Inner City Gazette

Motshekga said government has to establish programmes to prioritize ECD as a critical component of overcoming poverty on children, especially in poor communities.

Census report details ECD activities

“These results will help monitor trends and contribute towards development of the children at an early age,”

Johannesburg - The Basic Education department has released the 2021 Early Childhood Development (ECD) census results, comprising data on all ECD programmes.

The census, commissioned by the department and funded by the Lego Foundation, aimed at gathering information in order to move towards a centralised system to improve resource allocation and management of ECD centres.

During the recent launch of the results Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said without reliable data on children accessing ECD services, and the number of practitioners providing the services, planning and funding systems might fail to reach children most in need of public assistance.

“These results will help monitor trends in the ECD sector and contribute towards development of the children at an early age, so they can thrive as they grow in the education system,” she said.

According to data collected from August 2021, 42 420 Early Learning Programmes (ELPs) had enrolled 1 660 316 children.

Motshekga said some outstanding findings included that on average there are 6.2 ECD programmes per 1 000 children between 0-5 years nationwide. Gauteng has the highest number of ELPs at 25%, followed by

KwaZulu-Natal at 19%, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo both at 13%.

“Six out of 10 ELPs are in urban areas, an almost perfect match compared to the proportion of urban enumeration areas at 59%, according to national census demarcations used by StatsSA,” she said.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape, most centres operate for less than eight hours per day, while in the Western Cape and Gauteng they stay open for longer, averaging over 10 hours.

Motshekga said this could be linked to employment patterns.

The data also revealed that at 55% of ELPs, two languages are commonly spoken among children; with English at 80%. Where it is not spoken there is isiZulu at 29%, isiXhosa at 19% and Afrikaans at 19%.

Data further showed that 34% of children aged 3 - 5 are enrolled in an ELP, 62% in urban areas and 38% in rural areas.

“All ELPs incorporate at least one meal into the daily programme. The majority have three or less classrooms for the children, and the average number of children per classroom is 17,” the data revealed.

Findings with regards to learning through play indicated that ECD practitioners believe that the initiative for learning through play lies primarily with the practitioners, not

the children. “Relatively little time is allocated for free play, and materials and equipment that lend themselves to free play, such as fantasy toys and sand pits, are less common than other types of toys.”

The Census further shows that higher quintile ECD programmes dedicate more time to free play as part of the daily programme than lower quintile ECD programmes.

Motshekga said government has to establish programmes to prioritize ECD as a critical component of overcoming poverty on children, especially in poor communities.

“We wish our children to have more time to learn through play. Teach our children to make sense of the world around them at an early age, develop their social and cognitive skills, assist them to mature emotionally and gain the self-confidence required to engage in new experiences and environments through play,” she said.

In terms of funding, the census found that 33% of ELPs receive a subsidy from the Social Development department.

Over two thirds are registered as NPOs, and just under a third are part of a larger network comprising multiple ELPs, such as a regional ECD forum.

“A critical element of development in children is learning through play. This research has proved that

our children spend more time on free play outdoors, with 44% of respondents saying children spend up to an hour on free play outside, compared to 33% for free play as part of the daily programme,” Motshekga said.

She added that only 61% have at least 10 children’s books to play with, and only 56% have age-appropriate books for different age groups.

She extended gratitude to the Lego Foundation as a key partner through funding the Census, saying this is an example of how the private sector can play a role in providing better education for children.

“We are committed to work with the Inter-Sectoral Forum, which coordinates the ECD sector. The department is committed to work with other state arms, NGOs, civil society and private sector to ensure all children, including those with disabilities, access quality ECD,” she said.

Minister Angie Motshekga

Smartphone use linked to mental health decline

BoHe - secondary tecHnology driven solutions

Private institutions accommodate approximately 5% of the population with a growing number of private institutions offering an online education. Home schoolers have more than doubled over the last 20 months, making up some 300 000 students or 2.5% of the school learners since the start of COVID-19.

“As a pioneer in private higher education specialising in online and distance learning over the past 30 years, the Boston Group realises the challenges faced by parents who select to home school their children. Together with corporates that include Arena holdings and a banking institution, BOHE has reached out to sponsor learners.

