There’s nothing quite like starting the day with a heavy dose of inspiration! Yes, tears were shed, but there’s no doubt that everyone at this event today left holding their heads a little higher, knowing that not all the stories told about our country are bad ones!!

Clover has been partnering with CHOC since 2004 when the first CHOC house was established (back then, by Clover Danone). There are now 5 CHOC houses, and with the new initiative launched today, to be run over the next 10 months, there are plans for a 6th!

By the way … did you know that CHOC stands for Childhood Haemotology and Oncology Clinics?

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Get involved by buying Clover Nutrikids products in stores and following the campaign on social media with the hashtag #NutrikidsForCHOC.

Read more about CHOC’s aims here …

On 17 September 2019, midway through Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Clover Nutrikids and CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA announced that they would once again partner up to fundraise for the purchasing and building of a new Clover Nutrikids CHOC House in Port Elizabeth. This will make it the sixth house facilitated and donated to CHOC by Clover over the past few years, as part of a beautiful journey and long term relationship between the two brands.

The various CHOC houses across the country provide a home away from home for families whose children are affected by cancer and need to travel long distances from home to receive treatment.

“Clover has been and is the most amazing partner.  For the past 11 years Clover has supported CHOC. Clover’s extensive generosity over the years has meant that thousands of children, teens and parents who otherwise had nowhere to stay, found a home, care and love at a CHOC House,” says Carl Queiros, CEO at CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA.

In 2018, Clover Nutrikids fundraised and invested close to R2 million into the fifth Clover Nutrikids CHOC House located in Pretoria. The six-bedroom house underwent major renovations to ensure that each area of the house provided maximum benefit to the children receiving treatment as well as the CHOC employees who are vital to the children’s recovery.

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation was established in 1979 by parents of children with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders. The organisation exists to serve and support the children, parents, families and communities through their cancer journey to keep more than hope alive. Having experienced the immense emotional and financial toll that cancer takes, they recognised there is more than one victim in the family of a child with cancer, and they bound together to support each other, children with cancer and their loved ones.

Their aim was to ease the burden on parents and families facing the same journey by providing access to relevant, accurate information, as well as emotional and practical support. CHOC is the only organisation in South Africa that provides comprehensive countrywide support for children with cancer, life-threatening blood disorders and their families. They have a national office in Johannesburg, six regional offices, one branch, and 13 accommodation facilities close to treatment centres. CHOC relies on corporate sponsors such as Clover and donations from groups or individuals wanting to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer.

“CHOC is all about keeping hope alive, and Clover Nutrikids makes life good for moms and way better for kids. With these two brands working together, we believe in creating hope for all children in South Africa affected by cancer.  We will spend the next 10 months partnering with CHOC to help raise much-needed funds through through a portion of our Nutrikids product sales to ensure that this sixth Clover Nutrikids CHOC House becomes a reality,” says Edith Molepo, Brand Group Manager for Nutrikids.

People across South Africa can get involved by purchasing any Nutrikids product which will contribute towards the fundraising and furnishing of the home. The Nutrikids range is made up of Juices, Yoghurts, Ready-To-Drink milk and toddler’s milk powder. A donation from each Nutrikids product sold will be made towards the initiative. The product can be found in any SA retailer.

For the latest project news and updates, connect with Clover Nutrikids and CHOC online:

Clover Nutrikids website:             https://www.clover.co.za/product-category/toddler-range/nutrikids/
Facebook:                                           https://www.facebook.com/CloverNutrikids/
Twitter:                                               https://twitter.com/CloverNutrikids
Instagram:                                          https://www.instagram.com/clovernutrikids/

CHOC website:                                 http://choc.org.za/
Facebook:                                          https://www.facebook.com/CHOCChildhoodCancerFoundationSA/
Twitter:                                                https://twitter.com/CHOCfoundation

BORN TO PERFORM presents SHINE! 2019

Born To Perform founders Gemma and Matthew Marinus recently took some time out from their hectic schedules to chat to me about this year’s exciting, upcoming production, SHINE! MC for the show, popular rising star, Zinah, also joined us.

