Alan and Renée Friedland are in the panel-beating business, but three lions changed their story.



By day, Alan and Renée Friedland run a panel-beating business in Johannesburg, South Africa. But in their spare time, they’re rescuing lions, cheetahs and other animals, while creating one of South Africa’s most unique animal sanctuaries—driven purely by passion, not profit.



It all began eight years ago when they heard that three lions were being shipped off to a circus in China. “I’ve got a problem with circuses,” Alan says. “Animals shouldn’t live like that.” The husband-and-wife team stepped in and rescued the lions themselves.



“We didn’t even have a sanctuary when we took them in,” Alan admits. But they immediately rushed to build enclosures, and from that moment on, the Friedlands were fully committed.



They’ve since gone on to rescue animals from all kinds of situations—some abused, some abandoned, others saved just in time. One of the most dramatic rescues involved eight cheetahs on a bankrupt farm. The hyenas kept there weren’t so lucky. “They were killed before we could get there,” Alan says. “But we got the cheetahs out in time.”



Today, the Lion and Cheetah Sanctuary, nestled in Dinokeng Game Reserve just outside Johannesburg, is home to 14 lions, several cheetahs, horses, hyenas, meerkats, giraffes, and more. Every animal has a name, a past, and now—a future.



There’s the heart-warming story of two lion brothers brought together after being separated for eight years and sold off. “They were meant for canned hunting,” Alan explains. “We managed to buy one, but it took us eight months to get the other one.” When they were finally reunited, the lions greeted each other by bumping heads—a natural lion gesture of affection and recognition. “That moment made all the effort worth it,” he smiles.



And it’s not just the animals that are healing. “People come with trauma,” Renée explains, “and the animals help them too.” Visitors have described the sanctuary as a peaceful escape—where nature, empathy and connection create something deeply human.


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="682" height="1024" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-682x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-65626" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/IMG-20250516-WA0054.jpg 852w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /></figure></div>


To keep the sanctuary running, the Friedlands have opened it to visitors. Guests can book overnight stays in canvas tents or luxury chalets. Twice-daily game drives take visitors up close to the animals—including the rare experience of gently stroking a cheetah.



“There’s nowhere else in Gauteng you can do that,” says Alan. “And the cheetahs love the attention—they begin to purr as soon as you start petting them.”



The income from tourists helps feed and care for the animals, and is reinvested into the sanctuary to support long-term wildlife care and conservation. It’s a model that blends heart and sustainability—something the Friedlands are proud of.



There’s also a strong educational drive behind everything they do. “Abuse of animals starts with ignorance,” Alan says. “There’s very little education around this in South Africa. We want to change that.” The sanctuary hosts school groups and works with communities to teach kindness, compassion, and respect for animals from a young age.



Alan believes the root of the issue lies in broader social challenges. “If children grow up in abusive homes, they’re less likely to show compassion to animals. Education is everything. If we invested in proper schooling, we’d change the future of this country—and our animals would benefit too.”



It&#8217;s not always easy. There are more animals in need than sanctuaries that can take them. But for Alan and Renée, the work is its own reward. “There’s this story about a little girl throwing starfish back into the sea,” Alan says. “Someone tells her it won’t make a difference because there are millions of starfish on the beach. She picks one up and says, ‘It made a difference to that one.’ That’s how we feel.”



For now, the couple continues to juggle full-time jobs, weekend rescue missions, and a growing sanctuary that somehow never stops needing more. But they don’t seem tired—just driven.



“You’ll always find time for what you love,” Alan says with a smile. And what they’ve built is more than a sanctuary. It’s a reminder that ordinary people with enough heart can do extraordinary things.

IMG-20250516-WA0062

How A South African Couple Turned Their Passion Into A Lifeline For Wildlife

As the African Development Bank (AfDB) prepares to elect its 10th president this month,&nbsp;its shareholders&nbsp;should seize the strategic opportunity of naming a woman to fill this critical post.



The AfDB plays an important role in support of economic and social development in 54 African countries, with a combined population of nearly 1.5 billion people.&nbsp;But, just as important in today’s geopolitical landscape, the AfDB is no aid agency: it is a development bank, and its shareholders–all 54 African nations and non-African countries, including the United States, Britain, and France–receive a return on their investment. It proffers a rare example of how Africa’s crucial development initiatives including infrastructure, agriculture, and manufacturing, can be funded.&nbsp;



So, as an important institution it matters both to Africa and its shareholders on that continent and across the world who will take up the helm. All five candidates for the bank’s presidency have impressive credentials,&nbsp;and they have each offered compelling visions for leading this vital institution.&nbsp;However, when only&nbsp;one of the candidates, Swazi Tshabalala, is a woman, it is also worth asking what additional impact her election could have.&nbsp;



Since its founding in 1964, the AfDB has been led exclusively by men. This pattern reflects the persistent underrepresentation of women in the top leadership roles of international institutions around the world. We are members of GWL Voices, an advocacy group that studies the leadership of 54 of these organizations.



In our latest annual report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/url?q%3Dhttp://www.gwlvoices.org/data%26amp;sa%3DD%26amp;source%3Deditors%26amp;ust%3D1746612833926485%26amp;usg%3DAOvVaw2D2Tjh-diVWYYyduzZfKps&amp;sa=D&amp;source=docs&amp;ust=1746612833937357&amp;usg=AOvVaw3vD3z3-u2IlT_cBrDHt3a8">“Women In Multilateralism 2025”</a>,&nbsp;we note that the AfDB is one of 19 international organizations that has never been led by a woman. This group has been steadily shrinking in recent years, as institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the European Investment Bank, and the World Meteorological Organization have elected women to the top job for the first time. These elections reflect a global consensus that the leadership of these institutions should mirror the gender composition of the societies that serve.



Africa needs smart, determined, and visionary leadership to tackle its pressing challenges, from climate change to unemployment to infrastructure deficits. Fortunately, there is no shortage of African women who fit that bill. Across the continent, we have distinguished ourselves as ministers of finance, central bank governors, CEOs, economists, and development experts. Many of us have risen through the ranks in multilateral institutions, combining local knowledge with global experience. It is not a question of whether African women are qualified—it is a question of whether we will be given the platform to lead.



Unfortunately, women across Africa continue to face systemic barriers to accessing power and influence. While progress has been made in some countries, gender inequality remains entrenched in many spheres of public and economic life. Women are often sidelined from the highest echelons of political and financial decision-making, even when they demonstrate exceptional competence and leadership.



