Inner City Gazette

Zoho for Startups global head

Across a range of sectors, there is gender parity in favour of males, meaning women of all races are underrepresented

Study urges success sharing among women

Mentorship and general representation of women in the workplace, for example, is shown to have positive effects on the overall performance of companies and staff across genders, more so when women mentor, support and uplift one another.

Johannesburg - A study on successful female leaders in the Harvard Business Review shows that women with an inner circle of successful female friends are more likely to land executive positions.

The influencing role of women can take many forms. Mentorship and general representation of women in the workplace, for example, is shown to have positive effects on the overall performance of companies and staff across genders, more so when women mentor, support and uplift one another.

Across a range of sectors, there is gender parity in favour of males, meaning women of all races are underrepresented. This parity is particularly prevalent in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics sectors (STEM), including the financial and accounting sectors.

Media relations and communications manager at Huawei SA, Vanashree Govender says women are incredibly underrepresented in the technology space.

“The status quo must be challenged. This does not just mean companies in the technology sector changing their cultures, but also working hard to nurture female talent. With the support of other women who have

built successful careers, up-andcoming ICT workers are more likely to thrive,” Govender says.

According to a 2021 study by Deloitte female representation at global technology firms sit at around 33%. That shrinks to around 25% on technical roles. Perhaps even more concerning is that almost half of women working in technology drop out compared with 20% in other industries.

This reflects a need for female graduates to be nurtured from the undergraduate stage. Young women who are exposed to practical work experiences that foster their growth might be less likely to feel supported and capable enough to pursue their career ambitions.

Diversity, equity and inclusion policy in companies should be the starting point for women representation in companies.

Zoho for Startups global head Kuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy says it is not a question of the cultural-integrity of an organisation if women employees do not feel included.

“To ensure there is equity in the workplace one can begin with creating a community of senior women who have walked the path before and women who can relate to the

mindset and challenges of the current generation of workforce. This community should be founded on trust, empathy and solidarity. There should be enough opportunities created for peer-to-peer groups to be formed, which can lead to forging of life-long friendships at the workplace,” Krishnamoorthy adds.

In the tourism and hospitality industry men dominate executive and managerial roles. Reports have shown that on a global level, women make up nearly 70% of the workforce in hospitality and tourism. However, less than 40% of the jobs are at managerial level.

In South Africa, Airbnb invests in empowering women to become tourism entrepreneurs, and last year announced a three-year commitment to address barriers to entry in the industry, and to help rebuild a more inclusive and resilient domestic tourism economy.

Airbnb Middle East and Africa leader Velma Corcoran says: “With the rising cost of living, the benefits of hosting are proving more important than ever and we are committed to unlocking economic opportunities for women, particularly in rural and township communities.”

On mentorship of young women,

head of MiWay Blink, Keletso Mpisane says leadership is a skill set honed over time. “The key is not to be too lax and not to be too stern. In many cases, they show their knack for leading at an early age.”

Most domestic workers perform one primary role, like cleaning, but a report by SweepSouth shows that the more roles a domestic worker takes on, the greater her earning capacity. Families can ask domestic workers about what would better their skill set. It may be a driver’s licence, so one could sponsor lessons, or it could be sending her on a course in childcare or first-aid.

SweepSouth CEO Aisha Pandor says: “Helping your domestic worker to start acquiring skills needed to improve her life reinforces the message that none of us are in this alone. Women have been the driving force of upliftment of other women and continue to be each other’s biggest champions. We should acknowledge the importance of all women in the workplace and their role in passing the baton. Sometimes a small act of recognition could be all the encouragement another woman needs to push through a difficult moment, changing her from wanting to give up to feeling buoyed to try again.”

Kuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy

Women’s day 2022

The world has made unprecedented advances, we can create vaccines and ‘end’ a pandemic, yet we can’t end gender disparity. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, full economic parity is 257 years away!

And this is why we believe in the importance of Women’s day. As educators and thought leaders we need to start with creating awareness, and call out gender bias and inequality.