Born to Perform was born out of the Stageworx school for performing arts. Stageworx is a space where Gemma encourages authenticity at all times. All who attend are taught the importance of respecting themselves, each other and the world around them. She acknowledges though, that today’s kids struggle to communicate directly because of social media. Stageworx uses the arts to guide them in understanding who they are, what they are and where they position themselves in the world as human beings.

Matthew adds that with the kids who study song-writing (these are the ones he predominantly works with), he’s found that there’s a need for them to understand who they are without the ‘outside noise’ of everyone’s opinions.

One of the fundamental principles of Stageworx is to celebrate all people and their successes. There are many doors and many opportunities, and it’s essential for these kids to understand this process and applaud others when a particular opportunity wasn’t theirs.

Gemma firmly believes that it’s their job as teachers and mentors to continually ask how they can handle situations better with young people if you feel you may have handled a difficult situation poorly. Even in conflict, she always tries to give them a learning situation, asking them to “Express how you were feeling …” She feels that if you allow the kids to analyse themselves, they learn how to approach various life situations and by doing so, she’s creating better humans.

I asked Gemma if she’d ever open up another branch of Stageworx? She replies that it’s not on the cards. “Stageworx is a personal experience, which is why there’s only one school.” For her, it’s not about the numbers. It’s about the quality of the experience and the time she gives to the kids. She wouldn’t be able to give her all, like she’s doing now if she had to split herself between more than one school.

She tells me that when she was a teenager, she grabbed every single opportunity to perform. “It takes years of practice to be an overnight success! You need to be ready!” All that experience accumulated, and when the time was right, it all came together. “You need to eat, sleep, breathe the industry and want it enough to do the work!” This is the message that she imparts to every single young person who dreams of a future in any of the performing arts fields.

That passion really goes into Stageworx a full 100% and I couldn’t imagine it being diluted in any way by Gemma opening up somewhere else and trying to replicate it, or relying on someone else to do it for her!

Zinah tells us that she was bullied at school. She always thought that she was a bad person because of this. But she’s come to learn that your own experience can be a learning experience for someone else. She (quite rightly) feels that we’re always so fixated on trying to change people, as opposed to just understanding them. Kids and teens tend to live in their own self-absorbed bubble and aren’t aware that others are going through the same stuff.

Coming out of Women’s Month and a heightened awareness of the horrific increase in crimes against women and children, I had to ask Zinah about her latest music video for her newly released single, ‘Ever Been’. The song is stunning and the video itself is visually slick and stylish, but I was interested to know why Zinah had willingly portrayed herself in such an openly provocative manner. Although she’s clearly absolutely gorgeous, it concerned me that it would send young girls (and men) the wrong message.

Her response is one that all of those who see the video need to hear: Zinah told us that since appearing in last year’s show, she’s had a big shift in how she conducts herself with people. As a product of Stageworx, she had the privilege of seeing that it was run by a strong woman who taught her how to work as a woman in this industry. After years of feeling inhibited and unworthy, she’s now finally comfortable in her own skin and is proud of who she is. She strongly believes that women shouldn’t be objectified, and is ready to own who she is!

Zinah also spoke about being able to work with people she was completely comfortable with and spoke so highly of Matthew and the way in which he guided her every step of the way, ensuring that she was happy with the creative process.

And then she drops a bombshell! She tells us that one of the other reasons she was ready to do a music video like this, ready to own how she looks and put herself out there, showing how truly beautiful she is, was because she was sexually abused when she was seven years old! I think that to say we were all stunned would be an understatement! We were even more shocked to learn that she only told her parents about this three weeks before our meet-up!

Zinah went on to say that it was a huge transition to move from expecting to be disrespected to knowing that you deserve respect because you’re now comfortable in your own skin; knowing that you’ve forgiven that person and have been able to move on. She tells us that it’s healing for herself. She knows she deserves love and deserves NOT to be objectified.

If she can be someone who speaks for positivity and strength on women’s ability to say NO, then she wants to be that person. She quotes Gemma, who often says, “Kindness is key.”

Gemma reminds us that people can be extremely unforgiving when they don’t even know the full story – all they see is a picture of a video.

