FEEL GOOD CORNER: South African wins Global Maths Teacher Award Guest: Sandile Mathebula , Award Winning Maths Teacher Grades 10 to 12 teacher at Siphumelele Secondary School in Mzingazi, outside Richards Bay, Sandile Mathebula is on an mission is to shift the negative attitude towards Mathematics and Science, and he consistently seeks new ways to make these subjects more accessible and enjoyable for his students. Sandile's exceptional work as an educator earned him the title of Best Maths Teacher at the Global Teachers Awards held in India in 2022 and Dubai in 2023, where he competed against teachers from over 50 countries. Sandile's award has inspired him to continue making a difference through education. He plans to  publish a book that will aid students struggling with Mathematics, simplifying the subject, and making  it more available for future generations of learners. Sandile has already begun discussions with publishers and hopes to distribute the book nationwide upon completion. CURRENT PROJECT: To further his goal of simplifying Mathematics and making it accessible for future generations of  learners, Sandile is working with NESTLÉ NESPRAY to launch the "iPlug Yes'kolo, U learn, I learn"  initiative. The campaign aims to provide step-by-step solutions focused on the Maths concepts taught  in the mainstream curriculum for grades four to seven, intended for parents, caregivers, and learners  and delivered in video format. These concepts include whole numbers in multiplication and division  for Grades four and five, common fractions for Grade 6, and integers for Grade 7. ABOUT SANDILE: Sandile Mathebula, also known as “Maths Son ”, by his students, is a South African math teacher   and writer born in a small village in Pongola,  KwaZulu-Natal in 1994. Sandile's love for Mathematics started during his own schooling, and after completing his matric, he began teaching so that he could inspire and assist his pupils in excelling in the subject. While teaching, Sandile obtained a Bachelor of Education degree with distinction. Sandile is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of his students and beyond. He hopes  that his innovative teaching methods and forthcoming book will assist learners across South Africa and  beyond in excelling in Mathematics and Science.

Guest: Pinky Mashiane, Co – founder of the United Domestic Workers of South Africa Domestic workers and their employers have new rules to follow in South Africa relating to compensation for injuries or diseases stemming from a place of work. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993 has successfully been amended by Parliament following being assented to by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 6 April. Changes to broaden the original act to keep it up to date and offer more relief for domestic workers dates back to September 2022, when Thulas Nxesi, the minister of labour, presented a bill to Parliament to grant domestic workers the status of formal employees and provide them with traditional workplace benefits. MORE INFO: Before the bill, domestic workers were not entitled to benefits such as compensation for work-related injuries or illnesses. Through the new Act, the Compensation Fund will start accepting claims from domestic workers and their dependents for injuries or deaths resulting from work-related accidents. The Act also identifies the “main employer” of a domestic worker and holds them accountable for any workplace injuries sustained by the employee. Additionally, employers and employees of domestic workers will be required to contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Rehabilitation for those falling victim to an occupational injury or disease will now have access to the Compensation Fund as outlined in section 70A of the Act. Under the section, an employer of a domestic worker is required to provide facilities, services and benefits aimed at rehabilitating employees who are suffering from occupational injuries or diseases to return to work to reduce disability resulting from their injuries or diseases. As it stands, rehabilitation benefits may consist of the following: Clinical rehabilitation and the provision of assistive devices for recovery; Vocational rehabilitation to assist an employee in maintaining employment, obtaining employment, regaining or acquiring vocational independence; Social rehabilitation to assist in restoring the employee’s independence and social integration to the maximum extent practicable. Employers are also required to report or submit claims for any incident that occurred before the act. Ultimately it is not only the duty of the employee to make a claim to the Compensation Fund but in the best interests of the employer to also follow through with the prescribed procedure. Section 63 of the Act further prescribes: “(1) Domestic employees and employers must report or submit a claim in the prescribed manner within three years from the date of the commencement of the Compensation For Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Act 2022, for any accident that had occured prior to the commencement of this Act. (2) The validity of the existing licences issued to the Mutual Assocations in terms of the Act will remain effective until agreements are entered into.”

Guest: Wilhelm Van Rensburg, Senior Art Specialist and Head Curator The cover lot for leading African auction house Strauss & Co’s forthcoming live-virtual auction on 16 May 2023 is a magisterial still life by Irma Stern, the most prized painter at auction in Africa. A gorgeous confection of colour, Still Life with Dahlias and Pumpkin (estimate R10 - 12 million/ $552 330 - 662 795) is one of three Stern’s in the auction from the artist’s sought-after golden period of the late 1930s and 40s.   Taking its cue from the enthralling Stern cover lot, Strauss & Co will be hosting a preview exhibition at its Johannesburg gallery showcasing a bounty of 22 still lifes by important South African artists such as William Kentridge, Maggie Laubser, Alexis Preller and Jean Welz.   The 105-lot catalogue encompasses more than a century’s output and includes works made at the early beginnings of South Africa’s cosmopolitan art scene, notably by Frans Oerder, Anton van Wouw and Pieter Wenning. There are two museum-grade works by pioneer black modernists Dumile Feni and Gerard Sekoto, as well as works by William Kentridge, Sam Nhlengethwa and Berni Searle, artists at the vanguard of South African art’s current international acclaim.   “Strauss & Co has a rock-solid reputation for handling blue-chip works by South African modernists, as was confirmed in March by our sale of a Zanzibar-period Stern for a new African record,” says Dr Alastair Meredith, Head of Sale, Strauss & Co. “Our forthcoming sale has peak works by acclaimed artists working at their zeniths, including Irma Stern with her large and gossamer still life, Dumile Feni with his rare and enigmatic colour drawing of a family, and William Kentridge with his hand-painted etching of a tree.”  Adds Meredith: “Many of the lots have impeccable provenance, including the Feni drawing, which was consigned by his family estate. Gerard Sekoto’s pre-exile painting of a well-known intersection in central Pretoria, executed in his cool observational style, is part of an important collection that we’re delighted to be handling.”  The diverse catalogue for the May auction includes some notable individual works:   Anton van Wouw’s bronze portraying a Mozambican man with crossed arms, Shangaan (estimate R600 000 - 800 000/ $33 140 - 44 181), was cast in Rome in 1907 by the renowned Nisini foundry in Rome. “This dignified, gentle and personal portrait of a Shangaan man is a weighty and significant statement,” says Meredith.   J. H. Pierneef, South Africa’s preeminent landscape painter with a global collector base, is represented by a substantial offering. Landscape with Mountains and Trees (estimate R1.5 - 2 million/ $82 840 - 110 454) is an iconic work from 1954 and features an inventory of must-have motifs in a Pierneef. There are two views of a farm southeast of Johannesburg, both painted in 1932, including Extensive Landscape, Study for Klipriviersberg, Alberton (estimate R1.2 - 1.6 million/ $66 278 - 88 371).  Irma Stern, like Pierneef, was a prolific painter and is represented by four still lifes. Arum Lilies and Bananas (estimate R2 - 3 million/ $110 464 - 165 696) is a high-expressionist composition from 1925. The delicately rendered gouache Potted Caladium on a Windowsill (estimate R800 000 - 1.2 million/ $44 181 - 66 278) dates from 1939. Malay Woman (estimate R4.5 - 5.5 million/ $248 580 - 303 820) is a portrait from 1946 and records Stern’s deep commitment to portraying Cape Muslim women.  Gerard Sekoto’s oil Up Prinsloo Street (estimate R2.5 - 3.5 million/ $138 100 - 193 396), a street scene from his sought-after Eastwood period, was painted in 1946 shortly before he permanently left South Africa to settle in Paris.  Dumile Feni’s rare colour drawing Blue Suede Shoe (estimate R2 - 3 million/$110 464 - 165 696) measures nearly two metres in height and was featured in the artist’s 2006 retrospective at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.  William Kentridge’s late-career interest in botanical subjects received marked attention in his 2022 exhibition at the Royal Academy in London. The auction includes You Who Never Arrived (estimate R1 - 1.5 million/ $55 256 - 82 884), a large hand-pad noted etching of a tree, as well as his Iris-themed works on paper Iris II (estimate R500 000 - 600 000/ $27 625 33 150) and Dutch Iris (estimate R450 000 - 550 000/ $24 862 - 33 150).  Alexis Preller is best known for his enigmatic portraiture but also produced astonishing still lifes, such as Shells (R800 000 - 1.2 million/ $44 181 - 66 278) and Floating Apple (estimate R350 000 - 500 000/ $19 331 - 33 150), both produced in 1975, the artist’s last year.  Peter Clarke, an accomplished printmaker, poet and painter, is represented in the auction by two early watercolours depicting circus entertainers (estimate R150 000 - 200 000/ $8 285 - 11 046 each). They are dated 1957. Two years earlier Clarke won a South African literary award, which led to a vibrant exchange of letters with American poet Langston Hughes, a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance.  Other notable lots include Cecily Sash’s oil Playing Card I (estimate R40 000 - 60 000/ $2 208 - 3 313), which was exhibited at the São Paulo Biennial in 1967, and Walter Battiss’s oil Black Shadow of Red Bird on Blue Water (estimate R200 000 - 300 000/ $11 044 - 16 565), which was specially painted for the critic and art historian Esmé Berman. ABOUT GUEST:

