The continent has great potential in the global electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain. But is its automotive industry ready to lead a future where African-made batteries power locally-assembled EVs?



For the first time in its 31-year history, the Investing in African Mining Indaba saw the automotive industry take center stage. Held early this year in Cape Town, the conference reflected a crucial shift– Africa is no longer just a supplier of minerals but a potential powerhouse for the global electric vehicle (EV) battery revolution.



The key question is: can Africa’s mining and automotive industries drive downstream battery manufacturing instead of merely exporting raw minerals to global markets like China, the United States, and Europe? Or will the continent remain locked in the historical cycle of resource extraction, watching others reap the rewards of a trillion-dollar industry?



From Extraction to Empowerment



Picture a miner in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, extracting cobalt, a critical component of lithium-ion batteries, unaware that his work fuels EVs in California and Berlin–yet not a single battery is made in Africa. Now, contrast that with a future where an African-made battery powers a locally assembled EV, marking a fundamental shift in the continent’s economic destiny.



Almost all of Africa’s cobalt, manganese, lithium and graphite are exported, leaving the continent at the bottom of the value chain while other regions capitalise on high-value battery production.



Madelein Todd, Marketing Executive at Manganese Metal Co and a key advocate for the battery raw materials market, underscores this dilemma to FORBES AFRICA. “Africa is incredibly rich in mineral resources, yet the continent faces an economic paradox–low GDP per capita results in weak domestic demand for raw materials. In a thriving economy, industrialization fuels demand, but in Africa’s case, there’s a missing economic pull, making strong government support essential.”



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“China’s success was no accident. It took years of patient investment and strategic government backing to build an industry that now leads the world. The key lesson for Africa is that success in advanced manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight.”
</blockquote>



The challenge lies in the vast quantities of raw minerals being exported with minimal local processing. Todd emphasizes that while domestic consumption may be low, beneficiation would create significant value. “Beneficiation is impossible without strong policy support. In industrialized economies, market demand regulates production, competition controls costs and the most efficient producers thrive. However, in Africa, weak infrastructure–especially unreliable power supply–limits our ability to scale up local processing. South Africa’s struggles with power costs have already made it uncompetitive in ferrochrome, ferromanganese and steel production,” adds Todd.



Strengthening power generation and industrial capacity must be a top priority, or Africa risks remaining a mere supplier rather than a key driver in the global battery supply chain.



The rise of EVs presents a rare window of opportunity. As the world transitions to electric mobility, Africa’s automotive industry can become a catalyst for local battery production. Countries like South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt–home to growing automotive assembly hubs–could integrate battery manufacturing into their supply chains.



Morocco has already demonstrated its ability to scale automotive production, positioning itself as a key player in vehicle assembly. Could this success extend into battery-making? Could South Africa’s automotive hubs in its provinces Gauteng (Rosslyn and Tshwane), the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal follow suit?



Todd believes South Africa’s structured export credits, which have made vehicle production competitive, offer a roadmap for industrial strategy.



“South Africa’s automotive industry thrives due to well-structured export incentives. Nearly 40-50% of locally produced vehicles are exported, thanks to negotiated tariffs and strategic government support. If the same approach were applied to battery production, Africa could position itself as a global supplier.”



Lessons from Indonesia and China



Could Africa replicate the success stories of Indonesia and China?



Indonesia made a bold move by banning raw nickel exports in 2014 and again in 2020, forcing global companies to invest in local battery manufacturing. Todd, however, warns that such policies require careful execution.



“Indonesia succeeded because it controls the largest nickel reserves, and competing producers face high costs. But in Africa, minerals like manganese are more widely distributed–South Africa may be the largest producer, but it faces competition from Gabon, Ghana, Australia and Brazil. A unilateral export ban could backfire by driving up prices and incentivising competitors to scale up.”



China’s dominance in battery production, on the other hand, was built on decades of government incentives, research funding and long-term industrial policy. What can Africa learn from this model?



“China’s success was no accident. It took years of patient investment and strategic government backing to build an industry that now leads the world. The key lesson for Africa is that success in advanced manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight. Governments must commit to sustained industrial support, including R&amp;D incentives and infrastructure development.”



Who Will Fund the Shift?



A transition of this scale requires a massive investment. Organizations like the Automotive Industry Transformation Fund have already committed R500 million ($27.7 million) to strategic initiatives in South Africa, including mineral beneficiation, charging infrastructure, and supply chain development.



But this is just the beginning. Imagine what could be achieved if institutions like the African Development Bank, the Industrial Development Corporation, the European Development Fund, and private-sector investors aligned their resources to finance local battery plants.



The African Association of Automotive Manufacturers is working to lobby governments to industrialize the sector through the African Continental Free Trade Area. But what’s missing?



What’s Holding Africa Back?



Infrastructure gaps–unreliable energy supply, limited logistics networks, and manufacturing constraints–remain major roadblocks. There’s also the question of geopolitics. In a world where resource security is becoming a central issue, will foreign powers resist Africa’s move up the value chain?



Todd stresses that long-term policy stability and global partnerships will be crucial.



“Battery manufacturing in Africa won’t succeed unless it’s tied to large, negotiated export agreements. A single battery plant needs a production capacity of at least 30 GWh to be viable. That scale requires partnerships with established players–Chinese, South Korean, or Japanese firms–who have the expertise and capital to navigate this complex industry. More importantly, investors need long-term policy certainty. Without clear government commitments spanning 15-20 years, the razor-thin margins in battery production make investment too risky.”



Africa at a Crossroads



The defining question of this decade is whether Africa will remain a supplier of raw materials or rise to become a global force in battery manufacturing.



“Europe produces over 70% of the battery cells used in its EVs, but its supply chain remains dependent on Asia for critical battery materials like cathodes and anodes. This creates a vulnerability –and an opportunity for Africa. By developing local capacity for battery materials, Africa could become a strategic alternative supplier, reducing global reliance on Asia and strengthening supply chain resilience,” Todd concludes.

Electric Car Charging

Turn On The Battery: Africa’s EV Revolution And What’s Holding It Back

Opportunities abound in South Africa’s vintage car market. It’s like a treasure hunt, with some incredibly rare classic vehicles scattered across the continent, sometimes in the most remote villages.



If you’ve ever driven past an old Mercedes-Benz rusting in a field, or spotted a forgotten VW Kombi parked behind a rural shack, chances are you were looking at a small fortune on wheels. For Paul Maree, a 25-year-old vintage car enthusiast based in Johannesburg, spotting and restoring these hidden treasures isn’t just a hobby—it’s a calling passed down through generations.



“My dad grew up poor in Pretoria, and working on cars was just what you did. He’d buy old Harley-Davidsons, restore them, and export them for big money,” says Maree. “He once paid R30,000 ($1,663) for a bike and sold it for over R115,000 ($6,373) in Canada.”



Maree inherited more than just a collection of 14 vintage vehicles when his father, Albert Maree, passed away in 2022. He also inherited a philosophy: the hobby must pay for itself.



And it does—just about. “I try to do everything myself,” says Maree. “Unless it’s a job like paintwork or one that needs massive pieces of machinery, I’m the one sanding, fixing, and assembling.” He’s currently restoring a rare 1965 VW split-window double cab, which he bought for R120,000 ($6,650). When finished, he expects to sell it for around R750,000 ($41,562). “I’ll spend about R300,000 ($16,630) on the restoration, but it’s taken three years of hard work. People think it’s quick money, but they don’t see the hours.”



