GRAPHIC DESIGN: Kabelo scrolls his work across the business fraternity

KABELO CHILOANE realised as early as after his tourism graduation that his life tour was destined to take a different path from guiding others where to locate prime spots to enjoy and view. He switched instead to graphic designing, which he enjoys immensely, he tells Thembi Masser. 

He studied graphic designing at the Johannesburg Institute of Engineering and Technology.it was enjoyable, he says, “because I grappled with graphic designing at my company

I co-owned with my mates I met at the HP Mokoka library in Daveyton even before I studied it formally.”

Kabelo, 24, spent listless days at the library because he was a disillusioned man. Straight after making the Top 10 in an Yfm-sponsored SAB Hansa Pilsner business competition he spent his days not knowing where to go or what to do. His entry for the competition was simple: built-in solar power in the tiling of a dwelling. Although he made the top 10, he failed to proceed further. He blames his flailing presentation skills. “I was not up to scratch, “I suppose,” he offers.

Unbeknown to him, that is when the entrepreneur spirit bugged him. The competition boosted his self-confidence and his self-esteem blossomed. “I networked and realised that I could go further in business if I applied my mind to it.”

And so while spending days looking at books in the library he met like-minded guys who were in the same dilemma as he was - what to do with our lives now? They formed a detergent-making company. The business lasted barely a year but it taught Kabelo plenty. “Firstly, I taught myself graphic designing while working and two, it taught me not to waste company money in the future,” he remarks. “You see, we were good at what we did in the business, and we were just a couple of brilliant with no care in the world except produce household cleaning products. But when the money came in we boxed it out like there was no tomorrow.”

So the company disbanded. That is when he enrolled with the JEIT. His courses included photshop, illustrator, correl draw, indesign and fireworks. While studying he was making money on the side designing for businesses. After completion of his studies he registered his company, Beast Limited Pty (Ltd). “I do visual communication-branding, corporate identity, photography and, of course, graphic design.” He doesn't have a major contract now but “I know it will come in one of these days.”

He partners in some of the projects with Bhekumuzi Philane Zwane, who owns Beyond Power Media. “We collaborate nicely. I hope we do not make the detergent mistakes with him.”

Kabelo was born in Bushbuckridge, where he did his matric. He was at Maotole Primary then Setlhare high and completed matric at Maripe. He did a diverse mixture of subjects, science, agriculture, biology, English, maths, Sepedi and Afrikaans. “I liked English and Biology most and my favourite teacher was Mr Stele. “What I remember about school is that I was confused really. I did not know what I wanted to do after grade 12. The fact that there was no career guidance at school exacerbated the problem further. My parents too did not help me.”

After passing matric he went to Central Johannesburg College to do IT but did not have a place. He then, out of desperation to study something, enrolled to do tourism at Boston Media College. He passed the two-year diploma course and looked for a job. “It never came.” It was then that the idea of a build-in solar panel in the tiles materialised and he entered the Hansa Pilsner competition.

The future holds a lot for me, he believes, although he says he does not know of any entrepreneur who was helped by the government. “There were plenty of challenges for me in the past. They shattered me yes; but I adjusted thinking, dusted my pants and proceeded with the journey.

There are too many graphic designers wannabees but they don’t make enough effort to push forward to go the extra mile. At my time at the JIET there were only the three of us-males. To tell you the truth, I have not come across any females graphic designers to date. Should there be any could they please give me a shout-it will be a historic moment!”        

Right, Kabelo in camouflage and, below, a peek into the future

ARTISTIC WORKS. Amanda surrenders her soul to the stage

Stylish Amnda 

Speaking face to face to AMANDA TOBO is a test in character; she is so charismatic, captivating to look at, so eloquent! Amanda is an artist, an accomplished actress. When she speaks to you, her passion for her craft stares at you incessantly. Her achievements are so vast that the only destination for her is the North Star. But before she gets there, her ambition is to instil education to the learners through theatre. The charismatic actress tells Thembi Masser why she is not accomplished yet; why she wants to be an astute business woman and why she is not keen on awards.  

