Inner City Gazette

Development programme hosts entrepreneurs

‘The development interventions are tailored to each business based on the outcomes of the assessment, which identifies any business gaps and developmental areas. The support is extended to their management team to assist in transferring the skills’

Johannesburg - The next group of 19 small business entrepreneurs have been taken into the fourth Enterprise Supplier Development Programme (ESDP) by IT services and consulting group Accenture.

The two-year programme focuses on developing the skills of entrepreneurial businesses to increase the economic participation and growth of black-owned SMEs within Accenture’s supply chain and access to the mainstream economy.

ESDP lead for Accenture in Africa

Zandile Njamela said: “We learn of joblessness and shocking statistics of unemployment in the country. None of us foresaw that in 2022 more than 63% of our youth will not be contributing to the economy. This is both a job crisis and widespread skills deficit pandemic.”

She added that Covid-19 has ravaged the business landscape, particularly for smaller businesses.

“We are responsible for rebuilding the landscape by harnessing the ingenuity of our people, developing their skills and unleashing the value they can bring. We are caretakers

of our global business village. We believe that we must become part of the solution by developing much needed skills among entrepreneurs. When small businesses are wellequipped with the necessary skills, they can employ more people and our nation can become more prosperous and far more competitive,” said Njamela.

Accenture believes that big companies must proactively engage with the smaller businesses in their communities and treat supplier diversity and inclusion as crucial goals and an essential part of the company’s procurement strategy.

Njamela said the programme provides a blueprint for a more inclusive and empowered marketplace.

“We are achieving excellent results with the ESDP by developing the skills of black-owned entrepreneurial businesses. This is why our theme for this class is Access to Market, where we make a considerable effort to convert the participants into business partners and suppliers. Diversity can help unlock value far exceeding traditional sup-

ply chain cost savings. It boosts competitiveness and innovation, builds consumer loyalty, attracts talent and is for the overall betterment of society,” Njamela said.

She added that Accenture implements inclusive procurement practices to create long-term value for their clients and communities.

“The ESDP contributes to our broader business context and is an extension of our business. It is not mere compliance or benevolence. Inclusivity helps us remain agile, disruptive and ahead of the market. We are building these businesses so that they can become our partners and help us in our offering, gain our bottom-line benefit, and ultimately benefit all of South Africa. The SMEs gain access to Accenture’s resources, including our people, knowledge base, methodologies, technologies, and global network, as the whole of Accenture contributes to growing their business. It gives them a route to market, working hand in hand with a global business leader, adding value to clients and our nation,” she added.

Njamela said the development interventions are tailored to each business based on the outcomes of the assessment, which identifies any business gaps and developmental areas.

The development support is extended to their management team to assist in transferring the skills.

Njamela advised the candidates to seize every opportunity on this programme and soak up their mentors’ wisdom and business insights, in addition to the technical and soft skills they acquire.

“The mentors have honed their skills over the years, and now our ESDP SMEs will have unhindered access to this wealth of knowledge. These SMEs can harness this gem and reap the long-term business benefits from this learning. May each entrepreneur enjoy and find value in their participation. May each mentor find fulfilment in shaping a future business leader, and may our clients reap the value as our SMEs enter the marketplace as our supply chain partners. I wish them all the best,” Njamela said.

ESDP lead for Accenture in Africa

Zandile Njamela

SMEs vulnerable to cyber attacks

do your homework beFore you apply For a job: an interview with ryan mansour, senior associate with benchmark international

Ryan Mansour is a Senior Associate for a Merger’s & Acquisitions firm, called Benchmark International. “My role is primarily to lead a team of professionals in preparing for a project to be presented to the market. I need to ensure that all responsible teams meet their timelines, and the quality is up to standard. My role includes client relationships and managing expectations.”

Benchmark International is one of the world’s leading merger and acquisitions specialists specializing in the sale of midmarket companies. With offices throughout the world, we are in touch with all the major acquirers and consolidators who are constantly seeking both on and off market opportunities across all sectors. Our unique and dynamic international offering presents our clients with unparalleled global coverage, allowing them access through our exclusive databases and business intelligence facilities to both international markets and local representation. Our clients include entrepreneurs and owner managed businesses.