Given this context, electing a woman to lead the AfDB would send a powerful signal. The AfDB is a pillar of development on the continent, responsible for financing critical infrastructure, promoting economic integration, and shaping the future of Africa’s economy. It is also at the forefront of efforts to combat the disproportionate impact of poverty on women, and to expand their access to education, jobs and digital connectivity.



Were girls and young women to see someone who looks like them leading the AfDB, it would expand their vision of what is possible. It would shift mindsets—not just among women, but also among men—about who belongs in leadership roles.



The symbolic power of a woman president at the AfDB would ripple far beyond the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan. It would reach rural schools in Malawi, startup hubs in Nairobi, and parliamentary chambers in Abuja. For the millions of African girls growing up in societies where their ambitions are often curtailed by social expectations, this could offer thrilling evidence that change is possible.



Choosing a woman could also benefit the AfDB’s performance, because research consistently shows that diverse leadership leads to better outcomes, greater innovation, and more inclusive decision-making.



At a time when Africa’s people are clamoring for bold, inclusive, and transformative leadership, the shareholding nations of AfDB have a clear opportunity to answer that call with a historic election.



– Amina Mohamed is a former foreign minister of Kenya; Susana Malcorra is a former foreign minister of Argentina and chief-of-staff to former UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon. Together they are board members and co-founders of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwlvoices.org/">GWL Voices</a>, a global advocacy group of&nbsp;76 women leaders from around the world who have held high-level positions in governments and international organizations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Daily Life in Ivory Coast’s Capital as Food Prices Soar

Why A Woman Should Lead The African Development Bank

&nbsp;As an entrepreneur, or even otherwise, are you looking to build a very basic website?



The tools: You don’t have to use ChatGPT, you can also use <a href="https://grok.com/">Grok</a>, <a href="https://claude.ai/new">Claude</a>, <a href="https://gemini.google.com/app">Gemini</a> or <a href="https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/ikYTC1JgCzdQDTcSdPucc">Copilot</a>.



The prompt: Please help me build a basic website ‘About Me’ page. I have never done this before, so kindly provide me with detailed steps.



Note: Different AI tools will give you different answers. Copilot, for example, will give you a very basic answer that sends you to other tools to create your code. Grok will provide you with two options–the code to create your page and a preview of how this page will look. Gemini offers you a combination of Grok and Copilot, giving you the option to use a website builder tool or to create your own HTML. ChatGPT and Claude will take you through the tools you need, how to create your files, and the HTML code itself. If you want to create your own code and get more detailed support, your best bet is to go with Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT and Claude.



For the purposes of this walkthrough, we will use the ChatGPT version. The prompt will give you a clear route to creating this page across eight steps: Understand what you need; What tools you’ll need; Create your first files; Basic HTML template; Add your photo; View your page; Make it look nicer with CSS; Summary: Key steps.



The AI does all the work for you here, giving you the exact code you need to create your site. Now, you can dig deeper into this prompt to expand your own skills in web development, using AI as a teaching tool.



The next prompt: Please show me the steps to add graphical elements to the page that highlight my skills.



This prompt will help you to create an About Me page that isn’t made up entirely of words. It shows you how to add in icons, access a free icon library, add in skill bars and use CSS to balance spacing and design.



Learn as you build: Your next prompt is ‘Please show me how I can learn HTML while I build my own website’.



The AI will now give you a comprehensive tutorial on the different ways in which you can learn HTML, how you can access the source code on websites to learn how they’ve been designed and gives you a free HTML practice playground where you can test your code.



The final prompt: Please show me how to publish my website online.



This last prompt will give you several free hosting options such as <a href="https://github.com/">GitHub Pages</a> and talk you through how to use them.



In just three prompts, you have learned how to create, customize and publish a website. AI simplifies and demystifies the process to the point where you can learn how to write code. &nbsp;Bear in mind that this is a very simple website design–you can do a lot more with deeper prompts that capture your features, colors, identity and brand.

Businessman hold virtual rocket launch investment growth, planning and starting corporate business start up aiming objective value development leadership and customer target group.

Starting Your Own Company? Tips And Tricks To Help Build Your Own Website Using AI

One of the country’s most favorite exports is grounded in its roots. The reddish-brown rooibos is being sipped around the world, and could soon have a unique use in petrol stations.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”
</blockquote>



There is an adage that claims a cup of tea can fix just about anything.



Rough day? Sip some chamomile.



Broken heart? Brew some chai.



Need to pull an all-nighter for that deadline? Green tea has your back.



One tea in particular, though, has acquired a reputation as somewhat of a superfood thanks to its long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness, one cup at a time.



Native to the mountainous plains of the Cederberg region in South Africa’s Western Cape province, rooibos has steeped its way to global fame—all the while remaining grounded in its roots.



“Rooibos only grows in 60,000 hectares in the entire world, on the southwest coast of South Africa,” reveals the Marketing Director of Carmién Tea, Lize du Preez.



The distinct location has led to rooibos joining the prestigious ranks of French champagne and Greek feta cheese by acquiring the status of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) from the European Union, becoming the first African food to do so. Thus, if the leaves are not specifically from the Cederberg region of South Africa, well, it is just a herbal infusion with a scarlet hue.



Even rooibos’s unique reddish-brown shade has garnered acclaim: it was named by New York Fashion Week as one of the top 10 colors for the 2024 spring season, complete with its own Pantone color card.



“There is also a video game called Enshrouded where rooibos is one of the resources that you harvest for energy,” notes Marthane Swart, Secretariat of the South African Rooibos Council. “It just shows that there is an increasing awareness of rooibos all over the world and people are using it and thinking about it for a variety of functions.”



One particular purpose is closer to home.



A recent study was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH) to determine whether rooibos can protect petrol attendants from exposure to harmful chemicals.



“Looking into the toxicology of petrol fumes, especially BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene), we found that consistent exposure leads to increased levels of oxidative stress,” explains Dr Kerry Wilson, an epidemiologist at the NIOH who is leading the study.



While all cells are prone to oxidation, high levels have been associated with acute symptoms like headaches and dizziness, and long-term exposure has been linked to nerve damage and elevated risks of cancers.



“Measuring oxidative stress is not that straightforward, but quite a bit of research has been done around the antioxidant levels of tea. Tea is also something that is fairly accessible for most people.”



