Fused

Image: Instagram

KZN student, Mzamo Mbhele develops a data-free app to help job seekers

Fused, Stories of South Africa, Tech / January 17, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

The unemployment rate in South Africa, especially among the youth, is a national crisis. Many young people, even those with qualifications are sitting at home, feeling hopeless and job prospects are almost non-existent.

Sprucing up your CV, keeping your LinkedIn updated, and constantly applying for jobs, won’t always guarantee job security. This is why Mzamo Mbhele, a 22-year-old IT software development student has developed a job-hunting app that allows young people to find jobs near them. Job X is a zero-rated app that allows job seekers to use the app without having any data.

While studying Mzamo was able to build the app, which allows people to build professional CVs, save them as PDFs, scan their documents using their phone camera, and save them as PDF documents.

What sets Job X apart from any other app is that it allows you to build a professional CV, and also shows you the jobs available based on your location, skills, and qualifications. The app already has more than 40 000 users.

Mzamo has always been intrigued by how technology works and knew very early in his life that he wanted a tech career. He even began repairing phones at the age of 11, and 11 years later, he is using his skills for the betterment of others.

We can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!

Image: Instagram

Siyanda Mthethwa’s Kuloola is making life easier for people living in rural areas

Business, Food & Drinks, Fused, Stories of South Africa / January 16, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

For most people living in the rural areas of South Africa, traveling to local stores or supermarkets is expensive and can take an entire day. But thanks to Kuloola, a mobile app by Siyanda Mthethwa, specially developed to tackle this issue, previously excluded communities have access to essential services.

Siyanda is one of the Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South Africans 2020, a SAB Foundation Social Innovation Awards winner, and an Accenture Rising Star Awards winner.

“Kuloola” comes from a take on “it’s easy” in the isiZulu language and, through his work, Siyanda has managed to make life much easier for people, by getting essential goods delivered directly to their doors.

However, that doesn’t even cover half of the impact Mthethwa has had on rural communities. Through the service, he has also managed to create employment for many residents, especially young women.

In previous interviews, Siyanda has mentioned that this is among the achievements that make him proudest: being able to hire and sustain employment for 15 young people, predominantly women.

With no prior management experience, he has been able to retain most of his staff because of a strong and inclusive management style. For Siyanda, Siyanda being able to work towards improving the lives of people in his own community has also been a moment of pride for him.

He says he was privileged to have access to opportunities and a good quality of life. It’s for that reason he wants to make a positive impact on the lives of people less fortunate than him.

Customers choose from predefined combo sets with basic products like rice, flour, sugar, oil, vegetables, dishwashing liquids, and toilet paper. Then, they can order delivery via mobile in three convenient ways: make a phone call / ask for a callback, SMS or send a WhatsApp message.

MaNgema, one of Kuloola’s customers told The Fuse, “Before using this system, I used to leave my house very early in the morning to make sure I get to the store on time, to avoid the long queues because many pensioners go on the same day. Buying groceries would be an all-day activity, and my bones are already giving up on me, so I would tire. But now, that young man has made things so much easier for me and my grandchildren – they can focus on their studies, and I can focus on my health.”

Image: Instagram

Mlungisi Nkosi is demystifying Mathematics, Science, and Technology one video at a time

Fused, Stories of South Africa, Uncategorized / January 16, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

After spending 13 years as an educator, Mlungisi Nkosi has developed methods of making Mathematics and Physical Science easy to understand for learners in Grades 10 to 12.

His passion for teaching and seeing others do well led him to start a YouTube channel that has since become one of the fastest-growing YouTube Channels in the area of Education. His channel has impacted over 250 000 individuals, with over 106 000 subscribers to date.

Mlungisi is one of the 13 content creators who were selected to be part of the YouTube Black Voices fund program, class of 2022.

His content continues to inspire those who want to excel in Mathematics and Physical Science. The channel has an impact in sub-Saharan countries, the USA, the UK, and Northern and Southern Africa.

“The aim is to change the narrative of South African youth and young adults in the area of Mathematics and Physical Science to become globally competitive,” he writes on his website.
And with the new academic year about to start, it’s people like Mlungisi’s content that students and pupils should be binging on right now.

Image: Instagram

Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng’s Sentebale Sexual & Reproductive Health App is a game changer

Fitness & Health, Fused, Stories of South Africa / January 13, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

These days there’s an app for everything, and if used correctly, these apps can be very helpful. One of our favorite apps is one by medical doctor and author, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, Sentebale App.

