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Issue 42

24 - 31 October 2019

Email : info@inner-city-gazette.co.za 072 824 3014

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Inner-city Gazette

News

For further information contact Boston on 011 551 2000 Email: info@boston.co.za Visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook

Changing

the trajectory of failure

Failure. It’s inevitable and inescapable part of any journey in work and your career. Anyone who tells you that they have never made a mistake, or a so-called bad decision is either lying or in denial. Every journey has its detours and apparent dead ends, and although stumbling blocks can be disheartening, they are essential in steering you back on track, while helping you to grow and learn. “Just like a pilot takes control of a plane, returning it back on its intended route when the plane is thrown off course by bad weather conditions, you can be the take the necessary actions in order to navigate the obstacles which present themselves as perceived mistakes and failure in your own career and life,” says Natalie Rabson career specialist at Boston City Campus & Business College. Failure brings lessons, new opportunities and a chance to grow. It’s your choice: To let it define you as who you are - or to see it as an opportunity at another shot at the prize. Here are some ways to help you do just that: You are judged by the company you keep – mix with successful people. Seek out a coach or mentor who can help you keep track of your goals, help you establish your goals, and help you redefine your goals when failure happens. Accept that Failure happens. Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and sportspeople have experienced failure – from Steve Jobs to Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan who was cut from his high school basketball team and Benni McCarthy who was dropped from the Bafana Bafana squad. So, take heart – if you’ve failed so have

Natalie Rabson others who have gone on to achieve great success. Feedback, not failure – change your perception of failure so that it becomes a learning opportunity and not a dead-end. Ask yourself: “What went wrong and how can I do it differently next time?” Change your internal script - develop a positive attitude! Support yourself with encouraging thoughts. Plenty of people have failed. You’re not the first. But it is your attitude and determination to start again that will put you on track to achieving your goal. Feel the fear and do it anyway Failure often makes us freeze up, making us avoid trying again and going forward. However, we can

also view it as a moment of truth. What do we need to do that we are not doing? If you want a different result you need to try a different approach – that applies to the actions, you take and your attitude. Action creates further action. Take the next step, in spite of your fear. While everyone’s lives are really busy, we must not let life stop us from progress! You need to make yourself a priority as well in order to achieve your goal. Start by: 1. Writing down the goal you want to achieve 2. List the obstacles between where you are and where you want to be 3. Write down the necessary steps to overcome each obstacle 4. Use a symbol or picture of achieving each of these steps and paste on a vision board 5. Each morning when you wake up, look at your vision board, picturing your new business achieving success, yourself in a graduation gown. In other words, create a new identity of yourself and make your goal top of mind. 6. It is also vital to picture your steps along the way. So for example, see yourself taking the online course, learning new skills on your way to your new qualification. 7. See yourself committing wholeheartedly to achieving your goal. When you have made a significant commitment, you are on the road to achieving your goals step by step. “Failure has a bad rap. Instead of viewing it as something negative, we need to approach it with a mindset that it is a learning curve - failure can be transformed into your most valuable tool, creating a successful trajectory for your life and career,” says Rabson.

24 - 31 October 2019

Facebook’s role in politics Politicians have complained that the social network has too much power to shape social and political discourse Joan E Solsman and Queenie Wong

f all Facebook cared about was the money it makes from political advertising, the company wouldn’t be doing it, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said Tuesday. The social networking giant continues to answer questions about its decision to run political ads, including those with misleading information, without fact checking them. Instead, Facebook believes political ads are an important part of discourse. “It’s not for the money, let’s start there. This is a very small part of our; and it is very controversial. We’re not doing this for the money. We take political ads because we really believe they are part of political discourse. If you look at this over time, the people who have the most benefited from being able to run ads are people who are not covered by the media so they can’t get their message out,” she said. Sandberg’s comments come as Facebook fends off mounting criticism of its practices. Politicians have complained that the social network has too much power to shape social and political discourse. Facebook also reels from concerns it isn’t protecting user privacy, an issue that has already led to an unprecedented $5 billion fine. Sandberg pushed back on the perception that Facebook was designed as an echo chamber to reinforce an individual user’s worldview. She said 26% of the news that a user sees on the platform “will be from another point of view” on average. “It is unequivocally true that Facebook

