The Afropolitan Edition 42

EDITION 42

LIFEST YLE ADOPTION Is it taboo to save a child?

CULTURE 21 YEARS ON Where were you when Mandela became president?

NEW CAREER It’s never too late to start again!

9 771993 965003

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BUSINESS

Geen swartes!

Racism rife in SA schools

P L U S : A F R O P O L I TA N I N T H E S N O W | B U L L I E D B Y B O KO H A R A M | L U X U R Y PA D P I M P I N G www.afropolitan.co.za

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In This Edition

EDITOR Brendah Nyakudya

CONTRIBUTORS Alyn Adams Heather Clancy Damian Murphy Stacey Vee Michelle Randall Cath Jenkins

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Contact Media & Communications 388 Main Avenue, Randburg Block A Tel: +27(0) 11 789 6339 Fax: +27(0) 11 789 7097 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za web: www.contactmedia.co.za

Teenage pregnancy

CEO & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

6 EDITOR'S LETTER Hope for the future

12 BUSINESS Time to try something new!

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Sean Press

MANAGING DIRECTOR AND PUBLISHER Donna Verrydt

17 FINANCE

FINANCE AND OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Top 5 business sectors

Lesley Fox

20 CURRENT AFFAIRS

Chioma Didi Okoro

SALES MANAGER SALES

Bullied by Boko Haram

23 FINANCE

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The easy way to intelligent investing

26 CULTURE

Damian Murphy Quincy Matonhodze Luey Naicker Melanie Scheepers Paul Styles

DESIGN & LAYOUT Janine Louw

Racism in schools

SUBBING & PROOFING

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28 CURRENT AFFAIRS Where were you when Mandela rose to power?

Stacey Vee

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Gwen Sebogodi

IT AND WEB MANAGER Mircea Nicolae & Carmen Petre

32 BUSINESS PROFILE

REPRO AND PRINTING Kadimah Print

Kgomotso Mautloa

40 LUXURY Whisky 101

44 FASHION Lola Omokunga

48 CULTURE Adoption: Myths and facts

50 LUXURY

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Pimp your pad in style

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54 TRAVEL The magic of Val Thorens!

DISTRIBUTION Edward Macdonald & Distributed by:

60 BUSINESS What makes franchises fail?

For any distribution queries contact: 011 401 5870

64 PROPERTY Architectural Symphony

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68 FEATURE A user's guide to your brain

70 MOTORING Merc B200

80 COLUMN In praise of close personal attachments

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Copyright © 2014 Contact Media & Communications. The Afropolitan is published

by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in The Afropolitan are not necessarily those of the Publisher, Kaya FM or contributors.

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Hope for the A future IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ALREADY HEADING TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR. IT FEELS LIKE JUST THE OTHER DAY WE WERE OFFERING EACH OTHER NEW YEAR SALUTATIONS.

s the months whizz past there is a part of me that feels the world is getting more chaotic. Boko Haram is wreaking havoc in Nigeria and there are bomb blasts in Tunisia. Further down the continent there is much concern that westerners in Uganda are at risk of attack, students are being gunned down in Kenya and xenophobic attacks have gripped South Africa. It feels like the continent can't catch a break and will always be on the verge of some disaster.

As a magazine at times we struggle to keep optimistic in the face of constant struggling but in the words of Martin Luther King “ We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” So it is with this mandate that we bring you some of the more inspirational stories on the continent; from young Africans making waves in their industries

to people who forged new paths to create a new life for themselves – it's all in the pages of The Afropolitan!

While it may seem like a dark time for our precious Africa there is always hope for a better day and we will always ensure that as a magazine we bring some of that hope to you in the stories we tell.

Enjoy the read!

@brendahnyakudya @AfropolitanMag Facebook: TheAfropolitanMagazine

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Teenage Pregnancy

should not mean the end of one's dreams IT WAS WITH MUCH HORROR THAT I READ THAT IN 2014 20 000 SCHOOLGIRLS FELL PREGNANT IN SOUTH AFRICA.

By Brendah Nyakudya

I

n a report released by the South African Department of Basic Education, as a written reply from the Education Department to a Parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), 20 000 school girls fell pregnant last year, and even more distressing is that of those 20 000 pregnancies, 223 were in primary schools.

Gauteng had the highest number of pregnancies with more than 5 000

documented and the Eastern Cape second at 3 000. The Seme Secondary School in Mpumalanga noted the highest number of pregnancies at 77 and Sophathisana Secondary in the Eastern Cape had the second highest with a figure of 74.

It was a primary school in Mpumalanga, KT Twala, that had the highest number of pregnancies, recorded 13 in the period in question.

Teenage pregnancy has always been a tough situation to tackle, but with more than 90 000 teenage pregnancies recorded in the country every year there is a dire need for conversations to be had. Some organisations preach abstinence and others push for supplying contraception to kids should they chose to have sex, but it seems both camps are failing. Children are having sex and not being safe in the practise and

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mothers should be away from their babies so as to afford them a chance to complete their schooling. While this may seem a drastic measure it has merit.

Falling pregnant whilst you are at school is a bad idea but it should not be a prison sentence. For a child to be the best they can be they need to be in an environment that is conducive.

A mother who is empowered raises empowered children.

The government’s mandate is to raise healthy children and so it needs to look into ways of raising healthy children at the point of their need and circumstance.

TAKES TWO TO TANGO Like the annoying cliché states, it takes two to tango and so it stands to reason that two should face the consequences.

Our schools need to move away from their sexist ways and call both guilty parties into the discipline process. If it’s a young boy he should also be penalised so that he too learns the error of his ways and the level of responsibility he is in for as a result of engaging in teen sex.

Once this is done they can both go back to school. If it’s a teacher or an older man they should be named and shamed then jailed for statutory rape.

as a result we have 20 000 schoolgirls who have had their futures disrupted.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

A LIFE DESTINED TO FAIL The DBE was unable to say if any of the girls that had fallen pregnant had returned to school after they had given birth but chances are they didn’t. It is a sad reality that when these situations present themselves it is always the girl who carries the proof of the indiscretion and who ultimately get penalised. Many establishments ban the girl from returning to school citing them as a bad influence to her peers.

The boy however, or in some instances man, who was an equal participant in the act always seems to get away scotfree with the posibility to err again.

What this leads to is a generation of juvenile mothers without the skills, means of emotional maturity to be parents and no prospects for the future.

These young mothers are raising a

generation of children that will grow up in less than ideal conditions and grow up to be young men and women at risk of falling through the cracks and perpetuating the cycle. Speaking in Parliament at a recent Q&A, President Zuma was asked to clarify his stance when he said that teenage mothers should be separated from their children.

He did so by reiterating that teen

We can continue with the practice of sex education and providing contraception to children at schools for that play its own part in discouraging underage sexual practices, but when this fails – as it clearly can – let us not abandon the child and their future. Let us equip them with the tools to pick up the pieces and move forward with a better understanding of life and all its highs and lows.

Only then can we say we are raising healthy children and a healthy nation, when we leave no one behind.

TEENAGE PREGNANCY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOUGH SITUATION TO TACKLE, BUT WITH MORE THAN 90 000 TEENAGE PREGNANCIES RECORDED IN THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD.

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TIME TO TRY SOMETHING NEW! It is never too late to start again THERE COMES A POINT WHEN WE ALL FEEL LIKE WE NEED A CHANGE IN OUR CAREER. WE SPEAK TO THREE BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THEIR CAREERS AND THEIR REASONS FOR DOING SO, LESSONS THAT THEY LEARNED, THEIR FAILURES AND SUCCESSES.

By Heather Clancy

B U S I N E S S

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ur dreams don’t come to us when it is convenient. They demand attention during office hours and nag us during our daily commute. They whisper “what are you waiting for?” when we are tired and trying to sleep.

While many people actively ignore these hints and nudges, a brave few dare to acknowledge the possibility of “what if?” We speak to three business people who ventured beyond their comfort zones in the pursuit of a new career and a new adventure.

ZUKISWA PIKOLI:

ONLINE EDITOR AT A PUBLISHING COMPANY TO A FULL-TIME CATERER From the world of books to the world of cooks On the eve of her 30th birthday Zukiswa Pikoli did something that so few manage to do in a lifetime: she decided to follow her passion.

Abandoning the comfort of her publishing job, she decided to set her sights beyond what she deemed mediocre, “I realised that I had to chase and build my own dream and at 30 years old I had no plausible reason not to. So I did”. Patient and methodical, Zukiswa spent months planning and researching before she finally handed in her resignation letter. Conquering the fear of change by confiding in close friends and family, she says; “They were very encouraging and supportive, it would have been a lot more difficult to do without them”.

Venturing from the cerebral world of books, Zukiswa entered the kitchen with a dream inspired by her grandmother who “made every meal an event”. However, Zukiswa’s catering company, Tulip’s Catering, is only the first step and ultimately she plans to open a restaurant to share her passion and talent. She explains: “The social aspect that comes with eating is a form of stopping – if only for a little while – to nourish the body and also connect with loved ones, build memories and feed the soul. I honestly cannot think of anything better”.

What have been some of the most important lessons that you have learned in changing your career?

I have learned that when running a business it is important to be consistent, organised and pedantically methodical. Excellent customer service is equally important. Everyone wants to feel significant so it is important to

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SHE DECIDED TO CHANGE HER LIFE AND FOLLOW HER PASSION. ABANDONING THE COMFORT OF HER PUBLISHING JOB, SHE DECIDED TO SET HER SIGHTS BEYOND WHAT SHE DEEMED THE MEDIOCRE, “I REALISED THAT I HAD TO CHASE AND BUILD MY OWN DREAM AND AT 30 YEARS OLD I HAD NO PLAUSIBLE REASON NOT TO. SO I DID”.

customise customer experiences as far as possible. Oh yes, and never let them see you sweat! It’s very important that you always inspire confidence.

JESSLYNN SCHLAMM:

FULL-TIME STRATEGIC PLANNER AT AN ADVERTISING AGENCY AND NOW PART-TIME SKINCARE BRAND OWNER

What have been some of your biggest From big brands to a beautiful achievements in your new career? hobby It is a highlight more than an achievement, but it would have to be when Tulip’s catered for a film set. I did so much with little to no budget and I think I was able to surprise even myself with what I achieved. It was a very rewarding experience because the great thing about the food industry is that the feedback is immediate, and having the cast and crew constantly look forward to their next meal made me do a happy dance on the inside every time. Of course, it wasn’t always good and there were times where I had to grow an extra layer of skin but that is just par for the course and an opportunity to do and be better.

Making the most of her free time, Jesslynn Schlamm does what no regular nine-to-fiver would be caught dead doing: working overtime. When she’s not working as a strategic planner at an advertising agency, she works in her lunch break, after hours and even during weekends on her natural, handcrafted skincare brand, Lulu & Marula. What began as a hobby quickly grew into a business that doubles as a creative outlet. “It gives me the opportunity to feel inspired and take ownership of something that I can be proud of,” Jesslynn says of her “career path by accident.”

What advice would you give to someone thinking about a major career transition?

Admitting that she still struggles with the fear of pursuing her dream, her sunny attitude means that she also acknowledges the fear for what it really is: fuel for the journey. “It’s something that keeps me moving forward,” she says. Moving onward and upward, Lulu & Marula has become something of a cult product amongst beauty junkies in the know, using only “pure botanical oils, extracts, waters and a dose of awesome.” Recently the natural products were a hit at the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair. Despite the kind of success that would prompt many to give up their day job, Jesslynn remains committed to her career in advertising.

I would say that they would definitely need to plan, plan and plan! That way, while the transition will definitely still be scary, you will have an arsenal of preparation to refer to in times of doubt.

It is also important to cultivate a very strong support system because they will buoy you up when things get rough. And believe me, things will get rough. But if you believe wholeheartedly in what you are pursuing that will keep you going.

And then you know just generally carpe the heck out of that diem!

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“I find that it compliments my personal brand, and I’ve learned so much that I have been able to apply to Lulu & Marula”.

What have been some of the most important lessons that you have learned in changing the direction of your career?

Just go for it. Don’t get too caught up in the planning and the logistics of things otherwise you’ll never get there. You can always achieve more than you think you can.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about a major transition?

Don’t overthink it, just go for it. You always get the help and support you need if you ask nicely! People are always willing to help out a young entrepreneur, which is amazing.

What would you do differently if you could do it again?

Everything that’s gone wrong has gone wrong for a reason. I’ve learned more from my mistakes than I have from my achievements, so I wouldn’t change a single thing.

...JUST GO FOR IT. DON’T GET TOO CAUGHT UP IN THE PLANNING AND THE LOGISTICS OF THINGS OTHERWISE YOU’LL NEVER GET THERE. YOU CAN ALWAYS ACHIEVE MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU CAN. HILTON DENNIS:

CIVIL SERVANT, DIPLOMAT AND NOW B&B OWNER ON SABBATICAL “I had no fear because all my life I’ve dealt with change; my life has never been a linear equation.” says Hilton Dennis when asked if he was intimidated by his initial inexperience in the hospitality industry. With that unwavering confidence as his ally, as well as the driving force of his wife Thoko and his family’s support, what began as a three-bedroom B&B run by his mother in his home village is now an eight-bedroom B&B and wedding venue with a restaurant on the way. Hidden in the rugged hills of southern Kwa-Zulu Natal, Hlutankungu B&B is a labour of love that has experienced surprising growth in the five years that have passed since Hilton and Thoko first stumbled upon the idea during a Christmas holiday in the Eastern Cape.

Dedicating much of his life to service, Hilton who previously worked as the South African ambassador to South Korea, was driven by the desire to “give back to society” saying, “I’m motivated by an emotional need to boost my

ancestral village and to contribute to the local economy of my home.”

What advice would you give to someone who was considering pursuing their passion in the hospitality industry?

I would advocate the hospitality industry because the driving purpose of the work is to make people happy.

When you’ve worked hard and you are coming close to retirement, all you do is want to give back to society, and so the hospitality industry is such a perfect fit for those who just want to serve society.

With regards to your B&B venture, what would you do differently if you could do it again?