Benchmark have used the Boston City Campus Graduate Support Services department with great success, and it is for this reason they have continued the mutually beneficial relationship!

The types of positions they have filled include 2 Outreach Analyst positions, Reception Position, and Point of Contact Assistant. Ryan continues, praising the department, “We have been absolutely blown away by this experience. Jeannette has been so exceptional in assisting us to find the right candidates for the role. She ensures they meet

the requirements of the role and that they have a good personality. She is VERY responsive on email and her turn-around time is better than that of a recruitment company.”

Ryan speaks highly of the Graduate Services Department, both in terms of the service they offer to corporates who have vacancies to fill, but also in terms of the guiding

and mentoring the department offers to Boston Graduates. “This programme is so incredible that it allows students to potentially find employment opportunities. Students are offered such a unique service at no extra cost to them. I would without a doubt recommend corporates to fill their workplace placement opportunities.”

Jeannette Campbell, Head of the department says, “The Graduate Support Services Office is mandated to provide a range of free services to all Boston Graduates in the first year after graduating. We are confident these services will enhance our students’ journey into the world of work by providing them with the tools they need to assist them in securing employment. These services are offered to our graduates who have completed any programme at Boston.”

Jeanette obtains very specific details from corporates that she deals with, including what qualities they will be looking for in their new recruits. Ryan says that for Benchmark, they will look for “Three important qualities in a new recruit? Ambition, professionalism and eagerness to learn”. And the type of person they would like to hire? Personality type required for success at Benchmark international? Someone with “Patience, resilience and tenacity in working in high-pressure situations with the ability to handle a rigorous schedule of deadlines.

A common lament from new Graduates is that corporates require experience before they will hire someone. What does Ryan think about experience vs training?

“Training is key when deciding on placing a candidate. Experience comes with time, but I employ for attitude and teach the skill.”

A recent report by international cyber security company Surfshark indicates that South Africa has the sixth highest rate of cyber-crime victims worldwide.

Consumers have been warned to remain vigilant when visiting websites and making online transactions.

For small businesses, this is a warning to avoid becoming complacent when it comes to web security.

Head of 1-grid.com web hosting company Thomas Vollrath says small businesses are attractive targets for cybercriminals because they often lack the security precautions larger organisations use.

“Securing your website is not complicated, there are a variety of affordable and user-friendly security solutions for small businesses to invest in,” Vollrath says.

Anti-virus provider Kaspersky said in 2022 SMEs faced a 69% increase in Password Stealing Ware detections. They are also prone to internet attacks, web pages that redirect to exploits, and other malicious programmes.

In recent months 1-grid has also seen a significant increase in malware, often included in email at-

tachments, which can compromise passwords and personal data when opened.

“Ignoring web security can leave businesses open to attacks, which can negatively impact their reputation and profits. In some cases, it can even have legal consequences. An SSL certificate protects customer data by encrypting information like credit card details, logins, and other sensitive information, which prevents it from being accessed by unauthorised people on the internet,” Vollrath says.

In addition to protecting customers, an SSL certificate also helps to increase Google ranking. Google favours HTTPS-encrypted websites and will rank them higher in search results. As a result, consumers are more likely to find the brand when searching for deals on products and services. Domains that are not HTTPS secure are flagged by Google, which discourages consumers from making payments or sharing their data on the website.

“If consumers know that their information is protected they are more likely to do business with you. Additional layers of security like two-factor authentication and one-time pins help to get customers convinced that you ensure that their data is safe,” Vollrath adds.

1-grid.com head Thomas Vollrath Tech Reporter

‘Small businesses are attractive targets for cybercriminals because they often lack the security precautions larger organisations use’

R60 million for new buses

Bank offers free internship for students

From August students will also be able to enrol in programmes covering retail and investment banking, software development, engineering, and data science

Johannesburg - Standard Bank is launching a new virtual internships initiative to help students gain practical skills that mirrors work in the world of banking. There are no due dates to the programmes, registration for the internship is free for students, and they are open to all.

The first self-paced programmes, which only take roughly five hours to complete, offer video-guided training for skills in job searching, business communication and networking, personal branding, interview preparation, and more. Once completed successfully the students receive certificates they can add to their resumes.