Is the government overly dependent on NGOs Guest: Sibongile Tshabalala – Chairperson of Treatment Action Campaign People in South Africa are used to reports of organisations like Gift of the Givers stepping in during humanitarian emergencies, or service delivery NGOs helping with HIV or tuberculosis programmes. NGOs have increasingly been filling an important gap where government services are limited or non-existent.  nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) have played an important role in advocating for equality and social justice in South Africa There are an estimated 200 000 NGOs in South Africa and in 2015, there were just over 140 000 registered NGOs. Joining us on the line is …who will be speaking to us 1.    But is there not a risk of the state becoming overly dependent on NGOs, and might this not mask state failure and thereby undermine democratic accountability? 2.    the economic recession, unemployment and failed service delivery may be factors impacting the growth of the sector” 3.    On the role of NGOs in the development process does not come easily, as they are faced with a number of challenges and opportunities Talking Points: -      What roles do NGOs play in the process of development in developing countries? -      How well do NGOs adapt to the changing environment of public administration? -      Is there any empirical evidence that supports the assumption that NGOs play an effective role in development? -      What can be done to improve the contributions of NGOs to development? There are an estimated 200 000 NGOs in South Africa and in 2015, there were just over 140 000 registered NGOs. A report by the Kagiso Trust highlights that the rise in the number of NGOs represents an increase of over 200% over the past 10 years. Nazeema Mohamed, the executive director of Inyathelo, explains that “the economic recession, unemployment and failed service delivery may be factors impacting the growth of the sector”. A poor economic outlook which has translated into a decline in government spending across critical sectors has meant that NGOs have increasingly been filling an important gap where government services are limited or nonexistent. A critique of the growing number of NGOs is that this is representative of the failure of the state and that this makes NGOs extension agents for basic services. This assessment has significant implications for the critical role that NGOs play in advancing social change and transformation. Competition for funding The rise in the number of NGOs does not mirror the decrease in local and international funding which has seen a number of NGOs scale back their services or shut down completely. Data from Inyathelo, which focuses on resource mobilisation and capacity-building for NGOs, indicates that a majority of newly formed NGOs are small and micro-organisations with annual incomes ranging between R50 000 and R500 000.  Even though there are significant investments in the sector, the high number of NGOs contributes towards increased competition for funding and, to a degree, this limits the impact within the sector as there is a replication of programmes and a lack of an overarching strategic mission. The challenges of operating in an unpredictable landscape were highlighted during an event hosted by Community Chest to celebrate World NGO Day in Cape Town. One of the significant highlights of the event was the acknowledgement that the capacity of NGOs to innovate would be greatly enhanced if there was an opportunity to strategically collaborate and move away from working in silos. Collaboration also presents an opportunity to pool resources and invest in broader mission-led initiatives that could strengthen the social impact that NGOs have in communities. This is critical as funding and social impact are key components within the sector.  Complexity and impact With a decrease in funding, NGOs are placed under significant pressure to deliver high social impact whilst dealing with expectations from funders, work within the confines of restricted funding grants and illustrate positive outcomes. Part of the challenge is that NGOs are operating in a starvation-cycle context; NGOs with limited funding are forced to underinvest in critical organisational operations such as financial systems, human resources and fundraising. Some funding grants explicitly only cover programmatic costs and not the indirect costs associated with delivering an intervention or programme. This often means NGOs are not capacitated to deliver high social impact and this can, in some instances, lead to the mismanagement of organisations. In addition, the unequal power dynamic between NGOs and funders also means that NGOs are not positioned to challenge the rationale for underfunding indirect costs which would allow NGOs to invest in the organisation and be sustainable. A consequence and contradiction presented to NGOs is that the pressure to illustrate impact, in order to secure funding, sometimes undermines the core mission of the organisation. NGOs invest significant resources into collecting data on selected indicators and targets as opposed to improving the quality of interventions and programmes. In effect, this creates a toxic system in which NGOs are incentivised to “game the numbers” in order to secure funding. Ultimately, in this context, the losers are the underserved and marginalised communities who depend on the critical services provided by NGOs.  It is clear that the current funding model for NGOs needs to be addressed to better meet the needs of NGOs, funders and the beneficiaries of these services. We need to build a system where NGOs are adequately supported to do their work and where well-designed outcome and impact measurements help funders, government and communities identify where change is needed. 

Guest: Makhudu Sefara, Media Freedom Chairperson at SANEF (South African National Editors' Forum) World Press Freedom Day is an annual event celebrated on May 3rd, dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of press freedom and highlighting the challenges faced by journalists worldwide. In South Africa, like in many other countries, the state of journalism is shaped by various factors, including political pressures, economic realities, and social dynamics. South Africa has a vibrant and diverse media landscape, but it also faces significant challenges to press freedom. Despite being one of the most liberal democracies in Africa, South Africa has seen an increase in media censorship and attacks on journalists in recent years. This has led to concerns about the state of press freedom in the country and its impact on democracy. Several factors shape journalism in South Africa. Firstly, the country's political climate plays a significant role, with politicians often trying to influence or control the media's narrative. Secondly, economic factors, such as the declining profitability of traditional media and the rise of digital media, have also affected the media landscape. Thirdly, social dynamics, such as the country's history of racial inequality, have also influenced journalism and the media's ability to reflect diverse perspectives. On World Press Freedom Day, it is crucial to reflect on these factors and support efforts to promote press freedom and protect the rights of journalists in South Africa and around the world. By doing so, we can help ensure that journalists can carry out their important work without fear of censorship, harassment, or violence. Discussion points: ·         Importance and relevance of this day to the global journalism community ·         SA media landscape’s journalism integrity ·         State of investigative journalism in the country ·         Public trust in SA media and the role of journalists and media houses in maintaining this relationship ·         The role of paywalls, and its shaping of the future of journalism.

Guest: Given Ngwamba, Founder and owner Ndzilo Charcoal PLOT: Our guest for our 2nd edition of Made In SA is from Naas in Mpumalanga. He didn’t think he would struggle to find employment after completing his sound engineering diploma at the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa, but life had other plans. Given Ngwamba created Ndzilo Charcoal briquettes which are 100% organic waste. While battling to make ends meet, Ngwamba came up with the idea of making and selling charcoal through his business Ndzilo Charcoal. Following research, he found that there is a more sustainable way to create coal using agricultural waste, such as ground nuts, sugarcane, macadamia shells, coconut and waste from mango leaves and banana trees. Joining us on the line is … who will be speaking about 1.   What it took to create Ndzilo Charcoal 2.   What inspired him to create organic charcoal 3.   The challenges of starting the business and his highlights so far. “I was at the back of my house and thought ‘let me try charcoal’. I had seen some people buy it and thought I could get into the business. Making charcoal was not new in our area because residents rely on it to cook during power cuts,” he explains. https://www.vukuzenzele.gov.za/given-ngwamba-makes-charcoal-organic-waste

Friendships are a vital part of our lives and play an essential role in our emotional well-being. However, as we navigate through different life phases and transitions, maintaining and sustaining these friendships can become a challenge. Whether it's moving to a new city, starting a new job, getting married, or having children, life transitions can often strain even the most robust friendships. Navigating friendships through life phases and transitions is a delicate balance between maintaining the bond and adapting to the changes that come with growth and development. It requires an understanding that life changes and so do our priorities, responsibilities, and interests. What once brought us together may no longer be relevant, and that's okay. Whilst some friendships survive, some end, and that can be a hard time as friendship break-ups can be equally heart wrenching, and one should take a moment to mourn that. Friendship dynamics can shift as we move through different stages of our lives. The friendships that once centered around late-night parties and adventures may evolve into coffee dates and playdates. The key is to embrace these changes and adjust expectations while staying true to the friendship's core values. Navigating friendships through life transitions can also require effort, patience, and communication. It's important to recognize that friendships are a two-way street and require mutual effort and understanding. It's also essential to communicate openly and honestly about expectations, needs, and boundaries. In conclusion, navigating friendships through life phases and transitions is a complex process that requires an understanding of the changes that come with growth and development. It requires effort, patience, and communication to maintain these bonds while adapting to new realities. By embracing these changes and communicating openly, we can sustain meaningful friendships throughout our lives.

Guest: Ntsiki Mkhize, Founder of MentHer We have all felt butterflies before a big meeting or felt our hands shaking while giving a big presentation, but more of us are struggling with confidence than you might think. Many of us shy away from speaking up with confidence at work, even when we have a lot to say. But a lack of self-confidence doesn’t have to define you. Contrary to what many people think, confidence is not an innate, fixed characteristic. It's an ability that you can improve over time. And with enhanced confidence come benefits. Confident employees are happier and more productive. When we feel better about ourselves, our work and overall performance tend to thrive. On the other hand, when you lack confidence, it’s much more difficult to stand out. Chances are you will be less likely to get the plum assignments or be considered for raises and promotions. Talking points: 1. What is confidence? 2. Can you fake it? 3. How does one be a power communicator? 4. How does one take up space? 5. How do I build confidence

Editorial: The AfroCentric Group CEO will be unpacking “Who is AfroCentric and the role the organisation plays in the SA healthcare ecosystem” Guest: Ahmed Banderker, The AfroCentric Group CEO The AfroCentric Group’s most significant investment lies in its equity interest in AHL. Accordingly, the Group profile has been compiled from an AfroCentric Health level. The Group has an array of various brands characterised by a series of companies with their own brands operating under an umbrella “house” brand, namely AfroCentric Health. The operating structure of the Group follows through from this “umbrella” approach and is reflected in the following diagram with Medscheme being the largest operating company in the Group. Klinikka (Pty) Ltd is the sublicense holder of the DBC Concept in the South Africa as appointed by AfroCentric Health Limited, the DBC Master License Holder in Southern Africa. Klinikka currently provides DBC Equipment and Administration services to 12 musculoskeletal treatment Centres in South Africa and will increase this number to 19 at the end of 2016. The DBC (Documentation Based Care) Concept is an individualized evidence based multidisciplinary treatment approach to manage musculoskeletal disorders. In South Africa the focus is on back and neck conditions but protocols are available for the shoulder, hip and knee as well QUESTIONS: Tell us about AfroCentric What sets AfroCentric apart from other healthcare companies? What are the key challenges facing the healthcare sector in South Africa and how is AfroCentric addressing these? What are your views on NHI and why? What do you think needs to happen in the South African healthcare landscape to increase access and affordability to all? How has the pandemic impacted your business and what steps have you taken to adapt to the new normal How does your company stay up to date with the latest healthcare technologies and innovations? Can you discuss any recent partnerships or collaborations your company has formed recently? How private and public partnerships can assist in mitigating the challenges faced in the SA healthcare system? How does your company maintain transparency and accountability in its decision-making processes? What are your top priories for the next five years?

Guest: Golden Miles Bhudu, President at South African Prisoners Organization for Human Rights If you are really crooked and have served jail time, you can end up in politics in South Africa, and have your record expunged or overlooked, but incompetence and bullying bureaucracy is what you can expect if you are just a young voter. When laws or regulations are unjust or arbitrary or lazily applied through benign bureaucratic neglect and non-existent political will, they must be challenged. There was a time when breaking the law in South Africa was like breathing – if you were black. With every aspect of life regulated and rigidly controlled, large numbers of people racked up impressive criminal records as they resisted the madness. Today, many young South Africans have criminal records for offences that are more social than lawless or criminal in nature – unlike their predecessors. When laws or regulations are unjust or arbitrary or lazily applied through benign bureaucratic neglect and non-existent political will, they must be challenged. The putrid conditions and circumstances so many young people are forced to endure in contemporary South Africa exposes them to a variety of threats. Often young people are caught up in currents that are not of their making. Set free all under-25s At the launch on 19 April of Rise Mzansi, national leader Songezo Zibi said the party – which is in the process of registering for the 2024 elections – would focus on the need to expunge criminal records of people under 25 convicted of minor offences. We are not talking about Thabo Bester types, but ordinary young people caught up in currents impossible to avoid or escape. This is how Zibi described what passes for everyday life for the vast majority of the country’s unemployed and unemployable young: “At night they live in the dark and are terrorised by crime; crime that sometimes comes from within the community because young people live a life of no opportunity and no hope. “These young people are introduced to the prison system at a young age and can no longer find work because they have a criminal record.” If you are really crooked and have served jail time, you can end up in politics in South Africa, and have your record expunged or overlooked, but incompetence and bullying bureaucracy is what you can expect if you are just a young voter. We are all criminals here Theoretically, it is possible to have one’s record relatively easily expunged in democratic South Africa, but the reality is that the SAPS does not always have the capacity or inclination to act swiftly. The middle classes might have access to intermediaries who can speed up matters, but, for the vast majority of the country’s unemployed and indebted working class, this is a luxury. So, many are denied a shot at even low-paid McJobs.

