The Spur Foundation will be carrying forward our vision to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of our communities by visiting House of Grace outside Durbanville on Saturday, 2 August 2014.

House of Grace is a place of safety for abandoned and abused children who have been through tremendous hardship and previous neglect. They work closely with the Department of Welfare, Government, the South African Police Service and hospitals in handling the interests of these children.

Aletta Herbst and her adopted daughter, Michelle, who manage House of Grace, have a special compassion for children in this type of crisis. Aletta herself was abandoned as a child, and lived for two years on the streets of Cape Town, sleeping in the bathrooms at Cape Town Station. She was taken care of by a cleaner who worked at the station, who would bring her food and clothing. This lady was eventually able to get Social Services to send the young girl to school and Aletta was moved to a boarding school in Wolmaransstad.

"When you have endured something like this," Aletta explains, "you can empathise with these children. I know how they feel, and what they are going through," she says.

House of Grace currently houses 18 children who range in age from 13 months to 16 years. They do not receive a government subsidy or grant for the work they do and are struggling to make ends meet. Spur Foundation realised the need to support Aletta, Michelle and the children at House of Grace, and took the initiative to lend a helping hand.  

As part of the ‘Sponsor a Child’ project, the Spur Foundation and Spur employees were requested to sponsor gift boxes for all the children. These gifts, which will be handed to the kids on 2 August, will contain special surprises and useful items, as requested by the children themselves, ranging from soccer balls, shoes, nail polish, hair accessories and clothing, to baby food, as well as little treats to show them that Spur is a company that truly cares for the children of South Africa.    

“We are hoping to bring joy to these children and support, in some small way, the efforts of these strong and amazing servants of society. Aletta’s story truly moved me and I am privileged and proud that the Spur Foundation has taken on House of Grace as a beneficiary,” adds Joe Stead, the Spur employee who initiated the project. The Foundation will in the future contribute on a monthly basis towards the grocery requirements of the children.  

The Spur Foundation was established on Mandela Day, 18 July 2012 with a donation from the Spur Group of R670 000. The value of the donation not only resonates with the ’67 minutes’ theme of Mandela Day, but also recognises the founding of the Spur family in 1967. The Foundation aims to uplift and improve the lives of South African families, with a special emphasis on assisting children. The Foundation supports initiatives that assist children in impoverished communities by administering feeding schemes and providing basic necessities and amenities. Over time the Foundation plans to provide financial assistance for educational bursaries and general community upliftment. For more information on the Foundation and their beneficiaries, go to http://www.spurfoundation.co.za

END

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

NAME: Ronel van Dijk, Chairperson of the Spur Foundation and Chief Financial Officer of Spur Corporation Limited
TEL: 021-555 5100
E-MAIL: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
TWITTER: @SpurRestaurant
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SpurSteakRanches
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/SpurChannel

With war breaking out in the Gaza strip, statistics have come to light revealing that in approximately 8 days, the death toll had risen upto 144 people.

To most people worldwide, this loss of life over such a short timescale is horrific. But lets take a closer look at those stats and compare the conflict in Gaza with the warzone that us as South Africans have come to accept as a everyday occurrance.

Over an 8 day period of conflict, Gaza had lost 144 people, injured people totalled 1300 and untold number of people were traumatized.

In South Africa, over the same time frame, we lost 365 people, injured people totalled 4433, and traumatized totalled 7290.

Jacob Zuma called for a ceasefire on Wednesday in Gaza.

“We call on the Israeli government to stop its air and ground offensive, which continues to cause loss of life and a devastating humanitarian crisis."

As a citizen of a country I love, I can’t understand why our humanitarian crisis is not being addressed.

Leaders in home security, Foscam, have said there is a large increase of people worried about their home security.  

“The public are prepared to spend thousands of rands on IP camera systems, hoping that by being able to login remotely and see for themselves what is going on, they can take matters into their own hands. DIY home security is fast becoming a trend.”