From August, students will also be able to enrol in programmes covering retail and investment banking, software development, engineering, and data science. Head of youth development at Standard Bank Maymoona Ismail says many young individuals take up opportunities without a clear understanding of the industry or what skills the jobs require.

“The programmes aim to bridge this gap between education and industry. We want to empower young individuals with the right skills required in the modern world of work,” she said.

For more info visit the website https://bit.ly/SBWorkReadiness.

Killer gets two life jail terms

Johannesburg - The South Gauteng High Court recently sentenced a 28-year-old man to two life terms for murder, 15 years for possession of an unlicensed firearm and three years for possession of unlicensed ammunition.

Cleveland police spokesperson Captain Johan Jordaan said the man, Malibongwe Zakwe, was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.

“On 2 August 2020 he shot and killed a man and wounded another at a house in Malvern. The case was handed to Detective Warrant Officer Patrick Raletsemo for investigation, who later received information that Zakwe was hiding in KwaZulu Natal.

Johannesburg - The City of Joburg has allocated R60 million to Metrobus for the purchase of new buses in the coming financial year.

Transport MMC Funzela Ngobeni says the purchases are part of a longer-term strategy to renew the fleet. He says planning for procurement of the new buses will begin in the current financial year.

“The lead time between placement of an order and delivery of the new buses from manufacturers will be between six and 10 months,” he says.

International standards indicate that a bus can have a lifespan of 12 years; however, owing to financial challenges Metrobus finds itself with a number of buses operating in excess of 15 years.

Ngobeni states commitment to seek a solution in bridging the gap between the funds requested and the funds allocated, including al-

ternative funding mechanisms and revenue-generating initiatives.

“Owing to budgetary constraints affecting every government sphere, department and entity, the changes I oversee at Metrobus will have to be incremental but I am confident that we will make progress in improving Metrobus services,” Ngobeni says.

Metrobus has just concluded a successful three-year bus refurbishment programme. By the end of June, the entity had refurbished 105 buses against a target of 100 buses, at a cost of R49.4 million, against a project budget allocation of R49.8 million. During the 2021/22 financial year, 35 buses were refurbished, translating to R19.7 million spent against a budget of R20 million. These buses are currently operating most of the Metrobus trips. A further R22 million has been allocated in the new financial year to refurbish additional buses.

Man arrested for cellphone insurance scam

Johannesburg - Police working in conjuction with private financial crime investigators arrested a 24-year-old man for perjury on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the man allegedly submitted a false claim to his insurance company on 3 June; stating that he was robbed of his Huawei

Raletsemo went to KZN and arrested him. He was found in possession of the firearm that was used in the murder, and was taken to court,” Jordaan said.

He added that Cleveland police management welcome the conviction and congratulates the investigation officer.

“Criminals will get what they deserve and Cleveland SAPS will always serve the community with pride. We urge the community to always come forward with information that can help to arrest suspects and stop all forms of crime. The community can phone the police as soon as possible on 10111 or Cleveland SAPS at 011 607 5745/6 or Crime stop 08600 10111,” Jordaan said.

Two life jail terms for abusing children

Pretoria - The High Court in Pretoria recently sentenced a man to two life terms and 83 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to raping his own children and using them for pornography.

The court sentenced the 41-year-old father for sexual assault, possession and production of child pornography, among other offences.

The court heard that the offences took place in their home when the mother of the

children was at work and the children were left in the man’s care. He was arrested last year after one of the children told a relative about their ordeal, who then reported the matter to the police.

The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Lumka Mahanjana said: “The father pleaded guilty to all 426 charges that were laid against him; where he committed these offences against his two stepsons and a daughter between 2012 and 2021.”

cellphone in the CBD on 27 May.

“The phone was blacklisted and he gave the insurance a false case number. Financial crime investigators noticed that the same SIM card was used to call the allegedly stolen cellphone. Investigation revealed that the cellphone was being used by the suspect’s partner. The cellphone was recovered and

he was arrested,” Mbele said.

He added that Johannesburg Central station commander Brigadier Perumal commended good working relationship between the police and other law enforcement agencies.

“He urged the community to refrain from opening false cases as it is a criminal offence,” he said.

Transport MMC Funzela Ngobeni

Youth development head Maymoona Ismail

NPO invites volunteers to building initiative

During the BuildForMadiba Season, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in the transformative experience of creating safe spaces for people to live in. This involvement is lifechanging for beneficiaries and the participants.