She says that we’re lucky to live in the world we’re in as women, compared to where we’ve come from with many more women being in high-end corporate positions than there were 10 or 20 years ago. She tells me that her Born To Perform vision -from when they staged their first shown in 2015 – was always to perform on the Teatro stage! And that’s exactly where they’ll be next weekend for just 4 shows from 13 – 15 September. And they’ve had nothing buy support from the ‘powers that be’ at Montecasino.

She goes on to speak in glowing terms about her ‘mentor and voice of reason’, Bryan Schimmel, her producer and creative partner. Although he was overseas with the international tour of ‘Chicago’ for much of the run-up to SHINE! they’ve spoken every single day and he has still been as involved as he would have been, had he been right here! He’s also been Zinah’s mentor since last year.

What can people expect from this year’s production of SHINE!!? A showcase of amazing young talent! 450 spectacular young performers on stage, together with celebrity appearances by The Voice SA Season 2 winner, Craig Lucas and The Voice SA finalist Thembeka Mnguni and a special appearance from The Voice SA Season 3 Finalist, Yahto Kraft.

There will also be moving performances from Buddy Sacks and St Vincents School of the Deaf, and performers from Fourways High School, Mondeor High School, Curro Aurora – Sundowner and New Generation Pantsula Dancers from Alexandra.

SHINE! 2019 is on stage for FOUR SHOWS ONLY at The Teatro at Montecasino:
Friday 13 September at 20h00
Saturday 14 September at 15h00 & 20h00
Sunday 15 September at 15h00.

Tickets range from R180 – R320 and can be booked online at www.montecasino.co.za or through Computicket.

Various Public Group Bookings and Tsogo Sun Rewards Discounts are available through Computicket.

Group School Bookings are available on request by emailing bookings@borntoperform.co.za .

Upon confirmation, Group School Bookings of 20 seats and more will receive the added benefit of a SHINE! Workshop delivered by Born To Perform, at their school.

** A special performance made accessible for the deaf community will be taking place on Saturday 14^th September at the 15h00 performance, with an on-stage signer. 

At this performance, audiences have access to the Opticon system for the hearing impaired. This facility is only available in specific seats within The Teatro, so bookings would need to be made directly with the Teatro Box Office on 011 510 7472. **

Watch the advert for SHINE! 2019: https://youtu.be/RhiF_Jb0WQQ

Follow Born to Perform on Social Media (where you can also catch lots of rehearsal clips!):

Website: www.borntoperform.co.za

Instagram : borntoperform.world

Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/Borntoperformgala

YouTube: Born To Perform TV

 

Montecasino will rock you at the Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along Experience

For most of the world, from the first beat of a Queen song nostalgia takes hold, instinct takes over and voices start belting out the lyrics we know and love – ‘We will we will rock you’, ‘We are the champions (no time for losers)’, ‘All we hear is radio ga ga radio goo goo’… and possibly the greatest arena rock song of all time, ‘Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?’ Bohemian Rhapsody.

These and more ultimate sing-along classics will be taking to the giant screen in the comfort of Montecasino’s Teatro (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/entertainment/theatre/teatro) for a four-show ‘raise the roof’ Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along Experience (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino/whatson/teatro/bohemian-rhapsody-sing-along) on 28, 29 and 30 June. Based on the life Freddie Mercury, the flamboyant lead singer of British rock band Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody won more awards than any other film in this year’s Academy Awards (including Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role), and the Sing-Along Experience takes this blockbuster experience to the next level, delivering an amazing sing-out-loud experience, with concert quality sound.

Sing-alongers are also encouraged to dress up as their best-loved rock star, squeeze on their tight pants, and be the star of the show, with great prizes and giveaways for the best dressed and favourite audience members. To add to the excitement, a live band will perform on stage before the screening to help warm up your vocal chords and get your best singing voice on.

The Sing-Along Experience is the only movie screening where you are encouraged to make noise, lots of it, even if your family insist you only sing in the shower!

It’s a not-to-be-missed event for all rock fans – and seats are limited and unreserved so book early and then arrive early to secure your seats.

Mike Page, Operations Director and Complex GM of Montecasino (https://www.tsogosun.com/montecasino), says, “Queen, Freddie Mercury, and Bohemian Rhapsody were a world-wide phenomenon and the movie reminded us how big their influence in our lives is still today. We know them and their music and the Montecasino Bohemian Rhapsody Sing-Along Experience will deliver an unforgettable event that’s captured perfectly in Queen’s famous lyrics: ‘So don’t stop me now, don’t stop me, ’cause I’m having a good time, having a good time…’.”