The array of polyphenols found in rooibos reads like a who’s who of the antioxidant world: compounds that regulate blood sugar, neutralize carcinogens, combat inflammation, and reduce hypertension, amongst others. It is, essentially, tea’s version of The Avengers against free radicals.



Wilson’s study involved analyzing the levels of oxidative stress in the blood and urine samples of 100 petrol attendants from various stations in the Johannesburg city center. The volunteers were then given a six-month supply of rooibos and told to drink three cups a day.



“Most were excited to participate in the research. A few asked for more tea when we returned to take updated samples after the six-month period.”



The final laboratory analysis is currently underway, with the findings expected around the end of 2025.



“One might hope to see an improvement in other chronic diseases if oxidative stress is reduced or managed,” Wilson notes. “Drinking rooibos tea could then be something that individuals can do to look after their own health if they are worried about toxic exposures in daily life.”



The secret to rooibos’s resilience could well be found in how it grows. Enduring temperatures of below 0° Celsius in winter and upwards of 40° during the summer, it is a bush built for survival.



“Because it&#8217;s so cold at night in the Cederberg and hot during the day, the plant stores up enormous amounts of antioxidants to protect itself,” shares Sarah Hetherington, who is Director of brand communication at African Extracts, a skincare brand that uses rooibos as its key ingredient.



The company sells around 3 million products per year, with its Classic SPF 15-day cream regarded as South Africa’s best-selling essential care moisturizer.



“For skincare, we want to preserve the highest-possible level of antioxidants, so we use the extract from green, unfermented rooibos in our products.”



Whether it’s being shipped abroad or recommended by beauty bloggers, rooibos wouldn’t make it to shelves without the farmers who cultivate it. Yet, they are not necessarily getting to reap the rewards of the Rooibos Revolution.



“If you compare the shelf prices to what producers are getting at the farm gate level, there is a huge disconnect,” points out Vanrhynsdorp farmer, Werner Nieuwoudt.



With a background in the corporate world as a chartered accountant, he founded the Rooibos Tea Producers’ Association in 2023 as a platform for farmers to be more involved in industry strategies and processes.



“My vision is a premium growth, sustainable industry that adds benefit to every role player across the board, all the way up to farm worker level.”



In order for this to be achieved, Nieuwoudt believes that certain reforms need to be put in place.



“We need to have a standardized grading system as the tea is currently graded by the various buyers, and we need to have a solid marketing strategy approach as an industry to differentiate our tea in the market and sell our tea globally.”



Tea drinkers in Japan and Germany have already wrought a robust relationship with the red brew, while premium brands, like Du Preez’s boutique LMC Rooibos Collection, are gaining interest in international markets like Taiwan and Scandinavia.



“Rooibos is truly a South African treasure,” Du Preez states. “I wanted to create a product that almost gives the same exclusivity and sensory experience that one would get from a perfume box.”



Rooibos has positioned itself as a symbol of what’s possible when science, tradition and smart marketing come together. If every problem can be solved with a cup of tea, then rooibos might just be the smartest brew of them all.

Rooibos has a long list of health benefits that is transforming wellness; Image supplied

From Superfood To Skincare, Reaping The Rewards Of South Africa’s Red Brew

At university, students are often encouraged to pursue internships or work experiences closely aligned with their field of study.



Gaining real-world experience in a relevant business setting seems like an ideal way to prepare for a career.



From a business perspective, internships offer a chance to identify and develop potential talent early, equipping future workers with industry-specific skills and practical insights.



For students, these internships often feel like a direct path to securing a job after graduation.



However, focusing exclusively on profession-specific internships or work experience can significantly undervalue the broader–and often more impactful–benefits of general work experience.



While businesses seek interns who can contribute immediately, they also value employees who demonstrate resilience and adaptability and have strong interpersonal skills–traits that can be developed just as effectively, if not more so, in jobs outside a student’s chosen field.



Any job, regardless of how closely it aligns with a student’s academic focus, is crucial in preparing them for the workforce.



Consider a typical internship that aligns with a student’s area of study.



A business student might intern at a consulting firm, a law student could clerk at a legal office and a communications major wants to spend time at a PR agency.



These internships aim to give students a taste of the professional world they aspire to join, offering insight into workflows, expectations and the challenges of their chosen career.



While these experiences can be valuable, they often come with a narrow scope.



Students might find themselves performing repetitive tasks or simply shadowing professionals without gaining hands-on experience.



These internships are often highly structured and, despite their relevance, might not help students develop the broader skill sets that employers increasingly demand.



In contrast, basic work experience–whether in a restaurant, shop or performing manual labour–provides students with the chance to develop practical, transferable skills in a real-world setting.



These jobs require students to engage with people from all walks of life, think on their feet, manage difficult situations and handle real-time stress.



Although these roles might not appear glamorous or directly tied to a student’s career goals, they often impart invaluable lessons highly prized in the workplace.



For example, working in a customer-facing role like retail or hospitality builds strong communication and interpersonal skills.



These are precisely the kinds of soft skills that employers across industries demand.



Someone who has learned to manage an upset customer in a restaurant is likely to be better equipped to handle a demanding client in a corporate setting.



And jobs in retail or service industries teach time management, multi-tasking and problem-solving skills under pressure, which are applicable to virtually any career.



A student working an evening shift in a supermarket might not immediately see the connection to their future in marketing or finance. However, the ability to manage tasks efficiently, work independently and remain calm under pressure will serve them well in any post-graduate role.



While technical expertise is undeniably important, employers want employees who are adaptable, resilient and able to work well with others.



These qualities can be cultivated just as effectively in a job unrelated to a student’s future career as in a targeted internship.



In fact, many employers actively seek candidates with varied work experiences, recognizing that those who have worked in different environments are often better prepared to handle the complexities and challenges of the modern workplace.



While internships aligned with a student’s field of study are valuable, they should not be seen as the only way to gain relevant work experience.



We might have become too dismissive of everyday jobs as critical opportunities to develop essential skills, placing excessive emphasis on prestigious internships tied to a specific field of study.



Although these high-profile internships might seem more impressive, we often overlook the valuable lessons that so-called “ordinary” work experiences provide.



Jobs in retail, hospitality or manual labour build resilience, adaptability and communication and problem-solving skills–qualities just as vital as those gained in field-specific internships.



It is time to recognize that real-world work, regardless of its prestige, plays a crucial role in shaping the next generation of well-rounded professionals.