I’ve learnt in life not to regret decisions but rather to learn from experiences.

I entered this field knowing nothing about the hospitality industry and yet the B&B has grown steadily over the years. That being said, given by public service background, I don’t think that we have marketed the B&B sufficiently.

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Top 5

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Business Sectors What jobs are Afropolitans rushing to get into?

WHILE IT MAY SEEM LIKE THE PLUSH SEATS IN CEO WORLD ARE MOSTLY OCCUPIED BY WHITE MEN, THE LANDSCAPES OF THE BUSINESS WORLD ARE QUICKLY TRANSFORMING.

By Cath Jenkin

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ith more and more black people taking their seats at the boardroom table, let’s look at the top five most common jobs within this emerging and thriving set of businesspeople:

ENTREPRENEURSHIP The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and thriving in Africa, as innovation and a surge in technological inventions prove to be a driving force behind job creation. More and more millionaires are being created, so it’s not hard to see that entrepreneurship, when it’s done right, has become a popular career path. Joel Mwale didn’t finish school but went on to create, and later sell, Skydrop Enterprises, a rainwater filtration and bottling company that produces low-cost purified drinking water, milk and other dairy products in Kenya. Launching his second startup, Gigavia, Joel has turned his attention towards combining social media with education.

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TOURISM As the African continent has opened up to the world, the tourism boom that many countries are experiencing has created multiple opportunities for black people to thrive and succeed. Putting Sol Kerzner’s Sun International story aside, African tourism operators and the industry as a whole are being taken seriously on a global scale. Kenya is set to host the Africa Travel Association Congress and the SKAL International Congress during 2015, both of which will attract tourism leaders from across the globe.

MOBILE TECHNOLOGY Ask just about any industry pundit and they’ll tell you that mobile technologies have made their biggest impact in Africa. In South Africa, and according to that country’s latest census results, more citizens have access to a mobile phone than to running water. It’s no surprise that mobile technologies have wielded great power over the continent, with Nigeria being Africa’s largest mobile market. Mobile technologies have given rise to a significant rise in business interest in the country, as more and more mobile-focused companies step up to play in the global fields. One such startup, SlimTrader, created by Femi Akinde when he became frustrated with trying to book an aeroplane ticket, has actively enabled citizens to effortlessly transact and make travel bookings using technologies that include USSD short codes and SMS.

MEDIA AND FASHION The mobile revolution brought with it a new trend of emerging media and public relations companies. They cropped up across the continent, or were snapped up by larger global conglomerates who sniffed out the potential opportunities that emanate from having an African base. Nigeria’s IrokoTV is the world’s largest distributor of African movies, using an on-demand television platform that’s been likened to Netflix. And as for the fashion industry, Africa Fashion Week now takes place every year in London, with designers flocking to find out what’s hot on the continent’s streets. Even the powerful Forbes lists have begun to notice this trend, listing Nigerian businesswoman Folorunsho Alakija as the 96th most powerful woman in the world. Having replaced Isabel Dos Santos as the richest woman of Africa, Folorunsho is a business tycoon involved in the fashion, oil and printing industries.

ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE As it’s still regarded as a developing continent, the keen need for infrastructure and engineering in Africa is evident. As developing countries require a quick upscale in infrastructure and have a definitive need to expand upon their current resources, the field of engineering has given birth to a wealth of construction and engineering tycoons in Africa. The continent’s wealthiest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, sits at the helm of a diverse group of companies, the Dangote Group – a company with an operations portfolio that spans everything from sugar to steel manufacturing.

As industries expand and mature across the continent, it’s not hard to see that Africa is fast becoming a place of boundless opportunity.

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Images courtesy of Shutterstock

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Bullied by

BOKO HARAM NEARLY A YEAR AGO IN CHIBOK, NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA, HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLGIRLS WERE KIDNAPPED FROM WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THEIR SANCTUARY OF LEARNING.

By Heather Clancy

T

he stars washed the night sky when militants from the Islamist fundamentalist group Boko Haram broke into their boarding school. Yet to be tainted by the cynicism of adulthood, survivors say that they innocently believed that the men in camouflage were soldiers coming to save them from a militant attack.

The world stood united, aghast by the abduction.What was previously an intermittently-reported terrorist group was elevated, in a social media minute, to a global enemy. The poignant implications of the horrific abduction were the currency that traded the story to the top of news headlines. The story forced people to think: what if that was my child? Now almost a year later some of the kidnapped girls have escaped but the majority remain enslaved.

But what exactly is Boko Haram? And how have they managed to hold peace (and hundreds of girls) captive for so long?

To anyone who doubts the power of words, consider the impetus of Nigeria’s deadly Boko Haram terrorist

group: “Anyone who is not governed by what Allah has revealed is among the transgressors.” With this phrase, soldiers of the militant group are emboldened to terrifying action, spreading destruction across Africa’s most populous country with bombs, brutal assassinations and kidnappings. However, Boko Haram did not always operate this way. In fact, even as recently as 2009, Boko Haram was not widely known or mentioned in U.S. embassy cables released by WikiLeaks.

Founded in the Muslim-dominated north of Nigeria in 2002, the history of the group dates back to the Maitatsine uprising of the 1980s.

Beginning as a radical, yet notably nonviolent fundamentalist group influenced

by Wahhabi beliefs, the group’s name loosely translated means “western education is forbidden”. Led by the now deceased Mohammed Yusuf, Boko Haram wanted to turn Nigeria into an authentic Islamic state by imposing Sharia law throughout the country with the inclusion of the Christian south.

However, a seemingly innocuous 2009 law change – stating that all motorcyclists are legally obliged to wear helmets – disrupted the fragile calm that had characterised the country during the early 2000s and sparked Boko Haram’s violent transformation.

What began as a sombre motorbike convoy to bury a member took a dark turn when disrupted by officers due to

“WHATEVER THE ORIGIN OF THIS INCIDENT, IT ILLUSTRATES THE PREVAILING TENSIONS IN THE NORTH, WHICH CAN BECOME VIOLENT AT SHORT NOTICE.”

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the convoy’s absence of helmets. The members interpreted this disruption as a provocation and the confrontation escalated with the officers opening fire and injuring 17 people. The WikiLeaks cable noted that the officer’s disruption of a funeral convoy was “curious” and suggested that the disruption was intended as a provocation stemming from the tension between the opposing ideologies. Concluding on a prophetic note, the WikiLeaks cable stated: “Whatever the origin of this incident, it illustrates the prevailing tensions in the North, which can become violent at short notice.”

Following the “curious” helmet incident Boko Haram militants attacked a police station and in the days that followed more than 700 people died across the north of the country. Mohammed Yusuf was captured and killed in police custody and the remaining members went underground. In a violent example of unintended consequences, what was

Nigerians protesting against Boko Haram

Boko Haram militants

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THE COMPLEXITY OF THE FACTORS MOTIVATING THE ORIGIN AND RISE OF BOKO HARAM IS PART OF THE GROUP’S ARMOUR.

supposed to mark the destruction of Boko Haram – Yusuf’s death – in fact marked the birth of Boko Haram as we know and fear it today with current leader Abubakar Shekau at the helm.

Despite the significance of the helmet incident, it is perhaps misguided and overly simple to conclude that this sole incident set off a neat chain of events leading to Boko Haram’s present violence. The helmet incident should rather be interpreted as manifestation of the growing tension in the region around that period.

In other words, the initial absurdity of the helmet issue is testament to the fact that almost anything would have sparked the conflict.

In an analysis posted by The Atlantic on its website the helmet incident is understood as a pretext, “The larger insight here is that there is no “patient zero” in an armed insurgency. The factors behind Boko Haram’s rise are

diverse, complex, and interconnected, and the protean group has multiple origin stories.”

The complexity of the factors motivating the origin and rise of Boko Haram is part of the group’s armour.

Nigeria’s former chief of defence staff, General Martin Luther Agwai said: “You can never solve any of these problems with military solutions. It is a political issue; it is a social issue; it is an economic issue, and until these issues are addressed, the military can never give you a solution.”

While poverty and marginalisation don’t necessarily create radicalised people, they do give groups like Boko Haram a distorted sense of legitimacy while providing a well of new recruits who feel that they have nothing to lose.

This is perhaps the primary reason why Nigeria and by extension, Africa, is being bullied by Boko Haram. The

Nigeria government, the African Union and even the US have only implemented military solutions in the region. While this has won limited gains against the terrorist group, with the assistance of Chad and Cameroon ensuring that some territory has been recaptured, Boko Haram continues to advance and has recently pledged allegiance to ISIS. The growth and expansion of Boko Haram is largely accepted as a broader social, political and economic issue, and yet the Nigerian government and its allies have all but refused to act upon the hydra-like power of the group. It is easier to simply meet fire with fire and operate on the basis that if the military is strong enough, it will defeat Boko Haram. The government’s simplistic logic is merely self-serving, and perhaps understandably so. If the government acknowledges the often legitimate grievances that have led to the popularity and growth of Boko Haram, they too must acknowledge their failure and responsibility.

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The Easy Way to

Intelligent

Investing WE ALL KNOW IT IS VITAL TO START PUTTING MONEY AWAY, BUT WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

By Cath Jenkin

W

e all know that putting a little money away each month can be highly beneficial to our bank balances and future lifestyles, but just how much do we need to save, and what does it really entail? We consulted an expert financial mind for some well-rounded advice and tips on how to make money. Whether you’re saving for a car, keen on investing in the stock exchange or just looking to put a little away each month for a rainy day, it’s time to get serious about saving.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE? We asked Andrew Ludwig, Investor Relations and Marketing Manager at Tower Capital, a Johannesburg-based hedge fund management firm, the question everyone doesn’t like the answer to: “when is the best time for a person to start saving?”

His response was quite simply, “When is the best time to plant a tree? Now! Even though many of us are living hand to mouth and trying our best to make ends meet, the moment that someone has any sort of disposable income to put away, it’s important that they start saving immediately.”

NEW REGULATIONS MAKE SAVING EASIER FOR EVERYONE During the 2015 Budget Speech, the South African government announced that it is making moves towards enabling consumers to save money more easily. By actively focusing on moving consumers away from a culture of credit and steering people towards the habit of saving, it’s hoped that more and more South Africans will be able to create healthy futures for themselves. An initiative that works to turn South Africans towards a culture of savings, Tax-Free savings accounts have now become

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available, whereby consumers can stash up to R30 000 per year.

The country’s financial institutions have already set up their offerings for this type of account, with all the big banks adding tax-free savings accounts to their service portfolio.

But what does that mean in real terms for the South African consumer? Andrew illustrated it using a simple example: “If a person deposits R2000 a month into a tax-free savings account and continues to do so for twenty years, they could have R1.2 million in their savings accounts, thanks, in part, to compound interest”.

GENERAL GUIDELINES ON SAVING The second question about savings that most people ask is, “What percentage of my income should I be saving each month?” There are a number of recommendations around savings made by multiple sources. For example, the 50/30/20 simply divides your income into 50% necessities; 30% discretionary income and 20% savings (including long and short-term savings goals). But that’s not necessarily an attainable savings goal for many. Andrew recommends a minimum of “10% of your income to be put away each month.”

CREATING AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO Of course, savings accounts are the first step to watching your money grow, but to create even more growth, a solid investment portfolio can serve you even better. Moreover, the more knowledgeable you become about your investments and the more experienced your selected broker is, the more likely you are to create true wealth for yourself. Employing the skills and experience of a professional asset manager will mean your money and investment portfolio is well managed by expert hands.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN BAD TIMES HIT? A glance at the headlines tells us that global economies are struggling and there’s talk of a collapse or crash in the not too distant future. Many would therefore assume that investing in the stock market could leave people out of pocket, but thanks to expert brokers and asset managers, this is not the case. Hedge fund management firms can offer clients downside protection services through hedge fund strategies, meaning that clients’ assets are protected even when economic crises hit.

OF COURSE, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE THE FIRST STEP TO WATCHING YOUR MONEY GROW, BUT AS A MEANS TO CREATE EVEN MORE GROWTH, A SOLID INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO CAN SERVE YOU EVEN BETTER.

WHAT IS SOPHISTICATED INVESTING? Hedge fund management firms take a close look at market discrepancies, assessing under- and over-valued companies that are listed on the stock market and, by utilizing research and forecast methodologies, uncover the companies’ true value. By applying this research to market trends and taking into consideration their investors’ requirements, hedge fund managers can create viable and highly beneficial investment options for their clients, and offer customers an all-important downside protection through hedge fund strategies. Andrew also related to us: “South African hedge fund managers are some of the best in the world. We’re highly regarded on a global scale so consumers can rest assured that their money is in good hands. Because we could be in for turbulent times as we reach the end of a bull market cycle, the skills of our great hedge fund managers will be in high demand.”

BUT WHY INVEST IN AFRICA? As a developing continent, Africa is teeming with opportunity and the need for infrastructure and expansion is growing.

That’s why it makes sense to invest in Africa, as it’s here that many industries are making great gains. A quick look at mobile technologies, for example, shows that possibilities have emanated from even the simplest of handsets. Mobile payment platform. M-Pesa has created countless opportunities for consumers and investors in Kenya, with reports now showing that it’s having a big impact on other African countries too, like Lesotho. With 90 billion US Dollars being ring-fenced for infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa, it would make good financial sense to invest here. Bear in mind that retail companies have experienced great success in Africa, with companies like Mr Price, Shoprite and Woolworths expanding every day. And, as the continent gets richer and its citizens more money-wise, the middle class will grow, meaning that the demand for banking and financial services will increase.

WHERE DO I SIGN UP? Now that you’ve given it some thought and are keen to get investing or start saving straight away, take some time to consider your options and learn about the different ways you can start creating future wealth for yourself. Consult your broker, chat to your bank and draw up a budget that works for you. Most importantly, start today.

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Racism in Schools

Twenty years on schools are still struggling to curb the scourge of racism THE STORM STARTED STIRRING WHEN A CONCERNED PARENT COMPLAINED ON A PUBLIC PLATFORM THAT HER CHILD WAS FACING SEGREGATION AT A CURRO SCHOOL IN JOHANNESBURG

By Eli Nyakudya

C

ommonly, if one were asked about the relevance of black and white in relation to schools the fitting response would be to associate it with chalk and a blackboard. Not in South Africa.