There’s an almost spiritual joy for Maree in reviving machines others have given up on. “There’s a morbid fixation I have with fixing what no one else can—or wants to. I’ve always been that kid who took things apart just to see if I could put them back together.”



The vintage car scene in South Africa is thriving beneath the surface. While Maree still holds down a day job in a 3D-printing and jewelry design business, he’s not ruling out going full-time. “Plenty of guys do,” he says. “Some only restore old VW buses and export them to Australia. They make millions.”



South Africa’s climate plays a surprising role in this boom. “You don’t want a car from Cape Town—too much rust. But the Eastern Cape and Free State are goldmines. The dry air preserves cars that would’ve rotted anywhere else.”



And unlike many countries, South Africa actually built many of the classics that are now in high demand abroad. “I’ve got a 1977 Mercedes 450SL built in East London. That factory still makes Mercs for the U.S. today. There’s a stockpile of vintage Mercs in this country just sitting under dust.”



But the secret’s getting out.



“Australians want those VW hippie vans. Brits are buying up old Beetles. Americans go mad for pre-war Auburns and Duesenbergs,” Maree explains. “There’re entire online forums where international collectors hunt these cars down. You post a good one and it’s gone in two weeks.”



Maree recounts tracking down his latest project through a Pretoria contact his dad knew for 20 years. “It took months of visits and friendly chats before the old man would sell. At first, he said, ‘Never!’ Then his wife phoned us one day and said, ‘Okay, let’s do it’.”



The restoration process is meticulous. “Every nut and bolt has a specification. Some of these cars were designed to be fixed in the deserts of North Africa. So, if they could do it there, I can do it here in Sandton.”



Still, there’s a bittersweet undertone in the community about the rapid export of classics. “We’re losing our history. There’s almost no chance of someone my age finding—or affording—a 300SL Gullwing locally. They’ve all been sent overseas for insane money.”



Even so, opportunities abound for newcomers. “The market is the opposite of saturated,” says Maree. “If you do good work, you’ve got a two-year backlog in no time. Upholsterers who know what they’re doing are fully booked. And if someone’s free next week—trust me—you don’t want them.”



Africa’s role in this revival isn’t limited to South Africa. “We’ve found an E-Type Jaguar in the Congo. And in Mozambique, we’ve tracked down incredibly rare pre-war Auburn Speedsters. It’s like a treasure hunt. These vehicles are scattered across the continent, sometimes in the most remote villages.”



Maree adds, “Anywhere that had cars in the 1960s or 1970s—Angola, Kenya, even the DRC—you’ll find gems waiting to be discovered. A lot of these countries didn’t have the infrastructure or tools to restore the cars, so they’ve just been sitting there.”



Sometimes, a car finds you.



“There’s this site, Classic Cars In Rhodesia, you’ll see someone’s grandmother in front of a now-insanely-valuable car. Some dude posts a 1970s’ photo of a car his uncle left in Mozambique—and it turns out only ten of them were ever made.”



Maree lights up as he speaks about these “pirate treasure hunts”. For him, it’s less about profit and more about purpose. “It’s a lifestyle. You get your hands dirty. It’s frustrating, exhausting—but there’s nothing like bringing something back from the dead.”



His advice for anyone who suspects they’ve got something valuable parked in a family garage?



“Post a photo. Anywhere. Forums, Reddit—someone will know what it is. And don’t assume it’s junk. Two doors, convertible, iconic shape—those are the hallmarks of value. If you look at it and go, ‘Wow,’ chances are someone else will too.”



As the vintage car wave grows across Africa, Maree hopes more young Africans take the wheel. “If you’re passionate, if you’re willing to learn and work hard—there’s room for you in this world. You don’t need a degree. Just a spanner, a manual, and a bit of madness.”



For now, Maree is just happy to keep tinkering.



“I’m not a professional. I’m an enthusiast. But when I drive a car that was once a pile of rust and watch someone else fall in love with it again—that’s the real reward.”

Paul Maree with a classic; Image supplied

Rust To Riches: The Journey Of Africa’s Lost Classic Cars

Pet-parents can rest easy: thanks to AI, pet technology is being rewritten with smart wearable tools and services emerging–tailored to each pet’s needs–to understand and care for them better.



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“These come in handy for raising alerts when something needs a pet parent’s attention.” – Andrey Klen
</blockquote>



Dottie, a well-loved Boston Terrier, was losing weight. She looked healthy, had no prior medical conditions, ate regularly and was an active dog. Her caregivers were as confused as the vet who couldn’t figure out why Dottie was slowly diminishing in size. Boarding at an animal hospital, the vet decided to fit her with a smart collar. What they discovered was surprising–Dottie’s vital signs were great but at night, when all the staff went home, she was incredibly active, burning a lot of calories. Her activity score was 17.2, which is high when you consider that 11 is average for a healthy dog. Luckily, the fix was easy. Dottie simply needed more food to match her boundless energy yet without a smart collar, no one would have caught the problem.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65632" style="width:570px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-300x300.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-150x150.jpg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-768x769.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Andrey-Klen-image-supplied-2046x2048.jpg 2046w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrey Klen; image supplied</figcaption></figure></div>


Using smart devices, we’re constantly monitoring our own metrics but when it comes to our pets, it’s a little different. One of the main frustrations of veterinarians (and pet owners) is that when a medical condition is picked up, it’s often too late. “You come in for an annual check-up to get shots for your dog and in the exam, something comes up. It could be cancer that’s already spread or chronic kidney disease that’s already destroyed half of your dog’s kidney capacity… in other words, by the time we identify what is wrong with our pets, it’s already very advanced,” says Dr Asaf Dagan, the Co-Founder and Chief Veterinary Scientist at PetPace, a smart collar company with head offices in Burlington, Massachusetts in the United States. Pets cannot tell us how they feel. In fact, their natural survival instinct is to hide pain, discomfort and weakness. But for Dagan, this wasn’t enough. He wanted a way to monitor pets continuously, like they could in a hospital setting. “To identify things as early as possible–it will not only to prevent pain and suffering for the pet, it’s going to make a world of difference when trying to treat them,” adds Dagan. “You’ll have more options and a better chance of turning things around.”



Early detection



Creating a wearable for dogs wasn’t straightforward. In a vet setting, fur is shaved off and a sensor is attached. “We had to develop everything from scratch,” says Dagan. Today, PetPace’s patented collar is lined with sensors that measure temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and–like with Dottie–activity levels. “We also measure a very interesting feature called HRV (heart rate variability) which is a measurement of pain and stress,” he says. All of these metrics are taken every two to five minutes which means PetPace is collecting an extraordinary amount of data. There is so much data that they’re using artificial intelligence to collate the information, identifying disease patterns and predicting outcomes. “It’s not just about telling you that your dog has a pulse of 72 and two minutes ago, it was 74. That would be meaningless to the average user,” continues Dagan. The idea is to analyze the data in two ways. First, to compare it to your dog’s historical and baseline levels. “Over time, we use machine learning to create a biometric profile of your pet. We know the numbers in each metric so as soon as they deviate from this, we can raise a flag that something’s not right,” he explains. The second way PetPace is using this data is by comparing your dog’s data with those of other dogs of the same age, weight and breed. Dog breeds have varying physiological characteristics. A toy poodle, for example, will have a different heart rate to a German Shepherd. Brachycephalic breeds like pugs, French bulldogs and Boston Terriers are prone to eye, skin and breathing issues.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote has-medium-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“To identify things as early as possible–it will not only to prevent pain and suffering for the pet, it’s going to make a world of difference when trying to treat them.” – Dr Asaf Dagan


