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22 - 29 April 2021

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Inner City Gazette

Analysis predicts the impact of

climate change on girls’ education

It observed that when natural disasters occur, young female students are often more at risk of educational disruption than their male counterparts

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai

Johannesburg - Increasing global temperatures, catastrophic weather events and destruction of ecosystems are visible impacts of the climate crisis, but the ripple effect such as access to education can be less evident.

To help shed a light on this issue during Climate Month and this year’s World Creativity and Innovation Week, SAS built the Girls’ Education and Climate Challenges Index with Malala Fund, a girls’ education NPO co-founded by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.

The analysis identifies countries where girls are most at risk of experiencing educational interruptions, and predicts lowering of completion rates of girls’ primary and secondary education due to climate change.

It observed that when natural disasters occur, young female students are often more at risk of educational disruption than their male counterparts. If access to water is scarce, girls are most often respon-

sible for traveling long distances to collect water, keeping them away from the classroom. When temperatures rise and income-producing agriculture is lost, girls most often leave their schooling behind because families can no longer afford to pay educational fees.

Incorporated as an extension of Malala Fund’s annual Girls’ Education Challenges Index, the Girls’ Education and Climate Challenges Index predicts which countries face the most risk of girls’ education disruption.

The Index considers educational information like grade-level completion rates and environmental factors, including likelihood of flooding, tsunamis and earthquakes. With this information, the NPO intends to engage in dialogue with the wider development sector about where to target technical and financial support, both for climate adaptation and better girls’ education outcomes.

Based on the combined indices,

the region most affected is sub-Saharan Africa, though it contributes the least to climate change.

SAS brand director Susan Ellis says they continue to witness the impact of climate change on the environment, in the form of drought, shifting ecosystems, severity of storms or devastation caused by forest fires that are double or triple in size of those experienced in the past.

“Industries are also attempting to calculate the risks associated with climate change. The change will affect the most vulnerable populations first. We want to do everything we can to support organisations like Malala Fund to ensure that the education of girls remains a priority,” Ellis says.

The analysis includes breakdowns by education level; primary, lower secondary and upper secondary, as well as by specific country, focusing on low and lower middleincome countries.

Unless progress is made, Ma-

lala Fund’s report estimates that in 2021, climate-related events will prevent at least four million girls in low and lower-middle income countries from completing their education. If current trends continue, by 2025 climate change will play a part in preventing at least 12,5 million girls from completing their education each year.

Malala Fund research officer Naomi Nyamweya says the report confirms that girls’ education is one of the most powerful strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

“But as this data project with SAS shows climate-related events are keeping millions of girls from learning. To create a greener, fairer future for us all, we need leaders to take urgent climate action and support girls’ education,” she adds.

Malala Fund plans to use these insights to encourage leaders at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference and beyond to take action and bring education into the global climate change discussion.

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Inner-city Gazette

News

Holly Rey

and Boston sharing success

We are into the second quarter of 2021, carrying on masked and social distancing. 2020 was harsh, some people rose to the challenge and created new opportunities, some pivoted their business, many are still trying to overcome challenges and trying to find ‘normal’. Everybody’s experiences, are different, personal and valid. One success story is that of artist Holly Rey, award winning singer, chart topper and record label owner. Boston is super proud to be associated with Holly Rey, who wants everyone to succeed! Holly Rey has shared her tips and approaches to making money in the music industry even during a pandemic.

1. How has the pandemic affected your industry? If you look at the industry in a broader context one would have to say it has been decimated. There are so many artists who rely on festivals and government bookings for their survival and with little to no income it has been devastating for so many artists, sound engineers, production companies, sound hire companies and basically the entire value chain. The key to survival has been about the ability to adapt and develop content creation ideas and skills. Some artists and industry people have been able to adapt but so many of colleagues and friends have suffered tremendous loss.

2. How did you overcome obstacles that the pandemic threw in your way? Covid forced me out

Holy Rey of my comfort zone. I was used to a fully booked diary and endless media engagements. The pandemic shook me up and helped me realise that careers are fragile and you have got to be able to reinvent yourself in the face of adversity. I took the time to develop skills, I started shooting and editing video content for online distribution and created two new shows. I also recorded an EP. The Pandemic also helped me put my personal life into perspective, I went through a really bad break up and I took what I was going through personally and created something that ultimately helped me to heal from the heartbreak.

22 - 29 April 2021

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3. Tell us about your new EP? My new EP is my best work.

Lockdown gave me the time and space that I needed at exactly the right time in my life.

