Tshwane Youth Magazine

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We turn TWO! *throws digital confetti around and cuts digital cake while doing the digital sbhujwa dance* Me and dance? Mah! Me and cake? Yah! Yes, the TYM March issue is our birthday issue and what better way to dedicate the issue to social networks and the power they seemingly have over us? But we’re strong right? We’re strong enough to ask our friends and followers to befriend and follow TYM on social networks for a free subscription to Tshwane’s prime ezine magazine. *throws a bit more of digital confetti* Many moons ago, one could blow a kiss to the other as a sign of affection. A kiss caught would be the greatest thing since “s-curl and cut”. This was many moons ago. Fast-forward to today, an emoticon is used to express affection, and the lack thereof. If you don’t get a “Ping!”, you surely will be poked. We live in such a world.

All these were provided by phones which served as housing for social networks; more sophisticated phones were introduced to attend to even more sophisticated communication needs of the users, me and you. Our need for physical communication has seemingly been swallowed up by a virtual one. We have slowly relocated to social networkville.

Social network – ah!, that place where you can pass off other people’s work as yours by conveniently forgetting to use “inverted commas”. Yes!, a place where a friendship is a request away.

It is a spotlight on “swag-drippers”, self-proclaimed online celebrities and shwashwis. A place where you can follow the other, tag them or just plain old pass them off as a family member without a need for paternity tests. That place of piety display where it only takes a profile to declare your holiness and a few inspirational quotes turn you into a guru. Have I already touched on plagiarism? Ok. If social network was a subject taught in school, who wouldn’t pass? Who wouldn’t make sure that textbooks aren’t delivered… sorry, I meant who wouldn’t make sure that “BIS” isn’t bought? Anyway, many of us find ourselves here by intention, peerpressure, necessity or mistake. Fact is, we’re still around due to choice.

In an age of social relations, we have grown more and more anti-social. It is sadly funny to note friends agreeing to physically meet to only be engrossed in the screens of their phones and type away their meeting while throwing in a word or two just to convince themselves that they are physically present in the gathering. You come to the realization that sometimes a smartphone does not belong to a smart-owner. You doubt me?

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Check your newsfeeds.

Businesses that employ social networks in their proper places are seeing good returns on their efforts because they can now interact more with their consumers and their consumers start to feel a sense of importance when their communication to their service providers get a response on social networks.

jobs to spot the wrongs of others and sell them off as tabloid.

Please join us in this March issue as we take a look at the impact of social networks on our behaviour and relations and how we can use them to our advantage. Also, songstress extraordinaire, Nothende reminds us that ultimately love is what brought us here and we do good by being conduits Although social networks have afforded of its expression. the stage for many to shine, they have inversely served as graves for careers Here’s to growing together. and brands. One wrong utterance or Love, deed could see you losing sponsorships, MMM. followers and credibility. There are @masingitamasiya people who have made it their paying

people have no regard for other people’s relationship. It has come to the point where if you don’t flirt or return a flirt you are odd and should be stuck in the past, pre-technology and social networks.

Although social media in itself is not to be blamed for bad personal decisions, it does influence them and thus interferes with relationships. This platform has exposed us and made us vulnerable.

Lesego Popela (21), Maboloka (Agree) Social media does influence love relationships. This is a perfect platform for people to interact and get to know each other, through famous sites like Facebook and Twitter. Networking on social media is about creating and maintaining relationships, plutonic or otherwise, which more than often compromises security and trust that one may have in the other person when they are in a relationship. Conversations start with a simple “hi” and just a “Like” of a status causes butterflies to flap in one’s stomach. Chief Solutions Officer of Yahoo, Tim Sanders nailed it on the head when he said, “Love is the killer App”.

Since time and resources are limited, social networking was supposed to make our approach to life and love easier, but it instead feeds the monsters we call jealousy and insecurity. An innocent wall post from a friend often carries with it unsettling undertones to a partner who gets to read it causing insecurities, jealousy, tension, and thus revealing lack of trust. This often leads to the relationship ending.

Before the advance of technology, the presence of another was a necessity to making a relationship work, even the absence thereof. Social networks may carry with them the advantage of making sure that even though a partner is not nearby, the relationship carries on due to constant and cheaper communication.

But this “on-line” presence has also made us available to other people’s advances which we ourselves have no control over. Exclusivity to an extent is tempered with.

And also, since we use words and gestures to relay a message across on social networks, interpretation of the simplest “hi” or complement is seen as expression of interest for a relationship, though you even have your display picture as you and your partner. Some

Joy Mathebula (27), Ekangala (Disagree) Two people undertake to do perhaps one of the hardest things on earth – to merge two souls. They vow to stand whatever is thrown against them; this they do willingly, no one asks them to. Challenges come, one disguised as jealousy and another as time. Some challenges come dressed as finance and the latest one, the one we are discussing now, social media.

Many have lamented that social media cut short their trip to loveland; that it was this platform that brought the demise to their relationships. This concerns me and it worries me a bit because from what I understand social media to be, this is not possible. Social media is basically a tool designed to connect people – nothing less, nothing more. It connects lovers; it connects friends; and unfortunately even connects past lovers and strangers.

My argument is that it is an individual that ruins his/her relationship and not the challenges that come. One decides to move from one’s position/vow. It is not necessarily external factors like social media that causes a relationship to break. A man that is moved by social media from his promise is a man that can be moved by anything.

In actual fact, social media is designed to help strengthen relationship rather than break them. Firstly, these platforms come at a fraction of what we used to spend to stay connected with our loved ones. So, it costs less to stay connected with the one you love. Secondly, these platforms give you an opportunity to learn more about your partner; you learn their thought patterns simply by observing what they post or update.

This is my take: anything, any challenge that comes against them that have decided to stay true to love is an opportunity for growth. If it be time, then these two heads should work together and prove that their love fools time. If it social media, then may their eyes be open enough to realize that this was designed to bring them closer to one another instead of breaking them.

What love has joined together, no social platform can put asunder. TYM

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With technology making work a bit easier, it was not hard to track down this beauty from our friends’ list or followers. 19 year old Karabo Dube is from the vibrant township of Soshanguve, Pretoria, and has pictures that would leave most guys drooling and girls’ faces red with envy.

During her interview with TYM, she let us know that she’s living in this big world filled with dreams to pursue. Dube, who is currently finishing her final year at Langenhoeven High School is at the doorstep of her future.

Q: What is the lesson that South Africans should learn from Oscar’s saga in your opinion?

A: What I personally learned from the Oscar saga is that we as South Africans and people generally should not be hasty to cast stones when a matter of any kind that involves people’s lives is concerned. Oscar’s situation can happen to anyone, and at anytime. Therefore, you need to put yourself in someone else’s shoes before we can conclude on whatever reasoning you have.

Q: Should the youth always depend on the government for jobs?

A: No, they shouldn’t! The common “black mentality” is about being lazy and dependent on the government for everything, and that needs to change.

Truth is, we have dreams to pursue.

Everyone has hands and a brain to think of anything to assist them in reaching their dreams. The government is not responsible for people to be job orientated. So take the government as plan “Z” and not “A”.

Q: Which model or celeb do you admire and why?

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A: It has to be Bonang Matheba. I know most young girls like me agree that she has motivated us directly and indirectly by showing that working hard, being patient and being focus on your dream, will surely pay-off in the long run.

Q: Why did you choose to model and what do you hope from it?

A: I choose modelling because of the love I have for it. I find in it the freedom to be myself. It reveals the inner me, although it doesn’t define me. It’s only part of me. I simply hope to be the light in dark tunnels of young girls around South Africa. As the Bible says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young”. I hope not to be looked down at because I’m young.

Q: Most ladies/models like fashion. Can you define the style you like and also which brand you like?

A: That’s a hard one. I don’t particularly have a designated style. I love putting on anything exquisite, depending on my mood. I love fashion, but my fashion sense is hard to describe because it’s versatile, but much simpler to be associated with. TYM

The modeling industry is not for the feint-hearted or for those who struggle with low self-esteem, mainly because you’re constantly on display and brands depend on your personality to bring their creations to life. TYM had the opportunity to meet a young outspoken model who defies the odds in the modeling industry. Twentyyear old Lethabo Huma from West Park, Pretoria West, is headed for a bright future in the industry. We meet Huma at the FFWD Fashion Show, Pretoria, where he was showcasing a few designers’ outfits.

Q: What is the lesson that South Africans should learn from Oscar’s saga in your opinion?

A: Without actual facts we cannot form a proper opinion. Though murder has taken place, we will always wonder as to what triggered Oscar to resort to such measures.