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1024x768.png" alt="" class="wp-image-65633" style="width:624px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Dr-Asaf-Dagan-image-supplied.png 1890w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dr Asaf Dagan; image supplied</figcaption></figure></div></blockquote>



Understanding pet behavior is something that Petcube, an American smart pet care company, has been looking into for nearly 14 years. “Back in 2012, pet tech was more of a novelty than a necessity,” says Andrey Klen, Petcube’s Co-Founder. “But things have changed. Pets aren’t just animals anymore; they are family. We want to understand pets better, care for them better, and yes, use smarter tools to do it.” What started as a way to peek in on your pet during work has grown into a holistic ecosystem of smart devices layered with intelligent algorithms. “And we use the data to power personalized tools and services tailored to each pet’s needs,” he adds. Once a simple nanny cam, Petcube now has AI-powered monitoring that is so advanced, it can pick on different behavior categories like running, chewing or crying. “These come in handy for raising alerts when something needs a pet parent’s attention,” says Klen. What’s really interesting is the data Petcube is collecting around demographics (or what Klen calls, ‘petrographics’). Looking at smart motion alerts, they’ve seen that 69% are triggered by dogs, 26% by cats, 1.8% by guinea pigs and 0.9% by rabbits. “Sure, this reflects our petrographics, distribution-wise, but it also shows that dogs tend to be more curious around the interactive cameras, especially when some of them toss treats.”



Rewriting vet tech



Like PetPace, Petcube too works with vets, offering services like telemedicine to access medical support when needed instead of resorting to answers on the internet. “They can start a vet chat, get a full video assessment and immediately know whether it’s an emergency or something that can be handled at home,” says Klen, who adds that quick, effective and reliable care is key when every second matters. For Klen, pet tech is a win-win because both pet parents and veterinarians can benefit from better data–data that previously impossible to obtain. PetPace, for example, is launching an epilepsy program because with their smart collar, they can identify seizures in dogs.



“It’s about getting a lot more data without having to bother the animal or your staff,” says Dagan. “And when a pet is home, you have objective, accurate data. After doing surgery and sending a pet home, instead of calling to ask how your dog is doing, I can see every moment of every day what is going on and I can set alerts if something is not right.”



But there’s another aspect of PetPace’s story that extends far beyond a smart collar and their next focus, felines–they’re actually rewriting medical textbooks. According to Dagan, the company now holds the largest biometric database in the world for pets. He tells the story of a meeting he attended with veterinary cardiologists where he shared that the pulse rate of a small dog is different from a medium and a large dog. “And they said, they had always suspected this but never had proof. They suspected it, but didn’t know it,” he continues. What these specialist vets were ultimately missing is long-term dog data, within a natural environment. They lacked the continuous, contextual insights that only come from tracking animals beyond the clinic walls. “And that’s our main effort now–to identify more and more disease patterns. There&#8217;s a lot to do, and it&#8217;s endless. We have enough work for the next 100 years!”



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The nose knows



Worldwide, it is estimated that there are over 400 dog breeds. But what type of dog you have is not it’s only distinguishing factor. Dog nose prints (DNP) are often compared to fingerprints as they’re made up of lines and creases, creating a unique pattern. While microchips and collars with tags are the most common form of identification, there are a few startups looking into nose-print recognition using AI. At the University of New England, Australia, they’re already doing something similar with cattle and muzzles. One researcher tested his model on 300 cows and the AI managed to identify them with a 99.11% accuracy. In Cape Town, Raman Rajoo, has created an app called IntelliPaw that uses DNP. “Volunteering at rescues, I noticed that lost dogs made up a significant portion within animal welfare,” says Rajoo, who founded a company called CoBaTech named after his two dogs, Coda and Bailey. “I wanted a non-invasive, affordable and less traumatic way to help ID pets with snouts–an alternative to technology like chip tech.” Using AI and machine learning with animal biometrics, Rajoo’s goal is to help decrease how many pets end up in the system. “It will help reduce both pet and owner trauma,” he adds.

Petcube Play (image supplied)

This Is Fur Real: The AI That Knows If Your Pet Is Okay

Alan and Renée Friedland are in the panel-beating business, but three lions changed their story.



By day, Alan and Renée Friedland run a panel-beating business in Johannesburg, South Africa. But in their spare time, they’re rescuing lions, cheetahs and other animals, while creating one of South Africa’s most unique animal sanctuaries—driven purely by passion, not profit.



It all began eight years ago when they heard that three lions were being shipped off to a circus in China. “I’ve got a problem with circuses,” Alan says. “Animals shouldn’t live like that.” The husband-and-wife team stepped in and rescued the lions themselves.



“We didn’t even have a sanctuary when we took them in,” Alan admits. But they immediately rushed to build enclosures, and from that moment on, the Friedlands were fully committed.



They’ve since gone on to rescue animals from all kinds of situations—some abused, some abandoned, others saved just in time. One of the most dramatic rescues involved eight cheetahs on a bankrupt farm. The hyenas kept there weren’t so lucky. “They were killed before we could get there,” Alan says. “But we got the cheetahs out in time.”



Today, the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, nestled in Dinokeng Game Reserve just outside Johannesburg, is home to 14 lions, several cheetahs, horses, hyenas, meerkats, giraffes, and more. Every animal has a name, a past, and now—a future.



There’s the heart-warming story of two lion brothers brought together after being separated for eight years and sold off. “They were meant for canned hunting,” Alan explains. “We managed to buy one, but it took us eight months to get the other one.” When they were finally reunited, the lions greeted each other by bumping heads—a natural lion gesture of affection and recognition. “That moment made all the effort worth it,” he smiles.



And it’s not just the animals that are healing. “People come with trauma,” Renée explains, “and the animals help them too.” Visitors have described the sanctuary as a peaceful escape—where nature, empathy and connection create something deeply human.


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65626" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054.jpg 852w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>


To keep the sanctuary running, the Friedlands have opened it to visitors. Guests can book overnight stays in canvas tents or luxury chalets. Twice-daily game drives take visitors up close to the animals—including the rare experience of gently stroking a cheetah.



“There’s nowhere else in Gauteng you can do that,” says Alan. “And the cheetahs love the attention—they begin to purr as soon as you start petting them.”



The income from tourists helps feed and care for the animals, and is reinvested into the sanctuary to support long-term wildlife care and conservation. It’s a model that blends heart and sustainability—something the Friedlands are proud of.



There’s also a strong educational drive behind everything they do. “Abuse of animals starts with ignorance,” Alan says. “There’s very little education around this in South Africa. We want to change that.” The sanctuary hosts school groups and works with communities to teach kindness, compassion, and respect for animals from a young age.



Alan believes the root of the issue lies in broader social challenges. “If children grow up in abusive homes, they’re less likely to show compassion to animals. Education is everything. If we invested in proper schooling, we’d change the future of this country—and our animals would benefit too.”



It&#8217;s not always easy. There are more animals in need than sanctuaries that can take them. But for Alan and Renée, the work is its own reward. “There’s this story about a little girl throwing starfish back into the sea,” Alan says. “Someone tells her it won’t make a difference because there are millions of starfish on the beach. She picks one up and says, ‘It made a difference to that one.’ That’s how we feel.”