Murphy Cubic, the Zimbabwean producer behind “You” and other tracks off of the last EP, had come to SA to start work on the EP just before lockdown and he ended up staying in Durban with my family and we worked.

4. Any other motivational ideas for matrics and varsity students ? We are living in the most exciting time in human history. There has never been this much opportunity for young creatives. Nothing will ever be as it was before and it is this generation of youth that will create a reimagined world. The world needs young people with fresh ideas. Before lockdown I never knew what an iRig was, I had no idea how to live stream, the world had shut down and I had to scramble around to learn what I needed, I had to teach myself how to use new tools and I had to reinvent how I communicated with the World. I have come out of the experience with a whole bunch of new skill sets, two new series which are licensed to streaming platforms, an EP and a plan. I also asked for help. It’s okay not to know everything. Be humble enough to know you don’t have all the answers and everything is going to be okay.

See the full interview here: https://www.boston.co.za/holly-reyraw-real-and-motivated/

Users worry about social media privacy Johannesburg - African mobile users are concerned about the risks and potential for digital identity theft; however, this does not stop them from using their favourite messaging platforms.

This emerged in recent research by KnowBe4 among over 700 smartphone users in South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Morocco and Botswana.

The KnowBe4 Mobile Users in Africa survey gauged the opinions of Africa’s mobile users on the recent decision by WhatsApp to update their terms and conditions, sharing metadata with the rest of the Facebook group of companies. The survey found that a majority of respondents intend to continue using WhatsApp; and that their favourite alternative to WhatsApp is Facebook Messenger.

KnowBe4 Africa vice-president Anna Collard said the WhatsApp privacy policy has spurred discussions which resulted in more awareness about privacy rights, and brought more visibility to alternative tools such as Signal, Telegram, and others.

“It is interesting that while most mobile users are concerned about their online privacy, Facebook Messenger, which was listed as the top alternative chat app, collects much more data than WhatsApp. This indicates that there may be a lack of understanding about the actual risks and implications of the new policy,” she said.

The imminent WhatsApp privacy policy change revealed some shifts, however, with 24% of respondents saying they were no longer allowed to use WhatsApp for work, and 62% saying they were concerned about the new privacy policy.

Around 7.7% of respondents said they had, or planned to cancel their WhatsApp accounts, with this number rising to 15% among South African respondents.

However, for most, the convenience of the platform outweighed concerns

KnowBe4 vice-president Anna Collard

about privacy risks; with over half saying they had concerns but would continue using WhatsApp, though they may have signed up to use other messaging tools. Just over a quarter of respondents had heard about the planned privacy terms changes but did not understand what the risks were.

For those also using alternative messaging tools, Facebook Messenger was the most popular, with over 80% electing to use this platform too. Over 56% also used Telegram, over 12% also used Signal, and 10% or less used Discord, Threema or other platforms.

Collard said respondents are more concerned about cybercrime.

“In 2019, 37, 86% were worried, and in 2020, the number rose by 10% to 47,61%. Across all eight countries, we see a growing awareness of the risks that come with cybercrime,” she said.

She notes that there remains limited awareness of how to avoid risk, and the implications of data privacy terms.

“This indicates a need for further education and awareness to enlighten the public about risks on social media.

Awareness remains key to protecting mobile users from risks such as identity theft and to prevent potential breaches of sensitive corporate information via messaging platforms,” Collard said.

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Inner-city Gazette

News

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Dept rolls out Covid-19 vaccinations Johannesburg - The Department of Health has announced plans to start phase two of the vaccination roll-out by mid-May to the end of October this year.

The health department said its mission is to vaccinate as many people as possible ahead of possible third wave of Covid-19 infections.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who was on a countrywide tour to assess the readiness of provinces for the mass vaccination campaign, said plans to vaccinate 16 million people during phase two remain on track.

“After that everybody else who has not been vaccinated will have to come in, starting with those who will be in congregate settings and risk and so on,” he added.

The electronic vaccination data system went live on 16 April, allowing elderly South Africans to register to get their Covid-19 vac-

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize

cination when the second phase of the roll-out programme begins.

The vaccination centres in Gauteng are situated at health establishments that include Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, 26 Chris Hani Road, Diepkloof; Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Steve Biko and, Malan Street, Capital Park, Pretoria; Ahmed Kathrada Private Hospital, K43 Klipspruit West Lenasia, Soweto; Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, 5 Jubilee Road, Parktown, Johannesburg; Dr George Mukhari Hospital, 3111 Setlogelo Drive, GaRankuwa Unit 2, Ga-Rankuwa, and Netcare Milpark Hospital, 9 Guild Road, Parktown West, Jhb.