Johannesburg - Global NPO Habitat for Humanity is inviting sponsors and volunteers to participate in its 2022 #BuildForMadiba season.

Hosted in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the event is held annually during Mandela Month from 18 to 22 July.

Supported by the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, volunteers will work alongside communities to build housing as part of a worldwide effort to eliminate shelter poverty.

Habitat for Humanity SA interim executive director Cyrus Watuku says special focus will be given to rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed during the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal in April.

“In the short term we aim to restore the most critical basic necessities and dignity of those affected, while in the longer term we will be

working on restoring or replacing the damaged houses. Adequate and affordable housing is an important component of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and an essential driver for achieving many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Housing is a basic human need and having a safe, decent and sustainable house is the first step on the ladder out of poverty for lowincome families,” Watuku says.

During the upcoming #BuildForMadiba Season, volunteers will have the opportunity to participate in the transformative experience of creating safe spaces for people to live in.

This involvement is often described as life-changing for both beneficiaries and participants.

“This is social responsibility in action, offering volunteers the opportunity to understand and participate in community development from the ground up,” Watuku says.

Habitat for Humanity SA chairperson

Kgotla Bantsi says access to affordable housing ly addresses the fundamental human need for shelter, and also addresses other important human needs such as dignity and hope.

“Our build events play a significant role in contributing towards the fulfilment of these life-enhancing needs. They also contribute to enhancing social cohesion in the communities we work with,” Bantsi says.

The #BuildForMadiba Season offers an important way for volunteers from various backgrounds to participate in the experience of building homes and interacting directly with low-income beneficiaries and the broader community. In particular, it provides a transformational team-building opportunity for corporates, enabling teams to engage with homeowners and their communities, and forge lasting relationships.

Up to 10 volunteers are allocated to each site per day and up to 50 people from a sponsor company can volunteer for the programme. The foundations are laid prior to the start of the season, and over the five-day period volunteers work with qualified construction personnel to put basic structures into place, building the external and interior walls up to the roof plate. Construction of each house takes four to six weeks from site clearing to occupation, and each family receives a 40m2 house with two bedrooms and a lounge, kitchen and bathroom.

Corporate sponsorships are intended to cover the full cost of construction, including the #BuildForMadiba experience for up to 50 employees per site; skills development and employment for local community members. Crew leaders and logistics personnel are recruited from the community to assist with various tasks throughout the week.

For more visit the site https://habitat.org.za/buildformadiba.

Student internship programme opens

Johannesburg - Global management company Kearney has called on final year university students to apply for its 2023 internship programme.

Over the course of the one-year programme, selected candidates will gain consulting experience in an office environment based at Kearney’s Johannesburg office and have the opportunity to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration part-time at the Gordon Institute of Business Science.

In a statement Kearney said it invites candidates currently in their final year of study within various leading industry sectors such as financial services, communications, media and digital technology, energy and process industries, and strategic and transformation operations in all engineering sectors.

Kearney Africa managing director Theo Sibiya said the internship programme is at the core of enabling positive outcomes.

“Growing careers we are proud of how this has brought change over the last couple of years,” he said.

Applications for the 2023 programme are now open until 20 August 2022.

For more visit the Kearney site.

CBD gunmen arrested

Johannesburg - On Sunday police arrested three suspects aged between 20 and 28 for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition at the Wanderers taxi rank in Wanderers Street in the CBD.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said police on patrol noticed three suspicious men changing direction when seeing the police.

“They searched them and recovered three unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The firearms are subjected to ballistic testing to ascertain if they were used in committing serious and violent crimes and investigation is underway,” Mbele said.

Johannesburg Central station commander Brigadier Perumal commended the work done by the police.

“He urged them to intensify search operations to curb proliferation of unlicensed firearms,” Mbele said.

Volunteers at work during a previous event

Kearney Africa managing director Theo Sibiya

New tool protects journalists from abuse

Johannesburg - The Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF) has launched a tool to strengthen journalists’ resilience to online violence.

This comes as journalists face escalating threats and targeted attacks, with 70% of female journalists receiving threats of violence online.

TRF CEO Antonio Zappulla says journalists’ mission of accurate and independent reporting is integral to the survival of democracy.

