Table of contents for Issue #4 2022 in Afropolitan

ED'S NOTE As the year comes to an end, many of us use this time to reflect, go on vacation, or enjoy family time. Whatever your plans are this festive season, on behalf of The Afropolitan team, I want to give a huge thanks to all our readers, advertisers and, of course, the stars of the show, our cover personalities for taking this journey with us. On a personal note, this year has been one to create memories, continue my path towards happiness and seizing the moment each day. I have this deep faith that whatever curve ball gets thrown our way, we'll find a solution to make it through. We may stress about the Russia/Ukraine war and its effect on the economy, but this too shall pass. Before I…

Child star and actress-turned-author, Salamina Mosese, writes this hilarious 10-chapter children's book. Disaster at Gogo's Spaza follows the story of three cousins who wager a bet to save the most money. Tumi gets teased by her cousins for being slow when playing games, while her cousin Mpho is always the winner of their savings contest each year. Gogo plans to go out of town and Tumi gets the idea that she and her cousins can run Gogo's spaza while she's away. However, they don't plan on telling Gogo. The children's spaza turns out to be a big disaster. The book teaches the importance of telling the truth, always doing right by your elders, admitting your faults, and asking for forgiveness.…

BUSINESS BUZZ | FEATURE It was 2013 and her husband briefly mentioned an interesting concept where people could trade and buy Bitcoin. This short conversation fascinated then web developer Sonya Kuhnel and after some investigating, she spent the next six months researching the subject. Though her web development background saw her research mostly the technicalities behind Blockchain, Kuhnel went as far as reading the white paper penned by Bitcoin inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto. Nine years later, Kuhnel has taken the space by storm and is the Co-founder and Director of Bitcoin Events, as well as the Co-founder of Xago Technologies. She also founded Blockchain Academy. But before jumping into the world of crypto, Kuhnel ensured she was well educated about the subject to make informed decisions and this is what she…

1 LISA STEENKAMP | Westworld Recycling Top Woman in Recycling Westworld Recycling was founded by Lisa Steenkamp in 2020. Steenkamp has a wealth of experience with 26 years managing buy-back centres and has grown her business from a small recycling buyback centre into a fully-f ledged buy-back centre with 40 employees servicing several waste collectors. 2 SMANGA MTHEMBU | Umphakathi Recyclers Best Community Recycling Initiative Umphakathi Recyclers, founded by Smanga Mthembu and based in Soweto, Johannesburg is a buy-back centre that purchases recyclables directly from the local community. Uniquely, it offers a burial scheme to its customers. Collectors come to the centre and are paid for their recyclables. They can access various tiers of funeral cover based on the tonnages of recyclables they bring in over time. 3 JUDY HENSHALL AND WILLY RAMOSHABA…

CURRENT AFFAIRS Ramathuba is reported to have been xenophobic towards a foreign national at a hospital in Limpopo. She was seen confronting a woman who had been in a car accident in neighbouring Zimbabwe but went to South Africa for treatment. “You are killing my health system,” the provincial health minister said in a recording that circulated all over social media platforms. The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) initially came out in defence of Ramathuba over comments made to a foreign national undergoing treatment at a provincial facility. The Forum's Tino Mambeu said, “She just highlighted the sentiments of many South African politicians and the general masses that the influx of Zimbabweans in South Africa has caused serious damage to the health situation in the country.” Subsequently, ZEF Chairperson Advocate Gabriel…

BREATHE | TRAVEL NEWS Vivari, a Sanskrit word which, loosely translated means ‘uncovered’, is the first of its kind in Africa, encompassing the hotel and spa along with an aesthetic clinic and state-of-the-art hospital, accredited by the Department of Health and focusing on cosmetic surgery. The hotel is the brainchild of Dr Anushka Reddy. The hotel and its day hospital aim to put South Africa on the map as an international destination of choice for discerning patients who seek privacy for their medical procedures. “We saw the need for medical tourism to be developed in South Africa and noticed it was particularly lacking in Johannesburg. We strongly believed we could convince international medical tourists to visit our facility for cosmetic or weight-loss surgery, which would pique interest in the area…

SHOWROOM | HEALTH AND BEAUTY As an industry on the rise, in South Africa, it is legal to buy cannabidiol (CBD) oil products derived from the hemp plant over the pharmacy counter and the regulated use of CBD oil provides an impressive number of medical benefits. Containing zero-THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), CBD products are not hallucinogenic. Instead, what was once taboo is now considered an empowering mainstream health support with CBD providing zero-potential to be abused or cause dependence. WITH A RECOMMENDED DAILY DOSAGE OF BETWEEN 10MG AND 20MG, HERE ARE 10 WAYS CBD OIL CAN BENEFIT YOUR HEALTH. 1 RELIEF FROM ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SA has one of the lowest mental health scores in the world, with many people now more distressed than we were in 2020. Research shows that CBD oil…

