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A groundbreaking fusion of dance, opera, and artificial intelligence (AI) on show at the Baxter Theatre this March by Cape-based Darkroom Contemporary Cape Town, 11 February 2025 – autoplay, Africa’s first AI-generated opera, is set to disrupt traditional performance art with a bold and immersive production that blends choreography, generative soundscapes, and machine learning when […]
Weinberg, a key figure in the Right2Know Campaign, died on 28 January 2025
SA hosts global circular economy workshop
Efforts to ensure that South Africa has a clean and healthy environment are under the spotlight at the 7th Global Forum of Cities for Circular Economy (GFCCE) workshop.
The two-day workshop, which is being hosted by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in Johannesburg -- in collaboration with the Centre for Science and Environment -- is aimed at enhancing South-South cooperation for improving the solid waste management ecosystem in the Global South, and building the capacity of nominated officials from 18 African nations.
The workshop, which concludes on Wednesday, is being attended by delegates from Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Addressing the opening of the workshop, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Bernice Swarts, highlighted some of the measures government has adopted to bolster the circular economy, focusing on reusing and recycling materials to ensure a sustainable and secure supply of resources.
“South Africa has instituted various policy instruments and initiatives to advance sustainable development pathways, with circular economy principles firmly embedded in these strategies,” Swarts said on Tuesday.
These policy instruments include the National Waste Management Strategy, Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations (EPR) for priority waste streams and other economic instruments that include fees, levies and taxes to incentivise or disincentivise behaviour change.
“Extended Producer Responsibility became necessary to be included in South Africa’s policy mix, given the increased generation of waste. EPR shifts seek to shift the responsibility for products from municipalities and consumers, to producers.
“South Africa is under immense pressure and the host city [of the workshop] - the City of Joburg - together with others - does not have sufficient landfill airspace. It is, therefore, necessary to utilise a policy mix to address resource efficiency. It is also necessary that cities are enabled to monitor resource use,” Swarts said.
The Deputy Minister noted that for meaningful progress to be made across the board, strong partnerships are needed.
"Collaboration between government and the private sector is paramount in realising the goals of the waste management hierarchy and facilitating our transition to a circular economy.
“South Africa remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening these partnerships and advancing the shared objectives of the GFCCE. This collaboration benefits our governments through reduced spending and creates green opportunities,” she said.
Since its establishment in 2021, the GFCCE has expanded to a community of 22 Member States, with 18 countries from Africa. This platform is dedicated to advancing circular economy principles in alignment with national policies and priorities.
Cities account for 75% of natural resource consumption and 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Swarts said more people will continue to migrate to cities to seek better opportunities and it is necessary that cities become resilient in resource efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Tue, 01/28/2025 - 13:05
This year’s Intimate Evening Series, a collaboration between Liberty, Griza Enterprises and leading local promoter Showtime Management – designed to usher in each new year with a symphony of hope – features Soul II Soul in Johannesburg for a celebration of reggae, R&B and neo-soul at Montecasino’s Outdoor Events Area on 01 February, before taking […]
GRAMMY®-winning South African superstar Tyla’s two-city December tour of her home country proved to be the hottest ticket in local music when it went on sale in October, quickly selling out as her enthusiastic fans – Tyla’s Tygas – grabbed their chance to see their idol up close and in person in Cape Town and […]
Cape Town’s iconic Unity On The Square festival is gearing up for a memorable celebration this December as it marks 30 years of democracy in South Africa. The fourth edition of this annual event will take place at Greenmarket Square on Monday 16 December 2024. This year’s festival promises an unforgettable experience, bringing people together […]
In 2023, the Intimate Evening Series, a collaboration between Liberty, Griza Enterprises and leading local promoter Showtime Management – designed to usher in each new year with a symphony of hope – brought the soulful Gregory Porter to South Africa. In 2024, R&B star Lalah Hathaway was the star attraction. And in January 2025, British […]
By Gbenga Oyebode, Board Chair of the African Philanthropy Forum (www.AfricanPF.org)
For decades, Africa has grappled with a legacy of colonialism, political instability, and uneven economic development, leading to perceptions of the continent as one in need of external assistance and causing the label ‘the Dark Continent' to take on a new connotation.
As the Dark Continent, Africa became an attractive destination for charitable interests, with a significant number of the philanthropic initiatives driven by external voices. These interventions though well-intentioned often failed to pay attention to local priorities and listen to the voices of proximate organization – those who precede and outlive the issues that philanthropic entities seek to address. As a result, many foreign-led philanthropic efforts have been unable to create the lasting, sustainable impact they hoped for.
