Latest news with #SithembileNtombela
IOL News
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
It's our South Africa: Building a Nation in the Age of Social Media
Sithembile Ntombela (far right) writes that South Africa's vibrant spirit and everyday acts of heroism are amplified through social media, shaping a united national identity in the digital age. Image: Supplied / Decode Communications South Africa is a nation defined not just by its breathtaking landscapes or its vibrant tapestry of cultures, but by the enduring spirit of its people. We are a country that has never been afraid to show the world who we are, proud, resilient, and united in our diversity. This is the South Africa we love, and it is this spirit that compels us to keep building, together. Too often, the world's view of South Africa is shaped by headlines, sometimes celebrating, sometimes criticising. Our sporting successes, political milestones, and cultural achievements often attract global attention. However, the true story of South Africa lies not only in news reports but also in the everyday acts of kindness, courage, and solidarity that define us as a nation. It is in a neighbour's warm greeting, the determination of a young entrepreneur, or the selflessness of a stranger stepping in when it matters most. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Take, for example, the recent story of Yaseerah Nelson, a Cape Town woman who courageously saved a six-year-old child from drowning in Parkwood. Yaseerah's actions serve as a powerful reminder of what it means to be South African: to rise above adversity, to embody the spirit of ubuntu, and to act not for recognition, but because it is simply who we are. Her story is not unique. Throughout our nation, countless unsung heroes quietly make a difference, their deeds often unnoticed beyond their communities. What is changing, however, is how these stories are shared and celebrated. In the digital age, social media has become one of the most powerful tools for nation-building. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram have become modern-day town squares, where South Africans from all walks of life can share their stories, amplify their voices, and unite around common causes. Social media has enabled us to challenge negative stereotypes by highlighting positive stories and everyday acts of heroism that might otherwise go unnoticed. It has encouraged dialogue across divisions, allowing us to face our challenges openly and sincerely, while also celebrating our successes. Most importantly, it has galvanised communities into action, turning inspiration into real change, whether through fundraising, volunteering, or advocacy. At Brand South Africa, we recognise the immense potential of these digital platforms to shape our national narrative. As the country's official marketing agency, our mission has always been to champion the South African story, both domestically and internationally. Through initiatives like the National Brand Forum, we have worked to unite stakeholders from across society to protect our reputation and promote a unified, positive image of South Africa. The Global South Africans Network extends this mission beyond our borders, connecting South Africans living abroad and empowering them to act as ambassadors for our nation, using their influence, both online and offline, to share our story with the world. Building a nation is not the work of a single institution or a few individuals. It is a collective endeavour that requires the participation of every citizen to play their part. Social media has given us the unprecedented ability to partake in this process, to shape perceptions, challenge misconceptions, and inspire each other. It is up to us to use these tools wisely, ensuring that the world sees not only our challenges but also our resilience, generosity, and hope. South Africa's story is still being written. By celebrating our heroes, engaging in honest dialogue, and harnessing the connective power of social media, we can continue to build a nation that is united, resilient, and proud. Let us all play our part, online and offline, in shaping a better tomorrow for future generations. * Ntombela is the General Manager: Marketing at Brand South Africa. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
It's our South Africa: Building a Nation in the Age of Social Media
Sithembile Ntombela (far right) writes that South Africa's vibrant spirit and everyday acts of heroism are amplified through social media, shaping a united national identity in the digital age. Image: Supplied / Decode Communications South Africa is a nation defined not just by its breathtaking landscapes or its vibrant tapestry of cultures, but by the enduring spirit of its people. We are a country that has never been afraid to show the world who we are, proud, resilient, and united in our diversity. This is the South Africa we love, and it is this spirit that compels us to keep building, together. Too often, the world's view of South Africa is shaped by headlines, sometimes celebrating, sometimes criticising. Our sporting successes, political milestones, and cultural achievements often attract global attention. However, the true story of South Africa lies not only in news reports but also in the everyday acts of kindness, courage, and solidarity that define us as a nation. It is in a neighbour's warm greeting, the determination of a young entrepreneur, or the selflessness of a stranger stepping in when it matters most. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Take, for example, the recent story of Yaseerah Nelson, a Cape Town woman who courageously saved a six-year-old child from drowning in Parkwood. Yaseerah's actions serve as a powerful reminder of what it means to be South African: to rise above adversity, to embody the spirit of ubuntu, and to act not for recognition, but because it is simply who we are. Her story is not unique. Throughout our nation, countless unsung heroes quietly make a difference, their deeds often unnoticed beyond their communities. What is changing, however, is how these stories are shared and celebrated. In the digital age, social media has become one of the most powerful tools for nation-building. Platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram have become modern-day town squares, where South Africans from all walks of life can share their stories, amplify their voices, and unite around common causes. Social media has enabled us to challenge negative stereotypes by highlighting positive stories and everyday acts of heroism that might otherwise go unnoticed. It has encouraged dialogue across divisions, allowing us to face our challenges openly and sincerely, while also celebrating our successes. Most importantly, it has galvanised communities into action, turning inspiration into real change, whether through fundraising, volunteering, or advocacy. At Brand South Africa, we recognise the immense potential of these digital platforms to shape our national narrative. As the country's official marketing agency, our mission has always been to champion the South African story, both domestically and internationally. Through initiatives like the National Brand Forum, we have worked to unite stakeholders from across society to protect our reputation and promote a unified, positive image of South Africa. The Global South Africans Network extends this mission beyond our borders, connecting South Africans living abroad and empowering them to act as ambassadors for our nation, using their influence, both online and offline, to share our story with the world. Building a nation is not the work of a single institution or a few individuals. It is a collective endeavour that requires the participation of every citizen to play their part. Social media has given us the unprecedented ability to partake in this process, to shape perceptions, challenge misconceptions, and inspire each other. It is up to us to use these tools wisely, ensuring that the world sees not only our challenges but also our resilience, generosity, and hope. South Africa's story is still being written. By celebrating our heroes, engaging in honest dialogue, and harnessing the connective power of social media, we can continue to build a nation that is united, resilient, and proud. Let us all play our part, online and offline, in shaping a better tomorrow for future generations. * Ntombela is the General Manager: Marketing at Brand South Africa. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How podcasts and partnerships can enhance government to communicate effectively
Sithembile Ntombela, the general manager for marketing at Brand South Africa, speaking at the Social Media Summit for Government at the University of Johannesburg. Image: Supplied Government communicators have been urged to partner with trusted voices in the podcasting space to make government messaging and communications more effective, accessible and relevant to younger audiences. These were some of the recommendations given to communicators during the second day of the Social Media Summit for Government, held at the University of Johannesburg's Business School in Auckland Park. During a panel discussion on Podcasting and Government Communications, Sithembile Ntombela, the general manager for marketing at Brand South Africa, said it was important for government communicators and their principals to realise there was a vacuum and there was a trust barrier, urging communicators to foster meaningful collaborations. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'We need to use the trusted audience, and that is the business voice, civil society and ordinary South Africans. I think that as the public sector, we have to elevate, adopt and adapt to the changing norms. 'Look at the Covid era, we knew exactly the number of vaccines, infections and all those statistics, that should be the case for everything in South Africa. 'Podcasts can play a crucial role in building trust with the public sector; they can measure what we say and what we do,' she said. Ntombela said it was important for the government to be like a commercial brand. 'Podcasts are the new ways of building brands… we need to coordinate, collaborate and co-create, and be that intertwining of strategies and deliverables,' she said. Podcaster Urusula Mariani speaking at the Social Media Summit for Government at the University of Johannesburg. Image: Supplied Podcaster Ursula Mariani, the founder and host of The Conversation Capital, said it was important for the government to co-create with personalities who were kings and queens in the art of conversation, who understood their audience, had strong values and quality content which was packaged authentically. She said in the podcast sphere, attention was the currency and the commodity, and that the number of views had a direct relationship with the amount of money podcasters made. She warned that some people were willing to do anything for views, but warned that brands had to be careful who and what they aligned with, not only looking at the numbers for alignment with audiences. 