Selected from more than 900 applications from 45 countries, the AgriProtein team was recognized at the 2013 Innovation Prize for Africa Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Cape Town, South Africa. The AgriProtein solution collects biodegradable waste, feeds it to flies that in turn produce larvae that are ground into protein to provide a more ecologically friendly, naturally occurring type of animal feed. This approach improves the nutritional value of meat and lowers the cost of animal feed for African processors and farmers

The IPA 2013 Gala also recognized two runners up for their contributions to African innovation. In the business potential category, Hassine Labaied and Anis Aouini from Saphon Energy received USD 25 000 for creating a bladeless wind convertor. In the social impact category, Sanoussi Diakite received USD 25 000 for developing a thermal powered machine that husks 5 kilograms of fonia – a West African cereal – in just 8 minutes.

“The Innovation Prize for Africa winners showcase African solutions to African challenges,” said Jean™-Claude Bastos de Morais, co™]founder of the African Innovation Foundation and the IPA. “It is time for private sector leaders, donors and governments to work together to invest in practical solutions that will sustain Africa’s economic growth.”

Winners were selected by a skilled panel of jurors based on the marketability, originality, scalability, social impact and business potential of their respective innovations. They are provided with unrestricted funds in recognition of their achievements and are free to use the Prize in the manner they deem most appropriate.

“We are honoured by this remarkable recognition,” said Jason Drew a member of the AgriProtein team. “We are passionate about expanding our business to recycle more waste nutrients and supply a natural protein to feed farm animals ™- helping sustainably feed our continent ™- this is an African contribution to sustainable agriculture for our planet.”

Founded by the African Innovation Foundation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the IPA is focused on building Africa’s capacity by investing in local entrepreneurship. The Prize mobilizes leaders from all sectors – private sector, donors and government – to promote and invest in African development through innovation.

“The AgriProtein team’s innovation is just one example of the game™-changing African ideas that will continue to harness our natural resources profitably and sustainably,” said Dr.Francois Bonnici, Director Bertha Centre for Social Innovation at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. “The IPA invests in Africa’s greatest resource – its human capital.” The call for applications for IPA 2014 will be announced in July 2013. For detailed information of competition categories, conditions of entry, and submission details, please visit: InnovationPrizeForAfrica.org. For highlights and more information, follow the IPA on Twitter and Facebook.

About IPA
The Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) is an award founded by the African Innovation Foundation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It mobilizes African innovators and entrepreneurs by providing a total of USD 150 000 winners who deliver market™-oriented solutions for African™-led development. The IPA honours and encourages innovative achievements that contribute toward developing new products, increasing efficiency or saving cost in Africa. The prize also encourages private equity investors, government and development leaders to invest across sectors and build a climate that fuels Africa’s economic growth. For more information visit www.innovationprizeforafrica.org

“I want to do something special for our former President, like I did when he turned 90,” Samson says from his studio in Cape Town, referring to his live performance of Father of Our Nation during Mandela’s birthday celebrations five years ago.

In 1998 this track landed Samson (who as a director/composer/musician/etc has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars including Alicia Keys, George Benson and Miriam Makeba) a Grammy nomination.

“It was a spectacular evening. Madiba was sitting on stage, and I was sitting behind the drums directing the band and singers. Our eyes met. It was one of the greatest evenings of my life,” Samson says.

The idea behind Light in People’s Eyes is to involve the entire world. “I don’t want this to be a solo operation. Nelson Mandela is after all the light in the eyes of people across the globe. Millions would want to give him something for his upcoming birthday,” he explains.

“Through our crowd funding channel, everyone who wants to be part of Light in People’s Eyes can to be part of it,” Samson explains. “Whether you live in Cape Town, Sydney, New York or Shanghai – everyone can have their name attached to a birthday present for our beloved Mandela. For as little as R135, you can be part of it.” Funders will be given perks, Samson stresses. “We will make sure their contribution will not go unnoticed. Please have a look at our IndieGoGo channel for more information”.

