The Carbon Smart Skills Development Programme is an innovative project in Cape Town that empowers jobless women through ecoconscious skills training. The curriculum includes green building concepts, small to mediumsized enterprise development, and soft skills for the workplace. A unique aspect of the program is the use of alien invasive species for environmentally friendly building materials. The initiative equips women with skills to succeed in the growing green economy, benefiting the community as a whole.
The Business Retention and Expansion unit in Cape Town is transforming the city’s industrial landscape by placing businesses at the core of its strategy. Through proactive action teams, the unit leverages the power of multiple city departments to enhance economic resilience, promote energy security, alternative energy solutions, and transport infrastructure. The unit’s initiatives have yielded tangible results, such as prospering businesses, dynamic city districts, and a thriving economy. Through partnerships and proactive initiatives, Cape Town continues to attract investment and job creation, ensuring ongoing economic stability for the entire city.
“Lighting the Path Forward: The EPWP’s Significant Role in Job Creation and Essential Service Provision”
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in South Africa creates shortterm job opportunities and delivers essential services, such as sanitation and infrastructure projects. It has positively impacted the lives of those who were previously jobless and provides a consistent income stream to sustain their families. The program also focuses on skill development and transitioning workers into permanent positions within the program. The EPWP has been instrumental in empowering and transforming individuals, demonstrating the city’s dedication towards creating jobs and preserving livelihoods.
Cape Town is leading the pack in South Africa’s urban development scene with an ambitious plan to invest R39.7bn in infrastructure over the next three years, generating 130,000 job opportunities and addressing socioeconomic inequalities by allocating R9bn for the city’s lowerincome households. This investment is 80% larger than the next urban contender and a whopping 98% larger than eThekwini, the third largest. This model of sustainable urban development is setting the standard for other cities to follow.
Taylor Swift’s UK tour has been hit by ticket fraud, with at least 3,000 fans being duped into buying fake tickets, resulting in over £1m being stolen from them, according to Lloyds Bank. The fraudulent schemes have shown a 158% increase from the previous year, with an average victim loss of £332. These scams mostly originate from Facebook, with unofficial groups offering tickets at bargain prices or claiming to sell entry to soldout events at exorbitant rates. Fans are advised to use official ticketing sites and to pay by credit or debit card for added security.
Groundbreaking Research Reports Unveiled by South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training
South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Blade Nzimande, has released groundbreaking research reports as part of the Labour Market Intelligence Programme (LMI). The reports reveal skills necessary for economic growth and highlight high demand occupations, occupational shortages, and skills deficits. The LMI program is inclusive and encourages stakeholder participation, and its extensive scope reaches beyond the Department of Higher Education and Training or the PostSchool Education and Training System. The program’s research initiatives bridge the skills gap and nurture a skilled workforce, contributing to the future growth of South Africa’s economy.
The President Hotel in Cape Town is a hub of inclusivity, catering to guests with diverse needs. The hotel has adopted Deafgard devices in every room to help deaf and hardofhearing guests. It also has accessible parking and wheelchairfriendly access, petfriendly policies, familyfriendly amenities, and halal menus for Muslim guests. The hotel continually improves its services, making it an ideal retreat for everyone.
PepsiCo has launched a bold new marketing campaign in South Africa, including a revamped logo and visual identity. The updated branding features a new colour palette of blue and black, a tailored typeface, and a reimagined Pepsi can silhouette. PepsiCo also introduced a grand procession of events and enlisted the star power of noted rappers to oversee activities in Cape Town and Johannesburg, as well as CGI billboards and drones. The brand makeover heralds a new epoch for Pepsi, embodying the spirit of being unapologetically Pepsi.
Avi Lasarow’s journey to becoming South Africa’s Youngest Honorary Consul in the UK is characterized by unique challenges, profound responsibilities, and a commitment to international diplomacy. His involvement in the Afriqiyah Airways Flight 771 disaster highlighted the fusion of science, diplomacy, and humanitarian aid, emphasizing the impact one can have on the global community. Lasarow’s role symbolizes a deeprooted commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world, honoring the trust and responsibility vested upon him. His story serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating how making a difference in one’s field can result in making a difference in the world.
My Cape Town Market Atlantis is a local gathering of artisans and entrepreneurs showcasing their talents and offering a hub of creativity for visitors. The event is a symbol of Cape Town’s thriving artisanal culture and entrepreneurial spirit, and the market offers an opportunity for vendors to earn and a catalyst for employment, community engagement, and local entrepreneurship. The buzz ahead of the market is filled with a rising wave of excitement and expectancy, with the event promising to deliver a true Cape Town experience for both traders and attendees.
South Africa and China have a thriving partnership that has developed over the past 25 years, resulting in significant economic growth and the creation of over 400,000 jobs in South Africa. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is part of a wider 10year Strategic Programme of Cooperation that emphasizes socioeconomic enhancement and shared growth. These vibrant trade relations address poverty, inequality, and unemployment, promoting engaged citizenship and social contracts aimed at achieving development objectives. South Africa celebrates three decades of democracy and freedom, promoting a shared vision for quality growth.
Cape Town is transforming the 26hectare Strandfontein coastal node into a multipurpose urban precinct with residential, commercial, and leisure facilities. The project aims to promote economic opportunities, job creation, and urban inclusivity while preserving the natural environment. An open house meeting is scheduled for April 17th, 2024, to involve residents in the development process and gather their opinions on the environmental impact assessment. The goal is to establish Strandfontein as a superior coastal urban node, contributing to economic development and promoting roundtheyear usage by locals and tourists.
Cruise tourism has a significant impact on the Western Cape’s economy in South Africa, contributing around R1.2 billion in the last fiscal year and expected to bring more economic benefits with an influx of around 90,000 passengers and 38,000 crew members in the current year. The industry also creates job opportunities, with every 30 cruise passengers creating approximately one fulltime job. The geopolitical climate and return tourism are some of the factors driving traffic towards South African ports, such as Durban’s Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal.
Loowatt, a private toilet service in South Africa, charges R350 per month for its offering that includes maintenance. The service is spearheaded by Loowatt and Khanyisa Projects, and it promotes the production of locallymade toilets that bolster business growth and sustainability. Despite the positive progress, South Africa’s informal settlements still face a need for accessible, secure, and private home sanitation services that reflects an inhabitant’s aspiration for dignity and respect.
Cape Town has launched Jobs Connect, a recruitment platform that aims to connect job seekers with potential employers in the city. The service offers work readiness training and a digital evaluation of numeracy and literacy skills, and has already attracted over 100,000 users. The initiative has been earmarked for a significant R5.5m budget, and is aimed at reducing the financial burden of job hunting and creating new opportunities in sectors such as call centres, hospitality, manufacturing and retail.
In South Africa, Amazon and local ecommerce giant Takealot are engaged in a battle for supremacy in the rapidly growing ecommerce market, which is projected to reach $72bn within two years. Amazon’s business model, which provides a highly personalized shopping experience, has won over many South African consumers, while Takealot’s existing foothold in the local market has made it a formidable competitor. However, with the launch of Amazon’s South African website imminent, industry experts predict a challenging time for Takealot. The competition between these two ecommerce titans signals a new phase in the South African ecommerce sector marked by intense rivalry and innovation.