Table of contents for Issue #3 2022 in Afropolitan

Let me start by saying, it’s our anniversary! The Afropolitan turns one since its relaunch issue in September last year. It feels like yesterday when I was excited to write my very first editor’s note, and now 12 months have passed with five issues in the bag. I can hardly believe it. So much has happened in the interim, and a lot is happening still. I am grateful to my team for supporting my vision for this magazine, even though we have a long way to go. Thank you to all our cover stars for agreeing to be part of this magazine and a massive thank you to our readers. This issue was hard! We bagged a cover star, and then we were dropped at the last minute. I expected…

The Louis Vuitton Pre-Spring 2023 Men’s Collection explores the coming-of-age theme central to Virgil Abloh’s practice through the mindset of a musical youth. Before his passing in November 2021, Abloh had conceived the idea for the pre-collection, which was carried out by the creative teams and collaborators with whom he regularly worked at Louis Vuitton. Captured in the Centre National de la Danse in Paris, the collection frames the boyhood motif at the heart of Abloh’s fashion philosophy in the metaphorical image of a music school, a formative place where the traditions of music are studied, re-sampled and innovated by new generations. Like a young man’s wardrobe evolution, his musical journey is an untried dialogue between the codes of the past, present and the future. Divided into two chapters, the…

Usually, I don’t get excited by cars; as long as it gets me from point A to B, I’m happy. This was the satisfaction I got from the iX3, however, the i4 is out of this world. It’s like stepping into the future. I was fanned out. I’m officially a groupie. Both the i4 and iX3 mark the next major step for the BMW Group, as the brand plans to have at least a 50% global share of fully electric vehicle sales by the year 2030. “The new BMW iX3 builds on its profile as a trailblazer for a new era of electric mobility as the first model to feature fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology,” said BMW. The i4 and the iX3 are available in South Africa for purchase at just…

Six female business leaders were selected out of 250 visionaries who entered the Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot, which saw Gugu Sithole and Londy Ngcobo crowned the winners. The Bold Woman Award serves to bring greater inclusion for women in business. Gugu, Londy, Mbali, Mathebe, Phumzile and Yolisa proved to be such businesswomen who redefine success, push boundaries and inspire others to follow suit. In its 50th year, the awards opened entries to South African businesswomen for the first time. THE FINALISTS In the 2022 Bold Woman Award category Gugu, Mathebe and Yolisa made the final cut. The category is made up of women who are founders or CEOs of businesses that have been operational for more than three years. According to Veuve Clicquot, these women have demonstrated transformation…

In honour of Women’s Month, we sought audience with one of South Africa’s foremost luxury design and interior entrepreneurs. Trends come and trends go, but one thing is constant in the luxe interior and decor business: women are leading the charge, and they do so unapologetically and in stylish fashion. Bilala Mabuza, Founder and Creative Director of Cocoon Lifestyle, a boutique luxury interior design and decor studio headquartered in Kramerville Design District, Johannesburg, is one such woman. From lending her golden touch to some of the country’s most bespoke eateries and bars, to giving her upwardly mobile clientele the luxury to hide away from the demands of bustling city life within the proverbial cocoons of stylishly decorated homes located in affluent addresses, Mabuza is solidifying her place as one of…

The South African economy has an opportunity to apply key disruption learnings to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME). At the inaugural 2021 Women’s Economic Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of participation of women-owned businesses in key sectors like steel, energy, mining and agriculture. The president vowed to prioritise female entrepreneurs in state procurement, especially since women are disproportionately impacted by the current unemployment crisis. As the full economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded in South Africa, it became clear women were bearing the brunt of disruption, particularly those working in SMMEs. With SA’s economy recording its worst unemployment rate ever at 35.3% in the fourth quarter of 2021, it is notable that even in this dire circumstance Statistics SA reports men are more…

Younger people, particularly Generation Z and some Millennials are increasingly using their technological knowledge to take control of their own savings and investment destinies. Moreover, they have a much bigger appetite for risk than their Gen X and Boomer counterparts and are far more willing to invest in new and innovative products and categories. They’re ripping up the savings and investment handbook and we would all do well to take note. BUSTING OUT OF THE BOOMER MENTALITY When it comes to understanding what it is that makes these younger investors so much braver and more willing to explore, there are a couple of factors that come to play. The first is that this is a generation which has grown up being able to do everything online. Their first experience of…

The Zondo Reports were compiled by the Zondo Commission, which is a judge-led inquiry into alleged state capture in South Africa. The work of the Zondo Commission is focused on the period in which Jacob Zuma was the president of South Africa. Then deputy chief justice, Raymond Zondo, was selected as chairperson of this commission of inquiry and therefore, both the Commission and the reports of its findings colloquially became known as the Zondo Commission and Zondo Reports respectively. WHAT ARE THE ZONDO REPORTS? The Zondo Reports came about in 2018, as a result of the findings from an investigation into the presidency, by then public protector, Thuli Madonsela, in 2016. The investigation was in response to a series of formal complaints received against Zuma and other state officials. Among…

