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IOL News
22 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
WATCH: Grammy Award-winning Tyla makes Mollwane Madiba's matric dance a night to remember
Tyla honours Mollwane Madiba's matric dance invite after supporters were convinced she would not make it. Image: Instagram. In a heartwarming turn of events, Grammy Award-winning singer Tyla actually made it to Mollwane Madiba's matric dance, despite Madiba earlier announcing that she would not make it. The grade 12 student's viral campaign to get Tyla to his matric dance had a lot of his supporters excited as they rooted for him, and her sudden arrival left everyone's jaw on the floor. Madiba's determination and creativity paid off, as Tyla rocked the dance floor, stunning in a black dress that perfectly hugged her curves. As she took to the dance floor holding on to Madiba's arms, the crowd erupted in excitement and screams. The students could not help but bring out their phones to take videos and pictures of the epic moment. A night to remember The night of Madiba's matric dance was one for the books. It all started with a hilarious surprise from the 5FM team, who were assisting him in his quest to get Tyla to attend. As he got ready for the big night in an unnamed suite, the team brought out a life-size cardboard cutout of Tyla, in her stunning Jacquemus design Met Gala look from earlier this year. The team was trying to keep things light and fun, and Madiba couldn't help but laugh at the unexpected surprise. But little did the people know, the real surprise was yet to come. As the night continued, Tyla made a surprise appearance as Madiba came in with Tyla on his arm and walked through the crowd of students who went into a frenzy. Many supporters had their eyes on Madiba's matric dance night and when the 'Push 2 Start' hitmaker actually made it to the dance, social media was buzzing with reactions, with Madiba's Instagram and TikTok blowing up with comments and congratulations. Tyla brings the heat to Mollwane's matric dance Tyla's appearance was the highlight of the night, with everyone losing their minds over her stunning presence. She rocked the dance floor and played her chart-topping hits, getting everyone in the mood to party as they all sang along. Madiba was over the moon, sharing the stage with Tyla as everyone chanted 'Tyla, we wanna party!'. The night was electric, with Tyla playing her music and the students dancing the night away. His matric dance will go down in history as one of the most epic matric dances in the season, thanks to Tyla honouring Madiba's six-months long invite. Madiba's supporters were overjoyed, and their reactions said it all. 'As a country we are proud ♥️🔥,' said TikTok user @rayraymotivates95. Another TikTok user @refiloesibisi01 praised Madiba's social media influence and marketing skills, encouraging him to pursue a career in those fields. 'This kid can be a Marketing and Advertising genius, this has been such a thorough campaign,' she said.
IOL News
an hour ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Point of view: Santam's 2025 Insurance Barometer exposes rising risks across SA
Santam's 2025 Insurance Barometer reveals critical insights into the rising risks faced by South African households and businesses, highlighting economic pressures, infrastructure challenges, and the impact of climate change on the insurance landscape. Image: Freepik South Africa's short-term insurer, Santam, has released its 2025 Insurance Barometer, which paints a sobering picture of the risks confronting local households and businesses. Economic strain, infrastructure decay, crime, and increasingly erratic weather patterns tied to climate change have emerged as key concerns. Now in its fourth edition, the biennial report offers a detailed pulse check on global and local risk trends. Drawing insights from nearly 900 consumers, businesses, and brokers across the country, the report captures shifts in public perception alongside expert industry analysis. Atang Matebesi, CEO of Santam client solutions, said the short-term insurance sector must remain agile. 'Once again, weather volatility, infrastructure concerns, and socio-economic challenges have created a tough environment for local insurers. This has been exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical turmoil... threatening the affordability of the Motor and Heavy Haulage classes of insurance.' Matebesi noted a concerning development: 'A trend is emerging where vehicles that normally wouldn't be written off are being declared total losses because repair costs have skyrocketed due to costly imported parts affected by the geopolitical environment.' Balancing premiums while ensuring sustainable underwriting practices is an ongoing challenge. 'The industry has the unenviable task of balancing premium rates with sustainable underwriting practices and risk mitigation measures to ensure a sustainable insurance sector... thus also contributing to national economic growth,' Matebesi added. Claims trends and consumer pressures The Barometer reveals that Santam's MTN portfolio saw a spike in claims for stolen mobile devices, tablets, and laptops, largely due to petty theft and muggings in shopping malls. Motor insurance remains the main contributor to claims in both personal and commercial lines. While strategic underwriting has brought some relief, collision-related claims have surged as road traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels. 