that we really have very little say in how things turn out.

Some of us have been lucky enough to be drowning in work during lockdown, at a time when many are losing jobs, when industries, like ours – glossies – are being shut down (RIP, Associated Media).

And in the very rare moments of quiet, we’ve done a little bit of introspection, trying to figure out whether we’ve been moving in the right direction, if we’re happy with who we are, our perspectives, how we treat others, and more importantly – how we treat ourselves.

I’ve been fortunate enough to mentor some younger women, and one of the things I always say to them is – this applies to their careers as much as it does to their personal lives – “whatever you do, you should always strive to move in a direction that you’re happy with and you should be able to look yourself in the mirror and feel no shame about the person staring back at you.” Original? Probably not. Relevant? Always.

The pandemic and lockdown have forced us to confront ourselves, and some were ready, some were not. Being forced to slow down, as monotonous as this is becoming, has made us look not just at the world we’ve built, but our role in it. And while we do this, it’s important to remember the most important thing: to be kind to ourselves, to be gentle, to show ourselves the love we had, perhaps, previously deprived ourselves of.

As the inimitable fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg writes in the intro to her book, The Woman I Wanted to Be: “Life is not always a smooth ride. Landscapes change, people come in and out, obstacles appear and disrupt the planned itinerary, but one thing you know for sure is that you will always have yourself.”

Take care of that person, even if you can’t hit the beach or go to your favourite bar.

Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi Twitter: @pearloysias

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Denim jacket & jeans: Zara.

T-shirt: H&M Styled by Karin Orzol.

Photographed by Judd van Rensburg

DESTINY CAREERS

A MUST-SEE

AYANDA THABETHE PRESENTS LAWRENCE MANYAPELO Page 94

MAY 2020 | ISSUE 05

CEO & PUBLISHER: DESTINY CAREERS & CTC COLLEGE Mpho Madzibadela GENERAL MANAGER Nkokheli Lindazwe EDITOR Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Unathi Shologu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lawrence Manyapelo GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karabo Maboe FEATURES WRITER Maki Molapo

MULTIMEDIA PRODUCTION SUPPLIED BY

Destiny Careers is published by CTC College Physical Address | 23 NP Van Wyk Louw Street, Langenhovenpark, Bloemfontein, 9300 Tel | +27 (51) 492 4852

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DESTINY CAREERS

“Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for. Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us.�

- Maya Angelou, poet

Contents

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14

26

16

26

Amplify your business online

Covid-19 has changed everything

HOW TO

20

DIARY

May 2020 - Issue 05

What celebrity cook Neo is up to during the

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lockdown

22

SPOTLIGHT

COVER

38

EDUCATION

What a senior lecturer wants you to know

42

FEATURE

Offering equal education to rural schools

How Craig Zoowie has made a name for himself

DESTINY CAREERS

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76

52

102

78

OPINION

OPINION

62

102

The burden of being informal in a formal system

Find out why DJ Sabby thinks L. Ron Hubbard was dope

Now is the best time for all of us to be freelancers

THOUGHTS

68

SPORT

It’s more than just a game

Keep your payslip close to your chest

EXIT

Hey

Contributors 2020 - Issue 05

Ayanda Charlie Twitter: @EweCharlie IG: @yaaaaas_charlie

How have you been coping with the lockdown?

Working from home is ideal for me. But, as a freelancer, I worry about my future, too. So I’ve either been planning for the future or escaping the present. I’ll watch reruns of the Real Housewives, then I’ll frantically run back to my spreadsheet and plan my finances for the next 3 months, which is usually followed by the pressure to work and create more work.

So, I’m fine. I’m totally fine. I promise.

Ayanda Moholi Lauren Mulligan IG: @blahgrapher

How have you been dealing with the lockdown?

I hit a slump in the first week, but I’ve managed to find my rhythm again, thankfully. I spend my time between creative projects, exercise, my dog Rocket and baking. I’m treating this time as a period to catch up and reassess what I want to achieve both personally and professionally I don’t see this as free time, we are all going to pay for it in some way.

IG: @ayandamo

How have you been coping with the lockdown?

I’d suffered from exhaustion (self-diagnosed) once in my life and I got the worst flu of my life. Work-life-school balance during lockdown does not exist, and so I’ve had my second bout of exhaustion, at the brink of illness. Working from home has never been so hard. Whew, I need to take some leave.

Naledi Sibisi IG: @naledisibisi

How have you been coping with the lockdown?

I entered the lockdown feeling mildly prepared but as the days went, it was really just about adjusting accordingly because that feeling was turning into one where I was unsure and overwhelmed. My approach to dealing with the lockdown has been about establishing daily routines and patterns that would be helpful in the long run such as: a work schedule, leisure schedule and most importantly, a regular sleep schedule so that I do not feel too thrown off my axis and have control over how I feel given how disorienting this period can feel. I am definitely feeling very balanced and coping well at this stage of things.

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Hey

Edwin Naidu Twitter: @Edwin_Naidu Facebook: Pragasen-Edwin Naidu

How have you been dealing with the lockdown?

It’s been one-day at a time, this seemingly endless prison.

I survived by working from dusk till dawn, talking to my adorable virtual muse, writing passionately, and earning cooking breaks on an outside fire to soothe the nerves, while sipping gin and juice, listening to Snoop Dog and Eighties pop.

Drank loadsa tea, especially after the pineapple ran out, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma kicked our butts. I’m a Phoenix survivor.

Jade Kelly IG:@jadekellywilson Twitter: @JadeKaayWilson

How have you been coping with the lockdown?

Try having quit my job to relocate to the US on March 25 only to be trapped by a global pandemic!

It’s some crazy bad timing but I’m grateful that I still have the opportunity to WFH and I’ll be waiting it out until it’s safe to make the move. A schedule, gratitude lists in the AM and changing up the food I eat has helped so much in terms of low physical and emotional energy.

Palesa Buyeye Twitter: @Pali_babz IG: @Pali_lesa

How have you been dealing with lockdown?

Tomorrow will definitely be different because although every day is basically the same, my feelings are always changing. So my answer for today is taking it a day at a time whether it’s focusing on a Netflix series, writing, doing a home workout or FaceTiming a friend. Doing what is needed for each day.

Leonard Solms Twitter: @LeonSolms IG: @leonard_solms_sport Facebook journalism page: Leonard Solms

How have you been dealing with lockdown?

I have been remaining as positive as can be. The lack of sport has obviously been difficult to take both as a writer and a fan.

That’s alright, though. There are more important things in life, and from a work perspective, there is always a story out there waiting to be told. I’ve kept myself busy by looking for the right ones and doing research, while also devoting time every day to becoming more fluent in isiXhosa.

For those of us privileged enough to have the bare necessities under control, I believe it is best to minimise time spent dwelling on what we can’t change.

Papi Mabele Twitter & IG: @papimabele

How have you been coping with the lockdown?

I’ve always wondered, with great panic, how I would handle a lockdown scenario and lifestyle such as this. To my surprise I’m faring quite well. Luckily there’s work and writing to keep my mind busy, then there’s entertainment by catching up on series and discovering new music to help me relax. I forgot I have a Nintendo Switch console, so that’s keeping me on the edge too!

Shout out

Letters

Share your thoughts via email: us@destinycareers.co.za.

Engage with us:

@Destiny_Careers

DestinyCareersZA

@destiny.careers

destinycareers

Destiny Careers

Thank you for the great magazine and a great product — it is very needed product in the marketplace. Please consider adding other media types like podcasting and video. I mean think about the smiling assassin, Prof Puleng, in a video or podcast setting. That would be a mind-blowing conversation.

Great job on giving us some muchneeded career advice, but I was sad to see the magazine not come out last month. I guess it’s a sign of the times we live in. As many businesses close permanently their doors and thousands lose their jobs, I hope you continue provide some guidance on how we approach the next phase of our lives.

– Sinazo Mehlo, East London

- Natasha Camp, Kimberly

I think you will agree that the career landscape is being transformed in ways that organisations and people that lead them cannot understand or fully conceptualise. There is talk among the so-called elites of the highly politicised term “structural reform.” There is obviously a conversation that is taking place now about a “post Covid-19” work environment and what that means in the context of the skills we now have. As a reader, I would be keen to see more about what is happening in the landscape and how it will shape career choices. Are certain careers still an option? What is creating new career options? Also, given the backdrop of the South African experience where there are large swathes of people who are unemployable, what are those prospects or has Covid-19 created another subset of the population that cannot participate and express themselves economically?

- Rethabile Makgale, Vanderbijlpark

TWEETS “...#DestinyMagChallenge anyone?...”

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- Rego Choane @RegoChoane 14

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- Joe Human @joe_human_

- Vuyolwethu Dubese @VDubese

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How To

Online branding for small businesses Zoe Msutwana explains the difference between social media presence and social media branding and how you can leverage both to reach your target audience words maki molapo

T

he number one rule of business is to ‘stay in business.’ However, considering the adverse effects that the Coronavirus pandemic has had on world economies, small businesses have been forced to shut their doors. This has compelled some businesses to find other means of connecting to a broader audience. While running a business offline may have its advantages, the biggest disadvantage is that the reach is limited. Even so, some business owners tend to neglect this aspect of their business because it can get a bit overwhelming. Zoe Msutwana, Senior Strategy Honcho at Orchard on 25, shares the ultimate guide to setting up and maintaining your business online community.

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DESTINY CAREERS

A business’s social media presence entails how the business communicates, how it engages and how often it does so on its social media platforms. Whereas, social media branding refers to managing your business image, identity and market position across all your social media accounts.

Which platforms are most important and effective? (This could be from most to least important) Choosing the right platforms is dependent on your audience (which platforms they are on) and, of course, your business goals. Additionally, it is advisable to also explore platforms based on their popularity. Here is a good example of what to consider when deciding on platforms: Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world and in SA. The platform is also well known for being a platform that is good at assisting businesses with reach, which is ideal for generating leads and building relationships.

Twitter is a platform built on immediacy and is perfect for customer service. Small businesses can also use Twitter as a listening platform or as a source of research on how to improve business, due to the platform’s opinion driven nature.

LinkedIn is mainly used for business networking and can be a great platform for creating trust, building authority, and engaging audiences.

Instagram is known for being visually appealing and endlessly engaging, which is always a win with consumers. Instagram has also made strides to move deeper into ecommerce with their shop facility, which allows businesses to integrate product catalogues with their Instagram profiles. In turn, businesses can advertise products directly to Instagram users through posts, stories, in the explore tab, and in a special shop tab on their profile.

What are the benefits of investing in online branding and presence as a business?

Investing in your brand’s social media has many benefits.

It is advantageous for brands to cultivate their social media presence to improve customer service, enable effective and agile communication with customers and to reach new prospects. Social media and online branding, on the other hand, is essential in helping brands communicate services, build authority and drive traffic to a website.

Important factors to consider when building an online brand

1. Set A Goal As with anything in life, one needs a solid plan. The same applies to winning on social media. In order to achieve social media success for your business, you need to have a goal in mind. What is the end goal? What are you hoping to achieve? Those are the questions you need to ask yourself before you start.

2. Devise Your Social Media Strategy Once you’ve outlined what you want to achieve in the goal setting phase, you need to devise a plan that will help you get there. Who is your audience? What type of content do they consume? What brand assets do you have at your disposal that you can use? What type of additional content will you need to still create? What platforms will you be using? At what frequency will you be posting?

This is also when you need to start thinking about putting together the team that will be implementing the strategy.

3. Curate a content calendar Staying active and present on social media takes time and dedication and can be a robust process. Having a content calendar in place helps businesses to plan and schedule comms accordingly, while ensuring that your content is kept in line with your overall strategy.

4. Engage with your audience in relevant ways There is more to winning in social media than just scheduling posts and hoping for the best. A lot of it requires constant connection and engaging of your audience. Responding and commenting on posts and complaints, initiating conversations, re-sharing user-generated content and asking and answering questions are just some examples of how businesses can stay connected to their audience.

5. Maintain Consistent Presence Cultivating constant presence and connection takes time and patience. Set aside some time (even if it’s just 20minutes a day) to track and monitor your channels and respond to questions and establish some conversations with your audience.

How To

What is the difference between social media presence and social media branding and how do the two relate?

How To

How can businesses attract the right online market?

Attracting the right audience is critical in business marketing, otherwise what is the point of it all, right?

1

Know your audience:

Data is the best tool to determine your target audience. Your website and your social media should tell you your audience’s demographics, what content of yours they consume and enjoy the most and what times they’re most active. Google Analytics is also the most trusted source for narrowed audience reviews. It would be close to impossible to reach your target audience if you didn’t know who they were.

This should be the first place to start.

Make use of industry hashtags

2

Hashtags are an easy, effective and impactful way to stay up to date with the latest events, trending topics and conversations pertaining to your industry.

They’re also great for placing your content in front of a broader audience by utilising them in your own social media posts.

3

Invest in social media ads and promoted posts

Fortunately, most social media platforms allow brands to use ads to promote their businesses in order to get them in front of the desired audience.

The disadvantage to being on social media is that your competitors are also on the same platforms, targeting the same audience as you. Brands fighting for the same share in the consumers mind can result in difficulty in finding your audience organically. Social media ads can assist in bumping up your content and getting it in front of the right eyes, ensuring you reach your business goals.

Dealing with daily operations can be very overwhelming and as a result, social media is often forgotten. How can businesses make sure that their online presence runs like a well-oiled machine and that it forms part of the daily operations?

Businesses can set up a dedicated social media team that will act as a supporting business function. The team can stick to a social media content calendar to ensure objectives are met and consistency is maintained to ensure efficient communication and the optimisation of social media.

Any other information that you think would be helpful for small businesses’ online branding and presence?

Stay true to your business and your strategic goals. Don’t try to be something you’re not as your audience can quickly pick up on businesses that lack authenticity. Don’t try too hard, keep your comms in line to your overall mission, brand DNA and character.

.

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With over a decade’s worth of experience in Public Relations and Brand Management, Zoe Msutwana, Senior Strategy Honcho at Orchard on 25 is best known for her upbeat strategic brand approach as well as her very successful track record of executing globally recognised campaigns in the fields of luxury, broadcasting and FCMG brands. She is also the Founder & CEO of branding and pop culture media platform, www.guidetoceleb.com. Her social media handle is @ZoeMsutwana on both Instagram and Twitter.

DESTINY CAREERS

Quote

“Sometimes carrying on, just carrying on, is the superhuman achievement.�

- Albert Camus, novelist

Diary

NEO NONTSO’S lockdown diary

You know how we all have the same 24 hours and yet it sometimes feels like some people have more hours in their day? And how you can’t help but wish to be a fly on whichever wall to gain some insight on how they do it all in just a day?

Neo Nontso is a celebrity cook and makeup artist. Born and raised in the Eastern Cape, the 24-year-old currently runs her own kitchen on Uber Eats, owns a successful food page on Instagram and often travels the world exploring and tasting different foods and cultures.

Nontso let us in on what a day in her life during the lockdown usually entails.

12 HOURS

with a celebrity cook

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07:00 -

Wake up, pray, check notifications on my phone, check on family and friends.

08:00 -

Shower, have breakfast – my go-to breakfast meal is half a grapefruit and two boiled eggs. Afterwards, I prep for the day.

09:00 -

Start preparing my kitchen for the day (chopping and cleaning).

10:00-

Do my make up (I do this about 3-4 times a week, it helps me keep my creative juices alive).

12:00 -

Create new recipes and do some research.

DESTINY CAREERS

Diary 13:00 -

Share new content on my socials.

14:00 -

Do some admin work like responding to emails and messages.

16:00 -

Prepare dinner.

17:00 -

Put all my devices away and catch up on some news and TV.

18:00-

Take a long shower.

20:00 -

Watch a good movie, then bedtime.

Neo Nontso Trivia Box Are you a morning person or a nocturnal person?

I’m neither of those — it all depends on my mood.

Your go-to album or playlist when you work?

I always have a new playlist that I’m listening to. I try to change what I’m listening to every week because I hardly find time to go out. I’m currently listening to an album called Mangaliso

by Bongeziwe Mabandla.

One ingredient that always features in your lunch or dinner (or both) meal?

CHILLI! An unbelievable fact about you?

I can’t tell the difference between my left and right.

What kind of space do you prefer to work in?

I love a clean space. I prefer being in the kitchen — even if I’m not cooking but just checking emails.

Are you messy, organised, messy but organised or OCD? I’m messy but organised. I always tell people I know exactly where everything is in my mess. Lol! Your favourite part about cooking?

Creating!

Your least favourite part about cooking?

Washing the dishes.

Who do you dream of catering for?

Michelle and Barack Obama.

Name cooking utensils that you consider conveniently essential.

Kitchen tongs! I use them for everything!

What’s the simplest meal you enjoy?

Peanut butter and jam on seeded brown bread — and then wash it all down with an ice-cold glass of Oros.

What gets your creative cooking juices flowing?

A clean kitchen! No matter what space I’m in, if I see a clean kitchen, I’m ready to go.

What do you wish they told you about being a cook?

That it would be expensive and I would use all my money on buying meat instead of new clothes.

Which chef or cook would you like to trade places with and why?

Bobby Flay, his success is so inspiring and his cooking style is so liberated and crazy. I love chefs who don’t have boundaries.

Which part of running your food page do you most enjoy?

Keeping many homes warm and happy with my recipes. It’s a kind of satisfaction I can never explain. My heart is always so full!

What would you say is the worst dish or meal combination ever created?

I definitely don’t have one. I believe all food is great. The only thing that makes food bad is one’s palate and that, we have absolutely no control over.

What is your most underrated talent?

My ability to sew my own dresses.

Which dish or meal combination do you wish you created?

Beef Wellington. It’s a beautiful concept.

Your favourite cookbook?

All Jamie Oliver cookbooks and a South African gem by Siphokazi Mdlankomo My Little Black Recipe Book.

The best advice you’ve ever received?

‘Everything you set your mind to will manifest.’

The worst advice you’ve ever received?

‘You don’t have to be the best.’

A quote or philosophy you live by?

Do not fear failure, fear not trying.

Spotlight

How I Made It

Craig Zoowie

lifestylist, fashion stylist, grooming consultant Please tell us about yourself.

The name is Craig Zoowie and I’m a Lifestylist.

I design luxury events and consult for private clients and brands on fashion styling and grooming.

How long have you been in the industry?

It’s been over 10 years.

Please tell us about your childhood.

I had a solid upbringing with a supportive family and I was always encouraged by my parents and brother to go for what set my soul on fire. I was far from a normal kid and here I am.

Please take us through your journey: what drew you to [your industry]?

I’m frankly obsessed with fine detail and, honestly, it’s always been the love for the finer things in life. And there are only a select few industries that allow one the luxury of good taste, so naturally, I ended up where I am.

Curating something for an appreciative client is a unique privilege for me, whether it’s putting together a bespoke event or assisting someone with their sartorial needs — from shopping for them or finding a particular piece that you know they will love and look great in.

interview bongani tau

You will get a great invoice and the client makes sure they remind you daily with demands, and all sorts. That kind of pressure is not necessary. If your gut tells you “no” about a certain contract, then it’s best to follow your gut, tough as it may be.

Best career lesson learnt?

Don’t stop dreaming, you can achieve your dreams. I usually think of a crazy idea that I would like to present to a client and execute.

For a while I will bank the idea till I come cross a client who says, “yes, go for it! I love it.” That for me is the best feeling ever!

What’s your favourite thing about your career?

Flexibility and unpredictability drive me, as well as evolving trends both in events and fashion. Dreaming and creating magic, such that the moment a client walks in they gasp at the space we have styled. Inspiring so many people who send messages of encouragement or congratulations is always a great bonus.

What’s the worst thing about your career?

Anxiety is a major one. My teammates and I will have sold off an amazing concept, then the little devil tries to come in with anxiety and doubt, but we always put in our best and it all comes out as envisioned, or better. People only get to see the sparkle but don’t realise the anxiety in between.

What are your tips for those looking to work in the same industry?

What was your first job?

I was in retail for a year, selling basketball regalia mostly, which was completely not my style as I was always more formal while selling casual athleisure daily.

How did you end up becoming a stylist?

I was freelancing as an event stylist and then later teamed up with my partners — Lungie, who is the Chief Florist, and Kevin the Wedding Planner. That’s how we formed the sparkle that is VIP Hosting.

Be passionate, never stop dreaming and learning. The quality of your work always shows through the amount of research and passion you put in.

How would you like to be remembered?

Craig Zoowie always created magic through his work and made people happy.

Hardest career lesson learnt?

Sometimes it’s not always about the money.

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Spotlight

Quote

“Tension is who you think you should be.

Relaxation is who you are.”

- Chinese proverb

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DESTINY CAREERS

Government Affairs | Funding | Partnerships | Public Relations Position your business

Why with us?

13 years extensive Industry knowledge and insights

Understand Government policy, regulation for your ease of doing business

Develop funding models, build key strategic Partnerships with industry

Experienced Bankers, Public Entities & Private Sector funding

Public Relations, communications and community Engagement Strategy

International qualifications, Corporate Affairs & Reputation management

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Cover

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED

Illustrated by lauren mulligan

Hopes & thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa

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ou’re probably all Covided out by now, and we get it. We really do. And actually, we almost are, too. But the reason DESTINY CAREERS has dedicated our May issue to Covid-19 and its effects on our lives is because there are some incredible voices out there, with interesting and solid thoughts, that we wanted to share with you. Needed to share with you.

We put this edition together to lay it bare a struggle that connected the entire globe but has had such vastly different reactions to it.

As we’re seeing, the changing world of work has gone from being led by the much-hyped but not-quite-understood 4IR, to being dictated by the Coronavirus. Entire industries are transforming in front of our eyes at speeds that were previously unseen and Africa is equal to the task – much to the world’s surprise and/or disappointment. Not to say everything is perfect – of course not – but this is the most effective our government in particular has shown itself to be.

We have panned across the human experience to look at the virus’s effect on careers - formal and informal, education, finance, health, ways to protect your income, finding solace in isolation, medical innovations being spearheaded on the continent, and providing a voice for those who perpetually feel marginalised as a result of social structures that always affect the poor worse than any other group.

| MAY 2020

We have received plenty of scientific data about the progression of the virus and the consequences thereof, so with this edition we have placed a keen focus on the human experience on a continent that continues to surprise the global community in its inventive and innovative ways of dealing with the pandemic.

Cover On a symbolic level, this virus has provided an opportunity to recalibrate and rewrite our future. And they say, if you can make something work in an environment that is rife with such inequities, you can make it work anywhere in the world.

Change does not come from an instant snapping of the fingers: it is a result of the dismantling of smaller pieces that make up the great whole, and never before has this been in the hands over the layman is it currently is right now.

Thank you to the writers who contributed to this edition: • • • • • • • •

Jade Kelly Nosiphiwo Balfour Naledi Sibisi Tshegofatso Senne Tshepo Moloi Ayanda Charlie Ayanda Moholi Edwin Naidu

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Vuyolwethu Ndongeni Khotso Ramphele Papi Mabele Yvonne Mtengwa Leonard Solms Ace Moloi Esihle Lupindo Gugu Masuku Wandi Jama Thabiso Molonyama Ntombana Mbele Palesa Buyeye

And a special thank you to Lauren Mulligan for the gorgeous illustrations – here on these pages, and our fabulous cover.

Happy reading, everyone, from the DESTINY CAREERS team.

Opinion

An impromptu (but important) lesson on the shortcomings of capitalism

As the infection rate for the coronavirus surpassed one million people worldwide, the unprecedented global shutdown in an attempt to slow the spread of Covid-19 has exposed an array of things: the ability of many businesses to function remotely, the importance of universal healthcare and above all, the gaping holes in our capitalist society.

The core of the problem with how things have stood pre-coronavirus is this: people and the environment are a secondary concern to the needs of capitalism, which places profit above all else. What the global pandemic has highlighted is that lack of care for the former can backfire in times of crisis and can leave the precious profit not only exposed but in a state of irreparable damage. The very fragility of current systems sparks a conversation about whether they should be reconfigured – or done away with altogether.

For South Africa’s most vulnerable communities, who have been told repeatedly that a budget simply does not exist to provide for their basic human rights, this pandemic has proved exactly the opposite. It may be true that as a country, we are lending ourselves into a dark pit that will undoubtedly exacerbate the effects of our recent downgrade into junk status, but it says a lot more about how it took a global crisis for governments to do what, in all honesty, they should have been doing in the first place.

Thoughts Jade Kelly

with it a miraculous solution.

In a matter of weeks, the presence of the coronavirus in addition to the lockdown prompted the minister of Human Settlements, Water, and Sanitation to present an unprecedented solution to this problem. In Lindiwe Sisulu’s address ahead of the lockdown, she outlined that her department would increase the provision of water and sanitation in informal settlements. She stated that her goal was to ensure that all South Africans in vulnerable areas were able to wash their hands properly to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. On the one hand, this can be seen as an inclusive response that takes the needs of everyone into account, but on the other can earn warranted critique on why the basic right to have access to clean, running water, that extends to people in South Africa’s informal settlements, was not prioritised by the minister or her department before now.

This begs the question of whether basic human rights only ever take precedence when they could potentially worsen the effects on profits (in this case, caused by a longer shut down due to the spread of the virus). In other words, fulfilling the basic needs of South African people became a priority only once they begin to threaten the profits. Where exactly does the value of human life lay in a capitalist world? Or is it such that it is inextricably linked to the ability of these bodies to pump energy into the system of capitalism?

Just a few weeks before the global pandemic reached the borders of South Africa, the country was evicting its homeless off the streets, presenting them with fines without devising a strategy that would relocate them, temporarily or otherwise. The first day of the lockdown in South Africa saw the prompt creation of temporary housing for the Western Cape’s homeless. The temporary housing programme includes a tent set-up near Safe Space in Cape Town, as well as some churches and community centres. This move, although necessary to curb the spread of the virus, raised questions about why alternative measures such as these were not explored previously instead of a strategy that was essentially fining people for being homeless.

It is no secret that the people who live in South Africa’s informal settlements have limited to no access to running water for as long as they have existed. After years of misallocated budgets and crunching numbers that never seemed to include the possibility of providing this basic right to all inhabitants of the country, Covid-19 brought 28

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More than anything, this pandemic is revealing the exploitative nature of a capitalist economy and the way in which many people who are deemed to be low or unskilled workers are now the ones responsible for driving essential services forward. Many of these essential workers form part of the bulk of South Africans who live from hand to mouth. In addition, they are the ones who have to leave their homes every day, risking their health and that of their families in order to make this shutdown possible for the rest of us. If these are the people we need most in times of crisis, is it not sensible that they earn at least enough to provide for their basic needs?

The Opportunity to Shape a New Reality The rapid spread of Covid-19 between and across continents has been made possible by globalisation, which functions at the very core of our capitalist society. It has brought to light questions that will need to be answered for, beyond the end of this crisis and will hopefully produce new solutions to very old problems.

One of the few upsides of this global crisis is the opportunity for it to become a catalytic driver of change. It has brought to light the need for inclusive policy, the value of human life, the need for job security and worker protection and the importance of a universal and efficient healthcare system.

In the rush to return everything back to normal, it is dawning on many of us that it is not a return to normal that we should be rallying for, but rather moving toward a new reality that includes, protects and values the people who live in it.

- Jade Kelly is currently making her way through the list of books she has yet to read but keeps recommending to everyone else

Feature

The Lives of Black Professional Mothers: Without Helpers words ayanda charlie

Mothers who usually coparent with their nannies have had to dig deep to make it (work) in their absence

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DESTINY CAREERS

Feature

O

n 23 March, after two days of collectively bated breath, South Africans watched as President Cryil Ramaphosa finally approached the podium to announce that we would be the next country to adopt the new global normal — with just four days’ notice, the country would go into lockdown.

As companies either went digital or closed shop altogether, the fate of domestic work remained uncertain. For many black women professionals with children, the ever elusive ‘work-life balance’ had been achieved with the help of nannies, cooks and cleaners, as the trusty assistance of grannies and aunties often didn’t come with city living. I was curious about what the role of domestic workers to single and married black professional mothers had come to mean in 2020, and especially during this pandemic. I had a chat with two Johannesburg-based mothers about how they approach work, parenting and being employers in a global pandemic.

For 40-year-old *Kholeka Langa, her nanny of six years is a co-parent. She had been a single woman who became a single mom and has always relied on domestic assistance to make her ambitious career in human resources possible.

She herself was raised by nannies.

“I lived with my aunt. She built a career in education and encouraged us to channel our time and energy towards our career goals. Her husband also travelled a lot, so our domestic helpers were like surrogate parents to us,” she says.

When Langa’s nanny had to be with her family during the lockdown, the mother of one suddenly found herself juggling work and home life alone. DESTINY CAREERS spoke to her at 7PM, shortly after her last Zoom meeting of the day. Her mornings start early with breakfast and a home-school session with her 11-year-old son.

She spends her lunch hour doing laundry and washing dishes. In the evenings she cooks, gets her son to bathe, squeezes in a few more work calls, takes a break to watch some TV, and gets right back to work for the remainder of the evening.

Despite her struggles, Langa fully intends to pay her co-parenting partner even in her absence. “As long as I’m getting paid, she’s getting paid,” she says.

IT specialist *Senate Mokoena’s days bare a resemblance to Langa’s, except she has twice the children and a husband. For the 36-year-old, nannies have grown more important at each stage of her life. Mokoena’s mother was a teacher too.

She hired a nanny for Mokoena and her siblings when Mokoena was in grade five. When she had her firstborn child, a live-in nanny felt like the safest person to nurture a newborn. She was right – Mokoena’s child suffered bouts of severe illness on each of her three short stints in daycare, with one leading to a sevenday hospital stay.

Once Mokoena became married, a domestic worker made for a harmonious home, extinguishing tensions regarding house chores between Mokoena and her entrepreneur husband. When DESTINY CAREERS caught up with her 11 days into the lockdown, she was struggling. “My husband is a typical guy. He gets home and rests.” They’d spoken about dividing house chores more equitably during this time, but Mokoena resorted to a strategy she could control. Her nine-yearold pitches in, helping prepare her three-year-old brother’s food and washing a typically 10-minute dish load for an hour. I asked her if she saw herself surviving the extended lockdown this way, she said “I’m already doing it,” with the acceptance of circumstance only mothers can come to.

She admits that she’s made peace with a half-cleaned home in the middle of the week and sadly her daughter is being “short-changed” when it comes to her lessons. Whenever she can spare time from teaching and feeding her children, Mokoena handwashes their clothes – they never got to fixing their washing machine before the lockdown. She fears a pay cut is nigh and worries that they won’t be able to support their nanny should the lockdown persist. The anticipated economic hit on SMEs has rocked her husband’s business.

Feature

Both Langa and Mokoena hired their helpers informally. Langa had been through six domestic workers within a decade before finding her current nanny. She had run the gamut of recruitment methods, even using an agency at one point, but those relationships never worked. She finally went for someone more familiar.

A distant cousin in her 20s with a matric certificate and way with children was suggested and Langa obliged. “Come to think of it there was never any formal contract between us. We just discussed the payment and her hours, and she moved in,” she recalls.

Mokoena once paid R400 to a woman who connected mothers in need with job seekers in Lesotho. Their partnership was short-lived, as life back in Lesotho soon beckoned. She found her current nanny, also from Lesotho, via a referral by a friend and hasn’t looked back since. For Mokoena, establishing a formal employment contract with her nanny was barred by an expired passport. She had never urged for this to be rectified.

These are some of the work dynamics that complicate the position of domestic workers in this time. Many employers have failed to complete the UI19 form or even pay UIF contributions, which will make it harder for workers to claim benefits.

This is particularly concerning as the salaries of employers themselves may be threatened (in the long run), which will make it impossible for even the most wellmeaning of employers to continue to pay their workers, a fact that even Mokoena admits to.

“My biggest fear is the pay cut. With this current situation, I keep praying that it doesn’t get to that point. Like many of us, I’m one paycheque away from poverty.

Even if we were to get our UIF, with the lifestyle [we’ve] become accustomed to, UIF wouldn’t even scratch the surface.”

On 21 April, the president announced a special six-month Covid-19 grant of R350 for those who are unemployed and do not receive any other form of grant or UIF payment. Along with this grant came an increase of R300 in child support grants in May, and R500 a month from June to October. For millions of South Africans, this has engendered a sense of security for the next six months, but for countless others like Mokoena’s helper, their entire livelihoods are in the hands of women like her.

- *Names have been changed to protect identities of subjects.

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Quote

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.�

- Anne Lamott, author

Health

A BITTER ELIXIR TO CURB

VACCINE ENTHUSIASM words edwin naidu

Professor Salim Abdool Karim who chairs the Covid-19 committee providing Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize with scientific evidence in informing government’s approach to the pandemic, cautions against premature excitement over a cure

S

outh African scientists, researchers and clinical specialists have joined the global fight to develop a vaccine and discover treatment solutions for Covid-19 but there is no likelihood of immediate success, according to one of the country’s top researchers.

World-renowned HIV scientist and infectious diseases epidemiologist Professor Salim Abdool Karim has cautioned recent optimism hyping up swift chances of a solution as the country’s medical brains trust play a crucial role in developing a vaccine and conducting clinical trials for a Covid-19 treatment as part of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Public Health Emergency Solidarity Trial.

While a committee chaired by Abdool Karim is advising the country on steps to take during the pandemic, 30 scientists, researchers and clinicians drawn from eight South African medical schools are collaborating with academics from nine other countries in medical trials, testing certain treatments on willing Covid-19 patients to find out whether the drugs identified are effective in reducing or minimising the effects of the disease.

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In addition, the chief executive of Universities South Africa Ahmed Bawa confirmed that there was a nationwide response from the tertiary sector in response to a call made by Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

But Abdool Karim cautions against premature excitement over developing a vaccine or finding a cure.

“Even if we started a study of vaccine, it wouldn’t be found anytime soon, even if you fast-track it, this process alone would take up to 18 months,” according to Abdool Karim, the CAPRISA Professor for Global Health in the Department of Epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.

Abdool Karim is also Director of the Centre for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He also chairs the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Covid-19 made up of around 50 scientists providing Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize and the Department of Health with scientific evidence in informing government approach to the pandemic.

Speaking to DESTINY CAREERS, Abdool Karim says South Africa as a whole, not just the committee he chairs, is contributing to research on Covid-19.

“This is taking place in three ways, starting in stage one with preparation where we learn about what happened in China, Italy, others, essentially focused on those who travelled overseas; the second stage aimed at reducing flights closed schools and promote distance and hygiene; while the third stage is more drastic - the lockdown to curb the spread of the virus.

“The virus spreads so fast, we had to take drastic action to try and stop it, as the main worry was that if 20 percent of the population or let’s say 1/5th were going to require medical care or be put on a ventilator, it would put a strain on medical facilities as we don’t have the requisite number of ventilators, hence we wanted to avoid this situation,” he adds.

He says the situation in Italy where hospitals were overwhelmed by large numbers of patients requiring treatment for Covid-19 served as a timely reminder of why South Africa embarked on the route it did.

DESTINY CAREERS

Health Dr Jeremy Nel, co-principal investigator with Professor Helen Rees (who is the founder and executive director of the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute and leader of the WHO research team in South Africa), says for a middle-income country like South Africa, the response has generally been good. “We have put into place good plans, we have expanded and enhanced the national testing capabilities, and we have been very proactive compared to other countries with regards to social distancing and now engaging in a lockdown to slow the spread of the disease.

The availability of personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers (such as gloves, masks and gowns) is an ongoing challenge that every country in the world is battling to meet, and the steady supply of the reagents and other equipment required to do large-scale testing is also a struggle most countries are facing. South Africa is no exception to these challenges.” he says.

Nel, who is an infectious diseases specialist at Helen Joseph Hospital and Wits, says WHO conceived and designed the trial which is being implemented in partnership with national ministries of health from around the world and multiple universities from across the country. “To the best of my knowledge, no other African country has yet commenced with the Solidarity trial, although many have expressed interest.”

“In Italy, the healthcare system almost collapsed and patients started dying, so we’re trying to avoid that happening here.

We’re paying a heavy price for the economy and psyche of the nation to protect people.”

Abdool Karim says the virus spreads rapidly because of human behaviour, therefore lockdown is aimed at containing movement and contact, while trying to “flatten the curve… The Coronavirus will still be able to spread during lockdown but more slowly,” he says.

However, it is more likely the fourth stage of testing which could have a greater impact. “We’re like detectives tracking down pockets from where the virus may be spreading. If we don’t, outbreaks can spread and we have seen how quickly numbers of people infected can grow,” he says.

According to WHO based on evidence from laboratory, animal and clinical studies, the following treatment options were selected for trials via its Solidarity initiative around the world: Ebola treatment Remdesivir; HIV medication Lopinavir/Ritonavir and Lopinavir/Ritonavir with Interferon beta-1a; used to treat multiple sclerosis; and Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine, used to treat malaria and rheumatology conditions respectively.

Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome and Chair of the WHO R&D Blueprint Scientific Advisory Group, said in a statement on the WHO website that there is only one way the world can exit this pandemic – and that is through science. “We need diagnostics to detect and limit the spread of this virus, vaccines to provide long-term protection, treatments to save lives in the shorterterm and social science to understand the behavioural and societal implications. It’s critical that the global research effort is rapid, robust and is conducted at scale and coordinated across multiple countries. The World Health Organisation’s Solidarity trial will provide this by testing existing and new drugs to treat Covid-19 and ensure equitable access to any drugs that prove effective. The start of these clinical trials is hugely important and an incredible achievement,” he said.

Asked about the current progress in terms of discovering a treatment, Nel says currently, there is no known effective antiviral treatment for Covid-19 and this was to be expected, since the virus was only discovered in January, and there hasn’t been time to find which treatments, if any, work.

“Many therapies are being tried off label, but without wellconducted trials like Solidarity, it’s impossible to accurately tease out the benefits from any harms. We just don’t know what works now, and Solidarity is one of the trials aiming to help answer that question.”

Over 40 countries from around the world are expected to be a part of the Solidarity initiative. “It is important that countries, like South Africa participate, so that we can get data relevant to Africa. In too many other diseases, the research is exclusively done overseas, and we must hope that drugs that are studied in America or Europe will have the same effect in Africa. In many instances we’ve found that that’s not necessarily the case. By participating in Solidarity, we hope to make sure that Africa gets a voice in this research too,” Nel says.

Health

Like Abool Karim, he also sounds a warning against optimism. “The trial is moving ahead at record speed, but still requires patience. It will likely be many months before we have any firm answers. The more people who enrol in the trial, the quicker the world will learn what works and what doesn’t.”

Shabir A. Madhi, Professor of Vaccinology: University of Witwatersrand and Director: MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit, says while three SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be started in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia this month, it would take a while before they can be proven to be safe and shown to be efficacious.

He says South Africa is part of a broader network being coordinated by the WHO to explore different vaccines to reduce Covid-19 cases. While it usually takes as long as 10 years to license vaccines from the time of first going into human trials, scientists around the world are working around the clock to accelerate the process.

“Over the next 2-3 months or so we are looking at possibly starting the conduct of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine trials in South Africa, following on from initial safety evaluation of these vaccines in their country of origin. This will include studies on vaccines being developed by academic institutions and government-funded initiatives,” he says.

In a statement, Ethiopian microbiologist Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the WHO, said the pressure Covid-19 puts on health systems means that WHO considered the need for speed and scale in the trial.

While randomised clinical trials normally take years to design and conduct, the Solidarity trial will reduce the time taken by 80%.

Only time will tell if South Africa’s lockdown, which has bought the country between four to six-weeks to stem the ride, has reduced the peak case load (flattened curve) but Abdool Karim warns that the systematic approach to keeping infection rates low, while easing lockdown in stages must continue to ensure success in “fighting flames before they become fires”.

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DESTINY CAREERS

The university space is both private and public: it can make you feel like you are at home and it can make you feel out of place. There is a commonly held notion that one who has passed their grade 12 can have access to it, and this kind of thinking completely discounts social ills and structural inhibitors such as inequalities. Accommodation is a huge problem across different universities in South Africa, but many people end up getting space at university residences — with most students making use of university facilities such as computer labs in order to access internet connection and fulfil their academic responsibilities. In some way this creates uniformity between students.

The privacy and facilities of the university space can cause students temporal amnesia to the high inequality and unimaginable poverty that people in the rest country often face — a country considered to be the most unequal in the world and, according to the Department of Employment and Labour (2019), with a national minimum wage of R20 per hour.

We are aware that universities, like the rest of the country, are grappling with challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic that they have not encountered before and so most attempts are trial and error. However, this is insufficient because universities are sites of knowledge production and producers of multiple skills, which require contextualising in the space they function in, and gross poverty and inequality is among of those contexts. We saw this recklessness and inconsideration for students when many universities told their students to evacuate their premises in under a week without much regard of how students, both local and international, would fulfil this request.

Connecting to the internet is a luxury that most people cannot afford right now in South Africa, even though the minister of communications recently announced that one of the network providers would decrease data prices by 30%.

A vast majority of students are likely unable to access the unlimited internet connections provided by their institutions while learning remotely. And as much as universities and various educational instructors are faced with the pressure of completing their 2020 academic year as they had initially planned, the option of moving academic tasks to various online platforms may seem like the only immediate, long term, viable and available option. But the context of poverty and inequality means that students who cannot access this content because they lack financial resources, do not own their own personal devices, and/or live in homes where there are too many people sharing the space, make it difficult for them to electronically attend class and submit their required tasks on time.

The cementing of inequity means that if institutions of

Opinion

Who considers students without access to data and electricity?

Thoughts Esihle Lupindo

higher learning take the digital route, there will either be a wider disparity to access to information or a circumstantial deprivation of information for people who are poor with no ‘resources for rainy days’.

Circumstantial deprivations are sometimes beyond the financial because of social inhibitors such as lack of access to basics like electricity in their homes, where students are forced to rely on alternatives like candles. So even if one may have money to purchase data from time to time, they may not have electricity to power their digital devices.

Universities have a duty, in this time of crisis, to act quickly and find solutions that are as inclusive as possible and those solutions should incorporate students with limited options in terms of accessing information, who are unable to prepare for the worst. Doing this is not only about academics completing their planned curricula but also a sense of prioritising skills production, which remains essential even during pandemics.

- Esihle Lupindo is a Black Queer South African writer and Sociologist who cares about marginalised people and identities and how they navigate the world. He is on a constant journey of finding the truth, learning and unlearning. His social media handle for both Twitter and Instagram is @EsihleL.

Education

What a senior lecturer wants you to know about remote learning and teaching Education had an abrupt overhaul and a lecturer shares the impact these changes have had on educators as well as students from various backgrounds words wandi jama

With the pandemic uprooting all social systems globally, students and lecturers are faced with the new reality of remote learning and many educators have never been trained on remote teaching and on how to use platforms such as Zoom or Google Classroom.

The social distancing measures put in place to stop the spread of the Coronavirus have had an impact on how educators adapt their methods of teaching in these unprecedented times. To get a better idea of what lecturers are dealing with right now, we spoke to Dr. Mpho Moagi Jama, a senior lecturer at the University of the Free State.

What year and subject do you lecture, and how long have you been lecturing?

I am a lecturer for first year undergraduate MBChB (medicine) students and have been in this position for almost 19 years. My subject is General Skills, which integrates skills academic skills such as self-management, study techniques, test/exam techniques, teamwork, research, ICT, stress management, problem solving, critical thinking and ethical behaviour, to name a few. These are skills that enable students to transition from high school into university. Generally medical students have to manage and engage with high academic workloads.

How was the first week of working remotely as a lecturer?

At my university, the reality is that teaching, learning and the entire business was suspended as from 17 March, the

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campus was vacated and most of us started working from home before the lockdown. To be honest, the first week was filled with uncertainty about aspects such as communication with colleagues and students; how to connect and access resources such as emails; how classes will be rescheduled; how students will be assisted to learn and how tests and exams will be rescheduled.

Although I received numerous emails and resources on the new concept “remote working” and “remote teaching,” the environment at home will never be the same as my office.

I had to think about ways to set up a working environment and manage distractions.

When you think about having to teach remotely for an extended period, does that seem sustainable to you?

The lockdown has forced universities to be creative and innovative in how teaching and learning should continue, because remote teaching is a new concept, it will take time to acquire skills, especially the technology to teach online and adjust. It may seem challenging to sustain this mode of teaching and learning, but it is possible. This will be possible if the same momentum is maintained.

What kind of directives and resources were given to lecturers by the university? Are they enough?

DESTINY CAREERS

What are your views across the inequality spectrum on remote learning?

The pandemic has opened our eyes that inequality still exists and the gap is actually wider than we thought we knew. Most universities were referring to low-tech online/ distance teaching and learning and trying to liaise with companies such as Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell-C to address data challenges. While the negotiations were taking place, there was so much communication and resources that was sent daily to students. It was very clear that students who don’t have internet connection and data missed so much and the gap is getting much wider.

There are probably lecturers who don’t understand the nature and effects of this inequality and just continued to send resources. Probably there are some who knew and understood the inequality but were also uncertain about how to support students. Even if the internet challenge can be resolved, not all students have proper devices such as a computer or laptop to access and study. Although every student has a cell phone, not all of these are compatible with the resources that they have to access.

How did the shift to remote learning affected students?

The effect of remote learning affects every area of students’ life. For instance, they were never prepared for this. In the case of first year students, this happened during the first term while they were still adjusting to a new university environment.

At the beginning it seemed as if this is going to be a short disruption of their studies, but the length is extended. Some students did not even take all the necessary materials to study remotely. They kept on contacting the university to gain access, but this was denied. A lot of students stay in unsuitable study environments, where there is no space to concentrate. Students from poor backgrounds who had accommodation at residences were far from all the social challenges at home. Unfortunately, they were back in the same environment and facing challenges such as, among others, food insecurity, violence and any forms of abuse. All these challenges were affecting their ability to concentrate and study effectively.

Nothing will ever replace face-to-face teaching and learning and a traditional lecture. There are certain contents that still require an elaborate explanation by a lecturer. In cases of disciplines that include practical skill such as teaching, medicine, nursing, engineering etc. these cannot be taught and learned remotely. Even a video is not enough to enable students to acquire a skill.

What has remote learning made you realise about the education system?

The education system requires regular evaluation of the curriculum. The content of some of the courses is probably not core/essential and the duration of some of the programmes can be shorter. Online education is not as easy and effective as we thought. The idea of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in a country such as South Africa is far from being achieved as some teachers and students are still struggling with the Second Industrial Revolution. The government, in particular basic and higher education, has to go back to the drawing board.

What tips do you have for students on remote learning?

•

Acknowledge that there will be times of anxiety and acknowledge the negative emotions but don’t focus on them.

•

Set realistic daily goals. Include time for rest, eating, sleep, exercises prayer, meditation, relaxation techniques or any other areas that you think are important

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Do not switch your phone off and disregard communication and contact with people that matter in your life. Rather set boundaries for yourself.

•

Reflect on all the subjects and the outcomes.

Identify the content that you know and mark those that you don’t know in red

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Ask your lectures and colleagues if you are uncertain

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Spend more time on studying content that you don’t know and revise the content that you know at regular intervals

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Use effective study methods such as visual images, tables, videos, stories.

What tips do you have for fellow lecturers and teachers?

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Be on the lookout for and use all the resources that are available

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Attend online webinars if possible

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Have empathy for your students

•

Communicate with your students regularly.

Make sure the communication is clear and precise

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Be creative and try new strategies

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Don’t be hard on yourself, especially you’re not familiar with technology. Ask for help.

.

Education

The university established a Teaching and Learning Group (TLG) to design a strategy to help lecturers continue teaching. Firstly, the team was communicating very clearly about the plan and timelines for the strategy. Secondly, the team sent a document with guidelines on how to establish online teaching. Thirdly, webinars were scheduled to train lectures and enabled us to ask questions and get more advice. These were scheduled on several days so that more lecturers could participate. There are also resources for students to adjust to the reality and continue to learn.

One can never say in such circumstances if the directives and resources were enough.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Feature

The democratisation of education

The odds tend to be stacked against those without money, however, there are great strides being made towards ensuring rural schools on the continent are on par words palesa buyeye Witwatersrand University student Amanda Daweti’s* main goal for 2020 was to complete her Master’s degree in Management, specialising in Governance Security, within a year. Since the shutdown of schools and universities as a result of the national lockdown, she has been restricted to online material and resources to substitute for classes and submissions, something she is accustomed to. “When I was at UCT most lectures were recorded so I preferred learning online and going at my own pace anyway, even during #FeesMustFall,” she explains. “This really isn’t anything new to me.”

However, a statement released by Universities South Africa proposed a possible further complete shutdown of the tertiary education system and change of the entire academic calendar, making Daweti’s goal, like

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many young black women, of completing in “record time” unattainable. With only 9.5% of the population having access to the internet at home since 2018, according to Stats SA; this is an inevitable reality for many, highlighting the persistent theme of privilege in a time of a pandemic.

Global thought leader recognised by Microsoft, Dr Corrin Varady has been on a mission to challenge the idea of education being a privilege with IDEA, a digital and education transformation programme comprised of core-curriculum and personalised content for disadvantaged government school students and teachers.

“Our big tag line is that we help governments, institutions and individuals transform technology into

DESTINY DESTINY CAREERS CAREERS

“We don’t see student results improving or a real democratic education, so our intention is to transform that internet data or device into something that is more meaningful”, with the main aim of granting everyone access to the same educational opportunities despite history or background.

The programme focuses on foundation subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, allowing students and teachers to engage and track their progress on a fun, interactive, colourful and animated platform designed inhouse by a team of diverse creatives, animators, illustrators and coders, embodying the ethos of opportunity.

Having completed two Master’s degrees and a PhD at the London School of Economics, with his mother being a school principal and father a refugee — education became one of his core pillars. “My mother came from a very poor rural community and was first in her family to get a university education which was completely against the norm at the time,” Varady says.

“My father was based in a refugee camp for two-anda-half years and didn’t speak a word of English, went to university and became head of one of our big hospitals in Australia… Education was the key not opportunity, privilege or money.”

Varady’s parents, having accessed education from the government, strengthened his conviction for supporting and improving the public education sector. “That is where majority of our population lies and where the inequality is.”

Hearing intellects that have modern ideas on basic education often feels inflated and what is truly needed is overlooked. Many traditionalists on education questioned President Ramphosa’s announcement of introducing Coding and Robotics from Grades R in government schools last year, emphasising that many schools were still struggling with basic infrastructure.

Speaking to Varady, however, (although he has big dreams) you get the sense that he is truly in touch with what is needed, which comes as no surprise, having worked across the continent.

“IDEA started as a bricks and mortar school building before it went digital, but as we looked at girls in grades 7-9 in East Africa we saw that they were being married off, teenage pregnancy was an issue and we were not seeing their fathers keeping them in an education programme, so we thought of creating an alternative education that they can use on their own.

“One of the core pillars that we are struggling with at the moment is reading: a majority of our students can’t read and write functionally to be able to take them onto long term future career readiness,” Varady explains. “Everybody is looking at coding, the fourth industrial revolution and ICT skills development but you need to be able to read to do that or have access to it.”

Founded in 2014 and established across the African continent, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, Varady looks forward to seeing the first group of its matric students from the programme finish school this year.

With online learning and digital being a necessity now more than ever, it is evident that the 36-year-old has been ahead of the curve. “Working in different countries showed us that the problems with education are a global challenge, not just a South African one.”

He explains this period as the first time in over five years where he has spent an extended amount of time in one space as his job often required constant travel. “It has become a point of reflection; I recognise what our role is as an organisation in a social benefit pillar, in a new world and in a new post-coronavirus normal.

“There is a greater demand and appetite because people are scrambling to find how online learning or digital education will fulfil some of the solutions, but I think because we still are in a denial space around how this is working, we are still very reactive. We haven’t processed what it means for the education sector.”

Varady, however, believes that a post-coronavirus world and the disruption of the academic year will not remove the relevance of school, teachers or physical premises, but instead use technology as a replacement for certain areas adopting a more 21s- Century digital style.

Although the prospect for an education system that fully embraces technology is inevitable on the horizon, the question about privilege and access to it from home still remains. With the announcement by the Competition Commission on the fall of data prices as of April, the idea of a “democratic education” as Varady strives for, may be possible. Creating the idea that Daweti’s goal of completing her Master’s in “record time” might become a norm that all students can work towards.

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learning,” Varady says. “We have technology everywhere and government is investing infrastructure into schools by putting internet in, but we still have moderate if not below average results.”

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words edwin naidu

In the Covid-19 era remote working, which has often been seen as ‘slacking off,’ is now proving that employees can balance work deadlines with domestic demands; can slash operational cost for companies; but what about the simple contentment of interacting with the world?

S

outh Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown has reinforced the flexible workplace with operating remotely or working from home (as it is better known) as the new norm.

But it’s not as new as most people think.

“People have been working remotely for many years already. Web conferencing was how we connected when I worked at Microsoft almost a decade ago,” says Johannesburg human resources expert and techsavvy mom Mandy Murugan.

“Email and remote access over a virtual private network (VPN) dates back even further. Over the past two decades, the broadband infrastructure has progressed enormously, while the tools have become far more sophisticated. Just when we need it, we have the resources at our disposal to weave a collaborative canvas to connect digital teamwork across the enterprise, even when many colleagues are physically isolated,” she says.

But, Murugan adds that remote working is often seen as ‘slacking off’.

“It’s only now that almost everyone is forced to work from home that the tables have turned. Suddenly, working

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from home is the mainstream choice and we are all learning the etiquette of video team calls, how to keep our work in sync with other members of a distributed team and how to balance work deadlines with domestic demands.

to get lifted soon enough to allow it.

No, the business world is going to figure out virtual events over the next few months and they will become a formidable rival to old-school conferences and training events,” Murugan predicts.

“The millions more joining Microsoft Teams, exchanging messages on Slack or joining web conference calls on Zoom or Google Hangouts, are forming habits that will last a lifetime.

This is the new normal,” she says.

On 1 April the University of Pretoria was supposed to have played host to a global gathering of academics under the banner of the Times Higher Education world summit. But following the lockdown and accompanying travel ban, the event took place virtually via Zoom with delegates from Africa and around the world linking up to the discussions on Covid-19 and its impact on the tertiary sector.

What’s more of a gamechanger is the savings from a business point of view. “Suddenly virtual events are all the rage because travel and large gatherings have been abruptly vetoed. Every event planned since mid-March has either been put off or else switched to online with varying degrees of success,” she adds.

“Virtual events are at a much earlier stage, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make huge progress over the next few months. Once there have been several significant successes that show how to replicate much of the experience of a physical event without a large part of the cost and hassle, what appetite will there be for a wholesale return to the old model?

That’s even if travel restrictions, especially international, are going

Prior to the lockdown corporate South Africa, small to medium entrepreneurs, schools and tertiary institutions rapidly embraced online technology in place of office meetings, reinforcing the “stay at home” message with Microsoft Teams, a favourite application offering keeping the office online and ensuring that the doors to learning remained open through chat facilities, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files).

When schools closed on 18 March following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive, it was not a holiday.

DESTINY CAREERS

Feature Most principals emailed parents with details on how work would continue until school officially closed on Friday of that week. Curro King’s School in Linbro Park sent parents details explaining how to access Microsoft Teams for daily homework. As the coronavirus spread around the world, the app has grown globally from 32 million users on 11 March to 44 million users.

At Bryandale Primary School in Bryanston, tech-loving Charmaine Naude, a Grade 7 English teacher, believes using the online tools offered by the app makes it easy to share videos, audio recordings, worksheets and learning resources and engage with students in real time.

Naude says she began using Office 365 Education Edition, a focused collaboration platform last year, while initially making and sharing video tutorials with students. “I put the entire grade onto the platform, and there were up to 80 students at a time using it for extra lessons last year,” she says.

“Teams as a platform is one of the easiest to use because it allows instant communication between teachers and learners and empowers teachers to find new ways of teaching. We’ve already enjoyed great results with it at Bryandale primary and we have everything in place for virtual teaching going forward,” Naude adds.

But Grade 11 pupil Prashirwin Raul (17) from Curro King’s School Linbro Park says he is not entirely convinced, saying Teams is an innovative app that simply does not make you feel left out but ensures you’re a part of the world at the click, “or shall I say touch of an icon”.

“Sure! It’s great. The Egyptians hold so much power in the eyes, as the eyes see the most meaningful things in life, but I’m not such a big fan because I believe there is an imaginative beauty of life to get up and see this world.

Teams is a tool to help but sometimes we need some fresh air,” says Raul.

But three years after its unveiling how does Microsoft Teams work in a rapidly changing world? Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft acknowledges that organisations, employees, and students across the globe have been plunged into remote work and remote learning to keep themselves and the people around them healthy and safe.

“Around the world, millions of people have been impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak. It has affected how we work, how we socialise, our family life, and our community life. In the face of Covid-19, there are countless stories from customers who are using Teams to connect and thrive in inspiring ways,” he said in a statement.

Spataro describes the example of a professor at University of Bologna in Italy who shared on Twitter how the school moved 90% of its courses online to Teams within four days while doctors at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania use the app for videoconferencing with patients, especially those who are most vulnerable to Coronavirus to protect both patients and healthcare providers. And at the City of Osaka in Japan is using it to conduct orientation and training for hundreds of new incoming employees.

“Stories like these are playing out in countries the world over. We believe that this sudden, globe-spanning move to remote work will be a turning point in how we work and learn.

Already, we are seeing how solutions that enable remote work and learning across chat, video, and file collaboration have become central to the way we work. We have seen an unprecedented spike in Teams usage, which has grown by 12 million in the last seven days to over 44 million daily users,” Spataro says.

Teams is also a firm favourite at scores of universities around the world (including the likes of Harvard and Oxford) that offer online degrees, as over the past decade more than 800 other institutions offer online courses for free or for a partial fee under the banner Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Locally, the University of Johannesburg, which offers online master’s and the University of Cape Town, offering specialist short courses, have led the way.

Pam Maharaj, Africa Human Capital Leader at Deloitte, says in moments of uncertainty and concern, it’s not only about what leaders of organisations do but equally how they do it that matters.

“

The lockdown will expose huge inequalities in society, especially around the use of technology in education, therefore, it is imperative that nobody gets left behind. Of course, like any other institution offering online education, there will be challenges.

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“As the virus spreads, communities, ecosystems, and supply chains are being impacted far beyond China. A survey of practical workforce strategies putting people first in China found that 90% of employers believe it is an urgent requirement to provide their employees with remote and flexible work option.

“It’s important to remember we have faced crises like this in the past and will face them again in the future. We need to be prepared, rational, and even altruistic in response. If there is disruption, there will also be recovery, so how we act in a time of crisis can also inform our longterm impact,” she adds.

As technology, like Teams, becomes ubiquitous in urban South Africa, the challenge is ensuring it is accessible for the broader society, warn academics Saritha Beni, Cymbeline Harilal and Magnate Ntombela from private distance education provider Mancosa (Management College of South Africa) in an article they wrote collectively.

“The lockdown will expose huge inequalities in society, especially around the use of technology in education, therefore, it is imperative that nobody gets left behind. Of course, like any other institution offering online education, there will be challenges.”

While Mancosa is fully online with staff working remotely, including taking part in meetings, the academics are concerned about rural areas, where basic infrastructure is often lacking and poverty and unemployment always on the rise. “The cost of data in South Africa is very expensive. While many regions have fibre accessibility, this is not so in rural areas. There exists a digital divide in our country and this is the opportunity that should be used to bridge the gap,” they wrote.

But earlier, according to Murugan, the new normal is not so bad.

“Leaving aside network challenges and underwater cabling issues, the bad is the new normal being filled into old school mind-sets. Danger lurks there,” she warns.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Quote

“The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.”

- Stephen Richards, author

Tech

Creating a digital elastic workplace through 4IR writer papi mabele

The coronavirus may have aided in practically illustrating that the 4IR, which is characterised by automation and digitisation is not a fundamental threat to human jobs As the coronavirus spread around the world, many companies started asking their staff to work from home.

On 23 March President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the start of a nationwide lockdown to try and contain further spread of the virus.

One of the main guidelines suggested that employers encourage their employees to work from home or work “remotely”. This guideline could be just the publicity the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) needed in South Africa.

The two main focuses that stem from the 4IR are working remotely and the introduction of a “gig” economy. The technologies underlying the 4IR include cloud computing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digital collaboration, and virtual workspaces. However, most businesses and educational institutions have avoided it until now – or at least ignored it – as they believed the old ways still worked best.

The boom in working remotely may prove temporary — even if the reason behind it is not — but having more staff operating away from traditional offices is having an impact on the tools that many companies use to coordinate and communicate while apart.

Switching to a remote-work setup isn’t easy. Citrix’s Brendan McAravey tells DESTINY CAREERS that the “challenge of remote work isn’t just about physical location”, continuing to say that it is “also about the need for people to feel connected and stay informed. Employees need unified 48

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enterprise applications in order to ensure efficiency and a great user experience”. That means intelligent tooling, and smart workplace norms and practices.

Virtual Workspaces As business events around the world, from major conferences to small product launches were cancelled, organisations scrambled for alternative ways to go to market. Schools and universities moved en masse to online teaching – but remained at a loss in dealing with classes requiring physical participation.

The remote-work boom was recently highlighted in Cisco’s most recent usage report. Its results bested expectations: the company said that it was seeing a rising demand for its product in the wake of Covid-19, even if most of that rising usage was for its free service. During the first week of South Africa’s national lockdown Cisco saw close to 240,000 online sign-ups in a 24-hour period, on a global level. In one day alone, its popular Webex service handled 4.2 million virtual meetings – more than twice the average on a peak day before the pandemic.

Cisco South Africa Country Manager Garsen Naidu said in a radio interview that in light of the spread of the coronavirus, many companies had quickly come to understand the need for secure applications and virtual meeting tools.

Naidu added that he expected more companies to deploy

DESTINY CAREERS

Managers who once lived or died by how many bums they could see on seats in the office are learning to oversee remote workers and manage the digital tools that manage their time. Suddenly, names like Skype and Webex are tripping off the tongues of executives who, three months ago, broke out in a rash when someone mentioned “digitalisation.”

Collaborative Tools If your company hadn’t yet decided to move their communication and file sharing onto collaboration platforms, the coronavirus crisis made the decision for you. Workplace collaboration platforms have become a crucial cornerstone of the modern office: workers’ lives are guided by software and what we do on our computers, and collaboration tools provide a way for us to let each other know what we’re working on, and how we’re doing it, in a format that’s (at best) easy to use without too much distraction from the work itself.

So much so that collaboration is the new normal in the workplace. No longer are employees expected to work cut off from one another, but instead are needed to work more closely together. Collaboration means improved efficiency and increased productivity, but only if you have the right tools for collaboration in the first place.

Microsoft Teams and Slack, rival digital collaboration tools, have both reported massive gains in customer numbers with workers staying at home. Microsoft Teams increased its number of daily active users to 44 million as of March 18, compared to 32 million on March 11 and 20 million in November 2019. The tool’s one-week increase of 12 million daily active users matched the total number for rival Slack.

According to Mich Atagana, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Google South Africa, what makes Google a truly great place to work is its spirit of collaboration and drive for teamwork. Atagana continues to say, “take Google Drive for example, our online file storage service, it is one of the top collaboration tools that help individuals and teams work on a document together and even edit simultaneously”. Google Drive forms the backbone of much of Google’s suite of services which foster collaboration.

Robotics and Artificial Intelligence We have witnessed how hospitals, grocery stores and other essential services are enlisting robots in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, accelerating an already fast-growing market for workplace automation.

The deployments include both software and hardware robots. Hospitals and agencies all over the world use software robots to automate appointment scheduling, claims management and some lab testing. By expanding the project to other hospitals, the robots will enable more front-line nurses to operate as nurses and not systems administrators.

The CoronaFighter platform is at the forefront of the medical revolution, robotics and artificial intelligence as it puts users at the centre of quality informative information.

It provides users with reliable statistics, resources and validated research; tools that are crucial in catching cases early and helps to communicate efficiently with medical

staff. By providing users with the tools and information they need for self-monitoring, CoronaFighter reduces pressure on testing points and protects its users from the risk of infection presented by the testing centres themselves.

The platform was developed as an open-source initiative to ensure users get the best possible experience. Over 35 hardworking and passionate doctors, software engineers, creatives and marketers were able, in the space of one week, to create CoronaFighter. The app was designed to collect data to provide medical authorities with reactive feedback on where hotspots are, and aids in providing crucial data so that medical resources can be used in the most efficient way possible.

As much as artificial intelligence, robots and the likes of 3D printing are touted as the leading edge of 4IR, it is the relatively simple process of taking an organisation’s processes digital that will drive the revolution. We will quickly discover that the 4IR is not about artificial intelligence and robots taking our jobs, but about the digital enablement of much of the human workforce.

Cloud Computing Many technology, media and telecom (TMT) sectors will be negatively impacted by the outbreak of the coronavirus, claims a new report from DigitalFWD. The digital solutions agency says the economic fallout of the crisis will have “major implications” for enterprise consumption of IT and cloud computing resources.

For Mlungisi Fakudze, Founder of DigitalFWD, the crisis will impact different verticals in various ways. “For some, it will create a slump in demand and the postponement of key IT projects. For others, it is likely to spur demand for cloud computing and other IT solutions, including edge computing, as organisations accelerate and adjust their digital transformation strategies.”

Fakudze adds that the importance of cloud computing has been made abundantly clear, now that businesses have been forced to close physical premises. “Right now we have seen a significant increase in website traffic as brands want to shift their spend to digital platforms as they can’t use mall media (screens, Wi-Fi, etc). The use of cloud services such as chatbots comes into play by starting the conversations with clients, automating responses with publishers, then allocating this as a lead to an account manager. Thus, making the reality of work from home work in our favour,” he says. In all this despair, digital solutions are rising to save the day and an opportunity for South Africa to accelerate all 4IR plans.

Aside from normal precautionary rules, like social distancing, banning business travel and curtailing faceto-face meetings, organisations are embracing tools that, until recently, were confined almost entirely to information technology workers and companies. The concept of remote working has moved from being a grudge allowance for a very limited proportion of employees to a matter of business survival.

It is clear that the coronavirus crisis will have at least one positive outcome. It will provide a dramatic, global and unavoidable case study of the fourth industrial revolution in action. It is exactly these techniques that will enable organisations to survive the pandemic.

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Tech

remote work tooling like his video service in the future.

Opinion

Technology leading the charge on evolution

In a few short weeks – with very little warning for most – we’ve gone from starting off our days in traffic or on the metro as we kicked off our eighthour schedule at the office, to creating a work space in our homes so we can churn out the emails and host team meetings with our colleagues from wherever they are. Many have been flung into a whole new wave of technology use; downloading a series of applications designed for enhanced connectivity; knowledge and file sharing; while some are grappling to figure out how much bandwidth they’ll even need for delivering their professional tasks, while juggling an all new e-learning system for their children. This is our new reality. We’ve fast become a solution-oriented people, noting that if one doesn’t adapt, they run the risk of trailing behind in the aftermath of the tide of commotion that has rolled in.

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for what we now know as the pandemic, yet here we are today, experiencing the quagmire that is temporary shutdowns and possible total lockdowns, flight bans, event cancellations, looming salary cuts for some and so on. There are no desks and chairs in a communal office with all your colleagues buzzing around with paperwork in hand, chatting about what trending movie they watched on Netflix the night before, who’s dating who, and where after work drinks will be. The game has changed – suddenly for most but gradually still for others – we are now experiencing what we candidly coined as being ‘locked in and working remotely’ or simply ‘working from home.’

Employees are still, however, required to optimise organisational efficiencies and this has been a hard pill to swallow for those low on

Thoughts Yvonne C. Mtengwa

adaptive capacity. It’s not easy to sit at your computer when there’s laundry to be done; the kids are asking you to construct sentences for their assignments; there’s no more milk in the fridge; friends keep pinging your WhatsApp or forwarding you random videos on conspiracy theories surrounding Covid-19; and oh! – the online offers from your favourite online retailer!

In fact, we can all agree on how very excited we are for life to assume some semblance of normalcy again. But with such industries as manufacturing, logistics and travel having screeched to a halt and technology being highlighted as the solution for continued learning and operations, perhaps now is as best a time as any for professionals and entrepreneurs alike to acknowledge the changing world of work.

DESTINY CAREERS

1.

The internet and smartphones run things!

Look at just how much you rely on your smartphone to get anything done – from mobile banking to shopping online through some cool app or getting directions to your client’s office.

Ask the mom who has, all of a sudden, been thrown into helping her kids with equations or describing the life cycle of a plant. It’s been years since we’ve had to describe pollination and germination. But the internet… how we love the internet and how it’s become the answer to every question on the planet. From e-learning, tracking news headlines, conference calling, shopping for groceries, information searches, getting directions and social networking – the internet has become a huge contributor to our ability to not only get work done, but to also maximise efficiency, share real-time information and break geographical barriers while doing so; and this is way cooler than it was back in the ‘90s.

2. Working remotely is more widely accepted I always wanted what my mother called a “briefcase” career and am grateful

that working as a PR consultant has awarded me exactly that. Freelancers and consultants can attest to just how much technology has been integral to their ability to deliver tasks from anywhere to a recipient across the world. Call centres have, in recent years, been set up remotely such that that 1-800 number you think you are dialing to some service provider across the street, may very well be answered by someone on a whole different continent. Companies are also allowing employees to be more flexible about how they work, taking on a more “as long as it is done by the deadline,” approach to managing workflow; and that is great news for those who struggle with being stuck in a dark office cubicle for hours on end.

3. Outsourcing and the rise of the freelancer Adding to the aforementioned point, we go to work to get paid right? But there is also a new profile of individuals who value flexibility in how they get their work done, or simply want to be able to run several different, albeit non-related, tasks as a way of diversifying their income sources. If you have multiple skills, some of which may not be relevant to your day job, freelancing has become yet another way to keep the money coming in. More companies are recruiting freelancers to keep costs such as staff benefits off their books, and that is good news for the person looking to earn their day’s wages on their own terms.

4. Automation equals time-saving For businesses, customer relationship management is all about leveraging the power of email marketing to grow your business. For bloggers and social media marketers, automation keeps the multitasking machine well-oiled. Gone are the days of sending one email after the other or bcc-ing folks just to get the word out to more people at the click of a button. Automation has become an affordable and time effective way to

reach more people without having to knock on doors or cold-calling.

You know what they say about time and how saving it also saves money.

Automation is every bit about still getting work done but also widening reach. Great reach means potential customers and we could all use more customers.

5. Work is now all about scaling geographic locations Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, GroupMe, Zoom and other such tools, have revolutionised the manner in which we are communicating our task loads and deliverables, especially when we work closely with colleagues operating across different markets. This is a win for professionals who value efficiency and team-focused approaches to doing business. I’ve had the good pleasure of working on massive campaigns with people I have never met save for the emails we’ve exchanged. Working with people we have never met is commonplace for most employees today, and we have technology and smart tools to thank for that.

No one imagined that their first quarter would end off with offices being moved to homes and schooling for children taking place from dining room tables, yet with the passing of each day, it’s becoming more apparent that organisations will be looking to further streamline their operations through leveraging the opportunities that the internet and connectivity have availed to us all.

What’s your take on the changing world of work?

Are you keeping up or looking forward to getting back to work at a brick and mortar facility and hashing it out from your desk?

Yvonne Chiedza Mtengwa is an international speaker, publicist and the author of “Reinvented: Challenging insecurity to live authentically through faith,” a book encouraging women to confront their issues with relationships, insecurities and self-fulfilling prophesies, in an effort to truly discover who they were created to be. Visit and subscribe to her website on ReinventedToday.com or check out her Instagram @quintessentially_yvonne.

Opinion

Working from home has brought with it a broader appreciation of what’s needed for an organisation’s wheels to keep turning. Because evolution is inevitable, I’ve had to reflect on just how much the work environment has changed since my first corporate role in the early 2000s while living in America, to relocating to Southern Africa in 2007 and later to the Middle East in 2013.

Much has changed, and we’ve had to keep our momentum alongside the rest of the world. We are learning that technology has advanced and is that miracle that’s keeping things and us evolving through content absorption and connectivity. In case you’ve been wondering just how much ‘going to work’ as we’ve known it, continues to change, here are a few points that may illustrate just how much our methods are transforming us as professionals and entrepreneurs working towards getting the job done in today’s world.

Opinion

We should all be freelancers Economist Tim Harford writes in the Financial Times that the Covid-19 lockdowns are saving lives but destroying livelihoods. As nations wage a war against mass deaths caused by the Coronavirus, people’s means of sustenance are unfortunately falling by the wayside.

The aftermath of Covid-19 will be characterised by loss and opportunity, as individuals and institutions leverage the coerced innovation that came with the lockdown. For this imminent shift to favour you, you need to start as early as now to position yourself as an industry guru and kickstart your freelance career.

The spike in Covid-19 infections demanded a physical and mental redesign of the workplace: a shift from physical presence to digital interconnectedness. Many employees, except those categorised under essential services, worked from home. And since this was a new experience to a number of them, social media platforms were thus flooded with their frustrations as distractions paralysed their productivity, and endless visits to the fridge claimed their inspiration. #Lockdown challenges on Instagram and Twitter, including home workout videos, served as a public display of the inner turmoil suffered by a generation that times its work ethic from 9 to 5. Multiply this by the temptation to flex about Netflix and the total sum reveals the dangers of depending on George Orwell’s Big Brother (supervisors, line managers, presentation deadlines) for performance monitoring.

If we use this lockdown as a precursor to the future of work, distraction management becomes the centre holding that kind of future together. The current nature of work for many South Africans is of a migrant labour system through which the home and the office are spatially separated. From the educated class commuting on Rea Vaya every morning to the miners underground, work is defined, first, by travel and relocation. For this reason, it’s a default psychological disposition that work is often only effectively performed under working – and not living – conditions. In the words of a Facebook friend struggling to adjust to working from home: “Work doesn’t end. I find myself working longer hours, and [I hate] the fact that I can’t switch from work mode to home mode as it’s all in the same building.”