'If you are a fan of Black Mirror, we are in an episode of Black Mirror. Everybody is starting a podcast, and everyone has a voice. There are people listening to this content, that's why they have the numbers, yet everyone will say they don't like gossip, but when you look at the gossip podcast numbers that's where they are,' she said. Ntombela said brand positioning, or vision, was important. 'We are married to quality conversation that matters, that brings impact to the ordinary South Africans, ours is not to look at the numbers, it is to look at the depth and the substance, that is important,' she said, adding that podcasts were tools to humanise brands. Mariani said government brands needed to use skilled podcasters with communities to walk through complex conversations, saying co-creation and collaboration was the way to go. 'This is a skill and an art, if Frank from finance can do it, I guess let him do it… Do not downplay the skill that it takes to carry the conversation,' she said. Ntombela said when partnering with podcasts, they had helped in challenging the norms, shifting the paradigm. 'Podcasts are a great tool for crisis communications. Like the US-SA saga. Because of podcasts, we had to be agile and respond to bridge the gap between the truth and the lies. 'It is important to be agile, be brilliant at the basics, co-create and collaboration, those are strategic relationships give you footprint and access,' she said. IOL
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa showcases the success of public-private economic collaboration
Guided by President Cyril Ramapho- sa's vision, South Africa's G20 agen- da focuses on fostering equitable trade, reforming international fi- nancing frameworks, building re- silient health systems, advancing food security, driving decarbonisation, and addressing climate risks,' says the CEO (Acting) of Brand South Africa, Sithembile Ntombela. 'These priorities reflect South Africa's commitment to inclusive sustainable de- velopment that leaves no one behind.' The annual Davos gathering also gives the country, Africa's most diversified and industrialised economy, a vital platform to highlight its priorities for the continent under the presidency of the G20, which it assumed on 1 December 2024. South Africa aims to align its leadership with international efforts as it participates in shaping global, regional and industry agendas through the G20 role, held under the theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustain- ability. Ntombela says that the Team South Africa programme in Davos also aimed to reaffirm the country's role as a bridge be- tween developed and developing econo- mies and showcase its unique position as a global hub that unlocks Africa's growth story. The WEF 2025 theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' aligns with South Africa's focus on leveraging innovation and partnerships to drive progress in an era of rapid technological advancement and complexity. Transformative opportunities 'We hope to attract investment that can unlock transformative opportunities across key sectors such as energy, logistics, green industrialisation, exports in tourism, crea- tive industries, digital services, education and healthcare,' says Ntombela. The platform allows South Africa to posi- tion itself as a stable, investible destination for global trade and investment under the umbrella of the diversified new gov- ernment, which has been embraced by investors, she says. The Davos team, comprising high- powered government officials and pri- vate sector executives, showcased the progress that has been made in the past year through vital collaboration with busi- ness that actively sought to address chal- lenges in the economy and roadblocks to investment. These efforts have been carried out under the umbrella of Operation Vulindle- la, a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate the im- plementation of structural reforms and support economic recovery in key sectors. This has been a game-changer for the country. The energy sector, for example, has unlocked more than $20bn in invest- ments. The second phase of Operation Vulindlela, which kicks off in 2025, has even bigger ambitions. 'This collaboration has already, and will continue to, foster innovative solutions to critical issues such as energy security, in- frastructure deficits, and job creation and it has helped us to mobilise substantial investments in different sectors,' explains Ntombela. 