insight for executives on the move
september 2024
High tea is a sublime staple at top hotels
PUBLISHER: Urs Honegger
EDITOR: Bruce Dennill
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SUB-EDITOR: Gina Hartoog
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ISSN 1025-2657
Skyways magazine is published monthly and distributed via Airlink. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of Panorama Media Corp (Pty) Ltd. Copyright © 1994-2024 Panorama Media Corp (Pty) Ltd. The views expressed in Skyways magazine are not necessarily those of Panorama Media Corp or Airlink, and the acceptance and publication of editorial and advertising material in Skyways magazine does not imply any endorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therein described, whether by Skyways magazine or the publishers. Skyways magazine will not be held responsible for the safe return of unsolicited editorial contributions. The Editor reserves the right to edit material submitted and in appropriate cases to translate into another language. Skyways magazine reserves the right to reject any advertising or editorial material, which may not suit the standard of the publication, without reason given. Editorial material accepted for publication in Skyways becomes the property of Panorama Media Corp. Executive Briefs, Corporate Briefs, and Knowledge Profiles™ are solicited and paid for advertorial features in this magazine. Skyways magazine is published by Panorama Media Corp on behalf of Airlink.
The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) recently launched the latest version of STEMulator, a free virtual platform designed to spark interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) among learners.
STEMulator.org allows learners to virtually explore a wide range of STEM fields. Students can dive into the inner workings of a car engine, understand the machinery behind agricultural harvesting, or uncover the chemistry of everyday items like bread. This immersive experience provides a behind-the-scenes view of STEM careers and helps learners connect their interests to real-world applications.
“The platform is designed to make learning fun and engaging,” says Richard Gundersen, Chief Instigator at STEMulator. “Learners can interact with animated objects and explore clickable areas to gain deeper insights into various STEM concepts. This dynamic approach encourages curiosity and perseverance in subjects like maths and science, fostering a lifelong love for learning.”
The platform offers a secure online space where children can explore STEM topics safely. Parents can rest assured that their children are engaging with high-quality educational content that supports their academic growth and future career aspirations.
The platform also offers extensive resources and support for educators. Teacher guidance notes and classroom activities are available to help seamlessly incorporate the material into daily teaching practices.
Key features:
Source: STEMulator.org
In 2023, the European Commission announced a restriction on the sale of intentionally added microplastics, including rubber crumb for hybrid football pitches. From October 2031, EU countries will not be able to purchase new rubber crumb. This doesn’t outlaw the use of such pitches but will make their maintenance with microplastic much harder.
New synthetic pitches without a rubber crumb will be needed, and organic alternatives like cork, coconut shell, and bark are being explored. In one pilot project, Schagen United, an amateur football club in the Netherlands, has tested a pitch that combines artificial turf and an infill made from cork granules and olive pits, with a positive response from the players. The olive pits were added for stability, while cork’s natural bounciness helped keep the players safe.
To make cork crumb, the bark of cork trees is harvested and turned into granules, a process that does not kill the cork tree. Cork also has climate benefits: cork oaks are one of the few commercial forests not felled for harvesting, and a cork tree’s carbon storage capacity keeps increasing during its long life.
Source: bbc.com
Madagascan island resort is a treasure trove of both adventure and peace
Landing at a small airport means your lift is right outside the building and, when transferring from Nosy Be to Tsarabanjina, so is the road to your first stop, Manga Soa Lodge. The first part of the winding, untarred track is literally on the other side of the airport fence and reminds visitors that they’re heading somewhere remote, with just a few kilometres taking 20-30 minutes to drive thanks to the terrain.
On the beach at Manga Soa, a delicious vanilla iced tea (it hits different when you can see vanilla pods growing nearby) begins the more glamorous part of the trip. A comfortable, covered (no immediate sunstroke here) motorboat is a calf-deep wade offshore, and if the sea is kind and flat, the only splashes you might experience from the crossing are from dolphins or fish accompanying the boat. And you may miss some of those if you’re looking up at the striking frigate birds criss-crossing the sky above you.
Time passes quickly, and before long, the white sand of Tsarabanjina’s West Beach emerges from the sea, populated by a long line of staff and the occasional chirpy guest, all dancing and singing their welcome.
Constance Tsarabanjina’s dining and bar area is every guest’s first point of call on the island. It’s a wonderfully outfitted space with a beach sand floor and a sign that proclaims, “No shoes, no news” – encouraging a philosophy of interaction with loved ones and fellow guests rather than the usual staring at phones and computers. Another sign reminds guests that, before dinner every night, there is a time set aside to enjoy a cocktail (a different option every night) and chat to staff and fellow travelers as you develop a plan for your holiday activities the following day, before ascending a central staircase to the dining room and a three-course meal and paired wines.
The resort is the definition of ‘pristine’. Everything seems in sharper-than-usual focus: tall trees with glossy leaves and clear turquoise water over crisp white sand, both warm on the skin. Sunset somehow adds to this with a gorgeous ‘golden hour’, making everything in view utterly breathtaking.
Although Tsarabanjina is a small island, the resort stretches out quite a long way – walking to the furthest rooms takes a good few minutes. The encouragement to eschew shoes makes sense on the mostly sand paths, though after dark, the possibility of a bug or a gecko being in a shadow somewhere means many guests still wear flip-flops, which can be deposited on a custom-made rack when entering the bar area.
Dinner on night one includes a starter involving ‘frog crumbs’ (the translation from the French may be wanting), a Zebu steak, and bananas Foster that burns with a blue flame for a couple of minutes.
Resident Attractions
A morning beach walk reveals the day’s first treasures. Impressively, even the flotsam and jetsam adhere to the villas’ décor themes. There are sun-bleached bits of coral and driftwood and shells with accents of purple, beige, and grey. Hanging from a tree branch is a swinging day bed. Don’t lie down there early on if you want to get anything else done with your day.
One villa on the North Beach stretch features a hammock and sunbeds atop a huge rock, giving them a tanning advantage over their neighbors, as the sun reaches them first. At the end of the beach, a rock archway provides the perfect frame for the Four Brothers – four basalt outposts home only to birds (above the water) and a plethora of marine life (below it). There’s an even better view from the hill between that end of the beach and the bar area and West Beach, which features a table for private romantic dining as well as a love-seat swing. The path that leads up there is labeled “Picturesque” and it’s not lying…
Breakfast includes a wide range of pastries that can be washed down with espresso or a mug of Malagasy coffee, black and impenetrable, which pulls a dark veil over whatever may have happened after cocktails the previous night.
WiFi is only available in the villas, which means your life beyond your holiday becomes a limited series you only watch when heading back to brush your teeth, change clothes, or rest. The rooms are cool, luxuriously simple, and right on the beach, offering far more reasons to lurk there, should you not be tempted by diving, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding – or yet more eating.
Action and Satisfaction
Kayaking comes up first, with a paddle around the island a great way to see those parts less easily accessible by foot. Whichever direction you head from the beach, you’ll face a stretch into the wind at some point, which will feel like rowing up a steep hill. But the water supports all the cliches: even whoever came up with the name for the color – aquamarine – had to resort to tautology to try and capture the richness of the shade.
Snorkeling off the beach offers more spectacular underwater sights than most hobby divers will ever have imagined, but there are other options available too. One of these is to take a short boat ride to a nearby rocky islet, where the reefs are even more luxuriant. The resort’s assistant manager, Elena Zanella – also a marine biologist, which is an exceptional extra dimension – and two other staff get in first to check conditions before welcoming guests to join them. Schools of fish – perhaps 20 different species – flow by in abundance, with Zanella regularly diving down to the bottom to point at a particular fish or coral outcrop and then returning to the surface to explain what she’s seen.
If such physical exertions have tired you out, finish off the day with a sunset cruise. The skipper keeps his 300-horsepower engines on a tight rein so that the experience doesn’t pass by too fast, slowing as the boat reaches the northern tip of the island. The actual sunset takes place in a number of gorgeous installments – first subtle, shaded pastels with a grading that any talented painter would be proud to mimic, and then after glasses of champagne and snacks have been served, a vivid vermilion light turns on behind Brother 1 (the island to the west, not a guest whose name you’ve forgotten) and the real show begins. Clearly, the spot where the boat stops to take in this view has been cleverly chosen, with Brother 1 marking the exact spot where the sun will hit the horizon and the jagged rocks on the edge of the island framing a hugely dramatic scene.
And that’s just one day…
Text and photography | Bruce Dennill
For more information or to book a stay, go to constancehotels.com.
South Atlantic capital city has a unique charm
People speak of ‘valley experiences’ to denote a tough time when a sense of desperation might feel appropriate. On the island of St Helena, such metaphors are ill-advised, as the place is about 72% valley, and pretty much everyone is warm and friendly.
Jamestown, the capital (population 600 and change, but officially a city because Queen Victoria said so), is a small town because it has no choice. It is very narrow, its scale restricted by the steep mountains on either side, and relatively long – apparently exactly a mile from the sea’s edge to the hospital near the top of the occupied part of the slope, but who’s counting steps? Right at the top of the valley is a waterfall that bisects a rock formation shaped like a heart, which is called the Heart Shaped Waterfall, because sometimes simplicity is best.
Everything is compact. The houses and shops have their frontage on one of the two roads. That’s usually the original part of the building, but as the residents’ families grow or move in with them from elsewhere on the island, more structures are erected around a central square, making them look a little like a Roman domus, minus all the stuff that caused the decline of the Empire. This way of doing things means there are often multiple generations of the same family in the same spot, which adds greatly to the culture of the town, with visitors often interacting with kids and parents and grandparents in different contexts during a stay.
Along certain stretches of pavement, there are a number of cars of all kinds with completely flat tyres and other signs of obvious neglect. Asking around, it becomes clear that this is one of the many areas of life here directly affected by St Helena’s remoteness. If something breaks, a new part takes months to get delivered from whichever far-off continent it was sourced, often taking a cruise all the way from China before it reaches its destination and hopefully solves the problem.
Access to the Ages
There are a relatively high number of grocery stores for such a small town, many of them owned by the Thorpe family, whose name is on a number of properties around the island. The population is equally well served by churches, with a range of denominations represented up and down the slope of the main road. One of their stores is called the ‘Emporium’. It feels like a prop for a Harry Potter movie, with a tiny frontage but extending an enormous distance away from the road, with stock to cover any imaginable eventuality.
In one of the cliff walls, there’s an enormous hollow – a cave that, it transpires, is a quarry; the reminder of the labours of the migrant workforce who lived on nearby China Lane.
Down at the bottom of the hill is Jamestown’s oldest area. It’s dominated by Saint James’ Church, with an 18th-century structure on the site where a much older version – the original church and the island’s first building – was built at the beginning of the 1500s. Just behind the church, offering a contrast in tone, is the prison. There is also an excellent museum across the square from the castle built by the British when they assumed control of St Helena. This fortification now serves as the government offices, and an archive on the lower floor is a wonderful resource for visitors who may suspect they have some sort of connection to the island and its history – including South Africans whose ancestors may have been among the prisoners of war sent here after the Boer War. All of these attractions – along with the 699-step lung-buster that is Jacob’s Ladder, the ascent of which is more or less a rite of passage for tourists – are within barely 100 meters of each other, so for the culture buff, hardly any energy need be expended to explore a couple of centuries of history.
The harbour, accessed via an arch in the city’s old defensive wall that until recently determined the maximum size of objects that could be imported (including the blades of a group of wind turbines set up inland), is small, offering just a short but scenic promenade. And even though stark promontories on either side take much of the sting out of the incoming South Atlantic, the thump of waves against the rocks beneath the wharf is still a visceral reminder of the scale and power of the sea.
Dining and Dealing
Anne’s Place, at the back of the Castle Gardens, which provide a pleasing view as you eat, is a restaurant now run by the daughter-in-law of its eponymous founder, with Anne’s grandkids waiting tables. It has a simple layout with a concept to match: walk in, look at the menu of the day on the whiteboard at the end of the bar, order your meal and drink there, and take your seat. Eat here often enough during your stay and you’ll see a hefty chunk of the Jamestown community, from well-known locals to doctors working in town on short contracts, crew from yachts stopping over on trans-Atlantic voyages, and other travellers from around the world, some of whom you’ll already have crossed paths with during your exploration of the town.
The fare here is simple but very tasty and generously served – perfect for a long, chatty dinner as you begin to cement new friendships. Some of the dishes are also a reminder of the Cape Malay heritage that informs part of South Africa’s culinary heritage. Ships travelling on the spice route from England to the East made regular stops at St Helena, particularly before Cape Town was fully established. You may also find that the menu reflects more than one part of this history, such as when lamb curry is offered with slices of roast beef on the side!
You can end both your evening and your condensed adventure with a drink at the bar of the Mantis St Helena Hotel, across the road from the entrance to the Castle Gardens, and be served by a South African barman, depending on who’s on shift. And if you’re not staying upstairs, everywhere in town is close enough to walk back to.
Text and photography | Bruce Dennill
For more information, go to sthelenatourism.com. To book a stay at the Mantis St Helena Hotel, go to mantiscollection.com.