Shows are on Friday 28 June at 8pm, Saturday 29 June at 3pm and 8pm, and Sunday 30 June at 3pm. Limited tickets are available through www.quicket.co.za.

For more information go to www.montecasino.co.za, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/montecasino or follow us on Twitter at @MontecasinoZA.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I have one set of double tickets to give away for the Sunday show at 15h00!!

Just tell me in the comments what your favourite Queen song is to put yourself in line to win! It’s as simple as that. To increase your chances, enter on Twitter and Instagram too! I’ll be announcing the winner on Friday at 12h00 midday.

Sa’ula pulls the ultimate blindside and sends Paul Smulders home

In a game where scheming, manipulation, strategy and devious tactics are often the order of the day, being a genuinely nice guy doesn’t get you far. Paul Smulders discovered this on last week’s episode of Survivor SA when his Tribe, Sa’ula blindsided him at tribal council and voted to send him home.

Sa’ula haven’t been having the best luck in the game so far. They’ve lost three consecutive challenges, with one of their strongest members, Rob being sent to the Island of Secrets by the winners of the reward and immunity challenge. And if that wasn’t bad enough, while he was there he got the pick of three sealed containers and managed to choose the booby prize which meant that he lost his vote at Tribal Council!

I chatted to Paul and asked how he felt about his short time in the game. My first question was obviously whether he would have played things any differently? He tells me that the truth is this is just the way he is and even though he feels that if he’d spent more time in the game he might have had an opportunity to show more aggression, he’s really an all-round nice guy!

From the beginning he felt that he started off at a disadvantage, being immediately singled out as one of the tribe leaders and sent off to the Island of Secrets meant that he missed out on that initial bonding that inevitably happens in those first hours at camp. Alliances are immediately beginning to form and if you aren’t there, you’re not able to suss out everyone’s game plan. He tells me that from the minute you climb onto those boats to travel to your destination, you have no idea who your game companions are. No talking is allowed and you may be wearing the same coloured buffs, but as we all know, Survivor is a game of surprises. There’s no telling what might happen on arrival – you might be told to drop those buffs and swap colours … who knows? So those introductions made when your team first meets at their own campsite are vital, and he missed out on that.

I was curious to learn about how Paul prepared for his participation on a show like this. He tells me that from the time you apply, it’s ‘game on’! You have no clue when that notification will arrive that you’ve been accepted, so you’d better be ready! Once you’ve clicked ‘send’ on your application, that adrenaline kicks in and it’s ‘go, go, go!’ Paul upped his cardio training. He changed his eating habits and started eating much less so that he’d be used to a much lower calorie intake. He also watched a lot of previous seasons of the show!

But he tells me that those challenges were tough! Tougher than expected? Yes, it sounds that way. He seemed particularly surprised at how tough that very first challenge was! And they take much longer than the condensed versions we see on TV. With the weather conditions often playing a negative role, it was extremely demanding. The fact that the participants were often cold and working on little or no sleep also didn’t help. And remember – there are no creature comforts whatsoever. Paul reminds me that they take virtually nothing with them!

Despite his tribe, Sa’ula, having such a bad run compared to the other two tribes, he thinks they have a lot going for them. Having only seen the first two episodes, just like all of us viewers out there, Paul’s feeling is the Sa’ula dynamic is completely different to the other two tribes which are quite aggressive and confrontational within their groups. Sa’ula seem a lot calmer and there’s a great deal of camaraderie between the players.

And while many observers bemoaned the fact that Paul was far too considerate and generous with his sharing of the immunity idol – famously stating that it was ‘for the team’ – he wants to make it very clear that when he said this, he never meant that this excluded him from claiming it for himself!

Survivor South Africa: Island of Secrets is screened on M-Net every Thursday at 19:00. It will also be available on DStv CatchUp. Fans can visit www.mnet.tv/survivorsa and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @Survivor_SA / Instagram @Survivor_sa / Facebook withthe official hashtag #SurvivorSA

 

Lee’s loved ones grill Gina and Jozaan in the penultimate episode of The Bachelor SA

Will their impressions of the ladies influence his final decision?