Guest: Peter Olyott, CEO of financial services provider, IndweRiskServices In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. We use it to stay connected with friends and family, share our thoughts and experiences, and even conduct business. However, many people are not aware of how sharing personal information on social media can impact their insurance. MORE INFO:  “Social media has opened up new opportunities for insurers to collect data about their policyholders,” says Peter Olyott, CEO of financial services provider, Indwe Risk Services (Indwe). “With the vast amount of personal information that is shared on social media platforms, insurers and unfortunately others, can use this information to better understand their policyholders’ behaviour, lifestyle, and risk factors.”  “By being aware of how your social media behaviour can impact your insurance risk profile, you can protect yourself against disputed claims,” says Olyott. If you post pictures or updates on social media that reveal expensive items in your home, such as jewellery or electronics, it could make your home a target for theft and could potentially impact your home insurance coverage. Posting about your driving habits, such as speeding or driving under the influence, could lead to increased motor insurance premiums or even policy cancellation. When it comes to your health condition, posting about it on social media could potentially impact your health insurance coverage, as insurers may use this information to assess your risk level and adjust your premiums accordingly. Equally, your life insurance coverage and premiums could be impacted if you post about your high-risk activities, such as extreme sports or skydiving. Olyott gives five tips for protecting your insurance coverage while using social media: 1.   Be mindful of the information you share on social media. Avoid posting about expensive items or high-riskactivities. If you do feel the need to share your lifestyle with your social media network, try to do so after the event and not while you are making your way to your next holiday destination. 2.   Adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to limit the amount of personal information that is visible to the public. 3.   Review your insurance policy and speak to your insurance provider about how social media could impact your coverage. 4.   Be honest with your insurance provider about any changes in your lifestyle or behaviour that could impact your coverage, such as a new job or a new hobby. 5.   Be very careful of sharing posts through your known network. Remember people in your network may share the posts with their own networks growing the number of potential viewers who may take exception to the content being shared. Also, be careful to comment on or like contentious posts. The legal framework in South Africa dealing with social media content has changed and exposes the user to potential consequences of posting and/or sharing inappropriate content. Inappropriate content can include, amongst others, racial, gender, religious, political or sexual content. 

16 on Lerotholi Gallery - Langa, Cape Town Guest: Mpilo Ngcukana , Co-founder of 16 on Lerotholi 16 on Lerotholi — described as a space that uses art to foster understanding, empathy and solidarity within the Langa community — and Everard Read, Natural Habitat is the first of four group exhibitions planned for this year aimed at exchanging skills, ideas and artworks. The gallery, founded by four young people from Langa, officially opened its doors in 2019. At present the gallery focuses on visual art but the owners plan to move into music, with live performances at the gallery. Founders of the township’s first art gallery have big plans for its future. MORE INFO: Featuring the likes of Blessing Ngobeni, Boemo Diale, Daniel “Kgomo” Morolong, Ignatius Mokone, Mongezi Gum, NandiphaMntambo, Phillemon Hlungwani, Setlamorago Mashilo, Speelman Mahlangu and Vusi Khumalo, the exhibition explores the life of and spaces occupied by African people. “Langa is known for the arts, so there was a need for Langa to have its own gallery where we can express our thoughts and feelings, and celebrate our heroes,” said artist Thulani Fesi, one of the founders. “In every genre of arts, Langa has had someone. Whether it’s theatre, television, radio, music, journalism, there’s been someone to shine.” The four own the gallery and reinvest part of the money for each artwork sold into the project. The rest goes to the artist. Mpilo Ngcukana, also one of the founders, said artists such as painter and sculptor Mongezi Gum had asked to be exhibited in the gallery. “He’s a Langa resident who resonated with the project,” he said. “Some artists contact us on social media, others come to the gallery to show us their work,” said Ngcukana.“ We’ve also got a partnership with Everard Read Cape Town. They allow us access to their artists’ work.” The blue-painted room is filled with paintings and photographs and small sculptures. The current exhibition, Abantu Bethu (our people) features artists from different parts of SA and other African countries, exploring daily life at different points in time, through a variety of lenses.

Guest: Onyi Nwaneri , CEO Afrika Tikkun Services On the back of #WorkersDay, which was on Monday 01 May we take a moment to reflect on employee wellness. Whilst organisations are pushing for efficiencies, yet SAs youth and adults are having to carry more responsibility both in the workplace & at home due to inflation, load-shedding  & supporting unemployed and extended family members. With this added responsibility employees still need to maintain a job and ensure effective contribution and delivery. Let’s unpack how employees can better support employees emotional & mental wellbeing with psychosocial support, also exploring digital ways of providing support at scale whilst retaining a much needed human touch.  It is not the quantum of investment that matters, there are innovative and cost effective ways to show true support. Talking point: 1. Are Employers doing enough to ensure employees can cope with the mental, emotional and physical stresses, the current environment of business presents? 2. How do we ensure that the businesses strongest resource - its people – are effectively supported? 3. The impact of employee wellness on the performance of the organisation and the economy 4. How and why organisations should develop policies that support employee wellness

GUEST: Bongeziwe Mabandla –MUSICIAN

GUEST: Dr Claudia Moloabi – Dermatologist

GUEST: Lizette Volkwyn - Master Life Coach, Published Author and Human Lie Detector

Guest; Leroy Tau – relationship coach Mamanese Mathule – Founder of Makoti and Mamazala retreat. PLOT;  Relationship ruts are normal alongside a changing dynamic. As you move from wanting to tear their clothes off every day to a calmer, more regular part of the relationship, the adjustment process isn’t without bumps. It can happen to the best of us: we meet someone, things are hot and heavy, you're like rabbits in the sack, then you move in together. At first, it's bliss. It's everything you wanted, but then something shifts. You're pooping with the door open, you're wearing your period undies when you don't have your period, and the last time you had a proper make-out session and now …You have gone from lovers to   roommates Joining us on the line –is ..who will be speaking to us about 1.    What happens when  you have with your partner for years and it starts feeling like they are your roommate 2.    On what happens when things become stagnant 3.    While it's really great to be so comfortable with your partner that you can be 100% yourself, because who doesn't want that? ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: What is Roommate Syndrome? Couples living together in a marriage that has grown stale, emotionally disconnected, and passionless. Novelty, curiosity, and passion has been replaced with silent routine, predictability and polite disinterest. Many assume roommate syndrome is just a sexless marriage. Truth is that roommate syndrome is a passionless marriage. A marriage that begs the question 'Is this all there is?' What causes Roommate Syndrome? A lack of purpose, vision and prioritization. The average couple is juggling raising children, managing a household, supporting aging parents, career aspirations, social and spiritual commitments…you name it. Your partner is often the last on the list of priorities. The newness and novelty of that person you first fell in love with has become a predictable structure in the home. Roommate Syndrome is a slow progression overtime. RELATIONSHIPS How To Escape The Roommate Phase In Your Relationship Rocketclips, Inc./Shutterstock BY AMANDA CHATEL|SEPT. 26, 2022 2:21 PM EST It can happen to the best of us: we meet someone, things are hot and heavy, you're like rabbits in the sack, then you move in together. At first, it's bliss. It's everything you wanted, but then something shifts. You're pooping with the door open, you're wearing your period undies when you don't have your period, and the last time you had a proper make-out session, Obama was president. You have gone from lovers to — gasp — roommates. The Truth About George And Amal Clooney's Love Story While it's really great to be so comfortable with your partner that you can be 100% yourself, because who doesn't want that? But your relationship may have a case of roommate syndrome (via Fox13). "The roommate phase is what happens when couples have stopped seeing their relationship as special and have fallen into comfortable cohabiting, just like two friends sharing a space," sex and relationship expert Rhian Kivits tells Metro. "They usually get on well, with very few arguments, and because there's plenty of space for them to pursue their work, friendships, and individual interests, they may even feel content. However, they're living platonically, and there's very little magic or romance in their relationship." But just because you've fallen into the roommate phase of your relationship doesn't mean it can't be salvaged and get back on track. First of all, when you're together, put down the phone. You can't be fully present and give each other the attention you both deserve if you're constantly on the phone. "Oftentimes, when we are in a long-term relationship, we start to take each other for granted," licensed marriage and family therapist Amanda Baquero tells PsychCentral. "One great way to reignite the spark in your relationship is to make time to practice gratitude with each other." This isn't to suggest you should drop all other activities outside the relationship, but putting more focus on your partner and making a visible effort that you are, is what matters. RELATIONSHIPS How To Escape The Roommate Phase In Your Relationship It can happen to the best of us: we meet someone, things are hot and heavy, you're like rabbits in the sack, then you move in together. At first, it's bliss. It's everything you wanted, but then something shifts. You're pooping with the door open, you're wearing your period undies when you don't have your period, and the last time you had a proper make-out session, Obama was president. You have gone from lovers to — gasp — roommates. While it's really great to be so comfortable with your partner that you can be 100% yourself, because who doesn't want that? But your relationship may have a case of roommate syndrome "The roommate phase is what happens when couples have stopped seeing their relationship as special and have fallen into comfortable cohabiting, just like two friends sharing a space," sex and relationship expert Rhian Kivits tells Metro. "They usually get on well, with very few arguments, and because there's plenty of space for them to pursue their work, friendships, and individual interests, they may even feel content. However, they're living platonically, and there's very little magic or romance in their relationship." But just because you've fallen into the roommate phase of your relationship doesn't mean it can't be salvaged and get back on track. Talk about it fizkes/Shutterstock As you sit there in the sweatpants that haven't been washed in weeks while your partner doom scrolls on their phone, you just might have an epiphany: You were once completely crazy for that person, and you couldn't get enough of them. When this realization kicks in, it's time to talk about the situation (via Psychology Today). It might be uncomfortable or even a bit awkward, but it has to be done. Unless, of course, you and your partner prefer living this way — and some couples do; some put companionship over sex and intimacy. "Remember you married or committed to each other because you are lovers," sociologist Pepper Schwartz tells Yahoo. "You were attracted to each other ... If every good moment is spent snoring, maybe it's time to take out a glass of wine and talk about the future or plan a trip for when you're both next free." If planning a trip isn't in the cards at the moment, then when you are together on the couch vegging out and watching a movie, cuddle. When we get snuggling with someone we care for, oxytocin (also appropriately called the "cuddle hormone") is released, and it creates a deeper bond (via LiveScience). It might seem like not a big deal to cuddle, but it does trigger a yearning in us, as well as levels of intimacy.  Be more present yurakrasil/Shutterstock First of all, when you're together, put down the phone. You can't be fully present and give each other the attention you both deserve if you're constantly on the phone. "Oftentimes, when we are in a long-term relationship, we start to take each other for granted," licensed marriage and family therapist Amanda Baquero tells PsychCentral. "One great way to reignite the spark in your relationship is to make time to practice gratitude with each other." This isn't to suggest you should drop all other activities outside the relationship, but putting more focus on your partner and making a visible effort that you are, is what matters. When you have roommate syndrome and you know it, it's about stepping it up. Not just in regard to effort, but in what you do together and how you do it. It's about throwing the spice back into the relationship (via Better Relationships). It was there once; it can be there again. But if you find that spicing it up on your own isn't working, then there's always couples therapy. Your relationship isn't the first to fall victim to roommate syndrome, so a couples therapist will know exactly how to navigate you both out of being just roomies. 

