development9

Re-constructing Johannesburg The City Of Opportunity

As a teenager, Mabel Ledwaba turned her bedroom into a
beauty parlor. Today, her brand has made a mark on the local beauty industry.



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An 83km drive to the&nbsp;
industrialized Vanderbijlpark in the southern parts of Johannesburg
presents an undulating green and brown landscape. 



In the midst of all the dullness, we are greeted on arrival
by a well-groomed beauty entrepreneur in this town in South Africa’s Highveld. 



Like an Egyptian goddess, make-up artist Mabel Ledwaba
glides in, in a full-length, draped black dress, and recollects her
entrepreneurial journey.



“It was a long ten years of trial and error,” says Ledwaba,
arching her well-shaped brows.



Ledwaba, who initially planned on opening a nail and eyelash
bar, founded a make-up line that is today worth over R2.5 million ($181,000),
and has a presence in all nine provinces of South Africa.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mabel2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39839" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mabel2.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mabel2-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mabel2-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/mabel2-768x508.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Havillah Beauty makeup products by Mabel Ledwaba. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



The transition from employee to employer took six months
before Havillah Beauty officially launched in 2008.



In just two years, the business grew from occupying 20
square meters to a 50-square meter establishment in a commercial office space.



“You can have a business plan but you never stick to it,”
Ledwaba says.



Tapping into a market at a time when international cosmetics
dominated in South Africa, Ledwaba was determined to make a mark as a local
brand.



With a dream and passion for business, as a teenager, the
township beauty queen converted her bedroom into a beauty parlor.



The informal business operated from Monday to Saturday when she would return from school, without extra time for social activities. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“You prepare them [clients] to go see their boyfriends and to go to the clubs. It kept me out of mischief,” she says. </blockquote>



As her popularity grew throughout her community, she took
her talent beyond the streets, and she pursued a qualification in cosmetology.
She also honed her talent for hair-dressing, infusing a local feel to different
hair textures and styles.



“I gave them that township feel of doing hair in a white
salon. I remember I was the highest paid because everyone got paid on
commission, and everybody wanted me to do their hair. That, as well, taught me
business skills. I saw the professional side,” she says.



With a starting capital of R80,000 ($5,700) that she
received from her husband, she never looked back.



Importing the make-up products from Germany, Ledwaba mixes
the powder pigments to cater for the African market.



“Reach out in aggressive marketing; reach out in terms of
being aggressive where you make sure they feel and they touch the product. They
will not buy the product based on trust, they will buy it because you have
given them enough proof that it works. An international brand, they buy on
trust but with us, they buy based on proven facts, so we have to do double the
work,” she says.



“We do not manufacture from scratch, but we are mainly responsible for the colors we mix. We have a supplier in Germany, who supplies other brands. We tell them to mix the colors in a specific way so that we have our colors,” she adds.



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Testing the market in a Johannesburg mall paved the way for
business development and strategies.



Online and pop-up stores propelled the brand into a
competitive market.



In a market research report on the cosmetics industry in
South Africa 2017, published by ReportLinker, “the value of the sector, which
includes the manufacture of cosmetics, perfumes and other personal care
preparations, is estimated to have grown to R27.35 billion at retail level and
R19.69 billion at manufacturing level”.



“What feeling do you get when you see somebody you have
applied make-up on and their face just shines,” asks Ledwaba as she turns the
mirror in our direction.



She also imparts her know-how to other aspirants in the
industry, adding value to the skills of young people.



Makgotso Mpalakanye, a 22-year-old make-up artist who works on South African soapie Generations The Legacy, had completed a course at Havillah Beauty. 



“I started doing make-up at a young age, and I took it
seriously at the age of 20. I was lucky to find a lady who took me to school
and paid my fees,” Mpalakanye says, who now has an academic understanding of
the beauty industry.



“It helps you improve and know different make-up types,” she
attests.



As Ledwaba’s business continues to grow, her determination
to develop a culture of entrepreneurship in the make-up industry is showing no
signs of fading away.

Mabel1

Her Brush With Business

From cheers on the track and field to cheers of a different
kind, Jamaican sprinting champion Usain Bolt was in South Africa recently to
launch his signature champagne.



Widely considered the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, the
nine-time Olympic gold medalist who has broken records, is now breaking new
ground in the business world.



He was in South Africa in January to launch a limited
edition champagne in collaboration with champagne producer G.H. Mumm.



Having graced some of the world’s biggest Olympic stadiums,
the retired Jamaican sprinter was at the swanky The Maslow hotel in
Johannesburg, promoting the pink bubbly as it poured endlessly into fluted
glasses. 



As the $45 Mumm Olympe Rosé bottle was being passed around,
all attention was on the world champion.&nbsp;




“In Jamaica, we do this naturally; we mix cognac with
champagne, and it’s something I enjoy. So when we sat down in the first meeting
and we were trying to figure out what direction we wanted to go with for the bottle
and with the drink, I mentioned it and asked ‘is it possible?’ and they said
‘yes’. So for me, that was something I was happy about. When you taste it,
you’ll taste the cognac and together it’s very nice, trust me,” Bolt tells
FORBES AFRICA, aptly marketing his product.



The A-list sports star poses with two bottles, symbolic of
the two years it took to create what he calls a premium drink. 



G. H. Mumm’s Senior Global Brand Manager, Etienne Cassuto,
says collaborations of this magnitude have to be a reflection of authenticity
and teamwork. 



“This is not something we created and said ‘great, put your
name on it, sign it and we sell it’; he created this wine with us and that is
why it is something that is truly collaborative and that is where some brands
get it wrong,” he says.&nbsp; 



“It took a long time to really get to know Usain Bolt&#8230; as
an athlete, as someone who has broken records and who has surpassed everything
in life to get to where he is today. This desire to partner with Usain Bolt,
who is now a retired athlete but still pushing the limit to what he can achieve
and really daring himself to go beyond to find his next victory… that is why
since 2016, we have been collaborating to try and understand how we can build
something in common.”



Bolt, who retired from athletics in 2017, has since pursued
a career in football; he decided to hang up his boots in 2018. 



His short-lived football career saw him play for Central
Coast Mariners, and train in South Africa with Mamelodi Sundowns F.C. 



The Olympic sprint champion says athletes should focus on
building a brand beyond the track.



“In sports, I was always trying to be the best and do things
that have never been done before, it is the same thing in business. You have to
find things that no one has done before… As athletes, you should focus on
trying to build your brand. Try to work hard and try to develop a personality. 



“I think I get sponsorships because I have a personality. I
am different, and I stand out. Develop a personality, a brand that people know,
this is Bolt, this is Simbine, this is Wayde. I always tell Wayde ‘it is good
to be fast and to be great, but if you want to build your brand you have to
show your personality’. People will want you to be a part of their brand’,” he
tells us. 



Akani Simbine and Wayde van Niekerk are South African
athletes.



&nbsp;And Bolt loves South
Africa. “When they called and told me we are launching in South Africa, I was
happy. Last year, I had so much fun. The energy was different. It felt like
home because this is the only place I have been to that I have danced so much.
In Jamaica, we dance a lot, but in Africa, you guys dance. A lot!” he says
joyfully. 



The whole vibe is that of celebration.



“Africa is an exciting market for champagne. African
consumers want more premium goods; they want to really discover new things, new
products, new categories and they want to spend a little more to discover
high-quality products, whether it is luxury or premium goods,” adds Cassuto.



South Africa’s affluent market is no different, and Bolt
attests to that – the man fast on the track and faster with his soundbites.

Maison Mumm Launches Unprecedented Zero Gravity Bottle

The Bolt And The Beautiful

At the end of the third quarter last year, South Africa recorded a high unemployment rate of 27.5%. Townships and informal settlements are at the helm of this problem where the youth lack resources to even apply for jobs.



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A young, unemployed man crosses a busy street on 12th Avenue.



Dragging a greasy trolley filled with trash, he looks at us
blankly as he continues to lug his garbage to the nearest junkyard. 



