Inner City Gazette

Varsity makes AI courses compulsory

Johannesburg - The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is making artificial intelligence (AI) courses compulsory in all qualifications at the institution.

That was revealed at the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies’ AI Institute recent launch, in which it partnered with UJ and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

At the launch Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the AI Institute of South Africa (AIISA) would help the country’s youth avoid unemployment and become job creators in their own space. She specified that the initiative would have two hubs, one at TUT and the other at UJ’s Johannesburg Business School.

“Their hubs will have demonstrated an array of initiatives that they have grasped the implementation of AI as a tool for economic advancement in various sectors. The ultimate goal of the institute is the cre-

ation of a network of AI hubs linked to key catalytic projects across the country and centres of excellence across the continent,” Ntshavheni said.

She explained that the project involves consolidating work already underway, rather than building it from the ground up.

She said universities would no longer churn out graduates that are ‘going to walk the streets of unemployment’.

“They are going to churn out graduates that are going to make a meaningful contribution in society and become job creators in their own space, because they would have learned about AI,” Ntshavheni said.

She explained that each university hub would work in line with its areas of strength.

“Professor Maluleke has explained some of the areas in terms of TUT, which includes automotive manufacturing, transport, tour-

ism, telecommunications, farming and healthcare sectors. The UJ hub will focus on industries such as the value chain of manufacturing, retail, agriculture and farming, digital mining, the energy sector, fintech, digital banking, digital identity and the criminal justice system,” she said.

Both higher learning institutes’ vice-chancellors said they are on board with the AI initiative and believe it is critical to South Africa’s future.

UJ vice-chancellor Tshilidzi Marwala said: “The study of Artificial Intelligence is being made a compulsory course in all qualifications to empower graduates to advance in all areas of work.”

Marwala, a Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC4IR) member, said the initiative aligns with the commission’s goals.

“With colleagues in the PC4IR we began to establish recommen-

dations to assist the government in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital industrial revolution in 2019. It was apparent that the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) institute sat at the heart of our strategy. The recommendation to develop the institute was centred around a need to establish a common base to focus on the application of AI to health, agriculture, finance, mining, manufacturing and government alongside regulations,” Marwala said.

TUT vice-chancellor Tinyiko Maluleke said TUT had to heed the minister’s call to join hands with the department and UJ in the establishment of the AIISA.

“This is one of the most significant institutes established in this country in recent years. This key institute will become the nerve centre from which we shall shape our connected future as a country; a digital future which beckons for all countries of the world,” Maluleke said.

Both higher learning institutes’ vicechancellors said they are on board with the initiative and believe it is critical to South Africa’s future.

Communications Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

“They are going to churn out graduates that are going to make a meaningful contribution in society and become job creators in their own space.”

Top fraud trends for next year

a logical caReeR - investigating logistics

“The importance of logistics and supply chain management has grown in a really big way,” says Alida Hattingh of Boston City Campus. “In any industry goods need to be sourced, bought, stored and dispatched. This is even more important in a digitally run business. Efficient and effective management of all these processes is critical in the business world.”

Alida is very excited about logistics as a career of the future.

“While the pandemic has ended, it boosted online shopping in a huge way, and all signs are that the popularity of getting your groceries and shoes through a digital order is here to stay. The pandemic showed is that studies, work and clothes shopping can be done more effectively online! I really believe that graduates who are equipped with a comprehensive and integrated knowledge of logistics will have doors open to them. In the retail sector there are elements that must be almost perfect in order to remain competitive and efficient. These include customer relationship management, pricing, timing and delivery,” she explains. “It makes sense then that logistics and supply chain management are critical competencies that contribute to creating customer satisfaction.”

Delivering products/services at the promised time; place; cost, and in the agreed upon quantity and quality keeps the wheels turning in this business and career.

So what does a job in logistics entail?

The logistics sector ensures that goods are available to consumers when and where they need them.

When you register at Boston, a chain is set in motion to ensure you get your academic material, notes, text books, registration pack - all at the right time and the right place – we have over 47 branches so this must be done right! Logisticians oversee important phases of a product’s life, including allocation,

distribution, and delivery.

The demand for logistics is currently at an all-time high; this might be the career for you.

