Significant losses of funding have limited the ability of African civil society organizations (CSOs) to meet the needs of their communities at a time when COVID-19 has pushed demand for their services to unprecedented levels, according to a report released today by EPIC-Africa and @AfricanNGOs. The report, “The Impact of COVID-19 on African Civil Society Organizations: Ongoing Uncertainty and a Glimmer of Optimism”, is based on a survey of 1,039 CSOs in 46 African countries in June and July of 2021. It follows the groups’ 2020 report, which surveyed African CSOs in the early days of the pandemic.

Despite these challenges, African CSOs have taken on expanded roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, with over 80% of the organizations surveyed introducing new program activities to respond to the social and economic needs of the most vulnerable populations. Yet, CSOs themselves have been hard hit by the pandemic and face considerable uncertainty as the global crisis deepens. Of the organizations surveyed, 68.1% experienced a loss of funding since the start of the pandemic (up from 55% in 2020) and only 8.4% received any funding support from a government emergency relief fund in their country.

This lack of funding, according to the report, has resulted in citizens being denied vital services such as educational programs for children and adolescents, life-saving medication for HIV+ people, shelter for victims of domestic violence, rape and other atrocities, and the muting of citizens’ voices in matters of social and economic justice.

“The findings of this report make it crystal clear that governments and funders must recognize, partner with and support African CSOs, whose actions are critical to driving a comprehensive response to COVID-19,” said EPIC-Africa Co-founder, Rose Maruru. “Since the onset of the pandemic, African CSOs have demonstrated great adaptive ability and creativity in meeting the needs of their communities, and this makes us optimistic that the sector can recover and build a better future.”

Too important to fail

The report notes a marked increase in demand for the services that African CSOs provide: from 31.5% in 2020 to 40.7% 2021. In response to the pandemic, 83.4% introduced new program activities, 27.6% increased their programming to deal with the impact of COVID-19, and 34.3% changed the focus of their programs to COVID-19 from other areas. As the report shows, CSOs are providing these services under strain, with 87.1% reporting increased anxiety and stress levels among staff. The situation is made worse by long-term under-resourcing and restricted civic space in many countries that pre-date the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has laid bare some of the major challenges facing African CSOs,” said David Barnard of @AfricanNGOs, and co-author of the report. “This report is an opportunity to think through the solutions that will ensure a post-pandemic future with resilient and sustainable CSOs. With millions of people depending on the vital advocacy and daily services provided by African CSOs, the sector is simply too important to fail.”

The role of funders

This new report also includes the findings of a complementary survey of funders of African CSOs, which sought to understand how the pandemic impacted their organizations and the implications for their future engagement with African CSOs. The findings show that many funders have demonstrated unprecedented flexibility, provided additional resources, and in some cases, ceded more decision-making power to their grantees. When asked to describe the lessons of COVID-19 and what funders can do to enable CSOs to recover and emerge stronger from the crisis, one funder stressed the importance of general support: “Multi-year flexible grants gave many of our partners the space to react to changing situations. This past year has highlighted the importance of investing in infrastructure; partners benefit from having additional funds to build out their infrastructure so they can remain resilient in changing environments.”

A way forward

According to the report, African CSOs acknowledged that the sector needs to be better organized, collaborate more, and build more robust networks and platforms. The report notes that COVID-19 has ignited an inflection point, and recommends that funders, governments and CSOs carry out initiatives to revitalize the sector, with support for institution-building, including strengthening infrastructure for local philanthropy. It recommends that governments include CSOs in national emergency responses and long-term development efforts, and that CSOs strive to diversify funding and explore new organizational and funding models.

Dr Bheki Moyo, Director for the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at the University of the Witwatersrand said: “This report gives us important data and knowledge on the impact of COVID-19 on African CSOs and on how the crisis has exacerbated some of the structural issues that existed pre-pandemic. We have a unique opportunity to think together about how to translate the recommendations from this report into action that benefits the millions of people who depend on African CSOs to weather this and future crises.”
About the report

EPIC-Africa and @AfricanNGOs conducted the survey that informed this report from 1 June to 5 July 2021, with responses from CSOs from all regions of the continent. It is one of the most comprehensive analyses of the impact of COVID-19 on CSOs anywhere in the world. Given the historical challenges facing African CSOs, and the severity of the impact of COVID-19 on the sector, the survey aimed to:

• Capture the ongoing impact of the pandemic on African CSOs, how CSOs are responding, and emerging trends and lessons that may help to predict and prepare for the future.
• Acquire information at the sectoral and regional levels to conduct pertinent cross-sector analyses and present a more granular picture of how African CSOs are coping.
• Compare the findings from the 2020 survey with the current situation, and generate data and knowledge to inform and widen the discussion on building resilience in the African CSO sector.