South Africa’s first Bachelor, Lee Thompson, is about to make the most difficult decision of his life. The final two ladies in M-Net’s smash television hit The Bachelor SA – Gina Meyers and Jozaan Dique – have both admitted during one-on-one dates with him that they had “fallen”  for him, but only one can receive the Final Rose. Will he choose to go on his knees and propose to elegant make-up artist Gina? Or will he slip the gorgeous Jack Friedman engagement ring on the finger of quirky, down-to-earth lawyer Jozaan?

To get to know them a little better, Lee joined them for a home visit in a previous episode, during which the ladies’ family members grilled Lee to see if he is good husband material. Now, in The Bachelor SA’s penultimate episode on Thursday 2 May, the tables are turned when two of the most important people in his life – Uncle Ian and Aunty Anne Curry – join Lee and his ladies in at the LUX* Grand Gaube Hotel in Mauritius. This important meeting could potentially make or break the ladies’ future with their beloved Lee. They will have to answer some difficult questions but can also use this opportunity to find out what Lee was like growing up and in day-to-day life.

Before Lee makes his decision, he also has a chance to take both ladies on a final full-day adventurous date. Expect some deep conversations and plenty of kissing!

So, what will Lee’s loved ones think of his final two ladies? And with them knowing what he wants and what he is looking for, will they be able to assist him in making his final decision? Tune in to find out!

The Bachelor SA is screened on M-Net Channel 101 every Thursday evening at 19:00 and is also available on Catch-Up. Fans can visit www.mnet.tv/thebachelorsa and follow all the breaking news and conversations around the show on Twitter @MNet / #TheBachelorSA and on the official M-Net Facebook page.

The Bachelor SA is produced by Rapid Blue and proudly sponsored by dotsure.co.za , a product of Oakhurst Insurance Company Limited (FSP 39925) and Oakhurst Life (FSP  44793), authorised financial services providers.

Four courageous South African women are preparing to summit Mt. Everest in April and May 2020 as the first all-women team from Africa to complete the climb, with the aim of fulfilling their long-held dreams and inspiring young women entrepreneurs to overcome metaphorical ‘mountains’ in their lives with the ‘courage to start and the strength to endure’ – the motto of the expedition.

The women, who are all both leaders and mountaineers, are Lisa Gering, Alda Waddell, Deshun Deysel, and Tumi Mphahlele, all from Johannesburg, with Ronnie Muhl, avid mountaineer and founder of Cape Town-based Adventures Global, managing the full logistics of the climb. [Bios of each below.]

From the outset, the idea was always to be an all-women team, and the first from Africa to summit the world’s highest mountain – of which only a few South African women have ever achieved that. Gering, spokesperson for the team, explains, “Alda set her heart on climbing Everest and started the ball rolling. She contacted Deshun who said yes, as long as Ronnie Muhl manages the logistics. Ronnie recommended me to join the team, which I was excited and delighted to do. We knew we needed a fourth member and searched until we found Tumi, who is very experienced and perfect for the challenge.”

All the women have extensive mountaineering experience, trekking, hiking, climbing, and summiting the highest mountains in several continents, while Deshun and Tumi are also accomplished athletes in other sports.

The team is also fully committed to the cause behind the climb – inspiring, empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs. Gering says, “The Everest 2020 climb has a strong give-back element, and a percentage of our sponsorship will be going towards inspiring, supporting, and empowering women entrepreneurs – it’s where we all come from and it’s something we’re passionate about. We want them to know that they too can conquer the ‘Everests’ in their lives.”

Deysel adds, “Building up a business is like climbing Mt. Everest – it requires many hours of preparation, endurance, and sacrifice while staying focused on the long-term goal of success. As women entrepreneurs, we get it. We’ve been climbing our business Everests for many years and we understand the pain involved in making a business sustainable. As mountaineers, we have physically walked these journeys as well.

“Our mission is to highlight the plight of the woman entrepreneur in Africa by climbing the world’s highest mountain, and our hope is to inspire entrepreneurs, to relate to their everyday struggles, and create a positive narrative around the possibilities and victories that await those who give it their all.”