1. Job growth

Logistics is a rapidly expanding field that continues to experience growth even in the height of the recession. Now, the field is even more promising. As the economy experiences a downturn, retail spaces close, and online markets increase. Therefore so does the need for logistics managers.

2. There is a relatively low barrier to entry

Logistics offers job-seekers the opportunity to secure work without an advanced degree.

3. Opportunities exist for promotion within logistics and within the company

Upper management jobs will be available – make sure you can take advantage by continuing your studies with a degree.

4. Work close to home

Since warehouses require large spaces, many will be found outside of the very industrial or urban areas where rent is costly, and may be situated closer to residential areas.

5. Specialise in an industry

Within the field of logistics, candidates can choose an industry that they enjoy

such as medical, retail or books. Places of employment also can vary from big corporations, small business, and not-for-profit organisations.

The Boston Higher Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management will enable graduates to operate effectively in the workplace using a number of Windows based applications; Understand the implications of basic accounting and value analysis in the reduction and possible elimination of total cost of operations in an organisation: Apply different stock and materials management technologies in order to offer best service to both internal and external stakeholders: understand different sources of vendor information: apply logistics and procurement principles to manage forecasting and time.

Steady employment and high pay encourage individuals to remain in the field because they find their work so rewarding. However, the skills they develop do open new and exciting challenges to them!

These upbeat employees believe in their ability to make a difference in this field, enjoying the personal growth and development. Visit www.boston.co.za or call Boston National Call Centre 011 551 2000.

Tech Reporter

According to the latest anti-fraud technology study by SAS, in partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), 60% of businesses expect an increase in their anti-fraud technology budgets in the next two years.

The survey found that occupational fraud costs businesses more than $4,7 trillion worldwide annually. Companies, regardless of size, lose untold billions more to external bad actors, and so do ordinary people.

The research highlighted how nobody is impervious to consumer fraud threats, from account takeover to identity theft, to phishing schemes and many more.

Given how hybrid working models have become generally accepted in South Africa and abroad, it is hardly surprising that 15% of respondents saw a decrease or delay in the use of physical biometrics initiatives to combat fraud. Although many respondents project the adoption of additional analytics approaches in coming years, the use of most of these initiatives has remained relatively flat since 2019. The one notable outlier is exception reporting and anomaly detection, which is used by 55% of the companies in the current study, compared to 64% in the previous one.

ACFE executive Bruce Dorris says curbing the torrent of fraud starts with building awareness.

“Anti-fraud professionals must be equipped with the technology and know-how to detect and prevent increasingly vexing schemes,” he says.

Senior vice-president for security intelligence at SAS, Stu Bradley says: “The study revealed that 97% or more of fraud examiners consider analytics an indispensable tool in increasing the amount of fraud pre-

vented, and boosting the timeliness, efficiency and accuracy of their fraud detection programmes. While that is an impressive proof point, there is likely no greater testament to the immense value of analytics in fighting fraud than the innovations and successes of our many customers.”

When deploying anti-fraud analytics, companies often tie their analytics initiatives to the areas of the business where fraud risks are highest, or where the evidence of potential fraud can be most effectively uncovered using data monitoring and analysis. The two most common risk areas monitored in the study are fraudulent disbursements and outgoing payments (43% of respondents) and procurement and purchasing fraud (41% of respondents)

SAS head of customer advisory for South Africa Stephan Wessels says given how the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in antifraud programmes is expected to increase in two years, companies need to identify how to integrate these technologies into their process.

“This is especially critical in Africa which struggles to overcome infrastructure challenges, resulting in fraudsters leveraging increasingly sophisticated technologies to perpetrate their crimes,” Wessels adds.

SAS fraud and security intelligence vice-president Stu Bradley

Youth Against Aids, an initiative of the Ohhh! Foundation, now hopes to strike a new path in the fight against HIV by confronting the stigma. Since inception in 2018 Youth Against Aids has been working internationally to prevent new HIV infections among young people. The initiative is active in South Africa and Namibia.

CIDS liven up city’s economic nodes

Brümilda Swartbooi

City Improvement Districts (CIDs) have played a pivotal role in revitalising some of Joburg’s business nodes, contributing to the monetary value of their neighbourhoods by increasing economic activity to generate additional revenue.

A global model for rejuvenating commercial areas in declining central business districts (CBDs), CIDs have had to be established in several areas across Johannesburg. They have become active collaborators with the City in urban design, planning and management.

