2023 ended with Kwaito and Lizzy jumping the broom, the Seakamelas finally having moved to their double storey house, Mapitsi getting an opportunity of a lifetime at Berry Fm and Ivy and Obed Kgomo being on the brink of a possible reconciliation.

This year brings dirty secrets bubbling to the surface, budding new relationships, a fallen star, and a high-speed car chase. With new stories, sometimes comes new faces.

Tsietsi and Pule turn up the charm at Bazaruto and Pretty and Eunice are impressed, leaving Lehasa and Leeto green with envy. Could these 2 gentlemen just be their knights in shining armour?  

Tsietsi will be played by Pholoso Mohlala and will be airing from the 26^th of January 2024. The character of Pule will be played by Themba Manganyi, to start airing on the 31^st of January 2024.

Brendan Maphake will be playing the character of Amukelani from 2^nd of February 2024. Amu is the new addition to the Turf High learners and causes a stir when he leaves the girls smitten and all the boys feeling intimidated. He soon becomes the bane of Paxton’s existence, when a certain young lady is drawn to Amu like a moth to a flame.        

Nkosi owns a well-established security company and is the perfect definition of ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’ when he quickly comes to Lehasa’s rescue in his time of need. The character of Nkosi will be played by Nyaniso Dzedze. Look out for him from the 12^th of February 2024.     

For more information and interview opportunities contact SABC1 Publicity.

Angeke Bas’khone with Skeem Saam weekdays at 18:30, only on SABC1 Mzansi FoSho!

For media enquiries contact:

Caroline Phalakatshela Publicity Specialist: Video Entertainment – 072 382 3032 / phalakatshelamc

Skills training done right – for young people and employers 

By Jessica Hawkey, MD at redAcademy

Even as South Africa grapples with one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally – with 8.9 million unemployed young people according to Statistics South Africa – traditional approaches to tackling the issue have been met with limited success. A major challenge is that most skills development programmes focus only on training, and leave the rest to young people. It is clear that an alternative model is needed to tackle youth unemployment: one that not only imparts skills that are in demand, but provides real workplace experience and employment upon completion.

Young people in South Africa face immense challenges, starting right when they are still in school, and have to figure out what path to take next to earn a living and be able to support their families. A lack of career guidance and exposure to the right social networks, however, tends to result in youth enrolling in courses that do not match with their skills and interests or current industry requirements, reducing their chances of success and employability.

An academic qualification alone is of little help, with data from Stats SA showing that one in four young people in South Africa come from an environment where no one in their family is formally employed, leaving them with little support or guidance to navigate the world of work. Then, based on research conducted by Youth Capital, an advocacy campaign centering youth voices and experiences in solutions to tackle the youth unemployment crisis, there is the high cost of job seeking with youth having to spend between R500 and R1 000 per month, just to look for work. 

This is a high cost for someone who is unemployed, and often they are forced to choose between putting food on the table and going out to look for work. It comes as no surprise, then, that the majority of youth have been looking for work for more than one year – according to the same Youth Capital research report, titled “Beyond the cost: What does it really cost young people to look for work?”. Then, there is the family pressure: because they have studied, there is an expectation that they should now be earning and contributing, which places an additional burden on them and potentially impacts their mental health.

It has become painfully apparent that the traditional ways of skills development and training have failed to make a substantial impact in tackling youth unemployment in the country, and that alternatives are required. There is a need to move away from training for training’s sake, and toward scalable, sustainable solutions that equip young people with relevant skills that are in demand by the market, thereby providing real career pathways.

Private sector partnerships the way forward

One such example of an alternative approach to youth skills development is redAcademy, a Cape Town-based organisation that partners with the private sector and operates inside clients’ live IT environments. Through its rigorous and refined recruitment methodology young people are upskilled to match the exact requirements of corporate partners. Candidates here enter into a one-year programme where the first six months are weighted toward theoretical and practical components, and the second six months are weighted towards actual, real-world development of solutions for private sector partners. 

In this way, Sprinters, as the candidates are known, get workplace exposure as well as experience software development in the real world. Not only does such an approach take the cost out of job seeking for South Africa’s youth, but they are also exposed to a network that links them with opportunity when they are done with their year-long course. In this case, Sprinters have permanent employment from the very first day after completing the course, due to the work experience gained from the programme.

“redAcademy understands that young people come from difficult backgrounds, as well as the societal issues they face, and has created an environment that is supportive and works to ensure that they are setting up these young people for long-term success. This includes partnering with the private sector right from the start in order to train young people based on what is needed by industry,” says Kristal Duncan-Williams, Project Lead at Youth Capital.

Upskilling also has to go beyond academic training; businesses often don’t hire young people because of the growing gap between the world of study and work, and they are hesitant to invest their time and resources into training to bridge this gap in order  to get new employees up to speed. Apart from a six-month involvement with private sector partners that gives them experience in the world of work, redAcademy also focuses on areas such as soft skills, which cannot be learnt from a textbook, but can only really be learnt through modelling and practice.

Many businesses are so busy with the day to day work that training first-time hires is just too much to ask, but the reality is that the addition of skilled youth can help them grow. However, most are unaware of what initiatives are out there to provide them with the skilled young people that they need. Involving business owners upfront in initiatives like redAcademy can help them find the right employees to grow their business and benefit from having access to work-ready youth; while young people get the opportunity to start a career in a growing field.