In his mission, Samson has partnered with The Opulent Charity – the brainchild of entrepreneur Christopher Haigh. “I like working with start-up entrepreneurs who are driven to make a difference in this world,” Samson explains. “The Opulent Charity is the ‘Do Good’ arm of The Opulent Golfer Magazine, an online travel and leisure platform. They donate 10% of their revenue to their Charity Fund, which in turn supports three small and reputable NGOs in Cape Town. They genuinely combine business and doing good. It blew me away.”

Haigh, originally from Port-Elizabeth: “It is a true pleasure and honour to work on such an uplifting project that will celebrate the wonder of Nelson Mandela, one of the Greatest Leaders of modern times. Being an international platform, we believe The Opulent Charity can do its fair bit in taking this campaign across the globe. Cedric’s energy and drive is incredibly uplifting. His passion for this project is truly inspirational. We are thrilled to be part of this. Besides doing what we do – running a magazine – we like to give back to society.”

As part of the global aspect of the project, Samson has been in contact with various South African and international stars. “They all would love to offer their vocal talents to the project,” he explains, noting that the production’s proceeds will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. “It makes for a double present: a song for our Former Leader and financial support for his organisation, which plays such a crucial role in nurturing South Africa’s generations of Future Leaders.”

Additional information:
• Crowd funding channel

• Facebook

• Twitter

Issued on behalf of / please contact for more info: Cedric Samson and Christopher Haigh:

“We are committed to working with the university to provide input from the perspectives of commuter cyclists, and to helping to grow and nurture a culture of commuter cycling on our campuses,” the group stresses on its blog.

The idea is to get the university involved in getting students and staff out of their cars and on to bicycles, to relieve the congestion and parking problems on campus. Cycle Wits has compiled a document outlining its strategy, which involves the university becoming proactive about making the campus more bicycle friendly – at the same time reducing fuel emissions and enhancing the health of Wits students and staff, commonly called Witsies.

“Many Witsies would like to cycle but are afraid of the traffic on the roads near campuses, which can be especially congested and daunting,” states the document. “Although the university cannot control traffic situations outside of its jurisdiction, it can contribute to raising awareness of cyclists on the road, and help to educate Wits cyclists in safe cycling practice and rules of the road.”

At present there are no safe cycle lanes, lock-up areas or signage on campus to make it easy to commute via bicycle. Universities around the world are generally bicycle friendly, often in cities where bicycles are used by millions as their main source of transport. Johannesburg is a car-dominant city, a result of historically poor public transport systems. South African universities follow the same pattern, but it seems bike transport is now catching on.

Rhodes University in Grahamstown, in Eastern Cape, lends itself more to bicycles, which are in evidence in the town and on campus. The recently formed Saints and Sinners Cycling Club on the campus replaces the defunct Rhodes University Cycling Club, and committee member Christopher Johnson hopes that forming the club will encourage more cyclists on campus and in the town.

“What we’re trying to do is create a group that is open to anyone, regardless of their experience or skill,” Johnson told Grocott’s Mail, the local newspaper, in October 2012. “It is also a fantastic social experience to be part of and links you to a network of people who, regardless of how different, share the same interest. We would like to restore cycling to what it has always been in this town.”

The group is proposing a range of interventions at Wits to make campus and its users more bike-conscious: signage to raise awareness of bicycles; tuition on how to ride a bike; free safety equipment like helmets and high visibility jackets; the construction of cycle routes on campus; erection of bike lock-up racks; and the creation of safe bike lanes between its various campuses.

Nicky Falkof, a lecturer in Wits’ media studies department, is one of the founder members of the group. She lives in Melville and cycles to the university every day. She knows of some 30 people who cycle to work from the nearby suburbs at present. However, she sees more and more bikes on campus. Off campus, she cycles around Melville and surrounding suburbs although she has a car, which she uses at night.

Cycle Wits has got the ball rolling, with a meeting with the university’s management in mid-March. Its proposal was greeted with enthusiasm, with “a clear sense that investing in commuter cycling was considered something that would be extremely beneficial to the university in the long run”.