CIDs benefit both the community and the municipality, including management of inner-city neighbourhoods, which create social responsibility and environmental awareness.

Services provided by CIDs are more focused on security, cleanliness, marketing and business development. They are intended to change negative perceptions about decaying areas and reverse business and urban deterioration.

Acting head for Special Projects Unit (SPU) in the office of the City Manager, Krishni Gounden says CIDs play a significant role in providing additional top-ups to municipal services to enhance public safety and supplement cleaning services.

“They are also important in fostering relations with the City through public-private partnerships. They assist in combating urban decay and degeneration by improving the urban environment, attracting and retaining investment,” says Gounden.

CIDs have had several outcomes, including attraction of capital investments, marketing and promotion of their nodes, and an increase in property value. All property owners contribute to the budget and

have control over the money to be spent in the CID.

CIDs create job opportunities and stimulate the local economy, which has resulted in positive spinoffs for the municipality, including enhanced service delivery and improved community relations. The protection of the rate base prevents CBDs and other areas from urban degeneration.

“CIDs provide positive identity from which to launch coordinated effort to maintain and improve the asset base and quality of life, attracting investment and development,” Gounden adds.

CIDs define how urban space is regulated. They have extensive sociocultural and socio-spatial outcomes, combining local economic development, urban management and security to reshape neighbourhoods and improve quality of life.

Services rendered by each CID are supplementary to those offered by the municipality and operate within the boundaries of each neighbourhood.

“There is always an opportunity for communities to establish CIDs in Johannesburg,” Gounden says.

Gounden notes that the municipality continues to work closely with the Gauteng Precinct Management Association (GPMA) to provide a platform to strengthen the collective voice of CIDs in the province.

“The municipality is thankful to its CID partners for their continued work and the role they play,” Gounden says.

The inner-city has about 14 voluntary CIDs, including Bank City, Newtown, Braamfontein and the ABSA precinct on the eastern periphery, which demonstrate how the model contributes to revitalisation of the CBD. Vibrant CIDs outside the inner-city include Parktown, Rosebank, Randburg and Sandton.

The first CID was established in the Johannesburg city centre in the early nineties to facilitate collaboration between business and the community.

Later known as the Central Johannesburg Partnership (CJP), the alliance has worked for the benefit of all stakeholders in the neighbourhood.

In September 2015, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruled on the validity of levies imposed under the Gauteng City Improvement Districts Act (CID Act), which governs the imposition of levies on rateable, immovable properties located in a CID. The decision prompted stakeholders to demand a review of the legislative and regulatory framework for Legislated Management Districts.

Due to the SCA’s decision, all co-managed areas in Gauteng now function as voluntary CIDs. Since voluntary establishments lack legal authority and legislative support, their ability to operate depends on the loyalty of the property owners who make up their constituency.

“The municipality is currently in the process of implementing a Special Rating Areas Policy and bylaw that will allow a legislated and sustainable process of establishing CIDs,” says Gounden.

CIDs in the Johannesburg innercity are Bank City, Retail Improvement District, Newton Improvement District, Yeoville Improvement District, Braamfontein Improvement District, Greater Hillbrow Improvement District, Legae La Rona Improvement District, South-West Improvement District, Central Improvement District, Main Marshall Improvement District, Fashion Improvement District, Greater Maboneng Improvement District, Makers Valley Partnership and Benmore Improvement District.

Call for removal of HIV ‘stigmatisation’

Johannesburg - Kicking off on the recent World Aids Day, the Ohhh! Foundation released an open letter calling on the World Health Organisation (WHO) to officially rename HIV, calling it an epidemic of the mind that is spread primarily by non-medical factors.

Statistics indicate that globally, 38.4 million people are living with HIV; and in 2021 about 7.5 million of them were in South Africa. The disease is treatable and preventable, but in 2021 alone 210 000 in people South Africa were diagnosed with HIV. Project lead of the health focused NPO, the Ohhh! Foundation, Bongiwe Ndlovu said: “The stigma spreads HIV and it is causing a barrier when it comes to ending the epidemic. It is time for us to update the way we view HIV.”

With the Update HIV campaign, Youth Against Aids, an initiative of the Ohhh! Foundation, now hopes to strike a new path in the fight against HIV by confronting the stigma. Since inception in 2018 Youth Against Aids has been working internationally to prevent new HIV infections among young people. The initiative is active in South Africa and Namibia.

The initiative has gained the attention of many, with regional leaders such as, CEO of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation Linda-Gail Bekker and Namibia’s first lady Monica Geingos forming part of the advisory board. Bekker also solidified her commitment by signing the open letter to officially show support.

Youth against Aids delivered the open letter to the WHO headquarters in Geneva. Ndlovu indicated that changing the name will lead to a change in thinking and behaviour needed to end the epidemic.

“People with HIV fear being labelled as promiscuous, impure and infectious. That leads to vulnerable groups and those with HIV not seeking treatment and prevention services. Living with HIV today is nothing like it was 40 years ago. But the stigma remains. Asking the World Health Organisation to give the virus a new name is meant to acknowledge advances in treatment, improve public understanding of HIV and help people living with the virus leave behind the stigma associated with the name HIV,” she said.

On the response the campaign has received so far Ndlovu says over the past few months they shared the campaign with people living with HIV, activists, and researchers, as well as at forums such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s goalkeepers event.

“The response we are receiving further validates that we are on the right track and solidified that this is the right time for change. We can achieve the UN development goal of ending Aids by 2030, but first we must end the stigma that clouds our progress,” Ndlovu said.

To join the fight against HIV, she urged everyone to visit www. updatehiv.com, subscribe to the open letter and send through a new name suggestion for HIV, and vote for the ones you like.

Part of the Maboneng Improvement District Pic: Christina Weise

Ohhh! Foundation leader Bongiwe Ndlovu

SMEs awarded for developing communities

Johannesburg - The 702 Small Business Awards celebrate entities that impact and develop the communities they are located in, and recognise companies that offer exceptional services to their customers, while growing their bottomline.

This recognition initiative was championed by the people who gain

the most from these businesses. Ordinary South Africans submitted nominations of the commendable enterprises; then a panel of experts had the tough job of choosing a winner from the top 10 most impressive small businesses.

This year, 702 partnered with Lulalend, a lending company providing access to funding for SMEs.

Lulalend’s marketing officer Tom Stuart said they came on board because they believe in the power of small businesses.

“We believe small businesses are critical to economic and social development, and our goal is to empower every SME to succeed. We solve one of the most critical problems small business owners face, which is access to funding. We use technology to assess small business health faster and more accurately than traditional lenders, which means we can provide funding in 24 to 48 hours from the point of application. Small businesses are the most important influencer of economic growth in South Africa, and we are passionate about helping them thrive and prosper,” Stuart said.

Station manager of 702 Mzo Jojwana alluded to that the station has always committed to uplifting small businesses to sustain their growth and impact in the community.

“Over the years, the Small Business Awards have celebrated and

Funding set for young women’s businesses

collaborated with many small businesses. These businesses set the trend, create jobs and ensure that job opportunities help us reduce unemployment. They also show a lot of professionalism and consistency in their services. Most importantly, these awards foster SA’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship,” Jojwana said.

First prize winner was Matlhogonolo Ledwaba’s Bread Box Bakery and Studio, walking away with a 702-advertising package valued at R100 000 and R200 000 in cash from Lulalend. The Bread Box Bakery was established and incorporated in July 2017. In April 2018, the company opened a retail store in Midrand. They supply restaurants and retail stores such as Pick ‘n Pay with baked goods. The business soon expanded its offering by acquiring a cooking studio in January 2020.

The runner-up was Paballo Molata’s D’Ntle Beauty Salon, which received a 702-advertising package valued at R50 000 and R50 000 in cash from Lulalend. D’Ntle Beauty is a proudly South African brand. They are passionate about beauty and providing quality five-star service at an affordable price.

The other runner-up was Nkosana Ngwenya’s NNI Services, which got a 702-advertising package valued at R50 000 and R50 000 in cash from Lulalend. NNI Services is a civil engineering company, providing civil works that focus on paving, kerbs, storm water, water line, sewage line and earthworks.

The company was founded in 2016 and commenced trading in 2019. They supply and fit paving, install stormwater drainages, sewage lines and waterlines.

Some of the companies they have partnered with include Ndwala Construction, Road-Tech Engineering, Infracor Consulting, Sacola Construction, Pentacon Civils and Labucon Resources. They are ready to work anywhere in South Africa.

Johannesburg - The Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund (MFAGF) has launched, working through African investment vehicles to support early-stage SMEs.

In a statement the foundation said the goal of the fund is to enable dignified and fulfilling work for young people, particularly young women. “The fund-offunds is bold and catalytic, helping to crowd in capital for African entrepreneurs by strengthening and de-risking African investment vehicles that are committed to advancing gender equity in entrepreneurship.”

In addition to providing capital for investment vehicles, the MFAGF will offer a business development facility for their portfolio companies. The initiative will use gender-lens investing principles to help advance its Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young people in Africa, particularly young women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. So far, the Fund-of-Funds has recruited two investment vehicles supporting entrepreneurial growth.

Investment vehicles that are African-owned, led and based are typically considered high-risk. At the same time, African SMEs struggle to access the financing they need to scale, inhibiting their potential.

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) CEO Dr Dorothy Nyambi said: “We need to do everything it takes now to build a continent with shared prosperity and sustainable, inclusive growth. This fund will strengthen and empower a new crop of African investment vehicles to drive decent job creation for women and youth via investments in small and medium-sized enterprises.”

Dr Nyambi added that success lies in increasing youth employment and moving to action.

“Over 75% of ventures funded will be led by women creating jobs. Ultimately, impact will be in building the investment ecosystem for investment vehicles and in SMEs that will thrive and create employment,” Dr Nyambi said.

702 station manager Mzo Jojwana; Paballo Molata runner-up, D’Ntle Beauty; Matlhogonolo Ledwaba, winner Bread Box Bakery and Studio; Nkosana Ngwenya, NNI Services; and Trevor Gosling of Lulalend during the event.

Dr Dorothy Nyambi

How to avoid festive burglaries

Johannesburg - As you prepare to go on holiday, criminals prepare to get to work, according to ATG Digital’s Ariel Flax.

He shares findings from a Distribution Centre Risk Report, produced by a prominent logistics company.

The report reviews crime risk trends related to distribution centres between August 2021 and August 2022.

“It brings to light several interesting trends regarding business burglaries, that though related to distributed centres, parallels what we see with other business clients across the board,” Flax explains.

He advises enterprises of all sizes to consider the report’s key findings so they can apply appropriate security measures up to January.

The report found that most of security incidents during the reporting period were burglaries, peaking between November and January. Most incidents occur on Sundays, and on any given evening, the hours 23:00 to 00:00 are the highest risk; and that an overwhelming majority of the incidents occurred in Gauteng.

After burglaries, a large portion of crime incidents are categorised as robberies. Gauteng again reported the highest number of armed robberies, with the Northwest and Western Cape provinces in second and third.

Robberies occur more frequently in the early mornings between 00:00 and 09:00.

The report uncovers a modus operandi used by perpetrators, who were likely responsible for incidents between October 2021 and May 2022. The perpetrators gain entry by force, threatening

Global tech group opens office in the city

Johannesburg - Global tech company Zoho has opened a new office in the city to accommodate its growing employee base in the country and cater for its customers.

The company said it had new customer growth of 75% in South Africa in 2021, and doubled its employee base since opening its first office in Cape Town.

In addition, Zoho and the Institute of African Royalty (IAR), a startup and SME incubator, have entered into a partnership to remove access barriers to enterprise technology for small and medium businesses, and help with their digital transformation.

SMEs that are a part of IAR will receive Zoho Wallet Credit worth R27 000 that can be used to avail any of Zoho’s products, including Zoho One, the operating system for business. Zoho will also provide expertise to help businesses leverage cloud technology.

security guards with firearms or subterfuge, posing as guards or contractors.

Guards are tied up and their panic buttons removed. From there, the perpetrators open the gate for trucks with interlink trailers with cloned or falsified plates. Forklift workers are forced to aid the perpetrators with loading their trucks, after which the criminals take the goods to a rented warehouse as a ‘cool-off’ area.

“As we can see from the findings, access control is the first and most critical line of defence. Several technology-driven access control measures can support guards and prevent entry to premises,” says Flax.

He proposes automated gate or boom opening with biometric technology (such as facial recognition), advanced camera technology (such as ATG cam, an IoT camera with onboard OCR for live database lookups, or radio frequency identification (RFID) access control, where UHF readers pick up a unique ID from an RFID antenna fitted to authorised vehicles.

He adds implementing visitor or contractor pre-registration, where individuals’ identities are verified online and then preloaded onto the systems.

Flax says such solutions be integrated into an existing physical security infrastructure, and encourages businesses to use data to bolster security.

“The most important way to safeguard against crime is to keep an eye on your data. It is good to receive realtime information and alerts on suspicious activity and look out for trends so you can anticipate threats,” he adds.

integration with popular payment gateways Yoco and PayGate, to allow its customers to accept online payments. These announcements were made on the sidelines of Zoho’s annual user conference, Zoholics South Africa.

Zoho Middle East and Africa regional director Ali Shabdar said its growth should be globally connected, but locally rooted, an approach it calls transnational localism.

Zoho launched Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) in its digital signature application, Zoho Sign by integrating it with TrustFactory, one of South Africa’s most reliable identity verification providers.

To support ease of business for local companies, Zoho has announced

“We have followed this approach with our growth and expansion in South Africa. We have increased our employee strength, introduced local pricing, grown our partner network, invested in upskilling initiatives and partnered with local business communities. In continuation of our commitment to the country, we have partnered with IAR to help local businesses access enterprise technology, introduced AES in Zoho Sign to help businesses leverage the power and ease of digital signatures, and integrated local payment gateways that will make it easier for customers to receive payments online,” Shabdar said.

Zoho Sign also offers Qualified Electronic Signature in the European Union, Aadhaar-based eSign for India, Sign with Singpass for

Partnership provides cyber security training

Johannesburg - Vodacom Business has partnered with CybSafe to offer its clients and businesses access to security awareness and training.

Vodacom Business clients can download the CybSafe app onto mobile devices and use it to achieve cyber security compliance, while improving their employees’ security behaviours.

According to Interpol’s 2021 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report, the South African economy lost about $573 million (nearly R10 billion) in 2016. The report notes that South Africa had 230 million threat detections, while Kenya had 72 million and Morocco 71 million. In South Africa, 219 million detections were related to email threats.

Managing executive for cloud,

hosting and security at Vodacom Business, Kabelo Makwane says organisations of all sizes are facing enormous challenges, including the proliferation of cyber-attacks.

“This will enable us to offer ondemand access to security awareness and training to millions of users,” Makwane says.

CybSafe CEO and founder Oz Alashe says: “Our partnership with Vodacom Business will provide organisations with access to CybSafe. This will help them reduce the risk and improve people’s security behaviours. CybSafe works to change people’s behaviour, turning employees into an organisation’s greatest defence, while empowering them with the training and skills to detect and spot attacks before they cause harm.”

Singapore, Seiko time-stamping for Japan and more. South African businesses can also use Zoho Sign for international operations.

In 2021, Zoho grew by 52% in the Middle East and Africa region, the second highest growth region for the company. It grew its partner network by 55% and tripled its workforce in the region. It also established presence in seven countries, and set up new offices in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and South Africa.

Most of security incidents during the reporting period were burglaries

Zoho Middle East and Africa regional director Ali Shabdar

Cloud, hosting and security executive Kabelo Makwane

Arts festival opens entries for next year

Works ranging from theatre and public art performances to dance, music, film, comedy, illusion, poetry, visual art and more are all accommodated on the Fringe programme

Arts Correspondent

The National Arts Festival has opened the call for the 2023 Fringe Festival.

The Fringe festival plays a vital role in the arts ecosystem, creating a platform for emerging artists to present multi-disciplinary work at a festival, and also for established artists to experiment and launch new work, and collaborate with other artists. Artists who bring work to the Festival do so at their own financial risk but earn income from ticket sales.

Theatre hosts production that confronts GBV issues

Sullied explores the themes of religion, body politics, racism, gender, sexuality, rape culture, and toxic masculinity

Lusanda Zokufa

In Sullied, the seminal work from director Matjamela Motloung and choreographer Kristi-Leigh Gresse, movement and text give voice to what scholar Pumla Dineo Gqola calls South Africa’s Female Fear Factory

While the production comes to the Market Theatre during South Africa’s 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence; the work engages various paradigms of movement, thought, emotion, and spirituality to confront sexual violence.

Andiswa Gebashe, lands her sign-language performance skill in a first for South African theatre, as no production before this has had a sign language performer being part of the cast. This makes this production accessible to a variety of patrons including the deaf.

Violence to the female body at the hands of varied powerful social institutions forms part of the narrative ethos of Sullied

This is daring work that utilizes dance, silence, spoken word and sign language to tell a story about the structures that inform the daily strife South African women face.

Sullied explores the themes of religion, body politics, racism, gender, sexuality, rape culture, and toxic masculinity in a politically charged country led by powerful

male politicians. The purveyors of patriarchy are very present and succinct on some occasions, and omnipresent on others.

Rich in complex themes and how they feed into each other with roots in our daily lives, Sullied examines the psychological effects of patriarchal ideologies and misogyny, how our interactions with one another are a result of these ideologies.

The piece focuses heavily on the concept of cleansing. Rather than washing away tangible dirt, it confronts the idea of washing away the dirt trapped away in our subconscious because of fear, emotional trauma and ingrained social norms around women’s identity.

This production questions the structure of patriarchy and its systems used to justify its control and manipulation of women and their bodies.

“The production interrogates the effects that patriarchal ideologies and misogyny has on the human psyche; specifically the way these ideologies affect how we as human beings interact with one another,” says Motloung.

The show is sign language accessible with the generous support from Pansalb. Age recommendation is 13. For further information contact 062 329 4741 or desmondm@markettheatre.co.za.

The Fringe also offers opportunities for artists across the country and the world to present their work to other artists, local and international producers and audiences.

Shows on the Fringe stand a chance of receiving a Standard Bank Ovation Award, which recognises critically engaging and appealing works to audiences. Many shows that win the awards go on to travel the South African and international theatre and festival circuits. Fringe manager Zikhona Monaheng says artists wishing to sign up for this year’s Fringe should read the National Arts Festival Fringe Guide.

“It contains comprehensive details about participating in the Festival. There is a registration fee of R1 000, required once the application is approved. Applications are approved on the basis of availability and suitability of venues,” she says.

Works ranging from theatre and public art performances

to dance, music, film, comedy, illusion, poetry, visual art and more are all accommodated on the Fringe programme.

Fringe children’s theatre is also a drawcard for families visiting the festival. The festival programme is multi-lingual, so works in any language can be submitted.

Despite the National Arts Festival’s return to a live format, online or digital works are also welcome on the Fringe.

The festival is also calling for works for the Curated Programme. These submissions are considered by the Festival’s Artistic Committee, led by NAF’s artistic director, Rucera Seethal, and works to be programmed by the festival are then selected.

Artists may propose a work for the Curated Programme, and can also

apply to be on the Fringe festival. Entries will close on 13 January next year.

The 49th National Arts Festival will take place between 22 June and 2 July 2023 in Makhanda, Eastern Cape.

For more visit https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/naf2023-fringe

Part

Fringe manager Zikhona Monaheng

Sundowns Ladies dominate awards

Sports Reporter

Sundowns Ladies were recently crowned Hollywoodbets Super League champions as they continued their winning ways, with player Boitumelo Rabale named Player of the Season, and coach Jerry Tshabalala winning the Coach of the Season award.

In other categories, JVW’s Nompumelelo Nyandeni won the top goal scorer of the season award, having finished the recently-ended campaign with 30 goals. Bloemfontein

Celtic Ladies’ Katlego Moletsane won the Goalkeeper of the Season award, while the Young Player of the Season went to Richmond United’s Nthabiseng Majiya.

Match officials were also recognised for their work this season, and Hloniphile Msezane won the Referee of the Season award, while Amogelang Msiza won the Assistant Referee of the Season award.

South African Football Associa-

tion (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated all the nominees and winners.

“Next year there will be even more challenges. We must start building towards July and August towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. Next year we will also start the process to bid for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We have seen a 32 team World Cup for men in Qatar, and with it the excitement and growth of football. There is no longer a dominant centre of football. It is so for men’s football and it is also so for women’s football and I think the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia will also demonstrate this. But the pillar and foundation for all this growth has been the Hollywoodbets Super League. We thank Hollywoodbets for the support over the years, and we look forward to continue this movement so that we can produce a team that can compete next year,” he said.

Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala and striker Boitumelo Rabale were named coach and player of the season