Latest news with #Sandton
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Risa and Regenesys academic partnership ushers in a new era for South African retail
While retailers across the country were busy trading as usual, a historic milestone was quietly unfolding – one that could redefine the future of retail not just in South Africa but globally. A handful of determined leaders gathered in Sandton to formalise a groundbreaking alliance to professionalise the retail industry from the ground up. In a landmark moment for the retail sector, Regenesys Corporate Education and the Retail Institute of South Africa (Risa) have signed a strategic partnership aimed at elevating retail from a fallback employment option to a respected and aspirational career path. The signing ceremony, hosted at Regenesys' Sandton campus, was attended by key leadership from both organisations, marking what may well be remembered as a pivotal moment in the history of retail education. This collaboration is more than a typical academic partnership – it represents a systemic shift. As Nazim Cassim, founder of Risa, stated: "We are deeply committed to creating structured and recognised pathways for retail professionals to grow and thrive in the sector. With Regenesys, we've found a partner that shares our vision and has the global reach and academic depth needed to deliver on it." The partnership follows an extensive evaluation of prospective academic institutions. Regenesys was selected for its innovative learning platforms, global footprint, and proven capability to scale industry-relevant education. A vital outcome of this collaboration is the integration of the Risa Designation Implementation Toolkit into Regenesys' academic framework. This ensures that each professional designation will be underpinned by an accredited academic qualification, offering learners a complete and credible development pathway from entry-level to executive leadership positions. The model also embeds digital credentials, continuous professional development (CPD), and alignment with QCTO, SAQA, and industry standards. "At Regenesys, we empower conscious leaders," said Indherani Reddy, group chief operating officer of Regenesys Business School. "Our partnership with Risa enables us to extend this ethos into the retail landscape, which 2024 represented 20.7% of employment in SA. Providing relevant and accessible learning that's both recognised and transformative is central to our focus as Regenesys." In a bold move to cement accountability and long-term alignment, Risa has established a Joint Governance Committee chaired by Mobashra Cassim, Risa's co-founder and group legal liaison. This body will oversee the integration of frameworks, ensuring ethical implementation and responsiveness to the sector's evolving needs. "This is not just a curriculum alignment exercise," said Mobashra Cassim. "We're building the governance architecture that will shape the next generation of retail leaders – grounded in ethics, innovation, and measurable competence." Adding academic weight to the moment, Dr Vivian William, co-founder of Regenesys, expressed his full support and shared his fondest moments of the institute at the ceremony, highlighting the gravity of this partnership. "This partnership is timely and visionary. The Regenesys board is fully behind this strategic direction, and I applaud the team for contributing to a turning point in retail education and this unique partnership." Notably, this shift also opens the door to school leavers entering directly into a professionalised retail career – a significant departure from past norms where retail was seen as a temporary or secondary job choice. The new pathway invites students from matric into structured, respected, and rewarding career journeys. While unable to attend the signing ceremony due to international travel commitments, Tom Mkhwanazi, CEO of the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA), extended his congratulations on the partnership: "This is a significant milestone for the retail industry in South Africa. We are proud to support Risa's efforts in driving industry-relevant skills development, and we look forward to seeing the impact of this partnership unfold." Joel Dikgole, chairman of the Risa Board, was also in attendance, affirming the board's full commitment to advancing retail as a formally recognised profession. Transforming retail from "Payslip to Purpose" This partnership represents more than an academic handshake for South African retailers – it's a practical game changer. With over 100,000 new retail jobs added in the last year alone and leading retailers like Shoprite and Pick n Pay employing a combined 250,000+ individuals, the sector is vast yet undervalued. Millions are invested in fragmented training programmes that rarely lead to lasting career growth each year. This partnership redirects that investment into structured, accredited pathways that enhance skills and morale. Employers will benefit from improved retention, better service delivery, and a workforce that perceives purpose beyond the payslip. With Risa's designations encompassing all levels, from entry-level cashiers to c-suite directors, this is a professional ladder designed for the entire sector, not just the privileged few. Adding Risa's mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework ensures that retail workers remain certified, competitive, and continuously advancing. This is how we transition retail from high turnover to high performance – from overlooked jobs to lifelong professions. - The top retailers, Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, and Mr Price, now collectively employ over 300,000 people, including 163,000 at Shoprite and 90,000 at Pick n Pay, with Mr Price contributing an additional 32,000+. - Retail sales are increasing, with formal retail growing by 2.5% year-on-year in 2024 and 7% growth in early 2025, indicating market optimism and rising consumer demand. Risa has already secured strategic agreements with leading key retailers. While it continues to finalise these partnerships, this collaboration with Regenesys marks the beginning of a new chapter where retail becomes a career of choice rather than chance. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
News24
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
The Londie London Hair Genie competition gives hope to young braiders
Supplied The reality TV star launched the Londie London Hair Genie competition to support young braiders across SA. At least 13 finalists from different provinces battled it out in Sandton. The top five shared the R200 000 prize money and vouchers to use on the Afrotex website. @citypressza All these hairstyles were done by different hairstylists who were competing for the Londie London Hair Genie Competition! Such creativity 🙌 Congratulations to the winners! ♬ Reflections on 52nd - AGM3 In April 2023, reality TV star, musician and entrepreneur Londiwe 'Londie London' Zulu launched what she called the longest braid in Africa. Two years later, she has contributed to the growth of young braiders' businesses across the country through the Londie London Hair Genie competition, which started last year. Recently, 13 braiders from different provinces battled it out during the competition finale in Sandton. The journey began last April when the braiders posted their work using the Londie London Braid on social media. The second phase of the competition featured the top 30 contestants. 'The competition has been successful. It also encourages hairstylists to be bold and try new things. Some people get bored with just doing a regular hairstyle; they want to do something out of the box. So, this also serves as a chance for them to showcase their talent,' she said. She added that last year's winners shared the R100 000 prize, which doubled this year. The winner, Bernice Momina, took home R30 000 in cash and a R15 000 voucher to use on the Afrotex website. The model she worked with won R15 000 in cash and a R5 000 voucher. Supplied Zulu spoke about her partnership with Afrotex, saying it took them three years to develop the Londie London Braid. 'I have tried a lot of things, everybody knows that. The braid business found me. Afrotex wanted to work with me because I was hectic on braiding, especially when I was a musician. I said if I am going to have a braid line, it has to be the best one with the best texture because I understand braiding and I can braid,' she said. The musician, who is currently working on an EP, said she balanced her busy schedule with prayer and the gym. She added that she was grateful for her mother because she helped her take care of her two children. Zwivhuya Tshifularo, a braider from Madombidzha in Limpopo, took second place. She attributed her success to God, saying: 'God kept His promise yet again.' The 23-year-old said the R20 000 cash prize came at a perfect time as she was working on a new business venture to be launched in August. Tshifularo initially pursued accounting science at the University of Johannesburg but dropped out in her final year to focus on entrepreneurship, aligning with her passion for the beauty industry. She started braiding when she was 11 and wanted to create neat, long-lasting, yet pain-free braids. The hairstylist said her journey to the finale had been overwhelming and filled with sleepless nights. I've been working hard in the braiding industry and I've always anticipated moments such as these where I could showcase my craft. My work is faith-centred and I believe God is doing the work and I'm just a vessel. Zwivhuya Tshifularo Tshifularo's winning hairstyle was inspired by Youth Month and the resilience of the braiders. 'I have always felt like hairdressers were not recognised for their craft and the impact they have on people's lives, putting a smile on people's faces and giving them confidence in their beauty. For Afrotex to give me an opportunity that I have longed for for years, it made so much sense for me to thank them through the craftsmanship of my work,' she said. Supplied Tshifularo's vision is to teach people that beauty lies in braiding hair and help those in the industry perfect their craft. 'I want to teach people to fall in love with every braid before money. I also want to let people know that you can make a good living out of braiding, because I know it's often undermined,' she said. Magcino Nzima, Refiloe Maleka and Phumla Ngomane won the third, fourth and fifth places, respectively. Everyone who did not make it to the top five got R2 000 for participating. Zulu announced the opening of Londie Beauty Shop in Sandton and invited hairstylists to contact her for jobs.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Making a lasting impact: How data and corporate commitment can reshape ECDs in South Africa?