 Finding freedom in growth  Guest: Ntsiki Mkhize – Ment Her founder  PLOT: We all want to reach happiness, joy, a particular form of success and Freedom in our life. But achieving those requires us to understand what they are for us as they are unique and different. We can identify what they are for us and our path to reach them through self-awareness. Let's put this in the open right now. One of the first things we are looking for is Freedom: we all want to be free. And it is instrumental to personal development, to growth But Freedom is not doing whatever we want, whenever we want. Freedom is a conscious choice of consistently doing things that make us free. Joining us on the line is … who will be speaking about 1.    Growth and freedom Freedom is not living on the edge of the cliff, it is about walking the right path. Additional information What are the fundamentals needed for effective personal development? Personal development is a significant factor in your overall well-being and improvement. It does not take much to kick-start your personal development journey. Here are some fundamentals steps of personal development: You need to have a clear vision across all aspects of life. Live consciously and have self-awareness. Being comfortable in being authentic yourself. Deliberate learning for your growth. Gradual and small changes in your habits & life. Those growth fundamentals are also crucial to understanding and building your Freedom. And the sooner you start with them, the sooner you'll see growth in yourself & your life. Also, you have to remember Freedom means you're the ruler of your inner kingdom. Without it, personal development is limited. What does it mean to be free? Freedom at the core of your personal development: Like personal development, Freedom has areas, and the high-level ones are the same. You can be free physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. And all those five major areas can then be drilled deeper into smaller areas, such as family, friendship, society, work, etc. So how can you grow your Freedom without being overwhelmed? First, you must understand that Freedom is a composition of smaller Freedoms area in your life. That you reach by focusing on what makes you feel free. Still overwhelming, I guess. While I was looking at the complexity of understanding my own personal Freedom and applying that knowledge to create a life of Freedom, Wealth, Joy, and Success, it became clear to me that I and everyone could benefit from a roadmap. That's why I created the One Freedom™ framework. The One Freedom™ framework guides people to understand what Freedom is for them and how they build their lives around it. It is a tool for consciously choosing what we need in our lives to fulfil our Freedom and how to remove what is detrimental to it. So how do you start your journey in personal development? If we are speaking of personal development in the global sense, then one of the first things you need to work on is awareness. First and foremost, you need to understand yourself, know your achievements & successes, things you need to work on, bad habits, goals or desires, and everything that affects you. In a nutshell, you need to understand the world around you and how you react to that world. Journaling Reminder: Good habits take time to build The personal development process is a lifelong process. You've to keep moving consistently and take action daily. To grow to those goals, you will need to create new habits. These new habits will be built day by day. They will not be like an on/off switch; you turn them on one day and, boom, have all the proper new habits. That's not how habits work. So if you want to build habits, you must remember the following. You must know which habit you want to change, which you want to add, and which you wish to remove. Removing a habit by itself is nearly impossible. Because we are used to having those habits for a long time already.

Basic Education Department's spokesperson, Elijah Mhlanga. Hendrick Makaneta Education activist and deputy chairperson Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa PLOT: Police confiscated several illicit substances and pairs of scissors from learners at Dowerglen Secondary School in Ekurhuleni during a search operation aimed at heightening safety. Spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa said the operation was conducted on Friday, in conjunction with the SAPS. Joining us on the line is …who will be speaking about 1.    Searching learners in schools in a constitutional democracy 2.    The reason the search as to happen- The DBE has brought light to violence in school , but are the police intimidating for learners or do learners only react to police force 3.    Are parents made aware about the police – do they even need to know 4.    What support do teachers need from SAPS- we have heard of stories of students stabbing or going one on one with teachers 5.    From Elijah – is this how the department of education strategy to deal with violence in schools Additional information Thepa said the pupils found with the illicit substances were handed over to the school authorities. “All the above confiscated items were handed in at Edenvale SAPS, and the students found in possession of illegal substances and weapons, were handed over to the principal and the school governing body (SGB) for the disciplinary action,” she said. “The EMPD applauds the partnership with other stakeholders, to roll out such operations, that promote safer schools within the City of Ekurhuleni.” Last week, officers from the EMPD’s social crime prevention unit conducted a school search at the Hoërskool John Voster in Nigel in the ongoing drive to conscientise learners about school and road safety. At the time, Thepa said “nothing sinister” was uncovered during the search. “With the reopening of schools for the second term, the EMPD social crime unit continued where they left off last term, with an ongoing roll-out of school searches, across the City of Ekurhuleni. This intervention is aimed at creating a safer environment in schools, for teaching and learning to take place peacefully,” said Thepa.

Guest: Anna-Marie Müller, Innovation Manager at the DG Murray Trust PLOT: Stunting is once again a topic of discussion in South Africa.  Approximately 27% of children under five are stunted in South Africa.  The Western Cape Government, on conjunction with DGMT and other partners, recently released the Western Cape Stunting Baseline Survey.  The key conclusion of the Western Cape Stunting Baseline Survey (WCSBS) is that a double burden of malnutrition, stunting and overweight/obesity, remains a concern in the province. Anna-Marie Müller, Innovation Manager at the DG Murray Trust, will be joning us on the line …. They will speak on how simple interventions, like a discounted basket of food, can help turn around stunting.  This however requires buy in from government, retailers and manufacturers. Additional information Currently the Nutrition Society of South Africa (NSSA) and the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA) are hosting a Nutrition Congress.  The purpose of the congress is to bring together nutrition collaborators from South Africa, Africa and beyond to discuss the nutrition-related challenges that impact heavily on the health and quality of life of so many, and to consider potential relevant and practical solutions. It is generally acknowledged that stunting is the best indicator of a child’s well-being and that a child’s linear growth potential is largely determined by the time they turn two years old.  Stunting is associated with many disorders including reduced neurodevelopment, lifelong cognitive deficits, educational and employment challenges, increased risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in adulthood, and cycles of intergenerational poverty.  There are simple ways we can start to tackle SA’s stunting crisis to help our children reach their full potential – and, in so doing, improve our prospects as a nation. Stunting needs to be included as part of any discussions around nutrition.  Interventions around maternal and child nutrition is one of the best ways to reduce stunting rates in South Africa.

Guest: Dr Sifiso Falala, CEO of Priority Performance Projects PLOT: BuildRSA chat platform is an innovative, proudly South African technology initiative. It aims to give South Africans a chance to air their views on developmental issues facing the country and provide tangible solutions to resolving them before they cause degenerative damage. Over the years, technological advances have meant we can easily access transport on cellphone apps, shop online, have virtual meetings from anywhere and everywhere and so much more. Additional information ChatGPT, one of the latest developments in artificial technology, is fast gaining popularity and enables users to complete various tasks, including but not limited to, text generation, text translation, question-answering as well as sentiment analysis. With the advent of BuildRSA, technology is now being used to get South African society to use our talent and ingenuity to make South Africa run more efficiently.  BuildRSA is about taking action by harnessing one’s personal agency and saying “what can I do to fix the problems in our country?” The platform gives users an opportunity to collectively and constructively problem solve through dialogue to tackle South Africa’s myriad of challenges and move the country forward. It aims to promote active citizenry, develop winning mindsets and create a culture of focus, determination, hard work and excellence. BuildRSA was developed by Priority Performance Projects, which is part of Plus 94 Research, the largest independent, South African and black-owned research company in the country. What makes it different from other social media platforms is that it’s a local product specifically focused on discussing and solving the problems holding South Africa back. Dr Sifiso Falala, CEO of Priority Performance Projects, says BuildRSA is targeted at building our country, meaning building it at all levels; building the culture, excellence and performance in South Africa. “We have benchmarked the work that we do on four very important values namely, problem solving, which we believe is one of our biggest challenges, global competitiveness, self-love and patriotism,” explains Dr Falala. “We believe the BuildRSA chat forum should be used to collectively, through dialogue, solve our problems constructively. It allows citizens to set the agenda on what’s important and come up with ways to fix our challenges. Leaders can then take a cue from the contributions of society to develop policies and programmes to empower our nation.”        With loadshedding, a stagnant economy, water cuts, an education crisis, high rates of unemployment, poverty, crime and corruption, among numerous other challenges facing South Africa, it’s easy for pessimism and despondency to set in. Within this context, the importance of the BuildRSA platform can’t be overemphasised as it provides a free-of-charge tool for citizens to voice their frustrations and influence positive, sustainable change. It highlights that we’re not hopeless or helpless in overcoming our problems by providing a safe space to engage in open, honest discussion that inspires action to build a better nation. BuildRSA promotes a spirit of patriotism, optimism and determination through sharing opinions and practical, considered solutions to our economic, societal and political issues. The BuildRSA platform has already garnered scores of followers, with users regularly commenting on a variety of issues, from our energy crisis, gaping inequality and joblessness, right through to gender-based violence, corruption, African proverbs, lack of infrastructure maintenance and so much more.  With posts on a range of important, interesting topics, it offers engaging conversation for comment and reflection. Whenever someone posts on a topic, users are notified via email and can choose whether or not to receive notifications. Bhelekazi, who regularly posts on BuildRSA, says it’s a great platform that gives people the opportunity to engage in structured, meaningful conversation about issues facing the country and share empowering ideas and perspectives on addressing them. “BuildRSA is a comforting, welcoming space, where everyone can make a contribution and people’s ideas are appreciated no matter who they are, where they’re from or their level of education,” she says. “It’s always exciting to see people’s responses to a conversation I’ve started. It would be outstanding if people took the ideas presented and made a practical, positive difference by turning them into action – no matter how big or small. This way, BuildRSA can really live up to its name.”   In the interests of South Africa, BuildRSA will mediate and manage the tone and focus of all discussions. Users can access BuildRSA by logging onto https://buildrsa.co.za/ and then registering a username.  You’ll need to wait a short while for a blue button with a plus sign to appear before you can post a comment. To ensure users stay up to date, BuildRSA runs two artificial intelligence (AI) driven news services called BuildRSANews and a video-based news service called DIYAfrica, which is also AI driven. For the erudite, the site offers academic content from a dedicated user called AfricanScholar. Available on the platform is the opportunity to benefit from thought leadership articles, do a thread, participate in surveys, like and reply to posts as well as share them on Twitter. BuildRSA also features polls, including ones on patriotism, the 2024 elections, happiness and volunteerism, while giving users the chance to pick up on trends in discussion. Great competitions to win cash prizes are other advantages of BuildRSA. Additionally, the platform enables you to upload profile pictures as well as agenda-setting articles, academic material, photos, videos and illustrations to amplify your points.  Ultimately, BuildRSA highlights that the power and responsibility to change South Africa for the better, forever, lies with us all.

