Latest news with #Diepsloot
Mail & Guardian
12-07-2025
- Mail & Guardian
Alcohol adverts see young black people only as a market
Underage drinking: A tavern in Diepsloot. Young people are being lured into consumption by manufacturers and marketers. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy In the townships, billboards glamourise alcohol as a marker of success, style and independence, and it's no accident who the adverts are speaking to — young, black and aspirational people. Across South Africa, teens to 35-year-old black people are being sold an identity that is tied to the bottle because they are a profitable market. It's a tactic with deep roots. During apartheid, the infamous 'dop system' saw black and coloured farmworkers in the Cape winelands paid in alcohol, fuelling generational cycles of dependence. Apartheid leaders used 'liquor freedom' to dampen political opposition and generate revenues for the bantustans — and the alcohol industry cashed in on the ride. Today, the method has changed but the motive has not. Big Liquor continues to extract value from the most vulnerable, not by force, but by fantasy. The fantasy of glamour, success, and 'black excellence' — bottled and branded. In this country, heavy drinking is linked to more than But make no mistake: this crisis has been engineered. It is not simply the outcome of personal choices, it is the product of a calculated marketing system that targets youth where they live, learn and scroll. Tactics of targeting Alcohol brands concentrate their adverts in black townships, on the walls of bottle stores that sit just metres from schools. Liquor outlets in close proximity to schools On TV, alcohol commercials flood programmes popular with black youth, portraying drinking as essential to being cool, respected or successful. A S These messages are further amplified by social media, where alcohol brands work with influencers, many of them young, black people, to push products at parties and music events. To teenagers, these posts don't look like adverts. They look like an aspirational life. And that's exactly the point. Add to that celebrity endorsements and sponsorships, and excessive advertising at sports engagements, and the message is relentless: drinking is what the glamorous, accomplished and confident do. Especially if they look like you. The industry is strategic even in its segmentation. Bigger than South Africa This is not just a South African story. It's a global playbook. In the United States, black and Hispanic neighbourhoods have historically been flooded with alcohol and cigarette billboards, while white suburbs remained untouched. Cognac brands such as Hennessy targeted African-American consumers so aggressively in the 1980s that In Kenya, authorities ordered the And yet in South Africa, where the We cannot continue to let an industry that profits from trauma define the futures of our youth. We cannot allow 'black excellence' to be sold to us through bottles, billboards and branded content. There is no single fix, but there is a clear path forward. Yes, the draft Liquor Amendment Bill, languishing in the department of trade, industry and competition since 2016, should be passed. It proposes raising the drinking age from 18 to 21, banning ads that target minors and preventing liquor outlets from trading within 500 metres of schools. But the real work is deeper and longer-term. We need to reclaim the public and digital spaces where young people gather. We must elevate music, mentorship, sport and storytelling that doesn't rely on alcohol to be compelling. We must support youth initiatives that build real confidence. Above all, we must challenge the idea that alcohol is part of becoming 'a somebody'. It's time to say: enough. Our culture is not your campaign. Our future is not for sale. Alcohol advertising sees young black people as a market. We see them as the future. Kashifa Ancer is the campaign manager for Rethink Your Drink, an alcohol harm reduction campaign by the DG Murray Trust.
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Skubu refill store debuts in South Africa, slashing plastic waste and costs
Reportedly South Africa's first-of-a-kind refill store, Skubu, with the aim to reduce single-use plastic packaging, has officially launched in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, by Sonke in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), under the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund. The retail concept model helps reduce plastic waste by allowing shoppers to refill essential goods, such as cooking oil, maize meal, sugar and cleaning products, using their containers, offering significant cost savings for lower-income households. Sonke is a technology startup that designs, manufactures and manages internet of things (IoT)-enabled automated refill stations. Sonke's exclusive back-end software provides full traceability of stock movement through the supply chain from receipt through dispatch, machine restocking and sale to the shopper. The launch of Skubu marks a significant step in integrating circular economy principles into retail, demonstrating how innovation and sustainable business practices can benefit communities. Beyond environmental benefits, the demonstrator also tackles food security by allowing lower-income citizens to access quality products in smaller quantities at more affordable prices. Speaking at the launch, Professor Linda Godfrey, CSIR principal researcher who leads Circular Innovation South Africa, a DSTI initiative hosted by the CSIR, said, 'Skubu is a great demonstration initiative to show how circular economy principles can be implemented through collaboration. The intention is to focus on the national system of innovation, which looks at how a country creates and applies new ideas to improve technology and grow its economy. This includes bringing universities and science councils closer to the private sector to help de-risk and scale circular interventions,' she explained. She also emphasised the importance of collaboration in tackling plastic pollution and improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities. Dr Mmboneni Muofhe, DSTI Deputy Director-General of Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships, highlighted how this initiative leverages science and economic innovation to advance the circular economy. The DSTI initiated the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund under the administration of the CSIR. Through this fund, the CSIR provided technical support to Sonke by investigating potential sites that would maximise the effectiveness of the Skubu machines. Furthermore, the CSIR analysed the data collected by the IoT-enabled refill station to assess the feasibility of establishing a successful and sustainable proof of concept in the market. 'As a government, we are taking a dual approach through the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund initiative, protecting the environment while using science, technology and innovation to foster enterprise development and create employment,' said Muofhe. These stations not only eliminate up to 100% of single-use plastic packaging but they also enable consumers to save up to 50% by standardising the price per litre across different refill sizes, making every purchase a savvy choice.