'This is largely due to road usage in South Africa returning to pre-COVID levels, driven by many companies reinstating five-day office attendance policies,' explained Matebesi. Infrastructure degradation is also playing a role, particularly road conditions. 'Potholes causing loss or damage to vehicles' have hit all sectors, including agriculture and heavy haulage, particularly hard. An emerging issue flagged in the report is the phasing out of 2G and 3G networks, which support many alarm systems and vehicle tracking devices. 'Close collaboration between insurers, insureds, and telecoms services providers is necessary... There is anecdotal evidence of the potential impact on property owners with those who have already had their alarms 'switched off' falling victim to crime,' Matebesi warned. The cost-of-living crunch Rising living costs are reshaping consumer behaviour: 40% have cut back on non-essential spending 27% have reduced essential monthly expenses 21% have tapped into savings Many South Africans are also changing their lifestyles: 38% now spend less on entertainment and eating out 23% have stopped going on holiday 19% drive less 14% opt for public transport or taxis more often 13% cancelled DSTV Some households have turned to borrowing: 7% took personal loans 9% borrowed from friends or family 15% invested in alternative energy to reduce electricity costs Business realities and risk gaps For corporate and commercial entities, theft remains the top worry, though concern has declined over five years. 'Persistent economic malaise remains a top concern for businesses at 19%. Interestingly, growing concerns over operational costs have emerged... likely related to economic pressures,' Matebesi said. A surprising disconnect was noted regarding business interruption (BI) cover. Despite ranking high on global risk indices, only 7% of local commercial respondents prioritised BI. 'The lack of emphasis placed on loss of profits is concerning; we believe business interruption is a massively underestimated risk,' Matebesi warned. Currency fluctuations made a noticeable jump, up 10%, amid global policy shifts and local political uncertainty, particularly around the Government of National Unity (GNU) budget delays. One bright spot came from the power front: South Africa marked 300 days without loadshedding in 2024. This led to a significant drop in power surge claims, thanks to improved grid stability and underwriting action. Climate risk remains entrenched, especially in agriculture. 'The agriculture sector is disproportionately concerned about climate risk,' Matebesi noted. Commercial claims linked to storms and flooding were up 5%, worsened by poor infrastructure and town planning. Top ten business risks in 2025: Theft (21%) Machinery/system breakdown (20%) Economic downturn (19%) Loadshedding/power surge (18%) Loss of profits (18%) Currency fluctuations (18%) Fires (16%) Climate change (16%) Staffing issues (14%) Crime (14%) Brokers evolve their role Brokers remain essential in risk mitigation. Most conduct home or site visits (72%) and communicate risk management tools via email or SMS (63%). Yet, one in three still finds coverage communication confusing. More brokers now prioritise affordability, 34% cite price as the top factor in choosing an insurer, followed closely by service excellence and claims reliability. Encouragingly, eight in ten intermediaries remain confident about business prospects in the year ahead, the data shows. * Maleke is the editor of Personal Finance. PERSONAL FINANCE
IOL News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Kicking game, defence the big tests awaiting Springboks against Barbarians, says Mzwandile Stick
SPRINGBOK wing Cheslin Kolbe will hope to spark the attack and contribute defensively against the Barbarians. Photo: AYANDA NDAMANE Independent Media Image: AYANDA NDAMANE Independent Media For all intents and purposes, any game against the Barbarians is a bit of a hit-and-giggle affair. You get a bunch of rugby players from around the world together in one location for a week, and although they are some renowned figures, they won't have much of a plan to execute on the Saturday. But knowing coach Robbie Deans – multiple Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders and former Wallaby mentor – the Barbarians will have a New Zealand template to work with for Saturday's clash against the Springboks at Cape Town Stadium (5.10pm kick-off). That is why despite the expected slippery conditions and wet weather, the game is a valuable exercise for the Boks, especially with the double-crunch against the All Blacks awaiting in New Zealand in September. That is probably part of the reason why coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for his current first-choice back-three combination of Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse for Saturday's encounter. For all intents and purposes, they are likely to make the cut for the September 6 showdown with the All Blacks in Eden Park in Auckland too. So, dealing with a barrage of box-kicks from a former All Black scrumhalf in Tawera Kerr-Barlow is ideal preparation for the major challenges later in the season. 'It's about how you adapt to the conditions, and the biggest challenge will always be the kicking game,' Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick said during the pre-match press conference on Friday. 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 ✕ 'But I doubt that the Baabaas will lean to that side, and will try to keep the ball. 'But if they do lean towards the contestable kicking game, it is going to be the biggest challenge for our covers at the back. 