Sept 2022 Edition

brand, simultaneously.

Reintroducing Foji Sports, a sports wear brand created from ultra-seamless, extra-shaping material with love by yours truly, Asanda Foji Mandindi. Asanda came back home this year January after relocating to Netherlands for four years. This incredible mom, actor and entrepreneur came back looking forward to opening her store this December for her brand but that is on hold for now, as the brand has to go under re-establishment, re-launch and be re-introduced to the SA market all over again – with plans to open the first store in Melville 2023. But, to keep that fire burning, and remind Mzansi of Asanda’s brand we were fortunate enough to have had an amazing engagement with her.

Please tell us about your journey as a businesswoman and where it all started? “My entrepreneurial journey began literally on the first of January in 2017. I had thought a lot about establishing my own Activewear line in 2016 because I’m a gym fanatic, and sportswear has always been my first love. So, it was my New Year’s resolution on the 31st of December 2016 that I started my own Active wear line and I was to let nothing stop me from fulfilling that goal, knowing perfectly well that I had been given the strength and the means by our Lord to do it. I took a sketchbook and I designed my sportswear line having no background in designing sketches whatsoever, but because I had a vision of how they’d look and feel on the body, my hand just kept moving until I had about 5 designs sketched down by the end of day”.

Makoti building both her Makoti building both her new home and sportswear new home and sportswear brand, simultaneously.

“Also, I come from a bloodline of successful business people, from my maternal grandfather who was not well educated but a very successful and powerful businessman - to my aunts and etcetera.

So, I guess my bloodline made me want to start my own company, the desire to be my own boss, the passion that wakes me up at night and my need to do all I can for my son drove me miles into business, and besides if it’s in your blood, you can never outrun your destiny”.

In starting your sport brand what challenges did

came across and how did you tackle those? “Main challenge was catching myself spending too much money paying tailors around Johannesburg - who charged me an arm and a leg to make one gym set a time, because I had no business background. I must admit I had not done my research well and were quite impulsive from the start driven by passion and no thorough thinking about the proper logistics of the business, like the ins and outs, and tackling setbacks”.

“So, I started doing necessary research on standard operating business procedures, how to learn my target market, knowing where they are and how to reach them. I also started making practical funds allocations on the business and also making certain that I made my money back first (money used to establish the business) before even thinking I have any profit. I also found reputable, yet cost-effective shipping companies to partner with and ensured that my clients receive their shipments on time and in perfect condition, and that massively dropped the number of customers who wanted to get refunds”.

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What would you say it’s the most interesting thing about running a business of your own? “The most interesting thing about running a business has been realizing how limitless a future as an entrepreneur is, as there’s so much one can do in business and such endless possibilities. Also, having unrestricted control of the business, managing my business’s day-to-day operations and also having the freedom to make any long-term decisions on my own and having to deal with the outcome of making those decisions, whether good nor bad”.

What are other businesses

“Other than Foji Sports, the sportswear brand for women I also launched a swimwear line this year called ‘Millionaire-Queen Swimwear ‘which is a sub-brand of Foji Sports. There’s also ‘Foji Kids’ that was also launched under Foji Sports, another sub-brand that focuses on kid’s sportswear from the age of 3 years to 14 years ” .

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under your sleeves and the services/products they offer?

Agilitee

South African motorists now have alternative options in choosing vehicles, as the first electric cars which are petrol savers are officially on sale at Agilitee. These are not just cars, but they are designed also to accommodate rural residents who may experience bumpy roads with trenches every now and then.

Agilitee - known for manufacturing quite a variety of electronic gadgets since inception, is slowly disrupting the norm - as they keep introducing consumers to tech products that are approved and tested for the market to try.

For those who may not know - Agilitee is the first black owned electric vehicle manufacturer by Dr Mandla Lamba, a well renowned businessman who is the largest shareholder of Agilitee and the second richest man in Africa. In May 2022 Johannesburg, Agilitee launched their first electronic bikes and introduced MY RIDE created to empower and create revenue opportunities for those who buy and own the bikes. The electronic bikes from Agilitee are also regarded as financial savers and very good for tertiary students or entry level employees who wish to avoid the headaches of petrol prices in South Africa.