Cross Purposes
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora de Baluarte on Ille de Mozambique was built by Portuguese settlers in 1522 and is regarded as one of the oldest – if not the oldest – European buildings in the southern hemisphere. Given its age, the church is still in excellent shape, with details like these cross-shaped apertures in the walls – windows, air vents, or rifle slots? – adding to the experience of visiting such a venerable site.
Write new chapters of an adventure at Eastern Cape lodge
Owned by the Chouest family from the United States, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve is a conservation triumph. The value in encountering endangered animals is underscored by their commitment to keeping vulnerable species alive for generations to come.
“What’s your call sign?” the male voice asks over the headphones. While getting some serious Top Gun vibes following that question, the engine start switch has been flicked, and the rotors are whirring above us. Once the call sign has been communicated, we are cleared for take-off. Clicking the red button on the throttle over from idle to fly, Upington-born pilot Van Zyl Fölscher is firmly in charge of the controls.
Heading in an easterly direction, the gleaming green Bell 505 helicopter takes to the skies and, with wraparound glass windows, it allows for a bird’s eye view of the approaching coastline and the beautiful surroundings en route to Kwandwe Private Game Reserve. Flying at a cruising speed of 123 knots due to a tailwind and an altitude of 1,500 feet, the flight is over too soon as Van Zyl gently lands the helicopter with practiced ease.
Suited to Surrounds
After collection at the airstrip by guide Ryan Hillier, the welcome at Kwandwe’s Great Fish River Lodge is warm and sincere. The views over the perennial Great Fish River are breathtaking, and seeing wildlife coming down the banks for a drink is not uncommon. Some notable sightings include a large herd of buffalo crossing the river and enjoying a splash-about together, an elephant playing hide-and-seek behind the overhanging trees, and, on the hill opposite the lodge, a lone giraffe leaning into some small shrubs for a feed, with a few impalas nibbling on the greenery.
Following a refurbishment in 2023, the interiors at Great Fish River Lodge received an exquisite revival by Tracy Mills from Tracy Mills Interiors. Her brief was to bring the outside in, which she accomplished with style and panache, all the while never going over the top. “I aimed to reflect the many colours and tones of the bush,” Mills says, “but with a fresh and contemporary take, using light wood and brass with clean, simple lines, and never forgetting local suppliers and designers and Kwandwe’s place in the African landscape.”
The lodge’s nine spacious suites all face the encompassing wilderness area, and the floor-to-ceiling doors let in maximum light. Everything has been thoroughly considered for the ultimate in comfort – sofas that are so soft, you quite literally sink into them, not wanting to ever get up; a bed so large you can sleep right across it if you’re a solo traveller; an inviting tub for a proper post-dinner soak; a perfect temperate plunge pool; and a mini-bar with drinks and snacks replenished on a daily basis.
Cheetahs, Prospering
The privilege of seeing a leopard in the wild should never be underestimated. Even more so when the property on which it lives spans in excess of 22,000 hectares and comprises dense vegetation, vast open plains, mysterious hidden valleys, jagged rocky cliffs, and inaccessible drainage lines.
Making up the team for our game drives is guide Tristan Stead, whose driver’s seat, unusually, has no door, and tracker Sibo. A fascinating aspect of any safari experience is the communication, verbal or by means of hand gestures, between guide and tracker. It forms an essential part of good or dismal sightings, and in our case, we struck gold with this duo, as they work together like a well-oiled machine, having partnered up for just over four years.
Due to the topography of the reserve, cheetahs flourish at Kwandwe, and we happen upon five different ones – two brothers lying on the side of the road who don’t even bat an eye at us, as their bellies are so full that they are unable to move; a mom and sub-adult cub who snuggle up on a windy afternoon; and a female who has been spotted by a tower of giraffes. It’s an arresting sight: we count 15 giraffes all staring in one direction, where the female cheetah is trying to disguise herself under a shrub.
The last evening’s and morning’s game drives don’t disappoint – we find the Fort Dam female leopard in an area with a lot of trees. She seems to be in a great hurry to get away from what we eventually discover is a herd of buffalo. On our morning game drive, she is walking straight towards the vehicle, her eyes slanted from the sun shining right into them, and she is clearly on the hunt for herself and her cubs.
Cub Scouting
Unless a private vehicle is booked, guests share game drives with other guests, and I’m fortunate to share a vehicle with a delightful couple from the UK, Carole and Nigel. Carole is seated right next to Tristan, and as we encounter the south pride of lions strolling very close to the front of our vehicle, she starts looking rather uncomfortable. She glances over to Tristan, who is calm and gives her a wry smile. “We are perfectly safe, Carole. The lions see the game drive vehicle as a unit, so unless someone breaks the silhouette by standing or flailing their arms around, they do not view you as a threat.” Carole is not convinced, and her husband Nigel is having a bit of fun with the situation, filming her dismay to show to their children and grandchildren.
As a lion cub struts towards her side of the vehicle on his big paws, she lets out a tiny shriek, grabs onto Tristan’s arm, and exclaims, “He’s coming straight for me!” Tristan looks over at Nigel, winks, and quips back with, “At least you have a door – I’ve got nothing!”
Text and photography | Heléne Ramackers
For more information or to book a stay, visit kwandwe.com.
Golf legend has also achieved as a family man, vintner, and… braaier
Does anyone call you by your birth name, Theodore?
Ernie Els: Not really. I’m Theodore Ernest and come from a long line of Theodore Ernests. We go under Ernie or Ernest – that’s what my grandfather did, so we all followed suit.
On a lighter note, my close friends, after a couple of drinks, start calling me Theo or Theodore. My wife, Liezl, calls me Theodore when I don’t behave or do something she doesn’t like. My daughter also. It’s kind of a warning sign that I’ve overstepped.
Where are you currently based, and how often do you visit South Africa?
We are based in Jupiter, Florida. This is where the Els Centre of Excellence is situated and where our 21-year-old son, Ben, goes to school. The kids were born in Wentworth, London, and we still have a home there. We also have a home in South Africa, and we love coming home for the December holidays.
It’s been 40 years since you won your first golf championship at the age of 14. Can you share your favourite highlights of your career?
It’s tough to do 40 years in a minute because so much has happened. I was fortunate to win quite a few tournaments around the world. The four major championships are highlights, as are the seven World Matchplay Championships at Wentworth, where we lived, so it felt like a home game. Five South African Opens, too – the first one at Houghton in 1992 set me up for a lot of international golf. Starting in Europe and playing there; playing in the US and abroad was incredible. Winning three Heineken championships in Melbourne. Winning all over the world has just been fantastic. Playing eight President’s Cups, then captaining the side in 2019. And getting inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame at a very early age was both a surprise and an honour.
Apart from golf, do you have any secret hidden talents you’d like to share?
As South Africans, aren’t we all the greatest braaiers? If you ask my friend Piet Pieters or my father, they’re all the greatest braaiers. But maybe I am the greatest braaier you’ve ever seen.
What type of music do you enjoy?
I like Afrikaans music, especially Bok van Blerk’s music. I also enjoy listening to older acts, like the Rolling Stones and Cat Stevens.
Are you a petrolhead, or have you been bitten by the EV bug?
I’m an absolute petrolhead, and my wife is more of an EV supporter.
You design golf courses around the world. Talk us through the process.
It can be complicated and greatly depends on what type of land you get. If you’re in a desert area where it doesn’t rain a lot, you don’t have to worry too much about drainage. Sand is brilliant to work with – such as creating a natural dune.
We’ve been doing a lot of residential development with golf courses, so you have to work closely with the developer to get it right for the golf course and the property being developed.
What was the idea behind Ernie Els wines?
My wife, Liezl, is from Stellenbosch, and while courting her, I spent a lot of time there. Being from Germiston in Johannesburg, Stellenbosch was a new environment for me, and I loved it. A good friend of ours talked us into buying a piece of land up on the Helderberg Mountain. We purchased 75ha, which is now the home of Ernie Els wines. Our first vintage was in 2000, and it’s been an amazing experience.
You created the NPO Els For Autism Foundation for your son, Ben, who is on the autism spectrum. What has the platform achieved in terms of awareness and management of this condition?
Certain kids are born with autism. At first, as a young parent with an autistic child, you are very shocked and quite confused, but throughout his 21 years of life, we’ve managed to find our way and learnt a lot from experts in the field. Ben is the most wonderful kid you can ever meet. We are so blessed to have him.
We wanted to create the best facility for Ben and his friends to go to a purposely built centre where we have educated staff and people who can manage kids with autism. So, we created a huge facility where we can teach 300 kids in the age range of three to 21, and we’ve expanded it beyond that with an adult services centre. We’ve seen such a positive change in Ben since attending the school. He used to despise leaving the house; now he runs out to the car with his suitcase and can’t wait to go to the centre – it’s been a life-changing experience.
Your daughter Samantha made her debut in the South African women’s national rugby team in 2023. That must have been a proud moment for you and Liezl. What tips can you share with her about a career in sport?
She’s always been a sporty girl. Samantha is a real trooper, and when we relocated from London to America for Ben’s benefit, she never complained, despite having to start at a new school in a different country. When she attended the University of Stanford on the West Coast in San Francisco, she developed a great skill for contact sport and started playing rugby there. I see the passion in her, and when she got the call from Louis Koen, the SA Women’s Rugby Director, she jumped at the chance. She’s a true South African at heart – it’s in her blood. We’re very proud of her and are behind her all the way.
Exciting projects on the horizon?
We recently announced the Zimbali Lakes Project, which will contribute to a lot of growth in the Ballito area. We currently have 11 projects in places like Portugal, Cabos San Lucas, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, and Austin, Texas, on the go.
Text | Heléne Ramackers
Photography | Courtesy of Ernie Els
For more information, visit ernieels.com
As social media apps continue to gather data about users, governments may impose stricter laws around if or how they are used
As the debate around TikTok continues to unfold, social media users are grappling with the layers of issues surrounding the potential ban of the popular social media app in the United States and other countries.
From national security concerns to data privacy and children’s safety, the implications of greater scrutiny of TikTok and other social media companies are just as important in South Africa.
The primary reason behind the US government’s interest in banning TikTok revolves around national security. Lawmakers worry that the Chinese-owned app, developed by ByteDance, could be used to collect and share sensitive user data with the Chinese government. An investigation by Consumer Reports suggests that, as the fastest-growing social media platform in the world, TikTok gathers data even from individuals who don’t use the app or visit the platform’s website. This is because TikTok receives data from its partners who gather information about people visiting their websites. Other well-known platforms like Google or Meta – Facebook and Instagram – use the same strategy for advertising purposes.
It’s crucial for users to understand the extent of the personal information they share, often unknowingly, when they use social media platforms. This awareness can empower users to make more informed decisions about online activities.
Social media platforms, including TikTok, collect a vast array of data from their users. This data can include status updates, location data, personal interests, and even engagement on other social media platforms. Companies use this information to tailor advertisements and recommend content, but it also raises some understandable privacy concerns.
Losing information
Data breaches are also not uncommon. For example, X (formerly Twitter) experienced a hack in July 2022, where 200 million user email addresses were posted on the dark web. Similarly, Meta was fined R25 billion by European Union regulators in May 2023 for violating privacy laws by storing and transferring European Facebook users’ data to US servers.
The risks associated with data collection and potential breaches mean there is a definite need for people to implement robust data protection measures together with more transparency from social media companies. While stricter laws and regulations may help, consumers should still be vigilant about their digital footprints and take steps to protect their personal information.
Another pressing concern about TikTok is its potential impact on younger users. The app’s addictive nature, potential exposure to harmful content, and risks of cyberbullying and mental health challenges are significant issues that parents are considering. Although TikTok has implemented features like different user experiences for those under 13 and content moderation policies, questions about the effectiveness of these measures remain.
While TikTok is in the spotlight, many of the same concerns about children’s safety and use of social media apply to other platforms, too. In January 2024, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, and X went before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the United States to testify as lawmakers and parents argue that social media companies are not doing enough to protect children from exploitation and harmful content.
While local laws like the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) include specific provisions for the processing of children’s data, it’s wise for parents to play an active role in monitoring their children’s social media usage. Tools like TikTok’s ‘Family Pairing’ can provide some level of oversight, but parents should also educate their children about the potential dangers of sharing personal information online and boost their online protection with other reputable parental control technologies.
Assume control
Social media users can take proactive steps to help safeguard their privacy and protect their information:
Use strong passwords: Avoid reusing passwords across multiple sites and consider using a password manager to keep track of your credentials securely.
Limit sharing personal information: Be mindful of the details you share on social media, such as your location, contact information, and personal interests.
Disable location services: Turn off location tracking features on your devices to prevent social media apps from accessing your location data.
Enable two-factor authentication: Add an extra layer of security by enabling two-factor authentication on your accounts.
Be cautious of links and downloads: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown attachments, even if they appear to come from friends.
Use privacy settings: Adjust your privacy settings on social media platforms to control who can see your information and how it is shared.
Text | Carey van Vlaanderen
Photography | Rokas Tenys
Carey van Vlaanderen is CEO of ESET Southern Africa.
For more information, go to eset.com.