“It is imperative they have access to practical solutions that match the rapid evolution of the digital and legal warfare used to silence them,” he says.

Initiative to fight GBV launches

Johannesburg - An initiative to curb gender-based violence (GBV) called What about the boys was recently launched at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

The initiative plans to reach as many as 10 000 boys, and comes three years after the national outcry to end GBV following the murder of 19-year-old student Uyinene Mrwetyana in 2019.

South African crime statistics for last year indicate that of the 902 women murdered between October to December, 232 were linked to domestic violence.

Statistics South Africa’s Crimes Against Women in South Africa report of 2021 suggests that one in five women had experienced violence at the hands of their partners, and in 2015, the country’s femicide rate was nearly four times that of global figures.

The What about the boys initiative

is run by Primestars, a company that focuses on youth development through educational theatre, alongside Markhams, part of the Foschini group.

Markham’s head of marketing Nicol Rademeyer says growing GBV incidents have compelled them to take a stand.

“As a prominent men’s brand we believe that the future of the country depends on a nation of good men, who know right from wrong, and challenge toxic masculinity to protect those who cannot protect themselves by speaking out against violence inflicted on women and children,” Rademeyer says.

Markham’s involvement in the GBV fight is part of the company’s drive to create a better world.

“This is why three years ago we decided to stand up, not only for women and children, but for a better South Africa. Within five days of

Eight held for police officer’s murder

Johannesburg - Police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the murder of a Hillbrow police officer in Boksburg.

The late Sergeant Siyabonga Shabalala, 38, was driving with his sister in Windmill Park when they were hijacked by three suspects. The Hawks spokesperson Philani Nkwalase said the hijacked car was found in Vosloorus.

“The suspects allegedly pushed his sister out of the vehicle and shot the off-duty police officer before driving away with the injured policeman in his vehicle. His body was later found on an open field in the Mapleton area near R103 Old Heidelberg road. A cattle herder alerted the police when he saw the body with a gunshot wound on his lower stomach,” Nkwalase said.

Three suspects, Tumelo Molapo, 30, Laurence Marindze, 28, and Aubrey Shabalala, 42 were allegedly found stripping the hijacked vehicle and a firearm was also found on the premises. They appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of possession of the hijacked vehicle and vehicle parts as well as illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. Five more suspects aged between 23 and 30 were also arrested in Vosloorus for allegedly being involved in the killing of Shabalala.

“During a search three firearms were recovered including one Z88 pistol belonging to the deceased police sergeant. They along with the previously arrested trio face charges of murder, kidnapping and car hijacking,” said Nkwalase.

Uyinene’s murder we launched the Help! Don’t Harm! campaign and pledged to help change the future of South Africa,” Rademeyer says. The campaign has so far raised more than R6.3 million for social upliftment initiatives through the sale of masks and fashion merchandise.

“We are pleased that there are initiatives such as these and we hope that it helps reshape the minds of boys into what real masculinity is. We believe that all boys, and men, should be comfortable expressing their emotions in healthy ways, and be taught what it means to be a good man. That means standing up for what is right, displaying a righteous character and becoming the role model that so many boys in the country need,” Rademeyer adds. Markham has urged other corporates to join the fight against GBV by partnering with the initiative.

This is the first tool, called TRFilter, available to journalists and media practitioners to document and manage online abuse, enabling them to regain control of their social media feeds, take action against perpetrators and protect their well-being.

Developed in partnership with Google’s Jigsaw, TRFilter syncs with the user’s Twitter account and uses machine learning technology to automatically recognise and flag harmful comments. It limits journalists’ exposure to abusive content by allowing them to hide comments and block or mute accounts at scale, without reviewing the content. The tool also allows users to create reports to download and share with third parties as needed, for example their employer or law enforcement. While many journalists are harassed in deliberate efforts to control the free flow of information, women are disproportionately affected. Nearly three-quarters of women journalists have expe-

Cops to deal with road transgressors

Johannesburg - The Gauteng Traffic Police has vowed to intensity operations on major routes in an effort to deal with traffic transgressors.

Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said: “Gauteng Traffic Police will lead a series of road safety activations and operations across the province in order to save lives, and will ensure that all drivers who conduct themselves with impunity are detained.”

