On 10 December 2020, we launched the Biashara Services and Products Africa (BiSPA) Conference and Exhibition. The word “Biashara” is a kiSwahili word that means “the activity of providing goods and services involving financial and commercial transactions.”
This annual conference was inaugurated on 9 December 2020. Looking at the calibre of speakers we attracted; the excellent quality of their presentations; the breadth and depth of the themes covered: feed Africa; power Africa; industrialise Africa; and, integrate Africa; and the broad spectrum of virtual audiences from across Africa and other continents such as the Americas, Europe and Asia, it indeed exceeded our expectations. Participating companies included Proudly South African, CSIR, Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat and many others. The keynote address was given by Dr Mohan Guruswamy, Chief Knowledge Officer of the World FZO; and speakers included Saul Molobi, Group CEO: Brandhillu Africa (Pty) Ltd (“De/constructing the African Renaissance: NEPAD, Agenda 2063 and AfCFTA”); Dr Eustace Mashimbye, the CEO of Proudly SA; Leslie Mpofu, Executive Director: TKCS (“Unlocking trade relations between South Africa, Botswana and Namibia); Irvaan Maharaj, Country Manager: WBCG (“Unlocking trade through unique public-private-partnerships”); Francois Fouche, Director: Growth Diagnostics “Africa’s Readiness: Towards the operationalisation of the AfCFTA”); Ruan Fourie, Energy Economist: CSIR plus Secretary: South African Association for Energy Economists (“Exploring pathways to just economy transition in South Africa”); Ipeleng Kwadi, MD: Motshotelo Farming Enterprises (“Women in agriculture: A historical perspective”); and many other distinguished speakers (see the attached poster).
Inspired by its success as it attracted delegates from all over the world with interest in Africa, we then made a commitment to host quarterly virtual seminars as build up to the annual December jamboree.
We held our first quarterly virtual seminar on 3 March 2021 evaluating the opportunities and threats emerging as teething problems immediately after the operationslisation of the AfCFTA on 1 January 2021. Francois Fouche presented a keynote address: “AfCFTA: Opportunities and threats”. There were riveting debates from the delegates engaging with the presentation. It was even more humbling when our delegates requested that we set up a WhatsApp group so that the conversations could continue in-between the quarterly webinars. This has resulted into the formation of two groups with active members who daily share valuable information on business opportunities in Africa.
This was followed by the second one on 31 May 2021. As this was the ultimate event celebrating the Africa Month, we partnered with the African Diplomatic and Consular Corps resident in South Africa, as led by the Dean of Diplomatic Corps and head of the DRC Diplomatic Mission, H.E. Amb Ben Mpoko. The speakers were Amb Mpoko, Saul Molobi, Piet du Toit, President of the Pretoria Chamber of Commerce; Vusi Mabena, CEO: Mbhuduma Business Solutions; and Francois Fouche gave the keynote address: “Harnessing AfCFTA as one of the key building blocks of post-COVID-19 recovery”. We were privileged to bring onboard Made by Coco, an emerging cosmetics company to promote its products.
Then the third webinar focused on the film sector, and we were privileged to host Hollywood-based two-time Academy Award winner, Pietro Scalia. This took place during this week on 1 September (see a feature on him in this week’s edition). Scalia won an Oscar for editing “Black Hawk Down”, a seminal movie that was based on the humiliating defeat America suffered at the hands of the rebel leader, Mohammed Farah Aidid, in Somalia.
By the way, the total number of awards Scalia was nominated for or won are more than half my age. Hosting him here in Johannesburg was a moment that many companies, cities and countries would die to have. I also had the pleasure of setting up a few meetings for him around the city – including one with former President Kgalema Motlanthe and Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, organised a special tour of their facility for us.
The delegates included Abdul Mogale, President of the National Writers of South Africa (NWASA); Shane Maja, Chief Director at Gauteng’s Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; Mokonenyana Molete, a veteran television broadcaster; and, Makatisha Motsepe-Mphuloane, Chef and Managing Director of the Makatisha Culinary Effects. The delegates represented all value chains of the film industry.
The second annual Biashara Services and Products Africa (BiSPA) Conference and Exhibition was held on 9 December 2021 featuring Ben Leyka, the CEO of the African Agri Council as the keynote speaker.
The first quarter of 2022 webinar was a three day workshop hosted in collaboration with our strategic partner, UNISA Enterprises, on behalf of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) training emerging farmers on climate-smart agriculture. The University of South Africa (UNISA) developed the course material and Brandhill Africa managed the marketing of the event – the marketing was so successful that although initially it was targeted to South African delegates, we have interested attendees from all over the continent who connected virtually.