Guest: Luke Lamprecht of Women and Men Against Child Abuse Gerhard Ackerman, who was convicted on more than 720 charges related to child trafficking, rape and attempted murder by the Johannesburg high court on Monday, preyed on the vulnerability of minor boys. The court said when he testified during the trial, Ackerman remarked that the boys were older than 16 and participated voluntarily.The counts Ackerman was convicted of included attempted murder, rape, sexual exploitation of children, malicious damage to property and producing and distributing child pornography. As a parent or caregiver of a child or youth who has a known or suspected history of being sexually abused, you may feel confused about the impact of the abuse and uncertain about how you can help. It may be comforting to know that most children and youth who have been abused do not go on to abuse others, and many live happy, healthy, successful lives. Joining us today is … who will be speaking to us 1.    The support parents and the community is expected 2.    Is there a safe community where those parents can offload or learn how to deal with children who have been abused. 3.     how you can help children and youth in your care by educating yourself about child sexual abuse, 4.    understanding the impact of the abuse, establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in your family, and seeking help if you need it. Educating Yourself One of the most useful steps you can take to help your child is to educate yourself about both sexual abuse and healthy sexual development in children. With this information, you will more easily recognize behaviors possibly associated with past or current abuse and avoid uncertainty if your child or youth shows uncommon sexual behaviors. Most importantly, you may gain confidence in supporting your child or youth through a variety of sensitive questions or situations that may arise. Healthy Sexual Development in Children and Youth At each developmental stage, children show a range of healthy sexual behaviors and curiosity. Children’s behaviors and curiosity may develop gradually, based on their development, and may be influenced by factors such as what they observe and the guidance they receive from parents and caregivers. Understanding healthy sexual development can provide a context in which to consider signs and behaviors of possible abuse. When a child discloses abuse your overall reactions will play a very large part in how he or she eventually resolves the experience/s. This does not mean that you have to get everything right. You may not have believed your child when they first told you, or did not believed your senses if you discovered the abuse yourself; because shock can have that effect. We assume that you are now coming to terms with the truth and looking for opportunities to deal positively with what has happened. It is not true that a child who has been sexually abused is damaged for life. The truth is that with the right help and support, such a child can recover and go on to live a fulfilling, happy, successful life and enjoy loving and trusting relationships. You cannot be a counsellor to your child, that would blur your relationship as a parent although you do need to be well informed in order to support your child. The following advice and guidance is intended to help you listen and relate to your child in the most helpful ways. Start by understanding that those that abuse children are cunning, devious, manipulative and very skilful at hiding their tracks. They can often appear as mature and sensible; they make a point of being helpful, generous, charming and friendly to those they meet. They cultivate trust in those around them by doing good deeds or by becoming so called 'pillars of society'. They are fully aware of the consequences of being discovered so become dedicated at deceiving anyone who might protect the child if a disclosure is made. Do not blame yourself because you were tricked; instead realise that you too are a victim in a different way.

Play is the most important activity of childhood – yet the one adults neglect most Children are born with a natural ability to play. It’s nature’s way of ensuring they learn and develop. However, for many children, their right to play is at risk – from factors including poverty, unsafe environments and a lack of knowledge about the importance of play for development and well-being. “A chance to play” - ACTP is an organisation that advocates for the right of all children to play. Working with parents, communities, government and children, ACTP promotes the critical benefits of and enables play through advocacy, training, community play forums, and play champions. A Chance to Play South Africa (ACTP) needs supporters in communities throughout South Africa to achieve our vision of a society where children enjoy play as an integral part of their holistic development and wellbeing. Supporters, at all levels of society, are essential to our mission of promoting the right to play. If you are passionate about play, sign up to become a Play Champion. This invitation is extended to everyone – children, teenagers, youth, students, parents, day care centres, ECD centres, pre, primary and high schools, children’s homes, community members and leaders, organisations, tertiary institutions, corporates and national, provincial and local government departments. Guest: Cynthia Morrison,  Director of A Chance To Play Our children are counting on us!

Profitroom: A booking platform for hotels and resorts A recent performance plan by the Department of Tourism indicates that tourism contributed 8.6% to South Africa's pre-Covid-19 GDP or economic growth. While the pandemic has significantly reduced that number, it is estimated that by 2032 the sector could become a key driver of economic growth, contributing 800 000 jobs and generating R287 billion. But one of the things that could stand in the way of that recovery is the climate crisis.Tourism is one of the industries most vulnerable to climate change, and South Africa’s tourism industry has already felt the effects. Natural disasters can be devastating, as demonstrated by the drought in Cape Town and the floods in KwaZulu-Natal, which are both major tourism hubs in South Africa. Guest: Leigh Myles, Business Development Manager for Africa at  No need to panic, yet While the Day Zero Crisis in Cape Town and the flooding in KwaZulu-Natal that led to badly polluted beaches may have had an impact on tourism in those places, both have shown resilience. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) reported that occupancy rates across the province were at 81% for the festive season last year. Cape Town has also shown impressive visitor numbers since the Covid-19 pandemic. But that does not mean things are destined to stay that way. It’s clear that climate change is affecting tourism in South Africa in many ways. Temperature increases and droughts affect wildlife and biodiversity, which could spell disaster for a country that prides itself on being home to the big five. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.news24.com/amp/fin24/climate_future/news/opinion-travelling-green-how-climate-change-affects-the-tourism-industry-20230306

Guest: Thabiso Dakamela, Visual artist PLOT: Thabiso Dakamela. Artist. Solo exhibition’STRIP ME BARE’ opening 4th of May 6pm @denzils_jo Gallety. … www.thabisodakamela.africa. ARTIST PORTFOLIO Inspired by day to day events and memories of people, Thabiso works from varied disciplines. Born in 1994, to a Venda father and Ndebele mother, the artist has practised art professionally in Johannesburg and abroad for nearly a decade, and has taken part in numerous group exhibitions and two solo shows in 2021 and 2022 respectively. His work has become prized collections in South Africa and the world. And he has been featured in 2020 in The Art Times Magazine and SABC’s Mzansi Insider among other notable mentions. His recent work reconciles different aspects, components, and features of the self. From the personality projected to the outside world, to the segments known only to ourselves, his works tend to illustrate and represent different parts of our nature, our character, our ego, and our temperament. Mimicking the unprecedented rhythm of the sea, Thabiso Dakamela takes us through different factions of his own personality traits through the depiction of various persona’s that can be found in a specific locale. In this body of work, Dakamela creates expressive reflections of the vibrations and energies he encounters and notes the inextricable interconnectedness of all living beings. Dakamela further notes the duality of life as he puts into perspective and contrasts light reflected in emotions such as joy, bliss, freedom, and contentment with the darker aspects of life such as guilt, pain, insecurities, and fear. Noting this, Dakamela advocates for the acknowledgment and balance of the two polarities of light and dark in attempts to centralize and ground oneself in the end and flow of life. Evocative of the eternal nature of the ocean, Dakamela predominantly uses shades of blue to explore notions of self- awareness, learning, spirituality, strength, and vulnerability and to express further the importance of introspective solitude balanced out with the amiable effect of companionship. Exhibition History 2023 (upcoming) -GROUP EXHIBITION; Dk’s projects house (Johannesburg) -RK contemporary gallery , Capetown 2022: -Gallery Grandeprovence (group exhibition) Capetown -Solo exhibition (Dk’s project house (Jhb) -Denzil&Jo Group exhibition (Jhb) -The African Art Hub group show (United Kingdom) - Stephen Welz auction show 2021: -The Travelling Art Gallery, group exhibition, (Germany, Switzerland) 2019: -Emerging artists development trust pop-up exhibition (Capetown) -Jullie Miller investment group exhibition (Mall of Africa) -Werksmens gallery group exhibition -The Daville Baillie group show - IDENTITY Exhibition with Creative Artists Expo(JHB) -Turbine art fair (JHB) -The Tswane annual arts festival( Gauteng) -The Synagogue gallery group exhibition( JHB) 2018: -FNB’s RMB annual group show (Johannesburg) -A Taste of Color group exhibition (Johannesburg) 2017: -IDC gallery group exhibition with Mpumalanga Traditional Art Market 2016: -Stephen Wellz Auction group show -Mpumalanga Traditional Art Market group exhibition 2015: -Light the flame foundation group exhibition (Gauteng) Additional information

With the goal to reduce the youth unemployment rate in the province, the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) launched the first-ever Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (UMPCFERI ) to identify and nurture entrepreneurial talent and creativity. This state-of-the-art centre also assists UMP students, alumni and small, micro and medium enterprises to identify and develop sustainable business opportunities that will bring about change in communities. The launch took place at the new centre adjacent to the university, on Thursday April 13. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The UMP vice chancellor and the UMPCFERI advisory board’s chairperson, Prof Thoko Mayekiso, said the centre is designed as a hub for collaborative networking. “The entrepreneurs would have access to relevant information, support, training and linkages with strategic partners such as the Small Enterprise Development Agency. The goal is to reduce the prevalent unemployment levels in the province through the entrepreneurial and business skills development offered at the centre.” The centre’s manager, Prof Kanayo Ogujiuba, said the incubation process begins with a pre-incubation period of six months, and afterwards, certain stages will follow over a period of two to three years. “This technology centre will also provide services to the public and private sector. We engage with private businesses to increase capacity and accessible mentorship,” Ogujiuba said. https://mpumalanganews.co.za/422443/ump-launches-entrepreneurial-centre-for-youth-in-mpumalanga/  Guest: Professor Kanayo Ogujiuba, Centre Manager of the University of Mpumalanga Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator

Guest: Phuti Khomo – Model, business women The Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo (PKME) is an educational and career- building event for people interested in the modelling industry. The Expo is designed to allow aspiring models to showcase their abilities in front of some of the world’s most prominent agents. It is a one-day showground for beauty, fashion and health.  After hosting the first PKME, Phuti and her team saw the need to create workshops to prepare aspiring models before the main event.  Phuti grew up in the townships of Soshanguve, Mamelodi and Atteridgeville. A businesswoman and a well-established name in the entertainment industry, Phuti is an all-rounder, working in the modelling, TV presenting, radio hosting and acting industries. Her recent TV roles saw her appear as Sharon on One Magic’s Entangled and Josina, Ngcolosi’s fiancée on ‘etv’s lmbewu.   Over the years, Phuti has become a role model to many young people aspiring to join the entertainment industry. She is often asked how she became a model. This inspired her to create a platform to expose young and raw talent to relevant entities without the risk of being scammed.  Often, scammers and sometimes even  human traffickers pretend to be real  job recruiters or agents for modelling  companies or employment agencies. They misrepresent their true intentions to young girls and boys looking to  start a modelling career. They groom  their victims online by offering  them opportunities for a better life  and providing fake employment  opportunities.   One of the biggest reasons PKME exists  is to educate parents and aspiring  models about what to look for when  starting a modelling career.  The PKME workshops were created  to help aspiring models build self- confidence and to prepare them to compete with the best in the fashion industry. Advice and tips will be given,  along with expert talks on how models  should look, style themselves, and walk  on the runway.  The Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo, in collaboration with Mall of Africa, will  host its first workshop on 6 May 2023 at  the Ster Kinekor Court in Mall of Africa.  Both aspiring models and their parents  are encouraged to attend.  Khomo is hosting a Modelling  Expo Workshop in May in  collaboration with Mall of Africa Event: Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo Workshop   Date: 6 May 2023   Venue: Mall of Africa  Time: 11am - 4pm   Entry Fee: R200  Tickets are available at Computicket  or any Shoprite and Checkers stores.  For more information, please follow  the Phuti Khomo Modelling Expo on all  social media platforms. 