Chef David Higgs adapted his ‘waste not, want not’ childhood to his contemporary food philosophies
You were born in Walvis Bay, Namibia. What are your fondest memories from your youth?
David Higgs: Fishing, spending time with my father, and being on the beach with him. He was good with his hands, always building stuff.
What type of hydroponics did you have on the farm in Walvis due to the absence of proper soil?
It was more of a back garden than a farm. Because of the salt in the soils, nothing would grow. Through fishing and my dad’s backyard hydroponics, I was introduced to food and cooking without even realizing it. We grew everything, from vegetables and herbs to strawberries.
What smell or taste immediately takes you back to your childhood?
Packet tomato soup throws me right back. That and the smell of the sea – standing on the beach on that cold West Coast, with the sea mist rolling in. Also, the smell of fish on the fire – because the first fish out of the water always went onto the fire.
What was your favourite dish as a child?
We used to barter with the farmers. We would bring fish and then, to that same value, we would either get a head of cattle or sheep or be able to hunt some game. One of my favourite things was rendered fat from the sheep that was then kept in the larder and spread onto fresh white bread and sprinkled with sugar. I’m probably lucky to be alive today!
It sounds as though you invented the farm-to-table concept – ‘catch to braai’?
We didn’t – it seems as though that’s a modern-day marketing thing to entice people into your restaurant with a specific type of menu that is ‘farm to table’ or ‘nose to tail’. But what else would it be? For me, that’s just how we grew up in the ’70s. We caught our own fish and used everything – the head was used for curries, stews, and soups, and the leftovers were used for fish cakes and other things. Nothing was ever wasted. It was a standard thing as a child – something that I never really understood but, now, I totally get it.
What would adult David say to young David?
Maybe something clichéd like ‘don’t sweat the small stuff’ or ‘don’t take things so personally’. It’s difficult if that’s who you are, especially in the hospitality industry, when you want to deliver the best and then things don’t go that way. You can’t control everything. But I’m trying.
As a chef, is there a dish that you’ve eaten that has really knocked your socks off?
No, not literally, although pretty close. I had been in Australia for the Taste of Sydney and I was heading home after being there for about 36 hours. It was just before Marble opened and I needed to get back. I stopped at a restaurant called Spice Temple, owned by Neil Perry. I sat at the bar and they brought me a dish of steamed, peeled aubergine covered with a tangy miso pork mince, handfuls of coriander, and three-times chopped, blanched garlic. You then mixed everything through the aubergine and ate it. You don’t understand. Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. I ordered the dish three times – I ordered it once, and then again… and then again. It might have been one too many, but it was delicious – the simplicity of it! Incredible flavours never to be forgotten.
How has the culinary scene evolved since you started your journey as a chef?
When I started out in 1989, we could get iceberg lettuce and curly parsley. That was about it. But now, we have so many different varieties of lettuces and every herb under the sun. That’s probably the biggest change – the increase in product and vegetables – and cheese! And wine – for those of us who were drinking wine back in 1989, all you had was Chateau Libertas, not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s a great wine. But the variety now is incredible.
What type of patron are you when dining at a restaurant?
I am honestly the easiest guy. I love simple food. When I travel overseas, I enjoy going to fine(r)-dining restaurants, but I generally choose restaurants that have good local fare and a great wine list. I drink expensive wine and eat affordable food. I love travelling like that. I love it when people care about what they cook and my favourite meals are when I go to people’s houses and they cook for me – which doesn’t happen often, which is understandable. People are intimidated, even though I’m an easy customer. I do get difficult when things are incredibly expensive and the food and experience don’t quite match up to what they could have been.
Do you have a favourite dish to make at home?
Eggs and bacon. Hands down. Every kind of egg you know. Good fried eggs, omelettes – I do lots of egg-white omelettes nowadays because I’m an athlete… jokes! It’s just because I’m trying to stay lean. There’s just something about bacon, eggs, fresh tomatoes sliced on toast, green Tabasco… and then you can start adding the beans and everything else. I mean, come on!
You have a wonderful art collection at home. Have you always had an interest in art?
The art is just something that has come since moving to Johannesburg. I had a massive realization when I came to the city, which was how different it is compared to somewhere like New York or London. It’s the thing that I’m always trying to explain to people – foreigners specifically – when they come to South Africa. Instead of an international melting pot, it’s an African melting pot.
I see you are quite the car enthusiast. Are you a self-confessed petrolhead or is the EV option becoming attractive?
Now this is a tricky question. I mean, I absolutely love EV – the simplicity of the idea, even though I know it’s very complex. It’s smooth, it’s quick, and the interiors are just luxurious and simple. But unfortunately for me, it’s always going to come back to AV. The noisy bits always. I’m not even talking V6, but a noisy V8. That would be me.
Exciting projects on the horizon?
We have Marble Cape Town opening later this year and we also have The Pantry rolling out – Bedfordview is next, then Pretoria and Waterfall. The support that people have given us over the years has been incredible. We have an unbelievable team, and we want to keep investing in this country.
Text | Heléne Ramackers
Photography | Elsa Young
For more information, visit davidhiggs.co.za.
Afternoon repast is a staple of great hotels worldwide
Legend has it that Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, invented ‘afternoon tea’ in 1840 when she would ask for a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake to be brought to her room at around 4pm. Today, afternoon tea remains as popular as ever, particularly in some of the world’s top hotels.
Claridge’s, London
Claridge’s opened its doors in 1856, not long after the notion of afternoon tea had first come to fruition, meaning their team has been serving tea for well over 100 years. In keeping with tradition, Claridge’s prepares a selection of sweet and savoury options daily. The menu is based on British heritage and seasonal specialities and heroes local producers and ingredients. Expect to find finger sandwiches comprising smoked salmon and dill crème fraîche, with salmon from famed Severn & Wye smokery, roast chicken with honey and mustard using free-roaming Cotswold chickens, or egg mayo made with iconic Burford browns.
Mount Nelson, Cape Town
Cape Town’s blush-hued hotel has become known worldwide for its iconic tea offering. The Nellie first started serving afternoon tea in 1989 and is now one of the top experiences in the Mother City. Walking the line between upscale and warmly inviting, the experience hosted in the Lounge and on the sun-basked terrace is simply world-class. Their extensive menu of over 60 teas is curated by South Africa’s first expert-trained tea sommelier, Craig Cupido. You will find everything from the classic black, herbal, and rooibos variations to rare white teas.
The Savoy, London
Served in the Thames Foyer since it opened in 1889, afternoon tea is a staple at The Savoy. With a list of over 30 teas, The Savoy’s food offering includes familiar favourites reimagined with a contemporary twist. This includes a traditional coronation chicken, served with raisins and mango chutney. The pastries and signature Savoy cakes are freshly made every day and include delicacies such as a strawberry and cream ‘taco,’ made from a Tahitian vanilla sponge, strawberry and rose compote, and a black tea panna cotta.
Anya Café, Chelsea, London
Humour and Anya Hindmarch go hand-in-hand. At the heart of her ‘Anya Village,’ a collection of concept stores, is Anya Café. Drawing inspiration from the charm of old-world British cafes, this one-of-a-kind café serves up a reimagined take on afternoon tea. This includes freshly baked scones, served warm with clotted cream and strawberry preserve, smiley-faced lemon cake, lemon curd meringue chubby cloud cake, and caterpillar tarts. While on the savouries, you can look forward to simple finger sandwiches with smoked salmon with lemon, dill and cream cheese, cucumber, and egg and cress.
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris
The story of Hôtel de Crillon starts in 1758 when King Louis XV commissioned architect du jour Ange-Jacques Gabriel to build twin structures overlooking Place de la Concorde. Originally owned by the family of the Counts of Crillon, the mansion was eventually transformed into a luxury hotel in 1909. Today, their afternoon tea pays homage to the hotel’s illustrious history. Served in the Jardin d’Hiver tea lounge, Hôtel de Crillon’s menu is concise but curated, with a drinks offering that includes a selection of Grand Crus teas, provided by Maison Terre de Chine.
Text | Supplied
Photography | magdanatka
For more information, go to belmond.com.
New flyfishing publication is part autobiography, part industry memoir, and part guidebook.
Thanks to my newfound friends and our fishing trade exchange, I got to do what most South African-born anglers only dream about: fish the length and breadth of the Kruger National Park. Bruce and I became fast friends, as we were of a similar vintage. Bruce was newly married with no kids, while Danie and Roy were quite a bit older and had kids in school. Bruce was a section ranger in various parts of the Kruger, and I was unbelievably privileged to stay with him and fish rivers from the Crocodile and Sabie in the south to the Olifants in the middle and the breathtakingly beautiful Luvuvhu River in the Lanner Gorge in the far north.
I recall one year we were fishing the Sabie River, which, as you follow it towards the Mozambican border, holds some incredible tigerfish in the larger pools. However, the reeds and undergrowth are extremely thick, and on foot, one was very exposed to dangerous game that could be lying up in these thickets undetected. At the time, I was lucky enough to be supported by David Levene, the owner of a well-known local South African tackle brand, Stealth. David had allowed me to acquire a new rod for Bruce at an excellent price – it was his prized possession, and if you had seen the kit Bruce fished with up to this point, it was easy to see why his new rod was so precious, second only to his beautiful new wife Lynn.
We all carried some form of protection in the bush; if not a sidearm, then a larger-calibre rifle, and the full-time rangers reassuringly packed both. We had split up, with Roy and Danie on a lower section, while Bruce, my friend Trevor, and I were on a higher section. We had enjoyed some incredible fishing and now had quite a walk ahead to catch up with the others. We carried our rods with the tips safely behind us so as not to risk breaking them in thick vegetation. Bruce was on point with his holstered 9mm and his .458 rifle, shoulder slung. Trevor was in the middle, and I was behind with my prized two-piece 8wt rod and holstered .357 Magnum loaded with heavy home-loaded solid brass points.
We were following the river on our left when suddenly to the right there was the sound of a substantial weight shifting and something breaking cover. A large, lone, and extremely grumpy buffalo broke through the reeds, snorted, and stared us down with piercing eyes at around 60 yards out. As one should, everyone stood dead still and didn’t make a sound, quickly evaluating options, identifying some higher ground or a tree to shin up should things go pear-shaped.
The buffalo bellowed again, kicked up some dirt and rocks, lowered its head, and broke into a canter towards us. I held my breath. Bruce was an experienced trails ranger, leading groups on foot into the depths of the Kruger for many years; instinctively, he lifted his left hand that would slip the rifle sling off his shoulder and have his .458 with a chambered round ready should the buffalo not pull out of his charge. He paused, taking his eye off the charging buffalo for a millisecond, looking at the shiny new fly rod in his left hand and understanding he would have to toss it to have full use of his left hand for the rifle. I tensed up, instantly realizing we had a problem. The buffalo had closed in very quickly and its cadence picked up, head even lower; this wasn’t a mock charge.
“Move! Everyone for themselves,” came Bruce’s chillingly quiet command.
About 30 yards ahead was a massive basalt rock face, polished smooth from years of weathering and river action; almost like a cliff face along the water’s edge. The soft river sand was like treacle to sprint in. It seemed to take an age to reach the rock face, and, like rats up a drainpipe, we scrambled upwards and clung on. The buffalo stopped at the edge of the rock face in an angry spray of sand and bovine snot. We looked down at him and he looked up at us, kicking back his head before he turned and disappeared in disgust. We slid down after an appropriate interval. I had gotten the highest, just above Trevor. Shaking from the adrenaline surge, we patted ourselves down to check for any bad knocks or cut hands.
“The buffalo bellowed again, kicked up some dirt and rocks, lowered its head and broke into a canter towards us.”
Text | Jonathan Boulton
Photography | Supplied and Timurpix
Bitten Hard: My Flyfishing Life of Big Fish, Wild Waters & Crazy Dreams by Jonathan Boulton is available now. This excerpt is published by permission. For more information, go to flyfishing.co.za.
A range of different experiences can make a Kruger Park trip memorable.
Experiencing the beauty of nature can be both a thrilling and peaceful experience. Being able to take in the vast open space, the lush vegetation bordering the rushing rivers, and the breathtaking animals of somewhere like the Kruger National Park is a cathartic experience.
Birdwatching offers an opportunity to connect with nature and partake in a calming and restful experience. When you close your eyes and listen to the sounds of nature, chances are that most of the sounds you’ll hear come from the birds in the bush. And there’s something in the Kruger’s 11 bird- and game-viewing hides for both the most experienced and the amateur birdwatcher to see.
Wonder can also be found in the sky. Without the interference of city lights and the fog of industry, travellers can truly experience the beauty of the stars. According to National Geographic, astrotourism (travelling to destinations for the purpose of stargazing) has been gaining momentum over the past decade.
While enjoying a safari vacation can be aesthetically rewarding, it also offers an opportunity to stimulate your brain by providing a hands-on education on the intricate ecosystems of the wild. Enjoy a chance to learn more about the habitats of the remarkable animals that call Kruger National Park their home. Immerse yourself in the ecology of the five different zones, which attract different wildlife according to the vegetation and climate of each, fostering a greater appreciation for environmental conservation.