It is a regular sight and a regular weekday on the streets
of Alexandra, eight kilometers from Africa’s richest square mile, Sandton, in
South Africa.&nbsp; 



Sixteen-seater minibus-taxis dash from corner to corner,
packing their vehicles with enough passengers before making their way out of
the township. 



It is 10.30AM on this sunny Wednesday morning in December. 



The street corners are adorned with colorful tuckshops; they
stand out against the backdrop of the grey homes around them. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="925" height="595" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39175" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed1.png 925w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed1-300x193.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed1-600x386.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed1-768x494.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px" /><figcaption>An Alexandra resident collects trash in order to make a living in the over-populated community. Picture: Gypseenia Lion</figcaption></figure></div>



One of the spaza shops is bright blue with light textures of
yellow paint; a man sits behind a mesh by the sales counter. It is almost
impossible to see his face. 



He offers a young man a cigarette via a peep hole through
the mesh. 



Three men gather to smoke the same cigarette before making
their way to the multi-purpose community center on the other side of the road. 



Each carrying a sling bag and an A4 envelope, they disappear
into a building located at the end of a twirling staircase. Young and old
ceaselessly walk in and out.



The yard is filled with a number of service centers: the
local clinic, revenue service offices, the post office, multiple internet shops
and the Youth Advisory Centre (YAC). 



At the end of the hallway, Themba Mafuya sits collecting
dozens of résumés from the eager youth who are desperately in search of
employment.



He gathers the pile of documents and hands it over to his assistant. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“People are hungry for jobs,” he says as he looks at the unending stream of visitors walking in and out of the center. </blockquote>



Mafuya’s institution creates a database of unemployed youth
within the community with the sole purpose of&nbsp;
collaborating with companies that are looking to hire. 



By working closely with government, YAC reports to the City
of Johannesburg on the state of unemployment in the community. 



Dressed in casual wear, the 29-year-old has a friendly and
positive approach when he advises potential employees. 



“Go and correct the mistakes on your résumé that I explained
to you. Make sure your documents are certified and bring it to me as soon as
possible. Don’t worry, they will hire you,” he tells a young lady.



With Gauteng province being the economic powerhouse of South
Africa, contributing 35% to the country’s GDP, according to recent figures
released by Stats SA, unemployment remains an area of concern – 29.6% of people
live in the province without jobs. 



But the province is not among the lowest performing in the
country. With an unemployment rate of 36.6%, the Free State has the highest
provincial unemployment rate according to StatsSA, in 2018. 



Limpopo, with a prominent rural population, surprisingly,
has an unemployment rate of 18.9%, making it the lowest in the country. 



Townships in the surrounding areas of Gauteng are still
faced with an influx of challenges relating to unemployment. 



Adding to the lack of jobs, social issues play a big part. 



“We need to start doing follow-ups. Ask how many youth have
been employed? Who are not employed? Why are they not employed? Maybe they do
not have a correct résumé and we need to figure out why the employees do not
choose them,” says Mafuya. 



Just a few streets away is a compound adjacent to a block of
fading pink apartments. 



The yard is divided by a muddy passage with small dwellings
on either side.



A smell lingers far beyond the cracks of the cement block as
two buckets get noisly filled with hot water to clean chicken. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39176" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed4.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed4-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed4-600x397.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed4-768x508.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption>A scene depicting a busy street corner on a late Wednesday morning in Alexandra. Popularly known as Alex, the township has one of the most highest concentrated unemployment rates in Gauteng. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



Alfredah Phuloane introduces herself after she wipes the
chicken remnants off her hands using her multi-colored t-shirt.



With Phuloane is her uncle Velile Ndlovu who is her business
partner.



“As long as I have chicken, they are going. If I have 55,
all of them will be bought. I’ve already sold 25 for the day and we have just
started,” she says.



A helper, who didn’t want to be named, gushes: “I love my
job and I am proud of it.”



She too, like the 27.5% of the South African population who
are unemployed, will celebrate any job that will help them put food on the
table.&nbsp; 



In 2018, StatsSA announced an increase in the unemployment
rate at the end of the third quarter. 



According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey, there are
16.4 million employed people and 6.2 million unemployed people between the ages
of 15 and 64 years in South Africa.



The latest figures record that the number of unemployed
people in South Africa grew by 127,000 from the 6.08 million in the previous
quarter. 



StatsSA Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, says
unemployment, according to the statistics collected, is calculated using the
4&#215;4 rule. 



These are job-seekers in search of employment four days a
week in a four-week period. 



Phuloane, who has been unemployed for three years, took the
iniatitive to start the business when she realized there was a demand for
freshly-slaughtered chicken in her community.&nbsp;




“At the time, when we were slaughtering the chicken for our
own consumption, some people were coming in and asking if we were selling them.
That is when we realized people needed chicken,”&nbsp; Ndlovu laughs. 



Ndlovu leaves the compound at 4.30AM to stand in a long
queue in Linbro Park where he buys the live chickens. 



On his return, at around 7AM, he places the fowl in a
makeshift coop.



With the helper, who earns a sum of money for her
assistance, the trio spend the day processing and packaging chicken for
customers. 



Three years of unemployment led Phuloane, a former domestic
worker, to entrepreneurship.



“If my business does succeed, I want to hire those who do
not have jobs. I want to make their lives simple. They can start their own
businesses then, because you can’t wait for work. There are no jobs now and it
will be difficult,” Phuloane says.



Her uncle on the other hand, who worked as a recycler in a
recycling company, decided to quit his job in late 2018. 



When Ndlovu rejected a job transfer to South Africa’s
capital Pretoria, it suddenly made him one of the thousands without employment.




The formal sector recorded job losses of 65,000 people, and
agriculture lost 1,000 employees in the third quarter of last year.



Without the promise of an increase, had he accepted the job
in Pretoria, Ndlovu’s expenses would have increased by $111 to travel 41
kilometers to the north eastern part of Johannesburg. 



He decided to quit.



“We realized that there is a big opportunity in the
township. We are trying by all means to not rely on anyone. We can take our children
to school. No one will suffer if they think about starting a business,” he
says. 



Social engineer Action Setaka, from the organization
ACTIVATE! Change Drivers (ACD), who advocates for the unemployed, says there is
a copious amount of injustice hampering access to employment.



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It is even worse in the townships. 



ACD is a network of young people interested in driving
change for the public good of the country through innovation and activism. 



For Setaka, unemployment has become a commodity for business
and institutions to exploit those desperately in search of work. 



From the seemlingly endless amount of documentation required
when applying for governmental posts, to the costs of printing and accessing
the internet at internet cafés, money is required.



It does not end there. 



“Transportation costs for traveling to interviews; posting
of résumés cost money, which benefits the internet cafés; data to browse job
opportunities and mobile networks make money out of this. Searching for
employment requires money, yet you find people who claim that our young people
are lazy and, therefore, they are not prepared to find work,” Setaka says.



The dire plight of the jobless youth in Alexandra is not in
isolation.



Similar circumstances reverbarate throughout the townships
of South Africa.



Another township, much like Alexandra, with compounds filled
with shacks, is swarming with people seeking jobs for survival. 



Located in the northern part of Johannesburg, Diepsloot has
the highest concentration of unemployed people in Gauteng. 



This is according to the Gauteng City-Regional Observatory
(GCRO)’s Mapping Unemployment publication, released in August 2018. 



The location, established in 1994, has grown into a
community with a population of more than 160,000 with an estimate of “24,737
shacks alongside more than 5,000 formal housing units, such as RDP
(Reconstruction and Development Programme) houses, self-built houses on
serviced sites, and a small number of bank-financed houses,” as quoted in
Diepsloot, a brochure compiled by the Johannesburg Development Agency. 



Based on the StatsSA 2011 census, the GCRO map shows the
concentration of unemployed people in areas that had rates worse than the
provincial median in 2011.



