CONTENTS
CONTENTS 70
Steve Biko
REGULARS
FEATURES
PROFILE
TRENDING
GROOMING
CULTURE
12 THE MATTE EFFECT 15 NOURISHING BODY BUTTERS
HEALTH
17 SEX IN YOUR 50S
TIME OUT
19 FRENCH BAKERY PAUL OPENS IN SA
38 10 AFRICANS TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA 42 THE LIVING LEGENDS PROJECT 46 I AM AN AFROPOLITAN
PROFILE
51 SAFTA AWARD-WINNING SOUTH AFRICAN ACTOR, WARREN MASEMOLA
LIFESTYLE
23 WINTER BOOTS FOR BOTH SEXES
54 59 64 70
FASHION
BUSINESS
27 KAYA COUTURE!
74 HAS BEE WORKED? 78 JOBS THAT WON’T EXIST IN 50 YEARS
MOTORING
LIVING
STYLE
98 THE NEW AUDI A5
LAST WORD
100 ACTRESS STHANDIWE KGOROGE
THE KRUGERRAND TURNS 50 THE AFROPOLITAN THROUGH THE YEARS RISE OF THE MACHINES SOUTH AFRICAN MILESTONES OVER 50 YEARS
82 HASSLE-FREE RENTAL PROPERTY 86 2017’S MATRICULANTS ON LIFE IN SA
TRAVEL
90 TOP FIVE DESTINATIONS FOR TRAVELLING ALONE 7
DISTRIBUTION Gwen Sebogodi & distributed by:
FOR ANY DISTRIBUTION QUERIES CONTACT: 011 401 5870 Copyright © 2016 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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FROM THE EDITOR
50 & FABULOUS “
The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” Muhammad Ali was right. If you think about the changes the world has witnessed in the last 50 years, you’ll know why your individual vantage point changes with time. Only in 1969 was the first ATM opened in Long Island, USA, and it was in 1973 that Motorola would unveil the first cellphone. Change can be slow, but once it comes, it can alter the course of history. The same can happen for a country. In 1967, Chris Barnard was responsible for performing the first human-to-human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, and several decades later, in 2010, SA would host the first Soccer World Cup on the African continent. From Steve Jobs’ revolutionising our music with the iPod to Mark Zuckerberg forever changing our lives with social media, the last 20 years have brought some huge changes, both locally and globally.
dream. Our, publisher Sean Press sits with Kaya FM managing director, Greg Maloka, to talk about what it means to be an Afropolitan in modern-day South Africa. This sounds like an easy question to answer, but when you consider the political and social upheaval we’ve faced in the country recently – what with xenophobic attacks and racial tension – being an Afropolitan is not as clear as it was 20 years ago when Kaya first hit the airwaves.
Whether you like Twitter or Instagram, social media has changed the way we interact with each other and has, for better or worse, made the world smaller. It has become increasingly easier to reach other like-minded people in the diaspora and beyond. In this issue former news anchor, Refiloe Mpakanyane, gives us a list of 10 Africans to follow, from Facebook to the ’Gram.
Sadly, this also marks my last issue as editor of this great publication. It has been a privilege putting together content for you and meeting you at Afro events. I’m grateful for the time we’ve spent together. I look forward to Afropolitan’s upward trajectory, and to the next 50 issues.
This, our 50th edition, is an incredible milestone for us. Much like our country, this magazine came about as a result of a collective
And yet, the future is just as important as the present and the past. Zamahlasela Gabela and Mbalenhle Sibanyoni delve into the future by telling us about how artificial intelligence is improving our lives, as well as some of the jobs that will be created by the digital revolution. As much as it looks like machines are set to replace us, our connection as human beings is what is going to move us forward as a species.
Onwards and upwards!
IMAGE Victor Dlamini
EDITOR Lerato Tshabalala IMAGES Akona Kenqu CONTRIBUTORS Zamahlasela Gabela Damian Murphy Mbalenhle Sibanyoni Refiloe Mpakanyane PUBLISHING HOUSE 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 CEO & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Sean Press MANAGING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Donna Verrydt FINANCE & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Lesley Fox HEAD OF SALES Didi Okoro SALES MANAGER Quincy Matonhodze SALES Damian Murphy Michelle Jones Charlene Heyburgh Melissa van Achterbergh DESIGN & LAYOUT Quinten Tolken SUB-EDITOR Haley Abrahams PROOFREADER Angie Snyman PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Gwen Sebogodi IT AND WEB MANAGER Carmen Petre REPRO & PRINTING Kadimah Print
PROFILE
THE MATTE EFFECT FORMER BEAUTY EDITOR, MATHAHLE STOFILE (37), DECIDED TO START HER ONLINE PLATFORM, THE MATTE PROJECT, AFTER SEEING A LACK OF BEAUTY CONTENT AIMED AT WOMEN OF COLOUR. SHE TELLS US HOW SHE’S USING IT TO CELEBRATE #BLACKGIRLMAGIC
T
ell us about The Matte Project (TMP). Where does the name come from?
TMP is an idea I had while I was still a magazine beauty editor. I was constantly aware of how many white beauty editor voices there are around the world, and these were the voices responsible for sharing beauty messages, advice, tips and recommendations with a vast and diverse women’s market. There seemed to be one type of woman everyone was addressing: the white woman. I decided to start a consultancy where our sole focus and default setting is decoding beauty products, tips and tricks for the woman who isn’t white – in other words, women of colour – and specifically the black woman. The name is a play on the eternal quest we have as black women to not have the 12 o’clock nose and forehead shine – for our skin to stay (sort of) matte throughout the day.
The five beauty essentials every woman needs in her bag are… The only beauty product we all need in our handbags is a good sunscreen. Everything else is the cherry on top. My top-five “cherries” are lip balm, hand cream, lipstick, cleansing wipes and concealer.
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Mathahle Stofile
PROFILE
What are your top-three South African beauty/hair brands? For hair, The Perfect Hair brand has some really great hydrating hair products for South African hair textures. I like The Perfect Coil conditioner for my whole family. Bio-Oil is my all-time favourite South African product. I’m addicted to the subtle, clean scent. I like to apply it to damp skin after a warm bath or shower, just before I go to bed. Lipidol oils (especially the face cleansing oil) are affordable and effective. As soon as it says “oil”, I go a little ga-ga. I love oils on my skin.
What’s the difference between the way black beauty is seen now as opposed to a decade ago? I think many of us have woken up to the fact that we don’t all have to look the same to be considered beautiful. That’s the major difference. That, and the fact that black women all over the world are tired of being told what to wear, how to look and how to speak. We are standing up for ourselves and affirming ourselves in our own circles, as well as in public spaces. Our beauty today is more visible and therefore more acknowledged.
What kind of doors has The Matte Project opened for you? TMP has taken me into the minds of many South African women in terms of what matters to us regarding beauty – this is even the case with my own friends. I now also work closely with brands I’ve worked with for years as a beauty editor for Marie Claire, when they were advertisers. Now we work as partners, trying to find ways of providing beauty solutions to many women in a way that is not contrived, but realistic and authentic.
Beauty is… health.
Besides The Matte Project, what other work you do? I still freelance as a beauty editor and beauty writer. I co-founded and co-present a web series on YouTube with my friend, Milisuthando Bongela, called Living Head First. We talk about black hair and create a lighter spin on the topic by having black women share their hilarious experiences and stories about hair. TMP also hosts
intimate events, where we introduce women to new products, masterclasses and, this year, we will hold our first conference.
What beauty products do you have in your bag all the time? Red lipstick, sunscreen and lip balm.
Do you have tips for taking care of black children’s hair? Keep it clean (using sulphate-free shampoo) and well nourished (get a good detangling conditioner). Use your fingers to detangle the hair while damp. If you choose to braid it or plait it, don’t pull along the hairline. Whatever you do, try not to create the impression that your child’s hair is a problem to be solved.
How important is the digital medium in highlighting issues around black beauty? It assures us that we’re not alone in our thoughts and insecurities. It also shows us images of other women around the world who look like us in different contexts of beauty. We never saw this enough before in traditional media platforms.
THE ONLY BEAUTY PRODUCT WE ALL NEED IN OUR HANDBAGS IS A GOOD SUNSCREEN. EVERYTHING ELSE IS THE CHERRY ON TOP Who is your beauty icon? I find so many women beautiful, for different reasons. I find Nina Simone’s mind to be the most beautiful. I think Lupita Nyong’o’s skin is unbelievable. I feel like Jada Pinkett-Smith and her mom have some explaining to do when it comes to those bodies. And I think actress Zandile Msutwana has such a beautiful face and a kind heart.
Who do you follow on social media What has surprised you most about that other black girls can follow for The Matte Project? inspiration? The very positive response from both For black girls and boys, definitely follow @ blackboard_africa (I’m specifically talking about boys and girls, not men and women).
What should we look forward to from The Matte Project in future? Our big conference at the end of this year – it won’t just be on beauty, but big topics that affect us as women, linked back to beauty, of course. Look out for our masterclasses, which happen more frequently. Go to our website thematteproject.com for all upcoming event information.
What trends should we expect to see more of this year? Beauty trends pretty much stay the same, just slightly updated. Smoky eye in winter, pop lip in summer. Musky scent in winter, fresh and fruity in summer. It’s all the same, just worded differently. I do hope we see the end of contouring soon and see more glowing, plumped-up skin. Forget trends and just go with what your personality is feeling.
women and beauty brands. I knew the need was there, but I didn’t realise how serious it was. Now the men are starting to feel left out and are asking grooming questions, so maybe there’s something there…
What puts a smile on your face? My husband and my children, memories of my late father and brother, a cold glass of bubbly.
If money was not an issue, what three beauty items would you buy? A Le Labo fragrance, a foundation made to match my skin tone exactly (am still searching…) and a lipstick made to my specific texture, tone and finish.
South African women are… brave and resilient. Facebook The Matte Project Instagram @thematteproject @mathahlestofile
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GROOMING
BODY BUTTERS
THE COLDER MONTHS CAN LEAVE YOUR SKIN FEELING DRY, BUT WITH THE RIGHT BODY BUTTER IT’LL BE WELL HYDRATED THIS WINTER
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HEALTH
SEXUAL HEALING
W
hen considering sexy women in their 50s, straight away we imagine 59-year-old Angela Bassett on the red carpet wearing a cropped top, showing her rock-hard abs; Vanessa Williams still looking like she could win a beauty pageant today – and we can’t forget 52-yearold Viola Davis’s toned arms. But for most of us, the reality of being 50 is closer to American talk show host, Wendy Williams, without her wig on, wearing tracksuit pants and no make-up… Not very sexy.
IF YOU ONLY ASSOCIATE TURNING 50 WITH MENOPAUSE FOR HER AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION FOR HIM, THINK AGAIN… SEX IN YOUR 50S PROMISES TO BE AS EXPLOSIVE AS IT WAS VIGOROUS IN YOUR 20s
After three decades of only halfenjoying sex because you’ve had to be constantly on high alert, listening for footsteps headed towards your bedroom, now the house is all yours. A survey conducted by the University of Manchester and the NatCen (an independent British social research organisation) found that 54% of men and 31% of women in their 50s admitted that they were still quite sexually active well into their 50s.
MIND OVER MATTER
While nerve impulses between brain cells start to slow down slightly, the good news is that brain cells do grow well into your 50s so it’s still possible to learn new tricks. Technology can be a great sex life-saver… Ready to sext anyone?
THE ULTIMATE CLIMAX
IMAGE Shutterstock
The American Association for Retired People (AARP) conducted a survey that found that happiness after 50 increases significantly. After years trying to balance
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While dermatologists can remove age spots that appear in your 40s and 50s through freezing, snipping and cauterising (burning), if you take care of yourself now you can work with your body to keep yourself looking good. It’s not about plastic surgery, start buying and wearing sunscreen to prevent the need of a scalpel to the skin.
As oestrogen levels begin to drop, vaginal dryness becomes increasingly pronounced and many women experience pain during sex. Artificial lubricants (either water- or silicone-based) can help nature along. These can be reactivated with saliva, so buy flavoured ones and… need we say more?!
THE KIDS ARE GONE!
YOU’RE HAPPIER
MORE THAN JUST LOOKS
IT’S DRY, BUT YOU CAN FIX IT
But it’s not all bad news. Here’s the reality of what sex in your 50s will most likely be like…
This one is for the ladies… We won’t feed you manure – hot flushes are not a myth; heat will emanate from places that are not your nether regions. That said, not only do you have more frequent orgasms to look forward to, climaxing is also far more intense after menopause. Bet now you can’t wait for your 50th birthday, huh?
a mostly Mediterranean diet – rich in fish, olives, vegetables and nuts.
work, life and family responsibilities, the 50s are about reaping what you’ve sown. You’re also more confident, have come to accept your body and you finally have time to sleep in and make love until midday – the way you used to back in the day.
FROM HARD TO HEART
It is reported that 26% of men first experience erectile dysfunction in their 50s; and diabetes and heart problems become a real threat, too. However, you can help turn things around by staying active and eating
PREGNANCY NO MORE
Menopause means pregnancy is a thing of the past (save for those one-in-a-million cases like Janet Jackson, who was pregnant at 50). If you’re single and have a box of condoms, you can mingle without worrying about making someone an unprepared, unhappy daddy. And if you’re married, you can make up for lost time doing the early school run and wearing comfy pyjamas by being adventurous again. Put on some Marvin Gaye and get it on…
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TIME OUT
PA U L I N J OBURG ESTABLISHED IN NORTHERN FRANCE MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO, PAUL HAS BAKERIES IN 36 COUNTRIES. WITH ITS FIRST BRANCH ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT HAVING RECENTLY OPENED IN JOHANNESBURG’S MELROSE ARCH, MAXIME HOLDER, CHAIRMAN OF PAUL INTERNATIONAL, TELLS US ABOUT ITS SWEET OFFERING
W
hat are some of the changes that have taken place at PAUL since its inception 128 years ago?
We used to be a single bakery in a small town, but now PAUL is a global brand. To me, you are international when you open the same shop all over the world, but you are global when you open a
shop in a new country and after some time, you become a part of that country. This is only possible when you find a way to be loyal to what you are, while at the same time showing respect to the local customers of the country. So, we’ve made minor changes, but we’ve stayed true to my family’s 128-year heritage, while incorporating the latest gastronomic trends.
How many members of the original family are still part of the bakery now? Five family members are still part of PAUL: my father, who is in charge of the business in France; my older brother, who focuses on the development of the brand; my younger sister, who specialises in the marketing and communication;
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TIME OUT my mother, who is a member of the board; and me – I deal with international expansion. So, as you can see, this really is a family passion.