Framing Africa's Philanthropy Agenda
The 2024 APF Conference was a time for reflection and agenda-setting for many prominent philanthropists, heads of foundations and leading change makers invested in Africa. From the conference and the changing landscape of things, it is clear that the time has come for philanthropic organizations, both local and international, to prioritize Africa's transformation.
A transformed Africa is characterised by inclusive socio-economic development, democratic governance, education for all, gender justice and a commitment to addressing the climate emergency and harnessing Africa's unique demography. These will not only position Africa as a dominant player on the global stage but correct the flawed narrative of Africa as a continent in perpetual need.
We should embrace Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma's vision, as outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063, of an empowered Africa defined by self-sufficiency, innovation, and equitable growth. By fostering African-led initiatives and promoting resilience, we can help shape a future where Africa is both a global powerhouse and a beacon of opportunity for its citizens.
True Change Starts from Within
As the saying goes, charity begins at home. In the homes of oligarchs, the middle class and the lowly, the practice of giving time, solidarity and resources is commonplace because generosity is second nature to us Africans; however, our expressions of this generosity through coordinated, strategic philanthropy needs to grow. If change starts from within, then the level of philanthropic support from within our borders must rise to match the urgency of our needs.
First, we must redefine and restructure our philanthropy by adopting innovative philanthropic models, and evidence-based methods to identify needs, deploy resources, measure the impact of our philanthropy and create a giving ecosystem that is responsive to our priorities as a continent.
What it Takes to Achieve Transformation
Much of giving in Africa is unreported and even those that are reported tend to happen in silos with several instances of duplication of efforts, especially in areas such as education and health which tend to receive a lot of attention from philanthropists. For those seeking to swim against this tide, there is often a lack of clear guidance on effective giving tailored to the African context seeing as strategic philanthropy is still growing phenomenon in Africa. Catalyzing transformative funding requires robust evidence. In this regard, APF collaborates with renowned institutions to conduct research and generate knowledge that enhances decision-making and promotes the adoption of practices in philanthropy. Its African Philanthropists' Toolkits also equips philanthropists with the knowledge to maximize the impact and scale of their giving.
The work that APF does in convening philanthropists and facilitating collaboration in order to catalyse development in Africa is a beacon of hope and an opportunity which more players in the ecosystem need to tap into. In less than a decade, APF has reached over 3,500 philanthropists, social investors, across Africa and beyond by leveraging the power of community to provide avenues for peer-peer interaction and engagement at regional meetings and conferences. This growing community of partners committed to Africa's transformation will doubtless accomplish great feats in the coming years.
A popular African proverb goes "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." To achieve lasting, sustainable impact, partnerships based on a clear understanding of the New Agenda for African Philanthropy are a good starting point for the reimagination and actualization of Africa as a thriving, self-sufficient continent on the global stage.
The writer is the Board Chair of the African Philanthropy Forum
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Philanthropy Forum.
About African Philanthropy Forum:
African Philanthropy Forum (APF) is a strong and vibrant community of partners who through their strategic giving, investments, and influence, foster shared prosperity on the African Continent. It was incubated by the Global Philanthropy Forum (GPF), a global network of strategic philanthropists and social investors committed to international causes from 2014 to 2016. In 2017, APF became an independent entity and continues to be an affiliate of the GPF.
Over the years, APF has established a strong presence on the Continent, with footprints in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe through convenings and activities. APF has also invested in the development of two Toolkits for African Philanthropists and the “Why Give” Series, which consists of interviews with Africa's strategic philanthropic leaders to showcase their motivations for giving.
Since its inception, APF has reached over 3,500 philanthropists, social investors, and key stakeholders in the philanthropic space across Africa and the world. Through APF's high-impact convening and initiatives, the organization has facilitated collaborations, amplified the work of change-makers, and shared best philanthropic practices and strategies for promoting homegrown development.
Following the success of its debut performances in Cape Town last month, the WGRUV Dance Company, South Africa’s newest contemporary ballet dance company brought its 3rd Season of 2024, presenting “Trilogy of Notes – A Symphony of Dance” to three theatres across Gauteng. After recent performances in Pretoria and Roodepoort the show moves to the […]
GRAMMY®-winning South African superstar Tyla’s two-city South Africa tour, proudly brought to you by Vodacom, together with leading local promoters Anything Goes and Showtime Management, and presented in association with KFM 94.5 and 947, is almost here! The ‘Water’ hitmaker’s first local tour since her meteoric rise to global stardom lands at Grand Arena, GrandWest, […]
President Ramaphosa to launch South Africa's G20 Presidency
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday brief the media on South Africa’s Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency at the Media Centre, Union Buildings, in Tshwane.
