Latest news with #Saffa
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Young entrepreneur making waves in the tech world
Alex Bezuidenhout, 20, breaks the mold with a fast-growing podcast platform, a consultancy, and fintech studies. South African Alex Bezuidenhout, left, and his British business partner, Dan Wood, have created a thriving podcast and business consultancy. Picture: Supplied Go-getter is probably the closest term that describes 20-year-old serial entrepreneur Alex Bezuidenhout. It's been less than a handful of years since leaving school, but he's dished up a lot on his plate. Studying financial technology at the University of Southampton, he's launched a thriving business consultancy and produces a podcast that has featured some heavy hitters in business and culture. Alongside British business partner Dan Wood, a former army paratrooper with a background in civil engineering and leaping out of planes, Bezuidenhout's flying the Saffa flag high in Europe. Entrepreneurs working gruelling hours The pair met while working gruelling hours in Guernsey, an island off the UK coast. Bezuidenhout was on a gap year after school and Wood was his supervisor. They became friends, and it wasn't long before after-hours banter turned into a shared ideal. ALSO READ: The rise of dropshipping: Opportunity and risk in a booming ecommerce model The Good Ideas Club, a fast-growing podcast and content platform is one of the byproducts of their chinwags. While it's still a relatively new podcast, the pair has hosted personalities that would make most LinkedIn recruiters blush. 'We had to think strategically. No-one's giving you an hour of their time just because you ask nicely. But say it's for a podcast, suddenly people are game. The result has been incredible. We've had the former COO of Google Europe on the show, serial entrepreneurs, politicians, even Draco Malfoy from the West End cast of Harry Potter.' Content strategy The content strategy is simple. It's conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. But beneath the charm and spontaneity is an intentional mission to break echo chambers and broaden perspectives, said Bezuidenhout. 'Everyone thinks their problems are unique. But when you sit down with CEOs, actors, authors, start-up founders, it's then that you start seeing patterns. The flavour might differ, but the core is the same. Everyone's trying to solve human problems.' ALSO READ: 4 business pitch mistakes that could be costing you investors — and how to avoid them That insight has informed more than just his podcast guests. It's become his method and influences how Bezuidenhout approaches work, leadership, even life. 'Purpose came up a lot. Nobody wants to feel like a cog in a machine. They want to be part of something that matters. And they want autonomy. Give people enough room to own the outcome and they'll surprise you.' Conversations swing from technical to philosophical The conversations on The Good Ideas Club swing from technical to philosophical. From AI ethics to acting, strategic investment to creative process. There's no box. And that's the point. 'We're trying to diversify the mental diet,' he said. NOW READ: How mental health affects entrepreneurs
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
PSL to Implement VAR technology from next season, promises Gayton McKenzie
ABOUT TIME VAR technology will be implemented in South African football from next season, confirmed SA sports minister Gayton McKenzie on Thursday. Picture: BackpagePix McKenzie said his work on the matter is already done. McKenzie explained that the Premier Soccer League ( PSL ) will be on track to implement VAR soon, as the funds have been released to the SA Football Association ( SAFA ). The use of VAR has once again been one of the big talking points this season in the Betway Premiership, and the patience of the SA football fraternity appears to be wearing thin. The Video Assistant Referee ( VAR ) will be coming to South African football next season, according to Minister of Sport and Recreation Gayton McKenzie . VAR Implementation in South Africa: McKenzie Confirms Progress and Funding 'People are asking me where is the VAR?' Said McKenzie in a video post on his X profile on Thursday. 'I promised and I said the month of April. I've done it. The money is there, the advert went out. FIFA will tell you, they don't want the department to do it. 'They want Saffa to do it. So the R90 million is there, we went to Spain with the help of SuperSport again, we tested VAR. It works 100%.' The matter now lies with Saffa, explained McKenzie. 'Now we're waiting for Saffa to announce the company that will win the tender to do VAR. 'So people, stop asking me where is VAR. I have done what I promised to do. There's nothing more I can do, the money is the most important [thing]. 'SuperSport assisted us so next season there will be VAR. Let's give Saffa a chance to finalise. There will be VAR in our soccer in South Africa.' @Michael_Sherman IOL Sport
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Pierre Schoeman: Lions selection an amazing moment
