Virgin Rahel abhors rampant teenage pregnancy in her ‘hood

Rahel Nomfundo Savina

It is rare to find a woman the age of Rahel Nomfumdo Savina still innocent and untouched. Rahel is ambitious lass who dreams of being a tour guide in Egypt some day and who habours an intense desire to live in Brazil. She is not sure that South Africa is a decent place to live in, but surely she wants adores street hawkers.

She lives in an area that is without role models, she says. Etwatwa, Daveyton, Benoni is a rural settlement that sprung to the surface in the early ‘90s. But Rahel, 17, does not allow herself to be swallowed by the inactivity of the youth and the absence of ambition, like many of the youths are. She attends school at the Dr.Harry Gwala High and is in grade 11. Her primary education was at Kgolagano. Thembi Masser records her virgin interview.

“I want to be a tour guide,” she says shyly. This might explain her choice of subjects: Tourism, consumer studies, business studies, maths literacy, English and Tsonga and life orientation. But the way in which the subjects were selected might have been an accident in itself. She was given a list of subjects when she pitched up for her grade 10. ‘Choose your future from this list’, she was instructed. But in the end it works well for her. “My Plan ‘B’, when I fail to become a tour guide, is to become a social worker.” This is because, she says, she wants to help orphans and grannies and take part in community projects. The other side of her, “the interesting part’, is to see the world. “I want to be tour guide in Egypt. I a;lso want to visit other places in the world. Italy, Brazil, Italy.”

She will like to study at the Boston College or at Tshwane Unversity (TUT).

She has, however, not done any research into the careers she wants to pursue. At school there is no facility to learn about careers. There is neither career guidance nor vocational guidance, she says. But she flies the flag for Dr. Harry Gwala. “It has a proper order of doing things,” she says of her school. “Teachers do their jobs to the best of their abilities and with due diligence and I enjoy every minute there.” Rahel’s favourite teachers are Ms Khoza who offers Rahel’s mother tongue Tsonga, Mr. Mazibuko (tourism) and Mr.Jele (English).

While her role model is her mother, who is self-employed, she also vouches for street-hawkers. “They are a resilient lot. They raise their children and built beautiful houses while they sell and toil in adverse weather.”

There are no role models in this dump,” she grimaces. Etwatwa is not a vibrant place to be. It is crime-ridden, too many girls opt to have babies rather than go through a schooling process. There is no proper life here and the people are not united and the youth is not ambitious.” She has the same sentiment for South Africa as well. She says it is a bad place to live in; the inhabitants maim and kill foreigners. “We are one nation as Africans but I find that the government is handling the xenophobic attacks in a bad way.” Rahel, who is a born free, feels that there is still a lot of discrimination here but, the education is ok. “I am learning the things I want to know here.”

Although she is against teenage pregnancy she has a date of two years. “We cuddle and play games,” she remarks coyly, “but then there is a stop sign which warns us about a forbidden territory. We are still too young and too ambitious to fiddle in that territory.”

Rahel is a singer in the church choir and she has retired from athletics where she did short distances. She cooks and cleans at home and dances alone while going through her chores. She lives with her mother, Maria Alfredo Ubisi, her father, (“a good, cool guy”) Anthony Ernesto Sivana and siblings Themba, Phillip, David, Dumisani, Nhlanhla and little Rose.  

The proud, still pure a virgin Rahel in her school uniform  

   

With fellow school mates, Dali Sibisi on the left and center it is Doris Mathebula

Sci-Bono Engineering Focus Week 4-8 May 2015

Engineering Week View this email in your browser

Engineering Focus Week The Engineering Focus Week is a showcase of the wide range of careers available in the industry and it provides a platform for learners and educators to interact with industry, higher education institutions and other training providers within the engineering and manufacturing industry. Learners are encouraged to participate in the Engineering Week as there will be many opportunities to interact with real life professionals in the industry, to gain an understanding of how the industry functions and learn about bursary and learnerships opportunities available in the sector.   Date: 04 – 08 May 2015 Time: 9h00 – 13h00 daily    For reservation, please download and complete the forms and fax to 011 832 3360/1 or contact Siphokazi Ndzamela or Cynthia Sithole on 011 639 8400 orbookings@sci-bono.co.za.