Thoughts Ace Moloi

Furthermore, in the workplace there are tools of trade designated to the accomplishment of specific deliverables.

There’s free high-speed internet, PPE, transport and wellness units. Employees occupy desks and obey dress codes that give them the look of power and prosperity.

The reporting hierarchy is clearly explained, which serves both as an instrument of order and inspiration to climb up the organogram. What is more, the proximity to mentorship and guidance makes the world of work as we know it comforting. At a seemingly petty yet emotionally deep level, to some people, especially new entrants in the workplace, that picture of a smile and folded arms at the headquarters of a known company is what they’ve been looking forward to for their ‘first day at work’ and ‘look at God’ posts.

There are many other privileges of being office-bound, which include friendships (although popular Basotho theory tells us ‘mosebetsing ha se ha mmao’), unionisation, organisational culture and more. It would, therefore, be kind of us that as we scratch our heads bald trying to reimagine occupations, we don’t dismiss the reality that to some people, the workplace is a space of escapism from family and township affairs.

Equally, the office environment as a toxic space is a significant consideration in the reconfiguration of the world of work. The number of young people who have resigned from their jobs because of toxicity is worrying.

So, less human interaction can curb unnecessary workplace tension, reduce work-related stress and

But what is it about the ‘plantation’ atmosphere that drives productivity, which isn’t there at home? The simplest, most straightforward answer to this question is that plantations are overseen by ‘slave drivers’ who are authorised to whip ‘cotton pickers’ into line. In the absence of a boss, not many people can lead themselves to productivity.

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DESTINY CAREERS

But this, to freelancers, has been the way to go for a number of years now. So, as a bunch of clumsy first time stay-athome employees scuttle around looking for an anchor to discipline their focus, the self-employed just went on with life as though the enemy was not coming in like a flood. Of course, with no structural cushioning from financial repercussions, freelancers felt the pinch sharply. However, if we focus on the reconstruction of work, only those who have developed a skill of chasing deadlines in pyjamas are at an advantage.

It really is a no-brainer that there are some in our midst who are going to lose their jobs in the aftermath of Covid-19. But, as we have seen with white people whose heads were chopped by the transformation axe post-1994, there is life after any disaster. As the face of government changed following the victory of the ANC in the 1994 elections, many skilled whites who lost or resigned from their jobs reinvented themselves as consultants, selling their experience at hefty costs. To date, municipalities spend millions in consulting fees, despite often times having employed professionals in those fields they consult on.

Day-to-day office work exposes people to contacts, human resources, insights and expertise which, if leveraged intelligently, can set them up for a prosperous life of selfemployment. Many businesses will be looking for ways to reduce their reliance on the physical presence of staff by outsourcing support services, which will serve as a window of opportunity for experienced professionals to break through.

Given the gaping skills gap in our country, especially in the public sector, it is not premature for us to start singing, “phakamani freelancers, ixesha lifikile.”

Ideally, the first few years of employment should be about establishing networks, learning the business side of things and building a reputation of excellence that can lure clients your way. Gradually, you should begin embracing existing software in the areas of legal tech, financial reporting systems, design and others. The future belongs to those who, while ‘social distancing’, cut costs, time and unforeseeable glitches.

The trending #LockdownHouseParty movement is a near example of how what we thought we knew can change abruptly. If the concept lives on, we might see a decline of numbers in the club scene as revellers choose to stay at home and enjoy their star deejays on TV. On the radio front, some jocks have started doing their shows from the comfort of their own homes as well, dismantling the necessity of physical studio presence. This alone can give us a forecast into the radio station of the future: with no headquarters, no studio facilities, just presenters at home taking turns to do their shifts. Pimp your room now, aspiring radio jock.

Truth is, nothing will be the same on the other side of this pandemic. Social relations have been altered. Less will be more, and more will depend on how each industry adapts to a new path.

- Ace Moloi is a multi-published author, writing consultant, freelance writer and books influencer. He runs The AM Writing Centre, through which he offers writing solutions to organisations and individuals. His memoir, ‘Holding My Breath,’ is in bookshops nationwide.

Opinion

depression, allow space for self-timed yet time-conscious creativity, and push employees to take initiative. This is the sweet and ripe fruit that I hope will be borne by this period of uncertainty, as the seed has already been planted.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”

Bonnie Blair, speed skater

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DESTINY CAREERS

“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes.

That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.�

Les Brown, author

Economy

A new dawn eclipsed writer ntombana mbele

If anyone had suggested that the first quarter of 2020 would be one that is characterised by pandemic and that the word “quarantine” would be part of our daily vocabulary, I would have easily dismissed it. Despite the trade war between China and the US setting a gloomy picture for the new decade, the year 2020 almost presented a good opportunity for South Africa to realign itself with its macroeconomic objectives as a response tothe contemptuous socio-economic issues the country is experiencing. With the increased probability that global growth rate will be negative in the first quarter of 2020, the International Monetary Fund as well as the World Bank have forecasted in February the global growth rate to be between in ranges of 2.5%-3% for the year 2020.

With China being the epicentre of the pandemic, the global supply chain between the Chinese economy, South Africa and the world at large has been severely disrupted due to port closures, restricted mobility and limited access to capital markets. With the commodities market having taken a huge dip during this time, the substantial decline in the demand for South African commodities by China and other markets has led to a sharp fall in our exports.

Equally so, the supply of industrial components imported

by South African manufacturing companies from China, 56

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has seen a decline since December 2019. This has resulted in lower production volumes and poses a risk to job losses.

The South African economy was dealt with another double blow as the credit rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch both downgraded the country’s sovereign rating as well as the banks credit rating to junk status (BB3 and BB respectfully). This downgrade to non-investment grade adds distress to an economy that is already in a technical recession, with the fourth quarter of 2019 (Q4’19) declined by 1.4%, following a 0.8% decline in Q3’19.

With sectors like tourism, manufacturing and construction all having declined by 3,8%, 1.8% and 5.9% respectively in Q4’19, this pandemic has threatened the stability of the South African economy immensely. Unlike the United States, the South African government does not have $6.2 trillion readily available to maintain job security during this time. We have very little to no room available for fiscal stimulus to cushion the decline in output.

Despite the surprising response by the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee of unanimously decreasing the repo rate by an unprecedented 100 bps to 5.25%, the attempt to relieve DESTINY CAREERS

With many analysts cautioning against the comparison between the 1918 Spanish Flu and Covid-19, one cannot ignore the severity of the economic devastation that both pandemics have had on the global economy.

Furthermore, both these pandemics have succeeded in illustrating the capacity constraint that health facilities are challenged with all over the world. Domestically, President Ramaphosa instituted a national lockdown in a quest to “flatten the curve,” to limit the spread of the virus. This act has unintentionally opened a ‘Pandora’s Box’ with regard to highlighting ever so vividly the socio-economic disparities that continue to exist in our ‘rainbow nation.’

Apart from the principal challenge of ensuring that the virus does not spread into the more densely populated communities, the government has also been confronted by the multiple social construction issues that have, for many years been echoed by the voices of the masses. Now more than ever, households and businesses are directly affected by the exclusionary nature of inequality and the lack of affordable internet access. The country and world at large finds itself engaging primarily online for business, schooling and for maintaining human contact.

This has resulted in the infringement of students’ basic rights to education, as many from lower income households are unable to afford data to stream into virtual classes which are provided in response to the national lockdown. The ultimate ramifications find many stuck in the vicious cycle of poverty, which could have been avoided had issues like that of inequality been addressed beforehand.

Another important issue that has become more pronounced during this lockdown has been how government interacts with the informal economy and how accommodative and inclusive the state is towards this sector. Many might be quick to point out how non-tax compliant this group of economic agents is, or better yet, how unregulated they might be. It is, therefore, important that we first remember that most of these agents or street vendors as they are commonly referred to, are the voting majority of this country.

But more importantly, we cannot take for granted the fact that most of these vendors are only responding to the lack of employment opportunities, as well as the inequality levels that continue to exist in this country. The announcement to augment the number of people who are eligible for “work permits” to allow street vendors to trade during the lockdown was widely welcomed by the

South African public. It was encouraging and crucial to see the government recognising the plight of these people and moreover, to respond responsibly to their needs.

The effectiveness of this provision by government is yet to be seen, with many in the informal sector having had trouble with acquiring the required work permits from the municipality to work during the lockdown. Many had called on the government to partner with wholesalers and food producers to provide food parcels as a substitute to the marginal gains informal traders make on a daily. This was viewed to be more effective in curbing the spread of the virus and still ensuring that basic sustenance goods and food security was being provided to marginalised communities.

The introduction of the Solidarity Fund by Ramaphosa to provide assistance to South African families that have been financially impacted by coronavirus was also positively embraced by the South African public. It was the individual pledges by the Oppenheimer and Rupert families of R1 billion each that received a mixed reaction from the public. On the one hand, people showed extreme gratitude to the two powerful families for providing a “lifeline” to small and medium businesses who are heavily cash flow reliant, while on the other hand, many sighted “vested interest” as the sole reason behind the pledges.

The two most economically crucial questions to ask here are: First, who is eligible for this pledge? Secondly, how was it administered to reach SMMEs during the lockdown period? With the Oppeheimers naming their pledge “The South African Future Trust,” the big South African banks have been entrusted to administer the process by providing interest-free loans to eligible, tax complying SMMEs that will be payable within five years. Upon receiving all employee details, the bank with which the SMME already has an account will make direct payments to the employees of the participating SMME to limit-cash outflow while ensuring that jobs are safeguarded. The Ruperts opted to have their fund be administered by Business Partners Limited, a company that the family has a stake in, in providing support to SMMEs during this trying time. The introduction of these soft loans will assist in ensuring that small businesses do not come out of this period having accumulated unsustainable debt that will hamper their ability to grow into big organisations that are able to be profitable and assist in addressing the unemployment crisis in South Africa.

With the World Bank introducing the Pandemic Bond in 2017 to assist developing countries during such times, the $500 million is already available to assist developing countries through a combination of bonds and derivatives as well, through cash windows. It will be prudent that when the world re-emerges from this pandemic, that social bonds, particularly impact financing are made accessible to the informal economy to limit increased inequality. This will ensure that, as we continue to take on our marching orders in the quest to flatten curve, no group in society is excluded and unprotected when pandemics strike again.

Ntombana Mbele has recently completed her Master’s degree in Economics with special focus on the application of Econometric Modelling in Issues of Industrial Policy and Trade Policy. Her other qualifications include an Honours Degree in Financial Economics and Undergraduate Degree in Econometrics and Investment Management.

Mbele is also very passionate about youth development, particularly youth from previously disadvantaged communities.

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Economy

an already constrained consumer and the business community during these uncertain times will require more innovative policy direction than before. The use of traditional open market operations during such times is not always able to be as effective and, therefore, the application of unconventional monetary policy tools such as quantitative easing should be a considered. This will mean that the SARB will intentionally increase money supply and or encouraging lending as a stimulus for increased economic activity and ultimately, for inducing growth.

Opinion

If we expect our economy to collapse by 10%, then the size of the measures should also be 10% The Covid-19 pandemic has brought much of global economic activity to a halt, as the increase in infection rates and the death tolls continue to rise. Most governments have instituted shutdowns and lockdowns to flatten the curve.

Effective 26 March, the South African government declared a national state of disaster — as a result, apart from certain critical personnel (health workers, police, etc.), individuals are not be allowed to leave their homes except under strictly controlled circumstances. Containment measures, including social distancing, travel bans on visitors from high-risk countries, and quarantine for nationals returning from those countries, screening at ports of entry, and school closures have been implemented.

The introduction of all these measures is expected to harm most sectors of the economy, with tourism and hospitality expected to take the largest hit. Recent macroeconomic developments have also had an impact on the South African economy. First, we saw a drastic negative downward adjustment of SA’s GDP figures by most analysts, including the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).

The central bank now sees the SA economy contracting by at least 6.1% in 2020. Secondly, the rand exchange rate against major currencies has weakened to record low levels, as the spread of the virus intensifies in emergingmarket economies. Thirdly, financial markets have come under increased pressure, forcing the SARB to intervene by adding further liquidity to the market.

Net capital outflows (bonds and equities) in the last month have amounted to $6.2 billion (2% of GDP). To top it off, Moody’s and Fitch rating agencies delivered a further blow to the country’s ability to raise capital in the market, with debt service costs expected to escalate. Survey data for March also highlights a precipitous decline in trade and production activity as firms grapple with the Coronavirus impact. No doubt that the bleak macroeconomic outlook is not unique to South Africa, with major global economies such as the US, Eurozone and China all expected to undergo a recession. All things constant, the global economy is expected to recover in the third quarter of 2020.

With regard to South Africa, while it is difficult to predict both the size of the recession and the pace of recovery, most analysts have pencilled in a GDP contraction of between 5-7% for 2020. Furthermore, structural economic challenges that continue to haunt the economy may further slow the pace of recovery.

As the global health pandemic translates into an economic 58

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Thoughts Tshepo Moloi

crisis, this has led to major supply-side disruptions, heightened uncertainty and panic from households and businesses. This heightened uncertainty and panic are likely to result in a sharp decline in consumption and investment. The drop in demand is likely to dry up corporate cashflows and trigger firm bankruptcies. These bankruptcies will yield a severe rise in unemployment as employees are laid off by exiting firms. As labour income falls and non-performing loans spike up, demand may further weaken.

In anticipation of this cycle, central banks and governments across both developed and emerging economies have introduced several economic stimulus measures to cushion the blow, protect vulnerable businesses and households, while ensuring that economic fundamentals are in place for a sustainable recovery. However, in doing so, governments are faced with a short-term trade-off between flattening the pandemic curve and the size of the recession. This is because slowing the peak of infections is likely to prolong the time that the economy is not operating at full capacity.

SA seems to be ahead of the curve of many developing countries in enacting both health and economic measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus. Since the announcement of the lockdown, we have seen the introduction of several fiscal and monetary policy measures. Part of the significant measures introduced by the SARB was the reduction of interest rates by an unprecedented 200 basis points. Low-interest rates reduce the cost of borrowing for consumers in the economy. In terms of fiscal policy measures by the government, the first phase comprised of interventions aimed at providing business support, protecting workers against the loss of income and a series of tax relief measures targeting both individuals and businesses.

Following the introduction of these measures, several economists argued that these measures were not enough to help protect the vulnerable and the poor. This is because numerous citizens were excluded from these measures (i.e. those working in the informal sector and the unemployed). In line with this critique, they suggested that direct cash transfers to households were an effective way to not only cushion the vulnerable against the Covid-19 blow, but to also speed up the pace of economic recovery.

Linked to economic recovery, analysts also argued the speed and size of the economic measures undertaken DESTINY CAREERS

Opinion during this crisis should be of the same order of magnitude of the output loss. Simply put, if we expect our economy to collapse by 10%, then the size of the measures we introduce should also be 10% or beyond.

Considering these factors, the government has introduced the second phase of economic interventions to the tune of R500 billion, which is essentially 10% of the country’s GDP. Chief among these new measures were social support interventions. The 13 million child support grant beneficiaries will receive an extra payment of R300 this month and from June to October an additional R500 each month. All other grant beneficiaries will receive an extra R250 per month for the next six months. Importantly, the package also provides for unemployed people who do not currently receive a social grant or UIF payment. A special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for the next six months will be paid to these individuals.

Overall, the income support measures to firms, employees, and social grant recipients will help to mitigate the dramatic loss of income brought about by the Covid-19 containment measures. Of course, financing of these interventions remains a key concern given the country’s already weak fiscal indicators and bleak economic outlook. As a result, a huge portion of this expenditure will have to be sourced from debt. The government indicated that it is considering approaching international funding institutions such as the IMF, BRICS Development Bank, and the World Bank.

Therefore, we can expect government debt to peak above 70% of GDP in 2020, while our budget deficit could easily reach 15% of GDP.

In conclusion, it is important to remember that South Africa was hit by the crisis during a time where the economy was already in a recession. The structural growth challenges we face will continue to haunt the SA economy and will further slow the pace of recovery. Accordingly, the effective implementation of these Covid-19 economic stimulus measures must happen in conjunction with structural economic reforms that address SA’s long-term growth trend. This crisis presents a unique window of opportunity for the government to fast-track the implementation of these reforms. A few quick wins — such as the restructuring of SOEs and the roll-out of the much-anticipated auctioning of high demand spectrum licenses — could be achieved during this period. These two interventions not only lower the cost of doing business in the country but ensure that fundamentals are in place for a sustainable economic recovery.

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- Tshepo Moloi is an Economist with work experience from the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank.

He holds a Master’s of Commerce degree in Economics from the University of the Free State as well as a Master’s in Public Administration and International Development from the University of York. His areas of specialisation include public finance, financial inclusion and macroeconomic policy analysis. Moloi’s research work has been published in renowned local and international journals such the South African Journal for Economics as well as the Public Library of Science.

Finance

Ways to protect your income from illness and retrenchment A closer look at waiting periods and insurance clauses during this period writer khotso ramphele

Financial plans are built for moments like these, the quality of your financial advisor or planner will be evident in this moment. Did they think of all the possible risks that could come up? Does the plan ensure that you are covered for a loss of income or will it leave you stranded, and your assets repossessed? Did you make the right choice picking a tied financial

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advisor who sells you products offered by the company that employs them instead of an independent agent would have shown you diverse offerings? I have always been a firm believer that the plan comes first, and the product providers and the solutions will come from that foundation.

DESTINY CAREERS

Income protection should be among the discussions when designing the financial plan. This is usually discussed in relation to temporary and permanent disability and there are two types of benefits. One product covers up to two years of temporary disability and the other ceases to pay at the age of 65 years.

The waiting period which is from seven days to three months, based on what your pocket can afford. Some product providers have gone the extra mile and designed a sickness benefit, but to access it you would have to be a professional or have a four-year degree qualification. In relation to Covid-19, the waiting period of the income benefit may be longer (up to 3 months), depending on your activities and travel profile, and if your risk is higher, then you’re likely to pay a higher premium. Insurance companies may further go all out and exclude Covid-19 illness claims based on the probability of you claiming on the sickness.

Severe illness or critical illness cover has always been an interesting benefit because most clients have believe that they aren’t susceptible severe illness, so they tend to be reluctant about this product. So when we, as planners and advisors, contextualise it to clients, we focus on cancer, strokes, diabetes and heart disease. However, due to a lack of knowledge and research, advisors will often fail to tell clients about catch all benefits that will pay on illnesses that may lead to a death within 12 months but that have not been listed by insurers.

Watch out for the following: 1.

Insurance companies have gone out of their way to say they are willing to assist the client with reducing of benefits and premiums due to the current environment. Some have been honest and informed clients to speak to their financial advisors before doing it. The insurance companies have looked at the loss ratios and probability of claims which now is higher than what they had made assumptions for which would lead to losses. The best way now to reduce the losses would be to decrease the benefits overall. Any financial advisor that tells you to reduce your benefits is one who definitely did not design a financial plan for you.

2.

You work for a company that did not survive the lockdown and you have been retrenched. The best claim for loss of income would be the retrenchment benefit that your financial planner has included as part of your benefits.

Your financial planner should have spoken about how you would handle retrenchments and how long it takes to settle your income.

What happens if you test positive for Covid-19 or have been classified as a ‘person under investigation’ in accordance with national institute for communicable diseases guidelines: 1.

The best product to have at this moment is the sickness benefit which will replace your income from day one of testing positive. The sickness benefit is seen differently from disability income as most insurance companies do not view Covid-19 is a disability even if it renders you unable to do your job in your nominated occupation. However, some companies will allow the claim will be based on a waiting period of either seven days or 30 days. The implications of a 30-day waiting period for an illness like Covid-19 is that you will not be approved, as you may recover during that waiting period.

2.

Severe illness and critical illness have been interesting, where they are less based on income but based on the lump sum payment being made to you. Some of the insurance companies have stated that they do not see Covid-19 as a critical illness, however, should it result in a critical illness, event it will be assessed under the normal critical illness claims criteria, where the policyholder is in ICU admission for more than five weeks or with assisted mechanical ventilation for more than three weeks.

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This should be the perfect time to be speaking to your financial advisor and ensuring that you have discussed the financial implications of Covid-19, because financial plans and the solutions are not built equal in the time of a pandemic, so they require close scrutiny. This is the right time to ask what you are covered for and why it would not pay out.

- Khotso Ramphele is the founder of My Advizar (Pty) Ltd and authorised financial service provider in terms of the FAIS Act. He has over 15 years in the auditing, accounting, taxation, business consulting and financial planning.

Ramphele is a former financial guru at YFM and can be currently be heard on stations like Power FM and Voice of Wits FM speaking about all things money.

- Please note that the information provided above does not constitute financial advice; in fact, we are precluded from giving specific advice. Generic information has been applied given the context of the subject. We have limited details about you and your circumstances — such detail may impact any advice provided.

Finance

Retrenchment cover has existed for a long time but in 2017 the National Credit Act decided to make it compulsory when purchasing a property. The retrenchment insurance product has always been an interesting product and one of the hardest to claim for. With the pandemic crisis, insurance companies had to do a risk evaluation and significant number of the companies have decided that due to the current crisis they do not have the appetite to provide retrenchment cover to people with existing bonds as that would lead to higher losses than they had initially budgeted for. However, they are compelled to follow the process of providing retrenchment cover to new home loan owners in the process of registering their bond.

Opinion

No country for informal traders words jade kelly

The effects of the national lockdown on informal traders will have lasting effects, made worse by the lack of adequate, tangible measures to provide for loss of income

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DESTINY CAREERS

In a bid to mitigate the loss of income as a result of the nationwide temporary closure of non-essential businesses, President Ramaphosa devised a range of funding initiatives aimed at alleviating the strain of the shutdown on businesses. This includes, but is not limited to, the Solidarity Fund and bailouts for SMMEs. In addition, employees are encouraged to claim from the Unemployment Insurance Fund to account for the loss of income during this time. The UIF is said to have put measures in place which include tapping into an emergency reserve to deal with the expected influx of people who will be scrambling to claim their benefits in light of the crisis.

For the estimated three million-plus people who work in the informal sector, none of the mechanisms implemented by the government seem to cover them during the mandatory lockdown. This includes non-unionised street vendors, car guards and waste pickers.

This is an especially jarring time for the people who work in South Africa’s rural, informal and remote communities.

Freddie Lindoor, who currently chairs the Breede Valley Informal Traders Association (BITA) organisation in Worcester explains to what extent the lockdown has adversely affected informal traders in his community: “It’s important to remember that for many informal traders, the money they make today will only get them as far as tomorrow. Essentially, what this means is that these workers have little to no savings, and once the opportunity to make money ceases, they are left almost immediately destitute.” Lindoor says his concern is that no tangible measures have been announced by the government to assist informal traders in this regard, many who are already suffering a loss of income as a result of the lockdown.

The challenges faced by informal traders during this time extend to various other aspects of their lives — a sudden loss of income would impact their ability to meet their basic needs that include housing and food. The government has failed to outline tangible solutions to a very immediate problem. Initially, spaza shops were also ordered to stop trading upon the commencement of the lockdown, not only threatening the livelihoods of the people who make a living from these shops but also the surrounding community, which depends heavily on these shops.

Although one week in saw a retraction of this order, but for some people, it was simply not good enough.

Informal traders and spaza shop owners were instructed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, to obtain a permit from their ward councillor or municipality and they could go back to trading.

However, no effort was made to compensate shop owners for profit loss during the time they were closed.

Furthermore, the dependency of informal traders lies heavily on the people who walk the streets, take public transport and pass by on their way to work. With the rest of the country working from home, their consumer base has essentially been reduced to nothing.

With the rise of the gig economy in the last few years, contract workers, gig workers, and freelancers find themselves part of the people who are directly feeling the effects of the nationwide standstill.

Beyond the loss of income exists a plethora of other issues that make this an unbearable time for people who find themselves on the outskirts of secure employment. The issue of predatory price hikes, for instance, has been contentious over the last few weeks. Consumers have reported major increases in products like hand sanitisers, masks, immune boosters, and even food items. The government has urged people to report cases where businesses are attempting to profit off unjustified price hikes. This further limits access to essential goods for the people who are already financially compromised during this crisis.

For those who are deemed to be essential workers during this time and who work in the lower-income sectors, the threat to livelihood is just as imminent.

Not only are they forced to risk their lives each day that they clock-in during this crisis, but with only a fraction of South Africans being covered by private healthcare, the chance that they have access to proper care if they fall sick is unlikely. Furthermore, their compromised position is exacerbated by the fact that they will continue to earn around minimum wage during this crisis, despite the risks. Sizwe Pamla, who is the spokesperson for COSATU, noted that these workers should be compensated with danger pay during this time, but no measures to make this happen have been provided by the government.

Above all else, this global pandemic has further exposed the social and structural inequalities in South Africa and the way in which a lacking response to this crisis has overlooked millions of people who can least afford to bounce back from this.If anything, this has sparked a necessary dialogue about how we can rally to increase worker protection and urge policymakers to genuinely embrace inclusivity at all levels to ensure that South Africa’s most vulnerable communities are protected when they need it the most.

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Opinion

For many of us, the commencement of the lockdown to curb the spread of in South Africa has allowed us to continue the work we normally do from behind our desks, from the comfort of our homes. And sure, this comes with its snags, from the admin of having to set up a home office or designated working area to the unsettling feeling that the lines between home and work are becoming blurrier by the day. However, the reality for a large number of South Africans who work in the informal sector is that work has suddenly come to a halt and so has their income.

Property

State of property and future implications words nosiphiwo balfour

For many South Africans, the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic hit home when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a lockdown effective 27 March. This has been an unprecedented time as companies have experienced disruptions, with entire workforces working from home and on the other side of the pendulum, some businesses have been forced to close. Lockdown has meant navigating a period of constrained financial resources for people and companies alike, amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic.

With ever changing factors the indirect effects on the property industry are yet to be fully realised, however it has changed the way we all live and work.

Residential property The reality of the lockdown for people living in informal settlements was in stark contrast to people living in suburbs — who could practise social distancing, enjoy spatial liberties and in many instances sustain their families financially.

For many households there has been a loss of income for those not in essential services and in some rural areas basic provisions such as running water were only put in place during the lockdown.

Housing provision and security has been a challenge in post democracy South Africa and a big concern for landlords and tenants in coming months will be rental and mortgage payments. Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu asked municipalities and private property owners to halt the eviction of tenants during the 21-day national lockdown. With South Africa already in a recession prior to Covid-19, there will be an uptick in unemployment as retrenchments are likely to take place across various industries. A few banks have communicated assistance measures for both individuals and small businesses with payment holidays or deferrals on their mortgages or loans.

Retail property The impact of the lockdown was that many retailers not considered essential, had to close shop for this period. For those that were still operating many had to change their operating models and supply chain to meet demand and government regulation.

On 3 April, the Ministry of Small Business Development announced that grocery stores, which include spaza shops, corner shops and fruit and vegetable stores, were permitted to trade during lockdown. Requirements for trading were that the operator was to hold a permit issued by their

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municipality, adhere to health and hygiene requirements and only sell food stuff and basic necessities permitted by the lockdown regulations.

Many informal traders were relieved to have government relax trading restrictions, however, this has proved difficult for many. The impact of not trading from the beginning of lockdown and not having cash flow for acquiring stock proved to be a financial strain for many who relied on monthly sales for their livelihoods. A few days into this trading relaxation, some municipalities took a decision to suspend the process of issuing trading permits until further notice citing safety and social distancing concerns.

The Property Industry Group announced an industry-wide assistance and relief package for retail tenants that have been hardest hit by complying with South Africa’s lockdown in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic. The financial assistance package which took collaborative effort by commercial property landlords, the South African Shopping Centre Council, South African Property Owners Association and the SA REIT Association, is a significant move to protect jobs and support SMMEs. Furthermore, in order to qualify for the relief benefits, retail tenants will need to undertake not to retrench staff during the relief period. The relief is more a guidance and landlords can use their discretion when it comes to each tenant, however, the package stipulates the minimum that qualifying tenants can expect.

As indicated by the Property Industry Group, “the commercial property sector is responsible for more than 300,000 jobs directly and indirectly in other sectors such as security, cleaning, hygiene and technical services, and building and construction. The aim of the initiative is to support affected SMMEs and provide relief and assistance to all other retail tenants and will be rolled out by landlords nationally.”

A common theme among Real Estate Investment Trusts has been the withholding of dividend payments to shareholders in order to provide rent relief to tenants, preserve liquidity and shore up balance sheets. The extent to which they will not declare dividends is vital given that pension and retirement funds are the largest shareholders, and this will have a direct impact on fund returns and member retirement plans.

DESTINY CAREERS

Property Office Albeit not as topical as the retail industry, office tenants were not immune to the Covid-19 impact. Many companies shifted entire workforces to work from home and for those companies that have prioritised technology and IT systems infrastructure it allowed them to operate efficiently and continue business operations smoothly. Those hard hit have been in tourism, hospitality and construction sectors and a few have requested rent remissions. Operational resilience will be a longer-term focus as companies develop the ability to respond quickly should they face another similar black swan event in the future. Factoring in that there may not be any new net demand for office space — as companies wouldn’t be growing — we may start to see structural vacancies (those that last three years or longer).

In coming months lease negotiations will become ever more important as the lease renewal process for tenants impacted by both the downturn in business and lockdown will see downward pressure on market rentals.

Industrial and logistics property On the industrial property side, some of our manufacturing and supply chain fundamentals were impacted globally from the beginning of the year due to Covid-19 dampening China’s ability to export goods. Reduced activity at ports and airports has led to idle resources and disruption to global supply chains. The ability of these companies to sustain themselves will be dependent upon demand for goods, supply chain mitigation and reliance on automation.

The retail companies that have robust infrastructure to fulfil online business orders will sustain demand for logistics and warehousing property.

The biggest unknown in coming weeks are the economic implications for people and companies. The announcements of relief measures by government and industry bodies did not extend beyond the initial 21-day lockdown. The environment post-lockdown will not be business as usual and it will need collaborative effort between different stakeholders to sustain jobs and ensure business continuity.

Nosiphiwo Balfour is a property practitioner and Commercial Property Director with more than 14 years’ experience in SA and UK Real Estate sectors. She is currently a REIT consultant for a specialist bank and serves as an Independent Non-executive Director on the Board of Communicare Social Housing NPC. Balfour formerly held the role of Chief Executive of a JSE-listed Real Estate Investment Trust and was a 2018 Honouree of the Seven Percent Tribe, an organisation which recognises exceptional leadership in female executives.

Finance

How to pay off post-lockdown debt words khotso ramphele

The lockdown has reminded us of financial advice that we are all aware of but may have neglected things were mostly fine because our salaries were getting us by. We now remember what we have been told about keeping money for a rainy day income is suddenly not guaranteed because of the lockdown.

Some of us have received letters of retrenchment. Some of the Managing Directors we work for have emailed us letters stating that due to income not coming in, they will not be able to pay us. The self-employed are also under pressure as their debtors aren’t paying due to uncertainty of how long the lockdown will last.

Let’s be honest, the is no such thing as a payment holiday.

They is accumulating interest and extending your payment period. Well, Albert Einstein did say that compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. So the financial institutions will be reaping the benefits of the compound interest from these payment holidays.

Along with uncertainty around income, banks have been offerings overdrafts that are higher than the salary you take home. However, a loan of R150,000 will have a high interest rate of over 20%.

Paying debt off has always been a difficult thing with sacrifices to be made. We look at two theories on paying off debt in relation to the lockdown debt we’ve been offered: The Avalanche Theory which focuses on listing our debt from the highest to lowest interest, and the Snowball Theory which focuses on listing your debt from the lowest balance to the highest.

In addition, as a response to the lockdown, some banks have offered payment holidays, which might give you a similar feeling to when you buy a new car and the bank says to you “hey, the first three months is on us.” So, you make plans with that extra money. The question is, what happen after the lockdown when we are stuck with debt and money has not been used appropriately?

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1.

Payment Holiday:

Some of us were struggling financially before the lockdown

DESTINY CAREERS

How do you approach it?

List your debts according to the Snowball approach developed by businessman Dave Ramsey, where you list your debts from the lowest to the highest.

Clothing Account Capitals Loan Car Loan Home Loan

Balance

Payment

R3,200 R8,000 R180,000 R750,000

R500 R2,400 R4,200 R7,200

If you have taken a payment holiday on car and home loans; after paying the interest and all other charges, ensure that you settle the clothing account with the money that you have saved, and whatever is remaining you will throw it into the capitals loan, therefore, reducing the term. The next month you will use the R500 from the clothing account towards paying off the capitals loan account faster.

Banks offers:

Utilities: Electricity, water and other utilities should not be higher than 10% of the net income R1,800

So you took the bank up on its offer and took a R60,000 personal loan, an overdraft of R20,000 and you further increased you credit card to R30,000. You have a total of R120 000 in aggregate debt. Now this cumulative debt has created a post-lockdown burden and repayments are due.

At this point the debt is overwhelming and tend to mess up the budget. Others will end up using the money in the credit card as a revolving loan to help pay the bank loan back and meet our budget.

The best way to tackle this debt is through the snowball approach, where you will list your debts based on balance and payments — ignoring the interest.

It might be a payment holiday, but interest will still be charged. Ensure that all the other charges are paid to a minimum; those being admin charges as well as credit life and interest if you have taken it.

2.

•

R

Paying off debt is about sacrificing the things you enjoy and taking care of the essentials. The lockdown has shown us that we can live without going out, spending on alcohol and other compulsive buys.

The best approach is to look at our budget and take care of the fundamentals; food, utilities, shelter and transportation.

When those four have been listed and you have put in a fair value of the budget. The remaining amount should be used to settle your debts.

Let’s look at an individual who takes home R18,000 a month, with no dependents.

•

Shelter: Rent or a bond should not be higher than 25% of the net income which is R4,500

•

Transportation: All transportation costs including car payments, insurance and petrol should not be higher than 25% of the net income R4,500

•

Food: Your Food and toiletries should not be higher than 15% of your net income R2,700

Overdraft

Credit Card

Loan

Balance

Payment

R20,000 R30,000 R60,000

R350 R2,500 R2,700

With the debts listed from the lowest to the highest balance With the debts listed from the lowest to the highest balance — we need to go back and look at our budget and what is remaining after all our monthly expenses are paid, which is R4,500. Please not the calculations are based on net amount of R18,000.

For us to fully apply the snowball effect in settling our debt, we must do what the founder of the theory says Dave Ramsey which is, “live like nobody else”. You will have to go back to your budget and make sacrifices to your food and utilities. Removing 7.5% from the net amount will give you an extra R1,350 towards settling your debt.

Calculation expression: R18,000 x 0,075 = R1,350 Further sacrifices need to be made and the next best place to make a sacrifice is transport. The first will be to review your car insurance premiums, the second is to be disciplined with your driving kilometers — this means no more unnecessary driving to social places, or volunteering our cars for family events. This should reduce another 5%(R225) from transportation, to give us R900 towards the debt.

Calculation expression: R18 000 x 0,05 = R900 So, now we have the R5,500 debt that we need to service and we have an amount of R6,750. We focus on paying the minimum amounts of the debt and the remaining balance we use to pay extra to the overdraft and when the overdraft is settled, we using the remaining moneys to settle the credit card and we then further move to the Loan.

.

- Khotso Ramphele is the founder of My Advizar (Pty) Ltd and authorised financial service provider in terms of the FAIS Act. He has over 15 years in the auditing, accounting, taxation, business consulting and financial planning.

Ramphele is a former financial guru at YFM and can be currently be heard on stations like Power FM and Voice of Wits FM speaking about all things money.

- Please note that the information provided above does not constitute financial advice; in fact, we are precluded from giving specific advice. Generic information has been applied given the context of the subject. We have limited details about you and your circumstances — such detail may impact any advice provided.

Finance

period and have taken the payment holiday as a form of relief. If you can pay the extra interest as a result of being at home and not spending on entertainment, then after the lockdown you should go ahead and settle that clothing account with that extra money you have.

Sport

HIGH IMPACT ON SPORT MORE

E

sport is often accused of being out of touch with society, but Covid-19 has given even the industry’s most powerful brands a reality check. Nevertheless, the impacts of coronavirus on sport in South Africa extend far beyond its most famous teams and competitions.

Running a sports academy in arguably the world’s most unequal country is not the most glamorous task even on a good day. When events are being called off and funding is cut, the job becomes especially tough.

Connect Sports Academy, which specialises in developing rugby players from disadvantaged backgrounds, is one of those affected. According to co-founder and spokesperson Murray Ingram, life would have been even more difficult were it not for a R100,000 donation from Siya and Rachel Kolisi.

“Vincent Mai, who sent Siya to school [with a Grey High bursary], is one of our biggest funders and has been for the last few years. That’s how I got in touch with Siya, and Siya is literally putting his money where his mouth is.

