Moms, dads, boys, girls, pros, novices. It’s time to get your bicycles out for KZN’s popular cycling event. Tsogo Sun Amashova fever is already setting in clear across the Zulu Kingdom, ready for this year’s epic race on SUNDAY 21^st OCTOBER 2018.

The race organisers are happy to announce the addition of the new 160km Premier distance race. There is something for everyone at the Tsogo Sun Amashova. Choose from the 106km National Classic, a 65km Half Challenge and a 35km Family Fun ride.

Enjoy full road closure between Pietermaritzburg and the finish line on Durban’s spectacular Golden Mile at Suncoast, and check out great accommodation specials by Tsogo Sun.

Register online now, visit www.shova.co.za. Entries close 20 September 2018.

Are you ready for the big Shova?

Tsogo Sun Amashova, Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Sunday 21 October 2018.

The DFM will take place from 20 to 23 July, forming an integral part of the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) which takes place from 19 to 29 July 2018.

Now in its 9^th edition, the DFM programme includes masterclasses, seminars, workshops, labs and networking opportunities for African and international filmmakers to collaborate, share knowledge and benchmark themselves and their work within a global and continental context.

Focus areas this year will include discussions and presentations on the evolution of digital distribution structures and development and finance trends shaping the industry. The programme will also explore the future of virtual reality filmmaking and emerging themes and genres.

As South Africa prepares to host the BRICS summit in 2018, the Durban FilmMart programme will take a look at co-production with the BRICS countries as well as the impacts of policy on filmmaking and creative expression. Other topics will include financing opportunities in the respective countries and the general state of film across the BRICS cluster.

The changing role of women in front and behind the camera will be challenged over the 4 days. This focus is fuelled by the global #MeToo campaign, but in SA begun with the creation almost two years ago of SWIFT – Sisters Working in Film and Television – now a formidable organisation making important changes in the industry.  As part of its important work of lobbying and advocacy for fair representation and equal access of women to the film industry, SWIFT will lead a critical, yet constructive discussion centered on systemic patriarchal systems that perpetuate inequality and the marginalisation of women.

A core component of the DFM is the finance forum in which 16 pre-selected projects from various countries will pitch in sessions with the intention of finding potential sponsors, funders or partners to aid the making of their films. Of these projects, 8 are documentaries and  8 are fiction features.

Two lab programmes are included in the DFM: Jumpstart, is a programme supported by Produire au Sud of Festival des 3 Continents, France for selected emerging filmmakers who will have an opportunity to hone their pitching skills. Cine-FAM-Africa, is an incubator programme led by CaribbeanTales Vice-President Nicole Brooks, aimed at South African women producers and African women producers living in South Africa with serialized television projects.

Early bird registration is open until 4 June 2018. Early bird fees are R1250  (ZAR) for the four day programme, which includes four day’s access to the DFM Industry Programme, access to DFM producers lounge and DFM networking events, 10 tickets to Durban International Film Festival screenings and company information published in the industry manual. After 4 June fees are R1550 for the full programme while daily passes are R450 each (the daily pass does not include tickets to DIFF screenings or access into the opening and closing events).  All tickets exclude meals.

To register go to www.durbanfilmmart.co.za

“Parents, learners and even teachers mistakenly think that Matric is the most important year of schooling, yet Grade 11 is just as important and these years should not be considered as separate milestones, but rather as a 2-year event,” says Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology at The Independent Institute of Education, SA’s largest private higher education provider.

The reason for this is because many institutions – whether public universities or private institutions – make provisional offers for admission based on Grade 11 results, she says. Therefore, learners should give Grade 11 their best effort, and not wait until next year to throw their hats into the application ring.

“Applications for university open in the March of your matric year, but because this is too early for you to have any meaningful matric marks, institutions often use the exam marks from your Grade 11 year as an indicator of your ability to succeed in the course,” says Payne.