President Ramaphosa officially accepted South Africa’s responsibility for the G20 Presidency for 2025 during the recent G20 Rio Leaders’ Summit in Brazil.
This will be the first time an African economy leads the G20 for a rotational, one-year term.
Brazil held the G20 Presidency during 2024, and South Africa will at the end of its term hand over the G20 Presidency to the United States of America.
The G20 is a forum of the largest economies in the world, who meet regularly to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy.
Representing nearly 60% of the global population, 80% of global gross domestic product (GDP), and 75% of global exports, the G20 stands as a vital platform for international economic cooperation and sustainable development.
“Under its G20 Presidency, South Africa seeks to provide strategic direction in establishing a more equitable, representative and fit-for-purpose international order, in-line with the main multilateral processes under the United Nations,” the Presidency said in a statement.
The G20 is expected to have significant economic benefits for South Africa, notably for the tourism, transport, restaurant, entertainment and hospitality industries, with global visibility in all nine provinces.
South Africa will host approximately 130 meetings (both virtual and in-person) from 1 December 2024 - 30 November 2025, across the country, and on the margins of major international conferences and meetings. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 11/28/2024 - 11:00
The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF), Africa's premier conference for tourism and hospitality investment, is gearing up for its 2025 edition in Cape Town. Taking place from 17 to 19 June at The Westin Cape Town, AHIF 2025 will introduce an innovative, dynamic format aimed at fostering new partnerships and facilitating deals within Africa's rapidly expanding hospitality sector - one of the world's fastest-growing markets.
Cape Town, known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant visitor economy, provides the perfect backdrop for AHIF's annual gathering. Moreover, the South African hospitality industry is projected to grow from USD 1.36 billion in 2024 to USD 1.68 billion by 2029, driven by increasing traveller numbers and a resurgence post-COVID-19.
Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of The Bench, the organiser of AHIF, commented: “We are excited to bring AHIF to Cape Town, a city that embodies the energy and potential of African hospitality. This year's event will offer invaluable opportunities for delegates to connect with top decision-makers, explore new partnerships, and gain insights from industry leaders. AHIF is where the future of African hospitality is shaped. By offering delegates the chance to explore Cape Town, we are adding a unique layer of value to their participation. The connections made and the insights gained from these hands-on experiences will be invaluable as we work together to drive investment and development across Africa.”
The new format, which is focused on networking and tailored insights, has been carefully designed to go beyond the conference rooms, introducing country pavilions from across Africa to showcase the latest opportunities in the region to investors. The advantages of the new format include personalised itineraries, hands-on workshops, roundtables, enhanced networking, and insights on economic trends. Focused on C-level hospitality and tourism investment decision-makers, AHIF continues to be exclusively focused on those who are shaping the future of hospitality in Africa.
Daniel Silke, political economist, emphasised the potential impact of AHIF: “The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum is taken seriously as an industry-leading event globally. It addresses one of the most intriguing and exciting markets, Africa, where growth rates remain high, and demographic shifts, urbanisation, and an increase in air connectivity are driving substantial interest from hotel groups. AHIF stands out not just for the expert speakers and deep insights, but also for fostering personal connections that are invaluable in this dynamic industry.”
With opportunities growing at an unprecedented rate, AHIF is more than a meeting; it's a catalyst for action, insight, and strategic partnerships that are shaping the continent's hospitality future.
For more information, visit www.AHIF.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Bench.
Further Information:
For further information and high-resolution images, please contact:
David Tarsh
+44 (0) 20 7602 5262
+44 (0) 7770 816 070
email: David@Tarsh.com.
About The Bench:
The Bench has established a legacy for delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these platforms has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way businesses connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meeting spaces for the industry.
For over two decades - government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups and consultants – have been participating in The Bench's events for their respective objectives. These include AHIF, FHS World, FHS Saudi Arabia and AviaDev – where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right opportunities and knowledge.