Q: Should the youth always depend on the government for jobs?

A: No. The government can only assist where it can, but where it can’t, then it’s up to us to use any available opportunity to create jobs or find jobs in the private sector. I believe most in establishing businesses. When one has a great business idea which is fully researched, family should see to it that they support that person in any form – be it financially or otherwise.

Q: Which model or celeb do you admire and why?

A: Siyabonga “Scoop” Ngwekazi is the man. He is the definition of a true hustler

– from owning a clothing brand he is also a TV and radio presenter. If a simple guy like him who’s always grounded, can do that, it really inspires others to reach for the stars.

Q: Why did you choose to model and what do you hope from it?

A: It’s funny that I got the inspiration of modeling from my grandmother. She was always looking good at all times.

Whether she was going to church, funeral or even being at home, she always dressed good. That’s where also the love for fashion developed. After all, you can’t separate models and fashion.

Q: Which fashion designer do you like?

A: David Tlale. Not just because he`s one of the most popular designers in SA, but mainly because his work is always outstanding. No wonder he can showcase beyond the borders of SA and Africa. TYM

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Are you one of the people that are not certain whether to tell their friends or business partners that they live in Pretoria, or is it Tshwane? Well, you are not alone.

When you watch the weather forecast, Tshwane is still referred to as Pretoria, but when you’re in the city, all you see is the City of Tshwane branding from billboards to newsletters. Now that we have your attention, here are some interesting facts about our beloved City of Tshwane, in numbers.

The City of Tshwane is the

residents. Without even accounting for other places that fall within the The City of Tshwane, we’re looking at a population that might just surpass

. Will we finally have a Soweto vs Tshwane derby in terms of residential stats?

is the total staff number that worked for City of Tshwane by the year

largest municipality in Gauteng and is amongst the

. These wonderful people worked at numerous buildings and depots throughout the city. Surely with

biggest metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. Now with that said, do you still need to make your dreams come true in another city?

staff, this city has more manpower and brains to ensure that a better service for all is delivered.

The City of Tshwane consists of

In its

citizen report, the city reported to have spent over divisions (townships and urban places) and Soshanguve had over

residents, which makes it the largest township in Tshwane, followed by Mamelodi with over

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for operational services/products. Yes! R14 billion.

For more information on the City of Tshwane, please contact Customer Care on: 012 358 9999 customercare@ tshwane.gov.za.

Here is a bit of what the youth of the City of Tshwane wish the city could do for them and their communities: What we wish City of Tshwane could do is…

Maggie Molope (19), Mamelodi – I wish the Mayor of Tshwane could be decisive when coming to prioritising Tshwane youth needs. There are not much visible activities that Tshwane Municipality is offering to its youth, especially the disadvantaged ones with no funds to tertiary; those with a lack of sports development programmes; and those without funds to run businesses Tshepo Lekalakala (27), Hammanskraal – We all know that the majority of SA youth are unemployed, like myself, mainly because of lack of working experience. So, I wish Tshwane could create more internships in their various departments and also come to an agreement with other major companies operating in Tshwane to create more space for interns. Only if they make that compulsory to any company, I believe we will see less of the youth loitering at home doing negative things.

Puseletso Mabena (23), Pretoria North – I’ve attended many community and City of Tshwane events where they either campaign or mobilise people for whatever agenda they might have for that particular event. The costs of such events can change many lives in our city and communities. Looking at the cost to hire buses, pay artists, sound and stage, market the event, catering and other logistics, expenditure may well be over a million Rands – bear in mind that the municipality usually hosts close to four or five major events in different townships each year. It should make you wonder if all this spending can’t be used to better the city and its inhabitants more than just make the municipality look pretty on posters. After all, the majority of the people who attend these events go because of free entertainment and t-shirts. So, I believe that those funds should be used to address social issues. TYM

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Fish & Chips 45%

MTN 22%

Fish & Chips 45% Nandos15%

Nando's Chicken'Licken 13%

Other 5%

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Chiken'Licken

Chiken'Licken Other 5%

MTN 22%

Nando's

Fish&ChipsOther Co.

Chicken'Licken MTN13% 22%

Nandos15%

MTN 22% Fish&Chips Co.

Other

Huawei Ascend P1 - The Huawei brand is not one of the most popular brands in the South African smartphone market, but its smartphone can surely compete with other popular ones if they keep the standard they have with this Huawei Ascend P1. The P1 comes preloaded with Android ICS 4.0 and Huawei’s optimized UI which makes the P1 a simpler more enjoyable phone for you.

More features that really make it one of the best yet simplified smartphone devices is the 4.3-inch Super AMOLED HD (960 x 540) screen with an Auto rotate feature powered by G-sensor and a dual core 1.5GHz cpu, together with optimal software that makes it capable of handling 3D games effectively.

Marantz M-CR503 - The M-CR503 is a receiver featuring an integrated CDplayer. Marantz consequently named it ‘CD-receiver M-CR503’. This 503 is equipped with an amplifier, CD-player and a RDS-tuner. On the other hand, the 603 adds DAB-tuner and network capability and the 803 gets a Blu-Ray player. The M-CR 503 is equipped with an amplifier of 30 watt RMS per channel at 6 ohm. This leads us to believe that the 503 performs equally different compared to other sound systems.

Toshiba Z930 – If it’s not this and that about tablets, then it’s this and that about ultrabooks. Toshiba’s Satellite Z930-10X is built around an Intel Core i5-3317U CPU and runs at a clock speed of 1.7GHz, or 2.6GHz if cranked up to its turbo setting. It also has 6GB RAM, storage 128GB SSD and its quite light.

The only low point is the 1366 x 768 pixel resolution which won’t run to 1080p high definition but will enable you to watch 720p content.

iPad USB Typewritter - Jack Zylkin has brought back an old tool in the new tech era, and that is the typewritter. But this typewritter is not the old version that you might know or have heard about, if you are part of the “born-free” generation.

The USB Typewritter allows you to use this once obsolete tool as a keyboard that plugs into any USB-enabled devices such as your PC, Mac, or iPad. Plus, this new-and-improved gadget features all the advanced functions of a modern keyboard such as the ctrl, alt, esc, and arrow keys. Let the click-clack sound of the keys ring in your ears as you press the buttons of your USB Typewritter.

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What I do with my Nokia Lumia 610 Name : Kagiso “KG” Mantu Age : 27 Place : Soshanguve Work : Airport Company of South Africa Department : Financial Department

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I access and interact on social networks.

• Lumia Facebook app is the best and beats other smartphones because they can’t show profile cover and can only show profile picture. The whole Facebook interface is awesome, and instead of scrolling up or down, you just flip it sideways to see notifications, your profile and other information. Also, the integration of Facebook Messaging with SMS s so great as it puts both in a single stream and automatically switches to SMS when you go offline.

I store large files.

• Most smartphones depend on a memory card for mass storage, but for me, the storage of my pictures, videos and deep house tunes is in the 8GB internal storage that comes standard with my phone.

I type and save my documents.

• When you use a Windows phone, expect the best MS experience on it.

And yes, Microsoft Office is an angel in disguise when it comes to working on documents.

I use it to access information.

• I start my morning by going through various websites to get the latest news for the day. And because slow browsing irritates me, Lumia gives me best satisfaction with its 502ms browsing speed.

The downfall/dislike about Lumia.

Data consumption is at a higher rate.

TYM

Black Coffee - Africa Rising The festive season might have passed, but everyday turns festive with this DVD because it is just that epic. The Africa Rising DVD takes an emotional experience for performers and audiences alike because of an exclusive two hour mix by Black Coffee’s biggest tracks boldly stripped down to accommodate a live band with vocalists and a 24-piece orchestra. Black Coffee’s sound has elements of mbaqanga, jazz and rhythm and blues hence his able to feature musos like BOP, Black Moses (of Soul Brothers fame) and the late Victor Ntoni. Joining this superlative line up on the DVD are special guest vocalists and musos performing Black Coffee’s mega hits, including Tumelo “Arise and Shine”, Bucie “Superman” and “Turn Me On”, Zakes Bantwini “Juju”, Zano “Someday”, Thiwe “Crazy”, Soulsta “Rock My World”, Marissa “Time To Go” and others. It’s a very fresh idea that’s taking house music to another level. As we all know Coffee’s trademark, which is “effects”, he does not hold back on them in the DV D. 10/10

Location Camera Angle Lighting Stylist YouTube stats/views Overall

iFani - Shake 20 15 20 20 38 930 (by 11/Mar/13) points 20 95 (best)

Kwesta - Boomshakalaka 20 20 15 15 25 910 (by 11/Mar/13) points 15 85 (good)

(0-40 poor) (41-80 nice try) (81- 90 good) (91 – 100 best)

Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire Girl on Fire is an album about the rebirth and renewal. She collaborated with the likes of Dr. Dre, Bruno Mars, Miguel, Maxwell, Frank Ocean and others to add modern flourishes to her classic R&B sound. “When It’s All Over”, and it’s perhaps a sign that we are now exposed to too much Taylor Swift when we hear a heartbreak song and start wondering about the personal life of the singer.