“He won that money [for the People’s Choice of the Year award at the South African Sport Awards] and was asked to donate it to an organisation, and he kindly picked us. That came through just before this whole thing [the Covid-19enforced crisis].

“Rachel came to our High Performance Centre the week before last to facilitate it and I said to her: ‘You don’t understand [the impact of the donation].’ I was sending the two of them some pictures that the kids were sending me of them going grocery shopping. It’s a godsend.”

This does not mean that all of Connect’s problems have disappeared overnight. Ingram reveals that many of their athletes have seen their progress hampered by the lockdown.

“It starts, I guess, with our post-school athletes. We’ve got Sese Mtshazi, who is a Springbok Women’s player, she can’t train. We’ve got Bulelani Sali, who is in the Western Province SuperSport Challenge squad, he can’t train.

“Then, going down, all our post-school athletes — some are in the Western Province U21 training group. Out of our school-age athletes, we’ve got a bunch in the first sides at Rondebosch, SACS and Wynberg. None of them can train.

words leonard solms Farouk Khan (right) with Stars of Africa Academy product Luther Singh, who plays for Moreirense on loan from Braga. credit: Mikaeel Khan

Not everybody making a living out of sport is able to enjoy the limelight in the same way its elite athletes do. We look at how prominent sporting heroes as well as those who support them have been affected by the lockdown 68

| MAY 2020

“Lukhanyo [Vokozela] played SA Schools A side last year — for him, it’s a huge thing. Unions have approached us about him and we were finalising those decisions. It’s definitely going to be affected — unions have less revenue. We’re not just talking about them signing with the union; we’re talking about university bursaries, accommodation, food and everything covered for the next few years.

“We’re like second parents to many of these kids. We’ve got some who have got compromised immune systems. We’re so conscious of the conditions they live in.”

Club rugby has also been hit hard by Covid-19 and according to Motherwell head coach Qondakele Sompondo, in Nelson Mandela Bay, the sport at large in South Africa needs a healthy club system. “SA Rugby, as you know, decided to cut down on professional players,” he explains. What that does [is]: if those players get cut from professional rugby, there’s nowhere else. They go down to club rugby.

DESTINY CAREERS

Sport

“This adds to the already huge gap that club rugby is filling.

It’s a social cohesion vehicle in that your Motherwell is going to go play Park; a player from Motherwell can go on to play for Crusaders or for Park... Club rugby is the glue, but unfortunately, it is the most disorganised in the land.”

Covid-19 has worsened this problem, with Easter tournaments being called off. “There’s a very strong Easter rugby tradition within club rugby in the Eastern Cape,” he explains. “You’ll find some of us from urban settings going back to rural villages to play in these tournaments.

“Now, you’re saying to these people: ‘You’re not going to play Easter tournaments this year.’ You can imagine... The majority of rural communities are within the Border Rugby Union.

They have struggled to convince those rural communities that there was no rugby during the Easter period. It’s tough.

“At this very same time, people in the Eastern Cape are slaughtering cows; they are doing the traditional initiations and stuff. It’s very tough; it kind of, in a way, feels to them that this thing is imposed just to make sure they don’t play. It’s like: ‘White people are saying we mustn’t play. We don’t have the virus here it’s clean.’

Ruan Rust in January, taken at Stellenbosch FC’s game against Bloemfontein Celtic at Cape Town Stadium. credit: Courtney Williams

Lukhanyo Vokozela (L) and Dalvon Blood (R) working with coach Murray Ingram credit: Burgundy High Performance Centre / Connect Sports Academy

We were launching the first Eastern Cape Easter tournament targeting the big boys of Eastern Province and Border, but we had clubs coming from Cape Town. We were going to organise that it be sponsored by former Cricket South Africa CEO Gerald Majola, Ingram says.

The likes of the Mayoral Club and Gold Cup have already been impacted, but the effects of Covid-19 extend far beyond club rugby and right to the very top of the game.

Super Rugby has been on hold since 15 March.

Football has also been severely affected, with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) postponing all its competitions. This is an uncertain time for players, but equally for club staff.

Ruan Rust is Stellenbosch FC’s Head of Performance. He joined the club ahead of the current season following their promotion to the premier division. Ever since President Ramaphosa announced initial Covid-19 restrictions, his job has been uniquely challenging.

The PSL postponed all competitions, but Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa then said that they were free to resume behind closed doors. South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan, however, insisted that football remain on hold until at least 16 April. For Rust, the initial lack of clarity regarding the plan for South African football was particularly challenging.

“As a football club, straightaway, we had to bring up certain conversations and certain topics,” Rust says. “Then, obviously, there was the document that came through from the Western Cape Sports Department… issuing a strict ban on any training, and the PSL stating there was going to be a postponement.

“We jumped onto the computers, got some homework for the players out in terms of the distances they need to get and the running loads they need to achieve. We sent it through to the players and we felt we were in a good space.

After the Board of Governors Meeting, the PSL came out with a very, kind of, unclear answer to us as a football club, or to us as high-performance staff, as to how best to look after our players. Our decision was to commence training again, which we did under certain circumstances, adds Rust.

The club got strict orders from the Western Cape Sports Department, saying they were not allowed to train. “But then you hear from other clubs up in Gauteng, in Joburg, in Durban, and the Eastern Cape, that the guys were still training. That puts a lot of pressure on the club”.

Sport

“You have to prepare like you’re going to play. At any moment, the PSL could say they were commencing with training or playing. Then, all of a sudden, we’d have a derby with Cape Town City in a week.”

Rust adds: “Once again, another bombshell got dropped — we were going to go into lockdown. Then we had to restart the process, adapt, think of different ways we were going to keep the guys entertained, to keep them motivated and in the team environment.”

PSL Spokesperson Luxolo September insists that the PSL communicated clearly with its clubs, claiming that they did the best they could under difficult circumstances.

“I’m surprised Ruan would say all these things. Even before a national lockdown was announced, the league had been in constant communication with the Member clubs,” September says.

“This included communication sent to the clubs five days before the postponement was announced. I suggest Ruan speaks to his club – as they have been in the loop – including a Board of Governors meeting.

“Like the rest of the world, we have been dealing with an unprecedented situation here and we are doing our best to deal with a moving target. The clubs all over the world are designing their own fitness programmes – South Africa is no different.”

The PSL hope to finish all competitions by 30 June. Even if they achieve this, it will not solve all of football’s problems. As is the case with rugby, Covid-19 has hampered the progress of organisations which operate away from the spotlight but are vital to the health of the sport.

in several sporting codes, with the Comrades Marathon being a prime example.

Event organisers released a statement following Ramaphosa’s announcement of a National State of Disaster, claiming that it was premature to postpone the race.

Mthethwa took exception, claiming that he had received a promise from Athletics South Africa President Aleck Skhosana that the Comrades would not go ahead. Even so, at the time of writing, the official Comrades website still lists the event as scheduled for 14 June.

As uncertainty persists regarding the start and finish date of various sporting events, the impact on human lives is immeasurable. Football, rugby and cricket in South Africa usually benefit significantly from their deals with SuperSport, but the extent to which these are impacted remains to be seen. This aside, the impact on women’s sport, in particular, should not be overlooked. Professional opportunities for women in South African sport are few and far between and many athletes have had to go overseas to further their careers. Springbok Women prop Babalwa Latsha only recently became the first African woman to go professional in rugby, but her time with Eibar in Spain was cut short with no clarity on whether or not she is to return. Her current contract was scheduled to expire at the end of April and it is unclear whether or not the option to renew will be exercised.

Many South African netball players are based overseas, and the sport has been heavily hit by Covid-19 in more ways than one. Not only have South Africans playing in Australia and the United Kingdom seen their leagues put on hold, but Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane tested positive for coronavirus. At the time of writing, she reportedly remained in good health.

One such institution is the Stars of Africa Academy in Johannesburg, which has produced some of South Africa’s finest talents. Among them have been Tokelo Rantie, May Mahlangu, Tefu Mashamaite and Luther Singh.

Despite their success, Stars of Africa face the same funding struggle as many other sports academies, due to a lack of sponsorship. They rely largely on returns from long-term investments, such as Rantie, who in 2013 joined Bournemouth from Malmö FF, for a reported £2.5 million.

Stars of Africa Academy also sustains itself through means such as coaching workshops, which could not be held as usual with the country in lockdown. They have also had to send players staying on-site home and call off a scheduled trip to Manchester for their U13s.

“We had the tour now in Easter to England — for the Manchester tournament,” revealed coaching director Farouk Khan. “We had to say to the guys, because we paid them quite a bit of the money already, ‘Can we postpone it?’

We’ll probably only go next year.

“We had a meeting with the parents and they all agreed that. It was going to be a bit of a challenge — we thought that maybe they would want their money back. Obviously, now, there’s no insurance that we took out on it, so we can’t claim our money back from the guys that arranged it.”

Stars of Africa could have been worse off, but they still find themselves in limbo, with uncertainty regarding plans that had previously appeared set in stone. They are not alone in this predicament. Confusion remains over scheduled events

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Babalwa Latsha, Kholo Montsi, Sese Mtshazi training at Connect Academy facilities. credit: Burgundy High Performance Centre / Connect Sports Academy

Maintaining a sense of community in sport is always important, but now perhaps more so than ever. At least not everybody has been left to fight alone. Apart from Siya and Rachel Kolisi, golf’s authorities have also set a positive example. On 2 April, The Sunshine Tour announced a plan to provide financial support to member professionals in South African men’s and women’s golf. Crucially, active members of the South African Caddies Association (SACA) have been promised a monthly stipend.

Not everybody making a living out of sport is able to enjoy the limelight in the same way its elite athletes do. During this time of crisis, it is vital that the interests of the industry’s unsung heroes are taken into account.

DESTINY CAREERS

Quote

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.”

Willie Nelson, musician

Motoring writer gugu masuku

Car brands accelerate change amid 80% drop in some markets

The effects of COVID-19 are being felt far and wide, and even the automotive sector is feeling the pinch in all its different sectors.

Journalists who write columns like the one you’re reading now are tasked with writing vehicle reviews, giving consumer advise, and reporting on the latest in the automotive world.

To do this, a large part of our job entails traveling to different destinations, locally and internationally, to attend vehicle launches and report back on our findings. For us to do what we do, a lot of time is spent on the road, either behind the wheel of a car or on the saddle of a bike, scrutinising every aspect of the vehicle. This is an average day at the office for a motoring journalist. With the country and many other parts of the world having to enforce a lockdown in an effort to arrest the Coronavirus, driving and riding have become a distant memory. The closest feeling to wind flowing through the strands of my hair is the short walk through the front yard — but it’s not the same. Much like everyone else, we’ve had to dig deep into our creative side in order to continue doing our jobs as motoring reporters — but from the safety of our homes. With a cloud of financial uncertainty and instability looming over us, it goes without saying that buying a vehicle is scraping the bottom of the priorities list.

As a result, vehicle sales have and will continue to dwindle.

In some of the worst hit nations like China, the car market took a steep dive, dropping by 80% in the month of February alone. It’s only a matter of time before the same terrible fate befalls other parts of the world as COVID-19 sweeps through the globe stopping everything in its tracks, including the production of the one thing that brings many of us joy — cars.

It’s already happening. Many car manufacturers have

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shut down their production plants in countries most affected by this pandemic, including South Africa. This has forced vehicle brands to put their thinking caps on and figure out a way forward in this unfamiliar environment we find ourselves in. “In these extraordinary times, we must come together to put our people first,” said Mark Ovenden, president of International Markets Group at Ford, in a statement.

The blue oval brand has, like others, suspended production in many of their plants, but where others have shut down factory and killed the mains, Ford has kept the factory buzzing and the lights on. The company is still manufacturing, not cars, but lifesaving ventilators. As you may or may not know, there’s a massive shortage of these life-giving machines worldwide and the available units in many hospitals are simply outnumbered by patients who are fighting the battle between life and death.

With this initiative, Ford has set out to build 50,000 ventilator machines at its Michigan plant in 100 days, with production scheduled to begin on 20 April.

Thereafter, their goal will be to manufacture 30,000 units per month in an aggressive effort to combat the virus and save lives.

A parked car is of no use to anyone, these machines were designed to be driven. One car brand that has realised this and opted to put their vehicle fleet to good use during this period is Jaguar Land Rover. The British brand has decided to let their vehicles do what they do best, which is taking on any terrain, and has made their fleet available to the Red Cross to use in delivering food and medicine to the vulnerable in our communities. Forming part of these humanitarian aid vehicles is the highly anticipated new Land Rover Defender. The Defender was set for launch to global media in March.

These are unprecedented times for everyone and among the many concerns for ordinary people like you and I, is how we’re going to pay vehicle instalments in the months to come. Well, here’s some good news for consumers. Toyota Financial Services have stepped up to the plate and have put together relief plans to soften the financial blow for consumers whose income will be disrupted by COVID-19.

We hope to see more car manufacturers following suit in the coming weeks and months, in providing relief to everyday folk in the midst of this storm. And until this is over, look after your four wheels as best you can and they’ll look after you.

.

DESTINY CAREERS

Motoring

Hospitality Liaison

Here’s what’s eating the food and drink industry words thabiso molonyama

Although the European Food Safety Association reported that there is currently no evidence for Covid-19 transmission through food or food packaging, countless hotels, bars and restaurants have shut down to observe social distancing.

Staff are in crisis, both financially and psychologically, thinking about their uncertain futures. Hospitality professionals literally ‘live to serve’ and not being able to do just that, has been disheartening.

Current circumstances have compelled the hospitality industry to adapt and find alternative solutions to capitalise and assist its patrons and the general public.

Like many other fine-dining destinations across the globe, the Attica, Australia’s top ranked restaurant, has had to adapt. Known for its use of native ingredients such as kangaroo and bunya nuts, the Melbourne-based venue is confronting the challenges of #lockdown and social distancing by taking dishes straight to customers’ homes.

In another corner of the globe spring has arrived in California’s idyllic Napa Valley which is popularly known for its wine. The buds emerging from dormant vines signal the beginning of a new vintage, the scenery appears normal, except that vineyard workers are careful to stay a safe (two-metre) distance apart. And as is the case with many industries, the online wine purchases are booming — and despite the global pandemic, there will still be grapes for this year’s cabernets.

Through their #raiseyourspirits campaign, Bacardi Limited and its family of brands has pledged $3 million to support the bar and restaurant industry during these unprecedented times. At the Cause Effect Bar in Cape Town, they have a “cocktail bond” campaign with Bombay Sapphire and Martini to pay their staff while on lockdown, for R200 donated to the campaign, you receive six locally-inspired Spritz cocktails.

These can be redeemed with your friends as soon as the #lockdown ends.

In the UK, Whisky.Auction hosted a Covid-19 Charity Auction between 6-10 April, to provide financial relief for those who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, whether that means they are on a zero hours contract, or they have been made redundant and subsequently not reinstated.

Vincent Meliet, Commercial Development Director at Pernod Ricard South Africa said they are standing behind the people whose commitment and conviviality have made Pernod Ricard’s brands what they are today. “We know there may be a tough road ahead for them and we want to reach out and keep the spirits up,” he said as he pledged to donate R2-million to support bartenders and waiters over the lockdown period.

Off-trade spirit sales have grown as consumers stockpiled amid the Covid-19 panic, according to The Spirits Business.

According to IWSR, whiskey brands including Jack Daniel’s, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Crown Royal and Bulleit have seen increased purchasing in the US. While Diageo, one of the world’s largest spirits producers will donate up to two million litres of alcohol to manufacturing partners to produce hand sanitiser for healthcare workers during the pandemic.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Hospitality Liaison

Cocktail of the month Name: Base Spirit:

Negroni Gin

Ingredients Gin: Martini Rosso: Campari:

25ml 25ml 25ml

Method: Glass: Garnish:

Stir Tumbler Orange Peel

Background Story The most widely reported version of the drink’s origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919. Legend tells that Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend, bartender Forsco Scarselli, to strengthen his favourite cocktail — the Americano — by replacing the soda water with gin.

- Thabiso Molonyama has 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry which created many travelling opportunities, and as a result he now speaks German, light Swahili and Arabic. He has judged hospitality competitions and made Guinness World Records cocktails. He owns a hospitality firm called The Everyday Bar and has founded a mobile bar company called MasterBartenders. He loves tequila, rum and gin, and strives for world peace. His Instagram handle is @theeverydaybar and Twitter is @thabiso_rsa.

WHY SO HORNY?

Sex

words tshegofatso senne he time of Covid-19 is changing life as we know it. From how we work and shop, to how we interact with our families and loved ones, to how we’ve all had to find new ways of coping, whether we’re making banana bread, learning to cut our own hair or spending a lot more time online.

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One thing few of us weren’t expecting such a drastic change from was the way we have sex. We’re having to protect ourselves

by

social

distancing

and

isolating and this includes reconfiguring the way sexual pleasure looks. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released the most comprehensive guidelines on what safe sex looks like the time of Covid-19, but all communication

DESTINY CAREERS

deprivation and hookups are the only way you feel some

sex partner.

sense of intimacy?”

It’s no wonder we’ve seen such an influx in online horniness.

We could, of course, just be horny because it is, in fact,

With people separated from their sexual partners, unable to meet with Tinder matches or meet hookups at parties – the world is currently horny as hell. Our social media feeds are full of ‘thirst traps,’ some looking for faces to sit on, others thinking out loud about texting their ex back, or OnlyFans links as more sex workers expand their work to

human nature. While there are multiple reasons for why, this forced time indoors may be a good time for many of us to start interrogating how we go about our own sexual pleasure.

If you are having sex during this time, follow Dr T’s guidance:

a digital mode.

“oral and penetrative sex carry a risk of transmission, even

Coronavirus porn is somehow a thing, along with Covid-

have symptoms. Self-Tlof is the safest sex because there’s

if you are kissing, rimming, sucking, licking those who don’t

inspired erotica, including The Physical Manifestation of Washing My Hands Get Me Off – a tale about a ‘lesbian affair with the physical manifestation of the concept of

no exchange of fluids, if you have a sexual partner in your lockdown, use condoms for oral and penetrative sex. Selfpleasure, self-play is a great way of reconnecting with self.

hand-washing’.

Sexual energy can be healing.”

There is currently so much chaotic energy. Why exactly

Happy horny days!

is it that this pandemic has affected our sex drives so drastically?

Are we touch-starved? Are we horny or anxious? Are we yearning for comfort via touch? With bars, clubs and social events being closed, are we looking for new outlets for our sexual energy? Are we painfully aware of our mortality? Or are we bored and looking for a fun way to pass time?

We’re dynamic as humans, so it could be a mixture of these factors. Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, author of Dr T: A Guide to Sexual Health and Pleasure is a firm believer in the connectedness of our bodies, hormones and what’s currently happening in the world: “We are impacted by what’s happening psychologically and emotionally – one can’t separate the sexual energy from being affected too. We came out of a full moon, we are anxious about the state of the world, our country and the energy is simmering within. People respond differently to stress and pressure, while others may have a disinterest in sex, others may feel a heightened sense of sexual energy.”

These two may be conflated, as Twitter user @FeelingFisky reflects, “are you actually horny, or do you just have touch

Tshegofatso Senne is a Black, queer, feminist writer, speaker and communications consultant.

She writes and speaks on issues concerning feminism, sexual and reproductive health and pleasure, consent, rape culture, race, intersectional social justice and pop culture. Senne is also a cofounder of Meet Greet Kneel, annual sessions that allow beginners and experts in BDSM a safe space to learn, share a play with fellow kinksters.

Sex

highlights this as the most important: You are your safest

Opinion

Pssst… the request for your pay slip is a trap!

I quit freelancing. I’m back in the rat race. Full time work, 8-5.

I don’t feel bad about it, in fact there’s nothing wrong with working for a company and not working for yourself. I’ve understood my limits — I need motivation outside of myself and that structure (and other humans) to keep me sane.

And then the lockdown happened and almost reversed all those reasons, except that I’m still getting paid. Counting my chickens in finding full time work at such a time, with many freelancers losing out on work or not being paid by small businesses that can no longer afford to continue with operations. We’re going through the most as South Africans.

But I’m here to talk about money. Specifically, the pay slip.

Tiffany Ebrahim hosts a podcast called ‘Are We Our Work?’ that explores different aspects of working black millennials, from working moms, to workplace discrimination, to remuneration. And that’s where I come in; the episode in question is about understanding your worth and how companies swindle you into getting paid less than your worth by requesting your most recent pay slip.

The horror!

In starting my new position, I had a much more rounded view on this, the art of negotiation but mostly what a pay slip means. I didn’t actually have a pay slip, so the organisation had to go on my word of what my salary expectations were to be. As it should be. I mean, if they’re hiring for a certain position, they definitely have put aside a budget for that position — sometimes at a market-related budget.

Why does it matter what I previously earned?

Benchmarking on my previous low pay will surely leave me stuck in a position of getting paid lower than I should be. We live in a world of keeping you in the place that you are born into. And for most South Africans, that’s below the poverty line.

Ebrahim succinctly describes the process of a young student entering the job market for a below market salary

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Thoughts Ayanda Moholi

just so that they can have a job (as many people of colour do – money needs to be made pronto) and having that pay slip follow them to the end of time. In that, that student may one day enter the C-suite, but still be paid significantly less than department equivalents. (I’m not C-suite but I definitely know of some jobs where I’ve came up MUCH shorter than my white male equivalents. I’m still mad, mfxim!)

So how do we know what we’re worth? Well, it’s up to you to do the research. Ask the right questions. Know where you chalk up in terms of your skills and education. See what the market is paying. (The pay in Cape Town for marketing jobs is significantly lower than Joburg, which is mind-boggling since Cape Town is much less affordable).

And don’t be afraid to give your salary expectation when asked for it. Money is typically such a difficult subject and we tend to be modest when asking for what is owed to us.

(Especially as women of colour, we are often overcome by humility). We’re also afraid of the backlash, like asking the friend who owes you money and they get angry as if you owe them, or the company deciding you’re too expensive and rescinding their offer.

(I’ve seen jobs on job boards that ask a person to be super person — do everything under the sun — but are put up as intern positions and so offer less than R7,000. Exploitation at its best. Slavery at its worst).

It’s quite a Catch-22. We want to get paid more but we also desperately need jobs. What do we prioritise?

- Ayanda Moholi is no longer a freelance digital marketing consultant but still in the business of digital marketing.

She is also a candidate for Master of Management in Digital Business at the Wits Business School. She enjoys reading, hiking and listening to only the best podcasts.

Listen to her episode of ‘Are We Our Work?’ where you listen to podcasts.

DESTINY CAREERS

“If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.”

Jean-Paul Sartre, philosopher

Opinion

Sticking together while staying apart

Thoughts Naledi Sibisi

Going through the motions and keeping up with Covid-19 updates in a digital space was an embarrassingly nonchalant process until life became mechanical almost overnight.

With the extension of South Africa’s national lockdown as a means to contain the spread of the virus and reduce the strain on our healthcare system, the importance of isolation and unity in the era of social distancing has become abundantly clear. By restricting the movement of people and goods and services, we collectively flatten the curve or help delay the spread of the virus at an exponential rate — but what does that feel like in our confined spaces?

Social distancing looks like staying out of contact with people and public spaces unless otherwise necessary; thus making us less susceptible to catching and spreading the virus. With the exception of essential goods and services (including collecting grants, pension or seeking medical 80

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attention and the likes), every person is, by law, confined to their homes for the duration of the lockdown. In reality, social distancing feels uncomfortable and over the top at many points. By being physically restricted from everyday practices and interactions — your habits will adjust and you will feel disoriented, uncertain and overwhelmed day in and day out.

What I have fast come to realise is that as social beings, we tend to take our instinctive practices and desires for granted. Whether that looks like taking a morning walk or popping to the store during your lunch break — although seemingly futile in the grand scheme of things, it can still start to feel quite crippling on one’s mind. The DESTINY CAREERS

Opinion

Covid-19 pandemic places emphasis on proximity — the proximity to others, as well as surfaces where the virus can supposedly live for a number of days if not cleaned regularly. Social distancing then, is more than not going outside and avoiding interactions — it is about dealing with the discomfort of remaining in your personal bubble as much as possible to keep yourself and others safe; it is a matter of risk management.

your day. You can begin by quite simply organising and decluttering your living space (rearrange your cupboards, get rid of things you no longer use, rearrange your set up).

Consider what you have wanted to do but have not really had the time for; picking up a new skill or hobby during this period not only helps you pass time but trying out new things can also be stimulating for your mind.

With this reasoning, you begin to fall into a habit, I am sure we are all picking up, where you silently repeat the words “this is bigger than me,” at different intervals throughout your day. In doing so, you are individually acknowledging that there is a chance you will not get it completely right, but you are contributing to the fraction that is actively making a difference when you think of the bigger picture.

It is much like voting in a national election — you would not want to be those who did not vote thinking your one vote would not make a difference. Individually, you contribute in a more elaborate way than you may realise — in this case, it is by staying home and practically doing nothing for a few weeks. Falling into the category of a young adult who is constantly on the move, I cannot stress how uneasy I have felt both mentally and emotionally over the course of the lockdown. That said, I am cognisant of the fact that at most, annoying me is probably where those emotions will peak.

In the meantime, and for your own sanity, there are a number of things you can do to fill up the gaps during

“There is plenty of research that shows when we learn something new, and do something that allows us to grow, it can be very powerful,” psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo has said. “Whether you want to learn a language, learn how to cook, or even learn how to put on fake eyelashes, now is the time to do it.”

Naledi Sibisi is a writer and content creator who collaborates with brands to promote them across digital platforms. More recently, she was appointed as the Editorin-Chief of online magazine and boutique agency — The Throne Magazine. Her duties expanded beyond the editorial scope of work, allowing for her assistance with campaign strategies and execution on the part of the agency which sparked her passion for influencing and content creating.

Opinion

Start anew in your own image Celebrated author and activist Arundhati Roy penned what I thought to be the most poignant and insightful piece to come out of the media landscape around the outbreak of the Coronavirus. Roy’s piece, The pandemic is a portal, published in the Financial Times, takes a humanist look at the manner in which nations such as the United States and India have placed the protection of capital and the political economy ahead of people. It was the line, “historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine the world anew”, that got me to think about the ways in which we, as individuals, in a world that now moves to the dictation of a virus, can imagine our own worlds anew.

Surely, if the Coronavirus can bring “the mighty to kneel and the world to a halt”, then we’re left in this peculiar territory where we have no choice but to take a moment to carve out the direction moving forward.

During the first week of lockdown I couldn’t escape the topic of what different people on my Twitter timeline believed we ought to be doing during this period. There were two main ideas floating around, where they argued fiercely (as people do on Twitter) for the school of thought they subscribed to during this time. The first idea was that being on lockdown presented us with a unique space and environment to be productive. “When else would the world literally come to a halt so as to give us time to be at home?” And so because this period is so unprecedented we have no choice but to make the most of it by dusting off books that have been collecting dust, passion projects that we neglected after years of complaining about not having enough time to pursue. Now is the time, be productive, this one idea suggests.

On the polar opposite of this motivational school of thought is the counter-argument of relaxing. “We’re in a pandemic, use this time to regroup.” This particular tweet stood out and was widely retweeted and liked: “The issue may not just be procrastination. We’re in a pandemic.

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Thoughts Vuyolwethu Ndongeni

Give yourself grace for the things left undone. Rest and restore. Your mind is working even when you’re sitting still.”

And that was pretty much all the permission a lot of people needed to escape the “grinding and hustling” rhetoric of the “be productive” crowd.

I believe I have enough space in my mind to process and find value in both ideas. The first – be productive – speaks to people who might have always had creative endeavours, for instance, but due to the nature of leading busy and demanding lives, were unable to set aside time to pursue them. The second idea – relax – speaks to people who would benefit from using this period to do less. Because people are allowed to be exhausted from the demands of normal life in societies that function under the terrain of late capital.

Personally, I’ve used this time for exactly what I needed.

I began working and reviving personal projects that needed my attention almost immediately after lockdown was announced. I had at least two projects that I had to abandon because I simply didn’t have the time as a fulltime employee and a single parent. So to me this time has felt like a “grace period”, like some kind of “do-over”. Where I had guilt and shame because I couldn’t see some things through – I’ve used this time to cleanse my conscience and feel productive.

However, I’ve also used this time to slow down. In areas where I was hard on myself because I wasn’t making any tangible progress, particularly professionally, I’ve taken this time to just be nicer to myself. And something distinctive about this particular period is that it has been quiet and that hasn’t been because I prefer silence. Outside is quiet. Because of this kind of solitude, where sometimes I’m overcome by overwhelming feelings of loneliness, I have found this place that feels as though it moves in slow-motion while I gain perspective, clarity and answers to big life questions.

DESTINY CAREERS

Opinion I believe this time has been a gift to me. But, different people can use it for exactly what they need out of it. Arundhati Roy says, “it’s a virus, yes. In and of itself it holds no moral brief.

But it is definitely more than a virus. Some believe it’s God’s way of bringing us to our senses. Others, that it’s a Chinese conspiracy to take over the world.” And if indeed, historically pandemics have forced societies to reimagine their world anew, then maybe while you have the opportunity to be home during this period of lockdown imagine something new for yourself. Imagination can be activated while you’re being productive or while you’re relaxing. But “nothing could be worse than a return to normality”, for us as individuals

and the governments and capitalist industries that run our world.

- Vuyolwethu Ndongeni has worked as a sub-editor for publications such as Business Day, and The Herald and Daily Dispatch in the Eastern Cape. She holds a Master’s degree in Media. With more than seven years in the media industry, most of which have been “behind the scenes”, she’s excited to once again experience the simple, yet invaluable pleasure of occupying a byline. Ndongeni also writes a blog; lovingme.co.za.

Food

A word from Lesego Semenya I had planned to start 2020 with the introduction of a concept that has been two years in the making. In 2018, I created “The LesDaChef Tasting Club” concept.

recipes dijo

It was a new and unique idea that would revolve around a limited monthly club event which would be themed differently each month and I’d create a new and unique chef degustation menu each month paired with various beverages. The club drew 300 applications for membership but the launch of Dijo, my first book, completely took over and we were never able to launch until this year. The first event was meant to have taken place, ironically, on the very day that the first national lockdown period began. So we’ve had to put it on hold for now.

I’m currently writing the skeleton for my second book.

I say “skeleton” because it will build onto the concept of Dijo but this time focus on other people’s food journeys (that’s all I’m going to say for now). The manuscript is due around March 2021 with release hopefully by October 2021.

I’m currently building up more content for my YouTube channel, Dipitšeng With LesDaChef, as I believe we chefs will need to adapt or die if we do not evolve with the online times. Our industry will take years to recover, so I’m making use of all the support for my brand that I’ve built over the years. Brands and various corporates have jumped on board as well, thankfully, and are paying me for content production. I have also begun developing physical merchandising and a few things are on the way, people will be able to use LesDaChef merch in the kitchens soon.

All of that is happening whilst still doing my usual cookery classes, public speaking, media engagements and catering events.

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Food

It’s all about cooking & recipes

Food

Gnocchi with Parmesan Crème & Wild Mushrooms Gnocchi is one of those ‘uniquely’ Italian dishes that aren’t exactly uniquely Italian. Similar to pasta and other such Italian dishes it was borrowed from other cultures and as the years have gone by has become synonymous with Italian cuisine. Some classify it as pasta, but technically speaking it’s a small dumpling.

Perfect for winter meals, it’s a bit ‘heavy’ for a starch and so goes well with stews, robust sauces packed with garlic and spices and cheese. It’s one of the easier Italian dishes to master, so it really irks me when I see people buying ready-made packets at the supermarket.

Ingredients

Directions

750 g potatoes

The traditional way to prepare the potatoes is to dry roast them in the oven until tender but still firm, but over the years I’ve found that boiled potatoes work equally well, as long as you make sure all excess water is gone from the potatoes before you mash them. The reason is you want the mash to be as dry as possible as this results in a better quality final product.

2 egg yolks 2 T butter 4 T grated Parmesan a handful chopped parsley ± ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup mixed mushrooms, chopped 250 ml cream salt and pepper

01 02

Peel and mash the potatoes while still hot and add the yolks and butter. Do not over mix the mash, as it will become sticky. Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan and chopped parsley, and finally the flour. Once all is combined, rest the mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes.

03

When it is rested, roll the dough into thumb-widthsized cylinders and cut them into 2cm long pieces.

Press each one down slightly with a fork and place on a greased tray. Rest covered with a damp cloth for an hour or two.

04

To prepare, cook in a pot of simmering salted water until the gnocchi rises to the surface. Remove and then sauté the gnocchi in a pan with some garlic butter until slightly golden. Scoop out the gnocchi, and in the same pan sauté the mushrooms with a little extra butter until slightly soft. Add the leftover grated Parmesan and the cream. Allow to simmer for a minute on high heat, and then toss the gnocchi back into the pan.

Serve immediately.

Serves 6

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DESTINY CAREERS

Food

Koeksisters

Food

lesego semenya

Koeksisters The Cape Malay created most of the dishes we have come to associate with Afrikaner (and therefore South African) food. While working as cleaners and cooks in the kitchens of Dutch and French settlers in the Cape, the Malay slaves would create dishes and recipes that were so loved that they’ve endured to this day. Examples of such dishes include bobotie, sosaties and chutney. The sweet and sour nature of South African cuisine comes directly from the influences the Malay brought with them.

Koeksisters are also a creation of Cape Malay cooking. The name ‘Koeksister’ originally comes from the Dutch word ‘koekje’, which means ‘cake’ (the English word cookie itself also comes from this word). They were originally round and dumpling like in shape (these are referred to by the relatively similar word ‘koesisters’). They were later changed into the braided variety we know today by Afrikaans folk. Koeksisters are traditionally soaked in syrup. They can be enjoyed on their own or as a dessert.

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For the syrup 1 kg caramel or Demerara sugar 500 ml water 2 pieces fresh ginger, peeled and grated 2½ ml cream of tartar pinch of salt grated rind and juice of ½ lemon

For the dough 500 g flour 2 ml salt 30 ml baking powder 55 g butter, grated 1 egg 250–375 ml milk

Directions

01

02 03

When it is rested, roll the dough into thumb-width-sized cylinders and cut them into 2cm long pieces. Press each one down slightly with a fork and place on a greased tray. Rest covered with a damp cloth for an hour or two.

To prepare, cook in a pot of simmering salted water until the gnocchi rises to the surface. Remove and then sauté the gnocchi in a pan with some garlic butter until slightly golden. Scoop out the gnocchi, and in the same pan sauté the mushrooms with a little extra butter until slightly soft. Add the leftover grated Parmesan and the cream. Allow to simmer for a minute on high heat, and then toss the gnocchi back into the pan.

Serve immediately.

Serves 6

Food

Ingredients

Food

Ledombolo with Mogodu Ledombolo or ‘dombolo’ is one of the things I love most about going home. It reminds me of my childhood and Sunday lunches. Directly taken from the English word ‘dumpling’, ledombolo is basically a South African dumpling.

Just like magwinya, there are loads of ways of doing it and a few different names too depending on how you make it (if you make it into balls and cook them in a stew, for example, or if you steam it in a dish, amaZulu have a name for each variation). I grew up with it being steamed in a large dish and cooked as a big loaf and sliced for serving. You can do that if you like, just make sure to keep checking it with a skewer to see if the middle is done.

This recipe, however, is for the smaller kind that you cook by placing rolled balls of dough on stews the European way.

This recipe uses yeast and flour, so I’d recommend that you knead the dough for a minimum of 15 minutes. This activates the gluten in the dough and makes for a softer and more airy result.

We grew up eating ledombolo with stews and mogodu, but it can be eaten with anything saucy.

Note: Get the stew or sauce going before starting on the ledombolo.

Ingredients

Directions

For the ledombolo 2½ kg cake flour 250 g white sugar a pinch of salt warm water 10 g instant yeast a handful of parsley leaves, finely chopped

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01 02 03 04

Mix the flour, sugar and salt. Pour about a cup of warm water into a jug, add the yeast and allow to foam. Now add the water and yeast mixture to the flour mixture. Slowly add more warm water and mix (either with your hands or with a mixer with a dough hook attached).

Add the chopped parsley as you mix. Once the dough becomes soft and pliable, stop adding water and begin kneading. If using a mixer, mix until the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl; if by hand knead for 15 minutes.

Place the dough in a bowl and cover with a damp, warm cloth or plastic wrap brushed with oil. Proof until double in size. Knock the dough back by punching it a few times by hand. If making a stew, roll into equal-sized balls and place in the simmering stew.

They are ready when a toothpick pricked into one of them comes out clean.

If you’ve decided to make the dombolo on its own, then simply place the dough in a bowl large enough to fit into a pot or divided into individual ramekins.

Fill the pot with enough water to reach a third up the sides of the bowl/ramekins and steam the dombolo on a medium heat with the lid secured tightly on the pot. The dombolo is done when a toothpick pushed into it comes out clean.

DESTINY CAREERS

Food

Food

Creamed spinach my way I personally don’t understand where the South African obsession with creamed spinach comes from. Thankfully, in the 10 years I’ve been part of this industry, not one client has ever asked me to make creamed spinach for their function or event. Touch wood!

