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BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

South African Businesswoman, Mary Phadi started her logistics business with one truck which started working with side tippers in 2007.

Mary, 49, who grew up in the small town of Cornelia in the Free State, had led Tasa successfully since its inception, competing with existing trucking organisations that have a financially stronger muscle, influence and experience.

Tasa, which advocates for road freight operators in South Africa, called for the re-regulation of the industry after it was deregulated in 1988 to ensure the sector is transformed. It launched the first South African freight awards in October 2022 to recognise excellence in the industry.

Under her leadership, Tasa also started the first safety awareness campaign in December 2022, because of the increase of fatalities on the roads involving trucks. Mary was appointed the national chairperson of the South African Network of Women in Transport from 2009 and she is the spokesperson for the Coal Transporters Forum.

She has striven to empower women through pushing for policies and ensuring women have the technical skills needed to excel in the sector. She has also helped increase the number of women obtaining operating permits in the transport industry.

An achievement of which she is proud is that her heavy duty commercial vehicle company has a clean safety record with no fatalities. 

Today, she employs 53 truck drivers and has a fleet of side tippers, flat decks and tankers which transport coal, lime, manganese and maize. She is the Founder of Basadi Logistics, a trucking company located in Emalahleni (Witbank), which recently purchased 9 brand new trucks.

Her son, Lebohang Phadi is the CEO of the company, and was included in the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 in 2021.

Image: Instagram

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Lukhanyo Mdingi, a true visionary in the world of fashion, has captivated us all with his exceptional creativity, craftsmanship, and innovative designs.

His unparalleled talent and dedication have earned him this well-deserved recognition. The AMIRI Prize is a highly esteemed accolade that celebrates emerging fashion designers who push boundaries and redefine the industry.

Lukhanyo Mdingi’s unique perspective and ability to seamlessly blend contemporary elements with traditional craftsmanship have truly set him apart. With this remarkable achievement, Lukhanyo Mdingi joins the ranks of the most influential and celebrated designers in the world.

Image: Twitter

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

In the realm of R&B, where melodies and emotions entwine, Pr!nce has masterfully crafted a love story that transcends the ordinary.

His latest single, “bebé” takes us on a journey through the highs and lows of affection, artistry, and the relentless spirit of creative resilience.
 
Collaboration played a pivotal role in creating “bebé.” All the setbacks were blessings in disguise, as they allowed the song to evolve into something even more beautiful.

Each artist’s touch added depth, with Pr!nce and Tron Pyre’s synergy shining through.
 
Stream “bebé” now to be among the first to experience its magic: https://platoon.lnk.to/bebe

Image: Supplied

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Nal’ibali literacy activist and Tsebo Ke Lesedi Reading Club leader Basetsana Sheane recently hosted the Making Friends With Books event in Theunissen, Free State.

Aimed at sparking a love of reading for enjoyment in the area, the event had speakers from the literacy space in Free State, storytelling sessions, poetry, and a read-aloud session. Children also received copies of the Nal’ibali Read-Aloud Story Collection and “Kudu Gets A New Set of Ears” written by Martha Sijwally Tsiki at the event.

Basetsana is a perfect example of the contribution that we can all make towards improving literacy in our communities. To become a Nal’ibali Literacy activist and learn how to start your own reading club, WhatsApp “courses” to 0600 44 2254.

Image: LinkedIn

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

In a story that is as inspiring as it is remarkable, Dr. Nkuli Boikhutso, CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, shares her journey from surviving a bomb blast and ovarian cancer as a child to leading one of South Africa’s most prominent children’s hospitals.

Dr. Boikhutso’s early life was marked by unimaginable challenges. In 1991, she survived a bomb blast in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, and spent time in hospital receiving treatment. A few years later, she received a devastating diagnosis of ovarian cancer, when she was just 14 years old. Despite this, she remained hopeful, drawing strength from her supportive family and the medical team around her, including Sister Sadie, the head nurse manager of oncology at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

It was Sister Sadie who introduced Dr. Boikhutso to the Reach For A Dream Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has been inspiring hope and making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses for over three decades.