But then she drops “New Day”, a heavy banger. On the very same “New Day”, one would expect the first musical teamup between Keys, husband Swizz Beatz and Dr. Dre to turn water into Moët, instead, the song never fully takes off due to its cliché-ridden lyrics, namely the bland chorus (“party people say / party people say / it’s a new day - ay ay ay ay.”). The album never quite lives up to its theme of rebirth, especially given the range and power she’s showed in the past. The album is not bad at all, but it’s not her best. 7/10

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From working three jobs in UK within a space of 24 hours a day, it shows that The Marvellous DJ who was born in Ga-Rankuwa wanted to succeed in life by all means. Though things did not go as planned in UK, he never gave up on becoming a successful person in life, hence he is where he is now based on pursuing success with actions and not just words. We all know that it’s every dj’s dream to play alongside the likes of

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Ralf GUM, Black Coffee, Harrison Crump and Abicah Soul. Well, while that is still a dream to most djs, The Marvellous DJ has lived that dream and is still living it.

TYM caught up with The Marvellous DJ. Since you played alongside big names in the house music industry, have you attempted to strike a working relationship with either of them?

Well, I did, but did not get positive

response as some are too arrogant, while others only want to associate themselves with popular djs. So, that’s the reason I’m working hard every day to make sure that my brand is out there. I make call to promoters every week looking to get a slot in their upcoming events. I secure appointments with club owners to present proposals to them. There are so many things that I do to make sure I’m out there.

For the past years you have been famous for being an all-rounder dj that plays either hip hop or house music. Is there any reason why you play two genres?

Well, when I became a dj, I was not yet sure which sound I should follow.

Because I loved both genres, I considered playing both, which came handy for me as it gave me a leverage over other dj’s.

But now my brand is emphasizing more on being known as a house dj, mainly

because is what I enjoy most and I have also started producing house tunes.

Now that you doing production also, is that the other obvious route you want to capitalize on in order to generate more income?

Yes, but I have created other ways within the entertainment industry to generate more money. I have officially started The Marvellous DJ Sound business which

does not only assist with booking me, but hires out sound system; organizes and promotes events; does catering and other services related to events management. My ultimate dream to run a successful business. I cannot focus solely on playing at various gigs, I must expand my wings in order to stay in this business.

Will you ever go back to UK? For business reasons, yes I will go back.

TYM

Follow him @marvellousdj For bookings: 072 143 0227

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You are not in South Africa if you visited a township and music is not blasting from a house or from a random car/ taxi and there are no young people doing pantsula jive or the kwasa-kwasa dance. Lately, crumping (hip hop dance) resonates a lot with youth in townships, but it does not even begin to come near sbhujwa dance. Go to parties, streets battles, competitions or promotional events, sbhujwa always comes top. We sat with one crew from Soshanguve that fuses sbhujwa dance with other dance styles. They aptly call themselves Mathata Boys, which when loosely

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translated means “trouble boys�. They claim to cause trouble on the dance floors of Soshanguve and neighbouring townships.

With 5000 friends on Facebook and 140 followers on twitter, what else do you use to promote your brand?

We perform at a lot of shows for free to expose our brand and talent to the masses. That strategy assists us to network with other people, and it is from then follow up business comes. We have found that to be an effective method of marketing ourselves. Other than that, we

also host our own shows.

What are some of your highlights since the establishment of the group in 2009?

Quite a few, but the best was when we won Best Dance Crew in Pretoria at the Hall of Fame 2012 Awards. We also did adverts for M-Net, opened for Zahara, appeared on SABC 1’ Battle Station and also did some charity work at Place of Safety in Ga-Rankuwa by teaching kids to dance and drama.

It is highly important to rehearse, whether you dance alone or in a group.

Looking at the industry we’re in, there’s always a new dance style out. We either learn it and do it better than anybody or we fuse it to our dance routine.

Rehearsal come in handy in this regard.

The sbhujwa style of dance defines who Mathata Boys are, but it does not limit us. When you see us in action, you will notice other forms of contemporary dance styles. TYM

How important is it to rehearse and which dance style defines you?

Follow them @mathataboys For bookings: 084 814 6143

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@ROBERT_MABUSELA The beauty of concept cars is visible when manufacturers go beyond their usual designs that mostly consist of making changes to the previous design and selling it as a successor. Lamborghini`s Estoque concept is a merger between a supercar and sedan, making the Italian manufacturer go beyond its usual supercar design.

However, bringing in a sedan feel to the concept does not confine the Estoque to standard sedan performance figures as it has a power rating of 560bhp. In South African measurement terms, we are looking at about 418kW. All the power comes from a 5.2L V10 engine that is currently used in the Gallardo LP 560-4 which goes from 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds while reaching a top speed of 325km/h.

Being a cross between a supercar and sedan, interior features are not as you would expect in supercars, though the concept has a touch of luxury and elegance. Inside the Estoque, space isn’t a problem – one won’t be as cramped thanks to an extended wheel base. A navigation system, LCD monitors and a CD player are some of the features you will find in the Estoque.

The front-end of the concept has a typical Lambo look while the rear is something we haven’t seen come out of the Italian manufacturing plants. The Estoque’s overall edgy design is enhanced by 22 inch rims at the front and 23 inch rims at the back.

The Estoque concept brings in a fresh design that one would least expect from the Italian car maker. If you can afford it, you might very well park it amongst the likes of the Ferrari FF, Aston Martin Rapid and Porsche Panamera. TYM

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Light changes @ROBERT_MABUSELA

While Korean manufacturers are putting their design teams under pressure to come up with fresh customer attracting designs, their German counterparts seem to be relying on making subtle changes to their vehicles.

The Audi A3 has been a strong competitor and benchmark for various brands in the hatchback market, leading rivals as the BMW 1 series, VW Golf range, Renault Megan, Ford Focus and the Opel Astra.

This year has seen the latest offering of the A3 hit South Africa, just before the Golf 7 which has just joined the segment.

Exterior features include a four-ringed large not-to-missed hexagonal single-

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frame radiator grill with a noticeable change to the front and rear lights. Light changes, through solid day time running headlamps which similarly continue at the back end with rear lights ensure that your A3`s hatched back is visible all day.

Three different spec levels will now differentiate between the vehicles, namely: the S, SE and Quatro. Packed with new engines within the range, seven models will range from a new 1.2T FSI engine to the more powerful 1.8T FSI. The new 1.2T FSI offering is the most economical model in the range, which means that all models will enjoy some

of those economic features thanks to an 80kg weight loss. Performance has always been one of the brand`s strongest points in their top-end models like the 132 kW 1.8T FSI. Together with a maximum torque figure of 280nm, this model will reach 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds while achieving a fuel consumption figure of 6.6 liters per 100km and a 131g/km CO2 emission.

Having developed 1.2 pots in the Wolkswagen-Audi family, they may seem to be stirring confusion as both the Golf 7 and Audi A3 feature the same 77kW engine which seems to be making

to Audi`s A3 it difficult for consumers to make a decision as to which part of the family they want to belong into.

Inside the vehicle, premium Audi quality leather and stitching fills the interior with notable new designs made to the steering wheel, seats and air vents.

The A3 may not be the perfect car for jetsetters, but passengers and the driver will enjoy the new jet design air vents that are adjustable to one’s preference.

Various vehicle information will be displayed through a 7 inch screen, and an MMI navigation control system is fitted into the center console. If you`re

a person who enjoys having a booming sound system in your car, then you should be prepared to tick the options box to include a 14-speaker bang and Olufsen sound system with LED lighting.

A Panaromic sunroof also comes as an optional extra.

Although the new A3 is dubbed a stretched A1 and may only seem to have light changes at first glance, paying more attention to the vehicle may give you second thoughts. Be sure to lookout for the A3 sportsback and a sedan that is set to make its debut in the sedan segment this year. TYM

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@ROBERT_MABUSELA The annual Volkswagen Camp festival is one of the events that measure how much passion motoring enthusiasts have for their cars and others take it as far as spending more than what their vehicles cost on customs, and this also where a selected few define what owning a car means in terms of keeping it as standard as possible.