“It’s important to acknowledge women’s achievements, to address issues that are restricting the acceleration of gender parity, and to focus on solutions to remediate the situation,” says Kennedy Ndlovu, Executive Director, Boston Education Trust

The Trust aims to enable South Africans to play their part in growing our economy. “Institutions and individuals who have the means must actively support transformation, and comply with both the spirit and the content of the B-BBEE Act. The Boston Education Trust is focussed on the advancement of Black Females by supporting their studies in Information Technology” says Kennedy.

South Africa has made progress towards equality, but there is still a long way to gender parity. Women make up over half of the population in South Africa, yet they remain under-represented in positions of authority. Women comprise 32% of the Supreme Court of Appeal judges, 31% of advocates, 30% of ambassadors and 24% of executive heads of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Men hold 68% of all senior management positions; women hold 32% of executive positions.

Gender parity setbacks of COVID-19

With Covid-19, women bore the brunt of the economic impact. “Setbacks in work force participation and income, impacts on pensions and savings will have long-term implications for women’s economic security far down the road,” says Kennedy. A recent SweepSouth survey showed

Routers found vulnerable to cyber attacks

knowledge in areas which are typically male dominated. The Boston Education Trust focuses on increasing the number of black female IT graduates.

2. Challenging current infrastructure

Mckinsey’s previous research on the impact of long-term automation trends on work concluded that 7 to 24 percent of those currently employed may need to transition across occupations by 2030 as automation transforms the nature of work. What this means is that women should be gaining broad business skills, such as those of the Boston BSocSci degree, a fourth IR degree.

3. Gender Pay Gap

The ‘gender pay gap’ is the difference between the average wages of men and women, regardless of their seniority. ‘Equal pay’ is about ensuring that there are no unjustified pay differences between employees who perform ‘work of equal value’.

4. Business and workplace

Assess internal culture and behaviour which contribute to the underlying problem. Organisations should identify and better understand how to attract, develop, and retain female talent at all levels.

5. Overcoming Bias

Tech Reporter

Current advice is to make sure that your computer and linked cloud services are protected with software and support services to prevent cybercrime attacks. Another vulnerable frontier is the router. The popular Draytek routers among home office users and small businesses have been found vulnerable to malware that allows cybercriminals to remotely take over the router.

While major malware incidents make headlines in the media, router vulnerabilities are not as publicised, but outcomes of the violations could be immensely damaging to businesses. If a router at a business at which access control was managed over the internet, the compromised router would give cybercriminals access to the internal network. Leveraging past insecure firmware updates, criminals could gain access without detection, and tamper with or steal items and documents.

ernment, but they still hold a treasure trove of personal data, and are linked to ‘bigger fish’, making them ideal targets for malicious actors wanting to harvest information for illegal use or for ransom,” Bolzonello says.

that many domestic workers lost their jobs during Covid, and many households have elected either not to re-employ workers full-time, or not to employ domestic workers at all. Women make up 39% of global employment but account for 54% of overall job losses as of May 2020. Kennedy provides the following insights:

1. Education

Investment in education from corporates, educational institutions, and government will provide opportunities for women to gain skills and

Unconscious discrepancies have been inculcated in society for both males and females in terms of which gender is better suited for different types of work and thinking. Boston has slightly more female than male students; this ratio needs to be represented in positions of authority in the workplaces.

Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Make a positive difference for women. Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

A compromised router also makes it possible for cybercriminals to snoop on non-encrypted internet traffic, redirecting DNS requests to attacker-controlled servers, making it possible for external parties to access unprotected internal resources and devices, particularly those with weak passwords. This leads to credentials theft, intellectual property and competitive information.

This type of criminal access also leads to third parties being compromised, such as clients, suppliers or other entities in a shared supply chain.

Trellix South Africa country lead Carlo Bolzonello says attacks via compromised routers are most frequently targeted at companies with small or medium-sized digital infrastructure, such as independent law firms, private clinics and healthcare facilities, agencies and even news organisations.

“These organisations may feel a false sense of security because they don’t think they are as big or important to cybercriminals as big corporates or gov-

He adds that while the attacks that make the news are usually about big companies, cybercriminals know that these organizations typically have a living security solution in place, with extended detection and response protocols (XDR) in place.

“That is why they are content to turn their attention to small environments that are easier to access, and more likely to pay a ransom because they don’t want to attract negative attention from clients,” Bolzonello says.

Small businesses can access XDR solutions, which integrate security products into cohesive systems, providing a holistic but simple view of threats across a business’s entire technology stack, including its routers.

