“uBettina Wethu” on SABC 1

Posted on June 8, 2021 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Farieda Metsileng plays Betty Sikhakane

If you haven’t caught an episode of uBettina Wethu on SABC 1 (Mondays to Wednesdays, 19:30, also on VIU) as yet – you’re missing out. The show follows the endeavours of main character Betty Sikhakane (Farieda Metsileng) as she navigates her first job in the City of Gold, Johannesburg.

In addition to the humourous and compelling storyline, the show boasts a talented local line up including Zweli Dube (Dingaan Jiyane); Tsholofelo Mashishi (Linda Jiyane) and Lesego “Coconut Kelz” Tlhabi (Zaza Moloi).

uBettina Wethu is based on the successful international format Yo Soy Betty La Fea – most familiar to local viewers as Ugly Betty – and has been adapted to 19 global territories and aired in 180 countries, in 15 languages, holding the Guinness World Record as ‘Most Successful Telenovela’.

The show kicked off on SABC1 in April 2021 and regularly appears in the Top 10 most-watched shows on the channel, drawing in excess of 2.5 million viewers for each of the trio of weekly episodes.

“We’ve been thrilled at South African viewers’ response to the show so far and we have grand plans for this stellar cast and their hugely-popular characters,” says Producer Tshepiso Chikapa Phiri, for Known Associates. “The storyline is at a pivotal point, and we’re going to be building towards our season finale in August this year. Fans may think they know the storyline from the various international versions of the show, but we’ve got some major shocks coming with a truly Mzansi twist”.

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Trace Academia Launches Free Online Vocational Training Platform in South Africa

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Trace, in the presence of the honourable French Minister Elisabeth Moreno and South African partners, has formally announced the inauguration of Trace Academia in South Africa, and the signing of a protocol of cooperation between Trace, Senghor University in Egypt, and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), to create a training programme to develop and support the professionalization of the creative and cultural sector in Africa.

Elisabeth Moreno, the Minister for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities together with the Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Trace, Olivier Laouchez and Trace Academia Co-MD, Prejlin Naidoo, launched the company’s latest youth empowerment programme.

Trace Academia is a free online vocational training platform built for young South Africans looking to build their skills to find or create jobs. Created in response to the high rate of youth unemployment in South Africa and the continent, Trace Academia will focus on empowerment through educating and training young people.

More than 50% of Africa’s population is under 25 years old. The youth are struggling with the effects of a longstanding economic and psychological crisis. The reach of the global pandemic has further accelerated the need for new approaches to education.

Trace Academia courses are created in collaboration with leading companies, institutions and experts to ensure that the skills provided are well matched to market needs. A localised, interactive and entertaining course format keeps the learner’s attention and significantly improves course completion rate.

Trace Academia will primarily target young South Africans in its inaugural year. The platform will launch with several locally produced training courses including Get Started with Digital Marketing (Grow with Google), How to Become a DJ (Trace), Spark your Interest in Electricity (Schneider Electric), Become a Successful Entrepreneur (Valued Citizens & UJ), Become a Real Handyman (Leroy Merlin) and Own Your Situation (Durex). Trace Academia will take the learner through the journey towards skill acquisition.

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New Reality TV Series in search of the Coolest OG in the Land

Posted on June 5, 2021 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

SABC2 recently partnered with Rebelintown Productions, for an upcoming new, first of its kind, reality series, THE COOLEST OG’S, which will give 12 South African senior citizens a chance to compete for a R100 000 cash prize and the title of The Coolest OG.

THE COOLEST OG’s starts on Sunday, 6^th June 2021 at 18:30 on SABC 2.

An OG is someone who is incredibly exceptional, authentic and excellent in a classic way. Someone who is an expert in many facets of life and someone who has been around for a long time.

Featuring contestants from all walks of life, the series was shot across the country over 50 days and 50 nights, during the height of the global pandemic as the show captured the lives of 12 senior citizens from the ages of 60 to 80, confined in the safety of their own homes and exposed to fun and unusual challenges, ultimately on a quest to find THE COOLEST OG of them all.

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Woolworths launches augmented reality beauty experiences

Posted on June 4, 2021 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Woolworths is taking its quality in-store shopping experience online with the launch of two new, innovative digital beauty experiences. A first of its kind from a South African based beauty retailer, the introduction of Woolworths’ virtual beauty offerings will see the retailer deliver an unmatched online customer experience, that will not only connect customers virtually to the store, but also offer an exciting, unique and differentiated shopping experience.

COVID-19 has accelerated the growth in online shopping, as customers have shifted to doing their shopping from the comfort and safety of their homes. Through the introduction of these new interactive digital platforms, Woolworths now offers customers the engagement and personalised service they want from Woolies, anytime, anywhere.

The new digital beauty experiences, Virtual Try On and Virtual Consultations, are designed to help consumers reinvent their beauty shopping experience at home and gain more confidence before making a purchase. Virtual Try On gives customers the opportunity to try on hundreds of shades of lipsticks, eye shadows, and mascaras. The feature creates realistic applications of these products through augmented reality that can be tested on any skin tone and allows customers to assess textures, colours and looks.

Based on this initial rollout, Woolworths will then look to extend the Virtual Try On offering into its stores, providing interactive screens for customers to trial beauty products.

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The Cell C Inanda Africa Cup Polo kicks off at the Inanda Polo Club on 19 June 2021

Posted on June 3, 2021 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

All roads lead to one of Johannesburg’s most anticipated events, the Cell C Inanda Africa Cup as it returns on Saturday, 19 June 2021.

Polo is known for its high paced action with this year being no different. The event will be set in the heart of Africa’s economic hub at the Inanda Polo Club in Sandton.

The tournament over the years has brought together a display of exceptional horsemanship amongst teams from Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The 2021 Cell C Inanda Africa Cup will be presented as a 1-day format, introducing a headliner match between players from South Africa and players from Nigeria. As anticipated, the match is set to provide a perfect platform for the best of African polo.

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