Falkof says that there are plans to have bike racks around the campus installed within three weeks, and bike lanes possibly in place by the end of the year. “Wits management is keen and committed. It makes sense for them as the public transport infrastructure is overloaded.”

The group has also encouraged the university to get the City of Johannesburg to declare the entire university precinct, from Wits in Braamfontein and its campuses in Parktown, to Westdene and Doornfontein, where many students live, as the city’s first bicycle-friendly zone. This would mean creating dedicated safe cycle lanes between these campuses and suburbs, with lock-up facilities.

For its part, the City has plans to create bicycle lanes, outlined in its 2011 Growth and Development Strategy. It plans to create these lanes in two Soweto suburbs initially, Noordgesig and Orlando, the former mayoral committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee, told Talk Radio 702 in a January 2013 interview.

Cycle Wits also wants the university to lobby the high-speed commuter Gautrain to allow bicycles on the trains, to encourage more bike commuters from further afield.

Falkof says the group has tuned into the Johannesburg Urban Cyclists Association, which promotes and defends the use of the bicycle as a day-to-day transport solution. “Our goal is for Joburg to be bike-friendly by 2015, a deep transformation that requires massive changes in infrastructure as well as in mindsets!” the association says on its website. One of its first moves in this direction is the creation of the Joburg Bicycle map, which can be downloaded and allows you to plan your bike routes using the less busy roads.

Cycle Wits has other big plans: it hopes to get the university to allow bicycle retailers on campus to supply bike spares to commuters, and to run workshops on campus on basic bike maintenance. The group also wants the university to offer incentives to staff and students to get on their bikes, by organising leisure rides on weekends, including participation in the popular monthly Critical Mass ride, a worldwide movement by cyclists to take back their city streets from motorists.

Critical Mass has been running in Cape Town for several years; it is approaching its second birthday in Joburg, and now attracts close to 2 000 cyclists on the last Friday of every month.

Having cycle days, on which students and staff are encouraged to come to work by bike once a week, is another proposal. It also wants to see experienced cyclists act as mentors for novice cyclists, to coach them on cycling techniques and to give general advice.

Cycle Wits has a Facebook page, which gives information to bike commuters.

 Image: Bicycles will soon become commonplace at Wits. (Image: Nicky Falkof)

Lucille Davie for Media Club

Many people may not be as educated as they should when it comes to choosing which seafood to cook or order, and the unsustainable harvest of the world’s oceans has led to the depletion and, in some cases, the collapse of many of the world’s major fish stocks.

In 2004, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) established SASSI to inform and educate all participants in the seafood trade, from wholesalers to restaurateurs through to seafood lovers, about sustainable seafood. By using a “traffic light” system, the colour-coded SASSI list categorises selected South African and imported seafood species according to their conservation status.

Green-listed fish is the group from which consumers are encouraged to choose, as it contains the most sustainable choices from the healthiest and most well-managed populations. These species can handle current fishing pressure. Orange-listed fish includes species that have associated reasons for concern either because the species is depleted as a result of overfishing and cannot sustain current fishing pressure, the fishery that catches them may cause particularly severe environmental damage or the lifestyle of the species makes it vulnerable to high fishing pressure. Consumers are encouraged to think twice and consider the implications of these choices.

The red-listed fish group includes both unsustainable species, which are from collapsed populations or have extreme environmental concerns or lack appropriate management, and species that are illegal to buy or sell in South Africa. These species should never be bought by consumers, and fish highlighted in bold in this category are illegal to sell in South Africa.

Bronwen Rohland, director of marketing and sustainability at Pick n Pay said, while it may be the responsibility of the government to regulate and monitor fishing activities, it is also the duty of every seafood restaurant, retailer and consumer to support sustainable and responsible fishing practices.

“In line with Pick n Pay’s commitment to only stock sustainably sourced seafood by the end of 2015, this is an exciting step in recognising restaurants who are also encouraging, supporting and implementing sustainable seafood practices,” Rohland said. “We believe that the SASSI Seafood Circle will help to both raise awareness and guide more consumers to make sustainable seafood choices.”