Learn more on TheBench.com
Strategic Partners:
Accor, Hilton, Radisson Hotel Group
Sponsors:
Aleph Hospitality, Knight Frank
Silver Sponsor:
Time Hotels
Supported By:
South Africa Tourism
Attention all passengers and unidentified creatures! Afro-Galactic Airways is now boarding all travellers bound for Imagination Flight AG9777! Despite a healthy appetite for Spacescanner flight bookings and the Orbit Oasis becoming the Airbnb of the future, this journey is not actually bound for space! Join South African comedian Kevin Fraser for his #Imagination2025 comedy tour, […]
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) today announced that the league's milestone fifth season will tip off on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Morocco and culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, marking the first BAL games in Morocco and the first time the BAL Finals will be held in South Africa. The 2025 BAL season will feature the top 12 club teams from 12 African countries playing 48 games in Rabat; Dakar, Senegal; Kigali, Rwanda; and Pretoria.
The 12 teams will once again be divided into three conferences of four teams each. Each conference will play a 12-game group phase during which each team will face the other three teams in its conference twice. The Kalahari Conference group phase will take place from April 5 – Sunday, April 13 in Rabat. The Sahara Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, May 4 at the Dakar Arena in Senegal. The Nile Conference group phase will take place from Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 25 at BK Arena in Kigali. Eight teams from across the three conferences will qualify for the Playoffs in Pretoria, which will tip off on Friday, June 6 and culminate with the 2025 BAL Finals on Saturday, June 14. Beginning today, fans can register their interest in tickets to games in all four markets at BAL.NBA.com.
“We have seen tremendous growth over the BAL's first four seasons in the level of on-court competition, attendance, and engagement from fans and partners in Africa and globally,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “Our milestone fifth season will build on that momentum and further showcase the level of talent and passion for basketball in Africa, including through the first BAL games in Morocco and the first BAL Finals in South Africa.”
“The Kalahari Conference marks another expansion of the BAL into a new country on our continent, and we are more than satisfied,” said Anibal Manave, President of FIBA Africa. “Year after year, this competition grows, giving greater exposure to our sport and helping to elevate the level of basketball in Africa by making the league more and more competitive.”
This season, the national league champions from seven countries – Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia – will automatically qualify for the BAL. The other five teams will qualify through the Road to the BAL qualifying tournaments (http://apo-opa.co/3B0yqhx) conducted by FIBA Africa across the continent from October – December 2024.
In addition to the games, the BAL will once again collaborate with its partners to conduct youth development and social impact programming in all four markets, including Jr. NBA, coaching and referee clinics, environmental days of service, the fourth BAL Innovation Summit, networking sessions to engage with members of the media, and a series of camps and workshops for young women as part of BAL4HER, the league's platform for advancing gender equality in the African sports ecosystem.
Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, and Wilson will return as BAL Foundational Partners. The league's roster of marketing partners also includes Castle Lite, Hennessy and RwandAir.
On June 1, Angola's Petro de Luanda became the first sub-Saharan African team to win the BAL Finals after previous champions from Egypt and Tunisia. The 2024 BAL season reached fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages, set an attendance record of more than 120,000 fans across the four host countries, and generated more than 1.2 billion impressions across NBA and BAL social media channels.
Additional information about the 2025 BAL season will be announced in the coming months.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Contact:
Edwin Eselem,
Basketball Africa League,
+221 78 615 42 87,
EEselem@theBAL.com
About the BAL:
The Basketball Africa League (BAL), a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that completed its fourth season in June 2024. Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, the BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA Africa has organized across the continent and marks the NBA's first collaboration to operate a league outside North America. Fans can follow the BAL (@ theBAL) on Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3ZkyXTZ), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3Z2tuRc), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/3ZkyZez), X (https://apo-opa.co/3Zlxn5u), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Z2L7jY) and register their interest in receiving more information at BAL.NBA.com.
De Lille highlights the power of tourism
The tourism sector is a dynamic economic force that contributes significantly to worldwide gross domestic product (GDP) while creating jobs and fostering human development.
“As South Africa, we are acutely aware of the transformative power of tourism and business events and we are working hard to elevate the profile of tourism and attract more business events and visitors to our beautiful and diverse country,” Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said.
The Minister was addressing the Incentives, Business Travel & Meetings (IBTM) World Trade Show 2024 in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. Tourism was for too long, seen as a “secondary” sector, its full potential often underestimated, she said.
“We come to IBTM World this year with excitement as in a few days’ time South Africa will officially take [the] Presidency of the 2025 G20 Summit, following Brazil’s hosting of the summit this year and ahead of the United States of America who will host the summit in 2026.”
She said as the leading business events destination in Africa and the Middle East as affirmed in the latest International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) rankings, South Africa stand proud and ready to host the G20 Summit and showcase all our diverse offerings in business and leisure tourism.
