Latest news with #Soweto
Bloomberg
6 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
S. Africa Central Bank Sees ‘Amazing' Chance to Lower CPI Goal
South Africa's current low level of inflation is an unmissable chance to reduce the country's inflation target and lock in the benefits of tame price pressures and cheaper borrowing costs. 'There is a really amazing opportunity right now,' David Fowkes, a member of the South African Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee, told an audience on Tuesday in Soweto, south of Johannesburg. 'This is surely the best opportunity we're ever going to get.'
News24
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Soweto TV's Tidi Sehlako on shaping communities through music
Broadcasting from the heart of South Africa's largest township, Soweto Community Television (Soweto TV) has become a cultural cornerstone for local entertainment and representation. At the forefront stands Tidimalo Sehlako, the host of Just Music, whose platform seeks to elevate South African artists to compete confidently on the international stage. Tidi is crafting a space where local talent shines alongside global music, creating new pathways for homegrown artists. In an interview with TRUELOVE, she invites viewers behind the curtain of her remarkable career, offering an opportunity to get insight into her journey, creative process and vision for the future of South African broadcasting. The impact of Soweto TV The platform brims with local talent. In as much as it is showing young people what is out there and encouraging them to dream bigger, it is also showing the narrative that 'you start small, you start wherever you are with whatever you have and you will definitely make it'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tidi Sehlako (@tidimalo_s) Through reaching communities that are on the outlying areas, they are also aiming for quality broadcasting. 'We're reaching more people, especially those who cannot afford all these streaming platforms, people whose affordability isn't in the middle class,' she says. Long-form impact in a short-form world Social media content continues to grow rapidly, with platforms like TikTok shaping how people consume content. As a result, attention spans and audiences have changed, engaging videos that deliver value in seconds. 'If you look at the time frame that it's on, it's catered for a specific demographic. You get young children coming from school. They knock off, come home and the first thing they want to do is get the lowdown on what's fresh in terms of music - what we're listening to, what's going to be trendy on TikTok. READ MORE | How Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli bagged an actuarial science degree at 17 'For those three hours from 14:00 to 17:00, whether they're doing homework or chores, we are there in the background or on the forefront if they're actually watching. They're listening to the music, the content and all the information we're giving them about music, helping them stay afloat in that area.' She notes that even though we are in the socoal media age and people overly scrolling, there is still an appetite for content that keeps you abreast of what's happening. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tidi Sehlako (@tidimalo_s)
News24
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
5 bucket list thrills in 2 days: Kayaking to paragliding, my Shot'left provincial escape
South African Tourism wants South Africans to travel more within the country and have the campaign ''It's your country, enjoy it'. A trip between the Western Cape and Eastern Cape has the potential to help a keen traveller tick a lot of boxes. While there are obvious must-see places in all the provinces, there are less popular spots that are definitely worth exploring. Since TikTok exploded, many South Africans have had a front-row seat to how people from other countries are enamoured with South Africa. Every second video shows us travellers from the global community blown away by everything from our sunsets to our waterfalls and mountains. Many of us know that South Africa is a beautiful country. We know about the Big Five at Kruger National Park, the unparalleled Durban beaches, and the magic of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Some of us are more nuanced in our inter-provincial tourism and will speak of the magic of the Northern Cape dark skies, the vibrancy of Soweto, or the all-you-get buffet of experiences in North West's Sun City. However, some gems remain hidden - known and enjoyed by the locals of that particular village or small town. Through their local campaign, 'It's your country, enjoy it,' Shot'left is on a mission to encourage a feeling of ownership and