Latest news with #SandtonHotel
eNCA
7 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign gives hope to 1 000 schools and NGOs through trolley libraries
SPONSORED - The 1,000 beneficiaries of the 2025 AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (OUPSA) are announced. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that continues to improve access to books in communities across South Africa, with a focus on schools and non-profit organisations (NPOs). The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg on 29 May 2025. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at the foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year, 2022. Each of the 1,000 mobile library includes 500 OUPSA books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. The total number of books distributed this year will exceed 500,000, up from 250,000 in 2024. Speaking on a panel alongside Carl van der Riet (CEO of AVBOB Group), Karen Simpson (MD of OUPSA), Gugu Ndebele (Executive Director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls), the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube remarked: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority, the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Simpson added that the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' Each trolley library is valued at R57,000, bringing the total investment for the 2025 campaign to R57 million. The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable, and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. Along with books that promote reading for enjoyment, they include materials designed to develop numeracy, making the campaign one of the few national projects focused on both reading and mathematics at the foundational phase. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8,661 nominations from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity.' 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose-driven.' He added that AVBOB, as a mutual society, exists for the benefit of its members and the wider community. 'At AVBOB, giving back to communities is more than a commitment — it's a core part of who we are. We remain deeply guided by our founders' promise of always putting people first, a principle that continues to be the golden thread in everything we do. Through the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact.' Adding to this sentiment during the 29 May 2025 panel discussion, Ndebele said, 'We believe that education is the most powerful tool for changing a learners' future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency and opportunity. We are inspired by this initiative's focus, and we hope it will ignite a lifelong love of reading in every child who encounters one of these trolley libraries.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically, and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. Despite this, access to books in African languages remains limited, especially in underfunded schools. The Road to Literacy campaign helps address this gap, ensuring that the joy of reading, and the practical foundation of numeracy, is not restricted by geography or circumstance. Editor's notes: The complete list of the 1,000 beneficiaries of the 2025 Road to Literacy campaign are as follows:
The Citizen
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Avbob R57m literacy drive: 1 000 mobile libraries delivered to schools and NGOs
The 1 000 beneficiaries of the 2025 Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (Oupsa), have been announced. The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that continues to improve access to books in communities across South Africa, with a focus on schools and NPOs. The announcement was made at an event hosted at the Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg last Thursday. The project addresses the ongoing challenges of low literacy and numeracy levels at the foundation phase by providing young learners with culturally and linguistically relevant materials in all 11 official written languages. This year's campaign reflects substantial growth from the 180 library trolleys distributed in its inaugural year in 2022. Each of the 1 000 mobile libraries includes 500 Oupsa books selected to support literacy and numeracy skills in alignment with the CAPS curriculum. This year, more than 500 000 will be distributed, up from 250 000 last year. Books for reading enjoyment are also included. Speaking at the event, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said: 'This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships. The campaign addresses a pressing national priority – the development of foundational literacy and numeracy, while supporting policy frameworks aimed at integrating diversity into school curricula. It does so in a way that honours South Africa's linguistic and cultural richness, ensuring that no child is left behind.' Karen Simpson, the MD of Oupsa, said the partnership reflects the organisation's core belief that literacy is a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity. 'Access to books in a learner's mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system. We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa's official written languages, and the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.' Each trolley library is valued at R57 000, bringing the total investment for the 2025 campaign to R57m. The trolleys are designed to be mobile, durable and easy to access in shared or under-resourced learning environments. The campaign also continues to grow in reach and engagement. This year's campaign received 8 661 nominations for trolley libraries from across all nine provinces, submitted by educators, caregivers, community leaders and members of the public. Avbob CEO Carl van der Riet said that although the campaign has grown substantially, its original purpose is to provide access to quality education materials, dignity and hope for a better future. 'Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity and dignity. 