Pick n Pay has also joined forces with SASSI to create a sustainable seafood cook book that can be downloaded for free on the website. A more detailed list is available for download on the SASSI website.

The assessment, sponsored by Pick n Pay, evaluated 70 restaurants across South Africa, looking at their various approaches to implementing, supporting and promoting sustainable seafood practices. Criteria on which the restaurants and chefs were assessed were the restaurant’s seafood sustainability policy; the effectiveness of their communication of their seafood sustainability practices to their customers, employees and suppliers; their level of engagement in communicating their seafood sustainability practices to a wider audience (e.g. via social media, TV appearances, etc.); and, the “trailblazer factor”, which are those chefs and restaurants that are going the extra mile in promoting and supporting seafood sustainability.

The 12 winning WWF-SASSI Trailblazers were from Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg. Cape Town winners were Brad Ball from Bistro 1682; Vanessa Marx from Dear Me; Henry Vigar from La Mouette; Tanjia Kruger from Majeka House; Bjorn Gudio from The Millhouse; Rudi Liebenberg from The Mount Nelson; Chris Erasmus from Pierneef a la Motte; Bertus Basson from Overture and Stefan Marais from Societi Bistro. KwaZulu-Natal Trailblazers were Jackie Cameron from Hartford House; Kevin Joseph from Oyster Box and from Johannesburg, Marthinus Ferreira of DW Eleven-13.

Image: Chefs Brad Ball of Bistro 1682, Tanjia Kruger of Majeka House,Bjorn Guido of The Millhouse, Rudi Liebenberg of the Mount Nelson, Stefan Marais of Societi Bistro, Vanessa Marx of Dear Me and Henry Vigar of La Mouette at the launch in Cape Town.
(Image: WWF-SASSI)

Cadine Pillay for Media Club

Private game reserve Sabi Sand Wildtuin, at the southern end of the Kruger Park, is tired of watching an entire species vanish before its eyes. The reserve has resorted to taking matters into its own hands by injecting ectoparasiticides into the horns of 100 of its rhinos.

Ectoparasiticides are not intended for consumption by humans; they are generally used for the control of ticks and parasites in animals. An ectoparasiticide is an antiparasitic drug used in the treatment of ectoparasitic infestations. It kills the parasites that live on the body surface. Although not lethal in small quantities, they are toxic and symptoms of accidental ingestion may include severe nausea, vomiting and convulsions, among other side effects. Because of these side effects, the treated rhino and their horns must be visibly identifiable, to avoid ingestion of treated horns by humans.

Andrew Parker, the chief executive of Sabi Sand Wildtuin Association, says the reserve is leading this programme because it is located at the epicentre of the problem, at the southern end of the Kruger Park, where up to 70% of the rhino killings occur.

In addition to making whoever consumes the rhino horn very ill, the ectoparasiticides are accompanied by a pink dye that can be detected by airport scanners. “We realised that the treatment of the horns, along with an indelible dye, would go a long way towards helping us achieve our goal of protecting all rhinos in South Africa from poaching,” says Lorinda Hern of the Rhino Rescue Project.

The dye is visible on an x-ray scanner even when ground to a fine powder. Airport security checkpoints are almost certain to pick up the presence of this dye in a treated horn regardless of whether the horn is intact or in powder form.

“Testing is ongoing and comprehensive, to ensure that the animals have in no way been harmed by the administration of the treatment and, based on the research, it is believed that the treatment should remain effective for approximately three to four years, after which re-administration would be required,” says Hern.

There is no doubt a solution to rhino poaching needs to be found. The number of rhinos lost to poaching in South Africa exceeded 300 in 2010 and over 400 in 2011. This week, the government said 203 rhinos had been killed by poachers so far this year, including 145 in Kruger Park.

Rhino horn on the black market is worth an estimated R600 000 (US$66 000) a kilo for mature horns, which average four to 4.5kgs in weight when they are sawn or hacked off close to the animal’s skull. The poachers themselves receive a fraction of the R2.4 million to R2.7 million ($264 000 to $300 000) value of each horn from the syndicates that plan the raids and export the material.