Isometric business people came from different way but have same target

Expert Speak: How Basic Jobs Shape Future Leaders

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, a day after announcing plans to lift U.S. sanctions on Syria, offering a significant boost to the country’s new leadership as it attempts to shore up international support after a nearly a decade and a half-long civil war which ended with the ouster of the country’s former leader Bashar al-Assad.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Facts</h2>



<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/14/trump-saudi-arabia-qatar/#link-QEKLWL6WWBCJPINVB6VCM3M32I" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;the Washington Post, a White House official confirmed the meeting was taking place in Riyadh behind closed doors.



The White House previously suggested the two leaders were set to have a brief meeting just to “say hello,” but the actual meeting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/14/us/trump-news-middle-east/ccd08b0e-197d-5e23-8214-459522d0f403?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">lasted 33 minutes</a>, from 10:07 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. local time.



<a href="https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/erdogan-trump-saudi-crown-prince-syrian-leader-meet/news" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Turkish outlets</a>&nbsp;reported that Saudi Arabia&#8217;s crown prince and de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman, was present at the meeting, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined via video link.



Erdogan’s office hailed Trump’s “historic” decision to lift the sanctions, and said it would serve as an example for other countries that still have active sanctions against Syria.



After the meeting, Trump addressed the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and said he “felt very strongly” about giving Syria a chance, adding that the “sanctions were really crippling.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crucial Quote</h2>



While addressing the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council—the regional bloc which includes Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman—Trump said: “We will be dropping all of the sanctions on Syria, which I really think is going to be a good thing. And actually, we made a speech last night, and that was the thing that got the biggest applause from the room.”



This is a developing story.

Donald Trump – Ahmed al-Shara meeting in Riyadh

Trump Meets Syrian President And Says He Felt ‘Strongly’ About Dropping ‘Crippling’ Sanctions

The mobile internet gender gap in sub-Saharan Africa continues to shrink, falling from 36% in 2022 to 29% in 2024, according to the Mobile Gender Gap Report 2025 published today by the GSMA, a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem.



This marks the second consecutive year of progress in a region historically known for having the highest proportion of women excluded from mobile internet access.



While men’s adoption rates have plateaued, rising just one percentage point from 53% to 54%, women’s usage increased more significantly from 36% to 39%, helping to close the divide.



“Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as the only region where the mobile internet gender gap has continued to narrow,” Claire Sibthorpe, Head of Digital Inclusion at the GSMA, says to FORBES AFRICA. “This is a positive achievement in a region with a relatively high mobile internet gender gap, especially as progress has stalled across low- and middle-income countries overall in the last year.”



Despite the gains, the gap remains substantial: around 205 million women in the region—roughly 61% of the adult female population—still do not use mobile internet. The reasons are multifaceted, including affordability, limited digital literacy, safety concerns, and restrictive social norms.



Smartphone ownership is closely linked to internet usage. The report notes that when women do own smartphones, their internet adoption rates almost equal those of men. But the high cost of devices continues to be a key barrier. GSMA is advocating for targeted interventions such as handset subsidies, financing models, and public-private partnerships to make smartphones more accessible.



“Connecting women is not just about technology—it’s about economic inclusion,” Sibthorpe adds. “When women are online, they gain access to opportunities in education, healthcare, financial services, and entrepreneurship, which benefits the entire economy.”

Woman Uses Smart Phone

Mobile Internet Gender Gap In Sub-Saharan Africa Narrows For Second Consecutive Year, New Report Finds

In discourse about technological adoption and revolution, the piles of old monitors, phones, cables, mouses, and keyboards are often forgotten. With every new phone or laptop release, thousands of devices and their accompanying attachments are discarded without much thought. As Annie Leonard, the American proponent of sustainability, once phrased it: “There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.”



And it certainly is going somewhere. In fact, according to the World Bank, e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. In 2022, for instance, there were around 62 million tons of e-waste produced globally. More distressingly, only 22.3% of this figure was documented as formally collected and recycled. In Africa, this challenge is more pronounced as most of this waste is driven to the continent. 



A 2022 study conducted by Maes and Preston-Whyte estimated that the total e-waste in Africa was between 5.8-3.4 metric tons in 2019 alone, with a distressing caveat that this was a gross underestimation of the actual figure. Nigeria, Ghana, and Tanzania, with Kenya, Senegal and Egypt are disproportionately impacted by this scourge. As the authors argue, “The growing global manufacture of electronics, in combination with the absence of action plans in African countries and the lack of infrastructure for proper and sustainable e-waste management, has led to e-waste becoming a growing African problem, with global origins.”



While the current figures are already staggering, global forecasts anticipate e-waste generation to increase by 100% in the next three decades. In Africa, e- waste in Senegal, Uganda and South Africa specifically is projected to increase by two to eight times over the next decade. The consequences of unchecked e-waste disposal extend far beyond waste generation. It threatens public health, environmental sustainability, and community wellbeing. For example, hazardous chemicals can seep into the soil and water when e-waste is dumped or burned, thus polluting ecosystems and endangering public health. People living near informal recycling sites, especially waste-pickers and repairers, face direct exposure to toxic fumes and materials, which can lead to various long-term health risks. This is a crisis we need to be taking seriously. 



There are certainly solutions to be pivoted. For instance, informal repairers play a key role in South Af- rica’s e-waste ecosystem by refurbishing discarded electronics for resale and creating affordable repair options for township residents. WasteAid, with support from the Dixon Foundation, has launched an E-Waste Repair and Reuse Programme in Johannesburg. 



The initiative provides training in electrical repair and business skills by equipping local repairers with tools and knowledge to improve their micro-businesses. Participants learn to repair small domestic appliances using reclaimed e-waste components. Many repairers now source parts from local waste collectors instead of buying new ones, which strengthens the community’s waste-to-repair cycle. There is certainly scope to expand this program to other parts of Africa. Alongside programs such as this, it is also necessary to invest in certified e-waste recycling plants to ensure the safe handling of hazardous materials while recovering valuable resources from discarded electronics. Urban mining, for instance, focuses on recovering metals from discarded electronics. 



Moreover, setting up accessible collection centers in communities makes it easier for people to dispose of old electronics properly instead of dumping them in landfills. This, of course, requires governments and electronic manufacturers alike to also teach people how to properly dispose of e-waste and repair devices instead of replacing them.