Racism in South African schools has to be understood from its historical context.

The Apartheid era conditioned schools to restructure society in terms of class, gender and race. Despite the changes that South African school systems have undergone since 1994 including the legislative end of racial segregation, it is evident that the wheels that carried the racism wagon and other forms of oppression are still slowly turning. It is as if the tree was cut down but underneath the roots still maintain their ideological existence.

In the wider context, the concept of schools was meant to alleviate inequality. The idea of school uniforms was designed to establish a homogenous platform that allows all students to feel a sense of equality and togetherness.

However, the on-going problem in South Africa is the lack of a learning community that equips learners with the ability to effectively engage in and operate within a multiracial democratic society.

In a recent event earlier this year, a private school in Roodeplaat; the Curro Foundation School, separated pupils in classes according to race.

Investigations by MEC Panyaza Lesufi revealed that Curro School split pupils because white parents threatened to remove their children. “The majority of parents are predominantly white and they wanted to pull their children out of the school. The institution gave in to the pressure and I told them that it’s racist.”

The white students were placed in classes that were taught in Afrikaans while the black pupils were placed in English speaking classes. Although the school initially denied the allegations they then consequently apologised for their actions by stating “the different races were kept apart as a way of ensuring that children made friends with others who shared their culture and didn’t feel isolated.” The out-dated method of schooling had already sowed seeds

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SECTION 29(2) OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION STATES: EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE EDUCATION IN THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OR LANGUAGES OF THEIR CHOICE IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHERE THAT EDUCATION IS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE. of discontent among the South African public sphere, evoking responses such as “I’ve heard of keeping minority groups together to protect their culture before.

Wasn’t it called apartheid?”

The situation is a cause of concern as it strongly mirrors one of the factors that led to the Soweto uprising of June 16th, 1976. To elaborate, the Soweto uprising occurred more than three decades ago and was triggered by the introduction of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in local schools.

Thousands of students took to the streets in protest and several lost their lives as martyrs for the unjust rule. Similar to the Hiroshima nuclear attack, the effects of this event are still being felt by the later generations such as the pupils of Curro Foundation School.

June 16th is now celebrated as a public holiday in the country in commemoration of a sad day in the history of South Africa but what is even sadder is that policies similar to those that students in 1976 fought to be abolished are still being practised around the country today.

Schools have opened up their gates but have not changed their attitudes.

A majority of private schools only offer English as the first language and Afrikaans as the second language on the curriculum. What about the other nine official Nguni languages?

Already, this is a form of continued segregation as a

Zulu-speaking learner who wants to learn their language will have to go to a different school that offers his/her language as a subject. Why is it acceptable that a black child attending a private school is not given the opportunity to learn their home language and all it brings beyond the conversational level in a school setting?

Why are they alienated from their historical cultural groups because the school they attend only instructs in Afrikaans?

Reports show that on both tertiary and private school levels, the ratio of white educators in comparison to black educators is shockingly 1:4, meaning that for every one black teacher/lecturer there are four white counterparts. It is said that educators’ attitudes and perceptions have a profound impact on learners’ perception and academic performance, self-concept and beliefs.

Therefore, to have a predominantly white teaching staff whose values are those still dipping into the segregation cup might prove to be unfavourable towards the education of the black minority pupils.

In the Mail & Guardian, WR Terblanche (a teacher himself) wrote in an opinion piece titled Racism in schools: a teacher’s perspective that, "Instead of empowering educators to enlighten the youth, the leaders of tomorrow, we are allowed to teach - each one of us - with our own preconceived ideas of humanity, spreading falsities, prejudice and stereotypes at will".

That said we cannot ignore the positive steps that some schools have made in a bid to right the historical wrongs.

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However, at the Pluralism in education conference in 1996, psychologist Metacalfe presented that the problem is that: “They have not begun to fully engage the challenge of creating a new identity”.

The creation of a new identity that is not influenced or shaped by past prejudices is what led to the recent bid by the University of Cape Town to remove the Cecil John Rhodes statue that has been a part of the campus for 80 years. Rhodes was one of the first settlers and was a pioneer of colonisation in Southern Africa. His actions were instrumental in the creation of apartheid in South Africa. Several weeks ago the students argued that the statue is a symbol of a time gone by and an era that this country is still struggling to get over and in their opinion had no place in a place of learning that was inclusive and representative of a new South Africa.

It has been argued that in South Africa, racial transformation is often packed away into policies that have no tangible outputs and have no impact on society.

If these policies were practical, racial transformation would see the inclusion of more black teachers in the role of educators and we would not see separate dormitories based on colour at the University of Free State.

We would not give rope to institutionalised racism that allows schools to divide students according to race or any other forms of segregation.

The protesting students have since won their battle through a vote conducted by the University and the statue has been taken down. However, the fact that it took someone smearing human excrement on the statue and several days of protests to place the notion into consideration symbolises how change is a song that many South Africans are still to learn the words to.

The misconception created is that schools that are desegregated view the opening of their school gates to learners of other racial groups as an act of automatically declaring their non-racist and nondiscriminatory stance. This equates to opening up your meat-serving restaurant to vegetarians but you do not change your menu to accommodate them.

What happens beyond the school gates directly and indirectly influences the context in which the school will operate.

Therefore, the blame is not only pointed towards the education system but the society as a whole. This consequently sheds light on the lack of an institute that is in place to monitor the activities

of schools. Where do the students go and complain about this? Who investigates matters of segregation? Who will make policies and enforce them?

governing bodies. We hope this will result in change but until then we have some thoughts:

• To remove layers of oppression, WR Terblanche added, "The education schools will have to wilfully department makes it illegal for schools implement difficult programmes to refuse learners based on their race. I and policies to allow educators and suppose this is done in good faith with learners to work through their own the intention of providing learners the prejudices. opportunity to learn where they want • An external body needs to be to and to encourage integration. But established to make policies, monitor besides this, schools are left to their own the activities and enforce policy at the devices. No one is taught, supported, schools. or empowered on how to handle this integration. There is no human rights • Learners need to be motivated to education for educators. Instead we query inequalities in society and work are overloaded with nonsensical towards structural change to enable a administration. We must make portfolios fair and equal learning environment. and fancy rubrics and work according to For example, the protest against the strange work schedules" Rhodes statue by students at the In May 2013, Children at the Dr Viljoen University of Cape Town. combined school in Bloemfontein • Teachers that are accused of being alleged that staff called them racist, racist must be fired. This shows that derogatory, and belittling names, such the behaviour will not be tolerated. as "kaffirs, baboons, monkeys, and little black bitches". To this day, no • Change is not only due in the appropriate measures have been taken predominantly white schools but against the allegations. The school was in the South African schooling only encouraged to put in place policies system as a whole. Racial geography that counter racism which meant that has resulted in desegregation only the same racist teachers had to put in happening in a minority of schools. place policies that would make their racist attitude less controversial.

The school is a single entity and schools are a mirror of society and therefore a Following the Curro School incident mirror of the nation. The segregation Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza in schools becomes an extension or Lesufi announced plans to convene a a by-product of segregation around summit of all private schools where the nation as it adopts the culture a transformation charter would be surrounding them. presented to principals and school

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A F F A I R S

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN MANDELA ROSE TO POWER? SOUTH AFRICA HAS CROSSED THE 21-YEAR MARK IN ITS NEW STATE AS A DEMOCRACY

WE CHATTED TO FOUR AFROPOLITANS ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE 21 YEARS AGO, WHAT DEMOCRACY MEANS TO THEM, AND WHERE THEY THINK SOUTH AFRICA IS HEADED FOR THE NEXT 21 YEARS

By Michelle Randall

F

rom tearful meetings with Nelson Mandela and stockpiling canned foods, to the simple realisation that two best friends can go to the same public swimming pool together, we journey through the past two and a half decades to remember the time.

PETER GIRD (55) IS AN AWARD-WINNING EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AT COOKED IN AFRICA FILMS, WHOSE CAREER HAS ALLOWED HIM TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND FILM IN MORE THAN 15 AFRICAN COUNTRIES, WHILE CONNECTING HIM WITH AMAZING PEOPLE FROM THE POOREST OF THE POOR TO FAMOUS CELEBRITIES. PETER GIRD: 21 years ago, I was making a TV commercial in which an old man is accompanied by his granddaughter to the polling stations as he and the viewers are taken through the voting process. Because we were shooting in the Groot Marico (near to where three AWB members had recently been gunned down) and with a predominantly black crew, I was nervous about the possibility of tensions erupting. I needn't have worried. The town welcomed us with open arms, proof that change is always possible with the right attitude.

Voting day 1994 was the most exciting day of my life. We hoped that nothing would sour the occasion and while we all secretly held that fear, we wouldn't show it. It was

Image courtesy of Gallo Images/Getty Images/Michelly Rall

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The late great Nelson Mandela

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on this day that we experienced real joy and a promise of a new tomorrow. It was the first time that I could honestly say that I was a proud South African.

At the time I knew that freedom for all was the only way to move forward and the only solution to save a broken nation. I was part of a generation that was sent to the army straight out of school to be brainwashed and frightened by the ever-present "threat" against my loved ones. It was a cruel system that resulted in me despising the government at the time.

Democracy is the only way that we can decide our people's future, but leaders should be warned that abusing the system, not allowing people the freedom of choice, misusing government funds and employing old-style propaganda tactics will send us back to the dark ages of the 1970s.

Meeting Nelson Mandela was the biggest highlight of my 32 year career. When we put together the Alive With Possibility campaign, I remember thinking: What do you say to the most famous person in the world? I greeted him, "Thank you for joining us today sir." Madiba was a huge man, strong as an ox and he stared down at me. There was a long pause before he said, "No, Mr. Gird. Thank you very much for inviting me." I burst into tears. He'd taken the time to find out my name!

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Meeting and working with Archbishop Desmond Tutu touched my life profoundly. From collaborating on a series of sensitive TV

commercials to setting up the Sunflower Fund (an NGO in aid of children suffering from leukemia), I remain in awe of his spirit and his unfailing dedication to this country. He is true South African role model.

Along with some real disappointments from the ANC government, like blatant corruption and poor service delivery, running a small business in South Africa is a constant challenge. I believe that with government assistance, small businesses have the potential to turn the economy around and create jobs, which is what we need right now.

I will always be positive about South Africa. If you look beyond the daily newspaper headlines of doom and gloom, you'll see that our business sector has adapted to change and is strong, tourism is booming, and we make small steps every day.

We need to focus on our education system. High quality education is the key to our future, as is skills development.

Among our future scientists, we also need more skilled artisans like plumbers, electricians and nurses.

I see a bright future for South Africa and it's the place I want to be. Having been lucky enough to have travelled the world, I know there is no other place that compares to South Africa. In the words of our Alive With Possibility TV commercial, "Today I woke up in a place that said to me, be free!" We are free and we will prosper.

Robben Island prison, Cape Town

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MKHUSELI MANCOTYWA (37) HAS MANAGED SEVERAL INTEGRATED AWARD-WINNING CAMPAIGNS AS THE BUSINESS UNIT DIRECTOR FOR DIGITAL AT SAATCHI & SAATCHI SYNERGISE IN CAPE TOWN. MKHUSELI MANCOTYWA: 21 years ago I knew that the country was about to change. I was in my second-last year of high school in Mthatha, Transkei, and excited because I was about to have access to a future which would have otherwise been denied to me. I saw doors opening and a happy country ahead.

Restriction of movement was one of the worst aspects of Apartheid, especially for someone who had grown up in multi-racial schools since the age of four. At the time, I defined democracy as the freedom to choose where you want to be, whenever you want to be there. It was that simple for me.

Today, I define democracy as equal treatment and equal opportunity for all. To create a prosperous future we need fair and smart governance, diplomacy, and respect for the world at large.

Seeing Nelson Mandela inaugurated as our president was one of the highlights for me as a South African. Other moments of pride include winning the Rugby World Cup, winning the African Cup of Nations, graduating from university, and having the incredible privilege of living and working in Cape Town.

Continued prejudice and racism is a daily challenge in South Africa, as is gaining respect in the workplace in my own right, and not as a token placement. Along with crime, road deaths and alcoholism, there are many issues that need to be seriously addressed.

South Africa is at a tipping point, and I'm cautiously positive about our future. Things can go either way, but we're good people. It's unlikely that we'll nosedive into an extreme situation like civil war.

We need to prioritise education and entrepreneurship. There are too many people complaining and too few driving their own prosperity and starting businesses that contribute to South Africa's future.

21 years from now South Africa will have younger, more savvy leaders. There will be more jobs and less poverty. I'll be retiring by that stage, enjoying the excellent internet connectivity.

DINESH JOSEPH (38) IS A LIFE COACH AT DINESHJOSEPH.COM WHO HAS CREATED THE "5 STEPS TO CLARITY" PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. DINESH JOSEPH: 21 years ago I remember being more curious than scared. There was an air of pride around the elections, but it was thinly veiled by an atmosphere of anxiousness. I vaguely recall the neighbours and my parents stocking up on canned foods, bottled water, and batteries (because electricity would be the first thing to go in a civil war). And ammunition. My dad might have been optimistic but he had his gun loaded!

Umtata (Mthatha) was a haven from Apartheid. I was naïve when it came to things like The Struggle. The Transkei was a democracy as far as I was concerned and I didn’t experience the limitations or struggles that other non-white people were facing in mainland South Africa. We had our own

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IN THE WORDS OF OUR ALIVE WITH POSSIBILITY TV COMMERCIAL, "TODAY I WOKE UP IN A PLACE THAT SAID TO ME, BE FREE!" WE ARE FREE AND WE WILL PROSPER. flag, national anthem (Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika), and our own parliament building (the Bunga). I went to a multi-racial school, rode my bicycle to play with my multi-racial friends and came home just in time for supper and the A-Team.

To me, democracy simply means "power through the people."

Democracy means allowing the people of a country to have a say in what decisions are made.

