The View Point

By and large, the coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge toll on Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).
In a webinar held recently, under the topic: The challenges for BRICS cooperation in the post-COVID19 world held by Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA) experts highlighted some challenges and opportunities that the virus affords.

Speaking during the webinar, Prof Sphamandla Zondi, Chairperson of South African Brics Think Tank highlighted that Covid-19 is “a catalyst to reset global multilateralism, and strengthen international co-operation”.

Guest: Prof Sphamandla Zondi - Professor in the department of Political Sciences, at the University of Pretoria. He is the Chair of the SA BRICS Think Tank Council

From the streets of Mdantsane to the heights of the advertising world, our next guest has shown that hard work, commitment to his value, a creative flair and passion for people can achieve in the creative industry.

Joe Public United announced that 60% of the company has been acquired by black shareholders, resulting in what the agency says is now the largest majority-black-owned, independent agency group in South Africa. This achievement is a testament to his fundamental belief in transformation and the power of making these spaces reflective of the people it serves.

Guest: Xolisa Dyeshana - Chief Creative Officer of Joe Public

Students are attracted to work in hospitality organisations because jobs are plentiful and the work is generally appealing. Bar and restaurant work, in particular, allow students to work in contexts that have overlaps with their social life. How has the closure of the hospitality industry affected students who work as part-time employees?

Now that the industry is being gradually reopened, are employees not likely to consider the permanent employees as opposed to the part-time student who works to make extra money? At a time when NSFAS is also revoking funding for a certain class of students, how will the effects of the closure of the hospitality industry trickle down to these students?

Guest: Wendy Alberts - CEO of the Restaurant Association of South Africa

We focus our attention on the scourge of GBV in South Africa. Women and children are not safe and it is men who are hurting and harming them. Since late last year, we have seen adverts and pictures on social media campaigns that claim to be against GBV but we seem to have a poor understanding of what their messaging means to the women, queer, elderly, disabled and children as part of that collective community.
Why is this happening?

Guest: Meshack Kekana - Founder and Chairperson of Dads In The Picture

Guest: Kabelo Chabalala - Founder and chairperson of the Young Men Movement (YMM)

Guest: Malose Langa - Author of Becoming Men:Black masculinities in a South African township AND he is also a senior lecturer and an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, School of Human and Community Development at Wits

In celebration of the 25th anniversary since the 1995 Springboks lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy at Ellis Park for the very first time, the Springbok Class of 1995 has launched a limited edition Springbok Supporters face masks. Only 140,000 masks are available at Pick n Pay stores nationwide and all profits will be donated to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund – the official charity of the Springbok which supports rugby players in SA whose lives were changed through serious injury on the field.

Guest: Henie le Roux - 1995 Springbok vice-captain

Entrepreneurship is an engine of economic growth. It promotes the innovation needed to exploit new opportunities, promote productivity and create employment, while also addressing societal challenges, which now include the economic shock wave created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The promotion of entrepreneurship will be central to restoring the economy due to this pandemic.

Guest: Angus Bowmaker-Falconer - Research associate at the University of Stellenbosch Business School

We’re in conversation with Mr Tshepho Langa, CEO of the TLH Group. He recently release a book titled

He says the book awakens the creativity that might be dormant in one’s mind. He wrote the book after going through some few dark years of his life, and what saved him was his thoughts.

According to Tshepho, the book is a reflection and will possibly inspire others through their own journey. He came up with the ADI model through his teaching style and his personal and coaching experience.

Guest: Tshepho Langa - CEO of TLH Group

Black business organisations are up in arms over the criteria used by banks to approve loans for the multibillion-rand COVID-19 scheme meant to assist distressed businesses. The scheme has gotten off to a slow start with just R7-billion of the R100-billion set aside having been dispersed so far.

Guest: Bonolo Ramokhele - Treasurer General – Black Business Council

Government has announced this past weekend that it will allow qualifying refugees to apply and gain access to the COVID 19 social relief grant. There are implications on what effect this announcement could have within local communities given social development's lack of capacity to provide South Africans’ basic needs during this pandemic.

What is the government's responsibility towards refugees during a health pandemic, in light of World Refugee Day that was observed on 20th June? Are we casting the social relief safety net too wide?

Guest: Abigail Dawson - Communications & Media Officer Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA)

A company’s digital maturity can be measured by looking at its digital transformation in terms of behaviours, company culture and openness to digital adoption.

Rather than focusing on the company’s technology, this measurement is a people centric approach, underlined by more efficient ways of working together as part of a transformed company culture, while letting go of physical structures that keep employees bound to office based work.

Guest: Nevo Hadas - Partner at DYDX (a digital transformation company)