The View Point

This week, President Ramaphosa opened the Intra African Trade Fair 2021 (IATF2021) which is aimed at bridging gaps between governments and deepen economic integration and boost intra-African trade and investment.

Hosted by the South African government, in conjunction with African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), IATF2021 focuses on the newly-launched African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The trade show provides a platform for linking international buyers, sellers and investors, as well as allowing for participants and visitors to profile and share market information and investment opportunities in support of intra-African trade and the economic integration of the continent.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [•Thami Zondi]

Position AND org.:   [•Director for Youth Economic Empowerment (KZN Dept of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs)]

On Thursday, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund will host a webinar to discuss gaps related to the Children’s Amendment Bill.

Entitled, “The Children’s Amendment Bill: Age and Consent - Important gaps remain unaddressed,” the discussion will include a range of experts in children’s rights, child law, and implementation partners of the Fund.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Konehali Gugushe]

Position AND org.:   [• CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund]

Today’s conversation stems from the passing of Mr F.W de Klerk and how many South Africans have expressed their pain in the way apartheid injustices have still not been addressed.

While some argue that de Klerk was part of a collective and it is unfair of him to be blamed for apartheid, others are angered by his death and the fact that many truths have still not been told about what happened in the past and where people’s bodies ended up.

PLEASE NOTE: The JHB Holocaust Foundation is hosting Memory, Memorials and Museums of the Holocaust and the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda: A view from the African Continent on Thursday - please ask Tali to talk more about it. It is in line with this conversation. SHe can also talk on the Holocaust and lessons for the Genocide in Rwanda

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [•  Tali Nates ]

Position AND org.:   [• Founder and CEO of the Johannesburg Holocaust Foundation]

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Lukhanyo Calata]

Position AND org.:   [• Fort Calata Foundation]

Globally teenage pregnancy has been a major interference to the educational achievement of female learners. It is not a new phenomenon, but it is surprising that in the era of sexual literacy and availability of contraception, teenage pregnancy is still a major problem throughout the world. Teenage pregnancies among school-going learners have grown at an alarming rate and this is a serious concern in society; because teenage pregnancy could result in disruptive tendencies such as substance abuse, prostitution and suicide.

Today we focus on teenage pregnancy - whose responsibility is it to mitigate it? Is it higher education, basic education, health or social development?

And what are the psychological stressors experienced by unmarried pregnant students at the university? What are the influencers of teenage pregnancies? Is it poor socio-economic status, peer pressure, lack of parent-student communication, ignorance and/or the negative attitude of the campus health-care professionals.

Title:                          [• Prof. (Ms.)]

Name:                        [• Linda Meyer ]

Position AND org.:   [• Director Operations and Sector Support, Universities South Africa ]

With significant barriers in South Africa for SMMEs and the lack of cash to fund these entrepreneurs, why is there no uproar over corporate capture?

We’re in conversation with Justin Naidoo, Chief Investment Officer at MyGrowthFund Venture Partners - he penned an interesting opinion piece about corporate capture and he joins us on the line to share insight into the nation’s rife corporate capture and how a few key players in major industries are hoarding the cheap dollar and euro liquidity seeking decent emerging market yields.

Title:                          [• Mr.]

Name:                        [• Justin Naidoo]

Position AND org.:   [• Chief Investment Officer at MyGrowthFund Venture Partners]

November is celebrated globally as Disability Awareness Month. The Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity for every single person and institution to remove these barriers and to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through concrete action.

In an effort to raise awareness about the rights of people with disabilities, we’re hosting the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu.

Ms Bogopane-Zulu is also a member of the South Africa National AIDS Council; a member of the South African Federation of Disabled People, and a board member of Mmabatho Foundation.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu]

Position AND org.:   [• Deputy Minister for the Department of Social Development ]

Title:                          [• Ms]

Name:                        [• Sebenzile Mathebula]

Position AND org.:   [• A disabled woman in business]

Title:                          [• Dr (Mr)]

Name:                        [• Matome Kganakga]

Position AND org.:   [• Health practitioner

Storytelling is an integral part of African culture; used to pass down knowledge, to pass down customs or traditions from generation to generation and to shape societal narratives. This year, the art of storytelling comes to life at the first Africa Book and Design Festival (ABDF) and it is supported by the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture.

The festival organisers believe that what is exciting about the time we are in is that women are leading the charge in changing the narrative of African storytelling as young female authors emerge with stories that tell the life of modern African women from colourful ‘eKasi’ in Johannesburg to the hustle and bustle of Lagos.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Mudzithe Phiri]

Position AND org.:   [• Festival Manager]

Over-indebtedness is rife in South Africa, and there are several contributing factors to the hike in the numbers of over-indebted consumers. The Credit Ombud would like to tackle this and assist consumers in making informed and intent decisions before applying for credit. They advise that we should take preventative measures and think long and hard before we mess up our finances just for the 3-week-december-craze. 

They join us on the line, talking about the preventative measures that one can take and they’ll also share a check-list that we should use prior to applying for credit in order to avoid being over-indebted.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Avitha Nofal]

Position AND org.:   [• Senior Legal Advisor at the Office of the Credit Ombud]

Psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town Dr Qhama Cossie says feeling depressed or down is a normal human experience, and this is different to feeling clinically depressed or having a major depressive episode.

It is estimated that “one in ten adults living in South Africa will have experienced major clinical depression at some point in their life but only 25% have sought treatment and care for their mental conditions, such as depression”. Although these estimates are based on the South African Stress and Health (SASH) study, last done in 2009, subsequent studies have also stressed the challenge of reducing this treatment gap.

Title:                          [• Dr (Mr.)]

Name:                        [• Qhama Cossie]

Position AND org.:   [• Psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town]

Can young people thrive in a Work From Home situation? It is said that the absence of face-to-face social networks, and picking up cues from body language in terms what works or does or work from veterans, could lead the young to drift in and out of jobs. 

We engage a recent Ipsos survey which shows that youth are less productive at home and risk stunted career development.

Title:                          [• Ms.]

Name:                        [• Stella Fleetwood]

Position AND org.:   [• Service Line Lead at Ipsos ]