Building on the survey responses and feedback received from various local and international stakeholders in response to the first report, this report includes two new components:

• Cross-country and cross-sectoral comparisons to surface critical gaps and priorities among CSOs in different parts of the continent.
• Insights from a complementary "mini-survey" of funders of African CSOs on how COVID-19 has impacted them, and how that impact will affect their future engagement with African CSOs.

About EPIC-Africa
EPIC-Africa is a Senegal-based non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen philanthropic impact by filling critical data and capacity gaps in the African civil society sector. It envisages a vibrant civil society ecosystem with diverse, influential, sustainable African civil society groups at the centre. EPIC-Africa contributes to this transformative vision by gathering, analyzing and sharing sector data, as well as providing services and tools that aim to set standards and ensure continuous improvement in performance and impact, champion new approaches, and advocate for better policies to support the sector. Founded in 2017, EPIC-Africa is led by Rose Maruru, with the support of a small in-house team and consultants based in Dakar, Dar-es-Salaam, Johannesburg, Nairobi and New York. EPIC-Africa also works through a vast network of CSOs and peer organizations in Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. For more information, please visit https://epic-africa.org.

About @AfricanNGOs
@AfricanNGOs is a Twitter account that covers news and information for and about NGOs in Africa. It is moderated by David Barnard, a development consultant with more than 25 years’ executive and senior management experience in leading and supporting development organizations and programs across Africa. His expertise covers fundraising, strategic communication, stakeholder management, advocacy, governance, ICT4D and philanthropy. David currently acts as a consultant to various NGOs and foundations in Africa, and serves on the Africa Policy Advisory Board of the ONE Campaign. For more information, please visit https://twitter.com/africanngos.

For media requests, interviews with the authors or further questions please contact:

Chakera McIntosh
Communications Lead, EPIC-Africa
+221 77 157 1168 (WhatsApp)
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David Barnard
+27 82 870 8968
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Johannesburg, February 6, 2019 – Team Southern Africa Startup Awards today announced the formation of Setup A Startup (Pty) Ltd, a groundbreaking approach to catalyze entrepreneurship and innovation  in Africa. The Southern Africa Startup Awards which is a circuit of the Global Startup Awards will from now on be managed by Setup A Startup (Pty) Ltd.  Mckevin Ayaba, an experienced Startup Ecosystem builder, tech and innovation enthusiast who founded Southern Africa Startup Awards in 2017 and is the CEO, will lead the new organization as its CEO. Mckevin who was recently named Global Goodwill Ambassador for his humanitarian services to the community will take on his new position on Monday February 11, 2019.

BACKGROUND

The world-renowned Global Startup Awards, the largest independent startup ecosystem competition covering 57 countries in 7 regions of Europe and Asia, arrived in Africa in 2017. It launched the first regional startup awards, the Southern Africa Startup Awards in 2018 which saw over 3000 startups and ecosystem players nominated from the 15 SADC countries. It consisted of 15 categories with 14 countries taking home regional Grand Finale prizes. Three of the regional winners got investment deals to scale. The mission is to find, connect, support and celebrate key players in the national and regional startup ecosystems worldwide and to fuse them together in a global entrepreneurial network, creating a matrix of opportunities for international partnerships, investment opportunities and commercial exchange.“While the Awards were a great success, and there’s no denying that Africa has an abundance of innovative tech talent, it is apparent that the continent’s entrepreneurs lag far behind their global peers when it comes to being investment-ready,” says one of the judges and multiple award winning Female tech Entrepreneur and Founder of Obami, Barbara Mallinson.This is one of the outcomes of panel discussion on innovative platforms to fund start-ups in Africa which took place during the Awards, hosted in November 2018 in Johannesburg.Based on the feedback of the Investors who were on the panel, Leron Varsha from Kalon Venture Partners  representing Section 12J Venture Capital, Shakes Motsilili from The AZIZA Project , Marlon Green representing CABAN Investments and the startup founders themselves,  we have taken upon ourselves  ,through a new parent body, SETUP A STARTUP (SAS) in partnership with CABAN INVESTMENT LTD, to develop a whole range of services for entrepreneurs that include:  Services taking startups through to fully operational capitalised businesses; Raising capital for approved startups through our partners Seedslife Caban Impact Fund, a listed African Impact Fund; An Entrepreneurship Education Programme (EEP) that addresses a clear need amongst African founders: “How to start and grow their businesses” and be ready for investment.