Our mission is to create new opportunities for home education parents and learners.

• We give parents their own log-ins so they are always able to monitor progress and participation.

• We use gamification to motivate participation and progress.

• We identify knowledge gaps with the artificial intelligence platform we use, and work to close the gaps before further progress is made in the syllabi

• We are a registered Cambridge Associate, and can assist students in the ‘how’ of assessments, mak-

ing the examination journey way more successful.

• It is important for learners to be registered with an institution that is recognised by Cambridge so that the institution has access to the Cambridge Support Hub. This will ensure that the learners are being taught in terms of the specified guidelines and assessment objectives

• We work to provide an international aspect to schooling, making our students global players when it comes to work, further studies and networking.

BOHE creates an aspirational online learning experience by offering support to the Cambridge Assessment modules, i.e. International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and Advanced Supplementary (AS) Levels, or group awards, i.e. International Certificate of Education (ICE) and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE),” says Eli Katz, CEO Boston Online Home Education. “In partnering with Arena, we will make the homeschooling experience alive, successful, academic as well as sociable.” Covid19 caused borders around the world to close, but at the same time opened them in terms of digital working and digital learning. Thus, the Arena group sees the value in selecting a knowledge base that is international, as our school leavers must be able to communicate, work and study on an international level. BOHE supports Cambridge Assessment. Renowned globally, the Cambridge qualifications are recognised by over 1 400 universities worldwide, including all UK universities, 600 US universities (including Ivy League universities) and other top student destinations including Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Germany and the Netherlands.

Tech Reporter

A new study, The Deteriorating Social Self of Younger Generations by Sapien Labs, reveals that mental health decline of younger generations has occurred alongside smartphone use and social isolation.

Sapien Labs chief scientist Dr Tara Thiagarajan says data shows that people now spend seven to 10 hours online.

“This leaves little time for in-person social engagement. Prior to the internet, by the time someone turned 18, they would likely have spent anywhere from 15 000 to 25 000 hours interacting with peers and family in person,” Dr Thiagarajan says.

Dr Thiagarajan says but now, the research shows the internet age has likely cut that range down to 1 500 to 5 000 hours.

“Social interaction teaches people how to read facial expressions, body language, physical touch, appropriate emotional responses and conflict resolution, life skills that are crucial for socio-emotional development. Without these skills people can feel detached from society and possibly harbour suicidal thoughts,” Dr Thiagarajan says.

The report reveals that this decline is consistent across 34 countries where data was acquired, and that over the Covid-19 pandemic, mental wellbeing of each younger age group of adults fell much more dramatically.

Particularly for young adults aged 18-24, this trend was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and began after 2010, alongside the growth of smartphone use. Prior to 2010, studies showed that young adults had the highest levels of psychological wellbeing, but since then, the trend has

been taking the opposite direction.

The study outlines the key symptoms that impact the majority of young adults or are most significantly amplified or deteriorated compared to older adults.

These include obsessive, strange or unwanted thoughts; self-image, selfworth and confidence; feelings of being detached from reality; relationships with others; suicidal thoughts; fear and anxiety; feelings of sadness, distress or hopelessness.

These symptoms point to decline of the social self, a composite metric of how we view ourselves and are able to form and maintain relationships, essentially a view of how an individual is integrated into the social fabric.

This constellation of symptoms that dominate the mental profile of young adults do not map to any single disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the standard classification system for mental disorders used by health professionals in the US.

“This highlights the magnitude and nature of the challenges of social isolation and digital interaction at the expense of in-person social interaction,” Dr Thiagarajan says.

Chief scientist Dr Tara Thiagarajan

Women urged to promote African unity

Gontse Hlophe

In celebration of Africa Month, the City of Johannesburg’s Office of the Chair of Chairs recently hosted a Women of Influence event under the theme Women Leading the Healing and Restoration of Africa

The City’s Chair of Chairs Colleen Makhubele said Africa Day marks the beginning of a quest for unity of the continent. “It also celebrates Africa Month in the context of socioeconomic emancipation; political cooperation, women empowerment and the central role they play in restoration and repositioning Africa.”