Contact details: Foscam South Africa
Tel: 011 469 5165
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – 21st July, 2014: Prologix Distribution, a leading VAD in the MEA region, is taking into African heartland the breakthrough technologies in the field of Wireless Connectivity, Telecom, Test & Measurement and Video Surveillance solutions through a planned series of roadshows in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The Bootcamp Seminars will be held in Dar-es-Salaam, Kampala and Nairobi on August 18th, 20th and 22nd respectively.   Globally renowned brands like Cambium Networks, Trango Systems, Sangoma Technologies, Peplink, LevelOne and IDEAL Industries will participate in the roadshow. The regional heads will travel to Africa to present to the audience the latest on technological updates and demonstrate how their products and solutions will help overcome connectivity challenges across the continent.   Since the time Prologix LLC began its VAD arm in the year 2006, Africa has been a subject of keen interest to the company. Presently, the distribution firm is working with several large ISPs and Telecom giants in the continent on several projects involving long distance, point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless andRF & Microwave among other things.

Company’slocal offices in Nairobi and Lagos undertake the Africa operations. The company however understands that the opportunities being looked amount tojust a drop in the ocean, and avastmagnitude of prospectsstill remain unexplored.   Mr. Aditya Sahaya, Director – Business Development at Prologix Distribution said, “According to theInternational Telecommunications Union (ITU)research, in the year 2013, the total number of internet users in Africa was 16 for every 100 people; whereas the same statistics across Europe was 75 for every 100 and 61 for every 100 in the US. The internet penetration rate is only 12% of the total population in Tanzaniaand 13% in Uganda.  Kenya scores better at 28% and is characterized by those ISPs which have transformed themselves into second-tier telcos by rolling out national and metropolitan fiber backbones and wireless broadband access networks, offering converged voice, data and video/entertainment services. However, expensive infrastructure and competitive markets are the challenges faced perennially.”   “The need of the hour in African landscape is a converged solution with all components tested and tried for compatibility, and which can provide the ISPs, Mobile Networks Operators (MNOs), Government entities like Law Enforcement and Defence, System Integrators and Value Added Resellers all the mechanisms to setup and operate a successful broadband network or mobile connectivity”,

Mr. Sahaya said.   Prologix Distribution shares a long-standing partnership with its vendors around whom this show will rally:Cambium Networks – the leading provider of ePMP, PTP and PMP links for sub-6 Ghz frequencies, Trango Systems – master provider of long distance microwave backhaul solutions, Sangoma – renowned name for providing VOIP gateway & Session Border Controllers (SBC),Peplink – leading provider of balance routers user for bandwidth fusion by the ISPs, LevelOne – the German manufacturer of POE switches, routers and IP cameras, IDEAL Industries – a world leader in test equipment products and Secura – renowned brand from Poland for IP and Analog cameras.

To attend this event, click this link http://www.prologixdistribution.com/africa/ and register your details.

The Grow Your Business Expo, supported by the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) and MTN Business will take place on 30 July 2014 in Polokwane at the Jack Botes Hall.

The expo brings together small business owners and corporate role players to communicate a process of helping to run and grow successful entities.   Role players that support Limpopo’s Enterprise Development are provided with a platform to connect business owners with resources and tools needed to start, learn, manage and grow their companies.  This will create employment and contribute positively to families and the community, which will ultimately increase the vitality of the local economy.

The Grow Your Business Expo is the ideal opportunity for corporate role players to share their products and services that will match with small businesses that need access to skills, knowledge, finance and markets.  

Funama Productions are hosting the expo; CEO Masetha Serakoana says “the expo is a vital platform for small businesses to link with institutions offering funding, financial assistance and business related products and services. We will also have representatives from the institutions presenting their company offerings. The Business Lounge area will cater for one-on-one meeting sessions offering free advice and consultations with specialists during the expo. My Success Story corner will share achievement stories; this area will also serve as an opportunity for corporate companies to showcase thriving SMEs that they have empowered.  SARS will also be there offering free tax workshops.”

Entrance to the Grow Your Business Expo is R25.00 per person, doors open at 08h00.

Ends

For further information, please contact: Masetha Serakoana E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Telephone 086 111 1471 - www.funama.co.za

Trustwave today announced a bold approach to malware protection with a zero malware guarantee for the company’s recently introduced managed anti-malware service that protects businesses from web-based malware and zero-day threats. Trustwave also announced new features to the anti-malware service including big data-enabled threat intelligence that enables Trustwave experts to promptly flag risky behavior and gives businesses visibility into their own web browsing activities.

Through the new “Zero Malware Guarantee” program, Trustwave guarantees to detect and stop 100 percent of malware propagated over the web for businesses that use the Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service, powered by the award-winning Trustwave Secure Web Gateway.