SETUP A STARTUP

Setup A Startup (SAS) is a startup organization that aims to Develop, Connect, and promote startups in Africa. They facilitate entrepreneurship education, scout startups for corporates,  startup competitions, and innovation-centric media to accomplish these goals. In partnership with Caban Investment Ltd, SAS helps strengthen startups' competitiveness, grow global champions, scale, and raising capital and create opportunities for startups globally. SAS plays a key role in building a dynamic and sustainable startup ecosystem in Africa.

CABAN Investments

Caban, headed by Dave Romero, is a company born from authentic passion to enable entrepreneurs to succeed in business. A core focus is to invest in high-growth opportunities to maximise returns for shareholders, at the same time also providing a comprehensive service offering to cover all business development and professional business needs. From small start-ups to larger companies, CABAN offers the entire spectrum of business services. The CABAN team have over 100 years of combined entrepreneurship experience, have scaled 100s of companies over a 32 year period.  With offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London, they are able to scale startups to the European markets.

PROBLEM

Africa is increasingly taking its place on the global stage as a continent of growth and opportunity. Yet critical challenges remain, particularly the need to create a significant number of jobs for the continent’s booming population. Africa must build a cadre of home-grown business leaders able to access global markets and drive growth in a sustainable, inclusive manner. Unfortunately, the following barriers impede Africa’s entrepreneurs:

• Insufficient support services and skill-building resources;
• Lack of access to key resources, such as funding;
• Poor infrastructure and weak innovation ecosystems; 

This shared belief, our common view that each of us has a role to play in turning Africa’s challenges into opportunities, have led to Setup A Startup (SAS) and CABAN Investments undertaking to partner for startup ecosystem development across the continent with a focus on the following;

• Celebrate and connect Startups through an  Awards programme and the Entrepreneur Expo founded by CABAN;
• Helping startups to scale and internationalise through CABAN Investments and Seedlife Caban Impact Investment Fund listed on the Gilbratar Stock Exchange;
• Enable startups through our Entrepreneurship Education programme;
• Driving co-innovation between startups and enterprises;
• Building an access hub of connected ecosystems across African countries. 

“Entrepreneurs are most successful when they have access to the human, financial, and professional resources they need, and operate in an institutional environment in which norms and policies encourage and safeguard entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship flourishes in ecosystems in which multiple stakeholders play key synergistic roles, which often requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships” Says Mckevin Ayaba. With that being said, we will be announcing more partnerships in the subsequent days ahead that will helps achieve these goals. 

SETUP A STARTUP Pty Ltd, THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ENTREPRENEURS! 

Eleven startups from across the African continent, identified as “entrepreneurs for humanity”, were awarded the opportunity to partner with the AfricArena challenge corporate sponsors at the end of the second AfricArena technology conference in Cape Town today.

Saturday 17 November, Cape Town – Amongst others, Air France KLM selected DiscoverIkasi and Sea Monster, both from South Africa, to assist with improving the travel experience and sustainability of its subsidiary Joon. Vinci Energie, will work with Senegal’s Oniriq and South Africa’s DataProphet on innovative energy solutions in Africa.

See the full list of winners, sponsors and challenges below.

During 2018, in the run up to AfricArena2018, 60 startups pitched their businesses in regional events in eight cities across Africa. Many of which were invited to take part in a series of challenges set by the AfricArena sponsors, all looking to solve uniquely African business problems.  

SOLUTIONS FOR THE AFRICAN MARKET

The AfricArena 2018 conference was anchored and endorsed by major international sponsors La French Tech, Silicon Cape, Vinci Energies, AirFrance KLM, Engie, Saint-Gobain, Methys, Rogerwilco, City of Cape Town, Proparco, RCS, and Leroy Merlin.

The following sponsors specifically came to South Africa and AfricArena to explore innovation opportunities within Africa and abroad: RCS, Saint-Gobain, AirFrance KLM, Vinci Energies, VivaTech, Leroy Merlin, Engie, Sanofi and FSAT Labs.