pride in such places, not only from the people who have known about them all their lives but also from the rest of the nation and then the world. Born and bred in Limpopo, I've become an unofficial plug for the many places we offer in my province. From Tzaneen to Bela Bela, Limpopo is the go-to place for bush getaways, with some of the most breathtaking resorts and good weather, and nobody produces better avocados or mangos (I'm ready to fight for this one). However, I recently became a student when - through a Shot'left media trip - we touched down in the small George Airport. The town of George lies half-way between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth on South Africa's ever-popular Garden Route. The Garden Route, gorgeous as it is, unintentionally promotes the misinterpretation that George is a 'drive-through' town. I recently learned that couldn't be further from the truth. We arrived in George on the first flight in and, because of the partnership between Shot'left and Ford, made our way to a Ford garage to collect a Ford Wildtrak X, two Ford Tremors, a Ford Everest and a Ford Tourneo - which would be our rides for the two days of the trip. Because of George's strategic placement, we would spend a day in the Western Cape and then head to the Eastern Cape in a few hours. In George, the small town charmed us as we discovered why it has more to offer than a 'town you pass through.' We headed to Garden Route National Park, where one of my bucket list items would be ticked off. After a brief talk on safety and fitting our life jackets, we were off on a kayak at the Ebb and Flow Rest camp, each equipped with a double-bladed paddle. The calm water made the experience much more fun, allowing us to enjoy the park's serenity. Once we got into the swing of things, we could go as far as our upper body strength would allow. Straight after, we were on our way to a local gem, the PiliPili Beach Bar. This bar offered everything from mouth-watering fish dishes to pizzas and ribs, all with a cool vibe to match. While eating, with the beach a few steps away, you watch people 'fall out of the sky' every few minutes with parachutes. That signalled our second location, where I would tick off the second item on my bucket list: paragliding. While there are a couple of options where you can paraglide, we ended up at Cloud 9 in Sedgefield. Paragliding is super cool, mainly because it doesn't even require you to be an adrenalin junkie. Most of what you do in that activity is run for takeoff. After that, you sit as the instructor controls the parachute for five minutes, and y'all glide in the sky until you land. I would do it again! That was all the adventure we could fit into the available hours for day one. We watched the sunset from the beach, wine and non-alcoholic champagne glasses in hand, and retired to the Kamma Kai Beach Villa. We enjoyed a braai for dinner in this four-star homely place, complete with a whiskey masterclass courtesy of Gift Makoti and Glenfiddich. After a few hours of shut-eye, we were ready to soak up what we could of George before crossing the invisible line into Gqeberha. We started the day with a traditional South African breakfast and, like the locals, made our way to the Wild Oats Community Farmers' Market. It wasn't long until we were driving out to Plettenberg Bay. Almost two hours later, we were at the Bloukrans River Bridge, where I could tick off not one but three items on my bucket list: bungee jumping, sky walking and zipline. The Bloukrans River Bridge is Africa's highest bridge, and if you take the plunge from there, you will have conquered a 216m high bungy jump. I didn't jump (I know, I know... honestly, I just wasn't keen on losing my breakfast, but I'll take my L), but I did skywalk and zipline, which was just as fun without the whole facing life and death thing. Everyone else in my group who did the jump said there's nothing like it, and they all highly recommend doing it at least once in one's lifetime. All that activity left us hungry, so the next stop was Cattle Baron restaurant inside Tsitsikamma National Park, at least according to the itinerary. In reality, we drove to Tsitsikamma and ordered food, but instead of sitting down, we opted to do what we thought would be a short walk to Storms River mouth. As it turned out, it was a hike. Not only was I not dressed for a hike, but I had a wig and makeup on and wore cutesy Puma sneakers (the uncomfortable kind) because I thought it was a cute little walk. Boy, was I wrong! Jonga, I was huffing and puffing like a big bad wolf just 10 minutes into it. There was absolutely nothing cute. However, I forgot the struggle when we finally reached the suspension bridge. The Storms River Suspension Bridge, also