According to GCRO statistics, “the square kilometer areas
with the highest concentration of unemployed people are observed in townships
such as Alexandra and Diepsloot and contain 4,965 and 8,758 people”.



Diepsloot’s South African Youth Project (SAYP) general
manager, Clifford Legodi, says gaining access to employment for unemployed
youth in townships is harder than it is for youth who grow up in urban regions.
This points to a system exclusion due to the lack of access to resources. 



Thus, the development programs that will meet the demands of
the working environment will, in turn, open up opportunities. 



It starts with breaking norms. 



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“Young black people or previously disadvantaged communities
are still using the traditional method of taking a taxi, printing a résumé or
going to the offices. We felt that it was important to incorporate an online
skills program. You look at their online presence. How they apply for a job
online. Are they actually keeping a good online profile and how to secure
opportunities in time?” Legodi says.



SAYP is a youth development organization aimed at the
empowerment of young people by giving them the skillsets to utilize the
opportunities around them. 



This is done through the ‘Power Through Jobs’ program
offered by the non-profit.



Life skills, work-readiness, and getting a job are some of
the main points of focus for the youth of the township. 



Online job-searching skills have been implemented in order
to keep up with the evolving working environment.



Through encouragement and continuous skills development,
Legodi says the notion of staying in one position will fade away, and the youth
of Diepsloot will aspire to climb the corporate ladder.



“If they can conduct themselves in a professional manner,
they will gain credibility,” he says. 



The population is dominated by black people and for Legodi,
the lack of opportunities within their reach means that those who are able find
employment will have to travel long distances to get to work.



“Diepsloot has its own reputation that is quite limiting for
young people to get opportunities out there. 



“The media also has a bit of an influence, bad news sells. A
lot of the things you see are about the crime, but everyone is treated equally
within the community,” he says. 



“The mistake we have been making in the past when it comes to
addressing unemployment, is that we tried to develop a program that put
everyone in the same box. We tend to forget that people come from different
geographical locations and they are exposed to different lifestyles.” 



Twenty-nine-year-old Thapelo Tau sits in a living room
watching television. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="921" height="611" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-39177" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed2.png 921w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed2-300x199.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed2-600x398.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Unemployed2-768x509.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 921px) 100vw, 921px" /><figcaption>Thapelo Tau of Alexandra. Picture: Gypseenia Lion </figcaption></figure>



It is noon and he is catching up on his favorite shows in
the home he shares with his mother and two sisters.



“I have been unemployed for five or six years. It has been
difficult to look for work. Many people here give up and they just sit at home
and watch television,” he says. 



He spends most of his time on his phone and reading.



“You may take your documents to look for work, but when you
leave, they tear it up. We just give up because there is nothing we can do. I
have an uncle who has been looking for work for a long time. He just stopped
looking,” Tau says. 



When approached for comment, the uncle dismisses the
interview in vernacular. 



“We are looking for work. We can’t even speak English,” he
says. 



English is widely considered the language of access in this
nation where there are 11 official langages. Those who can’t speak the language
are almost always immediately excluded from public participation.



“The problem that we have seen with people from townships is
self-confidence. They get afraid when they have to leave their comfort space.
They then need to present themselves in a different way, they have to adjust to
a different lifestyle to showcase an approach,” says Legodi. 



Afri-Berry founder and director, Relobohile Moeng, says the language barrier is one of the biggest challenges for the youth in the townships. Going the extra mile for an intern who lacked verbal communication skills, she offered mentorship and guidance. “The confidence part I had to build in, as her mentor,” attests Moeng. 



Townships have the undying potential to contribute greatly to the country’s aggregate economic growth; this can be achieved only if the high populations are granted the opportunity to play their part in the economy. Alexandra and Diepsloot are testament to the facts. 



In the interim, Ndlovu, much like the rest of the unemployed population, strives against all odds, hoping against hope to continue to put food on his own table whilst feeding his community.

Unemployed3

IN PICTURES | The Occupation Of Unemployment In South Africa

Busi Mabuza has just been appointed Chair of the South African chapter of the BRICS Business Council. Also the chairperson of the Industrial Development Corporation, she speaks to FORBES AFRICA about her plans for trade and investment.&nbsp; 



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



What is your first point of focus as the chair of the South African chapter of the BRICS Business Council? 



It is still early days. I am just lucky I was appointed to
the BRICS Council last year… In my few months, my sense was that the sister
countries in BRICS were much more organized in terms of what it is they are
looking for and in bringing a coordinated voice of business. We were still
trying to get there in terms of coordinating our efforts and channeling our
objectives and making sure we agree on the priorities.



I look forward to, first of all, picking up from where
others left off. This is a council that has been around not long after 2010,
and it has a long-enough track-record. 



I think where things have been done well, we just need to
make sure they are done better. Where there are gaps, I’d like for us to close
those gaps. On the administrative side, I have noticed our sister countries,
the business councils of the other countries, are much more coercively
organized, more streamlined, business has a very strong voice and business
facilitates all of it. 



I would like to see that engagement with all corners of
business, big and small. I think there is room for everybody there. If one
looks at the African continent, the majority of the population is young people.
If we sit in those meetings without understanding the voice of the youth, without
talking to and addressing the issues of the youth, we will be left behind. 



I think it is an opportunity to make sure business rolls up
its sleeves and we actually benefit from the linkages our political principles
have cemented. 



As a woman in leadership, how will you navigate this space? 



It is one that also challenges me ideologically. I never wanted to be labeled ‘the first black woman [in anything]’, and yet I have worked most of my life in environments where it has been lonely just by the mere fact that when the guys are talking rugby, I want to talk about something else. 



Rugby is great, I also enjoy that, but it is also good to talk about other things. One success factor when one is thrown into such environments is to [bring] others in deliberately. I’d love to demonstrate to the women out there that there are opportunities such as these and we need to be there and we need to show up at our best in terms of our game. 



We need to work diligently because when it comes to the results and output, the assessment won’t be based on whether you are a man or woman, it will be based on what you deliver tangibly. South Africa has an opportunity to make the other BRICS countries aware that women have to be at the table and we do it through our actions rather than just talk. 



What is on the 2019 agenda for business in South Africa?



With this being new days, I believe in consultation. I believe in making sure I understand the mandate I have been given. I understand what the Department of Trade and Industry is about, and their focus on creating export opportunities because that will grow our trade. 



I understand their focus on empowerment, because as a country we do need to see a better profile and reflection of society in the economic space. The focus will continue to be on trade and investment, as we move along, I would like for us to do this in an inclusive manner.



Which sector will South Africa prioritize? 



I would definitely take a cue from the president’s [Cyril Ramaphosa] focus on agriculture. Agriculture is fantastic for this continent because we have land, we have the people and if you look outside South Africa, there is water. The resources are there. 



The other side of the coin is that agriculture can be a great employment opportunity. Agriculture is getting more technical and technology-intensive and that excites me. If we had a trading bloc arrangement, we will be talking much bigger opportunities within the country.

Busi-Mabuza

‘Time For Business To Roll Up Its Sleeves’

The President of Toronto Raptors, Masai Ujiri, on his adoration for Africa as a continent filled with unlimited potential and talent.



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The tall man in sport, Masai Ujiri, is a name in
professional basketball far beyond the borders of Africa and his native
Nigeria. 



Born in England but having grown up in Zaria in Africa’s
most populous country, Ujiri’s adoration for Africa sees him on the continent
often, inspiring the youth. 



“Africa is no more afraid. We are not afraid of anybody
anymore. The continent is bold. The people are bold,” says Ujiri, when FORBES
AFRICA meets him in Johannesburg in November at the Africa Investment Forum in
which he participated. 



The continent has a special place in his heart. 