“Therefore, if you did not put enough effort into your Grade 11 exams and have the mindset that you will delay the hard work and study until Matric, you may be unpleasantly surprised to find out that it is already too late.”

Payne says that many learners have in the past been disappointed when they receive rejection letters in their Matric year, which would then require them to put in even more effort to improve their marks to a level where they might have a better shot at acceptance.

Additionally, learners often underestimate the difficulty of Grade 11, under the mistaken impression that the real challenges will only follow a year later.

“The work is just as – if not more – challenging than Grade 12, which is often regarded as a revision year. A lot of content is delivered in Grade 11 and can become overwhelming if you don’t resolve early on to keep up and master things as soon as possible,” she says.

Payne notes that higher education institutions usually give one of three replies to applications submitted based on Grade 11 marks:

• Provisionally accepted
• Waiting list
• Rejected

“Once rejected, it is very difficult to have your application re-evaluated, even if your Grade 12 marks have improved dramatically, and especially for those courses which are in high demand,” she says.

However learners whose applications in their Grade 11 year are rejected do have some options left to them, notes Payne.

These include:

• Applying for the same or similar course at a different institution which may still have space available;
• Applying for a different type of qualification at the same institution, for instance instead of applying for a degree course, applying for higher certificate or diploma in the same field, or a degree qualification in a similar field, and
• Working on improving school marks, particularly when placed on a waiting list.

“The waiting list is often a ‘cream of the crop’ selection which is applied once results are known. So  if there are 100 people on the waiting list and your marks are in the top 10, you have a better chance of being accepted,” says Payne.

She warns that Grade 11 is usually not identified early enough as the year when delivery of content assessed in the Matric exams begins, and that Matric final exams often contain more Grade 11 content than that which is covered in Grade 12.

“Learners will find that many of their Grade 12 months are spent practising and revising Grade 11 work. Additionally, exams throughout Grade 11 will mirror the types of assessments one can expect in the final assessment.

“In addition to ensuring timeous placement in a field of study at one’s institution of choice, working hard in Grade 11 also means that learners are able to make the best of the opportunity to practise the study and exam writing skills that will allow them to give the performance of their lifetime when the Matric exams roll around.”

Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director of The Independent Institute of Education, says the general public is increasingly becoming more aware of the benefits of pursuing a degree or other qualification through a private higher education institution, despite the fact these institutions are legally not allowed to call themselves private universities.

“People are beginning to understand that public universities and private institutions are subject to the same oversight and regulation, which means that you will be getting the same quality education regardless of whether you opt for a state-funded university or a private institution.

“Having said that, it is of course very important to still check on individual institutions and choose yours wisely, because just like the quality varies between universities, with some ranked top in Africa and even the world, while others are beset with serious challenges, in the same way quality varies between the offering at different private institutions,” she says.

Coughlan points out that with the realisation that prospective students can pursue the same qualifications and degrees at private institutions, registered and accredited in the same way as those at public universities, there has been a consistent and substantial increase in students who opt for private higher education over the past five years.

“Although some have ascribed this to the challenges in the public sector, students are specifically choosing private study for a number of pull reasons, rather than push factors from the public sector.”

Coughlan says that while some prospective students have very specific reasons for electing to study at a university, based on their unique needs, requirements or background, others are increasingly opting for private study due to one (or a combination of) the following factors:

• Not needing to relocate to a new city in order to pursue their dreams is a big drawcard for some, while also being easier on the pocket.
• With smaller campuses and classes, access to support and staff is vastly improved, as is interaction with fellow students.
• Because a large percentage of lecturers are not only academics but actively working in their industries, students get up close and personal with the real world of work and opportunities while still studying.

• As private higher education institutions receive no state subsidies, they are reliant on student fees, which means that students are treated as valued customers, and generally receive good service. Additionally, if they do not offer value for money and a credible, quality educational offering, they face having to close their doors.
• Many private institutions offer niche qualifications that are not available elsewhere, and equip students for emerging careers such as game development.