Growing up in Bizana, where she was born, Amanda, 27, wanted to one of the beautiful presenters she admired on the box. She was always captivated by the beautiful people on the telly who appeared to be enjoying their lives and having a glamorous ‘occupation’. In fact, Amanda was already in the beauty stakes right at the start of her schooling career. Since then she has been in the lime light at every educational institution she has studied at. It started at the Bizana Primary where she was Ms Bizana primary and then at high school when she won the Ms Bizana High School crown. She went on to become Ms Unisa and Ms Durban University of Technology. She has also been Ms lovelife and Ms Bizana.

But after matriculating she did not pursue modelling, but went to study for a diploma in child and youth diploma with Unisa. After just one year at Unisa and a crown as Ms Unisa she packed her bags and headed for Durban, where she continued with her studies in youth development studies. “This is where the love of acting was nurtured,” she points out. The drama department was adjacent to the youth development lecture room and her ear was always in the goings on in what was going on there instead of in class. This prompted her friends to urge her to cross over. “After my diploma studies I again packed my bags and headed to Benoni’s Sibikwa Arts Centre to take lessons in acting.”   

Today, sitting face to face with the vivacious lady, it is evident why she mesmerised so many judges in winning her beauty crowns. She has just got off the stage after taking part in the play You Decide, a South African Brewery’s (SAB) initiative to curb the scourge of under age drinking.  

    

In 2010 she took part in her first ever theatrical play, Surrender in Time. “It was the highlight of my career,” she says. “I always wanted to be on stage, and there I was, speaking and encouraging people in that way.” But her parents where not impresses. They wanted her to do something solid, something normal. “Modelling was first love, but along the way I asked myself questions. I developed the urge to do something challenging, something stronger, something personal.” Modelling fuelled that urge.

She has been in many other productions since then. She has been in Black Child, Lumambo which was on Mzansi magic, Photo Shoot on etv and in many other since.“I am not acting for financial gain or to win awards.  There is more to what I do on stage or on film. I am more into educational acting.”

While she is on the process of registering her business company, Amanda goes home to Bizana from time to time to conduct workshops on acting. “These workshops have been so influential that they have encouraged learners to reach for the stars. One of them, Donald, is in his second year medical studies as we speak.” She is also active in Durban with K-Cap and the Playhouse, organising acting lessons for learners, students and the youth. “In Kwa-Mashu I am lucky to be sponsored by Duma Ndlovu of Generations and Muvhango fame in pursuing my ambitions. I want the lids to do it on their doorstep rather than going to Johannesburg where they end up sleeping on the streets chasing their dreams.”

For Amanda it is work in progress, she asserts, sighing. “Work comes first. I do all my research thoroughly. I am disciplined and I try to emphasise the results of being disciplined in my students. Talent is not enough, they always say, and that is the truth.” She says you will always under achieve if you have no direction in whatever you are doing. She has seen talented, dedicated actors fall by the way side because they relied on drugs to stimulate themselves. “Such a pity, because I looked up to some of them for inspiration. I don’t do drugs, and hope I will never be tempted to.” She says it is all because of pressure. “There is too much pressure in the industry but if your life skills are not developed then you will end up taking stimulants and heading quickly to the scrap heap and your sell-by date. Junkies don’t last.”

She won her first and only award so far in her first year of study at Sibikwa when she won ‘Best Actor’ in the Shashalaza Awards which were organised by the Gauteng provincial’s department of arts and culture. That ward propelled her to dizzy heights.

Amnda, the look of yester year 

Now she has set her sights on becoming a business woman of note.  “I am always looking for excellence.” It is the urge to do somethi9ng challenging, something stronger, something personal, that drives her to the North Star. It is this desire to ascend the milestones that she has no inclination to put brakes on her shining star.  

Amanda..!