“We are here to end poverty, imagine what used to be R6000 petrol cost per month in South Africa for the delivery scooters will now become profit that will allow the drivers to get more scooters and grow the business.

God is doing a new thing in Africa, the time has come for Africa to rise and I am humbled that God chose village people like us to spearhead the charge. Agilitee puts purpose over profit, its time Africa has a Savior that cares about change more than profit,” said Dr Lamba".

In an effort to get a clear understanding of how these bikes could save a lot of delivery guys the everyday petrol challenges while creating extra cash, Dr Lamba gave a literal breakdown of how the project was structured for everyone to benefit.

“We have conducted thorough research on this and this program has been in the works for a while now. We have structured it in a way that everyone benefits, the owner who buys the scooter and puts it under My Ride gets to generate a monthly cash flow of R3200 which is a total annualized amount of R38, 400 which is more than seven times what R60, 000 earns in a fixed deposit account at a bank that is mere R5 508 per year. So we made sure the owners win big time. Then, we have a driver who rents this delivery scooter and pays R800 per week".

These EV Scooters that come with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) helmet are expected to be supplied to other Africa countries by end of 2022, and the company ' s aim is to make sure that they manufacture about 20000 scooters by the end of Dec 2022.

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KUPISA SAUCE KUPISA SAUCE

Kupisa Sauce is the brainchild of Nthanyiseni Muvhenzhe, who was born in the Northern Part of Limpopo and now residing in Gauteng. “A business like this would be impossible to grow on my own so I have a business partner who comes in with a great wealth of experience in Strategy & Finance”, she added. Talking about local, which is that one brand you like on the streets of Mzansi currently and why? “While there are many brilliant entrepreneurs who have build amazing businesses, Theo Baloyi has been a great inspiration. Bathu is a beacon of hope for ordinary young South Africans, Theo has proved that our dreams are valid, and they have an opportunity to come alive”.

Please share when did you commence with KUPISA SAUCE and what inspired you to go for it? “Kupisa commenced as an exploratory concept infused by the intention to participate in the mainstream Agri Processing economy and the love for cooking food with natural herbs. As a concept, Kupisa was born in 2017 but we only began with active production in 2019 after spending 2 years in research and development”.

What kind of challenges you faced when trying to KUPISA off the ground and how did you tackle those challenges? “Without any doubt, the biggest challenge has been market access and funding. Fortunately, we had spent a lot of time on R&D.

Consequently, when we decided to begin commercial production, we had full confidence in the product and its unique differentiators. Therefore, the decision to use our limited private funds was not a difficult one ” . “With regards to access to market, we had to be a little clever and think differently compared to market norms. Instead of banging into the doors of big retailers for shelve space, we have decided to bypass them and go directly into the end user. Through this approach, we trust that those retailers will be forced to come have a conversation with us – and indeed a few have started”.

What makes your SAUCE brand stand out? And what are your business highlights thus far? “Kupisa is definitely different from any other product currently available in the market. Kupisa has unique taste and flavour influenced by a combination of a few natural wild edible herbs only found in specific regions in Limpopo. Apart from offering an amazing and unique taste to food, these herbs are also known scientifically to offer medicinal benefits”.

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Easy Deliveries Easy Deliveries

The more online we move, the more door to door delivery services are demanded by the consumers. This has led to a growing number of delivery companies throughout the country and more opportunities to try and test. Easy Deliveries is one of those new and growing delivery companies based in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth. This company was founded by Banele Moyi, an incredible young man and entrepreneur that is ready to get his slice from the bigger cake. We had an excellent engagement with him where we wanted to hear from him, about his background and what he think the delivery industry is doing well so far - this is what he shared with us, "Well as far as I can remember, dyslexia has been the most significant part of my background, it has had a significant role in my childhood past as a "troubled boy", and it has certainly had a significant role in the present as an entrepreneur. I was born and bred in Motherwell, where I still currently reside, raised by my grandmother who has played a huge role in the person that I am today. I think the most important thing that the on-demand delivery industry is doing right now, is that we ' re seeing more big players in the industry like Uber and Lyft open-sourcing various APIs related to their platforms, which makes it easier for smaller players to enter the market without big budgets".