“Success rates are generally much better in smaller environments, because it is easier to access help and support timeously when needed,” says Coughlan, “which means that students usually complete their degrees within the prescribed period, and enter the workplace sooner than others who may have to repeat one or more years.”

She adds that because employability is a key success factor for private higher education institutions, most qualifications offered are closely related to the requirements of the career in the real world of work, and an increasing number of career focused postgraduate qualifications are becoming available.

The tools of the higher learning trade also look different in the private sector.

“Assessments can be more interesting, because the marking load on lecturers is lower so there is less reliance on things like multiple choice questions. Additionally, technology use is often flexible and tailored to student needs, because it is possible to do that in flexible environments.”

In the end, prospective students must ensure they investigate all their options – in the public sector, in the private sector and by course offering.

“Things have moved on significantly from the days when the only credible qualification was a 3-year degree from a public university,” says Coughlan.

“Parents, schools and teachers should assist learners in their process of identifying everything offered on the higher educational buffet before making one of the most important decisions they will ever make.”

Nigerian pop sensation WizKid scooped three awards with wins in the prestigious Best Male and Artist of the Year categories, and scoring one extra trophy for his featured performance on Best Collaboration.  South African stars Cassper Nyovest and Emtee won for Best Live and Best Hip Hop respectively, with Shekhinah and Kyle Deutsch scoring gold in Best Pop/Alternative.

Other deserving winners at the show included Nigerian artist Yemi Alade who walked away with the Best Female trophy. Kenyan Afro-pop band, Sauti Sol lifted the Best Group award, while Patoranking won the Song of the Year category sponsored by Google for his chart-topping hit, “My Woman, My Everything”.

2016 MTV Africa Music Awards Winners:

Artist of the Year: Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female: Yemi Alade (Nigeria)
Best Male: Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Group: Sauti Sol (Kenya)
Best Breakthrough Act: Tekno (Nigeria)
Best Live Act:  Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Best Hip Hop in association with MTN: Emtee (South Africa)
Song of the Year in partnership with Google: “My Woman, My Everything” Patoranking feat. Wande Coal (Nigeria)
Listener’s Choice: Jah Prayzah (Zimbabwe)
Video of the Year:  “Niquer Ma Vie” – Youssoupha (Congo) – Director: Antony Abdelli & Jose Eon
Best Pop & Alternative: Shekhinah & Kyle Deutsch (South Africa)
Best Francophone: Serge Beynaud (Ivory Coast)
Best Lusophone: C4 Pedro (Angola)
Personality of the Year in association with DSTV:  Caster Semenya (South Africa)
Legend Award: Hugh Masekela
Best Collaboration in partnership with ABSOLUT: DJ Maphorisa feat. Wizkid & DJ Buckz – “Soweto Baby” (South Africa/Nigeria)
Africa Reimagined: Vivian Onano and Mary Taedzerwa
Best International: Drake (USA)

“It’s certainly an unconventional approach,” says Wonga Ntshinga, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, the largest and most accredited private higher education institution in South Africa.

“We are so used to mostly tying up loose ends and letting the last 3 months of the year drift away while wishing it was already holiday time. But there is a big case to be made for not only maintaining momentum during this time, but even starting to construct the life we hope to pursue in the next year,” he says.

Ntshinga points out that New Year’s Resolutions are notorious for their high rate of failure, but that the desires which drive us to make them – to be happier, healthier and more successful – can in fact be successfully harnessed if it is not left until the starting gun has already sounded.

“If you wait until January 2 to get going on your goals, you are going to take at least a few weeks or months to implement them, never mind seeing the rewards. But if you start taking small actions right now, you will start the first week of the year excited, passionate, refreshed and already streets ahead in turning your dreams into reality,” he says.