'They are the building blocks of future learning and the means by which children are empowered to shape their own lives. The Avbob Road to Literacy campaign embodies our belief that meaningful social investment must be both practical and purpose-driven.' He added that Avbob, as a mutual society, exists for the benefit of its members and the wider community. 'At Avbob, giving back to communities is more than a commitment – it's a core part of who we are. We remain deeply guided by our founders' promise of always putting people first, a principle that continues to be the golden thread in everything we do. Through the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, we aim to support underserved communities in a way that uplifts and empowers them, while respecting their dignity and fostering lasting impact.' Adding to this sentiment, Gugu Ndebele, the executive director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, said, 'We believe that education is the most powerful tool for changing a learner's future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency and opportunity. We are inspired by this initiative's focus, and we hope it will ignite a lifelong love of reading in every child who encounters one of these trolley libraries.' Since 2022, the campaign has evolved from a pilot initiative into one of the most extensive mobile library Programmes in the country. Educational experts have long advocated for mother tongue instruction at the early stages of schooling. Research has consistently shown that when children learn to read in their home language, they are more likely to stay in school, perform better academically and transition successfully to additional languages later in life. Despite this, access to books in African languages remains limited, especially in underfunded schools. The Road to Literacy campaign helps address this gap, ensuring that the joy of reading and the practical foundation of numeracy are not restricted by geography or circumstance. For the full list of beneficiaries, click here. 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. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
HIV Pepfar funding cut, Motsoaledi confirms
Motsoaledi said the remaining 7 478 workers are still employed "at least until September". Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi before his keynote address at Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg, 19 March 2025, on the need to prioritise TB during the 'End TB media workshop'. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen More than 8,000 healthcare workers in South Africa have lost their jobs following the withdrawal of United States (US) funding for HIV/Aids programmes, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi confirmed on Thursday. The job losses come as a direct result of US President Donald Trump's January 2025 announcement to withdraw the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) funding from South Africa's HIV/Aids and TB programmes. During a media update, Motsoaledi addressed the impact of the funding cuts while countering claims that the country's HIV response has collapsed. Despite the significant job losses, the health minister emphasised that the vast majority of the HIV/Aids workforce remains intact and operational across affected districts. 'In these 27 districts, there were 271 606 people who are working on the HIV/Aids programmes every day. 15 539 of these were funded by Pepfar , of which, yes, we can confirm today, unfortunately, 8 061 are out of their jobs,' Motsoaledi stated. Despite these job losses, Motsoaledi emphasised that the remaining healthcare infrastructure continues to function. 'The remaining 7 478 people are still employed because they are funded through Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, at least until September this year. So they are still on the job and doing their work as they were normally doing,' he explained. ALSO READ: Jobs bloodbath as unemployment increases by 1% in first quarter Motsoaledi counters claims of HIV programme collapse Motsoaledi expressed concern about recent media narratives suggesting the HIV/Aids programme is collapsing following the funding withdrawal. 'Over the past three weeks, there have been numerous media statements, articles and claims by prominent South Africans who are well known within the HIV/Aids cycle. 'The general thrust of the narrative is that since the announcement on the 20th of January 2025 by President Donald Trump to withdraw funding from Pepfar — the HIV-Aids programme — has collapsed or is on the verge of collapsing, or is inevitably collapsing,' he noted. The minister challenged what he characterised as a misguided perception about where HIV/Aids work truly takes place. 'It is rather unfortunate. There is a belief that the battle against HIV/Aids can only happen in offices or government buildings, public or private. And if the campaign is not seen there in such buildings, then it means it is not happening,' Motsoaledi remarked. He emphasised that the real fight against the epidemic happens at the community level. 'We wish to confirm today that the fight against HIV/Aids and TB is in our villages, in our communities and townships and even on the streets of our country. And that is where our focus is, has been, and as it should be.' ALSO READ: SA funds 90% of its HIV/Aids ARV programme, Motsoaledi reveals amid Pepfar uncertainty Motsoaledi recalls South Africa's historic HIV crisis During his address, the health minister reminded attendees of South Africa's history with HIV/Aids, particularly the devastating impact the epidemic had around 2010. 'Many here might have forgotten the real crisis brought about by HIV/Aids, which was the biggest crisis in the valley and happened in South Africa, especially around 2010, where death was an everyday occurrence,' Motsoaledi said. 'We were burying people in large numbers every day. There was a big absenteeism from work. Children were beaten as their mothers were dying.' He highlighted the severity of the health crisis at its peak: 'By that time, maternal mortality driven by this pandemic had reached a staggering 249 per 100,000 live births. I want to repeat, a staggering 249 women were dying per every 100,000 live births. And the number of children who were born HIV positive was high.' ALSO READ: Billions' worth of weight loss and diabetes medications reached SA shelves and patients in 2024 South Africa's HIV response strategy Motsoaledi detailed how South Africa responded to the crisis by implementing an ambitious testing and treatment campaign. 'As a response, we launched the world's biggest HIV-cancelling testing and treatment campaign. We then announced that we're going to test 15 million South Africans in one year as part of that massive campaign,' he said. The minister recalled that experts were sceptical about the feasibility of this goal. 'I want to remind you that we were never given a chance. Experts from all walks of life, including even the media, never gave us any chance because they thought we're just going to continue along the lines of voluntary counselling and testing, or VCT, as it was called at that time, which relied on passive self-reporting where people will come into health facilities to ask and ask to be tested.' ALSO READ: Health experts warn of 'huge disaster' as USAID terminates Pepfar HIV funding in SA HIV/Aids unattainable pipe dream' achieved He noted that critics had dismissed the government's ambitious target. 'Our target of 15 million people was attacked as an unattainable pipe dream. And we were told that the best that we could achieve was to reach 3 million people only after one year of hard work.' Despite these challenges, Motsoaledi explained how they pivoted their approach. 'We did not relent. We rather changed the approach from voluntary counselling and testing to what we then called HCD, HIV counselling and testing, meaning we go out in the villages, churches, places of work, communities, sport clubs, royal families, to offer South Africans cancelling and testing, and to put those who are positive on ARV treatment.' The health minister highlighted the success of this approach: 'And contrary to the naysayers, I wish to remind you that we reached 18 million people in a period of 18 months in that programme.' Despite the recent funding cuts from Pepfar, Motsoaledi emphasised that South Africa still maintains a substantial HIV/AIDS workforce, with 263,354 healthcare workers continuing to deliver critical services in previously Pepfar-funded districts. He said those previously supported under Pepfar were absorbed into public clinics and continue to receive uninterrupted treatment. NOW READ: Inside SA government's confused response to the USAid funding crisis
The Star
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Flavour redefined: @Sandton Hotel's bold new menus designed to tempt
Staff Reporter | Published 5 hours ago Under the expert culinary guidance of Executive Chef Yoshan Naidu, @Sandton Hotel's restaurant has reimagined its menu, blending classic elegance with contemporary flair. The changes redefine dining by sourcing the finest, freshest ingredients and creatively transforming them into dishes that take tastebuds on a delicious journey, resulting in an experience that captivates both guests and local food lovers alike. The new menus deliver exceptional flavours and thoughtful presentation, showcasing the finest seasonal ingredients. Guests can expect a selection of expertly curated dishes designed to surprise and delight on a sophisticated evening out or a special occasion dinner. 'We wanted to create something that resonates with our guests, whether they're visiting @ Sandton Hotel for the first time or returning as regulars. Every dish tells a story – from the bold, fragrant notes of our Asian Sea Bass to the comforting richness of our Mushroom and Lamb Arancini. It's about bringing people together through food that excites and satisfies,' said Chef Yoshan Naidu. The refreshed menus feature an inspired selection of canapés, starters, mains, and desserts, each crafted with precision and passion. The Prawn Cocktail, reimagined with poached prawns in a silky thousand island sauce, is elevated by an avocado mousse and delicate lemon pearls. For those with a taste for the extraordinary, the Springbok Carpaccio offers a delightful contrast of pickled butternut, Cajun-dressed micro salad, and a tantalising tomato and chilli jam. Diners looking for a heartier indulgence will find their cravings met in the Green Pea and Goat's Cheese Risotto, an exquisite balance of pea-infused risotto, pickled tomatoes, and a fragrant mint gremolata. The main courses continue to impress, with standout dishes like the Seven-Spice Pork Belly, perfectly paired with a Teriyaki pulled pork croquette, cumin-scented pickled cabbage, and sesame vegetables. 'Food is an experience that extends beyond taste. With this menu, we're offering our guests a refined yet inviting dining atmosphere. Whether they're staying with us or simply looking for a remarkable evening out, we want them to savour every moment,' ,' added @ Sandton Hotel's F&B Manager, Ryan Myburgh. And because every memorable night out should end on a sweet note, the Citrus and Chocolate Tart provides the perfect combination of dark chocolate richness with the zesty brightness of orange and lemon curd. The new menus at @ Sandton Hotel's restaurant are now available, inviting guests to discover a fresh perspective on dining. With a commitment to quality and creativity, the restaurant offers an exceptional reason for locals and travellers alike to indulge in an extraordinary meal in the heart of Sandton.