“The growing shift to work from home, which means that privately owned routers are linking into business networks makes it more imperative for enterprises of all sizes to have a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Every business, no matter its size, needs to protect its technology assets, including all endpoints, mobile, network and cloud workloads,” Bolzonello says.

Kennedy Ndlovu

Country lead for Trellix South Africa Carlo Bolzonello

UJ principal appointed UN varsity rector

Johannesburg - University of Johannesburg’s vice-chancellor and principal Professor Tshilidzi Marwala has been appointed as the seventh rector of the United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo, Japan.

The decision followed consultations with the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay and UN secretary-general António Guterres.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation Minister

Dr Naledi Pandor said she does not doubt that he will do South Africa and Africa proud by leading the UNU to greater heights.

“I have the confidence that through his leadership the university will further contribute through collaborative research and education to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare,” Pandor said.

The UNU is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation headquartered in Japan.

City introduces LED streetlights

Johannesburg - By the end of July more than 2 000 light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights had been fitted in areas across the city, according to the City.

The LED units conserve significant power and provide light that shines further, which also bolsters security initiatives.

work and dealing with outages and cable theft,” he said. Meanwhile Joburg Water is implementing a plan to replace old asbestos cement piping infrastructure with either UPVC or steel pipes in central and north of Joburg.

The mission of the UNU is to contribute to efforts to resolve global problems of human survival, development and welfare.

Marwala succeeds Professor David Malone of Canada, who has served since 2013.

He holds a doctorate specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Engineering from the University of Cambridge, a Master of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University.

Chair of the UJ council Mike Teke said: “We congratulate Prof Marwala on this outstanding achievement and are proud that one of our own has attained such an honour.”

Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Michael Sun said: “This project is beginning to improve the city’s energy position and positively impact the lives of residents.”

On average the LED units save five times more energy than the old streetlight technology that is being replaced, which reduces pressure on the network, conserves energy and helps prevent power outages.

Sun added that the units also have built-in meters that will measure consumption in Eskom-supplied areas to prevent relying on estimations when billing is processed.

“With a 10 to 15-year lifespan the LED units will save City Power significant maintenance hours that can be redirected to upgrading the net-

Knifeman arrested for murder

Johannesburg - On Sunday police arrested a 36-year-old man for alleged murder near the Wanderers taxi rank at corner Noord and Wanderers streets.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the suspect allegedly stabbed a 34-yearold man once in the upper body.

“The victim was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injury. The suspect was fighting with another man and the deceased tried to stop the fight when he was

stabbed. The suspect was arrested through the help of the community who alerted the police. He tried to flee but was cornered and arrested, and investigation is underway,” Mbele said.

He added that Johannesburg Central station commander Brigadier Perumal commended good working relationship between the police and the community. “He urged the community to keep being eyes and ears in the fight against crime,” he said.

Technical teams have completed assessment of sections of the network with asbestos cement piping and initiating a project to replace these sections. The work is being monitored by the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department (EISD).

Sun said the project is to be rolled out in the north of Johannesburg and flash points like Randburg.

He explained that the decadesold infrastructure is not designed to withstand the rapid opening and closing of the system during upgrades and routine maintenance.

“A planned outage owing to scheduled piping upgrades in Craigavon caused incessant outages in the vicinity for several days owing to asbestos cement pipe bursts. Asbestos cement piping is particularly susceptible to bursts in winter ow-

ing to its rigidity. We understand outage to any service is a major inconvenience and even minor water stoppages are a disaster. This is why we will be replacing the pipes with either UPVC or steel pipes to bring a permanent solution. The Joburg Water teams will ensure this is a seamless exercise, and residents must be patient as this is to be shortterm pain for long-term gain as we upgrade the system,” Sun said.

Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Michael Sun

Professor Tshilidzi Marwala

AWIEF Awards finalists announced

Johannesburg - An independent panel of judges that included two past African Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Lifetime Achievement Award winners have selected the 24 finalists across eight categories.

These outstanding women entrepreneurs and business leaders represent companies from a diverse range of sectors and operating in 12 African countries that include South Africa, Cameroon, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria,

Senegal,Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony and gala dinner, sponsored by Amazon Web Services (AWS) at the AWIEF2022 conference on 26 and 27 September in Cairo, Egypt and also virtually.