Ntshinga says while different people have different goals, there are 5 things anyone can do over the next ten weeks to take their lives to the next level:

DECLUTTER AND ORGANISE

Be ready to respond quickly and efficiently to any opportunities that might come your way in the new year. Getting all your paperwork in order – by ensuring your CV is up to date and you have certified copies of your ID, birth certificate, Matric certificate and qualifications, for instance – means that should you notice a job vacancy that interests you, you are more likely to jump at the opportunity rather than baulk at the effort required to apply.

Additionally, clear your personal and work environments of any clutter – all those papers you will never look at again, the dry pens, the dusty ornaments. Keep only those things that are functional and necessary, or “spark joy”, as the world’s leading organiser, Marie Kondo, advises.

Investigate better systems for getting things done. For instance, some higher education institutions have digital qualification verification systems, such as The IIEMarque, which will streamline your job application processes in future, and ensure that you never lose vital information about your education and track record.

Clearing the slate right now means you will start the New Year energized and empowered.

DO A PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA AUDIT

These days, it is not unusual to have so many social media accounts that you sometimes forget that you registered on Google Plus 2 years ago. But while you were happily Snap Chatting away, and promptly lost interest after a few weeks, prospective employers, potential headhunters and bursary panels could be stumbling across some unfortunate pics or comments on a platform you have long since abandoned or forgotten about.

Don’t leave this until next year. By removing the digital debris right now, you are again clearing the decks in a way which will allow you to grasp and quickly respond to new opportunities, while continuously building your professional image going forward.

GET ACTIVE & MAKE BETTER SMALL CHOICES

Everyone leaves the “I will lose 5kgs in the new year”-resolutions for the 1^st, and then the first week back at work, and then the next Monday. Before you know it, October is with us once more and your physical health in the same or even worse state than it was when you promised yourself you will start exercising.

You can still make those same resolutions, but instead of waiting until next year, why not start making small improvements right now?

Take the stairs, walk to class, run around the block before you get behind the books, and have one sugar instead of 2 in your coffee. Once your healthier new choices become habit, build on them. After 10 weeks, you may find that you have a new goal for 2017 because you have in fact already reached the goal which would have been your New Year’s Resolution!

DITCH MOTIVATION FOR DISCIPLINE

If you give yourself one gift this year, then wrap your head around the benefits of discipline vs the false promises of motivation.

It is human to want to wait for motivation to do what needs to be done – whether it is to study for a test, to go for a run, to update your CV. But motivation may or may not arrive. And in the case of unpleasant tasks, it is very likely not to.

So in order to do what we need to do to achieve our goals, we need to be disciplined even when we don’t feel like it. Being disciplined, when practised consistently, becomes a habit. And once this habit is cultivated, your days will become infinitely more manageable.

SET IN MOTION A CHALLENGE THAT WILL EXCITE YOU IN 2017

Don’t let 2017 be a repeat of all the years before.

Have something to look forward to – a new thing that will take you in a new direction and expose you to new people and places.

Check out distance or short learning courses on offer and take your career to the next level. Sign up for music lessons, or register with your local athletics club.

Make 2017 the year that you get out of your comfort zone and grow both personally and professionally.

“Using the last 10 weeks of the year to structure and visualise what you want to do and where you want to go next year will help you achieve the goal of making 2017 your best year yet, and will eliminate unfulfilled New Year’s Resolution regrets,” says Ntshinga.

“Almost every week we hear of another desperate learner or parent having to deal with the physical and emotional trauma of bullying, yet society and authorities’ responses continue to be reactive and unsuccessful in addressing the bigger issue,” says education expert Dr Gillian Mooney, Teaching and Learning Manager at The Independent Institute of Education, South Africa’s leading private higher education institution.

“These cases making it into the media represent only a fraction of the mistreatment many children go through. But the devastating consequences of bullying are leaving a lasting mark on the lives of countless youngsters, and the problem will continue growing unless an effective strategy is developed and consistently enforced,” she says.