Tell us the story of PAUL… The origins of PAUL can be traced back to 1889 in the small town of Croix, in northern France, where my great-greatgrandfather, Charlemagne Mayot, and my great-great-grandmother owned a small but busy bakery. They passed their knowledge and passion on to my greatgrandfather, Edmond-Charlemagne – who in time, together with my greatgrandmother Victorine, took over managing the family business in 1908. My great-grandparents in turn taught the secrets of their trade to my grandmother, Suzanne. She married my grandfather, Julien Holder, who was also a baker, and in 1935, they decided to buy a bakery in Lille, in the north of France. That bakery was well known, although it was a single shop. It had been founded by the Paul family and carried their family name, which was tradition in those days. Because PAUL was quite famous in Lille at that time, my grandparents decided to keep the name. So, the first PAUL shop was founded many years ago in the north of France, and was bought by my family and developed into the brand it is today. My father, Francis, shared our family’s deep affinity for artisanal baking and, in 1953, began working in his parents’ bakery. He inherited the business after his father’s death in 1958, and opened a second bakery in 1963. In 1985, he opened the first PAUL bakery outside of France,
in Japan, shortly followed by Morocco in 1987. Today, the small family business founded in a tiny corner of northern France is represented in 36 countries around the globe.
Do all the bakeries look the same? We have 673 outlets worldwide… our aim really is to export a small part of France to the new location. If you look at PAUL Melrose Arch, the display that we’ve introduced here is the same as any one you’ll find in France.
What are your signature items on the menu? We have staples on our menu that you’ll find across the globe such as our croissants, eclairs, millefeuille chocolat, fruit tartlets, baguette sandwiches, confit de canard and onion soup. With that said, we also respect the tradition and nuances of each country. I had my first red latté, which was made at PAUL Melrose Arch. I believe that this is very popular in South Africa, so we’ve introduced red lattés on the South African menu. We also adapted the South African breakfast menu to include omelettes, which isn’t a traditional breakfast food in France.
What made you choose South Africa? In 2012, I visited South Africa for the first time, and I spent three days in Johannesburg and then three days in Cape Town. I remembered how hard it was to return to France after my time here, especially given the weather, and because I was quite impressed with what I discovered. I believe that South Africa is the perfect place for PAUL to open, because I believe PAUL could have a longlasting future in South Africa. We selected Melrose Arch because it offers a good mix of customers and is centrally located. It offers a location from where we can operate on a seven-day basis.
Can we expect more PAUL bakeries in South Africa in the future?
PAUL bakery goods
My family takes the same approach in our development and expansion as we do in our bread – we give it time; it’s good for the fermentation of the dough, and I believe it’s good for the development of
PAUL Bakery
PAUL French styled interior
the brand in every single new market. We will only look to find a second location after a couple of months. But based on our business model, the next store will open in close vicinity to the flagship, to be able to run two or three shops with the same team.
How would you describe “the art of living”? Wherever you go in France, people are passionate about food. It really is our way of life – having good food and sharing a good time. For instance, at lunch time in France, everyone will go out – you won’t have a sandwich in front of your computer, and you won’t go to eat by yourself. So, the French art de vivre really is a concept that centres on meeting people, having a good time and enjoying good-quality food in a warm atmosphere, which is something we always aim to create in our restaurants.
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FASHION
KAYA COUTURE! ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE CELEBRATING! NOT ONLY IS THE AFROPOLITAN MAGAZINE HONOURING OUR 50TH EDITION, BUT WE ARE ALSO REJOICING IN A 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH KAYA FM, WHO IN TURN, IS ALSO CELEBRATING THEIR 20TH BIRTHDAY!
Mapaseka Mokwele
I
Thomas Msengana
IT’S TIME TO STRAP UP AND MAKE SURE YOU’RE PROTECTED AGAINST THE ELEMENTS…
In commemoration of all these great things, the Afropolitan and Kaya FM joined forces to produce the å la mode, collectable Kaya FM Jock Calendar!
Photographed at the palatial Michelangelo Towers Hotel, which boasts the best views of the Sandton skyline from its Cupolo Penthouse, the shoot featured top Kaya jocks, and they broadcast live from the Penthouse. This shoot would not have been possible without the support of our valued partners: Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whisky; Montblanc Fragrances (Bacher and Co.); Jaguar, Waterman Pens; DL Furniture; Black Opal Cosmetics; and of course Edcon, our fashion partner that dressed all the jocks. From the bottom of our Afropolitan hearts, we thank you all of you for your passion, your continued support and your partnership with Afropolitan. There are only a limited number of calendars printed, and we hope you are able to get your hands on one, so that you can enjoy 18-months of ‘jock style!’ In the meantime however, enjoy these pictures from the shoot.
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FASHION
John Perlman
Mont Blanc Fragrances
Michael Motsoeneng Bill
Kojo Baffoe
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Urban legend
FOR THE
MAN
WITH STYLE
#FOREVEREDGARS
Sandile van Heerden Ndumiso Ngcobo
George Munetsi
Waterman Pens
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FASHION
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FASHION
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TRENDING
10 AFRICANS
TO FOLLOW
SOCIAL MEDIA IS GOOD FOR MORE THAN JUST WASTING TIME IN QUEUES. YOU CAN FIND INSPIRATION, LEARN SOMETHING USEFUL AND MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER AFRICANS. REFILOE MPAKANYANE GIVES YOU A LIST OF WHO TO FOLLOW ON THE CONTINENT ou know that thing that happens when you’re reading your friend’s caption on Instagram or Facebook, then you click on the handle of the person named in that caption and suddenly there appears a selection of more people to follow, and then as you start checking them out you see more and more really interesting bios…? How about when you are so far down the line that following accounts leads to more choices on Twitter and next thing you realise, it’s been an hour and you have just followed 15 complete strangers?
Y
FOOD OZOZ SOKOH
CHEF, NIGERIA HANDLE @kitchenbutterfly FOLLOWERS 28.5k BIO Food and Love Matter
Falling down the rabbit hole of social media is a latent defect in social media users, so don’t feel bad about it. Here is a list of some amazing Africans to follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Whether for their wit and style, business acumen or daily insights, the heavy lifting of discovering them has been done for you. Just go ahead and click follow. You will notice that most of the people on this list are women. That’s okay, it’s just a minor case of #BlackGirlMagic.
to Me. #LiveYourLifeABeg
@Kitchenbutterfly’s Twitter feed is an eclectic collection of recipes, visits to the market and food discoveries. This is an impassioned and colourful look at West Africa by chef Ozoz Sokoh, who calls herself a “traveller, by plate, using foodways – the social, cultural and economic practices relating to the production and consumption of food to explore the world”. She also doesn’t shy away from the politics of food – such as who decides what Nigerian dining should look like, or introducing childhood staples to a younger generation. The best part of the account is discovering “exotic” new ingredients such as velvet tamarind (colloquially called #lickylicky), as well as witnessing Sokoh’s gastronomical forays into “Nigerian concept food” like dry fish skin and yam cannelloni.
FOOD TINASHE NYAMUDOKA SOMMELIER, ZIMBABWE HANDLE @tnashenyamudoka FOLLOWERS1 318 BIO Head Sommelier. The Test Kitchen, Old Biscuit Mill. Wine Judge. Lover of wine, food, women, song and the rest life has to offer…
Frequent tweets from the head sommelier of one of South Africa’s premier restaurants reveal an abiding appreciation of wine and food and family, as though none of these mean anything without the other. Also interested in spirits like gin and brandy, Tinashe Nyamudoka curates evocative images paired with personable content. He provides a lovely perspective on wine and hospitality, while enjoying prime views of South Africa’s wine country.
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SPORT CASTER SEMENYA
ATHLETE, SOUTH AFRICA HANDLE @castersemenya800m FOLLOWERS 46.1k BIO Olympic champ, World champ, Cobra, Powered by Nike & Wiphold
Caster Semenya is celebrated and loved in South Africa for her athletic achievements – most recently as a 2016 Olympic gold medallist. The middle-distance queen tweets at least twice daily and in her timeline, Semenya talks about her wife Violet, sends supportive tweets to fellow athletes and consistently keeps her messaging positive. She also takes care of business and promotes her product endorsements and plugs her PrincessDMensesCup initiative with the hashtag #menstruationmatters. Her Twitter account is a testament to love, achievement, self-belief and hard work.
TRENDING
BUSINESS BOZOMA SAINT JOHN
MARKETING EXECUTIVE, GHANA INSTAGRAM HANDLE @badassboz FOLLOWERS 29.7k BIO Self-proclaimed badass & badmamajama. Generally bad. And good at it. Head diva of global consumer marketing @ applemusic @itunes
FITNESS
MAPULE NDHLOVU Bozoma Saint John was called “Apple Music’s secret weapon” by Billboard Magazine. She then went on to be awarded the magazine’s Executive of the Year prize at its Women in Music Awards 2016. She was and remains the first black woman to present onstage at an Apple event in 2016 – but the feat of “being the first” doesn’t please her. Instead, she has said: “I am one of the best at what I do, regardless of being a woman and being black – those are benefits!” @Badassboz is all about family, work and the common thread of fun and fierceness that she brings to everything. Whether it is matching her nail colour – a huge passion – to her designer bag; sitting down for a chat with legendary producer, Quincy Jones; partaking in a Super Soul Session with Oprah – the ’gram is her daily diary. Her posts, much like her 6.1-foot stature, are bold, insightful and sassy.
BUSINESS DAVID ADJAYE
ARCHITECT, GHANA HANDLE @adjaye_visual_
sketchbook
TRAINER, SOUTH AFRICA HANDLE @Queenfitnass FOLLOWERS 53.6k BIO #NextFitStar Mapule Ndhlovu, otherwise known as @Queenfitnass, is followed by one of South Africa’s finest and fittest actors, Vuyo Dabula. Ndhlovu will give you body envy for days – and when that runs out, her account will motivate you to get moving and get built. @Queenfitnass posts frequent exercise routines and useful fitness tips. A huge element of her workouts is working out in gorgeous (and flattering) gym gear. After watching her execute a pistol squat (a one-legged squat and leg extension) while balancing on a kettlebell, you’ll understand exactly why Mzansi’s aspiring fitness bloggers look to her for inspiration.
BEAUTY FLAVIANA MATATA
MODEL, ENTREPRENEUR, TANZANIA HANDLE @flavianamatata FOLLOWERS 791k BIO Founder @Lavy_Products, @
FlavianaFoundation, represented by Wilhelmina, Next Paris, Boss Cape Town Born in Tanzania to Ghanaian parents, David Adjaye is an exciting architect whose talent spans the globe, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in the National Mall in Flaviana Matata takes her followers on a seemingly Washington DC in September 2016 to much acclaim. He closed off 2016 in endless stream of adventures and fun. Whether a slightly quieter fashion when he was named on the British Queen’s New she is trying her hand at aerial yoga, plugging or Year’s Honours, which announced his impending knighthood. The Adjaye introducing new entrepreneurs whom she admires, Associates’ reach extends to Johannesburg and a myriad other projects, her tone is playful, encouraging and sincere. Of from Dakar to Moscow and London, and even a children’s cancer treatment course, she is well styled and stunning to look at, but centre in Rwanda. Adjaye’s Instagram account reflects his interests and the best part of her Instagram page is her nail polish influences, from museums to nature, art, exteriors and inspirations – a brand @lavy_products. Its gorgeous colour palette is simple picture of travertine balustrades looks like a divine sculpture. enough to make any Essie nail polish fan swoon with His updates are from disparate parts of the globe. No selfies here, just envy. That’s either high praise or sacrilege, but be sure contemplative images with playful and insightful captions. to watch out for Matata and her fabulous product.
FOLLOWERS 103k
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TRENDING
BEAUTY SUZIE BEAUTY
COSMETICS, KENYA HANDLE SBbySNW FOLLOWERS 28 542 BIO SuzieBeauty is Kenya’s very first beauty brand – created by a beauty professional for the everyday African woman. Beauty. Inspiration. Value.
Started by Suzie Wokabi, the SuzieBeauty page offers make-up tutorials, as is the norm for beauty products, along with details of store activations, product details and videos by its well-travelled founder. SuzieBeauty was born out of Wokabi’s vision of creating an affordable, high-quality African makeup brand, having returned to Kenya after studying and working in America. The African cosmetics brand was acquired two years ago (by manufacturing company, Flame Tree Group) and Wokabi has stayed on as creative director of the company, often modelling the bright palettes of the collection.
FASHION KONA
HANDBAGS, UGANDA HANDLE The.Kona FOLLOWERS 4 339
BIO KONA: meaning corner, in
Swahili, Hindi & Luganda
Kona’s page features pictures of its bags and accessories alongside images of its eclectic, colourful and quirky designs. The brand plays around with patterns, textures and materials – lovely examples of this are its woven leather bucket bags, and accessories that utilise bold colours and big stones. Clutches, baguettes and backpacks are all part of the spectrum. Customer engagement is a big element of the page, with polls and engaging comment.
FASHION MILLE COLLINES
CLOTHING BRAND, RWANDA HANDLE: millecollinesafrica FOLLOWERS: 8 913 BIO: Mille Collines is a luxury
fashion brand born in Africa.
Rwandan clothing brand, Mille Collines, is a frequent collaborator and presence at various South African fashion weeks. Its page contains lookbooks, sneak peaks at runway collections or previews of its innovative and playful accessories and jewellery line. This page definitely feels like an inclusive space for followers to engage with the brand, and experience and appreciate it online. Some posts aren’t necessarily about Mille Collines’ output, but instead are engaging bits of fashion content in line with the brand’s ethos.