When did you commence with ED, and what drove you to start this kind of business? "I was just sitting at home on a lousy Saturday in December 2021 and I happened to have this scooter that I had bought, which I had no use for anymore considering that I bought it to go to my then part time job at a restaurant - which had closed down last year December. SO, I was just curious on how I could possibly monetize my scooter, quick search on Google and found an article that spoke about delivering food with your scooter, immediately it grabbed my attention and on that same December I started delivering food. At first, it was a nice side hustle until I realized how much demand there was for this kind of service, so I quickly realized that If I'm going to meet the demand, I'm going to need systems, which I built, and now 9 months in we have over 10 drivers working as independent contractors".

What challenges have you come across since inception and how did you overcome those challenges? "The first challenge was insufficient supply from our side due to inadequate operating equipment like scooters. I had 1 scooter at first and yet I had a dozen orders to fulfill, so I raised R10 000 from an investor and bought 2 more second hand scooters - so , I now had 3 in total and gradually bought more but as time went by I realized that we had a negative cash flow situation, expenses were becoming too high due to maintenance of the scooters which I hadn't anticipated, petrol and driver error, so I decided to use third-party delivery drivers who are also our partners".

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Showupinlife, Showupinlife, showupforyour showupforyour business. business.

The fashion, style and quality are some of the brand signatures Truly Karin is known for. Their stunning designs are always eye-catching, relevant and to die for, and that is why we brought the lady behind the brand on this edition, to introduce you to her incredible work. Truly Karin was founded by Karin Elvira Roman, who was born in a small town called Willowmore in the Karoo. Karin grew up in Uitenhage, where she is still currently residing and run her business.

Before we spoke about her journey, we wanted to hear from her about who in the Mzansi fashion and designing industry is her favourite and why, and this is what she said, “One designer that I like other than myself is David Tlale. I love his story and how he paved the way for other young designers. I also love his consistency with his brand”.

When did you commence with your business and brand and what motivated you to start? “I started sewing as a hobby in 2018. In 2019, I officially registered as a business and launched my first collection in 2020.

Honestly - when I started, I was bored, and wanted to try something different so I went for sewing classes. From the get go after I started the classes I fell inlove with the craft and continued with it to a point that I felt confident enough to design and sew different kinds of garments. Today I design for women of all shapes and sizes and my garments are very versatile”.

What has been the most challenging thing since you commenced? “I found it challenging to put myself out there and making my brand known because I’m such an introvert. Also finding an audience for my brand was challenging a first. But I started going to events, networking, creating different pages and that has introduced my work to the streets of not only Uitenhage but the Nelson Mandela Bay as a whole and out of the metro.

What kind of garments/designs do you sell as a business? “I offer everyday casual wear, like your shirts, pants, skirts, coats, jackets etc. I also do matric farewell dresses, evening-wear, bridal and custom outfits. I allow my clients to also throw ideas on what they have in mind and take it from there, because I believe that including clients also grows the relationship with them and everyone enjoys being part of the process of what they will wear at the end”.

Since the inception of Truly Karin, what could you say it’s highlights of your business? “Doing fashion shows, meeting different clients, networking, meeting different designers, creating new collections has been the highlights for me because when I started, I never thought of that picture because the love was only for sewing and just sewing, so it really is a great journey to see myself and the business growing to greater heights”.

Where can people access and buy your garments? “Currently, my products are available at Collective Co in Johannesburg, where my items are readily available. I also have an online store where everyone can order and I make the product according to the clients size and measurements. Clients can also view my work on on my social pages to have an idea of my stunning work”.

Lastly, where to from here? “As my business continues to grow, I would love to have permanent staff members, so I can also play a role in fighting unemployment in our country while introducing my staff to the sewing skill and the fashion industry”.