Makhubele engaged in discussion on restoration and repositioning of the African continent with about 100 delegates.

“In view of various acts of hostility and unrest among Africans, it is important for us as women to take the lead in bridging the gap of engagements towards healing and restoration within and among the nations,” Makhubele said.

Africa Month also seeks to increase appreciation and demand for arts and culture, goods and services and to stimulate competitive markets for trade among African countries. To achieve this, Makhubele extended an invitation to influential leaders from different walks of life and Africa, to bring diversity to the discussions and enrich possible solutions of bringing healing and restoration.

Chairperson for Corporate and Shared Services Committee, Carin van der Schyff said women who work in the informal sector are in great risk of losing their jobs.

“They have no social protection to cushion the impact of this ship. Even if when we do manage to keep our jobs, schools and day-care clo-

Organisation warns on increasing kidnappings

Parents are advised to monitor their children’s social media activities and look out for suspicious accounts or internet scams

Johannesburg - The Missing Children SA organisation says it has noted an increase in kidnapping and human trafficking across the country, and urges parents to be on the lookout.

Missing Children SA national coordinator Bianca van Aswegen says kidnappings and human trafficking are on the rise.

“The trafficking syndicates target both children and adults; and parents are urged to look out for themselves and their children,” she says.

man trafficking has escalated, especially during Covid-19 because people have become desperate. Many people have lost their jobs, while others work from home and mostly online. Children have been online more on social media, and the syndicates use those platforms to groom children and lure people into the trafficking rings,” van Aswegen says.

sures force us to juggle work, child care and schooling responsibilities. Women are an essential asset and no country can achieve its full potential if vast differences persist between men and women. To combat gender inequality, policies in favour of girls have to be implemented and women’s equality has to be promoted,” Van der Schyff said.

Section 79 Committee Oversight on Governance chairperson Sarah Wissler said most women in Africa face discrimination, something that needs to be attended to. She believes women in South Africa are strong, decisive and independent.

“ Wathinta abafazi, wathinta imbokodo,” she said.

Killer gets four life terms plus 80 years jail

Johannesburg - A serial killer has been given a fourth life sentence and an additional 30 years imprisonment for the robbery and murder of an elderly woman.

The murderer, Shaun Oosthuizen, was handed his first life sentence when he robbed and murdered an 86-year-old at an old age home in Springs; and while he was out on bail in 2018 he strangled a 74-year-old woman to death at her home in Alberton.

Police said Oosthuizen had just been sentenced to life in prison for a third time when he confessed to killing other victims in Sunnyside and Roodepoort, which included a 77-year-old whose jewellery worth R50 000 he stole.

Police spokesperson Dineo Sekgothodi said Oosthuizen would now serve four life terms and an additional 80 years jail for robbery.

“The Hawks provincial head Major-General Zodwa Mokoena applauded the investigating team for securing the life sentences for the killer. We appreciate the collaboration between investigators and the judiciary for ensuring that the heartless criminal who tormented the elderly who could not fight for themselves is removed from the community,” Sekgothodi said.

The organisation has dealt with cases of opportunistic kidnappings, parental abductions, ransom kidnappings, traditional medicine kidnappings and human trafficking, van Aswegen says.

She adds that there has been a spike in human trafficking during the last two years as people became more vulnerable to criminal syndicates.

“Fake job adverts and social media profiles are just some of the tactics used to lure trafficking victims. Hu-

She adds that human trafficking is often motivated by sexual exploitation, illegal adoptions, forced labour and illegal activities such as the drug trade.

“People need to be vigilant and aware of both their physical surroundings and online interactions.

Parents are advised to monitor their children’s social media activities and look out for suspicious accounts or internet scams. We have to be more vigilant about our surroundings. Police have not released anything of late, but we see an increase of children going missing yearly, especially from kidnappings

and human trafficking. The statistics only give us a general indication of what is happening, but the severity behind it is much worse. If someone close to you goes missing you should report to the police as soon as you know, then seek help from organisations such as Missing Children SA,” van Aswegen says.