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CULTURE
L I V I N G MUSIC
THEATRE
Welcome Msomi (73)
FROM THE HAUNTING IMAGES OF 16 JUNE 1976, CAPTURED BY THE KEEN EYE OF PHOTOGRAPHER PETER MAGUBANE, TO UMABATHA, WELCOME MSOMI’S ORIGINAL ZULU ADAPTION OF MACBETH, SOUTH AFRICA HAS A TREASURE TROVE OF ARTISTIC TALENT. NOW, A GROUP OF SOUTH AFRICA’S GREATS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO PASS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE. BY LERATO TSHABALALA 42
Letta Mbulu (74)
O
n 18 March, we woke up to the sad news that actor Joe Mafela had died in a car accident. The man who’d brought us some of the most iconic comedic characters on South African television: Sdumo from ’Sgudi ’Snaysi and Jabu Cebekhulu in Going Up had left us abruptly. And who can forget his hit, Shebeleza (Congo Mama), which became the unofficial theme song for the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996? At his memorial service, a formidable group of elders – including jazz legend Stompie Manana and singer and actress Abigail Kubheka – came to pay their last respects to their friend and colleague. When the chairman of the Living Legends, theatre master Welcome Msomi, informed the crowd that poet and fellow legend, Don
VISUAL ART
Peter Magubane (85)
Mattera, would read a poem especially written by him for Mafela, the crowd at the memorial screeched with bittersweet delight. “Nobody writes about Joe Mafela, he writes about us, he shows us how to live our lives,” interluded Mattera before starting the poem. Mafela – like Msomi, Mattera, Kubheka, choreographer and dance instructor Adele Blank, and Peter Magubane, the man behind many of the harrowing images from the 1976 student uprisings – was one of the nine Living Legends who form part of an initiative by Arts and Culture
CULTURE
LEGENDS DANCE
Adele Blank (75)
LITERATURE Minister Nathi Mthethwa. The Living Legends Legacy Programme (LLLP) was officially unveiled by the minister in 2015 and is essentially a space of confluence for veterans from various aspects of the performing arts, with the view to pass on their experience to younger people hoping to follow in their footsteps. “It is important to celebrate our African heritage and identity by making sure the knowledge is passed down to each generation,” the minister told journalists on Heritage Day last year. Mafela’s passing sent ripples of sadness across South Africa. It became increasingly clear that a great tree had fallen. Actress
Nomzamo Mbatha, who acted alongside Mafela in Isibaya, reposted a heartfelt message she’d written two years prior to the 75 year old’s passing. The message is not only an indication of Mafela’s greatness, but is symbolic of how many younger people feel about icons of their youth: “Joe Mafela… What a privilege and an honour to be working with this legend every day. Never in my entire life did I ever imagine that I, an ordinary girl from KwaMashu, would be in the presence of greats.” The history books may not acknowledge the icons who risked their lives during the
Don Mattera (85)
apartheid struggle by using their creative expression (whether through dance or music) to tell the stories of their people, but the elders of the LLLP are hoping to change that. “Minister Mthethwa came up with the idea of the Living Legends after realising that some of our country’s legends die without transferring their skills to the youth. He called a workshop with many living legends in 2015 to talk about changing this pattern,” explains LLLP chairman Msomi, who was the first to adapt Shakespeare’s Macbeth into Zulu in 1972’s Umabatha. “The aim was also about collaborating
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CULTURE
AUDIOVISUAL ARTS
Stompie Manana (82)
HERITAGE
with up-and-coming artists across different artistic disciplines. However, one of the things we wanted to establish was a proper identification of a living legend, and the first thing that was decided upon was that the Living Legends had to be 70 years and older,” says the 73-year-old theatre veteran, before jokingly admitting that “if the age was not that specific, then everyone would call themselves a living legend. You have to wait for your 70s.” Thereafter, a trust was formed, so that the LLLP wouldn’t be dictated to by government – the Legends themselves would decide how to best utilise the trust. Nine Living Legends were selected, with singer Letta Mbulu as the deputy chairperson. “We had to look at where we needed to start, and we decided on masterclasses. The minister set aside funding for the masterclasses, so the Living Legends could also make a living while giving back. We sent people like composer
44
Caiphus Semenya to Mpumalanga to talk to the young people about a career in music, how he created and produced songs. The kids were excited to have Caiphus there,” says Msomi. Semenya (who’s been married to Mbulu for 47 years this year) co-produced The Roots soundtrack with Quincy Jones and was one of the Academy-nominated composers for Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple. Mbulu and Semenya met while touring with the musical King Kong, which opened in South Africa in 1959, before the two went into exile in Los Angeles, USA in 1965. Recently, Mbulu’s hit Jikijela – written by the singer in 1976 after watching the student uprisings while in exile – was recorded by songstress Thandiswa Mazwai in her latest jazz album, Belede. But Mbulu admits that she was hesitant to take up the position of deputy chairperson. “I felt very uncomfortable about the prospect of being second in command, it sounded very
Wally Serote (74)
restrictive to me. At the end of the day, we are all artists; as creatives, we all need to have our input taken into consideration. Since we all create art, I didn’t understand why I had to do something that sounded so serious,” chuckles the 74 year old. It took some convincing for her to buy into the idea. “After it was explained to me that everyone’s input would be considered, but that a formal structure needed to be established in order for the minister not to be bombarded and for tasks to be done timeously, I accepted the position of deputy chair,” explains Mbulu. In April 2017, Mbulu and Msomi set about on a journey to reconnect with 95-yearold traditional healer and Isanusi (Zulu diviner or sangoma), Credo Mutwa. “This is an important project for us. As the Living Legends, we feel it’s important to recognise Mutwa’s contribution to our culture and country; he’s a spiritual leader and he knows our history. There are certain wrongs that need to be righted – most importantly, we owe him an apology for what happened in 1976…” says Mbulu, sounding gravely melancholic. Mutwa had to leave Soweto in the 80s and move to
CULTURE
THEATRICAL EDUCATION
Fred Hagemann (70s)
FILM AND TELEVISION
Kuruman, after the Kwa-Khaya Lendaba Cultural Village that he had founded in 1974 was burnt down by angry students in 1976, who had misunderstood Mutwa’s aim for the cultural village as a place that “promotes tribalism and separate development”. There was to be a second attack on the village – which was filled with Mutwa’s uniquely created African sculptures – and after his son was killed, he elected that he and his wife Virginia should rather leave the township. The Living Legends want to restore Mutwa’s legacy and bring him peace while he’s still alive. “We are putting together a group of young people who we’d like to sit with him as a kind of an apology, because what we discovered when we went to see him is that he still doesn’t have closure,” laments Mbulu. In 2005, the site was restored and is now known widely as the Credo Mutwa Cultural Village in Jabavu, Soweto.
It seems the Living Legends have a lot of bridges to help mend, but if anyone can do it, it’s these living gods of African storytelling. These vastly different generations – those having lived and thrived in an analogue world where talent was supreme, attempting to connect with the digital generation, who dream of a lot of fame with a little bit of talent sprinkled on top – have a great deal to learn from each other. But Msomi says this is just the beginning. “We are going to create a network of living legends right through Africa and beyond. We will also go on a fundraising tour of Europe and the US and work with the living legends from those countries. So we’ve got a lot of plans,” says Msomi. With the youngest member being 73 and the oldest 85, you can’t help not only to aspire to their achievements, but to admire their energy and commitment to our country.
Joe Mafela (75)
“IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE OUR AFRICAN HERITAGE AND IDENTITY BY MAKING SURE THE KNOWLEDGE IS PASSED DOWN TO EACH GENERATION”
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CULTURE
I AM AN
Greg Maloka and Sean Press
AS KAYA FM TURNS 20 THIS YEAR, MANAGING DIRECTOR GREG MALOKA CHATS TO THE AFROPOLITAN’S PUBLISHER, SEAN PRESS, ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AFROPOLITAN…
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L
ast year, The Afropolitan celebrated a decade in the business, and 2017 marks 20 years of Kaya FM on the airwaves. In the run-up to these huge milestones, there’s been a lot of political upheaval and racial tension in the country. Both the magazine and the radio station have had to be agile in the ever-evolving South African social landscape. The question raised at The Afropolitan HQ was: can you be white and be an Afropolitan? Owned by Contact Media, the magazine, which speaks to a predominantly black audience, is published by 37-year-old Sean Press. And yet, Kaya FM has shows with a distinctly unapologetic black consciousness, as MD, Greg Maloka (45), has candidly indicated during his decade-long career at the station. So how they have co-existed and kept in touch with the Afropolitan values could only be answered by these two businessmen, who are both proud Joburgers.
What is an Afropolitan?
GREG MALOKA (GM): “An Afropolitan is a person born in Africa, lives in Africa and sees Africa as their space. Africa is where they invest their time, money and ideas. They don’t have dual citizenship. This is their home. Everything is rooted and centred around all that is Afrocentric. Being an Afropolitan is both a physical and emotional experience; it’s not about colour, it’s about what your heart dictates.” SEAN PRESS (SP): “Being an Afropolitan means you are invested in the continent from a physical and an intellectual point of view. But with regard to what’s happening globally, we need to take cognisance of our surroundings while honouring that culture of being an African. I believe when you’re an African you’re an African; your race doesn’t matter. You can be white and be a proud Afropolitan.”
How does being an Afropolitan manifest itself?
GM: “It’s a difficult question to answer; it’s like asking how you know whether you’re black or white? You know because you are. All these things are about a mindset. If you operate from love and respect, if those are your values, it’ll affect not only you how you project those values to the others, but how you live your life. Those are the grounding values of being an Afropolitan. The other stuff is lifestyle things that are simply an extension of those values.” SP: “The context from where we look at the world determines how we look at being Afropolitans. It’s not as if you arrive and there’s a stamp or badge that signifies you’ve made it; it’s a constant journey of evolution and social education. That hunger to grow and share the growth is important.”
Where do you see the Afropolitan in the future?
GM: “What is more important than the future is the present. We are a young democracy; in the last few months we’ve started asking the right questions (politically and otherwise), and that is a radical change from where we were a couple of years ago. This makes it hard to predict the future, because of how rapidly we’ve moved recently. The benefit of today is drawing from the past, but the truth is the future is determined by the decisions we make today. What’s important are our current actions, not so much the future.” SP: “What we’re experiencing in our country is exciting; I believe that in future we’ll be right here on the continent, but we’ll be here making a change. Greg is totally right, the power to act is only available to us in the present. The future is about living in expectation, which can result in disappointment. In the here and now, action-based people are the winners. Those are the Afropolitans.”
What is the difference between an African and Afropolitan?
GM: “Your passport might say you’re an African, but if your mind and your heart are not here, and if you’re not invested in the continent, then you’re certainly not an Afropolitan. It’s understanding the responsibility that comes with being an Afropolitan… that’s the real difference… when you’re an African, you might as well be an American – it’s a function of geography, more about where you were born or come from. But being an Afropolitan is about much more. It’s about understanding purpose, and being true to it may mean not being alive to see the fruits of your labour, but that you understand that your purpose is to move the next generation forward so they can reap the fruits of your labour.” SP: “If you’re not invested in Africa, then you’re not an Afropolitan. An Afropolitan would need to be African, but I know a lot of Africans who are not Afropolitans. You also don’t have to live in Africa to be an Afropolitan…” GM: “But you must be of African descent.”
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CULTURE SP: “Agreed. You could live anywhere in the world and be an ambassador for ‘Brand Africa’; you don’t have to live here to do that.”
Tell us about your radio/magazine collaboration…
GM: “When I started at Kaya 10 years ago, the relationship (between the radio station and the magazine) was only a year old. The challenge for Sean and myself was in simplifying the objectives of what we wanted to be achieved by both teams at a certain time. We both think broadly and we want a lot of things to happen… which they don’t always do! [The two chuckle at this quip.] There has always been a natural way between us. We wouldn’t see each other for three months, but when we would finally sit down we would find that we were saying the same things and looking at the same things. The fact that we talk to the same person is at the core of our collaboration – we care for the Afropolitan, the person.” SP: “We often joke that we’ve been in a relationship longer than some people have been married in Hollywood! To be able to duplicate radio into print is difficult. The magazine initially started as a way to celebrate Africa, and Kaya at that stage was already a big brand – a brand I enjoyed as a proud Joburger. The idea (it wasn’t just me alone) was to collaborate for a mutually beneficial relationship, because we both had great content. But while it may be two different organisations, we have the same aspirations and the same values. We both come from the same place.”
Both brands are quite brave…. How crucial is it to collaborate with risk takers?
GM: “It takes balls to be a young white guy in South Africa and publish a magazine called The Afropolitan, for a predominantly black audience, knowing you might be socially questioned about it, but you still go ahead. That’s brave. But from Kaya’s perspective, what’s life without risk? You have to have the desire, the drive; it’s not always going to be great, but life is about peaks and valleys. Your values and attitude will help you deal with the valleys and make it to the peaks. You still need risk though, because it might take you longer to get out of the valley if you’re not brave. What you do when you’re in the valley is what matters. This is what makes the picture beautiful.” SP: “As Greg said earlier, we are a young country, with a virtually young governing system. It’s not going to be candyfloss and rainbows, we have to go through growing pains so we can get through to the other side. We need to uphold each other to our values of integrity and fairness, and not get stuck on being right. It’s not necessarily about being brave, but being true. It’s about making a change that doesn’t just benefit you, but all South Africans.”
Are you an Afropolitan?
GM: “Yes, I am an Afropolitan.” SP: “Most definitely I am.”
What makes you an Afropolitan?
GM: “South Africa is one of the few places in the world where you can say you’ve lived in two countries. I’ve lived in two countries. I’ve lived in apartheid South Africa, where as a man I couldn’t go out into the street without a document giving me permission
to do so. I’ve also lived in a country where I could go anywhere and own anything. We’re the only generation that can tell that unique story. There’s a lot to draw from those experiences. The next generations are only going to know one country. For me, it’s about sharing ideas with people like Sean about how to improve other people’s lives and invariably create a better life for our children. What makes us Afropolitan is understanding our mission; that we have to stand for this time, we have to focus on the growth of black people, our dignity and confidence. The voice of white South Africans like Sean need to come out more – we need more people who think like Afropolitans.” SP: “Firstly, I’m proudly African and South African. My willingness to constantly be on the lookout for ways to engage with other Africans, to learn and develop and be a part of this country and continent so we can grow, so I can grow… as an individual, as a South African and as a man… My passion for the continent, the people and the culture is what makes me an Afropolitan. To watch the video of this conversation between Maloka and Press, go to www.kayafm.co.za
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CULTURE
HIS HAIR MAY HAVE STOPPED GROWING ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO, BUT HIS STAGE TALENT HAS GROWN EXPONENTIALLY. TWO-TIME SAFTA WINNER, WARREN MASEMOLA, IS UNDENIABLY ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S MOST VERSATILE AND TALENTED ACTORS, SAYS LERATO TSHABALALA
IMAGE Shutterstock
IMAGE Akona Kenqu
AND THE AWARD G O E S T O…
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T
A month before eNCA entertainment journalist, Nontobeko Sibisi, tweeted from the Saftas: “A loud round of applause for Warren Masemola back stage as he enters the media room #saftas11”, another South African Film and Television Award (Safta) winner, Masasa Mbangeni, put her 140 characters into singing Masemola’s praises. “I’m madly in love with Warren Masemola. God that man can act. Y’all have no idea,” tweets the Scandal actress. Later, Masemola would win Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama for his role as Cosatu in Heist. But this wasn’t his first Safta. His colleagues voted him as the Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy for his role on the SABC1 comedy, Ses’Top La, in 2015. That first Safta felt surreal, he says, but two years later and winning is still as magical as it was the first time. “You can never be ready or prepared for that moment when they call out your name. When people you think are bigger than you start to recognise your work and celebrate you, it means a lot. It means I’ve grown over the years. I can only appreciate it,” says the 34 year old. Whether playing the incredibly fabulous Thokozani “Thoko” Chanel on SABC1’s Ses’Top La or a goofy but ruthless adman in Ayeye, Masemola manages to do what can only be mastered by few great actors, which is to transcend his personality and become the person he’s portraying. In a country like South Africa, where people often mistake an actor’s role as their real-life personality, many have struggled to balance their craft with who they are, often having to justify their characters to strangers. “One of the most dangerous things you can do as an actor is to obsess about other people’s opinions. I try hard not to think about that. I would rather have a character that doesn’t resemble me at all. For me, it’s always about portraying the character as a part of a bigger story. I’m an actor, I enjoy being on set and working with others,” explains Masemola.