'On the other side, we pride ourselves on our set-pieces, and how we defend. Hopefully we can get our systems in place, and the challenges from the Baabaas will probably be what we will face later on in the season. 'We are going to play against the All Blacks, who have a lot of X-factor. Against France, ball-in-play time is going to be key against them. Your #Springboks team to face the @Barbarian_FC in Cape Town tomorrow, and what a special team photo for Jesse, Vincent, Marnus, Asenathi and Neethling 🤩#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) June 27, 2025 'The biggest thing is going to be the kicking game, with the defence.' At the same time, it is also an ideal opportunity for Springbok halfbacks Morné van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to showcase their kicking skills. Van den Berg was outstanding in that regard in his wet-weather Test debut last season, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu's terrific soccer ability should stand him in good stead against the Barbarians. 'I don't think it can get worse than what we experienced on Wednesday (during training),' Stick said. 'You don't get that peaceful winter season – you get it all in one day, and we are well prepared for whatever happens on Saturday. 'We hope it will dry up so that we can put on a good show for the fans. 'They've got brilliant individuals in that team. 'They've got (Mark) Tele'a and (Hoskins) Sotutu, and Ruben (van Heerden) will be psyched up as he was close to making our team as well. 'We don't know what to expect from these guys, but they will give us a tough challenge. 'You don't want to coach 'donkeys' – who have blinkers on. The Baabaas (haven't played together, but) will challenge our systems.'
IOL News
2 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Join the Rise & Thrive Breakfast and Durban July VIP experience with Sinayo Global
The Rise & Thrive Breakfast will take place at Radisson Blu Hotel, uMhlanga on July 4. Sinayo Global, will be hosting two premier experiences during the Hollywoodbets Durban July weekend. The events, the company said, offer an "unparalleled opportunity to engage with visionary entrepreneurs, industry trailblazers, policymakers, and cultural icons who are redefining Africa's future." On Friday, July 4, they will host the Rise & Thrive Breakfast at Radisson Blu Hotel in uMhlanga that will focus on the excellence, resilience, and the unstoppable force of women leading the way in business, entrepreneurship, government, tech, the arts and other sectors. Hosted by Babalwa Ngonyama, Sinayo Global CEO, and Norma Mngoma, the breakfast will have East Coast Radio's Carol Ofori as MC and Nonthetho Smith, co-founder of Uthingo Mills, as the inspirational speaker. "This is your chance to be in the room with trailblazing women who are shaping the future — to hear their stories, learn from their journeys, and leave inspired to thrive in your own purpose," said the organisers.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Durban FilmMart 2025: A Focus on South African Cinema
Durban FilmMart Institute Director Magdalene Reddy said that South African cinema stands at a pivotal moment where our local industry expertise must be strengthened and celebrated. The Durban FilmMart, which runs from 18-21 July in Durban, will have a strong focus on the South African film industry. The Durban FilmMart said that it remains a gateway to the African and global film industry for local film professionals. 'The 2025 industry programme dedicates significant focus to South African cinema through its comprehensive 'SA in Focus' stream, bringing together the nation's most influential industry bodies, guilds, and creative professionals to address the current state and future of the local audio-visual sector.' Durban FilmMart Institute Director Magdalene Reddy said that South African cinema stands at a pivotal moment where our local industry expertise must be strengthened and celebrated. 'The 'SA in Focus' stream recognises that sustainable growth in African filmmaking begins with a robust foundation in our home market. By bringing together our guilds and industry leaders, DFM fosters the collaborative partnerships essential for our sector's advancement.' Reddy added that through this programming stream, DFM 2025 demonstrates an unwavering commitment to strengthening South African cinema from within, recognising that a thriving local industry forms the foundation for successful international collaboration and growth. eThekwini Municipality, in a statement, said that programme highlights include the flagship State of the South African Audio-Visual Industry session, featuring key stakeholders such as the National Film and Video Foundation, SABC, and various provincial commissions. 'The programme will also explore topics such as artificial intelligence's creative influence, copyright in the digital age, and strategies for international co-productions. Panel discussions hosted by major guilds, including the South African Guild of Actors, the Writers' Guild of South Africa and the Editors Guild, will address critical issues such as storytelling, sustainability, and creative ownership.' eThekwini Municipality added that standout sessions include The African Aesthetic, Directors as Cultural Architects, and Independent Producers Organisation to Intellectual Property, on global market access. 'This year's DFM focus on collaboration and professional development underscores its continued role in shaping a thriving and future-ready South African film industry.' BUSINESS REPORT