I’ve spent some time fiddling with the concept, though. So when I do make creamed spinach this is how I do it. It’s quick and easy and the nutrients in the spinach aren’t boiled away. The peanut butter is the African twist. We love adding nuts and legumes to dishes.

Ingredients 200 g baby spinach 50 g butter 175 ml crème fraîche 15 ml peanut butter 45 ml grated Parmesan salt and pepper

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Directions

01 02

Set a pot of water to boil on the stove. Once the water is boiling, place the spinach briefly in the water, just for a few seconds. You just want the leaves to wilt.

Drain the spinach through a sieve, and shake off any excess water.

Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the spinach and sauté for a minute.

Add the crème fraîche, peanut butter and Parmesan and increase the heat. Once the sauce thickens, season and serve immediately.

Serves 3

DESTINY CAREERS

Food

Asian-style Oxtail I’ve yet to find a meat lover who doesn’t love oxtail. There’s something about that sticky, savoury and somewhat sweetish taste. The supermarkets have realised this and have priced oxtail so insanely high it makes one want to weep. If you can, I suggest you buy oxtail from a butchery. It will be much cheaper. I know it’s a silly question but people always ask me. ‘What is oxtail?’ Well, back in the day it was actually the tail of an ox (a much larger and more robust version of a cow) but these days it’s simply the cut-up tail of an ordinary cow. That is why they are so much smaller than what I remember them being as a child. A tail of an animal is full of cartilage and when cartilage is cooked for a long time it breaks down to a gelatinous consistency and that is why oxtail becomes sticky once cooked.

This recipe is a twist on a recipe we used to serve at the Westcliff hotel nine years ago. I loved it so much – it’s how I try to make oxtail every time now. The recipe uses lemongrass. Please try and find some, it does make a difference. Also try to use treacle sugar (that thick, dark brown, sticky sugar) and real beef stock, not stock cubes. Trust me, you’ll know why when you sit down to enjoy it.

Ingredients 250 ml vegetable oil 5 kg oxtail 500 ml rice wine (if you can’t find any, then vodka will do) 500 g shiitake mushrooms (if you can’t find any, brown mushrooms will do) 30 g star anise 10 g cloves 10 g fresh rosemary 10 g fresh thyme 200 g lemongrass (crushed) 100 g fresh ginger

Directions

01 02 03

Heat a deep pot and add the oil.

Once hot, throw in the oxtail. Add the rice wine and allow it to simmer for a few minutes to burn off the alcohol.

Wait until it reduces to a thick syrup.

Throw in the mushrooms and the rest of the ingredients except the stock.

Stir, and allow to brown a bit.

Pour in the stock, and reduce the heat to low and leave to simmer for 3 hours. With a ladle, scoop off the fat and scum that will bubble to the surface every half hour. If the stock reduces too much add more.

Serve with any starch of your choice.

I personally love oxtail with ledombolo.

Note: I’ve found that this recipe tastes better the next day after it has rested in a fridge.

Serves 12

Recipes taken from Lesego Semenya’s book, Dijo. Copies available at book stores and online retailers.

50 g fresh chilli 250 ml soya sauce 250 g brown treacle sugar 200 g lime zest 2 litres beef stock

Fashion Fashion

Meet

LAWRENCE MANYAPELO I first met him a decade ago when he was a super-young magazine editor and photographer with an incredible eye for detail – someone who knew how to make clothes and people pop in front of the lens. He was shooting the cover of his magazine, Previdar, and I was lucky enough to spend the day observing him at work. His team loved working with him. His presence was gentle but focused.

As a newsroom girl (completely different environment to magazines), this was my first glimpse into how “the other half” lived and did things.

And now, eight or so years later, we have crossed paths with Lawrence once again. He has joined the DESTINY CAREERS team, and we couldn’t be happier to have such a bold and brilliant mind join the squad. Dear reader, feast your eyes on some of Lawrence’s gorgeous work. You’re welcome.

– Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi

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Fashion

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Fashion

Fashion 98

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Fashion

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Fashion

Exit

DJ SABBY Modelled on Marcel Proust’s questionnaire, we ask our favorite people questions which could either reveal who they truly are - or shroud them deeper in mystery.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Describe yourself in two words.

Best thing.

What’s your favourite quality about yourself?

I’m great at listening without judging.

What’s your favourite quality in others?

People who care about anything other than themselves.

What’s your most dominant characteristic?

My time is the one thing I treasure. I try to keep it and deliver as promised.

What’s your biggest flaw?

This is a very tough question. (But I know I’m not perfect).

What do you most appreciate about your friends?

I have two humans who I hold dear because I trust them whole-heartedly.

On what occasions do you lie?

When it’s necessary to spare other people’s feelings.

What would lead you to cut someone off?

Dishonesty and maliciousness.

What’s your favourite possession?

My car, which I’ve had for seven years. We’ve been through a lot.

What’s your idea of happiness?

Being content but not comfortable — not doing things that compromise my joy.

What’s your idea of misery?

Being around a person or place that suffocates me. It can’t always be about money.

Which word or phrase do you overuse?

“Bro!” What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Take a piss and then check my emails.

What’s the last thing you do at night?

It varies depending on my schedule.

Night owl or morning bird?

Night owl.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be?

Ryan Seacrest.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

L. Ron Hubbard, (he lived so many lives).

If you could listen to one album for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Emtee’s Avery.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

“God’s time is the best time.”

How would you like to be remembered?

“That guy was the best thing ever.” It’s not hard because I’m being myself.

Exit

DJ Sabby aka “The Best Thing Ever,” is an award-nominated radio broadcaster who currently hosts the drive time show #TheBestDrive on YFM. His career expands to TV, as a presenter as well as the founder of #TheBestLifeTV. He is also a music producer, club DJ, voice over artist and has interests in fashion. He also works with the BBC World Service as a correspondent on a show called #BBCThisIsAfrica with DJ Edu.

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If you would like to study at CTC College in the heart of the country that focuses on changing the world for a better tomorrow, then you’re choosing the right place. We do not use special formulas to select students. We look at every single application individually — academic and personal — to select students who suit our community, with a variety of backgrounds.

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Hey

Editor’s note It was the legendary actor Carrie Fisher who said: “Stay afraid – but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.” A sophisticated way of saying, “Fake it till you make it”.

Those are words I try to live by. I am lucky that I was conditioned that way. From the time I was a child, my parents drummed it into me: be true to yourself and live only for your own approval – no one else’s.

A lot is and has been said about the peer pressures that come with being a teenager and being in your early 20s, yet the societal pressures of adulthood are often conveniently left out of the narrative. Adulthood brings with it a lot of pressure to conform. We’re presented with the illusion of freewill, but if we don’t follow certain things society prescribes to us (becoming mothers if we’re women, for instance), people around us can act like we’re some sort of aliens.

The world of work is no different. We keep acting as though the workplace looks how it did 20 years ago and we’re expected to make the same choices as those who came before us, from what we study to how long we work at a company.

But here’s the thing: the world’s always been an uncertain place, and it’s especially uncertain to be living and working or studying (if you’re one of the lucky ones) in South Africa today. We are in too volatile a society and economy to live our lives with anything less than courage.

Everything is scary, but if you have the privilege (and this extends beyond financial privilege), it’s important that you try to do what speaks to you and what makes you happy or least miserable.

Living in a capitalist world means most people can’t afford to be without employment, even though a staggering amount of us are, but I’ve always approached my career by remaining true to my values and to myself.

And no, I haven’t had everything handed to me. Growing up, I went to bed hungry a fair amount, and I missed out on school for various reasons (like not having school shoes). That means I’ve always had this determination to not let anyone or anything dictate the terms of my life but me.

What’s important to me, when it comes to my career, is growth.

I’ve never been afraid to leave a job once I feel like I am no longer growing (for me, growth is learning). Even when I don’t know what’s next, even when I’m petrified, I will jump and hope I don’t break some bones while doing so. That’s my non-negotiable.

So, if you can, find out what your non-negotiable is and then try your best to stick to it. Use it like a compass that will point you to your north.

“Stay afraid – but do it anyway.”

Denim jacket & jeans: Zara.

T-shirt: H&M Styled by Karin Orzol.

Photographed by Judd van Rensburg

Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi

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DESTINY CAREERS

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MELODY MOLALE AND OTHERS Page 100

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CEO & PUBLISHER: DESTINY CAREERS & CTC COLLEGE Mpho Madzibadela GENERAL MANAGER Nkokheli Lindazwe EDITOR Pearl Boshomane Tsotetsi CHIEF SUB-EDITOR Unathi Shologu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lawrence Manyapelo GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karabo Maboe FEATURES WRITER Maki Molapo

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“Saying no is just as valuable as saying yes.”

- Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Contents

74

14

14

20

Be Miss South Africa for a day

Getting to know Orapeleng Modutle

DIARY

April 2020 - Issue 04

| APRIL 2020

COVER

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32

What to consider before moving abroad

Frank Casino is writing himself into existence

ADVICE

8

20

18

OPINION

Pushing the reset button on manhood

LONG READ

52

GROOVE

When partying is your work

DESTINY CAREERS

52

86 108 64

86

The art of coloured identity

Everyone has a Corolla story…

COMPLEXITIES

MEMORIES

72

98

Bloem’s booming creative hubs

Vuyo Varoy ups your makeup game

FEATURE

74

GREEN

The business of recycling

80

MONEY

How to know when you’re being scammed

BEAUTY

108

EXIT INTERVIEW

Tumelo on the childhood lesson he lives by

Hey

Contributors 2020 - Issue 04

Bongani Tau Twitter/ IG/ FB: @simplybongani

Cynthia Mpe IG: @Thefonteiner

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

American novelist James Baldwin, a sharp writer and an even sharper debater. His work is social commentary on socioeconomic ills, pleasant art, activism for silenced voices and a tool to appraise and archive the black experience.

Which fictional character do you wish you could meet?

Mad Max. He has a very interesting perspective of reality and the psychological mechanics applied into the interpretation of his character are deep. Fascinating!

Ace Moloi Twitter: @Ace_Moloi

What makes each day worth waking up to?

Knowing that my writings narrate people’s feelings and experiences in a way they can’t express themselves.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Hey

“Stop a minute, right where you are. Relax your shoulders, shake your head and spine like a dog shaking off cold water. Tell that imperious voice in your head to be still.�

- Barbara Kingsolver, author

Shout out

Letters

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Destiny Careers

I’m a huge fan of Kopano Matlwa’s, and I loved the cover story you did on her and Dineo Lusenga! Two brilliant, bold and real black women, who aren’t afraid to open up about what drives them and what scares them. It’s always inspiring when people open up about topics like failure without sugarcoating it with the usual clichés (e.g. “I’m not afraid of failure”). Beyond that, I love that you explored what failure means to them – amazing. Thanks for a great edition, keep inspiring us!

– Olga N, Johannesburg

Thank you for a beautiful and inspirational cover story. I especially loved that Kopano Matlwa said the most important lesson she has learned is to trust her own truth and to trust her own voice. That’s something many of us can learn from, especially in this world of noise.

– Lebo, Johannesburg

I’m hooked on the magazine. It’s hard to find, but it’s worth the hunt.

- JP, Theresa Park

The mixture of content in DESTINY CAREERS is lovely. There are things to learn from, things to chew on, things to entertain and things to discover (such as Remy Ngamije’s novel – I went out immediately to buy it. It’s great). It’s also cool to see names like Cheeky Natives in the mag.

Keep up the good work.

- Themba, Cape Town

@Destiny_Careers got my March issue vandag, love the work you guys are doing.

Thank you @Destiny_Careers for a great spread

Paused some design work to peep at the March issue of Destiny Careers, so many more black creatives and pioneers being documented. I’m really loving this..

- Joe Human @joe_human_

-2/2 @Introspective_T

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- Thabiso Bapela @ThabisoB

DESTINY CAREERS

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Diary

SASHA-LEE OLIVIER’S diary

You know how we all have the same 24 hours and yet it sometimes feels like some people have more hours in their day? And how you can’t help but wish to be a fly on whichever wall to gain some insight on how they do it all in just a day?

12 HOURS

with Miss South Africa

Reigning Miss South Africa Sasha-Lee Olivier lives each day to help uplift those around her facing varying challenges — a trait fitting for a national ambassador in a country with many perplexing problems.

The secrets to her positivity and harnessed happiness is in her lifestyle. From journaling thoughts, to exercising twice a day and eating as healthy as possible, Sasha-Lee reciprocates the love her body shows her. Proving to all of us that self love is the first and most important love anyone can receive.

Over and above running a non-profit company called the Blue Jersey Foundation, being an assistant teacher for differently abled kids, Sasha-Lee is also pursuing a degree at Wits with a double major in Psychology and Marketing. by bongani tau

04:30 -

Regardless of how demanding the previous day’s commitments may be, I always find myself waking up at this time. The reason why this is important to me is because I regard this as my quiet time. It’s a time where I sit down and plan week, my day and make a meaningful contribution to the projects I’m working on.

05:30 -

I’m getting updated on the news and what is currently happening. It’s very important to be on top of the news of what is happening not only in our country but in the world because as Miss South Africa we need to obviously lend our voices to a multitude of projects and movements.

05:45 -

I go to Switch classes. An even better time of the day, and I love it! I love the playlist in the morning, it really gets me going. There’s nothing like getting a workout in the morning. It really gets you started. I live for my morning workouts because it contributes to my energy, it sets the pace for the day. Switch has been instrumental in my fitness throughout my Miss South Africa journey and going forward it’s something I will do consistently.

06:45 -

This is when I listen to my podcast while I’m in the bathroom getting ready for the day . This is when I get my emotional upliftment for the day. There are a lot of things that we are involved in that can be emotionally taxing, so there’s nothing like listening to your favourite podcast while you put on make-up in front of the mirror.

08:00 –

This is when I engage with my friends on social media and do my daily check-ins.

I try to reply to as many DM’s as I can and respond to as many of the people that engage with me on social media as I can.

09:00 –

I find myself at the hairdresser which is Hair by Jako, which is amazing! I don’t know if I go there for the blow wave or if I go there for the head massage. But the head massage is really amazing. This time is usually the calm before the storm, because my day takes off immediately after.

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–

I stop by for a status meeting at Nine Squared regarding my Miss South Africa obligations or I’d be at Boss Models fulfilling my obligations there. Being an international model signed both in South Africa and in Germany I’m fortunate enough to still carry on working as a model through the Miss South Africa organisation.

14:30 – 16:30

I’m with LFP, one of our main sponsors. We do Campus visits quite often. Being agents of change, being very much instrumental in affording individuals who are differently abled opportunities, I am very happy to be a part of this family. Being an assistant teacher for kids that are differently abled, I really respect

18:30 –

From campus visits I go straight to ‘Pilates on 7th’. I find this being… you know one of those things that you never realised was that good for you. It’s a very slow paced exercise and it works on strengthening each part of the body. Not only individually but working towards a place where you are in balance. Often I find myself working out twice a day. I think it’s necessary for the fast paced life that we live to maintain our fitness levels and really look after our bodies.

19:00 –

I usually cook around this time and video call my mother and niece.

That’s the moment of the day where I get grounded again.

Diary

12:00 13:00

Sasha-Lee Olivier Trivia What’s your life’s motto?

Everything will come on it’s a chosen day- these are the words I live by. I think the Miss South Africa journey alone is very much indicative of that, that sometimes it’s a case of destiny delayed and not destiny denied. books that have impacted your life?

I’ve always said that I am a product of the conversations that resonate with me the most. In this instance, the books that have played a part in shaping me are The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma and Becoming by Michelle Obama.

While The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari was instrumental in helping me find my purpose and inspiring action. A quote from Michelle Obama in her book Becoming Michelle Obama that the most useless question we can ask a child is what they would like to be when they grow up, as the destination isn’t finitesheds light on the fact that this process of pursuing purpose would be constant.

What do you think is our purpose in life?

Our purpose is to serve, but how we execute that- given the time frame of our lives that we find ourselves in, would make how we serve over that period differ.

Intelligence or wisdom, what’s more important for a better world?

We have knowledge readily available at our fingertips in what I would dub the communal briefcase- the internet.

Without wisdom, one wouldn’t know

what to do with it thus, I would say that the latter is of greater importance.

What has been your biggest challenge in life?

The hardest challenge I have had to overcome was understanding that I was worthy- worthy of a better life or worthy of what the world had to offer.

How did you overcome it?

How I overcome this feeling is by making a decision- daily, to not make this feeling subject to what external parties say.

Best [business or career] lesson learned?

Best business lesson learned- learn on the job. There are people less qualified than you assuming the role you would like, so it’s up to you to show up- don’t wait to be ready.

Who inspires you the most?

The season I am in requires me to look a lot more to myself for inspiration. I look at what I’ve overcome, understanding that the same God that was beside me in the previous battle will get me through the one I am now faced with- that readies me for what lay ahead.

If you could influence policies and legislation, what important changes would you introduce to help alleviate some of the country’s problems.

At the core of every economy is human capital. That being said, I think it is imperative that we invest in subsets of the human development index within our country- that being Education, or access to healthcare.

This to ascertain that our people perform optimally in the workplace and are able to make a meaningful contribution to the economy which could be further invested into future generations. In short, we need to look at the dire state of mental-ill health and the effect it has on the economy. Numerous studies support that 1 in 4 suffer from presenteeism in the workplace, we need to go beyond formulating policy hereaction is necessary.

What did you enjoy doing the most with Zozibini Tunzi?

I enjoyed our YouTube playlists. I was always the one making snacks and she was always the one choosing what to watch on Netflix.

What legacy do you want to leave?

A legacy is something that is so far reaching and meaningful- evident in every life we touch so it’s difficult to quantify.

Advice

M

aking the decision to move abroad can be an equally exhilarating and terrifying time of your life. Becoming an expat takes more than booking a flight and finding a new home.

Before saying goodbye to your home country, you need to get organised, create a to-do list and ensure all your documents are in order. The last thing you want to do is forget something important that can hinder a successful move. Below is what you need to consider before moving abroad. (Please note this is general information – you need to research the specific countries or regions you plan to go to for thorough and accurate information).

Passports Many countries require passports to be valid for no less than six months before you plan to leave a country.

Even if your passport is valid for another nine months, but you plan on being an expat for half a year, it won’t be enough time. Renewing a passport while abroad is not going to be as easy as it is in South Africa. Make sure you plan ahead and do your research.

Things to consider before moving abroad

So, you want to leave your home country to work or study somewhere else? First consider the basics, writes Wandi Jama

Visas Generally, the following are the different types of visas that are available for South Africans: Volunteer and Internship Visa: These visas are easier to obtain than work visas, since they do not involve paid employment, although most short-term volunteers and interns (up to three months) usually perform their work with a tourist visa or permit. Many countries such as the United Kingdom and France require an official visa for volunteer work or internships.

Student Visa: If you intend to enrol at a university abroad, you first need to apply at the university and receive an acceptance letter. Once you are accepted, you need to be able to show evidence through your bank statements that you can afford both the tuition fees and living expenses for the first year. Students are usually granted a visa for a year and that can usually be extended.

Long-term Work Visa: Obtaining a long-term work visa for any country is difficult as you need a job offer, and your potential employer needs to prove to local authorities that they have advertised locally and that you are the best candidate for the job. After the local authorities have approved your employment, you can then proceed to apply for a work permit at the respective consulate in South Africa. If you change jobs, you need to start over with the visa application process.

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Savings and living expenses Consider the cost of living and how much you are willing to save each month. Salaries will vary greatly between different locations. For example, salaries will be much higher in Australia than in South East Asia but it will also be a lot more expensive to rent an apartment or buy your weekly groceries. A great place to prepare for the expenses you will incur living overseas is on Numbeo’s cost of living index website, which allows expats to easily compare the differences between costs in their home countries with their new country of choice. In some cases, expats incur additional costs for medical aid and property fees.

DESTINY CAREERS

Your health Consider arranging an appointment with your doctor to ensure that you are healthy. Inform your doctor of your moving plans and make sure you get a copy of your medical records that you can take with you. You’ll want to have this information available in case you get sick in your new country and need to give a doctor your health history.

Find out what vaccines you need to enter your new country and arrange to get them at least a few months prior. Some need more than one cycle and you don’t want to be denied entry into a country for not being properly vaccinated.

For example, in China, a vaccination for malaria is recommended, as is one for yellow fever if travelling to Nigeria or Argentina, for instance. Certain countries are now more concerned about pandemics like the coronavirus.

Many international health insurance policies even require applicants to get specific vaccines in order to qualify for their health coverage.

Political and risk climate of the country Even the safest of countries may have travel warnings associated with it, and knowing these ahead of time can help prepare an expat.

Great resources for viewing up-to-date travel warnings include the US Department of State website, CDC Travel Health Notices, Gov.UK Foreign Travel Advice and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Remember, even if a destination country is safe, there may be important travel advisories that need to be considered.

Taxes Check with your accountant or financial advisor before leaving to better understand the tax rules and requirements. From 1 March 2020, income below R1million earned by South Africans living abroad will be exempt from tax and any remuneration earned in excess of that will be subject to normal tax.

The expat tax will affect South African tax residents who are

Advice

outside the country for longer than 183 days during any 12-month period and a continuous minimum of over 60 days. South Africans living in countries with no tax treaties with South Africa can claim from the South African Revenue Service where there has been double tax.

Understand the Healthcare System Each country has a unique set of qualifications for receiving nationalised care.

In many countries, you are required to purchase medical aid as a condition of being allowed to live there. For example, France requires all expats to have medical aid. Private international health insurance provides borderless coverage and safeguards expats against illnesses abroad particularly in the event of an emergency medical evacuation.

Additional information that you should also be aware of before moving include how to qualify for healthcare, what is needed, what medical treatments are available, how you pay for care and if a national system is in place.

Familiarise yourself with the transport system When moving to a new country, it’s important to solve your transportation issues and know what mode of transport you will use. Some countries have reliable, easy-to-use transportation systems, while others will require you to have your own personal vehicle.

Research what your new country offers and understand how you will get around. If public transportation is an option, learn how to use the system and what payment (such as a card) is required.

Laws are different in each country as well. In America, drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road, for instance. If private transportation is needed, make sure you know the best way to purchase a vehicle. You will need to have an international car insurance plan when driving abroad.

You should look into if it includes political violence coverage, which protects damage to your car resulting from riots, strikes, and terrorism.

Housing and Rental Take some time to research rental prices in your desired city or area. Are apartments usually non-furnished? What is the best way to find housemates? Will you need to bring a deposit and references? You can usually find this information on expat discussion boards or Facebook groups such as ‘South Africans living abroad Public Group’.

It’s important that you consider how you are going to make friends in your new destination. While work is a great place to meet like-minded locals you should also research some potential clubs or sports teams that you could join when you arrive. Making friends will help you to acclimatise to your new surroundings much quicker.

Opinion

Manhood that isn’t self-destructive and violent to others words esihle lupindo

Masculinity differs but it has common traits that exist across various spectrums. Depending on where a person grows up, the construction and expression of masculinity can often affect their own presentation of their masculinity. I am very interested in thinking around the changing of the masculinity of people born from the mid-1980s going through to the 1990s, and the emergence or beginning of the people who were born from 2000.

Part of my interest in the makeup of the 2000+ generation is that the people born from 2000 are now young adults who are working, studying in institutions of higher learning, and consuming and shaping popular culture. They are no longer children who cannot make their own decisions, or deemed as people who cannot think for themselves.

If we consider the political atmosphere that people who were born in the 1980s lived in, we start to think of a very militant, harsh and emotionless kind of masculinity, with an almost unbending perception on the gendering of clothing.

But through observation there is almost a very distinct look of masculinity from that era that ‘looks African’, even though being African is multilayered. But the masculinity of that time looks as if it would be applicable and/or similar in various African countries.

The drastic change that I have observed in the masculinity of people that were born from 2000 is that it seems more globally relevant, with heavy influence of queer masculinity expression and presentation. There are more conversations, at least in the digital space, about men and therapy, the music and clothing items that are purchased and worn are very similar to the American landscape.

The first time we saw that clothing items were not as rigid in their classification was probably with men wearing crop tops, which has been on the rise recently in various geographical locations. We see this through musicians such as Yanga Chief, who recently shared a picture of himself in a crop top on social media. We also saw this use of crop tops and men in skirts a lot during the many Pride events that took place last year.

I think the future of African masculinities is one that has to be emotionally available, nonthreatening and nonviolent. It is also constantly evolving and one that is constantly adapting to and from being observed. We know from the United Nations that in 2015 there were 226 million young African people between the ages 15-24 and, if the people who are aged between 25-35 are included, then young people made up three quarters of the continents population, which means the African continent is home to the largest number of young people in the world, with an increase in population expected.

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My prediction is that when so many young people are in the continent then the global lens is bound to shift towards us, as we have seen with artists such as Black Coffee, Trevor Stuurman and Nakhane. Globally, the continent is already being looked at differently in the way men think, feel and respond to social issues – politically, in academia, the creative space and in popular culture. However, this observation is not only coming from outside the continent, it’s also within our social communities — it’s fair to say that younger boys observe ways of being men from those who are older.

(Whether it’s seniors being watched by their juniors at school, or it’s teenagers watching young adults in their communities).

And to create more healthy masculinities that are positively evolving there have to be healthier methods of responding and acting which can be passed down, even if the passing down of those traits and experiences is subconscious.

This can, partly, be created through emotionally and physically safe spaces and being open to the realities that there is no one way of being a man and that even manhood is varied across sexual orientations. In thinking about the ways in which masculinities are layered we have to be aware that their masculinities are almost intertwined. South Africa was the first country on the continent to constitutionally protect people who are homosexual but the laws against homosexuality in most African countries still remain heavyhanded. The effect on this restriction is that (homosexual) men in different parts of the continent cannot influence each other, therefore, masculinities could be evolving in different and isolated ways because as much as we live on the same continent we do not know each other due to the lack of safety to previously unprescribed forms of masculinity.

When this happens, men are unable to share ways of being and dealing with matters that affect them the most. We need to start thinking seriously, collectively, as people who live on this continent, especially men, about the ways we can share vigorous manhoods that are not violent and dangerous to ourselves and the people around us. By doing this we forge new ways of raising boy children and that might be a ways of resolving the masculinity problems that we are faced with in different countries in the continent.

- Esihle Lupindo is a Black Queer South African writer and Sociologist who cares about marginalised people and identities and how they navigate the world.

He is on a constant journey of finding the truth, learning and unlearning. His social media handle for both Twitter and Instagram is @EsihleL.

DESTINY CAREERS

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.�

- Zora Neale Hurson, author

Cover

Orapeleng’s flair for fashion rea khoabane

He ate.

Orapeleng Modutle, founder and creative director of O.M. Style Avenue, is one of the leading names in South African fashion. Born and raised in Kimberly, the designer is known for his modern contemporary designs and has dressed the best in the entertainment industry, including Bonang Matheba, Boity Thulo, Somizi Mhlongo, Thando Thabethe, Minnie Dlamini, Pearl Modiadie and Nigerian media darling Toke Makinwa.

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Cover What was your first job?

I used to work at a salon in Kimberly. After I graduated with a degree in Fashion from the Tshwane University of Technology [TUT], I interned at Stoned Cherrie, the brand owned

by Nkhensani Nkosi.

What drew you to fashion?

Growing up, I used to do needle work which was influenced by my mother and grandmother – that’s where I inherited the skills. As a teenager, I would take my mother’s clothes and turn them into male outfits, LOL. That’s something which influenced not only the designs I would go on to create, but also my personal style.

Please take us on a journey through your career. How did you get into the fashion industry?

In 2009, I moved from Kimberly to Bloemfontein to do a bridging course that would improve my grades so that I could make into TUT and study fashion. My first year was in 2010 and then to obtain my diploma I did my practical studies at Stoned Cherrie for six weeks in 2012.

After that, [Nkhensani] called me back and asked to me work with her for four months.

Gradually working my way into the industry, I then worked for La Collezione Dei Conti, based in Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.

How did your family react when you told them you wanted to be a designer?

My brother didn’t like it and wanted me to

study marketing. You know, traditional jobs that put food on the table. But my mother was supportive because she knew that’s what made me happy.

How does your creative process work?

Firstly, it depends where I am emotionally, as I believe art is a reflection of an artist’s state of mind – which is then inspired by my client’s state of being. It can be anything they’re going through at that particular time for example travel, success, becoming new mom or even getting married.

How do you know when a dress or creation is finished?

When the dress fits perfectly on the body and enhances all the natural attributes on my client’s body. The garment must be tailored to perfection, which can only happen if you have a supportive team and are a master at delegating.

Do you love all of the work you’ve done?

LOL… of course not. There are some that works if I had the opportunity to remake, I would.

However, I appreciate those pieces because that’s the only way one can learn.

Are you a perfectionist?

Hell yeah. When it comes to the work and

Cover

master of my craft but in my personal life I’m just a chilled person.

What’s been the highlight of your career thus far?

When I was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2018. That propelled me to have the confidence to showcase in Paris in 2019.

And the lowlight?

When I lost my mother in 2018.

What’s the harshest lesson you’ve learned?

Not everyone will believe in your dreams. Therefore, I had to learn to keep certain things to myself.

And the best lesson you’ve learned?

Never underestimate anyone that walks through your door. It can be a client, someone asking for directions or someone asking to intern. We don’t know where people come from and what the future holds for them.

What have you learned about running a business since starting?

I’m constantly learning and that had to come with building a team that I can trust. I have not reached my best but the losses and the wins along the way have taught me it wouldn’t be possible without a team and the criticism.

Are you good at networking?

Honestly, I’m good at socialising but when I do go out, I end up networking because it’s good for business. If you’re not good at networking, then you should consider getting someone like an agent to help you with it.

How do you bounce back from setbacks?

I plan better and learn from mistakes. I’m a very spiritual person and I speak to God a lot and that helps me let the steam off.

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Pink suit - Markham White button up shirt - Pringle Shoes - Preview Sandton

Most important lesson learned, personally or professionally?

What’s your favourite quality about yourself?

In both: Never burn your bridges or hold a grudge because you never know when you’ll have to sit in the same room with that person again.

I have a good heart.

How do you think luxury fashion will fare post-Coronavirus, and what should be done to increase the chances of it thriving again?

This is an advantage for fashion designers to go online and use that platform as a tool to reach their clients more than before. At the same time, we should also strategise on how to work with brands because [with many shops] currently shutting down, we can use the online platforms to have clients come to us directly, and come together as one and do more collaborations among ourselves, and build our own networks.

What Laduma Ngxokolo and Nelson Makamo did with the carpet auction was a brilliant idea that can also help rejuvinate the textile industry.

What is your safe space?

Being around my family and around people who genuinely care about my well being.

What is your ethos?

Always share with others, no matter how little you have.

What are you currently watching?

Money Heist.

What are you currently listening to?

What’s your favourite quality in others?

Love.

Your most dominant characteristic?

Diva.

Your biggest flaw?

I’m impatient.

What do you most appreciate in your friends?

Their honesty, and that they don’t judge.

On what occasion do you lie?

I’m actually learning that there’s no reason to lie.

What would lead you to cut someone off?

Dishonesty.

What’s your favourite possession?

The unsold collections to look at later in life.

Your idea of happiness?

Peace.

Elements by Elaine.

What’s been consuming your mind lately?

How to come out of Covid-19 and hopefully become better.

Describe yourself in two words.

Hardworking and driven.

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Cover Your idea of misery?

Best advice you’ve ever received?

Not having peace.

Put God first, always.

Which word or phrase do you overuse?

How would you like to be remembered?

“AMAZING!”

Having inspired others.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

What is your current state of mind?

I pray.

What’s the last thing you do at night?

Wash my face.

Night owl or morning bird?

Night owl.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?

Kim Kardashian.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Mahatma Gandhi. He had great leadership skills which I use in business.

If you could only listen to only one album for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Human by Brandy.

Trying to be optimistic every day and being in a space where I know that even if things don’t work out, I’m happy with who I am.

Do you have any advice for aspiring designers?

Find your true identity – that will inspire you to identify your clients and to learn that market so that you’re able to create what they can afford.

What does your future look like?

I’m currently working on a virtual space where I’m creating my own content and driving my own narrative with hopes of attracting brands. I’m also working on a collection and – if things work out – it will show at the end of the year.

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DESTINY CAREERS

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Frank Casino Bongani Tau

Emile Kamanda

Writing himself into existence In an industry where one has to work hard for a decade to seem like an overnight success, Frank Casino discusses the importance of relationships, brand collaborations and ensuring he does not get exploited

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Long read It’s a Sunday afternoon. A dreadful one. We can’t pile up in synagogues, or have any other spiritual gathering. At the centre is the knowledge that amidst our afflictions there’s purpose and meaning, as we bask in saving truths that challenge our collective sense of self. Looking through the window, I can hardly see the sun obscured by an overcast sky. I’m listening to Frank Casino’s Whole Thing (Extended) — the stripped-down version of the hit song. The choir in the background is the closest I’ll get to church today.

The meeting is about to start. I’ve sent the Zoom link to his PR team and I wait for him to accept and join me. Covid-19 has really disrupted how we do business. Complying with the strict regulations of the lockdown, we’re about to engage virtually. Casino finally joins and to no surprise, he is in the studio, listening to music, wearing a Madonna t-shirt.

I can’t help but wonder what’s going through his mind. Unlike most of his industry peers, he doesn’t tweet how he feels; “I ain’t built that way,” he says in one of his songs Black Metallic.

Speaking of Twitter, Casino’s participation in the app is sporadic. “It’s funny because Twitter always asks what’s on your mind. “I don’t think it’s ideal to say what’s on my mind,” he says. “I also don’t like getting into debates. I ain’t here for that.”

This answer would be satisfying had I not checked his Twitter. His fans are constantly clamouring for his music and his views, which may present a conundrum for an artist who

likes to keep his personal life personal. So how does he balance satisfying the demand from his fans while maintain a private life?

“I am only here for what they know me for, which is music. That’s my contribution to the culture,” he says.

“I can have the people starve for the music for some time… I like to take my time, that’s hours that we put in, so that it comes from somewhere. When that happens, I feel like people will appreciate it, you know? This way, we know the music will never be forgotten.”

Seeing as he’s averse to sharing his thoughts publicly, I take the opportunity to enquire about what’s happening in his mind at this very moment. “I’m just thinking about growth.

I’m constantly thinking about bettering myself as a person. Whether it’s relationships with family, friends, or women… Things I might have not picked up on this entire time.”

Long read

Raised in Tembisa, Casino moved to Lindley in the Free State before circling back to Kempton Park, where his parents now live. Speaking about his childhood Frank describes himself as a curious kid. Naughty by nature. His early musical influences were Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Xzibit, among other West Coast musicians. His dad was apparently the plug. He’d later be introduced to Jay-Z and Nas by him.

“When I started understanding what they meant, I started elevating somehow,” Casino says.

Talking mostly about Nasir’s complex subject matter and both his and Jay’s impeccable metaphors and rhyme schemes — Jay-Z would go on to become Casino’s distant mentor in the music business. This is evident in his determination to remain independent as an artist.

Are Dr. Dre and Jay some of the artists that inspired his moves both as a musician and as an aspiring businessman?

“I would say so... Largely I think it’s Jay-Z with the whole Roc-A-Fella movement. I only caught on to it later when I understood it more. My dad has always been the one instilling the mentality of business. So, I’d say he is also a large part of that influence.”

Considering, Casino’s influences, whose side was he on during the beef between Jay and Nas? “I didn’t have a particular person who was a favourite of mine. I like each of them for a specific reason… Like Nas, I dig his flow. I liked how he rhymed. His delivery is amazing... With Jay-Z, it was less of his cadence actually but more of his demeanour … That’s how I deciphered it.”

Casino’s catalogue of musical influences would eventually extend to Lil Wayne and 50 Cent, among other rappers that took the industry to a new era. One notable stable that had an impact was Birdman and Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records which signed many artists, one of whom is global superstar Drake. At this point in our conversation, I wonder about the value of co-signs and the role industry relationships play towards the success of an artist.

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Pink suit - Markham White button up shirt - Pringle Shoes - Preview Sandton

“I don’t think I understood the value of relationships. I just saw the association thing being a big part of growth and success. The other thing I realised later is that in hip-hop, cosigns are so key to something that solidifies you; because you come up as a stranger and people want to know what your track record is. So, a co-sign verifies you,” Casino says.

His road to stardom dates back to 2004 (when he started making music with friends) to 2016 when he broke into the mainstream scene, thanks to his chart-topping debut radio single Whole Thing. Following the success of the song was its remix with Riky Rick which soared to critical acclaim, enjoying plenty of radio airplay, streams, over a million views on YouTube, as well as nabbing the 2017 Best Remix at the SA Hip-Hop Awards.

Before the Whole Thing remix, Casino featured in DJ Speedsta’s hit single Mayo, which got a lot of people to sit up and really pay attention to him. Riky Rick and DJ Speedsta’s co-signs propelled Casino to greater heights. And in the

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remix, Casino gives them a nod, saying “see Speedy lit the flame and I blew up sh*t. If you don’t know you might assume that I blew up quick… Riky co-sign. Got me blue ticks, I guess now I’m verified.”