“South Africa hosting the G20 Summit marks a significant milestone and it is important both for our country and the greater African continent.
“As the only African country in the G20, South Africa brings a unique perspective to discussions, particularly those affecting developing nations and the African continent.
“Hosting the summit allows South Africa to not only spotlight issues such as economic inequality, development, climate change, and fair-trade practices but it is also helps to once again helps to connect countries to grow tourism and highlights South Africa’s capability to host successful incident-free global big events,” she explained.
READ | Brazil officially hands over G20 Presidency to South Africa
De Lille said the South African meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry was valued at 6.6 billion US dollars (R121.8 billion) in 2023, and it is projected to grow fourfold over the next eight years, reaching 25.9 billion US dollars (R477.9 billion) by 2032.
“I am confident that, with our dedicated efforts, we can even exceed these projections and this is why being at this crucial platform at IBTM World is important to us as we are committed to growing this sector beyond projections.
SA's hosting prowess
“South Africa has consistently demonstrated its capability to host high-profile local and international events, showcasing our expertise and commitment to excellence.
“I can confidently assure you that, as a country we are looking forward to welcoming all the visitors including world leaders, delegates, media personnel and support staff to our shores.”
She added that South Africa has a formidable track record of hosting successful major business events annually and that the country’s hosting prowess will once again be on show for the world to see.
“We are excited to be able to share our unique stories with the world’s media as we also share with them our vast tapestry of cultures, award winning cuisine, natural beauty, diverse attractions and infrastructure.
“There is no doubt that as more of the world gets to see our country through the G20 Summit lens, we are confident that they too will be interested in coming to meet in South Africa and exploring our country.
“We are therefore looking forward to hosting even more international conferences, trade shows, and business events in future because certainly if the world still did not believe it, the G20 Summit cements our country as a capable host for large-scale events.”
De Lille told delegates attending the summit that South Africa is not just a destination, it is the gateway to the future of global collaboration and unforgettable experiences.
“The G20 Summit provides South Africa many gains and we are excited to use this event to grow global visibility, showcase our infrastructure improvements, and a strengthen our brand as a tourism and business events destination,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Wed, 11/20/2024 - 15:11
Following the success of its debut performances in Cape Town last month, the WGRUV Dance Company, South Africa’s newest contemporary ballet dance company brings its 3rd Season of 2024, presenting “Trilogy of Notes – A Symphony of Dance” at three theatres across Gauteng starting in Pretoria this week and continuing with performances in Roodepoort later […]
Disney’s The Magic Box recently extended its runs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Cape Town so far has been well received by critics and audiences have responded with standing ovations for each performance. Featuring an all-South African cast, the show is now in its final weeks at Artscape, closing on Sunday, 10 November 2024 before […]
Cape Town, 30 October 2024 – Opera lovers are in for a spine-tingling treat this November as Opera UCT presents Benjamin Britten’s operatic thriller The Turn of the Screw. Running from 20 – 23 November at the Baxter Theatre, this much-anticipated production promises to be a thrilling highlight for opera lovers and newcomers to the […]
The search is on for a ‘Hopeful Hero’ who can make Cape Town laugh out loud with R10 000 up for grabs and a live performance at the switch-on event and concert on the Grand Parade on Sunday, 1 December. The Festive Lights Switch-On, on Adderley Street, happening on 1 December 2024, is going to […]
Continuing to move the creative conversation forward, Jazzart Dance Theatre (Jazzart), will commemorate South Africa’s 30 years of Democracy with a stirring, emotive and compelling production – Four Frames of Freedom. The production will take place at Artscape on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th November 2024. This latest production is expected to attract its fair […]
In 2023, the Intimate Evening Series, a collaboration between Liberty, Griza Enterprises and leading local promoter Showtime Management designed to usher in each new year with a symphony of hope, brought the soulful Gregory Porter to South Africa. In 2024, R&B star Lalah Hathaway was the solo headliner. In January 2025, the stakes are being […]
The annual Adderley Street Festive Lights Switch-On 2024 and concert on the Grand Parade will take place on Sunday, 1 December. The City of Cape Town is once again set to kick off the festive holiday season and welcome summer in spectacular fashion, with its largest outdoor free entertainment concert at Grand Parade with the […]
Murder and fear stalk eKhenana shack dwellers
Katie Hopkins was not officially banned from South Africa by the ANC (African National Congress). However, she did face significant controversy during her visit to the country. Reports indicate that she was detained upon her arrival and later allowed to leave South Africa. A moot point is that the ANC is a political party and […]