Latest news with #Sello
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- The Citizen
Magaliesburg gun battle: Suspected illegal mining clash leaves 12 dead
A deadly shoot-out in Magaliesburg, believed to be linked to illegal mining, in the early hours of July 18, claimed the lives of 12 people and left another nine injured. Police suspect the violence erupted between zama zama groups. Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Dimakatso Sello stated they are investigating the exact circumstances that led to the shooting. 'We were informed of the shooting incident at a closed mine, and when we got there, officers found the bodies of nine men and two women inside a dilapidated building. It was reported that 10 other victims were taken to the hospital, where one woman later died,' Sello said. She added that the exact motive for the shooting cannot be confirmed at this stage. Police are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects to please call the nearest police or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information can also be given anonymously via the MySAPS App that can be downloaded on any smartphone. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Don't overcommit, warns Sello as Gallants change hands
Marumo Gallants head coach Lafitte Alexandre, chairman Abram Sello and assitant coach Julen Outrebon. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Maumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello is like a cat with nine lives - he continues to survive the whirlwind of businessmen who buy a PSL status only to fail in the end. Sello burst into the local football scene in 2021 after buying the status of Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila who had just bought Bidvest Wits. His joy in top-flight football was short-lived due to poor administration, resulting in Gallants being relegated to the second tier division after two seasons. Sello's bogus administration then included being unable to cater for the team's needs on the continent during their CAF Confederation Cup's campaign As such, this resulted in two club officials being detained in Libya due to the money Sello owed to a notorious businessman who had footed his hotel bill. Before the season ended, the club and the players were allegedly on loggerheads over bonus rows after the team qualified for the Confederation Cup semi-final. Sello stayed for one season in the national first division before resurfacing in the top-flight last season after buying the status of Moroka Swallows. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bahlabane Ba Ntwa have retained their status in the top-flight, but the sale and purchase of status in the statuses during winter transfer window has continued willy-nilly. As such, Gallants will have arch-rivals Siwelele FC in Bloemfontein next season after the son of sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, Calvin Le John, bought SuperSport United. Sello, though, has advised what Le John and other new chairmen must do and avoid in order not to make the same mistake he did when he arrived in the PSL. 'The challenge at the top, as we know, is finance,' Sello said. 'Finance can be run by an individual - auditors - so get the right people to advise you. 'Secondly, commit what you can. Don't be overwhelmed and sit at the corner and satisfy conditions that'll haunt you. Yes must be yes, and no must be no. 'Don't look at what the club has been doing - look at what you can do, who's advising you and the calibre of players you keep at the club.' Sello added it's hard to run a football club without a sponsor in the PSL, and that's why some bosses end up forking up monies from their own pockets to run operations. 'This is a very difficult position to be in,' Sello admitted. 'Our chairman, Dr Irvin Khoza, used to say as a chairman you are always working hard. 'You throw your last cent into the club. When your son comes and asks for R5 you say you don't have it, but when a player asks for R6 you give him immediately. 'So, that's how it is. It is about passion and developing other people's careers. But it's not a child's play - it's very difficult, especially financially. 'You have to prove that you can get the sponsors, and all those particular things. But at the end of the day, you go home with your subsidies to supplement the monthly grant. 'It's not as easy as one may think. It's nice to watch the game on TV, but to run things behind the scenes, you definitely don't sleep.' Now a bit wiser after paying his school fees for misadministration, Sello has revealed how he managed to slightly change things around last season. 'I think the mistake that we do as the leaders of the clubs is to overcommit according to the people you are sourcing,' Sello explained. 'Don't overcommit according to the people you are outsourcing. Don't go over your line of expenditures. Not everybody will laugh. Commit to what you can afford. 'Also, satisfy your people. You are as good as your employees. So, satisfy the people around you. There'll be problems, but be ready to solve them. 'There'll be some disputes, but be ready to go and answer before the disciplinary committee. And amicably sort everything out.'