Pierre Schoeman shed tears when realising his four-year dream to be selected for the British & Irish Lions. The Scotland, Edinburgh and former Bulls loosehead prop was yesterday one of two South Africans named in the 38-man squad for the tour of Australia, along with winger Duhan van der Merwe. Schoeman, who has earned 42 Test caps since his debut in 2022, watched the squad announcement at home with his wife Charissa before heading to Murrayfield to speak to the media. 'It's an amazing moment,' he told them. 'For me personally, it is my faith that has carried me through the whole time. Faith and a great wife. I always say that my name, Pierre, in French means rock – my wife is my rock, as well as God, and it was a dream that we believed in. So, we believed and we prayed and we hoped, and we worked every day. And if you have hope, then you can inspire action and make it happen. 'I was bracing for the moment, but it was exceptional and we shared some tears. No one preps you for that moment. All the sacrifice, then you get that reward – but this is not the final destination, I have a long road to climb. The hard work only starts now. You want to play in as many games and Tests as you can, and represent yourself well on and off the pitch.' SQUAD: British & Irish Lions call on Saffa duo Schoeman said watching Van der Merwe and fellow Scotland prop Rory Sutherland, a good friend of his, play for the Lions in South Africa in 2021 had motivated him to reach the same heights. 'I just thought 'go for Scotland but surely this has to be a dream'. If you don't have a dream then I don't think you will give your best every day to get better and just to add any value you can in abundance. 'Even as a young lad and lassie playing sport, in rugby this is the pinnacle of the dream you can achieve in the UK – not as a team winning trophies but personally pushing up, up and up to reach the highest level you can get to. We know the sacrifices and its much better with the reward.' MORE: Saffa blood runs through Lions veins The post Schoeman: Lions selection an amazing moment appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. 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.
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
John Plumtree: Injured Boks back for playoffs
Sharks coach John Plumtree expects two injured Springbok backs to be fit for the Vodacom United Rugy Championship (URC) playoffs. Bok centre Lukhanyo Am was a noticeable absentee from the starting lineup for tonight's match against Ospreys at Kings Park, with Jurenzo Julius named at 13. 'Lukhanyo has a little bit of swelling on his knee around the patella, probably from playing on the 4G pitches in the UK,' said Plumtree. 'So he's had that treated this week with a little bit of fluid drained off. 'We're pretty sure it's going to settle down over the next five or six days, so he's available for next week [against Scarlets] and if not, then he'll be fine for the Springbok alignment camp during our week off and the quarter-finals.' Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams should also be fit for the URC playoffs, having required more rest for a niggling neck injury. 'We're pretty confident Grant will be back next week or the following week. It's been bothering him for a number of weeks now so we want to give him the best possible chance to get it right,' said Plumtree. TEAM: Sharks suffer Bok blow for Ospreys clash The Sharks will also be without Bok loosehead prop Ox Nche (illness) and flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse (back issue) tonight, with Dian Bleuler and Siya Masuku taking their places. The Sharks need just three log points from their remaining two regular-season games to secure a top-four finish and a home quarter-final. 'We're reasonably happy with where we're at [on the log] but we're not happy with the way we're playing at the moment,' said Plumtree, who was disappointed with their previous performance in Belfast two weeks ago despite a 22-19 win. 'There were moments against Ulster where we were pretty good on both sides of the ball, but the first 20-30 minutes were scratchy, our skill sets were poor and there were lots of soft individual moments. 'The big challenge for the boys this week is to make sure their own mental preparation is better. You can forgive those little skill-set errors in pressure situations but when it's not under pressure, the expectation is we nail those moments. I'm hoping for an 80-minute performance.' TEAM: Ospreys' Saffa centre to tackle Sharks Meanwhile, the 11th-placed Ospreys beat the Dragons last time out and need to win both of their tour matches in South Africa (they face the Lions next weekend) to stand a chance of finishing in the top eight. Plumtree said the Sharks would not underestimate the Welsh club, who beat them 19-5 last season at the Twickenham Stoop. 'They have beaten the Stormers, Benetton and Glasgow this season. They've got Welsh internationals, they've got experience and one of the better loose forwards in [captain] Jac Morgan [who was on Thursday named in the British & Irish Lions squad] and Dewi Lake, who's the Wales captain. These guys are a genuine threat who can beat anyone on their day.' ALSO: British & Irish Lions call on Saffa duo The post Plum: Crocked Boks back for playoffs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. 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.