IMAGE Akona Kenqu
Telling a story is something the Market Theatre Lab graduate relishes – so much so that after graduating, Masemola travelled extensively while doing European theatre. These days, you can catch him on the telenovela, Saints and Sinners, or Ring of Lies. In an age of narcissism and having famous partners, Masemola is recognised mainly for his work. A quick Google search and you find very little on his private life, apart from his love for cycling (his dream is to cycle from the Cape to Marrakech) and the causes that mean a lot to him. Masemola is one of the least scandalous A-listers in South Africa. Even his social media platforms reveal little about him, but are more of a celebration of his working life. He had been hustling for years when, in 2008, he finally got his big break when he was cast in e-tv’s drama series, Scandal. And having shared so much of his talent with us through so many different characters – from Alexandra thugs to starring next to Hollywood actor Gerard Butler in Machine Gun Preacher – Masemola deserves not only the accolades, but he’s earned the right not to have our noses in his private life. He’s a true thespian, down to his love for theatre. When he’s not shooting a series or movie, he prefers to sharpen his skill by doing theatre work: “We need to encourage audiences to come to the theatre. The actors are right in front of you and we get to interact with the audience. I’ll never stop doing theatre,” he says eagerly. “I’m a happy guy. I strive for happiness; I’m full of love,” says Masemola. And yet it is actress Terry Pheto who expressed so much of what most of South Africa feels about this boy from Pretoria, when upon hearing of his win this year, tweeted: “He is EVERYTHING and then some! Love you and celebrate you Warren Masemola. Thank you for sharing your gift with the world.” Indeed, we reckon it’s only a matter of time until he’s holding an Oscar.
More on Warren Masemola • Named after his grandfather, his first name is Montloana (pronounced “Mondlwana” in Ndebele). • He's passionate about theatre in South Africa and is currently shooting a production in Soweto, where he’s said to be portraying a schizophrenic character. • Masemola was diagnosed with alopecia at the age of six. • He is also the recipient of a Golden Horn Award for best supporting actor in a TV comedy. • Fluent in Sepedi, Masemola can act in both vernacular and English roles. • He’d like to play a role of a nyaope addict in the future. • Originally from Soshanguve, he now lives in Joburg and is sometimes seen cycling around the city. • He’s also a voiceover artist. • Both his paternal grandparents were blind. • He wore a dress and high heels in 2016 for his role in Ses’Top La.
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LIFESTYLE
A GOLDEN
5
IMAGE Shutterstock
SOUTH AFRICA’S GOLD BULLION COIN, THE KRUGERRAND, HAS BEEN MINTED FOR HALF A CENTURY THIS YEAR. ZAMAHLASELA GABELA DISCOVERS ITS REAL WORTH
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LIFESTYLE
B
ack in 1967, when the Krugerrand was launched, it was merely another avenue to help market to the world the gold that South Africa was producing. If you wanted to buy this gold coin, you would have forked out roughly R26. But fast-forward 50 years to 2017 and the coin is worth an eyepopping R17 500. Named after former president Paul Kruger, who fought for South Africa to become independent from colonial rule in the late 1880s, the coin bears his face on one side and a springbok on the other. But exactly how significant is the Krugerrand?
SENTIMENTAL WORTH
Arno Egen, the owner of Mr Kruger, a bullion specialist company that offers expert evaluations of gold, silver and other precious metals and stones, is an expert when it comes to the ins and outs of the Krugerrand. “The Krugerrand holds various meanings for the people who own them. For some, the coins are treasured for their investment value, while for others they fulfil a collector’s desire or nurture a sentimental memory,” Egen elaborates. Egen is so passionate about this coin that he opened Mr Kruger in 2014. He is self-taught in the precious metal trade, and his interest in alternative investment options and portfolio diversification made trading in precious coins a natural choice. Mr Kruger has been approved by SA Mint and is a member of both the SAAND and the Jewellery Council of South Africa. Today, Egen says that the Krugerrand is considered to be “the most widely held and actively traded gold bullion coin in the world”. Chairman of the South African Association of Numismatic Dealers (SAAND), Glenn Schoeman, echoes this: “The Krugerrand’s history is very significant, because it was the first of its kind in the world and it still leads the way.” For Schoeman specifically, this precious gold coin symbolises a legacy that started when his father began collecting them in 1967. Schoeman joined him in the business in 1985, giving him over 30 years of experience to date in the trade of Krugerrands.
MONETARY VALUE
IMAGE Shutterstock
Krugerrands currently sell for around R17 500. This may seem substantial for a single coin, but the return you could get in 50 years outweighs the cost. “It is impossible to predict exactly what the Krugerrand price will be in 50 years. However, we can consider the history of the previous 50 years, and take into account that the Krugerrand (since inception) has experienced an increase of 67 300%. If we then take the current price and increase it by the same amount, we arrive at a figure of R11 777 500,” explains Schoeman. He then further emphasises that this “is
not an unrealistic figure, as economists and analysts are already predicting that the gold price could escalate to US$6 000 in the next five years.” Another interesting aspect is that although the Krugerrand is legal tender, it doesn’t have a face value of what it’s worth displayed on the coin. Egen explains: “The reason for this is because the value of the coin is directly related to the prevailing value of its fine gold content. If the price of gold increases, so does the price and value of the Krugerrand. In a nutshell, Krugerrands were mass produced for the man on the street to easily buy and sell gold.” This gold coin has had a significant impact on the South African economy over the last decade. Ettienne van Wyk, head of commodities at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), says: “The Krugerrand brand is one of the 50 most valuable brands in the world. It is up there with Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, Cartier and more. It is the most successful gold bullion coin in history, there are roughly 72 million of them in circulation worldwide. Many of the coins manufactured every year are exported, and therefore contribute positively to our balance of trade. The coins that are purchased by South Africans add to capital formation in the country; based on this, it would be fair to say that their impact on the South African economy has been significantly positive.” It is an investment that could reap a very comfortable nest egg for future generations, should you choose to go this route. Van Wyk reiterates: “Gold has a very long track record of being a safe-haven asset and a portfolio diversifier. As such, most central banks in the world still add gold into their reserves mix – the same applies to most of the large balanced portfolios that are professionally managed.” He says that investing in the Krugerrand “provides protection against a volatile and depreciating currency. As its value is derived from its intrinsic worth, it acts as protection against financial market chaos and catastrophe.”
THE KRUGERRAND IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST WIDELY HELD AND ACTIVELY TRADED GOLD BULLION COIN IN THE WORLD 55
TAG Heuer Boutiques; Sandton City & V&A Waterfront. Also at selected fine jewellers nationwide. For further information please call 011.669.0500. www.picotandmoss.co.za
TAG HEUER CARRERA CALIBRE 1887
Ayrton Senna is celebrated as the most influential driver in the history of Formula One. He was never intimidated by the expectations of others, because his were even higher. He forever embodies the TAG Heuer motto – Don’t Crack Under Pressure.
LIFESTYLE
TIME TO PURCHASE
Buying a Krugerrand is relatively straightforward, but there are five crucial steps that Egen believes both first-time and experienced buyers should always follow. Before you buy a Krugerrand…
STEP 1 – DO YOUR RESEARCH
“You want your vendor to be approved by both the SAAND – which maintains the highest standards of efficiency and integrity within the numismatic (coin and medal) industry – and the SA Mint, which manufactures coins on behalf of the Reserve Bank and also offers its services internationally,” says Egen. He emphasises that “the vendor you choose should be recognised by both these bodies, thus securing the integrity of your trade and the standard of the coin purchased”.
STEP 2 – CONSIDER THE DAY’S PRICING “The current price of a Krugerrand is directly proportional to the gold index price, which is quoted in US dollars. To calculate a valid price, convert the ZAR to the USD exchange rate and multiply that by the listed price for gold. This is often referred as to the ‘spot’ price of an ounce of gold. Add to that figure a commission, which is charged by all vendors (this could be anything between 6 and 12%), and you will arrive at the price of a Krugerrand,” says Egen.
STEP 3 – MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER, PURCHASE AND COLLECT
Egen advises that you should contact the dealer directly, either by telephone or by visiting the store, so that you can be clear on what you want. Because the Krugerrands have different denominations, and you need to know what they are before purchasing. “Krugerrands come in one-ounce and fractional denominations, so you have the choice to buy either one-tenth, one-quarter, half an ounce or a full one-ounce Krugerrand. This will depend on what suits your budget and your investment plan. Not all dealers keep stock on their premises, so they would need to place an order. This will impact on the timing of your coin collection,” he says. The collection process includes signing documents (given to you by the vendor) and supplying valid identity documentation to confirm who you are. Then, Egen says you “will receive a certificate of authentication, which states the specifics of the coin and the value, which you will keep. You have the choice to take physical ownership of the coin or to put it into safe storage.”
IMAGE Shutterstock
Alternatively, you can make a purchase through your bank. Van Wyk says: “You can purchase them via your FNB internet banking profile, or you can invest via the JSE in the Krugerrand ETF. This can also be purchased online via FNB Share Investor.”
Five interesting facts about the Krugerrand There are more Krugerrands in the world than all the other gold coins combined.
The word “Krugerrand” is among the top 10 brands known worldwide.
Since the first coin was created, more than 50 million Krugerrands in varying sizes have been minted.
There are only gold Krugerrand coins; this distinguishes them from other modern bullion gold coins. However, in 2017, SA Mint is releasing special 50th anniversary silver Krugerrands. These are the only exception.
The Krugerrand is exactly one troy ounce of 22 carat gold, which is 91.67% pure. The other 8.33% is copper – an alloy that makes coins harder and more resistant to dents and scratches.
Source: Mr Kruger; SAAND
Today, we celebrate the Krugerrand in 2017 for the role that it has played in the ever-changing South African economy.
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PROUD OF WHO I AM. PROUD OF WHAT I DO. PROUD OF HOW I LOOK. Reinvent your swagger from the shoes up.
WEAR YOUR PRIDE
LIFESTYLE
THE EVOLUTION OF
The iconic Lucky Dube cover, in rememberance of the musical legend who was killed in Johannesburg in 2007.
THE AFROPOLITAN MAGAZINE LAUNCHES!
2007 Afropolitan launches with Tiisetso Makube as the Editor.
The launch cover. 59
LIFESTYLE
Sam Mathe takes over as Editor of Afropolitan, edition 10.
2009
Kabelo cover launches, in conjunction with his debut performance at Afropolitan Nights event, with surprise appearance by Danny K. 60
Afropolitan Magazine goes digital, offering readers the digital version of the magazine, housed on our website.
2010
2011
Afropolitan Magazine goes experiential and launches numerous events, starting with the ever popular Afropolitan Nights. Brendah Nyakudya takes over as Afropolitan Editor, edition 27.
2012
LIFESTYLE
Madman or visionary? The contraversial Robert Mugabe cover.
2013
Hip Hop Pantsual, aka HHP performs to a packed audience at Afropolitan Nights.
2014
The late Mandoza, performs a legendary set at Afropolitan Nights. Design change! New sleek Afropolitan look and tagline changes from ‘Inhaling Freedom. Celebrating Life‘ to ‘Signature of African Sophistication‘.
Wanda Baloyi makes her debut appearance at Afropolitan Nights.
2015
Afropolitan teams up with Montblanc and Maserati to launch the Afropolitan Gentlemen's Evening. 61
A pla ce like no oth er.
Rosebank is fast becoming the place that has it all and the in-crowd are looking to move in, making it an attractive investment opportunity. Everything you could want can be found in and around Park Central - exclusively nestled between the Design District and the Gautrain station. Apartments from R2.071 million | No transfer duty | Construction started April 2017
You’re invited to experience our chic new show apartment. Contact Jak 082 445 2130, Theo 081 313 4907 or Kgotatso 081 014 0845 Open weekdays from 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm. pamgolding.co.za/park-central
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Lerato Tshabalala takes over as Afropolitan editor, edition 47.
2016
The Afropolitan and Ferrari team up for the memorable Maps Maponyane cover.
Afropolitan teams up with Edcon to launch Afropolitan Fashion Nights featuring a live performance by Liquid Deep.
2017
Who is an Afropolitan? Sean Press from Afropolitan Magazine and Greg Maloka, from Kaya FM debate the topic.
And here we are... Afropolitan celebrates our 50th edition, with our special cover.
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LIFESTYLE
MACHINES
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS NO LONGER A BIZARRE SCIENCE-FICTION MOVIE. IT IS LEADING THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION – FROM SELF-DRIVING CARS TO DIGITAL PERSONAL ASSISTANTS. BY MBALENHLE SIBANYONI 64
IMAGE Shutterstock
RISE OF THE
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n article on the online tech dictionary Webopedia defines artificial intelligence (AI) as a term coined in 1956 by John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to describe the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans.
A
A Forbes magazine article by RL Adams, titled “10 powerful examples of artificial intelligence in use today”, says that Siri and American automaker Tesla’s electric cars are just a few examples of AI. “Apple’s personal assistant, Siri. She’s the friendly voice-activated computer that we interact with on a daily basis. She helps us find information, gives us directions, adds events to our calendars, helps us send messages and so on. Siri is a pseudointelligent digital personal assistant. She uses machine-learning technology to get smarter and better able to predict and understand our natural-language questions and requests. If you don’t own a Tesla, you have no idea what you’re missing. This is quite possibly one of the best cars ever made. Not only for the fact that it’s received so many accolades, but because of its predictive capabilities, self-driving features and sheer technological ‘coolness’. Anyone that’s into technology and cars needs to own a Tesla, and these vehicles are only getting smarter and smarter thanks to their over-the-air updates,” explains Adams. He also adds that the way in which Netflix predicts the movies we are most likely to enjoy is AI. “Netflix provides highly accurate predictive technology based on customers’ reactions to films. It analyses billions of records to suggest films that you might like based on your previous reactions and choices of films. This tech is getting smarter and smarter by the year as the dataset grows,” he says. In South Africa, AI is also advancing, with various companies and industries utilising it. In 2011, information communication technology (ICT) veteran entrepreneurs Mark Pedersen, Ryan Falkenberg and Dayne Falkenberg launched an AI platform, Clevva – the first version of their AI platform to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) transform their sales logic into a virtual sales advisor to guide
and help salespeople. “Since then, the platform has been significantly expanded into its current iteration: an enterpriselevel platform that enables organisations to build decision navigators across multiple facets of their operations – from sales to service, to finance, to human resources (HR) and operations. Anywhere where people were making costly mistakes,” explains Clevva co-CEO, Ryan Falkenberg. In a practical work situation, this technology would serve to empower a company’s employees. Ryan Falkenberg says: “A VA [virtual advisor] acts like an online expert, asking the required questions to understand the situation, and then recommending the right solution, be it a product or an action. Where an action is required, the VA can also guide the user through the steps, in line with company policies and procedures. It’s a bit like having a GPS [global positioning system] that ensures you make the right decisions and take the right actions, without you requiring detailed knowledge or experience.” AI is also making waves in the medical sphere, and can widen the scope of information available to doctors. A Wired magazine article by Daniela Hernandez describes how a Long Island dermatologist was able to treat a patient with a rare skin condition that causes large, watery blisters with the help of Modernizing Medicine, a web-based repository of medical information. It meant that “within seconds, she had the name of another drug that had worked in comparable cases”. The article goes on to describe how AI is also increasing the efficacy with which doctors use medications. “Doctors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and St Jude’s Medical Center in Memphis are getting pop-up notifications within individual patients’ electronic medical records. The alerts tell them, for instance, when a drug might not work for a patient with certain genetic traits. It shows up in bright yellow at the top of a doctor’s computer screen – hard to miss,” says Hernandez. In the South African medical context, a report titled “Medical AI – HIV/AIDS treatment management system” on the
Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR) website describes how AI is being used to enhance HIV and AIDS treatments. In this report, Miloslav Hajek, of the School of Computer Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and Yashik Singh, of the Department of Telehealth at the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, also at UKZN, say: “One such application
AI IS COMING AND COMING FAST. INNOVATIONS SUCH AS DRIVERLESS CARS, 3D PRINTING AND DRONES ARE ALREADY CHANGING HOW PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED AND DELIVERED is an HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy management system that uses AI algorithm to predict drug resistance and the progression of the disease. Another serious problem is the scarcity of personnel with sufficient AI knowledge in the medical field. A distance education has shown its potential to remedy the problem.” Companies like Discovery are also utilising the power of AI. Discovery Health CEO,
Everyday examples of AI and machine learning The intelligence Facebook uses to make friend suggestions.