“Nine million young South Africans are currently unemployed. South African businesses have to think about how they can address this challenge; if this high level of unemployment persists, where will they get employees from in the future? Who will be their future customers if no one has money to spend? redAcademy works for young people who have a natural talent and affinity for the technology field. While not all young people want to work in this field, it does create more pathways to leverage their talent and meet the skills needs of local businesses, and this model is the answer,” says Duncan-Williams.

Johannesburg, 28^th September 2023 – Angela Yeung, the visionary founder of the Impilo Collection Foundation and the ambassador of brand South Africa – play your part, has achieved a remarkable feat by summiting Manaslu at 8,136 meters. Angela’s triumphant ascent took place on Monday, September 25th, 2023, at 6:50 am Nepal time, marking a historic moment in her daring expedition. This achievement surpasses her previous triumph on the Island Peak at 6,200 meters last year.

Manaslu, known as the “mountain of the spirit,” stands as the eighth-highest peak globally, nestled within Nepal’s majestic Himalayas. The mountain’s name is rooted in the Sanskrit term “manasa,” signifying “intellect” or “soul.”

The driving force behind Angela’s ascent is a compelling mission – to spotlight and combat the harrowing issue of gender-based violence (GBV). Angela’s daring expedition aims to channel funds towards an educational sanctuary that will empower and uplift young women who have faced the brunt of GBV.

“Angela declares, “We face a mountain to climb, one that symbolizes the path to women’s empowerment through education. This journey is the stepping stone to independence and self-reliance.”

Partnering with The Sherpa Legends, including the illustrious Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, who has conquered Everest six times and Manaslu thrice, Angela sought to leverage her climb’s impact and inspire change.

Impilo Collection Foundation has already demonstrated its prowess in addressing GBV through its #EmpowerHer campaign, a testament to its dedication. The campaign’s impactful display of 6,200 bras at Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill and subsequent distribution to GBV shelters during International Women’s Month 2022 has left a lasting impact.

Intriguingly, the collection of 8,848 bras – representing the height of Mount Everest – is a novel pursuit of social warriors who stand resolute against GBV.

Angela’s philanthropic accomplishments are noteworthy, with this marking her fourth fundraising climb. Her vision transcends personal achievements, aiming to establish an annual drive for essentials like bras and sanitary pads. Collaborating with fellow mountaineers, Angela endeavors to cast awareness amidst the clouds.

The ascent is scheduled from September 1st to October 5th, held in collaboration with esteemed international brands such as Cathay Pacific, GoPro, Sisley Paris, and Zara Wellness. A thrilling revelation is Angela’s plan to carry their logos and the South African flag to the summit of Manaslu, elevating them beyond the reach of ordinary planes.

Most notably, Angela’s determination and courage could lead to a historic achievement. Should Angela summit at the highest point on Manaslu, she will become the first woman from South Africa to achieve this feat. In recent times, many climbers have chosen to ascend only after the confirmation of the summit by the renowned Mingma G.

Angela’s unwavering dedication is evident, having invested 630 hours in rigorous training and traversed a staggering 540 kilometres in preparation for the climb. While Angela has already injected substantial funding, the centre’s construction necessitates further contributions.

Angela emphasizes, “Our quest for an anti-GBV education centre demands the collective efforts of supporters, followers, climbers, and allies. Together, we will make this vision a reality.”

Generous benefactors will be commemorated with a keepsake symbolizing the metaphorical mountains scaled together.

Donations can be made at https://www.givengain.com/ap/angela-yeung-raising-funds-for-impilo- collection-foundation-63526/#updates.

Stay connected and join Angela’s journey on Facebook and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/impilo

Ends.

About Impilo Collection Foundation:

Impilo Collection Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting humanity through awareness #EmpowerHer #EmpowerHim and #EmpowerThem campaigns, fundraising events, and community engagement.

With a commitment to effecting positive change through education and the foundation endeavours to create a world free from violence.

Johannesburg: Load-shedding has been a recurring challenge for many, but its impact is felt more by learners preparing for their exams. Matriculants preparing for finals.

Recognizing the dire need, The Square Shopping Centre in Sunninghill, in partnership with Mix 93.8 and the Yabashe initiative, launched the ‘Light Up a Mind’ campaign.

The campaign’s mission is clear: “Be the light that helps learners study through load-shedding in exam time this year,” said Tracy Sutherland of The Square.  As thousands of students face the potential setbacks of learning in the dark, this initiative takes a stand to provide thousands of rechargeable lightbulbs, ensuring uninterrupted study sessions during power outages, she said.

“Nobody can learn in the dark,” said Mix 93.8 programme manager Sanele Motlana. “And in less fortunate neighbourhoods the impact of loadshedding can have lifelong consequences.”

With the ‘Light Up a Mind’ campaign, the partnership aims to light up the path to success for every student affected by these devastating power outages,” said Motlana.

Individuals and organizations are invited to donate rechargeable lightbulbs, available for purchase at most supermarkets and hardware or lifestyle stores and to drop them off at either Mix 93.8’s studios in Midrand or at The Square Shopping Centre in Sunninghill’s management offices. The centre will donate R 50 000 in lightbulbs to supplement public donations.

“Looking after generation next, and nurturing education during a critical, future-determining period helps us help the youth to hedge their bets for a brighter future,” Sutherland said.

Mix 93.8 will be broadcasting from The Square Shopping Centre on Saturday 14 October to collect additional lightbulbs and hand over donations to Yabashe.