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Introduction The digital landscape is ever-changing, and nowhere is this more evident than in the realm of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). As businesses and consumers increasingly move online, the importance of a robust SEO strategy has never been more critical. In South Africa, this trend is no different. The country has seen a surge in …
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Cele briefs on KZN political killings
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Political Killings in KwaZulu-Natal has urged political parties to strengthen their internal mechanisms in order to defuse inter- and intra-tensions and instability, which may escalate and lead to political attacks and killings.
Addressing media on Wednesday following the committee’s meeting in Durban, Police Minister and IMC chairperson, Bheki Cele, said as the country gets closer to the National General Elections next year, efforts are being solidified to boost the work of the IMC, as well as investigations.
“In enhancing the work of the task team, the IMC has resolved that there will be dedicated courts to speedily prosecute these matters,” Cele said.
The IMC -- which consists of the Ministers of State Security Agency, Defence, Justice and Correctional Services and Police -- remains committed to encouraging political tolerance by individuals and parties, whether before, during or after the election period.
Cele said through the integrated work of the task team, the IMC is committed to arresting those who use violence to settle political scores.
The task team includes the South African Police Service (SAPS), National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) - supported by the State Security Agency and Correctional Services, the KwaZulu-Natal Premier, and KZN Community Safety and Liaison MEC.
Progress on cases
Giving the latest developments around the investigation of politically linked violence in KZN, Cele said since 4 July 2018, a total of 321 cases have been investigated.
Cele said the cases under scrutiny by the team include 155 cases of murder; 51 attempted murder, 77 intimidation, 12 cases of conspiracy to commit murder and 26 other ad hoc cases.
“So far, the work of the task team has resulted in the arrest of 348 suspects, who have already been charged on 233 cases. Sixty-two suspects have been convicted, while 155 are going through the court processes. Seventeen arrested suspects have since died during the court processes,” Cele said.
Cele noted that firearms are the most used weapon in the majority of the attacks on councillors, office bearers and municipal officials.
He said the team has recovered 46 firearms from suspects, which are linked through ballistics to multiple political murder cases before the task team.
In a continuous effort to reduce political killings and at same time, reduce the proliferation of firearms within the province of KwaZulu-Natal and country at large, Cele said the task team is also investigating parallel cases that are not related to the task team’s mandate but are linked with politically related cases with similar suspects and ballistic analysis.
He said 85 such cases have so far been registered, and efforts to rid the streets of illegal firearms do not end here.
Over and above these parallel cases, Cele said the team continues to conduct intelligence driven operations, targeting unlicensed firearms, which has resulted in 86 cases being registered in this regard.
“The task team is conducting intelligence driven operations targeting the possession of unlicensed firearms, which has resulted in 172 cases. Over 250 unlicensed firearms have been taken off the streets through police operations,” the Minister said.
Region stabilisation
Cele said since the implementation of an integrated multi-disciplinary investigation approach, eight of the province's 11 regions have since stabilised.
However, he said, the eThekwini Metropolitan remains an area of concern, and the focus is now on the region to bring much needed stability.
“The IMC is encouraged that interventions are in place to deal with all forms of politically related crimes, proactively and reactively in the eThekwini and in the Zululand District.”
Political killings
The investigations of the political killings revealed that the most affected political parties are the African National Congress (ANC), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and National Freedom Party (NFP), with 52 murder cases of councillors, including 31 councillors from the ANC, 14 from the IFP, and four from the NFP.
“While 52 councillors have been gunned down since 2011 to date, alarmingly 103 officials working within municipalities as political office bearers and officials in political offices were killed.
“Causative factors for these crimes are linked to intra-political conflicts, with a few cases linked to other motives, such as taxi violence, domestic related issues, business competition and traditional leadership competition, as well as family feuds.
“Murder cases that were reported before the 2016 and 2021 Local Government Elections were mainly as a result of fighting over councillors’ positions; where candidate councillors were eliminated.