Visiting Robben Island had a profound effect on me. I think this was because I grew up entirely sheltered from the realities of Apartheid.

Nothing on earth unites people like sport. Winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup was one of my proudest moments as a South African. I attended the opening game at Newlands in a standing area surrounded by strangers. When we scored a try against Australia, I felt myself being lifted off the ground by a rather large, khaki-wearing Afrikaner man next to me. I thought he was going to throw me off the edge of the stadium, but instead he hoisted me onto his shoulder, and carried on cheering!

A few girls have broken my heart because I'm "the wrong colour," and I still experience the odd racist comment here and there.

Service delivery in South Africa is in shambles. My British girlfriend has been trying to obtain a visa for more than a year and a half. Initially, Home Affairs told us the process would take between six and eight weeks. It's been close to 70 weeks and we're still fighting this battle. Add on Eskom's load shedding and the frustrating service delivery from Telkom, and I often wonder why we don't immigrate back to the UK. It's tough not to have an exit strategy, given the corruption and greed we're currently witnessing. While we managed to negotiate a massive shift from Apartheid to Democracy without a full-scale civil war back then, what we need now is our government to steer this country in a more appropriate manner.

If I could make one change today, it would be housing. It’s inexcusable that people in this century are still living in shacks without electricity and running water. I believe that giving people real homes would have a positive knockon effect throughout South Africa. It would bridge our massive inequality gap, provide hope and restore pride.

Happy people are productive people and productive people are profitable people.

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Despite it all, I still maintain a rose-tinted view of South Africa's future. In the next 21 years, South Africa will be more tolerant and technologically advanced. The townships will have blossomed into suburbs, and the major cities will be safe and integrated. The world will look upon us as the economic powerhouse of Africa and as a competent world player in terms of mineral resources, IT innovation and cinema. And we would have superseded the Kiwis as the world’s number one rugby team!

TAMMY LEWIS-HOUGHTING (33) IS A FREELANCE TELEVISION PRODUCER WHO HAS TRAVELLED TO SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN AFRICA. SHE HAS SET UP A FILMING STUDIO IN CAMEROON AND HAS WORKED WITH SOME OF SOUTH AFRICA'S STORY TELLING LEGENDS, INCLUDING JANN TURNER, ROLIE NIKIWE AND KHALO MATABANE. TAMMY LEWIS-HOUGHTING: I was only 12 years old at the time of our first democratic elections, but I remember it being such an exciting and happy time in our household.

My grandfather defied Apartheid by falling in love with and living with a black woman, and my parents were progressive for the time, so I had been exposed to integration from a young age.

As a child, democracy meant that I could swim in the same public swimming pool as my best friend Lindy. In 1992 my primary school admitted black children for the first time. From the moment Lindy and I clapped eyes on each other, we were inseparable, but it was difficult for us to understand that there were certain things we were prohibited from doing together because of race.

Today, I define democracy as the freedom to choose and accepting responsibility for our choices. If everyone understood the power of their vote, our democratic system would start working for the people, and we'd be able to create the South Africa that we've been dreaming about for 21 years.

Seeing my mom and her partner marry in a same sex marriage is one of the biggest highlights for me as South African, and one that underlies how progressive we are as a young democracy.

My challenges are similar to those of every South African. I've been lucky in that I was able to go to university, get a degree, and build a career in the television industry, but I often feel

that poor service delivery and a disappointing government undermines all our best efforts to create a happy and united South Africa.

I won't give up on South Africa. We have amazing and friendly people, the best weather, and some of the most phenomenal landscapes in the world. 21 years from now, I hope to be sitting in my beautiful garden in the heart of Johannesburg in a country that has recognised its unbelievable potential and progressed in such a way that we're all proud to call South Africa home. The alternative is simply too sad to think about.

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Kgomotso Mautloa AT 28 YEARS OLD, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT THE JOHANNESBURG-BASED DESIGN AGENCY GREEN ROBOT, KGOMOTSO MAUTLOA HAS ALREADY ACHIEVED MUCH OF WHAT HE SET OUT TO DO WHEN HE WAS A YOUNGSTER BACK AT SCHOOL. HE SHARED WITH THE AFROPOLITAN HIS HISTORY AND SECRET TO SUCCESS!

By Brendah Nyakudya

B U S I N E S S

Please share some of your background with us.

I grew up in Alexandra Township, but I’m originally from Mofolo in Soweto. I have an older sister who is pretty much in the same industry as me – we’re both graphic designers. Both of my parents are artists, so I suppose creativity runs in my veins.

I’ve been blessed with so many different experiences, from my youth, growing up all the way to starting my business. All of which has shaped my journey to where I am today as an entrepreneur. I’ve also been fortunate to be surrounded with such incredible people in my life (from family and friends) to colleagues who come into the business, and the people I work with every day – they truly inspire me to try and do better every day. The only advice or secret, I’d say, is to never give up. There’s no room for failure, just room for learning. One has to always keep their eyes on the prize and never give up.

You’re the creative director at a successful South African agency at the age of 28. That’s an incredible life accomplishment. What was your secret to attaining such a huge Ask any entrepreneur or business life goal at such a young age? superstar, and they’ll tell you they had a great mentor. Who was, or is yours and how have they affected or guided your journey?

I had a lot of people around me who inspired me and taught me valuable things at different times in my life. An example is my friend who taught me how to play pool when I was 16; in that seemingly simple pastime he played a role in my life in terms of teaching me how to strategise! Having said that, I do have one person, Monwabisi Thethe, who taught me a lot about business, being indispensable and pushing myself to be the very best at every given moment. He also taught me to work till my heart’s content; and that if I was doing the right thing and was placed in the business I love, there’s never a limit to what I can achieve.

How did it feel when you were listed as one of the Mail and Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2014?

I was surprised! I got a call, I think it was a month before the actual announcement, but I thought there was still a screening process that one had to go through. During the call I was still not sure that they mentioned that it was for the actual awards. Anyway, on the day that the winners were announced

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in the paper, I was fast asleep. When I woke up I checked my phone, as is my ritual, and I saw a message from my now business partner saying ‘Congratulations on your big achievement’. I didn’t quite understand what he was talking about.

When I eventually got onto the net, I was insanely surprised because I didn’t expect it at all! Thinking back on it now, it truly is a big achievement and a special accolade, and I feel honoured to have been acknowledged alongside other inspiring young South Africans who are doing incredible things in their respective industries. The accolades come and go, but if we haven’t achieved what we set out to, then we have only scratched the surface.

Do you feel your upbringing or background played a part into getting you to this point in your career?

Definitely. I think growing up in two of South Africa’s townships, Soweto and Alexandra, played a big role in the person I am and where I am today. I think Alexandra more so because I’ve lived there for most of my life. I learnt how to fend for myself and learnt how to work with people – in the spirit of uBuntu – and how to make something out of nothing. My family also played a pivotal role. My parents taught me how to work hard and to strive for whatever I believed in. They both worked hard to get us (my sister and I) through school, and they have always been so incredibly supportive. My sister showed me how to be humble, rational, and to always think things through twice. All of those are traits that I try live by to this day.

There are always lessons presented to us, each and every day, and we need to be in tune with what’s going on - life is our best teacher.

In your interview with the M&G, you said, “I think it is important for South African companies to develop a sense of collaboration rather than adversarial or

I’VE BEEN BLESSED WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, FROM MY YOUTH, GROWING UP ALL THE WAY TO STARTING MY BUSINESS. ALL OF WHICH HAS SHAPED MY JOURNEY TO WHERE I AM TODAY AS AN ENTREPRENEUR.

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competitive relationships.” Tell us more about how you implement this at Green Robot?

Internally at Green Robot, I try to get everyone to work together, be it in brainstorming sessions or on projects - just so that we all know what’s happening and are all on the same page, but more importantly, so that we are able to appreciate each other's role within the company. In the same sense, we need to adapt and improve how we work with each other to achieve a greater goal. We all, as small businesses, have different strengths and weaknesses, and that’s how we compliment each other.

If we are to achieve the greater goal and get the bigger clients, we need to unite and work together on that journey.

We need to work together to become a better unit of small businesses and to build upon each other, playing to each other’s strengths. Being adversarial is only going to break us down; we won’t achieve anything if we aren’t willing to work together.

THE CULMINATION OF EVERYTHING AND THE THREE-STEP PROCESS MAKES FOR A GREAT FINAL PROJECT. FUNCTIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESSES! Green Robot Design has a design ethos of “THINK. PLAN. CREATE”.

Could you tell us how you’d implement that strategy for say, an urban development project, or an NGO? (No need to give away too many secrets, but we’d love to know how you strategise internally.)

Think: the thought process is a powerful one. You need to always engage with the project that you take on and understand what the brief is. We created a brand strategy for development last year and we approached it in the same manner.

Thinking about the outcomes, and what you and the client want to achieve.

Definitely, there’s always a difference.

I’ve sat in on many meetings where clients have seen work that others have done, that they also want to have, but sometimes that’s not what is beneficial for their business or brand. You always need to ask what the reasons are? what are they trying to achieve? and what outcomes they would like to see once the project is complete? I also used to ask clients “why us? (Green Robot.) I think that gives you a good background of what their expectations are and why they think they need ‘this’. Once you know this you are able to discern the need and the want. Most of the time, the need beats the want.

The Plan: how do we do it? How do we effectively create something that will meet the concepts and ideas that we have thought (THINK) about?

Let us in on a secret - did you call your agency “Green Robot” because you secretly love Android? What was the Create: the execution. This part is what thinking behind this quirky name?

Hahaha, well uhm, I do love Android, but that’s not the inspiration behind the name. I initially started the company with a friend of mine when we were at Vega. We had the idea to start a company, and we had gone through so many names; some that were a bit different, like Mushroom Jam, which is one I remember! But heading home one day, we were at the corner of Rivonia Road and Grayston Drive in Sandton by the McDonalds; the robot went green, and we were both like “Green Robot design!”

We were actually out of words to play around with. I think it’s actually worked out pretty well. There have been so many spin offs because of that.

we at Green Robot like the most; creating something that will either be a good strategy, communication tool, website etc.

The culmination of everything and the three-step process makes for a great final project. Functional solutions for businesses!

And, lastly, Green Robot Design has a boutique approach to service provision, enabling you to provide clients with a wide range of specialised services. How do you hone in on what your client might need vs. what they think they need (there’s always a difference!)?

Kgomotso Mautloa

WORLD’S BEST GRAIN

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By M

MORE W O N TO K SKY WANT T THE WHI G? A BO U E D R I N K I N E YOU'R OME TO TH WELC POLITAN AFRO OL OF S CH O K Y !

WHIS

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raduate from being a casual whisky appreciator to a discerning connoisseur. Here's everything you need to know about the differences between scotch, bourbon, single malt and blended whiskys, and why some whiskys cost the same as a deposit on a small house.

Lesson #1: What is whisky?

The first thing you need to know about whisky is that all types of whisky (scotch, bourbon and rye) are made from fermented grain mash, but three things determine which variety you're drinking. These are: 1. Where the whisky is made.

2. What grains are used in the mash.

3. How it's aged.

Impress your friends with this fun fact: in anglicised Gaelic, "Whisky" translates to "the water of life."

Lesson #2: What are the differences between scotch, bourbon and irish whisky?

What gives scotch its distinctive smokey flavour, while Irish whisky tastes 'cleaner'? For one, the malted barley that goes into scotch gets roasted over peat fires, while the Irish do it over charcoal or gas. Secondly, scotch is double distilled, whereas Irish whisky is generally triple distilled.

But when it comes to the basics, we've put together a quick guide on the differences between the world's three most popular whisky types: scotch, bourbon and irish whiskey.

SCOTCH

BOURBON

IRISH WHISKY

Made in Scotland

Made in the USA

Made in Ireland

Malted barley is the main ingredient and not corn, wheat or rye

The grain mash used for bourbon must be made up of at least 51% corn

Like scotch, Irish whisky is made from mostly malted barley

Aged for a minimum of 3 years in oak casks

Aged for a minimum of 2 years in new oak casks

Aged for a minimum of 3 years in wooden casks

Lesson #3: So, what is rye whisky, then?

Short answer, rye whisky is made from rye, which is a kind of grass found in the wheat family.

Using whisky from the United States as an example, rye whisky must be made of a mash from 51% rye (as opposed to bourbon which is made from 51% corn).

The result is that these whisky's are heavier, spicier, and more bittersweet than bourbon.

Lesson #4: Single malt, say what?

Every kind of whisky, whether it’s scotch, bourbon, or rye, can be single malt.

Single malt whiskys come from the same batch at one distillery. In short, a single malt scotch is made from a single batch of 100% malted barley at a single distillery, and the same goes for Irish whisky.

However, bourbon is slightly different.

Instead of single malt, when bourbon is made from the same batch it's called single barrel. But since bourbon by definition only has to be 51% corn (the rest of the mash can be a mixture of any other grains), single barrel bourbon does not mean it’s 100% corn.

Despite these pedantic definitions, single malt scotch and single barrel bourbon are superior whiskys.

Everything from the type of water used and the soil type in which the grains are grown to the flavours imparted by the wood casks add to the distinctive characteristics in these whiskys.

Sip on this: In 2013, Makro sold a bottle of 50-year-old Glenfiddich single malt whiskey for R300 000, a price unheard of at the time. Considering it equated to R10 000 per tot, it's not a bad price to pay for a whisky that has matured for half a century, and for which there are only 50 bottles released each year.

Lesson #5: Blended Whiskys Compared to a limited edition bottle of Chivas’ Royal Salute Tribute to Honour, R300 000 is chump change. At R2 million, this is the most expensive whisky in the world – proof that blended whiskys are up there with the finest single malts.

But for now, forget the rarest whiskys in the world and focus on the most popular.

From Jack Daniels to Jameson and Johnnie Walker, these famous brands are blended from multiple single malt or single barrel whiskys, which, when combined, create a well-rounded, lighter and smoother flavour.