‘Spike gang’ targets motorists Tshwane - Police have urged motorists to remain vigilant amid an increase in attacks by ‘spike gangs’ in Tshwane.

Criminals are laying spikes on roads in and around Tshwane and robbing motorists when they stop, police said.

Tshwane metro police spokesperson Isaac Mahamba said the highway patrol unit has been deployed to monitor the crime hotspots.

“Motorists must always remain vigilant and avoid hitting any object, even if it looks like a plastic

bottle,” Mahamba warned.

He said no arrests had been made yet in connection with the incidents.

Tshwane district police said routes targeted include Soutpan Road, the R566, the N1 and the N4, both heading to Witbank, and the section heading to Rustenburg.

This was confirmed by Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo.

“Police visibility has been intensified with the deployment of a highway patrol unit,” he said.

House robber gets 15 years jail Johannesburg - On Tuesday the Brixton regional court sentenced a 30-year-old Zimbabwean man to 15 years imprisonment for house robbery.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the convict, Tinatenda Rasta Tagara and two accomplices robbed residents of a house in Mayfair on 13 May 2020.

“A 55-year-old father was inside the house with two of his children; a 16-year-old girl and a 19-year-old male. They heard a knock at the door and when his child stood up to open the door; the accused pushed it open, pointed a firearm at them and hit the father with the butt of the firearm.

They forced the victims to lie down on the floor, ransacked the house and took three cellphones, a laptop and R1 000 cash. They locked the victims inside the toilet before they fled the scene,” Mbele said.

Part of the Kaserne building soon after the fire incident

City seeks to relocate building fire victims Johannesburg - The City of Joburg plans to obtain a high court eviction order to remove people living in the Kaserne building which caught fire last week, leaving nine people dead.

Mayor Geoffrey Makhubo said the City of Joburg owned building, which used to be a public parking facility, will be demolished and occupants and those living near it relocated.

The City’s Housing Department spokesperson Neo Goba said plans to get the residents relocated have been initiated.

“The City will apply for an eviction order as there is a number of people there who do not want to move out of their shacks despite that they are not safe under those conditions, hence we intend evicting them.

The intention is to evacuate all the shacks and relocate them

He added that the convict, who had once been hired to fix electricity at the house, was traced and apprehended on 15 May 2020 at the Noord taxi rank.

“The conviction is a result of diligent work done

by Warrant Officer Kgomo of Admirall Solutions Johannesburg Garage Doors Motors Central Trio deAlarm Systems tectives.

The Electric Fencing officer is commended for leadGate Motors ing quality inTV Mounting vestigation that Intercoms resulted in the CCTV / DSTV guilty verdict.

New Installations, We hope this Repairs & Upgrades will scare would be offenders Contact 074 901 6329 from committing the same crime,” admirallsystems@gmail.com Mbele said.

somewhere else,” said Goba.

On Wednesday last week nine people, including an infant, died when the Kaserne building caught fire at about 3am. One of the victims died after jumping off one of the floors to escape the fire. Eleven people were injured during the fire incident; and about 200 people were left homeless.

Some residents said that was the

fifth fire to break out at the building since 2016, when people started building shacks inside the building.

Shacks were erected from its basement to the fourth floor, and there are more surrounding the building.

Tents and ablution facilities were erected at a nearby football field to provide temporary shelter for the victims, who also receive meals daily.

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News

Inner-city Gazette

22 - 29 April 2021

Economic impact of pandemic on SMBs Some 71% of women-led SMBs, versus 77% of men-led SMBs on Facebook, reported that they were operational Jenna Delport

T Facebook director Nunu Ntshingila

he latest edition of Facebook’s Global State of Small Business Report indicates that one in two small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in South Africa have yet to see revenues recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Up to 50% of operational South

African SMBs on Facebook reported that their sales in February were lower than the equivalent month last year. Some 74% reported that they were operational or engaging in any revenue-generating activities, while 8% of operational SMBs expected challenges related to cash flow and 20% expected challenges related to demand or a lack of cus-

tomers in the next few months.

Some 71% of women-led SMBs, versus 77% of men-led SMBs on Facebook, reported that they were operational.

In addition, six in 10 operational, women-led SMB reported that sales in the past month were lower than February 2020, prior to the pandemic, compared to four in 10 of operational, men-led SMBs. Facebook Africa’s regional director Nunu Ntshingila said: “South African small businesses continue to struggle since the start of the pandemic.

Our latest report is a reminder that many are still vulnerable and need support. It’s also a reminder that whenever a

crisis hits, it’s always the most vulnerable who are hit the hardest.”