The President of the Toronto Raptors in the National
Basketball Association (NBA), also founded Giants of Africa (GOA) in 2003, as a
way of harnessing budding, untapped talent. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“As long as I am in a position where I am able to, we have to give the youth a chance. We have to pave a path for them and there is nothing I can’t do. I have to do everything, it is an obligation, I have to be an example for them by creating that pathway,” he says. </blockquote>



Ujiri, who started playing basketball at the age of 13,
travels to Africa every August to visit the GOA camps across seven countries on
the continent, training young boys and girls to be leaders in both sport and
everyday life. 



He says he draws inspiration from each and every country in
Africa, and the feeling is inexplicable.



The history and culture are a constant reminder of his years
growing up in Africa. 



Whether it is in Kenya, where his mother was born, or the
lasting friendships in Rwanda, Senegal or Nigeria, each country holds special
memories. 



Apart from the numerous trips in and out of the continent,
2018 granted Ujiri a rare once-in-a-lifetime moment. 



This was in July when Barack Obama, the former president of
the United States, visited Kenya, and with him, Ujiri opened a basketball court
in the country. 



Ujiri’s outreach program GOA launched it at the Sauti Kuu
Foundation Sports, Resources and Vocational Centre in Alego; familiar ground
for both leaders. 



Managed by Auma Obama, Sauti Kuu, much like GOA, is focused
on youth development. 



“To spend that time with somebody that Africa means so much
to, meant so much to me and so much to Auma. We are trying to inspire youth, we
built a court that is going to impact the youth and that was special,” says
Ujiri.&nbsp; 



Being able to scout African talent is what is imperative for
Ujiri, and it all comes down to building facilities to help the youth play
basketball. 



Ultimately, his dream for Africa is not only to see material
wealth but for talent to go beyond what he has achieved. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“My dream is to have one of the youth become bigger than me, and bigger than everybody. People think I always dream of building this and doing that but I want one of these kids to take everything that they learn and do better in each and everything.</blockquote>



“I love the continent; I love the culture of different
places. I am almost like Anthony Bourdain [the late American celebrity chef],
that is how it really is with basketball, with the culture, the people and the
food,” says Ujiri. 



Staying true to his African roots, when we meet him, Ujiri
speaks about his favorite yam and stew dish that he says reminds him of his
childhood. 



It’s such memories that see him taking the long-haul flight
out of Toronto to Africa each year.

Masai3

Masai Ujiri’s dream of harnessing untapped African talent

A master distiller, Michael D’Souza, visited South Africa
recently to share a few notes with whisky connoisseurs on the great Indian
single malt.&nbsp; 



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When a master distiller arrives in South Africa from a part
of the world that is equally diverse, the result is a spirited confluence of
cultures and expressions.



On Michael D’Souza’s first trip to the ‘Rainbow Nation’ from
India, he was pleasantly surprised that besides the weather and the people,
even the local food reminded him of a vibrancy he thought was only to be found
back home. The similarities made him instantly feel at home.&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“India is a massively diverse nation. There are different
religions, cultures, colors and different foods. It is very vibrant; the
vibrancy is what we wanted to have inside the bottle,” he says, when we meet
him on a balmy Friday evening in November in Sandton, Africa’s richest square
mile. 



D’Souza has been making single malt whiskies for John
Distilleries since 2008 in Goa, the Indian destination deemed a tropical
paradise the world over for its sandy beaches, swaying palms and uber-cool
vibe. 



Inspired by this trip to South Africa, D’Souza now wants to
create a fusion that combines unique tastes from both regions. 



“After tasting a couple of South African gins, and to be
honest, I have always thought about creating craft gin, I am thinking of making
a South African botanic infused gin. It can be an infusion of Indian spices and
botanicals mixed with South African botanicals. India is famous for its own
spices, especially coriander and cumin. I can infuse this with some of the
South African botanicals like rooibos.”



D’Souza, who has been in this profession for 25 years now,
enjoys traveling the world to explore drinking cultures whilst offering his
palate a taste of different blends. 



Founded in 1992 by Paul P. John, Paul John Single Malt
Whisky has won over 200 international awards in six years and is present in 35
countries around the world.The company distributes about 40,000 cases of
whisky.



For D’Souza, the shift in India’s drinking culture can be
judged by the increasing demand for single malt whiskies despite being 15 years
behind the western and European markets. 



“India is one of the world’s emerging economies and the
buying capacity of people is increasing. They are gradually shifting from
cheaper whiskies to premium whiskies. A lot of youngsters travel the world and
once they come back, they change their drinking preferences.”



The man who enjoys his whisky neat says the company decided
to grow into international markets faster. 



Paul John Single Malt Whisky has been distributed in South
Africa for over a year. 



On his recent two-week tour, D’Souza visited Johannesburg,
Cape Town and Durban. 



“Johannesburg is one of the biggest markets for us… I found
that it is a mix of quality and cost-consciousness. I have been to a lot of big
retailers and I saw a lot of Irish and blended whiskies selling.” 



Back home in coastal Goa, the climate not only adds flavor
to the fusion but allows the spirit to mature faster.



“India is a different region altogether. The beauty of
whisky is that each and every whisky will have its own regional characteristics
because once distilled, the spirits go inside the wooden cask. Once it is
filled, it not only interacts with the wood, but also with the world,” says
D’Souza. 



The distilled barley, found at the foothills of the
Himalayas, absorbs the saltiness through the pores of the oak cask adding more
character to the whisky. 



D’Souza, who presented a whisky masterclass at the 2018
Whisky &amp; Spirits Live Festival in Sandton, Johannesburg, attests:&nbsp; “Our whisky has been received very well by
South Africans.”

michael2

Indian master distiller gets a taste for South Africa

South African artist Conor McCreedy on creating what could be the world’s most expensive sneakers. 



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A literally stumbled upon a business opportunity.



The renowned South African artist, who only paints in blue,was one day at work in his studio, in a 600-year-old, four-storeyed building in Zurich, when he accidentally spilled some of the monochromatic pigment on to his white sneakers.



Who knew it would lead to a designer line of expensive sneakers.




The artist, resident in Switzerland since 2014, now sells the limited edition sneakers for $3,000 a pair.&nbsp;



What helped that day was that the painting accident was shortly before a meeting with an art collector. 



“This art dealer wanted some work for a private collection.I couldn’t get time to put my shoes on, so I went in my sneakers, and this guy just loved them… He opened up to me and said he likes the idea. ‘Try and take it further’, he said to me,” says McCreedy to FORBES AFRICA, on the phone from Switzerland. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="922" height="553" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38306" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4.png 922w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4-300x180.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4-600x360.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4-768x461.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4-590x354.png 590w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker4-400x240.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px" /><figcaption>Artist&nbsp;Conor McCreedy. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



After spending four months finalizing the collaboration with an established shoe company, Ludwig Reiter, the concept sprung to life. 



A regular pair of their white sneakers sells for $685, but with a splash of McCreedy, it costs almost five times more.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“A lot of people can put paint on sneakers. We are not reinventing the world but putting the McCreedy blue on to a sneaker. It has a value chain,” he says.



Even before its launch mid-November, nine of the 200 limited edition sneakers had been sold to collectors from around the world. 



“I love when people say that the splash looks like a kid’s.I actually like that, it has taken me 30 years to create that splash, that is a great story,” says McCreedy. 



He adds the handcrafted sneaker will not only appeal to art lovers who are looking to collect, but even corporate titans and banking CEOs,and the uber-chic would want to wear it at cultural festivals.



In Switzerland, ultra-networth and high-networth-individuals are his customers. 



“The beautiful part is that the sneakers are backed by my art, and compared to the art, they are relatively cheap,” says McCreedy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="619" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38307" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker2.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker2-300x201.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker2-600x401.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker2-768x513.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption>Artist&nbsp;Conor&nbsp;McCreedy converted an old bank building into his studio and atelier in Zurich. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



The tranquillity and stability the artist associates with the color blue led to the creation of his own pigment known as ‘McCreedy blue’. 



McCreedy has used it to create most of his paintings since 2011. 



But building a career through art requires more than just mixing color on canvas. 