This year’s 2013 Vdub Camp Fest took place over two days at the Hartebeespoort Resort from the 2nd to the 3rd of February. With temperatures reaching highs of up to 33°c, those who attended the event were sure to have spent a hot day with some of the hottest Vdubs. The weekend was packed with events and competitions that were set to find the best looking car in the Show and Shine event, and the loudest in the Sound competition which both competitions had the respective owners working hard in order to win a prize in their category. In terms of the sound competition, a combination of how many sound components one has in their vehicle, how they are put together within the interior of the car as well as the overall look of the car and quality in the sound which is produced was key for the prize.

Keeping a vehicle clean for the Show and Shine for the judging was a challenge due to the dusty conditions at the resort, so using the best products that don’t attract and leave a layer of dust on the car which came from people coming over to check out the ride. One of the many eye catching rides at the event belonged to Vishen Ramdhani from Centurion, who is the proud owner of an Apple Green Volkswagen Caddy. Referring to it as a “Toy”, Vishen estimates his customs to be worth approximately R60 000, excluding the price of his vehicle. His list of modifications include a Candy Apple green paint job, flared out wheel arches, custom rims, suede interior, an import 2.0 ABF engine and 3 LCD Screens (2 in the car and a detachable screen which he places in the bonnet for show purposes). The Voora6Club also came out in their numbers from all over the country, with 38 Jettas and Golf 3 VR6 models visiting the event. Xolani Moyana, Online Content Manager of the club, travelled all the way from Kwa-Zulu Natal to unite with countrywide VW owners.

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The event provided a good platform for those who are looking for ideas on how to customize and for custom-ride owners to network whilst creating competition amongst those who attended the event to win various prizes. In a nutshell, the German family showed its unity in numbers and variety at the 2013 Vdub Camp Fest. TYM

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What was designed to make our lifestyles easier in terms of communicating, sharing and getting breaking news at our fingertips has tuned to a nightmare for others. We read stories such as “Facebook rapist”, “Mxit kidnapper” and other creepy headlines that involve these very social networks that we use daily. On the brighter side, we get breaking news instantly without waiting for prime-time news on tv or for early newspaper editions.

TYM went out to hear personal stories from the youth and got business advice for small businesses about social networks.

PERSONAL Tebogo Semelane* is a 20 year old first year student at PC Training College in Pretoria, and says that he was compelled to get a smartphone by the age of 16 because of the peer pressure he got from friends who by then already had smartphones. “When you are a teenager, you try by all means to fit in a group. And if your group is one of those who like stylish things, then you have more pressure to keep up with them. It’s worse if your parents are not earning enough to even attempt to introduce you to the peer-pressured lifestyle”, said Semelane. He further said, “I was using a Samsung E250 from 2006 until 2009, which was cool by then when Mxit was the in-thing and I just needed R5 to R10 airtime at least twice a month to be online. All that seemed outdated when the Facebook and Blackberry era arrived. I had to lie to my grandmother (guardian) on how important it is for me to get a Blackberry which will assist me more in my studies for online research and other related uses.

But because my grandmother was not clued up about technological things, she fell for my story and sacrificed other essential things in the house just to get me a Blackberry and maintain my BIS (Blackberry Internet Service) in order to see me obtaining good marks at school. If only she knew that I just wanted it for Facebook”.

Tebogo’s dilemma is not one of its kind. Some youth have even opted to stealing money or selling their family valuables to get the latest smartphones that can give them the best social network experience. Phomolo*, who is 22 now, from Hammanskraal, even went further as dating older guys who could have been mistaken for her father just to get money in order for her to purchase arguably one of the most expensive smartphones in South Africa, iPhone 5.

“I am not proud of my actions, but due to varsity norms, I had to do what I thought was not wrong by then. But thinking of it now, it has really lowered my self-esteem. All I wanted was to see were my updates on social networks written: ‘updated via iPhone’, just to boast.”

BUSINESS & BRANDS Popular brands, be it companies or products, are capitalizing on social networks. This has enhanced their brand feasibility and has also given them an opportunity to promote products on a platform

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that the majority of people spend their time on. Social networks also allow companies or products to interact with customers. This is a sweet deal for companies as it affords the customer an opportunity to get acquainted with their service provider.

The likes of Eminem as a musician have large followings on these platforms. Eminem has 67, 255, 011 likes/fans on Facebook, which makes him the musician with many likes than any dead or alive artist. On the other side, Coca Cola enjoys 60, 941, 683 likes/ fans. Locally, we have Trevor Noah sitting on 983, 0049 likes/fans on Facebook. That makes him rank number two behind Seether in the SA entertainment industry. FNB takes number one spot when coming to local companies with a large following at 325, 879 likes/ fans. When you go through all these Facebook pages, you will realise that the people who manage these pages mostly do it on their own without ever appointing a marketing firm. Formality is maintained, their services are highly promoted in an attractive manner and they always update their pages at least once a day if not more to keep it alive.

But it seems that most of the smes (small medium enterprises) are missing out on the action as they are not on social networks.

Other brands or local celebrity pages and accounts use social networks to air their dirty laundry or promote hate speech, and this reflects badly on them. In the long run, they may have many likes or followers but their product/services are not supported as many people do not have the time to unlike pages or unfollow them. Even small businesses fail to attract customers based on the silly mistakes they make on their social network accounts. “The best tip I have to offer for social media marketing is to stick to your passions! Share messages and content that resonates with your audience. Passion should emanate from every part of your social media campaign.

From the name of your Facebook Page, to your advertising, to the content you share. When you focus on passion, your engagement will go up, your shares will increase and your audience will grow.

When you can create content that builds passion, your audience will come. Focus on passion and you can’t go wrong”, said Jesse Stay, of Deseret Digital Media when he was interviewed by Social Media Examiner web. What most small businesses/brands miss is how they conduct themselves on those social media platforms.

They address customers on their pages by using word such as “I”.

For example, you have a car service business, but you always update by saying, “Today I have special prices for all parts. Call me on 011 123 123”, that is totally wrong. Rather say, “Today we have special prices for all parts. Call us on 011 123 123”. TYM *Not their real names

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Twitter Facebook Mxit Not matured users.

Average matured Highly matured MATURITY If you used it users because it’s users. The matured LEVEL Facebook before, youMxit must ones are now over complicatedTwitter but Highly matured Average matured Not matured have upgraded tousers. shadowed by the yet, very MATURITY users because users.

Theon matured others.

If you usedwe it If not, average users informative if you it’s LEVEL know complicated butFacebook. ones are before, you must why you Andnow it’s over as all know how to yet,around very shadowed by the still have to there.upgraded (For simple as ABC to navigate informative if you users on scholars others.

If not, we obvious) makeaverage 5000 friends. it. know how And it’s asAlways all know whytoyou are two types here toto ThereFacebook. looking MALES ON They are navigate around simple as ABC to still there. (For of them. Matured brag about their flirt with girls and it. make 5000 friends. scholars obvious) ones for networking hope to meet them swag, might be They are here to There are two types Always looking to MALES ON (businesswise). clothes brands, face to face. brag about their of them. Matured flirt with girls and Others are here to whisky, cars and Especially in Mxit swag, might be ones for networking hope to meet them look at girls other clothes guys stuff.

Chatrooms. brands, (businesswise). face to face. photos/profiles and whisky, cars and Others are here to Especially in Mxit other guys stuff.flirt. look at girls Chatrooms. aboutand They use it to chat photos/profiles FEMALES They are looking To talk/gossip for inspirational man,flirt. man, man and with their best ON tweetsThey or they man.

Relationship and also are looking To talk/gossip aboutgirlfriends They use it to chat FEMALEStweet or issues. for inspirationaladvice man, man, man and to flirt. with their best ON inspirational pictures of tweets or they Fashion man.

Relationship girlfriends and also quotes.

And they themselves or issues. tweet advice or to flirt. like toinspirational follow admired look/item.

Fashion pictures of quotes. themselves or celebrities forAnd they to follow admired look/item. gossiplike news. celebrities for Majority use Majority use any Majority use GADGET gossip news. smartphones and compatible web smartphones, Majority use Majority use Majority TO phone and use any pc’s. tablet pc and pc’s.

GADGET smartphones, smartphones and smartphones. compatible web ACCESSTO tablet pc and pc’s. pc’s. phone and (BIS) R60 (BIS) R15 smartphones.