Shared enjoyment
Take a trip through the park with an experienced master tracker and look for signs of spoor (footprints, scents, or even broken foliage) across sandy riverbeds and muddy shorelines to find the elusive animals of the bush. By tracking these creatures on foot, you can learn the basics of animal behaviour as well as the unique and distinctive signs left behind in their spoor.
Staying in or close to the Kruger National Park means you’ll most likely meet others who also have a passion for the bush. Guests often end up chatting to each other about their sightings in the park that day, sharing their excitement at seeing a leopard or a pride of lions stretching out in the sun. There’s something about witnessing the majesty of nature unfold that bonds humans together in a special way.
The benefit of holidaying alongside like-minded people and discovering and enjoying new experiences from the same destination is often the starting point of new connections and friendships with others. There’s no doubt that having others share in your excitement amplifies the enjoyment of your experience.
Text | Miguel Farinha
Photography | Alejandro Ramoshots
Miguel Farinha is Hotel Manager at Kruger Gate Hotel.
For more information, go to krugergatehotel.com.
Solo travel is an increasingly popular option for those seeking new adventures
More and more people are choosing to embark on solo journeys of self-discovery, seeking adventure and enlightenment around the globe. This can be done independently or on a group tour. It’s when you leave behind everyone you know and embark on a journey.
And when you plan and navigate the trip by yourself. In a world where connection is often prized above solitude, solo travel offers a unique opportunity to explore not just the world around us, but the world within.
The allure of solo travel lies in the freedom it offers – from the constraints of schedules, obligations, and expectations. There’s a certain thrill in stepping into the unknown, in venturing into unfamiliar territories armed only with curiosity and courage. Away from the familiar comforts of home, you’re forced to confront your fears, push your boundaries, and rely on your own instincts. In the quiet moments of solitude, you have the space to reflect on life, dreams, and priorities.
Navigating the world on your own can be daunting, but it’s also incredibly empowering. With each challenge you overcome – whether it’s getting around a foreign city, overcoming a language barrier, or making new friends – you grow stronger and more self-assured. Solo travel teaches you to trust yourself, to adapt to new situations, and to find solutions to unexpected problems. It’s a crash course in resilience, and the lessons you learn on the road will stay with you long after the journey is over.
Together Alone
Solo travel is not synonymous with loneliness. In fact, it often fosters meaningful connections – both with others and with yourself. Traveling alone, you’re more open to meeting new people, striking up conversations with strangers, and immersing yourself in different cultures. Whether it’s sharing stories with fellow travelers in a hostel dormitory or connecting with locals over a shared meal, solo travel reminds us that human connection knows no borders. The people you meet and the advice they offer will greatly enrich your trip.
Starting conversations with strangers can be a challenge, but these conversations can be life-changing. There are many skills that can be developed for this, and one is never too old to learn them. It can be difficult to arrive in a new city alone. Take your time. Take a day to relax, watch the city function, and gain different perspectives. Whether you’re watching the sunset over a pristine beach, hiking through a lush forest, or enjoying a quiet meal at a sidewalk café, solo travel teaches you to be fully present.
Solo travel at its best is deliciously self-indulgent: eat whatever and whenever you want, spend as long or as little as you like in a place, skip famous sights or sign up for something super cheesy. It’s a time where the only compromises you have to make are with yourself. This kind of travel is not for everyone, but for those who dare to embark on the journey, the rewards are boundless.
Text | Sigal Nassimov-Geva
Photography | tairome
Sigal Nassimov-Geva is COO of Premier Hotels & Resorts. For more information, go to premierhotels.co.za.
When it comes to winter skincare, the terms ‘dry’ and ‘dehydrated’ are often used interchangeably, but is there a difference between them?
Dry skin is caused by a reduction in the amount of a specialized lipid (oil) in the outer layers of skin that would usually trap water (moisture). Reduction of this specialized lipid results in increased water loss (trans-epidermal water loss – TEWL) through the skin into the atmosphere. Once the amount of water loss exceeds a certain level, a sufferer will feel tightness, sensitivity, and a loss of skin plumpness. The degree of water loss can vary. When there is only slight water loss, this is often referred to as ‘dehydrated’ skin. When the level of water loss is greater, the clinical and sensory changes become more severe, and the label changes to ‘dry’ skin. Dry and dehydrated skin are differentiated by the degree of water loss occurring through the skin.
Many internal and external factors can cause dry skin. You could have a genetic predisposition to have drier skin. Some people don’t make enough of the natural moisturizing factors necessary to trap water in the skin. Others have a genetic predisposition to altered levels of specialized lipid production in the skin. As we age, our skin also produces less of the molecules that keep the fatty layers in our skin healthy, and we also produce less of the molecules that naturally bind water in the skin.
Focus on function
External factors that cause drier skin might include living in a dry environment, seasonal changes, using the wrong products, inflammatory conditions, allergic reactions, procedures like peels, and the abuse of exfoliators.
Looking into the skin, the dryness is caused by the loss of oily molecules (lipids) that are found between the cells in the top, dead layer of skin. The job of these lipid layers, combined with the dead skin cells (referred to as the skin barrier), is to keep water in the skin and foreign substances out. When these lipids are lost or the layer is damaged, water loss will increase through the skin, called trans-epidermal water loss, or TEWL, commonly called dehydration. Water is lost, the skin feels tight and dry, and fine lines appear as the skin loses its plumpness.
The loss of water in the skin has a knock-on effect. When insufficient water is trapped in the epidermis, the enzymes that exfoliate the skin are unable to function correctly. Dry skin cells build up, and the skin becomes dull and lifeless. It may even develop cracks and start to flake.
Applying a ‘rich’ cream to your skin provides a temporary improvement, adding a layer on top of the skin. However, this does not fix the fact that the lipids between the skin cells have been lost.
The viable layers of the skin need water to function well. Assist the skin by adding humectants that trap water. The challenge is that if we add these ingredients without ensuring the lipid bilayer is intact, we would be wasting the products, as we need the lipid to trap water in the skin.
Text | Supplied
Photography | fizkes
For more information, go to lamelle.co.za.
Diseases that can jump species are an increasingly concerning issue.
Arguably one of the greatest threats to human health comes from zoonotic diseases – those that can jump between animals and humans. Some 75% of new human diseases identified in the last three decades are zoonotic.
Emerging infectious diseases are on the rise. Biodiversity loss, the extinction of species or a significant reduction in population sizes, has been identified as a major driver of outbreaks. A recent meta-analysis covering 1,000 studies made this clear. Habitat loss, the degradation and destruction of natural ecosystems, while itself not linked to infectious disease outbreaks in the analysis, contributes to biodiversity loss and is caused by agriculture, logging, mining, livestock grazing, and population growth.
Zoonotic diseases cause 2.5 billion cases of illness and 2.7 million deaths worldwide annually. But this goes further than health. Zoonotic diseases, brought about by biodiversity loss and harmful practices within the bushmeat trade, have far-reaching economic consequences, too. In 2015, for example, the Ebola epidemic cost countries like Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone an estimated R21 billion in economic growth, according to the World Bank.
The public needs to better understand how these diseases can be spread. The greatest transmission risk occurs when humans and animals, both wild and domestic, interact in close proximity. Humans are at risk when exposed to infected live animals or livestock products, such as meat, milk, and eggs. The bushmeat trade poses several risks as it can involve exposure to pathogens carried in wild animals, often in poor health from immense stress, poor diet, dehydration, and poor hygiene in the transport and handling process. Widespread bushmeat trade networks can spread pathogens over large areas, and habitat disruption increases the likelihood of exposure to never-before-encountered pathogens.
Ones to Watch
While up to 200 zoonotic diseases exist, the following have recently come to attention:
Text | Linus Unah
Photography | PERO studio
Linus Unah is West Africa Director at Wild Africa. For more information, go to wildafrica.org.
Ways of working that developed during COVID are becoming the norm.
No other event in recent history has had as big an effect on the world of work as the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, as we find ourselves four years after the fact, trends like ‘work from home’ and ‘The Great Resignation’ have given rise to other movements like hybrid working structures and quiet quitting. But what is here to stay, and what comes next?
In the last year or so, companies that saw large proportions of their staff become chronically disengaged at work or ‘quietly quit’ by doing the bare minimum have taken great lengths to address these issues. But in fixing one problem, another has come back into focus, and that is micro-managing.
As a means of ensuring employees are functioning fully, managers in businesses worldwide have tackled this challenge by performing constant check-ins, coupled with extra status meetings, and have even implemented new reporting structures that have added an extra level of admin pressure onto all of those involved. For many employees, this has felt like a step back from COVID times, when managers seemed to allow more freedom to work independently and observed a more trust-driven management style.
Too close?
Even if not completely intentional, managers in many industries took on the position of helicopter boss. But instead of increasing productivity, hovering managers often do the complete opposite and hurt productivity because they create a force of unhappy workers.
As a result, employees are increasingly looking to their managers for what is now called ‘quiet managing.’ This sees managers reverting to a more hands-off management style, allowing staff to work freely and have fewer time-consuming meetings – and this is said to remain for the rest of 2024 and beyond.
Giving employees praise for a job well done goes hand in hand with quiet managing. Letting people get their work done on their own and to a high level gives them a sense of value. This, coupled with a round of thanks from management, adds hugely to morale and a sense of self-worth.
Just like the quiet quitting and now quiet managing trends, the act of remote work has seen dramatic shifts over the past few years. Things began with the full work-from-home structure and then started to slowly adjust to one or two days in the office, with many companies now shifting to three or four days in the office. A full week of remote working is still not something seen in the business world today, but at the same time, a full week in the office is just as unusual, with differing hybrid models leading the charge.
There’s no hard-and-fast rule for hybrid working structures today. Businesses are choosing to create their own systems based on their needs and the needs of their workforce. Some businesses expect employees to only go into the office on days that have important team meetings, others have instituted in-office days or provide a choice of home and in-office days. But across the board, most businesses are offering at least one work-from-home day a week – and this is set to stay for the foreseeable future.
Optional extras
Once seen by many businesses as ‘breaking the rules,’ side hustles are now steadily increasing in popularity and are becoming more widely accepted by employers. With the global cost of living crisis, coupled with South Africa’s own unique set of challenges like high-interest rates as well as petrol and electricity price hikes, side hustles are becoming a necessity and not just a nice-to-have.
Initially seen to be a young generation initiative, side hustles are now gaining ground across the board and are even being written into employment contracts. In South Africa, side hustles can be as big as running a full-blown small business or as small as taking on freelance work here and there. But whatever this looks like, it’s crucial that all business owners take note and accept the idea of a side hustle.
Side hustles don’t only empower employees to keep afloat from a financial standpoint. They have also been proven to keep people motivated, allow them to explore other passions, have more variety in the work they do, and achieve personal goals like overseas holidays and further education. Side hustles aren’t going anywhere, so it’s important for business owners to embrace them and, even where relevant, inspire them.
Text | Jody Eiser
Photography | Photoroyalty
Jody Eiser is a Talent Relationship Specialist at Strider Digital.
For more information, go to striderdigital.co.za.
Disorder widely catered for in children is often less well understood in working adults.
There is an increasing awareness globally of the impact of ADHD in the workplace. Yet, in South Africa, the challenges and opportunities associated with neurodiversity in adults, and specifically adults in the workforce, remain comparatively under-examined.
This is to the detriment of both affected employees and companies overlooking the value neurodiverse individuals can bring to their teams. According to a 2020 analysis from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, which assessed the global prevalence of adult ADHD, persistent adult ADHD stood at 2.58%, and that of symptomatic adult ADHD was 6.76%.
While recognition of and support for children with ADHD have increased significantly in the past decade or two, something that often goes undiagnosed and underreported is the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in the workforce. Professionals with ADHD face unique challenges during hiring processes and assessments, and they may be overlooked for promotions despite their talents and capabilities. This reality negatively impacts both the employee and the company seeking to attract and retain top talent but can be addressed with greater awareness of the positive potential contribution of individuals with ADHD and by supporting neurodiversity in the workforce.
In the past few years, there has been a rise in ADHD diagnoses occurring later in life, especially among women. Challenges associated with unreported or undiagnosed ADHD therefore often get conflated with non-optimal workplace behaviors, including timekeeping, organization, and distractedness.
Safe space
For individuals with ADHD, whether diagnosed or not, concealing their neurodiversity becomes a coping mechanism, perpetuating work-life challenges. High-functioning individuals may mask their symptoms by overcompensating and organizing meticulously, leading to significantly increased stress. Additionally, fear of stigma and potential career limitations discourages disclosure.
It is important to understand that ADHD is not a disability but a different way of processing information. Furthermore, many professionals with ADHD are exceptionally talented, creative innovators. To overlook these high-impact contributors is a missed opportunity for employers.
Awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity are essential for creating supportive work environments and a step in the right direction for companies to ensure that they retain and get the best out of these employees. If organizations and leaders are truly supportive of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging as a fundamental value, then neurodiversity and ADHD must become part of the conversation, firstly by learning and understanding more about it and then by destigmatizing, normalizing, and modeling how to work with people affected by it in supportive and functional ways.