The police undertaking followed the recent arrest of two men who were allegedly speeding at an average of 130 to 134 kilometres per hour on a prescribed speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour. The men

aged 58 and 45 were arrested during an operation conducted along the N12 freeway in the Western corridor and were detained at Bekkersdal police station.

“It is unfortunate that drivers continue to put the lives of road users at risk through reckless and negligent driving. We urge drivers to always comply with the rules and regulations of the road in order to save lives,” Maremane said.

Many road fatalities the Gauteng province continues to record is due to vehicles that are not road worthy, unsafe overtaking, overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and general disregard of the rules of the road or road traffic sign among others, he said.

rienced online violence; threats include physical and sexual violence, and even death threats.

Last year, TRF partnered with UNESCO, the International Women’s Media Foundation and the International News Safety Institute to develop a range of practical and legal tools for journalists, media managers and newsrooms to address the challenges and strengthen responses to online and offline harassment.

In addition to English, new versions of these guides have been made available in Russian, Arabic, French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese.

This barrage of abuse, intended to discredit or silence journalists, can take a significant toll on the victims, impacting their mental health, affecting their physical well-being and leading to selfcensorship.

“The tool will empower journalists and media practitioners targeted by online violence around the world. The Foundation’s extensive experience of collaboration with global partners, combined with our ability to leverage the twin engines of media and the law, places us at the centre of international expertise to support media freedom and defend human rights. We will continue to protect journalists and the future of independent media, to strengthen free, fair and informed societies,” Zappulla adds.

Primestars MD Martin Stewart, Markham head of business Jenni Lee, Markham head of marketing Nicol Rademeyer and Primestars COO Nkosinathi Moshoana during the launch of the initiative

TRF CEO Antonio Zappulla

Traffic police spokesperson Sello Maremane

Platform to connect music communities

Johannesburg - Stimorol has released of a campaign which seeks to bridge the gap between music lovers and makers, called Stimorol FlowLab.

The campaign’s digital platform and workshops will allow aspiring musicians to connect with peers and hone their craft with the help of professionals such as Aubrey Qwana and Musa Keys.

Black Mambazo celebrates Madiba

Legendary Ladysmith Black

Mambazo will be performing in honour of late former president Nelson Mandela at the Joburg Theatre on July 17 in Braamfontein.

Mambazo will celebrate the life and times of a world-renowned political icon and leader with a live concert featuring their classic hit songs and new music.

The son of the late Joseph Shabalala who founded the group in 1964, Sibongiseni Shabalala says: “The late President Nelson Mandela was a big supporter of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He said that when he was on Robben Island, Ladysmith Black Mambazo was consoling them and giving them hope that one day South Africa will be free.”

He adds that Madiba also invited Ladysmith Black Mambazo to travel with him to Oslo when he was honoured with a Nobel peace prize. After that event Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo wrote a song in honour of Madiba being a recipient of a Nobel peace prize and being an international symbol of peace and unity. The song titled Long walk to freedom was a tribute to Mandela for being the first democratically elected president in South Africa.

“This show will also pay tribute

to our late father, the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo Professor Joseph Shabalala, who also believed in peace and love,” Shabalala says.

Albert Mazibuko, who has been with the isicathamiya group since it started says: “The concert also will also celebrate the 62-year legacy of Ladysmith Black Mambazo being in the music industry. The Celebrate Nelson Mandela concert is a celebration of what Mandela stood for, and so it is aimed at spreading the message of love and peace throughout the world. The event is aimed at also encouraging people not to resort to violence in times of disagreement, but rather use peaceful means. This will be an annual event that will travel to different countries, preaching the message of peace through the songs of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.”

This show is a rare moment for fans to interact with the legends and experience a live performance by this internationally renowned group who spend most of their time touring the globe.

Their message of peace and love through music will spread overseas in October when they land in the UK for a tour. The group, through its Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy programme, has selected two groups who will be

travelling with them. This mobile academy is a developmental project aimed at discovering, developing and exposing the music talent of artists doing acapella and indigenous music while preserving the culture and heritage of Isicathamiya/acapella music by creating a platform for sustainable jobs for upcoming artists. The talent search has been done in all nine provinces and nine groups representing each province have been selected, mentored and allowed to record.