“Art is always considered a luxury; don’t let anyone fool you when they say it is not luxurious. People don’t just buy art, it is a luxury creation… If Picasso was alive today, he would probably have his own app,” he says. 



His art inspired him to create products, from candles to a coffee blend on sale on the ground floor of his studio. 



The space is curated so it’s an alluring odyssey for customers. 



White walls are adorned with original McCreedy blue paintings, showcasing the artist’s work for prospective buyers, collectors and dealers. 



The ‘Essence of McCreedy blue’ forms part of the luxurious elements the artist wants to reinstate in the art world. 



It took the artist three years in Zurich, one of the global centers for banking and finance, to convert an old bank building into an atelier and studio. “It’s showing how people view the world through the eyes of an artist. It is about being part of the journey and the experience. It is about feeling what luxury is like,” he says. 



Staying true to his African roots, McCreedy draws inspiration from Botswana, Nigeria and South Africa, which he expresses through abstract images. 



“I love African and South African art. It is really stimulating for me and as a growing artist, I like to collect whatever I can afford. One day, I will create my own museum and show what I have from different parts of the world,” says McCreedy. Open to exploring more markets, McCreedy wishes to collaborate with African artists. He would not have it any other way.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-38308" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker3.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker3-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker3-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/sneaker3-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Artist&nbsp;Conor&nbsp;McCreedy converted an old bank building into his studio and atelier in Zurich.&nbsp;Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



The world may present the artist with greater opportunities,but it cannot compete with the culture and the spirit of ubuntu [humanity]found in his country of birth, he explains. 



“I miss good South African beer, I miss sitting on a Land Rover with no shirt on, drinking a beer. I miss the weather and the locals.” 



But wherever McCreedy goes, he ensures his prized pair of sneakers is never too far away.

sneaker1

The Story Of The $3,000 Sneakers

Report shows positive growth in the mining and manufacturing industry as both sectors&nbsp; show slight figures of recovery in third quarter



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South Africa’s mining and manufacturing industry shows slight growth in production and sales, but could decline in the near future. 



The October 2018, StatsSA report shows both sectors have had figures of recovery from the start of the first quarter. 



The mining production overturned a three-month decline with a 0,5% year-on-year growth in the third quarter, with gold being the lowest contributor. 



Senior economist, Elize Kruger from NKC African economics, says despite&nbsp; growth in the mining sector there is nothing to be excited about.



Protest action that started on gold mines in mid-November added to the pressure that the sector has been under over the past months. 



A protected wage strike at Sibanye-Stillwater&#8217;s gold operations started when The Association of Mineworkers &amp; Construction Union (AMCU) made a demand of &nbsp;R1,000 annual increases in wages for mine workers. 



The National Union of Mineworkers, Solidarity and United Association of SouthAfrica on&nbsp; the other hand accepted R700 in the first two years and R825 in the third for most of their members. 



The Johanessburg based mine urged striking workers to return to work by December 15, 2018.&nbsp; 



“Novemember and December could be impacted by the strike action that we see in the gold mining industry. The fourth quarter data is likely to remain depressed despite the October numbers,” she says. 



Gold is the largest negative contributor at -15,1% thus contributing -2,3%percentage points to the overall figures. 



Furthermore, increases in electricity prices that will take effect early 2019, will tighten the pressure on the industry adding to headwins faced on a global scale. 



“Alluminum sector is impacted by the US import tarrifs increases and the threat of electricity price increases in the order of 15% ,” says Kruger. 



The 15% increase is a strategy put in place by the electricity public utility,&nbsp;Eskom, to settle financial constraints. 



The request made to the National Energy Regulator of South&nbsp; Africa will be effective for three years if approved. 



The manufacturing industry grew by 3,0% with eight out of 10 sectors showing positive growth rates over the last three months. 



According to Kruger, the strong levels of the rand exchange rate put in a helping hand in the manufacturing production and sales sector.

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South Africa’s mining and manufacturing sectors show slight growth

King Price Insurance’s CEO Gideon Galloway, who built an insurance company in South Africa worth over $226 million in six years, talks investments, industry trends and how self-driving cars will change the entire car insurance landscape. 

Why insurance? 
I have a passion for insurance, especially as the business model is massively scalable if done correctly. Also, the industry was ripe for change. In my opinion, it’s dominated by fat cats who don’t realize clients have become more discerning. Car values depreciate every month, so why don’t all insurers decrease car insurance premiums monthly? All insurers pay out the insured value if something happens to a car (under comprehensive insurance), so why charge more? I decided to take the greed out of the equation and rather offer insurance that makes sense.
How does your business model work? 
The insurance industry is incredibly cut-throat and there’s heavy competition from bigger companies. We realized early on we needed to carve a niche market approach for ourselves based on what consumers really want, which is more cash in their pockets. So, we hit the market with our decreasing premium model. Our competitors didn’t expect us to last longer than three months. More than six years later, we are not just surviving, but thriving.
What are the emerging trends in the insurance industry? 
We’re keeping our eye on a number of trends…Wearable tech, advances in mobile tech, self-service and on-demand insurance, ever-smarter fraud tools, telematics, cyber security… Looking further into the future, the number of individuals who own cars will decline sharply. And, self-driving cars will change the entire car insurance landscape.
What’s the craziest insurance scam/claim you have come across?
The craziest one, by far, has to be the Evel Knievel [an American stunt performer] scam, as we call it. A Jaguar owner was struggling to sell his car, so he hired a rogue stuntman to write it off for him. He just gave him the keys, popped a helmet on his head, and told him to roll it. Which was a great plan until the point where the stuntman lost control, crashed into a concrete fence, was impaled through the chest, and died on the scene…
What is your investment philosophy? 
I back the jockey, not the horse. When a potential business investment comes my way, I look at who’s going to run it. Is the leadership sound? And team? Is it a culture-driven venture? What are the values that underpin the organization? If the values don’t align with ours, it’s an immediate no-go.
 <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/personal-finance/2018/10/31/from-rock-n-roll-to-corporate-speaker-and-entrepreneur/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: From Rock ‘n’ Roll To Corporate Speaker and Entrepreneur</a>
What is your most prized investment? 
King Price. To make my vision a reality, I used all my investments and the income from all the companies I’d built over the years. I invested every cent and lost a lot in the process. All my savings were gone and I had two kids and a wife to take care of but I never heard God telling me to stop, and so I didn’t.
Your most regrettable financial decision and lessons learned? 
The decision: not doing proper background checks on potential partners. The lesson: It’s quick and easy to give money away but it’s infinitely more difficult to get it back, even when the long arm of the law gets involved.
Your biggest investment blunder? 
That one time I invested in a gaming app that got 14 downloads…
What is the most valued item in your home? 
What I treasure most in the world – my family.
What personal assets/valuables have you insured?
All of the big important assets, but it’s also not wise to over-insure. Many people spend too much on life insurance, as an example.
The most expensive item you lost that you wish was insured? 
My six-pack.
Sum up the principles that you live by?
Two words – give back. This is a life lesson I learned long before King Price.

Gideon-Galloway-King-Price-CEO-2

King Price CEO On Why He Invested On Insurance

The glamorous world of private jets is no longer the domain of the super-rich. Private aviation is set to soar in Africa as business keeps checking in.