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

usage and uses of social media show you broader points of view, not narrower points of view,” she said. Sandberg joined the social network in 2008, helping create its multi-billion dollar advertising business. At the same time, she has used her platform to champion women’s issues, becoming a feminist icon after the 2013 release of the book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Her leadership, though, was criticized after a series of Facebook scandals that followed the 2016 US presidential election and revelations that Russian trolls used the social network to sow discord to interfere in that vote Facebook’s woes have continued to pile up since 2016. Democrats and civil rights activists say the company is harming democracy by allowing politicians to lie in ads. The company’s efforts to launch a new cryptocurrency called Libra next year is drawing scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators. New York Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday said in total 47 attorneys general have joined the investigation of Facebook on antitrust grounds. The probe, which was announced in September this year, focuses on Facebook’s dominance and potential anticompetitive conduct stemming from that position. CNet

24 - 31 October 2019

Inner-city Gazette

UJ launches tech mental health project

News

Diminished civil society support, a lack of global consensus on mental illness and its treatment, missed policy opportunities and limited evidence on the delivery of mental health interventions are blocking the improvement of mental health. Lelethu Tonisi

he University of Johannesburg (UJ) uses Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in a project to address mental health; launched on 18 October at the Soweto campus. The university has announced that it will pilot a web-based child and youth mental health profiling system using rapid real-time 4IR technologies. While briefing Parliament’s Select Committee on Social Services in 2014 on mental health issues, Health Department’s director of non-communicable diseases Melvyn Freeman said: “If you don’t control the disease then you may need to hospitalise a person and they might well become a major disruption in their societies and communities.” It is also often difficult to determine the causes of child mental health conditions, disorders, and diseases. Several barriers, such as diminished civil society support, a lack of global consensus on mental illness and its treatment, missed policy opportunities and limited evidence on the delivery of mental health interventions are blocking

the improvement of mental health. The South African Research Chair in Education and Care in Childhood at UJ, Professor Jace Pillay said neuropsychiatric conditions are often the leading causes of disability in young people. “If untreated, these conditions severely influence children’s development, their educational attainments, and their potential to live fulfilling and productive lives,” Pillay said. He added that the initiative would enable a comparative analysis of mental health problems across educational districts, specific locations and across provinces, lending support for what type of interventions are needed. The technology will use worldstandardised tests commonly utilised by psychologists as testing tools, but which have been modified for the South African context to track psychosocial illnesses such as depression, anxiety, trauma, etc. Children between the ages of nine to 17 who have been selected from different schools under the help and supervision of an IT specialist and life orientation (LO) teacher will fill in a biographical informa-

tion sheet, with questions about mental health. “Our intention is not to make any diagnosis but identify symptoms of psychological problems. The system is basically to collect data to forecast the trend in mental illness but to also advise us on where we need to focus regarding psychosocial interventions, as well as the stakeholders we bring on board in terms of being able to supply the support service,” said Pillay. Through the UJ Institute for Intelligence Systems, Pillay said they would also draw a comparative analysis across age, gender, class, culture groups, ethnicity, localities, and even a comparison in terms of education districts. Younger children have not yet been accommodated as that would require a more extensive process of interviews with parents, caregivers, and teachers. Vice-dean: research and postgraduate studies Mdu Ndlovu said the project is intended to establish UJ as a centre of global excellence and stature. “This is one of a few high-profile projects of the catalytic initiative at UJ, where specific funding was deliberately granted on a competitive

basis by the university research committee,” he said. He said universities have a duty to society to take a lead in knowledge production in the form of research and innovation. “In developing the system, the project draws from best global practices, so it is not only going to be local, it must have international stature. We are taking part in a historical moment of global significance. More importantly, making Soweto the epicentre helps bring scarce 4IR solutions to some of the most disadvantaged parts of our country.” Director for Transformation at the office of the Gauteng Premier, Zain Bulbulia said the initiative should also follow a rights-based approach with indicators that would show how best to implement action against mental illnesses. “When we look at Article 13 we see there is no justice for people with psychosocial disabilities until death comes up. Look at Article 24 on education; what are we doing as educators? Is our environment open and fair to allow people with psychosocial disabilities? We talk of special schools, but we haven’t drilled down to where matters really happen,” Bulbulia said. DM

Professor Jace Pillay

Inner-city Gazette

News

Forum set to boost Africa’s investment

Joburg highway to re-open soon

Investment of $43-55 billion per year is needed until 2030 Johannesburg - In a few weeks, the second edition of the annual Africa Investment Forum will kick off in Joburg, with development finance institutions determined to tackle the continent’s infrastructure investment challenges and advance Africa’s economic transformation agenda. President of the African Development Bank (ADB) and forum convener Akinwumi Adesina said: “When we laid out our vision to tilt the flow of capital into Africa by convening the first transaction-based investment forum, many thought it would amount to castles in the air. One year down the road, the verdict is undisputed. Africa’s investment opportunities are proving to be seriously attractive.”