While there are no rules when it comes to blended whiskeys, blending is an art form in its own right (Tribute to Honour is a case in point). You can blend whiskys from the same grain or from a variety of grains. You can blend whiskys from multiple distilleries

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across the world. If it's done right, a blended whisky will give you the best of what whisky has to offer: flavour.

Lesson #6: Whisky Appreciation Just because everyone in the movies drinks their whisky neat doesn't necessarily mean that this is the best way to appreciate the flavour. When you add water to whisky, the surface tension decreases allowing citrus and fruit flavours to come to the forefront, while adding ice to your whiskey allows the sweeter notes to come through.

Next time you take a sip of whiskey, note the flavours. Look out for sweet, spicy, vanilla, wood, leather, dried fruit, smoke, and earth tones.

Lesson # 7: The Tasting Room Want to learn to appreciate whisky? Here's our list of whiskeys you have to try: Bourbon: Treat your taste buds to a bottle of Jack Daniel's Sinatra Collectors Tennessee Whiskey at only R1 999.

Irish Whisky: Jameson has outdone themselves with this offering – a bottle of Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whisky is yours for the drinking at R4 200.

Single malt whisky: For a great introduction to the artistry of single malt whisky, sip on the distinctive scotch flavours of Aberlour 18 year old Highland Single Malt. This gorgeous bottle will only set you back R1 299.

Big spenders: Why not put your money where your mouth is and swirl a glass of Balvenie 50 year old Speyside Single Malt? At only R539 999 at Makro online, it's a steal (or is that daylight robbery?). Let us know when you have a bottle, we'll gladly help you decide.

Blended whisky: Okay, it's not the Tribute to Honour (which, by the way, comes encrusted in black and white diamonds) but the Chivas Royal Salute 21 year old Blended Scotch Whisky will give you some bragging rights at R2 400.

The History of Whisky in South Africa Andy Watts from the Sedgewick Distillery gave us a historial timeline on the journey whisky has taken: • H. Nellmapius built the first distillery on the farm Hetherley, east of Pretoria. This distillery produced gin and whisky.

In 1881 he negotiated a concession with the Transvaal Government giving him the sole right to distill alcoholic liquor from corn and other sources. The distillery was named: “De Eerste Fabrieken” and was opened by President Paul Kruger on June 6th 1883.

• In 1897, in an attempt to improve the quality of the product they advertised in European papers for an “experienced distiller”. The advert was seen by a 33 year old man named René Santhagens, who was working as a whisky distiller in Cognac. René was a great success at making whiskey from grain.

• There was no time for maturation, as all the mining community wanted was strong liquor.

• Until the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899 brought an end to the production of liquor, the end of the war.

• The Santhagens returned briefly to Europe. On their return he settled in the Cape and started distilling brandy.

• It took until 1952 before the next commercially launched

whisky came onto the market under the name Tops. The Tops distillery (named after Mr A W Tops) was situated at Wemmershoek (Paarl) in the Cape and experienced some shortlived success.

• However, excise duties more than 200% higher than that on brandy, soon pushed the operation into insolvency.

• Mid 60s Donald Robertson and Noel Buxton built a small relatively modern distillery on the farm Groote Zalze in the Lynedoch district outside Stellenbosch, called the R & B Distillery.

• In 1972 the SFW group (Stellenbosch Farmers Winery) bought this distillery for experimental purposes. This ensured the continued production of whisky in South Africa and the launch of Three Ships in 1977, South Africa’s first commercially successful whisky.

• The small R & B Distillery could not handle the increased production and the operations were moved to the James Sedgwick Distillery in 1990.

• The James Sedgwick Distillery is currently the only fully commercial whisky distillery on the continent of Africa.

There are certain key dates throughout the history of whisky and below are just a few: 1690

Earliest reference to a distillery – Ferintosh distillery

1707

Malt tax imposed - age of illicit distilling

1823

Act of Parliament - new tax laws, which encouraged distillation to become legal – 14,000 illicit stills were discovered!

Once the distillers had been identified then Customs & Excise men were positioned on site

1874

Only 6 illicit stills discovered

1830

Invention of the “Patent Still” or “Coffey Still” by Aeneas Coffey an Irish Customs Officer

1860

Excise permitting the blending of whiskies from different distilleries

1880’s

The phylloxera beetle devastated the vineyards of France. Within a few years, wine and brandy had virtually disappeared.

The Scots were quick to take advantage and Scotch Whiskey replaced brandy as the preferred spirit of choice

1907

The blending of malt & grain whiskies becoms legal

1915

Whisky maturation became compulsory

1994

Scotch Whiskey turns500 years old

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F A S H I O N

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SIGNATURE STYLE: EXPRESSIVE BASICS FOR BOLD WOMEN LOLA BUTTONS' collection embodies the designer's belief in simplicity and fine craftsmanship as the key to elegance and style. She dedicates countless hours to creating bespoke pieces alongside her ready-to-wear range, with every garment being informed by a close study of the female form for which it is made.

Lola Buttons is focused on the women who discover themselves through the meticulously constructed clothing that Lola Buttons creates Lola Buttons was established in December 2009. Since then the fashion outfit has become one of Nigeria's independent, innovative African fashion and beauty retailers. Lola Buttons is a reflection of the founder's choice of style, which has simplicity in mind and reflects the effortless beauty achieved through creative craftsmanship in fashion. Lola Buttons is focused on reaching women with a passion for fashion.

Her inspiration is drawn from the diversity of her country's culture which is enough to inspire any designer. She still looks further afield to broaden her view and be versatile in her work. The success of a fashion designer is based on the ability to identify and predict trends in consumerism. As such, a skilled fashion designer must fill her work environment with information about historical trends in fashion and fads to predict how those trends will change in the future.

Images courtesy of David McDowell

Her signature elements include the uniqueness in her design and the finishings.

As a haute couture designer and ready-to- wear, she works directly with the client, organising fittings and making alterations, and the work takes a high level of skill and large amounts of time. Lola Buttons' points of design include silhouette, motif, pattern, and detailing.

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HER INSPIRATION IS DRAWN FROM THE DIVERSITY OF THER COUNTRY'S CULTURE, THOUGH SHE LOOKS FURTHER AFIELD TO BROADEN HER VIEW AND ADD VERSATILITY TO HER WORK.

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HER SIGNATURE ELEMENTS ARE THE UNIQUENESS OF HER DESIGN AND FINISHINGS. SHE WORKS DIRECTLY WITH THE CLIENT, ORGANISING FITTINGS AND ALTERATIONS.

F A S H I O N

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Myths and Facts

ON AVERAGE, THERE ARE 2400 ADOPTIONS PER YEAR. THIS, COMPARED TO THE 500 000 CHILDREN WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM ADOPTIONS, SHOWS US THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT GAP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

By Belinda Lubbe

ADOPTION IN SOUTH AFRICA When I had my first child, I was warned that I needed to get used to the fact that I would now forever have a piece of my heart walking around outside of my body, vulnerable, open to ridicule, pain and disappointment. I would hurt when they hurt, cry when they cried and carry their disappointment with them. For more than half a million children every year in this country, they hurt, they cry and they carry disappointment alone; the number of parentless children in SA is on a steady rise. These children face few possibilities. The street, an older sibling stepping in as a parent, state-sponsored homes are some of the options but for a lucky few... there's adoption.

Adoption is the pinhole of light at the end of a very lonely and dark tunnel, but this pinhole is wracked with a variety of heated opinions

and emotions. Depending on your background, adoption is crucial, charitable or downright ludicrous. For some it has always been a possibility, for others it has become a necessity. Over the course of the next two issues, we will examine the complexities of adoption; we shall meet two families who have entered into this process and we shall explore the challenges, both practical and fundamental that they and many others face.

Nearly one year ago, Alwyn and Izelle adopted a young girl, Liboko, into their family. They also have an older, biological daughter, Sarah.

Then there is Cece, a 35 years old black single mom in the process of seeking to adopt. While Alwyn and Izelle fall into the, nearly 70%, white majority of prospective parents, Cece is somewhat of an enigma – not only is she part of the miniscule minority of parents (only

about 5% of prospective parents are black), she is also single, making her truly remarkable in the world of South African adoption. These two cases begin to frame the intricate picture that is adoption in this country…

Did you always know that you wanted to adopt? What were your reasons for adopting?

Izelle: While my husband and I were still dating and we started talking of a future life together, I asked him if he would consider adopting a child with me and he agreed. However, we decided to have a biological child first, because as one of the youngest in my generation in our family, I had absolutely no experience in caring for a baby.

I had the experience of growing up with friends, a brother and sister, who were adopted into the minister’s family of our

C U L T U R E local church. I remember thinking that it was a remarkable act of love to voluntarily accept children into a loving home. The Bible spoke of caring for orphans and widows but I didn’t know many widows at the time. However, I remember thinking that I could care for an orphan. After all, God had ‘adopted’ us.

Cece: I have always known that I wanted to adopt in some way or another. Growing up with a mum as a social worker, we always had a child in our family that my mum was putting through school or taking care of somehow. As an adult, I think the reason for me beginning this process was a combination of not having any of my own children, combined with my childhood dream of wanting to help a child/children in need.

How have your friends and family responded to your decision of adopting?

years to make this kind of decision. My colleagues and people in my life have been asking regularly when the baby is coming because they want to shower her with gifts. However, amongst all this joy, there are the naysayers who believe it is not right to raise someone else’s child.

Did you have any reservations about adopting?

Izelle: We tried to prepare ourselves as much as possible. My mom bought me a little book called: “So You Want To Adopt… Now What? A Practical Guide for Navigating the Adoption Process” written

by Sara Dormon and Ruth Graham. We also attended workshops where social workers led us through understanding more about adoption and we heard the testimonies of birthmothers. Because it was something that we had long since prepared for, I can honestly say no!

Cece: No I did not. To be honest Izelle: My parents - after loving their first though, it did take me years to make my final decision to begin the granddaughter, our biological daughter, so much – wondered if they would be able process. I think I was more nervous than anything else. I wasn’t sure to love an adopted grandchild equally… they have. Other family members simply if I would be able to bond with the baby and if I would expressed their admiration. indeed be able to give this little person a better life. I Cece: My friends and family have been now feel I have the tools extremely supportive, even the most in place. This being conservative ones. This has been very my support (mum, exciting for me! My mum has been a pillar of strength during the process and I sisters, work and friends), I am am so glad I have done it. financially ready How do you feel society respond to to take care of someone adoption in general? other than myself and Izelle: We live in Johannesburg and I have an seeing adoptive families around is no excellent longer strange but in more rural parts nanny on of South Africa I have to remind myself standby. that we are a strange sight, or at least an I don’t unusual sight. I have experienced some think real highlights where random people, often and mostly black adults, come up to you can ever say us to bless us for adopting our beautiful daughter. There are also moments though that you that I feel we are trapped inside a silent are bubble where people observe us like an 100% experiment, but don’t make a sound at the risk of being caught staring. This approach is often borne out of a lack of understanding, but for the brave few, willing to burst the bubble, we happily take the questions fired at us.

Cece: I have been very pleasantly surprised to find how excited and supportive people around me are when they hear the news. I really did not expect this kind of feedback. I think people are willing to explore these opportunities, but like me, it takes

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ready. Some days I wake up in a hot sweat wondering if I can do this, but on most days I’m dying to get the call from my social worker to say “it’s time”.

These are the stories of two families seeking to shine a light, however small, at the end of the tunnel. However, the tale of these stories is most often fraught with challenges, both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. A journey that we will explore further in our follow-up feature, where we look at the ups and downs of living life in the world of adoption.

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Your Pad In Style FROM THE LATEST AUDIOVISUAL GADGETS TO DESIGNER KITCHENS, WE ROUND UP OUR TOP LIST OF LUXURIES THAT PROVE THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

GOODBYE SATELLITE, HELLO CONTENT ON DEMAND Thanks to endless re-runs (seriously DSTV, up your game already), annoying commercial breaks and the unfortunate lag that only delivers our favourite series long after we've read the spoilers on Twitter, Afropolitans are cancelling their paid TV subscriptions in favour of content on demand.

We're consuming content faster than ever before, and choosing to binge-watch our favourite series wherever and whenever we want to (read: on the couch).

This luxury of choice is now available in the form of Apple TV. Download content straight from the iTunes Store (for purchase or for rent) or live stream a couple of free channels. Connect it to your Bang & Olufsen Beovision Avant television for the ultimate in-home cinema experience.

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SAFE KEEPING Our precious pieces are well-protected by Casoro Jewelry Safes while our indulgent luxuries (ahem, our wines) are kept at the perfect temperature in Liebherr's WKes653 Wine Cabinet.

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WE'RE WIRED FOR SOUND We're spending serious dough on wiring our pads with hidden speakers that produce excellent sound quality. No cables, no unsightly boxes and no flashing lights: we want pure ambience with the power to raise the roof when we're entertaining.

Big spenders, head on straight to Bang & Olufsen for a complete home sound makeover. For those in search of instant gratification, we love the wireless sound quality from reputable brands like Harman Kardon and Bose.

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Image courtesy of ymgerman / Shutterstock.com

By Michelle Randall

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ORIGINAL ARTWORKS Afropolitans are adorning their walls with new names in the art scene. Sure, there's always an empty space that could use a classic conversation piece like an original William Kentridge, but it's the new kids on the block we're after. It's the bragging rights of being able to say: we saw this first.

When it comes to art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Afropolitans are choosing to invest in works that speak to them on an emotional level. Forget the rules and go with your gut. If you're serious about investing in art, attend gallery openings or peruse sites like www.art.co.za to discover the perfect fit for your space. Visit the Barnard Gallery in Cape Town or read our feature in Afropolitan Issue 40 on local artist Chris Denovan for some art inspiration.

William Kentridge artwork

FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS Afropolitans are investing in functional design pieces while not skimping on beauty. We're combining comfortable sofas from Tonic Design with statement pieces from Jozi locals Dokter and Misses.

Our floors and windows are getting the royal treatment too. For some luxury underfoot, Forest Flooring is not only beautiful, but practical too.

When it comes to windows, we love the aesthetic and security of Plantation Shutters.