Well-heeled women glide in and out of an opulent mansion in a leafy suburb in Sandton, Africa’s richest square mile.
The champagne-colored granite of the stairway meets the elegant tips of their Manolo Blahnik stilettos.
This is a medical aesthetic and holistic wellness center called Anti-Aging Art in the posh suburb in Johannesburg.
It is a home-turned-medical center belonging to Reza Mia, a doctor and co-owner of the clinic patronized by the rich and famous. Mia also happens to design jets, as the founder and CEO of Pegasus Universal Aerospace, an aviation company based in South Africa with the sole purpose of creating innovative aviation solutions.
Between surgical facelifts and building sophisticated jets, Mia finally makes time for an interview at 5PM on a Friday afternoon.
Dressed in navy blue scrubs, he sits on a luxurious leather sofa as he tells FORBES AFRICA about his connection with aviation.
Mia is currently designing a vertical take-off jet that he says will add to the convenience of private travel.
The aesthetic surgeon has been developing the Pegasus One Vertical Business Jet (VBJ1) since 2012, which he says will be completed in three years.
It’s an attempt to revolutionize luxury air travel in South Africa.
“It can land and take off like a helicopter anywhere a helicopter could, in fact more places because it doesn’t have a spinning rotor blade and it is quieter especially for built-up areas and neighborhoods. It can accelerate and fly at the speed of a business jet which is almost 800km/h so that is about four times the speed of a helicopter,” he says.
Cool-air fan technology allows the jet to take off and land anywhere, he adds, which means it’s less hassle for customers.
<div id="attachment_37666" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37666" class="wp-image-37666 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="494" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets1.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />Photo by Gypseenia Lion</div>
Privacy and convenience count as currency in this business.
Business aviation company, ExecuJet Aviation, currently operates and manages four bases for private jets in Africa.
The Johannesburg base is located at Lanseria International Airport, about an hour’s drive from the city.
The flashy cars in the parking lot speak about the kind of travelers taking off from here.
Staff meander in and out of the private terminal on this busy day, yet there is no millionaire in sight in an expensive Armani suit jetting off for his next business trip.
You never see them, they are that discreet about client privacy.
On a global scale, the company manages and operates about 260 aircraft and is also in Kenya and Nigeria, with the newest entrant in Seychelles.
With almost three decades in the aviation industry, the company has kept a close watch on the rising market of business aviation in Africa.
Stationed on the apron is a white Bombardier Challenger 300 worth about  $26 million.
The nine-seater aircraft boasts a bathroom and features glossy cherry-wood surfaces.
This gloss is all-pervasive and there is not a speck of dust in sight.
The soft, plush carpet is a shade lighter than the grey leather seating decked with comfy cushions that enhance the elegance.
ExecuJet’s Africa Vice President, Gavin Kiggen, says despite the demand and increase for private travel on the continent, perceptions of the industry can be misleading from both a business and client perspective.
“The margins are extremely low and the competition is very strong because you have new entrants who are trying to get market share.
<blockquote>“The perception is that it’s lucrative because of the kinds of tools and services we offer but it is a tough industry to be involved in,” he says.</blockquote>
As a developing region, Africa needs to prioritize infrastructure while attracting sales to uphold the competitive edge in the global business aviation market.
This can be achieved through innovative ideas. Promoting the economic benefits of the market will lure investors from all over the world.
Time waits for no man, and Africa’s elite, exclusive travelers know that only too well.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37665 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied-1024x668.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="483" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied-1024x668.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied-300x196.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied-600x391.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied-768x501.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Interior_Supplied.jpg 1654w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />
According to a review by Mordor Intelligence, Global business jet market &#8211; growth, trends and forecast (2018 &#8211; 2023), the exclusivity of private jets has ceased to be the domain of the extremely wealthy.
This change is owing to time-share and fractional ownership of aircraft.
ExecuJet reports Africa has 481 registered private jets and the year-on-year growth for the business aviation industry in Africa is 44%.
Private aviation is still a growing market in Africa in comparison to the regions where it is fully developed.
Approximately three quarters of the sale of business jets is in the west, mainly in North America and Europe.
<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2018/10/02/moments-before-an-air-crash/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Moments Before An Air Crash</a>
Predictions are that India and China are well on their way to become market leaders by 2020.
With continued industrial growth in Africa, consequently, there has been a rise in business travel.
Despite the lag in competitiveness on a global scale, private aviation in South Africa, which is Africa’s second-largest economy, has the potential to take the continent to new heights as business keeps checking in.
Private jets are commonly used by high-net-worth individuals, business executives, sports teams and government officials.
Time efficiency is the core reason why these jetsetters prefer private aviation over commercial planes. Greater control over flight schedules and operation of the aircraft forms part of the package.
Add privacy and a dash of luxury and the high-flyer is ready for take-off.
The Jet Traveler Report 2018, the global perspective on who flies privately and how, by Wealth-X, categorizes high-fliers into three types to make a comparison based on their flight preferences. These include owners, members and the wider ultra-high-net-worth audience.
Unsurprisingly, 35% owners of private jets are worth more than $500 million as per The Jet Traveler Report. 
The majority are over 60 years old. ‘Members’ are frequent fliers on membership programs.
Private jets have now also become more accessible and appealing to the wider executive population.
The report states that on-demand private fliers are the youngest and least wealthy ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
In comparison to the wealth of members and owners, these jetsetters have average wealth of $67 million.
Editor and publisher of SA Flyer and FlightCom magazines, Guy Leitch, says although the South African market is showing signs of recovery, there are shortcomings.
<blockquote>“Poor on-the-ground infrastructure for aviation, poor access to aircraft finance and the lack of aircraft does not ensure adequate support for development,” he says.</blockquote>
The same can be argued for the rest of Africa.
According to the Mordor Intelligence review published in April, lack of infrastructure is one the biggest limitations that affect business jet sales in South America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific.
The costs of building the much-needed infrastructure are so high operations may not be feasible.
Regions like Europe and North America with higher private aircraft demands have lower costs. Flying privately in the regions is charged on a one-way basis, therefore costs are reduced as opposed to Africa where charges are doubled.
“In those regions, there is always an aircraft available that’s going to your destination and you can pay a reduced rate because it is considered an empty leg. Our industry is unfortunately not that far ahead yet,” says Kiggen from ExecuJets.
Industry data by Global Jet Capital released in 2017 indicates that 2025 will witness more than 25% growth in the market.
<div id="attachment_37664" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37664" class="wp-image-37664 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="494" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PrivateJets6_GL.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />Private Jet. Photo by Gypseenia Lion</div>
The influx of new aircraft on the continent is forecast to have a value of $3.9 billion, or just under $500 million per year.
The emergence of the “African affluent” demographic on the continent has become an important emerging segment for the private aviation sector.
These individuals are younger than their European counterparts and are on average 40 years old, according to a report by ExecuJet called The Evolution of Charter Into Africa 2018.  
Smartphones and technological mobility make it easier for young flyers on the go, and as a result, gives the market more visibility and mileage.
“Social media has also brought a phenomena called the influencer; these are rich kids or media personalities who document their travel through social media (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter),” says Kiggen.
These jetsetters snap the glitz and glamor of private flying and share it with other influencers. This also makes it easier for private charter companies in Africa to attract clients from different spheres of life, thus changing the perception that jets are only used by the ultra-rich and famous.
In addition, an increase in enquiries for hiring the jets, from even car manufacturers for their marketing events, shows the market is paving the way for more diversified business.
Jeremy Nel, the CEO of Luxury Brands, a South African luxury marketing group based in Cape Town, argues that although high-flyers use their mobile devices to source best rates and most direct routes, the reputation of the private charter as a brand is something potential clients continue to look out for.
“The branding of the aircraft is also aligned to be the best fit, most clients who outright purchase an aircraft will take the plethora of advice as to the most suitable model for their needs and then choose from the best breed of operators,” says Nel.
Inner-circle referrals and the relationship the client has with the company, in addition to the preference of a specific pilot, can further influence decision-making.
Back in the richest square mile of Africa, Sandton, in a modern office adorned with waterfalls and earthy décor, a tall man dressed in a blue shirt walks in.
When he is not flying over the shimmering turquoise waters of the Maldives, South African pilot Jack Coetzee is the Managing Director at Quintessential Aviation.
With over 1, 500 flying hours to his credit, Coetzee has seen private jet passengers with requirements ranging from Egyptian cotton linen to Kentucky Fried Chicken on the flight.
“It is aircraft-orientated; they like a specific type of aircraft.
“[The customer] knows how the seats work, he knows the pilots invariably that are flying the aircraft are competent,” he says.
As for aspiring owners, Leitch emphasizes they understand the importance of the technicalities of owning an aircraft, to avoid losing money.
The first step is to determine what it will be used for, and then take the size, range and price parameters into consideration.
“New or used [aircraft], it doesn’t matter. Make sure you can crew it, maintain it, afford it and then order it,” he says.
Much like commercial aviation, owners and private charter companies must comply with air laws and the strict regulations set by the civil aviation authorities.
Odette Basson, Charter Manager Africa, at ExecuJets, says some laws are airfield dependent.
This is based on where you are traveling in and out of, so compliance is critical.
“Yes, you can be an owner of a private aircraft but it doesn’t mean you can just do what you want. There are laws that govern the flying,” she says.
In addition to overseeing operations above the ground, regulators keep a close watch on the hours the crew fly, which aircraft they are flying and how frequently they go for training.
“Your crew must be trained specifically, the aircraft must be maintained specifically and according to the operator’s specifications. You must have a commercial license to operate and you must have an air service license. It is actually very well-regulated and governed to death,” says Kiggen.
And thus it is that millions of dollars fly over the richest and poorest cities of Africa.
The sky is a commodity. How much are you willing to splash out for a piece of it?