Other solutions included Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policies where governments use incentives to ‘nudge’ behavioral changes from manufacturers. Through subsidies or tax breaks, governments can encourage electronics manufacturers to take responsibility for the recycling and safe disposal of their products. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) offers guidance to standardize EPR policies across countries by outlining principles and trade-offs to improve their effectiveness. These policies support recycling goals, fund waste collection and recycling, and provide data on production and waste management.



Companies like Apple and Samsung already offer trade-in programs where customers can return old devices for credit towards new ones to ensure proper recycling and reuse. In tandem with these policies, right-to-repair laws should be considered. These laws require companies to provide repair manuals and spare parts to consumers, and independent repair shops help extend product lifespans and reduce e-waste. These laws have already been implemented in the European Union in 2023 and across some parts of the United States and there is already mounting pressure for these laws to be considered in other countries.



As Africa looks to tackle its burgeoning e-waste challenge, we need to combine policy with sustainable recycling solutions–this is how we really combine advancement with revolution.

EWASTE – a glut of CRTs and electronics

Expert-Speak: Turning The Tide On Tech Trash: Africa’s E-Waste Revolution

The lithium-manganese-rich cell, developed with LG Chem, uses far less cobalt and nickel than current lithium-ion cells. It’ll be produced in the U.S. and show up in large pickups and SUVs in 2028.



General Motors, which sells the biggest lineup of electric vehicles in the U.S., plans to slash the cost of its rechargeable pickups and large SUVs by thousands of dollars thanks to a new type of battery that uses more of the cheap material manganese and much less of expensive metals cobalt and nickel while still offering a long driving range.



The lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cathode, which has been in development by GM and battery partner LG Energy for a decade, will cut the cost of battery packs in electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer and Cadillac Escalade by more than $6,000, GM’s vice president of battery propulsion Kurt Kelty told&nbsp;Forbes. It has nearly the same driving range as “high nickel” lithium-ion cells now used in most EVs while competing on price with cheaper lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells from Chinese battery makers that are heavier and offer less range, he said. The new batteries are also durable enough to be recharged frequently for at least eight years.



“We look at this as a game-changing battery for EV trucks, and that&#8217;s really going to set the new bar for performance in this particular segment,” said Kelty, who built up Tesla’s battery operations for over a decade and previously worked for battery maker Panasonic. “With LMR we can actually deliver over 400 miles of range while reducing our costs.”



The LMR packs will be made by Ultium Cells, the GM-LG Energy battery joint venture, in Michigan and Ohio, with a goal of getting most of the lithium, manganese and other raw materials from non-Chinese suppliers. GM also plans to cut battery costs by shifting to a flat “prismatic” cell instead of the traditional cylindrical form. “That alone is going to reduce the number of parts in our battery packs by over 50% and that makes a huge difference,” Kelty said.



GM significantly trails Tesla as the largest seller of EVs in the U.S., but that could change in the next few years as it continues to build out its lineup and finds ways to make them more affordable. It can also take advantage of its rival’s sagging sales thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2025/03/27/things-are-bad-at-tesla-theyre-about-to-get-much-worse/">many of its core buyers being increasingly turned off by CEO Elon Musk</a>. Though Tesla currently tops U.S. electric sales–delivering 128,100 in the first quarter versus GM’s 31,887–GM estimates it now makes more battery cells than any other automaker in the U.S., including Tesla. It also supplies batteries for Honda and Acura brand EVs, in addition to a dozen Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC models. (Tesla makes more battery packs overall, mainly using high nickel lithium-ion cells supplied by Panasonic.)



Using less cobalt and nickel, which can respectively cost more than $30,000 and $16,000 a ton, and more manganese–which is less than $1,000 a ton–could be a major boost for EV sales. That’s because reducing costs, while simultaneously improving performance is critical to getting more American drivers to shift to EVs from gasoline-powered cars and trucks, especially as the Trump Administration works to eliminate federal incentives to buy them.



Since he arrived at GM in 2023, Kelty has focused on helping the company build up both its battery production operations as well as finding new domestic sources of key components such as lithium, rare earth metals and other critical minerals needed for the market that China now dominates.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lithium-ion-alternatives">Lithium-ion Alternatives</h3>



Over the past two decades, EV makers have dramatically improved the energy density and reduced the cost of lithium-ion batteries, but the range of those gains is becoming more incremental, said Kelty, who’s worked in the industry for more than 30 years. While GM is the first automaker to announce plans for LMR, other alternatives include lithium-sulfur cells, which Stellantis is experimenting with; sodium-ion batteries that China’s CATL and BYD are developing; solid-state cells that Toyota and Volkswagen want to commercialize; and lithium-metal batteries, a chemistry GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and other companies see as a longer-term low-cost, high-powered option.



The LMR cells are going to heavy, large EVs first as that will likely be the biggest opportunity for big cost savings, Kelty said. New electric models like the Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and revamped Bolt hatchback, due later this year, won’t initially get the new chemistry as those models are already designed to be price-competitive with LMC packs, Kelty said. Over the next two years, before the LMR packs go into production, GM and LG Chem will continue to refine their chemistry.



“One reason we&#8217;re not going to market next year is because there&#8217;s a few more little tweaks we can do,” Kelty said. “We know we can get that last little bit out of it. And in 2029 and 2030 you&#8217;re going to see even further improvements.”



Separately, the Energy Department said on Tuesday that Ultium Cells, the GM-LG battery venture, paid off its low-interest $1.8 billion loan about seven years ahead of schedule. The loan, which closed in December 2022, was used to build battery cell factories in Ohio and Tennessee.



GM shares rose about 1% in Tuesday trading to $50.17. They’re down about 6% this year.

Inside the Shanghai Auto Show

GM’s New Battery Will Cut The Cost Of Its Electric Trucks By Over $6,000

South Africa’s workforce contracted in the first quarter of 2025, as unemployment continued to climb, heightening economic concerns.



According to Statistics South Africa&#8217;s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), the number of unemployed persons rose to 8.2 million, a 237,000 increase from 2024&#8217;s final quarter. This translates to a 32.9% unemployment rate–1% higher than last year&#8217;s Q4.



Of South Africa&#8217;s nine provinces, six contributed to the rise in unemployment.



KwaZulu-Natal endured the biggest hit as employment numbers declined by 104,000, followed by Eastern Cape (83,000), Northwest (57,000), Limpopo (55,000), Mpumalanga (43,000) and Northern Cape (12,000).