As part of their preparation for the expedition, the all-women team will climb Mont Blanc (4,810 metres) in the Alps in Europe in September and Mount Aconcagua (6,959 metres) in the Argentinian Andes in December, as well as intensive individual training by each of the team members, and two-weekly meetings to ensure everything is on track.

Securing sponsorship is a vital element in the plans and preparation for the expedition as the full cost of the preparation climbs and the ultimate expedition up Mt Everest in 2020 for the four-women team is about R5 million. “We are working on sponsorship/partnership options and are open to discussions with corporates who would be interested in seeing their company flag flying at the top of the world,” says Gering.

Media coverage of the Everest 2020 all-women climb will primarily be handled by Tony Lourens, world-renowned mountain journalist and photographer, and editor ofSA Mountain magazine, who will be based permanently at Everest Base Camp for the duration of the expedition to oversee the extensive press, radio, television and digital coverage.

Ronnie Muhl says, “I am very proud and extremely excited to have been asked to look after all of the logistics for this expedition, and I cannot wait to see the women hold the South African flag on the summit.” Earlier in April 2019, Muhl trekked to the Base Camp of Everest. “Part of the reason for this visit to the Himalayas was to prepare for the South African Women’s Everest expedition in 2020.”

Follow the team as they prepare for Everest 2020 on Facebook on Everest2020SA.

BRIEF BIOS ON THE FOUR EVEREST 2020 SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN

Lisa Gering

Lisa has a personal company called LRM Diamonds but is full time as a shareholder and partner with REAL Entrepreneur.

She holds the position of COO across two of the companies in the REAL Network group, she is the Culture Champion, and also heads up the Coaching Division and helps to run events.

Lisa has trekked or climbed every year, sometimes twice, since 2010 and has stayed fit and strong for the trips. She started mountaineering when she was brought into the Mt. Kilimanjaro expedition in 2010 as a ‘team and client’ trip.

What do you love about mountaineering? “I have never found another environment where one is tested on all levels as much – mental, physical, emotional and spiritual. I love the journey of discovery and growth and the lessons one learns. The person on the other side of each trip is changed forever!”

What strengths do you bring to the team? I play an incredibly strong supportive role as well as being able to get stuff done. I am proactive and a self-starter. I am a good listener and people feel heard and seen when I engage with them.

On being the first all-women team from Africa to conquer the world’s highest mountain? “It’s an absolute honour! I feel incredible blessed and grateful for the opportunity to take this step for not only myself but to inspire and encourage and support others to take their first steps to conquering their ‘Everests’.”

Your message to women entrepreneurs? “Our motto for our trip – ‘Courage to start, strength to endure!’”

Alda Waddell

Alda works for BMW South Africa as a Specialist: Sub Sahara Africa Operations and Special Projects. She has 23 years’ experience in the motor industry and holds an MBA Degree from Rhodes University, BTech Degree in Management, National Dip in Management.

She is mother of 17-year-old twins, Clair and Craig.

Alda has battled personal injuries and embarked on a journey to test her own physical and mental strength by setting goals to climb the highest mountain on each continent.

What do you love about mountaineering? “The entire journey of mountaineering is an adventure, from meeting new people and creating lifelong bonds, to the extraordinary places she has visited and experienced.”

When did your interest in mountaineering start? “In 2008, when I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. To most, the start of the adventure starts on day on of the summit, but to me it actually starts months prior with a lot of physical and mental preparation, along with lots of research. The seven days summit was physically challenging and I kept asking myself, ‘Why I am I doing this?’ I then remembered that I had something to prove to myself. When I reached the summit I was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions, and the experience was somewhat surreal. Only later did I realise what I had accomplished – I had climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and overcome my own doubts.”

On the Everest 2020 expedition? “Now, embarking on climbing Mt. Everest, I am a step closer to achieving my dream of climbing the highest mountain.”

Deshun Deysel

Deshun is MD of Deshun Deysel & Associates, which equips clients to transition from Performance Management to Performance Development by using an Agile, Light and Continuous Digital Platform.

Deshun lives in Johannesburg with her husband Charles and their two children, Edward and Judith.

Her sports involvement includes mountaineering, open water swimming, cycling, running, and she played provincial volleyball in high school and college.