Logically, a permanent solution to poaching is to eliminate the demand for rhino horn altogether. Education will go a long way to teaching consumers that rhino horn contains no nutritional or medicinal value, however, education will not produce an immediate result – and results are needed urgently.

The Sabi Sand game reserve hopes that these two tactics, implemented for the first time in South Africa, will put a dent in the lucrative rhino horn trade. “The media in South Africa and globally maintain a close watch on the shrinking herds of our rhino,” Parker says. “The same platform can expose exactly what the poachers are up against from now on.

“They have had an easy ride so far, running a vast and brutal, hugely profitable trade under the noses of government authorities between here and Asia. Now we are forcing them to answer to their consumers about what they are passing off as medicine,” he adds.

Sabi Sand has launched a widespread media campaign and posted signs on its fences to make poachers aware that its rhinos have been poisoned.

Image 1: The dye is visible on an x-ray scanner even when ground to a fine powder.
Image 2: The chemicals injected into the horns are only harmful to humans who injest it.
(Images: Rhino Rescue Project)

Cadine Pillay for mediaclub

With the help of South African mobile telecommunications company Vodacom, and consumer company Godrej SA, Tammy Dutton ambitiously set up a 40-foot shipping container that was converted into two sound-proofed music classrooms for the children of Umlazi.

Each container classroom, donated by Godrej SA, has 12 guitars, three keyboards, two bass guitars, a drum kit, two microphones and five amplifiers; all instruments were bought by Godrej SA and Glenwood Village Music.

The music lessons are taught by a passionate young man named Nhlakanipho Mahoyi who is paid a small salary. Mahoyi is there on a formal basis, but is also present on an informal level to act as a role model and to help those children who spend extra time in the container practising their newly acquired skills.

Umlazi is home to many orphaned and vulnerable children and Dutton was placed in the region by the non-profit organisation, Noah, as part of its worldwide network of protective Arks. Being a volunteer for Vodacom Change The World, Dutton is also sponsored by Vodacom to be there.

She spends most of the day with children aged two to five years during school hours at the Ark at Sithokozise Primary School, part of Noah. She also runs an aftercare programme for children from Grade 1 all the way up to matric. “I noticed that the older children and teens got easily bored and needed something constructive to keep them entertained and off the street,” Dutton explains. ‘A minute learning an instrument is a minute off the street’

So she approached her friend, Andrew Ord, a musician, with the concept of a music school. “I approached Andrew with an idea to offer a music programme to these kids with the idea that a minute learning an instrument is a minute off the streets,” she says. “It is a healthy outlet that takes them a long time to master.” The two presented the concept to Godrej SA, which immediately wanted to get on board.

“What impressed me most was how everyone came together for the project,” Dutton says. “Glenwood Village Music provided us with instruments in a short space of time; Isivuno Containers gave us a huge discount on the container and teachers and community members pitched in as well,” she explains. “It is amazing what can be achieved when companies, suppliers and community members collaborate to create something that will benefit so many children.”

Although music has the ability to entertain and inspire, it is also capable of healing, building bridges and improving the lives of less fortunate people as well as of children. Dutton shares the story of a little girl who was extremely shy and hardly spoke: “I had the privilege of watching her fall in love with a guitar, slowly at first, just by touching it and feeling it beneath her fingers. Now she is learning to play and one can hardly recognise her.

“She is full of sunshine and smiles,” Dutton says proudly. Another little boy exhibited behavioural problems until he realised that he was a natural on any instrument placed in his grasp. “He ran out on to the street calling his friends and now they all spend most afternoons in the music container, constructively entertained.”

A library was also desperately needed by Sithokozise Primary School and Godrej SA, passionate about equipping children with as much as possible, generously donated another container that the Ark volunteers converted into a library. “The school can now use this whereas previously they had absolutely no space to even receive donations,” Dutton says. “All of the children were extremely humbled to receive new books – the first time for many of them.”