Spelling Bee Competition in Indigenous Languages

Mamelodi, Pretoria: Spelling Bee Competition in South African Indigenous Languages, a new and first-ever competition, is announced by Eye of Hope. By bringing back value to South African indigenous languages, our team aims to fill the gap in the current literacy programs. In this competition, spellers will pride themselves on their cultural languages through intellectual activities that Those who will be targeted are learners who are in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. Our Arts and Culture program presents this newly established community outreach. During research conducted on South African languages, we found that learners are not given a reason to learn their home languages but are given reasons to learn English instead. We plan to make the use of indigenous languages a priority as well. In addition to our educational programs, we decided to come up with an initiative that is completely original. “This is not only a competition for spelling words in African languages, but it serves as also a platform that will ensure that African Languages do not fade or cease to exist in the near future,” says Mr. KS Malahlela, Founder of The Eye of Hope.

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The Konvenient Magazine

Siyabonga Zungu

Talkingwith

The Life & Times of The Life & Times of Menzi Ngubane Menzi Ngubane

Produced by Siyabonga Zungu's Softvideo Productions company in collaboration with Mrs. Siki Ngubane, the widow of Menzi Ngubane, The Ngubs Documentary Film is what South Africans are looking forward to bracing their eyes on, as Ngubs was one of the most loved and talented actors on the screens in the 2000s. Our team had a moment with one of the directors Ntokozo Mahlalela and tried to get to know his filmmaking background first before we got to the doccie. “Having studied filmmaking at the now defunct Newtown Film & TV school, and graduated with a short football-inspired drama film in 2004, all I thought I was going to be in the fiction filmmaking space however, the documentary filmmaking bug took center stage after realizing the importance of documenting our history and stories based on facts and evidence, as people of color that will be a mirror and reflections today and for tomorrow generation”.

Please share how the documentary came about: “The Ngubs film project came to me on November 06, 2021, when the producer that I briefly met in September for no more than 5 hours called one Saturday night to say 'Yo, we working on producing a pilot documentary film about the late Menzi Ngubane, are you up for it as a director and writer for it!!?'. After that call, I thought he was pranking me and just messing with my head. Most of all, I wasn't even aware that Menzi has passed on, he called again on Sunday the following day to cement the deal. Here we are now, in September 2022 that call is bearing fruits to be enjoyed by all the fans of Menzi Ngubane all over the world”.

From

left: Ntokozo Mahlalela, and Mfundi Vundla.

So, tell us about the whole scripting to where we at now, including challenges you guys faced as you were trying to get the project off the ground: “So, there was a pilot film that was completed in November 2021, just after that I started scripting of the documentary film which we pitched to various funding houses in South Africa like the Gauteng Film Commission and others. To be precise, It took us almost 10 months from concept to final product which is the film on TAPE now ” .

“Challenges we faced while making this film were always the common obstacles in starting any business, which is FUNDING, FUNDING, AND FUNDING. However, we overcame such a challenge when the producer partnered with Manzini media to provide equipment for the project. We came up with disruption and innovative approach to filming, and the editing of the film was done REMOTELY/VIRTUALLY. I must say, the 2016 #DataMustFall Movement bared fruits when making this film because the access to DATA in this country has become a bit affordable but still EXPENSIVE, but we managed to use technology throughout from December 2021 till August 2022 in making and finishing this movie, which has been a whole new WORLD revelation for me and the team in making films in the new normal. Technology and the mindset enabled the film to be produced both in Johannesburg in Gauteng province and Komatipoort in Mpumalanga province at the same time”.

“Another challenge for me as a director and writer was that, there were past documentary film works about Menzi to use as reference and research material. I had to deep dive into that lake called Menzi Ngubane late to fish out what I could. It was one of those very deep and wider lakes to dive into and I believe that wherever Menzi is right now, he played a huge role in me to keep me digging and searching by providing me with his much-needed oxygen and his giving spirit to come out with this kind of his story, which I believe that the audience will benefit lots from by having a better understanding of the man ” .