Sentebale, meaning ‘forget me not’ in the Sesotho language, is considered a guide to stigma-free, evidence-based, and comprehensive information about sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
“The name emphasizes the importance of not forgetting about your sexual health as a part of achieving holistic wellness,” she writes on the app’s website.

Created by Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng who is the OurEquity NPC, with technical expertise from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health and best-selling author, the app offers invaluable information on the anatomy and physiology; the reproductive health cycle; hormone therapy; infections, sexual pleasure, safer sex tools, pregnancy management, and outcomes, as well as distress and post-violence information.

“As it stands, queer, trans, and gender-diverse people adolescents, and cisgender women continue to experience. So, the content in this app has been structured to affirm, respect, and promote access to the information they need, whenever they need it,” the app reads.

One of our favorite things about this app on The Fuse is that it is available in English, Sesotho, and isiZulu. “Dr. T” as she is affectionately known, had always dreamed of ordinary people having access to information about sexual and reproductive health as it is a basic need and human right.

In June 2022, she launched the app, and just a few months later, it is being used by teachers and community health workers as well. The app is available on iOS and Android.

Image credit: Instagram

Drip founder, Lekau Sehoana, shares his experience of owning a chicken business before starting Drip

Career, Fashion & Beauty, Fused, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Sneakers, Stories of South Africa / January 4, 2023

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Most entrepreneurs say they’ve always known that they needed to start their own business from the very early stages of their lives. Although most business owners struggle to get their companies off the ground at first, with perseverance and proper research, they thrive.

The story of Drip Footwear dates back to 2003, when founder Lekau Sehoana had to make the most out of what he had, which sparked innovation and creativity. Growing up in an informal settlement of Ivory Park, Lekau Sehoana, didn’t have any shoes to wear.

He then saw an old torn sneaker and redesigned it using Denim and Polyurethane. This sneaker became a local hit and led him to enter the shoe-making business, and exchange pain for profit, for the next 5 Years of his High School life. A few years later, Drip was born, and it has been one of South Africa’s favorite shoe brands to date.

Lekau recently took to Twitter to share how just six months before starting Drip, he was running a chicken business that wasn’t doing so great.

“These pictures were taken exactly 6 months before I started DRIP. I learned so much from this journey. Running a business and bleeding money every day, literally. Each day when it came, I went further into the negative. This business tested me in so many ways,” he wrote.

All the testing was clearly just a path leading him to greater heights, and what Lekau has done with Drip is commendable and inspirational – just the motivation we all need to kick off 2023. This is your sign to go for that dream job, start the podcast, and don’t be afraid to reach for your goals. The fear of failure will only hold you back from greatness.

And in Lekau’s words: “One thing about entrepreneurship, you must never panic. Even in the midst of the worst storms, stay calm, think of solutions, and move.”

Image credit: Twitter

South Africa saw some of the most beautiful Amazibazana in 2022

Culture, Fused, Lifestyle, Stories of South Africa / December 30, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

South Africa is no doubt one of the countries privileged with many different people with different cultures and traditions – the Xhosa culture is one of them. In the Xhosa tradition, once a boy is of age, he goes to the mountain for the initiation process and is circumcised.

After about three weeks in the mountain, he returns home as ikrwala, ready to be a man. The celebration that happens upon his return is called umgidi, and his mother is izibazana (the mother of the man).

For izibazana, this celebration means a lot – her son has returned from a process that could’ve easily gone wrong (we’ve seen how many boys die during initiation seasons). Izibazana wears her best traditional gear and sings and dances, accompanied by other women while they welcome the young man approaching his home.

Here are some of our favorite amazibazana during this mgidi season:

Image credit: Instagram

Lawyer and influencer, Mary-Jane Mphahlele is our 2023 travel goals

Fused, Lifestyle, Stories of South Africa, Travel  / December 29, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Traveling is said to be one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Leaving your comfort zone and experiencing other cultures, tasting different food, and just seeing how other people live can broaden the mind in unimaginable ways.

Mary-Jane Mphahlele, or “Mary-Jane Explores” as she calls herself on social media, is an accomplished lawyer who owns a law firm – but is also an avid traveler who plugs her social media followers on beautiful “secret” locations within South Africa.

It’s always best to explore your own country at some point in your life, and Mary-Jane is seeing to it that everyone knows what places to visit in each province!