For the Young Entrepreneur Award the finalists are Gisèla Van Houcke, founder and CEO of Zuri Luxury Hair and Beauty, DR Congo; Nadine Farrag, CEO and founder of Farahy, Egypt; and Stacey Onyango, director of Minkoti Agencies Limited, Kenya.

For the Tech Entrepreneur Award they are Faith Mokgalaka, founder and CEO of Puno Greenery, South Africa; Sahar Salama, founder and CEO of TPAY Mobile, Egypt; and Thato Mabudusha Schermer, cofounder and CEO of Zoie Health Technologies, South Africa.

For the Agri Entrepreneur Award they are Esther Kimani, founder of Farmer Lifeline Technologies, Kenya; Grace Kariuki, CEO of Origen Group, Kenya; and Korka Diaw, president of Réseau des Agricultrices du Nord, Senegal.

For the Energy Entrepreneur Award it is Diana Mbogo, managing director of Millennium Engineers Enterprises Limited, Tanzania; Judith Marera, founder and CEO of Lanforce Energy, Zimbabwe; and Mona Al Adawy, found-

Programme to refine business growth

er and CEO of GeoEnergy Petroleum Services, Egypt.

In the Creative Industry Award there is Abai Schulze, founder and creative director of ZAAF Collection, Ethiopia; Barbara KambaNyathi, CEO for Bold Dialogue, Zimbabwe; and Vénicia Guinot, chairwoman of Tropics Group of Companies, South Africa.

For the Social Entrepreneur Award it is Barbara Afia, founder of Honour-Barbara Centre for Speech, Ghana;

Johanna Cloete, managing director of GEN Namibia, Namibia; and Lumbie Mlambo, founder and CEO of JB Dondolo, Zimbabwe.

In the Empowerment Award there is Martha Alade, founder, Women in Technology in Nigeria (WITIN), Nigeria; Teresa Njoroge, founder and CEO of Clean Start Solution, Kenya; and Velveeta Viban, founder and executive director of I’m Human Org, Cameroon.

The Lifetime Achievement Award has Dalia Ibrahim, CEO of Nahdet Misr Publishing House, Egypt; Manal Amin, CEO of Arabize, Egypt; Nomhle Mliswa, CEO of Summerhill Farms, Zimbabwe.

Tavern burglars arrested in CBD

“Investigation revealed that the suspects broke into the Jozi City basement tavern and stole the music system”

Johannesburg - On Monday police arrested three suspects between the ages of 37 and 40 for business breaking and possession of suspected stolen property at corner Kruis and Commissioner streets in the Joburg CBD.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said officers on routine crime prevention noticed three suspicious men carrying music system gadgets and loading them into a Kia bakkie.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects broke into the Jozi City basement tavern and stole the music system, and investigation is underway,” he said.

He added that Johannesburg Central station commander Brigadier Perumal commended swift response in arresting the suspects.

Johannesburg - The SAB Foundation has called for entrepreneurs to apply to its Tholoana Enterprise Programme.

The foundation’s entrepreneurship development mission is to unlock business development support and investment that helps entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses that can create jobs.

This year, the foundation recruits up to 60 entrepreneurs from different industry sectors to join the programme, prioritising those from businesses owned and managed by women, youth, people living in rural areas and those with disabilities. Participants will be supported in refining their growth strategy, setting up business systems, improving investment readiness and unlocking market access opportunities.

Participants will receive extensive entrepreneurial skills development, mentorship,and access to investment and market activation support.

Among the eligibility criteria are that the business is operational and has been trading for at least 12 months; it is black-owned and managed; and is headquartered and registered in South Africa. Applications are also welcome from businesses working in sectors such as agriculture, export, manufacturing, food processing, water, energy and waste management.

SAB Foundation entrepreneurship development programme manager Xoliswa Moraka says entrepreneurs who participate in the Tholoana Enterprise Programme enter the programme seeking solutions to help scale their growth.

“To succeed and sustain that growth they require strategic, personalised and comprehensive support to help realise their full potential,” Moraka adds.

