Official trailer for Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey released!

The official trailer for the popular radio drama and stage production, DIE REBELLIE VAN LAFRAS VERWEY, written by award-winning author Chris Barnard, which will come to life on the big screen from 7 April 2017 has just been released with renowned actor, Tobie Cronjé, in the  lead role.

Watch the trailer here:  https://youtu.be/mlU_0XZs-MY

This tragic comedy is based on a 1971 drama – a combined effort written and adapted into a contemporary script by the late writer and his son, Simon Barnard. It tells the story of Lafras Verwey, an outcast who could never accept the realities of life. Although he is a government official, he hears the sound of otherworldly music playing in his ears and dreams of a wonderful future. He considers himself a key player in the preparation of a significant rebellion that he believes would change the world. When he takes Petra (Chantelle Phillipus), a young pregnant woman, in to live with him, the rebellion becomes even more important to him. Ironically enough, his dreamt-up revolution starts the very night that the baby is born. Comedy, drama and elements of fantasy are all intertwined in this gripping tale of a man who is willing to risk everything in his pursuit to make the world a better place for all.

DIE REBELLIE OF LAFRAS VERWEY is produced by acclaimed actress and director, Katinka Heyns and Genevieve Hofmeyr, under direction of up-and-coming film maker, Simon Barnard. He also makes his debut as director of a full-length feature film with this compelling story.

Simon, son of Katinka Heyns and Chris Barnard, grew up in the entertainment industry. His first movie role was that of young Benjamin Komoetie in the blockbuster, Fiela se Kind. Apart from the production of a documentary about his father for kykNET and music videos for Die Heuwels Fantasties, he is also the creator of 60 programs, in conjunction with kykNET and Medihelp, on psychological health (ʼn Lewe met… / Living with…) with psychiatrist Doctor Franco Colin. His first professional encounter with an on-screen drama, was on the set of Die Wonderwerker, with his father as writer and mother as director. At the time, he got involved with behind-the-scenes photography, production and the editing of material for the film. Simon is currently co-owner of Sonneblom Ateljees, which was founded by Katinka in 1975.

Katinka Heyns is celebrated in radio, television, film and theatre circles, as actress and director and has already received numerous awards, including the international Crystal-award for Women in Films, ten Mnet Vita-awards, the Rapport City Press Woman of the Year-award, the Honorary Chancellor’s Medal from the Tshwane University of Technology, FAK-Medal of Honour and a SAFTA-prize for lifetime contribution to the industry. She was also the first woman to ever be incorporated into the National Film- and Television Foundation’s Hall of Fame and was appointed as councillor of the National Film and Video Foundation by the Department of Arts and Culture. As stage and film actress, she has worked with some of the country’s best actors and starred in various movies, including Pappalap, Jannie Totsiens, Eendag op ʼn Reëndag and Babbelkous en Bruidegom, alongside Tobie Cronjé. She made her debut as film director and producer in 1987, after which numerous successful films such as Fiela se Kind, Die Storie van Klara Viljee and Paljas followed. The latter being the first South African film to ever be accepted for an Oscar nomination. Her most recent film, Die Wonderwerker, was also very well received.   A PhD in Philosophy (DPhil – Tuks) and recent medal of honor from the Academy of Science and Art, acknowledges her overall contribution to the industry.

DIE REBELLIE VAN LAFRAS VERWEY will premiere at the Woordfees-festival on 9 March 2017. Neels van Jaarsveld, Chantell Phillipus, Cobus Visser, Lionel Newton and Albert Pretorius also star in this drama, which will be released by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment on 7 April 2017.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINK:

Facebook: http://ift.tt/2fH1pYg 

Twitter:  @LafrasFilm

Official trailer for Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey released!

SMEs to prepare themselves for increased electricity tariffs

27 January 2017: South Africa is still likely to see above inflation increases in electricity prices over the next few years, making it increasingly important for business owners to consider alternative sources of energy.