She adds that there is no waiting period to report a missing person.

“The first 24 to 48 hours are the most critical in the missing person investigation,” van Aswegen says.

Missing Children SA national coordinator Bianca van Aswegen

The City’s Chair of Chairs Colleen Makhubele

South African children live in a country that has a constitution with the highest regard for their rights, equality and dignity for everyone.

However, sadly despite government and civil society efforts to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation, they remain vulnerable. They still get exposed to so much violence at home. Children face numerous challenges of being killed, bullied at school, or being kidnapped on the street, mostly by people who are supposed to protect them.

Even though the country has excellent laws and a national action plan to prevent and respond to violence against children, this has not stopped the abuse of children. That reminds us that laws and policies are not enough without enforce-

Call to safeguard the future of our nation through protecting our children

Even though the country has excellent laws and a national action plan to prevent and respond to violence against children, this has not stopped the abuse of children, writes Lawrence Mashabela.

ment. This is where South Africa, like many other countries, falls short. Protecting them should be everyone’s business.

As we mark 2022 Child Protection Week (CPW), we should remind ourselves that children are our treasure. Let us all aspire to create a decent environment conducive for them to grow free from any form of distress and violence.

Protecting our children is a responsibility for all of us. Children have the same human rights as adults. Included in those rights are those that recognize their special needs. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and have legal standing as articulated in the Children’s Act.

The rising number of heinous crimes against children is appalling. If recent reports are anything to go by, they demonstrate it is spiralling out of control, and has to be stopped. There is no amount of justification for the barbaric acts and violation of children’s rights.

The Optimus National Prevalence Study estimates that 42% of South Africa’s children have experienced some form of ill-treatment, and

82% have either experienced or witnessed some form of victimisation.

This shows that violence against children remains the greatest threat and a critical challenge for the country, despite tremendous efforts to curb this scourge.

The latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirm reports from various studies that children are not safe in this country. The report indicates that 31.7% of children were murdered in the last financial year. This increase in violent crimes against children is a call to action, as society we need to act with speed in defence of the lives of our children.

Over the years government adopted a 365 Child Protection programme as the week is not enough to address challenges of our children. Ongoing campaigns continue to focus on making communities safer, tackling societal problems like drug and alcohol abuse which contribute to child abuse and violence.

Protecting children from abuse is not only a basic value but also an obligation set out in Article 28 of the South African Constitution. Our

children rely on us to look out for their wellbeing and protection. It is imperative that we do all we can to keep them safe and prevent any form of abuse and neglect they face every day.

As government we are doing everything in our power to fight against all these violations of children’s rights including neglect, abuse and exploitation. However, it is important to note that it is not only our fight, but that of society at large. For this reason we call on every citizen to be part of the collective to look out for each other’s children. As in the words of an old African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

Let us be reminded by the words of Nelson Mandela, in his speech at the dedication of Qunu and Nkalane Schools in June 1995 when he said: “Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth to care for and protect our people.”

Let us all move South Africa forward by protecting the rights of all children, including children with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Man rapes his niece, imprisoned for life

Johannesburg - On Monday the Booysens magistrate’s court sentenced a 36-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his niece.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the man; Edward Komape raped his niece at Naturena from the age of four until she was 10.

“He raped her when her parents were on night shifts and was left in his care. She inflicted harm onto herself by cutting her hands with sharp objects; and revealed her ordeal to her parents in September 2020,” he said.

Mbele added that the convict was arrested in Limpopo in March 2021.

“The conviction resulted from diligent work by investigating officer Sergeant Nkateko Faith Ndobe of Johannesburg Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. We hope this warns would-be offenders from abusing children,” he said.

Help find missing man

Johannesburg - Police are appealing to the public to help locate a 63-year-old man who has gone missing.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele says the man; Rueben David Sibeko boarded a taxi at Harrismith to Johannesburg on 5 April 2022.

“When he arrived at Westgate taxi rank; instead of proceeding to Kempton Park he took a taxi to Vanderbijlpark. He is brown in complexion, medium height, with black and grey hair. He was wearing a maroon jacket, green trousers and a white Mercedes Benz branded cap,” he said.