Text | Debbie Goodman
Photography | pathdoc
Debbie Goodman is a bestselling business author and CEO at Jack Hammer Global. For more information, go to jhammerglobal.com.
Curriculae and teaching should be geared towards giving learners real skills for their adult lives.
One need only look around you to see how young South Africans exemplify the boundless potential of a future in constant flux and change. Educators have a duty to create an environment where every child has the opportunity to maximize their unique potential.
Ultimately, it is the youth who will shape the future, and it is imperative that they are equipped and supported to become positive and responsible contributors to society. Beyond a curriculum-based education, they need values and life skills that will guide moral and accountable decision-making.
In pop culture society, many children are learning false values from the social media platforms that permeate their daily lives, promoting the need for immediate gratification and an intolerance for values such as self-discipline, perseverance, and hard work. Educators and parents have a shared obligation to equip our youth as they take on adult responsibility. Youngsters need the skills for the jobs of tomorrow and help in developing, nurturing, and growing the independence and life skills they’ll need.
Young people have immense creative power. Their innovative ideas and energy are what is needed to build a better society, and this requires a space where they can be encouraged. The next generation will be the most affected when it comes to the global future. The youth must be able to think critically and provide ways to design a sustainable society, economy, and community that cares for their generation and those beyond.
The advantage of community
According to Statistics South Africa, the youth remain vulnerable, with the total number of unemployed young persons standing at 4.7 million (44.3%) in the fourth quarter of 2023. There are numerous reasons for this. However, one of the most pressing challenges is that they are not adequately equipped with the right skills or values to enter the workplace.
One of the most important life skills is knowing how to manage themselves in different environments. Learning environments should reflect the true diversity of the world, inside and outside the classroom. Children learn valuable life lessons from atmospheres of collaboration where they learn to get along. Schools where diversity encompasses a microcosm of the real world should be promoted so that once learners leave the safety of this environment, they’re able to cope.
During their school-going years, children will develop their own perspective on the world and learn how to respect the individual ways of thinking that their fellow students bring to the table. By bringing different perspectives into the mix, young people will be given valuable opportunities to learn from each other—intellectually, emotionally, and socially.
Inviting all kinds of students to work together in the classroom and share in extra-curricular adventures can better prepare a child for long-term goals. This will help in ensuring their future successes in their tertiary education and a well-balanced adulthood.
It is important to recognize that children are born eager to learn and have individual genetic traits. An education system that acknowledges that children are unique should accept that children learn differently and at different paces and recognize the concept of personalized education. Once a student leaves school, they must start building their own life. This is a great responsibility for any person, and schools should be there to provide youngsters with the support they need in their formative years.
Provide support
Young people need to learn basic everyday skills, and this can be achieved by ensuring they have a support network and someone to guide and listen to them. By considering their opinions and strengthening their general participation, children can be guided to find a career path that is best suited to their individual strengths.
Educational facilities should focus on improving a child’s motivation towards realizing their individual mastery and purpose. It’s also vital that parents are fully involved with the development of their child, as this has long-term benefits for both parties. This enables children to make the most of learning opportunities.
Promoting independent learning in a child’s earlier years helps in understanding how to advocate independence in them. Children who show a high degree of independence have higher confidence, self-esteem, and motivation. Young people who become gradually conscious of themselves, other genders, cultures, and history become aware of their freedom and develop the confidence to manage particular situations later in their lives.
Teachers should rethink traditional teaching methods and give greater emphasis to values that build character and resilience in children.
Text | David Clark
Photography | Monkey Business Images
David Clark is Head of School at Bridge House.
For more information, go to bridgehouse.org.za.
Brands are finding creative ways to engage with consumers as part of their marketing.
Gaming is arguably the world’s favorite form of entertainment, generating more money than the music and movie industries combined.
With the incredible growth of the industry, gaming has also become an avenue in which brands and organizations have invested to deploy new marketing campaigns to reach new communities and communicate with their audiences in innovative and more meaningful ways. Beyond in-game advertising, which interrupts the entertainment of game players, many brands have developed bespoke games for their audiences to engage with their brand through a fun, immersive experience in order to drive brand affinity and promote understanding of their brand’s story and mission.
Purpose-driven gaming projects can do everything from teaching tweens how to be money-wise on Roblox for a prominent bank to sensitive storytelling games that promote healthy decision-making for a pharmaceutical company. While retailers all have different objectives, the value of impact games lies in their ability to harness the interactive power of gaming to draw people into deeper brand experiences than any other type of marketing.
One of the key reasons why games are so powerful in this space is because, by their nature, games offer lean-in experiences rather than lean-back experiences like other forms of entertainment (and marketing).
People also interact with games voluntarily—giving their money, time, and attention in return for a fun, rewarding experience that lasts several minutes (or sometimes even hours) every play session. For brands competing for fractions of seconds of engagement on other digital platforms like Instagram and Facebook, the significant active engagement time that brands can directly achieve through bespoke branded games is hugely valuable.
Customer involvement
In the United Kingdom, more people are making decisions based on the practices of the businesses they’re buying from. Sustainability, for example, is a major concern for shoppers. According to research by Accenture in 11 countries, 83% of respondents think it’s important for companies to design products that can be reused, recycled, and never go to landfills.
That’s why we’re seeing companies like Nestlé France invest in creating Farmtopia to demonstrate their commitment to driving the move towards more sustainable agriculture. Farmtopia is a Minecraft universe created by Nestlé in partnership with Microsoft to engage and cultivate a community of young people who understand and support more responsible and regenerative farming practices by living an immersive experience like a farmer where their actions in the game also have real-world impact.
Other brands have also invested in meaningful branded experiences. Athletic apparel retailer Alo Yoga, for example, crafted a Roblox game to further its commitment to promoting mental and overall health. The Alo Sanctuary lets players unlock items for their in-game characters by participating in calming meditation and guided yoga classes. The game is “really about education and giving back to the community,” according to Angelic Vendette, Alo Yoga’s Vice President of Marketing.
Text | Glenn Gillis
Photography | Gorodenkoff
Glenn Gillis is CEO of Sea Monster. For more information, go to seamonster.co.za.
When choosing a new house, consider the advantages of a new build.
Property investment is often one of the biggest investments an individual makes in their lifetime, which means considering various factors. Location, cost, and access to amenities are some of the most important factors determining a property investment. Another is deciding between older homes and newly built ones.
Investing in older properties might be an appealing option when looking at the price tag, but many buyers overlook the many hidden costs associated with these properties. Old electrical systems and plumbing, overdue maintenance and repairs, and the costs associated with upgrading security systems and installing much-needed renewable energy systems – all have to be budgeted for.
Modern, quality-built homes are often a safer investment option because of the long-term benefits associated with new builds. Older homes require significant ongoing maintenance, particularly if the previous owners are selling because of financial restrictions. Newly constructed homes will have modern plumbing and electrics, with stringent building codes and safety regulations adhered to. With regular upkeep, you don’t have to worry about costly maintenance and repairs on your home.
Times have changed, and this is evident in home style and design. If you buy an older home, you’ll likely have to knock down walls and spend on renovating the home so that it suits your modern living needs. Aspects like open-plan living, home offices, en-suite bathrooms, and maximizing the views weren’t part of older home designs but might be elements you want in your new space.
If you’re buying in a new development, you generally get to choose from pre-designed layouts with the option of customized fixtures and fittings that suit your lifestyle and taste. Newer homes will also have modern conveniences such as sufficient plug points, appliance-ready kitchens, and clever storage options.
Updated choices
Energy efficiency in a home is not just a convenience; it’s a modern necessity ensuring that you benefit from long-term cost savings. Renovating an older home to become energy efficient can be a costly affair, with many roofs unsuitable for solar panels and gutters unfit for water storage tanks. New homes come with more energy-efficient heating and cooling, while also taking advantage of design for optimum temperatures. Low-flow plumbing fittings, water storage solutions, solar-ready designs, and more make new homes a much more energy-efficient option.
Older, standalone homes are much more vulnerable in terms of safety and security. In addition, they aren’t always fitted with the latest security technologies that bring peace of mind. If you buy into a new estate rather than an older, standalone home, you’ll enjoy access to modern amenities and facilities developed for the community. Clubhouses, swimming pools, hiking and biking trails, sports facilities, and more are all part of your new home value. You and your family will enjoy a more social, active lifestyle right on your doorstep.
Top-notch technologies, modern design, superior building materials, and many other benefits of a new home put a higher price tag on its resale value. This is especially true of homes that are located near the coast as the semigration trend continues, driving coastal property values up.
Text | Sam Wenger
Photography | Tirachard Kumtanom.
Sam Wenger is Development Director of Serenity Hills.
For more information, go to serenityhills.co.za.
Understanding and meeting the needs of the community involved is part of planning a large mining operation.
For mining companies, social labour planning (SLP) should be more than a tick-box exercise when applying for a mining licence. If approached strategically, it’s a powerful tool for fostering economic prosperity by building a skilled and diverse workforce.
Through inclusive implementation, social labour planning can transform communities, bridge skills gaps, and create a mutually beneficial synergy for mining businesses and community residents. Imagine a sustainable economy where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and support themselves. This is the vision behind social labour planning, which aims to tackle social and economic challenges while nurturing a skilled workforce.
In growing economies where unemployment and poverty are high, social labour planning cannot be overlooked. It fosters job creation through various initiatives, such as small business development and new investment attraction. It contributes to the reduction of inequality, helping to equip community residents with the skills needed to compete for better jobs and improve their livelihoods. When communities benefit from mining operations, social tensions ease and a sense of shared prosperity emerges.
The success of social labour planning hinges on a deep understanding of community and economic needs. This means that a well-designed social labour plan must start with a needs assessment – a comprehensive analysis must be conducted to identify skills gaps, job opportunities, and social and economic challenges to be addressed within the community. Access to education, training, and lifelong learning opportunities to build a skilled workforce must be prioritised, and all stakeholders, including government, businesses, labour unions, and the community, must come together to shape the plan.
This collaboration is the only way to ensure a well-rounded approach that addresses diverse needs.
Long-term impact
A well-designed social labour plan must think deeper than job creation through mining operations. To maximise its impact, it should also give effect to skills development on a larger scale through human capital development, identifying the training required to equip community members.
Social labour plans can empower communities by supporting local entrepreneurs with training and resources to establish and grow their businesses. Additionally, creating a skilled workforce and fostering a stable environment can attract new businesses, which in turn creates even more employment opportunities. In this way, social labour planning is a powerful tool that empowers individuals to become active participants in local economies.
Given that the validity of a mining licence can depend on the performance of the social labour plan, regular monitoring and evaluation are essential to ensure it delivers on its promises. Training providers who specialise in social labour planning can play a critical role in ensuring success by giving human capital development the attention it deserves.
This planning should be undertaken by mining organisations as a strategic intervention, not just for workforce development, but for fostering inclusive growth and shared prosperity in communities surrounding their operations. Such a plan requires a deep understanding of the community it serves, focusing on its needs, skills gaps, and job opportunities. It demands inclusivity and participation from all stakeholders in a plan that addresses everyone’s needs and fosters a sense of ownership.
Text | Jacques Farmer
Photography | MUNGKHOOD STUDIO
Jacques Farmer is Managing Director at PRISMA Training.
For more information, go to prisma.co.za.
Prioritising principles that build up employees helps keep office teams together.
Attracting and retaining top talent is a multifaceted endeavour that requires a strategic and holistic approach. Aligning the workforce with a shared purpose and goal is crucial.
Companies that prioritise fostering a sense of belonging, where employees’ contributions are valued and organisational values are embraced, establish a solid foundation for sustained engagement and commitment. Recognising the significance of the work environment, successful organisations invest in creating spaces that inspire and support their employees. These organisations understand that initiatives promoting employee wellbeing and work-life balance are crucial for attracting and retaining top talent, and this goes beyond ergonomic office design and basic amenities like coffee facilities.
Comprehensive leave policies, for instance, demonstrate an organisation’s commitment to supporting its employees’ personal lives and mental health. These policies allow employees to take time off when needed, knowing that their wellbeing is prioritised. Additionally, team-building activities play a vital role in fostering camaraderie among employees, especially where work-from-home policies apply. These activities improve team dynamics and contribute to a positive work culture where employees feel valued and supported.
Focus points
Incorporating social responsibility into the organisational fabric resonates deeply with today’s workforce. By championing initiatives that give back to the community and promote environmental sustainability, companies demonstrate a commitment to values that resonate with employees, fostering a sense of pride and purpose.
Companies that prioritise open communication embrace bottom-up management approaches, cultivate an environment where every voice is heard, and foster a sense of belonging and collective ownership among employees.
Providing ample opportunities for professional and personal growth is key. Companies that offer robust training programmes, mentorship opportunities, and support for further education demonstrate a commitment to investing in their employees’ long-term success and development.
Companies that go beyond monetary rewards to offer perks that enhance the employee experience, such as wellness programmes, flexible work arrangements, and recognition schemes, foster a culture of appreciation and loyalty.
Authenticity is paramount in fostering trust and engagement among employees. Companies that prioritise transparency, open communication channels, and genuine engagement initiatives, such as town hall meetings and feedback mechanisms, build a culture of trust and alignment that strengthens employee loyalty.