“The majority of the murder cases reported after the 2016 and 2021 Local Government Elections were associated with infighting within structures and municipalities over positions,” Cele said.
High profile cases
Sentences handed down in high-profile cases include:
• Mfanafuthi Zulu (notorious hitman): found guilty and sentenced to a total 10 years imprisonment for the murder of ANC Member Bongani Mhlongo.
• Kingdom Phoswa (hitman): found guilty and sentenced to a total of 18 years imprisonment for the murder of ANC Ward Councillor Njabulo Dlamini.
• Bongekile Ngcwaba and Thuthukani Mzolo: found guilty and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each for the murder of ANC Ward Councillor Kheyelethu Mngcwaba.
• Ntsazane Mthetiswa, Gutshana Zwelandile, Mcobhoti Aphelile and Ntsethe Bonasile (ANC members): found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment (25 years each) for the murder of EFF member Sbusiso Mbhobo.
• Mxolisi Mzokhona Gcabashe (hitman): found guilty and sentenced to a total of 28 years for the murder of ANC Councillor Minenhle Mkhize.
• Nkosinathi Mantengu (land grabber): found guilty and sentenced to a total of 36 years imprisonment for the murder of IFP member Philangenkosi Nkundlane and his son Bongani (on three counts).
• Thanda Chamane (hitman): found guilty and sentenced to a total of 42 years imprisonment for the murder of IFP Councillor Mfazo Nzuza (on three counts).
– SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 09/06/2023 - 14:51
KZN youth-owned businesses to benefit from R90m fund
Fifty-nine youth-owned businesses are set to benefit from the R90 million KwaZulu-Natal Youth Empowerment Fund.
Announcing the youth businesses approved for funding during a ceremony held in Durban on Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the event marks an important milestone in government’s quest to push back the frontiers of the stubbornly high rate of youth unemployment in the province.
She said moment marks the fulfilment of a pledge made during the State of the Province Address earlier this year, which was delivered under the theme, ‘Taking Decisive Action in the time of Renewal and Hope as we Rebuild a Better, Prosperous, and Resilient KwaZulu-Natal’.
The Youth Fund was established by the Office of the Premier in 2018 as part of government’s concerted efforts to crank up youth development and empowerment in the province.
According to the fund structure, 90% of the fund received by each beneficiary is channelled to buy equipment in order to lower their cost of business, while 10% is for working capital.
Dube-Ncube said during the first phase, R60 million was disbursed to 51 youth-owned businesses. In the current phase, which was opened in July 2021, a total of 4 016 applications were received for funding.
“Of those applications, 2 854 were disqualified for various compliance and other reasons while 1 162 were processed by the KwaZulu-Natal Growth Fund, an entity of government that is responsible for the disbursement process and management of the Youth Fund.
“A further rigorous evaluation process was undertaken, and 352 applications were shortlisted for the due diligence stage. Ultimately, site visits were conducted, which resulted in the 59 [businesses] that are today the recipients of the funding. The funding ranges from R200 000 to R2 million,” Dube-Ncube explained.
The Premier said youth-owned businesses that benefited from the current window operate in various strategic sectors, including water security, transport and logistics, farming technology, the digital economy, automotive and maritime industries.
“We could not have asked for a better present to mark the close of Women’s Month, as evidenced by the fact that 42% of the approved applicants are women. This is a significant improvement, if we consider that only 15% women applicants had benefitted previously.
“Our goal, moving forward, is to ensure at least a 50-50 access between men-owned and women-owned businesses,” the Premier said.
The Premier said they are encouraged by the fact that there is adequate geographic spread in terms of the distribution of beneficiaries as they come from across all the districts in the province.
She said the provincial government is decisively addressing the divide between urban and rural, the poor and affluent. They believe that all people must benefit equally from government’s interventions.
The Premier noted that the fund also approved businesses that are owned and managed by unemployed graduates and youths from professional sectors, including medical, engineering and accounting disciplines.