He added that anyone with information may contact police on 011 497-7000, 08600 10111 or send information via the MY SAPS APP.

“All information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” he said.

Mayor calls for power solutions

Luyanda Lunika

Mayor Mpho Phalatse has said the city is positioning itself to be more energy independent.

During the recent Joburg Energy Indaba at the Sandton Convention Centre, aimed at finding solutions to energy challenges, she said the gathering involved role players to find innovative ways to generate and distribute sustainable power to consumers.

“We have seen how geopolitical factors, mainly the war between Russia and Ukraine, have led to the rise in gas prices. We have also been advised to expect another petrol price increase in June as government reinstates the levy,” Phalatse said.

She added that Eskom has announced Stage 2 load shedding.

“In 2020 Eskom electricity volume fell below the level of 2004, and its price path is not sustainable,” Phalatse said.

Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Michael Sun said municipalities face increasing demand for electricity and challenges of cable theft, infrastructure vandalism and rising debt due to non-payment by consumers.

“Industry players need to share technology innovations to mitigate challenges in dealing with electricity generation and distribution,” he said.

City Power’s acting CEO Tshifularo Mashava said the electricity industry is facing the biggest disruption since the first utility was built in 1882.

“There are many forces driving this disruption, but it is imperative that City Power does not become slow to respond to disruption,” said Mashava.

She acknowledged that customers have already embraced the transition by installing PV solar on their rooftops.

SA Independent Power Producer Association leader Thomas Garner welcomed the partnership opportunity from the City to map out a sustainable energy future.

Mayor Mpho Phalatse during the Energy Indaba

Checklist to probe gender stereotypes

Johannesburg - Research by The Loeries on gender representation in film advertising shows that stereotypes still creep into the work it creates.

One set of results highlights that on average men dominated 61% of speaking time and 57% of screen time, compared to their female counterparts.

City hosts Africa Month event

The Chair of Chairs in the City of Joburg, Colleen Makhubele recently hosted the Women of Influence event under the theme Leading by Influence, Women Leading the Healing and Restoration of Africa

The event at the Metropolitan Centre, Council Chamber in Braamfontein, celebrated Africa Month in the context of socio-economic emancipation, political cooperation, women empowerment and the central role women play in the restoration and repositioning of Africa.

Africa Month, May, commemorates founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963.

Africa day, May 25 marks the beginning of a quest for the unity of the continent, political and economic emancipation of its people as well as cooperation.

Part one of the event started with a visit to one of the shelters in Hillbrow at number 3 Kotze Street. The shelter, under the wing of the City of Joburg Social Development shelters men, women and children.

Makhubele was accompanied by the City of Joburg Mayoress in the Student Council and some of the Section 79 chairpersons.

The visit saw Councillor Sarah Wissler sharing her story of family physical and sexual abuse that led to her brother to be involved in drugs and losing his life.

One of the beneficiaries, Nhlanhla Ndlovu shared how much they appreciate the shelter, and that it has revealed a new life to them to start life over again and be good men in

society, condemning gender-based violence.

Part 2 of the event took place at Reception Room at Metro Centre where Makhubele welcomed the guests. She also acknowledged guests who had joined online from Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries.

She explained development of the City of Johannesburg, how everyone came to look for gold and a better life in the city, and how the population increased.

“We are all immigrants in the City, we all come from somewhere. We have Chinese, Indians, Europeans and others who came to settle in the City,” she said.

She spoke boldly of xenophobia among African people, with increasing hostility and attacks. She however, pointed out that she was speaking of documented foreign nationals. She strongly condemned xenophobia and violent attacks. She invited provoking thoughts on how restoration and healing can be done.

“We need to find a way of ending the scourge. Now that the chains of the oppressor are off our hands and feet as Africans, it looks like we have been turned against each other.

It is mostly women and children who bear the brunt,” she said.

Prophet Shani delivered a moving speech with a message highlighting that God wants to use women to bring divine justice in order to bring healing and restoration to Africa.

“God sees you woman, the time for action is now,” she said.

Programme director Professor

Pearl Kupe, an attorney, best-selling author and former TV host delivered the keynote address.