“My dream was to visit my aunt, who lived in Washington DC,” Dr. Boikhutso recalls. Thanks to the Foundation, which arranged a trip to the United States, she lived her dream. It provided her with a glimpse into a world beyond her familiar surroundings in Soweto.

“Through this experience, I realised that it’s not just the hospital or school that exists but that there’s a whole world out there that you can look forward to living in, seeing, and exploring. You are not defined by the illness you have,” she says.

Today, as a cancer survivor and the CEO of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Dr. Boikhutso uses her personal experiences and professional expertise to ensure that every child under the care of the Hospital receives the best possible treatment.

“The experiences I had growing up confirmed that being a doctor was what I wanted to do. Specifically, I wanted to work and help sick children like me and ensure that they receive the help and care they need,” she reflects.

The opportunity to lead Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital was a transformative experience for Dr. Boikhutso. “I am not the type who likes to be at the forefront. I am a background person who wants to do the work and get it done,” she admits. She approaches her leadership role with grace and pragmatism, understanding that the hospital environment can be unpredictable and challenging.

Dr. Boikhutso is deeply attuned to the significant impact that chronic illnesses have on children and their families. “It keeps me going when I hear stories from parents, who are so grateful,” she says. “A sick child has a significant impact on the family, especially on the parents, and I feel so proud to be a part of their treatment journey.”

The resilience of the children treated at the hospital inspires her, as does the crucial role of hope in their journey. “Generally, children are resilient, but hope provides the motivation they need to get better,” she reflects. Her own childhood experience with cancer taught her about the power of hope and dreams.

“The work that Reach For A Dream does, and the motto of inspiring hope helped me recover. Medicine is one thing but to be psychologically pumped up to go through the treatment, you need that hope. You need people to inspire you, and that’s the importance of survivors – to encourage and give others hope,” she shares.

When asked what message she would share with children, parents, and caregivers facing challenging times, Dr. Boikhutso responds, “Dreaming is free. We can all do it, and we can dream about anything. It doesn’t have to be related to where you are now; you can be what you want in the dream, so keep dreaming.”

Dr. Boikhutso’s journey embodies the mission of the Reach for a Dream Foundation: to give children battling life-threatening illnesses a magical experience that allows them to reclaim their childhood, lost amidst hospital wards and medical procedures.

“Dr. Boikhutso’s story is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of dreams. Her journey from a dreamer to a survivor and now, a healer, is an inspiration for all children battling life-threatening illnesses. It is a vivid reminder that hope, strength, and courage can turn even the most challenging situations into a springboard for remarkable achievements. At Reach For A Dream, we believe in the healing power of dreams, and Dr. Boikhutso’s life is a shining example of that belief coming to life,” says Julia Sotirianakos, CEO of Reach For A Dream.

Image and source: Reach For A Dream

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Celebrity child star, Kairo Forbes, daughter of Africa’s number #1 female DJ, DJ Zinhle, and the late iconic African rap star, AKA, was named the “Social Media Kid Influencer of The Year” at the 3^rd annual South African Social Media Awards (SASMA).
 
The “Social Media Kid Influencer of The Year” category was established to acknowledge the rising influence of young content creators and recognise the positive impact they have on their audiences. “This accolade is dedicated to the young, dynamic influencers under the age of 18 who have been relentlessly shaping their presence on social media platforms,” expressed SASMA online.
 
“We did it Glammy,” exclaims Kairo Forbes who was in attendance at the awards ceremony with her grandmother, inspirational speaker, Lynn Forbes. She adds: “Thank you to mom, dad and my family for all your love and support, and to everyone who voted for me, especially The Megacy. Thank you to the South African Social Media Awards and Canon SA for honouring me with this award.”
 
At just 8 years old, Kairo Forbes’ influence on social media has been unmatched for a child star. Boasting over 1.4M followers on Instagram (having secured a verified badge before her 4th birthday), the young mogul in the making has her own watch brand and jewelry line and is considered one of South Africa’s most bankable children.
 