Mooney says that national and provincial education departments throughout South Africa do have policies and procedures in place, albeit to varying degrees, on how schools should respond to bullying behaviour.  Bullying is centrally about trying to gain power, says Mooney, which means that a rise in bullying can be expected in societies where citizens feel disempowered.

“Society itself has become a virtual fight club, with examples of bullying behaviour abounding on social media, for instance. People feel free to behave appallingly, to the degree that anti-social behaviour has become almost accepted practice.”

“Bullying has a ripple effect, where it is the bully, the victim and the bystander who are affected. Other problematic home circumstances, for instance domestic abuse, divorce or the death of a parent, could also provide context in which the bully seeks to gain power through negative behaviour.”

She says it is important that high-profile and easily accessible structures and processes are put in place to help schools deal with bullying, as teachers often feel their hands are tied and victims of bullying feel that they have no voice. Additionally, bullies themselves should receive adequate support and counselling.

“Most importantly however, ways must urgently be found to address the prevailing power imbalance by demonstrating that bullying will consistently have clear and structured consequences for perpetrators,” she says.

“Some provinces have gone some way in setting up structures and processes to deal with bullying, but even in those instances, more must be done to communicate these interventions and systemically enforce anti-bullying processes.”

“When we have a situation in our schools where known bullies continue to wreak havoc upon the lives and futures of others, knowing that the system is slow and ineffectual in responding to anti-social behaviour, we are doing the victim and our society as a whole a great injustice.”

DANGEROUS MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BULLYING

• FALSE: ADULTS SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT WHEN CHILDREN ARE BULLIED – Adults must become involved. Teachers can monitor bullies to deter bullying behaviour. Principals can discipline. Parents can report to schools.

• FALSE: BOYS ARE THE MOST LIKELY VICTIMS – Both boys and girls are equally susceptible to bullying, although perhaps in different ways. Both boys and girls are the targets of physical bullying. Girls are more likely to experience relational, sexual and cyberbullying.

• FALSE: CHILDREN SHOULD JUST TOUGHEN UP – This myth is a hangover from ideas like “boys will be boys” and that children will “work it out”. Bullying can cause real harm and should not be ignored.

• FALSE: BYSTANDERS SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT WHEN THEY WITNESS BULLYING – Evidence suggests that bystanders are also affected by witnessing bullying. Observers also give bullies the audiences that they crave, and legitimacy if they do not sanction the behaviour. Children can be taught to reduce bullying by noticing, reporting and intervening.

• FALSE: IT IS EASY TO SPOT A BULLIED CHILD – Children do not report everything that happens in their lives to their parents. Adults need to find ways to make reporting bullying easier for children, and to follow up effectively when they do.

During the third quarter of 2016, “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” reached a weekly, multiplatform audience of nearly 8 million viewers. The series has now approached nearly 1 billion video views since its premiere in September 2015, including over 100 million full episode streams.

“The Daily Show” also continued its dominant position among Comedy Central US’s core, millennial audience, extending its streak as the most-watched daily late night talk show among millennial men to four consecutive quarters in the key demos during quarter 3, 2016. The series also finished #2 among all adults 18-24 and adults 18-34, and passed “Jimmy Kimmel Live” during the quarter to finish #3 among adults 18-49.

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” airs Tuesday to Friday on Comedy Central (DStv channel 122) in Africa. Viewers can follow “The Daily Show” on Twitter (4.5M followers), Instagram (460K followers) and Snapchat and by becoming a fan of “The Daily Show” on Facebook (5.9M fans). Fans can follow Trevor Noah on Twitter (4.7M followers), Facebook (3.2M fans) and Instagram (1M followers).

The 2016 MTV EMAs will air live from on MTV (DStv channel 130) and MTV Base (DStv channel 322) on Sunday 6 November at 22:00 CAT from the Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Commented Alex Okosi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa, “It is wonderful to see African artists nominated at the 2016 MTV EMAs on the same platform as global superstars of the calibre of Rihanna, Beyoncé, Drake, Kanye West and more.”