Western Cape, the only province governed by the Democratic Alliance, saw a 49,000 uptick in workers, a staggering 40,000 better than next-best Gauteng (9,000), while the Free State saw its number of workers rise by 4,000.



Regarding industries, trade took the biggest knock, with its workforce depleting by 194,000. Construction (119,000), Private Households (68,000), and Community and Social Services (45,000) also experienced dwindling figures. The biggest winners include transport (67,000), finance (60,000) and utilities (35,000).



South Africa&#8217;s youth, aged between 15 and 34, remain at risk as the demographic&#8217;s unemployment rate rose to 4.8 million, 151,000 more than the previous quarter.



Simultaneously, the number of employed youth slumped by 153,000 to 5.7 million (46.1%).



Together, these developments have pushed South Africa’s expanded unemployment rate — which includes both active job seekers and discouraged work-seekers—up by 1.2 percentage points to 43.1%.



&#8220;The increase in discouraged work-seekers is a worry because we would want to see people being active in the labor market by either looking for employment or participating,&#8221; Chief Director of Labour Statistics at Statistics South Africa Desiree Manamela said at a press conference.



The growing unemployment rates will undoubtedly instil further public scrutiny on South Africa&#8217;s newly-formed general coalition government, which has yet to show substantial signs of economic growth as it continues to get distracted by in-house disputes.



More business-friendly policies are needed to counteract the nation&#8217;s poor domestic demand. The infrastructure, business, and workers are there, but effective frameworks to harness all three cohesively remain elusive.

Unemployed township youths fix potholes to earn a living

Unemployment In South Africa Rises Sharply In Q1 2025

The World Bank estimates that for Nigeria to achieve its ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030, it would need to grow five times faster than its current pace.



Nigeria’s economy expanded by 4.6% year-on-year in the final quarter of 2024, pushing annual growth to 3.4%—its fastest pace in a decade, excluding the temporary rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Bank’s newly released Nigeria Development Update (NDU).



Titled Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth, the biannual report highlights a cautiously optimistic economic outlook, crediting the acceleration to a stronger fiscal position and improved revenue collection.



The World Bank noted that Nigeria’s fiscal deficit narrowed sharply from 5.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 to 3.0% in 2024, driven by a surge in Federation revenues, which rose from ₦16.8 trillion (7.2% of GDP) in 2023 to an estimated ₦31.9 trillion (11.5% of GDP) last year.



This marks a rare turnaround for Africa’s most populous nation, which has long struggled to convert its natural wealth, especially from oil, into sustained economic development.



Despite previously boasting the continent’s largest economy, Nigeria has historically faced chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, high unemployment, and deep fiscal imbalances worsened by fuel subsidies and volatile oil prices.



“Now, the challenge is to consolidate macroeconomic stability and ignite inclusive growth through deeper, wider structural reforms. There is a need for the economy to generate more and better jobs at scale and reduce poverty,” the World Bank recommended in a statement.



Inflation, while still elevated, is expected to decline modestly, averaging 22.1% this year. The report attributes this trend to tighter monetary policy, which has helped to stabilize expectations after years of policy uncertainty.



The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has faced mounting pressure to restore its credibility after previous years of multiple exchange rates and unorthodox interventions.



The government of President Bola Tinubu, who assumed office in mid-2023, has taken steps to roll back fuel subsidies and unify the exchange rate—a move welcomed by investors but controversial at home, where cost-of-living pressures remain acute. The World Bank emphasized that inclusive growth remains the missing link in Nigeria’s economic story.



“Nigeria can attain 3.6% growth this year by scaling cash transfers, pursuing public-private partnerships like India’s 2010s infrastructure push, and issuing diaspora bonds to tap $20.1 billion in 2023 remittances,” Nigerian analyst Liadi Oluwaseyi Jimoh says to FORBES AFRICA. “Policy reversals, as in Argentina, must be avoided. Without addressing inflation and global risks, momentum could falter.”

Flag of Nigeria and modern glass façade, Lagos, Nigeria

Nigeria’s Economic Growth Hits 10-Year High, World Bank Urges Deeper Reforms To Sustain Momentum

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



The White House announced it has lowered the tariff rate charged for small and low-value packages shipped from China from 120% to 54%—which could provide some relief to e-commerce platforms like Shein, Temu and AliExpress—after the two countries announced plans to cut back tariffs on each other&#8217;s goods for at least 90 days.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



The U.S. and China&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/05/12/us-and-china-agree-to-roll-back-most-tariffs-for-90-days-as-negotiations-continue/">announced</a>&nbsp;Monday morning they were lowering tariffs on each other for 90 days, with the U.S. dropping its 145% tariff rate to 30% for Chinese goods, and China dropping its 125% rate to 10% for goods from the U.S.



The announcement did not initially mention the 120% rate applied to shipments from China valued at “less than $800,” but the White House shared an executive order late on Monday mentioning the lower 54% rate.



Under the original order, package from China valued at less than $800 faced a 120% levy, “or a flat $100 fee per postal item,” but while the tariff rate has been lowered, the flat fee option remains at $100.



The flat fee was supposed to rise to $200 on June 1, but Monday night’s order notes this hike has been paused.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



The U.S. and China have been in a trade war since Trump announced his “Liberation Day” tariff increases, which placed at least a 10% tariff on all countries the U.S. trades with, though many countries saw much higher tariff rates. China faced the highest rate, with Trump upping its tariff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/04/10/trumps-tariffs-on-china-are-now-at-least-145-white-house-confirms-higher-than-he-previously-claimed/">rate to 145%</a>. Trump said it was at least in part because the country was not doing enough to limit the amount of fentanyl coming into the U.S., and in an effort to increase domestic manufacturing and have companies move production out of China. Last year, China was the third-largest exporter to the U.S., with $143.5 billion in Chinese exports coming to the states, but it had a $295 billion trade surplus, according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/statistics/highlights/top/top2412yr.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Census Bureau</a>. Trump’s tariffs were a key part of his presidential campaign, and he worked quickly to enact them after being inaugurated, despite warnings from economists that they would have a negative impact on the economy and raise prices for American consumers. On April 25, Shein and Temu—two major online Chinese retailers known for cheap prices that have found success among American consumers—raised prices in response to Trump’s tariffs, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.temu.com/common-policy.html?policy=temucustomernotice" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">both</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://us.shein.com/campaigns/sheincustomernotice" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">retailers</a>&nbsp;said increased their operating expenses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