Since 2015, the Tholoana Enterprise Programme has impacted hundreds of small businesses across South Africa. Entrepreneurs who have been through the programme have consistently increased their performance. In 2020 the small businesses supported through the programme employed an estimated 2 442 people, and have a combined turnover of R326 million.

Applications are open and will close on 31 August. For more visit https://sabfoundation.co.za/tholoana-enterprise-programme.

Winners of the previous AWIEF awards display their medals

Programme manager Xoliswa Moraka

“Determine what your career aspirations are and find mentors who can help you obtain skills you need. Efforts are being made for the engineering industry to transform. Many women excel in the industry and have paved the way for others to have better experiences than they did. Diversity brings strength and more women are needed in the industry. There are many roles as an engineer, you just need to find one that suits you.”

Engineer shares her journey

Johannesburg - A female civil engineer has shared her experiences this Women’s Month.

The engineer with Zutari engineering services, Tshegofatso Sibambato, who completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering at Wits University, says the main challenge as a black, female engineer is the constant need to prove herself.

“You need to fight for what you believe you deserve, and ensure a solid support structure. The lens through which you are observed is more magnified than that used for males, and because of that you fear failing,” she says.

She adds that she was inspired to study engineering due to love for science and mathematics and believed that it was for her.

“I want to be part of building our country through implementation of infrastructure services. Service delivery remains a huge concern for most communities and this speaks to the vast opportunities for us as engineers to implement projects to provide services,” Sib-

Aspiring entrepreneurs urged to enter contest

All participants who enter the competition will be provided with training material on how to develop a business plan, how to execute a marketing strategy and compile a cash flow forecast

Johannesburg - The competition, hosted by business financier Business Partners and entrepreneurship content engine, SME Toolkit is an annual initiative that has brought resources to start a business to hundreds of young South African entrepreneurs since its inception in 2010.

The recent Global Entrepreneurship Monitor revealed that education and training are among the most pressing challenges for aspiring local entrepreneurs. An investment into skills development and knowledge sharing is therefore key to stimulating growth within the SME sector, it said.

ambato says.

Her role is geared towards being a project leader and managing the planning, executing, monitoring and controlling processes. She is also a design engineer focusing mainly on storm water drainage design.

Her message to women who are considering a similar career is to always remember why they want to be an engineer and keep remembering that.

“Create networks of individuals who have your best interest at heart and will help you succeed. Determine what your career aspirations are and find mentors who can help you obtain the skills you need. Efforts are being made for the engineering industry to transform. Many women excel in the industry and have paved the way for others to otherwise have better experiences than they did. Diversity brings strength and more women are needed in the industry. There are many roles as an engineer, you just need to find one that suits you,” Sibambato says.

Executive manager for Impact Investing at Business Partners David Morobe says as an engine for economic growth, the small business sector is a critical contributor to the development and wellbeing of South African society.

“The entrepreneurs of today are the big business owners of tomorrow. They play a critical role in defining how society lives, works and ultimately contributes to the growth of the economy. Providing training opportunities for these individuals is the collective responsibility of the private and public sectors as well as all stakeholders along the value chain,” Morobe says.

Business Partners’ SME Index for 2022 first quarter listed lack of skills as one of the most prominent challenges to the growth of the SME sector.

Morobe adds that although much public discourse focuses on the prevalent and visible need for funding, the key to entrepreneurial success is not always money, but access to support, information and skills to start and run a business in

South Africa’s challenging socioeconomic environment.

“We are honoured to once again provide an opportunity for business-minded individuals to hone their skills, gain access to professional expertise and learn the fundamentals of how to build a successful business in South Africa. We have designed the competition not only to offer a reward for innovative ideas but also as a training programme for future entrepreneurs,” says Morobe.

The competition is open to aspiring entrepreneurs who have a business idea they would like to explore.

All participants who enter the competition will be provided with training material on how to develop a business plan, how to execute a marketing strategy and compile a cash flow forecast.

This material will be supported by a series of workshops and group discussions in August and September this year.

“The annual competition consists of three phases, starting with a fullday workshop where entrants will be taught the intricacies of developing a sound business plan. The workshops, which will be hosted at different regions across South Africa, will also cover all essential elements of starting a business, including business management, marketing, financial management and legal requirements,” Morobe adds.