How important was it for you guys to tell a story of such a legend in the Mzansi film industry? “It was very much important because there were no documentary films about, or of Menzi before his passing - so this film is one of many to come about understanding Menzi, his work ethic, his upbringing, and his life on and off work for budding actors to use this film as an acting and living BLUEPRINT for their acting and living endeavors”.

Who is featured in the documentary and where was it shot? “There are about 25 individuals that are featured, like Mfundi Vundla, Angus Gibson, Menzi's widow Mrs. Siki Ngubane, and many others were filmed and interviewed for the film. This took about 7 months of filming all subjects, from different locations around the country such as Johannesburg, Soweto, Newcastle, and Haartebespoort. We featured nearly everyone because Menzi was the main driving force”.

Lastly, as one of the directors, what’s your highlight after working on the Menzi Ngubane Lifetime documentary? “Personally, my highlight is that now I have a deeper understanding of Menzi Ngubane as a person, professionally, as a family person, and philanthropist. What I took out from the subject matter is that Menzi Ngubane was a lamb but yet roaming around the screens, cinemas, and streets as a lion - while deep down Menzi was soft, very much loving, and a giving person ” .

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Using diversification to Using diversification to protect your wealth protect your wealth

If you ’ ve been in the investing community for a while then you know that there’s a very common saying about eggs and baskets, but it all boils down to ‘diversification’. For those unfamiliar with the word, I break it down in the next paragraph - but if you already know the word then read on to refresh your memory and pick up one or two new things. Now…

What is diversification?

Imagine there’s 2 neighboring farmers, Botshelo and Zonke. Botshelo only farms crops, while Zonke farms both crops and livestock. Ideally, Botshelo can sell her crops with no incident. However, if an unexpected event such as a crop disease happens, Botshelo might lose her entire business - what would happen to Zonke’s farm?

This illustrates diversification - reducing risk by splitting your assets across different characteristics. The assets and the characteristics can vary, like buying shares (asset) in different companies (characteristic).

Why diversify

The goal is that no one event could leave you stranded in terms of financial security. Like if these unlikely scenarios:

If there’s a global crash of all stock markets, you would still have a house to live in.

If there’s you have to run away from your country, you have money in other currencies. If one of the industries you invested in has a downturn, another might be in an upturn.

And so on…

Although diversifying can be beneficial for your investments when you spread them across asset classes, geographies and timelines, let’s expand our view of diversification beyond investing.

What can you diversify Income

This is something I’m still in the process of building for myself, but having more than one income stream can do wonders for one ’ s financial stability. And taking it a step further is ensuring that the income streams are different types (royalties, dividends, salary, etc)

Social circle

Building strong and authentic relationships can give your happiness a boost. Being open to making friends and acquaintances can lead you to spaces you didn’t think you’d find yourself in. However, in the pursuit of new bonds, take care to nurture the bonds you already have with current friends and family.

Experiences

Life is too short not to have fun. So travel to different places, go to the movies, take a walk to new parts of your current town or play video games - just make sure you fill your heart and memory-bank. What is the one thing you enjoyed doing the most this week?

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Likho Bubulu

Babes WeRadio

Babes We Radio, real name Likho Bubulu is an East London born - from Mdantsane to be precise. She is the first-born daughter of Pst and Dr Bubulu, a wife to Mawande Billie, public and motivational speaker, and also a mom who has previously worked in different kinds of spaces. This incredible media personality has a qualification in both Food Nutritionist & Hospitality Management.

Likho is the founder of Teenagers Unplugged, a teens empowerment organization based in Eastern Cape. The organization to her is a platform that she stands on to reach out to teenagers of all classes, age, and status in the society. Monthly, she hosts events to reach out to boys and girls who have been abused. Her aim is to educate children on how to be Queens, Kings and live as they should in spite of prevailing situations and circumstances. She also calls attention to societal ills facing women, sharing tips with them on how they can live wisely and avoid being victims of all forms of abuse. Some of the issues she addresses in her gathering with kids includes empowering young people spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically.