SHOWROOM | SPACES LONG-TIME INTERIOR EXPERTS Block & Chisel's new store in Strathavon exceeds 6 000 square metres and includes 2 000 square metres of retail and warehousing. The space is synonymous with timeless sophistication and “brave with colour and textiles and unafraid to continuously shake things up using an eclectic mix of styles and materials”, the group said. The new Sandton store adds to Block & Chisel's growing portfolio that spans Cape Town's flagship store in Diep River and boutiques in Chelsea Village and Kloof Street. “Kramerville has been a central pillar for designers and decorators in Johannesburg, accessible from major highways in Pretoria and Johannesburg. So, we found ourselves a new home close by, renovated it, introduced the wonderful Block Café, and have added lots of secure parking…

SHOWROOM | LISTEN Singer Zoë Modiga's critically acclaimed 2020 álbum Inganekwane has been one of the unicorns of our times in how it has been consumed as a body of work. On the album there's a song titled Isegazini. In it, Modiga asks for the listener's attention and declares that she wants to change the world. It's been two years since the album came out, but her words of affirmation seem to have been prophetic in how impactful the album has been. She said, “Isegazini, is definitely an autobiographical work for me in that it is my personal affirmation to myself and I think it's a powerful one to sing not just to myself but with music lovers everywhere. Telling ourselves and each other that we are world changers manifests…

What is a visit to Cape Town without going through some of the city's hiking sites? In this book, former journalist Evelyn John Holtzhausen takes you through 35 hiking routes in and around Cape Town. These: include the Diagonal Route on the Atlantic Seaboard, Gifkommetjie to the Cape of Good Hope in Cape Point, Saddle Path to Kirstenbosch in the City Bowl, and many more. The hiking routes featured are easy, while some are considered moderate. Holtzhausen gives the approximate walking time, distance, and other pertinent information for each route. The book includes illustrations of the routes, with full-colour maps and photographs.…

BUSINESS BUZZ | FEATURE Statistics South Africa reports that nearly half of South African women are unemployed. This comes as would-be female employees have a tougher time finding work than men, owing to the inequalities they face, including unequal pay and fewer leadership positions among others, while at the same time struggling to maintain a matriarchal role in society and their families, It is for reasons such as these that African women often turn to self-employment. Despite this, women continue to earn lower profits than men as a result of the imbalances between opportunities to scale, access to funding, and training between men and women-led businesses on the continent. CLOSING THE GENDER GAP The irony is that, if women-led small growing businesses (SGB) provide great investment opportunities, why do we…

Africa Tech: CEO Award DataProphet FRANS CRONJE Africa Tech: Leader of the Year Award (Small-Med Business) IT Varsity BILAL KATHRADA Africa Tech: Leader of the Year Award (Large Business) Vodacom NKULULEKO THANGELANE Africa Tech: Women in Tech Award LexisNexis VIDESHA PROOTHVEERAJH Africa Tech: Fintech Award SnapScan Africa Tech: Al Technology Award JUMO Africa Tech: Digital Transformation Award TURNER & TOWNSEND Technology Innovation of the Year Award ABSA Africa Tech: Technology Company of the Year JENDAMARK Africa Tech: Best Technology Start-Up WE THINK CODE…

PET forms the basis for synthetic fibres like polyester. It is also recognised in the packaging industry as the rigid plastic commonly used as beverage bottles for carbonated soft drinks, bottled water, milk, juice, sports and energy drinks, jars, punnets, tubs and trays for food items, bottles for households, personal care and pharmaceutical products, and sheet and film for general packaging. In 2021, PETCO recycled 90 402 tonnes of post-consumer PET plastic bottles, which is an increase of 14% from 2020. A total of 2.1 billion bottles were collected for recycling in 2021, equating to 5.7 million bottles collected every day, which created many income opportunities for waste-preneurs in SA. Through the recycling of PET bottles, more than 1.3 million tonnes of carbon and more than 5.4 million m3 of…

CURRENT AFFAIRS Since African countries gained independence, the trend to has been presidents or political parties to cling to power for ages. The late Robert Mugabe held office in Zimbabwe for 30 years. In South Africa, the ANC has been in power for close to 30 years and before Mwai Kibaki (former Kenyan president) took over the reigns in Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi was president for over 20 years. Like many developing countries, Kenya faces many challenges, such as youth unemployment, inflation, economic instability and more. Ruto's success will be under scrutiny since he has made promises to rehabilitate the country's economy. Adding to that, his victory to the presidency didn't come without challenges, as his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta supported Ruto's rival, Raila Odinga, for the high office position. JOURNEY…