With nearly one million South African children still excluded from the early childhood development (ECD) ecosystem, urgent collaboration is needed to meet the country's 2030 early learning targets. An educator teaches young children as part of an early learning programme. Speaking at the 2025 Trialogue Business in Society Conference, FirstRand Group head of social investing, Kone Gugushe emphasised the pivotal role corporates can play in transforming early learning outcomes – calling for long-term, data-driven investment to help bridge the gap. The conference was held at The Galleria in Sandton, Johannesburg under the theme 'Driving impact, Inspiring change'. Strengthening ECD for lasting impact: a panel discussion at the Trialogue Business in Society Conference The FirstRand Foundation was one of six corporate sponsors who partnered with Trialogue to discuss pressing matters impacting the corporate social investment and development in South Africa. The Foundation and Trialogue presented a panel discussion entitled 'Strengthening early childhood development for lasting impact'. Kone Gugushe, head of social investing at FirstRand Group Gugushe was joined on the panel by Kulula Manona (head of the Chief Directorate on early childhood development in the Department of Basic Education [DBE]); Sonja Giese (executive director of DataDrive 2030); and Sizwe Nxasana (former FirstRand CEO and founder of Sifiso Learning Group). Prior to the panel discussion, Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, highlighted the need for sector collaboration to improve ECD outcomes in the country. FirstRand's two decades of impact in ECD FirstRand is a leader in the ECD space. It has supported more than 4,000 ECD centres over the past 20 years, affecting the lives of around 200,000 children. It has also trained more than 17,000 teachers. This long-term commitment has allowed it to tackle some of the more stubborn problems in the sector that shorter funding cycles tend to bypass. In the last four years, FirstRand has invested over R100m in initiatives such as: - ECD practitioner capacity building - Digital literacy training for teachers and learners - Development of learner resources - Support for learners with disabilities FirstRand is data-led, and this is one of the game-changers ECD needs, said Manona. She highlighted the Thrive By Five Index, a nationally represented dataset, which has helped the sector to understand the bigger picture. Importantly, using data to shift practices produces results in a relatively short space of time, according to Giese. This has the potential to dramatically shift outcomes for young children in years to come. 'There are very few things you can fix in four years, but four years can change the entire life of a four-year-old,' Giese pointed out. She challenged funders to adopt a 'growth mindset', however, and not use data simply to assess competency or compliance. 'We don't want to use data to tell our story – we want to use it to change our story,' she explained, adding that curiosity and a continuous learning mindset can make a big difference. Data shouldn't be collected solely for academic or donor reporting – rather, it should be democratised and used as a tool for creative-problem solving, said Giese. Funders and boards should be open to course-correction based on new evidence. She noted the value of learning from positive deviance, where some low-income ECD programmes outperform their well-off peers, offering insights for broader replication. 'A data-smart ECD ecosystem needs a clear mandate, tools that can be embedded in the data value chain, and data literacy so we can use data to shift behaviour and become thought leaders in the education space,' she asserted. She also urged corporates to deploy multi-year budgets, flexible funding, and non-financial assets to support ECD throughout the full learning cycle. The challenge of professionalising ECD While the panellists agreed on the need to professionalise ECD, Nxasana warned of the dangers of doing so without care. 'It is vital that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which is responsible for accreditation, works closely with the DBE, nonprofits and other stakeholders to ensure we don't collapse what is working, and fix what isn't currently working,' he said. ECD practitioners shouldn't be expected to professionalise in the manner of school teachers, especially as there are crucial factors to be taken into account in a child's first 1,000 days, including cognitive development and social welfare. 'ECD is not about imposing formal teacher models. It's about holistic development – cognitive, emotional, and physical,' he pointed out. At the same time, we need to be realistic about the tools and platforms ECD practitioners use. For example, WhatsApp has proved adequate for 'gogos' and young women running their ECD businesses from back rooms or garages in townships or rural villages, said Nxasana. He highlighted the need to build accessible, community-rooted training institutions, especially as there are no dedicated ECD colleges in the country. Each panellist asserted that the success of ECD systems hinges on well-supported practitioners. Professionalising the sector must go hand-in-hand with improved working conditions, secure and dignified wages, and ongoing mentorship and coaching. Gugushe said ECD practitioners also need access to resources, networks and ongoing support to strengthen their capabilities. As Manona noted, quality teaching is one of the five key pillars in the DBE's strategy for early learning – a strategy that must include scalable, affordable, and flexible pathways for ECD success.