Guest: Dee Stephens, Herbalist and owner of Herbology Natural Ways to Boost Your Immunity During the Winter While getting vaccinated and following hygiene protocols help prevent the flu, natural remedies can also help build immunity and speed up recovery time. Echinacea is a plant that has been used for centuries to treat colds and flu. According to a review published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, echinacea can help boost the immune system and reduce the severity and duration of flu symptoms.  The review found that echinacea can reduce the risk of getting the flu by up to 58% and reduce the duration of the flu by up to 1.4 days. Echinacea is a plant that has been used for centuries to treat colds and flu. l PIn an interview with Healthline, Dr. Marisa Pellegrini, a naturopathic doctor in Ontario, Canada, confirmed that Echinacea can help prevent and shorten the duration of the flu. Ginger Another natural remedy that can build immunity against the flu is ginger. Known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, ginger can help relieve sore throats and coughs associated with the flu.  According to a study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, ginger can also help improve overall immunity by increasing T-cell activation, a key component in the immune response. root. l NOON BREW/UNSPLASH Vitamin C Vitamin C is another natural remedy that is essential in boosting immunity. The research found that taking one to two grams of vitamin C per day can shorten the duration of the flu by 8% in adults and 14% in children.  Kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, and strawberries are some natural sources of vitamin C that can help build immunity during flu season. One to two grams of vitamin C per day can shorten the duration of the flu by 8% in adults and 14% in children. Exercise In addition to these natural remedies, practices such as meditation and exercise can help reduce stress and build overall immunity. Scientific studies affirm that regular meditation can help increase antibodies that fight infections and improve overall immune function. Scientific studies affirm that regular meditation can help increase antibodies that fight infections and improve overall immune function. Garlic Garlic is a natural antibiotic that can help boost the immune system and fight off infections.  According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, taking garlic supplements can reduce the risk of getting a cold or flu by up to 63%.  The study found that taking 180 milligrams of allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, per day can help prevent and treat the flu. Garlic is a natural antibiotic that can help boost the immune system and fight off infections. l JOE Dr Joseph Mercola, a renowned natural health expert, recommends taking garlic supplements or eating raw garlic to boost the immune system and fight off infections. Zinc Zinc is a mineral that is essential for a healthy immune system. According to a review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, taking zinc supplements can reduce the duration and severity of the flu.  The review found that taking zinc supplements within 24 hours of the onset of flu symptoms can reduce the duration of the illness by up to two days. Taking zinc supplements within 24 hours of the onset of flu symptoms can reduce the duration of the illness by up to two days. There are several natural remedies that South Africans can use to build their immunity against the flu and heal from it.  Vitamin C, echinacea, garlic, and zinc are just a few examples of natural remedies that have been scientifically proven to be effective against the flu. While natural remedies can be beneficial for building immunity and treating flu symptoms, it's vital to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of treatment.

Guest: Nonhlanhla Khoza, Career Coach As we round off the working week - Do find that you struggle with being taken seriously in your new leadership position?

STAGES, PAGES and MORE: Sustainable Fashion , importance and contribution to the circular economy Guest: Wanda Lephoto, Designer Prolific South African designer Wanda Lephototo bring you a limited-edition fashion collection of ‘Dry Goods’, waterproof apparel for a world underwater, available for sale to person over the age of 18.  This premium, sustainably produced range  goes beyond the aesthetics of ‘dope’ and makes a meaningful statement about sustainability by embracing the inevitability of climate change. As the ultimate dry brand, it only makes sense that in a world of rising sea levels, melting icebergs, and unpredictable weather, they would create a clothing range that would allow you to stay dripping and dry, even when you’re dripping wet. Through his fashion, Wanda Lephoto explores the notion of luxury wear, merging African culture, traditions, identities, and approaches with global nuances to form new propositions for representation. Wanda Lephoto fuses worlds to create a free space that allows people to negotiate the boundaries of their own representation and identity through style and culture. The collaboration will also have a digital iteration, where one-of-one garments will be 3D modelled and turned into collectables to be auctioned online, along with the physical garment. But that’s not all – in order to take a further stance on the subject of sustainability in the digital realm, Savanna attempted a world first. “As a campaign with something to say about sustainability, we had to take it a step further than digital collectables, or NFTs, so we conceptualised what we believe to be the world’s first-ever recycled digital collectable. By sourcing burnt NFT units and repurposing their artwork, Wanda has designed a singular piece that will be turned into a virtual digital avatar that we hope will make a statement in the conversation about sustainability in the digital realm,” says Koloko. All of the profits from the sale of the ‘Dry Goods’ premium waterproof apparel range collaboration between Savanna and Wanda Lephoto will be donated to GreenUp, a leading organisation focused on climate action, environmental education, and community resilience. wandalephoto.com/shop

Guest: Koulla Xinisteris, Independent Curator @sabc.artcollection , Art Collector - Art Advisor The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Art Collection is widely recognised as one of the most significant historical and contemporary public art collections in South Africa. The SABC has been acquiring art works for more than half a century. At first, its approach to collecting was informal. Then, following the restructuring of the SABC after the country’s first free and fair election in 1994, the SABC formalised the Collection under curator Koulla Xinisteris and allocated a budget towards the acquisition of art works on a basis representative of our new democracy. Today, many of these works can be seen by staff and members of the public in the foyers, cafeterias, and passages of the broadcaster’s various buildings. The collection has also held several exhibitions including the award-winning Making Waves at Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), National Arts Festival and the Castle of Good Hope as well as COP 17.  University of Johannesburg Art Gallery Exhibition opened: Saturday 25 March 2023  Time: 11:00 for 11:30  A Selection is a curated conversation and a reflection on our shared humanity as South Africans living our lives within the vaster aegis of time and the universe. Encompassing both traditional and new media, the exhibition is not concerned with imposing an interpretation either on the viewer or the artwork. This exhibition forges a bridge of knowledge – experiential, lived and acquired – towards purpose, hybridity, meaningful connectivity, and the sharing of knowledge through exchanges with students and the public at large.  Exhibition Run   25 March - 05 May 2022.  https://www.facebook.com/FADAgallery The SABC Art Collection.  Due to the SABC’s financial constraints, a budget has not been made available for the acquisition of new works in recent years.   As a public, parastatal collection, the SABC Art Collection is owned by South African taxpayers. It is a cultural asset and a vital aspect of our heritage that must be sustained, protected and made widely accessible. 

Guest: Puke Maserumule , Labour and employment Lawyer and Litigator In today's workforce, there are many different types of employment arrangements that exist beyond the traditional full-time position. Casual, freelance, and part-time contracts are becoming increasingly common, and offer a number of benefits to both workers and employers, but do we all understand the laws polices that guide the terminations of these contracts? These types of contracts (casual, freelance, and part-time )offer workers and employers a range of benefits and drawbacks depending on the specific needs of the business and the worker. It is important for both parties to carefully consider the terms and conditions of the contract before entering into an agreement to ensure that the arrangement is mutually beneficial. Questions to listeners: Do you understand what your contract agreement stipulates, consequences and recourse? Have you ever felt your contract was unfairly terminated? MORE INFORMATION: Casual contracts are typically short-term agreements that allow employers to hire workers on an as-needed basis. These contracts are ideal for businesses that experience seasonal fluctuations in demand, or for companies that need additional support for special projects. Casual contracts are often used in industries such as hospitality, retail, and healthcare. For workers, casual contracts can offer flexibility and variety in their work schedule, as they can choose to take on additional shifts as their schedule allows. However, the downside of a casual contract is that workers may not receive the same benefits as full-time employees, such as sick pay or holiday leave. Freelance contracts, on the other hand, are typically project-based agreements between a worker and a client. Freelancers are self-employed and often work for multiple clients at the same time. They are responsible for managing their own workload and invoicing clients for their services. Freelance contracts can be beneficial for businesses that require specialized skills, but do not need a full-time employee. For workers, freelance contracts offer greater control over their work schedule and the ability to set their own rates. However, freelancers may experience more income variability and may not have access to the same benefits as full-time employees. Part-time contracts are agreements where employees work fewer hours than a full-time position, typically between 20-30 hours per week. Part-time employees are entitled to the same benefits as full-time employees on a pro-rata basis. Part-time contracts can be beneficial for workers who need to balance work and personal commitments, such as parents or students. For employers, part-time contracts can help to reduce labor costs and provide flexibility in scheduling. However, part-time employees may not receive the same opportunities for career development or promotion as full-time employees. A contract of employment can be terminated on the following grounds: On expiration of the agreed period of employment On completion of the specified task By notice duly given by either party By summary termination in the event of a material breach on the part of either party By repudiation (to reject the value or authority of the employer or employee) By mutual agreement By death of either party By the insolvency of the employer By the supervening impossibility of performance, where either party becomes permanently unable to perform his/her obligations in terms of a contract Note: A contract may not be terminated in the absence of a justified reason. The LRA expressly recognises the following grounds for termination of the employment contract: Misconduct on the part of the employee An employee’s poor work performance and/or incapacity The operational requirements of the employer

GUEST: Jamie Mighti, Social and Political Commentator For many black people it seems that there is still a way to go before our media becomes a fully South African media rooted in the experiences and lives of the majority. As everyone knows, a vibrant, independent and critical media that shows no fear or favour to any form of power is vital for democracy. Of course, this is an ideal type because no media is ever entirely independent of all forms of power, or equally critical of all kinds of power holders. But the greater the diversity in terms of ownership, funding, editorial control and political alignment, the better a democracy is served by its media. Perhaps the finest hour of the media in post-apartheid South Africa was the relentless exposés on the corruption by Jacob Zuma and the Gupta brothers. In that moment of crisis, the value of a critical and independent media was plain for all to see. But there are increasing currents of disquiet about our media from many credible and independent black thinkers. The growing concern largely takes two forms. One relates to international and the other to domestic issues. On the former front there is a developing debate about coverage of global geopolitics. This has two parts. One is that powerful actors in our media space assume that South Africa should be part of the West rather than understanding the world from an African or Global South perspective. The other is a question of whose lives are taken to have value. Far fewer lives have been lost in the war in Ukraine than in the conflicts in Ethiopia and Yemen. Where is the concern in our media for them? To ask this is in no way to offer support to Vladimir Putin, or to undermine the gravity of the horrors in Ukraine. It is simply to ask why black lives do not seem to matter very much in our media. Corruption and colour A key domestic issue that is generating growing concern about media coverage is corruption. Of course corruption is a cancer that needs to be exposed and rooted out everywhere. It should go without saying that the cancer of corruption knows no colour. In the South African context, the grotesque corruption of the apartheid state was brought to light by Hennie van Vuuren in Apartheid, Guns and Money. The looting by the National Party, especially in the dying days of apartheid, was hair-raising. But the issue is not just that all corruption must be exposed, irrespective of whether it is black or white. The issue is also the tonality of the reports on it. White perpetrators are not presented to the public in the same manner as black perpetrators. There is a sometimes subtle contempt in how black perpetrators are represented that leaves many readers and viewers feeling a strong sense of disquiet. All this was driven home when André de Ruyter said that his “white Afrikaans blind spots” had prevented him from fully appreciating how corrupt Eskom was. This is, on the face of it, an outrageously racist statement implying that white Afrikaners are by nature less corrupt than black people and that he needed some sort of “native informant” to reveal things to him. Yet how much of our media really questions De Ruyter, or indeed Annika Larsen, who let the comment stand without challenge, on this? De Ruyter was presented as some sort of saintly figure, a great hero of our times. Black people who have stood up to corruption, also risking their lives, have not been presented in the same heroic terms. For many black people it seems that there is still a way to go before our media becomes a fully South African media rooted in the experiences and lives of the majority. Because a vibrant media is so crucial to democracy, we need to work as hard as we can to build a media that is up to the grave challenges we face as a society. 

Guest: Ronen Aires, Founder and CEO of Student Village Youth marketing specialists, Student Village and Youth Dynamix, have conducted a survey of nearly 3000 young people to explore the socio-economic dynamics of South Africans aged 15 to 34 years. The research reveals a potential spending pool of R303bn per year and uncovers exciting trends around what drives the younger generation’s lifestyle and spending habits. “The younger generation’s awareness of their higher purpose to fix the broken world they were born into, is inspiring. We’re seeing the emergence of micro-hustlers, youngsters turning their passions into businesses, social justice and environmental warriors, as well as young leaders making moves in business and politics. That’s why we prefer to call them ‘Gen RE’ – as a collective they’re helping us recalibrate the way we do things in every facet of our lives,” says Ronen Aires, Founder and CEO of Student Village. Understanding Gen RE for a thriving economy Some of the key findings of the Gen RE report include statistics around living arrangements, family responsibilities, attitudes and behaviours, and the evolution of income and spending activities from one stage of life to the next. “With an estimated disposable income of R303bn, brands cannot afford to overlook Gen RE’s uniqueness and preferences as consumers or employees,” says Aires. Some key emerging research themes include: 90% of young people will support brands that share and demonstrate their personal values. 34% of South African Gen RE’s have a side hustle, and are looking to integrate their side hustle into their everyday life and demands. Two-thirds of survey participants admitted to being ‘significantly stressed’. Major causes of anxiety include finishing their studies, making ends meet financially, the impact of loadshedding, and unemployment. While 30% of working young people are contributing financially to the family unit, 71% are still living at home, due to the increasing costs and complications of independent living. The highest youth spend categories include groceries, mobile devices and data, and beauty and cosmetic products. The survey also uncovers further details about activity trends, social media preferences, other shopping practices and key retail markets – and more. The full report is available for purchase from 19 January for R49,500 ex VAT. It promises to be a source of immeasurable value and insight for brands looking for innovative, facts-driven methods to connect with up-and-coming consumers and employees.

Guest: Dr Craig Mamitele, Urologist Last week on the Health and wellness feature we looked into men’s reproductive health, however, due to time we couldn’t get to most of your questions and thought we should bring Dr. Mamitele back to answer some of your questions. First, let’s look at STIs that can affect men’s fertility. 422,000 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diagnosed each year in the UK. Unfortunately, the actual number of people who contract an STI could be much higher, as there are some infections, such as chlamydia, which can exist in the body without symptoms. Because of this, it’s important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active, including every time you have sexual contact with a new partner. If you’re planning to start a family at some point in your future, it’s even more imperative that you get tested, as some STIs can impact your fertility and can even be passed onto your baby. It’s a common misconception that the impact of STIs on fertility is a female problem – that’s just not true. There are a range of STIs that affect male fertility, impacting the quality of sperm, and even cause long term damage to the reproductive system. The positive is that most STIs have a cure, especially if caught early. In addition, those that can’t be cured can usually be managed. With that in mind, let’s take a look at seven STIs that can affect fertility in men. 1. Chlamydia Chlamydia is the most common curable STI and, as we mentioned earlier, most people who get chlamydia do not show symptoms. If left untreated, chlamydia can lead to a considerable decline in the motility and quality of sperm, which makes conception much more difficult. Chlamydia can be passed to newborn babies and cause inclusion conjunctivitis when they have been delivered through a vaginal birth by a mother who has the infection. Therefore, it’s important to make sure men are tested prior to attempting conception in case the infection is passed to their partner. 2. Gonorrhea Gonorrhea is another STI which, in most cases, shows no symptoms. Both chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the tube at the back of the testicles which stores and transports sperm. Most cases of epididymitis can be treated with antibiotics, and last around six weeks; however, severe cases, or cases that are left untreated, can lead to infertility. Gonorrhea can also be passed to newborn babies through vaginal delivery. It can cause gonococcal conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness. 3. Syphilis Although syphilis may seem like a problem of the past, there were still over 7,500 diagnoses of the infection in the UK in 2018. Syphilis symptoms are often mild and can go unnoticed, but the infection can last for years or decades if left untreated, and can cause serious health complications. In terms of fertility, syphilis can cause epididymitis and erectile dysfunction. If passed on to a female partner, who then becomes pregnant, there is a chance of miscarriage and also passing the infection onto the newborn baby, which can be fatal. 4. Genital Herpes There is a lot of stigma around genital herpes, which may be why it is not discussed as frequently as chlamydia of gonorrhea; however, it is just as serious. Unlike the two aforementioned infections, genital herpes has no cure. Symptoms (commonly blisters around the genitals) can appear and clear up by themselves, but the virus will remain in the body and may cause blisters to outbreak at any time. There is currently little research into the effects of genital herpes on male fertility; however, one study has found that the infection can result in a low sperm count. Genital herpes can, however, be easily passed from partner to partner, and can be passed from mother to baby with serious consequences (although it is rare). 5. HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is passed from person to person through blood or body fluid transmission and can cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDs). There is no cure for HIV, but treatment can control the virus, affording those with HIV the possibility to live long and healthy lives. As HIV breaks down the body’s immune system over time, this can lead to a higher possibility of contracting another STD which could cause fertility problems. There is also evidence that HIV can cause loss of germ cells (the cells in the body that develop into sperm) in the testes, as well as hypogonadism and low testosterone. Although it is well known that a mother can transfer HIV to her unborn child, there is little research available to determine whether an HIV-positive father and HIV-negative mother can give birth to an HIV-positive child. 6. Hepatitis Hepatitis is the term used to describe an inflammation of the liver, and is split into several types: A, B, C, D, E, alcoholic, and autoimmune. Hepatitis B is the most common type to be linked with sexual transmission. According to a study in the Fertility and Sterility journal, infertility is 1.59 times higher in patients with HBV infection than in those without. This could be due to lower sperm count or mobility due to infection. Most adult bodies are able to fight off Hepatitis B and fully recover within a couple of months. Children infected with the virus, however, are likely to develop a long-term infection which can lead to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to Public Health England, Around 3,000 babies in the UK are born to women who have hepatitis B infection, and around 9 in 10 exposed babies will develop a chronic (long-lasting) infection. 7. Mycoplasma Genitalium A lesser-known STI, Mycoplasma Genitalium (Mgen) is a bacteria that was only discovered in 1981, but this doesn’t mean that it is not as serious as other STIs. Mgen doesn’t always have symptoms but can manifest as a watery discharge from the penis, and a burning sensation when urinating. These symptoms can be confused with a urinary tract infection (UTI), but in fact Mgen has strong links with urethritis. Urethritis can be accompanied by epididymitis, which, as we mentioned earlier, causes inflammation of the tube that carries sperm. Improve Your Fertility Through STI Testing And Treatment Whether or not you suspect you have an STI, regular testing is important. However, if you do display symptoms, testing is even more imperative in order to protect your fertility. If tests reveal that you have an STI, you should seek appropriate treatment as soon as possible. Treatment for STIs is usually simple and effective with a course of antibiotics if caught early. There are also assisted conception methods available to those who are unable to conceive due to an STI, so it is important not to lose hope when it comes to planning your future family.

Guest: Percy Mabandu - Artist, dealer and writer The tradition of writers who paint is well established in our art history – examples like Zakes Mda the legendary writer who has turned to the art of painting, playwriter Breyten Breytenbach is also a painter. Judith Mason was a painter who also wrote. Lefifi Tladi is equally a great poet and painter. So, renounced art journalist, Percy Mabandu is in great company as a writer who also paints. Mabandu is an artist, dealer and writer interested in portraiture and monuments, abstraction and figuration as locus of symbolic meaning. He creates paintings, prints, and drawings. Mabandu’s work draws on history and music as sources of narrative and meaning. Mabandu gives birth to Dashiki Art Gallery and tells us more… In 2022, Percy left his roles as senior specialist at Aspire Art Auctions to focus on his  practice as an artist and collaborate with some partners to build Dashiki Art Gallery. Dashiki Art Gallery is a contemporary art dealership that connects art collectors and artists through exhibitions, events, and private consultations. Many people may know Percy for his work as an art journalist and writer with an unparalleled command of our shared art and jazz heritage, I’ve also been engaged as a painter and draughtman. His  most recent body of work includes a set of drawings and painted portraits of notable South African creative icons. All of whom have served as his personal ports of refuge – these are personages that have served him as muses and inspiration for myself and many others across time. People can see the work by taking a virtual tour of the work on the DashikiArtGallery.co.za website or my personal Instagram Percy_Mabandu and facebook pages. ]Dashiki Art Gallery is a contemporary commercial art gallery based in the City Of Tshwane, South Africa. We strive to provide world-class service to both our partner artists and collecting clients across both primary and secondary art markets. Our team is well-positioned to assist clients to realize their needs across a spectrum of services that include -       Valuations -       Art advisory consultancy, -       Art Collection Management. Mabandu began his art training at Arts For All with Eric Lubisi, Enos Mahubedo, Sunette Holmes, Mike Mmutle and other in the Pretoria community art project. He later studied Fine an Applied Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology and is pursuing a MAFA with Wits University.  As a writer, Mabandu has published for various local and international platforms that include City Press, Mail & Guardian, Sunday Times, Destiny Magazine, Departures Magazine and others. He has held various roles on Power FM, Radio 702, and beyond. Mabandu is the author of Yakhal’inkomo - Portrait of a Jazz Classic, a book about the 1968 classic jazz record. 

Guest: Disa Mpande, MERSETA ACTING CEO The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) is one of the 21 Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) established to promote skills development in terms of the Skills Development Act of 1998 (as amended). With the constant financial struggles faced by students classified as the “missing middle”, leading to their inability to afford higher education, the merSETA has undertaken to collaborate with NSFAS to offer support to these students, through the provision of funding, which will be administered by NSFAS. The funding is for a total amount of R141.75 million. Through this collaboration, 300 students from the “missing middle” will be supported to pursue higher education studies. The focus of the studies will be on mer-sector specific programmes, at 26 (twenty-six) of the public universities in the country, over a three-year period, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025. TALKING POINTS: ·         Context/ background to the inception of the collaboration, what informed the need for this partnership. ·         Selection criteria of qualifying students ·         Institutions of learning that are eligible ·         What are the mer-sector specific programmes and how can learners apply ·         The importance of funding vocational studies

Guest: Claire Klassen-Consumer Financial Education Specialist at Momentum Metropolitan Nonhlanhla Khoza – career development coach PLOT; Typically, successful people have multiple income streams and starting a side hustle is an excellent way of generating extra income. With the high-interest rate, and the rising cost of fuel, food, and electricity it is becoming harder for most people to make ends meet with just their salaries. Many are looking to supplement their salaries by starting some type of entrepreneurial venture or side hustle. South Africa’s young people are increasingly moving into “side-hustles” — part-time work outside their main employment — usually to counter the rising cost of essentials such as food and fuel. Having more than one income stream is becoming a necessity, not simply a way to earn pocket money for recreational purposes. This is particularly true for people with extended families The Henley business school defines ‘side hustlers’ as individuals having one or more of the following: - A job and a business in different spheres - A job and a side business in different spheres (including activities not perceived as formal businesses) - A self-employed business and a ‘side business’ in different spheres - Secondary job in a different sphere from their ‘main’ job. Joining us on the line…is .. who will be  speaking to us about 1.   The hustle culture – are glorifying giving ourselves more work instead 2.   What is a side hustle 3.   What are the challenges that would delay our work force into starting their side hustles 4.   On the constantly being warned  not to turn hobbys into the side hustle 5.   On the common mistakes we do when it comes to starting a side hustle 6.   On being stretched thin from working additional hours 7.   What does this mean for employers? 8.   When your side hustle starts making more money than your primary work. Grind culture has faced a modest reckoning in the last few years, with some going so far as to label it toxic. There is certainly a dark underbelly in pushing people to relentlessly consider profitability. As a recovering member of the constantly-side-hustling community, I can say confidently that respecting the sanctity of at least one or two hobbies for fulfilment does wonders for one’s mental health. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A study by the Henley Business School defines a side hustle as a form of employment taken on in addition to one’s full-time job. The Mail & Guardian spoke to a number of people who are taking this route. One, 24-year-old Tshepiso Letsoalo, who works full time for a software company, has established two additional income streams to provide for herself and her extended family. “Times are hard and being dependent on just my salary is not enough. I sell perfumes, lotions and body oils. I also run an online errands platform to assist people with their tax issues, and I revamp CVs,” she said. Lestoalo makes about R5 000 from selling perfumes to her colleagues, neighbours and friends. She elaborated on her errands services, saying “I work with two students that want to make money. We offer queuing services at the home affairs [department] and licence collecting services.” A recent study by online research company infoQuest/TrendER showed that about one in four people aged 18 to 34 are holding down more than one job. “This is an increase on six months ago, when we last monitored this,” said the company’s managing director, Claire Heckrath. Those earning personal monthly incomes of R5 000 to R10 000 were more likely to be hustlers (28%), she added. Even though the study shows that those aged between 34 and 49 years are less likely to have multiple income sources, at 15%, some still feel the need to moonlight. Thabile Mabaso, a 40-year-old mother of three boys who works in a vegan restaurant, said that having a big family has pushed her into working part-time as a baker. “As much as I do not have the time, because of my crazy working hours, I get home and start baking scones for my sons to sell at school and my husband to sell at his workplace,” she said. According to the Momentum/Unisa Household Index, it is mostly women who have side hustles to boost their household income. Mabaso emphasised the importance of her having multiple streams of income, because times are tough and having four mouths to feed requires a lot of money. Data from the household index shows that side-hustlers can be divided into two categories. Most fall into the trade, catering and accommodation group. These side hustlers sell food such as atchar, eggs and baked goods from their home or at the office. Others sell clothes, jewellery, cosmetics and similar products. The index found that people also make clothes and repair shoes. But the making and sale of food is by far the most common hustle. Some people manage to branch out into catering or event planning. Hustlers in the second category provide services, according to the household index. They include beauticians and nail technicians, gardeners, mechanics, as well as building and construction. Others provide transport, babysitting and childcare services. But in other instances, the household index found, side hustle entrepreneurs’ businesses were born from their passion, talent or interest and wanting to do something they love while making money at the same time. Micheal Atkins* is one of these people. He is an application support specialist for an investment company in Johannesburg and he told the M&G that his side hustle is buying and renting out property. Atkins’ business started in 2013 after he finished matric and was given a two-bedroomed apartment by his retired mother to get him on his feet.

Guest: Percy Mabandu - Artist, dealer and writer PLOT: Mabandu is an artist, dealer and writer interested in portraiture and monuments, abstraction and figuration as locus of symbolic meaning. He creates paintings, prints, and drawings. Mabandu’s work draws on history and music as sources of narrative and meaning. Mabandu gives birth to Dashiki Art Gallery and tells us more… Dashiki Art Gallery is a contemporary commercial art gallery based in the City Of Tshwane, South Africa. We strive to provide world-class service to both our partner artists and collecting clients across both primary and secondary art markets. Our team is well-positioned to assist clients to realize their needs across a spectrum of services that include -       Valuations -       Art advisory consultancy, -       Art Collection Management. Mabandu began his art training at Arts For All with Eric Lubisi, Enos Mahubedo, Sunette Holmes, Mike Mmutle and other in the Pretoria community art project. He later studied Fine an Applied Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology and is pursuing a MAFA with Wits University.  As a writer, Mabandu has published for various local and international platforms that include City Press, Mail & Guardian, Sunday Times, Destiny Magazine, Departures Magazine and others. He has held various roles on Power FM, Radio 702, and beyond. Mabandu is the author of Yakhal’inkomo - Portrait of a Jazz Classic, a book about the 1968 classic jazz record. 

Guest: Jennifer Barkhuizen, Head of Marketing at Managed Integrity Evaluation Proprietary Limited  Are Background screening essential? Are they an impediment for jobseekers securing employment? What are the consequences of lying on your CV? Given South Africa’s economic challenges and the challenging job market, more candidates are embellishing their qualifications and experience as employment becomes more difficult to find. This makes it even more important for companies to do proper screening before employing an individual. With South Africa’s struggling economy and high unemployment rates, background screening checks for employees are more important than ever – in this climate, companies are unwilling to take risks on new hires given the mismatch between skills needed and available talent. MORE INFO: The finding is part of the 2022 Background Screening Index (BSI) report released by Managed Integrity Evaluation (MIE), Southern Africa’s largest background screening and vetting company. During 2022, MIE performed over 2,8 million background screening transactions for companies across Southern Africa – increasing 26% year on year. Additional information Of all the psychometric assessments performed, the most widely requested standalone check was the Integrity Assessment, which validates the integrity of a candidate’s qualifications and experience. Barkhuizen notes that companies who make use of background screening solutions not only improve the quality of their hires, but also help to eliminate the receipt of falsified information in the first place. “If candidates are made aware that they’ll undergo background screening, this deters them from misrepresenting information about themselves on their job application and CV,” she says. Criminal verification within MIE remains the most requested check, increasing by 28% year on year. When conducted on a regular basis, these verifications can prevent abuse and violence amongst employees and avoid possible employee theft.    The report also showed how specific industries are using screening tools to suit their particular challenges and contexts. The medical industry, for example, is making use of the sexual offender’s database checks to ensure that candidates hired to work with children, the elderly and the vulnerable are not listed on the database to ensure the safety of the people they work with. Within the mining industry, there has been an uptick in qualification verifications where historically this was not always done as part of the screening process,  even though hiring unqualified individuals poses a risk to the mine. Within the e-hailing industry, companies are opting for a more comprehensive understanding of the drivers they employ, and so have started to include social media screening as part of their onboarding process. The benefit of thoroughly screening an individual’s online presence is to better understand their behaviours and whether they might pose a risk to their passengers or fellow employees. It’s important to note that social media screening can also highlight positive attributes about a candidate. Identity verification increased by 21% in 2022, highlighting the importance of including this as part of a company’s background screening process, especially given that that identify theft is so rife within South Africa. “It's crucial that a company knows that the person being screened is who they say they are,” says Barkhuizen. Fraud listing verifications is also on the rise, which Barkhuizen says points to the fact that more companies are doing their part to combat fraud or fraudulent activities. Looking ahead at screening trends for 2023, MIE expects that companies will need to adopt a re-screening policy to ensure regulatory compliance across various industries. This will include focusing on complying with regulations that restrict access to an individual’s personal information. Having a comprehensive screening policy in place for companies is also recommended to ensure all individuals are thoroughly screened as set out in their screening policy. With Generation Z now entering the workforce, the workplace will change dramatically over the years to come – and companies will need to adapt accordingly. “Companies will have to revisit their screening processes to adjust to this very diverse group, bearing in mind their values and priorities,” says Barkhuizen. The challenges companies are facing in the current economic climate mean that screening potential employees is more important than ever in ensuring a successful hiring process. “The risk to employers of hiring the wrong candidate has never been higher, so employers will do whatever they can to minimise this risk and hire the right person for the job the first-time round,” concludes Barkhuin Additional information

Guest: Dr Franaaz Khan, Senior Lecturer, Department of Private Law, University of Johannesburg TOPIC: One argument against decriminalisation is that it doesn't address the black market and criminal networks of drug selling. There are also concerns that it may lead to increased drug use but this assumes that current criminal penalties operate as a deterrent for some people A 2020 survey of more than 5,000 Canadians showed that the majority (59 per cent) favour the decriminalization of drugs. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has also publicly supported decriminalization, along with British Columbia’s chief public health officer, BUT WILL THIS work in South Africa/  Joining us in studio is … who will be speaking to us about 1.   Why decriminalizing hard drugs in South Africa would be 2.   She mentions in her News23 article- As of 1 January 2023, the province of British Columbia demonstrated that a trial is to be conducted which will last three years, in which people over the age of 18 will be able to possess up to 2.5grams of drugs such opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA without arrest, seizure or charge. Yes! You have read this correctly 3.   Understanding what the word decriminalizing means since its been a buzzword in the media 4.   What was Canada's reasoning?   I understand that they said that the  criminalization of hard drugs exacerbates a vicious cycle of poverty, stigma, unemployment, and reoffending- but what about the notion that, that is the point 5.   What does South Africa’s law state about hard drugs, especially following cannabis  the what is South Africa's current position? 6.   South Africa's drug laws and policies successfully address the drug problem and whether criminalisation is the appropriate solution to the drug problem. 7.   You mention that  the decriminalisation in South Africa could have several potential benefits, such as reducing the burden on the criminal justice system, freeing up resources to focus on treatment and rehabilitation, reducing the stigma 8.     Question to listener: -       Should South Africa decriminalize hard drugs? Additional information

Sexual harassment is a growing workplace scourge and laws dealing with it are fragmented Guest: Letsema Mokoena, CCMA Regional Senior Commissioner

Being the pioneer in your family and the uncertainty that comes with that Guest: Bonginkosi Sithole, Author of Unpacking black tax and motivational speaker

Coaching techniques to decipher the subconscious cues, symbols, metaphors and meanings in your dreams Guest: Ofri – Kan Dror , Transformation Coach specialising in Plant medicine.

Estrangement in Relationships : familial, intimate and friendships Guest: Ntombi Ndaba ,Clinical Psychologist Psychologist

Guest: Dr. Siphiwe Dlamini Lecturer, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand Quick Study: 1 in 5 South African households begs for food – What’s the link between food security and mental health?

Guest: Tebello Khanya, Owner of LetzWash and Founder of Bonolo fabric softener

Men’s reproductive health Guest: Dr Craig Mamitele, Urologist

The Unisa Art Gallery hosts exhibition titled, Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta Guest: Puleng Mongale Visual Artist (Her work is part of the exhibition)

Guest: Motshedisi Mathibe, Senior Lecturer Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria Cannabis industry plans for South Africa have stalled: how to get them moving again