Songezo was in conversation with Coenie Middel, the CEO of Middel and Partners and Erns Erasmus, Director for African Expansion and Payment Systems at Realpay Payment Solutions

More often than not, small businesses struggle to attract business or comply with either their local municipalities or SARS. These challenges paired with a lack of resources, guidance, innovation, failing to generate income, access to market, and marketing can result in a shutdown for an SME. Middel and Partners have a solution to this problem. So if you own a small business and you can relate to some of the challenges I’ve just mentioned. This interview is for you.

Thabo Makhetha - Brand Creator of Thabo Makhetha
Grace Bampile - CEO of Haute Afrika

What does it take to be previously disadvantaged, hungry for success, have a family, keep cultural practices and thrive in your career as a wife or husband? There’s this notion of power couples and strategic partnerships that seems to have hit the streets very hard – what is it about? Is it about looking cute together and having a crowd? Do it apply to the hip and well known? What makes a power couple – is it Money, God, Love, Intellect, Appearance?
SONGEZO was I conversation with Ndumiso and Lungelo Mngadi and Lungile and Siyabulela Bomvu

Songezo spoke to Zamanzima Mazibuko, Researcher at MISTRA about MISTRA’s new research book, Epidemics and Healthcare Systems in Africa

In MISTRA’s new research book, Epidemics and Healthcare Systems in Africa, researchers and practitioners from within the continent explore its vulnerability to disease, and demonstrate that this disease occurs commonly because of political and economic influences. These factors also determine the way epidemics are managed and controlled. Authors argue that it would be more productive to mobilise resources to build strong health systems across Africa than to mobilise international resources in a panicked response to an outbreak. They also highlight that the equally important need to address the structural drivers of vulnerability to diseases and how futile it is to treat patients who will return home to poor nutrition and inadequate water services that will expose them again to disease.

Songezo was in conversation with Mr Ronny Rammutla, the co-founder of MAPTOW - Men AGAINST Prostitution & Trafficking of Women – and Mickey Meji, Advocay Manager at Embrace Dignity SA

A few days before we enter Women’s month, we zoom into the contentious issue of prostitution and how the demand, fuels human trafficking and the unjust systems of supply.
We’re in conversation with Embrace Dignity and Men AGAINST Prostitution & Trafficking of Women (MAPTOW) – they’re calling on law enforcement and legislation to be firm on any man who is caught buying sex. They are also of the view that South African men are in denial about the impact of the system of prostitution and their role in the system of patriarchy, which is responsible for putting women there in the first place.

The Springboks and Wallabies clash in the opening match of the Rugby Championship on Saturday at Ellis Park Stadium. This will be the first test match for the rugby world cup year calendar. We’re joined by iGwijo Squad and they will tell us about their plans in support of the Springboks and we’ll also talk about the value of making the rugby game more accessible to other persons.

Songezo spoke to members of the iGwijo Squad - Lusindiso Dabula; Xhanti Madolo; Culumanco Macingwana; Sjadu Mzozoyana; Naledi Ndyesha; Phila Betterhout

Songezo was in conversation with Patrick Kulati – CEO of Habitat for humanity in South Africa

Every year during Mandela Month, Habitat for Humanity South Africa gets South Africans involved in their initiative to build houses during their "International Nelson Mandela Build Week". Although Habitat builds houses all year round, this particular initiative represents one of their largest "blitz builds" to date, in honour and to commemorate International Nelson Mandela Day. To achieve their ambitious targets, they make use of the help from South Africans to raise the funding required for the houses and also by volunteering their time onsite during the build week as well.
Under the guidance of qualified artisans, volunteers lend a hand in mixing cement, passing building blocks, erecting walls, trusses and the laying of roof tiles, among other things.
On the fifth and final day of the build week, all houses (previously known as 67 houses for Mandela) are handed over to the beneficiaries at Habitat's Special Handover Ceremony.

They also have the annual NBA Build where NBA players, coaches, guests and participants volunteering side by side with the families that will benefit from the donation AND they have the annual CEO build in October

Songezo spoke to Carol Surya - Psychologist & Co-founder of Wellbeing in Schools & Education (WISE)

Non-profit organisation, WISE (Wellbeing in Schools & Education), together with Sentinel Primary School in Hout Bay will hosted a 67-minute Dance Assembly today to honour the great ‘Tata’ and his vision of a world where no child suffered and could reach their full potential.
Members of the public spent their 67 minutes dancing and connecting with the children from Sentinel Primary School. Donations of stationery items were also made…

Songezo Mabece was in conversation with Tim Legg, co-founder and CEO of OLE!CONNECT about the innovative ways of marketing and branding your business

Ole!Connect is a mobile-first media and marketing agency, helping thousands of publishers and advertisers monetise online interactions. They’re one of Africa’s leading provider of marketing data, technology and content services, having spent the last 9 years building the continent’s largest collection and network of technology and data partners…

The Hookup Dinner is a Sub-Saharan African network of emerging entrepreneurs brought together by three core values; to connect, engage and contribute to each other’s success. The Hookup Dinner is hosted monthly across various cities in the country and select countries in SADC, East and West Africa.
In servicing the “bottom of the pyramid” entrepreneurs (i.e. entry level startups), they are intentional on educating startups of the opportunities to trade, that exist across Africa and create connections between stakeholders that can scale startups.

Songezo Mabece was in conversation with Selebogo Molefe – the founder of The Hook Up Dinner