This according to Mila Loubser, Head of Engineering Intelligence a division that does forecasting, modelling and monitoring in the energy sector for Energy Partners. She adds that the large investments Eskom is currently making in infrastructure are likely to affect energy tariffs in the near future.

“Since 2008 the average tariff increase in South Africa has been around 300%. According to our research, the next eight years will likely see a year-on-year tariff increase of at least 6% to 8%. In light of the upcoming 2017 Budget Speech, we are also waiting to find out if the government will introduce a new carbon tax. If this is the case, tariff increases could be as high as 13%,” Loubser says.

According to Loubser, this trend will have the largest impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“As we have seen in previous years, energy tariff hikes and other power related issues such as load shedding, had massive impacts on the operating costs and the already low profit margins of SMEs. There are however opportunities for smaller companies to reduce the impact of power costs and supply on their business.”

Cala van der Westhuizen, Spokesperson for Energy Partners Home Solutions, notes that SMEs should take advantage of the incentives provided for the installation of renewable energy solutions. “SMEs need to keep in mind that they can claim a percentage of the cost of solar and other renewable energy solutions back from SARS. Some banks also offer financing to their business banking clients for renewable energy solutions.”

Alternatively, Van der Westhuizen notes that businesses can also consider financing options from certain service providers. “The Home Solutions division at Energy Partners provides various financing options for renewable energy systems to SMEs with energy requirements below 50kW. Energy Partners’ Solar Commercial division also provides a number of bespoke energy saving solutions for larger companies. Additionally, there are pay-as-you-use and leasing service agreements available for qualifying businesses, eliminating the upfront cost of installing renewable solutions,” he adds.

There are a number of benefits to installing solar energy solutions in small businesses, all of which contribute to reducing operating costs and downtime in the event of power outages, according to Van der Westhuizen.

“A full solar solution can reduce the average SME’s electricity consumption by as much as 30%. This figure is of course dependent on the nature of the business. Additionally, custom heating, cooling and energy efficiency solutions have also resulted up to 30% reductions in electricity use for a number of our clients.”

Consequently, Loubser notes that businesses that achieve notable electricity usage decreases also qualify for tariff reductions from their local municipalities. “Negotiating for lower tariffs with one’s municipality can become quite a tedious process, but it is possible and potentially beneficial to the business. Employing a service provider to negotiate on the company’s behalf also simplifies this process considerably,” she adds.

Van der Westhuizen points out that reliability of energy supply is vital for SMEs. “With this in mind, it is important for business owners to do a proper cost-benefit analysis to ensure that they are making the correct decisions, implementing the right energy solutions and using the optimal financing vehicle to reduce their annual energy spend,” Van der Westhuizen concludes.

About Energy Partners Home Solutions

Energy Partners Home Solutions (EPHS) offer clients holistic and innovative home energy solution guaranteed to realise significant savings on a household’s energy bills. In 2016, the organisation launched its ground breaking new product, the ICON Home Energy Hub. The first solar inverter and battery combination developed specifically for the South African residential market.

The ICON forms part of a full home energy solution, including Solar PV, Batteries, Heat Pumps and LED lights. By combining these technologies, Energy Partners (EPHS) is able to provide significantly better savings and financial returns than other solutions: a family sized home could save up to 70% of their electricity bill and earn more than 16% return on their investment – twice what a standard PV-only solution would provide.

For more information visit: http://ift.tt/2jK4pFS

About Energy Partners

Founded in 2008, Energy Partners is a leading energy solutions provider in South Africa that provides clients with innovative solutions (including fully outsourced supply contracts – e.g. steam generation) to suit their needs. Energy Partners has built a high quality team of talented individuals and robust processes which offer end-to-end solutions and integrate the different components of energy optimisation to deliver optimum results – including capital solutions that put clients in a positive cash flow positions from day one. Industries in which Energy Partners specialise include: food retail, retail, healthcare, hospitality, food processing and logistics. For more information visit http://ift.tt/2jK3bud

 

About PSG

PSG Group is an investment holding company consisting of underlying investments that operate across industries which include financial services, banking, private equity, agriculture and education. PSG Group has a market capitalisation in excess of R40bn, with our largest investment being a 30,7% interest in Capitec.