The Premier also announced that the new window (for R100 million funding) will be opened soon. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 09/06/2023 - 13:04
In the current era of digitalization, where people store sensitive information online, account takeover (ATO) attacks have become a growing concern. Data breaches have increased, with attackers constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Due to the growing sophistication of attackers, the shift to remote work and digital transactions, and the increasing value of stolen data, …
SARS Commissioner calls for tax administrators to be excluded from budget cuts
South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has called on National Treasuries to exclude tax administrations from across-the-board austerity measures, as it poses a threat to innovation, fiscal integrity and sovereignty.
“Once you suspend funding, the end result will always be the suspension of innovation and regression against the progress of other administrations. This goes against the intrinsic value of digitalisation in improving tax compliance and detecting tax non-compliance,” Kieswetter said on Tuesday in Cape Town.
He was addressing the 2nd Network of Tax Organisation (NTO) Technical Conference, which took place under the theme: ‘Digitalisation of Tax Administrations and Contemporary Issues’.
“As more financial transactions are taking place digitally, more third party data sources are shared with tax administrations, and central bank digital currencies are emerging, the importance of digitalisation and consequently the use of data science, and artificial intelligence have become central to revenue collection, compliance and trade facilitation.
“So, in short, whenever budget cuts are required, National Treasuries – Budget Offices are advised to avoid across-the-board cuts and ensure a more prudent approach to invest to build enabling and productive economic capacity, create employment, and thus expand the tax base.
“This secures fiscal integrity and sovereignty in the long run. Tax administrations should be excluded from across-the-board austerity measures. The investment in digitalisation should not be disrupted. The cost of recovery is simply too high in every respect,” Kieswetter said.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the modernisation and digitisation of work at SARS.
“COVID-19 inadvertently took us to the drawing board to think from first principles, and very quickly accelerated our response towards reprioritising our technology investment to enable our employees to work during the hard lockdown and to allow taxpayers to continue to fulfil their tax obligations,” the Commissioner said.
Although SARS has made progress, he explained that much more still needs to be done, as the revenue service is behind in its digitalisation journey.
“I want to pause here and focus on one element as a critical enabler of the digitalisation journey - and that relates to funding. Before State capture, SARS was a leader in digital modernisation for many years.
“However, partly due to financial constraints, but also a short-term approach, budgets were then frozen for a number of years and SARS fell behind in driving technological innovation. We have now managed to restore some additional funds to continue our modernisation, but we are still substantially underfunded to move at the necessary speed in an environment that is changing exponentially, business models are being disrupted, and tax crime proliferating at an alarming rate,” he said.
SARS faces the challenge of not only having to play catch-up after many years of underinvestment, but also of accelerating modernisation simply to remain relevant.
“We are at a point where we can again focus on innovation. The important lesson here is that the digitalisation journey is not a finite project, but a new way of being. It is an ongoing journey. Once you suspend funding, the end result will always be the suspension of innovation and regression against the progress of other administrations,” the Commissioner said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 09/06/2023 - 10:08
MyPR was initially started as a resource for us to gather re-useable South Africa and Africa focused content to re-publish on numerous web properties that we own. We figured that our social contract between PR Professionals seeking to get their clients messages out (without being too ‘mangled’ by journalists re-writing releases!) and providing a platform …
A MUST: 5 THINGS TO DO IN CAPE TOWN THIS SPRING Visiting Cape Town, South Africa in spring is an unparalleled experience. As the Mother City sheds its winter cloak, it comes to life with a burst of vibrant wildflowers, breathtaking scenery, and a mild and inviting climate. Spring here promises the allure of colorful …
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Introduction When it comes to digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term that’s often thrown around. While most businesses understand the importance of SEO, many are left wondering about the costs involved. The truth is, the cost of SEO can vary widely depending on a range of factors, including whether you’re planning to …
Introduction In today’s digital age, having an online presence is no longer optional for small businesses. However, merely having a website or social media account is not enough. To truly stand out in the crowded digital marketplace, small businesses must invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO). But what exactly are SEO services for small businesses, …
SA benefits economically from BRICS grouping
Outlining the economic benefits of South Africa's participation in the BRICS grouping, President Cyril Ramaphosa has informed Members of Parliament that South Africa’s trade with the bloc has increased by an average of 10% every year over the period 2017 to 2021.