For now, the couple continues to juggle full-time jobs, weekend rescue missions, and a growing sanctuary that somehow never stops needing more. But they don’t seem tired—just driven.



“You’ll always find time for what you love,” Alan says with a smile. And what they’ve built is more than a sanctuary. It’s a reminder that ordinary people with enough heart can do extraordinary things.

IMG-20250516-WA0062

How A South African Couple Turned Their Passion Into A Lifeline For Wildlife

As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect its 10th president this month,&nbsp;its shareholders&nbsp;should seize the strategic opportunity of naming a woman to fill this critical post.



The AfDB plays an important role in support of economic and social development in 54 African countries, with a combined population of nearly 1.5 billion people.&nbsp;But, just as important in today’s geopolitical landscape, the AfDB is no aid agency: it is a development bank, and its shareholders–all 54 African nations and non-African countries, including the United States, Britain, and France–receive a return on their investment. It proffers a rare example of how Africa’s crucial development initiatives including infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing, can be funded.&nbsp;



So, as an important institution it matters both to Africa and its shareholders on that continent and across the world who will take up the helm. All five candidates for the bank’s presidency have impressive credentials,&nbsp;and they have each offered compelling visions for leading this vital institution.&nbsp;However, when only&nbsp;one of the candidates, Swazi Tshabalala, is a woman, it is also worth asking what additional impact her election could have.&nbsp;



Since its founding in 1964, the AfDB has been led exclusively by men. This pattern reflects the persistent underrepresentation of women in the top leadership roles of international institutions around the world. We are members of GWL Voices, an advocacy group that studies the leadership of 54 of these organizations.



In our latest annual report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://www.gwlvoices.org/data%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1746612833926485%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2D2Tjh-diVWYYyduzZfKps&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1746612833937357&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vD3z3-u2IlT_cBrDHt3a8">“Women In Multilateralism 2025”</a>,&nbsp;we note that the AfDB is one of 19 international organizations that has never been led by a woman. This group has been steadily shrinking in recent years, as institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the European Investment Bank, and the World Meteorological Organization have elected women to the top job for the first time. These elections reflect a global consensus that the leadership of these institutions should mirror the gender composition of the societies that serve.



Africa needs smart, determined, and visionary leadership to tackle its pressing challenges, from climate change to unemployment to infrastructure deficits. Fortunately, there is no shortage of African women who fit that bill. Across the continent, we have distinguished ourselves as ministers of finance, central bank governors, CEOs, economists, and development experts. Many of us have risen through the ranks in multilateral institutions, combining local knowledge with global experience. It is not a question of whether African women are qualified—it is a question of whether we will be given the platform to lead.



Unfortunately, women across Africa continue to face systemic barriers to accessing power and influence. While progress has been made in some countries, gender inequality remains entrenched in many spheres of public and economic life. Women are often sidelined from the highest echelons of political and financial decision-making, even when they demonstrate exceptional competence and leadership.



Given this context, electing a woman to lead the AfDB would send a powerful signal. The AfDB is a pillar of development on the continent, responsible for financing critical infrastructure, promoting economic integration, and shaping the future of Africa’s economy. It is also at the forefront of efforts to combat the disproportionate impact of poverty on women, and to expand their access to education, jobs and digital connectivity.



Were girls and young women to see someone who looks like them leading the AfDB, it would expand their vision of what is possible. It would shift mindsets—not just among women, but also among men—about who belongs in leadership roles.



The symbolic power of a woman president at the AfDB would ripple far beyond the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan. It would reach rural schools in Malawi, startup hubs in Nairobi, and parliamentary chambers in Abuja. For the millions of African girls growing up in societies where their ambitions are often curtailed by social expectations, this could offer thrilling evidence that change is possible.



Choosing a woman could also benefit the AfDB’s performance, because research consistently shows that diverse leadership leads to better outcomes, greater innovation, and more inclusive decision-making.



At a time when Africa’s people are clamoring for bold, inclusive, and transformative leadership, the shareholding nations of AfDB have a clear opportunity to answer that call with a historic election.



– Amina Mohamed is a former foreign minister of Kenya; Susana Malcorra is a former foreign minister of Argentina and chief-of-staff to former UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon. Together they are board members and co-founders of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwlvoices.org/">GWL Voices</a>, a global advocacy group of&nbsp;76 women leaders from around the world who have held high-level positions in governments and international organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Daily Life in Ivory Coast’s Capital as Food Prices Soar

Why A Woman Should Lead The African Development Bank

&nbsp;As an entrepreneur, or even otherwise, are you looking to build a very basic website?



The tools: You don’t have to use ChatGPT, you can also use <a href="https://grok.com/">Grok</a>, <a href="https://claude.ai/new">Claude</a>, <a href="https://gemini.google.com/app">Gemini</a> or <a href="https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/ikYTC1JgCzdQDTcSdPucc">Copilot</a>.



The prompt: Please help me build a basic website ‘About Me’ page. I have never done this before, so kindly provide me with detailed steps.



Note: Different AI tools will give you different answers. Copilot, for example, will give you a very basic answer that sends you to other tools to create your code. Grok will provide you with two options–the code to create your page and a preview of how this page will look. Gemini offers you a combination of Grok and Copilot, giving you the option to use a website builder tool or to create your own HTML. ChatGPT and Claude will take you through the tools you need, how to create your files, and the HTML code itself. If you want to create your own code and get more detailed support, your best bet is to go with Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT and Claude.



For the purposes of this walkthrough, we will use the ChatGPT version. The prompt will give you a clear route to creating this page across eight steps: Understand what you need; What tools you’ll need; Create your first files; Basic HTML template; Add your photo; View your page; Make it look nicer with CSS; Summary: Key steps.



The AI does all the work for you here, giving you the exact code you need to create your site. Now, you can dig deeper into this prompt to expand your own skills in web development, using AI as a teaching tool.



The next prompt: Please show me the steps to add graphical elements to the page that highlight my skills.



This prompt will help you to create an About Me page that isn’t made up entirely of words. It shows you how to add in icons, access a free icon library, add in skill bars and use CSS to balance spacing and design.



Learn as you build: Your next prompt is ‘Please show me how I can learn HTML while I build my own website’.



The AI will now give you a comprehensive tutorial on the different ways in which you can learn HTML, how you can access the source code on websites to learn how they’ve been designed and gives you a free HTML practice playground where you can test your code.



The final prompt: Please show me how to publish my website online.



This last prompt will give you several free hosting options such as <a href="https://github.com/">GitHub Pages</a> and talk you through how to use them.



In just three prompts, you have learned how to create, customize and publish a website. AI simplifies and demystifies the process to the point where you can learn how to write code. &nbsp;Bear in mind that this is a very simple website design–you can do a lot more with deeper prompts that capture your features, colors, identity and brand.

Businessman hold virtual rocket launch investment growth, planning and starting corporate business start up aiming objective value development leadership and customer target group.

Starting Your Own Company? Tips And Tricks To Help Build Your Own Website Using AI

One of the country’s most favorite exports is grounded in its roots. The reddish-brown rooibos is being sipped around the world, and could soon have a unique use in petrol stations.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”
</blockquote>



There is an adage that claims a cup of tea can fix just about anything.



Rough day? Sip some chamomile.



Broken heart? Brew some chai.



Need to pull an all-nighter for that deadline? Green tea has your back.



One tea in particular, though, has acquired a reputation as somewhat of a superfood thanks to its long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness, one cup at a time.