In other categories, cultural icons Beyoncé and Justin Bieber led the pack with five nominations each. Superstar Adele followed closely behind with four nods, alongside Best Rock nominees Coldplay, Best New Act nominee Lukas Graham and Best Male candidate Shawn Mendes. Rihanna and Drake earned three nods each, including a Best Song nomination for their hit collaboration “Work.” Adele’s record-shattering hit “Hello,” Justin Bieber’s electronic pop track “Sorry,” Lukas Graham’s soul-pop ballad “7 Years” and the Seeb remix of Mike Posner’s dance smash “I Took A Pill In Ibiza” also earned nominations for Best Song.

“Interviews can be scary affairs, and anxiety often trips up otherwise deserving candidates,” says Wonga Ntshinga, Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of ICT at The Independent Institute of Education, the largest and most accredited private higher education institution in South Africa.

“The purpose of an interview is to get to know a candidate more closely, and to try and determine which shortlisted candidate will be the best fit not only for the work and a position’s unique challenges, but also for the company and its culture,” he says.

Ntshinga says that few people will ever encounter the level of scrutiny recently visited upon the applicants who interviewed for the position of Public Protector. However these interviews, which enthralled millions of South Africans, did provide valuable lessons on how to cultivate one’s interview A-Game, and very importantly, how not to destroy one’s chances of being called back, he says.

“The best defence against wasting a valuable interview opportunity is to be prepared. Very prepared,” says Ntshinga.

“If you have all your ducks in a row by the time you go and sit in front of the panel, you will be the master of your destiny – not your fear and anxiety.”

He says the following should be kept in mind in the lead-up to the interview:

DO

Pay attention to detail

Do your research about the position and the company, opportunities and challenges. List and rehearse your career highlights as they relate to the requirements of the job you want to land. Focus on what you are currently doing, what you have done, and what you expect to contribute in future. Demonstrate how you will solve problems, manage projects and make decisions.

Understand that your track record is constructed throughout your life

When showcasing who you are and what you have done, source relevant and exciting examples wherever you can find them – whether from school, higher education or previous positions. Prove that you have successfully worked with various kinds of teams, for instance large-scale, diverse or acrosss continents, and that you understand how the physical world works.

Keep it clean

Skeletons – alleged and otherwise – came back to haunt a number of the interviewees for the Public Protector position. Realise that when two candidates are equal, the one that is able to demonstrate a positive impact on their community, and resilience and strength of character, is more likely to land the job. A good reputation is an invaluable asset. If there is a negative in your past, be prepared to convince the panel that you have grown and learned from it.

Demonstrate that you are part of a professional community

Join and become active in your industry body or a professional organisation. It shows that you are not an island and are committed to growing your career.

DON’T

Fake and fumble

Preparation is key. Know what you want to say, and find opportunities to do so in the questions that are posed. Ditch the unnecessarily lengthy monologues, and answer questions honestly and precisely. Above all, answer questions in a cool, calm and friendly manner. Show your entrepreneurial spirit, by providing examples of times you have looked for innovative solutions to problems.

Think your good grades and technical proficiency will pull you through

There is a good chance that most of the candidates competing with you during the interview stage will have the same level of subject expertise as you. That is why you have to demonstrate how you as an individual will be the best choice. Amplify and articulate your technical skills, but be sure to also showcase your great communication and strategic skills, and your emotional intelligence.

Let your social media activities destroy your real-life opportunities

All employers will do a social media background check on prospective employees. Online mistakes can last forever, so always be very responsible in your posts and interactions. If you have beef with someone, take it offline and solve the problem like an adult. Nothing says “stay away” like seeing unsavoury exchanges on your candidate’s timeline. So, even before you apply for a position, do a personal social media audit and ask yourself the question – would you hire the person you are seeing in those facebook posts and tweets? If not, you should invest some time in developing a more professional online presence.