“The total South African trade with other BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] countries reached R830 billion in 2022, which represents an increase of more than 70% from R487 billion in 2017,” the President said on Tuesday in Cape Town.
Participating in a Questions for Oral Reply session in the National Assembly, President Ramaphosa explained that BRICS is an important source of foreign direct investment in key areas such as mining, automotive, transportation, clean energy, financial services and information technology (IT).
These investments and projects lead to significant job creation.
“South Africa has experienced significant benefits through its membership as well as its association with the BRICS grouping of countries. South Africa uses its BRICS membership to improve investment, trade, tourism, as well as capacity building, and it also flows into skills acquisition and technological capabilities that we see this relationship yielding for our country.
“Strengthening economic as well as financial ties between BRICS member countries is one of the key pillars of this cooperation that we have forged with all these countries,” the President said.
In 2020, the countries adopted the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership to increase access to each other’s markets, promote mutual trade and investment, and create a business-friendly environment for investors in all BRICS countries.
“Furthermore, the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women’s Alliance bring together important commercial networks that promote trade and investment partnerships among BRICS countries. In 2015, BRICS countries launched the New Development Bank to finance and largely support infrastructure and sustainable development projects,” President Ramaphosa said.
To date, the New Development Bank has provided funding to 12 projects in South Africa to the value of over R100 billion.
“Our membership of BRICS makes a valuable contribution to the implementation of our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. For example, growing the tourism industry is one of the priorities of the Plan. The BRICS countries are becoming increasingly important tourism markets for South Africa.
“In terms of supporting energy security in South Africa, another pillar of our recovery plan, BRICS countries have the expertise and technologies to support energy cooperation. In 2020, BRICS adopted a Road Map for BRICS Energy Cooperation up to 2025 aimed at building a strategic partnership in energy cooperation,” the President said.
On infrastructure investment, which is another pillar of the recovery plan, South Africa will continue to access funding from the New Development Bank for energy, transport and water.
“The inclusion of Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as new members of the group will strengthen beneficial cooperation with South Africa in political, economic and financial matters.
“These countries will enhance economic partnership in key sectors such as oil and energy, telecommunication and information technology, agriculture, textile, logistics, air transportation and tourism and medicine,” the President said.
Last month’s three-day BRICS Summit wrapped up with several successful outcomes, including the expansion of the six aforementioned countries to become full members of BRICS effective from January 2024.
South Africa hosted the 15th BRICS Summit from 22-24 August in Johannesburg. This year’s summit took place under the theme, ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism’.
The President said South Africa expects that its trade links and investments participation with all the additional countries will increase.
This addition is also expected to contribute to the growth of the country’s tourism industry.
“In economic terms, all these new additional countries are big players and on the horizon are a number of other countries that have indicated their willingness to be part of BRICS and they too will be considered in the next phase.
“We will obviously look at the economic value in terms of participation for all of us as BRICS members. These additional countries will be boosting our Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan and we expect great benefits from all this.