“We expect to have a different approach from these startups, a bright idea that could be easily implemented, and also to benefit from what is very high potential in terms of innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives. And to find solutions that are very well adapted to the African market,” said Jean-Michel Mathieu, CEO of Joon, a subsidiary of Air France.

“African entrepreneurs are very willing to find solutions, to take risks, they address vital expectations and needs, and they are looking at the challenges with a very frugal mindset. I think this is a lesson for us as well, we learn a lot working with them and collaborating with them to find the right solutions and we take this inspiration back to Europe with us,” said Lydia Babaci-Victor, Chief Innovation and Development Officer at Vinci Energies.

Vincent Viollain, co-Founder and Head of Partnerships and Startups at VivaTech, the biggest tech conference in Europe said: “The leapfrog ability of African technology has become a bit of a cliché. But when you get a chance to see it, you’ll see that it’s actually true. African technology is frugal, its smart and it can have an impact locally as well as globally. In our winner, Aerobotics’ case we believe the solution can move beyond physical borders, and also have application in different industry sectors.” 

AFRICARENA WINNERS:

The startups who won the challenges, were grateful of the experience and excited to be moving forward with some of the largest corporations across the globe.

“Oniriq provides access to African rural populations through energy and the internet. It’s great to be here at AfricArena, it has been a journey. For two months we’ve been participating in this challenge since the selection two months ago in Dakar with Vinci Energies team and we’ve been in discussions since. For us the win is a great achievement and we’re looking forward to starting our collaboration in Senegal,” said Rodolphe Rosier, Founder of Oniriq. 

“We’d like to thank AfricArena and VivaTech for the opportunity to present and we’re really happy to have won and we cannot wait to be in Paris in May. We’re already expanding around the world and this presence at VivaTech 2019 will give us a great opportunity to meet the European market,” said Nasreen Patel, Head of Product at Aerobotics. 

“This is not just a win for DiscoverIkasi, it’s a win for the communities we work with across South Africa. It’s going to give them a lot more exposure. This is what we’ve been working towards since starting the business, to get to a platform where I can market DiscoverIkasi, our market, our experiences and the townships on an international stage. Now we need to go back home and form a strategy to scale the business across South Africa,” said Ntsebenziswano (Benzi) November, Founder of DiscoverIkasi.

The startups attending the conference will also each be receiving credit from AWS as part of their prizes. Each startup in attendance, winner or not, will receive $2000 in AWS credit.  

A WORD FROM THE ECO-SYSTEM

Kerry Petrie, General Manager of Silicon Cape, host ecosystem of AfricArena, states: “It’s such an amazing opportunity for entrepreneurs from all across the continent to connect and share, building bridges that may hold future partnership, export and market opportunities. It builds the visibility of the pan-African community for a local, regional and global stakeholder audience. We have to work together to increase investment in African ventures from 1%. And AfricArena is playing a pivotal role in making that a reality.”

Reflecting on the event, Christophe Viarnaud, CEO of AfricArena, expanded on the philosophy behind the conference. “AfricArena’s open collaborative Pan-African model, highly inclusive and embarking all categories of investors, ecosystem contributors, and corporates focused on innovation in Africa, has demonstrated very high impact throughout 2018 with 16 events on 3 continents. The grand finale at AfricArena2018 has shown the energy and excitement from 15 corporates, over 150 investors and 70 startups, with over $2m deals being done, startup-corporate partnerships being struck and a wave of energy and innovation from African entrepreneurs. We could not be more excited about the future, comments Viarnaud.  

THE WINNERS:

Air France KLM Challenge 1                     DiscoverIkasi

Air France KLM Challenge 2                    Sea Monster

Engie Challenge                                           Arnegy

Leroy Merlin Challenge                             BizAR Reality

Saint-Gobain Challenge 1                         Swift GeoSpatial

Saint-Gobain Challenge 2                         The Student Hub

Sanofi South Africa Challenge                Iyeza Health

The RCS Group Challenge                        ThisIsMe

Vinci Energies Challenge 1                       Oniriq

Vinci Energies Challenge 2                       DataProphet

Vivatech 2019 Challenge                          Aerobotics 

SPONSORS AND THEIR CHALLENGES:

Air France KLM Challenge 1 – optimising the airline’s travel experience while reducing its environmental footprint

Air France KLM Challenge 2 – using technology to enrich subsidiary Joon’s travel experience for its passengers

Engie Challenge – ensuing a reliable energy supply in urban areas

Leroy Merlin Challenge – immersive showroom experience that shows off a large variety of products

Saint-Gobain Challenge 1 – using satellite trend analysis to predict urban and climate challenges

Saint-Gobain Challenge 2 -- a solution to upgrade professionals’ skills across Africa, especially in remote areas.

