From The Union Buildings
It is a time for fresh starts in a number of aspects that affect our lives and for making resolutions to do things better.
It is also a time of hope – hope for a better life for ourselves, and for things to become better for the country that we all love.
The current economic environment demands new ways of doing things. If money makes the world go round, then life has been at a standstill for two years because there is very little or no money going around.
In the olden days, families survived by buying in bulk. Today, people stockpile, which means when an essential product is on sale, they buy as much as they can afford.
Why is it necessary?
A group of young graduates in Welverdiend in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, came together in 2001 to form a cooperative that has so far created more than 35 jobs in the tourism sector.
Mutlhwarheni Cooperative Ltd is a true example of what can be achieved if communities join hands and collaborate with experienced companies to fight poverty and unemployment in society.
The South African government has an agency called the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) which assists in developing community and small commercial media in the country.
The agency promotes and ensures that South African media is developed and diverse.
It targets historically disadvantaged communities, historically diminished language and cultural groups, and inadequately served communities.
One of the beneficiaries of the MDDA in print media is Ngoho Print and Digital News, which is published in 70% Tshivenda and 30% English.
The South African media are invited to submit their entries for the 2023 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards competition by 28 February.
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) calls on the community media fraternity to submit more entries for the 2023 competition so that the country can be represented regionally.
One of the national media coordinators for the competition, Mmemme Mogotsi, says the first prize winner in each category receives US$2 500 (about R42 000) and the runner-up receives US$1000 (about R16 000).
The recent trail of vicious pit bull attacks that have cost life and limb is a matter of concern to everyone.
In recent months, media outlets have reported on deadly cases of attacks around the country almost on an ongoing basis.
“Pit bull terriers, commonly referred to as pit bulls, actually comprise a number of different breeds. They have a similar appearance and were originally bred for dog-fighting, which was (and sadly still is) a form of entertainment for people,” said animal behaviour expert, Dr Quixi Sonntag.
The life of Nyameka Tshangana is an example of how the Jobs Fund is empowering women to take up careers that were previously male dominated.
The National Treasury invested R9 billion to establish the Jobs Fund in 2011 to support innovative approaches and initiatives to job creation.
According to the National Treasury, once-off grants are awarded through the Jobs Fund to projects that demonstrate sustainable job creation potential.
A group of residents in the agricultural community called Friemersheim in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, hopes to inspire unemployed women and youth to unite and create jobs for themselves, in order to end poverty in their communities.
The success story of Free Heim Egg Layer farm shows how South Africans can work together to overcome challenges.
According to the co-manager Dorothy Joseph, Free Heim Egg Layer farm is a cooperative made up of three women, a young person living with disability and two men.
Since its beginning in 2013, the Central Application Clearing House (CACH) has provided thousands of matriculants with a second chance to gain entrance into institutions of higher learning.
CACH is a free service for both applicants and institutions of higher learning.
It was created by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to assist prospective students who want to enter the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) System but might be facing challenges with regard to admission.
In line with its vision to be a leading catalyst for the advancement of socio-economic development in the Eastern Cape, the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) is accelerating skills training and coaching of young people to address unemployment.
Through its Skills Development Centre (SDC), the organisation strives to create sustainable job opportunities, training, and development for local communities, with a focus on the youth, women, and persons with disabilities.