“The benefits for our countries has been very clear right from the beginning. It has led to enhanced activity amongst ourselves and all these countries. Being a BRICS member does contribute a great deal to economic growth as well,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 09/05/2023 - 15:18
Cipla Medpro South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“Cipla South Africa”) to acquire Actor Pharma (Pty) Ltd. Strengthens its over-the-counter product portfolio South Africa, 5 September 2023 Cipla South Africa, a 100% owned subsidiary of Cipla Limited (BSE: 500087; NSE: CIPLA EQ; hereafter referred to as “Cipla”) signed a binding term sheet with Actor Holdings (Pty) Limited …
On International Charity Day on September 5, Algoa FM reflects on more than three decades of dedicated community service. For 35 years, Algoa FM has made a profound impact on the lives of people residing within its broadcast footprint through numerous fund-raising drives. Algoa FM’s broadcast footprint extends from the Garden Route to the Wild …
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Introduction Search Engine Optimisation, or SEO as it’s commonly known, has become a buzzword in the digital marketing world globally. But what does the SEO landscape look like in South Africa In this article, we’ll delve into the trends, challenges, and opportunities that define SEO in South Africa. The Growing Importance of SEO In …
Introduction In today’s digital age, having an online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. However, merely having a website or social media account is not enough. To truly stand out and attract a steady flow of traffic, businesses must invest in Search Engine Optimization, commonly known as SEO. But what exactly are SEO …
SA to participate in SA-Uganda Investment Summit
Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister, Nomalungelo Gina, is leading a delegation of 65 South African business representatives to a two-day Uganda – South Africa Investment and Trade Summit which started today in Kampala, Uganda.
The summit brings together trade and investment policymakers, business communities, trade support institutions, regional and multilateral organisations from Uganda and South Africa, to explore investment and trade opportunities.
The main goal is to improve bilateral trade between the two countries and to mobilise higher levels of private sector investments into priority sectors in Uganda.
The summit, which ends tomorrow, is being held at the Speke Resort in Munyonyo, Kampala.
This summit follows a business forum held in February 2023 in Pretoria on the margins of President Museveni’s State visit to South Africa.
This summit has a particular focus on agriculture and agro-processing, Information Communication and Technology, manufacturing, energy and oil and gas.
The current status of bilateral trade is that South African exports to Uganda have decreased from R2.1 billion in 2018 to to R1.7 billion in 2022, while South Africa’s imports from Uganda have increased from R102 million to R304 million during the same timeframe.
There will also be an effort to mobilise higher levels of private investments into priority sectors in Uganda, as identified under the National Development Plan of Uganda (NDP III) and therefore they will ensure that by the end of the two days, a platform for networking and investment facilitation will be created between to fast track trade and business deals. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 09/05/2023 - 10:46
Rhodes Business School (www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool/) is recognized for its focus on sustainability and ethical leadership, after having placed highest amongst Business Schools in PMR.Africa's 2022 national survey on Corporate Care – Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) programmes and initiatives in South Africa.
Professor Owen Skae, Director of Rhodes Business School, says “The school is proud of this, especially as this survey is not a ranking, but a recognition of decision-makers as to the contribution that we make achieving our vision of transforming business for a better world”.
Founded in 2000, Rhodes Business School's Mission is to “educate and influence responsible business practice, responsibly”. Rhodes Business School has been applying its mind to sustainability and leadership for a long time. The reason is twofold. “Back in 2004, when this approach was formalized into our curriculum, we saw huge opportunities for all organizations, whether they are private or public, big or small to change the way they did business as this was the only way to grow the economy and narrow the inequality gap that prevailed, whilst ensuring our planet was preserved for future generations. Secondly, we took the view that it could no longer be ‘business as usual' as, the standard approaches to conducting business, were quite simply, unsustainable”, says Skae. “There were sceptics, as there still are today, but we knew we were right and never deviated from what we believed was right.”
The global momentum for ESG reporting is now beyond the point of turning back, bearing in mind that the first International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) standards were released at the end of July. This is on the back of global sustainable investment reaching USD35.3 trillion in five major markets in 2020, a 15% increase from two years prior as reported by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance in 2020. “It begs the question, where are the leaders, managers and auditors to come from?”, asks Skae.
“ESG is experiencing a backlash though. We would be naïve to think that it will just be implemented and that is the end of it. Today ESG is front-of-mind for everybody, but regardless of whether you believe it is real or not, you don't have to find it, it will find you”.
All of Rhodes Business School's programmes, from its Diplomas to its MBA are committed to making sure that ESG is found, for all the right reasons. “Our graduates have confirmed that our programmes are truly transformative”.
The Rhodes MBA is a coursework degree comprising coursework and a research assignment. The degree is offered on a part-time, modular basis over two years.