With manufacturing production depressed, role of Manufacturing Indaba becomes critical

 13^th April 2015 – With last week’s news that manufacturing production decreased by half a percent in February 2015 compared with February 2014, there is a critical need for interventions that will bolster and boost South Africa’s manufacturing industries.

Seasonally adjusted manufacturing production decreased by 0,8% in the three months ended February 2015 compared with the previous three months. Seven of the ten manufacturing divisions reported negative growth rates over this period.

“Manufacturing recovery remains stifled by the lack of energy and water supply security, which is what impacted 2015’s first quarter growth results. Manufacturers and government therefore urgently need opportunities such as the Manufacturing Indaba to reach a common view of how to address these challenges,” says Coenraad Bezuidenhout, steering committee member of the Manufacturing Indaba and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Circle, which lobbies government and advocates for South Africa’s biggest manufacturers.

The second annual Manufacturing Indaba will address the reasons for the decrease in South Africa’s manufacturing production, seeking to boost the sector that is critical to growing South Africa’s economy.

“A strong and innovative manufacturing base is one of the backbones of a flourishing economy that is creating jobs,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director of the Manufacturing Indaba. “We believe we can leverage our powerful collaboration of strategic partners to promote prosperity through manufacturing, science and innovation at this critical time,” says Hart.

Bringing together South Africa’s manufacturing leaders from both the government and private sector on the 29^th and 30^th June 2015 at Emperors Palace, Ekurhuleni; Manufacturing Indaba provides the platform for manufacturing business leaders and those responsible for manufacturing policies to workshop together for solutions.

The strategic partners of the Manufacturing Indaba include the dti, the Manufacturing Circle, Deloitte Southern Africa, the Department Science and Technology, Productivity SA and the NCPC-SA.

The 0,5% year-on-year decrease in manufacturing production in February 2015 was mainly due to lower production in the following divisions: petroleum, chemical products, rubber and plastic products (-2,0% and contributing -0,5 of a percentage point); furniture and ‘other’ manufacturing (-8,9% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-2,0% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

The largest negative contributions to the decrease of 0,8% were made by the following divisions: radio, television and communication apparatus and professional equipment (-18,3% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); motor vehicles, parts and accessories and other transport equipment (-3,7% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point); and wood and wood products, paper, publishing and printing (-2,1% and contributing -0,3 of a percentage point).

For more info on this event, visit www.manufacturingindaba.co.za

Themba Sibanyoni-The John Wesley presenter who shied away from stardom

Themba Sibabayoni

Little did THEMBA SIBANYONI know that when his geography teacher asked him to do a presentation in front of class that she was propelling him to dizzy heights. Well, he is not exactly there yet, but he has ambitions to be in the media. In the meantime he is cooking up a storm in the kitchen for his mother, Zodwa. Today he is a presenter and facilitates in computer studies at the John Wesley Community Centre (JWCC) in Etwatwa, Benoni. But at home he cooks up a mini tsunami as he prepares some  delicious dishes for his mother, step father and brother.
Here he speaks to Thembi Masser

Themba, 23, is a self-made man in many respects. And he did not let adversities stand in his way to success. Firstly, he has never seen his father. The father, Madladleni Ndlovu, died while they were speaking on the phone, preparing to meet face to face. Then his mother developed illnesses that caused her to resign from her job as a dog-groomer. She is presently without work.

Despite all the hardships Themba is a shining beacon at the JWCC. Here he a care giver and a computer facilitator. Care givers visit sick people at their homes to give them love, assurance and hope in life. What is remarkable is that he has no formal computer training. He taught himself at home and now he is teaching the community members how to operate computers. ‘I am also interested in journalism,” he says with a twinkle in his eyes. So he has taken upon himself to write about events that happen at the center. He is also an interested public speaker. “Public speaking gives me the chance to address people and engage spiritually with them.”