24 - 31 October 2019

Premier David Makhura (second right), ADB president Akinwumi Adesina (centre) with some delegates at the previous event.

the least access to electricity, 13 are in Africa. Investment in the region of $43-55 billion per year is needed until 2030-2040 to meet demand and provide universal access to power. “A robust pipeline of deals valued at billions of US dollars in energy, cross-border infrastructure, agriculture will be tabled in the boardroom sessions,” Adesina said. Last year’s Forum attracted 1 943 participants representing 87 countries and brought together 400 investors from 52 countries. The event brings together heads of state, project sponsors, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and other institutional investors. Policymakers, private equity firms, and other key senior Sixteen teams participated in the Ekhaya Neighbourhood government ofopen soccer tournament. ficials will also be The tournament continues to bring the community together and reduce crime. attend; from 11-13 Top three winners are Blauberg, Sentinel and Wynton Joy Cournban teams November 2019.

The resolve to tackle Africa’s annual infrastructure investment gap, estimated at between US$130 billion and US$170 billion, was on full display during the 2018 inaugural forum. Gauteng Premier David Makhura said: “The inaugural Africa Investment Forum witnessed an extraordinary level of engagement. The conversation moved from talking about investment to advancing deals towards financial closure. 2019 will validate and redefine the perception

of investor confidence regarding the African Continent.” Alain Ebobisse, CEO of Africa50 said the continent is brimming with opportunities. “The forum not only brings together investors and stakeholders to initiate deals but can help close transactions that would otherwise take months or years. In infrastructure, this makes a significant difference since financial and opportunity costs of project delays are high.” Of the world’s 20 countries with

Johannesburg - The City of Joburg has confirmed that repairs on the M2 highway would be completed by the end of October. The city introduced the project in August 2018. The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) started the repairs to sections of the highway after an assessment revealed that structural integrity of the concrete elements was severely reduced. The motorway, which was closed to traffic at the end of February, cost the city nearly R160m to refurbish. The M2, one of the city’s main motorways, links the N3 and M1 with the city and the western parts of the city. The closure of the M2 Highway had major effects on Joburg traffic and caused peak-hour congestion on both the M1 south and north. Commuters making their way to and from the east of Joburg had to increase their travel time, causing much reliance on the N3 and N12. City spokesperson Tony TavernaTurisan said a ceremony will be held to mark this occasion. “An operational plan will be rolled out to ensure the motorway is fully operational come 4 November.” The highway closure affected CBD businesses, especially banks. Absa spokesperson Phumza Macanda said the bank increased security around the CBD. “People got stuck in traffic, giving an opportunity to criminals,” Macanda said.

24 - 31 October 2019

Inner-city Gazette

News

The students who attended the event during their visit to the Khanye Colliery.

Students attend mining journalism seminar Johannesburg - The Menar Academy of Sandton recently hosted a media training workshop to equip student journalists with mining journalism skills. The trainees were from media houses including SABC, Engineering News and Mining Weekly, eNCA, Mpumalanga Tribune newspaper Middelburg Observer and Lifa Communications. Journalism students from Tshwane University of Technology, University of Johannesburg and University of the Witwatersrand also attended. Menar MD Vuslat Bayoglu shared his experiences of engaging with media from the perspective of a mining company. Speakers included Mergence Corporate Solutions director of mining Peter Major, who presented on understanding the resources sector from an inves-

tor’s perspective; Minerals Council of South Africa senior economist Bongani Motsa who spoke on the state of mining in South Africa; senior independent researcher Dr Salimah Valiani on the historical context of mining in South Africa and the future of the sector; and Webber Wentzel specialist mining lawyer Jonathan Veeran who gave a presentation on community engagement; the emerging key legal issues in the mining sector. There were also presentations from award winning journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha, who outlined what the toolkit for good journalism should comprise; National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) deputy president Philip Vilakazi highlighted the experience of organising in a sector riddled with job losses. Menar chairperson and veteran