Additional group companies include Energy Partners, Impak, Curro and Capitec.

SMEs to prepare themselves for increased electricity tariffs

La Tête listed as one of the world’s “hottest new restaurants for 2017” by CNN

La Tête restaurant, on Bree St, Cape Town, has been listed by CNN as one of the hottest new restaurants in the world for 2017.

CNN rounded up the top new restaurants openings around the world in places as far flung as Switzerland, New York, Japan, Los Angeles, Mexico and New Zealand, cited La Tête, as one of the “best new restaurants for 2017.”

“From the Caribbean to New Zealand, global gourmets will be digging out their airline schedules to get to these must-try tables.                    

Whether manned by established chefs with household names or the up-and-comers hoping to rival them, one thing the fervent foodie can count on is that the world’s newest restaurants are serving up surprises.”

The entry for La Tête, went as follows;

“Situated in Cape Town’s increasingly popular Bree Street restaurant landscape, part of their goal is to get diners to embrace otherwise unfamiliar parts of the animal.

It’s no surprise that Giles worked for years with the godfather of nose-to-tail chefs, Fergus Henderson, at London’s peerless St John restaurant.

The menu changes daily but will include plates such as crispy pig tails.Farm-to-fork eatery La Tête recently opened on Bree Street and is headed up by Chef Giles Edwards, who creates food from the whole carcass, with nothing wasted.” 

Giles Edwards, Chef Patron at La Tête, commented; “It’s great to get such recognition so early on from a media organization with CNN’s reach and influence. We’ve already had international visitors flocking in, and going away happy and satisfied with what we do. Our style of cooking seems to have hit the spot.”

He added that the locals are also discovering and enjoying his nose-to-tail cuisine. “We’ve had a great response from locals. Our food is simple, the freshness and honest flavours are paramount in each dish.”

Before opening La Tête, Giles ran a pop-up called Salt Cellar, in Woodstock.

To read the full CNN article, click here; http://ift.tt/2iNKtoB

Opening Hours: Lunch – Tuesday to Friday 12pm to 2:30pm / Dinner – Tuesday to Saturday 6pm to 11pm

Address: 17 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001. Tel: 021 418 1299

Twitter: @La_Tete_CT

Facebook: @lateterestaurant

La Tête listed as one of the world’s “hottest new restaurants for 2017” by CNN

Kaba says right attitude a priority

FNB NMMU-Madibaz captain Kevin Kaba believes the right attitude will go a long towards making his team competitive when the FNB Varsity Cup gets under way on Monday.

SOWETO, SOUTH AFRICA – March14 :
Rhine Smith of Pukke and Kevin Kaba of NMMU during Varsity Cup Rugby Pukke v NMMU at FNB Stadium on March 14, 2016 in SOWETO, South Africa
© Christiaan Kotze / SASPA

The 22-year-old loose forward, who was born in Ghana but grew up in Queenstown, will be at the forefront of the Madibaz’s bid to make an impact in the popular tournament.

After a tough season last year, the Port Elizabeth outfit kick off their campaign against UCT in Cape Town, knowing that no teams can be taken lightly.

“We need to pitch up with the right frame of mind to all our games, whether we are facing the ‘bigger’ or ‘smaller’ universities,” said Kaba.

He said they would be looking to improve their performances by not putting themselves under pressure.

“We tend to do that at times, but we need to make sure we go out there with cool heads and try to keep calm when the heat is on.”

Kaba, who will start the season at eighth man, said the team’s strength was their willingness to maintain an attacking approach.

“We are a team who like to run with the ball. Most of the squad have played together before so we have a good understanding of each other.”

Having learnt the game in the icy conditions of winters spent at Queen’s College, Kaba said he was used to the demanding tests rugby could throw at you and was looking forward to his leadership role with the Madibaz.