'By fostering trust, building alli- ances, and inspiring collaborative innova- tion, South Africa is committed to shap- ing an intelligent age defined by inclusive prosperity, resilience, and sustainable progress.' Investor confidence At the Forum, Brand South Africa, the gov- ernment's official marketing agency, part- nered with a range of stakeholders in the private sector. These include mining companies Exxaro, Anglo American and African Rainbow Min- erals, global brewer AB InBev, insurance giant Old Mutual, global technology group Naspers, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, banking group ABSA and other large corporations active in the country. Investor confidence has been boosted by the successful implementation of a Government of National Unity put in place after the national elections in 2024. This multiparty governance arrangement has boosted investor confidence, strengthened the currency, lowered borrowing costs and cooled inflation. S&P Global's revision of South Africa's credit rating outlook to positive during the past year reflects the growing optimism in the country's reform trajectory. Gains to celebrate There are many gains to showcase at the 2025 Forum, including the achievement of a reliable power supply after several years of grappling with a serious electricity crisis. A balanced fiscal outlook has created fertile ground for business and consumer growth. Structural reforms are finally paying off, including in improving the logistics infra- structure and performance. South Africa is leading the advance- ment of Africa's green mining value-chain and developing connectivity with the continent to drive economic growth and development on the back of the African Continental Free Trade Area. In 2025, the priority for Brand South Af- rica, the government's official marketing agency, is to showcase how the country is actively shaping a collaborative, people- centred agenda for the technological era by leveraging innovation, fostering inclusive economic growth, and decisively leading climate action, says Ntombela. 'As Africa's most industrialised economy and a leader in multilateral institutions, South Africa is committed to unlocking the continent's potential, driving regional inte- gration, and contributing to global solutions for growth, sustainability, and resilience.' A nation determined to rise Looking forward, South Africa is on a drive to demonstrate the sheer grit of a nation determined to rise. 'While private and public investment faced hurdles in 2024, we're turning the tide with more targeted efforts, particularly in energy and infrastructure. The coun- try expects 4.2% average growth in gross fixed capital formation over the medium term. Our trade balance is also evolving, supported by favourable terms and disci- plined import/export strategies.' South Africa also aims to increase its reach and relevance in terms of for reach and relevance in terms of for eign policy as it vigorously pursues eign policy as it vigorously pursues multilateralism and focuses on multilateralism and focuses on building unity, inclusive economic building unity, inclusive economic development and shared pros development and shared pros perity for the African continent and perity for the African continent and its people. 'South Africa is deter 'South Africa is deter mined to use every means mined to use every means at its disposal, including at its disposal, including our participation in glob our participation in glob al fora, to advance the al fora, to advance the African Union's Agenda African Union's Agenda 2063 and to consoli 2063 and to consoli date regional integration,' date regional integration,' Ntombela concludes. Ntombela concludes. N South Africa's unity government holds firm South Africa's Government of National Unity, formed after national elections in 2024, has boosted the economy and focused positive attention on the country, even amidst concerns about whether the diversity of its members would enable it to stay the course, writes Dianna Games. In a groundbreaking development ten parties from across the political spectrum came together to chart a new path for South Africa in response to the message from voters that a more diversified and broad-based government was needed to tackle the country's economic, social and political challenges. The former majority ruling party, the ANC, was joined in government by the former official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, as well as the Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah and RISE Mzansi. In an expanded government of 32 cabinet ministers and 43 deputies, several key ministries such as Home Affairs, Public Works and Basic Education went to GNU parties. Others assumed influential positions as deputy ministers and chairs of powerful parliamentary committees. The majority of the 400 seats in the National Assembly are held by GNU members, with the ANC holding just over 40% of seats, followed by the DA. Eight of the 18 parties in the new South African government are not members of the unity government, including the third and fourth largest parties – uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Although there were concerns about how a disparate group of parties with different views on many issues would get along in the GNU, investors responded positively to what was regarded as a business-friendly coalition government led from the front by President Cyril Ramaphosa. A number of significant new investments were announced in mining, aviation and industry within a few months of the GNU assuming power and the currency strengthened on the back of the announcement of the new government. The coalition has withstood many tensions, including disagreements among ministers and others over legislation and policy, but the centre has held so far at the national level and compromises have been reached on some difficult issues within a broad evolving social compact. © Copyright IC Publications 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
