Table of contents for Issue #2 2022 in Afropolitan

Sustainability has become a buzzword in recent years as people move towards conscious consumption in their daily lives. Many people have started to think about the waste they generate and how they dispose of it, but the one place conscious consumption doesn’t come into play is in our wardrobes. With US$400 billion worth of clothing ending up in landfills or incinerators each year owing to a lack of suitable end-of-life services, it’s becoming harder to turn a blind eye to the impact the fashion industry has on climate change. ACKNOWLEDGING TOXIC FASHION TRENDS Diandra Haupt, lecturer at STADIO School of Fashion, believes that ‘fast fashion’ is the main reason why today, on average, everyone buys 60% clothes that they wear for half as long as they did 15 years ago.…

While the purchase of pre–owned items is not a new phenomenon, there has been an upsurge in the preowned luxury category within this sector. Zahariev said there has always been a subsection of second-hand shoppers who would sift through the racks at thrift stores or local markets in search of luxury pieces. “Over the years, this niche has become more formalised and grown considerably, ” he added. The resale luxury market was valued at $35 billion in 2021, and has an anticipated annual growth rate of 10% to 15% over the next decade. LOCAL LUXURY OUTLOOK He noted that, in SA, this growth is being galvanised by the increased access to pre-owned luxury stores. “For example, locals can now buy pre–owned, limitededition pieces, which often sell out quickly when new…

The South African state is, by some distance, the country’s largest single employer. It employs more than 1.3 million people, including teachers, nurses, doctors, municipal workers, police officers and defence force members. All too often, the public sector has been used to cushion the country’s shockingly high unemployment rate. Those employment numbers come with a significant cost. In the 2021/22 financial year, the public sector wage bill hit R665.1 billion and is set to rise to R702 billion in 2024/25. Put differently, while government employs 13% of all workers in the country, it pays 33% of all wages. Of course, ordinary taxpayers wouldn’t mind footing that bill if it meant improved service delivery, but it doesn’t. Even where public sector employees are doing their utmost, they are constrained by outdated…

If black learners are not shamed for their nappy afro hair, they are made to bow in front of their white schoolmates and sometimes even called the dreaded ‘k-word’. Every now and again, South Africa is rocked by racism at former model-C schools. The incidents usually lead to outrage on social media and on the ground, with learners and parents staging protests at schools, but to what end? More recently, a black learner at Milnerton High School in Cape Town was forced to bow down to a white learner. According to reports in the Weekend Argus, the incident was sparked by a disagreement over a bench during break time. The news outlet also reported that disgruntled parents claimed the incident had not been handled appropriately by the school. An investigation…

There are clear signs the cost of living for South Africans will keep increasing in 2022. Rising interest rates, declining monthly household incomes, growing inflation, and the highest fuel prices we have ever faced in our history has left indebted middle-class South Africans at a point where the overall debt to annual net income ratio across all income bands has reached its highest level ever. “In real terms, average take-home pay in the private sector has also dropped, exacerbated by the economic challenges brought about by the pandemic and the painstakingly slow economic recovery. At the same time, consumers are still clamouring for unsecured credit, which indicates they are using credit simply to roll through from one month to the next, ” explains Daniel Shapiro, of Alefbet Recoveries, a group…

Park Sleep Fly has worked out how many hours of sunshine different holiday destinations round the world receive each day, along with the average cost of staying in each of these destinations. The research revealed the cheapest countries to visit for the most sunshine. Number one on the list is Europe’s Tirana, followed by Bali in Indonesia and Johannesburg in South Africa. Last on the list are Lahaina in Hawaii, Miami and Mauritius. Tirana, Albania is the sunniest vacation destination with approximately 3 452 hours of sunlight per year, equalling around 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. Bali is one of the best locations for sun. The exotic island enjoys an average 3 138 hours of sunshine per year and around 8.6 hours of sunshine per day. Johannesburg, aka the…

Located in the Muldersdrift area, Avianto Estate is a lifestyle development offering a country experience to residents. It will include a variety of developments such as full-title freehold stands, to plot-and-plan and sectional-title opportunities. Leonhard Jonas, CEO of Avianto Estate, assures that each of the developments has a unique offering to the buyer. The architecture is European inspired. Apart from your usual basic amenities offered in estates, it offers catch-and-release fishing dams, and hiking and biking trails. Construction of a heated indoor swimming pool and gym will commence next year. The general public is also welcome to enjoy the estate’s offering, with plans to introduce outdoor movie nights, an indigenous nursery with farm-to-table produce, farmers’ markets, a play park, and concerts along the banks of the Crocodile River. Located along…

ULutsha is the product of an ambitious, successful, growing project that was developed by a group of young, passionate wine graduates. Keen to establish themselves in the fast-emerging South African wine industry, a group of young Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) graduates launched a wine brand that is a first of its kind. The group came up with the name ‘uLutsha’ for the wine, an isiXhosa word meaning “the youth”. PYDA, a non-profit organisation, places emphasis on nurturing the talent of young South Africans and providing exposure to opportunities for employment. “PYDA exists to work with young talent to create employment opportunities, ” says Nikki Munro, Executive Director of PYDA. Established in 2012, the organisation has seen many young graduates pass through its doors more equipped and confident with increased…

With pandemic recovery on the horizon, the resilient companies of the future will cultivate a workforce that is reflaective of the customers and communities they serve. Creating an environment in which all employees can thrive is all the more important given the rise of new barriers to women in the workforce during the pandemic. According to McKinsey, one in four women considered downshifting or even abandoning their careers as a result of Covid-19 measures owing to increased domestic responsibilities. For better workplaces and a more equitable society, business leaders have a responsibility to empower women to further their careers. FLEXIBLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT It’s important that businesses learn from the pandemic to create workplaces that inspire connection, balance and equality. Recognising employees’ different roles and situations, helped by collaborative technologies, they…

Accounting, insurance, and banking are among the most popular career avenues in finance however, there are other career choices that are fulfilling, high–paying (in excess of R400 000 per annum), and well worth investigating. PUBLIC MARKET INVESTOR This is a role that manages investments of both stocks and bonds. The investor needs to ensure their portfolios, or those they’re being paid to manage, are correctly balanced. Understanding risk across various asset classes is a key skill in this type of job and learning with multi-asset providers helps traders determine how much risk they have in any given market. PRIVATE CAPITAL INVESTOR These professionals invest in equity or debt securities of privately held companies, real estate or other assets. FINANCIAL ANALYST Analysts are often not spoken about because they’re not as…

Since the start of the millennium years, Nigeria had celebrated its Democracy Day on 29 May. However, in 2019, the country switched to 12 June, following President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2018 announcement to move the date. ROAD TO DEMOCRACY During the 15th century, European settlers landed in the western Africa region to purchase enslaved Africans as part of the Atlantic slave trade. According to historical reports, the first Nigerian port used by European slave traders was Badagry, a coastal harbour in the now glamorous state of Lagos. The traders incited many conflicts among the ethnic groups of Nigeria. Occupied by British forces between the 1850s and ‘60s, Nigeria became a British colony from the early 1900s until 1960. An independence movement led the country to gain its independence, but six years…

Sivi Moodley, Chief Executive Officer of IoT Group, Macrocomm, tells us how the Internet of Things (IoT) can aid in saving the planets’ natural resources for the future. Nowadays, there can be no sustainable future without an effective and efficient approach to holistic water management. Measuring the flow of water through its cycle of collection, storage, distribution, consumption and purification is foundational to enabling a data-driven and analytical approach to water management and usage in various industrial, commercial, residential and public sector segments. FUTURE WATER USAGE TRENDS To place some perspective on the stress that is in place owing to increasing water demand, the United Nations World Water Report 2021 cited the following trends on future water usage. • The 2030 Water Resources Group (2009) concluded that the world would…

The need for inclusivity when finding solutions to improve sub-Saharan Africa’s quality of education is crucial if we want to make effective change. Injini, a non-profit organisation founded in part by the Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative (CiTi), launched its research division as an avenue to produce and distribute research and insight about education and innovation for Africa, by Africa. The NPO is an EdTech Accelerator with the sole purpose of increasing the quality, access and relevance of education throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The division aims to support EdTech entrepreneurs through relevant market research, support corporate initiatives in achieving their commitments towards educational outcomes, and advocate for educational reform through evidence-based research and engagement with policymakers in targeted African countries. The launch emphasised the need for spaces of conversation and how…