“It’s an exciting challenge,” said the third-year accounting student. “Dealing with the different personalities in the team and getting to know everyone will help me to grow as a person and leader.”

He was also positive about the team’s prospects.

“I definitely think the squad can make our fans proud this year. We have worked hard and just need to focus on executing our plans out there.”

Due to renovations at the Madibaz Stadium, the NMMU side will play all their games away this season, leaving them without the benefit of home support.

“We have accepted that we will be playing all our games away,” said Kaba. “We’ve tried not to focus on that too much and we have put plans in place to help us deal with all the travelling.”

Kaba says right attitude a priority

Swinging the balance of power: now the customer really is in charge!

Genesys Interactive Intelligence forum gives insight into how companies can improve the customer experience in today’s digital age

In the new digital age, customers hold all the power and businesses around the world are sitting up and paying attention.

This emerged at the recent Customer Centricity Forum 2016 in Johannesburg hosted by Genesys® (http://ift.tt/1DN5VzC)*, the global leader in omnichannel customer experience and contact centre solutions.

Delegates heard that companies that fail to innovate, delight customers and reward loyal customers are doomed to fail in future. The balance of power has changed thanks to digital technology and social media, said experts, and companies are scrambling to change their business models and become ‘customer centric’.

Henning du Preez, a forum participant and disruptive innovation evangelist said that 52% of Fortune 500 companies had disappeared over the past 15 years, while disruptive and innovative companies were thriving, thanks to the value they could deliver.

According to Deon Scheepers, Genesys senior manager of operations, Africa, international companies are going to great lengths to innovate and improve the customer experience.

“Companies are experimenting with augmented and virtual reality to help customers use their products, or to demonstrate the product in use in a particular environment,” Scheepers said. “Many companies are using artificial intelligence and chatbots to support customer self-service and improve contact centre service. Most are reaching out to their customers through new channels, such as mobile apps and social media. And advanced contact centre technology is being used to help agents understand who each caller is, their history with the company, and who within the company is best to resolve their problem quickly.”

According to Scheepers, as digital innovation floods the market, the pace of change is picking up and businesses have to keep pace.

Prof. Adre Schreuder, another forum participant and CEO of Consulta Research, also emphasized how critical customers are to ensuring a successful business. Using the example of a crowded restaurant right next door to an empty one, Prof. Schreuder noted that having many customers is perceived as a sign of quality, so companies should go to great lengths to keep them loyal. “Today, your customers are part of your product,” he said.

Prof. Schreuder also said that customers who consistently enjoyed an excellent experience were more engaged with the brand, purchased up to 90% more frequently from the brand, and spent up to 300% more with the brand each year. “Retaining loyal customers is better for a company’s bottom line than cutting operating costs,” he said.

News articles based on forum presentations, photos and more can be found at http://ift.tt/2jEmXd3. 

Genesys acquired Interactive Intelligence on Dec. 1, 2016. The combined company is known as Genesys. 

About Genesys
Genesys^® powers more than 25 billion of the world’s best customer experiences each year. We put the customer at the center of everything we do and passionately believe that great customer engagement drives great business outcomes. More than 10,000 companies in over 100 countries trust the industry’s #1 customer experience platform to orchestrate seamless omnichannel customer journeys and build lasting relationships. With a strong track record of innovation and a never-ending desire to be first, Genesys is the only company recognized by top industry analysts as a leader in both cloud and on-premise customer engagement solutions. Visit http://ift.tt/1DN5VzC.

Connect with Genesys via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and the Genesys blog.

Swinging the balance of power: now the customer really is in charge!

Cartoon – Gone to Addis

Cartoon – Gone to Addis

Continental celebrates 70 years of tyre manufacture in SA

Continental Tyre South Africa (CTSA) is celebrating a significant milestone as the company reaches its 70th anniversary in 2017.

Brian Joss – Originally founded as a joint venture between General Tire International in the US and the local Williams Hunt Group, the General Tire and Rubber Company South Africa was officially registered in January 1947.