Image 1: Each container classroom has 12 guitars, three keyboards, two bass guitars, a drum kit, two microphones and five amplifiers. (Images: Vodacom)
Image 2: Vodacom Change The World volunteer Tammy Dutton has set up a 40-foot shipping container that was converted into two sound-proofed music classrooms for the children of Umlazi.

Cadine Pillay  for Mediaclub

An online price comparison app, Price Check is locally created and released. It has been nominated under the International Blackberry App of the Year category, which is open to businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as developers.

The awards recognise innovation, bringing to the fore the latest technological ventures. According to Blackberry, they aim to recognise the contributions of creative thinkers from across the globe.

“Being selected out of more than 100 000 Blackberry 10 apps worldwide is quite a milestone,” says Price Check GM, Andre De Wet, adding that as South Africans we can be pretty pleased about it. “It shows that what has been done locally on mobile is world class.”

Price Check was developed in 2006 by Kevin Tucker, who saw the advantages of online shopping. With one click of a button, it enables the average person looking for the best or the most affordable goods to compare prices from various online stores. Be it for viewing or purchasing, retailers can be certain that their products are seen by thousands of online shoppers.

It is available on Nokia, Android and Blackberry. Price Check has more than 860 000 visitors a month, 30-million products listed, 6 000 product categories and over 400 online shops. And with mobile technology penetrating deeper in Africa, the market for this and other apps is expanding.

It was shortlisted alongside the Hoyts cinema app and the Cooklet app.

The winner will receive a package prize consisting of one plane ticket to the Blackberry Live 2013 in Orlando, Florida, in the US; five Blackberry 10 smartphones; and a Blackberry service package that includes onsite training and certification aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of technical professionals working on the platform.

Winners will be announced between 14 and 16 May.

A technological revolution has taken place – Africa now has over 735-million mobile users, according to IBM, which in essence means that it has more users than the US as well as the EU. Technology levels continue to grow within the continent.

Africa is fast becoming a leading light in ICT, with countries such as Kenya using GPS devices to map, record and prevent deforestation. Kenya is one of the most advanced countries on the continent in terms of mobile innovation and technology.

One of its notable breakthroughs is M-Pesa, launched in 2007, which enables people to send and receive money with just the use of a mobile phone. M-Pesa had 620-million subscribers at the end of 2011 with 19-million in Kenya alone, says The East African, a weekly publication that focuses on economic and political issues in the region.

Nigeria has also seen growth in this field. Over a decade ago there were about 100 000 phone lines which were mostly run by state-owned telecoms operators. Today more than 100-million mobile phones are being used, making it Africa’s largest telecoms market, according to statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission.

An even more astonishing development was the development of Africa’s first Android tablet by a young entrepreneur from Congo, Verone Mankou. The “Way C” tablet is roughly the same size as a Samsung Galaxy tablet, and comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and 4GB of internal memory.

As new products and services are introduced, more and more Africans are keeping up with the times to ensure that they too are part of the revolution that is technology.

Image 1: Blackberry users around the world have chosen a South African app as one of their favourites for the International Blackberry App of the Year award. Price Check is one of three finalists. (Musa Mkalipi)
Image 2: GM at Price Check, Andre de Wet, believes that local mobile development is world class. (Silicon Cape Initiative)

Musa Mkalipi for Mediaclub

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Click here to read the follow up online article

As a sign of mourning and to express their outrage at the high levels of violence in the country, especially against women and children, participants wore black and beat djembe drums. Bobby Rodwell, Director of The Drumming Campaign says, “The event was incredible, with approximately 400 people coming to drum to express their outrage at the high levels of violence in the country, and join the community that says STOP the violence. It was quite spiritual, with so many people coming together in one voice. The location was perfect – very public, in and around Park Station, with Johannesburg city in the background. The campaign attracted numerous passers-by who joined in to beat a drum.”

Provantage facilitated the use of space at Park Station for The Drumming Campaign. Provantage was awarded the advertising rights to all PRASA stations in 2011 and contributed to this CSI initiative by securing the high traffic space at this busy transport node. “Violence against women and children is a growing concern for all South Africans and it was of utmost importance for us to be involved in the Drumming Campaign initiative. Park Station provided a perfect space for the activation as it is an accessible space, a meeting point and a place where various modes of transport converge, allowing the message to be heard loud and clear,” says Skhumbuzo Nkosi, Director at Provantage.

