Sunday Tribune 2024-09-01

This Women’s Month, we at the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) proudly commemorate a milestone that is a testament to progress and a beacon of commitment: the 10th anniversary of our Women Empowerment Fund. Since its inception in 2014, the WEF has been at the forefront of revolutionising economic opportunities for black female entrepreneurs across South Africa, blending financial and non-financial support to foster growth and innovation in their ventures. Over the past decade, the WEF has made an indelible mark, disbursing an impressive R4.5 billion. The substantial investment has provided vital capital and catalysed significant growth across diverse sectors including construction, student accommodation and service stations. Our journey has been one of supporting resilient and visionary women who are transforming entrepreneurial dreams into thriving realities. The WEF stands out not…

While studying back in 2014, Julia Buchanan went from a side hustle designing a swimwear brand, JULIA, to putting her third limited collection onto the racks at Pick n Pay Clothing, and now mentors up-and-coming designers as part of the retailer’s Futurewear initiative. Buchanan was the first designer to join Futurewear, which the retailer runs in partnership with designer Gavin Rajah to nurture emerging fashion talent. Since its inception five years ago, the programme has identified several other young designers. One of them is Yamkela Mahlelehlele, who was recently named the first 2024 designer for the Futurewear incubator programme. Mahlelehlele has also benefited from Buchanan’s pay-it-forward philosophy. Mahlelehlele’s design career, which wasn’t her first choice, started when she began repurposing things she found in her childhood house. Her fondest moment…

ACTIVE non-alignment foreign policies of developing countries — such as those adopted by South Africa and many other countries — were turning the challenges and risks posed by the climate and energy transition into big opportunities, Standard Bank CEO Sim Tshabalala said on Friday. Speaking at the New Development Bank’s ninth annual meeting in Cape Town, he said climate change was “the most serious challenge we face in our time”, and like Standard Bank, countries should adopt foreign trade policies that mean “we face neither west nor west, we face forward”. He said many other countries currently adopted non-alignment foreign policies, including Australia, France, Brazil and India. The big challenges facing emerging markets in sourcing infrastructure and development funding and growing their economies currently were not insurmountable, and he cited…

The Durban Street Food Festival, the biggest of its kind in the city, returns to The Pavilion shopping centre from September 6 to 8 and features amazing food, drink stalls, demonstrations, pop-ups as well as amazing live music. Independent Media Lifestyle caught up with the festival founder Georgios Kretsos to find out what foodies can expect. Kretsos is one of the veterans of the events industry in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. His events pay homage to his love of music and food. “I have a deep passion for hospitality, which I channel through my events venue and bar, Aces Pizza which specialises in New York-style pizza,” he said. “Aces Pizza is not just about food; it’s a vibrant space dedicated to supporting the live music scene in Durban. My…

EVERYDAY experiences, good or bad, can leave us with a teachable moment. The same goes for celebrities, who find a silver lining in difficult situations, challenges or from their loved ones. Below we shine a spotlight on those who were not only able to overcome challenges but also learned to grow with them along the way. Bucie After taking a break from the music scene in 2017, following a decade-long career, Bucie is back and fans are buzzing with excitement. Bucie said she stepped away to focus on her record label and spend more time with her family. During her recent interview on Radio 2000, she opened up about her comeback story. Bucie said while many people had speculated that her ex-husband convinced her to stop making music, she was…

WHILE it is wonderful to be proud of home-cooked meals, prepared just the way your family has been eating them, you have no idea what exciting food adventures await you if you have not already tried the varied cuisines from around the world. Exploring new cuisines can be an enriching experience. It not only broadens your culinary horizons but also opens a door for you to learn about the different cultures they belong to. Here are six ways to expand your palate by exploring foods from other cultures. Travel The best way to learn about a culture and its customs is to be there! Catch a flight and immerse yourself in new people, food, and scenery. Mingle with locals to get their insight on the best authentic go-to restaurants, or…