“Healing and restoration talks about our emotions; physical needs mean going to families that have no food and donating some groceries. Faith without work is dead, it is time for us to take action now by going to communities and facilitating restoration. Africa has been branded as a place of primitivity and not civilisation. When I think of Africa I think of the respect she has for elders, ubuntu she extends to others, I think there is no other continent that is more civilized than Africa. Let us not judge nations or continents by the level of potholes it has. We need to fix people more than we need to fix potholes” she said.

Old Mutual Gauteng regional manager Mathapelo Sipamla closed the session by sharing information on being a financially smart woman.

“One of our mission and vision is to advance women and their growth in society,” Sipamla said.

Two life jail terms for raping a child

Johannesburg - Last Friday the Booysens magistrate’s court sentenced a man to two life terms for raping a child.

Police spokesperson Captain Xoli Mbele said the rapist, 28-year-old Zimbabwean Takudzwa Chinjeke was found guilty of raping a neighbour’s child while she was five years old from 2017, until she was eight years old at Kibler Park.

“On 5 February 2020; the victim was playing with his children when he grabbed her to his storeroom and raped her three times.

She went home and took a bath; her mother realised that she was not walking properly, interrogated her and she revealed her ordeal, and Chinjeke was arrested,” Mbele said.

He added that the conviction resulted from diligent work by investigating officer Sergeant Petronella Mathevula of Johannesburg Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.

“We hope this sentence serves as a warning to similar would-be offenders against abusing children,” Mbele added.

To help change such disparities the Loeries Youth Committee (LYC) was set up in 2021, in partnership with Meta and United Nations Women, to support young brand communication professionals from Africa and the Middle East, with knowledge, training and opportunity to create change in the industry.

A key focus of the LYC is to investigate gender stereotypes in the sector and add value to the focus on breaking down stereotypes in society. The LYC has created a diversity, equity and inclusion checklist.

The checklist can be accessed online, and an organisation will remain anonymous and the form takes five minutes to complete.

Responses will be captured by The Loeries and tallied up to inform an annual report by The Loeries on

DE&I transformation within the industry.

Creative writer and chairperson of the LYC Kgaugelo Mokgehle says the checklist was conceptualised to hold individuals and agencies accountable for creative output, and the message it sends outside the industry.

“While the manifesto was created as an internal mantra for future cohorts, both elements highlight fundamental principles that should inform the work of every creative. They are also a necessary metric against which agencies can measure their progress in establishing a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society,” Mokgehle says.

For more info visit https://www. loeries.com/rewritethescript.

LYC chairperson Kgaugelo Mokgehle

Part of the Women of Influence event at the Metropolitan Centre

Thembelihle Radebe

Dance Factory hosts acclaimed choreographer

Suzette le Sueur

Joburg to host global street dance final

The competition is a mixed, all-style one-on-one battle, in which dancers from any street style discipline can enter

Johannesburg - Over 30 countries will bring their best street dancers to the Red Bull Dance Your Style world final in Johannesburg later this year.

The dance battle emphasises bringing people together in celebrating dance, music, performance and recreating the social party atmosphere that all street dance styles are derived from.

The competition is a mixed, allstyle one-on-one battle, in which dancers from any street style discipline can enter. It is a dance battle with unpredictable music, crowd-voting and outgoing dance personalities.

The road to the final begins with seven auditions across South Africa, culminating in a national final taking place in October in Pretoria. Dancers from all styles and provinces have the chance to showcase their skills and possibly represent South Africa on the world stage in Johannesburg.

Twenty seven dancers have already earned their spot in their respective countrys’ national finals that took place in 2021. Over 60 dancers will be coming to Johannesburg to compete in the world final, which includes pre-finals and the main event on 10 December.

The 2021 South African winner of the national final, Shanny J, is

excited to be representing South Africa on this global stage, and looking forward to highlight her expressive fusions with proudly South African dance styles.

Shanny J says she is ecstatic to have the opportunity to represent South Africa at the world final in December.

“Winning the national final was an absolute dream and having the chance to go up against the world’s best dancers in my hometown is a challenge I am excited and training hard for,” she says.

