South Africa Celebrates A Cultural Treasure As The 50th National Arts Festival Begins

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Drums rolled and choirs sang out as Makanda celebrated the opening of the 50th National Arts Festival. A contagious sense of national and regional pride resounded from the dignitaries who attended the milestone Festival ceremony held in the very same auditorium where the Festival was first launched in 1974.

The Festival’s home town of Makhanda is also the childhood home of the National Arts Festival’s Deputy Chair, writer and academic, Dr Siphiwo Mahala. He remarked on the journey of the Festival from a gathering founded to preserve British language and culture to “one of the most inclusive and diverse arts festival’s in the world.” Mahala said this was possible in part because of the shared values and enduring partnership of the Festival’s partners.

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Paying It Forward: Standard Bank Launches ACHIEVA Exchange To Empower First-Timers

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Standard Bank is proudly introducing ACHIEVA^TM Exchange, a transformative movement poised to redefine the way we celebrate personal milestones. Unlike any other market event, ACHIEVA^TM Exchange invites everyone to be part of something bigger, to repurpose their significant moments into tangible support for others. Set to take place on Saturday, 2 March 2024 at Soweto’s Maponya Mall, ACHIEVA^TM Exchange is a dynamic event where personal achievements open doors for others, echoing the spirit of community and shared progress.

First Job, First Needs
Under the theme “First Job,” ACHIEVA^TM Exchange calls for contributions that fulfil the essential needs of individuals embarking on their first job journey. All items – be it clothing, devices or stationery to a laptop bag or notepad – are welcome, provided they are clean, presentable and functional. Drop-off points have been made available at the below Standard Bank branches, but items will also be accepted on the ACHIEVA^TM Exchange market day.

• 5 Simmonds Street in Johannesburg’s CBD
• Fourways Mall
• Sandton City Mall
• Eastgate Mall
• Cresta Mall
• Rosebank Mall
• Menlyn Mall
• Mall of Africa
• Maponya Mall

“ACHIEVA^TM Exchange offers a fresh perspective on celebrating personal milestones. Empowering others through the symbolic sharing of personal milestones, participants go beyond their individual journeys to enrich and uplift others. As Standard Bank we’d like to extend a warm invitation to all, regardless of their banking affiliation, in our aim to foster a community of collective impact and shared growth,” says Head of Middle Market, Motlatsi Mkalala.

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Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2022

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

A few weeks ago, I attended the annual Standard Bank Top Women Virtual Conference which showcased phenomenal women doing amazing work in various fields, from commerce, corporates, NGOs, media and entertainment to small businesses and start-ups.

On the 10th of November 2022, the Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2022 took place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg. The awards had over 700 attendees and a combination of over 30 phenomenal women across Africa and organisations advocating for gender equality and women empowerment. The Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2022 is the fastest growing gender-empowered awards platform, with the theme of “Rise Above the Noise“, the programme was aimed at uplifting and celebrating companies and women that continue to do great work in their respective fields.

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Standard Bank Joburg Polo in the Park

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Formidable luxury events and marketing company African Deluxe Company has confirmed media personality and businesswoman, Minnie Dlamini, as the official host for the 2nd Standard Bank Joburg Polo in the Park taking place at Gauteng’s premium residential lifestyle estate Steyn City next weekend.

I attended the first Polo in the Park event pre-COVID in 2019 – Check that out here.

This year’s theme is SPLENDOUR which aims to showcase all things bright, colourful and grand. Being an all-round powerhouse South African media mogul made Minnie Dlamini the perfect choice to host this year’s Polo.

2019 Polo in the Park – Images by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

The event will be attended by SA’s elite, including top business people, celebrities and media, while the backdrop of Steyn City will offer a scenic day filled with beautiful people, unforgettable experiences, great food, over the top fashion, as well as art and live music on the side lines.

“The Standard Bank Polo in The Park is not only about polo, but also about the lifestyle and fashion that accompanies the sport of kings. Having hosted a hugely successful 2019 edition of this prestigious polo affair, we remain passionate about the African continent and plan to continue showcasing what our country has to offer to the rest of the world,” says The Africa Deluxe Company’s frontman and executive producer of the event Ben Moseme. He adds: “We are particularly excited to have Minnie Dlamini join the Joburg Polo in the Park family as she is the perfect fit for this exclusive Polo celebration, and a true reflection of South African excellence in Media.”

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Standard Bank Polo in the Park at Steyn City

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

Standard Bank and newly founded, African Deluxe Company, hosted the very first Polo In The Park event in Africa on Saturday 16 November. This spectacular event took place at the luxurious Parkland Residence, Steyn City. The new Polo Park, specifically built for this event, created a magnificent backdrop, with breath-taking views of Steyn City’s manicured parklands, overlooking the pristine Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and international award-winning clubhouse.

“Since inception, Steyn City has set out to create the space for families and friends to spend time together, doing what they love best,” comments Tammy Menton, Group Head of Marketing and Events, Steyn City Properties. “Polo in the Park is a perfect example of this, an event which speaks to our own ethos, which revolves around providing a lifestyle that’s unrivalled by anything else in South Africa. Of course, given facilities like our world class equestrian centre, it goes without saying that many of our residents are equine enthusiasts!”

Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

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Standard Bank Jo’burg Polo in the Park

Posted on November 3, 2019 by Mishkah Roman-Cassiem

African Deluxe Company is proud to announce its inaugural event, the Standard Bank Polo in the Park, set to take place on Saturday 16^th November 2019, at Steyn City Parkland Residence, in Johannesburg.

Headlined by Standard Bank, Park Polo is a first of its kind concept for Africa. This is a modern form of action polo, forming part of a new global polo movement focused on creating exciting ways to play polo in and around urban centres, where space is often limited. Rules are simplified, teams change ends only at half time rather than after every goal, and the polo field is smaller, so this makes the game quicker and simpler, and it brings the spectators closer to the action by way of an arena-style polo playing field, which for this event, Steyn City built from scratch.

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