Less than half (45%) of operational South African SMBs on Facebook said they were confident in their ability to continue operating for at least six months, if current circumstances persist, while 36% of the SMBs reported they had reduced the number of employees as a result of the pandemic.

This highlights the urgent need for customers, government, and other stakeholders to continue supporting small businesses that continue to navigate the challenges of Covid-19.

Globally, 87% of business leaders at operational SMBs indicated they used at least one of the Facebook family of applications such as Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, and Instagram. Advertising and selling goods or services online were other predominant uses of digital tools and integral to connecting SMBs to customers.

Ntshingila added that Facebook is in the business of small businesses.

“Whatever challenges and opportunities South African businesses face in 2021 and beyond, we will continue to do all we can to help them with their economic recovery and, hopefully, thrive online,” she said.

22 - 29 April 2021

Inner-city Gazette

News

Residents and civic groups

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clean-up derelict building

The former Florence Nightingale Hospital building was bought in 2000 by the Learn and Earn Trust. The trust abandoned the building in 2016 and it fell into disrepair.

Water leaks out of the side of the building, glass windows are broken, electricity wires hang from the ceiling, and the floors are full of puddles.

Julia Evans

W

ith the help of volunteers, residents the derelict Florence House in Hillbrow have begun cleaning the building, removing hundreds of tons of waste.

Residents came together to remove nearly 500 tons of rubbish, accumulated over years, with the help of civic organisations.

The former Florence Nightingale Hospital building was bought in 2000 by the Learn and Earn Trust.

The trust abandoned the building in 2016 and it fell into disrepair. Water leaks out of the side of the building, glass windows are broken, electricity wires hang from the ceiling, and the floors are full of puddles.

With the help of civic organisations The People SA and Move One Million, the 600 residents are trying to clean up their seven-storey building. At the end of March, the residents and volunteers from The People SA, Move One Million and Goscor scrubbed the walls, mopped the floors, cleaned the windows and

repainted the building with supplies donated by Gift of the Givers, BUCO, Jack’s Paint Bedfordview, Simon’s Workwear and private financiers.

Provincial head of Move One Million Charles Barell said the organisation paid for Pikitup trucks to remove 490 tons of waste from the courtyard. Several residents volunteered to shovel the waste into the trucks. When Pikitup workers went on strike, Averda and Bobcats provided trucks to remove the rest of the waste.

The next step is to fix the plumbing and electricity, a safety hazard as water and electricity pipes are running together.

Resident Rebecca Mafulako has been at Florence House since 1996.

“We are friends, we help each other,” she says.

Siphelo Manyana says: “The kids can’t live like this; this is why we’re taking action. It might not be perfect, but we’ll try our best.”

The building’s children’s home, the Malaika Orphanage, was start-

ed by resident Juma Sebichwu, a Ugandan immigrant, in 2008. It looks after about 100 children and people aged one to 18 living in the building. Sebichwu works with four mothers who volunteer at the centre, cooking food and looking after the children.

Mdunge, 25, a resident since 2002, grew up at Malaika; now she comes as a volunteer.

“We do after school programmes, cook and play with kids; we want to give back to the community,” she says.

The People SA has installed 40 dustbins and one resident is paid to clear the waste daily. The organisation hopes to raise money to fix the plumbing and install toilets. It also hopes to set up sewing and woodwork facilities to create employment for the residents.

Co-founder of The People SA organisation Skye Burgess says: “We want to create an economic ecosystem, where we create employment.

We want to provide a bridge out of the poverty trap.” GroundUp

City Power to clear objects encroaching on power lines

Johannesburg - City Power has announced that it will embark on a three-week programme to clear objects encroaching on power lines.

An investigation into frequent power outages in north-eastern corridors found that most outages resulted from vandalism and cable theft, and some were from faults on overhead lines caused by encroaching objects, including trees and buildings, City Power said. Most of the trees were in private homes, especially around Senderwood, Sandringham, Bedfordview, City Power CEO Mongezi Ntsokolo Sandton and Morningside, where access was often denied. There were also houses built under the transmission lines in areas including Alexandra and Morningside.

City Power CEO Mongezi Ntsokolo said: “The team will do a blanket programme to clear all the servitudes. City Power will also review its service level agreement with City Parks to ensure frequent monitoring and clearing of the servitudes. We urge the community to co-operate with our teams in the next three weeks and allow access in areas where the trees are in private properties.” vent enue Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Mpho Moerane said: “We will use the law where needs be, to ensure that by-laws are respected. No one is allowed to build a structure or plant trees under the power lines. It is not only dangerous, but also Call for bookings poses a huge risk to our network, leading to frequent electricity outages.”