PrivateJets_GL

Champagne And Caviar In Private At 30,000FT

A recent soccer clinic in Soweto had former Liverpool F.C. player John Barnes coaching young girls to become the future stars of Africa.

It’s high noon but the skies are overcast in Soweto on this Wednesday afternoon in October. It is business as usual in this urban Johannesburg township but as we approach Meadowlands, it starts to drizzle.
But rain or shine, at the Fiat Sports Centre here, a group of over 40 girls aged between 12 and 14 are oblivious to everything around them. Their eyes are trained on the ball as they make the most of the day out on the field with visiting retired Jamaican-born professional footballer John Barnes.
It’s a soccer coaching clinic with the star and the girls are wearing big smiles and bright red outfits.
The well-maintained field is separated into rectangles so the groups are smaller and easier to manage. Each section has a coach, balls and marking cones for the different skill-building tasks planned for the day.
Barnes pays close attention to the teams, occasionally offering advice to both the coaches and players.
<blockquote>“It is about empowering young girls and making them feel confident about expressing themselves. It is about making them feel confident that there are no barriers that stop them from achieving their goals,” he says.</blockquote>
The former Liverpool Football Club player and English Football Hall of Fame inductee has been playing football for as long as he can remember., so he only knows too well the preoccupations of these young minds.
He moved to England at the age of 12, and joined the professional ranks at 17 when he signed for Watford in 1981. Barnes later moved to Liverpool F.C. in his early 20s where he played for a decade.
Today, in Soweto, he motivates the girls on the field, goading them on to perform better than boys.
“You have to separate football when you talk about it in South Africa, into men’s football and women’s football. Men’s football is really well-advanced, they have huge support, lots of money, great players, but women’s football is just starting out. It is pleasing to see that young girls are now given an opportunity because young girls in Africa are told that they do not play football but they actually do,” says Barnes.
<div id="attachment_37650" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37650" class="wp-image-37650 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="494" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JohnBarnes_GL.jpg 1654w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />John Barnes. Photo By Gypseenia Lion</div>
The girls receive coaching as part of the Goal global community initiative by Standard Chartered Bank. In South Africa, the program was launched in Tshwane in April 2015 and has since reached over 6,000 girls. The target for 2018 is just over 3,000 girls between Tshwane and Soweto.
In partnership with Altus Sport, an NGO developing youth and sport, the 2018 Soweto program includes this special interaction with Barnes.
Former Banyana Banyana player, Thando Dlamini, started coaching at the clinic this year. She says some of the girls lack discipline, and stresses how support from family members and the community can go a long way to help.
“You hardly see any of the parents coming to support the girls. I think if they came to the games and watch the girls, they will realize it is not about the misconceptions. The behavior has changed in some of the girls I worked with. Soccer teaches you discipline,” says Dlamini.
The star of the day at the soccer clinic, Mosima Magome, a Grade 8 student, agrees. She says she has been feeling more confident since starting soccer.
“People would always tease me because I am the shortest in class,” she says. The teenager looks up to global icon, Lionel Messi, because “he never quits, even when he misses a goal”.
Commenting on the general lack of interest in skills-building programs, Altus Sport’s Operations Manager Samantha Pennells says local professional sportsmen should give back to the community as well.
“You got a guy from Liverpool, like John Barnes. He is here in the community; it is not his community but he is here giving advice, giving tips. It was not just about sport, it was about life,” she says.
South African football veteran Steve Sekano, a guest at the soccer clinic, and Barnes share jokes on the sidelines.
The former Moroka Swallows Football Club midfielder runs a foundation within the community that aims to get the youth involved in sport. With hopes that sport will keep them out of trouble, Sekano advocates the need for more facilities in the area. He says that as a former professional, it is his duty to give back.
“People ask me why soccer is not the same as when you guys played. I say it is the same. But when you talk about soccer today, you talk about money. Because our players are earning a lot of money today. Those days, we were not earning a lot of money, we were committed. But our players need to up their game; our game must grow,” says Sekano.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-37649 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="494" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/JBGirls_GL.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />
For Geraldine Matchaba, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand &amp; Marketing, South Africa and Southern Africa, at Standard Chartered Bank, the corporate world too has a responsibility to prioritize community-based issues. “Those are people who are your future employees, they are your clients and they are future leaders. You have to play a role. It is what we are doing with the Goal program,” she says.
Thoko Phakati, Sports Field Manager, is in charge of operations at the Fiat Sports Centre. The space that used to be a dumping site is now accessible to the community free of charge.
“We believe they also deserve a chance, why is it that only places like the Wanderers Stadium are supposed to look beautiful? So we are doing as much as we can here to give kids a chance. We have people like Steve Sekano who grew up here and became successful but if he were to tell you his story, you will find that he also had challenges growing up,” she says.
Soweto truly is the home of South African football, and the young girls here prove they too can chase a ball for 90 minutes. There is a long conversation to be had about policies that prioritize men over women in sport, but in the meantime, programs such as Goal and footballers like Barnes continue to make sure that new stars are born on the muddy fields of Soweto.
&nbsp;

SoccerClinicGirls_GL

Giving Girls Goals; Soweto’s Soccer Coaching Clinic

From rock ‘n’ roll roadie to corporate speaker and entrepreneur, Richard Mulholland has run Missing Link, a presentation firm in South Africa, for 21 years. The self-described hobbyist talks finance, investments and expensive tattoos.

How does your company generate profit?
Different entities do it in different ways; Missing Link is a service organization where we basically sell our brain for the pound, whereas TalkDrawer and The Sales Department have a subscription and retainer model respectively. Exploring different business models intrigues me; it’s something I believe all entrepreneurs should embark on. You won’t be killed off by a better business; you’ll be killed off by a better business model.
&nbsp;
What is your investment philosophy? 
I know my weaknesses and this is one. As such I have a set-it-and-forget-it mentality. I find smart people that I like with diversified philosophies and leave them to it. The obvious exception to that is when we invest in starting new businesses.
&nbsp;
What is your most prized investment? 
I hate to be a cliché, but I timed crypto pretty well and have been pretty lucky there. My most prized investment would have to be starting a business though, that has certainly reaped the biggest dividend.
&nbsp;
What advice would you give someone interested in investing? 
In spite of what you’re told, unless you are super rich and have money to blow, investing isn’t a hobby. Find someone smarter than you to do it. Or, if you’re like me, find diverse, smart people and share the investment love.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/investment/2018/10/02/investing-in-memories-not-material/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Investing In Memories, Not Material</a>
Legacy or innovation? Which would you invest in and why? 
Again, diversity is key. All that is old is not bad, and all that is new isn’t great.
&nbsp;
Your biggest investment blunder? 
I’ve invested in businesses as a complete outsider, and not given the love and support that they needed at the beginning to get traction. That has never worked… and I never seem to learn.
&nbsp;
What do you spend most of your money on? 
Of late, board games and electric skateboards.
&nbsp;
What is the most expensive item in your wardrobe? 
A motorcycle riding jacket.
&nbsp;
How much were you earning as a rock n’ roll roadie? 
R400 ($27) per week, or R600 ($40) per week while on tour.
&nbsp;
What is the most you spent on a tattoo? 
About R15,000 ($1,000) for a tattoo on my back.
&nbsp;
Would you invest in longevity (prolonging your life) and why/not? 
Only in so far as staying healthy.
 