Sanofi South Africa Challenge – optimising patient treatment adherence and completion rates

The RCS Group Challenge – storing and securing customer identity and authentication credentials

Vinci Energies Challenge 1 – using digitalisation to optimise industry and energy performance

Vinci Energies Challenge 2 – How to make energy more accessible in Africa using technology such as energy efficiency flow solutions, energy flow optimisation, blockchain and artificial intelligence

Vivatech 2019 Challenge – using artificial intelligence (AI) to generate growth and sustainability in the agriculture sector 

 

-- ENDS --

For more information on AfricArena or this press release, please contact:

Mika Stanvliet | 081 534 6237 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About AfricArena:

AfricArena is a conference that showcases Africa’s best startups and innovators in front of an audience of local and international investors looking for world-class talent.Celebrated as the largest tech ecosystem accelerator on the African continent, last year’s edition of AfricArena saw more than 80 startups presenting to over 100 investors with 25 countries being represented and over $2M worth of deals done. This year's edition saw 70 startups from 32 countries pitching to over 600 attendees. This year they are predicting that funding for African startups will crack US$1 billion. Earlier this year AfricArena launched a global tour to source the world's best tech innovators solving uniquely African problems, and the tour covered 66 000 kilometers in total. AfricArena is the ultimate deal-flow platform, bringing investors and startups together in one central location.

For more information visit: https://africarena2018.com

Southern Africa, May 23, 2017

Leading engineering and construction company SENER, as part of the consortium for the turnkey construction of the 100MW Kathu Solar Park Complex, has been judged as having delivered “The Deal of the Year” at the fourth edition of the African Utility Week Power Awards. The event took place on Wednesday 17 May 2017, in Cape Town, South Africa. SENER was also awarded, ‘’Large Scale Renewable Energy Project,’’ for Bokpoort CSP Power Plant, ACWA Power, South Africa. 

The African Utility Power Industry Awards is the leading platform to recognize, reward and celebrate the success of Africa’s power and water sectors during 2016/17. SENER is part of the consortium that will be providing the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the power plant at Kathu Solar Park. This is a concentrated solar power (CSP) project that includes the second-generation SENERtrough2® parabolic trough technology, specifically designed and patented by SENER.  “We are proud of these awards, which are a testament to the skills that have been brought to the project by the consortiums for both the Kath Solar park and the Bokpoort concentrated solar plant,” says Siyabonga Mbanjwa, Southern Africa Regional MD. “Kathu is equipped with a molten salt heat storage system that allows it to supply thermal power for 4.5 hours, thus extending its operational capacity even after sundown. Kathu will supply enough power to meet the electricity demand of 150,000 homes.’’ 

Construction on the unit began in May 2016, and it is expected to be completed in the second quarter/half of 2018. During this phase, around 1,200 jobs will be created, approximately 36% of which will be held by locals. In addition to this, the Kathu Solar Park is expected to save six million tons of CO2 over 20 years, and it will foster more local economic development through several project. These include a fund for the local community that will benefit the area around the municipality of John Taolo Gaetsewe in Northern Cape, in addition to subcontracting other services to local businesses. The new concentrated solar plant at Bokpoort is already in operation and has a gross capacity of 55 MW. It uses SENERtrough® parabolic trough collector technology with a 1,300 MWht system of two energy storage tanks (TES - Thermal Energy Storage) using molten salts that provide 9.3 hours of operation. 

About SENER is a private engineering and technology group founded in 1956. It seeks to offer its clients the most advanced technological solutions and enjoys international recognition thanks to its independence and its commitment to innovation and quality.SENER has a workforce of near 6,000 professionals distributed across its offices in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, South Korea, Chile, China, Colombia, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the United States, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom. The group’s turnover exceeds 1.305 billion Euros (2014 data).  SENER engages in the specific activities of Engineering and Construction. It also has industrial holdings in companies involved in Aeronautics, as well as in the field of Energy and Environment. In the area of Engineering and Construction, SENER has become a world leader in Aerospace, Infrastructures and Transport, Power, Oil & Gas, and Marine. In 2016, SENER will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with a long track record of projects, international experience and a team comprised of thousands of professionals who are the co-creators of the innovations that have marked its past and will shape its future.     