The competition and relevant training sessions will be facilitated digitally using online support, although participants will also have the option of attending physical workshops if geographically possible. The training component of

the competition will culminate in the submission of business plans by the entrants in November.

In the final phase of the competition, the submitted business plans will be assessed and adjudicated to arrive at a list of finalists and ultimately a national winner, with a number of different cash and mentorship voucher prizes being awarded in February 2023.

“Previous entrants have found the training sessions and workshops incredibly inspiring and motivational. We encourage any aspiring entrepreneur to enter and benefit from the valuable insights and knowledge to be gained. The small businesses of future will contribute to alleviating some of the most pressing issues we face as a nation. And we believe in the ability of the entrepreneurs who leverage this opportunity to succeed, and to become engines for economic growth and job creation,” Morobe adds.

The entry form is on the site https:// www.smetoolkit.co.za/bpcomp.

Impact Investing manager at Business Partners David Morobe

Engineer Tshegofatso Sibambato

Actor debuts music single

Arts Correspondent

Actor Nkosinathi Maphalala recently launched his official debut single titled I'll be there, in collaboration with Bombay Sapphire.

Maphalala, popularly known as Nay Maps, was in the company of a guest list that included his friends, family members and celebrities at White Lounge in Sunninghill.

Nay Maps’ music had been anticipated by fans as he had been giving snippets of his talent in music. He comes from a musical family. His late father, an apostle, Simeon Maphalala, as well as his mother, Xoliswa Maphalala have been musicians.

Nay Maps said as a boy his parents would make him sing at events.

“They would push me to perform on stage as they saw the gift I possessed with music and storytelling,” he said.

A tribute to women’s endurance

Lusanda Zokufa

The second installation of the Women’s Month celebration production is the Pulitzer Prize winning play titled Ruined by Lynn Nottage at the Market Theatre up to 4 September, directed by theatre and TV writer and director Clive Mathibe.

The award-winning ensemble includes film leading ladies and gents, Hlengiwe Madlala; Shoki Mmola, 2022 SAFTA best actress in TV soap Skeem Saam; Fulu Mugovhani; Samu Maseko; Molefe Monaisa; Edward Nkumishe; Thapelo Sebogodi, best known as Kabzela in The River; Anele Situlweni and Vaughn Callaway, who starred in Legacy. Musical force Banda Banda joins the design team as musical director and composer,

making his debut in theatre.

Lynn Nottage’s Ruined is set in a small mining town in DR Congo. It follows a life of the tenacious Mama Nadi, a businesswoman who is trying to stay afloat in a world torn apart by civil war.

Mama Nadi takes “damaged” girls into her brothel/bar and profits from them, but also protects them from the brutality of the world outside her doors.

As such, the women do a fragile dance between hope and disillusionment in an attempt to navigate life on the edge of an unforgiving conflict. We also meet soldiers on both sides of the conflict, frequent customers at Mama’s bar.

Ruined was developed during playwright Lynn Nottage’s pilgrimage to Africa, where she interviewed

girls and women who continue to be the battleground upon which war is fought.

Nottage is a multi-award-winning American author, a graduate of New York’s High School of Music and Art in Harlem. Her plays are being produced worldwide.

Ruined offers a graphic portrait of women as lasting victims of war but also shines the light on the resilience women have after the suffering inflicted on them. Without minimizing the pain, the production becomes a tribute to women’s endurance.

This gut-wrenching production was made possible by support from Eyesizwe Mining Development Trust.

For more information on the production call 011 832 1641ext 203.

Theatre presents pantomime

Bongani Maseko

Writer and director Janice Honeyman’s 27th annual pantomime Adventures in Pantoland on the Nelson Mandela Theatre stage of Joburg Theatre marks the finale of Joburg Theatre’s 60th anniversary.

Honeyman says: “When Joburg Theatre invited me to create a new pantomime for its 60th anniversary I became excited and buzzing with ideas in accepting the challenge. This year’s show will be a mash-up mega-mix of pantomimes, where popular characters such as Princess Aurora, Aladdin, Snow White and Jack the Joller meet on stage with the Wicked Queen Evilina, the abominable Uncle Abanazar, Madame

Kakkeloura Khakibos and the crooked Captain Hideosa hook in a quest adventure to retain the golden goblet of goodness. Adventures in Pantoland is an epic journey of traditional good versus evil; obviously good wins in the end.”