The pre-production vehicle was revealed to media, customers, dealers and friends of the brand at the Jaguar Land Rover Experience Johannesburg Centre. Now available for purchase, the new Range Rover is available with a suite of engine options plus a choice of four-, five-or seven-seat interiors, together with standard and long-wheelbase body designs. SOUTH AFRICAN LINE-UP The luxury SUV is available in South Africa in a choice of HSE and Autobiography models, while a unique First Edition is to be sold throughout the First year of production. The First Edition is based on the Autobiography and is available exclusively in a sunset gold satin Finish, among a choice of Five other exterior colours. Both standard (SWB) or long-wheelbase (LWB) body designs are available with Five seats, while the new Range…

E-learning platform Optimi Classroom argues that the development of the STEM curriculum in SA schools is the future of education. The curriculum features robotics, coding, and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, and will come into effect during the 2023 academic year. “The focus on logical thought processes and problem-solving allows students to develop mental habits that will help them succeed in any field. This will, in the long run, benefit our country and its economy as we educate future leaders and decision-makers, ” said Aunyana Moloisane, education expert and Managing Director at Optimi Classroom. He believes that having STEM skills teaches critical thinking and innovation. DROPOUT NUMBERS The e-learning service provider is adamant that this curriculum is what will enable SA and the rest of the African continent to compete with…

It is equally critical, however, for these organisations to understand that localisation entails more than just providing pricing in local currencies. Instead, there needs to be a holistic approach that involves customers, employees and other relevant stakeholders. Before unpacking why localisation is so important and how to undertake it successfully, what does it actually mean? The term refers to the adaptation of a product or a marketing strategy to meet the needs of a specific locale through language, culture and other relevant factors. Localisation can be achieved in a number of ways. For example, a product company can offer a local language user experience (UX) and provide vernacular customer support. However, if a company simply uses a translation tool that doesn’t take into account local nuances, such a localisation attempt…

The protection of the planet is a shared responsibility among all humans. There’s a chance we can preserve the planet, but there’s no time to wait. Addressing climate change should be at the top of every company’s priority list. It is no longer acceptable to dismiss it as someone else’s problem or to minimise efforts. Businesses must help reduce global GHG emissions to half by 2030, and aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Across the globe, investors are demanding more from companies than mere returns. In fact, with environmental, social and governance (ESG) based assets on track to reach US$53 trillion by 2025, everyone is keen to demonstrate their ESG credentials. Additionally, nation states and major investment vehicles such as pension funds are placing increasingly strict conditions on…

It has been three months since Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine. Taking on the mantle of the biggest war waged on a European state since World War II, unsurprisingly the impact echoed across the globe. This invasion has not only dominated the media, but also severely impacted the countries’ economy, and in its wake threatened an already struggling Africa. HOW THIS WAR STARTED Putin told the Russian people his goal was to “demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine”, with the aim of over-running Ukraine and deposing its government because Ukraine was poised to join NATO, the Western defensive alliance. Putin even went so far as to refuse to call his actions an invasion or war, but rather a “special military operation”. It is thought Putin still mourns the loss…

OMEGA LUXURY MOUNTAIN RETREAT MALUTI MOUNTAINS, FREE STATE When it comes to an idyllic winter holiday filled with invigorating activities during the day and cosy rest and relaxation at night, Omega Luxury Mountain Retreat offers the perfect spot. Travellers can enjoy self-catering cabins with a king-sized bed, double sleeper couch, fireplace and hot tub. The estate covers a vast stretch of land between South Africa and Lesotho and is perfect for hikers and birdwatchers as it has a number of trails to explore by foot or mountain bike (for both beginners and advanced riders). If the cold weather seems to discourage outdoor exploration, guests can still enjoy views of the snow-capped Maluti Mountains from their private decks and prepare meals either from the fully equipped kitchenette with its gas stove…