Native to the mountainous plains of the Cederberg region in South Africa’s Western Cape province, rooibos has steeped its way to global fame—all the while remaining grounded in its roots.



“Rooibos only grows in 60,000 hectares in the entire world, on the southwest coast of South Africa,” reveals the Marketing Director of Carmién Tea, Lize du Preez.



The distinct location has led to rooibos joining the prestigious ranks of French champagne and Greek feta cheese by acquiring the status of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from the European Union, becoming the first African food to do so. Thus, if the leaves are not specifically from the Cederberg region of South Africa, well, it is just a herbal infusion with a scarlet hue.



Even rooibos’s unique reddish-brown shade has garnered acclaim: it was named by New York Fashion Week as one of the top 10 colors for the 2024 spring season, complete with its own Pantone color card.



“There is also a video game called Enshrouded where rooibos is one of the resources that you harvest for energy,” notes Marthane Swart, Secretariat of the South African Rooibos Council. “It just shows that there is an increasing awareness of rooibos all over the world and people are using it and thinking about it for a variety of functions.”



One particular purpose is closer to home.



A recent study was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) to determine whether rooibos can protect petrol attendants from exposure to harmful chemicals.



“Looking into the toxicology of petrol fumes, especially BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), we found that consistent exposure leads to increased levels of oxidative stress,” explains Dr Kerry Wilson, an epidemiologist at the NIOH who is leading the study.



While all cells are prone to oxidation, high levels have been associated with acute symptoms like headaches and dizziness, and long-term exposure has been linked to nerve damage and elevated risks of cancers.



“Measuring oxidative stress is not that straightforward, but quite a bit of research has been done around the antioxidant levels of tea. Tea is also something that is fairly accessible for most people.”



The array of polyphenols found in rooibos reads like a who’s who of the antioxidant world: compounds that regulate blood sugar, neutralize carcinogens, combat inflammation, and reduce hypertension, amongst others. It is, essentially, tea’s version of The Avengers against free radicals.



Wilson’s study involved analyzing the levels of oxidative stress in the blood and urine samples of 100 petrol attendants from various stations in the Johannesburg city center. The volunteers were then given a six-month supply of rooibos and told to drink three cups a day.



“Most were excited to participate in the research. A few asked for more tea when we returned to take updated samples after the six-month period.”



The final laboratory analysis is currently underway, with the findings expected around the end of 2025.



“One might hope to see an improvement in other chronic diseases if oxidative stress is reduced or managed,” Wilson notes. “Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”



The secret to rooibos’s resilience could well be found in how it grows. Enduring temperatures of below 0° Celsius in winter and upwards of 40° during the summer, it is a bush built for survival.



“Because it&#8217;s so cold at night in the Cederberg and hot during the day, the plant stores up enormous amounts of antioxidants to protect itself,” shares Sarah Hetherington, who is Director of brand communication at African Extracts, a skincare brand that uses rooibos as its key ingredient.



The company sells around 3 million products per year, with its Classic SPF 15-day cream regarded as South Africa’s best-selling essential care moisturizer.



“For skincare, we want to preserve the highest-possible level of antioxidants, so we use the extract from green, unfermented rooibos in our products.”



Whether it’s being shipped abroad or recommended by beauty bloggers, rooibos wouldn’t make it to shelves without the farmers who cultivate it. Yet, they are not necessarily getting to reap the rewards of the Rooibos Revolution.



“If you compare the shelf prices to what producers are getting at the farm gate level, there is a huge disconnect,” points out Vanrhynsdorp farmer, Werner Nieuwoudt.



With a background in the corporate world as a chartered accountant, he founded the Rooibos Tea Producers’ Association in 2023 as a platform for farmers to be more involved in industry strategies and processes.



“My vision is a premium growth, sustainable industry that adds benefit to every role player across the board, all the way up to farm worker level.”



In order for this to be achieved, Nieuwoudt believes that certain reforms need to be put in place.



“We need to have a standardized grading system as the tea is currently graded by the various buyers, and we need to have a solid marketing strategy approach as an industry to differentiate our tea in the market and sell our tea globally.”



Tea drinkers in Japan and Germany have already wrought a robust relationship with the red brew, while premium brands, like Du Preez’s boutique LMC Rooibos Collection, are gaining interest in international markets like Taiwan and Scandinavia.



“Rooibos is truly a South African treasure,” Du Preez states. “I wanted to create a product that almost gives the same exclusivity and sensory experience that one would get from a perfume box.”



Rooibos has positioned itself as a symbol of what’s possible when science, tradition and smart marketing come together. If every problem can be solved with a cup of tea, then rooibos might just be the smartest brew of them all.

Rooibos has a long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness; Image supplied

From Superfood To Skincare, Reaping The Rewards Of South Africa’s Red Brew

In discourse about technological adoption and revolution, the piles of old monitors, phones, cables, mouses, and keyboards are often forgotten. With every new phone or laptop release, thousands of devices and their accompanying attachments are discarded without much thought. As Annie Leonard, the American proponent of sustainability, once phrased it: “There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”



And it certainly is going somewhere. In fact, according to the World Bank, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. In 2022, for instance, there were around 62 million tons of e-waste produced globally. More distressingly, only 22.3% of this figure was documented as formally collected and recycled. In Africa, this challenge is more pronounced as most of this waste is driven to the continent. 



A 2022 study conducted by Maes and Preston-Whyte estimated that the total e-waste in Africa was between 5.8-3.4 metric tons in 2019 alone, with a distressing caveat that this was a gross underestimation of the actual figure. Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, with Kenya, Senegal and Egypt are disproportionately impacted by this scourge. As the authors argue, “The growing global manufacture of electronics, in combination with the absence of action plans in African countries and the lack of infrastructure for proper and sustainable e-waste management, has led to e-waste becoming a growing African problem, with global origins.”



While the current figures are already staggering, global forecasts anticipate e-waste generation to increase by 100% in the next three decades. In Africa, e- waste in Senegal, Uganda and South Africa specifically is projected to increase by two to eight times over the next decade. The consequences of unchecked e-waste disposal extend far beyond waste generation. It threatens public health, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing. For example, hazardous chemicals can seep into the soil and water when e-waste is dumped or burned, thus polluting ecosystems and endangering public health. People living near informal recycling sites, especially waste-pickers and repairers, face direct exposure to toxic fumes and materials, which can lead to various long-term health risks. This is a crisis we need to be taking seriously. 



There are certainly solutions to be pivoted. For instance, informal repairers play a key role in South Af- rica’s e-waste ecosystem by refurbishing discarded electronics for resale and creating affordable repair options for township residents. WasteAid, with support from the Dixon Foundation, has launched an E-Waste Repair and Reuse Programme in Johannesburg. 



The initiative provides training in electrical repair and business skills by equipping local repairers with tools and knowledge to improve their micro-businesses. Participants learn to repair small domestic appliances using reclaimed e-waste components. Many repairers now source parts from local waste collectors instead of buying new ones, which strengthens the community’s waste-to-repair cycle. There is certainly scope to expand this program to other parts of Africa. Alongside programs such as this, it is also necessary to invest in certified e-waste recycling plants to ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials while recovering valuable resources from discarded electronics. Urban mining, for instance, focuses on recovering metals from discarded electronics. 



Moreover, setting up accessible collection centers in communities makes it easier for people to dispose of old electronics properly instead of dumping them in landfills. This, of course, requires governments and electronic manufacturers alike to also teach people how to properly dispose of e-waste and repair devices instead of replacing them.