Before we chat to her about her radio journey we were curious to hear that besides her, who is her favourite radio presenter in Mzansi and why - and this is what she said, “I love it when you say besides myself who is my favourite radio presenter, she giggled. It is sis’Unathi Nkayi, I love the confidence she has about herself, she is the type of woman that stones have been thrown at her but still stands and does what she was called for, also I love how she is so proud of ubuXhosa bakhe”.

Which radio station are you work for? when did you commence with radio presenting and what drove you to start? “I proudly work for Mdantsane fm, a community radio station based in Mdantsane east London. Growing up I had love for radio but never really had the courage to go for it up until 2016, when I was motivated by the former CKI radio presenter which is now on one of SABC radio stations TRU Fm - Dr Mandla Makhubalo. Mr Makhubalo really made me to see myself on radio though the motivation I got from only listening to him running his show and some direct words towards me, and I could write a book of the things he said about me but the most of them all from and that had blew my mind was when he said "mntanam, you are radio". Those words made me strongly believe that I have it, and I am going to strongly grow my talent and skill on radio”.

HOW SMALL BUSINESSES CAN GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY

Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Investment (CSR and CSI) are important practices for all kinds of businesses to follow. While this involves charitable investments and donations, it doesn’t mean your business has to be worth millions before you can start to give back. Instead, any kind of small business can give back to its local community in many different ways.

If you want to help your local community, then here are some CSR and CSI ideas that your small business can try. These ideas don’t all require major financial investments. Instead, they could just require a good cause and some time.

Donate Products Or Services As A Form Of CSR

You don’t have to give away cash to give back to your community. One great way that small businesses can enhance their CSR and CSI is to donate their products, or services to local community organisations. This could be to charities, schools, retirement homes, or any other organisation that could do with some help.

This strategy works especially well for small businesses that have products that they can’t sell. For example, a bakery might donate any bread left over at the end of the day, or a clothing business could donate anything left from last season ’ s line.

Run a Donation Matching Campaign

Donation matching is a great way to give back to your community while also getting your customers and audience involved too.

This is when you run a promotion where your business matches all donations that your customers make.

Service businesses, like plumbers or hairdressers, can always find a way to donate their services to organisations in need. Just choose an organisation that aligns with your mission, and dedicate a day to using your services to help the community.

Donate Your Time

Giving a helping hand and donating your time to a worthy cause is also a great CSR and CSI task. You could either help out on the weekend or close your business for a few hours while you volunteer your time. Whatever the case, it’s important to get your whole team involved.

For example, you might do a drive for a charity that provides school children with shoes. Your business could donate a pair of shoes for every pair of shoes that your customers also donate.

Partner With an Organisation Through

CSI: An effective long-term CSR and CSI strategy is to partner with an organisation that matches your small business’s mission. This type of long-term partnership could result in many different giving tactics.

You could help out with a beach cleanup, make sandwiches for a food drive, organise a fun games day for a children’s charity, or anything else that matches your small business mission.

One great idea is to donate a portion of sales on a specific product to that organisation. This works well if both organisations collaborate on that product, and you help to sell it. This also gives your customers a chance to support the organisation –something they will likely be interested in if it aligns with what your brand stands for.

Local Sponsorships

Small businesses can sponsor local organisations that need certain items. For example, you could buy a sports kit and training equipment for a local school team. This could be done as s single act by your business, or it could be done in collaboration with other local businesses.

Support Other Local Businesses

One of the easiest ways your small business can support the community is to support other small businesses. Sourcing your products from other local businesses is a great way to boost economic activity in your area.

You can also promote these businesses on your website and marketing channels, or leave positive reviews for them.

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Share Your Space

If your small business has a location, you could offer a non-profit to use the space for free. This could be for an event in collaboration with your business, or for general use as an office space.

If your business has a retail space, you could also offer some shelf space to a non-profit, where you sell their products without charging any commissions or sales percentages.

Focusing on CSR and CSI initiatives is important for developing your brand, giving your customers more reason to support your small business, and helping your local community. The strategies above can be used by any kind of small business, and they all make a big difference. There’s really no reason why small businesses shouldn’t be helping and giving back to their local communities.