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Cape Town, South Africa – 6 October 2016  

Carrick Wealth, the leading offshore investment advisory in Africa, is celebrating its second anniversary, and, in the same week, has opened an office in Gaborone that is fully compliant and regulated with the relevant authorities in Botswana.

The new Gaborone office in the Masa Centre is headed by Andrew Mhere, who is both the Managing Director of Carrick Wealth Botswana and Carrick Wealth Zimbabwe. He is supported by a team of diverse, highly qualified advisers.

With its headquarters in Cape Town and fully functioning offices in Johannesburg, Durban, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and now in Gaborone, Carrick Wealth is changing the face of the offshore financial services industry for high-net-worth clients and those starting out on their wealth journey.

[photo] Craig Featherby, Group Chief Executive Officer, says: “We’ve experienced extraordinary growth in such a short period of time and we are geared to extend the Carrick formula further into new markets in Africa.” 

In the 24 months that the Carrick Group of Companies has been in business, its growing team of specialist financial advisers is constantly kept abreast of all the changes regarding regulatory matters in the areas in which the Group operates.

A sophisticated technological platform is in place that keeps live-tracking of all activities connected with the industry, and with the business in particular, giving clients the surety that their investments are completely secure and monitored.  

As Carrick Wealth expands its footprint into Africa, it will be offering clients and advisers in each country the opportunity to experience professional, disciplined, innovative solutions and service. The Carrick team is growing, and now has 152 people working for the company – as against seven when Carrick first opened its doors exactly two years ago.

As the company celebrates its second anniversary, it can report that it has an advisory relationship with 787 clients, has over R2,2 million under management and has assisted in 443 QROPS pension transfers out of the United Kingdom into offshore structures.

Carrick Wealth offers clients in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa various financial and estate planning solutions, including the formation of offshore investment structures, portfolio management, private equity and venture capital asset allocations.        

MEDIA CONTACT:

Lynn Halliday (Group Marketing Manager)

CARRICK WEALTH
T: +27 (0)21 201 1000
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www.carrick-wealth.com

Johannesburg, South Africa ( January 27, 2015) - Women with severely, matted and tangled hair can breathe a sigh of relief, following Hair Detangler School’s revelation of a new product they have been using to effectively treat hairs of this nature.

Hair Detangler School SA offers professional detangling service, unique to Africa, for those who want to get rid of tangles and mats in their hair without cutting their mane. 

The Take Down Remover cream is and American product and the only one that the professional’s at Hair Detangler School SA  use.  They do not use conditioner, glycerin, or water based products-as it makes severely matted/tangled hair worse.

Apart from effectively treating tangled, matted hair, the Take Down Remover Cream can be used in the detangling of dreadlocks, braids, sew-in weaves, twists and extensions.  It is also excellent option for the removal of bonding glue and keratin heat fusion bonds.

Senior Detangle Tech Trainers at Hair Detangler School SA state that "Most hairdressers just want to cut very matted tangled hair. They do not know about the Take Down Remover or the techniques needed to successfully detangle. Furthermore, they just can't be bothered with devoting a day or two days to detangling hair." Also they emphasize that "We do, however, train hairdressers who want to learn." 

To get hair professionally detangled or for expert training in detangling tangled matted hair visit, http://www.hairdetanglerschoolsa.com                                                                                                                       

Contact:

Nomsa Beauty Ltd
Tel: (+27) 0791275325
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Cape Town utility event to gather more than 5000 power professionals

Africa’s leading utility, energy and water professionals and projects are to be honoured again at the annual African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa that is taking place in Cape Town from 12-14 May this year.

Designed to celebrate the African triumphs and successes of the industry throughout 2014, the industry will be able to nominate candidates for ten award categories in the African Utility Week Industry Awards on 13 May, ranging from Utility Executive to Clean Energy Project of the Year and the new category of Outstanding Woman in Power/Water. The esteemed panel of judges that will decide on the winners includes Brian Dames, former Eskom CEO, Musara Beta, Chief Market Analyst, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Zimbabwe and Peter Mtonda, Director of Distribution & Customer Services, ESCOM, Malawi.