The admission requirements are, an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma, a minimum of three years' work experience and an admission test such as NMAT, GMAT or GRE. Applications close on 31st October 2023.
Rhodes Business School, Rhodes University is located in the rural city of Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Its nearest large city is Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
It is committed to impact beyond the classroom as evidenced by its commitment to collaboration in the Makhanda Schools' Leadership Project, which has seen a remarkable turnaround in matriculation results in Makhanda schools.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rhodes Business School.
For more information on how accessible a Rhodes Business School MBA is, email mba@ru.ac.za or visit www.RU.ac.za/BusinessSchool
At the end of the day anyone that submits a press release to MyPR wants to know that their article can and will be found by people searching for relevant and timeous information. No matter how you spin it, Google Search is still the benchmark when it comes to finding information and a top of …
Didiza to lead SA delegation to Trade and Investment Summit in Uganda
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, will participate in and lead the second Uganda/South Africa Trade and Investment Summit from 5 - 6 September 2023 in Kampala, Uganda.
The summit aims to encourage interaction and dialogue between various entities in the two countries, which may result in sustainable growth in trade and investment.
“The focus of the event is on the agro-industry to reflect on the importance of agriculture in the Ugandan economy, although not to the exclusion of other sectors,” the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development said.
Trade relations between the two countries have been growing until the recent slowdown as a result COVID-19 pandemic.
The department said while South Africa’s businesses are well established -- with the Forum for South African Business in Uganda (FOSABU) as an anchor to the South African business community in Uganda -- Ugandan businesses have had little success in penetrating the South African market due to the poor quality of products exported from Uganda, inadequate phytosanitary standards and high visa costs.
FOSABU is a business association that was formed in 2015. It comprises South African companies doing business in Uganda and other companies operating in Uganda that have strong linkages to South Africa.
The first edition of the Uganda-South Africa Investment and Trade Summit was held in Pretoria in February 2023, and was addressed by both South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
The Presidents agreed to work together to improve the business operating environment between the two countries, including addressing all challenges affecting the private sector.
The second Uganda-South Africa Investment and Trade Summit 2023 will be held under the theme, 'Accelerating Investments and Trade between Uganda and South Africa'. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 09/04/2023 - 11:01
The Africa's Business Heroes (ABH) (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) Prize Competition, a philanthropic program sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy, now in its fifth year, has announced this year's top 10 finalists following an intense round of semi-finale business pitches and judging held on September 1 and 2 at Norrsken House in Kigali, Rwanda. These 10 entrepreneurs will compete for their share of the final prize of US$1.5 million in grant funding at the competition's Grand Finale scheduled for November 23 and 24.
The top 10 finalists are (in alphabetical order, by country):
The 2023 ABH top 10 entrepreneurs were selected through multiple stages of interviews and evaluation from 27,267 applications across all 54 African nations. They hail from eight African countries, including Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. Their start-ups have been drawn from a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, education & training, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and retail.
The 10 finalists will present their businesses on stage to a panel of inspiring businesspeople at this year's Grand Finale, which will take place in conjunction with a summit and will be the biggest in ABH's history in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the competition. Held offline in Kigali, Rwanda on 23 and 24 November and also partially livestreamed to reach audiences across Africa, the Summit and Grand Finale will be a gathering of a diverse group of African entrepreneurial ecosystem players. The action-packed event will comprise exciting sessions including speeches, workshops, an entrepreneurial showcase and a live pitch competition, among other activities. Register here to secure your seat: https://apo-opa.info/3sJzPoa
“ABH remains committed to uncovering, championing and supporting trailblazing African entrepreneurs who are bringing positive change to their communities. As we reach the fifth anniversary of our 10-year commitment to this initiative, we're excited by the expanding and diverse array of talent among our contenders,” said Jason Pau, Executive Director of International Programs at the Jack Ma Foundation. “With November on the horizon, we wish every of the top 10 finalists the best of luck on their journey, and we encourage the public to join our Summit and Grand Finale, as it promises to be truly special.”
