https://www.facebook.com/122902831091885/

Media Rendezvous, Cape Town (2026)

13/05/2026

In honour of INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY - 12 May, 2026
________

“So never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard seed germinates and roots itself.”

Florence Nightingale
(12 May, 1820 - 13 August, 1910)
________________

Florence Nightingale - the Crimean War nurse who is often credited as the founder of modern nursing - would rarely sit or pose for artists and photographers; therefore a visual trope of her has persisted in artistic representations: one often showing a woman in long skirts, jacket and a lace cap holding a lamp or light.

But who was this "Lady with the Lamp"? .......
______

image:-
Miss Nightingale in the Hospital at Scutari
1855; newspaper coloured engraving attributed to Constantin Guys
(1802-1892); published in 'The Illustrated London News'

(Florence Nightingale Museum)
https://lnkd.in/dmz7eY9U

12/05/2026

Start a business with your R370 SRD grant.
_________________

Many entrepreneurs start their businesses to escape unemployment and create a sustainable life for themselves.

The R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant may seem small, yet it can be the starting point of something bigger if you treat it as seed money and not survival cash alone.
_______

In this article, we’ll show you how to start a small business using your R370 SRD grant:-

*) Shift Your Thinking First
The grant is a form of social relief provided by the government to help South African individuals meet their most basic needs. You can split it and dedicate a certain amount of it as capital for your business.
Read more ……..

*) Start With What People Already Buy
Do not try to invent something new. Focus on items people already spend money on every day. This lowers risk and helps you make your first sale faster.
Read more ……..

*) Use the “One Product” Rule
Trying to sell too many things at once can drain your small budget. Focus on one product or one service first. This helps you learn faster and manage your cash better.
Read more ……..

*) Turn Skills Into Cash
You may already have a skill that can bring income. Think about what people often ask you to help with.
Read more ……..

*) Use WhatsApp as Your First Shop
You do not need to spend thousands on a website to start. Use your ‘phone. WhatsApp can act as your first business platform. WhatsApp serves as a low-cost marketing platform where you can post a catalogue of your product. Post clear photos, write simple descriptions, share your status daily and ask your happy customers to refer you to others.
Read more ……..

*) Price for Growth, Not Just Profit
Pricing can be tricky when you start small. Many people either charge too low or too high. A simple method is to cover your cost and add a small margin. Even R2 or R5 per item is fine at the start. The goal is to keep money moving.
Read more ……..

*) Reinvest Every Rand
Your first profit is not for spending. It is for growing your business.
Read more ……..

*) Keep Your Business Funds Separate
This might be very tricky as you’re starting out, as you might be tempted to use your business funds for personal reasons. However, separating your business funds from your personal finances is crucial for the long-term health and sustainability of your business.
This does not mean you do not get any money from the business. You can start off by paying yourself a small salary from the business and grow it as the business grows.
Read more ……..
_______

This is not about launching a big company overnight. It is about using what you have right now to build a simple income stream that can grow with time.

Starting a sustainable business is not about how much you start with, but how you use that money and compound it over time.
https://smesouthafrica.co.za/start-a-business-with-your-r370-srd/

11/05/2026

Monday motivation .........

08/05/2026

😝😇🥰

07/05/2026

From security guard to manager of 12 Usave stores - and this is how he did it!!
___________________

Starting out as a security guard twenty years ago, PHAKAMISA TAITAI (42) has worked his way up to become a Trainee Regional Manager responsible for 12 Usave stores.

This role marks a significant step up from his early days on the store floor, reflecting years of persistence, initiative and a deep understanding of the business.

Today, as he walks the aisles of the stores he oversees, he greets employees by name and scans shelves with a trained eye, checking everything from stock levels to store presentation.
________

Taitai moved to Gauteng from Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape in 2006 in search of opportunity.

He secured a position as a security guard through a private security company, working across several Shoprite stores, including Golden Walk in Germiston.

“I spent a whole year looking for a job before I found one,” he says.
“So when I got the chance, I made sure I worked as hard as I could.”

Even in those early days, he looked beyond his role.
He assisted with packing and counting stock, learning how the business operated from the ground up.
________

In 2009, his dedication was recognised when a branch manager at Shoprite Golden Walk offered him the opportunity to move into a receiving clerk role, a turning point that set his career in motion ……..

(read more)
________

“If you are willing to learn and work hard, you can go far. I believe where you start does not define where you can go.”

At home, Phakamisa Taitai is a husband and father of four - three boys and a girl - who continue to inspire his drive to succeed.

Looking back, he carries one lesson with him:
“Never underestimate yourself. Giving up is never an option. Every challenge is a lesson that helps you become better.”

https://www.shopriteholdings.co.za/newsroom/2026/phakamisa-taitai-usave.html

06/05/2026

5 Unforgettable Lessons My Mother Taught Me About Success
(by Thomas Koulopoulos)

👩‍🦰

The simple lessons we learn as children, are the foundation for a lifetime of success.

👩‍🦰

The simple lessons she taught me as I was growing up, gave me the confidence to believe I could do things that I was amazingly unqualified for; and her unwavering love picked me back up when my ambitions exceeded my abilities by an embarrassing margin.
______

I could write volumes about what she taught me, but here are the five lessons that I remember most .......

https://lnkd.in/dcXDS_m5

05/05/2026

5 STEPS TO TURN YOUR GREAT IDEA INTO A BUSINESS
_____________________

Starting a business is exciting.
But while passion fuels progress, protection matters too - and that’s where business insurance becomes part of the conversation from day one.
___________

In this article you’ll read how to:-

1. Validate your idea before you invest;
2. Create a clear business plan;
3. Register and structure your business properly;
4. Understand your financial & operational risks;
5. Build smart systems from day one.
And also about:
*) Why most startups fail - and how to avoid it;
*) Frequently asked questions; and
*) Final thoughts.
___________

If you’ve had that “Eureka!” moment, the next question is simple: how do you turn your idea into a real, sustainable business in South Africa?

Here’s a practical road map:-

Read more ……….
___________

Your idea deserves more than excitement - it deserves structure, strategy and protection.

Building a business is one of the most empowering journeys you can take.
With planning, compliance and risk awareness in place, you don’t just launch - you last.

If you’re ready to take the next step, explore how structured protection solutions can support your growth journey.
https://www.miway.co.za/blog/5-steps-to-turn-your-great-idea-into-a-business

image source:-
Talented Ladies Club

04/05/2026

First-Monday-of-the-month - "Star Wars Day" - motivation ........

01/05/2026

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS' DAY
👩‍🌾👨‍💼👩‍🔬🧑‍🏫🧑‍🚒🧑‍✈️

"On Work"
Kahlil Gibran
(1883 - 1931)
_______________

“Then a ploughman said: Speak to us of Work.
And he answered, saying:
You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.
For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons and to step out of life’s procession, that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music.
Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sings together in unison?
_______

Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
And if you sing though as angels and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.”

https://poets.org/poem/work-4
_______________

image:-
(by Lucia Pearce)
The Looart Press, Inc
(1968) Colorado Springs

30/04/2026

702 MTN SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS
Winner Announcement
_________________

The 2026 edition of the prestigious 702 MTN Small Business Awards - Let’s Talk Shop - culminated in an elegant gala event held on 23 April at Primedia Place in Sandton, honouring the outstanding achievements of Gauteng’s entrepreneurial community.

Now in its third year with MTN, the awards continue to spotlight the resilience, creativity and transformative impact of small businesses that serve as key drivers to South Africa’s economy.
________

Announcing the WINNERS:-

1) FIRST PLACE: All Day Jam Pty Ltd
Founded by Gontse Selaocoe, All Day Jam combines organic farming with artisanal food production to create uniquely flavoured jams - including Tomato, Yellow Melon, Pear and Peach varieties.

Read more ……..

2) SECOND PLACE: The Wheelchair Doctor and Manufacturing
Mongezi Majenge’s Wheelchair Doctor is a pioneering mobility solution company dedicated to restoring dignity and independence for people with reduced mobility - particularly within townships, rural regions and under-served communities.

Read more ……..

3) THIRD PLACE: The Learning Space
Founded by Ernest Rangaka, The Learning Space was born from a vision to transform how learners perceive Mathematics and Science - subjects often regarded as intimidating or exclusive in South Africa.

Read more ……..
___________________________________

The competition also recognised a strong cohort of FINALISTS, each distinct in their entrepreneurial journeys and contributions:-

*) Reliable Renders Home Deco (Mbali Mdluli) - a Pretoria-based home décor firm committed to affordable, stylish interiors and local job creation.

*) Travel with Afrika (Afrika Mdolomba) - a niche travel company specialising in curated group adventures for young South Africans.

*) MM Stationery Shoppers (Moloko Manthata) - South Africa’s first WhatsApp-native school readiness concierge platform easing back-to-school burdens on working parents while delivering social impact.

*) Hyades Cleaning Solutions (Letty Baloyi) - a professional cleaning company balancing eco-friendly practices with reliable service delivery.

*) SixKings (Neil Van Der Merwe) - an atelier crafting bespoke premium footwear proudly made in South Africa.

*) Boyd’s House of Regalia (Wandise Boyd) - a graduation regalia brand enhancing the celebration experience with quality and dignity.

*) SwimLePortia (Portia Mokoena) - an inclusive swimming education enterprise dedicated to water safety and empowerment in under-served communities.
___________________________________

“In marking our third year with MTN, the calibre of our 2026 edition’s finalists and winners reflects the extraordinary vitality and creativity flourishing within Gauteng’s small business sector.
These entrepreneurs not only generate economic value but also uplift communities, innovate against the odds and fuel social progress.
It was a privilege to celebrate their achievements during the gala event and we remain committed to supporting their journeys toward sustainable growth and broader impact.”

- Mzo Jojwana, Primedia Broadcasting chief content officer
________

“These businesses remind us that entrepreneurship in South Africa is deeply human. It is about solving problems you have lived through, serving communities you come from and finding ways to grow despite very real constraints.
We congratulate all the winners and finalists for their resilience, innovation and commitment to building businesses that make a meaningful difference.”

- Tumi Sekhukhune Chamayou, chief enterprise business officer at MTN South Africa

https://www.bizcommunity.com/article/702-mtn-small-business-awards-winner-announcement-958324a

Media Rendezvous

13/05/2026

12/05/2026

11/05/2026

08/05/2026

07/05/2026

06/05/2026

05/05/2026

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30/04/2026

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