Mountaineering was “a childhood dream”, which was realised in 1995. Deshun was a member of the first team of South Africans who placed the new SA democratic flag at the top of Mt. Everest. She was the first Black woman in the world and the youngest South African to set foot on the slopes of Mt. Everest.

Deshun has participated in climbing expeditions to five of the seven summits on five continents: Mt. Mckinley, North America; Mt. Elbrus, Europe; Aconcagua, South America; Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa; Everest, Asia. She has successfully guided teams up Mt. Kenya, Mt. Kilimanjaro and smaller South African peaks, and summited Mt. Meru (Tanzania), Mt. Kenya (Kenya), Mt. Blanc (France), Mt. Kalapathar (Nepal).

What do you love about mountaineering? “The freedom of climbing and the challenge of pushing beyond my obvious limits.”

What do I bring to the team? “I bring experience of over 20 years as a high-altitude mountaineer. I started with no experience in 1995 and steadily built up a climbing portfolio, which positions me as someone who can assist, guide and advise the team.”

On being the first all-women team from Africa to summit Everest? “It’s so exciting because it’s a first. Also, being entrepreneurs, we want to highlight the real journeys of real entrepreneurs by creating a synchronised narrative for both experiences. I believe that I’m here, right now, at this time in history, to leave a lasting impression and impact on humanity. I aim all my goals to line up with this sense of purpose.”

What other interests do you have? “I love DIY, interior design and architectural content. When I want to relax or de-stress I go to these mediums (magazines/ TV shows/ books and internet).”

Your message to female entrepreneurs? “We were born for this! We have the fortitude, the drive and the endurance to start, build, scale and sustain businesses.” #CourageToStart #StrengthToEndure #JoyInTheVictory

Tumi Mphahlele

Tumi is director and shareholder at IG3N and Amperion Energy – two companies in the renewable energy sector that she co-founded and is leading. Tumi is also experienced in the execution of complex projects and programmes and has served as GM for Corporate Strategy at the SABS and the Development Bank of SA.

Tumi is a recreational endurance athlete with a keen interest in mountain sports. She has successfully climbed three of the seven summits – Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Aconcagua – and has ambitions to complete the rest of the seven summits over the next few years. She has also summited other mountain peaks of varying altitudes in Africa and South America.

Tumi is also a hiker, a mountain biker, an ultradistance road and trail runner, and has completed seven Comrades Marathons and six Two Oceans Marathons.

She battled ill health with External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis from 2016 to 2018, and after two operations late last year, she summited Aconcagua in December 2018.

Why climb Mt. Everest? “It represents an opportunity to break one of the major barriers that seems to be largely out of reach for women, especially African women. Being part of the team that will make history is a fantastic opportunity because I believe in the process. We will also practically demonstrate to many young women that they too, in their many areas of life, can reach for the sky and achieve whatever they set their minds to.”

The strengths I bring to the team? “I have the mental and the physical strength and the fighting spirit and temperament to attempt such a feat and stay the course. I have a strong work ethic and an ability to practice objectivity, even under intense pressure. I get fulfilment from achieving the goals that I set for myself.”

On being the first all-women team from Africa to summit Everest? “The thought of summiting Mount Everest as a group of women gives me goose bumps and it will be a dream come true. While I respect the mountains and recognise the risk and dangers associated with climbing Mount Everest, I do think that the success for the team and for the continent is worth the risk.”

Logistics partner

Ronnie Muhl

In 2009 Ronnie Muhl founded Adventures Global, “which helps people to take on life’s great adventures, of which climbing Everest is one of them”.

He has been passionate about mountains all of his life. In 1979, he read a book that inspired him to climb Everest and 28 years later he finally stood on the summit, becoming the seventh South African to summit Everest via the North-east Ridge. He subsequently authored a book, Everest: Surviving The Death Zone, on the experience. He says fulfilling this dream has motivated him to help others do the same.

Ronnie has been the leader of more international expeditions on Everest than any other South African and his experience on the mountain is unsurpassed.

In April 2019 he trekked to the Base Camp of Everest to prepare for the South African Women’s Everest expedition in 2020. He is proud and excited to have been asked to look after all the logistics for this expedition and cannot wait to see the women hold the South African flag on the summit.