From magazine covers to social media trends, the name Kairo Forbes comes with a lot of admiration and is one brands love to associate with having done campaigns for the likes of Nedbank, Truworths, Cotton On, Lifebouy, Disney, Nivea and Danone just to highlight a few.
 
Kairo Forbes joins an esteemed list of influencers and content creators celebrated by SASMA for contributing to the social media landscape. Her winning the “Social Media Kid Influencer of The Year” title signifies her growing influence and the positivity she spreads in the digital realm.

Image: Supplied

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Mpho Mohlong, a gifted musician and accomplished music producer, hails from the remote township of Orange Farms in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He discovered his love for music at a young age, playing drums and piano in church. Mpho’s journey led him to become a sought-after session musician, playing for renowned artists like Lebo Sekgobela and Ray Phiri.

His passion for music production blossomed, and he joined the EL World Music label, working with artists such as Simmy, Sun-EL Musician, and Msaki. With his exceptional skills and unwavering dedication, Mpho is poised to make a lasting impact on the music industry.

Mpho.Wav has been chosen as 1 of 101 producers worldwide of 2023 by Corite x 1001 Tracklist.

Introducing “Close to You,” a playful and melodious fusion of afro house and pop. This captivating soundtrack peers into the many guises of love, delivering infectious beats and catchy hooks that will leave listeners enchanted. With its vibrant energy and thought-provoking lyrics, “Close to You” offers a unique and unforgettable musical experience. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where afro house meets pop, and where the complexities of love are explored through playful melodies and captivating rhythms.

“Get ready to immerse yourself in a captivating journey with my album. It’s a Afro-tech project that seamlessly blends the rich sounds of Africa with the innovative beats of electronic music. Featuring incredible artists like Simmy, Jabulile Majola, Deena G, Shimza and Sun-EL Musician just to name drop a few, this album showcases the diversity of African sound and vocals, With meticulous production, every track is a testament to the beauty and power of Afro-tech music,” Mpho said.

Image: Supplied

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

MICT Seta-accredited film and television business academy, Leaders In Motion Academy (LIMA), acclaimed for producing two international award-winning films (48 Hour Film Competition), has its sights set on being at the forefront of raising awareness and effectively contributing to remedying the social ill of Gender-Based Violence that maintains its plague on South African society. With skills development, creative entrepreneurship, and digital content at its core, LIMA announces this year’s 16 Short Filmmakers Project with the theme 16 Days of Activism.

Founded by renowned media personality and social entrepreneur, Thato Molamu, Leaders In Motion Academy launched their 16 Short Filmmakers Project this year, which will see 40 young filmmakers take center stage (16 writers, 16 directors, 8 producers) and produce 16 short films under the theme “16 days of activism”. The leading production company for the films is Molamu’s creative agency Gateway Media, trading as Leaders In Motion Media Africa “LIMMA” which has over 10 years of experience in producing films.

This is the second year since 2019, operating at this magnitude. The student filmmakers will go through a month boot camp of training and pre-production, and at the production phase, the 16 directors and 8 producers will work with a professional crew to produce their 2-5 minute films edited by established and award-winning female editor Pricilla Mandlate.

The program has experienced facilitators on board, which include the likes of Vuyani Bila, Kalumbu Kapisa and Bongi Ndaba, with collaborators from alumni of different institutions like TUT, SAE Institute, NEMISA and LIMA.

Molamu’s passion is inspired by his unending love for business and education. As a scholar himself, he isn’t just a media personality but holds a PGDIP in Business Management from Henley Business School, a certificate in finance from UCT, a project management for non-project managers from GIBS, and an entrepreneurship certificate from North-West University Business School. Molamu, though known for his many television roles, is an entrepreneur at heart.

Growing up in Bophuthatswana played a role in his patriotic need to pass the skills and knowledge baton to a younger generation that can tell local stories, grow the creative tech economy in fields like gaming, animation, and virtual reality, create better narratives about Africa, and create entertaining content that can appeal globally. The most crucial element of the CSI culture of this initiative is for students to be empowered with skills they can use to make a living for themselves and their families and better their very own communities with what they learn from LIMA.