– R30 MONTHLY ACCESSR60 R100 – R250 R50 – R100 (DATA/AIRTIME) R60 (BIS) R60 (BIS) BUDGET MONTHLY (DATA/AIRTIME) (DATA/AIRTIME) R60 R15 (BIS)– R30 R100 – R250 R50 – R100 (DATA/AIRTIME) BUDGET (DATA/AIRTIME) (DATA/AIRTIME) R60 (BIS)

Numbers don’t lie; see who’s the king of social networks in SA and the Numbers don’t lie; see who’s the king of social networks in SA and the world! world!

Name South Africa The World Established Mxit Name 10 million+ registered users 50 million registered users 2005 South Africa The World Established FacebookMxit8 million+ registered users 1 billion registered users 10 million+ registered users 50 million registered users 2004 2005 LikedIn 2.2 million+ registered users users 2003 Facebook 8 million+ registered users 175 million+ 1 billion registered registered users 2004 2go LikedIn 1, 5 million+ registered usersusers20 million+ registered usersusers2007 2.2 million+ registered 175 million+ registered 2003 Twitter 2go1.1 million registered users users500 million+ registered users 1, 5 million+ registered 20 million+ registered users 2006 2007 Twitter sites 1.1 are; million registered users Pinterest 500 million+ registered users 2006 Other penetrating Instagram, Myspace, and Google+ Source: Wikipedia/World Wide Worx/ 2go.im/ mxit.com Other penetrating sites are; Instagram, Myspace, Pinterest and Google+ Source: Wikipedia/World Wide Worx/ 2go.im/ mxit.com

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@LadyTpl Recognition, appreciation and honor have to be given to men and women who parent or take care of children with disabilities. These guardians, sans superhero costumes or theme music, are the very backbone of our societies. They are medicine to a sick community.

Furthermore, TYM is proud of all people with disabilities who live their dreams to the fullest and are being role models in a country so torn by demoralization and the struggle for power.

Le Rena Rea Shoma Centre of the Disabled is a community initiative started in 2006 and came about when Mr. Alpheus Mokgola and Mrs. Annah Maluleke discovered the growing trend of disowning and abusing disabled children around the small community of Block TT, Soshanguve.

Reinotswe Special School, based in Winterveldt, used to cater for children with special needs under the age of 18.

They used to offer them special classes, most of which comprised of teaching them a skill or trade they can apply later in life. Once the child reached 18, the school released them and they or their guardians had to look for a way the child could progress in life. The teachers at Reinotswe were not trained to meet the special needs of an 18-year old, thus the coming-of-age children were released back to their guardians.

This was a wake-up call to both Mr. Mokgola and Mrs. Maluleke since most of the guardians could not take care of the special needs of the children due to lack of training or the sting of poverty in providing the relevant resources necessary. This inspired Mr. Mokgola and Mrs. Maluleke to want to take of the children with special needs above 18 years of age.

he could afford, and two teachers who volunteered to assist in taking care of the children. This lifted the spirits of the leaners and helped sharpen and bring forth out of them the talents that many couldn’t care to see past whatever perceived impediment that a learner suffered from.

“We are not doing this because we are old and do not have anything to do, but it is eye and mentally throbbing to hear stories of perverts feeding their sexual cravings on disabled children who cannot do anything for themselves. Witnessing these kinds of ills in our societies motivates me to continue taking care of these future heroes and heroines since I also have a granddaughter who requires special care”, said Mr. Mokgola. I have seen that having to teach children who suffer from down syndrome, physical disability, speech disability and mental illness and three others who are in need of wheelchairs is not as easy and relaxing as a walk in the park; it requires hard work, patience and unconditional love.

Our everyday heroes many-a-time do not get to make headline news, breaking news or the subject of popular on social networks. These everyday heroes may be that smiling old man and quiet woman whose only joy comes from helping those who can’t help themselves. They get satisfaction imparting a skill or teaching another how to think or reason. This, they do with the uttermost patience. For these ones, it’s rare that a mention is made about them at award shows, nor is a monument erected in their honor. The smiles on the faces of the people they help enable them to feel that they are serving the very purpose that they were created for, and though they can’t take that to the bank and cash it, they can help better the life on another. Salute.

TYM

With the only aid being food parcels coming from a community church, it became overwhelming at times to cater to the special needs of 26 learners.

Despite all the challenges that faced the co-founders, they saw help come in the form of finances from the pastor of the community church, the much

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@masingitamasiya “Love is everything. Love is everyone… the bad that people see is just the reflection of the absence of love”, so Nothende says when I ask her what love is. The lyrics to the hit “Remember Love” go on to say, “Remember love is what brought us here/ Remember love, love always/ Love never left/ Remember love is what brought us here…” And here we are…

On a laid back Sunday afternoon, I get to take in the calm Johannesburg air as I meet with Nothende in Cresta. Prior to the meeting, we’ve been talking via phone and text and that is where I got introduced to her protruding smile – it’s in everything she does, so much so that even bees frequent her place of residence to bask in her sweetness. She tells me that she doesn’t mind them coming where she lives. You wouldn’t either if your Twitter bio read, “A child of the lunar. I can hear the future.”

A self-proclaimed ambassador of love, Nothende oozes with so much life that her laughter brightens where we’re sitting for the interview, which naturally turned into a conversation. She’s alive.

She affects the environment around her, whether through her smile or how she rolls her eyes to the sky when she tries to remember something. She can’t sit still on the sofa because she articulates some of the things she says, much like when you see her on stage singing and dancing. Anyway, I can’t sing or dance, so, I settle to listen.

Growing up and singing Born Nothende Madumo in North West, Mafikeng, the first thing that catches you about her is the fact that she’s from a prominently Tswana area yet has a Xhosa name. She explains that she was named after her Xhosa grandmother. She says that she prefers using her real name on stage rather than a pseudo or stage name.

She was born in Mafikeng, brought up in Garankuwa and Soshanguve, and now lives in Johannesburg.

It would seem like music has always been with her, this because she tells me that her parents not only sang, well at that, but they also played music instruments.

She goes on to say that Abdul Ebrahim taught her mother & siblings the piano.

But it is only around age 11 that she started settling into this whole idea of singing, right to the point where she even wrote her own songs. She laughs shyly and says, “Though I lost the file that contained all my songs, I will never forget the very first three songs that I ever wrote”.

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A choir master in primary school forced her to join the school choir, which is how

she came into singing. Though she says that she could always identify if a person could sing or not, she was too young to be bothered by this gift that today has us chanting “Remember! Remember” everytime “Remember Love” is on. “I did vocal training in school, not because I wanted to sing, but just because I loved music”. Aren’t we all glad that the culmination of those variables is now what makes our hearts tingle when we hear her music? Yes. Ok. Musical influences Some of Nothende’s musical influences are Letta Mbulu, Miriam Makeba, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Maleh and Thandiswa Mazwai. She reckons Maleh to be a

modern-day Miriam Makeba.

Her face shines everytime she speaks about how all the artists she looks up to get lost in their art; about how when they perform they look like no one’s around and they can sing anyhow they want; about how they both carry and are carried by their music.

Though she is currently listening to a whole lot of old school music the likes of Ashford and Simpson, Marvin Gaye, she’s also in tune with the new school gang the likes of Something Soweto, The Soil, Afrotraction and Janelle Monae. She says that she loves listening to unknown artists as well.

in this album she sings and raps. She says that the sound in it is defining itself as she creates it. “On this album, I want to be the artist I’ve always admired… to be whatever it is I deem to be a great artist…

I want to sing about things I’ve always avoided singing about. My thoughts are manifesting in this album”, she says, beaming. She says that on Braveheart she’ll be focused on the artistic side of the music. Braveheart will be released this year.

Talent shows She auditioned for Idols, season one, and made it to the top 100, but then she lost her voice. “It’s funny that everytime I enter singing competitions or talent shows I lose my voice”, she says. We laugh about the fact this could be a sign that she needs to stay on her own lane. She also lets me know that she auditioned for the Coca Cola Pop Stars.

In the following year, she and three friends formed a group and it was during this period that she started doing features for and with a variety of artists. It was during this period that she was writing songs and was in studio recording, but sadly most of those songs won’t see the light of day due to industry and recording company politics.

Nominations and awards Nominated for a South African Music Award and a Metro Fm Award for her debut album, LoveLight, it is with a somewhat of a sad tone that she answers when I ask her about what being nominated for and winning awards mean: “Awards are a great form of appreciation but what happens behind the scenes when a winner has to be chosen makes you appreciate the nominations more since there are not too many politics in the nomination process.”