Producer of the show Bernard Jay, in his 21st consecutive pantomime collaboration with Janice Honeyman, says: “With all the breath-taking spectacle, magical storytelling, over-the-top comedy and outrageous topical references that Joburg Theatre audiences have grown to expect from the annual pantomime, this year’s panto will once again be the ideal family outing to the theatre.”

The cast features Michelle Botha, Dylan du Plessis, David Ar-

nold Johnson, Didintle Khunou, Ilse Klink, Hlengiwe Lushaba Madlala, Carmen Pretorius, Brenda Radloff, Justin Swartz, Grant Towers and Ben Voss.

Production designer Andrew Timm, Naledi Theatre Award winner for his designs of the pantomime Cinderella in 2021, will be returning to transform Joburg Theatre’s technology into a magical wonderland of globallytravelled adventures, along with panto veteran costume designer Bronwen Lovegrove.

Adventures in Pantoland will be on The Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre from November 6 to December 24.

For more information visit the website www.joburgtheatre.com or call telephone 0861 670 670.

The story behind his debut single is an illustration of how two people look to be in a relationship, and all they have is each other’s word. It also stems from how he discovered that some women he had been in a relationship with feared losing him. He poetically expresses how he will be there for his lady no matter what. This is the official start of his music career. He has come a long way

from his beginnings on Uzalo and has evolved. His career opportunities have only become more abundant, and he is currently preparing for Season 2 of Umkhokha on Mzansi Magic and Showmax.

“I am honoured to share this intimate piece of me with people I love, family and friends, and I hope the rest of South Africa will also appreciate what I have been meaning to share with them. There are a few things in the pipeline that cannot be mentioned for now, but be on the lookout for exciting projects I’ll be sharing when time is right,” he said.

Musician releases single

Siphokazi Hana, popularly known as Hana Omalicha, has released her single titled Thanda Wena under the umbrella of Splash Records Worldwide.

Her single is set to be available in all music platforms and stores this month. Other songs from her

and label mates will follow suit. She is available on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram as Hana Omalicha, and also on YouTube.

For more contact Gordon Splash on 073 453 4488 or gordensplash@gmail.com

Part of a scene in the Ruined production

Actor Nkosinathi Maphalala

Musician Siphokazi Hana

Women’s race celebrates Women’s Day

Johannesburg - Over 20 000 women lined the streets of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban on Tuesday to celebrate National Women’s Day on the Totalsports Women’s Race in support of PinkDrive.

Founded in 2001, this was the second time the race celebrated the day across three cities.

Glenrose Xaba won the 10 kilometre race in Johannesburg. She crossed the finishing line at Mark’s Park in Emmarentia in 34 minutes and 36 seconds.

“I entered the race because it celebrates Women’s Day and PinkDrive.

I am thankful for the support we received. It meant a lot to defend the title I won in 2019. Winning today shows that I am dedicated and disciplined, and that I am in good shape after having a lot of injuries over the past two years,” she said.

Irvette van Zyl came second, while Cacisine Sosebo finished third.

Fortunate Chidzivo won the race at Grand Parade, Cape Town in 35 minutes 28 seconds.

“I did my first Totalsports Women’s Race in 2016 in Stellenbosch and fin-

ished sixth. It feels amazing to win it. I won the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon, and this is my second big race. I am proud to take part in a Women’s Race on Women’s Day. It’s important to stay healthy and I couldn’t wait to line up with thousands of women. I will definitely come back next year,” she said.

Nolene Conrad came second, while Anél Terblanche finished third.

Tayla Kavanagh won the race in Durban at Kings Park Athletics Track in 33 minutes 11 seconds.

“We ran together for the first kilometre and then I decided to pull away. From there it just felt like a training run for me. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate Women’s Day than with a whole bunch of beautiful ladies running together,” she said. Jenna Challenor came second, while Nwabisa Mjoli finished third.

Head of Totalsports Jonathan Stein said: “We had a fantastic time celebrating the day with thousands of runners and walkers across three cities. Congratulations to Glenrose Xaba, Fortunate Chidzivo and Tayla Kavanagh for winning the race.”

Some of the participants in the Women’s Day race