But was it just a co-sign? Did his relationship with Speedsta end there? Seemingly not.

“I’ve gained a new friend; leeway and recognition from others in the industry.”

What about Riky Rick? “I was introduced to Riky by his photographer at the time by the name of Yeah Lenzo… he had a vision. Riky saw something in me and we discussed.

We gave each other points on what we think. He’s more like a brother” The greatest lesson Casino learnt from Riky Rick, he says, is to be humble. “For me, I understood it as remaining calm, and staying focused on what I am here to do.”

DESTINY CAREERS

Long read Cover

“

“I don’t think I understood the value of relationships.

I just saw the association thing being a big part of growth and success.

The other thing I realised later is that in hip-hop, co-signs are so key to something that solidifies you; because you come up as a stranger and people want to know what your track record is.

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“

“Know your worth and demand it” Know your worth and demand it After the features, which now include international hip-hop star A$AP Ferg, Casino started getting deals which included, but were not limited to, a syncTV commercial deal for the 2018 Ford Fiesta launch in South Africa, a syncTV commercial deal with Castle Lite which saw him team up with Nadia Nakai for the song Money Calling, and a deal with Converse.

Some artists have complained about their being exploited by bigger brands. This is a continuing bone contention, but Casino maintains that, “you don’t have to think about a deal only in the negative sense.” He believes that artists should also make the most of their partnerships with bigger brands, that they need to negotiate better and always ensure there’s “value exchange”. If anything, artists should leverage on the bigger brand’s authority.

What about the deals that go wrong? More specifically what has affected some of his deals? The answer is simple: “being stubborn”. Stubborn about his brand, that is. “The thing is that you understand how you value your brand, and if you feel that it doesn’t meet whatever it is that you guys are trying to reach in terms of goals then… *insert shrugging emoji*.”

Jay-Z has previously said on Oprah’s Master Class: “In a genre of music where it’s almost microwave and your career is almost in dog years; you last three years in hiphop, you’re fantastic!”

Frank Casino started with a clear intention his contribution

towards the culture — to offer himself and his story to the world through music. An endeavour that has not only given him resonance with his fans but has also netted a cult following. He strikes a careful balance between his private life and meeting the demands of fans, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important ingredients of success.

Industry Politics In 2016 AKA took to social media to talk about how local artists were treated by organisers when they are hosting international acts. He then said that he’d never open for an international act again. Seeing that Frank has shared stages and opened for acts like Chance The Rapper, Migos, Travis Scott and Swizz Beatz, it’s interesting to hear his thoughts .

“I think it shouldn’t be set up like that, but most of our artists aren’t recognised internationally. So, this compromises what we’re trying to achieve in terms of our own artists being the main acts.

“You just need to know your role. Understand the purpose you’re serving at the time, but it’s a vast conversation. It also depends on the conversation you have with the organisers,” Casino says.

Getting this far hasn’t necessarily been easy, Casino admits.

At the beginning the road was paved with numerous challenges, particularly as an unknown artist, but popularity also comes with its own challenges. “When you’re new there are no expectations. Whatever you put out is what people will receive, but when they recognise you they start having expectations.hen you’re new there are no expectations.

Long read

Whatever you put out is what people will receive, but when they recognise you they start having expectations.”

“There’s going to be a point when people feel, ‘his music was better than now’.

Like I said, this thing is about growth and different phases of your life, you’re not gonna face the same challenges.”

Pioneer something One of these challenges is co-running his own label Globe Field. Currently, the label has only Casino on the roster, with no intentions of signing another artist (as yet). He feels that if any artist is to undertake the road less travelled they should “be financially educated, and understand the structures that you need to put in place”.

Starting a label is one thing, but running it is another. We’ve seen many attempt and fail. How does Casino plan to navigate these murky waters?

“Time. I think that time is the greatest commodity.”

I ask him, “what would give you more time? More people?”

“Yes,” he replies. “You can get people on the team but it’s hard to find people that are loyal to the vision. That’s one of the biggest challenges that we’re facing as a business.”

Globe Field has its eye set on a distribution deal with an international label and is currently in talks with more than one label, negotiating terms. “We have been having discussions with other companies. Just tryna speed up the process in terms of all the things that we are doing.”

But what role would he play?

“On our side, for instance, exposure, PR and getting into certain platforms is a challenge. So, we are speaking to people who can get us across and help us break through barriers.”

On signing There are a lot of politics around the idea of signing to a label as an artist. Most of which revolve around the fact that labels have exploited artists and then disposed of them after using their talent to make money. So, I wanted to know if Frank would sign.

“Here’s the thing about signing. I have no issue with signing. I always felt that you need to find a deal that is tailor-made from you - and independence as an artist stems from different places. Not just from not signing but being an independent individual in the label.”

It is part of Jewish custom to celebrate Rosh Hashanah which means, “head of the year”. Where the old makes way for the new. In a similar respect, the impact of a global pandemic has made us all pause and reflect while the old makes way for the new. Hope is our reason to celebrate, while a new wave of musicians, like Frank Casino, ushers us into a new world order.

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“If you don’t design your life, then someone else may just design it for you, and you may not like their idea of balance.”

Nigel Marsh, author

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Opinion

The gap between policy and actual lived experiences Our young democracy has seen us welcome a lot of change on the creation of policies to foster inclusion of previously disadvantaged communities and groups into participation in the country’s economy. One of the fields whose transformation has been loudly and widely broadcasted is that the Higher Education fraternity. This is a system that, during the apartheid era, substantially imposed the characters of inequality and exclusion of black people. When democracy finally snuggled warmly in its seat, it was one of the first issues that came to the fore.

To give it weight, the policies that are central to the fairness and equal access to education, are supported by the constitution, which sates: “Everyone has the right to a basic education, including adult basic education; and to further education, which the state, through reasonable measures, must make progressively available and accessible.”

But with movements such as #FeesMustFall, some have awakened to the loopholes high education grapples with.

It is honestly safe to say that it is easy to access entrance into an institution of higher learning, the question, however, becomes the sustainability of this ease and the maintenance of one’s stay in these institutions and consequently; appropriate exit out of the institution.

It is important that the government and the powers that be be interrogated on their commitment to creating policies that not only make these inclusions possible but also maintain their playout.

According to statistics, the number of dropouts within the “Other” category of race has increased now more than ever. Dropout rate increases are due to various factors, one being exclusion — both financial and academic. I believe that when policies are being constructed, the focus should not only be applied to the implementation but also on the thorough maintenance of these policies.

Now to address the issue on why these two exclusions have been significant factors that contribute to the high dropout rates: In 2017 StatsSA indicated that a whopping 42% of registered students dropped out immediately or later, which is a very high number considering that the whole point of “opening education for all’ is not just for the standing ovation but for it to actually fulfill its role. There has been clear activism against financial exclusion, but we rarely hear anything regarding academic exclusion which actually holds the bigger portion of the 42%.

Academic exclusion is exclusion from an institution of higher education on grounds of poor performance. The question is, what are higher learning institutions and government doing to alleviate these high dropout rates?

What support and relief are new students provided to assist them with getting through their studies? A research 48

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Thoughts Cynthia Mpe

report by Mike Murray on the University of KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the factors affecting graduation and student dropout rates, has identified certain socio-economic variables that impede learning at higher education level.

These factors are often personalised and difficult to track, which makes it easy for governing authorities to sweep under the carpet.

The truth is, not everyone has the psychological and mental capacity to handle the pressure of adjusting to new environments and for black students the pressure is amplified because for some it’s a complete overhaul of background, lifestyle and everything that life used to be for them.

We must be honest about the fact that a black student’s first year of adjustment is a lot different from his/her white counterpart’s.

A majority of black students who are granted entrance into an institution of higher learning, are from disadvantaged backgrounds and the notion that the possession of a higher education qualification will assist them in improving their lives is just a half truth. We have absolutely no right to fragment these student’s lives and reduce their lifespans to a future which might not even be the right solution.

We must be considerate of the in between space of life that these students have while they are working towards graduating. Let’s be realistic, these are real people facing real survival challenges which will not be solved by mere counselling support. I am talking about students who are heading households with two or more younger siblings and students who must take care of their families with the financial aid money.

The situation sounds a little exaggerated, but the truth is, there are people who live this reality daily.

I myself, as a victim of this academic exclusion due to psychological difficulties, got to have a conversation with an HOD of my then department regarding my exclusion.

I asked him what his grounds were for kicking me out of the University and the only thing he could present me with were my results throughout the years. My subsequent statement to him was to make him aware that what he was presenting to me was merely a piece of paper that highlighting only a fraction of the blows I had experienced in that space.

I made him aware that in the five years that had been allocated to complete my degree, I had experienced, for the first three years, significant losses (through death) of family members while trying to stay afloat at school because taking a break from school had been made a DESTINY CAREERS

Opinion taboo by the same people who are keeping us out of school.

In my reasoning, I made him aware that poor performance is, most of the time, not attributable to a student’s unwillingness to put effort into their studies but more relatable to factors that are beyond their awareness and control at the time, such as mental state and the psychological effects of their life struggles. To which he responded, “I don’t know what to tell you because there is nothing, I can do about this”. And that right there was my problem.

Activism is not about antagonising authorities and deliberately making them uncomfortable although the action consequently does that. It is about communicating matters that are important to us as beneficiaries of their governance and things that are not working as a result of rules, regulations and policies that they have put up in place for those systems to work.

It is actually meant to be a collaborative effort to inform authorities of the loopholes they might not have been aware of, as they are sitting on the other side of the fence; and for

them to find out what suggestions we have for them to merge the gap between where we are and where we would all (authorities and recipients equally), ideally like to get to.

My dream is to see authorities making the effort to hear us and not seeing us as threats to their governance. Activism is about aiding policies by providing realistic guidance through experience to the custodians of governance.

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- Cynthia Mpe is the Editor-In-Chief of fashion and lifestyle blog ‘The Burgundy Paradox.’ She is also a writer, creative director, strategic analyst and consultant and by “command of paying bills” - a Risk Management Associate at one of the big five accounting and auditing firms.

People

tumelo khotha

TAKING

ART

THE BACK TO PEOPLE Multiple Award winning social and heritage activist, Twin Mosia, is on a crusade to ensure local communities truly reflect the essence of the people who live in them Passion for history, heritage and love of his community from a very young age have made him what he is today. Twin Mosia was born and bred in Mamafubedu, near Petrus Steyn in the Free State. As a young boy who grew up on a farm before moving to an informal settlement, he had a dream of becoming someone who would shape his community through nation-building and social activism.

He is currently doing so through the Elandskop Museum, which he founded and curates online and virtually, by ensuring residents have access to information about the town’s historic past; from stone age, Difaqane, Anglo Boer War, to apartheid.

This includes historical figures and other significant events that have impacted the community. “Love of history, culture and my country motivated me to start a museum back in 2016, which has since given birth to 50

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DESTINY CAREERS

many offspring projects. This has also opened up many opportunities for others and myself as I now work with various brands and companies,” Mosia says.

Through hard work, he has been able to pursue his dreams while also having to overcome some great challenges. He says the beginning was the hardest part as success wasn’t guaranteed due to a lack of funding and gaining trust from the community.

The comfort of fulltime jobs was alluring but Mosia was so compelled to follow his heart that gave up the stability of a regular income for his passion. “Nothing was easy — I had to persevere to be where I am today and I also had to stay stronger and pray harder in order to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself.”

Today, Mosia is brand ambassador of a local shoe brand, Veldskoen Shoes which is based in Cape Town and fast becoming a commercial success in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and The Netherlands. He collaborates with Presidential Shirt, a brand that was personified by late former President Nelson Mandela and Thabo Makhetha of the distincive Basotho blanket designs.

Mosia is also a social entrepreneur, heritage and environment activist. He is of the view that one should have more than one job, particularly in a country like South Africa where the economy is getting smaller by the day.

On the award-winning community park he is currently busy at, he has this to say: “The heritage park will work as a hub where local entrepreneurs, artists and crafters will come together. It is a space where they can bring and sell their products, crafts and also engage on the challenges we face as local entrepreneurs.

“We also have lots of activities that bring the community together, such as cultural events, poetry and sports. For example, the park is home to our canoe club as well,” Mosia says.

As a 2016 Golden Shield Heritage Award recipient, he says, “heritage/environment activism is something that’s very close to my heart. I focus on protecting the local heritage sites and raising awareness, whether it’s natural or built. I also take tourists on guided tours.”

Among other achievements, in 2017 he was on the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans, as well as The Young Independents SADC Top 100 lists; he has received a Kudu Award, Presidential Award, Eco Logic Award and a Gold medal from HASA. However, his work is just beginning as his next step is to take the arts to communities that are on the margins.

”

“Art in South Africa is not really inclusive. So, if we start opening people’s eyes to how they can empower themselves. We need to find artist in ourselves, if we’re not academically talented then we can find something else within ourselves.

People need to access spaces where they can realise their true potential and art has the ability to do that.”

Mosia has a large canvas to work on at the SKAG (Stowell Kessler Art Gallery) and he is certainly up to the challenge. “I would like to duplicate the work in other small communities and work closely with local entrepreneurs and activists to say, ‘let’s take up spaces’, as [Miss Universe] Zozibini said.

These public spaces do exist but they are neglected or used as dumping sites. Let’s utilise all the corners we have ekasi” As an activist who has lived a very interesting and unscripted life, he is also working on a documentary film, which will be his third, with an Amsterdam based film company.

People

“

Nothing was easy — I had to persevere to be where I am today and I also had to stay stronger and pray harder in order to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself

People

Professional Party People Attending a festival or party is fun (but not in the time of pandemics, of course). But what about the behind-thescenes? How do you go from a partygoer to a party-maker?

Palesa Buyeye meets the people behind a good time. words palesa buyeye

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There is a South African proverb that goes, “Monate wa lefatshe hao fela, ho fela motho”. Meaning: “Fun never ends – but people do”, often exclaimed by our parents as we were growing up to keep us in doors to take part in more meaningful, safe and productive activities like learning something or making money.

But what if both these objectives could be met at a fun time?

According to Allied Market Research, the global events industry was worth $1.1-billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to $2.3-billion by 2026, showing us just how much of a good time is consumed and like the proverb, “Never ends.”

However, what makes the demand for a great party? And what does it take to have a career in hosting one?

Thulani Dandala and Amahle Jaxa are two

of six members behind events, marketing and brand activations company Until Until.

Known for hosting parties like High School Cool in 2013 (themed around school holidays and wearing your old high school uniform), Pyjama Party, Genesis All Black during the long Easter weekend, Sunday Roast at Great Dane and most recently, the three-day Bacardi Holiday Club which happens an hour outside Johannesburg and had Swizz Beatz as a headliner in their first year in 2018.

These kids know how to throw a party!

“We started throwing parties because we loved them. We were always at parties but didn’t think they were up to the standard we were looking for,” says Dandala.

“Basically we went from throwing these events with just our friends until we realised that there was a gap in the market for certain experiences and realised we had DESTINY CAREERS

“Encouraging inhouse DJs and designers such as Chuck Tailored and Thulani was to save on costs at the beginning. Someone who is part of the team could play three sets without us paying a R20 000 booking fee,” laughs Jaxa.

“But we also believed in being a holistic agency: we can do anything – that’s why our slogan is ‘By any means’.”

Besides grooming talent inhouse, what often makes an Until Until experience is their inclusion of everyone around them. It is said that if someone wants their name or face on one of the party flyers, they should ask and they shall receive.

With opportunities in the South African entertainment industry being scarce, the creatives often booked upand-coming or unknown artists with potential which at first affected their funding from sponsors.

“We never wanted to sacrifice our creativity, integrity or philosophy, so we used to get very little money because there is a South African proverb that goes, “Monate wa lefatshe hao fela, ho fela motho”. Meaning: “Fun never ends – but people do”, often exclaimed by our parents as we were growing up to keep us in doors to take part in more meaningful, safe and productive activities like learning something or making money. the potential to sell unique and creative ideas to brands and people because we put so much work into it,” further explains Jaxa.

With a few members of the team having marketing and law degrees, coming together for their shared passion and talent was effortless, a diverse team with interests in production, all genres of music and simply, a great party.

Jaxa grew up in the Eastern Cape and Dandala in KwaZuluNatal, finding each other and the rest of the founders on their journeys in university. Two members initially went to high school together but of the team most of them grew up around Johannesburg, meeting each other at social, the rugby and games, says Jaxa.

The team is made up of creative director Charles Lusengo, head of strategies Ndumiso Buthelezi, accounts manager Sandile Shangase and general manager Thandile Mafanya. The six, including Jaxa and Dandala (known as Thulz), never had a conventional business model and learnt through experience as they threw each event.

“In the first years we took knowledge from each other.

A couple of us were working at different agencies and because we started [Until Until] together we were able to adapt and change according to what was needed at every given time,” says Dandala, like learning that although they were part of the party, the bar was now one of their cash cows.

“Thulz and I also did a lot of free jobs around different events in Johannesburg just to see how big scale events

But what if both these objectives could be met at a fun time?

People

did it, as opposed to what we were doing so we could elevate ourselves. We learned from the streets,” says Jaxa.

Using each member’s hidden talents like Lusengo (aka Chuck Tailored)’s DJ and graphic designer skills to bring the business together also helped them cement their own careers in the specific industries.

People According to Allied Market Research, the global events industry was worth $1.1-billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to $2.3-billion by 2026, showing us just how much of a good time is consumed and like the proverb, “Never ends.”

However, what makes the demand for a great party? And what does it take to have a career in hosting one?

Thulani Dandala and Amahle Jaxa are two of six members behind events, marketing and brand activations company Until Until.

Known for hosting parties like High School Cool in 2013 (themed around school holidays and wearing your old high school uniform), Pyjama Party, Genesis All Black during the long Easter weekend, Sunday Roast at Great Dane and most recently, the three-day Bacardi Holiday Club which happens an hour outside Johannesburg and had Swizz Beatz as a headliner in their first year in 2018.

These kids know how to throw a party!

“We started throwing parties because we loved them. We were always at parties but didn’t think they were up to the standard we were looking for,” says Dandala.

“Basically we went from throwing these events with just our friends until we realised that there was a gap in the market for certain experiences and realised we had the potential to sell unique and creative ideas to brands and people because we put so much work into it,” further explains Jaxa.

With a few members of the team having marketing and law degrees, coming together for their shared passion and talent was effortless, a diverse team with interests in production, all genres of music and simply, a great party.

Jaxa grew up in the Eastern Cape and Dandala in KwaZuluNatal, finding each other and the rest of the founders on their journeys in university. Two members initially went to high school together but of the team most of them grew up around Johannesburg, meeting each other at social, the rugby and games, says Jaxa.

The team is made up of creative director Charles Lusengo, head of strategies Ndumiso Buthelezi, accounts manager Sandile Shangase and general manager Thandile Mafanya. The six, including Jaxa and Dandala (known as Thulz), never had a conventional business model and learnt through experience as they threw each event.

“In the first years we took knowledge from each other.

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A couple of us were working at different agencies and because we started [Until Until] together we were able to adapt and change according to what was needed at every given time,” says Dandala, like learning that although they were part of the party, the bar was now one of their cash cows.

“Thulz and I also did a lot of free jobs around different events in Johannesburg just to see how big scale events did it, as opposed to what we were doing so we could elevate ourselves. We learned from the streets,” says Jaxa.

Using each member’s hidden talents like Lusengo (aka Chuck Tailored)’s DJ and graphic designer skills to bring the business together also helped them cement their own careers in the specific industries.

“Encouraging inhouse DJs and designers such as Chuck Tailored and Thulani was to save on costs at the beginning.

Someone who is part of the team could play three sets without us paying a R20 000 booking fee,” laughs Jaxa.

“But we also believed in being a holistic agency: we can do anything – that’s why our slogan is ‘By any means’.”

Besides grooming talent inhouse, what often makes an Until Until experience is their inclusion of everyone around them. It is said that if someone wants their name or face on one of the party flyers, they should ask and they shall receive.

With opportunities in the South African entertainment industry being scarce, the creatives often booked upand-coming or unknown artists with potential which at first affected their funding from sponsors.

“We never wanted to sacrifice our creativity, integrity or philosophy, so we used to get very little money because they wanted us to do things the ‘normal’ way.” Jaxa says, emphasising on how the team had to invest a lot of their own money in the beginning.

“We have always stuck to our guns with events because we valued what we were to the people, so sponsors eventually grew to understand that and started to trust our vision as we earned our stripes with the events. That helped us grow with [sponsors] over time,” says Dandala.

The team eventually got bigger requests from sponsors due to the massive support they had.

The originality and growth of the team allowed them to DESTINY CAREERS

Avakian has been working on creating workshops on the festival and hosting business teaching young people about sponsorships, booking artists and the details that goes into it.

The business is one of being ahead of the curve and trends in many areas like booking artists which Avakian and his team often get right, trending on social media for hours after releasing a line-up. “It’s about being on the ground because these artists grow so quickly. A few years ago we wanted to book Billie Eilish, we had an offer that was almost confirmed for $50 000 and now the number has grown by 3 zero’s,” he says, since Eilish is a Grammy-winning artist now. In many aspects it is about seeing the vision before others, sponsors and potential artists see it which is often the hardest part but common is most creative fields, but once you get it right, you get it right. “It is such a difficult business that we should all be looking out and sharing with each other.”

For other inclusive creative spaces of fun, visit the following on Instagram accounts: @Feelgoodseries @Vogue Nights JHB @Afropunk

People

attain stages at festivals that were formerly predominantly white spaces, like Oppikoppi and Ultra Music Festival, allowing them to transform the culture into something more inclusive.

Bringing their own artists allowed them to bring a more diverse crowd because at the end of the night, everyone just wants to party with Until Until.

“We really wanted to teach the majority or the greater market that was there our music, so our stage focused on African beats, African house and Hip Hop. It was a unifying project which is part of our philosophy of unifying South Africa through events and music,” says Jaxa.

Something they continue to do especially in a city like Johannesburg, a city often ruled by cliques.

Looking back at events such as the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute (also known as the Free Nelson Mandela Concert in 1988), to the 46664 Concert in awareness for HIV/AIDS to the 2018 Global Citizen in bid to end poverty, events have played an important role in bringing people together or bringing attention to a specific cause in this country, making the role of promoters and event company owners deeper than just a music selection and line-up.

In March, Palomino Jama spoke at the ANC Women’s League inaugural presidential golf day and gala dinner about how she felt at home and surrounded by love and queer energies at Lelo Meslani’s Vogue Nights, which is intentionally inclusive and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. She urged the importance of more individuals creating such spaces.

Managing Director of Rocking The Daisies George Avakian has tried to embody the work of inclusivity, having assisted in the transformation of the former predominantly white festival.

“We understood that we needed to change the culture or at least bring the culture to a different audience, because as much as Daisies existed and was its own thing and doing well, it was not part of South African culture,” says Avakian.

“It was this little bubble and needed to be a better representation of our continent and what we offer musically. If I had gone to one before 2016 I would have felt like an outsider myself.”

Avakian came onto the scene in 2009 as the teenage beatboxer on South Africa’s Got Talent and he then became a rapper and producer.

“I have always believed in transitioning and giving something a good couple of years and always keeping it interesting. Ever since I was a kid, I would pick up an instrument and would get bored and would need to try keep it interesting.”

Avakian was one of the owners of club Sway in Sandton, which led him into the night life and festival business. “I would throw parties there and they grew and obviously those artists were now recording in my studio. That’s when I met the Steyn brothers who are my partners now and own Steyn Entertainment, which acquired Rocking The Daisies in 2016,” he says.

“We used to play poker together and when we would go out afterwards we would have some 18-year-olds sweating all over us. We realised we wanted something more exclusive, where we could dress up and have a cigar and whisky.”

This led to the formation of Marabi Club, a jazz lounge and restaurant in Maboneng and has hosted guests such as Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Carmelo and La La Anthony.

“It’s about bringing the eyes to South Africa, throwing events in Johannesburg CBD allows us to change the narrative around it,” says Avakian. “We need people all over the world to invest in South Africa.” Avakian says that is the greater intention of his job: showing people the potential of our country through events.

Although days are often filled with meetings and following a 12-month programme for a production like Rocking The Daisies forcing him to be at the office at 6:30 am, no day is ever the same.

One thing Avakian emphasises is the work on relationships, whether it is with representatives of artists, fellow collaborators or partners. This work on strong relationships led him and his partners to the exclusive Roc Nation Brunch a few months ago.

“Getting information from Jay Brown [vice chairman of Roc Nation] inspired me to want to share with others that don’t necessarily have access to him.”

People

Why now is the perfect time for Africans to pursue dreams that scare them It is well-known that only a few will rise to the top of the African film industry and even fewer will get financially compensated appropriately. However, Afrinolly co-founder Jane Maduegbuna thinks the tide is turning and now is the ideal time for African stories that are told authentically. words sibusisiwe nyanda

For Jane Maduegbuna, the time for African storytellers is now: “We’re just on the cusp of thriving and booming.

It’s so palpable, you can almost touch it,” she beams.

Speaking from the Afrinolly headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, Jane recalls how, for many years, her office space looked more presentable than her home because all the profits generated by the then-startup were thrown back into its growth. Nine years and several awards later, this has proven to be the best decision she and her husband have made.

Raised by a protective and excellence-driven father, a younger and very sociable Jane always thought she would study international relations and become a diplomat one day but her father had other plans for his daughter. She ended up studying law at Edo University in the country’s central southern region and later completed her LLB at the Nigerian Law School in the commercial hub of Lagos.

She met her husband and Afrinolly co-founder, Chike Maduegbuna, at church. Their relationship was initially a platonic and professional one – they initially ran a supply chain together before going into book publishing.

She credits him for her sometimes reluctant leaps of faith in entrepreneurship and academia. “I had been a stay-at-home mom for 11 years when he suggested we work together again. In the early stages, I quit so many times. It was no walk in the park,” she laughs. At its inception in August 2011, Afrinolly was a ‘freemium’ entertainment app that provided consumers with news, trailers, short films and documentaries from Africa, with a primary focus on Nigeria.

The need for improved production quality led Jane and her team to developing Afrinolly into what it is now: an incubator for young content creators to learn global

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best practices in filmmaking, while also acquiring knowledge on the business of content creation. Much of this metamorphosis was funded by Jane and her husband, with no external investment. “We used the money we made from our digital marketing business to fund this project because we believe in the creation of an ecosystem that perpetuates growth. A friend of mine once told me that light begets light and I believe that is true for the Afrinolly story because, years later, we are now working with partners and sponsors who want to empower and contribute to this ecosystem. But they followed our lead, because we sowed that initial seed.”

Apart from providing consumers with free content for four years, Afrinolly would also often open its doors to filmmakers and content creators who had no budget for showcase venues – all in the spirit of walking the talk of entrepreneurship with a social impact.

Her experience as a legal professional and constant academic pursuits qualified Jane for the role of Executive Director in Legal and External Networks, but her amiable nature and passion for investing in the youth are arguably her most powerful attributes. “While I was in Ghana recently, working on creative training with Henley Business School, I met a few people who quoted conversations I had with them on social media. I didn’t recognise their faces as I often engage with people online, but that was a reminder of the importance of truly seeing others. Some people are surprised to learn that I am that hands-on, but I never want to forget the value of sincere human interactions,” she says.

This people-centred focus is what attracts the likes of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, the Ford Foundation’s Darren Walker, Nollywood legends such as Richard Mofe-Damijo (RMD) and Ramsey Nouah, Google, The British Council and MTN, most recently. Afrinolly joined MTN as a technical partner for the talent search Y’ello Star, which will showcase Nigeria’s freshest acts: “What was most important to us was ensuring that all 20

DESTINY CAREERS

Asked about the all-important African narrative, especially during a time when the rest of the world has its eyes fixed on the continent’s various sectors, Jane laments about what she calls a lack of “country pride” among Nigerians. “Musicians have certainly led the pack in this respect and that’s perhaps one of the main reasons they’re doing so well – people want to see authenticity. Our filmmakers, actors and directors still need to learn this. You see it in the fake accents and watered-down depiction of Nigerian life. Don’t fine-tune your village, let them see who you are.” She remarks on the story of iconic actress and filmmaker, Genevieve Nnaji’s film submission, Lionheart, being disqualified for an Oscar nomination because it wasn’t primarily in a ‘foreign’ language.

“Why should an external body tell us that? We should be country proud and tell our stories unapologetically and in our languages.”

Jane is optimistic about the future of African storytellers and the increased collaboration between Africans at home and in the diaspora. She’s particularly excited to see younger generations take full advantage of what she calls the perfect time: “We are coming into the fruitfulness of centuries of labours past. If you’re prepared to do the work, especially as a young African woman, the time is now. It’s our season.”

Afrinolly co-founder Jane Maduegbuna

People

finalists – win or lose – walk away with something.

Most talent shows don’t consider how much of a lost opportunity that is for the other contestants. We’re turning that narrative on its head this time and we’re really excited.”

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DESTINY CAREERS

People

What being homeless taught him about business After being orphaned at age nine, Dr Robert Ngwenya would eventually find greener pastures through landscaping and selling his juice brand to a prominent beverage company. The businessman now dedicates his time to homeless nyaope addicts and community building, while building his empire words ernest phiri From living on the streets, to becoming an accomplished businessman in transport, construction, public speaking, philanthropy, entertainment, engineering, communications and multimedia, as well as sports. A lot can be said about a man who has done it all as a serial entrepreneur and a philanthropist, Dr Robert Ngwenya who hails from the North West. This is the story of how a man from a disadvantaged background who has gone on to achieved beyond his wildest imagination by not allowing his circumstances and perception of being labeled a slow learner by the education system hold him back.

Raised by a single mother, Ngwenya would eventually find himself destitute and living on the streets of Pretoria at the age of nine when his mother passed away. The streets proved to be a testament of Ngwenya’s tenacity and passion for life, where he exercised his ability to self-

motivate and ultimately enter the economic space as an entrepreneur, selling goods to passing motorists.

After the death of his mother, the longing to belong sent him packing for the streets of Laudium in search of his biological father. “I had a burning desire to meet my father,” Ngwenya says. Fortunately, he found him and they lived in the Vaal. “However, I found this environment not conducive for me, which is why I left and, subsequently, I started my own life away from home at the age of nine.”

When his reunion did not bring him the joy he sought, his next home was the streets where he sharpened his business acumen selling toothbrushes, toothpaste and the beloved Mnandi Fruit Juice, which he later sold to an established juice company.

“I was not a typical street kid, I was a survivor who happened to be on the streets,” he says. Ngwenya whose schooling was erratic due to his passion for business says he missed out on an education and it is one of the things he wishes he had.

By age 14 he had found a home for himself and was motivated to acquire knowledge through multiple avenues. This is where he developed a passion for landscaping and learnt the tricks of the trade as he went along. “It all began by selling grass,” says Ngwenya, who shares that he was one of the first people to deal in grass on the side of the road in Fourways. “I see that there are now a lot of people who do this kind of work,” he adds with a smile.

Sometimes he would get requests from customers to do their landscaping despite not having experience, but he accepted the challenge. “I learnt most things by asking around and researching, which led to me making my first R100,000 at 20 years old.

Dr Robert Ngwenya (above)

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“When I started out, I knew nothing about landscaping, but taught myself all I needed to know about the profession. I think the fact that I’m creative and good at designing worked in my favour,” Ngwenya says.

DESTINY CAREERS

“

Even though I could not finish my education, I feel God has been great to me.

He is now the founder of 20Elevation, a construction and landscaping company, as well as other businesses that include transport, security and property. He points out that he was one of the landscapers who contributed to the luxurious, breathtaking and stylish nature of Copperleaf Golf Estate in Centurion.

Among other projects, the self-taught landscape designer has also had the pleasure of contributing to the beauty of FIFA World Cup approved facilities such as the Arena Das Dunas Stadium in Brazil, ahead of the 2014 Soccer World Cup and did some sub-contracting work on Peter Mokaba Stadium which was used as part of the 2010 Soccer World Cup on home soil.

Surviving the harsh realities of the streets has taught him to appreciate the smallest things life has to offer. With the assistance of his wife Zinhle Mabena Ngwenya, they started MZ Ngwenya Foundation to assist nyaope users to get off the streets and access rehabilitation and employment opportunities, among other things. The foundation also runs a community based outreach programme for street kids who often go to sleep on an empty stomach.

Through the foundation, the Ngwenya household has also developed and successfully spearheaded campaigns aimed at fighting against drugs through an annual concert under the banner #NyaopeMustFall and #JoinTheMovement. The campaign has been responsible for the rehabilitation of over 200 addicts over the past four years and clothing 50100 homeless people on a monthly basis across a number of provinces in country. It was as a result of this work that last year he was conferred with an honorary degree.

“Even though I could not finish my education, I feel God has been great to me,” he says.

It is through his work in the community that he earned an honorary doctorate for his humanitarian contributions to South Africa, awarded by India’s Good News International University last year. This momentous occasion coincided with Ngwenya’s recent appointment as Global Peace Ambassador

by The Global Churches Alliance in London.

Among his other interests, there is 20Elevation FC, established in 2018, which is a soccer team now playing in the ABC Motsepe League under SAFA. It is a community-based and run team in the Maboloka area of the North West.

“I do all of this to honour of my mother. I am a firm believer in family values and see this foundation as being an extension of the person that I am. I played football when I was still a street kid and feel this initiative is a part of who I am.”

”

Books

The shift from corporate to entrepreneur words: Jamal Sahib

The excerpt below is from the book ‘Start With The End In Mind,’ by Jamal Sahib.

“I was at the top of my

game, earning great money and my career trajectory was neatly laid out for me. But I wasn’t happy.

My real ‘aha’ moment came while I was doing my MBA at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) 62

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in Johannesburg. It came courtesy of one of the most inspirational and astute professors of business in South Africa, and indeed the world – Nick Binedell. During a strategy session, Professor Binedell stung the class with this comment: “Why are there so many of you sitting in this lecture room, all with cushy corporate jobs and excellent business skills, but you are not utilising these skills for the greater good and job creation?”

That hurt. With our combined skillsets and business acumen, the GIBS MBA class of 2016 certainly had the know-how to start and successfully sustain businesses. But many of us were simply riding the corporate gravy train. At this time, I was working at a multi-national mining company, with all the perks of a high paying job. Ironically, although my career was coasting along very comfortably, I was being tasked with restructuring work. So, rather than helping to boost employment, I was focusing on paring down our workforce. I sat there thinking: ‘There must be a different way to do this.’

Ultimately, I took Professor Binedell’s words as a personal challenge to help others with fewer skills and opportunities than mine to succeed in business and in life. I packed away my suit and corporate job and embarked on opening a series of new business ventures: from a chain of hardware DESTINY CAREERS

WIN!

We’re giving away three signed copies of this book.

To enter, answer the following question: What’s the title of Jamal Sahib’s book?

Send an email with your answer, name, contact details and location to info@destinycareers.co.za The email subject line is BOOK GIVEAWAY. Entries close 30 June. The first three correct entries win.

Terms and conditions apply.

Books

and DIY stores to a retail courier outlet, a construction business, a guest house, a décor and picture business and a coaching and consulting practice. This was a disparate group of businesses for sure, but each one fulfilled my goal of creating jobs. I was 32 years old, with a wife and two kids and many responsibilities. With each month I was adding more and more people to my payroll: more lives for whom I felt accountable. It was the most alive I’d felt in years. It was also the beginning of a new journey that ultimately led to this book

Feature

CAPTURING MYSELF THROUGH A ROSE-TINTED LENS words jade kelly

Talented photographer Haneem Christians is on a quest to capture the essence of coloured identity, one that transcends negative stereotypes often employed in mainstream media

C

oloured identity in South Africa remains a complex and contested issue. For Haneem Christians turning to the arts and photography, has been her way of navigating the intricacies of her Cape Malay heritage. In doing so, the visual artist has made it her life’s work to bring multifaceted realities of the coloured experience to the forefront to challenge the damaging stereotypes that are often the only representation we see of coloured people in the media.

“Through photography, it is important for me to use my lens to communicate the different worlds within the coloured community that speak to different truths. Most narratives only engage with our suffering and that which plagues our community but abandons any ideas of beauty and magic that exists within our community,” she says.

Speaking to the stereotypical representations of Coloured identity, Haneem comments on the influence (and limitations) this presents for the way coloured children see themselves and their capabilities: “The most dominant representation of coloured men is that of gangsters and drug dealers, so the imagination of young coloured boys is limited to only that.

It’s important for me to represent different realities so that coloured children can see reflections of themselves in my work and explore their imaginations of themselves.”

She does, however, acknowledge the challenges of navigating the intersections that encompass her identity as she works her way through the industry.

“It’s been interesting interacting with this industry as a young femme. I think we are stuck in a world of binary expectations where women artists are expected to create certain kinds of work and queer artists are expected to create a different kind of work, but I am not someone who can be boxed into one category and neither can my art. The intersections of my identity are complex but that’s what makes me special. I feel like I bridge different worlds that have historically been kept apart,” Haneem says.