23%. That’s how much Shein’s U.S. sales dropped during the week of April 25 to May 1—after Shein implemented price increases—compared to the week before,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-07/temu-shein-see-us-sales-drop-in-week-after-tariff-price-hikes" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>&nbsp;reported. Bloomberg also reported Temu’s sales dropped 17% over the same period.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">Tangent</h2>



Packages from China that were valued at less than $800—like many of the goods from Temu and Shein—were previously exempt from tariffs or customs duties through the “de minimis” loophole, which Trump eliminated, then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/02/07/trump-reinstates-de-minimis-tariff-exemption-for-shipments-under-800-boosting-shein-and-temu/">reinstated</a>, then&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-closes-de-minimis-exemptions-to-combat-chinas-role-in-americas-synthetic-opioid-crisis/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">eliminated again</a>&nbsp;on May 2.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2025/05/12/us-and-china-agree-to-roll-back-most-tariffs-for-90-days-as-negotiations-continue/">US And China Agree To Roll Back Most Tariffs For 90 Days As Negotiations Continue</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/05/12/trump-offers-automakers-tariff-reprieve-latest-big-tariff-flip-flop-since-liberation-day/">Trump’s Major Tariff Flip-Flops As Administration Rolls Back China Tariffs</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)

Temu Shein

U.S. Lowers Tariffs On Parcels From China—Affecting Brands Like Temu And Shein

Starting with a $38 computer, they amassed over 50,000 downloads in the first five months.



Where there is a will, there is a way, even if it’s in a little village in South Africa’s Limpopo province.



Childhood friends Shibambu Mikhongelo Marvel (22) and Malunghelo Mathonsi (25) are defying the odds here, creating an African solution for an African problem.



In rural Gumbani, where the internet connection is as stable as the stock market, and where orange dust swirls over rondavels (traditional African circular mud homes), and innovation is a mirage, they are the brains behind the free, interactive e-learning app called NOVAR that’s gaining ground. &nbsp;



Officially released in December last year, it took two years before Mathonsi began developing NOVAR&#8217;s software, teaching himself code via YouTube tutorials and any free online resources he could get his hands on while battling &#8220;poor internet connection and frequent power cuts&#8221;, he tells FORBES AFRICA.



A R700 ($38) computer facilitated the process, which sometimes took three hours to open the necessary files.



Simultaneously, Marvel, studying Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and living on R310 ($17) a month, was in the Mother City unraveling the fundamentals to make NOVAR succeed.



&#8220;I was here at UCT researching its concept, like how this company should look like, how the app should look like, where do we go after building the app,&#8221; Marvel explains.



Split by 1,909km of South African terrain, their mission remained binding: provide free education to all of Africa&#8217;s children.



&#8220;My dream is for all learners—including my daughter–no matter where they are, to have access to quality education,&#8221; said Mathonsi.



When it is free, such an offering typically comprises basic tutorials and guides. NOVAR is lightyears beyond that.



It includes subjects such as quantum computing, AI, business, medicine, and advanced mathematics that coincide with our technologically evolving times, connecting rural Africa&#8217;s youth with the resources to not only adapt, but also solve global issues.



&#8220;NOVAR is a platform institution, even if you&#8217;re coming from a village, you can learn about AI, how to code, agriculture, mining, the economy and where the world is going, understand what&#8217;s happening on Earth and stick on top of technology. NOVAR is so flexible,&#8221; Marvel adds.



Within the app, are a medley of interactive features, including pre-recorded lessons, live learning, and learning hubs focused on high-school subjects, from mathematics to science, all of which have been manually taught, recorded, and uploaded by co-founders Marvel and Mathonsi.



There&#8217;s also a live feed enabling students to interact and discuss, along with NOVA Shorts, a Tik-Tok-like feature comprised of quick educational videos, exposing learners to worldwide innovation and on-the-go content. &nbsp;



&#8220;Learning has to be exciting,&#8221; says Marvel. &#8220;There needs to be a reason to come back and receive education in a much better projection than other people.&#8221;



NOVAR, which is available on Android and scheduled to be released on iOS in late May, has amassed over 50,000 downloads in its first five months. Even so, it’s future hangs by a thread.



With operation costs rising and no revenue stream, it was nearly wiped away in late April until South African news content creator @coolstorybru_za, shared their mission, raising R80,000 ($4,333) in 24 hours.



More than a week later, they received R193,500 ($10,482) in donations, allowing the dream to soar.



Education and Africa have a sour past, the former offered mostly to those who can afford it while much of the latter remains uneducated, undervalued, and without the resources to thrive in a society where one&#8217;s university degree is the golden ticket to a better life.



For centuries, rural Africa has lived inside a bubble where breaking the poverty line means pulling miracles from dry ground while others coast on smooth roads.



Technologically, socially, and agriculturally, the continent is experiencing an unprecedented transformation that could, for the first time, place it on equal footing with the Western world.



Modern, tech-driven cities are rising from Kigali to Cairo—but how can Africa seize this moment if its people are left behind?



Over six hundred million Africans live without electricity, and as AI continues to revolutionize industries, the need to educate rural regions on modern advancements has never been greater. If not, the damage could be irreversible.



Like decentralized finance to traditional banks, NOVAR is positioning itself to test the status quo of established schools unbothered by their inability to cater to those without the financial means or access to education.



By 2030, reportedly 42% of the world&#8217;s youth will live in Africa. This should sound alarm bells for education departments across the continent.



Experts agree that the current neglect of rural education cannot continue if Africa is to become the global force it has the potential to be.



Education shouldn&#8217;t come with a price tag. From Kakuma to Limpopo, NOVAR&#8217;s betting it can deliver what the system never did.



&#8220;Imagine having more young people in Africa with the mentality of problem-solving… who want to solve global issues,&#8221; Marvel says.



&#8220;Let&#8217;s prepare for what&#8217;s coming. What&#8217;s the next big thing on Earth…. If we want to stay relevant in this world, we have to build young people that are capable of innovating and solving the many problems this world is facing.&#8221;

It takes a village; NOVAR co-founders Shibambu Mikhongelo Marvel and Malunghelo Mathonsi; Image supplied1

Meet The Founders Of A Village-Born App That Could Educate A Continent

Good leaders and managers also need to be good communicators and effective public speakers. Some have used it as a tool for business and personal transformation and perfected it enough to be paid millions to talk.