Daily Maverick
12-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Your address in South Africa for high quality furnishings: ROCHE BOBOIS
Roche Bobois is a high-end furniture brand created in France over 60 years ago. The brand is present in Cape Town since 2015 and Sandton since 2017 in South Africa. However, we deliver monthly all over the country, including other neighbouring countries in Africa (Nigeria, Zambia, Namibia ,Zimbabwe. Roche Bobois is a unique editor of luxury furniture pieces from sofas to tables/beds/accessories. Most of our best-selling pieces are sought after worldwide, such as the famous Bubble sofa by Sacha Lakic. Our products are manufactured in workshops and factories in Europe. Each workshop specializes in a particular product line, allowing us to offer our customers flexibility in finishes. Indeed, if you don't opt for stock items, your furniture can be ordered under your name with your own finishes and dimensions. Hundred of options for some products! This is an incredible luxury for pieces produced in Europe. Only the most high-end brands can afford to offer this service to customers. Did you know that all our products are designed by renowned designers? Services for VIPs Roche Bobois offers a complete range of services to assist clients with their choices and make life easier. These services include: Creation of specific moodboards. Production of 3D renderings. Decorating advice and measurements. Delivery Additional services such as Matterport scans or photoshoots of your home after product delivery can be arranged at an extra cost. Roche Bobois is unique Unique as this is the one of the only luxury brands able to provide furniture and décor from A to Z for your home. Unique because we have 2 new collections per year and dozens of new products. Unique because some of the high end Haute Couture Maison are working closely with us as Missoni, Kenzo Takada, Jean Paul Gaultier. Unique also because each year the brand propose a new collaboration with an architect, a celebrity or else to bring new and fresh idea to the brand. New collection will be designed by Pedro Almodovar himself. Unique also as we are one of the only brand developing only eco-designed new collections to protect our planet. All materials used are checked and traceable. The owners of Roche Bobois South Africa and Mauritius, Bernard and Sandrine, love details. From the warm cappuccino in winter or a glass of bubbly in summer upon arrival, to live piano on specific Saturdays, to the execution of your project on time and on budget. The training and well-being of local teams is paramount. We benefit from an online 'university' for training courses open to all our colleagues. Our managers travel each year to Paris to select new products for their showroom and further develop their design culture. We're delighted to see our local projects being republished around the world for their originality and beauty. We have a strong base of loyal customers who help us to grow. DM Do not wait to visit or contact us: Cape Town: 0212860793 – 26 Hudston st , De Waterkant
News24
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Teko Modise on life after football and turning his passion for fashion into profit
Teko Modise is a former football player who played for clubs such as Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns. He was also a Bafana Bafana midfielder. Modise retired in 2019. Since then, he has been more visible in the fashion fraternity, pushing the envelope. He shares that he has loved fashion even during his football days, but at the time, he wanted to be known only for football. Few would have guessed that former football star Teko Modise would turn to fashion after hanging up his boots in 2019. But today, he stands out as one of South Africa's leading male-style figures, pushing boundaries with every look. Speaking to City Press at the Johnnie Walker Blue Polo, which was held at the Inanda Club in Sandton on Sunday, the former Orlando Pirates midfielder said he had always had an eye for fashion. However, when he still played football, he wanted to be known solely for that, he explained. Once his focus shifted from being on the field, he began paying more attention to his love for fashion. Supplied Modise said he had become more expressive and enjoyed life more since he retired, adding that he wanted that to be exuded through fashion. Stylish and elegant, Modise wore a light blue tailored suit that proved to be a more fashion-forward choice than the typical tuxedo. 