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WE'RE TAPPING INTO SMALL PLEASURES

KITCHEN CHIC Clean lines and gorgeous functionality are what we want from our kitchens, which is why we're splurging on oh-sowow Fabri designs.

Beat the load shedding blues by switching to gas with Smeg gas stoves and ovens. And if you're one for details, then make sure you're chopping up gourmet fare with these unbeatable knives from Nesmuk.

www.smeg.co.za www.nesmuk.de

We know that home is where we go to seek comfort, relaxation and rejuvenation, which is why we've created our bathrooms to maximise personal pampering. From power showers to your own private spa, Hansgrohe's beautiful designs and innovative products will make your me-time unforgettable.

www.hansgrohe.co.za

IT'S ALL IN THE THREAD COUNT We want a five-star sleep experience with happy dreams, which is why Afropolitans are laying down their heads on only the best 100% cotton percale linen from Beaumont & Brown.

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The Magic of

Val Thorens!

By Brendah Nyakudya

Club Med Val Thorens Sensations

WHEN FACED WITH HAVING TO DECIDE BETWEEN BEACH OR BUSH HOLIDAY MOST PEOPLE DO NOT EVER CONSIDER BUMBOARDING...IN THE SNOW!

T R A V E L

resort we were going to offers a fully stocked ski gear room where we would be able to get all our hardware. Calm was restored and before we knew it we were aboard our Air France flight to Paris, which was in itself a treat what with the flatbeds and French champagne on tap! From Paris we flew to Geneva and from there we drove to the resort.

Being in sunny Africa a typical yet rewarding holiday would be spent on the coast, sun bathing and reading with the only snow experienced being the crushed ice in the frozen margaritas. However, due to curiosity and Club Med, The Afropolitan found itself agreeing to attend the launch of their new ski resort; the Club Med Val Thorens Sensations in the French Alps.

The picturesque and postcard beauty of the two and a half hour drive to Saint-Martin-de-Bellevile was further highlighted by the winding small town roads through La Bathie, Les Menuires and Saint Marcel and we couldn’t resist taking pictures at every turn to show off to our friends!

Due to the fact that we are a beach and bush kind of country much panic ensued when we realised that there was a lot of ski gear we didn’t have and needed. However, our stress was alleviated when we found out the Club Med

After filling up our memory cards we arrived at Club Med Val Thorens which was teeming with journalists and media personnel from around the world. After we were checked in, the adventure of a lifetime began – and it was an adventure that would be filled with champagne, skiing and dancing until the wee hours of the morning!

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

F

or many Africans the concept of snow is a foreign one.

The extent of our exposure is limited to the teasing snow-capped mountains in the Drakensburg or what could have been cement dust mistaken for snow a few years ago. But the reality is many South Africans have never experienced the frozen rain.

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A TOWN WITH TOURISTS IN MIND

carb-loaded baked goods to the law enforcers helping you find your way everyone is friendly and welcoming!

Club Med Val Thorens (CMVTS) is located in the picturesque village of Val Thorens that is nestled in the commune of Saint-Martin-de-Belleville in the Savoie Department of France. At 2300m altitude Val Thorens is the highest ski resort in Europe and forms part of the Les Trois Vallees linked ski area, which is the largest linked ski area in the world.

At the Club Med resort, the staff (Club Med G.Os) are ever present and willing to assist with each and every need the guests might have, it doesn’t take long to start feeling right at home and ready to have fun.

Club Med Val Thorens has been awarded Best Ski Resort in the World and Best French Ski Resort by the World Travel Awards 2014 and it’s easy to see why.

From the minute you arrive you can feel the energy of the resort and the community at large but somehow that energy does not take away from the homely feeling you get as you walk around the small town. Being a ski resort, Val Thorens is always buzzing with tourists and the locals have mastered the art of making them feel welcome wherever you go. From the lady in the local bakery selling delicious

Our first day was laid back as we were given time for unpacking, freshening up and snoozing off the jetlag. With the falling snow outside it was easy to drop our shoulders and take a moment before hitting the slopes.

SKI ADVENTURES Being the highest resort in France, the skiing experience is second to none!

While our own level of experience on the slopes had been limited to bum boarding in fake snow in sunny Johannesburg, trying out skiing for the first time was either going to be an amazing treat or a diabolical mess which could have

Afropolitan editor, Brendah Nyakudya

resulted in broken bones and bruised egos. But having travelled so far there was no way we were not going to dominate the slopes…or at least try!

But because our enthusiasm surpassed my knowledge and skill, we were pleasantly surprised (and relieved)

Did You Know ClubMed VTS has an on-site ski gear room where one can hire out equipment like ski boots, ski’s and poles. This equipment is replaced every year to ensure their guests only use the best.

CLUB MED VAL THORENS HAS BEEN AWARDED BEST SKI RESORT IN THE WORLD AND BEST FRENCH SKI RESORT BY THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 2014 AND IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY.

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to find out that Club Med are keenly attuned to the varying degrees of skiing experience that their guests have. To this end they have taken the necessary measures to make sure that even the most hesitant novice heads out to the slopes with all the knowledge they want and all the support they need.

First stop was collecting all our gear and the GOs in charge of the equipment were knowledgeable and keen to fit us with the correct boots and skis. As beginners we were assigned ski instructors that patiently walked us through the process; from how to put on our skis, the correct way to walk in them and how to carry your equipment after. With much patience from Eliza our ClubMed instructor we were snowploughing like pros on the first day and skiing down slopes by our last day, albeit the junior ones, but we were amazed at our progress!

A RESORT DESIGNED FOR YOU BY YOU Catering for client needs is not the only way in which ClubMed is made for you, ClubMed Val Thorens Sensations is the first resort to be made for you BY you!

Using crowd sourcing via their networks on FaceBook and the Club Med family, they invited people to share what they wanted in a resort.

Based on this feedback they designed a hotel that catered specifically for their guests specifications. The look and feel of Val Thorens Sensations is designed to appeal to all your senses and your quirky side. When you enter the hotel foyer two wooden woolly sheep greet you and a climbing wall dares you to try it out. The lighting is eclectic and the touches are luxurious.

Room interior

DINING VTS offers several dining areas to guests staying at the resort – one of these options includes the option of dining in a Yurt. In keeping with the quirkiness of the resort, there is an indoor Yurt in the dining room where one can sit inside and dine. #TrueStory! For those not sure what a Yurt is, it is a traditional Turkish portable tent that is covered in animal skins or felt. Nomadic tribes use this as dwelling, but at Club Med it’s a design piece in which you can enjoy your meal!

Dining in the main area is buffet style with a larger than life assortment of desserts and breads. To add to that, there are a handful of chefs whipping up fresh meals with much French flair so leave your banting and paleo ways at home and indulge in some French breads and cheeses that will have you craving more!

ENTERTAINMENT Club Med is built to entertain – each and every floor offers a different vibe to cater for all tastes and party needs; from laid-back lounge tunes to a good old club dance riot. Over and above that there is a show put on every night by the staff to get the party started. It is highly

Every floor has a distinct theme, with bars and beer taps available so you will find thirst quenchers readily available after a hard day on the slopes. The top most floor offers the Epicurious lounge for the ultimate in fine dining. To compliment the Michelin star cuisine, there is a Wine Bar with a world-class selection of wines. The Epicurious Lounge has the added bonus of sunbeds and an outdoor Jacuzzi on its balcony. From there you can sit and sip champagne as you watch the ski lifts go by.

Should your body need a break from falling in the snow and the Jacuzzi isn’t easing the muscles enough, the Carita Spa is on site to soothe your muscles before you head out again.

Need we say more?

Ski instructor is fitting a guest with boots

recommended for guests to bring their dancing shoes and leave their cares at home when you visit a ClubMed resort!

While we were in Val Thorens we had the privilege of getting tickets to France's most prestigious ice-racing series held at the French ski resort of Val Thorens, The Andros Trophy!

Launched in 1990, The Andros Trophy attracts the world’s best drivers and car manufacturers to the highest ice race track in France. To prep for this glamorous and spectacular event the ice tracks are prepared weeks in advance, but the locals say due to the unpredictable alpine weather conditions ice melts or re-forms at unexpected points of the race making for very exhilarating racing!

Our FOMO got the better of us and we put our skis down for a while and enjoyed the action!

As with any ClubMed holiday, everything is all inclusive, from flights to food and fun and we thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent at Val Thorens. A ski holiday had never really been something we considered but as we made our way back we knew without a shadow of a doubt that we would be back!

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Acer Africa education From education, technology and to the cloud‌ the Acer Africa Education Manager Marius Le Grange shares the exciting developments happening on the continent.

What do you think is the biggest impact that technology has had on education today?

Easy access to information has been the biggest contributor to the advancement of education today. Through better access to information, technology has become a great leveler in education globally.

Learners can instantly gain information on any topic in an instant and it is not dependent on their geographic location or financial status.

What exactly places you as the front-runner in SA on the education front?

Strategic focus on education has been key to the success for Acer. As a global company we realised that to be truly successful, as a hardware vendor in this market, you need to understand the specific needs of the segments you are targeting. Education customers have perceived our vision in education as a solution based company rather than a normal hardware manufacturer.

Children at the Orlando Pirates Learning Centre supported by Acer

Southern African University Directors of Information Technology). Any student of any public university in South Africa can purchase hardware on-line from the program by visiting www.aceredu.co.za or www.stp.ac.za

The Orlando Pirates Learning Centre has been very successful.

Which other areas can we expect to see your work?

The Orlando Pirates learning Centre has been a massively successful project, which we aim to duplicate in other provinces with the help of the National Department of Education. One other project is the Science & Technology Train we are working on with the National Research Foundation and AEON (African Earth Observation Network).

This involves the establishment of a train, which will be used by scientists in South Africa to do critical environmental research experiments across South Africa.

What is E-learning and how does it benefit the students in a country such as Zimbabwe?

How can learners and educators know more about programs such as E-learning is learning conducted STP (Student technology program) via electronic media, typically the internet. Acer installed 40 Laptops, an and also become a part of it?

The STP was developed by the Public Universities of South Africa to drive the purchase of correct IT hardware by students at affordable prices and Acer has been a partner in this initiative for the last 4 years. It is a close collaboration with our alliance partner Microsoft and quality controlled by ASAUDIT (Association of

interactive projector, and an interactive whiteboard all powered by a diesel generator at a school in Zimbabwe.

The wireless facilities were installed by the Zimbabwean Government and this turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life as we managed to get everything up and running and all the students trained for the grand

EDUCATION CUSTOMERS HAVE PERCEIVED OUR VISION IN EDUCATION AS A SOLUTION BASED COMPANY RATHER THAN A NORMAL HARDWARE MANUFACTURER. opening attended by Zimbabwean presidential official, the ministry of education and other invested parties.

What other initiatives does Acer have outside the education and corporate markets?

Acer in its vision to become a solution driven company has got many solutions for all different types of clients. One of the biggest developments is cloud computing and Acer has developed its own tailored cloud solution in Acer BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud). Acer has also extended its range of product offerings to include smartphones, which has recently been introduced with great success to the Southern African market.

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B U S I N E S S

F E A T U R E

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s e k a M What Fail? e s i h c n a r f Buying a y l l a c i t a m o doesn’t aut . . . s s e c c u guarantee s AT SOME POINT MOST OF US HAVE TOYED WITH THE IDEA OF OWNING A FRANCHISE AS A FIRST BUSINESS

he thought of being part of a brand that is established and successful seems to make sense when we contemplate being business owners.

T

Head of Small Enterprises at Standard Bank, Ethel Nyembe shared some reasons why sometimes franchises crash and burn.

Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to avoid the high risk of failure associated with small businesses often look to franchising, assuming that a recognised trademark and support is a guarantee of success. Although it is true that franchises have a higher success rate, it is not true that they cannot fail.

As it is the case with other businesses, there are several reasons why franchises fail, says Ethel Nyembe, Head of Small Enterprises at Standard Bank.

“Enhancing your chances of becoming a prosperous franchisee can depend on addressing the common issues that can impact on a franchise by addressing them upfront.”

“One of the primary reasons franchises fail is because potential franchisees often rely too much on the professional assistance and systems supplied by franchisors. If you are going to own a franchise, it is essential that you develop the financial and accounting skills necessary and back them with intimate knowledge of all the operations that make up the business. Being a franchisee means being able to act as the HR manager, accountant and marketing guru, and everything in-between.”

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

By Brendah Nyakudya

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F E A T U R E

COMMON REASONS WHY FRANCHISES FAIL: NOT ENOUGH WORKING CAPITAL Outlets, especially newly-opened shops, need operating capital until positive cash flow is achieved. Underestimating how much money will be required and having this compounded by several months of slow business while the outlet becomes established can be a death knell for the business. Making sure that there is a financial buffer in place when the business kicks off can prevent sleepless nights.

LACK OF FRANCHISOR SUPPORT The time a franchise has been in existence is usually a good indicator of franchisor support. However, new franchise operations are constantly being developed. If you are considering one of these opportunities, make sure to visit existing franchisees and ask them for their honest opinions regarding the support they get from their franchisors.

UNDERESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED Committed franchisees usually find themselves spending long hours at their store and doing work they normally wouldn’t consider doing, including manual labour. To avoid this, make sure that you understand everything involved in a franchise.

Better still, spend some time working at an outlet (even without pay) to get a true idea of what is involved.

HIRING UNSUITABLE STAFF Having the wrong people in the wrong jobs places an enormous strain on a franchise. Opening a new outlet with staff that are trained and have been assessed is essential for building a successful business.

NOT ALL FRANCHISORS ARE EQUAL Most potential franchisees expect their backgrounds and financial strength to be examined when they are being considered for a store, but it also pays for a franchisee to put the franchisor under a microscope. If documents and procedures aren’t standardised, staff seem uncertain.

Moreover, if existing outlet owners aren’t impressed with the systems or support available, there is a good chance that the franchise won’t succeed.

A ‘MISMATCH’ BETWEEN THE PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A FRANCHISEE AND THE BUSINESS If, for example, a franchise requires a ‘people person’ who is constantly visible to customers, but the franchisee prefers sitting in an office doing the books, control of the business will be easily lost.