He will also like to do motivational speaking one of these days. He wants to tell the youth about the problems mankind face. “For instance, many from the youth section demand from government. But, they do not work hard, he observes. “They want freebies, they demand without giving any thought about what they have given to the government. They simply want to take without thinking, but wanting grants to start businesses or to have babies. It is shocking.” The desire to motivate others was also born out of reading the short story, The Passion of the Hobo by Kabeli Lichaba (kabelistories.blogspot.com). The story made me realize that you might think that you are not recognized while the truth is that there are people who are there watching you. We must know that in all of us there is an inner voice that matters.” He says every body is a hobo. “It does not matter what you are wearing, an Armani suit or are in tattered clothing, we are hoboes until the next person gives you the advice of a life time.”

While he was at high school he was a shy lad who plastered himself along the walls to avoid people. He remembers that his geography teacher, Ms Hlatswayo, praised his written assignment. “She said I was good and needed to show my class mates how it was done.” So, after realizing how panic stricken he was to stand in front of the class, she role-played for him.  Soon he was the toast of the class after giving a ‘ten-minute-standing-ovation-presentation’ and she made him to like geography so much that he decided that he was going to be architecture. Soon he was also presenting in front of the life orientation teacher. He also developed the love to do presentations. So soon he was part of the lovelife mpinthis who addressed the youth on the dangers of drugs, early teenage pregnancies and gangsterism. And, later, he bacame a ground breaker at the same lovelife. “The only other guy who presented in class at the time was Xolani Radebe, my class mate.”

But, sadly, he did not do architecture after high school. He went to Springs College to do cooking course.  He did a two years diploma in hospitality which included cooking, fire fighting and first aid. “One of the treats my wife will enjoy from me is the sumptuous food I will feed her, he laughs heartily.

Before that he completed his matric at Unity High, after spending a year at BP Mtyataza High and then another year at Quantum High.Then it was to Phillip Moyo Clinic in Etwatwa where he council-led expectant mothers and the youth.

Above and below:Chilling with his buddies

He also cares for his ailing mother. Her health deteriorated so much that she was under sever depression and later developed bipolar tendencies. “I cared for her and still do right now. Every two years she suffers for two months or so, but she is fine.”

Themba plays soccer and chess to relax and is a keen writer. He also chills with his boyhood friends, Kamogelo Mamokgobo, Thabiso Shongwe, Thabo Mnisi, Colbyn Wellington and Tshepiso Manana. He says they share ‘life’ and they share the same ‘vision’.

He has no qualms about not being able to grow under the tutelage of his father. “Yes, it is an painful to grow without your father, but my stepfather, whom I call father, was always there for me. He has aptly replaced my own father.”

The caption says it all

Themba is not married yet, and does not have any random kids.

Sandile Kali destined to be South Africa’s next world great baker

Story  by Makobedi Mofokeng

Master baker Sandile creates another delicious cake 

Sandile Kalisa is a Benoni boy through and through. His parents were surely overjoyed when they brought home a bouncing baby boy, full of life and character. Sandile and his family lived in Daveyton for the first seven years of his life and they then moved to Crystal Park in 2000 and have been living there ever since.

As a young boy Sandile had his sights set on a career as a fireman. All it took was just a single episode of Jamie Oliver’s cooking show for him to fall in love with the idea becoming a professional cook. Before that he had always seen it as a career for women.

At just the age of 21 he already has not one, and not two,  but three qualifications. He has a diploma in Food Preparation, from the highly acclaimed International Hotel School. A further certificate in electrical engineering which he obtained from the Ekhurhuleni East College, and a diploma in Patisserie from Capsicum Culinary Studio, which he says is his 'favourite' and is passionate about.

At high school his favourite subject was business studies, which makes perfect sense. it has come in handy because he his very own business at present, Hashtag Cakes, a bakery which specialises in all sorts of delicious, decadent pastries. The name says it all, cakes from Hashtag Cakes are modern, trendy, and absolutely gorgeous, not forgetting delicious.