Speaking on the essence of the theme, Molamu shares: “This year’s theme is 16 days of activism. The stats of GBVF have risen to concerning numbers, including the high unemployment rate in this country and globally. More than ever, this is the most critical time to harness an outcome-based educational ventures for youth by not only developing their creative skills but their business skills and also by giving them market access, creating future jobs, developing better curriculums from high school and normalising access as studying to be a creative is an expensive career choice. The creative sector employs more than the mining sector. If job creation and small businesses are government and private sector priorities, the business of the creative must be high on our national agenda.“

Molamu’s desire is to see some, if not all, of the creatives, entrepreneurs, and writers in the project become globally competitive players in the international arena. His hope is that this project creates real actionable conversations around GBVF, addresses the challenges faced by the country of high youth unemployment, and reduce violence in our societies.

“Our television screens, to a great degree, are filled with violent content, and my hope is that we can start to rethink our content strategies both online and traditional broadcasting as television/film is such a powerful tool in driving narratives. In a country with so much inequality, I think we need to develop more conscious leaders in content creation and strike a healthy balance in our commissioning outputs and tell our stories that promote our beautiful and rich culture,” shares Thato Molamu.

He adds: “Leadership is a critical skill, and we want to unearth true potential for young people, skills of listening, financial management, people skills, risk management, and strategy, and this program aims to develop that using film as a tool.”

The 16 Short Filmmakers project was initiated in 2019 as a pilot project with 92 students from the Pretoria and Alexandra LIMA campuses. Over the years, LIMA has funded and supported over 200 young filmmakers and assisting them in kickstarting their businesses with on the job learning experience of producing broadcast-quality short films to raise awareness and drive positive change in our communities.

For Molamu he says it’s better at times to give someone skills rather than just food to bridge the poverty divide and help them become sustainable beyond aid. Through programs like these, Molamu aims to grow skills in the creative economy, increase investments platforms, and, which in turn will, help reduce the challenges of unemployment and social ills.

Image: Supplied

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Karabo Tshabuse and Kundi Ramashia-Dube is remarkable Attorneys and Founding Partners of Tshabuse Attorneys, a 100% black female owned law firm based in Sandton, Johannesburg specialising in employment, sport, family and commercial law as well as litigation and mediation.

In 2009, Karabo became the Africa’s first female FIFA accredited Players’ Agent which exposed her to contract negotiations and representing clients in instances of breach of contracts at the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber.

She fell in love with Law and obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Witwatersrand. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand.

In 2007, Kundi obtained a Bachelor of Economics (BCom) in Business Management, followed by a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Johannesburg in 2009. She completed her articles at Hongan Lovells in 2011, and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa in 2013.

Their business, Tshabuse Attorneys, boasts the ability to provide clients with tailored legal solutions to meet their unique needs. “We provide meaningful legal solutions to seemingly complex matters,” Karabo said.

“Our relationships with our clients are our greatest assets and we handle each matter with care and diligence along with the integrity and skill needed to offer the most comprehensive solution. This ensures that our clients can have peace of mind knowing that their matter is getting the personalised attention needed,” added.

Image: LinkedIn

BY Nkosazana Ngwadla

Mandela University’s Lodewikus Vorster, a master’s student in chemistry and researcher at the engineering innovation hub eNtsa, recently won the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) Young Persons’ Lecture Competition South Africa. He will now represent the country at the worldwide competition final next month.

The Young Persons’ Lecture Competition invites students and professionals up to the age of 28 to deliver a short lecture (12 to 15 mins) on materials, minerals, mining, packaging, clay technology, wood science or an engineering related subject.

Candidates compete in a series of heats, organised by IOM3 local societies, from which regional finalists are selected to compete in the national final.

The winner then goes on to represent their country in the Young Persons’ World Lecture Competition.

Even though Lodewikus studies Chemistry he wants to include as much engineering in his project as possible and he is completing his project in collaboration with eNtsa , he says.

The title of his lecture was “Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization testing of TIG welded 316L stainless steel for characterization of pitting corrosion.”

The competition organised by IOM3, is sponsored by The Worshipful Company of Armourers & Brasiers and Henry Royce Institute.

Image: LinkeddIn