Internal promotion and career advancement opportunities signal a company’s commitment to investing in its employees’ long-term success. By providing avenues for growth and development within the organisation, companies foster a culture of loyalty and retention, empowering employees to realise their full potential.
Attracting and retaining top talent requires a strategic and multifaceted approach that encompasses cultivating a purpose-driven culture, creating enriching work environments, embracing social responsibility, fostering inclusivity and collaboration, investing in professional development, crafting competitive remuneration and benefits, nurturing authentic engagement, and promoting internal growth opportunities. Organisations can cultivate a thriving workforce that drives sustained growth and success.
Text | Pienaar Zietsman and Steven Maier
Photography | Jacob Lund
Pienaar Zietsman is Chief Financial Officer and Steven Maier is Chief Brand Officer at Amplifin. For more information, go to amplifin.co.za.
With big players working together more and more, attracting visitors to South Africa can yield ever greater rewards.
South Africa’s hospitality and tourism industries have a critical role to play in boosting economic development. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the contribution of travel and tourism to South Africa’s GDP is expected to grow by 7.6% every year over the next decade, playing a major role in driving the country’s economic recovery.
In a land so beautiful and varied, the opportunity to influence lives and livelihoods is significant. While this opportunity is largely being leveraged, there is still room for growth, which is why more industry players are coming together to invest in this untapped potential.
Help and be helped
Information sharing, open dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving are critical in effecting change. Strong lines of communication help industry players identify common areas of concern and develop and implement relevant and sustainable solutions. While relationships have always existed between different organisations in hospitality and tourism and between the private and public sectors, a lot of work has historically happened in silos.
Today, however, collaboration within the sectors is on the rise, with relevant organisations and parties taking the chance to have their say. Input from small artisanal suppliers, rural local municipalities, large hospitality providers, big industry associations, and everyone in between is encouraged. Sector leaders are striving to dissolve boundaries and bureaucratic red tape so that they can foster a culture of partnership and collective action.
Stay with the crowd
Historically, hospitality and tourism providers tended to operate independently from the communities of which they were a part. This was especially the case in remote and rural areas, where, sadly, they had the potential to exert the greatest impact. Fortunately, this has changed dramatically in the democratic era and will continue to be a priority going forward.
Organisations have integrated corporate social investment initiatives into their modus operandi and now work closely with community structures, donate to worthwhile causes, and partner with local non-governmental organisations to make a difference.
Of course, this work leads naturally into another key area: job creation.
Job creation
Unemployment is one of the South African government’s largest priorities, and every sector has a responsibility to play its role in addressing it. Approximately 4.5% of South Africa’s population is employed in the tourism industry, many of whom support several family members and dependents.
Hospitality and tourism are in a unique position to assist people in some of the most remote regions in South Africa, particularly in areas where local economies are changing as sectors become automated or as mines close. If companies come together to train, upskill, and hire people to perform critical functions in hospitality, tourism, and beyond, they could start to move the needle on unemployment in the country.
Text | Chris Godenir
Photography | DC Studio
Chris Godenir is General Manager of Dream Hotels and Resorts’ Peninsula All-Suite Hotel in Cape Town.
For more information, go to dreamresorts.co.za.
Can an unwilling employee be compelled to testify in a labour law situation?
Employers might face situations where witnesses necessary for an arbitration or disciplinary hearing are unavailable because they have left the company or moved abroad. However, what should employers do if a current employee, who is a key witness, refuses to testify?
In certain cases, an employee’s refusal to testify might be warranted if they have legitimate fears or face threats for testifying. Handling such situations can be complex, particularly when their concerns are substantiated. However, if an employee refuses to testify simply because they prefer not to be involved, what options are available to the employer?
Such a scenario occurred in the case of Kaefer Energy Projects (Pty) Ltd v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and Others (JA59/20) [2021] ZALAC 42; (2022) 43 ILJ 125 (LAC); [2022] 2 BLLR 166 (LAC) (26 October 2021). Here, an employee was dismissed after refusing to testify in a dispute between their employer and a co-worker, simply because they did not want to be involved. The main charge leading to their dismissal was this refusal to testify about their co-worker’s alleged misconduct.
The applicant intervened and escorted one employee out of the office after overhearing a loud argument between two employees, preventing further escalation. Later, when asked to testify at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), the applicant declined, citing their inability to recall all details of the incident, believing their testimony would not be useful to the employer and fearing they would embarrass themselves if they testified.
Unblock the channel
After the arbitration award was issued, the employer sought to have it overturned by the Labour Court, which ended up reaching the same conclusion as before. The Labour Court referenced Section 5(3) of the Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995 (LRA), noting that just as no person should gain advantage for abstaining from participating in proceedings under the Act, likewise, no person should suffer prejudice for refusing to participate. However, the Court also noted that a witness who refuses to testify could be compelled through a subpoena. Ultimately, the Labour Court concurred with the CCMA’s decision, and the employer’s review application was denied.
The employer then referred the matter to the Labour Appeal Court, and the judge’s concluding remarks summed up the entire case: “Imposing a final written warning on an employee who unjustifiably refuses to testify in a disciplinary hearing or at an arbitration hearing would be to condone obstructive conduct on the part of such an employee to the employer’s right to enforce disciplinary action against (possible) errant employees, which clearly cannot be countenanced.”
The Labour Appeal Court thus found that dismissal was an appropriate sanction in the circumstances. An employee has a duty to act in accordance with what is in the best interests of the business instead of their own.
Text | Supplied
Photography | GoodStudio
For more information, go to ceosa.org.za.
A change in headspace is necessary to effectively plan for life after a career.
What makes a business a great place to work? Some might say it’s pay, beautiful offices, or generous perks. While all these things do play a role, a business’s true attractiveness lies rooted in the work environment it fosters. This includes factors such as employee retention, attracting quality talent, and sustaining high performance.
Retirement is often seen as the ultimate goal, but it might be time to reconsider what it really means. Rather than aiming for a traditional retirement age, think about what makes you happy and fulfilled. Many who leave the workforce entirely find themselves unfulfilled. Instead, aim for a balance that lets you pursue your passions and maintain autonomy.
Whether you’ve been told you should retire at 62, 65, or some other age, only you can decide what’s right for you. In fact, you may want to reconsider retiring at all—at least in the traditional sense.
Many people don’t like the circumstances they find themselves in and look at retirement as the nirvana they’ve been missing. The truth probably lies somewhere between completely dropping out and never retiring. The reason this situation exists is that we’ve been sold on the flawed idea that we should do what we don’t enjoy, accumulating the money we need to someday do what we want. This hope of doing what we really want to do is why the concept of traditional retirement is appealing to so many of us.
But the truth is that traditional retirement doesn’t work for everyone. There’s no question that having money provides options. If you have enough, you can usually do things the way you want. But money is only part of the equation—finding a work/life balance is just as critical.
There are two important steps to take when planning your retirement. First, decide the path you want to take, whether continuing to work, not working at all, or a combination. If you have a partner, it’s critical to involve them in this process. Then, put together a plan that will enable you to achieve your goals. These two steps will help guide you in living a life you love with the money you have on your terms, not someone else’s.
Expect the unexpected
Life presents all of us with challenges that can radically alter our course: disability, a death in the family, divorce, and so on. We need to plan financially because our minds and circumstances can change over time. Investment savings are necessary to purchase the freedom to change course when you choose or need to change it.
Many of us have already seen enough of our parents’ and forerunners’ retirement lives to know that this is not the life for us. We want our lives to be full of challenge, relevance, stimulation, and occupational adventure.
When you ask many retirees how they’re doing, they often reply, “I’m keeping busy.” This is an acknowledgment of the void that retirement has brought. If people are not productive and contributing in some way, they’re most likely not very happy.
The goal of investing, including retirement planning, is to have the resources to have the liberty to do what you want when you want to. Try and balance vacation and vocation.
Text | Ricardo Teixeira
Photography | Jacob Lund
Ricardo Teixeira is Chief Operating Officer at BDO Wealth Advisers.
For more information, go to bdo.co.za.
Solar power installations, if not looked after properly, can add risk to power generation.
South Africa’s rapid rooftop solar adoption, with households and businesses installing over 5,400MW in just a year, has eased pressure on the national grid, leading to the longest loadshedding break since January 2022. However, this surge has raised safety concerns, with firefighters reporting that one in six fires they respond to daily involves solar installations.
The culprits behind these fires include substandard installations, ground faults, arcing, lack of maintenance, and debris from the environment such as dust, leaves, and dirt. Current owners and those considering making the switch must do their due diligence to ensure the safety of their rooftop solar installations.
You might have seen the TV ads warning against the use of substandard installers. They’re spot-on. The Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) has seen a rise in complaints about solar system installations, particularly poor workmanship and installations that do not meet safety standards. Always choose certified and experienced installers who follow industry best practices as well as safety regulations and standards. Crucially, ensure they provide a Certificate of Compliance—a must for insurance and warranty purposes.
With the solar boom comes a rise in counterfeit panels and equipment that pose safety risks. These products don’t meet safety regulations and can malfunction. Insist that your installer uses only high-quality components from reputable manufacturers that come with certification documents for a safe and reliable system. Remember: if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Beware surges
Spikes in voltage from lightning or other electrical disturbances can damage your inverter and batteries. Ensure that surge protection devices (SPDs) are installed and that periodic inspections are conducted to make sure they are in proper working order. Most warranties do not cover damage from these incidents if protection has not been installed.
Solar PV systems operate using direct current (DC), which carries a high risk of damage in the event that arcing occurs. Arcing is an intense burst of light and heat caused by a continuous flow of electricity jumping a gap between two points where a potential difference (voltage) exists. This is the cause of over 40% of fires in these systems. Worn wires, loose connections, and degraded insulation can all trigger arcing. Invest in DC circuit breakers designed for solar systems, as they can minimize the impact of arcing by interrupting the circuit in a timely manner. Alternating current (AC) circuit breakers are not suitable in DC applications. When choosing the right circuit breaker, remember that they need to be certified for the correct operating characteristics of the installation and should not be influenced by environmental temperature changes to ensure that the protection levels are maintained.
Make a habit of visually inspecting your panels monthly for cracks, corrosion, or debris buildup. Ensure that conductors are checked for insulation fatigue and corrosion, and that connections are tight. Every five years, schedule a professional inspection by a qualified technician to make sure that everything is functioning properly and to spot any potential problems.
Keep it clean
Rain helps with cleaning, but dust and grime can build up. Clean your panels with a gentle spray from a hose and a soft brush. This is critical as research has found that soiling lowers solar efficiency, raises maintenance expenses, and reduces the lifespan of PV systems. Aim for cooler mornings or evenings to avoid shocking the panels with a sudden temperature change. For stubborn dirt or depending on your environment, consider professional cleaning every one to two years.
Most solar power systems come with monitoring capabilities to track performance. Keep an eye on this data for any unusual drops in efficiency. This could be a sign of a dirty panel, an inverter issue, aging components requiring closer inspection, or something else needing attention. Monitoring is a must for warding off any potential catastrophes.
By following these steps, you can ensure a safe and efficient system. Remember, while going off-grid already has a high price tag of between R150,000 and R350,000, skimping on safety can cost significantly more. With unsafe installations, you run the risk of property damage, injury, or even death. Invest in proper safety measures—it’s the smartest decision for your wallet and your wellbeing.
Text | Andrew Dickson
Photography | Hryshchyshen Serhii
Dr Andrew Dickson is Engineering Executive at CBI-electric: low voltage.
For more information, go to cbi-lowvoltage.co.za.
Using temporary staff can be an effective strategy for hospitality businesses still recovering from the pandemic.
As South Africa’s hospitality and tourism industry recovers from the devastating effects of the pandemic, there is again a shift toward direct hiring and greater full-time staff complements. While this trend underscores the resilience of the industry, the reality is that it is still volatile and subject to the influence of multiple external factors.
Reputable Temporary Employment Services (TES) providers can be valuable strategic partners in helping businesses within the sector to deal with seasonal and other demand fluctuations, improving operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
COVID-19 highlighted the vulnerability of the hospitality and tourism sector, but it is by no means the only external factor that can influence businesses in this industry. International travel still has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, although it is increasing, and ongoing economic pressures mean locals have less disposable income to spend on nice-to-haves such as holidays and meals at restaurants.
The effects of the pandemic showed that a permanent workforce in the hospitality and tourism sector can be a liability when demand is low. Even without external influence, tourism is also heavily seasonal, which means it is not best suited to permanent staffing in general. A TES partner can assist both employers and those seeking employment, giving employees entry into the job market along with the ability to gain skills and experience while helping employers to source the flexible workforce they need to handle fluctuating demand.
Able to change
A flexible workforce can help businesses in hospitality and tourism to access the skills they need to support operational requirements, but without the overheads that permanent employment brings. Staff can be scaled up or down as needed to cater to fluctuating demand, but with reduced risk and enhanced agility.
Temporary staff can deliver this tractability, enabling hospitality and tourism businesses to enhance operational efficiency and reduce overheads by minimizing the administrative component associated with sourcing and hiring skilled, experienced employees. In addition, TES can help hospitality and tourism businesses to ensure that they can recruit appropriate skills through transparent processes, alongside rigorous vetting processes and clear communication channels while remaining compliant with relevant labour legislation.
Partnering with a reputable and compliant partner ensures hospitality and tourism businesses can leverage the flexibility they need to adapt quickly to changing needs, seasons, and market conditions. It also helps these businesses by reducing the administrative burden around the hiring process, including vetting and skills matching, as well as ongoing human resources requirements.
South Africa faces ongoing uncertainty and unpredictability, including the global economic climate and local challenges like loadshedding, inflation, and reduced expendable income.
Text | Donné Nieman
Photography | Ralf Geithe
Donné Nieman is Sales Director (Western Cape) at Workforce Staffing.
For more information, go to workforcestaffing.co.za
Employees need support to stay mentally strong in the workplace.
Experts predicted that the next global pandemic following COVID-19 would be depression. Phrases like ‘mental health,’ ‘burnout,’ and ‘The Great Resignation’ have been spoken with increased frequency and urgency.
Currently, stats show that approximately 30% of employees are struggling with their mental health – one in every three or four people. Compare that to a 2013 study, where only one in every five people experienced difficulties.
Nowadays, employee wellness companies are contracted to assist in enhancing employees’ wellbeing. It’s not as simple as telling people to ‘think positively.’ A positive approach needs to be married to the realities of a situation, using helpful tools.
Workplaces need education on the percentage of individuals suffering from stress-related burnout, along with viable resources that can assist them. Perception makes a big difference too, so this education can be referred to as resilience training, not ‘mental illness training.’
Before engaging with employees, study recent staff surveys and work alongside industrial psychologists and other experts to obtain critical data. This data sets the tone. It’s best to engage with employees at various levels and tailor training to suit each division. There is a toolkit suited to adjust at every level, to make both management and staff more resilient and happier people.
Training should aim to teach employees skills that can be applied throughout their entire lives. At times, you need to face a negative situation directly and assess what steps to take. It’s through this exercise that a person learns to trust a process and becomes more resilient. We must be prepared to face the truth and have tough conversations.
A common myth is that resilient people stand alone as beacons of strength, but studies indicate the most common trait shared by resilient people is a good support structure.
Workplace challenges
There are a number of common workplace mental health issues:
Changing cultures
An underestimated yet critical aspect of mental illness is that if a person assigns all the power outside of themselves, it can wreak havoc should it fall away. This can apply if your entire identity is your job and you are retrenched, or if you give your identity to your spouse and they leave you. This is where you need to take a critical look at how much time you are investing in your potential. An individual with a strong internal locus of control is more resilient and will attract success independent of change and adversity. They will still experience the pain but will navigate it more effectively.
The core of emotional intelligence is self-awareness and self-management. Any area of life that is currently neglected will lead to a crisis at some point. Post-pandemic, many people have lost the key ability to relate to their co-workers or communicate professionally and courteously.
While some have fully adopted the concept of remote working, employers need to have empathy and understand that the ideal ‘work-from-home’ scenario can only apply to the lucky few with the resources to create a home office. Workplace culture has been negatively impacted, and this can have a damaging side-effect on brand image, with integrity also coming into question as employees manage their new online business or their latest food delivery order mid-Zoom meeting.
To counteract these effects, companies are going on culture drives and are investing in working alongside coaches and re-energising their teams to get morale up. New material is available regarding putting into place strategies around digital rules that up the engagement factor.
The fact remains that resilient people are happier people. And happier people are productive people. And being productive is ultimately better than simply being ‘busy.’
Text | Alvin Govender
Photography | wavebreakmedia
Alvin Govender is CEO of Awakening Leadership. For more information, go to awakeningleadership.co.za.
New two-pot system will take some getting used to for those planning for their post-work lives.
There’s confusion about what the two-pot retirement system is and how it’ll work once implemented on 1 September 2024. South Africans, whether employees or independent earners, typically contribute part of their monthly salary to one or other retirement fund. When they change jobs or become unemployed, any accumulated savings in their fund are paid out to them after being taxed. Unfortunately, the temptation to squander this money on luxuries or necessities is great, and it is seldom reinvested towards retirement. This condition was exacerbated by COVID, when many lost their jobs and used their payout to survive. This was not the first time the problem was recognized. A method for preserving retirement savings while affording members access to a reasonable portion for emergencies has been debated for the last 30 years or more. The two-pot system was developed to offer a rational compromise.
Currently, members have existing savings in their retirement fund from past contributions, called the vested component. On 1 September, two new components – or ‘pots’ – will be introduced into each member’s fund, and all future contributions will be paid into these pots as follows:
Vested interest
On 1 September, 10% of the member’s existing savings (vested component), but not more than R30,000, will be transferred to the savings pot as seed capital, immediately available for members to withdraw. The initial withdrawal can only be as much as the member has in their savings pot and can’t be more than R30,000. But there is no cap on future withdrawals, and members are not compelled to make a withdrawal in any given year.
The remaining vested component is not part of the two-pot system. If a member leaves their employer, the vested component will be paid out after being taxed. Otherwise, it will form part of their lump-sum payout on retirement.
Income earmarked as a retirement contribution is not taxed when it is earned but when the lump sum is paid out in the future. So, when a member withdraws from their savings pot, they’re taking untaxed income that will no longer be used to fund their retirement, rendering the tax on it immediately due.
While the release of the vested component continues to be taxed against SARS’ severance benefit tax tables, savings pot withdrawals are taxed at the member’s marginal rate. In addition, since their withdrawal relies on a tax directive, they must be compliant with SARS before the funds can be released.
Text | Phil Le Feuvre
Photography | PeopleImages.com – Yuri A
Phil Le Feuvre is a South African Reward Association (SARA) member.
For more information, go to sara.co.za.
Adding to the equation
Adtech is an increasingly important part of understanding how customers think.
Adtech organisations sit at the edge of innovation and the evolution of marketing. Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the rise of data alongside the demise of the third-party cookie have reimagined contextual messaging, creativity, and campaigns at scale.
Over the past year, the deal volume among adtech and martech companies saw an increase of 82% year on year, despite concerns that the sector wouldn’t cope with the changes in third-party cookies and the introduction of privacy-focused targeting solutions. This is largely due to the industry’s ability to embrace emergent technologies as well as its access to and understanding of data. First-party data is one of the most significant trends emerging, and it’s driving both a shift in marketing spend as well as innovation in the sector. Under the spotlight because of regulatory changes, data sourcing, usage, and protection are becoming increasingly important. However, for companies embracing this change, there is also a powerful opportunity to thrive. Companies with a first-party data strategy can also easily embed data privacy into their approaches and strategies to ensure sustainability and translate complexity into innovation.
The maturation of adtech is occurring now, particularly in light of the demise of third-party cookies and the irresponsible collection of data. Consumer consent and privacy have become extremely important in the Information Era, and what is needed are tailored, contextual audiences, enhanced first-party data collection, and novel ways of using these touchpoints to discover new ways of connecting with markets and customers.
When it comes to the retail sector, first-party data is a cornerstone of understanding customer behaviours, preferences, and patterns. Unlike third-party data, which can often be less reliable and less directly relevant, first-party data is collected directly from customers and holds immense value for retailers, offering authentic insights into customer demographics, purchase history, browsing behaviour, and engagement levels.
The trend towards a cleaner internet and cleaner sourcing of data is aligned with the shift in retail spend. Budgets are moving away from Meta towards companies that have access to large quantities of first-party data, such as retailers. What’s also important to note is that agencies and other media buyers aren’t under threat. As evidenced by the growth statistics, they’re still purchasing media, but the publishers have changed. Media can now be bought from anyone with first-party data: it could now be from an insurer or a retail giant – the market is open.
Ever more data
This trend is reflected in the automotive and property industries, which have access to vast quantities of user data across key metrics such as user behaviours and preferences. This data offers highly targeted advertising options to real estate agents, developers, vehicle manufacturers, and retailers within the motoring sector – all of which can be used to enhance decision making and planning.
The data trend doesn’t stand in isolation. AI and machine learning are the gold standard in trends redefining the scale and scope of adtech today and in the future. AI, particularly generative AI (GenAI), has seeped into every industry, and the change it’s introducing is as significant as the mobile phone. The ways in which adtech and marketing organisations leverage data and technology are about to fundamentally change, if they haven’t already.
As much as AI and machine learning are massive trends, these technologies have been at the core of Facebook targeting and Google data analysis and learning for years. These companies already have more data than anyone and can train their models better than most other companies can. Using AI for targeting isn’t new. What is new is GenAI and how this is used within your organisation to create content that’s personalised at scale. This technology is not only transforming how ads are created and served but also making them more effective by tailoring them to specific audiences.
Text | Gil Sperling and Dan Levy
Photography | Miha Creatives
Gil Sperling and Dan Levy are co-founders and CEOs of Flow. For more information, go to flowliving.com.
Big conferences and the like can still be part of useful corporate strategies, but care must be taken to make sure they’re environmentally friendly.
Anyone who’s ever been involved in organising a significant event knows how complex it can be. There are dozens of moving parts that must be coordinated with to-the-minute accuracy to ensure everything goes off without a hitch.
Environmental sustainability is increasingly important to all those moving parts and the overall success of an event. As the effects of the climate emergency become clearer, that demand will only grow too. March 2024 was already the hottest month in Earth’s recorded history. The recent Dubai floods, which saw the emirate receive more than a year’s worth of rain in a matter of hours, provide further evidence of how devastating climate change already is. If there’s to be any hope of changing the planet’s current trajectory, everyone has to play their part, including event planners.
Increasingly strict EU laws require all large and listed companies (of the kind that put on big events) to disclose any environmental risks associated with their activities. South African companies aren’t immune from sustainability considerations either. Laws like the one requiring all large buildings to display an energy performance certificate (EPC) by 2025 will sharpen corporate minds and help ensure that they bring sustainability considerations to all of their activities. It’s also something that the events industry shouldn’t compete on. Given the urgency of meeting sustainability standards, everyone should share their best practices and learn from one another.
By selecting an event venue that understands – and is committed to – sustainability, half the battle is already won. That commitment, though, must run like a thread through everything the venue does.
Businesses could implement a few simple initiatives and claim they have excellent green credentials. But that’s not real sustainability. It’s greenwashing. Conferencing and hospitality groups could and should use recycled water in ablution facilities, sort waste for reuse, recycling, and composting, and use rooftop solar PV arrays for some of their energy needs, among other initiatives.
Tasting success
The more time delegates spend in cars getting to and from an event, the less environmentally friendly it is. You can, however, make things significantly more sustainable by ensuring that a wide array of amenities (particularly hotels and restaurants) are within walking distance of the event venue and that it’s close to reliable public transport nodes.
Left unchecked, big events can generate tonnes of single-use plastic. From name badge holders to bottled water and brochure covers, each individual item seems innocuous. But when an event has hundreds or even thousands of attendees, it adds up. Audit the areas you know traditionally come with a lot of single-use plastic and see if they can simply be eliminated. And where elimination isn’t possible, look for more sustainable alternatives.
It’s easy to forget that food systems are responsible for more than a quarter of global emissions. By choosing the right catering options, event organisers can play their part in bringing down that number. All food procurement and menu preparations should be done responsibly, adhering to sustainable practices and initiatives. That includes providing planet-friendly food options that are sourced from suppliers with high sustainability standards of their own.
Clean sheets
On its own, paper is a pretty environmentally friendly resource. The trouble is, much of the paper associated with conferences, including printed schedules, brochures, and research publications isn’t pure paper. Instead, much of it has a plastic coating, making it all but impossible to recycle. It’s also almost completely unnecessary, especially if all of that information can be uploaded to a website instead.
Rather than giving away pens that’ll only be used once and water bottles that leak the moment you fill them, give away fewer, more useful things. If nothing else, the amount of rubbish that ends up in landfills as a result of the event will be reduced.
If you’ve found a venue that’s serious about sustainability and you’ve taken all the steps you can to make the event sustainable, your next step is to bring exhibitors and attendees on board. Explain why environmental sustainability is so important to the event and, for exhibitors especially, set simple standards to follow.
No one should come out of an event saying that it was great despite its environmental focus. Instead, acting in an environmentally sustainable manner should add to the event experience. A good venue and site team will go a long way towards helping to achieve this.
Ultimately, ensuring the collective future of the planet is something everyone is responsible for. The events and hospitality sectors certainly aren’t immune from that. In fact, with their ability to connect people in profoundly influential ways, they may end up having an outsized role to play in driving sustainability-driven change.
Text | Gary Koetser
Photography | New Africa
Gary Koetser is CEO of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels.
For more information, go to ccconferencecentre.co.za.
Submitting tax returns can feel somewhat overwhelming, so it’s wise to not necessarily do it all yourself.
Taxpayers increasingly view themselves as walking a tightrope from a compliance perspective, with SARS (South African Revenue Service) on one side and a daunting administrative burden on the other.
The stakes can be high, and it does not help that the rules of engagement are always changing. When it comes to disagreements with SARS, things have certainly changed. Providing half answers to SARS requests with no substantial detail, along with an inclination to try and keep important information away from SARS, is now hurting more and more taxpayers. SARS is evolving, and in order to avoid friction with the taxman, taxpayers need to adapt.
One of the golden rules in tax is that the onus of proof generally falls on the taxpayer. At the same time, the tax authority has become increasingly proficient and vigilant in its collection efforts. So, how do you ensure you’re not caught on the wrong end of SARS or in the crossfire of a SARS dispute?
Prevention is better than cure when it comes to tax. But when things do go wrong, before you decide to lodge a dispute, it’s crucial to first be honest about the completeness and accuracy of your submissions – and to approach the dispute from that angle.
In the past, taxpayers would often point fingers at SARS for their woes. Denied their deductions and misplaced assessments, despite providing sufficient evidence, were common culprits. Now the tables are turning. An increasing number of tax disputes are arising from taxpayers or their accountants either submitting incorrect (for example, nil) returns or providing incomplete to no information during SARS verification requests.
More and more, disputes have become necessary due to rushing tax return submissions through at the last minute to avoid late penalties. Many times, this is done under the impression that it will be corrected later, which is not always the case, and there are many instances when no corrective steps are taken in time. Unfortunately, this only makes matters worse.
Know the rules
The best defence against an adverse tax assessment by SARS is a strong offence – in other words, proactive tax management. For both businesses and individual taxpayers alike, integrating tax planning and management into your financial routine is essential. Being well-prepared for submissions on time eliminates the need to rush and reduces the risk of costly errors or omissions.
A strategic, evidence-first approach to your tax affairs is key. A competent tax advisor will help you develop a personal and business tax management system that keeps you compliant and resilient to adverse tax events. SARS is not infallible. Mistakes can occur, and when they do, having a proactive stance allows you to address the issues head-on. The first step in challenging an incorrect tax assessment is usually to submit a Request for Reasons, compelling SARS to provide a definitive reason for their assessment if one has not already been given. This not only equips you with valuable information to build your case but also keeps SARS to the defined issues or reasons later on.
With an evidence-based approach, meeting the (generally 80-business-day) deadline to lodge an objection becomes a lot more manageable. Even if this deadline is missed, you can still take action up to three years later in many cases, provided you have compelling reasons for the delay.
Ask for help
Navigating the maze of the tax dispute resolution process with SARS requires more than just persistence or principle; it demands expertise. A diligent tax practitioner also knows that a dispute is not the only tool at their disposal. They might, for instance, recommend a (non-contentious) Request for Reduced Assessment when appropriate.
Understanding the full range of mechanisms available for dealing with SARS is crucial. SARS is to be commended for its commitment to becoming a technologically advanced tax authority, but taxpayers will increasingly need specialist help to stay ahead of the compliance curve, as it remains a moving target.
In the world of tax compliance, staying ahead of the game requires more than just following the rules – it requires strategic planning, proactive management, and expert guidance. As SARS evolves, so must your approach to SARS engagement. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Equally so, by taking an evidence-first approach and seeking the right expertise where necessary, you can confidently navigate this new era of tax compliance with a full view of the risks ahead of time and the means to effectively deal with them.
Text | Razael Manikus
Photography | Andrey_Popov
Razael Manikus is COO at Latita Africa. For more information, go to latitaafrica.com.
Integrated systems will help South Africa operate on a higher, more efficient level.
No sector exists in isolation, transportation included. How towns, cities, and countries move people, goods, and services from place to place impacts how they function socially and economically. It affects infrastructure planning, housing development, healthcare, and education. It either frees individuals and communities from poverty or further entrenches them within it, which has a knock-on effect on national economic growth and GDP.
An effective integrated transportation system moves people, goods, and services in an integrated way through roads, non-motorised transport, railways, and ports. It means that everyone has several transportation options available to them to get where they need to be safely and efficiently.
In the Netherlands, for example, residents can choose to drive, walk, or make use of the country’s vast and established cycle lanes. There are also well-run bus, metro, and train networks. And there are seamless links between these systems: bicycle racks are available at stations, and the bus, metro, and train lines all intersect at convenient points. Every single mode of transport that is available works together and works well. By extension, almost everyone has access to the broader resources they need. Another great example is the exemplary, intentional, and integrated transportation developments in Kigali.
South Africa’s transportation network is not as integrated – either within the different modes of transport it offers or in terms of its relationship to other sectors.
Teamwork benefits
Where such systems work well, there is always an integrated transportation master plan in place that consistently addresses the maintenance and upgrade of existing types of transportation and connects the sector into those around it. It considers new capital projects that will feed into the integrated system. The absence of this plan in South Africa is perhaps the starting point of many transportation challenges.
From a policy and planning perspective, South Africa is a deeply siloed nation. Its roads network has its own plan, as do railways and ports. Plans for water and housing are also separate from transport and from each other. And there are variations in approach between local, provincial, and national government. This strategy makes it difficult to gain a holistic perspective and to introduce interventions that make a difference.
There are other challenges. Supply chain and procurement issues, the misappropriation of funds, and corruption add to the complexity. Budgets don’t go where they’re meant to go. Maintenance systems regularly falter. Potholes deepen. Compound this with loadshedding, urbanisation, and the severe congestion of major cities, and getting people, goods, and services from A to B starts to become a serious problem.
All of this affects people’s mental health and their levels of participation and inclusion. Rural-to-city connections are often hardest hit, and the lack of safety and the inefficiency commuters experience can take their toll on social cohesion. It also impacts businesses’ ability to generate revenue and makes the economy sluggish. Born out on a national scale, the ramifications of not having an integrated transportation system in place are far-reaching.
Suited to the situation
The first step is to evaluate the extent of the problem. Without truly knowing how severe it is, we don’t know how to fix it. This involves having accurate and up-to-date Visual Condition Index data on hand – data that offers a detailed picture of the state of South Africa’s transportation network and where upgrades are required. The Western Cape and Mpumalanga provincial governments are leading the charge here, and both have a thorough account of the condition of their roads. But this needs to be a countrywide phenomenon.
Then comes prioritising how budgets get allocated. The roads infrastructure budget is substantial, but it needs to be adequately apportioned – and audited. Work often needs to be split between maintaining existing roads and developing new ones. This is especially so in light of the country’s current railway challenges, which are putting strain on the road network as long-haul trucks move heavy loads long distances.
Step three involves tightening our supply chain processes. At the moment, it takes between six and 18 months for transportation-related tenders to be adjudicated and awarded. These drawn-out and troubled procedures are a breeding ground for corruption and financial misconduct.
A plan that drives consistent evaluation and consistent action is needed. This must start at the top; it begins with leadership. In a democratic country, the master plan should apply no matter which political party or individual is at the helm.
Text | Bongani Mthombeni
Photography | PopTika
Bongani Mthombeni is the Director of Smart Mobility at Royal HaskoningDHV in South Africa.
For more information, go to royalhaskoningdhv.com.
Paying attention to conscious travel will help South Africa make the most of its many attractions.
Like every other sector, tourism exerts an inevitable effect on the environments, resources, and communities on which it depends.
As the world works to combat climate change and focuses on greater social awareness, tourism bodies, industry players, and travellers are striving to ensure that travel’s impact is as positive and sustainable as possible. South Africa is poised to respond to this shift in several ways.
The industry places demands on sites of natural, historic, and cultural importance and requires infrastructure, food, and entertainment facilities. Tourism has an influence on, and a responsibility towards, the communities of which it is a part. It is also a carbon-intensive industry. Its carbon footprint currently accounts for an estimated 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions – a figure that is forecast to grow annually by 4% if measures aren’t put in place to reduce this impact. Which is why conscious travel is becoming increasingly important. While it’s impossible to do away with transport, tourists can reduce the impact they have on the destinations they travel to by being more considerate about the accommodation they choose and the activities they participate in.
Travellers are becoming more informed about the impacts of their journeys, leading to a growing demand for eco-friendly and socially conscious accommodation and experiences.
In a country as large, beautiful, and diverse as South Africa, where tourism has the potential to affect some of the country’s most remote regions and communities, conscious travel has an important role to play. If we leverage it well, we may be able to use it to better care for the environment, improve the lives and livelihoods of local communities, boost local and national economies, and create long-lasting change.
Improving situation
South Africa already has a reputation for prioritising sustainability in tourism. Lonely Planet recently listed the country as a top-10 sustainable destination for 2024, and the 2024 World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index ranked it highly in terms of natural and non-leisure resources and socio-economic impact.
It’s obvious that South Africa’s biodiversity and natural beauty are some of its biggest selling points, and it’s in the best interest of tourism providers to protect the many pristine and unspoilt areas that the country offers. It should be seen as a symbiotic opportunity: the tourism industry benefits from the many beautiful landscapes and authentic cultural experiences that so many tourists seek, while, at the same time, tourism providers prioritise protecting the environment and the communities in which they operate.
There are many existing initiatives that encourage sustainable and conscious tourism. Attractions and hotels that are giving back to their local communities – by nurturing a passion for conservation, supporting NGOs that care for orphans and vulnerable children, and mentoring young people and helping them succeed – are placing South Africa on the conscious tourism map. The country’s marine conservation efforts, as well as its farm stays, local ecotourism, and ethical township tourism, are also helping to entrench this view.
As interest in environmental and community-based tourism grows, South African hospitality and tourism operators are further encouraged to maintain unspoilt areas and to preserve and protect wildlife – both of which South Africa has in abundance. They also have the opportunity to work with communities that were previously excluded from the tourism value chain in authentic and meaningful ways.
Partnerships with entrepreneurs, small businesses, community forums, and grassroots organisations are critical here. By engaging directly with the people whose lives, livelihoods, and environments are directly affected by their efforts, tourism operators can create interventions that really make a difference. First and foremost to their environments and communities, and secondly, to the tourists wanting to travel responsibly.
Fortunately, in a country like South Africa, where these groups are fundamentally woven into the country’s socio-economic fabric, forming these sorts of partnerships is both easy and welcomed.
Refocus to keep growing
There is, of course, always room for growth. As the world and the country look to a future fraught with environmental, social, political, and economic challenges, the need for sustainable tourism is likely to continue. Hospitality and tourism operators, therefore, need to ask whether they are putting their efforts into the right areas, whether their interventions are meaningful, and what more can be done.
By prioritising purpose over profit, the tourism industry in South Africa is likely not only to continue to draw tourists from across the world but also to contribute ethically and sustainably to the land and its people.
Text | Nick Dickson
Photography | carballo
Nick Dickson is the CEO of Dream Hotels & Resorts.
For more information, go to dreamresorts.co.za.
Welcoming a child into the world is a new experience for younger dads
Honestly, childbirth isn’t what it used to be. I’m not talking about the 19th century, when the mortality rate was higher than the Zambian gross domestic product, but rather in comparison to when our children were born a few decades ago. Only now that they are having little people of their own, I realize quite how different the whole experience is.
When our kids were born, dads didn’t move into the hospital. We were there for the birth; we did what we were expected to in the delivery room, and then we left. Whether it was because they were just another mouth for mom to feed or because no one had paternity leave, I don’t know. But I recall being banished from that room as soon as was practical so that my wife could get on with the important job of being a mother. It didn’t take a relationship expert to see that much like a praying mantis, I had outlived my usefulness, and unless I wanted my head bitten off, the office was the smarter place to be.
“Why do you want to move into the hospital room?” I asked my son, ahead of their child’s birth.
“Because it’s my child, Dad!” was the answer. We were at his home for dinner, and I was starting to experience that familiar, painful prodding in my thigh, courtesy of my wife, who was next to me and who wanted me to stop talking. She has powerful thumbs. “Doesn’t he know that it’s still his child even if he doesn’t sleep over at the hospital?” I mumbled to her in a stage whisper. Her rolled eyes made it clear I wasn’t convincing anyone of anything.
“I guess then no one should tell him about skin-to-skin bonding,” announced my son, now relishing in my discomfort.
“What’s that?” I asked, taking the bait.
“It’s when the dad lifts his shirt so that his baby can bond with him. Skin to skin.” The looks at the table confirmed that he wasn’t making this up.
“When?” I asked for clarification. Apparently, it can be in the room later. Or even in the actual delivery room. I was now well over the edge, imagining my son and his baby performing some kind of shirtless new-age ritual while his poor wife, who had carried the kid for nine long months and then finally given birth, was left to her own devices. Because in 2024, it’s about the dad.
“I want you to know that, as much as you want to, you will never breastfeed,” was my final word. After which, for fear of my life, I sat in silence wondering how my late father, who hadn’t even been at the birth of his children, would have taken the news of his skin-to-skin grandson moving into the hospital room to fully experience the magnificence of childbirth.
The days of dads smoking a cigar while pacing up and down outside the delivery room are thankfully over. The shared responsibility and the fact that dads are involved in the lives of their children from day one is wonderful. They can do many things. They can love, nurture, and they can connect. But at the end of the day, no amount of skin-to-skin bonding will ever make a dad lactate.
Text | Howard Feldman
Photography | Anatta_Tan
Follow Howard Feldman on X: @HowardFeldman
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