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Gallants back youth and vision as 28-year old Alexandre takes the helm
Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello says new 28-year-old head coach Lafitte Alexandre was appointed for his vision and hunger, not his age or nationality, as the club targets top-eight success in the upcoming PSL season. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Age or nationality is neither here nor there for Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello when it comes to appointing a new head coach. Gallants have named Lafitte Alexandre as their new head coach, replacing Abdeslam Ouaddou, who recently joined Orlando Pirates. At just 28-years old, Alexandre becomes the youngest coach in the DStv Premiership ahead of the new campaign. But this is not unfamiliar territory for Gallants, who previously appointed 31-year-old Romain Folz. Although Folz's stay at the club was brief, he went on to make a name for himself at Horoya AC, Fifa, AmaZulu, and Mamelodi Sundowns. Speaking at Alexandre's unveiling at Hotel Sky in Sandton on Monday — alongside the club's new signings — Sello explained their approach to recruitment. 'I think as our payline, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, when we look for someone, we really mean business,' Sello said. 'We happen to be lucky by speaking to the right people — we study first, check the profiles, and consult. With that help, it makes us feel great about the candidate. 'We had previous coaches where the media said, 'look how young he is'. But they ended up at Mamelodi Sundowns, Fifa, AmaZulu or Horoya. That kind of development makes us proud, especially if you look at where Romain Folz and Abdes (Ouaddou) are right now. 'We just wish them luck when they go elsewhere. We don't block anyone's way up the ladder, coach or player, because they were with us.' Though Gallants have shown a pattern of hiring French-speaking coaches — with Alexandre and Folz both French, and Ouaddou holding French nationality — Sello denied there was any national bias. 'It's not necessarily French or Moroccan,' Sello clarified. 'We were looking at the profile and the intention of the candidate to understand our vision and mission. 'We interviewed a number of coaches and chose the one aligned with our club's growth and his hunger for success. We will give him the platform to develop himself and the club. It's not about nationality — the profile and intention are key.' Alexandre joins Gallants with a lofty reputation. The 29-year-old led Stade Abidjan to their first Ivorian title in 56 years during the 2023/24 season and guided the team to the CAF Champions League group stage at just 25-years old. Sello believes Alexandre's credentials speak for themselves — but he's not expecting miracles. 'We expect much when we look at his profile,' Sello said. 'We wish and anticipate that he can do what he did before, but it's difficult to win the league. After finishing in the semi-finals of both the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup, we want to get to a final. 'In the league, we're aiming for a better position — closer to the title, as a dream. If things go well for him, we could get there. But let's start simple — get a Top 8 finish.'
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- The Citizen
Visually impaired UKZN students get boost with AI smart glasses
The future of five visually impaired UKZN students is looking much brighter and clearer after the institution secured them a life-changing pair of Envision Smart AI Glasses to aid them with their studies, Berea Mail reports. 'For the first time, I feel like I won't be left behind. I can do things on my own, read my notes and slides in the lecture hall and recognise my friends. I finally have control,' said Bright Sello, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student upon being told that he will be one of the recipients of the artificial intelligence (AI) glasses. Sello, Thandeka Ngcobo, Londiwe Ndaba, Siboniso Mabuza and Thembisa Xolo were awarded the life-changing glasses. Sello, who is partially sighted, struggled to navigate the academic environment. Lectures were particularly daunting for him. 'I often sat in class unable to follow along because I couldn't read what was on the screen or see what the lecturer was pointing to,' he said. 'I had to rely heavily on classmates or tutors after hours to help me catch up, which made me feel like I was always lagging behind.' The Envision Glasses, equipped with a high-definition camera embedded in lightweight frames built on the Google Glass platform, use AI and have the ability to read printed and digital text, recognise faces, navigate environments and access real-time descriptions of their surroundings – all through discreet audio feedback. Each pair of glasses costs about R75 000 and comes with lifetime software updates and technical support. The university managed to secure the students a pair of the R75 000 smart glasses through the efforts of the UKZN Foundation, which approached assistive technology provider Sensory Solutions (Pty) Ltd to donate these glasses to the university's Disability Support Unit. 