Other solutions included Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policies where governments use incentives to ‘nudge’ behavioral changes from manufacturers. Through subsidies or tax breaks, governments can encourage electronics manufacturers to take responsibility for the recycling and safe disposal of their products. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers guidance to standardize EPR policies across countries by outlining principles and trade-offs to improve their effectiveness. These policies support recycling goals, fund waste collection and recycling, and provide data on production and waste management.



Companies like Apple and Samsung already offer trade-in programs where customers can return old devices for credit towards new ones to ensure proper recycling and reuse. In tandem with these policies, right-to-repair laws should be considered. These laws require companies to provide repair manuals and spare parts to consumers, and independent repair shops help extend product lifespans and reduce e-waste. These laws have already been implemented in the European Union in 2023 and across some parts of the United States and there is already mounting pressure for these laws to be considered in other countries.



As Africa looks to tackle its burgeoning e-waste challenge, we need to combine policy with sustainable recycling solutions–this is how we really combine advancement with revolution.

EWASTE – a glut of CRTs and electronics

Expert-Speak: Turning The Tide On Tech Trash: Africa’s E-Waste Revolution

South Africa’s workforce contracted in the first quarter of 2025, as unemployment continued to climb, heightening economic concerns.



According to Statistics South Africa&#8217;s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the number of unemployed persons rose to 8.2 million, a 237,000 increase from 2024&#8217;s final quarter. This translates to a 32.9% unemployment rate–1% higher than last year&#8217;s Q4.



Of South Africa&#8217;s nine provinces, six contributed to the rise in unemployment.



KwaZulu-Natal endured the biggest hit as employment numbers declined by 104,000, followed by Eastern Cape (83,000), Northwest (57,000), Limpopo (55,000), Mpumalanga (43,000) and Northern Cape (12,000).



Western Cape, the only province governed by the Democratic Alliance, saw a 49,000 uptick in workers, a staggering 40,000 better than next-best Gauteng (9,000), while the Free State saw its number of workers rise by 4,000.



Regarding industries, trade took the biggest knock, with its workforce depleting by 194,000. Construction (119,000), Private Households (68,000), and Community and Social Services (45,000) also experienced dwindling figures. The biggest winners include transport (67,000), finance (60,000) and utilities (35,000).



South Africa&#8217;s youth, aged between 15 and 34, remain at risk as the demographic&#8217;s unemployment rate rose to 4.8 million, 151,000 more than the previous quarter.



Simultaneously, the number of employed youth slumped by 153,000 to 5.7 million (46.1%).



Together, these developments have pushed South Africa’s expanded unemployment rate — which includes both active job seekers and discouraged work-seekers—up by 1.2 percentage points to 43.1%.



&#8220;The increase in discouraged work-seekers is a worry because we would want to see people being active in the labor market by either looking for employment or participating,&#8221; Chief Director of Labour Statistics at Statistics South Africa Desiree Manamela said at a press conference.



The growing unemployment rates will undoubtedly instil further public scrutiny on South Africa&#8217;s newly-formed general coalition government, which has yet to show substantial signs of economic growth as it continues to get distracted by in-house disputes.



More business-friendly policies are needed to counteract the nation&#8217;s poor domestic demand. The infrastructure, business, and workers are there, but effective frameworks to harness all three cohesively remain elusive.

Unemployed township youths fix potholes to earn a living

Unemployment In South Africa Rises Sharply In Q1 2025

Starting with a $38 computer, they amassed over 50,000 downloads in the first five months.



Where there is a will, there is a way, even if it’s in a little village in South Africa’s Limpopo province.



Childhood friends Shibambu Mikhongelo Marvel (22) and Malunghelo Mathonsi (25) are defying the odds here, creating an African solution for an African problem.



In rural Gumbani, where the internet connection is as stable as the stock market, and where orange dust swirls over rondavels (traditional African circular mud homes), and innovation is a mirage, they are the brains behind the free, interactive e-learning app called NOVAR that’s gaining ground. &nbsp;



Officially released in December last year, it took two years before Mathonsi began developing NOVAR&#8217;s software, teaching himself code via YouTube tutorials and any free online resources he could get his hands on while battling &#8220;poor internet connection and frequent power cuts&#8221;, he tells FORBES AFRICA.



A R700 ($38) computer facilitated the process, which sometimes took three hours to open the necessary files.



Simultaneously, Marvel, studying Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and living on R310 ($17) a month, was in the Mother City unraveling the fundamentals to make NOVAR succeed.



&#8220;I was here at UCT researching its concept, like how this company should look like, how the app should look like, where do we go after building the app,&#8221; Marvel explains.



Split by 1,909km of South African terrain, their mission remained binding: provide free education to all of Africa&#8217;s children.



&#8220;My dream is for all learners—including my daughter–no matter where they are, to have access to quality education,&#8221; said Mathonsi.



When it is free, such an offering typically comprises basic tutorials and guides. NOVAR is lightyears beyond that.



It includes subjects such as quantum computing, AI, business, medicine, and advanced mathematics that coincide with our technologically evolving times, connecting rural Africa&#8217;s youth with the resources to not only adapt, but also solve global issues.



&#8220;NOVAR is a platform institution, even if you&#8217;re coming from a village, you can learn about AI, how to code, agriculture, mining, the economy and where the world is going, understand what&#8217;s happening on Earth and stick on top of technology. NOVAR is so flexible,&#8221; Marvel adds.



Within the app, are a medley of interactive features, including pre-recorded lessons, live learning, and learning hubs focused on high-school subjects, from mathematics to science, all of which have been manually taught, recorded, and uploaded by co-founders Marvel and Mathonsi.



There&#8217;s also a live feed enabling students to interact and discuss, along with NOVA Shorts, a Tik-Tok-like feature comprised of quick educational videos, exposing learners to worldwide innovation and on-the-go content. &nbsp;



&#8220;Learning has to be exciting,&#8221; says Marvel. &#8220;There needs to be a reason to come back and receive education in a much better projection than other people.&#8221;



NOVAR, which is available on Android and scheduled to be released on iOS in late May, has amassed over 50,000 downloads in its first five months. Even so, it’s future hangs by a thread.



With operation costs rising and no revenue stream, it was nearly wiped away in late April until South African news content creator @coolstorybru_za, shared their mission, raising R80,000 ($4,333) in 24 hours.



More than a week later, they received R193,500 ($10,482) in donations, allowing the dream to soar.



Education and Africa have a sour past, the former offered mostly to those who can afford it while much of the latter remains uneducated, undervalued, and without the resources to thrive in a society where one&#8217;s university degree is the golden ticket to a better life.



For centuries, rural Africa has lived inside a bubble where breaking the poverty line means pulling miracles from dry ground while others coast on smooth roads.



Technologically, socially, and agriculturally, the continent is experiencing an unprecedented transformation that could, for the first time, place it on equal footing with the Western world.



Modern, tech-driven cities are rising from Kigali to Cairo—but how can Africa seize this moment if its people are left behind?



Over six hundred million Africans live without electricity, and as AI continues to revolutionize industries, the need to educate rural regions on modern advancements has never been greater. If not, the damage could be irreversible.



Like decentralized finance to traditional banks, NOVAR is positioning itself to test the status quo of established schools unbothered by their inability to cater to those without the financial means or access to education.