PRASA also expressed their support in this highly important initiative. “PRASA will continue to support initiatives that will enhance the dignity and safety of women and children in our country. We are proud to partner and support the Drumming Campaign. Our large media assets will always be available to bring about higher levels of awareness on the issues around children and women abuse. This campaign was a success story worth repeating in the future and we remain committed to partnerships that are engaged in the Fight against Women Abuse,” says Martin Chauke, Senior Manager Advertising, Intersite Investments – a subsidiary of PRASA.

Image: Drumming at Rissik Street Bridge

“We are very excited to have done this together so that the children of Mitchell’s Plain can spend their after-school hours in a safe, supervised environment,” says founder and athlete Leslie Pangemanan. It is his 9th Two Oceans in support of the foundation he established in 2004.

Run4Schools has raised millions since then. Four schools are currently under the organisation’s wings. “When I was 19, I was sent to Cape Town by the Dutch sports authority NOC/NSF, with the task to start a sports project in Mitchell’s Plain,” Pangemanan recalls, who is now 41 and working as a sports therapist in Amsterdam.

“Upon my return, these experiences led to the founding of Run4Schools. Due to poverty, many schools don’t have the capacity for after-care programmes,” je continues. “And even if they have the capacity, many parents in Mitchell’s Plain are too poor to afford the extra expense of after-care. As a result, many care givers have no choice but to leave children unsupervised until they get home. This makes youngsters easy preys for gangsters, drug dealers and crime. It made me sad and drove me to do something.”

Upon his return to The Netherlands, Pangemanan developed a plan to raise funds for after-care sports projects in Mitchell’s Plain by running races and marathons. “Hence the name of the organisation,” he explains, adding that he no longer runs on his own.

“During every major race, Dutch runners join us to fight for our cause. Back home in Holland, we’ve even established a running race (De Letterenloop /” The Run of Letters”) specifically for Run4Schools and Mitchell’s Plain,” adds Pangemanan, who is doing all of this on a voluntary basis.

The Two Oceans is without a doubt one of the main fundraising events. “The amount for this year stands at 68.000 euro or R800.000,” he notes. “This amount is likely to grow because more has been added since I last checked. This money will be spent on sports materials as well as the training and salaries of the coaches.”

As a result of the efforts of Run4Schools, 2500 to 3000 kids on a weekly basis and from four schools spend their after-school hours in a safe environment. Apart from after care-sports programmes, Run4Schools has established feeding schemes at some of the schools.

In addition, three schools have been equipped with artificial sports fields worth 60.000 euro each. “A couple of years back, one of our Two Oceans runners decided to do more than just running and donated these state of the art sports fields,” says Pangemanan.

Besides adding schools to his list, the Run4Schools founder dreams a real, world-class athletics track and coaching centre in Mitchell’s Plain. Presently schools and athletics clubs from the area are forced to use facilities in other parts of the city, including the Vygieskraal and Bellville Stadiums.

“Mitchell’s Plain deserves an athletics facility like any other area in Cape Town,” the athlete says. “There is massive talent in Mitchell’s Plain and we believe that a multi-purpose track will help nurture this talent and pull people out of poverty. This will produce many star performers in all disciplines, which will benefit the entire community.”

This first careful steps of realising this dream have been taken with a meeting between Run4Schools, The Mitchell’s Plain Education Forum, Glendale High School and other stakeholders on the Friday before the Two Oceans. Pangemanan: “A lot of work is needed before the track becomes a reality, but the first steps have been made.”

Image: The artificial sports field at Northwood Primary School. (Miriam Mannak)

www.run4schools.nl; www.run2oceans4schools.nl

A serious car accident made Claasen realise that life is too short to just “go through the motions,” and that “one should take calculated chances and live your dreams now”.