Awards create excitement in industry
“It is gratifying to see how much excitement these awards have created in the industry” says African Utility Week event director Evan Schiff. He adds: “last year the sold-out, inaugural African Utility Week Industry Awards were the hot ticket of the event and a huge success. Needless to say, there is a lot of interest again from the utility sector to enter for the awards and to attend.”

Last year’s awards evening was attended by some 500 leading executives from across the power, water, renewable energy, finance and investment spheres, and was declared a long overdue addition to what is the largest utility gathering of its kind on the continent. African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa is attended by more than 5000 power and water professionals from more than 30 African countries and 70 worldwide.

“We remain an event for the industry and by the industry”, says Evan Schiff, “and invite all power professionals on the continent again to send us their nominations and we look forward to sharing their triumphs with their peers. Together we will honour those companies and executives who have been responsible for pioneering new frontiers, pushing boundaries, for inspiring others and for achieving growth for Africa.”  

The African Utility Week Industry Awards categories:
•  Lifetime Achievement Award
•  African Utility Executive of the Year
•  African Power Utility of the Year
•  African Water Utility of the Year
•  Municipality of the Year
•  Energy/Water Efficiency Project of the Year
•  Clean Energy Project of the Year
•  Collaboration of the Year Award
•  Outstanding Woman in Power/Water
•  African Community Project of the Year

Sponsorship opportunities
So far the leading industry technology and services providers Lucy Switchgear and Accenture have confirmed as award category sponsors, while Zest is hosting the champagne reception at the awards.  To enter an individual or company for the awards, please go to http://www.african-utility-week.com/awards To book a seat or table at the awards, click here.

The winners of last year’s African Utility Week Industry Awards were:
- Municipality of the Year: City of Cape Town
- Lifetime achievement: Dr Steve Lennon, Group Executive: Sustainability at Eskom
- Community project: Itron, South Africa African Collaboration: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)
- Energy/Water Efficiency: City Power Solar Water Geyser Project in Johannesburg
- Clean Energy Project: The Makeni Project in Sierra Leone
- African Power Utility: Genesis Electricity Limited, Nigeria
- African Utility Executive: Cyprian Chitundu, Managing Director, ZESCO, Zambia
- African Water Utility: National Water and Sewerage Corporation, Uganda

Gathering thousands of energy professionals
For the past 14 years, the African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa conference and exhibition has helped to reduce the energy consumption of commercial and industrial large power users and has assisted in African utilities providing electricity and water to all of Africa. The event brings together thousands of utility professionals from across the globe to learn, share knowledge and debate the key topics that will secure the future development of Africa’s power industry. These include energy efficiency, improved service delivery, renewable energy and collaboration across the continent and investment in new power projects.

South Africa’s state utility Eskom has been a key partner for many years. DNV-GL has already confirmed its exclusive diamond sponsorship of the event while Accenture, Building Energy, MarelliMotori and Rubbytad are the platinum sponsors.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa are organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK.

African Utility Week and Clean Power Africa dates and location:
Exhibition & Conference: 12-14 May 2015
Industry awards: 13 May 2015
Site Visits: 15 May 2015
Location:  CTICC, Cape Town
Website:  www.african-utility-week.com 

Contact:
Communications manager:  Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone :  +27 21 700 3558
Mobile:  +27 82 562 7844
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Notes for Editor
Spintelligent (Pty) Ltd is an African media business, specialising in Exhibitions, Conferences and Publishing. Head-quartered in Cape Town with a team of 90 experienced professionals, Spintelligent is a dynamic and recognised organiser across multiple industry sectors and geographies. A specialist organiser with the ability to deliver key growth projects in the early emerging markets of the African continent. Spintelligent is the African partner office of Clarion Events Ltd, the UK based organiser operating in 36 countries worldwide with 9 subsidiary offices delivering over 500 exhibitions and conferences annually.

Spintelligent delivers projects in African growth industry sectors; Power & Utilities; Energy; Mining; Education & Careers; Agriculture; Infrastructure; Military & Defence.

Spintelligent delivers projects in the emerging African markets; South Africa; Nigeria; Ghana; Kenya; Tanzania; DRC; Angola; Mozambique; Zambia.