THULE AION The Thule Aion range is the latest luggage collection by the Thule brand. It’s made from recycled materials and comes with all-in-one solutions for unparalleled functionality. Each Aion piece has been designed with an active lifestyle in mind to help travellers seamlessly transition from everyday life to faraway adventures. The collection has innovative modular and multifunctional designs that allow the use of one bag for a variety of activities or combine bags to utilise new functions. The bags also have unique interior features to separate everyday items from dirty or damp active gear. The Aion consists of the following pieces: duffel bag, carry-on suitcase, travel backpack, and sling bag. RAYMOND WEIL CHRONOGRAPH 7741 Raymond Weil revealed the freelancer Chronograph 7741, a Tri Compax chronograph brimming with elegance. It…

According to the Businesswomen’s Association, among the JSE-listed companies in 2017, women constituted just 11.8% of board chairpersons, with one in six JSE-listed companies having no women on their boards. A comprehensive study by Gallup showed that businesses with gender-diverse boards and workforces perform monumentally better than those dominated by men. Women bring fresh perspectives and talents and new views, alongside structural and cultural diversity to the companies they work for and are far more effective as leaders. They are more empathetic and can accept that everyone perceives the world differently, without passing judgment. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE South Africa’s women are in crisis; not only do they struggle more than men to find work, but when they do, they are often paid less and are rarely able to climb the corporate…

The domestic business and leisure markets – particularly the leisure market, which tried revived the tourism sector when it was on its knees. Everyone in the hospitality sector knows how important the domestic market is to the economy even before the pandemic, but this reality was magnified many times for South Africans during Covid-19. This suggests that as we look forward to a post-pandemic country, we need to recognise that for the tourism footprint to expand new products that are culturally attractive, diverse, and owned and managed by black people. It clearly follows that domestic tourists will feel a greater affinity to products which are accessible and inviting to them. TOURISM CHARTER The Tourism Transformation Charter, developed by the Tourism Transformation Council of SA (TTCSA), acknowledges that the tourism industry…

Gen Z values corporate social responsibility and brand advocacy. They are sceptical of business practices and do not hesitate to speak up to demand change. As customers, they want brands to join them in speaking out, and those that do, earn their loyalty and money. Gen Z feel like they can make a difference and expect the companies they support to believe the same. To do this, industry experts have reached out to this consumer base for their advice on how to best connect with their generation. AMBASSADORS FOR CHANGE For Gen Z, activism is not a recreational past-time. They are who they are because they recognise the value of social justice in their lives. As a result, brands that ignore this will suffer. Zuko Mdwaba, Area Vice President at…

AT THE MOMENT, the news seems to be full of contradictions. On the one hand, inflation is at a record-high after skyrocketing to 7.4% in June, the highest it has been since May 2009, according to Statistics South Africa. This has been accompanied by higher prices, bringing consumers to their knees. On the other hand, supply chain repair in many sectors is providing a culture of surplus, which is causing sweeping discounts at retail level. Both of these opposing shifts are happening simultaneously in an unprecedented and never-before-seen way. Those industry segments that are being hit are being hit hard, while others are seeing unplanned growth. Referring to the Skynamo Industry Thermometer, which benchmarks industry sales activity across 27 sectors, for the most part, local small businesses are holding their…

JANUARY 2022 Part 1 was published on 4 January 2022. It has three volumes: Volume 1, focused on corruption within the state-owned airline, South African Airways (SAA); Volume 2, on findings relating to the Gupta family; and Volume 3 on the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and recommendations to reform the government procurement system. FEBRUARY 2022 Part 2 published on 1 February 2022 was divided into two volumes focusing on findings of corruption and maladministration within state-owned companies. Volume 1 focused on Denel, while Volume 2 focused on Transnet. MARCH 2022 Part 3 was published on 1 March 2022 and was divided into four volumes, all of which focused on findings relating to corruption within the privately owned state contractor, Bosasa. APRIL 2022 Part 4 of the Commission’s findings was…

Internet Safety Month is an annual awareness campaign taking place in June. This year, the focus was on social media safety, following Statista’s recent daily social media use research reported that individuals aged between 16 to 60 years spend on average 147 minutes (two hours 45 minutes) on social media platforms per day. There is no denying the benefits of social media if used responsibly. It gives us the ability to connect with friends and loved ones globally, reminisce on old memories, keep our followers updated about our social gatherings and stay abreast of the latest news. However, with users spending almost three hours a day on social media platforms, it comes with the inevitable dangers synonymous with social media. These are exploited by social engineers who use social media…

THE JOHANNESBURG-ABIDJAN VIA Kinshasa route launched on 29 June 2022 and is deemed to be the fastest route between South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire offered by any airline on the Africa continent. The airline introduced four flights per week between Johannesburg and Abidjan, with bookings open from 1 June 2022. Air Cote d’Ivoire’s vision is to be the leading airline in west and central Africa. The new route also offers ease of access to 16 west and central African countries: Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Liberia, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Togo, DRC, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau. Côte d’Ivoire is seen as a strategic partner for South Africa. Last year, SA President Cyril Ramaphosa signed nine cooperation agreements with his Ivorian counterpart, Alassane Ouattara. During the Ivorian-South Africa…