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Volunteers clean part of the derelict Florence House

Pic: The People SA

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22 - 29 April 2021

Inner-city Gazette

Skills programme for female music leaders

Photography programme

to kick off

Johannesburg - The annual Canon student development programme is open for entry from 1 - 4 September this year, designed to enhance students’ visual storytelling skills and advance their careers.

In its fifth consecutive year 250 students from across Africa, Europe and the Middle East will be given an opportunity to participate in the educational programme.

In a statement Canon said the importance of photography and supporting its rising stars has become more apparent than ever this year, as it has power to shape the world’s perceptions, tell stories and make history.

“With applications opened on 1 April 2021, the second digital edition of the programme will offer successful participants a chance to have their portfolio reviewed by some of the most influential names in the world of photography to help them on their journey to become professionals.

Each student will be partnered with a mentor over the summer and receive one-on-one preparation time, ahead of having their curated portfolios reviewed within a group review session in September.”

Expert coaching will be provided by some of the world’s leading photo professionals, including Canon ambassadors such as visual artist Laura

Visual artist Laura El-Tantawy

El-Tantawy and two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen.

The programme will also include a series of inspirational lectures, taking place digitally from world-renowned experts including photographers, picture editors and publishers, who will share practical advice as well as their perspectives over developments in the industry.

Canon marketing director Amine Djouahra said: “As we approach our fifth year of the programme we welcome the next generation of creative storytellers. We look forward to championing future photographers by giving them the tools, knowledge and opportunity to advance their careers and build on their skills.”

To apply to be a part of the programme or view the entry criteria visit the website : https://bit.ly/39LFGgm. Entries are set to close on 9 June.

Johannesburg - Pan-African women empowerment platform, The Women of Music Business (WOMB), has partnered with Sony Music Africa to launch a training programme to support women in the African music industry, helping to build the next generation of female music executives.

Founded by award-winning musician Berita Khumalo, WOMB will support up to 30 female artists, producers and managers with a minimum of two years’ experience in the music industry from across Africa.

Run in partnership with the Wits Business School, participants will benefit from training in financial management, philanthropy and social investment, developing skills needed to build careers and businesses in the music industry in the context of social entrepreneurship.

Candidates will also benefit from networking and insights that strengthen their role as future music industry leaders in Africa.

Khumalo said the programme will have a lasting impact on the African music industry.

“Africa faces economic, political and social challenges that require young people to approach the music business with a long-term view to better the continent. Knowledge on social entrepreneurship is particularly important in advancing women-led businesses in the music industry. By understanding investment and philanthropy, women

participating in the programme will learn how to integrate music with social contribution to create a lasting impact,” she said.

Managing director of Sony Music Africa Sean Watson said women music entrepreneurs are breaking barriers, steering their narratives, building their teams and finding success.

“However, with gender disparity in the African music industry being a social and economic issue, there is much more to do. We hope our support for programmes like this will help empower women in the industry with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to succeed,” Watson said.

The programme is the latest in a series of global initiatives, launched through the Sony Music Entertainment’s $100 Million Social Justice Fund, which focuses on addressing social injustice around the world.

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The Arts

Musician Berita Khumalo

Women’s soccer league kicks off The SWNL matches will be played every weekend until 14 November 2021, and SABC Sport will broadcast one match each week Sports Reporter

T

Women’s league action in a previous event

he South African Football Association (SAFA) has announced that the National Women’s League second edition will kick off this weekend, 24 April.

Last year the tournament was suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The women’s soccer league was launched in 2019 with 12 teams in the inaugural season.

This season the women’s league consists of 14 teams, following the promotion of 2019 Sasol League National champions JVW from Gauteng and runner-up Ma-Indies

Ladies from Limpopo. The other clubs in the expanded league are defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Bloemfontein Celtic, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, University of the Western Cape, Tsunami Queens from the Free State, Thunderbirds from Eastern Cape, Coal City Wizards of Mpumalanga, Durban Ladies from KwaZulu Natal, First Touch Academy of Limpopo, Golden Ladies from North West and Richmond Ladies of the Northern Cape.

Reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have beefed up their squad by including Banyana

star Bambanani Mbane, former KFF Mitrovica, Kosovo players Zanele Nhlapo and Andisiwe Mgcoyi, Regina Mogolola from Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, Thalea Smidt from University of Pretoria and Melinda Kgadieta from Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies.

SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe said: “This second edition will be bigger and definitely better as we now have 14 teams, and the competition is likely to be stiffer as all teams are raring to go.’’

The SWNL matches will be played every weekend until 14 November 2021, and SABC Sport will broadcast one match each week.