How Amazon intuitively knows what we would like to buy.
How Google Photos recognises faces and places.
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Dr Jonathan Broomberg, was quoted in an eHealth news article by Sikhumbuzo Hlabangane, saying: “Discovery will soon incorporate HealthTap – an artificial intelligence platform, into the Discovery HealthID, a tool that enables the sharing of patient data between doctors and funders. HealthTap uses AI to translate patient symptoms into personalised, doctor-recommended diagnoses. The virtual consultation could then be taken to a doctor for assessment, in most cases speeding up final diagnosis and shortening consultations.” Beyond personalised diagnoses, the healthcare provider is also looking to tailoring medication through genomes, which are defined as “the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism”. Broomberg is quoted in the article as saying: “In the future, doctors will increasingly analyse DNA to tailor therapy to, for example, patients’ individual tumours.” Last, but perhaps most notably, AI is creating the possibly of preventative medicine. “Discovery is also focusing on genome sequencing to sequence the DNA of Discovery Health Medical Scheme members. Members will send their saliva samples for analysis in order to quantify their genetic susceptibility to a wide range of diseases. Not yet approved locally, this technology will enable members to adjust their lifestyles accordingly or take early preventative measures to reduce their risk.” Looking at the above medical advances, the AI revolution can be perceived as being for the good of humanity. But it’s also viewed as a presence that ought to be feared. Professor Arina Brits of CAIR says: “As with all technologies, we should be aware of its possible abuse in the hands of governments and corporations, who may use it at the expense of the safety and welfare of citizens. It is therefore not the technology we should be wary of, but people in positions of political or economic power. As an example, an autonomous vehicle is neither good nor bad. It has
SIRI USES MACHINE-LEARNING TECHNOLOGY TO GET SMARTER AND BETTER ABLE TO PREDICT AND UNDERSTAND OUR NATURAL-LANGUAGE QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS potentially good applications, such as saving the life of someone trapped in a mine, and potentially bad applications, such as killing civilians or putting taxi drivers out of work.” Considering that South Africa is a country with incredibly high levels of unemployment, the implications are critical to consider. Ryan Falkenberg says we should not fear, because “there are many areas where AI capabilities could be used to help people become more relevant, not less relevant. For example, where intelligent logic is being applied to build staff real-time decision navigators that can, like GPS systems we use when driving, guide staff through customer sales and service conversations, as well as operational actions and decisions. The result is that staff no longer need to be trained to replicate the formula we
currently ask them to replicate. They can rely on their navigator to ensure they get it right every time, with a detailed record to prove it.” Concludes Ryan Falkenberg: “AI is coming and coming fast. Innovations such as driverless cars, 3D printing and drones are already changing how products are manufactured and delivered, we will start to see a wide range of jobs starting to disappear. These will initially be in areas such as data capture and administration, but will then start impacting on mining and farmworkers before then moving on to impacting more skilled roles such as accountants, lawyers and doctors. With our current unemployment challenge, this has serious implications. This is why we need to accelerate efforts to adopt more AI that empowers people than simply look for AI that replaces people.”
Future workplace: Critical job specialisations in an AI future
IMAGE Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics specialists Computer programmers and engineers will be needed in the fields of robotics, machine-learning, artificial intelligence and neural networking, to build and integrate these new technologies.
Flexible app developers
Cloud computing specialists
In time, where apps integrate with different platforms throughout our lives, flexible app developers are going to be in even higher demand.
IT leaders report that the growth of cloudbased services is generating a myriad of cloud-related jobs, such as cloud computing programmers, capacity managers and security managers.
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ADVERTORIAL
STEYN CITY WE DON’T JUST SAY, WE DO
A
t Steyn City, we believe in being the best. Just like you do. In fact, our insistence on doing everything right – first time – has placed us firmly amongst South Africa’s top lifestyle estates (according to a ranking by New World Wealth, which placed the lifestyle resort in the country’s top four). Not bad for a development that’s just celebrating its second anniversary. The reason for this success is that, unlike many other estates, Steyn City hasn’t made promises it seeks to live up to. To the contrary: rather than waiting for infrastructure to be built, potential homeowners here can see, from the outset, what life would be like at one of the country’s most prestigious addresses,
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from the outstanding recreational facilities to the cutting- edge security. What drew them to Steyn City in the first place? For a start, the resort offers a lifestyle that simply cannot fail to impress. Every home at Steyn City – from freehold luxury houses to apartments and clusters – has been designed to make the most of the lifestyle resort’s stunning facilities, open spaces and parkland areas that border all the homes on one side. They’re the kind of views that invite you outside, to while away an afternoon in the Highveld sunshine with family, friends and a feast. Inside the houses, a careful eye to architecture and the selection of exclusive finishes make for cocooned comfort.
ADVERTORIAL
With state of the art security measures in place, residents are able to roam the parklands with complete peace of mind – and, since the land spans an area more than four times the size of Monaco, there’s certainly a lot of roaming to be done. Steyn City invites residents outdoors with a number of walking, running and cycle tracks, as well as riding trails – all of which enable those who live here to admire the lifestyle resort from different vantages. While the sense of space is just as breathtaking as the view, there are many other sights to beguile the eye. Take the outdoor land art, for example, created through an artists’ development programme that has seen many creators from the neighbouring communities given an opportunity to hone their craft. You’ll notice, as you wander along the trails, that a number of sites have been cleared to create outdoor workout zones. Often, these are located alongside children’s play zones – a real manifestation of Steyn City founder Douw Steyn’s vision to create an environment that mirrored the ideals of a time long past; a space where children could play and roam freely in a safe environment and ride their bicycles comfortably with no fear of traffic (as an aside, for those kids who find jungle gyms a little ‘ordinary’, there’s also a skate park). There are so many other wonderful ways to enjoy the lifestyle resort: grab a book and chill in the purpose-built nests, created by renowned designer Porky Hefer. Alternatively, head to XIX (Nineteen) Restaurant, managed by the Saxon. Here, you’ll be able to savour a sumptuous fine dining menu; let the pleasure linger long after by indulging in a cigar and cognac. The restaurant is part of the magnificent clubhouse facilities, overlooking the Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, which has won a number of international awards recognising architectural excellence. If Steyn City’s golfing facilities are impressive, so too is the equestrian centre, complete with its own clubhouse and pizza oven. One of the lifestyle resort’s highlights, the facilities have been designed with input from international show-jumping champion Johan Lötter, to ensure the comfort and convenience of horse and rider alike. And that’s just the beginning. There are also swimming pools and a gym and tennis courts. Then there’s the most recent addition to the lifestyle resort: Steyn City Schools. This campus has been designed to offer parents the assurance that their children are receiving a peerless education, within their community. With classrooms and recreational spaces conceptualised according to the latest thinking around effective teaching and learning, the school’s team is headed by Brian Mitchell, one of the most esteemed thinkers in South Africa’s education industry. These ingredients come together to create a place where living is sheer pleasure. A pleasure that’s amplified because it’s shared by the people who matter most: friends and family.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, VISIT www.steyncity.co.za or phone 010 597 1300
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LIFESTYLE
MILES AHEAD
AS WE CELEBRATE OUR 50TH EDITION, LERATO TSHABALALA LOOKS AT SOME OF SOUTH AFRICA’S BIGGEST MILESTONES BEING COMMEMORATED THIS YEAR
197 Steve Biko
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I
n 1967 Katharine Hepburn became the first person to win three Academy Awards, while in San Francisco Rolling Stone magazine was being launched with a striking image of Yoko Ono and John Lennon on the cover. And it was in the same year that Barclays Bank would unveil the first automated teller machine in London. 50, it would appear, is not just a monumental milestone but is also a time when most changemakers stamp their mark on the world.
book, I Write What I Like. A socialist and anti-apartheid activist, Biko was behind the Black Consciousness Movement in the 60s and 70s. Sadly, after being interrogated, shackled and beaten by the South African police, the father of five died from a brain haemorrhage on 12 September 1977. Portrayed by Oscar winner Denzel Washington in 1987’s Cry Freedom, he was the inspiration behind singer Simphiwe Dana’s 2006 album The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street. In 2016, on what would’ve been Biko’s 70th birthday, Google dedicated a Doodle to the father of the Black Consciousness Movement.
SOMETIMES BEING CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE CAN PRODUCE INCREDIBLE RESULTS
1967 77 As we celebrate our 50th edition, we look at some of the most significant milestones that South Africans have been a part of, or indeed, created. From Nando’s’ poignant Washington DC #EveryoneIsWelcome social media campaign that was a reaction to Donald Trump’s widely contested immigration laws during his first month in office, to performing the world’s first human-to-human heart transplant, South Africa’s spirit of ubuntu and fierceness continues to make ripples the world over.
STEVE BIKO – 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH
“Merely by describing yourself as black you have started on a road towards emancipation, you have committed yourself to fight against all forces that seek to use your blackness as a stamp that marks you out as a subservient being,” the late Steve Bantu Biko wrote about the ideals of black consciousness in his
CHRIS BARNARD – 50 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT
It’s been 50 years since Dr Chris Barnard made history in December 1967. But two months prior he had made sure that he was already in the record books by performing the second kidney transplant in the world. After 25-year-old Denise Darvall from Beaufort West (which is incidentally where Barnard was born) died from a head injury after a car accident, her family agreed to donate her heart and kidneys to 54-year-old Louis Washkansky, who was diabetic with a debilitating heart condition. Performing the operation alongside his brother Marcus and a team of 30 that he’d worked with for a decade, Barnard (aged 45 at the time) was responsible for the first human-tohuman heart transplant in the world at
Dr. Chris Barnard
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LIFESTYLE Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town. Washkansky, who was able to talk to his family post operation before pneumonia set in, only lived for 18 days (at the time it was the longest a human being had stayed alive after undergoing a heart transplant). The fame and luxuries that followed as a result of this groundbreaking feat seemed to cost Barnard his first marriage (he was married three times), and he’s quoted as saying that he “feasted on the apples that fell into his lap, and even ate until the tree was stripped of all its fruit.” Later he would be named a professor emeritus and the Foreshore Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital is named in his honour.
NANDO’S IS SAID TO BE THE MOST POPULAR RESTAURANT IN THE UK FOLLOWED BY DOMINO’S PIZZA
1967 PICK N PAY – 50 YEARS SINCE ITS LAUNCH
Sometimes being caught between a rock and a hard place can produce incredible results. When Raymond Ackerman was retrenched from his job at Checkers he had no clue that 50 years later he would be responsible for creating South Africa’s second-largest supermarket. Currently Ackerman’s eldest son, Gareth, is the chair of the company. Ackerman, who retired as the company’s executive chairman in 2014, bought the Cape Town supermarket from Lithuanian national, Jack Goldin. In 2010 Pick n Pay had to abandon its expansion into Australia after it had acquired Franklins and Fresco in 2001. The company chose instead to focus its strategy on expansion in southern Africa. Now Pick n Pay, which redesigned its logo in 2007 (and involved removing the precarious apostrophe from its name), has branches in Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius. When asked what it took to build the company, Ackerman said “10 percent capital and 90 percent grit.”
NANDO’S – 30 YEARS SINCE SA’S BIGGEST CHICKEN RESTAURANT WAS FOUNDED
Singapore, Washington DC, Bangladesh, Ireland, Australia… and so the list goes on of the 1 000 outlets in 35 countries that have Nando’s branches. But it all started 30 years ago in South Africa when audio engineer Fernando Duarte (whom the restaurant is named after) took his entrepreneur friend Robert Bronzin to lunch at a Portuguese restaurant called Chickenland, and the two ended up buying the business. They changed the name and two years later there were three branches in Joburg and one in Portugal (which is one of two current headquarters with the other being in the United Kingdom). The two approached South African billionaire Richard ‘Dick’ Enthoven to help expand their business. Enthoven – who also owns the Hollard Group and Spier wine farm – now owns the business and his son Robbie runs it in London. With 320 outlets across the UK, according to research by eDigitalResearch, Nando’s is said to be the most popular restaurant in the UK followed by Domino’s Pizza. With fans ranging from rapper Wiz Khalifa to ex One Direction pop group member Harry Styles, it’s no wonder that Nando’s accounts for half of Enthoven’s 1.1 billion-dollar fortune.
1987 73
BUSINESS
HAS BEE WORKED
WHEN BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT WAS LAUNCHED BACK IN 2003, THERE WERE COLLECTIVE SHOUTS OF JUBILATION. ZAMAHLASELA GABELA ASKS FOUR INDUSTRY EXPERTS ABOUT THEIR TAKE ON THE POLICY AND LOOKS AT ITS IMPACT ON OUR COUNTRY Vusi Thembekwayo
FOR US? S
ince the start of our democracy more than 20 years ago, the journey to equality has been paved with some rather complex hurdles. One of these hurdles has been Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), technically known as Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE). Devised by our country’s democratic government, BEE was designed as an effort to include black South Africans in significant conversations and dealings that make up the country’s economic climate. The Department of Trade and Industry elaborates in its explanation of the policy, stating that “in 2003, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Strategy was published as a precursor to the B-BBEE Act, No. 53 of 2003. The fundamental objective of the Act is to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy.” That being said, implementing this policy in practice has not been as easy as it was to define. Although great strides have been made since its inception, there have been a number of setbacks that have not made B-BBEE as smooth a transition as what many had hoped. We take a deeper look into the policy through the eyes of four business leaders:
VUSI THEMBEKWAYO SPEAKER, STRATEGIST AND COMPANIES DIRECTOR
“The BEE system, as it was designed, was implemented successfully. Companies did equity share transactions, some even included employment schemes for their employees. What is clear is that the system itself, or the scheme itself, was designed incorrectly. I suppose that is why it is continuously changed and adapted. What has been less successful has been the implementation of employment equity under the B-BBEE. It seems that some companies chose simply to either ignore or obfuscate their responsibility on this aspect of the law.
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“I would design the system better. I would not have created equity schemes which resultantly created a distortion in reward system because those that could build businesses decided rather to do quick share deals. I would focus almost exclusively on enterprise and supplier development and would have then had a share ownership (transfer) mechanism at zero cost to the black staff. “South Africa will always need some or other form or black empowerment... at least until it deals with the legacy of apartheid. “The real barrier to black economic development is simply anti-competitive behaviour and gatekeeping from established firms. What is needed is industry-specific guidance on set-asides that should go to black firms. It must be fixed and non-negotiable. What is also needed is punitive actions to be put in place for established firms that don’t comply. If the cost to the business is zero then the disincentive is zero and the gatekeeping continues.”
ZIBU MTHIYANE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION, MMC SOUTH AFRICA
“I think that the policy is brilliant, however there is political will to implement it. Having said this, the professionals and officials who are in the positions and places where it is supposed to work, aren’t sold on it. For example, if you are black and want to initiate a start-up that is a state-owned entity, when you’re evaluated 90% is based on the funding you need and 10% on your BEE score. White-owned companies can often quote cheaper because they have the resources already, which puts them in a better position. Implementing BEE in companies is not convenient and it’s not easy. It’s often done from a condescending point of view. “It does however take two to tango, as they say. BEE was not implemented for fun, it was implemented to address the injustices of the past that were inflicted on one race over another. Sometimes people feel as if BEE has been implemented by the government to give black people a hand. BEE is a redress mechanism to increase equal opportunities. When BEE was first implemented, all the companies outsourced their in-house cleaning services which meant that if you were a cleaner, you lost your benefits like medical aid and bursary schemes. 99% of that industry are
Zibu Mthiyane
black females, so they were immediately trapped in poverty as they were the least paid, with the least benefits. It was quite malicious because these companies used the same vehicle they were given to entrench the hierarchy. Another interesting statistic, is that 75% of CEOs in South Africa aren’t black. If BEE was ever going to work it was not just about the government implementing it but greater South Africa in general; owners of business and commerce could’ve done better. This current model will become unliveable to a point where things have to change. I think we are headed for a cliff where there is going to be a realisation. “Redressing BEE will be even more pertinent in the future. It shouldn’t be about ‘if you want to do it’ but rather, you have to do it, to remain relevant in this country. You can’t keep the majority numb for a long time, someone is going to pick up the baton. Numbers-wise, black people are the majority but we are also the economic and cultural minority, which is not sustainable. It’s impossible to move into the future without a redress. It’s a business imperative. Civil society has even more power through social media, we can boycott brands now and question them live. For years, people could get away with not giving an answer, but not anymore. Brands now have to answer. The role of business in society in the future is going to change drastically, and those who see the future have already started implementing it to give competitive edge. There has not been a structural destruction of apartheid, people are still leaving their homes in the townships at 3am to go and work in urban areas which is essentially the group areas act. Things need to change.”
THE AVERAGE YOUTH ONLY CARES ABOUT MAKING IT AND BEING THE NEXT TO BE CELEBRATED PAUL NZIMANDE SPEAKER, CONSULTANT AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
“BEE has worked for a few in this country. The reality, which is a statistical fact, is that the majority of the previously disadvantaged remain disadvantaged. We have all agreed that we face the triple challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty. If it had worked, we would have less inequality, less poverty and less unemployment. At the very least these factors would not continue to be confined predominantly to black people. So, in that sense, it has not worked for the vast majority. “In its conception, BEE had assumed that a patriotic middle class would come about, and this middle class would begin to open up the economy for the rest of the masses. Instead two things happened. The first is that our best brains were sucked into the whirlwind of making money in an environment of greed and ruthlessness.
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THERE HAS NOT BEEN A STRUCTURAL DESTRUCTION OF APARTHEID
It became all about the next deal while creating nothing, and leaving nothing of impact to society. Secondly, this middle class became entangled in a life of opulence and grand displays of nouveau riche, thereby role-modelling crass materialism to the upcoming youth. They taught us that lavish living is all there is to aspire to, thereby compromising the very fibre of patriotism. The average youth only cares about making it and being the next to be celebrated, while leaving nothing of substance to generations to come. This is vastly different to the values lived by our struggle heroes such as Tata Madiba who lived a life of personal sacrifice for the greater good of mankind. These are obviously very broad generalisations and there are exceptions.
without transforming, as long as they tick a few boxes, and get a brother to front. Unless we deploy resources as government into making absolutely sure that we sniff out and punish fronting, we will not see much progress. There are too many greedy people prepared to front for a quick buck. There are far too many arrogant minority business people who have been rewarded with business. There are entire industries, such as the payments industry which I am familiar with, where darkies have zero space to play.
“In my boardroom experience, white people, who continue to hold sway in the boardroom, have learnt that they hold the power. They have learnt that there is no punishment for remaining untransformed. They can get a better BEE scorecard than me. They can get business
“In my view, we have to go the long route and get our hands dirty. Black people are not poor, they are just poor spenders. We have to take responsibility for how we spend our money. We must penalise those who refuse to transform and reward those who do. It must no longer be government’s
Paul Nzimande
business but the business of the citizens. We must be patriotic enough to ask what the BEE credentials of the magazine I am reading are, the company that produces the yoghurt I am eating... this means that we will begin to create our own entrepreneurs in these spaces who will benefit from our spending. “If the Muslims can be strict about Halaal standards, and the Jews can be strict about Kosher and get the market to take them seriously, surely we can establish a council of our own to ensure that our food is BEE compliant. It’s not an easy road, but it is certainly doable. If we could establish empowerment rating agencies, we could do this also. The Afrikaners did it. The English did it. The Indians did it. Even the Chinese are doing it. We are the only ones spending our rand indiscriminately.”
B-BBEE 101 by Brand South Africa BRAND SOUTH AFRICA, WITH HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT, HAS DEFINED THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS POLICY AS BEING TO: • Empower more black people to own and manage enterprises. Enterprises are regarded as black-owned if 51% of the enterprise is owned by black people, and black people have substantial management control of the business. • Achieve a substantial change in the racial composition of ownership and management structures and in the skilled occupations of existing and new enterprises. • Promote access to finance for black economic empowerment. • Empower rural and local communities by enabling their access to economic activities, land, infrastructure, ownership and skills. • Promote human resource development of black people through, for example, mentorships, learnerships and internships. • Increase the extent to which communities, workers, co-operatives and other collective enterprises own and manage existing and new enterprises, and increase their access to economic activities, infrastructure and skills. • Ensure that black-owned enterprises benefit from the government’s preferential procurement policies. • Assist in the development of the operational and financial capacity of BEE enterprises, especially small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and black-owned enterprises. • Increase the extent to which black women own and manage existing and new enterprises, and facilitate their access to economic activities, infrastructure and skills training. Source: https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/investmentsimmigration/business/trends/empowerment/bee
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A DECADE AGO, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER OR APP DEVELOPER. THE INTERNET ALONE HAS CREATED MORE THAN A MILLION JOBS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. ZAMAHLASELA GABELA ASKS IF YOU COULD BE IN A CAREER THAT WON'T EXIST IN 2027...
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IMAGE Shutterstock
FUTURE F
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L
iving in the 21st century has its perks, but the deeper we delve into the tapestry that is technology, the more fickle it turns out to be for the human race. When it comes to career paths, in particular, things are even trickier. Remember making a phone call by having to ring an operator, who would then connect you to who you were making the call to? Those operators were replaced by an automatic system that allowed you to connect the call yourself, using an area code and a direct number. Since then, things are even more sophisticated and automation is creeping further into everyday life. Trend specialist and business strategist, John Sanei, says that the evolution of careers is strongly influenced by the five lead states (which refers to the states of creating new busness). “The lead states are expectations of how employees and consumers want to be treated,” says Sanei. These are hyper-personalisation, hyper-trust, hyper-convenience, hyperrecognition and hyper-value. Companies like Uber and Amazon have mastered these lead states in the way that they operate with consumers. With so much to consider, navigating the maze towards the future of careers becomes more interesting. Head of content at Flux Trends, Tumelo Mojapelo, believes that technology has everything to do with current career shifts, and draws on worldrenowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking to prove this point. Hawking once said: “The rise of artificial intelligence is likely to extend job destruction deep into the middle classes, with only the most caring, creative supervisory roles remaining.” Mojapelo reiterates this, using Flux Trends’ new skills and new industries trend presentation, saying that “an estimated two billion jobs could be lost by 2030 due to mechanisation, biotechnology, robotics and artificial intelligence stepping in to fulfil roles, which humans used to fulfil at work”. Essentially, according to Hawking, those with careers leaning towards the creativity side of the spectrum
are relatively safe. So, who is striking out and who just made home base?
”FIGHTER PILOTS, STORE ASSISTANTS, TRAVEL AGENTS, UNION ORGANISERS AND POSTAL WORKERS WILL BECOME OUTDATED”
OBSOLETE JOBS
Julie Wilson is a team leader in the commercial division at DAV, a leading placement agency in Bryanston. Dealing with placing people in their relevant fields on a daily basis, she says that careers at risk in the future are “personal assistant or admin roles, and others where technology can assist. Technology has given individuals the freedom to run their own lives and not rely on someone else to handle their admin or meetings.” Sanei adds to this by saying that “tellers, office and support staff, logistics and admin roles are all going to be automated. Anything susceptible to monotony or administration will be gone; many who are working in those spaces are bored anyway, so it’s an opportunity to expand careers.” Mojapelo includes fighter pilots, store assistants, travel agents, union organisers and postal workers into the mix of jobs that will become outdated. However, more interestingly, she adds that pop stars, too, are in danger. “There’s a band in Japan who has already created a digital nonhuman band member.” Who knows where else technology could take us. Despite this, it’s important to remember that emotional intelligence is still very much a factor when considering all these new developments. “The co-dependency of artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence leaves us at the edge of a golden era,” elaborates Sanei. Although it’s not yet all clear-cut, this is the direction the world is moving in, and we had better take notice. In the South African context, Sanei expresses that we are at least five years away from being completely disrupted.
SAFE JOBS
If you’re a nurse, civil engineer, psychologist or marketing and sales
manager, you’re part of the 2% whose jobs are least likely to be at risk of extinction. Careers in information and communication technology (ICT), finance, the creative arts and healthcare are generally also safe. In South Africa, the most popular jobs are those in the STEM industries – science, technology, engineering and mathematics related. This bodes well for us, because besides there being a high demand for these jobs, they are also forecast to have longevity. Evolving your career path is another way to make sure that your job remains safe in a changing world. “We cannot say that there will never be any careers that never die. There might be an evolution of roles and responsibilities or even titles. The requirements might change or certain industries might evolve or merge to give birth to new careers. Careers are a response to the needs of a society, so they will change as society’s needs change,” explains
More obsolete careers include store clerks
call centre operators
secretaries
lawyers
librarians
bankers and bank tellers
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BUSINESS Mojapelo. She elaborates by illustrating through a Tomorrow Today Global analysis that the progression can look something like this: • IT representative/life coach à human technology integration specialist • Project manager à chief productivity officer • Fleet manager à drone manager • Mechanic software developer à selfdriving car technician/software technician • City planner/traffic specialist à autonomous transportation specialist/ connected cities specialist • Hospice employee/home health nurse à end-of-life coach
JOBS OF THE FUTURE
By now, you’re probably wondering what the point of thinking ahead is, when it
seems as if we are on the brink of being replaced by robots. Well, you’d be wrong. The number of future possibilities is astounding. The 2017 Deloitte Millennial Survey reveals that 40% of millennials feel threatened by automation, because of the potential loss of jobs that this might cause. That being said, many careers that exist today didn’t exist in the 19th century, and so we must keep the cycle going and embrace this inevitable transformation. Mojapelo highlights a recent report done by the World Economic Forum, which depicts a very different future for the students of tomorrow. “Most primary school students will be working in jobs that don’t yet exist, therefore a futurefocused approach to education needs to be considered,” she says. With this in mind, what careers will be dominating the scene in the near future? Mojapelo says that user experience (UX) designers, drone pilots, virtual reality content creators and coders, as well as
developers, are some of the jobs that will become increasingly popular. But if you’re currently expecting a bundle of joy or have a tiny tot, there are even more intriguing prospects to look forward to. Fancy an animal migration engineer, an organ designer, thought reader or human robot interaction specialist as a career path for your child? As far-fetched as it might sound now, in the next 50 years, this could become their reality. Sanei also emphasises that in the corporate space, the three top positions to hold in the future will be chief digital officer, chief data office and chief future officer. Each of those plays a significant role in embracing the future of the workplace. As you can see, being aware of what jobs may become redundant in the future doesn’t have to be unnerving. Gear up now, so that you can be prepared for what’s on the horizon – because whether you like or not, change is upon us.
lucrative careers in the future, according to the Oxbridge Academy
IMAGES Shutterstock
motor manufacturing technician
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wind turbine service technician
tourism and hospitality professional
general and operations manager
computer programmer
artificial intelligence and robotics specialist
flexible app developer
cloud computing specialist
LIVING
HASSLE-FREE RENTAL PROPERTIES
Da Vinci Apartment lounge area
Da Vinci Apartment view
IMAGES Legacy Group
LOOKING TO WORK OR TRAVEL OVERSEAS FOR A WHILE BUT NOT PREPARED TO SELL YOUR HOUSE? RENTAL POOL PROPERTY COULD BE THE ANSWER, SAYS REFILOE MPAKANYANE
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Da Vinci Apartment dining area
F
or the longest time, the African dream has involved travelling far and wide, gathering experience and bringing it to bear back home.
An IP Global survey of 6 000 adults in five global markets – the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore and Hong Kong – revealed that in South Africa, around 55% of the people surveyed invested in assets. Property is the most popular asset, with 28% of those surveyed investing in the domestic property market.
IMAGE Legacy Group
South African professionals are opting to throw their lot into the rental pool market when working away from home or travelling (frequently) for short intervals. Going abroad for a year or two used to mean selling up to avoid the financial burden of paying a bond at home while renting in Dubai, but this is no longer the case. And what exactly is this rental pool market, you ask? It’s simply an arrangement to buy an executive apartment or house in which you reside part time. For the rest of the time, the property management company rents it out on your behalf, so that your property generates an income. If you already own property, it becomes a simpler matter of letting the premises under the same conditions. It is a convenient tool for hacking the jet-set lifestyle. But first there are a number of points to consider when putting your house in the property rental pool. The most important is finding the right rental agent or property management service. While it may be tempting to save money on that
10–20% commission and manage your own property, it is not a wise move. Anyone who has ever dealt with a tenant knows the special hell it can be when things go wrong.
often tell us what a relief it is for them to know that while they remain legally responsible as the owners of the properties, all the lease documents and procedures are fully legally compliant,” explains Harris.
A good property manager, and indeed rental agent, can do the following on a landlord’s behalf:
Having a property management company is well worth the savings in precious sweat equity – a reality that will be put into stark relief when one finds oneself trying to manage repairs from a remote time zone. Property rental agents are not limited to executive apartments, but are also available to manage standalone houses and flats. They maintain your investment and ensure you have a place to return to when that contract ends, or the novelty of constant travel wears off.
• Rent out the property speedily. Quick occupancy is key when moving cities/ countries – the sooner that is taken care of, the less stressful the move. • Perform credit checks for erratic payments, or simply verify the potential clients’ ability to pay.
• Undertake reference checks that will weed out tenants with a record of property damage.
• Maintain relationships with good tenants and retain their business. This is key to avoiding stress. • Have systems in place to collect rent and utilities, do regular property maintenance and inspections, or resolve problems with tenants.
Commenting on a report of what landlords should be looking for in a property manager, Greg Harris, CEO of Chas Everitt Property Rentals, noted hiring a professional in the local environments as crucial. “In South Africa, this is underlined by the fact that the Consumer Protection Act, the Rental Housing Act and various other laws introduced over the past few years have made it increasingly difficult for private landlords to keep up. Our clients
The corollary to the convenience of renting out for the landlord is the client’s experience, as is the case with lawyer Tizi Merafe, who works as legal counsel for the corporate and investment division of one of South Africa’s big banks, which had her seconded to London for three months. She stayed in one of three executive apartment buildings that the company has a relationship with. When asked to compare apartment and hotel living, she said she would definitely do it again. It was fully furnished and serviced and very convenient. Compared to a hotel, I just got a sense of control and permanence by being able to make it my own, as opposed to a hotel – which, after a stay of months, feels sterile.” An unlikely upshot to this lifestyle is being in close proximity to other professionals, often in the same field, as was Tizi’s case in London’s Canary Wharf. Although many
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of the people that she came into contact with were also from South Africa, it is quite a unique position to be able to forge new relationships. So if the popular saying – that your network is your net worth – holds true, then executive apartments in any major city are always a good idea. When weighing up whether to go this route from an investment perspective, it is important to consider that the property effectively pays for itself, while still allowing the owner to rent or buy somewhere else. How does one effectively pay off dual bonds on a single salary? The key is in structuring rental agreements appropriately. Most rental pool options are structured to give you a share of the rental properties’ net income, so it is important to find a property developer with the proven ability to market effectively and secure clients. Research and comparing contracts is key to finding a comfortable fit. The Legacy Group is quite prolific in this area and has four properties in the Sandton area alone. Spokesperson Gijs Foden highlights: “A person buying into the rental pool system is buying an asset that will retain its value relative to the dollar or pound, hassle free and despite other market fluctuations.” These luxury and executive apartments have become ubiquitous in South Africa’s various metropolitan areas. These are often incorporated into hotels, and have services and amenities such as the all-important high-speed Wi-Fi, a concierge and 24-hour room service, a spa, a gym and business centres. Most leverage their association with a five-star hotel, as well as other extras such as direct access to high-end malls – as is the case with the Michelangelo Towers and Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton.
IMAGE Anahitaproperty Group
The tax implications are worth considering, but are not in any way tedious or difficult to deal with. A property owner is obliged to pay tax on rental income and, depending on your specific circumstances and whether one treats it as a business, costs such as maintenance and insurance pertaining to the house can be written off against that profit. One interesting case of attractive tax considerations becoming a unique selling point for a country is Mauritius. In a concerted effort to entrench itself as the preferred business destination of Africa, Mauritius has real estate schemes (RES) that grant permanent residency to property investors, along with their immediate family, if they invest
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US$500 000 or more. Added to this is the double taxation deal that Mauritius has with South Africa, which avoids the taxation of a single source of income by both countries at once. There is also no taxation on property capital gains, nor is there inheritance tax on properties bought in Mauritius by foreigners. South Africa is reported to be the second-largest group, after France, of foreign buyers in Mauritius. So far, mobile living has been viewed as a by-product of travelling for work, but it starts to assume a different logic when looked at from a clinical investment and tax lens. The Income Tax Act agreement between South Africa and Mauritius is available on the South African Revenue Service’s website and makes for slow, but surprisingly understandable, reading in lay terms. These high-end options also abound in the tropical climes. An example is Mauritius’s Anahita Resort and Villas, which are opulent and extremely well appointed. The second phase of the resort, Amalthea, stretches over 213 hectares on the east coast of Mauritius, along six kilometres of turquoise sea. It has 15 villas, four duplexes and 38 golf lodges. A 20-metre lap pool is located in the centre of the neighbourhood
”SOUTH AFRICA IS REPORTED TO BE THE SECONDLARGEST GROUP, AFTER FRANCE, OF FOREIGN BUYERS IN MAURITIUS” – pedestrianised, accessible only by golf cart and bordered by holes 1, 8 and 9 of the Ernie Els-designed golf course. There are so many options to support the globetrotting lifestyle that everyone seeks and vies for. Done right, travelling and living overseas means that now more than ever, you are able to nurture and protect your primary investments. Property may be the single most important investment you will make in your lifetime.
Amalthea
Amalthea interior
LIVING
FROM THE MOUTHS OF MILLENNIALS
W
idely known as the “Meme Generation”, millennial teenagers are often associated with the Internet and social media. A series in Wired Magazine, which detailed the most important technology advances of our era, declared the period between 2001 and 2010 as “one of the decades that invented the future”. Think the iPod in 2001, Facebook in 2004, YouTube in 2005, the iPhone smartphone in 2007, Android phones in 2008 and Instagram in 2010 (and that’s only a fraction of the list).
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Matriculants of South Africa’s class of 2017 were born in a democratic country. They have also grown up during one of the most critical political turning points in South African history, where most citizens were initially optimistic about the possibilities that a democratic country held, but have since been rudely awakened to the fact that realising the dream of a rainbow nation isn’t easy. And while this rainbow dream faded, a gaping economic divide between the “haves” and “have nots” emerged. This divide has affected every aspect of society, and nowhere is it
more evident than in education. In 2000, a Department of Education report, titled “Education statistics at a glance…”, stated that 86% of South African learners were in public schools, while 7% were in private schools. But the situation has changed drastically over the years. A June 2016 Mail & Guardian article by Prega Govender stated: “Pupil enrolment at private schools increased by 58 463 between 2011 and 2014, from 479 958 to 583 421. During the same period, private schools increased by 195 from 1 486 to 1 681.” Colin Northmore, head of Sacred Heart
IMAGE Akona Kenqu
MANY OF THIS YEAR’S MATRICULANTS WERE BORN IN 2000 – A MYTHICAL YEAR IN FUTURISTIC MOVIES. BUT WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE BORN AND LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOUTH AFRICA? MBALENHLE SIBANYONI SPEAKS TO THREE MATRICULANTS ABOUT EDUCATION, CLASS AND LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA
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Noxolo Mvuka
IMAGE Akona Kenqu
College, as saying: “I am deeply critical of the current curriculum on offer to children in SA schools. The CAPS (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement) is the absolute wrong direction to take our education. It’s a very content-heavy curriculum. We are not teaching children to become critical thinkers but to become rote learners. The longer this curriculum persists, the more difficult it is going to be for children to compete internationally.” Is our education system built to meet these matriculants’ technological needs and skills, and ensure that they excel in the era of continuous digital innovation? Three matriculants from varying backgrounds tell us what it’s like to be a teenager in modern-day South Africa.
TERRI CHAWIRAH (17) SCHOOL: Reddam House
DESCRIPTION: A private school in northern Johannesburg
“Schools are definitely more technologically advanced these days. At my school, teachers have access to smartboards (which replaced the overhead projector) that are virtual notebooks and help them draw the things they are teaching us better. Every teacher also has a TV in the classroom, so if there’s a YouTube video about the topic they are teaching, we can also watch it. The school has Wi-Fi and we can choose whether we want to use physical or digital textbooks. We do a lot of community service at other schools, and while we’re there, we do realise how
fortunate we are to have access to all these resources. I do have hope that our society will one day be more balanced, and I believe that it starts with each of us committing to playing a role. It’s not just about saying it, but should be about actively doing something. I’m growing up differently than how my parents grew up, because I have more opportunities. Unlike my parents, I’m also exposed to social media and have to actively choose not to get distracted by it, because when you check your phone every five minutes you realise that all those minutes add up and you could’ve been using that time to study or do homework. I’ve even cut down on sports (I used to play club soccer) because I want to study forensic psychology at the University of Cape Town or University of Pretoria next year.
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“I’m also exposed to so much more diversity in terms of being friends with and interacting with people of different races. But I must admit that I do find that there are still divisions in races. I believe that with each generation, the youth will make our country a non-racial society.”
My parents are always telling me that we are different. I believe that the government is trying to support people in more schools so that we can all have access to technology and see how it can make life easier. I want to study to be a psychologist one day at Wits or North-West University.”
NOXOLO MVUKA (18)
AMANDA ZWANE (17)
SCHOOL: Randfontein High School
SCHOOL: Mondlo Secondary School
“Our school is one of the first public schools in SA to offer a digital solution to education. We have school Wi-Fi, where we’re able to access an internal school intranet and ‘noodle’, where we can download information on whatever it is that we don’t understand. All of us have tablets and most of them are bought by our parents, but those whose parents can’t buy them are able to get them from the school. At my school, those who don’t use available resources only do so because they are lazy. Today, we are so much more advanced than previous generations and have access to so much more than our parents did. The political situation in terms of corruption is not great in SA, but I believe that our generation can and will change that. We are at an advantage in that we understand apartheid, but at the same time we think in a completely different way because of all the information we have at our disposal.
“Each day, I wake up and walk for about 30 minutes to go to school. On days I have R5 to take a taxi back, it’s much shorter. Otherwise, I start walking early so that I’m there when school starts at 7am. I don’t like to walk though, because my route has a lot of bushes and areas where you have to cross a river. The way that they teach us is great but the access to materials for learning is not so great. For example, we have one physical science teacher for all the grades in our school. I do see a difference in the kind of education that we get in the rural areas as opposed to the one others get in the urban areas, and it does lead me to believe that I would be better off studying in the city. I’ve noticed that people who are upper class and have money only help out if it will benefit their reputation or image, so they don’t help in the areas that are really struggling because there is no potential media coverage for them. I’m not really on social networks because I don’t have a cellphone. I have
IMAGE Shutterstock
DESCRIPTION: A public school in the west of Johannesburg and one of the first in South Africa to offer a digital solution to education
DESCRIPTION: A public school in rural Vryheid, KZN
I DO HAVE HOPE THAT OUR SOCIETY WILL ONE DAY BE MORE BALANCED, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT STARTS WITH EACH OF US COMMITTING TO PLAYING A ROLE access to a cellphone through friends who own phones. One day, I want to be a psychologist because I have never seen someone studying that around here. In my community, a lot of the students finish matric and then stay at home because their families have no money to pay for university. I know that education will make my life easier. This is why I am studying hard to get good marks so that I can get a bursary.”
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Bangkok, Thailand
ALL BY MYSELF I
n the Dhammapada, the Buddha said: “Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” To some, travelling alone is like going to dinner by yourself: a sure sign of loneliness. But the truly confident and content among us can revel in the simple joy of solitude. Learning to do the things you enjoy without the need for company frees you from the social imprisonment of constantly needing
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company to have fun. When you travel alone, you learn to trust your instincts, you don’t need to consult a committee of friends or family about what activities to do, and you find out a lot about yourself along the way. Feel like languishing in bed without rushing to go sightseeing? Just put a “Do not disturb” sign on the door. Wanna hit the bar and a club later? All good, no need to drag along unplayable companions. You might even meet a stranger to flirt with
or make a cross-continental friend. That said, though, not every place is conducive to travelling solo. Seaside resorts have been known not to cater to kayaks for one, so you might want to think twice before booking a holiday for one at a beach resort. However, there are some fabulous places made for solo travellers that will make you reach for your passport and vacate your life! Like author Kurt Vonnegut once said: “Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.”
IMAGE Shutterstock
WHETHER YOUR FRIENDS HAVE FLAKED OUT OF A TRIP OR YOU’RE YEARNING FOR SOME FOREIGN ME-TIME, TRAVELLING ALONE WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE. LERATO TSHABALALA GIVES YOU THE TOP-5 DESTINATIONS FOR SOLO TRAVELLERS
TRAVEL
the city, is undoubtedly Bangkok’s most authentic and less touristy weekend water market. But for those after popularity and size, then Damnoen Saduak is the floating market for you. If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, the Chatuchak weekend market is the largest in Thailand, and you’ll find everything from lampshades to earrings.
GETTING AROUND…
The Skytrain (BTS) is the easiest way to get around Bangkok’s inner city. The train only has two lines so it’s easy to understand. Taxis are cheap and plentiful, as are buses (although Bangkok traffic can be horrific), and there’s an efficient subway (MRT). River taxis and the Chao Phrya Express boats are worth the experience, as is catching a tuk-tuk and Don’t worry about the language barrier, what you’ll find is that communication is more than just the verbal, so enjoy bumbling!
EXPECT TO PAY…
One of the best places in the world to travel when you’re South African, you’ll be able to afford great Thai cuisine for next to nothing, and the real bargains are at the markets. One rand converts to approximately two Thai baht, so you won’t have to worry about constantly converting every purchase into rands.
BANGKOK, THAILAND
If you’re looking for… pockets of tranquil spirituality amidst a shopping mayhem, then Bangkok hits all the right notes. With temples all around the city and big shopping malls, you’ll get to burn your credit card on shopping sprees and then pray for forgiveness after.
NAIROBI, KENYA
If you’re looking for… a cultural experience that gives you both a bush experience and the feeling of being in a city, then this east African metropolis is it.
YOU’LL LIKE IT SOLO BECAUSE…
Kenyans are some of the most giving people you’ll ever meet. Swahili (which sounds a lot like isiZulu. For instance, umzungu in Swahili is similar to saying umlungu in Zulu, both words used to describe a white person), and English are widely spoken, so you won’t have a problem communicating with the locals.
THINGS TO DO…
Kenya is known for having the Big Five (buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and rhinocerous) – you can book a safari to the legendary Masai Mara or many other reserves and conservancies, or simply visit the Nairobi National Park (right next to the city) to view some of the country’s wildlife. Maasai traditional accessories have become de rigueur all over the world, and you can find them in many of Nairobi’s local markets, which are open from 8am to 3pm. Alternatively, you can visit the city’s biggest general market, Gikomba, where you’ll find everything from toys to clothes. Try out local cuisine by eating some ugali (maize meal balls, often served with goat stew) and you can wash it down some locally grown coffee.
GETTING AROUND…
You cannot leave Nairobi without taking the local matatus. These are essentially minibus taxis, just like we have here at home. Quite reliable, and I even saw two Maasai men catching one.
EXPECT TO PAY…
Prices for a night at a four-star hotel in Nairobi start at around R1 400. Travelling with the rand in Kenya is advantageous, as seven Kenyan shillings equal R1.
Masai Mara, Kenya
YOU’LL LIKE IT SOLO BECAUSE…
As most travellers to Bangkok are there to see the temples, the city tours are perfect for people travelling alone. Whether you’re looking for some risqué action in Patpong, Bangkok’s red light district, or hunting for bargains at the weekend and night markets, solo travellers will feel at home in this Thai city.
IMAGE Shutterstock
THINGS TO DO…
The city’s oldest temple, Wat Pho, is where you will see the Reclining Buddha, but you should also view the Emerald Buddha at the Grand Palace’s Wat Phra Kaew Temple. Bangkok’s floating markets are a must-see – Amphawa, about an hour or two outside
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TRAVEL
Notting Hill, London
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
If you’re looking for… a place where they speak English and you don’t have to worry about deciphering street signs, then London is meant for you.
YOU’LL LIKE IT SOLO BECAUSE…
Besides the fact that you’re most likely to meet other South Africans living in London (it is home to many African and Indian communities), the city is built for the modern traveller. You’ll find many other tourists travelling by themselves, and you’ll most likely make lasting connections with people from other countries.
IMAGE Shutterstock
THINGS TO DO…
Head for a curry on Brick Lane, and visit Notting Hill’s weekend street market, which is among one of the most famous in the world – but if you’re looking for high street shopping, head to Oxford Street and burn your credit card at Selfridges. Visit the London Eye and take selfies from the top, from where you can see most of the
city (from Big Ben to Westminster). Don’t leave without checking out wax replicas of celebrities at Madame Tussauds.
GETTING AROUND…
London has over 270 underground stations, so finding your way around the city won’t be a problem. From Heathrow Airport, take the Heathrow Express into the city (or the Gatwick Express if you fly into that airport). The city’s famous red buses run until past midnight. That said, you can also use both Uber and the ubiquitous black taxis around the city.
EXPECT TO PAY…
YOU’LL MOST LIKELY MAKE LASTING CONNECTIONS WITH PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.
Okay, let’s be honest, with the rand weaker than the knees of a schoolgirl with a crush, this is not going to be a cheap solo trip. Since the pound is currently around R18 to the rand, you’ll probably find yourself parting with several purple rands for some take aways.
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Durban Township Experience GOOD PEOPLE. GOOD FOOD. GOOD MUSIC.
Be sure to try out any one of our Shisanyama Restaurants during your Vodacom Durban July experience
No visit to Durban is complete without visiting one of our bustling townships . Immerse yourselves in the rich eKasi township lifestyle and experience first-hand the pulse of our vibrant culture. Visitors must visit a local Shisanyama Restaurant, to mingle with the locals, drink and eat together in a lively atmosphere. “Shisanyama” (which means braaing the meat) is a unique culinary adventure that are fun & popular amongst the locals.
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www.durbanexperience.co.za @DBNTourism
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UMLAZI Max Lifestyle - 031 906 1393 Eyadini Lounge - 031 906 1395 CLERMONT Comfort Zone - 061 319 6314 Shadows Tarven - 083 553 7898 Meat Cafe - 083 354 3985 Tate’s Kasi Grill - 082 833 1810 INANDA Under the Moon - 031 519 0841 KWAMASHU One & Only - 082 964 3289 Artizen Lounge - 082 970 7475 DURBAN WEST Classique Braai Lounge 031 765 1107 Cafe Skyzer - 081 519 6007 DURBAN SOUTH Durban Pride Galleria mall - 083 262 0989 OUTER WEST REGION Mpumalanga Township Magaba Lounge - 083 650 2789 Seaman’s Lounge - 081 733 5032 Casablanca Lifestyle - 072 390 7278
TRAVEL
ROME, ITALY
If you’re looking for… an Eat, Pray, Love experience like Julia Roberts’ character in the movie, this European city will give you good food and great wine. Enjoying a big bowl of pasta alone is not frowned upon in Rome, it is encouraged!
YOU’LL LIKE IT SOLO BECAUSE…
IMAGE Shutterstock
You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate the beauty of this city. The French may have mastered the art of fine dining, but the Romans have mastered creating food for the soul. From pasta to gelato, these will be some of your best solo meals ever.
THINGS TO DO…
Taking the Hop On, Hop Off bus will make your life easier when in Rome. Get off at the Vatican City stop and view the official
ENJOYING A BIG BOWL OF PASTA ALONE IS NOT FROWNED UPON IN ROME, IT IS ENCOURAGED! residence of the Pope, and don’t miss visiting the Sistine Chapel, so you can feast your eyes on the mesmerising ceilings painted by Michelangelo in the 16th century. Of course, an obligatory stop in the city is the Colosseum. For something a little different, head to the neighbourhood of Campo de’ Fiori and savour a pinot grigio while staring at one of the area’s many fountains.
GETTING AROUND…
Rome has an efficient urban metro and bus system, as well as plentiful taxis. Getting from Fiumicino Airport (also called Leonardo da Vinci International) is easy: simply hop on the Leonardo Express to Termini, Rome’s main railway station, in the centre of the city. Termini is also
the departure point for regional trains, if you have the time for a day trip into the country. And with a city crammed so full of history and amazing buildings, fountains and sights around virtually every corner, the best way to get around is to lace up your trainers and get walkin’, bella!
EXPECT TO PAY…
At around R15 to the euro, and with European four-star hotels being more like three stars in terms of the standards we’re used to here in South Africa, you’ll spend most of your budget on accommodation and dining out. But don’t forget Airbnb as an alternative to expensive hotels; the hosts usually leave you with suggestions of places the locals visit so you don’t only experience the touristy part of Rome. Rome, Italy
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COMPLETE SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR MEETINGS AND INCENTIVES Inspire your team or client with a unique experience! All bookings include: Accommodation • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Midnight snacks • Full state of-the-art conference facilities • Cabaret shows every night • Live music throughout the day • Dedicated team to organise and plan your event. BONUS: for every 23 full paying passengers booked receive 1 Passengers fare FREE * excluding mandatory charges For more information and terms and conditions* call us on 087 630 0500 or email us on groupsandevents@msccruises.co.za
TRAVEL
Bo-Kaap, Malay Quarter, Cape Town
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
If you’re looking for… a local trip to dip your toes into solo travel before fully committing to going overseas by yourself, then the Mother City is the perfect introduction to travelling on your own.
head to the top of Table Mountain to catch sweeping views from one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
YOU’LL LIKE IT SOLO BECAUSE…
The Hop On, Hop Off ride around Cape Town will provide you with wonderful ocean views along the promenade, and even better mountain outlooks. MyCiTi is Cape Town’s excellent public bus service, and takes in tourist attractions such as the Table Mountain Cableway, Hout Bay and the V&A Waterfront. Uber is plentiful but do try catch a minibus taxi at least once, to experience the zeal of the gaaitjies (taxi conductors). It’s also really easy to rent a car from the airport.
For starters, you’re in Mzansi, so you can make a call or send a text should something go gravely wrong. Cape Town is the gift that keeps on giving, because the city offers a great night life – Long Street has been known to swallow up whole Friday nights – and quick drives outside the city, like Stellenbosch’s winelands (about an hour from the city) will make you fall in love with its beauty.
IMAGE Shutterstock
THINGS TO DO…
Take an ocean safari and check out some whales and dolphins. If you’re looking for something historical, visit Robben Island, South Africa’s own Alcatraz, where Nelson Mandela spent more than two decades after being imprisoned by the apartheid government. Or get on the cable car and
GETTING AROUND…
THE MOTHER CITY IS THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO TRAVELLING ON YOUR OWN
EXPECT TO PAY…
Things will cost a little bit more in Camps Bay than in Observatory, for example. But it’ll cost you nothing to drive up Bo-Kaap to see the colourful kaleidoscope of houses, hike up Chapman’s Peak or picnic on Clifton Beach. Book your solo vacay now.
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MOTORING
PERFECTING THE PERFECT
HOW DO YOU IMPROVE ON A CAR THAT HAS ALREADY PROVEN ITSELF TO BE A FIRM FAVOURITE AMONG THE FOUR RINGS OF MOTORING? WELL, THE NEW AUDI A5 COMES PRETTY CLOSE TO FLAWLESS, SAYS DAMIAN MURPHY
T
he original Audi A5 was a superb modern business saloon that had an incredible mix of luxury, technology and performance. So Audi decided that instead of changing the new A5 too much, it would just perfect it. Reinventing an already great car has its risks – but some risks really do pay off. Audi added the odd accent to the sporty exterior to give it a facelift, and then completely rebuilt the interior to make the new A5 the most innovative car in its class. The exterior design of the new A5 retains designer Walter de Silva’s original vision (De Silva was head of design for the
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Volkswagen Group – which owns Audi – until 2015). It keeps its distinctive flowing lines, yet it has evolved with a sharper, more focused appearance. The most noticeable change to the exterior is the addition of a new Audi trademark front grille. The larger grille, more prominent wheel arches and sleek lights give the A5 a much sportier appearance from the front, yet it doesn’t detract from the overall elegance of this business sedan. Sitting inside it, you can’t help but notice that the new Audi A5 includes luxurious twin-leather upholstery, heated front seats and a high, multifunction, three-spoke leather steering wheel, along
MOTORING
with deluxe three-zone electronic climate control. The futuristic interior seems like something off the set of a sci-fi movie. It is a sophisticated blend of 21st century technology and old- school charm. The technology is impossible to miss. It has a large 7-inch colour driver’s information system, Audi sound system and xenon headlights, which all come as standard. You have the option to upgrade to intelligent Matrix LED headlights, which dip automatically when oncoming traffic is detected. Just as eye-catching in the 2.0-litre FSI Sport S-tronic is the optional Audi Virtual Cockpit, which turns the dashboard into a fully customisable digital display. The A5 is equipped with Audi’s Quattro technology – Audi’s renowned all-wheel drive technology, which was developed with its motorsport engineers to bring better safety, sportiness and performance to everyday driving.
IT IS A SOPHISTICATED BLEND OF 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY AND OLDSCHOOL CHARM
Some of the other innovative features include Audi’s Phonebox and parking assist. The Phonebox allows drivers to use their mobile phone in the car, by placing it in the storage compartment provided in the centre console. A wireless connection is created with the vehicle’s roof-mounted aerial via the integrated connector in the storage compartment. This connection helps to boost the phone’s mobile signal, as well as to reduce transmission power. The phone can be charged via a USB port and operated via the Multimedia Interface (MMI) control panel, the multifunction
steering wheel or voice control. The parking assist takes over the steering when backing into detected parking spaces, either parallel or perpendicular to the road. This system finds parking spaces using ultrasound and when it detects a space of sufficient size, a message appears in the instrument display. The driver then simply puts the car in reverse and the park assist system steers while the driver only has to accelerate, shift gears and brake.
The overall drive experience of the new A5 is impeccable. It is both elegant and sporty, and the petrol engine goes from zero to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. At the same time, it maintains a combined fuel economy somewhere around 6.0 litres per 100km driven. Vorsprung durch Technik is the famous Audi philosophy, which means “progress through technology”. Starting at R623 000 for the base model, the new A5 looks set to challenge the stalwarts in this very competitive market segment.
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LAST WORD
CLASS ACT ACTRESS, TELEVISION DIRECTOR, WIFE AND MOTHER, STHANDIWE KGOROGE, TELLS US ABOUT GROWING UP A TOMBOY, HER ADDICTION TO EVERYTHING VINTAGE AND THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING MARRIED I was born in…
impeccably dressed when I was growing up. I may have been a tomboy, but I was paying attention to her dress and sense of style.
The US, in Columbus, Ohio.
My parents taught me that… respect, kindness, happiness and never living beyond your means are the key to a successful life. Above all, they taught me about the awesome power that is God!
Motherhood has made me more confident. The three God-sent angels that are my children affirm me, cheer me on, challenge me to do more. Who wouldn’t soar with a love so strong!
I was naughty beyond belief as a teenager! As an only girl among three brothers, I was a tomboy who lived in her head. I had no choice… My brothers always insisted I sat behind them, so I created adventures and characters in my head. Life was good until someone came to bring me back to reality.
Both you and your husband, Tony, are actors. Would you encourage your children to go into the business?
What does a typical day in your life look like?
The best part about being married is…
School runs, creating content for Creative Cool Afrika (a digital platform that is unapologetically African and showcases African creativity in all its forms), Internet surfing and touching base with my other creative heads all over the globe.
What would we be surprised to know about you?
No!
the good stuff on tap!
The three greatest lessons acting has taught you… You are handling precious cargo, acting is about being truthful and knowing it’s not about you. That more importantly, you’re merely a vessel of someone’s narrative.
Who are your heroes? My parents.
Love is… freedom to be who you were meant to be.
What’s the secret to having a private life as a public figure? It’s funny, because I think the more real you are, just living your life, being present in the moments of your life, you’re often considered to be “private”.
Who, internationally and locally, would you still like to work with? 100
Sthandiwe Kgoroge
Locally, too many to mention, but Brenda Ngxoli, Masasa Mbangeni, Trevor Stuurman and Siyabonga Thwala come to mind. Internationally, I’m praying for collaborations with the creatives of Okayafrica, Shonda Rhimes, and on the list goes!
Television or film? I love both mediums. They’re both storytelling, and I’m a storyteller.
Where does your love for vintage clothing come from? I’m sure I lived in another lifetime; I’m truly an old soul. I love and appreciate the artistry of vintage clothes, accessories and furniture. My mom was always so
I’m a sociologist. I studied drama and sociology. I love doing research. It was either acting or being a researcher. People always ask me how I find all these creatives I discover all the time, and I always say I have the mindset of a researcher. But I’ve been told that I’m funny! When most people meet me for the first time, they always remark how they had no idea that I was crazy. I’m not as serious as people think I am.
The last time you were moved to tears was… when my dad passed away a year ago. I’m still in shock, still so surreal. I owe everything I am to my dad.
On your bucket list… To live in Ghana, as well as Canada, just so my kids can experience the best years of my childhood (I lived in Edmonton, in the province of Alberta, for five years from the age of six to 10), travel to India for a few months, as well as collaborate with other artists.
Your Moments, Our Legacy...
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