journalist Mpumelelo Mkhabela discussed the structure of the mining sector and emphasised the importance of journalists making use of state-owned entities and listed companies’ annual reports to generate factually correct, newsworthy articles. Trainees concluded the training by visiting Canyon Coal; a subsidiary of Menar opencast mine Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit. That enabled the trainees to experience the realities and complexities of operating a large-scale mine in South Africa. Khanye Colliery general manager Guy Thompson gave an overview of the mine, followed by a tour of the mine’s main operating areas, which included two of the three mining pits and the processing plant areas. Mining Review Africa

Street vendors Cops seize R5

assault cop

Doornfontein - Last Thursday two vendors who were selling their goods to children outside a school in Doornfontein were arrested after they assaulted a JMPD officer, the Johannesburg metro police department said on Friday. Metro police Chief David Tembe said the officers had received a complaint from a school where the women were selling outside its premises. “When the ladies were confronted by the officers, they swore, and even assaulted our officer; and they were immediately arrested,” he said. Tembe said the two women were charged with crimen injuria, assaulting an officer and contravention of street trading bylaws. Their arrest came on the same day when over 170 pupils from Nomini Primary School in Orange Farm had to be taken for medical treatment after falling ill, allegedly after eating sweets they bought from a vendor. The Gauteng health department said the children were sent to hospitals after complaining of stomach cramps and vomiting.

million dagga

Johannesburg - A joint intelligence-led operation has led to the arrest of four alleged drug traffickers who were found with R5.2million worth of dagga. Police spokesperson Brigadier Mathapelo Peters said the operation comprised the Gauteng Organised Crime Narcotics Unit and Johannesburg-K9, who acted after receiving a tip-off. “The unit disrupted a planned drug trafficking operation, after police received information that a consignment would be loaded in Johannesburg and transported to Namibia. Members of the Johannesburg-K9 intercepted a Toyota Quantum in Alberton and arrested four suspects for possession and dealing in drugs. Police found compressed dagga estimated at R4.2million. They also seized an undisclosed amount of money suspected to be proceeds of crime,” Peters said. She said investigation led police to a house in Meyerton where

Brigadier Mathapelo Peters

more dagga, worth at an estimated R1million was seized. Gauteng provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela applauded the commitment of the members for heeding the call to fight the scourge of drugs, which is often associated with other crimes that include human trafficking. He also urged residents to continue reporting criminal activity in their areas to the nearest police station.

The truck lies overturned in a stream soon after the accident.

Pic: Arrive Alive

Driver ejected in freak crash Johannesburg - The driver of a truck sustained serious injuries after he was ejected on impact after being involved in a collision with a bakkie and a car on Lois Avenue in Gleneagles on Monday. Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said paramedics responded to reports of the accident at around 12:16. “Reports from the scene indicate that a truck, bakkie and car were involved in a collision resulting in the truck and bakkie leaving the road,” Herbst said. He added that paramedics assessed the scene and found that the truck driver was ejected from the vehicle; and was found to have sustained serious injuries.

“He was treated on scene by an advanced life support paramedic and once stabilised was transported by ambulance to hospital. Three other people sustained minor to moderate injuries and were treated on the scene before being transported by various ambulance services to hospital for further treatment. All necessary authorities were on the scene,” Herbst said.

Inner-city Gazette

24 - 31 October 2019

Inner-city Gazette

The Arts

Top comedians to feature in Blacks Only comedy show Jeanette Odgers

Part of a performance during a previous Vavasati festival.

Vavasati women’s festival applications open Thakgatso Setseta

he South African State Theatre (SAST) invites theatre practitioners to submit proposals of their various plays, shows, workshops, exhibitions, master classes, flea markets and artistic round talk tables, for consideration in the 8th Annual Vavasati Women’s International Festival, which will run from 01 to 31 August 2020 at the SA State Theatre. The SAST said the festival invites works that are cutting edge, relevant and inspiring from directors, writers, choreographers, poets, musicians, visual artists and more.