“The ABH competition has shown that African entrepreneurship can emerge as a potent force propelling both social upliftment and economic progress. It is a dynamic stage, spotlighting ingenious start-ups that steer toward solutions, tackling challenges with a resonance that's impactful, competitive, sustainable and additive. I believe that entrepreneurs are carriers of HOPE as they can unlock possibilities that can change the world. I look forward to the Grand Finale, where the top 10 finalists will demonstrate their remarkable business acumen on stage,” said Rene Parker, Cofounder and CEO of RLabs, ABH semi-finale judge (2019 – 2023).
Originally launched in 2019, the ABH Prize Competition is Pan-African, inclusive, sector-agnostic and grassroots-oriented. It aims to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities by working to solve the most pressing problems and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.
For more information about ABH 2023, please visit: https://apo-opa.info/3qVklx5 and follow ABH on Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3KY3OQs), LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.info/3R1QXQl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3KZTXKa), Facebook, (https://apo-opa.info/3ylgNE9) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3YDG5bH).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).
Press Contact:
Africa's Business Heroes Press Room:
abh.press@list.alibaba-inc.com
For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
English:
Tracy Walakira
tracy.walakira@apo-opa.com
French/Arabic:
Malika Bouayad
malika.bouayad@apo-opa.com
About Africa's Business Heroes:
The Africa's Business Heroes Prize Competition is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy. It aims to support, inspire and enable the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors who are building a brighter future for the continent, by offering grant funding, training programs and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over a 10-year period, each year the ABH Prize Competition and show features 10 entrepreneur finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.
Spotlight on inner city housing challenge in fire aftermath
The fatal Usindiso Building fire in Johannesburg last week has highlighted the need to resolve South Africa’s inner city housing challenge and root out “rampant criminality” in these areas, says President Cyril Ramaphosa.
At least 74 people perished in the fire, with scores others left injured.
“This tragedy has brought to the fore the need to resolve the challenge of housing in our cities. Even though millions of houses have been built since the advent of democracy, providing decent homes for over 14 million people, the demand for housing continues to grow.
“The movement of large numbers of people into our major centres is fuelling the growth of informal settlements and placing further strain on infrastructure and services,” the President said in his weekly newsletter.
The President said rooting out criminality in accommodation in the inner city is a priority.
“As a starting point, municipal authorities across the country dealing with inner city decay need to redouble their efforts to revitalise these areas, use regulatory and legislative provisions to safeguard human life, and hold landlords, whose premises have become headquarters of criminal activity, accountable.
“We have heard about progress in some areas. It was reported that last year, for example, the City of Johannesburg managed to return some 47 ‘hijacked’ buildings to their lawful owners. Once rehabilitated, these buildings could provide safe and decent low-cost housing for the poor,” President Ramaphosa said.
The President emphasised that similar to most South Africans, people living in buildings like the Usindiso Building, want a decent quality of life.
“They want a safe place to live close to work opportunities and services. We need clean, safe, liveable and vibrant inner cities that attract people to live, work or study. We want our inner cities to attract businesses and investment.
“We cannot allow certain parts of our cities to suffer chronic neglect and become ‘no-go areas’ because of rampant criminal activity.
“We have to obey the law and observe regulations that exist for our safety and for the safety of others. We need to work with officials seeking to strike a balance between the rights of tenants and regard for their safety and wellbeing. Above all, we need to report acts of criminality and not be party to them,” he said.
In the aftermath of the fire, tensions between the local authorities and civil society were raised.
The President called on all parties to work together.
“We have a shared responsibility, as government, business and civil society, to do everything we can to provide support and protection. Let us work with, and not against, each other.
“Let this tragedy compel us to work much harder to give effect to the human dignity that is the right of us all,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 09/04/2023 - 11:45
DCC Accelerator enables thriving business opportunities for SMEs Globally, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) wrestle with the daunting task of getting their products and services in front of the decision-makers in large companies. Even when they succeed, a series of roadblocks can derail potential opportunities causing them to miss out on transformative contracts. To help …