Having worked as a web strategy manager, Claasen had returned with the mindset of finding online solutions. Experiencing first hand the dangers of increased traffic congestion and sensing the need to alter travel behaviour in an ever growing population, Claasen created a ride-sharing platform which provides free online journey-matching, called FindaLift. It is now used by over 7000 people.

“Everyday, motorists drive around with empty seats in their cars, and with many commuting journeys being single occupancy, most cars on our roads have at least three empty seats in them,” says Claasen. “Empty seats waste road space and, indirectly, money.”

With fuel at R13 a litre and an increasing need to reduce carbon emissions, just how much are empty car seats costing the commuter and the environment? And how can we make better use of these empty seats? For many people sharing a journey could be a viable alternative transport option.

Sharing a modest commute of 25km to work and back each day for one year can keep money in your wallet and the environment clean.

For example,

• Sharing with 1 person saves around: R6 500 and 2.5t CO2

• Sharing with 2 persons save around: R8 670 and 5t CO2

• Sharing with 3 persons save around: R9 750 and 7.5t CO2

With so many people travelling in the same direction at roughly the same time each day, it could make a big impact if some of these journeys could be shared, so why aren’t we sharing journeys on a much bigger scale? One of the major reasons is that commuters are not aware of others driving their way on their time clock – or how to access such information.

Enter Findalift.co.za. The website is secure and only shows you other member’s intended travel information without revealing personal identities or information. A new member registers for free, creates a journey on the system and searches for matches. Once a potential match has been found, secure contact is made through the website and arrangements to share the journey can be communicated between members.

Michael Wilson from Hout Bay thinks Findalift.co.za: “is a very useful site”. After registering one morning, he ‘had a lift organised 30 mins later!” Dany de Pauw from Cape Town says, “I’ve seen sites like this in the USA and Europe but not as simple and user friendly – You deserve an Oscar for this!“ Charmaine Garcia from Stellenbosch syas, “Findalift.co.za is a brilliant service.”

I’ve always wanted to do something different and of value by starting my own business,” says Claasen. Findalift.co.za, is doing just that – giving commuters an alternative travel option and reducing traffic congestion on SA roads.

“I work here in the park – explains a vendor – selling chewing gums. Just as I do, many others deal with ice creams or fruit, others take passport photographs, others are painters or sell food. I come from abroad, and what I found here in Joubert is enough for a living. I can pay the rent and afford some meat, chips and a beer every day”.

Joubert park, moreover, hosts plenty of immigrants, mostly from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique or Zambia. “In certain seasons,” continues the vendor, “I can make good business with the immigrants who go back home and need to bring this or that product. I can provide them everything, because I know their needs. I often think about leaving here, leaving this country to look for fortune overseas. But then I understand here I have all I need, and this is the kind of life I like”.

In Joubert park and its surrounds, basically everything can be found, any problem solved. Moreover, a strong sense of community can grow. The users of the park, some of whom are unemployed, can enjoy the many social exchanges that happen, like religious gatherings, or sports games displayed on the maxi-screen at its centre. In fact, the right friendships, made watching a soccer game and playing chess or draughts, can open many doors.

This way the park becomes a fundamental safety valve to avoid social segregation and, as a result, crime.

“Why should people beg at the robots or go around stealing? They could sell flavored ice blocks or food. It’s easy enough to pay a rent in town, this way. In town you can always find a way without breaking the rules,” says another vendor.

Although crime still exists in the park, there is a difference between being inside or outside its gates. In Joubert a thief will promptly be identified and isolated, thanks to stronger community control amongst park vendors and users.

This closed ‘eco-system’ of the area also makes it a perfect example for a local micro-economy to thrive. The income of a vendor will directly be spent in loco for another internal purchase, creating an economic ring which covers a significant percentage of the money loops for each person involved. This seems to be enough to keep this network hub alive and working, and creates a micro-oasis at the centre of a tough reality that exists in downtown Johannesburg.

An old man remembers Joubert Park as a place where “movies were shown on the weekends, and occasionally ballets and plays were performed”. However, it seems that the true soul of the park and its eclectic nature have still stood the test of time.

Images 1-4: Scenes in Joubert Park