HAVING AN OUTLET AT THE WRONG PLACE Franchised outlets, especially quick-service restaurants, must be in high-traffic areas or be strategically situated in shopping centres or malls. Although franchisors usually find sites, taking time to observe traffic and talking to other shop owners about their experiences is wise for potential franchisees to do.

HIGH STORE RENTAL COSTS There is a price to pay for having the right location. As rent is a major part of any business’ costs, all rental agreements should be scrutinised. Long-term contracts with annual escalation clauses may place an insurmountable financial strain on a franchise outlet.

There are many pitfalls to watch out for when launching a franchise, but, once you are aware of all the business risks, you can take steps to lessen or avoid them completely, significantly increasing your chances of commercial success.

Happy Franchising!

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P R O P E R T Y

Architectural

Symphony TO CREATE A HOME THAT REPRESENTS THE UNIQUE PERSONALITIES OF EACH RESIDENT, WHILE CONTEMPORARY IN DESIGN, REQUIRES THOROUGH PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

Images courtesy of Gallo/Getty Images/ Michelly Rall

By Justine Olivier Project Consultant Berty van Staaden

P R O P E R T Y

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n projects like these, the most work lies in the hands of the architect.

“The design brief was explicit with fun contrasting elements,” says architect Joehan Erasmus. “They loved stone and wood and natural materials but also steel, symmetry and discipline.” Working efficiently and effectively, the architect brought the owners’ vision to life, adding in extra design elements to create a truly authentic and individualistic abode.

“The homes that they constructed up to then were predominantly angled roofs.

I presented a roof design that consisted of a series of floating curved roofs, which the residents immediately fell in love with.”

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The roofs were designed with curved laminated beams and wooden ceiling strips over the top across the curves.

The architect ensured that the ingenuity of this design created a beautiful, continuous flow of the roof-line from the inside out while ensuring that the woodwork was washed with a silver preservative coating. The stone cladding used to accentuate the architecture was a delicate riven stone with silver undertones.

What makes the appearance of the design so captivating is the way the architect ingeniously chose to lay the steel roof in an unusual horizontal

Article and Images courtesy of Gallo Images/House and Leisure/Micky Hoyle

THE ARCHITECT ENSURED THAT THE INGENUITY OF THIS DESIGN CREATED A BEAUTIFUL, CONTINUOUS FLOW OF THE ROOF-LINE FROM THE INSIDE OUT WHILE ENSURING THAT THE WOODWORK WAS WASHED WITH A SILVER PRESERVATIVE COATING. THE STONE CLADDING USED TO ACCENTUATE THE ARCHITECTURE WAS A DELICATE RIVEN STONE WITH SILVER UNDERTONES.

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manner instead of having it cranked. This gave it a soft louvred effect.

Choosing not to use the services of an interior designer, the owners tried to fuse together their different tastes – a slightly quirky, bold taste with a more tranquil and earthy influence.

This is perfectly portrayed in the neutral, warm grey interior spaces that have been enhanced by splashes of colour in the soft furnishings and feature walls around the house.

The exterior and interior spaces both reflect the residents’ unique personalities, from the cladding to the art pieces collected through the owners’ travels. The house was not only designed to make the most of the stand on which it was built, incorporating the surroundings, but also to take in the needs and desires of the owners. Ideal for entertaining, the interior is extended outwards through the use of fold-away-stack doors, allowing a seamless flow. The patio, bar and kitchen area further enhance this lifestyle, and the open-plan design of the interior ensures that the tranquil ambience flows unhindered from the inside to the outside.

“The design of this home is proof that individualism is much more exciting than conforming to the traditional,” says Joehan.

CHOOSING NOT TO USE THE SERVICES OF AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, THE OWNERS TRIED TO FUSE TOGETHER THEIR DIFFERENT TASTES – A SLIGHTLY QUIRKY, BOLD TASTE WITH A MORE TRANQUIL AND EARTHY INFLUENCE.

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A User’s Guide to Your Brain

READ ANY MAGAZINE OR BROWSE THE INTERNET AND YOU’LL DISCOVER A WEALTH OF IDEAS ABOUT MIND POWER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUALISATION.

By Heather Clancy

Can you think yourself to success and riches?

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e look at the part that spirituality plays if any, in the pursuit of financial gain.

We chat to the self-proclaimed author, educator, business consultant leadership expert and Founder of the Demartini Institute, Dr. Demartini.

How would you define spirituality?

That which inspires each individual – what is most meaningful, most purposeful, most fulfilling in their lives. I like to think that every human being lives by a set of priorities and set of values – things that are most important and least important in their lives. Whenever they’re doing things

that are congruent with their highest values they’re spontaneously inspired from within.

Our spirituality is an expression of what is most meaningful, most purposeful, what’s highest on our values. It’s the contribution that we make to our own lives and other people’s live that is most inspired to us. If you’re dedicated to raising a family, you’re inspiration and spirituality will be an expression of being a mother and helping your beautiful children. If your highest value is raising a business, then your persistence and commitment to building a business and serving people will be your spiritual expression. “The thing you can’t wait to get up in the morning to do, the

thing you feel called to do – that’s your form of spirituality.”

In the pursuit of financial wealth and success, how important are spirituality and positive thinking?

It goes back to what I said before when you’re living by your highest values you have the greatest self-worth because if you are spontaneously inspired from within, you’re more likely to take action, to persist and to achieve things, which brings up your self-worth. It also gives you a feeling that you can be of service to others and you can tackle challenges and solve problems for other people, which means that you care about humanity and

F E A T U R E you want to make a difference and this is necessary for success and achievement.

“When you’re ruled by your highest values and inspired to be of service to other people, you increase the probability of what some people call success – I call it achievement and fulfilment.”

Can an individual find financial wealth without finding personal wealth and fulfilment? Is there a hierarchy of what needs to be done before one can become rich?

The hierarchy of your values dictates your financial destiny, if you don’t have a true value on wealth building and have a higher value on spending money and living the lifestyle of the rich and famous – without actually earning it – the second you get money you’re going to spend it according to your values and you won’t get ahead. You’ll spend your life working for money instead of having money work its life for you. If you have a higher value on saving and investing your money, and buying true assets – you’re on your way to wealth.

Is the pursuit of financial wealth a worthwhile pursuit for a fulfilled existence?

I think there are seven areas of life: you have a spiritual quest; a mental quest; a business quest; a financial quest; a family; love and intimacy quest; a social leadership quest; and a physical health and wellbeing quest. In my personal opinion, I think all of them are essential for a fulfilling existence and I can’t imagine having a fulfilling existence without also having financial wellbeing because if you don’t have financial wellbeing you are being distracted by having to go and make a living instead of having it actually work for you. I’m very grateful that I have financial independence today because I now do things because I love to, not because I have to.

less aware and less knowledgeable. I don’t know anyone who gets up and wants to be a failure in business. I believe everybody has a desire to expand in each of these areas and any area of your life that you don’t empower, people will overpower. I believe you’re designed to empower all seven areas of your life, it is not limited to financial terms, although that is the most universal.

A successful life requires a successful attitude. Would you agree? If so, how does one cultivate a successful attitude?

Every time you set a goal that is aligned with your highest values, where you have the highest probability of achieving, your attitude goes up. You have a gratitude attitude because you achieve what you say, you walk your talk.

Every time you set a goal not aligned with your highest values, you’re going to end up beating yourself up because you’re not yourself. Your own identity revolves around what’s highest on your values and whatever is highest on your values is where you’re most accountable because everyone is dedicated to fulfilling their highest values. The more congruent you are, the more you’ll have this attitude and this is how you cultivate it: by prioritizing your daily actions and doing things that are most meaningful to you every day.

The saying goes, you can’t pray to win the lottery if you haven’t bought a ticket. Many people pray for riches and yet do not change their behaviour. What is the role of prayer in the pursuit of self-improvement?

Well I always believe that the highest of prayers is the prayer of gratitude.

“Thank you” – being in a state of gratitude for the way it is and your ability to achieve and be rewarded – that’s the key and it’s not praying For many people, success is defined for some outside entity to do that, it’s exclusively in financial terms, what actually taking command of your life and being accountable and serving is your definition of real success?

Can a person be rich without being other people. If you serve enough people and help them to get what they want successful and vice versa? then you’re on your way to what you want. The key is making sure you take Well without a doubt, people can have command of your priorities and don’t success in many different forms. It’s let the world on the outside dictate your whatever is highest on their value destiny. I said in the movie “The Secret” system. I say fulfilling your highest when the voice and vision on the inside values in whatever form they are is the key to fulfilment and success but I think is louder than all the opinions on the outside – you’ve begun to master your life. every human being wants to expand The moment you value you, the world in the seven areas of life. I don’t know anybody who gets up and wants to be will value you.

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Is prayer purely a religious exercise or can non-religious people employ prayer as a means to achieve deeper meaning in their life?

I’m not a believer in going around and praying for things that I’m not willing to do. But I am a believer that the highest form of prayer is gratitude for the opportunity to be of service. Gratitude for the opportunity of what’s happening in our lives, our life is filled with opportunities when we’re living by our highest values.

In order to impact positive change, how do you change your ingrained thinking if your life remains unchanged?

Baby steps make big dreams.

Every single day you need to prioritize your daily actions and the things that are most meaningful, most productive, most inspiring and start serving people.

In your day you want to make a list of everything that you do and after you’ve listed this exhaustive list of everything you do in your typical day, you then want to write next to it in another column, ask “How much does it produce per hour, per minute?” and then in another column next to that you want to ask “how much would it cost to replace you with somebody to do this same action?” and the next column after that “how much meaning does it give you on a scale of one to seven?” and final column should ask “how much time do you spend?” Any time you’re doing low priority actions that are not meaningful, that don’t produce – you’re not going to create the greatest change you can in your life.

With regards to the pursuit of financial wealth, if you could offer the world only one piece of advice, what would it be?

Go out of your way to care enough about humanity to serve vast numbers of people and see if you can’t serve more effectively and efficiently as many people as you can in between now and the time you leave the planet. Take a portion of your income and save it and invest it right away and build up a cash cushion so that you’re not volatile and emotional. Once you learn how to start making money work for you, you’ll have a different life. It doesn’t matter how much you make, it matters how you manage what you make. The hierarchy of your values will determine how you manage it.

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M O T O R I N G

Merc B200

For Moms With Taste THERE HAVE BEEN SONGS WRITTEN ABOUT CARS FOR MOMS, AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THE STEREOTYPICAL “MOM’S MOTORCAR” HAS HAD A STIGMA ATTACHED.

By Damian Murphy

G

enerally designed with practicality in mind, rather than aesthetics, most cars for moms are box-shaped, with big boots and seven seats. The new Mercedes Benz B Class is bucking that trend and we had a chance to put this hot hatch through its paces. We discovered why being a mom doesn’t mean you need to drive a boring set of wheels.

If we start with the way the B Class looks, Merecedes Benz have given it a slick profile. The model we tested was the B200 CDI. It is slightly bigger than your standard city hatch, yet the extra size is disguised in a sleek-looking low profile. With sexy multi-spoke wheels that give the car a very sporty look, the B200 has small elements that add credence to the fact that this family hatch is hiding something. The LED running lights, twin exhaust and double sun roof make sure that those who aren’t driving the B know it is more than just a boring family carrier.

Once you slide inside the B Class, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that it is bigger than a city hatch with ample space for a family of five. The two front passengers have plenty of room and the driver’s comfort and space does not compromise on the room of those in the rear. The layout of the interior is great too, with cup holders everywhere, a large display screen for the satellite navigation and interior functions of the B200. The system allows seamless and easy Bluetooth integration; however you cannot connect your phone's music to the onboard system. It does take MP3s, CDs and USBs, but we felt they missed the boat a little by not allowing us to connect our smart phone’s music to the onboard system. As with all practical cars for parents, the interior is almost all leather.

Leather is easy to clean and even the cream interior on the model we tested proved low maintenance. What we found strange for a car in this price range was that the entire interior

M O T O R I N G

ONCE YOU SLIDE INSIDE THE B CLASS, YOU WILL BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO FIND THAT IT IS BIGGER THAN A CITY HATCH WITH AMPLE SPACE FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE.

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THE TOP SPEED OF 210KM/H AND RESPECTABLE ACCELERATION WERE GREATLY COMPLIMENTED BY A SMOOTH SHIFTING SEVEN SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX. was not matching leather. For some reason Mercedes Benz thought it would be clever to match the dashboard and centre console to the beautiful leather seats with a very hard and cold plastic imitation. The five star interior of the B200 is undone slightly by the cheap looking plastic knockoff.

Being more than we expected outside and inside, we hoped that the B200 would deliver from a performance point of view too. And the diesel engine in our particular model delivered above expectation. The Mercedes was nippy around town, cruised smoothly on the open road and delivered respectable performance without ever compromising on efficiency. Whatever the claimed figures (somewhere in the high 4s per 100km), we were able to get nearly 800km out of the 54 litre tank. The B Class even has an efficiency monitor which we took upon ourselves to use as a game. It gives you your efficiency performance from

the start of each trip, measured as a percentage. It measures your acceleration, constant speed and amount of time cruising to score how efficiently you drove on any particular trip. We were able to score a 70% on a trip that had a fair mix of urban and extra-urban driving.

The performance of the B200 CDI had its up and downs. The top speed of 210km/h and respectable acceleration were greatly complimented by a smooth shifting seven speed automatic gearbox. However, when you changed the gears to manual, the sixspeed paddle shift was slow to respond and meant you need to preempt a gear change well in advance, almost negating the need to have a manual option. The lag from the engine at low speed also meant jumping a gap in the traffic provides you with a few heart-pumping moments during a rush hour journey.

No car is without fault, and the B200 CDI is not perfect, but at a shade over R400,000, this particular Mercedes is a step ahead of most of the brands competing for the moms-with-taste market.

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A D V E R T O R I A L

A D V E R T O R I A L

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“We don’t want “We don’t want entrepreneurship,

third quarter of last year, attributed in part to increased levels of support from the private sector.