Albums When it comes to writing songs and recording, Nothende says that she follows no particular process, though it helps when she is in a place where she can listen to what her mind is saying. She remarks that she’s hard on herself when it comes to her craft and like some artists hates listening to her own music.

The songstress regards her music to be pop soul or funky soul. To that effect, this is what we are blessed with in her first two albums, and the upcoming one: First album – LoveLight: She says that it was a celebration of life and finally recording an album after all the years

that music was fermenting in her.

Second album – Rebirth: She says that it is “a deluxe version of her debut album, LoveLight. It is the rebirth of Lovelight.”

It includes the hit “Remember Love” and some old unheard songs and remixes.

Though everybody is jamming to and loving “Remember Love”, Nothende terms how the song came about an “unplanned situation”.

Upcoming album – Braveheart: Nothende says that she is having to risk much on this album in terms of how she wants it to sound as she’s using elements from the 90’s music. “I feel like I am timetravelling”, says the songstress. She says

Celebritism Her bold take on our current culture of celebritism is that, “there’s a good side to everything. It’s good to be appreciated; to be loved; to know that people support you, but we give the wrong idea of what the entertainment industry is about. We’ve come to celebrate the false nature of the industry where now being a celebrity means people are only concerned about the number of followers you have on Twitter; how good your hair looks; and who you are seen with. We try to hide so much, yet we reveal so much.”

Social networks and relationships “Social networks definitely affect relationships especially now that you are sharing your thoughts with the world.

However, people sometimes take it too far and take everything on them”. TYM

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@Proetic_Justice The story of a Cape Town father who lost his life whilst on a hiking trip with his daughter and a friend recently caught my attention. It wasn’t that the father suffered fatal injuries from a fall on Table Mountain that shocked everyone, but rather the response of the other hikers in the area where the incident took place. It is alleged that while Ibrahim Salie’s body (sincere condolences to his family) lay on a ledge on Lion’s Head, other hikers simply walked past him, only stopping to take pictures and tweet about the incident. Apparently, only one hiker, known as Zac, cared enough to consider his social responsibility before any social network. What manner of man is this? It is but a rare sight to see a man in this day and age do something about a situation as opposed to ‘posting’ something up about it. Imagine that.

People seem to have sacrificed their humanity to the dehumanising power of technology. The unseen affliction of the modern world is the bartering of ability for convenience, and responsibility for recognition. One has to wonder what the intention of the other hikers was. Is it possible they believed they were making a difference? Maybe some of them know paramedics on these networks; maybe some of them even have Netcare 911 as a follower. It makes me start to question what I do on these social networks. Is this really socialising that I find myself doing every minute of the day without relenting? When taken into consideration, there is nothing “social” about the detached, technology-fuelled

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interactions we share with the “people we may know”. These platforms have deluded many of us into believing we somehow increased our social standing through the number of strangers we are able to get to listen to our ramblings. This is truly a peculiar world, where strangers can be your friends without you ever saying a word to each other. Where you can have thousands of these “friends” but not a single one who truly knows you... where thousands of people can follow you, with no idea where you’re going. The saying “when days are dark friends are few” now more commonly relates to the situation where one’s phone is left in the dark leaving the user no place to charge their social apathy.

This may be too much to swallow for the snap-and-upload generation that is too busy “sharing” it all in virtual reality to truly understand the reality. As any parent would confess, it is becoming increasingly difficult to communicate with people in the real world where the digitally connected are the socially disconnected (any parent that isn’t on Twitter, Facebook or BBM, that is). I have seen them; I know exactly what I’m talking about. I was one of them.

We, the socially-awkward creatures that sit together grouped in speechless gatherings, within our Twitter tribes and Facebook clans, interacting only with our hand-held realities as we drown in the silent noise of incoming messages rarely ever acknowledging the physical beings around us... our actual friends. Social irony.

I’ve seen the exchange of words without

words, as we barter time for endless LOLs and emoticon, without so much as a grin on our faces. These days we chat more than we speak, more than we actually communicate. In this world, who needs to speak when one can share, post and tweet? We sit silently in these circles because we no longer know how to share without being online. We seem to have left the real world behind choosing rather to talk about it in this new world we find ourselves lost in.

Many of us have no idea how we got here but find some form of comfort in the fact that we are not alone. The truth is we are very unfamiliar with too many of these “friends”. And too often, very unfamiliar with ourselves because we’ve lost our actual personalities in these alternate realities. We say and do words and deeds that we never would in a different context. Cowards. This is what has become of us. Subtweeting about #Oomf is the art of cowering behind words you hope the intended recipient will see, without you having to say it to them. What this has created is a society of yellow-bellied social commentators who have the gall to say whatever about whomever, just not to their faces; creatures who have learnt an exaggerated freedom of expression.

They use the internet as nothing more than a canvas of their weaknesses as they share their pride and display their pain. Here, modernists confuse privacy for secrecy and transparency with oversharing. In this world, one can spend all their time updating every intricate detail of their entire life to the entire world, whilst confidently still expecting them to mind their own business.

What has become of us? Have we lost our beings in this world where we seem to find our validation in likes and retweets, respected by the numbers of people we know and those who care to know who we are? Where more said less is done.

Where we all preach but never walk the streets in the language that we speak.

In reflection, there is nothing social about these networks. These are just some of the problems I have with these networks. “Lord, help me to face my problems and not facebook them.” TYM #dissocialised

Why should I?” When my editor asked me to stay in line with the theme of love for this issue, I knew that he was not asking me to be romantic. Being the rebel that I am, I knew it will be difficult to tow this imposed love-line. Mr Editor I hope to thank you one day for making me do this.

It didn’t take long for me to begin posing questions about what my first love is; what it is that makes my peace and protection second nature; that thing that I love so much that the will to sacrifice everything never escapes my thought; about that thing that I can without a shadow of a doubt risk everything to serve and protect. Can a cause, a dream or a struggle carry the essence of love? Is it possible for patriotism to be equated to love or is patriotism another level of love? Is Love an individual thing or can it escalate to a collective level? Which love is more important: a love for the Maker; a love for self; or love for the fellow man?

Nesta Robert Marley, reggae’s most transcendent and iconic figure, popularly known as Bob Marley, had this idea – a kind of a virologist idea. “He believed that you could cure racism and hate, literally cure it, by injecting music and love into people’s lives. When he was scheduled to perform at a peace rally, a gunman came to his house and shot him down. Two days later he walked out on to that stage and sang. When they asked him why? He said, ‘The people who were trying to make this world worse are not taking a day off. Why should I? Light up the darkness.’” Thanks to “I Am Legend”, the movie featuring Will Smith for capturing this, as I could have not have done justice to this viral idea that had possessed Bob Marley.

This was one leader who had no title and never needed one. The title was bestowed on him by the masses that caught the virus which he was spreading through a mic, a guitar and a whole lot of sincerity. All he ever gave was pure love to the world and all its inhabitants; a leader truly loved by all. Even today, old and new generations can relate, find resonance and sing along to hits such as “One Love” and “No Woman No Cry”, amongst others. His music somehow encourages you to face head-on the

challenges and hardships that come your way and help you arrive to a conscious state of caring and loving your fellow man.

The measure of love is how much you are willing to share. The value of your citizenship is worth as much… “Where there is love there is peace and where there is peace there is protection”, be it physical, financial or social. I say to you, our duty as citizens is to love, and if we love we will protect what we have; we will protect who we have and we will protect who we are. Citizenship is a birth right or a bestowed right to reside, restore and advance. If you are a citizen of the country, by default you are a global citizen – your contribution to your country is your contribution to humankind. Words can inspire and rekindle love, but only actions can sustain love, thus, while a nation of soothsayers has a mouthful of words and advice, it sadly has no miles to prove the distance.

The measure of love is how much you are willing to share. The value of your citizenship is worth as much as you are willing to contribute in building your village, that Kasi, your dorpie, that suburb, your school, that university, that crèche, that old age or that youngster who just needs a break.

Help me reminisce: once upon a time there was a “new generation” of leaders who were left facing fever-pitch unemployment, ravaging inequality, diminishing moral fibre and the wrath of anguishing poverty on their own. No one believed them when they vowed to emulate bravery and love shown by their fore-bearers, for the world wrote their obituary before sunset, amid the Marikanas, the mining shutdowns and farm workers uprisings. Who’s (what’s) next?

Is this generation choosing not to lead and live where there is no compelling love for their country?

Love is what I will be spreading.