The local operation was acquired by Continental AG in 1998 and renamed Continental Tyre South Africa (Pty) Ltd, creating the foundation to become one of SA’s leading tyre manufacturers and an integral part of Continental’s global family.

Shaun Uys: managing director of CTSA. Picture: Quickpic

Over the past seven decades, it has become one of the industry leaders in South Africa, both within the automotive sector and in the development of Port Elizabeth as a world-class manufacturing hub.

“The 70th anniversary for Continental Tyre SA is a proud achievement for the company, and for all our people that have helped us reach this significant chapter in our proud history,” says Shaun Uys, managing director of CTSA.

“Over the past seven decades, the company has expanded significantly, meeting the growing demand for Continental and General Tire-branded products in the crucial original equipment and replacement tyre sectors,” he adds.

“Our Port Elizabeth plant has benefited from investments and upgrades with almost R1-billion over the past five years to introduce the latest technologies, cutting-edge production processes and the most advanced tooling.”

The investments have also facilitated the expansion beyond the traditional automotive segment to produce a new range of commercial specialty tyres for the heavy-duty mining and earthmoving applications to meet the needs of the industrial sector.

In addition, it has enabled the company to improve environmental sustainability by lowering its CO2 emissions, cutting back on energy and water consumption and reducing the amount of waste generated.

A special laurel wreath logo was created to celebrate the 70th anniversary, showcasing Continental Tyre South Africa’s proud legacy.

“The concept of the 70th anniversary logo is to highlight the company’s wonderful history and heritage, and was chosen as a symbol of success and triumph,” Uys says. “The wreath creates a winning association with the Continental stallion proudly displayed in our main logo, while the laurel leaf pattern is a natural element, and mimics the tread pattern of a tyre.”

Continental celebrates 70 years of tyre manufacture in SA

BP-Castrol join forces with Renault Sport Racing in Formula 1

BP and Renault Sport Racing have today announced a new partnership which will see the global oil company join the recently reformed Renault Sport Formula One Team in support of their ambition to fight for the World Championship in the next five years.

Brian Joss – BP and Castrol, the oil company’s global lubricant brand, will provide fuels and lubricants for the upcoming Formula 1 season, which gets underway in Melbourne, Australia, in March.

“The return of BP and Castrol, brands with such strong heritage in motorsport, is very good news and opens new opportunities for our Formula 1 team. BP’s commitment highlights the ongoing appeal of Formula 1 to major multinational companies. We are very proud and motivated to have a technical partner and sponsor of this calibre,” said Jérôme Stoll, president, Renault Sport Racing.

New logo: oiling the wheels of Formula 1. Picture: Motorpress

Tufan Erginbilgic, chief executive, BP Downstream, commented: “Developing leading fuel and lubricant technologies is a key priority for BP. This partnership creates exciting opportunities for the teams in Renault and BP to work together to further our cutting edge fuel and lubricant technologies in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.”

“With the new aerodynamic regulations for the 2017 Formula One season, power sensitivity will increase. Therefore fuels and lubricants will make an even greater difference to the overall performance of the car than they have since the new power unit regulations have been introduced in 2014,” said Cyril Abiteboul, managing director, Renault Sport Racing. “The teams at BP and Castrol are very excited by the challenges offered by Formula One and we are confident they will help us achieve our ambitions for our new car in

2017 and beyond.”

BP and Castrol will be part of the Renault Sport Formula One Team as the official fuel and lubricants provider through the BP Ultimate and Castrol EDGE brands. The last time the two companies worked together was during the

1997 season when Williams Renault won both the Formula 1 Constructors Championship and the Drivers’ Championship.

“The vision that Renault has to be the best team in Formula 1 is something we at Castrol, and across BP, are proud to be a part of,” said Mandhir Singh, COO, BP Lubricants.  “Joining the team at this point means we can work together on innovative solutions and be part of creating new success stories.”tings to determine how attachments are handled.