Overall the index climbed to 47,6, from 46,5 in the second quarter, reaching its highest level since the final quarter of 2013. As regards private sector support being witnessed, the reading ticked up to 51,8 from 49,8 in the previous three months.

we want jobs!” entrepreneurship,

we want jobs!”

EARLY IN DECEMBER 2014 I ATTENDED A LAUNCH OF A YOUTH PROGRAMME IN KATLEHONG HOSTED BY THE CITY OF EKURHULENI.

By Thuli Magubane for Kaya FM

A

fter all the speeches, the floor was opened up for questions. A young lady got up to comment on the proceedings. She was angry and despondent about government’s efforts to create jobs. The last statement she made sent chills down my spine… She said “We don’t want entrepreneurship, we want jobs!”

seekers instead of job creators i.e. entrepreneurs. There will be no jobs for the longest time if we do not encourage entrepreneurship and develop entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Every time I hear people complain that

on how many businesses have been registered, how many small businesses have grown their turnover and staff complement? How many small businesses are doing business outside of the borders of South Africa?

It is not the role of government to government is not creating enough EARLY IN DECEMBER I ATTENDED A LAUNCH be creating jobs; it’s the private jobs or government itself, committing 2014 sectors responsibility. To back up this to creating X number of jobs, I OFWould A YOUTH PROGRAMME statement, resultsIN of theKATLEHONG Nedbank I could not believe what I was cringe. it not be a refreshing Small Business Index™ (NSBI) indicate conversation to hear government hearing. This young lady’s comment that SouthOF Africa's small businesses committing to seeing the creation of really drives home the point that HOSTED BY THE CITY EKURHULENI. were slightly more optimistic in the new enterprises? Reporting on stats our education system creates job

A

I could not believe what I was hearing. This young lady’s comment really drives home the point that our education system creates job

seekers instead of job creators i.e. entrepreneurs. There will be no jobs for the longest time if we do not encourage entrepreneurship and develop entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Every time I hear people complain that government is not creating enough jobs or government itself, committing to creating X number of jobs, I cringe. Would it not be a refreshing conversation to hear government committing to seeing the creation of new enterprises? Reporting on stats

Twelve consulta on BizzB forward knowled working we can t level of

For businesses that have crossed over that 2 year threshold, there is not much support in sight to help them Busines to grow and thrive. This is where the consulta Your business is up and running, private sector can play a role in growing intervenb Your business is up and running, sustainable businesses that will create consulta take it to the next level with Bizz jobstake that will employ the millions of it to the next level withKayaBiz BizzB unemployed individuals. a case st to you by Kaya FM and Nedbank. to you by Kaya FM and Nedbank. learn fro Kaya FM in partnership with Nedbank appoint is offering BizzBoost an intervention knowled thatMake aims toGrowing help small businesses to their bu Your Business Hap grow and thrive.

BizzBoost offers a Make Growing Your Business Hap small business an opportunity to have a www.k The tool Register for #BizzBoost on Register consultant comefor into#BizzBoost their business toon www. on the B consult for a month at no charge to the busines business. This will be a more in-depth own bus intervention than those that have been shows w previously offered by other players. a guide have bee Speaking on behalf of Nedbank, Vanessa Singh Executive Head Marketing: The reco Retail and Business Banking said, ‘We offered are delighted to join forces with Kaya and imp Bizz through Bizz Boost, building on we will our long standing association aimed to check

By Thuli Magubane for Kaya FM fter all the speeches, the floor was opened up for questions. A young lady got up to comment on the proceedings. She was angry and despondent about government’s efforts to create jobs. The last statement she made sent chills down my spine… She said “We don’t want entrepreneurship, we want jobs!”

at cham culture sustaina and eco

on how many businesses have been registered, how many small businesses have grown their turnover and staff complement? How many small businesses are doing business outside of the borders of South Africa?

It is not the role of government to be creating jobs; it’s the private sectors responsibility. To back up this statement, results of the Nedbank Small Business Index™ (NSBI) indicate that South Africa's small businesses were slightly more optimistic in the

A D V E R T O R I A L

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KAYA FM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEDBANK IS OFFERING BIZZBOOST AN INTERVENTION THAT AIMS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES TO GROW AND THRIVE. BIZZBOOST OFFERS A SMALL BUSINESS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A CONSULTANT COME INTO THEIR BUSINESS TO CONSULT FOR A MONTH AT NO CHARGE TO THE BUSINESS.

third quarter of last year, attributed in part to increased levels of support from the private sector.

Overall the index climbed to 47,6, from 46,5 in the second quarter, reaching its highest level since the final quarter of 2013. As regards private sector support being witnessed, the reading ticked up to 51,8 from 49,8 in the previous three months.

For businesses that have crossed over that 2 year threshold, there is not much support in sight to help them to grow and thrive. This is where the private sector can play a role in growing sustainable businesses that will create jobs that will employ the millions of unemployed individuals.

Kaya FM in partnership with Nedbank is offering BizzBoost an intervention that aims to help small businesses to grow and thrive. BizzBoost offers a small business an opportunity to have a consultant come into their business to consult for a month at no charge to the business. This will be a more in-depth intervention than those that have been previously offered by other players.

Speaking on behalf of Nedbank, Vanessa Singh Executive Head Marketing: Retail and Business Banking said, ‘We are delighted to join forces with Kaya Bizz through Bizz Boost, building on our long standing association aimed

at championing an entrepreneurial culture in our society and promoting sustainable growth for the SMME sector and economy respectively.

Twelve businesses will be chosen for the consultant to work on. As the consultant on BizzBoost I am really looking forward to sharing my skills and knowledge with the businesses I will be working with. It is my sincere hope that we can take each business to the next level of excellence and growth.

Businesses that are not chosen for the consultancy will still benefit from the intervention as the progress of the consultancy will be discussed weekly on KayaBizz. The chosen business becomes a case study that other businesses can learn from. This can be a standing appointment for SMME’s to gain new knowledge and insight that will assist their business to grow.

The toolkit that will be made available on the BizzBoost page will enable businesses to apply the tools in their own businesses as well. Podcasts of the shows will also be available that will be a guide on the tools used and how they have been applied.

then be reported back on air so that our listeners are aware of the progress made by each business.

Each month will be themed and we will discuss topics that are crucial to the existence of every business. Each week an expert will be invited to the studio to discuss a different angle of the topic.

The topics will cover Strategy, Growth and Expansion, Cashflow, HR & Labour issues, Marketing etc.

BizzBoost is a wonderful opportunity for businesses based in Gauteng to receive on air radio exposure, receive a digital intervention from Nedbank and give their business that much needed boost!

Nedbank wants to offer real value to businesses to ensure that they thrive and are sustainable over the long term.

BizzBoost is not about pushing products but rather about a partnership that will stand each business in good stead.

Nedbank has taken the responsibility of creating sustainable businesses that will in turn create sustainable jobs.

BizzBoost goes live on KayaBizz at 5pm from Monday 2 March 2015.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to join us this exciting journey of growth and discovery over the next 12 months.

The recommendations and solutions offered to each business will be practical and implementable. Every six months *Thuli Magubane is the presenter of the we will return to each of the businesses personal finance show My Money & Me Radio to check on their progress. This will on Kaya FM Tuesdays between 20h00-21h00

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A D V E R T O R I A L

#RhodesMustFall -

The Legacy I

t was about a week before the eruption of the #RhodesMustFall revolution that my daughter who is a fourth year student in Journalism at Rhodes University in Grahamstown called me. Her voice seemed excited and conspiratory as she asked me "mom, have you heard about the #RhodesMustFall initiative?" Because I was none the wiser she proceeded to tell me what was about to go down and how they, as black students feel. She told me about how they have been othered by the universities management and now they are sick and tired. As a student, I was excited by student politics and I have been nudging my daughter to get involved because I believe this is the pressure cooker that shapes our thinking as professionals. It makes us very aware of our country's history and thus the decisions we make are not devoid of our heritage.

While mulling over the "conspiratory" call, the #RhodesMustFall movement erupted into the media space. I followed this with interest and pride. I was interested to know how it will all pan out. I was proud that the "born-free" generation is starting to recognize how un-free they are. Not only that, they have started reclaiming their space in the history of our country. As a result I did so much research on the goingson, listened to the best and brightest students and black academics being interviewed. During all this I marveled at how articulate they are about what they are doing, why they are doing it and the history behind.

It saddened then me when some of us old folk decided that these kids should not be concerning themselves with the statues but must just study. Then there were quite irrelevant questions

like now that Rhodes has fallen, does this eradicate poverty? It saddened me because it is us old folk, who attended these universities and never protested the negation of our black history. Yes we protested but did not touch the core of who we are and how we see ourselves.

We left our history unrecognized. Maybe this is why we could not understand what these youngsters were on about.

These youngsters were demanding a recognition of the African person. These youngsters were demanding, not praying for, true transformation of the education institutions. These youngsters were finishing the job that we never finished as students. These students were not appealing to the niceness of the South African white people but rather asserting themselves in a way our generation should have done. We might disagree with someone of their methods but that does not lessen what they have decided to stand up for. These students were standing up and against professionalized racism in a way that we, as black professionals have been cowardly to stand up against. These students were indeed not asking for adaptation or alleviation of racism but rather eradication thereof. They found a calling card in the form of #RhodesMustFall, a way of calling all to action. They managed to make the whole country to at the very least sit up and take note and at best to start talking about those issues that we normally gloss over, talking about in hushed tones. They managed to get us as a country to stare our ugly past in the face. These students managed to kick the myth that is the rainbow nation to the kerb. Nothing showed this up like social media which was polarized according to both race and generations.

Tantaswa Fubu

What legacy has #RhodesMustFall then left behind? Firstly, this has opened up the discussion about our past and our ugly history, beyond the university confines. The talks started with the statues and soon found their way to the history archives correcting the misconceptions that had been institutionalised as fact. The legacy is about a people who know their history and are proud of it, for if we cared to listen to the student leaders we would know that they have done proper research about our history, and are so proud of this history of ours that they are demanding it to be given its rightful place even at the universities. This campaign or whatever we choose to call it, is therefore not ahistorical. The legacy has to be about a people who are not prepared to sit and hope for a natural progressive disappearance of discrimination and effects of apartheid in our society. It is about a people who are participating in the total demolition of apartheid and discrimination and all its manifestations.

My hope is that we all will heed Franz Fanon's call in "Towards an African Revolution" when he says "the future will have no pity for those men who, possessing the exceptional privilege of being able to speak words of truth to their oppressors, have taken refuge in an attitude of passivity, of mute indifference, and sometimes of cold complicity."

Contrary to what some of us oldies believe, #RhodesMustFall was thought through and executed with precision.

Ours is then to follow through wherever we choose to ply our trade and have those difficult conversations that will ensure that we totally emancipate the black folk in South Africa.

Your Indulgence, Our Legacy...

Legacy Corner Shopping Mall Off Nelson Mandela Square, cnr Fifth and Maude Street, Sandton | (011) 292 7000

www.LegacyCorner.co.za

80

C O L U M N

In praise of close personal attachments ONE OF THE CHARMING IDIOSYNCRASIES MEN DISPLAY WHEN THEY’RE OUT IN A GROUP “WITH THE BOYS”, IS THEIR SEXUAL SCRUPLES

By Alyn Adams

I

the last 200 years of medical science, such as, say, using disinfectant and really sharp scalpels, then I think the issue can be resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. We can have young guys becoming men in their communities according to tradition, without suffering the total loss of their wedding tackle, as happened to the transplant recipient and is still happening to other unfortunate initiates every winter.

mean, we pretend to have some, rather than being total sluts up for a romp in the hay with almost anyone.

Because the truth of the matter, when the barman is calling last rounds, is that most of us will settle for anything warm and welcoming, no matter what it looks like in daylight.

Nevertheless, the Man Code somehow dictates that until that fateful last-call moment arrives, we have to pretend to have standards.

We get as picky and persnickety as Miss World judges, while ignoring the fact that none of us are actually a cleft-chinned Adonis. The ultimate retort, when one of your mates is trying to convince you to chat up some dodgy-looking specimen, is: “Nah, I wouldn’t, bru. Not even with yours...”

Yes, we’re a sophisticated bunch – “that woman is so unattractive, I wouldn’t even pleasure her using your equipment” is the height of repartee, as far as we’re concerned. Of course, it’s a statement that has always been made secure in the knowledge that it can never, ever be tested in real life.

And then a South African surgical team performed the world’s first successful penis transplant, and suddenly it is possible for a guy (or at least one guy) to perform the horizontal mambo using another man’s organ. I can’t help but think that somewhere, the soul of his original member is furiously jealous.

I also can’t help thinking that if Chris

Barnard’s gravestone is adorned with a large granite heart, then the South African doctor who performed this latest surgical breakthrough is going to be the cause of a unique and embarrassing problem for a cemetery in a few years time.

There’s also a serious side to this. As several other commentators have pointed out, the surgery is a world first, being rightly hailed as a significant advance in medicine, but very few people are talking about the reason this young man needed a new penis in the first place – a botched traditional circumcision. I’m not a fan of universal circumcision without any medical need for it, as it was done to me when I was too young to protest, and I’ve been bitter about that for almost 50 years.

However, I’m also not one to prescribe to others how they should live, so I’m not on the side of those who simply want to ban the manhood ritual completely.

I’m one for the middle path – if we can convince traditional practitioners to take advantage of some of the advances in

But enough responsible social commentary; let’s return to the meat of this story, if you’ll pardon the pun. There’s a dude walking around with another man’s dongle attached to him – what happens on the nights when he doesn’t score in the lastminute swamp-donkey roundup at the singles bar? When he gets home feeling all frisky, but alas, has no willing nubile to be frisky with in tow?

Well, he’s going to resort to what men have resorted to since time immemorial, isn’t he? He’s going to opt for a bit of self-loving. And that’s the point at which he’ll have to confront an identity crisis in his sexuality, I reckon – when he suddenly realises that he’s playing with another man’s schlong. Yes, I know; it’s an outrageous thought – but don’t tell me I’m the only one thinking it.

@alyndenzel www.alynadams.com