The highlight of this webinar series was on 6 May 2022 when Brandhill Africa hosted H.E. Wamkele Mene, the Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as the keynote speaker. The respondents were H.E. Yousef AMRANI, the Ambassador of His Majesty the King of Morocco to South Africa; Ben Leyka, the CEO of DRC Invest: John Karegwa, the CEO of Invest in Africa Summit; and Jose Miranda, Growth Africa Leader of Zutari.
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In 2018, Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd partnered with Ziyaphenduka Marketing and Events Logistics in undertaking a number of projects that launched the Mpumalanga Liberation Heritage Route in the Gert Sibande District on behalf of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA). Although the programme was named after Pixley ka Isaka Seme, one of the founding fathers of the African National Congress in 1912, it also paid homage to the other struggle icons, who like Ka Isaka Seme, lived in the district – namely, Mahatma Gandhi, Gert Sibande and Saul Mkhize.
Project-led by one of the legendary music promoter, Bruce Kgapane, the programme’s projects included Hosting a music concert on 29 December 2018. The concert lined up artists such as Sipho Mabuse, Cassper Nyovest and Lady Zamar in Standerton.
The company’s key competencies were the programme’s concept development; marketing strategy development and implementation; media and public relations; hosting of the Pixley ka Isaka Seme Charity Golf. The company mobilised both print electronic media that gave extensive coverage to the programme (detailed consolidated reports are available on request). The highlight of the event was when the company tracked down Ka Isaka Seme’s descendants in a township outside Durban and flew them to attend the gala dinner in the evening when best golfers were awarded for their excellent performances.
Since then, the company has undertaken their iniatives and they include the following:
Budget Speech/Parliamentary Golf Day – we were appointed to as their Marketing Agency. The golf day was in Cape Town at King David Mowbray Golf Club on the 25th February 2022.
Sunshine Tour/ Limpopo Championship Golf Tournament – We were appointed to host the Comedy Night and Dinner at Euphoria Lifestyle Golf state in Limpopo on the 2nd April 2022. We managed to bring the sponsors for the night the sponsors were Coca Cola, Old Mutual, Moringa Gin, Besty Gin and ST 4U Wine.
Marula Festival Golf Day – We were the Marketing Agency and also selling VIP tickets to the Marula Music Festival in Phalaborwa. The golf day was hosted at Hans Merensky Golf Club on the 9 April 2022.
Sekhukhune District Mayoral Golf Day – We wrote the concept and managed the Charity Golf Day on 28 October 2021. We had Old Mutual Insuarance as our Platinum sponsor, Motshwanelo IT Consultend, Northern Lepelle Water, Coca Cola, Iwyze Insuarance and Black Aloe Lodge.
Thato Molamu Foundation NPC: Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd project managed the Foundation’s inaugural The Pink Golf Challenge that raised cancer awareness among the most vulnerable disadvantaged communities such as the taxi drivers and commuters. Activations were conducted at three taxi ranks in Johannesburg. Although there was a PR company contracted for the project, Brandhill Africa (Pty) Ltd ended up developing a media statement and arranged two interviews on PowerFM each lasting 30 minutes each. The company also rolled out social media campaign and even enlisted the pro deo endorsement of the project from Mashabela Galane, a popular stand-up comedian.
Tshepo Foundation Annual Golf Day & B3 Anual Golf Day – I should say I was privileged, and many people were just green with envy, that had the legendary radio personality and one of the revered golf event managers, Koos Radebe, who took me under his wings to mentor me. We both mounted these two golf events. Our clients who were as follows: Absa, Hollard Insurance, Heineken, Fort Fortuner, MTN and Kaya FM as our media partner.
Big O Engineering – We produced marketing collaterals.
Limpopo Tourism Gin Festival – year before last, Metro FM and Limpopo Tourism Agency were hosting this annual event and had already appointed a service provider. Crisis hit and I received a call that requested I drove to Tzaneen overnight as I had to help salvage the event that was strating the next morning. I arrived at 4h00 and by 6h00 I was already registering players, and the event was successful. We launched its 1st Annual Charity Golf Day of the Gin Festival. On Sunday we had a music concert and Gins Exibition stalls promoting different gin brands.
Bergville of Tomorrow Charity Golf Day – We project managed the Charity Golf on 4 December 2020 which was part of the annual multi-disciplinary celebrations at the Drakensberg. For more information, please contact Mr Ben Khumalo 082 406 2008.
Limpopo Sports Confederation’s Charity Golf Day – We were appointed as Marketing agency and Projects Manager by the Limpopo Sports Confederation in Polokwane. We managed to get Exxaro as our platinum sponsor, MTN, Old Mutual, Naboom Toyota and Moringa Gin. We had 120 players in the greenies. We hosted the action during the prize giving dinner. For more information, please contact Mr Ali Pole 082 809 3867, Chairperson of the Limpopo Sports Confederations.
The following are photos chronicling some of the events the company participated in:
