The View Point

By and large, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge toll on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). In a webinar held recently, under the topic: The challenges for BRICS cooperation in the post-COVID19 world held by Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) experts highlighted some challenges and opportunities that the virus affords. Speaking during the webinar, Prof Sphama...

From the streets of Mdantsane to the heights of the advertising world, our next guest has shown that hard work, commitment to his value, a creative flair and passion for people can achieve in the creative industry. Joe Public United announced that 60% of the company has been acquired by black shareholders, resulting in what the agency says is now the largest majority-black-owned, independent agenc...

Students are attracted to work in hospitality organisations because jobs are plentiful and the work is generally appealing. Bar and restaurant work, in particular, allow students to work in contexts that have overlaps with their social life. How has the closure of the hospitality industry affected students who work as part-time employees? Now that the industry is being gradually reopened, are empl...

We focus our attention on the scourge of GBV in South Africa. Women and children are not safe and it is men who are hurting and harming them. Since late last year, we have seen adverts and pictures on social media campaigns that claim to be against GBV but we seem to have a poor understanding of what their messaging means to the women, queer, elderly, disabled and children as part of that collecti...

In celebration of the 25th anniversary since the 1995 Springboks lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy at Ellis Park for the very first time, the Springbok Class of 1995 has launched a limited edition Springbok Supporters face masks. Only 140,000 masks are available at Pick n Pay stores nationwide and all profits will be donated to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund – the official charity...

Entrepreneurship is an engine of economic growth. It promotes the innovation needed to exploit new opportunities, promote productivity and create employment, while also addressing societal challenges, which now include the economic shock wave created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion of entrepreneurship will be central to restoring the economy due to this pandemic. Guest: Angus Bowmaker-Falc...

We’re in conversation with Mr Tshepho Langa, CEO of the TLH Group. He recently release a book titled He says the book awakens the creativity that might be dormant in one’s mind. He wrote the book after going through some few dark years of his life, and what saved him was his thoughts. According to Tshepho, the book is a reflection and will possibly inspire others through their own journey. He came...

Black business organisations are up in arms over the criteria used by banks to approve loans for the multibillion-rand COVID-19 scheme meant to assist distressed businesses. The scheme has gotten off to a slow start with just R7-billion of the R100-billion set aside having been dispersed so far. Guest: Bonolo Ramokhele - Treasurer General – Black Business Council

Government has announced this past weekend that it will allow qualifying refugees to apply and gain access to the COVID 19 social relief grant. There are implications on what effect this announcement could have within local communities given social development's lack of capacity to provide South Africans’ basic needs during this pandemic. What is the government's responsibility towards refugees du...

A company’s digital maturity can be measured by looking at its digital transformation in terms of behaviours, company culture and openness to digital adoption. Rather than focusing on the company’s technology, this measurement is a people centric approach, underlined by more efficient ways of working together as part of a transformed company culture, while letting go of physical structures that ke...

As part of this year’s Youth Month activities, the Department of Social Development, in partnership with the Central Drug Authority (CDA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Non-Governmental Organisations, will commemorate the annual Drug Awareness Week which started on the 22nd of and ends on the 26th of June. Every South African has a role to play in creating greater awareness abou...

Limpopo has recorded 582 active cases of COVID 19 since the start of the pandemic. Their response has been focused on district, municipal and community-based approaches. By doing so, the MEC has concentrated their recovery plan on two levels: (1) not only responding COVID 19 cases and (2) other chronic diseases as well. There are also interventions set to be implemented alongside the relaxation of...

The coronavirus pandemic has emphasised the importance of food security and nutritional wellbeing for all South Africans and has exposed the vulnerability and weaknesses in our food systems. The United Nations has recognised the threat of the pandemic on food security and the nutrition of millions of people. In light of this and the many news reports around malnutrition, ADSA (The Association for...

According to the Debt Counselling Association, 10 million people in South Africa have bad debt. Those who are struggling with bad debts spend almost two-thirds of their income on repayments. The rise of retrenchments, salary pay cuts and the rising cost of living will develop a breeding ground for people to become more over-indebted. One Life has started a campaign aimed to manage their income to...

On Wednesday, all eyes will be on the Minister of Finance who will be tabling the long-awaited adjustment budget. Tito Mboweni has to juggle a GDP that is contracting come year end, deal with SOEs that are in life support, widen social development safety net, avoid a walk-out by the public sector over the National Wage Bill and ready itself for a pandemic whose peak is imminent. As our first guest...

As we are faced with re-opening of schools in this month and in response to the National Department of Health’s recommendation that should wear face mask, Careers Inc, a company that works with schools in low quintile areas, have decided to take a role of working with corporate, government and the general public to raise funds to distribute Uniform reusable, washable cloth face masks to non-paying...

There was a recent election held for the new President and Committee of this association. Its vision for their tenure is clear: equitable, transformed, ethically- run and inclusive development of black businesses for sustainable growth in South Africa. Guest: Polo Leteka Radebe - President Association of Black Securities Investment Professionals

In a recent wave of studies conducted by GfK since the start of the national lockdown, consumers' fears have subsided when it comes to COVID 19 pandemic and found a new focus: unemployment and jobs. Only 21% of consumers have been working as normal between level 5 and level 3 lockdown with many feeling the economic fallout of retrenchment and salary cuts in recent months. Consumers are shifting th...

As provinces battle to respond to the needs of their people during COVID 19 pandemic, the spotlight has firmly returned to government spending, procurement standards, supporting local businesses and eradicating corruption during these tough times. Under the leadership of our next guest, she has spoken out against allegations of maladministration, corruption and tender irregularities. Guest: Gadija...

The Nelson Mandela Museum has taken their experience digital and started an e-legacy program for young learners to close the educational gap that is present due to the COVID 19 pandemic. This program has been aligned to the school curriculum, cultivates critical thinking skills and seeks to reach disadvantaged learners. Further, the Museum has opened these e-classrooms to get learners to engage in...

Across the continent, citizens are becoming aware of the dark and oppressive political, economic and financial powers being exercised over their daily lives. But as the source of this information, whistleblowers are often the first victims of their own disclosures. High-security prisons, forced exile, endless legal proceedings, death threats and other reprisals turn these defenders of the public i...

"What does having a successful youth mean?" The idea is that youth are the transition from being a child to being an adult. In many instances, there are barriers that are stopping young people from becoming economic, social and politicsl participants in South African society. How do we know when that journey has been successful? What do young people need to learn, have and experience in their yout...

She is the Director of Jasoro Consulting, a newly established Development Consultancy that provides organisations with services on policy, programming and organisational strategies toward the development of Africa. She is a member of the board for the Kagiso Trust. In 2015, she was appointed to the National Planning Commission to advise the President on the implementation of the National Developme...

In 2012, government announced that it would launch a pharmaceutical manufacturer whose sole aim of building active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing capacity in the country. Given COVID-19, these shortages of APIs has highlighted deep vulnerabilities in South Africa’s medicine supply chain. Almost all APIs used in the production of medicine in the country are imported, with the vast majorit...

In response to rise of GBV in South Africa in recent weeks, Dad's in the Picture have made a call to action upon sons, brothers, uncles, fathers, grandfathers, male colleagues, male neighbors and acquaintances alike to step forward and NOT contribute to our sickening state of communities. Women and children deserve to live their lives without fear of men in communities. Dad's in the Picture is an...