By 2030, reportedly 42% of the world&#8217;s youth will live in Africa. This should sound alarm bells for education departments across the continent.



Experts agree that the current neglect of rural education cannot continue if Africa is to become the global force it has the potential to be.



Education shouldn&#8217;t come with a price tag. From Kakuma to Limpopo, NOVAR&#8217;s betting it can deliver what the system never did.



&#8220;Imagine having more young people in Africa with the mentality of problem-solving… who want to solve global issues,&#8221; Marvel says.



&#8220;Let&#8217;s prepare for what&#8217;s coming. What&#8217;s the next big thing on Earth…. If we want to stay relevant in this world, we have to build young people that are capable of innovating and solving the many problems this world is facing.&#8221;

It takes a village; NOVAR co-founders Shibambu Mikhongelo Marvel and Malunghelo Mathonsi; Image supplied1

Meet The Founders Of A Village-Born App That Could Educate A Continent

Good leaders and managers also need to be good communicators and effective public speakers. Some have used it as a tool for business and personal transformation and perfected it enough to be paid millions to talk.



Even in the age of screens and scrolls, nothing stirs the soul quite like a voice that knows what it’s saying. In an era of constant digital chatter, the art of public speaking is not just surviving—it’s evolving.



“People often feel alienated by technology,” says Arthur Goldstuck, a technology analyst, author, and the immediate past president of PSASA (Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa), which offers a place to grow your voice and build a business. “Speakers restore the human touch to communication.” Goldstuck believes that while artificial intelligence can provide answers, it can’t offer the presence, empathy, or storytelling that only human speakers can. “You can learn facts from a screen,” Goldstuck explains, “but a great speaker takes you on a journey.” For him, the association is more than just a networking hub—it&#8217;s a training ground. “You learn the business of speaking, and you learn how to be a better speaker. Both are crucial.” Goldstuck is also candid about the challenges. “It’s hard to convince people to pay you to talk,” he says. “But once you’ve defined your value, once you’ve honed your expertise—and your delivery—the doors begin to open.” He has seen the profession take off in South Africa, and while he’s optimistic about its growth across the continent, he notes that infrastructure, budgets, and formal recognition of speaking as a profession remain hurdles in many regions. That said, breaking into the industry is possible—even without credentials—as long as one brings heart, hustle, and the ability to own a room. Just ask Billy Selekane. “When I was a few seconds old and the doctor smacked the hell out of me to check if I was alive,” Selekane jokes, “that’s when I started speaking.” And he’s never stopped. Today, he speaks around the world and earns millions doing it. The motivational powerhouse, who grew up in Tembisa on the East Rand in South Africa, turned school MC duties into a globe-spanning career built on grit, charisma, and relentless self-belief. From early on, Selekane knew his voice would take him places. “Even in high school, I believed that speaking was my passport to the world.” Selekane developed his own framework, ‘From Barefoot to Sneaker Nation’, a blueprint for personal transformation drawn from his own life. With no formal qualifications, he hustled his way into the corporate world, eventually earning himself a doctorate in Leadership and Management from Logos University in the United States, built his brand, and turned stages into strategy. “Speak less, get paid more,” he says. “This isn’t about ego—it’s about knowing your value.” He’s unapologetic about treating speaking as a business. “Too many people want the spotlight without building the structure behind it. But if you treat it like a business, it can pay like one.” “Your voice isn’t just sound—it’s your signature,” Selekane adds. “That’s what people remember.” Few understand the transformative power of voice quite like Stef du Plessis. Founder of PSASA, du Plessis has spent his career helping organizations shift culture from the inside out. His ‘Unwritten Ground Rules’ (UGRs) model has been implemented in more than 50 countries and has reshaped how companies and institutions operate. Former President Thabo Mbeki once remarked that du Plessis’s work “has nation-building potential”. Quietly impactful and focused more on results than recognition, du Plessis helped shape the very DNA of PSASA. The association’s highest honor, launched by Selekane when he was president, the Stef du Plessis Founder’s Award, is named after him—and it’s a fitting tribute. “It’s not about being the star of the show,” du Plessis says. “It’s about leaving people with insights and strategies that enable personal and business transformation. That can also impact a community, and even a country.” While South Africa has embraced public speaking as a professional pursuit, the rest of the continent is still catching up. Goldstuck believes markets like Nigeria are ripe for expansion. “The appetite is there,” Goldstuck says. “There’s so much talent—it just needs structure.” For aspiring speakers across Africa, the message from all three is clear: start where you are. Speak for free if you must—especially to gain experience, sharpen your voice, and serve meaningful causes. But once you’ve found your footing, know your worth. Exposure is valuable, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you walk away with. Define your value. Learn the craft. And above all, surround yourself with people who will challenge you to grow.

Speaker at business conference, corporate presentation, workshop, coaching training, news conference, company meeting, public or political event. Public speaking concept.

Want To Own A Room With Your Voice? Let’s Talk About The Speaking Business In Africa

The passion for rugby is alive and well, from Cape Town to Cairo. The game is being developed too in countries such as Uganda, the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Madagascar. But what else needs to be done?



Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah is leading what he terms a “change in mindset” that he hopes will boost the development mandate of the organization and grow the game on the continent outside of powerhouse South Africa.



The Springboks are a global brand and household name for fans around the world, but while Namibia have been regular qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup and Kenya have a competitive team on the Sevens circuit, the rest of the continent lags well behind.



It will be no surprise that this largely comes down to funding, but Mensah is emphatic that the passion for the game is alive and well from Cape Town to Cairo.



Rugby Africa is an administrative body under World Rugby that is tasked with growing the game on the continent but does so on a shoestring budget.



“A country like England, for example, receives over 150 million pounds a year to develop the game and to prepare their national teams to be able to compete at the highest levels,” Mensah told FORBES AFRICA. “Africa, minus South Africa, receives two-point-something million dollars a year.



“And you have got to run multiple competitions. You have got to develop the game. That is the reason why Rugby Africa hasn&#8217;t got age grade competitions.



“We are trying to develop greater partnerships and associations with governments, persuading them that even though rugby is not a political tool (on the continent) as football is, the values of rugby mean building a better society.



“Rugby provides something that other sports do not. Some countries, like Morocco, have responded well. I stand to be corrected, but over 1% of GDP in Morocco is being allocated for sports, including at grassroots level. Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ghana have invested massively in the development of the game.”



Mensah points to Madagascar as an example of the popularity of rugby in so-called non-traditional playing nations.



“You can go and watch a domestic match in Madagascar and have 30,000 people in the stadium. What would happen if you are now able to invest a little bit more in Madagascar and in its rugby infrastructure?



“There are countries in Africa that play a test match once every two years. You can begin to immediately see that disparity, but there is great enthusiasm.”



Mensah, who has been in his role for the last two years, says the status quo cannot remain, and it starts with his own organization.



“We need to be creative. Think out of the box. We need to get governments more involved. We need to work with the Olympic solidarity fund to make more money available.



“We are not a third world country out there saying, ‘give me, give me, you owe me’. Because the commercial reality is, unless you have a contract, nobody owes you anything.



“So, get out there and show that you&#8217;ve got something to give. Sometimes you need to plant the seed, the right seed, in order to sow and reap the right crop, and that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re trying to do.”

Uganda vs Burkina Faso; image supplied

What Needs To Be Done To Invest In Rugby Across Africa

South African golfer Casandra Alexander has the ambition to be the best in the world in the coming years and given her form over the last few seasons, you would be foolish to rule it out.