'The impact of the glasses extends far beyond the classroom. Imagine being able to read a printed timetable independently for the first time, confidently find your way to a lecture venue or recognise your lecturer or classmates in a crowd,' said Amith Ramballie, the head of the university's Disability Support Unit. He said: 'This milestone is particularly significant because no other university in South Africa currently offers students access to this device. While wearable assistive technology has existed for years, previous models were often more expensive or lacked functionality and reliability.' His excitement was shared by Mukthar Khan of Sensory Solutions, the exclusive distributor of Envision Glasses in the country. He added: 'UKZN is the ideal launch partner for this technology in South Africa. We've seen a genuine commitment to inclusion from the university and a thoughtful, student-first approach that aligns perfectly with what this technology aims to achieve.' Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
05-06-2025
- IOL News
Revolutionising Education: UKZN provides AI glasses to empower visually impaired students
UKZN visually impaired students proudly showcase their new Envision Smart AI Glasses. Image: Supplied The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has made history as the first university in South Africa to provide visually impaired students with cutting-edge Envision Smart AI Glasses, a powerful assistive device that uses artificial intelligence to help users navigate the world with greater independence and confidence. The five recipients, Bright Sello, Thandeka Ngcobo, Londiwe Ndaba, Siboniso Mabuza, and Thembisa Xolo, were selected through a rigorous process led by the University's Disability Support Unit (DSU). Each pair of glasses, valued at R75 000, was donated by Sensory Solutions (Pty) Ltd following a request from the UKZN Foundation. The Envision Glasses, built on the Google Glass platform, use a high-definition camera to capture visual information and instantly convert it into audio feedback. This allows users to read printed and digital text, recognise faces, find objects, and navigate their environment using discreet audio prompts 'For the first time, I feel like I won't be left behind,' said Bright Sello, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science student who is partially sighted. 'I can do things on my own, read my notes and slides in the lecture hall and recognise my friends. I finally have control.' Before receiving the glasses, Sello faced significant challenges in the lecture hall. 'I often sat in class unable to follow along because I couldn't read what was on the screen or see what the lecturer was pointing to,' he explained. 'I had to rely heavily on classmates or tutors after hours to help me catch up, which made me feel like I was always lagging behind.' With the glasses, Sello says his academic life has transformed. 'Now, I won't have to depend on others all the time. It's not just about being able to see the material, it's about regaining my independence, dignity and the confidence to fully participate in my own education.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Amith Ramballie, Head of the DSU, praised the move as a milestone in inclusive education. 'UKZN is proud to lead the way in implementing advanced assistive technology that speaks to the needs of our diverse student body. These glasses not only reflect our commitment to accessibility but also our belief in every student's right to learn, grow and succeed independently,' Ramballie said. 'This milestone is particularly significant because no other university in South Africa currently offers students access to this device. While wearable assistive technology has existed for years, previous models were often more expensive or lacked functionality and reliability.' The glasses support more than 60 languages and connect seamlessly with smartphones, making them adaptable for various settings and users. From reading timetables to navigating crowded lecture halls, students can now experience a new level of autonomy in their academic and social lives. 'Imagine being able to read a printed timetable independently for the first time, confidently find your way to a lecture venue or recognise your lecturer or classmates in a crowd,' said Ramballie. 'These simple yet powerful moments are what Envision Glasses make possible.' Sensory Solutions' Mukthar Khan, whose company distributes Envision Glasses in South Africa, described UKZN as the perfect partner to launch the technology in the country. 'We've seen a genuine commitment to inclusion from the University and a thoughtful, student-first approach that aligns perfectly with what this technology aims to achieve,' said Khan. 'It is now up to you to use this remarkable piece of technology to reach your goals, from academic success to personal and professional growth, we hope these glasses bring you more ease, freedom and joy in your studies. We look forward to witnessing the incredible things you'll achieve.' IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