In this unique competition format, the DJ is tasked with curating the playlist in different music genres to see how versatile the dancers are, while adapting to the beat with their dance styles. The audience is the judging panel, deciding on the outcome by voting to pick a winner of a battle round.

The regional qualifiers will be in Johannesburg, Polokwane, Pretoria, Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town and Bloemfontein from July to August.

These will lead to the national final, set to take place in Pretoria, where a second champion will be crowned to represent South Africa at the world final at Montecasino on 10 December.

For more visit www.redbull.com/ za-en/events/red-bull-dance-yourstyle-world-final-south-africa.

Choreographer Dada Masilo will present her latest work The Sacrifice at the Dance Factory in Newtown, Johannesburg on 28 and 29 May.

Masilo says she has always been fascinated by the study of unfamiliar dance forms, and fusing these vocabularies with contemporary dance or classical ballet to create a new language.

“The dancers and I have been learning the dance of Botswana. I find it very beautiful, elegant rhythmic and expressive; I have fused this with contemporary dance. I work with nine great dancers and four talented musicians who have created an original score,” Masilo adds.

The dancers include Masilo, Sinazo Bokolo, Refiloe Mogoje, Thandiwe Mqokeli, Lwando Dutyulwa, Thuso Lobeko, Songezo Mcilizeli, Steven Mokone, Lebo Seodigeng and Tshepo Zasekhaya. The

musicians are Ann Masina, Leroy Mapholo, Tlale Makhene and Nathi Shongwe.

The company Dada Masilo - The Dance Factory has been touring internationally since 2012.

So far, it has presented Masilo’s works in 27 countries and 155 cit-

ies. The repertoire has included her Swan Lake, Carmen, Giselle and The Sacrifice Masilo was the 2008 recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, which was instrumental in launching her international career in choreography.

Shanny J displays the medal after winning the 2021 South African national final

Dance action in Dada Masilo’s The Sacrifice

For all your Panel Beating and sPray Painting

Contact: Charles on 060 738 8851

Local refs to officiate in World Cup tourney

The 2022 edition of the World Cup tournament is set to take place between 21 November and 18 December, the last edition to feature 32 teams, ahead of the planned expansions for 2026.

Sports Reporter

Soccer referee Victor Gomes and assistant referee Zakhele Siwela have been appointed to join officials who will officiate at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December.

The two handled the AFCON final between Senegal and Egypt in Cameroon early this year.

Gomes said his second appointment to the FIFA World Cup is another show of confidence by the authorities of his capabilities.

“I am privileged to represent our country, my family and the South African Football Association (SAFA) at the world’s biggest

sporting event. I am looking forward to give it our best. We will be raising the South African flag high and make our country proud,’’ Gomes said.

Siwela said it is pleasing to see hard work paying off.

“With Gomes we will continue working hard and hoist the South African flag high,’’ he said.

Gomes and Siwela were named among the 129 officials heading to Qatar for the first World Cup to be held at the end of the year.

FIFA Referees Committee chairperson Pierluigi Collina said: “The criteria we use is quality first, the selected officials represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide.

The 2018 World Cup was successful partly because of the high standard of refereeing, and we will do our best to be even better in Qatar.”

The 2022 edition of the World Cup tournament is set to take place between 21 November and 18 December, the last edition to feature 32 teams, ahead of the planned expansions for 2026.

SAFA head of referees Abdul Ebrahim said the association’s partnership with sponsors Showmax had seen massive growth within the referees’ structures.

“Showmax afforded us the opportunity to host several referee programmes around the country. Elite referees used to only come from

big urban areas, but now all provinces are represented and some of the best officials now come from far flung areas. It is now the responsibility of each province to ensure development in their regions,’’ said Ebrahim.

The partnership supports more than 40 000 referees officiating in matches played under the auspices of the association; providing assistance to both male and female divisions of the sport.

Connected Video at MultiChoice Group CEO, Yolisa Phahle said: “Our partnership with South African football has achieved our aim of enabling the best local talent to take part on the global stage.”

Acclaimed referee Victor Gomez