In the same breath, she highlights why it’s important to shift this narrative through her work. “Photography allows for me to create worlds where I can engage with history, the present and the future through a lens that centres our light and magic as opposed to our suffering. I guess photography gives me agency to claim my narrative and explore my imagination in this world.”

The talented photographer has seen her vision come to life in a multitude of mediums. From shooting magazine covers to being the eyes behind the Adidas #campus campaign and functioning as the on-set photographer for Youngsta’s iconic YVR music video, Haneem is not slowing down anytime soon.

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DESTINY CAREERS

“

Photography allows for me to create worlds where I can engage with history, the present and the future through a lens that centres our light and magic as opposed to our suffering. I guess photography gives me agency to claim my narrative and explore my imagination in this world.

�

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DESTINY CAREERS

Feature

H

aneem is two-minded about people who are not part of the coloured community but want to document the coloured experience in South Africa, emphasising that it needs to take place without the use of the harmful stereotypes.

“To people wanting to engage in the telling of the stories of coloured people, I would say whatever story you do choose to tell make sure that it is honest and told with positive and pure intentions,” she says.

“If you are not part of the coloured community think twice, thrice or four times before you engage with the stories of the coloured community. Remember your privilege and how that affects your ability to engage with people of different lived realities.”

As for future projects, the visual artist has a few things up her sleeve. “I think the work I’m most proud of is work I haven’t released yet. I’ve been working on a few bodies of work for the past year –and-a-half that speak to ideas of freedom and self and imagination of self.

“One of my most cherished pieces engages with the realities of Muslim queer people in Cape Town. I think it is really important because this is a narrative that’s been silenced and erased for years, making us feel as though people like us have never existed, but it’s quite the contrary and I hope my work makes others feel seen and loved. I guess I’m creating work for future versions of myself and for children just like me.”

Lessons

The business of writing words ace moloi

The major difference between self-publishing and commercial publishing is found in the difference between reach and rich

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DESTINY CAREERS

Contextually, the South African book industry is a gated community that often activates its neighbourhood watch whenever an African writer walks into the boulevard. From the list of bestselling books to who owns major bookshops, the hope of a black writer is likely to be antiquated before it can even ossify. For example, in the whole of Free State, there is only one Exclusive Books, found in Bloemfontein. Bargain Books, in addition to its two Bloemfontein shops, has a presence in two more areas: Welkom and Bethlehem.

What is more, Exclusive Books once did business in the black diamond of South African townships, Soweto, but its stay at Maponya Mall was just a bluffing incident like Peter’s excitement on water. It closed shop, largely because it was not selling relevant books to the local community. Basically, we have bookshops in South Africa, but not South African (or African) bookshops.

Jacana Media, at its peak, established BlackBird Books, an imprint driven

by Thabiso Mahlape, to bring more black authors under its name. I signed my first publishing deal with her imprint. Thabiso’s passion for the black story is unmatched, and deserves its own pages for the sake of narrative justice.

The fenced-in nature of the industry has given rise to self-publishing as a first option for many writers, and this has its own ups and downs. As both a self-published and signed author, I have come to know that the major difference between the two models lies in the difference between having a wider reach and being richer.

When you are signed by a publishing company, you get royalties at the end of a given financial year or royalty period. On average, the percentage is 10% (usually calculated from the

factory price). At this rate, no black writer can really be rich just from beating the keyboard. If anything, you become poorer mentally from the ruthlessness of the captains of industry. I don’t find psychoanalysis a charming enterprise, but ask yourself why writers drink so much?

Advantageously, a commercial deal gives you access to spaces you cannot take yourself. Radio interviews, book reviews on important platforms and invitations to literature festivals come in like a flood. Your work is distributed nationwide, and all you have to do is to just show up and shine. It suffices to say you will hardly do this on your own as a selfpublished author. I mean, you can only know or be known by a certain number of people, about a quarter of which will buy your book. What you will manage to do, however, is to make a relatively high amount of money from direct sales. You will benefit directly from every copy you sell. Since it is print-on-demand (PoD), you will also save yourself from mass production costs.

The reach of your work may not always far and wide, but there is an opportunity to secure the bag, since you are responsible for pricing, sourcing cheaper printing works and the likes. Again, your success as a DIY author is dependent on your ability to sell and brand yourself.

While a publishing deal comes with a publicity privilege, most selfpublished authors function from a place of oblivion, and it is up to you individually to force the world to recognise you.

Published authors find pleasure in directing potential readers to ‘any good bookshop’ nationwide (it really feels good, trust me), but the selfpublished only have themselves as an entire food chain. So, you will have to take orders, print books, sell them, deliver them, and more. This means there is no time for ‘celebritying’ around. You learn on the go, and as someone who dabbles in both worlds, I can tell you now that I have learnt more about the business of writing from self-publishing than from the fancy display of my books at bookshops.

In fact, even with a presence in leading bookselling platforms on earth and online, I still have to act as an intermediary between my readers and my work. I still receive payments from people in places that have no bookstores, or those imprisoned by the busyness of their careers, so that I can send them my book(s). The market is a size 28 and every sale has weight. The black condition forces us

to think like Tupperware or Herbalife sellers. It unearths the DJ Sbu in all of us lest we suffocate ourselves in the dust gathered by our books in our backrooms.

Having said what I have said, I have to concede that self-published authors have done their books a great injustice there by editing and proofreading. So, if you are considering the DIY model, remember to not publish your first draft. And, yes, that friend of yours may have large eyes, but they are not professional editors; invest in one.

The low quality of many DIY authors’ books has compromised this otherwise important space.

Independent publishers disobey traditional publishing rules, agreeing to publish unedited books in the name of opening up the industry.

Through The AM Writing Centre, my writing consultancy, I facilitate book productions, sometimes from as early a stage as writing, all the way to marketing material. And my rule is straightforward: we do the whole thing or a writer finds another toohungry-to-be-picky publisher. As my pastor would say, where there is quality, quantity will follow. Fix those errors, we have a whole generation to redeem from philistinism.

The activism around literacy will be sabotaged if we keep releasing poor material into the market. Furthermore, it compromises the local market of any city if the local writers have a reputation for mediocrity. Nobody will buy the next author’s book if the last book they purchased had pages falling off, and was so thin it did not have a spine—literally and metaphorically. Most importantly, even when you do sign that deal, fashion yourself like a self-published author and sell your book like it is a cure for adultery.

The SA book market is small. The price of books itself is rather concerning, which makes them an unnecessary necessity in our budgets. But you can craft a career for yourself in this industry, although you first have to nail yourself to the cross, so that any other pain the industry inflicts on you feels like a booty rub.

- Ace Moloi is a multi-published author, writing consultant, freelance writer and books influencer. He runs The AM Writing Centre, through which he offers writing solutions to organisations and individuals. His memoirs, Holding My Breath, is in bookshops nationwide.

Lessons

A

mong many other personality complications, I identify as a writer. My writing portfolio includes website content, publications, books and social media influencing. I have a total of four books with my name on them, and I have compiled and coedited a collection of short stories for the University of the Free State.

Additionally, I host writing workshops every year in Bloemfontein, and have developed a model of writing consultations with individuals who want to penetrate this rather exclusionist writing industry. In most of my writing conversations, the question of the difference between having a publishing deal versus doing it yourself keeps coming up.

Stay with me.

Books

Khamr: The Makings Of A Waterslams words: the cheeky natives

This month, Jamil Khan Khamr will be published his socio-political memoir titled Khamr: The Makings Of A Waterslams. In this offering, the author maps his experience of living with an alcoholic father and the direct conflict of having to display a Muslim life that taught him that nearly everything he associated with home was forbidden. In this detailed account of his childhood to early adulthood, he lays bare the experience of living in a so-called middle-class coloured home in Bernadino Heights in Kraaifontein, a suburb to the north of Cape Town.

His memories are dominated by the constant discord and dysfunction of his alcoholic home and a co-dependent relationship with his mother, while trying to manage the daily routine of his parents’ keeping up appearances and him maintaining scholastic excellence.

Khan’s memories are clear and detailed. He interrogates the intersections of Islam, colouredness and the hypocrisy of respectability, as well as the effect perceived class status has on these social realities, giving the reader more than just a memoir of pain and suffering.

Khan says about his debut book: “This is not a story for the romanticisation of pain and perseverance, although it tells of overcoming many difficulties. It is a critique of secret violence in faith communities and families and the hypocrisy that has damaged so many people still looking for a place and way to voice their trauma. This is a critique of the value placed on ritual and culture at the expense of human life and well-being, and the far-reaching consequences of systems of oppression dressed up as tradition.”

Below we have included an excerpt from the book. In this part of the book, Khan speaks about grappling with sexuality and how this ‘forbidden’ desire was controlled by the prescripts of compulsory heterosexuality: There was a part of my world my mother would never experience and, to live in it, I had to escape her supervision. I had been in a psychological prison for as long as I could remember. Nobody around me could relate, nor would they ever learn to. I was a gay, questioning Coloured Muslim boy navigating one of the most notorious institutions of white supremacy in South Africa. I was locked out of desire for as long as I could remember.

Reckoning with my sexuality had been a treacherous journey of shame and guilt long before the subtle rippling of my budding desires interrupted my childhood.

Even before then, my access to the performance of 70

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desire was violently regulated by the stranglehold of heteronormativity. I have only known sexuality and desire as yearning. I have only wanted whatever lack was not.

I wanted the opposite of fear – whatever that was. As a queer person, I never knew what I wanted, because what I was allowed to desire didn’t fit me.

What I saw around me was everything that was designed to kill me. It was less not knowing what I wanted and more imagining what I could want. Nobody around me could ever understand the world I was stumbling through – least of all my mother. No amount of support and guidance she had for me could help me navigate that part of my life. It was my burden and mine alone to bear.

I thought about it many times growing up. My mind was regularly consumed by a sad, miserable future. I could not imagine anything possibly joyous alongside a truthful existence as a queer person. My teen years were made up of ruminating over a shameful, lonely and despairing future. Growing up around the disdain for queer people I saw around me, not only in my family but also in the neighbourhood, at school and in popular culture, I resigned myself to an unhappy adulthood.

I had been navigating and calculating my prospective life like someone vying for a prize in trigonometry. The lives of queer people are a calculation, if we are to survive. For those who don’t care for survival, walking straight onto the train tracks and taking whatever may come becomes a life of endless sacrifice.

By my calculations, I had three options: to declare myself unattracted to anyone, sexually and romantically; to marry a woman and live in insufferable unhappiness while hoping death would visit sooner rather than later; or to spare myself the trouble and kill myself. None of the options I had considered had me anywhere near to the centre of consideration. All possibilities for living with my queerness put me at the mercy of other people’s preferences. Except for death. That was about me.

Suicide is a complex entanglement of subversive, radical self-care and submission to society. We choose ourselves in the moment we decide to end lives of suffering and constant provocation.

As queer people, we make ourselves unavailable for the constant disrespect and slow dying inflicted on us through sustained forms of gentle violence that leave us questioning our own sanity. We take back a power that we have been barred from exercising: the power over our bodies. We commit to a final act of love and the choice to love ourselves above the prescriptions of a world that teaches us an obligation to stay and be perpetually abused.

DESTINY CAREERS

Though I had unsubscribed from the formal structures of Islam, I still struggled to reconcile my queerness with my god, who was a Muslim, male god who hated queers. I had resolved to praise him on my own, but even outside of the structures I believed constrained me, god is still a homophobe. He is created in a book that endorses violence against me and he declares that endorsement to be his word. He is a proud homophobe. There is no power that constrains him to reconsider his hatred of me.

He is free at my expense. It seemed foolish to believe in a god who created me to hate me.

I was trying to avoid a hell that was designed just for me.

Even if I did everything I was supposed to do, I was still going to hell just for being who I am. This must be the height of psychosis. We are taught not to question god, but what happens when we are the contradictions that prove his questionable nature? Surely the Abrahamic, male god is the most chaotic, disorganised and error prone of them all. There was no way to reconcile myself with Islam, save for denying myself and my desires. I had to let it go too.

.

At the same time, taking our own queer lives pleases the system that is committed to annihilating us every day.

Though the system would prefer to abuse and debase us on a daily basis, the goal is always to kill us. We are destined for death and erasure, and so taking our own queer lives is a service to the system too. Surviving motivates the system to try harder to kill us, while dying takes the job off its hands.

We do also exist beyond the constant violence of the system.

We do also choose, in spite of the erosion of our agency.

I was raised to understand that death by suicide is wrong by a god whose jealousy won’t see him upstaged by the free will he created. Having lived under the power of the free will of other people, I see suicide as just another way that people die. There are many reasons why people choose to live, but very few can ever truly say they have reaped the rewards for it. Suicide is brave and honest in its message. It says that although everything, physically and socially, is set up to make me stay alive, I choose to die.

The bodily reflexes that pull us towards life, the societal shame attached to suicide, the guilt for leaving people who never cared enough behind in pain, the fear of eternal damnation for using a conditional free will – all of these structures that are set up to keep us alive were not enough for the person who died by suicide. Surely that is a grievous indictment on us as a society? People can and will choose when to end their lives and, for some, like queer people, it is the only choice they can ever truly make.

Loving yourself does not always mean staying alive. Love does not always mean comfort and ease. Love is not what

Author Interview by The Cheeky Natives a literary podcast primarily focused on the review, curatorship and archiving of Black literature. cheekynatives.co.za

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we think it is. Love does hurt us, maim us and – in its final form – kill us. When we truly reckon with the full spectrum of how love can be expressed, we may stop absolving it of its ugly faces. Perhaps it is for us to realise that death is not always, or perhaps ever, a bad thing.

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Artists in a move to make art from a FREE STATE of mind Young creatives from the Free State are determined to defy the economic challenges faced by the province so that their creative landscape can take centre stage words monyane tekateka pictures sam the kreative

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he South African creative economy contributes a total of R90 billion per year to the economy and a large contributor to that figure is the film industry. But however large that number may be, the reality is that South African creatives struggle to make ends meet and continuously have to invent and reinvent creative business according to their resources and most often also according to their locality.

The Free State province today isn’t necessarily known for its impact in the South African creative scene further than that it is currently according to Statistics South Africa the province not only has

the highest unemployment rate but also some of the lowest salaries per capita compared to other provinces. As a result of such low economic prospects in the province, the arts and culture industries have been left on the back burner, leaving creatives with no choice but to innovate and collaborate to find new ways to participate in the creative business.

I spoke to a few creatives who are making an impact in the Free State scene. I first had a conversation with Sphindiwe Sobayeni, curator of a platform called Creatives Corner, who said: “It was started in 2017 for creative entrepreneurs to find a DESTINY CAREERS

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space where they can share ideas, reflect and find different ways of collaborating and also bringing people together to create and build where they are.”

The platform was a roundtable-styled discussion that took place once a month and called all creatives in the province to speak on wide-ranging issues, from the direction of the Free State creative economy, down to even pricing and understanding contracts.

“We started Creatives Corner with pioneers in our industry and had them converse in the form of a masterclass roundtable discussion where every attendee could contribute to the given topics, and also shed light on how it affected their creative businesses. This open sharing platform also allowed us to present solutions to each other and also collaborate as businesses,” Sphindiwe said.

Creatives Corner is a unique attempt to pull the industry of the Free State closer to the mainstream.

Entrepreneurial development is abuzz in the country but very few opportunities are offered for the development of entrepreneurs and practitioners in creative industries “A designer, photographer, artist (visual or otherwise), is directly or indirectly involved in a value chain but has to go through extraordinary lengths to find information or developmental platforms that cater strictly to their needs,” Sphindiwe said.

“But, when one thinks about it, creativity influences the majority of our lives including business, and the more education is invested in creatives, then the more likely we will find people and ways to consume our product.

We will always need more tools to navigate our way through the world and the economy.”

In 2019 Creatives Corner collaborated with Julian Mentz and Greg McQueen of Big Massive (an art space in downtown Bloemfontein) who were more than willing to team up and entertain some of the craziest ideas. I caught up with Julian at his art space in Bloemfontein to talk about his career as an artist and his attempt to revitalise Bloemfontein’s inner city.

Upon arrival at Big Massive you could be forgiven for thinking that you had just walked into an art studio in the bustling centre of Johannesburg or an eclectic atelier in the heart of Cape Town, because that’s how refreshing it is.

Julian is an architect by profession but an artist at heart. He recalls how, while completing his degree at the University of the Free State, the lecturers at the architecture department would assign projects that usually had to do with reimaging Bloemfontein for the better or coming up with building projects that would offer a multitude of purposes to the people and even the environment of the city. And being a young man from the Eastern Cape, being in university and doing all of those projects in the city made him fall in love with the place and want to create here.

The Bloemfontein central business district (CBD) has an enormous void of space, with a lot of the infrastructure in the city not being occupied by people, Big Massive seeks to reinvigorate the economy of the province and contribute to the activation of sleeping assets in the inner city. In that way make headway in contributing to the provincial economy.

Julian and Gregg achieve this by going into a deal with owners of buildings that aren’t being used and then occupying them, making sure to craft beautiful spaces that will facilitate new businesses. Such businesses include renting out desks to students, social events with performances and public engagement.

This activation of spaces has caused movement and by upgrading CBD spaces they create value for the owner and make the space more likely to be bought or rented.

Creatives such as Julian and Sphindiwe would probably have an easier time or have access to more clients and resources in bigger metros, but to quote Julian, “we are artists and creatives who love this city and more than that, this city inspires us to create here”.

Many have called what’s happening in downtown Bloemfontein the start of the city’s very own Maboneng, but to the Free State creative community it is far more important — it is a sign that they have a home and that their creative industry can be highly innovative and better able to make itself sustainable, and ultimately one day thrive.

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THE BUSINESS OF RECYCLING

IN AFRICA Innovation doesn’t necessarily have to be driven by technological advances as long as societies are finding new ways to make the world a conducive place for everyone to thrive words maki molapo

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t’s interesting how we are taught about preserving the environment at a young age but because the consequences of not doing so aren’t immediately evident, we take this responsibility for granted. Research states that as the population increases and becomes more urbanised, our purchasing habits change, more waste will be generated globally over the next century.

According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (2019), current waste management practices in Africa are causing significant social, economic and environmental impacts. The council further states that municipal solid waste collection services in most countries in the continent are inadequate, with an average waste collection rate of 55% and 90% of generated waste being disposed to land – in uncontrolled and controlled dumpsites. This ultimately leads to a ripple effect of our health, ecosystem and the environment being negatively affected.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, the council

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further states that diverting waste away from dumpsites, towards reusing, recycling and recovery, could inject an additional R135 billion per year into the African economy. In fact, there are people around the continent who are playing their part in preserving the environment and making money from it. We are currently in the emergence of the 4IR and it demands that we approach the growth of our economies and societies in more innovative ways.

Innovation doesn’t necessarily have to be driven by technological advances as long as societies are finding new ways to make the world a conducive place for everyone to thrive. Recycling is definitely one of those ways. Like any emerging/niche industry, with challenges such as networks, saturation of larger corporations with financial advantage, a lack of government support and much more, the industry’s progress is at a snail’s pace. However, these four stories encourage us to think more broadly about recycling and reveal that it doesn’t simply end at managing waste but also finding your niche in the waste space.

DESTINY CAREERS

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Greener Pastures – Co-founder Thabiso Hlongwane (South Africa)

Hlongwane is the co-founder of Greener Pastures – a business that has been operational since 2016 and recycles paper, plastic, glass and cans. They operate from Alex Mall’s waste area and employ six people who pick up waste from inside the mall’s bins (clean and disinfect it), sort and package the raw materials into recyclable and nonrecyclable waste in bulk bags and take it to the recycler. The recycler bales (the process of compressing the materials into blocks of one type of material) the raw materials, weighs it and pays the collector.

Greener Pastures employs people who live in Alex and have so far managed to make significant changes/improvements in their lives. One of the challenges that Hlongwane says they faced was the age-gap between him and the employees.

“When the business’s operations started, we had almost 10 employees but we have about six now. The people I managed were older than me so that was a problem for other people,” he says. Despite that challenge, he adds that the greatest reward is seeing the significant improvements that his employees have made in their lives over the years.

As far as salaries are concerned, Hlongwane says, “you can’t pay people below minimum wage, so there is a regulation and it’s the labour act”.

While there are challenges, Hlongwane says there are plans of expanding beyond their current specialty while also growing within it. “We have collections that we do for petrol stations and that’s expansion for us. We’re looking into buying more trucks to be able to do mobile buy-back centres – being able to buy materials from people in the streets.”

Among some of the challenges affecting the industry is China banning the import of most plastics and other materials headed for its recycling processors under its “National Sword” policy. China had handled nearly half of the world’s recyclable waste for the first quarter century. This ban affects the prices at which raw materials are sold to recycling plants in South Africa as businesses sell materials at a much lower price, which negatively affects their profit.

Lessons that he says he’s learned over the years is not to count your chickens before they hatch, a lesson he says goes hand-in-hand with doing thorough research. Hlongwane says this means understanding the kind of equipment you’re going to need, how it works in relation to the waste you’ll be working with, baling and costs after the waste has been weighed. “For example, I’ve done estimations before of how much the waste I’ve collected might weigh and how much I’d earn for it considering how much it fills the truck, only to find that I make way less than I’d calculated for a day’s work.”

In addition to the machinery, he emphasises that research plays a huge role in also knowing how obtain the equipment you’re going to need because funding is not easy to come by. Hlongwane says the most important tip he can give aspiring entrepreneurs is making sure that they’re registered with the relevant governing bodies. “Compliance, compliance, compliance. Make sure that you comply with everything. Make sure that all your documents are always ready and organised because opportunities come by when you least expect. Don’t wait until the last minute. It’s not to say opportunities will come instantly but if you don’t comply with the industry’s regulatory bodies, you will risk missing out on good contracts,” he says.

Andrew Mupuya – Youth Entrepreneurship Link Investments (Uganda)

Thabang says the idea is to create more safety for street surfers, who are also colloquially called Abomagereza, by finding central meeting points where they can buy trash from the surfers instead of them travelling to Greener Pastures.

Mupuya is an award-winning entrepreneur from Uganda who started recycling at the age of 16. He is the founder of Youth Entrepreneurship Link Investments – YELI Paper Bags. “I founded YELI in 2008 and I was in form 5 (matric). When the government banned plastic I had to think of a viable solution and that’s how I got to thinking of paper bags,” says Mupuya.

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The ban resulted in a decrease in demand for plastic bags but he did not have start-up capital for his own business, so he collected plastic bottles and plastic bags and sold them to a recycling plant. He needed close to R150 to start but he says, “I raised an equivalent of $6 (about R90) and then I had to borrow the rest from my teacher.”

Lorna Rutto – EcoPost (Kenya)

YELI has grown significantly over the years and is currently producing thousands of paper bags monthly which they distribute to the community and that advocates to environmental sustainability. Mupuya says, “80% of our production is exported to neighbouring countries and beyond and 20% we supply to the local market”.

When the government banned the cutting down of trees, there was a great need for alternative materials. Ecopreneur, Rutto saw an opportunity in waste management and founded a social enterprise that provides an alternative solution to plastic — one of Kenya’s biggest waste problems. Rutto is the founder of EcoPost, a company that recycles waste to manufacture aesthetic and durable environmentally friendly posts that replace timber for building and construction. EcoPost’s products are used for fencing on farms, around homes, national parks and commercial premises.

The young entrepreneur attributes much of his growth to the Anzisha Prize Program – which he won in 2012. The programme recognises, empowers and celebrates young communities through purpose or profit driven solutions. It also gives them developmental tools that will help them sustain their businesses, along with a cash prize of $25,000 (R400,000) which they compete for.

“Being an Anzisha fellow has changed the way I do my business; you do business knowing that you have someone who will help you along the way. I was able to be connected to investors who I’m able to share goals with and acquire financing to get machinery and this has changed output from 2 tonnes a month to 40 tonnes,” says Mupuya He states that finding investment capital was not easy because he struggled to find investors who were aligned with his vision as well financial needs. “Finding investment is not largely focused on money. It is a long-term relationship that an entrepreneur is supposed to achieve,” Mupuya adds.

He currently contributes to youth employment by employing youth in production, sales and marketing. He also trains people and says he’s trained over a thousand people.

As challenging as running a business may be, Mupuya says his business has a few success factors which include the quality of the products, human capital as well as business alignment. These attributed to, “our close relationship with clients, our quality and eco-friendly products, after sale services like delivery and serving clients’ needs are the factors that make us different and disruptive”, he adds.

Mupuya says they make money through manufacturing eco-friendly paper bags and distributing them to clients while also being socially responsible.

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“We’ve been in operation since 2009 and we have employees at the company who work day and night shift. There are more than 2,000 indirect employees who work in various yards across the country collecting waste and sorting it out and then we process it,” Rutto says, adding that they buy it from them based on the number of kilos as well as the material they were able to collect.

With the banning of tree felling, Rutto saw an opportunity to not only capitalise on the waste but to, also, save the country’s forests. As a result, she says there have been significant collaborations, “factories have engaged EcoPost to deal with their waste. With the ban of timber, this is providing us with a great opportunity because customers are now looking for these products. So far we’ve been able to save up to 500 acres of forest”.

Much like all the other entrepreneurs, Rutto says her challenges have ranged from raising start-up capital, to her being a woman in a male-dominated industry. She says she also faced a lot of criticism and scrutiny for quitting her job to start her business.

She says the documents required by local banks when they seek financial assistance are ones that don’t match up to the level of the business. Rutto says officials need to lend a helping hand, “I think the government and the policy makers should provide better financing structures for youth green entrepreneurs who want to start something”.

Despite these challenges, there are positive aspects that have made the business worth it. Rutto says she has managed to create jobs and change the lives of the people she employs. “Our employees have managed to create an income, better lifestyles and nutrition and even take their children to local schools,” she adds.

Rutto’s business has had such a tremendous impact on the environment that it was won numerous accolades that recognise the work they continue to do.

DESTINY CAREERS

through waste in their communities to make an additional income,” he adds.

In essence, their business model has three important elements; they buy waste from recycling centres to sell; they also work as a social enterprise through Abomagereza to sponsor the informal waste pickers through projects that run for a certain period – a service they charge for, “and then we sometimes do events where we clean-up at events using the same waste pickers from Abomagereza because they are in their database, plus they make extra money”, Ngobese explains.

Ngobese is the founder of a company that was previously known as Unconventional Media but has evolved into an innovative waste management company under the name Unconventional Waste Solutions. UWS, which has been operational since 2013, started as a media company providing waste trolleys in association with a corporate partner with the intention of selling advertising space – a project known as Abomagereza.

“Part of the model was monitoring the routes that the waste pickers use so that when we source advertising, we tell potential clients about areas their brands would be exposed to and we charged an advertising fee on the trolley. So, we’d take 10% of the advertising revenue and share it with the waste pickers, which would create social impact,” Ngobese says.

He says waste is a capital-intensive business and acquiring the necessary equipment can be a challenge. Ngobese says another challenge is, when you come into the business you come in as a price taker meaning you don’t determine the price at which you sell your raw materials. “For example, you have no say if manufacturers decide to decrease the price at which paper waste is sold. The market is currently poor and with the unpredictable price changes,” Ngobese adds that he sometimes operates at a loss.

Ngobese says there is a greater possibility of making profit once you get to a manufacturing level because the margins can be higher. “This is a low margin business and a high volume environment, meaning you need a lot volume for you to start generating income,” he adds.

“That wasn’t much of a success because companies wouldn’t associate the (outdoor media) product with their brand because it created brand integrity issues. In addition to that was road safety concerns that could possibly cause reputational risk,” Ngobese says. Although the feedback was positive in terms of the social impact delivered, they were forced to alter the model.

The business then began buying waste from waste pickers and after getting a site in Germiston, they began trading waste. “While Abomagereza still exists, we’re running it as a second project.” Abomagereza is a social enterprise under the umbrella of the company that works with informal waste pickers – street surfers. “So we work with corporate partners to provide infrastructure, support and training to the workers,” Ngobese says.

They also provide employees with health and safety training to help them understand the process of waste collection as well as safety precautions. UWS provides them with facemasks, gloves and protective gear, as well as guidance concerning the dangers they might encounter during their waste recovery process. They also assist employees with financial and business literacy. “We find that there’s a huge gap between their understanding of the scope of what they do and them running it as a business, [we teach them] the basic rules of budgeting. The idea is for them to also see this as a business as opposed to a chore of having to wake up and collecting waste,” Ngobese says.

They also incorporate the fundamental rule of recycling, which is reusing waste. As far as repurposing is concerned, “the whole idea is that they shouldn’t just focus on just selling waste, we should teach them how to repurpose waste and sell the end-product. They sell the flowerpots they create

“

The idea is for them to also see this as a business as opposed to a chore of having to wake up and collecting waste

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Sifiso Ngobese – Unconventional Waste Solutions (South Africa)

Property

Breaking down the extra costs that come with a ‘purchase price’ words nosiphiwo balfour

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esidential property, when acquired with good property fundamentals and at the right price, is an asset that increases in value over time. Freedom from paying rent to a landlord and investing that money into your own home is an avenue of creating personal wealth. Given average house prices, buying your own home can be a lengthy process that starts with putting aside money. Determining how much you can afford is a critical first step and can be done via your bank to get prequalified and preapproved for a home loan. However, the process of buying your own home has additional costs that buyers need to be aware of in addition to just the purchase price.

The following list is not exhaustive, however, it gives you a good indication of the associated costs of purchasing a home. Doing your research, including the necessary calculations based on your budget, is the first step to peace of mind and being in control of your finances.

1. Deposit

When you buy a house and approach your bank for a home loan your bank would do a credit analysis of your financial position to determine an appropriate credit rating/worthiness. Depending on this, they will indicate how much of the purchase price of the house they would be willing to finance. Historically banks would finance 90% of the purchase price, however, given the current economic environment and other risk factors such as the location of the property, banks have become quite tight on financing terms. In certain instances, the deposit amount can be as high as 30%. This can be a significant amount.

For example, for a house that costs R1,000,000 a 30% deposit equates to R300,000. This amount is usually paid upfront and paid over to the transferring attorneys.

2. Transfer duty

Transfer duty is a tax levied by the government on any immovable property that is acquired by way of a transaction or otherwise. The basic principle of transfer duty is that the higher the value of the property you buy, the higher the percentage of duty payable.

In Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s February budget speech, the threshold for transfer duties was adjusted. Property costing R1 million or less will no longer be subject to transfer duty. This is a big win for young professionals as they will be able to actively participate in the property market in residential areas where they may have wanted to reside, but the transfer duty would have been an obstacle.

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3. Transfer costs

A transfer cost is the professional fee that the conveyancing or transferring attorney charges in a property transaction to register ownership of the property with the Deeds Office.

This is paid once-off before registration and is not to be confused with transfer duty.

4. Bond costs

For the bank to make sure that they have some form of security over the property you have taken a home loan on, they will register a mortgage bond that confers certain rights on them. These fees are typically charged by the bank and can include bond initiation fees — this fee is regulated by the National Credit Act and is currently set at a maximum of R5,000.

Furthermore, the bond is registered at the same time as the transfer of the property and is done by the bond registration attorney, an attorney that is usually appointed by the bank. Similar to transfer costs, the attorney will charge his professional fee for registering the bond, which the buyer has to pay. This cost is paid once-off, to the bond attorneys prior to the registration of the bond.

5. Occupational rent

On signature of a purchase agreement, the buyer and seller would typically stipulate a date by when occupation of the property will take place by the buyer. The occupation date is usually aligned to the transfer date of the property in registering it in the new owner’s name.

The transfer date is guided by the estate agent and attorneys based on the time it would take to register the property at the Deeds Office. In the instance that the buyer would like to take occupation prior to transfer, occupational rental will be payable by the buyer to the seller. The amount will be stipulated in the purchase agreement.

6. Municipal Rates

These are rates charged by the municipality in which your property is registered. Municipal rates cover all the services provided to you by your local municipality. These services include sewerage, the removal of rubbish, streetlight and road maintenance.

The calculation of your municipal rates is done according to the municipal valuation of your property. Prior to signing your purchase agreement always request a copy of the last municipal rates statement to ascertain what this amount would be.

7. Body Corporate Levies

If you purchase a property within a sectional title scheme, body corporate levies are charged monthly to each owner of a section within the sectional title scheme. These levies typically cover the costs associated with running the estate such as the security, garden, pool, repairs and common property maintenance.

8. Insurance

Homeowners insurance protects the physical structure of the property (bricks and mortar). The insurance is against an event such as fire, flood etc. The second is life cover (typically encouraged) which in the event of the death of the property owner/bond holder, the insurance will settle the outstanding bond amount so that your family is not responsible for the outstanding debt you owe to the bank.

The buyer has an option to take either of these through the bank or bond provider or through a preferred broker or insurer. Lastly, home contents insurance protects the contents of the home against loss or damage as a result of theft or burglary and extreme weather conditions.

9. Ongoing Maintenance costs

Every owner takes pride in their home and will want to ensure they keep the home in good condition. Maintenance costs can include but are not limited to electricity, water, painting and repairs.

For every homeowner planning to purchase a home isn’t a decision taken lightly, therefore being aware of the costs associated allows peace of mind. It can be daunting at first, but it always helps to seek clarity from an estate agent and bank for more information on the process.

TIP:

A bond instalment is made up of the capital repayment and interest portion which is determined over the term of the bond. i.e. 25 or 30 years. When obtaining bank financing ask your bank if they offer an access facility or access bond. An access facility is where you can pay additional money into your bond account whilst retaining “access” to that extra cash.

By placing money in the bond account, you can reduce the interest portion of your bond instalment each month as it will be calculated at a lower capital amount. For roughly the first third of your home loan term, the homeowner will be paying off the interest before significantly reducing the capital amount. The benefit of putting in more money than your monthly instalment is that you get an interest cost saving.

Nosiphiwo Balfour is a property practitioner and Commercial Property Director with more than 14 years’ experience. In her most recent role she was the former CEO of Texton Property Fund, a public listed Real Estate Investment Trust with property assets, located in the United Kingdom and South Africa, valued at R5.5 billion. She currently performs strategic advisory work and serves as an Independent Non-executive Director on the Board of Communicare Social Housing NPC.

Property

After your deposit, the transfer duty is one of the biggest upfront and once-off costs to consider when buying a property. The only time transfer duty is not payable in a normal sale of property is when you are buying from a registered VAT vendor (developers as an example), in which case VAT is included in the price.

Money

Trust me, you can avoid being scammed

Good scams don’t show up with red flags to give you a grand warning but there are some signs, that are not obvious until it’s too late, that we can all look out for words khotso ramphele

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A man using only a box, some cards and swift hand action could get people to hand their money over to him. Granted, they believed they could make the money back with high returns. I witnessed this man effortlessly trick people out of their money and I will never forget the expressions of confusion and dismay on the faces of his victims as they walked away poorer than when they came.

I have only ever been conned once in my life and that was enough to inspire the hyper-vigilance that I boast today. However, that humiliating experience of being bamboozled at 11 years old taught me to look for certain warning signs:

Trust In every scam trust must be built. The card dealer got his victim to believe that the game could be won.

Knowledge Most of us are scammed in things we don’t know or have researched. The card dealer had to teach his unsuspecting victims the game. He also made it simple enough to think they understood.

High Returns For us to put our money down, we need to see it as worth it. So essentially we want to see high returns. The card dealer would let his victims win and gave them back 100% returns very early on in the game. So the unsuspecting victim saw a winning situation the whole time. Every con-artist has pulled their victims with promises of high returns.

Recruiters Every scam will have recruiters and those recruiters will always be people that you do not have close proximity to, but will have positive testimony of the scam. The crowd around the card dealer were the recruiters for the dealer.

There were other days where I would witness him let one of the guys in the crowd win to convince the members of the crowd to put their money down and bet.

Calculations Most cons or scams cannot put calculations down over time and give you correct percentages of what the probability of winning will be. We have seen some social media money gurus tell you how they became millionaires but won’t put their calculations of how they got there. The victim of the card game could not sit down and realise that the probability of him making a profit was zero percent.

The FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) over time was established to curb the above from happening but people have still failed to look at the warning signs.

Money

Growing up I travelled through the Joburg CBD quite often. And as such got to witness the many creative ways that con-artists used to scam and rob people out of their money and possessions. While commuting through the busy city centre, I was intrigued by a game of cards that people played on the streets.

Sport

NEW BLACK-OWNED

SPORTSWEAR BUSINESS TAKES PSL

BY STORM Former budding soccer player, whose career was halted by an injury, Dumisani Soyamba kicks it up a notch by disrupting the sportswear market which is currently dominated by monopolies words leonard solms

S

ince its formation last September, sportswear brand DS Sports has become a household name in the PSL. The likes of Thapelo Morena, Richard Ofori and Peter Leeuwenburgh can be seen sporting their second skins, while their grip socks have also proved a hit. Owner Dumisani Soyamba’s playing career was cut short through injury, but the Nomzamo-based entrepreneur has carved another path in the beautiful game.