For the next few issues I will be benched by our guest columnists, but I trust that you will enjoy as well as I will reading what they have to share. I will be back soon.

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@Politepal ‘’ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.’’ 1 Corinthians 13:13 It is February, the month celebrated by millions if not billions all over the world as the “month of love” or Valentine’s month.

Although I have my own theological views on the historical origin of Valentine’s, I cannot negate the significance that the modern construal of this season espouses for. People are talking love everywhere – love this and love that. Love is a beautiful thing. But what is love? Where does love come from? Why should we love? Is it really important to love or to be in love for that matter?

Many poets, authors, musicians and philosophers have engaged themselves diligently in rifle over the definition of love. Many have come up with some definitions and profound statements about it and some have come back to tell us there isn’t really a precise definition of love, which is absolutely nonsense. God is love (1 John 4:16) and God is the source of love. Many don’t know this, that is why many relationships fail and many marriages end up in divorce. When I say ‘’I want to love you?’’ I mean I want to show you God. ‘’Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her’’ Ephesians 5:25. We get a principle in Ephesians 5:25 that love is selfless. Love is not selfish and self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5) that is why Christ gave Himself up for us, because He loves us. Many however are selfish and self-seeking. They want to derive some benefit or else they pull out.

But love is not just about getting, love is about giving. For God so loved the world that He gave… (John 3:16). You see the principle?

Love is beyond a feeling of affection. Love is a verb (a doing-word.) You do love.

Feelings come and go, but love remains forever. You don’t always feel affectionate towards your partner. Sometimes you feel like you don’t love them anymore and sometimes you feel like you made the wrong choice, but because love is a doing-word, you choose to love them anyway.

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Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7) I have recently started my career as a candidate attorney and

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sometimes clients walk through your door demanding you assist them with their divorce settlement. You ask them, ‘’what is the matter?’’ ‘’No, the spark is over’’ or ‘’he cheated’’ or ‘’she cheated.’’

Love does not have conditions. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’’ Remember, the standard is Christ and while we were doing wrong, Christ still loved us.

Love is unconditional. You don’t love your partner because they are perfect.

You love them even when they are not.

In fact, in their weakness, that’s when you should love them more. Use that as an opportunity to teach them what true love is. In their infidelity, that’s when you should be more faithful in your love for them. Remember, loving someone is showing them God because God is love.

Ask yourself, ‘’what would Jesus do?” ‘’Would He reject this person because of their infidelity? No, even when we are unfaithful He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

Many people all over the world are searching for love, but the only source of love is God. Be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19) and you will know how to love others. He will make you the right person because marriage is not just about finding the right person. It is about being the right person yourself. Some always get frustrated in relationships because they want perfect partners when they are not perfect themselves.

They go around carrying a list of qualities of an ‘ideal’ spouse. ‘’He should be like this and that.’’ ‘’She should be like this and that’’ and when they find out that the person does not meet some of these requirements, the relationship gets frustrated and ends. Then they continue with their pursuit for the ‘ideal husband’ and ‘ideal wife.’ Unless they relax their unreasonable standards, they will die searching because no one is perfect. Be content with what you have, it is favour from God (proverbs 18:22). Stop looking over the fence and appreciate what you have.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Love is the greatest!

The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), in partnership with Capitec Bank Limited and The Principal’s Trust, has taken a landmark step in combating shortcomings in the South African school system, by offering an Executive Education programme designed for school leaders.

Using strategies modelled on the GSB’s world-class adult teaching and learning techniques, the inaugural Executive Management Programme for School Leaders started in December 2012, with 24 principals from a diverse range of schools taking part.

“We are hugely excited at the interest we have received in this initiative,” said Linda Buckley, director of Executive Education at the GSB, adding that it is the result of a three-way collaboration between the GSB, Capitec Bank, and The Principal’s Trust.

The modular, 18-month programme is designed to bolster the skills of school leaders, and cause a positive ripple effect that will change the lives of not only the teaching staff and learners at their school, but the parent body, the governing body and the surrounding community. It is based on the premise that good leadership will create good schools. “There are many examples of schools being very successful, even with poor facilities and infrastructure, because of the inspiring managerial and leadership qualities of the school principal,” said Rick Haw, co-founder and former CEO of Haw & Inglis and founder of the Principal’s Trust.

For Haw, the programme is the culmination of a long journey. He started the Principal’s Trust because of a conviction that to create more employable South Africans you need first to fix the school system and to fix the schools you need to invest in school leaders.

Sbusiso Kumalo, Head of Corporate Affairs at Capitec Bank, added that the Bank shares this vision.

“At Capitec Bank we’ve invested in educational programmes which seek to increase learner throughput to tertiary studies and in so doing, access to formal employment. School leadership and management make a crucial difference in learner performance at schools and so we’ve proudly partnered with the GSB to deliver the Executive Leadership Programme for School Leaders”, said Kumalo.

beyond - as the life of a leader touches and influences so many,” said Buckley.

“We will broaden our student base from the second cohort onward and hope to tap into a national audience by year three.” - TYM

The Principal’s programme is modular and will run during school holidays so that principals are not kept away from school. The first module covers personal mastery and managing complexity; the second focuses on business acumen and includes topics on finance, technology, data management and the educational regulatory environment. The third is about managing people, teams and change, and includes topics on negotiation, mediation and developing staff.

The final module is for the presentation of the principals’ technical reports and action learning projects. Principals will be charged with designing a ‘relevant African school for the 21st century’.

Principals are expected to undertake at least one community project between each module and to attend school and community sessions on a rotational basis, which will involve visits to the schools of their course colleagues and discussions about their policies and practices.

The partners hope that the programme will go some way to creating centres of excellence for learning and help to turn schools into happy and sought after places of learning respected by the staff and the learners and the surrounding community and the country by creating more skilled matriculants who are ready and able to go on to make a positive contribution to the economy.

“Our vision is to create an aspirational offering that is able to define and create sustainable change in the lives of everyone involved – and of course

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@themkingzone Leigh-Ann Zacky spent her primary school days at Milpark Laerskool, Johannesburg, where she began playing netball as early as grade 1. Zacky, who was raised by both parents along with her brother who is doing a career in finance, plays at goal defence position.

With a loving and supporting family to grow up around, Leigh-Ann had all but herself to blame if she messed up the opportunities given her. “I grew up in an awesome family and everything was [almost] perfect”, she said.

Observably, everyone knows that netball in South Africa is not a very popular sport and it doesn’t pay as much as soccer and rugby. However, for Leigh- Ann, passion made sure that her commitment to the sport never wavered. “We don’t get paid a lot of money in netball like soccer and ruby. Once, this made me stop to see if this was what I really wanted”, she explained. With the support from her family, she kept going and believed she is still going far with netball. She really knew what she wanted from life. It came with as no surprise when she received national school colours. From then on, she worked hard and went on to play for the national team under 21, from 2002 to 2003.

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Leigh-Ann, who did her high school at Hoer Skool West Rand, got her

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breakthrough when she was invited for a trial at senior level. “My hard work paid off when I got called for a trial at senior level, which was an opportunity I grabbed with both hands and never let go of”, said Zacky.

The woman who had just taken a break from professional netball to focus on giving back to young kids and teach them how to play netball shared this: “I love netball and I would love to be able to give to kids what I can and to teach them all I know about the sport. I will be coaching the u/15A, u/16A and the 1st team of Willowridge High this year”, she explained. Her last match before she took a break was against Malawi in 2011 of which they won.

The team is not doing very well on world

netball rankings, but the ever-hardworking Zacky wants to see the team being ranked on the top five before she retires.

The team has not won many major tournaments, but they did get to bag the Merit tournament. To prove that Zacky is a motivator to the team, she once went to Cape Town with the team while she was injured.

There is a shortage of netball action in unprivileged communities, but Zacky believes that the country needs to dedicate more “airtime” to promoting the sport in the underprivileged communities. “The media needs to assist in promoting the sport”, she concluded.

TYM

@themkingzone

scrum-half kept his place in the squad for France’s November tests, starring in impressive wins over Australia and the Pumas before coming off as Les Bleus completed a clean sweep against Samoa.

The 24 year-old’s domestic performance has earned him the nod and chance to reveal himself to the wider European public.

The Rugby Six Nations Tournament is Europe’s top rugby competition. It is the oldest rugby championship in the world dating from 1882. This tournament was originally held between the four United Kingdom countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. France and Italy later joined in 1910 and 2000 respectively.

England Ahead of the tournament, England will be opening their campaign with Scotland.