'Maybe it's because now, I have so much time, and I am able to take pictures as well,' he said, adding: I have always been drawn to fashion, but I have always wanted to be known as a footballer. My close friends are not surprised about where I am, because they know that I have always been that person. Now I have rediscovered myself. I am kinder to myself. I love myself a little bit more, and I appreciate a lot of things about myself a little bit more. Having been dressed by fashion designers Mmuso Potsane and Maxwell Boko, who co-own a fashion house called MmusoMaxwell for this particular event, Modise candidly shared how he did not know them, nor had he worked with them before, but said he was excited to try out something new. @citypressza We are out playing with your faves at the Johnny Walker Blue Label polo happening today in Sandton. Celebratities, influencers and influencers came out prepared with fashion statements! #johnnywalker #jonnywalkerbluelabel ♬ NOTHING - Westover 'That also opened my mind because I knew that it was something out of my element; something new. I always try to push the boundaries a little bit. I did my due diligence, trying to find out who they were. They mostly do women's stuff; they do dope stuff, so I was excited to see then what it was that would come about. When I met them, I just knew,' he said. Modise, who also works in broadcasting and the corporate space, said his and the designers' energies just clicked when they met. He added that he was grateful to have met them and to have been dressed by them. The Hollywoodbets Purple Team brand ambassador, who also goes all out for his Durban July looks, said when he discussed his look for the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Polo event with the designers, he did not know what he wanted, so he gave them full creative rights. He shared that all he did was tell them what he liked and did not like, and they created their magic. The Johnnie Walker Blue influencer shared that he just wanted something he had never worn before—a statement piece. He added that he enjoyed his look. @citypressza Fashion show by fashion designer Diane Paris at the Johnny Walker Blue Label Polo in Sandton. ♬ MI CHIQUITA - Alexander McCabe The Prestigious Group founder said he was now monetising his love for fashion and hinted that something was brewing with African Fashion International (AFI). He said they have signed a contract for a collaboration. The MmusoMaxwell founders, who also dressed influencer Sarah Langa for the event, said dressing Modise and Langa was in line with them stepping out of their comfort zone in terms of their brand. They shared that their brand was more focused on working women who knew their style and not easily influenced. 'Sarah is wearing our classic bishop-sleeve shirt with tailored pants. It's something that was taken from our men's wear collection, but we gave it a feminine edge to suit Sarah's style. Teko is wearing our AW25 (autumn/winter 2025) collection from the men's wear, so we changed the colour to suit the polo,' explained Potsane. Supplied The two who have partnered with Johnnie Walker shared that they were sceptical about dressing people for the polo, but once they found out that it was Langa, who had bought designs from them before, and Modise, who also loved fashion, they were relieved. They said it was easy to work with both Langa and Modise, adding that they looked forward to more collaborations. Celebrities and influencers, including Jessica Nkosi, Khosi Thwala, former Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert, Siyanda 'Siya Bunny' Bani, Yaya Mavundla and Thandi 'Blue' Mbombo, came out to enjoy the polo match and made fashion statements.