One of the groups from KwaZulu-Natal, the Africa Mamas, also travelled to Germany in November 2019 through the support of Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy.

The concert will later be broadcast on BET Africa, a media partner on this show. The concert is supported by the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Joburg Theatre and BET.

For more visit www.joburgtheatre.com.

Artists in residence programme kicks off

Sneziwe Dube

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Artists in Residence programme has kicked off with its first cohort of nine artists in residence.

Designed to stimulate arts practice as research, the programme hosts several artists working in fine and visual arts, including Kagiso Kekana, Sonya Rademeyer, Juan Orrantia, Brenton Maart and Egyptian artist Mai Al Shazly. Lindiwe Matshikiza and Yazeed Kamaldien have been selected for the film and television category, and Jamil Khan and Mbuso Ndlovu have been selected to pursue projects in the literary arts and music disciplines.

These 12-month residencies include presentation of innovative creative projects including bio-art, photo and other exhibitions and installations, film documentaries, a fiction novel and choral music compositions.

Head of arts & culture Pieter Jacobs says:

“The overwhelming response to the call for participation in the programme is testament to the creative sector’s capacity and desire to deepen and advance understanding of the complexity of the work artists create.”

The programme makes residencies available in visual and fine arts, music, theatre, performance and dance, design, film and television, and literary arts. It is open for applications from new, emerging, and established artists from across the globe, but preferably with a connection to Africa. Artists are eligible to apply for physical and/or remote residencies at the institution and depending on the nature of the proposed residency; successful artists may work partly or completely remotely.

Another round of applications for residencies starting in January 2023 closes on 31 July.

For more visit https://arts.uj.ac.za.

Stimorol brand manager Khanyisa Ntshuntshe said this is about inspiring fresh perspectives and empowering individuals.

“With our belief that the world is a better place when everyone lives and does things in their own unique way, what better way to live up to this than to create a platform that peels away the barrier of gate-keepers and gives everyone an equal opportunity,” Ntshuntshe said.

Stimorol is making a commitment to pay for and prioritises the use of visual and audio outputs from participants instead of just using stock and library music for its brand assets. Housed on a microsite that will mobilize social mission and drive volume, this campaign will involve the likes

of Musa Keys, Major Steez, Dee Koala and Aubrey Qwana.

Keys said: “I am happy to be part of a movement to support the youth grow their music careers. I’m passionate about sharing the knowledge I have with young and talented artists. We grow by helping the next star.”

Stimorol FlowLab will host workshops and studio sessions where participants can collaborate with influential local music makers who sign up through the microsite.

Stimorol will also set up live events that are attended by music lovers and allow music makers to showcase their talent.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo in a performance

Musical artist Musa Keys

Bongani Maseko

Ex ‘keeper rejoins Amakhosi as coach

Sports Reporter

Kaizer Chiefs have announced the return of their former goalkeeper Aubrey Mathibe to strengthen their goalkeeping department.

Retired goalkeeper Mathibe has been backed up to lead the Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeping department following his return to the club.

Mathibe has been tasked with working with the reserve team as goalkeeper coach while also forming an integral part of the senior team in between being part of the club’s scouting department. With Lee Baxter having left the club, Mathibe has been getting involved with the senior team during their pre-season camp with development goalkeeper coach Rory Minnaar.

As a player, Mathibe started out at Chiefs at the turn of the millennium as back-up to Brian Baloyi during a time when the club also had Ryan

Bryabrooke and Lucky Phillips. He played once serving as reserve to Rowen Fernandez and Emile Baron before leaving for Moroka Swallows in 2006.

Mathibe was a reserve goalkeeper for Chiefs, making just one competitive appearance in eight years with the club. During his time with the Glamour Boys, the likes of Brian Baloyi, Rowen Fernandez and Itumeleng Khune were preferred ahead of him.

He went on to play for Swallows, AmaZulu, Thanda Royal Zulu as well as Black Leopards.

In a statement Chiefs said: “Mathibe will primarily look after the reserve team as goalkeeper coach but will also be an integral part of the team, working hand in hand with Lee Baxter where we have top international keepers such as Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma, Brandon Petersen and Daniel Akpeyi.”

Chiefs announce the appointment of Aubrey Mathibe as a member of the coaching team