South African babies of Tik Tok that made our ovaries scream in 2022

Entertainment, Fused, Humour, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / December 28, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

If you don’t have any children, these babies probably made you consider starting a family of your own, or if you have older children, these babies might’ve made you think of adding just one more. Either way, they’re the cutest little munchkins you’ll see on South African Tik Tok.

  1. If you’re a regular on Tik Tok, you must have come across mischevious little baby Una who is strong and always up to something!
@ammy_4una

18months and we still at it 😩, #fyp #motherhood #babiesoftiktok

♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune

2. Baby Daniel, or “Danxaza” as his nanny affectionately calls him, takes no days off! Even in his Christmas hat, Danxaza will always have a broom in hand, ready to clean up a storm!

@anellevoyi101

♬ original sound – anellevoyi101

3. Lulu’s love for her dad and food can’t go unnoticed! She’s the sweetest, cutest little baby girl. How she demolishes her parents’ food is hilarious!

@kwamatokazi

Inyama ncaaaa emntaneni wa #kwamatokazi emgidini wakwa Bangiso ekhaya

♬ original sound – KwaMatokazi
  1. No baby is as unphased about anything like baby Mohumi – his mother might suffer here and there because of his….curiosity, though!
@brandcupid

Replying to @serriggs It feels like within 5 seconds🙄🧐😄 What is he chanting🧐🧐#40millionbaby #40millionconversationswithkids #tatatata

♬ original sound – Brand Cupid
5. Baby Cyus is so adorable, and his cousin is hilarious!
@lala_d2

😅😂😅🫶🏻#BoostYourRadiance #AnythingForTheTaste #babyCyus #nephew #son

♬ original sound – Lala_d2
Image: Instagram

Loyiso Manga is making waves with his Ubuntu Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Career, Food & Drinks, Fused, Stories of South Africa / December 21, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

If you’re a fan of olive oil, you might be familiar with the Ubuntu brand of extra virgin olive oil. The brand was started by Loyiso Manga – a bright and innovative budding entrepreneur who saw a gap in the market related to the accessibility and appeal of Olive Oil to the broader South African market.

He searched for over two years for an Olive Farm to partner with, and despite being unemployed while searching for funding for his dream of a healthier South Africa by bringing Olive Oil to the masses – Loyiso never gave up.

Loyiso was unemployed before finally being employed as a call center agent, but even then, he knew he had a different path to follow. Now his brand is taking over shelves at Woolworths and this is just the beginning for the Eastern Cape-born entrepreneur.

After researching the benefits of olive oil in food, hair, and skin, Loyiso knew this was a dream he could not afford to let go of. “The brand was established from a desire to connect people to the benefits of olive oil in a way that is fresh, positive, and attractive, and that exudes the uniquely African philosophy of community and sharing,” he writes on the brand’s website.

Ubuntu Extra Virgin Olive Oil has won Gold in the New York World Olive Oil competition in 2019, Silver in the New York World Olive Oil competition in 2021, and Double Gold in the New York World Olive Oil competition in 2022.

Speaking to GQ Magazine, Loyiso said, “We want to serve as inspiration for young people who are starting their small chakalaka business to encourage them, that if Loyiso can do it, so can they,” and we couldn’t agree more!

Image: Instagram

South African soprano, Pretty Yende is flying the country’s flag high

Entertainment, Fused, Local Entertainment , Stories of South Africa / December 20, 2022

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Her voice has been dubbed a voice that can reach the stars by the Washington Post, and it seems South African operatic soprano Pretty Yende is aiming even higher.

In October 2022, Pretty was awarded a Ceremonial Badge of Honour for her contribution to the arts and letters in France and worldwide after just 12 years of making her professional operatic debut at the Latvian National Theatre in Riga, Latvia, as Micaela in Carmen in 2010. From the small town of Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, to the world!

Pretty was bestowed an Order of Arts and Letters award by France’s Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak.

“The Order of Arts and Letters, established in 1957 by the French Minister of Culture, rewards those who, through their ongoing engagement and creativity, have helped develop the arts and literature in France and throughout the world,” according to the Medailles Officielles website.

“I feel extremely honoured and humbled by such a prestigious Decoration,” Pretty wrote as she shared a video of the moment on Twitter.

Other prestigious awards include an award from the South African government ‘The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver’ for her excellent achievement and international acclaim in the field of world of opera and for serving as a role model to aspiring young musicians.

And more recently being a recipient of the Italian Knighthood, Ordine Stella d’Italia for her work in building extraordinary relations between Italy and other countries, making her the youngest South African ever awarded this accolade.

The sky is definitely not the limit for Pretty, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store for her!

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