The full back, Mike Brown, has been on red-hot form for Quins of late. Brown had limited appearance due to being on the bench during last season’s RBS 6 Nations, but his recent form convinced coach Stuart Lancaster otherwise.

Wales The current defending champions Wales will open their campaign in a match against Ireland. The on-form Wales star, Justin Tipuric, is one of the players to look out for in the tournament. Tipuric has been in stellar form for the Ospreys for the last 18 months and has been heralded by teammate Joe Bearman as “the best No. 7 in Britain”.

Ireland When looking at the Irish side, Donnacha Ryan is the man to look out for. The 29 yearold locker had a superb performance on the recent New Zealand tour, returning one of the favourite players. He made his Ireland senior debut against Argentina in the summer of ‘08 and added to his caps tally on the 2009 Irish summer Tour to North America where he played against Canada and USA.

Italy On the Italian side, their captain, Sergio Parisse, has 91 caps and will be their marksman in this tournament. The 28 year-old became the first Italian to be short-listed for the IRB’s Player Of The Year award.

Scotland Glasgow captain, Al kellock, plays an inspirational role to the Scottish site.

Kellock has won 47 international caps so he is likely to drive the team to a formidable performance during the tournament. Kellock was at the forefront of Glasgow’s record-breaking season in 2009/10 when they became the first and so far only Scottish club to make the play-off of the Rabo Direct Pro12.

France Maxime Machenaud is set to make big impact on his RBS 6 Nations debut after playing a leading role in the 2012 season for his domestic team. The

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special on your product and you do not advertise it, no one will know about it. If you are hosting an event and you do not promote it, no one will come or only few people might. So it is advisable to always have a budget allocated for marketing. If Vodacom, Edgars, Shoprite and other big companies spend millions on marketing, why don’t you budget from R200 to thousands depending on size of your business or demographic target per month to market your business apart from social networks?”

As the year 2013 is still in its early stages, this means that it is not late to establish those goals and dreams you wrote down on the 31st of December.

Since the South African youth is faced with a high rate of unemployment, government and private sectors will commonly advice the youth to start their own businesses in order to create jobs for themselves and others, and also take ownership of their lives without waiting for government to always do things for them. But do most youth who are advised to start their own businesses know the importance of every step that must be taken if their businesses are to succeed?

TYM spoke with a few young business owners and asked them to share with us the importance of a business plan, marketing, business formality and administration.

Business Plan first It has been proven that most newly registered businesses have no written business plan. The owners of these businesses just had a vision or a bit of information regarding that particular

business they wanted to establish and rushed to CIPRO which is now known as Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) to register it legally.

Mr Mandla Masemola of Lidumile Logistics shared the importance of doing a business plan first before registering it: “Every newly formed business needs a business plan first before anything else. A business plan assists one to see whether the business will succeed or fail by analysing the starting capital, operating capital, marketing strategy, competitors, SWOT analysis and other aspects of the business. You can only know all these factors if you have a written business plan. Without a business plan, you are heading for failure because this means that you did not plan well.”

Marketing is essential One of the most known brands in the world, Coca-Cola, still spends millions to market themselves even today. This shows that despite the popularity you might have in the industry, marketing is still essential. Ms Cathrine Grobler of Blue-Image Link said, “Marketing your services or brand puts you a step ahead from your competitors who do not practice marketing. If you are running a

Formality is needed “A majority of small and medium enterprises (smes) do not see business formality as one aspect that can either build or destroy their businesses. For business formality, buy a second cheaper cell-phone which will only operate during business hours. Invest in a formal dress code for it says to your clients that you are reliable, organized, sound-minded and many other positive things”, says Mr Lucas Mahumo of Boikanyo Projects.

He further said, “A personalized email account says a lot about your business.

It only requires from as much as R29 per month, depending on the service provider you use to set-up a domain name (website). Other formal things you need to do or have are business cards, a business bank account, letterhead or logo and other things that can build your business image professionally”.

Administration – keeping financial records A businessman once said, “If you fail to take care of your books, just know you failed your business”. The statement rings true as it is estimated that around 440 000 small businesses have closed in the last five years due to not keeping financial records, this, according to the Adcorp Employment Index. Majority of these failed businesses did not keep records or didn’t have a system to record transactions. A business blog suggests that each and every business should have the following books: client records, income records, expense records, profit records, monthly reports and legal service documentations. A business cannot measure its progress without knowing if it is making profit or a loss, or either its clientele is increasing or decreasing. So, through keeping records, you will be able to monitor the progress of your business. TYM

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For those who don’t know you personally, please describe yourself. I am very simple person who can associate with different people from all walks of life and I am a woman of principles.

Has being the acting station manager always been your dream and tell us why you ended up doing it?

I have always known that I wanted to end up a leader, but I never knew in which field, though I realized from my high school that I liked entertainment.

Fortunately, what I am doing now is not just a job, but it stems from pure passion and has become something that I am living and loving.

What’s best about being a community radio acting station manager?

Having been in the industry for ten years, I think it exposes one to many different experiences and helps one to

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further grow leadership qualities and also opens up future opportunities to mainstream media, communications and the marketing environment.

What has been your most memorable/ highlight as the action station manager?

In 2011, TUT FM made history by rocketing its listenership from 48 000 to a whopping 110 000 whilst under my reign, and we’ve been stable since then.

As Kedibone, what have you achieved so far and what do you hope to achieve next year?

Other than acquiring radio related qualifications, I think one of my greatest achievements has been acquiring a university qualification in Public Management, which I am completing this year, then next year I will continue with my B Tech. I will continue to groom the youth by ensuring that they become

the best in media so that they be employable.

If you had to change the community radio station industry in any form, what will you change or improve?

I would introduce a compulsory regulatory framework that community radio must have an intensive marketing strategy which its implementation and monitoring will also form part of regulatory framework.

Are there any special plans for TUT FM for 2013?

As the station will be celebrating 19 years this year, we are intending to have an alumni event during our birthday celebration as a gesture of honor for their contribution towards the station.

This will run concurrently with the stations birthday celebration and finally we are looking at branding and more branding! TYM

@LES_DA_CHAIRMAN As a South African at this moment, you do not wish to travel abroad because you want to avoid questions about the Marikana shoot-out; Oscar’s worldshocking story; the high rate of rape; police brutality; and other barbaric acts that have recently made headlines. Well, they made headlines, and cannot easily be erased in people’s mind. Thanks to international media, “news really travel fast”. The world knows all the dirty acts done by individuals in our country, yet a blanket opinion on the events seems to fall on everyone who has South African citizenship.

It’s a fact that the international media does not normally say: “the individual/s that did the barbaric acts do not deserve a second chance in life”, but instead, they say: “Your country is fool of barbaric practitioners all over”, as if 1 in 2 South Africans practices barbaric acts. Others are still stuck on the saying: “one rotten potato spoils all the potatoes in the bag”. The sad truth is that only bad things seem to be the ones that make headlines over good news.

Let’s look at the other side of Oscar’s story. Just a week after the tragic shooting of his girlfriend, the aspiring model, Reeva Steenkamp, reports have surfaced worldwide that several of his sponsors have terminated their association with the athlete in the meantime. Both Oakley and Nike have

pulled their ads featuring Pistorius and are no longer using him as one of their brand ambassadors. Even South African broadcaster M-Net withdrew its sponsorship of Pistorius, taking down billboards advertising the Academy Awards ceremony with Pistorius as the poster boy for the “Oscars”. Whether the death of Steenkamp was accidental or premeditated murder is for the courts to decide, but Pistorius’ brand will regardless be tarnished by these acts for the rest of his life, which is likely to influence any future endorsement.

This also applies to South Africa as a country, as we’re still a developing country that relies on funding or investments from abroad. Any bad publicity questions our country’s progressiveness as investors wonder if we will overcome the problem or it will continue to reoccur. A country with disputes and dictatorship does not attract investors from abroad, nor from other nearby countries. Look at other

African countries, though slavery and oppression might have ended in 1980’s and 90’s for some, they still fight amongst each other which affects the progress of the country because investors are not willing to start talks based on reading negative publicity about them.

Not all bad publicity is good publicity.

If bad publicity was good publicity in this instance, then Oscar should have gotten psychiatrist help instead of the black cloud (hate, labels, withdrawing sponsors, etc) that is hanging right on his head. If South Africa was still living in the apartheid era, we would have never seen the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament on the African soil. This proves alone that the world is watching what we eat, dress and other things that interest it to make informative decisions about its investment on our shores. The world relies heavily on the news that is being reported about us as people – as a country. TYM

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