If malware gets through and infects a business’s system in any calendar quarter, the business will receive a one month extension of the service at no cost.   “This is a very good move by Trustwave; they are demonstrating their confidence in their managed anti-malware service, and they are putting some financial teeth behind it,” said Michael Osterman, web security expert and industry analyst, at Osterman Research. “There are some guarantees in the email security space, but this is the first guarantee we’ve seen related to web-based malware. This is a smart move.”  

As a managed service, the recently introduced and enhanced Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service affords organizations advanced malware and zero-day threat protection without their having to worry about configuration, policy adjustments, fine-tuning and device management. Oftentimes businesses purchase security technologies without having enough manpower or skillsets in-house to make sure the technologies are updated, monitored and working properly – rendering them ineffective. The Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service helps businesses fill the gap by partnering with Trustwave security experts whose sole responsibility is to manage their security.  

“In today’s environment, where threats are escalating and security-specific skillsets are hard to find, businesses are finding it harder than ever to prevent web-based malware from infecting their infrastructure and stealing their sensitive data,” said Leo Cole, general manager of security solutions at Trustwave. “So we do it for them. Our new Zero Malware Guarantee gives our customers a high level of assurance that our managed security services will protect them from malware—a promise that’s unique in the security industry.” According to Trustwave’s 2014 Security Pressures Report, targeted malware topped the list of security threats exerting pressures on businesses in 2013. A recent Osterman Research survey showed that malware had infiltrated 74% of organizations through the Web during the past year.

Through its patented, behavior-based malware blocking technologies, the Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service offers real-time protection from malware, zero-day vulnerabilities and data loss, and can help organizations embrace social media and evolving Web applications safely. For example, if an employee visits a web page that’s infected with malware, the service can detect it, strip out the malware and send the employee a clean page – all in real-time so that she doesn’t experience delay. The service also provides virtual patching of vulnerabilities and helps prevent existing malware from sending sensitive data outside a network. Trustwave recently enhanced the service so that it enables storage of users’ web browsing activities on the company’s cloud-based TrustKeeper® platform. Trustwave’s security experts can then use that data to flag behavior that may indicate a compromise as well as to assist in investigations. Businesses can also view their own activities through the TrustKeeper platform to help identify malicious behavior and conduct their own internal investigations.

The Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service also offers 24-7 support through its worldwide Follow the Threat™ Security Operations Centers in addition to information about the latest threats inside businesses’ infrastructures and within the overall information security landscape.

The company gathers this information from its advanced research and ethical hacking threat intelligence team, its own security technologies, threat database feeds and other big data analytics.  

For more information about the Trustwave Managed Anti-Malware Service visit: https://www.trustwave.com/Services/Managed-Security/Managed-Anti-Malware/ 

For more information about the Zero Malware Guarantee program visit: https://www.trustwave.com/Services/Managed-Security/Zero-Malware-Guarantee/ 

About Trustwave Trustwave helps businesses fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risks. With cloud and managed security services, integrated technologies and a team of security experts, ethical hackers and researchers, Trustwave enables businesses to transform the way they manage their information security and compliance programs while safely embracing business imperatives including big data, BYOD and social media. More than 2.5 million businesses are enrolled in the Trustwave TrustKeeper® cloud platform, through which Trustwave delivers automated, efficient and cost-effective data protection, risk management and threat intelligence. Trustwave is a privately held company, headquartered in Chicago, with customers in 96 countries. For more information about Trustwave, visit www.trustwave.com 

Funama Wedding Exhibition heading for Polokwane. 

The 2nd Annual Funama Wedding Exhibition will take place on Saturday, 26th July 2014 at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane Limpopo.  The prestigious exhibition is a show of fresh wedding ideas all under one roof saving visitors hours of time spent travelling and searching for wedding suppliers. The exhibitors promise a display of the best wedding products and services available.

“The expo includes wedding gowns, groom suits, cakes, cosmetics, accessories, catering, beauticians, florists, photographers and many other wedding related services.  Future brides, grooms and families looking for wedding service providers are in for a fun filled day with loads of ideas that will help turn any fairy tale dream wedding into a reality. Legend Lodges, Hotels & Resorts, our main prize sponsor is giving couples a chance to win a wedding venue of their choice in Limpopo valued at R20 000.  Other exhibitors are offering happy memorable prizes that include wedding gowns, groom suits, cakes, cosmetics and many more. The expo is a great platform for small business owners to market and promote their services” says Masetha Serakoana, CEO of Funama Productions.