known as the Tsitsikamma Suspension Bridge, is a well-known landmark in Tsitsikamma National Park, South Africa. This suspension bridge, which crosses the Storms River and is only accessible by foot, provides breathtaking vistas and an unforgettable encounter. The bridge is a component of Storms River Mouth, a famous tourist destination in the park. After we got our photos and videos, I huffed and puffed back - complaining every two minutes - but also appreciating God's creativity courtesy of the stunning views. The views to, at and from the suspension bridge are worth the hype, and they are quite literally breathtaking. Needless to say, I was ready to call it a day after the walk turned hick, but Tsitsikamma and its hidden gems wouldn't let me. I am certain not many people know that there is a cute, straight-out-of-America, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley-inspired food joint called Marilyn's 60's Diner (if y'all knew and kept quiet, y'all aren't good people, she...). That's where we went for a very late lunch. It has the most Instagrammable milkshakes I have seen, and some of the burgers are made famous in American movies. It was truly hard not to love. We then check in at Tsitsikamma Village Inn. The three-star hotel gives us a vineyard feel, like the Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate or some of the boutique hotels in the Western Cape. We didn't call it a night until we had a potjiekos dinner and 'nightcap' at a homely restaurant called Tsitsikhaya Lodge Restaurant & Venue. In the morning, after breakfast and check-out, Tsitsikamma, which I've nicknamed the gift that keeps on giving, had one last adventure to offer: a Segway Tour. During the tour, I learned about the close-knit community of Tsitsikamma and where the name comes from. Tsitsikamma is a Khoi word meaning 'abundance of water' due to the high rainfall experienced in this area, which sustains the lush natural vegetation and is home to various animal and bird life. As we drove out of the 'place of many waters,' I held on to all the treasures I had discovered and was excited at the thought of what else Tsitsikamma had hidden that I needed to return to discover. At the Port Elizabeth International Airport, we bid farewell to Eastern Cape. I had left Joburg in the AMs on a Friday and went on to experience two provinces over two days, which gifted me with a serene kayaking, ethereal paragliding, adrenalin-pumping bungee-jumping (almost), ziplining, sky walking, mountain hiking to the Suspension Bridge at Storms River mouth, one of the biggest farmer's market, an American diner and so much more. I would do this Shot'left over and over again.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Samthing Soweto thanks fans with ‘Deda' release and exciting new album announcement
Samthing Soweto released his single, 'Deda', and announced that he will also be releasing an album in July. Image: Instagram Musical sensation Samthing Soweto, real name Samkelo Mdolomba, has fulfilled his promise to fans with the long-awaited release of his single "Deda". The track, which has been buzzing on social media for over two years, has finally made its debut on streaming platforms across South Africa, much to the delight of his devoted followers. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Mdolomba expressed gratitude towards his supporters, acknowledging their unwavering loyalty during his period of silence. 'Ngiyabonga (Thank you) to everyone who stood by me while I was silent. Even when I stopped posting, you kept my name alive, making my song ideas trend like full releases. That gave me the courage to keep going,' he shared, demonstrating a deep appreciation for the connection he has with his fans. Adding to the excitement, Soweto announced that he would follow up this release with a new album titled "Touch Is a Move: Good Morning" on July 4. 'I've been moving around South Africa, working with many incredible people like Producer/Musician @John Lundun and my co-writer on this song, @Anzo, to shape this and the album that follows. But it starts here, with #Deda,' he emphasised, expressing his determination to bring fresh sounds to the industry. Closing his message with the uplifting phrase, 'Mabudede ubumnyama buvele ukukhanya! (May darkness fade and the light come forth),' he reinforced his artistic vision and resilience. However, the past year has not been without its challenges for Soweto. The artist found himself embroiled in a public spat with amapiano heavyweight DJ Maphorisa over the credits for the song "Amalanga Awafani". Fans raised eyebrows at the absence of Soweto's name from the credits, which ignited heated discussions across social media platforms. The disagreement stemmed from a contentious dispute over master rights, leaving Soweto feeling overlooked. In an unexpected turn, Soweto admitted to misrepresenting Maphorisa's contributions to his successful 2019 album "Isiphithiphithi", stating, 'I lied about Maphorisa's contributions to my project. He didn't produce anything.' Reflecting on his past decisions, he confessed that his dishonesty was rooted in insecurity; he believed aligning himself with Maphorisa would bolster his record sales. He later acknowledged that it was actually Kabza De Small, Howard, and Mas Musiq who were responsible for 60% of the album's production. This strategy may have yielded short-term gains, but ultimately cost him his creative rights and dignity. The release of 'Deda' has evoked poignant reactions among fans, who have rallied around Soweto. Their sentiments were evident in the comments section of his post. @creativ_ally9 remarked, 'DEDA hits differently with me. I used it when I was preparing my son's UMGIDI. Very special indeed. You are special,' while @_ulola reflected on Soweto's journey, sharing, 'I love the cover because it embraces his journey ❤️.' @queenlizbaloyi said: 'Already pre-added your album on Apple Music 🥺🫂 Thank you for not being discouraged. They can talk, but they can never deny your talent. You are a gift and a national treasure ❤️🙏🏾.' While @miss_fundi said: 'We stood with you when you chose to leave the soil, loved and supported you way back then; nothing can ever make us back down. Thank you for not giving up ♥️ we won't give up on you ♥️.' Clearly, the artist's story resonates strongly with his audience, which has only intensified their support. As fans eagerly anticipate the upcoming album and continue to celebrate "Deda", it becomes clear that Samthing Soweto's journey embodies the triumph of resilience through adversity. Despite the challenges faced, his unwavering commitment to his craft shines through, keeping the spirit of South African music alive and thriving.
The South African
6 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Orlando Pirates confirm TWO player exits
Orlando Pirates have officially confirmed the departure of veteran midfielder Miguel Timm and the retirement of long-serving captain Innocent Maela, as both players' contracts reach their conclusion. Timm, 33, joined the Buccaneers three seasons ago following a standout campaign with Marumo Gallants, where he lifted the Nedbank Cup. Since his arrival at Mayfair, he played an integral role in the midfield, helping the team to secure five domestic trophies under coach Jose Riveiro. Despite his past contributions, Timm saw limited action this season as Orlando Pirates began transitioning to a more youthful squad. The club confirmed his departure, and the experienced campaigner is now expected to pursue new playing opportunities in the coming weeks. 'Miguel has been a true professional throughout his time here, and we thank him for his service,' read a brief club statement. Meanwhile, 32-year-old defender Innocent Maela has announced his retirement from professional football and will transition into a non-playing role within the club. A product of the club's development system, Maela amassed 208 appearances in Orlando Pirates colours, captaining the side in recent seasons. After spending time on loan with Witbank Spurs and Thanda Royal Zulu earlier in his career, he returned to the Buccaneers cemented himself as a defensive stalwart. On Wednesday night, Maela received an emotional send-off from the Orlando Pirates faithful during his final appearance, underscoring his legacy as one of the club's modern icons. 'Innocent's leadership, loyalty, and contribution to the club cannot be overstated,' the club said. 'We look forward to the next chapter with him off the pitch.' With both players moving on, Orlando Pirates continue to reshape their squad heading into the new season, focusing on youth development and building on recent domestic success. Fans will no doubt keep a close eye on Timm's next move and Maela's new role as the club evolves both on and off the field. With the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season now officially wrapped up, Orlando Pirates – and their fans – can reflect on a successful campaign. The Soweto giants finished second in the standings with 61 points, eight behind league winners Mamelodi Sundowns. Orlando Pirates won 19 of their 28 matches, lost five and drew four. They scored 43 goals and conceded 20. Perhaps most satisfying for the Buccaneers' faithful was the fact they finished a record 29 points ahead of bitter Soweto rivals, Kaizer Chiefs. Next season, Orlando Pirates will face Polokwane City in the first round of the lucrative MTN8. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