The following information is required for consideration: a brief synopsis of the production; motivation of why the production is relevant, cutting edge, inspiring etc; artistic treatment/technical rider; company/ individuals information e.g. biographies of the creative team, contact details and any other publicity material of the production; and production trailer if available. There is an option to present a 15 minutes piece of your work for consideration. Indicate on your application if you wish for this option, then be ready to present on 27 November 2019 from 09:00 till 17:00 at the South African State Theatre.

The theatre will offer performance venue, access to wardrobe and décor, marketing and PR to successful applicants. Submissions can be emailed to vavasati@statetheatre.co.za or dropped off at the South African State Theatre, 320 Pretorius Street, Pretoria at Reception in the box labelled ‘Vavasati 2020’. For enquiries call 012 392 4036. The closing date is Saturday, 30 November 2019. Proposal evaluations will be done by the SA State Theatre’s artistic team and external readers. Correspondence will be made with successful artists by 31 January 2020.

Metro FM and Real Comedy are set to present the Blacks Only comedy on 26 October at the CTICC Auditorium 1, on 1 November at the Centre Court, Emperors Palace, and on 30 November at The Globe, Suncoast. The comedy started as a one-night only show in 2004; and quickly became the biggest comedy brand in the country, and the most anticipated event on the social calendar, showcasing the country’s top comedians. Director, producer, MC & comedian David Kau will continue his role as MC for the event. The evening will also showcase award-winning comedians as well as some fresh talent. The Blacks Only comedy show is no stranger to edgy topics and close to the bone humour, and promises not to disappoint. The Joburg line-up comprises Marc Lottering, Nina Hastie, Noko Mosoete, Siya Seya, Thabang ER, Tumi Morake, and Tumi Stop Nonsonso. The Cape Town show features Keenan Cerff, Marc Lottering, Siya Seya, Suhayl Essa, Tatz Nkonzo and Thabang ER; and in Durban the line-up includes Robbie Collins, Siya Seya, Tatz Nkonzo, Thabang ER, Glen Biderman Pam and Flymotion.

Director and comedian David Kau

Sporting stars vie for awards Sports Reporter

inners of the 14th South Africa Sports Awards are set to be announced at a gala dinner on November 10. The nominees were recently announced by Sport and Recreation Minister Nathi Mthethwa. This programme annually recognises outstanding achievement by various sports men and women who continue to produce outstanding excellent performance. This year’s edition of the SA Sport Awards is geared towards recognising the ways in which sport has boosted social cohesion and nation building, focusing also on the human triumphing spirit. Swimming sensation Tatjana Schoenmaker, Banyana Banyana striker Thembi Kgatlana and netball player Karla Pretorius will vie for the SA Sports Star of the Year Award in an event organised by the SA Sports Confederation

and Olympic Committee. In the Sportsman of the Year category is four-time Olympic medallist Chad Le Clos, paddler Andrew Birkett and boxer Moruti Mthalane. Reigning 800m Olympic champion Caster Semenya was nominated in the Sportswomen of the Year category alongside Pretorius and Schoenmaker. The public will also get to be involved, by voting in the People’s Choice of the Year award, which include Percy Tau, Thembi Kgatlana, Siya Kolisi, Gerda Steyn and Bongiwe Msomi. Some of the nominees are: Sportsman of the Year - Andrew Birkett, Chad Le Clos, Moruti Mthalane Sportsman of the Year with a disability - Antony Smyth, Mpumelelo Mhlongo, Ntando Mahlangu Sportswoman of the Year - Karla Pretorius, Tatjana Schoenmaker,

Caster Semenya Sportswoman of the Year with a disability - Kgothatso Montjane, Anrune Liebenberg- Weyers, Simone Kruger Coach of the Year - Rocco Meiring, Xolani Mabhida, Rassie Erasmus Sports Journalist of the Year Mark Lewis, Nduduzo Dladla, Ronald Masinda School Team of the Year - St Benedict’s College, Hoerskool Gimnasium, Groote Schuur Primary School Developing school team of the Year - Troyville Primary School - Volleyball Boys under 13, Morris Isaacson - Tennis, Ikhwezilesizwe Primary School under 13 The People’s Choice of the Year - Percy Tau, Thembi Kgatlana, Siya Kolisi, Gerda Steyn, Bongiwe Msomi Sports Star of the Year - Thembi Kgatlana, Karla Pretorius, Tatjana Schoenmaker

Banyana star Thembi Kgatlana