BP-Castrol join forces with Renault Sport Racing in Formula 1

Volvo S90 makes South African debut

The new Volvo S90 is now available in South Africa. Making its debut as the second new Volvo since the company began its ‘New Dawn’ renaissance with the local launch of the all-new XC90 in 2015, the new Volvo S90 is a continuation of the new look, new feel and new luxury Volvo brand in South Africa.

Brian Joss – Marking Volvo’s return to the large executive sedan segment, the new S90 offers unprecedented Swedish luxury, supreme comfort and space, modern Scandinavian design, Drive-E efficiency and semi-autonomous driving as standard on all models. The new S90, like the XC90, is built on Volvo Cars’ new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) and features a mixed offering of petrol and diesel engines, and is available in three trim levels to cater to a wide audience while also offering a broad spectrum of value and Swedish luxury.The new Volvo S90 launches in South Africa initially with two engines – the D5 and T6, both with all-wheel drive – in Momentum or Inscription guise. Later in 2017, the D4 and T5 derivatives will follow, with front-wheel drive, and the range-topping T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will make its way to South Africa at a later date.

The Volvo S90: returning to the large executive sedan segment. Picture: Quickpic

Greg Maruszewski, MD of Volvo Car South Africa, elaborates: “With the new Volvo S90 we are again bringing a new level of luxury to South African motorists. Naturally, it builds on the global successes of the XC90, which has collected over 120 awards to date, including the 2016 WesBank/SAGMJ Car of the Year title in South Africa. We expect that the S90 will continue our brand’s resurgence in the local context as well as globally.

“The S90 is a beautifully elegant large sedan with clean, minimalistic design elements and a truly premium interior, enhanced by our typically generous levels of standard equipment, well-priced optional extras and of course our all-encompassing warranty and maintenance plan. We know that South African buyers in this segment want class, sophistication and luxury – and with the S90 we are now able to offer them such an option which holds significant cost advantages over its main competitors in the segment.

“The S90’s tag line is ‘Relaxed confidence’, and we truly believe this personifies the calm yet assertive nature of the largest sedan in our range.”

Volvo S90 makes South African debut

Cluver Family Harvest Day | 1 April 2017

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a wholesome family friendly festival at the Cluver Family Harvest Day, which takes place on Saturday, 1 April (11am to 4pm).

The venue is the picturesque family-owned Paul Cluver Wines, which is set in the heart of the tranquil Elgin Wine Valley. The valley is well known for its cool climate wines and fruit. Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town this promises to be a fun day out for young and old. Choose to self-drive or, even better, embark on a scenic train trip from Cape Town to Elgin. The train departs from Cape Town Station at 9am, with a second collection point in Somerset West. The journey should last no more than two hours, and a few treats along the way will make for a fun and memorable journey. Upon arrival in Elgin you’ll be met by a fleet of John Deere tractors ready to transport you to your final destination. The train will then depart for Cape Town at 4pm.

While the adults sample the superb cider and wines on offer, the kids will be in their element as they get stuck into the myriad of old school fun and games (think bobbing for apples, sack race, egg and spoon race to name but a few). This is the perfect opportunity for mom and dad to unwind a bit as the young ones are kept entertained in the supervised kids’ area.

Keep hunger at bay with the selection of artisanal gourmet fare on offer. Freshly home baked apple crumble, a selection of fine cheeses, charcuterie and gourmet sandwiches are guaranteed to add to the fun and festivities of the day. Live music adds the final touches to what promises to be the ultimate outing.

The price structure is as follows:

Adults	R250 per person
Children under 18	R100 per child
Family Package	R550 (2 adults and 2 children)
Return train ticket (excludes festival ticket)	R500 per person (children under 18 travel for free)

Your festival ticket includes entry, a complimentary tasting glass and a booklet of tasting coupons. The children’s ticket includes entry and a harvest party pack. Food and other beverages available on the day are not included in the ticket price.

Pre-booking is essential as tickets are limited. Book directly through www.webtickets.co.za.  For more details on what you can expect visit www.cluver.com.

Cluver Family Harvest Day | 1 April 2017