Even in the age of screens and scrolls, nothing stirs the soul quite like a voice that knows what it’s saying. In an era of constant digital chatter, the art of public speaking is not just surviving—it’s evolving.



“People often feel alienated by technology,” says Arthur Goldstuck, a technology analyst, author, and the immediate past president of PSASA (Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa), which offers a place to grow your voice and build a business. “Speakers restore the human touch to communication.” Goldstuck believes that while artificial intelligence can provide answers, it can’t offer the presence, empathy, or storytelling that only human speakers can. “You can learn facts from a screen,” Goldstuck explains, “but a great speaker takes you on a journey.” For him, the association is more than just a networking hub—it&#8217;s a training ground. “You learn the business of speaking, and you learn how to be a better speaker. Both are crucial.” Goldstuck is also candid about the challenges. “It’s hard to convince people to pay you to talk,” he says. “But once you’ve defined your value, once you’ve honed your expertise—and your delivery—the doors begin to open.” He has seen the profession take off in South Africa, and while he’s optimistic about its growth across the continent, he notes that infrastructure, budgets, and formal recognition of speaking as a profession remain hurdles in many regions. That said, breaking into the industry is possible—even without credentials—as long as one brings heart, hustle, and the ability to own a room. Just ask Billy Selekane. “When I was a few seconds old and the doctor smacked the hell out of me to check if I was alive,” Selekane jokes, “that’s when I started speaking.” And he’s never stopped. Today, he speaks around the world and earns millions doing it. The motivational powerhouse, who grew up in Tembisa on the East Rand in South Africa, turned school MC duties into a globe-spanning career built on grit, charisma, and relentless self-belief. From early on, Selekane knew his voice would take him places. “Even in high school, I believed that speaking was my passport to the world.” Selekane developed his own framework, ‘From Barefoot to Sneaker Nation’, a blueprint for personal transformation drawn from his own life. With no formal qualifications, he hustled his way into the corporate world, eventually earning himself a doctorate in Leadership and Management from Logos University in the United States, built his brand, and turned stages into strategy. “Speak less, get paid more,” he says. “This isn’t about ego—it’s about knowing your value.” He’s unapologetic about treating speaking as a business. “Too many people want the spotlight without building the structure behind it. But if you treat it like a business, it can pay like one.” “Your voice isn’t just sound—it’s your signature,” Selekane adds. “That’s what people remember.” Few understand the transformative power of voice quite like Stef du Plessis. Founder of PSASA, du Plessis has spent his career helping organizations shift culture from the inside out. His ‘Unwritten Ground Rules’ (UGRs) model has been implemented in more than 50 countries and has reshaped how companies and institutions operate. Former President Thabo Mbeki once remarked that du Plessis’s work “has nation-building potential”. Quietly impactful and focused more on results than recognition, du Plessis helped shape the very DNA of PSASA. The association’s highest honor, launched by Selekane when he was president, the Stef du Plessis Founder’s Award, is named after him—and it’s a fitting tribute. “It’s not about being the star of the show,” du Plessis says. “It’s about leaving people with insights and strategies that enable personal and business transformation. That can also impact a community, and even a country.” While South Africa has embraced public speaking as a professional pursuit, the rest of the continent is still catching up. Goldstuck believes markets like Nigeria are ripe for expansion. “The appetite is there,” Goldstuck says. “There’s so much talent—it just needs structure.” For aspiring speakers across Africa, the message from all three is clear: start where you are. Speak for free if you must—especially to gain experience, sharpen your voice, and serve meaningful causes. But once you’ve found your footing, know your worth. Exposure is valuable, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you walk away with. Define your value. Learn the craft. And above all, surround yourself with people who will challenge you to grow.

Speaker at business conference, corporate presentation, workshop, coaching training, news conference, company meeting, public or political event. Public speaking concept.

Want To Own A Room With Your Voice? Let’s Talk About The Speaking Business In Africa

The passion for rugby is alive and well, from Cape Town to Cairo. The game is being developed too in countries such as Uganda, the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Madagascar. But what else needs to be done?



Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah is leading what he terms a “change in mindset” that he hopes will boost the development mandate of the organization and grow the game on the continent outside of powerhouse South Africa.



The Springboks are a global brand and household name for fans around the world, but while Namibia have been regular qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup and Kenya have a competitive team on the Sevens circuit, the rest of the continent lags well behind.



It will be no surprise that this largely comes down to funding, but Mensah is emphatic that the passion for the game is alive and well from Cape Town to Cairo.



Rugby Africa is an administrative body under World Rugby that is tasked with growing the game on the continent but does so on a shoestring budget.



“A country like England, for example, receives over 150 million pounds a year to develop the game and to prepare their national teams to be able to compete at the highest levels,” Mensah told FORBES AFRICA. “Africa, minus South Africa, receives two-point-something million dollars a year.



“And you have got to run multiple competitions. You have got to develop the game. That is the reason why Rugby Africa hasn&#8217;t got age grade competitions.



“We are trying to develop greater partnerships and associations with governments, persuading them that even though rugby is not a political tool (on the continent) as football is, the values of rugby mean building a better society.



“Rugby provides something that other sports do not. Some countries, like Morocco, have responded well. I stand to be corrected, but over 1% of GDP in Morocco is being allocated for sports, including at grassroots level. Uganda, Ivory Coast, Ghana have invested massively in the development of the game.”



Mensah points to Madagascar as an example of the popularity of rugby in so-called non-traditional playing nations.



“You can go and watch a domestic match in Madagascar and have 30,000 people in the stadium. What would happen if you are now able to invest a little bit more in Madagascar and in its rugby infrastructure?



“There are countries in Africa that play a test match once every two years. You can begin to immediately see that disparity, but there is great enthusiasm.”



Mensah, who has been in his role for the last two years, says the status quo cannot remain, and it starts with his own organization.



“We need to be creative. Think out of the box. We need to get governments more involved. We need to work with the Olympic solidarity fund to make more money available.



“We are not a third world country out there saying, ‘give me, give me, you owe me’. Because the commercial reality is, unless you have a contract, nobody owes you anything.



“So, get out there and show that you&#8217;ve got something to give. Sometimes you need to plant the seed, the right seed, in order to sow and reap the right crop, and that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re trying to do.”

Tag: South Africa

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA