Table of contents for Issue #1 in Afropolitan

“Everything you’re going through is preparing you for what you’ve asked for.”– Steve Harvey “UThixo akathathi nto angabeki nto.”– Unknown.” I start off my first editor’s letter with these quotes because this year has been a true testament of these messages manifesting in my life. I think the second quote is what people use when trying to explain Palms 46: 1-3. I could be wrong; I’m not overtly religious, but that line speaks to me. Needless to say, 2020 was disastrous for the entire world and while trying to figure out all the changes the year threw my way, I lost my best friend – my mother. My world shut down. It was hard to imagine what my tomorrows would look like. I could not see past the pain and…

As someone who has tried so many skincare products and treatments, I’m a little embarrassed that I’ve only recently crossed paths with Esse Skincare. Founded in 2002 by organic chemist Trevor Steyn, Esse is an award-winning skincare range that is leading the charge when it comes to organic probiotic skincare development. Esse boasts certification by Ecocert and PeTA, is vegan and plastic- and carbon-neutral and was the first certified organic brand in South Africa. What I love about this brand is the focus on protecting the skin’s microbiome by incorporating prebiotics as well as live probiotic microbes into their products. Why is this important? Quite simple, probiotics are good for you. They can shift the skin’s ecology to favour a diverse ecosystem that is healthy enough to resist attacks from…

If the pandemic has taught us anything about business, it is to mitigate impacts or shocks and to respond and recover quickly. As we become more hyperconnected, we know this won’t be the last pandemic we will face. In business, as with public health, there is no room for complacency. Together, we must learn lessons from today’s crisis to prepare for whatever challenges the future may hold. The key to building resilience, firstly, is realism; recognise you have a problem and solve it. Second is optimism; use the crisis as an opportunity to become better than what you were when you entered the crisis, not worse. As we emerge from the pandemic, we know we will not return to the way things were. It’s time for investment in technology, people…

“Zanda Zonke is an extension of my calling and purpose to let women know you don’t have to take on masculine traits to be taken seriously in a leardership position.” Born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, Stha Mavundla not only has biological scientist, certified life coach and international speaker titles under her name but is also the proud founder of management consulting firm, Zanda Zonke. In the face of adversity, she was inspired by a story told by her mother about a bug’s trials, tribulations and its ultimate victory. The story helped Stha take control of her life and fulfil her purpose through the establishment of her company. IZIBUSISO ZIKANKULUNKULU ZANDA ZONKE “I remember my mom telling me a story of a little bug that had fallen into a hole and…

Boity Pink Sapphire Eau de Perfum Boity Pink Sapphire by TV personality Boitumelo ‘Boity’ Thulo is the latest edition of celebrity fragrances created in South Africa. The premium fragrance offers a refreshingly clean, long-lasting scent. Boity Pink Sapphire comes in various bottle sizes and also offers a hair perfume. Available from Haloheritage.com, Superbalist, Takealot and at selected Clicks stores. Stand a chance to win a bottle of Boity Pink Sapphire Eau de Parfum! Two lucky readers stand a chance to win a 50ml bottle of Boity Pink Sapphire Eau de Parfum valued at R895. All you have to do is type the words ‘The Afropolitan x Boity Pink Sapphire’ in the subject line of your email, include your name and contact details in the email body, and send it to…

One-hit wonders will tell you how fortuitous brief success and fame can be. It is consistent hard work that separates the renowned artist from the charlatan. With 15 years in the industry, K.O has proved through a continuous output of projects that his name is carved in the annals of South African music. K.O, whose real name is Ntokozo Mdluli, came into the industry as part of the award-winning rap trio Teargas in 2006. Four Teargas albums and three solo projects later, K.O has matured as an artist and become savvier about the business side of things. His constant growth in lyricism and embracing of new sounds has maintained his relevance in the industry. His singles K-Hova and Lucky Star, which are on heavy radio rotation, epitomises this. “If I’m…

Skin Candy has launched the first-ever two-supplement Glutathione formulation. With the increased demand for immune-boosting vitamins over the past year, Skin Candy’s offering is a double whammy: skincare and immune support in one. It doesn’t get any better than that. A pioneer in natural clinical skincare, Raeesa couldn’t find natural products that were able to eliminate the cause of skin problems such as breakouts, pigmentation and sun damage, and which met her standards of efficacy, quality, natural noside-effect ingredients, and the correct clinical doses. Shortly after the birth of her first child and the rapid deterioration of her previously youthful and radiant skin, she started Skin Candy and set about developing a skincare range that targeted the root of underlying skin issues for herself and for women like her who…

Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) make up 98% of formal businesses in South Africa, but they contribute only 28% (3.8 million) of jobs in the formal economy and little more than a fifth (22%/R2.3 trillion) of all formal business turnover. Unfortunately, they have a significantly high failure rate but learning from big businesses – using the science of organisational behaviour to plan for the structure and culture of their businesses – small business owners will have a better chance at longevity and achieving their potential as engines of economic growth and job creation. To raise public awareness of their contribution to sustainable development and the global economy, Nicholas Lamohr advised that as SMMEs mature, their job-creation potential and strategic thinking would help them move beyond start-ups to sustainable job-creating…

The Digital Smile Design (DSD) concept is the next generation of dentistry conceptualised and created by Brazilian clinician Dr Christian Coachman. It is focused on a philosophy of dental rehabilitation from a full facial and holistic patient point of view. Using DSD as an approach to treat dental patients brings together a collaboration with multiple practitioners to formulate precise and predictable treatment plans and ideal outcomes for patients. “Dentistry is so much more than a patient going to see the dentist for pain or rehabilitation treatment, getting teeth ‘fixed’ and not knowing what is happening during treatment, or what the outcome will be, then leaving and going home. It is about understanding a patient’s insecurities, their needs and desires, and marrying those to create a treatment that is going to…

Since the Miss South Africa (Miss SA) Organisation bought the licence to the Miss SA pageant in 2019, transgender women have been able to enter and compete for the country’s most sought-after beauty pageant title. For the third successive year, transwomen are eligible to enter the 2021 Miss South Africa pageant. However, to be eligible to compete internationally, the contestant must have a valid SA ID document reflecting their gender identity alignment. Miss SA Organisation CEO Stephanie Weil said since the organisation took over the competition, its goal has been to be more inclusive and embrace all members of society. “The world is finally opening up to changing beauty standards and understanding that beauty is not a one size fits all. We hope the Miss South Africa Organisation continues to…

When it comes to polygamy, for many years, South Africa only legally recognised the practice of polygyny: one man having more than one wife. This approach is worldly recognised and accepted. In common cases, polygyny is practised among royalty; for example, eSwatini King Mswati III has 15 wives, while the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu had six wives. In the case of non-royals, former president Jacob Zuma has more than three wives as well KZN businessman and TV personality Musa Mseleku. Historically, polygamy has been a way of expanding the family clan name and making sure family assets stay within the family. However, for a country that works hard to fight for equality and prides itself on work done over the years to gain equality across race, age, gender, cultural…

Stand a chance to win a three-night stay for two people at Marataba Safari Lodge valued at R28 000! One lucky reader stands the chance to win a three-night stay for two people at Marataba Safari Lodge in Hartbeesfontein, North West. This includes accommodation, game drives, a water safari and all meals. Excluded are beverages, park/ conservation and recovery levies/ fees, travel to and from the reserve, and any items of a personal nature – such as spa treatments. All you have to do is send an email to bradley.boult@mikatekomedia.co.za with the words ‘Marataba Safari Lodge x The Afropolitan’ on the subject line. Add your name and contact details on the body of the mail. Terms and Conditions apply: competition runs until 30 September. If we can’t get a hold…

South African fashion is been recognised by the international community, with emerging designers combining their African roots with modern trends. This has benefited many black-owned fashion labels as they gain success in their own right. SA fashion has proved to be about attitude, a sense of style, and a mixture of cultures and colours. Although it has been a difficult time, the year-long quarantine has also been positive in some respect. For many designers, it was a time of reinventing and reimagining designs that uniquely utilised the bare essentials. In the face of a crisis, the clothes you wear have a big impact on how you feel about yourself and your environment. With so many moments that require a boost of energy on the clock, you can’t take your wardrobe…

THE BIG SOUTH AFRICAN HAIR BOOK Janine, journalist and digital marketer, shares her hair journey and that of other black women. These stories will have you laughing as she describes hair care in black townships as a marathon competition of who looks the best. In the book, Janine touches on how formal institutions contribute(d) to the self-oppression of natural hair; how curly or kinky hair can and could never be seen as just hair but as a political statement. One of the many voices featured in the book is that of writer Milisuthando Bongela, and she is quoted saying, “True liberation, though, is having it [hair] not be a thing at all. It means you can relax it one day, put a weave on the next day, dye it purple…

Popular to our screens from shows such as Rockville, Club 808 and her reality show Boity: Own Your Throne, Boity, as she is affectionately known, recently launched a ready to drink (RTD) beverage, BT Signature, and a perfume fragrance, Boity Pink Sapphire. “Creating a perfume was on my bucket list for a long time,” Boity said. “It felt like the timing was right plus I haven’t seen a celebrity perfume in a long time, specifically in South Africa.” The star partnered with Halo Heritage, a company known for producing luxurious African products. Though developing a perfume had been on her to-do list, Boity admits she never thought the opportunity would present itself as early as it did. However, she didn’t want to be a brand ambassador, she wanted to create…

Most skin issues are a result of something happening inside your body. Skin Candy’s products are designed to create flawless skin from within by targeting the underlying cause of any skin concern. With so many natural products available and the trend towards organic, it was vital that Skin Candy’s all-natural ingredients were correctly dosed and combined with complementary partner ingredients to yield maximum results. Skin Candy has successfully formulated a skincare range with optimal clinical doses of their flagship key ingredient, Glutathione, along with other complementary skin-perfecting ingredients. The intention was to put the science back into beauty and it worked. The science extends into its entire range: topical, transdermal and oral treatments. Prevention is better than cure and a considerate, scientific approach equals a flawless glow that you can…

The NewFunds Reitway Global Property Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) – launched with Absa – will give local investors exposure to listed property stocks in America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. It is the fourth international property ETF to list on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and will track the Reitway Global Property Index created by Global Property Research. “The NewFunds Reitway Global Property ETF is a conduit for South African investors to a broader universe of property equities, thus improving diversification. Furthermore, the ETF tracks an innovative index that is constructed to adhere to a set of rules with enhanced performance as a primary objective,” said Greg Rawlins, CEO at Reitway Global. Head of Index Solutions at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, Chris Edwards added: “Property is a…

Many people may know her as the first female video jockey on MTV Networks Africa, while others know her from 5FM. After hanging up her headphones from a successful radio career, Fix is now channelling her energy into social entrepreneurship, education and empowerment. Working together with Dikelo Inclusive Education, Fix explains where the idea of creating inclusive affirmation cards stemmed. “The Affirmations for the African Child project was inspired by a personal journey with my son. When he was five months old, I had to make some difficult decisions to leave a very toxic situation and, while I was going through my divorce and going to therapy, I was so worried about my son. I kept asking, how does a little mind get to understand something like this? This got…

The Maldives is one of the few places that has opened its borders to travellers and does not require people to quarantine. All that’s needed is a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Covid-19 test 96 hours prior to travel. The world has been through different levels of lockdown for almost two years now and the amount of stress this has caused has been immense. Some had to endure the loss of income, separation from family and friends, not forgetting the new role of being a teacher as homeschooling became the norm. Adding to that, boundaries have blurred between home and work life. Now and then, one needs a break from reality, be it alone or with a loved one. Now and then, one needs a break from reality. Here are…

MORE Family Collection (MFC) is a fourth-generation family business that owns and manages a private group of award-winning, luxury safari lodges and boutique hotels set within some of Southern Africa’s finest locations. Our origin dates to 1933 with the founding of Lion Sands Game Reserve. You will find us in the most awe-inspiring and untouched parts of Southern Africa – in the bush near natural wonders, by the ocean, or in the city. This allows us to share with our guests the country’s many attractions and gives them a synergised experience of the best this continent has to offer. Some of our properties form part of the MORE family heritage, tremendous gifts, handed down through generations of custodians. Other properties took time and patience to curate and to transform into…