To end the day off visitors will be treated to an evening event with renowned motivational speakers giving inspired advice on relationships and marriage, a wine tasting experience and entertainment by Nia Pearl.   Funama Productions is a media and communications company that specialises in exhibition production services focusing on projects that promote and empower small businesses.   Entrance to the Funama Wedding Exhibition for visitors is R50.00 per person, doors open at 9am.

For further information, please contact:
Masetha Serakoana
E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone 086 111 1471
www.funama.co.za 

Ornico Publishes 2nd Africa Annual Growth is the dominant theme in this 2014 edition of the yearly magazine brought out by the brand, media and reputation research company.

Sandton, South Africa – Wednesday, July 9, 2014: “Growth – that’s what it is all about. Whatever way we look at it, Africa’s time in the sun has arrived,” said Oresti Patricios, CEO of brand, media and reputation research firm, Ornico, by way of announcing the company’s second annual on Africa.  

Called “The Africa Annual” the Ornico publication looks at economies in Africa that are growing at rates pegged at about 5.5% for this year according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “Africa has growth rates that are making western economies green with envy,” Patricios said, adding that this new annual explores growth economies on the continent.  

Patricios said that the big challenge for those economies that fared well in Africa would be to implement beneficiation, and to create sustainable economies focused on long-term development.  “While Africa’s growth rates are exciting, what is important to realise is that part of this growth is being driven by ‘raw’ exports of resources, (mainly to China.) The big step of change for this continent, and one that will help create sustainable growth, is to make the move from being a massive source of raw material to becoming a manufacturer, or adding value to the production process through beneficiation,” he said.  

“The focus in Africa shouldn’t be wealth creation or growth for the sake of growth. Rather what is needed is growth that drives education, job creation and the stimulation of industries that seed development,” Patricios said, adding: “In the resources sector, beneficiation would contribute significantly to adding value to this part of the economy. It would bring employment creation, skills development, and would help uplift regions where metals (and the like) are mined. What is needed here is a long-term view. Businesses and government in Africa need to forgo short term profits for long term gains.”  

Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 explores Nigeria’s much-delayed rebasing of its GDP in April 2014 and what this means to South Africa, and looks at the truism that ‘Africa is not a country’. “It has become a cliché that brands wanting expanding into the rest of the continent need to beware of trying to transplant their existing, successful strategies to markets here – or even transplanting strategies from one market in Africa to another,” Patricios explains. “Some SA and global brands have learned the hard way that marketing in each new African territory demands a local approach,” he said.   Other themes in Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 include the massive push north by South African retail brands; what’s been behind Nollywood’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth; the ‘peculiar’ radio habits of Kenyans; and much, much more.  

“Growth is happening in Africa, and what we’ve tried to do is to offer a snapshot of where and how this growth is happening, and insights that brands and marketers need to know about growing in Africa,” Patricios said.  

Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014 is published in collaboration with MarkLives.com and a free copy of the magazine is available through South Africa’s authoritative, independent marketing site. Alternately the marketing magazine is available free to download at www.ornico.co.za 

Download Ornico’s The Africa Annual 2014

ABOUT ORNICO

Ornico makes sense of the tsunami of brand, advertising and media information flooding the marketplace. By collecting and analysing adverts and brand publicity, Ornico helps put marketing decision makers in the know about the most important strategic decisions they’ll ever make regarding their brands.  

Ornico has the largest and most comprehensive library of TV, radio, outdoor, print and Internet reference material, and offers a tracking service for emerging advertisements or Newcomers™. The company tracks competitive and category advertising spend, and verifies media schedules to ensure the investment that brands make in advertising is fully realised. Editorial services include publicity monitoring, SMS alerts and the analysis or comparison of own and competitive brand images.  

Established in 1984, Ornico has offices in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town as well as Nigeria and Kenya. The largest supplier of advertising visual references in South Africa, Ornico employs a team of over 100 people and has clients that include many of Africa’s top companies.   Ornico – Know how. To grow.  