Eyewitness News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ allocates R3bn to revamp CBD
JOHANNESBURG - The City of Joburg has now put plans to revamp the CBD on paper, with R3 billion allocated to improve conditions in the area. But this R3 billion is not exclusive to the city centre, as it will also go towards refurbishing other underdeveloped communities is Johannesburg. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds announced during her budget speech on Wednesday that Eldorado Park, Lenasia South, Diepsloot and Orange Farm would also benefit from the money. Opposition parties in Johannesburg are concerned about the metro's efforts to revamp the CBD, arguing that the area needs a dedicated budget of its own. They believe the R3 billion allocated to underdeveloped communities was not enough, given the extent of decay in some areas. But Arnolds said city's departments also have their own individual budgets allocated specifically for the rejuvenation of the CBD. "These allocations include bulk infrastructure upgrades, human settlements support, and roads and stormwater systems linked to economic nodes." The Gauteng government is also running its own programme intended to rejuvenate Johannesburg's CBD.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Manzi Water debuts automated refill store, Skubu
Manzi Water, part of the Skubu Project, has opened a refill store, aimed at reshaping how South Africans access essential goods while advancing the circular economy, in Diepsloot, Gauteng. Located at Chuma Mall, this innovative initiative represents a significant step forward in affordable, sustainable consumption and access to everyday essentials in underserved communities. The Skubu Project is led by Sonke Retail in partnership with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), made possible through the Circular Economy Demonstration Fund. The initiative is also supported by TransForm, a global partnership involving Unilever, the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and Ernst & Young (EY). Described as the first store of its kind globally, Skubu enables consumers to purchase only what they need through smart, automated refill machines, offering essential items at fixed rand-per-litre prices while eliminating single-use plastic packaging. The model provides up to 50% savings compared to conventional retail, delivering measurable impact in both affordability and sustainability. Manzi Water is honoured to be featured among the trusted brands selected for this visionary platform, offering safe, clean, and affordable drinking water to the Diepsloot community at a price of just R1.00 per litre. "We are incredibly proud that Manzi Water is part of this groundbreaking development," said Alfred Challis, CEO of Manzi Water. "Our inclusion in the SKUBU Project underscores our commitment to making safe, clean drinking water accessible to all, and we are excited to see the positive impact this will have in Diepsloot." Challis also expressed his appreciation to Ebenhaezer De Jongh, CEO of Sonke Retail, for the opportunity to contribute to this pioneering model for inclusive and sustainable retail. 'Eben's vision and leadership made this possible,' Challis said. 'We are grateful to play a part in something that meaningfully improves access to essentials and supports circular innovation in local communities.' Challis further thanked internal stakeholders Pasquale and Belinda Frese, owners of multiple Manzi Water outlets in Johannesburg, whose belief in the vision and willingness to join the bold initiative were instrumental in positioning Manzi Water alongside such influential partners. Their initiative not only credits them as Licensees but also significantly strengthens Manzi Water's presence in meaningful spaces that align with its core mission. Manzi Water looks forward to contributing to the success of this pilot initiative and anticipates that SKUBU will serve as a scalable model for sustainable development across South Africa, opening future possibilities for all Licensees across the network.
The Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald
HIV patient testing falls in SA after US aid cuts, data shows
Given a summary of the data, Foster Mohale, a spokesperson for the department of health, said more analysis was needed and SA had challenges with patient retention and viral load testing before the aid cuts. HIV experts have said for months the health ministry was downplaying the impact of the funding loss, and a drop in testing figures might be an early warning sign, followed by a rise in new cases and deaths. The US state department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 'This data demonstrates what previous models have shown regarding the impact of Pepfar/USAID cuts on pregnant women and their infants,' said Dvora Joseph Davey, an epidemiologist working on maternal and infant HIV at the University of Cape Town. She said the impact was clear at five public health clinics where she works in Cape Town, which since the US aid cuts have been under-staffed, with fewer nurses to draw blood needed for viral load tests. HIV experts said diagnostic testing was also likely affected by the funding cuts, though that data was not available. The counsellors who used to do rapid diagnostic HIV tests are also gone, and pregnant women are no longer being put on preventive HIV drugs (PrEP) because the counsellors are the ones who used to offer that, Davey said. In the Johannesburg township of Diepsloot, HIV activist and community leader Sophy Moatshe said it was hard to get HIV patients to seek care because of the stigma, and without health workers reaching out when they miss an appointment, many fall through the cracks. 'These people, they don't want to go to the clinic,' she said outside a community centre. 'If there is nobody to check them, they're going to die.' The long-term future of HIV-related US assistance remains uncertain in SA and globally, as Trump pursues cuts to the international aid budget in line with his 'America First' agenda. The cuts have also hit research, including HIV vaccine trials. Mohale said the government was speaking to prospective local and international donors about covering funding gaps, but declined to give details. Davey said the data on testing in April, however, was 'a good indication of what's going to happen in the future'. Reuters