Spintelligent is recognised for its print and electronic publications, with market-leading brands including Metering International, ESI Africa and Mining Review Africa. Its regular global events and exhibitions, as well as its critical business intelligence and integrated marketing services make it a leader in its field. The company’s highly skilled resources in management, marketing, research and production allow for unique products bridging the developed and developing markets.

Website: http://www.african-utility-week.com/pages/detail/16059
Website: www.spintelligent.com

08 September 2014 - Sanbona Wildlife Reserve near Cape Town, part of the multi-award-winning Shamwari Group, has officially re-opened the new look Dwyka Tented Lodge in preparation for the summer season.

Over several months, construction crews have been busy rebuilding and renovating this iconic tented lodge, which now offers a fresh new look and feel, yet retains what guests have come to love. Wherever possible, the original wood and stone have been reused in the renovations and solar assisted geysers reinstalled, in order to make this luxury nine tented lodge as environmentally green as is feasibly possible.

Interior designers have married earth-friendly fabrics and décor elements with fresh, neutral tones from the paint palette that complement the unique setting in which Dwyka is located – surrounded by awe-inspiring rock formations, which was once the home of ancient Khoisan hunters. Situated on a horseshoe bend of a dry Karoo ravine, the lodge has a Relaxation Retreat, communal lounge with fireplace and TV, wine cellar and an open air boma. These beautifully appointed tents exude an atmosphere of pioneering adventure in a vast and hidden landscape.  

The cold water plunge pools have now been replaced by heated spa pools for an extra luxurious touch. A new menu and an enhanced wine cellar have also been given attention and showcase the best wines and culinary favourites from the area.  

Comments Shamwari Group General Manager, Joe Cloete, “Dwyka Tented Lodge is a special place to many and we are excited to reopen it to past and future guests as it really has become an iconic luxury tented offering over the years. With the new décor and design, it truly complements the refurbishments that have taken place at Tilney Manor and Gondwana Family Lodge. Adding to this latest news, the seasonal Sanbona Explorer will open in October for guests wishing to experience a truly exceptional walking safari.”  

Part of Shamwari Group
– Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - Shamwari Game Reserve – Jock Safari Lodge – Nkomazi Game Reserve - Nyungwe Forest Lodge - Gorilla's Nest Lodge

www.shamwarigroup.com

“Conserving a Vanishing Way of Life“  

This press release has been distributed on behalf of our client, Shamwari Group.  

For further information please contact:

The P.R Team
Cape Town,
South Africa
T: + 27 (0) 21 419 2390/1
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Business & Professional Women (BPW SA), and the Department of Trade & Industry (the dti) are hosting a business breakfast on 7th August 2014 to launch a unique 3-day Women’s Empowerment Programme in South Africa to provide registered SME’s with the legislative knowledge required to effectively run their business within the parameters of South African law.  

The breakfast is hosted by DDG Mr Mojalefa Mohoto and DDG Mrs Pumla Ncapayi from the DTI and BPW South Africa as well as senior representatives from the JSE and UN-Women and the Commonwealth Business Council.  Various international Ambassadors and High Commissioners will host tables at the event.  A sponsorship fund will be launched at the breakfast for qualifying enterprises.  

Organisations of all sizes in South Africa need to develop and apply sound governance, risk and compliance principles and institute high ethical values. Failure to do so will have devastating consequences for the organisation, including penalties.   For SMEs, the biggest challenge is a lack of understanding around the difficulties associated with becoming compliant.   Understanding the ever-changing regulations makes the difference between a small business thriving – growing the economy and creating jobs – or closing its doors, and thus closing the door on job creation.  

Simply put, you need to know your laws. Know your rights and obligations. In this way you mitigate risk to yourself, your business, your employees and your customers. If done well, it helps to improve business performance and ensure financial success.   If you would like to be part of this Women’s Empowerment Programme, we invite you to join us at this Business Breakfast – tickets are R500 per person or R5000 per table of 10.   

For more information, or to attend the Business Breakfast,
please visit our website at http://www.bpw-jhbsa.co.za/index.php/events/30-future-events/98-business-training-courses.
Website: www.bpw-jhbsa.co.za

{pp}Sinzinani Day Spa is situated in a true African bush setting. It forms part of the Rietvlei Wellness Centre on Rietvlei Farm, South of Johannesburg. Our beauty therapists dress in African designed uniforms, and the Sinzanani colours of burnt orange, red and yellow, display a warm African feel throughout the day.