“Argh, another skin product to try,” were my thoughts when I was introduced to Esse. For our relaunch issue last year, the brand offered me a facial voucher at one of its partner facilities and I passed it on to my colleague, Liesl Frankson. She enjoyed the facial and came back raving about the experience, which you can read all about in issue 1, 2021, of this magazine. Unlike me, she’s a skin product junkie. Don’t tell her I said that! Following this, Esse was kind enough to offer us products and based on Liesl’s review, I was keen to try the products: facewash and serum. Unfortunately, I have no patience. I want to see and feel the results now and my face was breaking out when I tried those…

COMPROMISING 61 APARTMENTS with interiors designed and furnished by Weylandt Studio, it is part of a multiuse property that includes a gym, restaurants, shops and a rooftop pool, with showstopper views of the Mother City. The vertical pink fins on the exterior of this new development make this a statement building for the city. Its resortstyle rooftop, with pool, bar, braai and entertainment area, celebrate Cape Town’s outdoor lifestyle. The Weylandt Studio team aimed to create a retreat away from the business of city life. They described the exterior of the building as “bold”, so the interior offets the colours found in nature. Weylandts used a combination of products from its catalogues and customised pieces designed for each apartment.…

FINDING ME A MEMOIR BY VIOLA DAVIS “This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose and my strength, but also to finding my voice in a world that didn’t always see me. As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth of how our stories are often not given close examination. They are bogarted, reinvented to fit into a crazy, competitive, judgmental world. So I wrote this for anyone who is searching for a way to understand and overcome a complicated past, let go of shame, and find acceptance. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born…

Growing up in the rowing up in the township of Seshego in Polokwane, Lovey Talana (62), always knew the importance of looking after her skin. “During the times when people used skin lightening creams, my mother would advise the women around us about the dangers of those creams,” Talana said. “She would share beauty tips, one of which was the use of aloe, which she planted at our home and used on her own skin.” Being exposed to her mother’s beauty regimen influenced her career in skincare. “My mother’s use of beauty products exposed me to cosmetic products and developed my love and respect for what these products mean to my skin,” she added. STARTING DERMACELL With her mother’s advice and the benefits of aloe in mind, Talana went in…

As with all females leading within male-dominated industries, the biggest challenge is overcoming engendered factors of inequality, financial, authoritative or otherwise. Women often find themselves having to find an innovative niche to succeed while men are welcome on mediocre traditional paths. Women are also often unfairly chastised for being ambitious and assertive, while men are praised for it. But we should be these things anyway and my story is testament to this. DON’T WAIT FOR OPPORTUNITIES My career at National Debt Advisors (NDA) began nine years ago when I joined as a team leader at a call centre, with 15 agents reporting to me. The company had just started and there was no real structure, so I decided to take a proactive approach and ended up managing HR activities, some…

The TTCSA developed a five-point plan of action to fast track transformation in tourism: 1 Effective monitoring of compliance with B-BBEE and impact assessment. 2 Make sure that youth are included and elevated in tourism structures. 3 Ensure improved education and skills training for tourism job seekers and entrepreneurs. 4 Ensure that an environment conducive to supporting tourism product development in townships, small towns and rural areas exists. 5 Advocate for better access to preferential procurement opportunities in government and state institutions by SMMEs.…

Quality African businesses with growth prospects that seek funding can now raise capital via an innovative crowdfunding platform, GoGetta. Local and international capital investors can select vetted opportunities and invest quickly and securely amounts of just R1 000 or more to own shares in various African businesses. “Quality African businesses are struggling to raise capital using traditional financiers such as banks. Crowdfunding is a billion-dollar global industry and it’s time for Africa to weigh in,” said Sthembiso Zwane, co-founder of GoGetta. The platform is a solution to funding issues and unlocks the potential of Africa’s entrepreneurs. “Africa is an exciting growth story for investors and our platform showcases some of the best investment opportunities from across the continent,” he added. GoGetta actively seeks attractive businesses to list on the platform…

Young people are a source of innovation and new ideas. Ramaphosa acknowledged the government’s commitment to putting young people at the centre of the national recovery plan, because of the country’s 64% unemployment rate. During his address, he stated, “It is the singular focus of this administration to ensure young people are given access to opportunities so they can better themselves, that they can drive change in their community, and contribute to our economy. However, it’s become evident that to effect real change, the private sector needs to step in and collaborate among industries to not only benefit the youth, but ensure a talented future workforce. One such collaboration is the NextGen programme, a ServiceNow Elite initiative in partnership with Quintica South Africa, aims to address the skills gap across…

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), data suggests that as many as 186 million individuals are affected by infertility. In the eyes of many, infertility is considered a women’s problem, but this is hardly the case. In fact, global statistics suggest that just as many men experience fertility challenges. However, women starting families at an older age is one of the most common explanations for infertility today. It is vital that those facing infertility issues empower themselves by having the necessary conversation about fertility treatment with their partner and doctor because there are interventions if treatment is sought sooner rather than later. Infertility is defined as failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse or as a result of an impairment of a…