The expo offered the trade audience an opportunity to network and explore potential business deals and expansion opportunities with 50 exhibiting companies, While applauding local production, for the first time this year, exhibitors sold their goods on site to an enthusiastic fashion crowd. allfashion Sourcing took place alongside South African Menswear Week as part of The Week of Fashion in the same venue. Kathryn Frew (below), Portfolio Director: Cape Town at Messe Frankfurt in SA, believes the synergy between the two events served as an incredible platform for both audiences. “Hosting our events over the same period and at the same venue was a valuable opportunity to showcase our exhibitor companies’ products to the wider fashion community in South Africa. Visitors were exposed to new businesses and got to see…

MY JOURNEY OF HOPE Miss South Africa 1994, Basetsana Khumalo, pens her journey to the runway in her book titled My Journey of Hope. As the first black Miss South Africa, Khumalo's win made it possible for every black South African girl to believe they had a place in this country, and it gave them hope they could one day walk in Bassie's shoes. Apart from being SA's darling, who is Basetsana Khumalo? In this book, she shares her humble beginnings in Soweto, raised by both parents, and shares how strict her mother was, which shaped her upbringing. Entrepreneurship runs in her family. Ages before being crowned Miss SA, Bassie and her family sold sandwiches and eggs in the neighbourhood and at the stadium nearby her home where big soccer…

COVER STAR The last two years have been hard on everyone, and the Expresso TV presenter was not exempt from it. Maboe faced allegations of cheating and gender-based violence by his then-girlfriend. Unfortunately for him, the news was trending on social media. Within seconds, there were calls on social media platforms for the presenter to be canned from the morning breakfast show, as well as removed from his advertising contract with OUTsurance. “I lost some momentum in my career, along with a decent amount of momentum financially. I kept reminding myself it's okay; a career can be rebuilt, or I can venture into another career. What was important was that I rebuild myself,” he said. Always seeming in good spirits, Maboe starts our conversation by honouring the time we had…

BUSINESS BUZZ | MARKET UPDATE There has been much talk around marketing to generation Z because of their purchasing power. Even though it's clear that companies need to talk to this group, marketers would be making a mistake if they ignored Gen X in favour of a younger cohort. AN APPETITE FOR RISK According to Tony Mallam, CEO of upnup, statistics indicate Gen X crypto buyers invest more than Gen Z and millennial investors. He explains that Gen X investors have more spare cash to invest in cryptocurrency owing to their age. “The amounts spent by Gen X investors show they clearly have an appetite for risk and reward that matches and even exceeds those of younger investors,” he continued. Many people in the Gen X category are in the…

CIRCULAR ECONOMY BUSINESS BUZZ | FEATURE The recycling industry is traditionally perceived as male-dominated, but in reality, it is made up of many remarkable women and women-run business who are making waves. These inspiring women were recognised for reflecting the principles of sustainability, the circular economy, SMME development, and the advancement, of women in the value chain, as well as for creating formal and informal jobs in the communities in which they operate. Along with six other winners of the awards, they were celebrated in a new Online documentary series, Message in a Bottle, which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the operations and efforts made by these women, which many people don't have the opportunity to see. It also highlights the invaluable contribution these local heroes are making in bettering their…

If you haven't yet, now is the time to get your financial affairs in order. In this kind of environment, it becomes critical that we better manage the money we do have. This may mean taking a “financial health day” to get on top of your budget, cut out unnecessary expenditure, audit your debit orders, and get your finances fighting fit. For example, the repayment on a R1 million home loan is now R488 more, increasing from R8 997 to R9 485 (based on prime), and this is R1 276 more per month than before the MPC started hiking rates in November 2021. Hayley Parry, Money Coach and Facilitator at 1Life's Truth About Money, said, “This means ensuring you have an emergency fund in place, you're paying off as much…

September was Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month. PCOS is a common genetic, hormone, metabolic and reproductive disorder that affects women and girls of reproductive age. It's also the leading cause of infertility in women. Despite it affecting around one in 10 women, PCOS is still one of the most underdiagnosed conditions, so much so that, of those who have it, only one in three will be diagnosed. PCOS tends to fly under the radar because the signs can be easy to miss or attributed to something else. In fact, some of the symptoms are so common that you'd be excused for thinking they were just part of your hormonal cycle, for example, regular breakouts. It's important to be aware of the condition and its symptoms, especially since getting’ the…

YOU COULD BE travelling for business, family or leisure; however, when pregnant you can't help wonder if the dangers of flying will be more amplified for you. To ease your worries, flying when you are pregnant will not harm the foetus and there is no scientific evidence of an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects or premature birth. The foetus is well protected from changes outside the mother's body, such as variations in air pressure and humidity in the aircraft cabin. PRE-TRAVEL ADVICE AND IMMUNISATION Depending on your destination, advice about vaccination and malaria prevention may be different if you are pregnant. That's why it is extremely important to be properly informed, especially when visiting countries where infectious diseases such as malaria are prevalent. In some cases, travel to a…