The Cake boss, Buddy Valastro, is his role model because of his love for pastry and his family. Sandile hopes that one day he will run a family bakery with his ever supportive parents but in the meantime his bakery, Hashtag Cakes, is run from his family home in Crystal Park.

But before all that happens Sandile has his top five dreams (in this exact order) he wants to realize in his life:

1.    To be a private chef

2.    To work on a cruise ship

3.    To work overseas, preferably Brazil and Florida

4.    To formally establish his own chain of bakeries and

5.    To own his very own yacht.

This young man clearly has big plans for his life and he is ready to live it wholeheartedly. He is very active on social media and has mouth-watering Facebook pages. To contact him you can search Hashtag Cakes or Sandile Chef Kalisa on Facebook. 

Sandile is on the left in the picture

Big opportunities for South African manufacturers in Africa

With growth rates exceeding those in the developed world – at an average of between 4 and 5% between 2002 and 2014 – African countries provide investors with ample reason to tap into booming consumer demand. With relative ease of access to sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, and an understanding of the region, South African manufacturers can get ahead of other investors looking to Africa for new opportunities. 

In particular, Africa represents a large and growing opportunity for fast-moving consumer goods companies and retailers and the rapid expansion of Africa’s consumer class should convince companies to think differently about Africa.

“800 million people are urbanising in Africa this decade – the biggest urbanisation movement in the world. This means huge opportunities in terms of fast-moving and durable consumer goods for manufacturers,” says Coenraad Bezuidenhout, Executive Director of the Manufacturing Circle, which lobbies government and other stakeholders in the interests of the country’s manufacturers. “Added to this there are huge energy developments and easing terms of trade, which means satisfying demand from these markets will become more profitable going forward than they ever were before,” says Bezuidenhout.

The Manufacturing Circle is one of the strategic partners of the upcoming Manufacturing Indaba, set to take place at Emperors Palace on the 29th and 30th June 2015 in Ekurhuleni, the host city and the location of government’s re-industrialisation and revitalisation plans. 

The current economic conditions in Africa make it the prime place and time for South African manufacturers to introduce their products to the African market, particularly fast-moving consumer goods.

In 2010, McKinsey forecast total growth in compound annual GDP per capita of 4.5 percent until 2015, which is expected to boost consumer spending by more than 35 percent. “With population growth of 2 percent and continued urbanization, we estimate that 221 million basic-needs consumers will enter the African market by 2015. As a result, the total number of nations with more than ten million consumers and with gross national income exceeding $10 billion a year will increase to 30 from 22.”

According to the McKinsey report, “GDP per capita is the single most important driver of global growth in the consumption of fast-moving consumer goods, accounting for an average of around 73 percent of total growth across 60 product categories.”

While the influence of other factors, such as education and local customs, varies between categories, GDP per capita dominates how much money people spend in Africa because most markets are in the early stages of development.

It is critical that South African manufacturers move swiftly to maximise the African opportunity.

“The degree to which South African manufacturers will be able to leverage opportunities in Africa will be a significant driver of their attractiveness to investors all over the world, and the terms of trade we are able to negotiate with our non-African trade partners,” concludes Bezuidenhout.

In addition to the Manufacturing Circle other strategic partners of the Manufacturing Indaba include the Department of Trade & Industry (dti), the City of Ekurhuleni, Deloitte South Africa and the NCPC-SA.

The inaugural Manufacturing Indaba in 2014 drew 240 delegates, with both the private and public sectors represented at the workshop and networking sessions around the growth of South Africa’s manufacturing industries.  Robust debate and discussion were held with delegates from government departments, the private sector, manufacturing industries and the broader African continent considering the role of government policy in boosting South Africa’s manufacturing industries. Speakers included City of Ekurhuleni management, senior macro-economists, dti specialists, global mining managers and manufacturing business experts. The second annual event will build on the success of the inaugural event.

For more info on this event, visit www.manufacturingindaba.co.za