What is the most interesting thing you have invested in? 
Other people’s businesses. Troop Travel is one I’m quite enamoured with at the moment.

Meandmymoney2

From Rock ‘n’ Roll To Corporate Speaker and Entrepreneur

Mexican tequila mogul Guillermo Sauza’s recent visit to South Africa was to explore the premium spirits market and also hark back to tastes from 150 years ago.

There is a sizeable community of tequila-drinkers in Africa. And so it was that Guillermo Sauza, the CEO of Tequila Fortaleza, visited South Africa recently to explore the connoisseur market.
Fortaleza, a small-batch, hand-crafted, 100% agave tequila from the town of Tequila in Jalisco in Mexico, was launched in South Africa over a year ago.
“It is such a beautiful country with so many resources and just great people. Everywhere I’ve gone so far, I’ve been very impressed with the markets here,” said Sauza during his visit.
The fifth generation tequila mogul and founder of Tequila Los Abuelos was here to observe and understand how the tequila market continues to expand, saying people still need to be educated about the different blends.
“There is a big community that likes tequila in Africa. We saw people enjoying it in the bars we went to. There is a bartender community that likes it… [But] I think that there is much education that needs to be done.”
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2018/10/24/the-comedian-with-spirit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: The Comedian With Spirit</a>
Sauza, who has been working at the distillery in Mexico since his early teens, has mastered the art of traditional methods used by the Sauza patriarchs. The small, family-owned distillery, located on the slopes of an extinct volcano amongst maturing blue agave plants, is where Sauza makes tequila using the same production methods employed by his forefathers.
“We make it like it was made by my great-great-grandfather 150 years ago. This is how all tequila was made 150 years ago but as the market demand increased, people changed to automated machinery which of course changes the tastes that are there. Making it the old way is a taste from a period of time that has been long gone,” said Sauza.
“A baked potato in the microwave is a lot faster but it doesn’t taste the same as the baked potato in the oven. The baked potato in the oven takes longer and that is just one piece of the component that you would say changes. Are we the tequila for the mass market? No we are not. We are the tequila when you have been drinking tequila for a while or a fine spirit and you want to try it. We are the tequila for the 5% -10% of the market; the connoisseur market that understands what they are drinking. Otherwise you don’t see the value proposition, you could go into a bar and you can buy a four-dollar shot or you can buy an eight-dollar shot. At some point in your life, you’ll say I am worth that eight-dollar shot, I am going to drink better and not rasp up my throat.”

LION5880

From Mexico To Africa

Interest in eSports is rapidly picking up in South Africa, and Springbok player Ryan Kankowski is now fully into it, training and mentoring youngsters.

Former South African Springbok player Ryan Kankowski has displayed his prowess in the open on rugby fields around the world.
Now, inside a closed room, the October-born 32-year-old is playing a different game – and winning.
Kankowski welcomes FORBES AFRICA to the digital world of gaming at Nexus, a gaming hub situated in Randburg, northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s the rugby union player’s home from home surrounded by posters and the latest gaming memorabilia. This is where he really lets loose.
The square-shaped building we are in resembles a Tetris block, and in the center is the Nexus café.
Enthusiastic gamers rush in and out of the retail store to either purchase the latest games or just catch up on the latest gaming trends.
Kankowski, dressed comfortably in a red sweater and grey pants, orders coffee.
“Getting on the field, you feel the atmosphere. But once you are there, you don’t see what is around you. You focus on what is happening in front of you. It’s the same with eSports. You are watching on a big screen, when you do something right, the people cheer for you. You can see and feel the excitement. It makes you want to get bigger and better every year,” he says, as he sips the hot beverage.
<blockquote>“I once played for 20 hours non-stop. You don’t do anything in between. Once you start playing, you just don’t stop.”</blockquote>
Coming from a competitive contact sport such as rugby, Kankowski uses the skills he learned on the field when he is in front of a computer screen. Balance and discipline is what he takes pride in.
Kankowski, who says he is currently on a break from professional rugby, now spends his time offering mentorship to school children interested in eSports. He also trains with the Energy gaming team.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2018/09/03/building-blockchain-tech-with-the-world-as-their-official-address/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Building Blockchain Tech With The World As Their Official Address</a>
Aware of the importance of maintaining a professional attitude, both on and off the field, Kankowski advises professional eSport players on representing their respective brands at gaming events.
eSports is a competitive online, electronic or video game played against teams or individual players. These competitions commonly take the form of organized, multi-player video games.
“Rugby had been my entire life. I played professionally for 15 years, I always loved gaming. If I wasn’t on the field, I’d probably be at home playing games. It seemed like a logical choice for me; it is a part of my life so why not go into something that is growing rapidly in South Africa,” says Kankowski.
Kankowski started his rugby career at the age of 17. He played for major teams like the Golden Lions, Cell C Sharks, and the South African national team. He traveled the world for rugby tournaments but always made time for e-gaming with teammates whenever they needed a break from the adrenaline rush on the field.
“Sports guys do play. A lot of them travel with Xboxes, PlayStations and laptops. It is a nice thing to switch off to forget about life. I have traveled for many years with my laptop. In my first year, I ended up traveling to Japan with my entire desktop. I carried it overseas with me.”
“The atmosphere is really different. In rugby, you have like over 60,000 people watching you. In South Africa, the eSports meets are not as big as it is in the rest of the world. There are close to a 1,000 people. Most of the guys you meet there are guys you’ve played against or even played with them at some stage,” he says.
He recognizes the importance of management and professionalism in all aspects of life. eSports and rugby, the two are worlds apart, but are heavily dependent on the character of the individual players.
Kankowski uses his experience as a benchmark when coaching youngsters.
<div id="attachment_37569" style="width: 750px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-37569" class="wp-image-37569 size-large" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3-1024x851.jpg" alt="" width="740" height="615" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3-1024x851.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3-300x249.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3-600x499.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3-768x638.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Ryan3.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px" />Ryan Kankowski at his first virtual reality gaming experience at the Nexus gaming hub in Johannesburg. Photo by Gypseenia Lion.</div>
“You have kids who are brilliant in sport but do not understand life. You can’t get on the stage and swear at somebody. You are representing a company. We get taught that in sports – how to handle the media, how to speak and how to navigate different spaces. There are a lot of them stuck in a room playing games, they don’t get the interaction between people. But that is changing now. The more professional the teams get, the more professional the players become. If I can bring a little bit of the rugby professionalism into eSports by showing them how the professional set up actually runs…If you are part of a team you represent something. There is a bit of professional etiquette that comes with it,” he says.
Reflecting on how much he misses his former rugby teammates, he adds: “If you don’t respect your team, they will not work with you. It doesn’t matter how good you are.
You may be the best scorer, but you will lose. You will eventually get kicked out of the team because you are just not a good player. It is about the team. They are like a family; they know everything about each other.”
Kankowski, who like his father spends most of his time gaming, enjoys playing mystery and adventure games. Amongst his favorites are PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, an online multi-player battle game and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, an action-adventure stealth video game.
So whether you are spending endless hours in front of the computer or sweating it off in the sun, the principles of sportsmanship remains the same.
Take this from a national rugby player who keeps it professional on and off the field.

Author: Gypseenia Lion

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA