Line-up for 2018 Cape Town International Jazz Fest named

Published 28 November 2017, by staff reporter

Cape Town – Corinne Bailey Rae has been named among the headline international acts of the 19th Cape Town International Jazz Festival taking place on March 23 and 24, 2018, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Seu Jorge, whose Portuguese covers of David Bowie’s songs got global recognition in the movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zisou, will also be among the top international acts.

Some of South Africa’s best performance talent will also be on show.

Local fusion sensation Mi Casa is also in the line-up for the 2018 festival, along with veteran Cape Town performer Alistair Izobell.

Cape Town’s Claire Phillips and Jarrad Ricketts, crowned the espYoungLegend 2018 winner, will up the game with a dynamic showcase.

Sekunjalo Edujazz Band will also be on hand to deliver their impressive interpretation of evergreen standards and local classics. Helmed by new director Kelly Bell, the ensemble’s varied playlist includes numerous memorable highlights.

Independent Media’s group executive for marketing and communication, Lutfia Vayej, said the sustainable training and development programmes, job creation opportunities and the promotion of local talent and artists on the African continent, are in line with Independent Media’s empowerment and development objectives and the key reason for the company’s sponsorship of the festival once again.

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The Mercury celebrates 165 years in the newspaper business

Published 24 November 2017, by Dhivana Rajgoapul

DURBAN – One of Independent Media’s titles, The Mercury celebrated 165 years of being in the newspaper business.

Present at the celebrations was Independent Media Executive Chairman, Dr Iqbal Survé and the editor of The Mercury, Yogas Nair.
Also present at the event was eThekwini Mayor, Zandile Gumede, Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, Dumile Cele and members of the business industry which included, Vivian Reddy – owner of Edison Power and Shobna Persad from SABMiller.
Dr Iqbal Survé called The Mercury Newspaper “an established part of society” and said that the newspaper was a “shining light in murky times.” He added that Independent had invested heavily in bringing their digital and new media platforms in line with global trends. Survé also said that the paper continued to hold its own despite very tough print media times.
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#Mercury165: Hungry for inspiration, business community flocks to Mercury breakfast

Published 23 November 2017, by Garth Johnstone 

 

The Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal business community turned out in numbers to celebrate The Mercury’s 165 years milestone business breakfast at Sibaya on Thursday morning.

Inspirational guest speaker, mind coach Robin Banks, drew guests such as mayor Zandile Gumede, municipal manager Sipho Nzuza, leading businessman and Sibaya Casino chairman Vivian Reddy and Sekunjalo executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé.

Survé spoke about the legacy and heritage of the title, describing The Mercury as a credible, established part of KZN society with an incredible history.

It gives me great pride and pleasure to celebrate 165 years of one of SA’s oldest newspapers.”

Survé noted it was also KZN’s leading morning title.

He also spoke about the constant attention being paid to update the business model, embracing the latest technology to meet the ever-changing media landscape.

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SA the engine to drive Africa, says China’s Lin

Published 10 November 2017, by ANA

Cape Town – South Africa has the perfect foundation to be the locomotive to drive growth and development on the African continent, says China’s recently appointed ambassador to South Africa, Lin Songtian.

During an interaction with senior editors from Independent Media and executives from the Sekunjalo group, he said: “The potential of Africa is huge. The problem is capacity.” He listed infrastructure and governance issues as areas of concern.

Turning to South Africa, Lin, who took up his position in August, said the country’s foundation was perfect to drive continental growth through industrialisation. “We see South Africa as a manufacturing and production base which will create jobs,” he added.

The ambassador stressed the need to work together to help drive development, the key to overcoming poverty.

Pointing at China’s economic development in recent decades, Lin said the aim was to lift all of that country’s 1.4 billion people out of poverty.

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LIVE: AEEI releases its financial year-end results

Published 07 November 2017, by a staff reporter

CAPE TOWN – African Equity Empowerment Investments Limited has reported strong year-end performance, with 111% increase in operating profit.

Highlights

– Profit before tax increased by 136% from R288m to R681m

– Headline earnings per share increased by 120% from 43.13 cents to 94.89 cents

– Earnings per share increased by 120% from 44.09 cents to 97.10 cents

– Operating profit increased by 111% from R310m to R655m

– Net asset value increased by 100% from R1bn to R2bn- Total assets increased by 65% from R1.7bn to R2.8bn

– Revenue increased by 43% from R736m to R1 052m

– Net cash generated from operating activities increased to R80m

– Final dividend declaration of 5.50 cents per share to shareholders

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