Mandla and Siphokuhle Soyamba, Dumisani’s younger brothers, help him with the marketing for DS Sports. Mandla also saw his playing career halted by injury, but younger brother Siyanda Soyamba is on the books of Cape Town City.

The football-mad Dumisani, Mandla and Siphokuhle grew up loving Orlando Pirates. Dumisani idolised midfielder Dumisa Ngobe growing up, but now, business is business.

“Nowadays, I don’t support any team, because they are all my clients,” he tells DESTINY CAREERS from Nomzamo, in the Western Cape, while local children indulge in an informal game of soccer nearby.

The beautiful game is the lifeblood of so many townships across South Africa and this one appears no different. To work in football is a privilege reserved for a fortunate few, but there is no doubt that Dumisani — who also coaches in Cape Umoya United’s academy — has made his own luck.

“We started last year, September. The reason behind it: I saw most of the players were struggling to get the colours [of second skins] that matched their kits,” Dumisani explains.

“Firstly, I wanted to buy and sell. I researched around the Western Cape and I noticed that there was no-one doing this — only the big companies, the likes of Umbro. Again, they were not supplying all the colours.

“I started to look for a supplier of the fabric. Luckily, I got a supplier… That was when we started DS Sports.”

As an entrepreneur, Dumisani has never shied away from exploring new opportunities. He runs Umsindo Events and has spread his wings into beach vending and the property business. However, football is the former Santos youngster’s first language and he takes to the industry like a duck to water.

In areas where he is less proficient, such as social media, he is fortunate enough not to have to struggle alone.

“When [Dumisani] was starting the company, I told him: ‘In order to reach most people, you must have media. Media is one of the important things with all businesses’,” Siphokuhle tells DESTINY CAREERS at the University of the Western Cape, where he is in the final year of his Bachelor’s Degree in financial accounting.

“I started with the Facebook account. He was doing the Facebook account, but he was not managing it properly…

I told him: ‘Maybe [let’s do] one post a week to bring more followers to the pages,’ and I started following one of the top teams.

“After that, I opened the Twitter [account], because Twitter is much faster than all of the other social networks.”

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DESTINY CAREERS

Sport

Siphokuhle uses Twitter to connect with clients and prospective clients, using his access on-campus WiFi at university to sidestep steep data costs.

Meanwhile, Mandla also plays a crucial role in the marketing of the business, albeit in a different capacity.

“I know a lot of people — at Orlando Pirates, some Stellenbosch FC, Ajax [Cape Town], Steenberg — I try to grab them and say, ‘I’ve got this [the DS Sports gear],’ then I take a picture and send it to them. I’ve started to notice us growing now,” Mandla, a sales supervisor at Huawei by trade, tells DESTINY CAREERS, in Stellenbosch. The meeting takes place on his off day from his job at the Somerset Mall.

Although Dumisani, Mandla and Siphokuhle all technically live in Nomzamo, opportunities to spend time together are rare due to their varying commitments outside DS Sports.

Presently, it is only the three of them working for the business other than their kit supplier. However, they have lofty ambitions for the future of the company.

Leonard Solms (left), Dumisani Soyamba (right) “For now, we only deal with orders, but if we come to a point of opening stores, definitely [DS Sports can become a fulltime project for the brothers],” says Siphokuhle. “That’s our aim [opening stores]. There are a lot of companies that started small.”

Dumisani explains that the end of the season could provide an opportunity to expand their client base, as players’ pre-existing sponsorship agreements could expire, creating gaps in the market.

Elaborating on why players are attracted to his product, he says: “Players use the tight fits for different reasons. Some players have muscle problems. They prevent muscle injuries and cramps. Some players use them [to ensure] that when they tackle, they don’t have bruises.”

Mandla Soyamba (above)

Dumisani, of course, has personal experience with injuries.

Formerly on the books of Santos, his knee was never able to recover from the damage done while on trial at Moroka Swallows. There is an irony to him becoming the owner of a sportswear brand aiming to prevent footballers from getting injured, but he views this venture in purely pragmatic terms.

“No. I’m a businessman. As a businessman, you cannot only focus on one thing. You must spread your wings and see where the market is,” he says when asked whether or not his own injury inspired him to start DS Sports.

“I saw there was a market in football. As I’m a football person, I saw the market in business. Now, I’m investing my time in something I like.”

Stories of South African footballers falling into despair and financial turmoil as their careers reach twilight are all too common. The football-mad Dumisani, Mandla and Siphokuhle Soyamba were unable to scale the heights of their on-field heroes, but when life gave them lemons, they made lemonade.

This is not to say that getting their business off the ground has been easy or that the future ahead is by any means guaranteed, but if the first few months of the brand’s existence are anything to go by, DS Sports is here to stay. COVID-19 in particular poses new challenges, but after the lockdown ends, Dumisani is confident that business as usual will resume.

Siphokuhle Soyamba (above)

Motoring

A VEHICLE THAT KNOWS HOW TO S-PRESS ITSELF words gugu masuku

The unveiling of the latest Sukuzi in India offers more than just torque

The truth is, we all have a list of destinations we would one day like to visit, but of the many countries in the world India, in particular, has never appeared on my list. Not for any particular reason other than ignorance. Much like our African continent, the narrative fed to the world about this region has, for decades, told a tale of poverty and suffering. The result is dissuaded travellers who opt for more appealing destinations — on paper at least. With no foreseeable intent to visit the Asian-Pacific country, when Suzuki announced that they would be holding their S-Presso launch in India, it was now or never.

Landing in New Delhi at 4AM in midwinter, the city is already awake and buzzing. The sound of hooters blaring and people coming from all directions is a sensory overload. As far as first impressions go, there’s an atmosphere of peace and contentment that lingers in the air amid the chaos, and it’s disarming.

The S-Presso we had come to unveil was still hundreds of kilometres away, in Jaisalmer, a desert region in Rajasthan, and with red eyes and a mild shiver, a connecting flight was in order.

As if Delhi hadn’t done enough to leave the mind in complete awe, Jaisalmer had every intention of stealing the show. As we approached a monumental building resembling a castle in our royal escort, we were informed that this would be our dwelling for the duration of our stay. The high stone walls on the exterior do no justice to the astounding beauty held by this majestic place. Its inner courts are alluring in architecture and size, with an Old World charm and exuding an aura of divinity.

With the jetlag dusted off and with clear minds, it was time to meet the Suzuki S-Presso, an entry level vehicle set to take on the likes of the Renault Kwid and Datsun GO. On our official introduction to the vehicle, its design similarities with the Kwid became immediately apparent — not surprising considering that the S-Presso’s nemesis is the French car.

One would assume that driving anywhere in the world involves the same fundamental principles, you just need to be mindful of which side of the line you belong. Not in India.

Driving here is an extreme sport and so having foreign media sample the new vehicle in a scarcely populated region was beginning to make sense. Lane lines are visible to everyone but the locals. These motorists come within millimetres of grazing one another on the road and on a narrow dual-road, vehicles will run each other off the road in a head-on stare down. Suffice it to say, our hearts maintained an irregular rhythm for the duration of the trip.

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DESTINY CAREERS

Motoring When we weren’t driving, the only thing left to do was to sample the local cuisine and explore. The food and culture are on par with everything else in India, with the latter encapsulated by a level of humility that touches your inner core. Being a largely vegetarian country, meat is scarce on plates but not completely ruled out — with beef being the exception of course. Vegetarian dishes are a way of life and it’s the manner in which they are prepared that makes the meals second to none. Teaming with flavour and spices, enough to dazzle even the most seasoned of tongues — it’s easy to see how one could easily be converted into this lifestyle.

The new S-Presso, on the other hand, takes everything in its stride, from poor road conditions to near misses with other vehicles. Powering this new model is a 1-litre 3 cylinder petrol engine which will be standard across the full range of three variants. Of course, an automatic transmission will be included in the highest spec for those who aren’t in the business of shifting gears. With a weight of just 750kg, the little vehicle doesn’t struggle to carry its own weight; even with two adults on board, the S-Presso moves along with respectable enthusiasm. One thing occupants will enjoy with the new Suzuki is space. Its engineers have designed it in such a way that it offers generous legroom for rear seat dwellers for a vehicle of its size.

With a successful trip in the bag and having averted the infamous Delhi belly, India proved to be a hidden gem.

Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty that lay within its borders. From the peace and humility embodied by its inhabitants to their simple and cultured way of life. The little Suzuki S-Presso, as well, received the stamp of approval, navigating some hostile terrain with confidence.

The entry -level vehicle is ready to rival the competition with pricing starting at R134 900.

Motoring

A LIFETIME DRIVEN

BY ONE CAR words edwin naidu Through its many creative advertising campaigns that spans the lifeline of the brand, Corolla remains steeped in South Africa for over five decades

From Polokwane to Phoenix, Buccleuch to Berea, Sandton to Soweto or Midrand to Mobeni Heights, almost everyone’s got a Corolla story to tell. My uncle, Bobby Govender from Phoenix drove to Lenasia in a late seventies Corolla during a bitterly cold 1977 to uncle Max and his ex-wife Cookie while I was staying with them. It was not a happy journey but that’s the way the cookie crumbles, the Corolla steered them here and back home safely.

My first close interaction in a Corolla was the fourthgeneration cutie in 1981. I liked the shape. It looked stylish and seemed ahead of its time. This Corolla was driven by Auntie Thelma, one half of my loving neighbourly nursing duo, who helped save my dad when he suffered a heart attack outside our flat in Sydenham.

All praise to God ‘cos was it not for his angels, Thelma and Zainab, our adorable neighbours on either side, my dad would have surely gone — but heaven was not ready and my dad probably wasn’t too. Thanks to their sterling efforts at resuscitating him before an ambulance arrived, Morgan Naidu Snr lived a further three decades until 14 January 2010, only missing out on the FIFA World Cup by several months.

Thelma, who now lives in Umkomaas, had a shiny, happy, silver Corolla. It was brand new. I loved the new car smell.

I dusted my feet carefully each time I got into this Corolla, taking a deep breath to inhale that aroma. Thelma used to take me around on her travels in her well-preened Corolla.

These Corolla memories were born in Aslam Heights, a ninestorey apartment block just outside Durban, owned by the 86

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Joosub family and which has apparently been turned into student accommodation.

I once lived there, used to get up to mischief at the shops, eating Tex and playing Donkey Kong. Briefly, I was king of the arcade game. I kissed a girl under the car park at Aslam Heights and I liked it. Her name was Shahida. She was cute. We didn’t have a car and my family used to take the bus outside the flat under a sprawling fig tree in Stanley Copley Drive. At 12, my awesome mom Ruby empowered me to travel alone on the bus to town or Chatsworth’s RK Khan hospital to meet my uncle and aunt to get asthma medication — things you would not allow these days with the goings-on in society. I was protected. I loved going to CNA in West Street, buying the now extinct Shoot! magazine. Life was different last century.

Apart from the wonderful Zainab and Thelma, there was the handyman uncle Soobrey. He was like a father, always bringing me yummy takeaways. Long before I knew Ozzy Osbourne, he made me drink pigeon blood to cure asthma.

It didn’t work.

Another person from Aslam Heights who I did not meet at the time but with whom I now regularly reminisce is the gorgeous Mrs Globe 2015, the ultra-smart and super-savvy Riana Mooi — the bravest woman I know who insists she’s “covered by the blood of Jesus” and planned to travel to Italy during the outbreak of a virus that has shocked everyone. This blessed wonder woman Riana epitomises the Toyota slogan: Lead The Way. I agree, we are all protected.

The Corolla has come a long way, predating my boyhood Aslam Heights experience by decades. The first-generation Corolla with MacPherson strut suspension and four-speed transmission arrived in 1966 at the height of the Beatle-mania.

Elvis-mania was on the wane and closer to home, Miriam Makeba was preparing to unleash Pata Pata to the world the following year. We had an uncle named Patamama. I was his favourite. Him and auntie Sparks, so nicknamed because sparks would fly when she was around, visited us often at Aslam Heights. He drove a Valiant. They would line us up and listen attentively to us read for monetary reward or KFC. Four years later, the second-generation Corolla targeted the 1970’s market with what was then regarded as a more stylish vehicle, reflecting the rock star attitude of the time with sales over one-million. In 1974 the third generation came sporting fuel saving performance timeously during a fuel crisis, in addition to modern treats creating a premium effect offering more value.

DESTINY CAREERS

Motoring

Memories of a cool Corolla owner: “I was an expert on Corolla’s, having used one as a company car where I worked for The Graphic newspaper,” says Yogin Devan, a former journalist and Director of Meropa in Durban.

“The Graphic and The Leader newspapers were part of the Indian social fabric. No selfrespecting householder will go home on a Friday without the mandatory newspapers tucked under the arm whilst carrying oily brown paper packets of chilli bites and sev ‘n nuts.

“I paid R4,500 for my first Corolla, brand new, in 1980. Today my Toyota Prado VX costs R2,000 to fill the tank each week.

“That car saw me getting married, was there when our first child was born, and faithfully took us all over South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, with music blasting through a rudimentary booster-equaliser.

“Had cars not been prone to rust those days, I probably would have still had my trusted Corolla today... those days we suffered from Corolla virus,” said Devan.

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S

ix years later, the fourth generation took a while longer arriving in the next decade in 1981. The funky Corolla driven by Thelma was meant to be a wedgeshaped luxury family mover. People loved it. The Corolla brand reached sales of 10 million by the time its replacement arrived in 1983. It was the first Corolla built using computers. Those dinosaurs at the motoring guild some of whose remaining members still have apartheid amnesia loved the Corolla. They made it car of the year three years later. Better late than never.

Another winner of the car year accolade was the sporty, twin-cam sixth-generation Corolla in 1987. DIY-mechanic John Mark Murugan formerly from Tongaat once owned this vehicle second-hand. Amazingly, one Saturday he took out the engine, conducted repairs, and put it back. The next day he went to church in it. Amen!

But Toyota was modernising. The 1991 version brought a smarter design, with enhanced safety and reliability, and electronics putting the DIY-mechanic’s spanner out of joint. It was also growing up, showing off a larger frame, with a more rounded shape minus the pot-belly. When the 8th generation Corolla arrived in 1998, it was already big in Japan. The world would soon follow. The ninth-generation Corolla ushered in the 21st century in 2001, cementing the Toyota relationship with motoring enthusiasts. There’s nothing but love for the Corolla.

Fast-forward to 2006 when the larger, more distinctive 10th generation arrived and stayed until the seven-year itch brought the 11th generation Corolla in 2013 with engine enhancements, aerodynamic improvements, fuel economy, better handling, stronger value and competitive pricing. The love remained strong.

Through its many creative advertising campaigns that spans the lifeline of the brand, Corolla remains steeped in South Africa for over five decades with sales of more than onemillion units, only a small chink of the mammoth 45 million global sales figure. In January the Corolla Quest arrived offering more car for the consumer buck at considerably cheaper prices as a precursor to the twelfth-generation coming soon.

My eternal journalism pal Mabuyane Mabuza and I rolled back the years taking selfies at the Kyalami launch late January with a yellow golden oldie that reminded me of the one uncle Bobby from Phoenix drove so calmly. Everything keeps going right, Toyota’s on a Quest to ensure that the Corolla leads the way – while the world just can’t stop loving this evergreen brand.

Travel

Spotlight: North West words pearl pillay If the hustle and bustle of the big city isn’t really your cup of tea, the sprawling bushveld of the North West Province might just be what you need. Known as the Platinum Province, the North West is famous for being home to a giant mining industry (which includes gold, platinum, uranium and diamonds), whilst still providing picturesque opportunities for exciting travel.

The province lies on the border of Botswana, with the serene Kalahari Desert in the west, and the bursting Gauteng province in the east, making it one of the most convenient provinces to travel to, and with such a wide variety of activities, the North West Province is definitely one for the books this year.

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No spotlight on the North West is complete without a focus on Sun City, the internationally renowned resort that is home to the largest casino and gaming facility in the country. Opened in 1979, Sun City was one of hotel giant Sol Kerzner’s most premiere destinations. Despite the global cultural boycott imposed on Apartheid South Africa, Kerzner made many artists a financial offer they couldn’t refuse, causing them to break the international boycott and perform in South Africa. These included the likes of Frank Sinatra, Queen and the Beach Boys.

Poised to house those with heavier wallets, the resort boasts designer golf courses, gourmet restaurants and spectacular theatre performances.

With a

DESTINY CAREERS

In typical Keeping Up with the Joneses fashion, Sun City’s neighbour is perhaps the more alluring destination in the area – the Pilanesberg National Park. Every nature lover’s dream, the Pilanesberg National Park is home to the infamous Big Five and is the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, boasting more than 7,000 animals within its gates. Bird-watchers will be especially entertained at this park, as it is also home to over 360 species of birds as.

The park has a variety of accommodation options, but with it being just three hours away from Johannesburg, it is an ideal destination for a fun-filled day trip. It offers multiple packages at different price scales, and even includes a shuttle to and from Johannesburg if you’re not keen on making the drive yourself. Pilanesberg National Park is also known as a premiere venue for conferences and weddings, so why not take advantage of the facility and choose it as the destination for your next work retreat?

It definitely won’t disappoint.

For the history buffs out there, perhaps a visit to Taung might interest you. Taung is housed in the Dr Ruth S. Mompati district. Dr Mompati was born in the North West Province and worked as a typist at Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo’s law practice in Johannesburg. She was a founding member of the Federation of South African Women and was one of the leaders of the women’s march that took place on 9th August 1956.

Taung is home to the world-famous fossil site that houses the 1924 discovery of the Taung Child, the fossil that marks the transitional evolutionary phase from ape to human.

Although the fossil can be found in Johannesburg (at the University of the Witwatersrand), the Buxton Quarry, the place where the fossil was found, is an idyllic picnic and hiking spot for travellers who prefer the road less travelled.

After a hike and a picnic, perhaps a visit to the Lesedi Cultural Village should be next on your North West adventure. Situated in the Cradle of Humankind, the Lesedi Cultural Village goes out of its way to ensure an entertaining and informative experience that seeks to educate visitors about the different cultures present in South Africa today.

Although quite a tourist location, the area is home to families from five different South African cultures, who live regular lives that integrate with visitors, in order to provide an authentic and genuine look into the ways in which culture makes us both incredibly unique, but also wonderfully interconnected.

Completing our North West journey is the president of small towns in the province – Hartbeespoort. Known as “Harties” by the cool kids, the town is situated on the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam, tucked away within the Magaliesberg mountains. Packed to the brim with things to do, Harties is perfect for a quick weekend getaway with the significant other, or even with your own squad if you’re going through a dry patch.

One of the main attractions here is the Harties Cableway.

Known as the longest mono-cableway in Africa, the 1.2km long cableway takes you to the top of the Magaliesberg and offers you breathtaking views of the dam and the areas

that surround it. It is a beautiful hiking spot and features a bar and restaurant at the top so that you can unwind after taking it all in. Pro Tip: the cableway is free to use on your birthday.

Staying in Harties also gives you the chance to interact with some of the most majestic animals on the planet – elephants! The Elephant Sanctuary at Hartbeespoort Dam is a wonderful location that houses and cares for African elephants in need of rehabilitation. You can experience guided tours that will teach you about elephant behaviour, their social dynamics and their relationship with humans, and you can experience what it’s like to walk trunk-in-hand with these phenomenal creatures. The park is cruelty-free, so you can be sure that the elephants are being treated with the utmost care, whilst offering you a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The sanctuary offers multiple packages which also includes overnight accommodation, in case you decide that elephants are way better than humans (spoiler: they are).

Not every travel experience needs to be about extravagant activities and the North West Province is a prime example of how magnificent travel can be when you strip away all the bells and whistles and enjoy our world the way nature demands us to. Although small, the province is full of growth potential and allows us a glance into our cultural heritage as human beings in ways very few people will get to experience.

Travel

gaming arcade for children and the fun-filled Valley of the Waves, Sun City ensures that there is something for everyone.

Service

Today’s special is wholesale exploitation words thabiso molonyama

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DESTINY CAREERS

Another challenge is that many stumbled upon the industry in search of any form of employment, thus eliminating a lot of passion in the food and beverage industry. A significant number of both well-seasoned and amateur individuals in the industry have no higher educational background, therefore, limiting them to entry level positions. These are positions such as waiter, bartender, barista, runners and cleaners, exposing them to exploitation, because at entry level those positions can be filled by practically anyone.

With worldwide high unemployment rates and a surplus of those desperate for work, at entry level anyone is disposable. Although in developed countries such as England, UAE and France, depending on the hospitality establishment, an entry bartender can be seen as a luxurious job. Most of the countries that treasure what the hospitality industry does for their tourism have high paying entry positions because, not only are they sourcing for the best around the world and have channels to grow their skills, but they also aim to create unforgettable experiences with their holistic approach to customer service.

In countries like South Africa and Australia where they still struggle with race dynamics, the hospitality industry can be brutal at entry level, depending on location and race.

Most hospitality workers do not have standard benefits like medical aid and pension, as a result it comes as no shock that authorities view employees at this level as disposable.

For those who work in the industry, hospitality has become synonymous with exploitation. From undeveloped to developed countries, unions and/or laws that protect hospitality workers are at an all-time low because of the lack of education, as well as information.

As a culinary gastronomy arts expert and hospitality liaison, I’ve had to leave many “great” roles because of the transparent exploitation within the companies.

The hospitality industry demands that you connect with people on a higher non-physical plane; to motivate, teach and inspire individuals who, at times, have seniority and/ or are new to the industry. One would have to be heartless to continue being in said role while individuals are being exploited on a daily in one’s presence. Especially a career in an industry where true sincerity and compassion are paramount.

Exploitation is a very sensitive topic that most hospitality establishments like hotels and restaurants shy away from, as well as the Department of Tourism. Governments have to start making it compulsory for every hospitality worker to meet the minimum certified requirements to be in the industry, which will make it better to regulate and tackle exploitation and by doing so, worker rates and benefits can be standardised across the industry.

Service

T

he hospitality industry is a vast category of fields within the tourism industry, a trillion-dollar industry, with customer service being the unifying factor shared by all segments within the industry.

The industry’s main principle centres around ubuntu (a quality that includes the essential human virtues of compassion and humanity), a vital element profit tends to eliminate. Through hospitality, people were able to learn more about different cultures, customs, and various indigenous beverages and cuisines, with distinct methods of preparation and serving.

Drinks

Cocktail of the month

Name: When life gives you pineapples Base Spirit: Non-alcoholic Ingredients Homemade Ice Tea: Spice Syrup: Pandan Syrup: Strawberry Syrup: Pineapple Juice:

200ml 50ml 15ml 5ml 10ml

Method: Shaken & Fine Strained Glass: Tikki Garnish: Dried Pineapple Ring & Mint Sprig Background Story Everybody has a bad day, but when a mixologist gets one, he invents. A mocktail perfect for those blue days, a true pick-meupper with a refreshing spicy-sweet taste.

Places to visit: Mangrove Braamfontein, Johannesburg

We sat with one of the owners Kagiso Sebediela, a chef by profession, to find out more about Mangrove.

What was the inspiration behind the name?

The Mangrove was a Caribbean restaurant located at 8 All Saints Rd, Notting Hill, west of London. It was opened in 1968 by the Trinidadian community activist and civil rights campaigner, Frank Crichlow. Like the El Rio before it, a coffee bar ran

by Crichlow at 127 Westbourne Park Rd in the early 1960’s that attracted attention in the Profumo Affair. The Mangrove was a meeting place for the black community in the area, as well as other activists.

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emulate this concept by creating a space for free thinkers and creatives alike. Community is what we are about and we hope that this message will come across.

What can people expect?

People can expect a pan African menu that delights the pallet without losing its Southern African roots. It promises a food experience not yet witnessed in Johannesburg, a great vibe, live music and superb food. Home away from home!

Advice for anyone starting in the hospitality industry or/and opening a restaurant/bar.

My advice is to go for it. Start with your dream and focus on not dying.

DESTINY CAREERS

“If you prioritise yourself, you are going to save yourself.�

Gabrielle Union, actor, author

Food

Make something fancy tonight

It might be a good idea to update your health resolutions by adding kitchen time to the list of things you’ll definitely, certainly, for real this time, be doing for the rest of the year. Here are some simple and delicious recipes to try, whether you’re a cooking pro or a newbie. recipes ucook

QUINOA CRUSTED HALLOUMI with pea shoots & baby marrows Indulgent halloumi disks coated in crunchy charred quinoa, on top of all the green goodness you need.

Serves: 4 Overall Cooking Time: 35min Active Time: 20min

Ingredients:

1x Halloumi Patty 75g White Quinoa 15g Tapioca Flour 75g Peas 150g Baby Marrow 10g Pea Shoots

Sherry Dressing 15ml Sherry Vinegar 5ml Honey 10g Sunflower Seeds 50g Artichoke Quarters 5g Fresh Parsley

What you need:

Oil (cooking, olive & coconut) Salt & Pepper Water

Procedure:

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1.

The peas are packaged separately to the bag. Rinse the quinoa. In a pot on a medium heat, bring 240ml of the quinoa and 480ml of water to the boil. Pop on a lid, lower the heat and gently simmer for about 13-18 minutes until the quinoa is cooked through and the tails have popped out. If the water is evaporating too quickly, add more.

Drain on completion, if necessary.

2.

Boil the kettle. Drain the artichokes. Rinse the pea shoots.

Ribbon the baby marrows using a peeler. In a bowl, plump the peas with boiling water for 2 minutes then drain. Rinse and roughly chop the parsley. Cut the patties in half lengthways. Combine the remaining quinoa and tapioca in a shallow dish. Season to taste. Coat the patties with the tapioca and quinoa mix. Set aside for frying.

3.

In a bowl, combine the Sherry Dressing and ribboned baby marrow. Stir every now and then to pickle lightly.

4.

In a pan (big enough for the patties) on a medium heat, toast the sunflower seeds for 2-4 minutes until golden.

Remove on completion.

5.

Return the pan to a medium heat with a drizzle of oil. When hot, char the artichokes for about 4-6 minutes. Remove and set aside. Keeping the pan on the heat, add another drizzle of oil and fry the coated patties for about 1-2 minutes per side.

6.

When the quinoa is cooked, toss the peas, pea shoots, dressed baby marrows, and charred artichokes through.

Season to taste and drizzle with olive oil.

7.

Plate up a bed of the loaded quinoa. Sprinkle the sunflower seeds and parsley over. Top it off with the crusted halloumi. Nice one, Chef!

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DESTINY CAREERS

Food

OSTRICH STEAK & TABBOULEH with roast butternut & hummus Healthy and delicious! This weeknight winner will chase away any winter blues with lean ostrich steak served alongside a punch of fresh tabbouleh and roast butternut.

Serves: 4 Overall Cooking Time: 45min Active Time: 20min

Ingredients:

160g Ostrich Steak 75g Bulgur Wheat 800ml Baby Tomatoes 200g Butternut Chunks 100g Cucumber (0.25/0.5/1) Spice Mix

5g Cape Herb & Spice Louisiana Cajun 10g Coriander Seeds 50g Hummus Parsley Lemon

What you need:

Oil (cooking, olive & coconut) Salt & Pepper Cling Film Water

Procedure: 1.

2.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Ready a baking tray. Cut the butternut chunks into bite-sized pieces. Spread the butternut out on the baking tray. Coat in some oil and season. Roast in the hot oven for 30-35 minutes until cooked and turning golden. Shift the veg halfway for even colouring.

5.

In the meantime, boil the kettle. Dice the baby tomatoes.

Dice the cucumber. Rinse and roughly chop the parsley.

Add the prepped ingredients to the bowl (reserving some parsley for garnish). Zest and juice half the lemon. Combine the hummus with 5ml of olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice (to taste). Loosen it up with 5ml increments of water to make it a drizzling

When hot, fry the steak until golden all over and cooked to your preference. This should take a total of 6-8 minutes, shifting as it colours. In the final 1-2 minutes, evenly sprinkle the Spice Mix over the steak with a further drizzle of oil. Using a spoon, baste the steak with the oil. Remove from the pan on completion and rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing and lightly seasoning.

6.

Add the roasted butternut to the bulgur bowl along with some lemon zest (to taste). Toss to combine.

7.

Make a bed of butternut and bulgur tabbouleh. Top with the sliced steak and drizzle over some yummy pan juices (if you’d fancy). Drizzle over the hummus dressing and garnish with the remaining parsley. Voilà!

3.

In a shallow dish, submerge the bulgur in 150ml of boiling water. Add some olive oil and salt. Fluff with a fork and cover with cling film. Soak for 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Drain on completion, if necessary, and fluff up with a fork. Add the bulgur to the baby tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley.

4.

When the butternut has about 15 minutes to go, place a pan over a medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Pat the steak dry and season. When hot, fry the steak until golden all over and cooked to your preference. This should take a total of 6-8 minutes, shifting as it colours. In the final 1-2 minutes, evenly sprinkle the Spice Mix over the steak with a further

drizzle of oil. Using a spoon, baste the steak with the oil.

Remove from the pan on completion and rest for 5 minutes before thinly slicing and lightly seasoning.

Beauty

B

Vuyo Varoy’s

eauty tips and tricks

I’ve been in the beauty industry for over a decade and for years, I’ve struggled to find the best skincare and beauty products that work for my skin.

I’m a big fan of all things natural so, it was very important for me to use natural ingredients to help keep my skin healthy and glowing. I then started to do some research on how to use home natural products, because you already have these at home so they are cost effective and can save lots of money.

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Beauty

Here are my 5 beauty tips and tricks I go by and that work for all skin types.

1. Eliminate tired, puffy eyes with chilled teabags So, you’ve come from a night out and in the morning you have a very important meeting or an interview – but because of the lack of sleep your eyes are puffy. To get rid of tired, puffy eyes just place chilled teabags on top of them for a few minutes. The antioxidants and caffeine in tea help reduce irritation and work to soothe your skin quickly. They also promote blood circulation around your eyes – giving your eyes a fresh, renewed appearance.

2. Get soft skin by using pomegranate, raspberry and almond oil Pomegranate oil has anti-ageing properties due to its high amount of Vitamin C, and it can help in the production of collagen. Almond oil is mild and hypoallergenic, which makes it great for sensitive skin. It’s also rich in Vitamin E. Raspberry seed oil is rich in allergic acid and Vitamin E, both which have anti-ageing effects and help prevent oxidative damage. When combined, these three oils make an incredible moisturiser that softens your skin.

3. Hydrate dry skin with coconut water Start your morning by drinking an unsweetened glass of coconut water. It is rich in nutrients and acts as an anti-inflammatory and detoxifier. This means it helps promote clear skin. Coconut water naturally moisturises your skin without adding excess oil.

4. Get soft, kissable lips by mixing shea butter and sugar Shea butter contains Vitamins A and E, both of which moisturise and soothe chapped lips and dryness. Sugar acts as a perfect natural exfoliator to go with the shea butter. How to do it: Mix the shea butter with sugar until you get the desired consistency, apply generously all over your lips and scrub for one minute. Wash with lukewarm water followed by applying lip balm.

5. Make a natural beauty mask to restore and hydrate tired, dull skin You will need oats, avocado and yoghurt. Oats has natural healing properties, avocado is hydrating and nourishes skin naturally and yoghurt contains nutrients and active live cultures that balance your skin’s pH. Mix all three together well and apply enough to cover the face. Leave the mask on for 10 to 15 minutes and remove it with a warm and wet washcloth. Rinse your face with water and pat to dry. Use the mask once a day or as needed.

Fashion

Thabiso Makhubela

One of the presenters of SABC 3’s popular lifestyle breakfast show Expresso, Thabiso Makhubela also has ‘radio presenter’, ‘entrepreneur’ and ‘MC’ on his impressive CV. He calls himself “The Life Giver”, and why not? If you know your strengths, play to them. One of GQ’s Best Dressed men in 2018, Thabiso is also the live studio presenter of lifestyle décor show, Win a Home. Yhu, where does he find the time? Teach us, Thabiso!

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MELODY MOLALE A 2019 SA Style Award winner and Glamour mag’s Most Glamorous 2019 honoree, Melody Molale is one of the most interesting content creators in the country. With an IG following of 168,000 (@ilovemelmo, verified), she has worked with numerous brands and in 2018 landed a contract with iconic skincare brand Pond’s, becoming the face of its Flawless Radiance Derma Plus range.

We love Melody because she is down-to-earth, super stylish and in the influencer space, she epitomises the saying, “stay low, keep firing”.

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TUMELO LIVE

Modelled on Marcel Proust’s questionnaire, we ask our favorite people questions which could either reveal who they truly are - or shroud them deeper in mystery.

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Describe yourself in two words.

Humble and Intelligent.

What’s your favourite quality about yourself?

That I’ve become very ambitious. Almost like I’ve had this awakening over the years. I’ve started to really believe that anything one hopes and dreams of is possible – with hard and smart work, of course.

What’s your favourite quality in others?

I like people who have humanity embedded in them. I’ve been taught that humanity goes a very long way. It even opens doors and unlocks spheres that would otherwise have been a challenge.

Your most dominant characteristic?

I have quite a few dominant characteristics but my ability to discern, comfort and make others feel good; see things differently for the better, has been quite my favourite and most dominant trait.

Your biggest flaw?

One flaw that I am working on is being patient and understanding with others. I find that most times as individuals we see things differently, and at times the other’s perspective may be somewhat flawed. Over the years I’ve had to respect how others feel and understand their standpoint. Still working on it, though.

What do you most appreciate in your friends?

I have a very small circle of friends. What I appreciate most about them is the diversity they each bring to the table. My friends, few as they may be, are spread across all sectors in most of our economy. That really gives me insight into various disciplines and allows me to gain expert advice on a whole lot of things. .

On what occasion do you lie?

I don’t generally lie. If I absolutely have to, it would be to get a friend out of trouble or to get out of a very tight situation. Now and then, a soft lie is necessary, especially if it’s to protect someone’s feelings (especially people who generally can’t handle the truth).

What would lead you to cut someone off?

People who undermine, devalue and use others for their own benefit or selfish reasons deserve to be cut off. As T.D Jakes recently tweeted, “The problem with being talented is that people tend to take your talent and leave

you behind”. I absolutely cannot stand people who use others.

What’s your favourite possession?

Right now, that would have to be my studio equipment. I’m able to instantly make music as ideas come. Being a production engineer in music and in radio, I’m able to not just make music but also work on audio/visual material for various companies around the world. I believe in prized possessions that can yield returns.

Your idea of happiness?

Happiness for me is being with loved ones. I value loved ones in my life so much that I would do anything (within reason) for them. My family brings me all the happiness I could ever ask for. Family being parents, siblings, nieces and nephews etc. Even though at times they drive me up the wall, they are my happiness.

Your idea of misery?

Being with someone who doesn’t make me happy. Life is honestly too short to spend with someone or people that don’t inject life into you. Of late, I’ve come across individuals who surround themselves with toxic people or choose to stay in toxic situations for whatever reason. I honestly pray for these people. Not only for their emotional liberation but for enlightenment and courage to want better for themselves.

Which word or phrase do you overuse?

After much deliberation with some close friends of mine, the words “Kinda Like” seems to be my most used.

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

Most mornings the first thing I do really depends on the kind of sleep I had. It alternates between morning devotion and brushing my teeth.

Sometimes I do both simultaneously (don’t ask me how, LOL).

Exit

South African Music Award-nominated singer and songwriter Tumelo Ruele (@TUMELOlive) was born in Sebokeng, a township situated south of Johannesburg in the Vaal Triangle.

He was already singing solos at church aged eight. His debut album was released in 2010, and he’s worked with artists including Black Coffee, J.R., Zakes Bantwini and Vikter Duplaix. He was featured on the Black Panther soundtrack in 2018.

Exit interview What’s the last thing you do at night?

Much like the mornings, the last thing I do at night really depends on the kind of day I had. I try by all means to say a prayer, but it honestly doesn’t always happen. Some nights I’m just way too tired from the day’s hustling and galivants or even outings.

Night owl or morning bird?

I’m definitely a night owl. Most of my music and production work is done at night. That’s when creativity slaps the hardest.

If you could be someone else for a day, who would it be?

President Cyril Ramaphosa. Only and only to lift the restriction on the sale of certain products for a good 24-hour period. The most obvious being that good wine and spirits.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

I think I most identify with Quincy Jones. The diversity and intensity of his many talents is unmatched. I admire the way he was able to apply himself to many genres of music while running the music business at so many levels. The hits he has written and the many artists he has discovered throughout the years make him one of the greatest to ever do it.

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If you could only listen to only one album for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Having grown up listening to many genres, the music that appeals to me most would have to be R&B and Soul. So, an album that encapsulates both for me would be Donny Hathaway’s A Song For You (Live). Donny’s music has influenced and paved the way for so many other genres and artists. This album for me carries all kinds of messages that uplift, inspire and give hope in all spheres of life.

Best advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received and still live by is the bible scripture “Humble yourself by the side of the Lord and He shall lift you up”. As a kid growing up, my dad used to drill this verse into our heads and even make us sing it. To date, I have found that humility and hard work are the ingredients for success in anything.

How would you like to be remembered?

As an individual with a big heart and who made others smile.

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