Sharing a noble cause

Published, 26 January 2017, by Adri Senekal, Business Report at 08:21am

“Dignity is the right of every person, including prisoners. Today’s prisoner could be tomorrow’s president or scientist or leader. Let’s come together to make the world a better place.” – Dr Iqbal Survé

The Geneva-based International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), one of the most prestigious global NGOs, announced the appointment of Sekunjalo Group chairman Dr Iqbal Survé to its global advisory board in Switzerland last week.

Karen Tse, the chief executive and founder of IBJ, expressed her excitement “to have finally convinced Survé, after eight years of trying, to serve on the global advisory board of IBJ”.

“Dr Survé is an influential African entrepreneur, a global business leader and a recognised philanthropist; he is the most influential business leader in Africa with the vision to shape the future of the African continent,” Tse said.

Survé currently serves as a patron or board member of a number of NGO’s across the globe, and Survé philanthropies through its seven affiliated foundations, which support initiatives in childrens’, women and human rights; climate change; healthcare solutions for the poor; education and science; arts and culture; social entrepreneurship and impact investing.

Tse said she was delighted that after eight years she convinced Survé to share his outstanding leadership skills and philanthropic experience with IBJ.

Read also: Top 8 #WEF2017 issues as SA heads to Davos

“We respect Dr Survé for his medical work with victims of apartheid and provision of medical care to a number of prominent South Africans during and after their release from Robben Island.

 

 

 

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#CTIJF2017 reveals epic line-up

Published, 24 January 2017 by IOL Reporter, Independent Media at 11:35am

EspAfrika, the organiser of the country’s longest running jazz festival, has pulled out all the stops to ensure that the 18th Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) exceeds all expectations.

The line-up highlights festival director Billy Domingo’s insights into the current musical renaissance around the world, where collaborations are producing unique sounds that are gaining new audiences.

Jazz fans are likely to make a beeline for these exciting acts announced in the second half of the CTJIF line-up: Saxophonist, producer and composer Kamasi Washington (US) and his release The Epic shook up the jazz critics’ pick lists in 2015 and won the 2016 American Music prize, earning new fans across the world in the process; Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day (US) whose song Rise Up has been adopted as an anthem for change throughout the world; vocalist, pianist, composer and music educator, and two-time Metro Music Award winner Nomfundo Xaluva (SA); and, the multi-award winning saxophonist, composer and arranger Buddy Wells, who will lead his own band in a sensitive yet blistering set as the Buddy Wells Sextet (SA).

For those who favour urban sounds and hip hop there is alternative hip hop trio Digable Planets (USA); dance/electronic music producer Jameszoo (NL); STTA (SA) – a live concept band and City Festival Battle of the Bands 2016 winner, comprising of drummer Jstar, turntablists DJ Raiko and DJ P–Kuttah, three live beat machine samplers, versatile vocalist/ Nasty J aka Joniq; and singer/composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Misch (UK), who leaves his London bedroom studio to head to Cape Town for the first time in March.

 

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Unit trust firms gun for Raging Bull Awards

Published, 26 January 2017 by Staff Writer, Business Report at 07:59am

The Oscars of the unit trust industry, the Raging Bull Awards, celebrated its 21st anniversary last night, and to mark the occasion there were two special awards made in addition to the 10 coveted awards. The event was hosted by Personal Finance, a publication of Independent Media, in conjunction with partners ProfileData and PlexCrown Fund Ratings.

The special awards were for the firm with the top-performing South African equity general fund over 21 years and top multi-asset equity fund on a risk-­adjusted basis over 21 years.

Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media, addressed this year’s event, which was held at the Summer Palace Ballroom in Johannesburg.

More than 300 representatives of leading unit trust firms, boutique managers, financial services regulators and investment industry bodies attend the event. Each year, 10 Raging Bull Awards are awarded.

The most coveted award, for the South African Management Company of the Year, is made on the basis of an average PlexCrown fund rating that measures risk-adjusted returns and consistency of performance across all of a manager’s qualifying funds for periods up to five years.

Last year, Nedgroup Investments was the first management company to scoop the Raging Bull Awards for South African Management Company and for Offshore Management Company.

 

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Davos – a story of hope

Published 25 January 2017, by Dr Iqbal Survé, Business Report at 09:05am 

I have just returned from Davos, and you may ask why one would leave a beautiful African summer to travel to a Swiss Alpine resort where the temperature plunges below -15°C. I have said before that Europe in winter is only good for skiing.

But WEF in Klosters, Davos, is becoming increasingly important, not only for economic growth, but also for the welfare of people on many levels, from education, health and mindfulness.

WEF took place between January 17- 20. This year’s theme was “Responsive and Responsible Leadership”, and now, more than ever this is what the world needs. Leaders in their fields who are responsible, who bear in mind that their actions affect billions of people.

But there is the “Other Davos” that is very rarely spoken about, the Davos where a handful of people attend invite-only events. There discussions revolve around how technology is harnessed to save lives; highlighting the plight of human trafficking and also providing a glimpse into the horrific conditions that refugees face every day.

It is also a space where the African agenda can be pushed, and while at times it seemed like an insurmountable task, the continent is slowly starting to feel the positive effects of constant lobbying.

Last week I was appointed to the Stewardship Board of the WEF “Shaping the Future of Information and Entertainment System Initiative”. It is here that the African agenda can be pushed even harder to ensure that Africa benefits from the information and technology revolution.

 

 

 

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Top 8 #WEF2017 issues as SA heads to Davos

Published, 13 January 2017 by Adri Senekal, Business Report at 07:42am

Eight issues are prevalent as we head to Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2017. The Sekunjalo Group has, for the past years, headed annually to Davos for the powerhouse WEF, led by its chairman, Dr Iqbal Surve.

Each year Davos wrestles with a set of different issues. This year is no different with a number of key themes meant to drive the conversation:  the Fourth Industrial Revolution; Responsive and Responsible Leadership, Global Collaboration; Building Positive Identities, Fixing Market Capitalism and Restoring Economic Growth.

In this wide-ranging interview with Business Report, Dr Surve outlines the eight top of mind issues that the Sekunjalo Group of Companies takes to Davos this year:

  1. Shoring up foreign direct investment in SA

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is what will make the biggest impact on our economic fortunes and attending WEF gives South African business leaders the opportunity to campaign for this.

In the 10 years that I have been attending WEF, I have relentlessly pursued the story of a country that is worth investing in.

Going to Davos gives us a unique opportunity to tap investors, change the narrative about South Africa and position the country as a good investment opportunity. It is FDI that will lead to job creation, stimulate the economy and build our cities.

 

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Taking pride in finding solutions

Published 05 January 2017 by Siyabonga Kalipa, Independent Online at 06:45am

The Cape Argus has evolved over its 160-year history, according to Independent Media executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé, who says the newspaper, which celebrates its birthday this week, is more “solutions-driven” than in the past.

“In many ways, the Argus is the same but not the same. It’s the same in that the news is still great, the content is superb, but it’s more solutions-driven. These days you are reading more and more articles about various things that help people.”

He is looking forward to the Cape Argus fulfilling Independent Media’s vision of being “part of your past, shaping your future”. He said the newspaper, especially its sports pages, helped drive transformation.

“In the past, even though there might have been very outstanding sportsmen and women that were black, they were always hidden away in terms of exposure. So, it is nice to see that kind of change.”

There were also more letters and comments being sent in from townships and on the Cape Flats, he said.

“I love what the editors in Cape Town in general are doing in terms of bringing the newspapers to the communities.”

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