CONTACTS

Oresti Patricios – CEO   Mobile: 083 326 2250  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  
Francois van Dyk - Operations Manager  
Call: 011 884 5041  
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Ornico Head Office:
Tel: +27 11 884-5041 Fax: +27 11 783-6931  
Twitter: @OrnicoMedia |  Web: www.ornico.co.za 

News24Live is South Africa’s first original video news channel. Launched by 24.com to meet the increasing demand for video content (and the popularity of this medium), this groundbreaking channel features short, sharp, video-based commentary on breaking news, expert and exclusive opinion on hot topics, entertainment updates on celebrities and more.

“It is the first time in our publishing history that original video content is being generated for a web-based news platform on such a large scale,”says Dan Calderwood, News24Live Multimedia Editor.

Produced in-house by the News24Live studio, the content programming mix is lively and varied, spotlighting the biggest, hottest, most engaging stories. Some firm favourites to date include Zapiro’s interview on Malema shaking up Parliament, expert legal commentary on Oscar Pistorius, the hugely popular 32-day summary of the Pistorius trial, State of the Nation highlights and the social media furor on the Foo Fighters tour announcement.

The News24Live team integrates analysis, opinions, interviews and professional news presenters into an in-studio broadcast format, operating out of Cape Town, to give viewers a real-time sense of what is happening on verticals all across News24 and the entire 24.com network. In the near future, the platform plans to roll out mechanisms for users to upload their own video content.

“To help users get more involved with the content they upload, we’ll be adding a ‘submit’ option to the platform to allow for comments.. Also, using Google+ and Skype, we plan to integrate live discussions between online communities and experts on current news and hot topics,” says Calderwood.

News24.com SA’s most popular breaking news source wanted to take the news experience to the next level with News24Live and its quality video offering.

There is no limit to what they can do with content in the future.   Follow News24Live on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or subscribe to the Youtube channel. Watch News24Live at http://www.news24.com/live

ENDS Sent on behalf of 24.com by MANGO-OMC
Contact: Nicki Venter on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0716409162

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

Travellers visiting South Africa’s principal aiport, O.R Tambo International (ORTIA) in Johannesburg, no longer have to find themselves leaving empty handed. By participating in the Don’t leave empty handed promotion they can now qualify to claim the perfect travel accessory, namely a genuine men’s or ladies’ wallet from the bespoke fashion and lifestyle brand POLO.   This premium product is valued at R695 and is yours if you’ve spent R7500 or more in one day collectively at any store at O.R Tambo International Airport’s Duty Free Mall.  

O.R. Tambo International Airport is the air transport hub of Southern Africa, catering for more than 17 million passengers each year. The airport boasts a world-class variety of amenities, business centres, retail centres, restaurants and bars, as well as a five-star hotel. The Duty Free Mall includes a wide selection of duty free retailers, offering you ample choices to make the perfect purchase or enjoy services tailored for your convenience. From favourite brands, to exclusive airport offers and products of the month, at O.R Tambo International Airport’s Duty Free Mall travellers can enjoy a world-class shopping experience and now with the Don’t leave empty handed promotion, also receive the perfect reward.  

To enter, submit a fully completed entry form, including till slips adding up to the minimum spend of R7 500.00. Only original entries and proof of purchases will be accepted and excludes any purchases at jewellery stores.   The offer is valid from 5 April to 30 June 2014, or until stocks last. T&C’s apply. http://www.saairports.com/or-tambo-international-airport/events  

The promotion is run by Airports Company South Africa and the officially appointed advertising agency Kwenda Marketing.

For more information contact the Kwenda Marketing team on 011 921 6408. Visit Facebook www.facebook.com/ClickBuyFly or follow @ClickBuyFly on Twitter for upcoming competitions, promotions and events.  

About www.saairports.co.za Discover a magical journey and indulge in the splendour that is Africa whilst you browse through the new website (www.saairports.co.za), the gateway to South Africa's premier airport shopping experience. Whether as a first-time traveller or seasoned globetrotter, be it for business or pleasure, visit the website before your next travel through South Africa's flagship airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban so that you can get the most out of your airport shopping experience and prepare for your next voyage.  

About Airports Company South Africa Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) operates South Africa’s nine principal airports, providing airlines with world-class, secure infrastructure.Additional information can be found at www.saairports.com/about-acsa.

End Media release issued byDTMSA on behalf of KWENDA MARKETING AND O.R TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. For press assistance contact Maya Setti on +27 21 419 2699 (Cape Town) or Karen du Toit on +27 83 685 6406 (Johannesburg) or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..