Alexander, 25, won the 2025 Investec Order of Merit after sizzling on the home circuit, and also tied for seventh at the prestigious 2024 Women’s Open in the United Kingdom.



The improvement in her game since 2023 has been stark and there is no doubt she is on a rapid upward trajectory. Crucially, she has the ambition to not just settle for home success, but take her talent global.



“I&#8217;m not number one in the world now, but if I keep doing what I&#8217;m doing and working hard, it could potentially be a possibility in the future,” Alexander told FORBES AFRICA.



She started playing around the age of 10 when a family friend took her to a local golf club and the youngster was hooked.



“I played a lot of sports growing up from about the age of eight and I loved all of them. Anything with a ball I was pretty interested in,” she says.



“Golf was just another sport at that stage, but it kind of stuck because I was pretty good at it from the start.



“When I got to high school, in my final years I only played hockey and golf. In the end I was better at hockey, so I decided to go to golf because I wanted to push myself and be better. I am a little bit stubborn like that.”



She turned professional in 2019 but her early career was stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic. But once up and running on the Ladies European Tour, she began to get rewarded.



Alexander likens life on the tour to gambling, where there is no guarantee you will come close to recouping the money you have to spend to play.



“You have to take risks in order to get what you want. And I did that,” she says. “When my caddie (Charles Moemedi) and I came to Europe, I said to him, ‘I have enough money to pay for four tournaments, and if we don&#8217;t make any money, you and I are both without a job’.



“And luckily, in those four weeks, we did extremely well. It was a big investment and a big risk on my end. People think getting your tour card is the tough part, but when you have the card, you also need the money to start.



“To play on the tour costs me R1.5-million ($82,000) a year, which means I need to make more than that just to break even. Never mind household running expenses and just living in general. That&#8217;s just the golf costs.



“So it’s risky. I say golf is like gambling. You can literally put all this money in and make zero. Or you can put all this money in and make a lot. And it is addictive, just like gambling is.”



Golf may be seen as a solo sport, but Alexander believes she would not be where she is today without the team behind her.



“I call Charles my second husband, we spend so much time together. He is family. He has carried for me from the start, all the way to Europe, to the Majors and the US Open.



“My mental coach is Mark Fairbank. We also work very closely together. He has worked with me since I went to Q School (qualifying school), and we&#8217;ve done great work. He&#8217;s probably one of the last guys I&#8217;d fire if I ever had to fire my team!



“My golf coach is Grant Veenstra, probably the best in the country, if not top 10 in the world. I&#8217;ve been working with him for the last two years. He&#8217;s a great guy and has changed my whole game around.



“Then obviously my biggest supporter is my husband (professional body builder Adrian Alexander). He doesn&#8217;t have a title, like a trainer or anything, but he&#8217;s probably the rock that keeps everything going.”

Casandra Alexander; photo supplied

‘Golf Is Like Gambling’: South African Golfer On Taking Risks And Aiming For Global Success

There are four clubs from Africa among the 32 teams that have qualified for the FIFA Club World Cup, which will kick off on June 15.



World football’s governing body FIFA are hoping the new-look Club World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States next month, will mark a new era for the game and develop a four-yearly competition that has as much relevance and reverence as the World Cup for national teams.



Africa will play a part in the new vision: there are four clubs from the continent among the 32 teams that have qualified for the tournament, which will kick off on June 15.



It includes Mamelodi Sundowns, who are through to this season’s African Champions League final later in May and will be hoping to make some impact on the new-look Club World Cup.



It is a momentous opportunity for a South African side, rubbing shoulders with the most successful club sides from across the globe over the last years.



Egypt’s Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca from Morocco and Esperance of Tunisia are the other three African clubs who have qualified on the basis of their performances in the last four years of the African Champions League competition.



In their group, Sundowns have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund, who were runners-up in the UEFA Champions League last season; Rio de Janeiro giants Fluminense and Ulsan from South Korea.



It will be something of an upset if the Pretoria club progress past the first stage but even if they return home without a win, the tournament promises to be a massive learning curve and its financial spin off means Sundowns are set to continue their long-standing hegemony on the local scene.



They will reportedly receive a minimum of $9-million for participating in the tournament, with more money on offer for any victories they might achieve; $2 million is paid for winning group stage games, $7.5 million for playing in the round of 16 and $40 million to the team that wins the final at MetLife Stadium near New York on July 13.



FIFA aims to share $250 million among clubs worldwide who did not qualify for the tournament. But it is not yet clear how many clubs will be paid, or how much they will get.



The $1 billion Club World Cup prize pot is more than double the $440 million that FIFA shared among the 32 federations whose teams played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, further proof of their desire to make this new project work.



It is massive money for Sundowns to continue to buy the best players and extend their record-breaking run of championship success in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League.

Al Ahly v Mamelodi Sundowns – CAF Champions League

Money And Momentous Opportunity For Africa In New-Look Football Tourney

Your cheat sheet to working smarter with machines.



AI is rapidly disrupting Africa’s job market, many becoming redundant at a rapid rate while other roles are at risk because of AI’s ability to process large volumes of tasks across multiple skillsets and fields. It’s a challenging time–one that the World Economic Forum (WEF) has said will result in the loss of 85 million jobs. However, the WEF has also said AI will create 97 million new roles, particularly in the areas of AI development and human-AI collaboration.



Which means…learning how to use AI is fast becoming a critical skillset. The problem is that while the amount of information about AI is extensive, there aren’t very clear pathways to learning how to use it, tap into it, code with it, and make it your own. What AI platform should you use? How do you get it to work more efficiently? What constitutes a good prompt?



Mandla Mbonambi, CEO of Africonology, tells FORBES AFRICA why being polite to your AI is crucial: “Your AI pays attention to how you talk to it. If you speak harshly, it will give you a harsh answer. Mine, however, has been trained on politeness and warmth so it answers my questions with more detail, more insights.”



How to talk to your AI: Simple steps



It doesn’t matter which AI platform you use–the Meta chatbot in WhatsApp, Claude, Grok, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, the Wix chatbot–you want to start your relationship with the platform on the right foot. While some, like Claude, don’t hold long-term memory, they do respond to politeness.



Negative remarks and poor communication will teach the AI that this is how you want to be treated. Your results won’t be poorer, they will just be direct. You ask for the code to build a website; it will give you the code. That’s it, though. It won’t try harder. So, be nice, it makes you feel nicer and your AI work harder.



Use these prompts:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Take a deep breath and let’s work on this problem one step at a time – supportive prompts like these <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-be-nice-to-ai-chatbots-such-as-chatgpt/#:~:text=The%20tone%20of%20a%20prompt,that%20require%20basic%20reasoning%20skills.">actually make an LLM more capable of solving problems</a>.</li>



<li>Please can you…Thank you…Researchers are calling this the ‘performance premium of politeness’. Your responses will have fewer mistakes and will be more thorough.</li>



<li>Could you please generate a report vs Generate a report</li>



<li>It’s so amazing that you can…Tell your AI that its abilities are amazing, and it will respond in kind.</li>



<li>I appreciate how much you know about Africa; can you tell me more about the Sahara? Start your prompts with praise.</li>
</ul>



Test it: Try using rude, polite, harsh or distant prompts and see how your AI responds.

AI chatbot conversation using artificial intelligence technology smart robot AI, Generative AI, Answer, Businessman using AI to generate something, Customer support, laptop, assistant, Chat interface.

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