Urban lens media

By: Ntsika Tshangela

As humanitarian crises continue to intensify globally, organisations such as Doctors Without Borders say fundraising initiatives are becoming increasingly important in sustaining life-saving healthcare services and strengthening humanitarian partnerships.

This formed part of discussions during MSF Southern Africa’s inaugural Golf Day 2026, hosted at Randpark Firethorn Golf Course in Johannesburg. More than just a sporting event, the initiative aimed to raise critical funds to support the organisation’s global medical humanitarian work while also creating conversations around the future of humanitarian aid.

Operating in more than 70 countries, MSF provides emergency medical assistance in conflict zones, communities affected by disease outbreaks, displacement crises and climate-related disasters. However, growing humanitarian needs and shrinking international aid funding continue to place additional pressure on organisations working on the frontlines of global healthcare emergencies.

MSF Southern Africa’s Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, Samantha Nobubele Mkandhla, explained the purpose of the inaugural golf day was to encourage stronger collaboration between corporates, donors and humanitarian organisations.

“The reason we created it is to encourage corporates, partners and individual donors to better understand who MSF is and how they can partner with us,” she said.

The event comes amid growing concern within the humanitarian sector following significant international aid cuts introduced in 2025 by the United States administration and several other major donor countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany.

These challenges formed part of a high-level breakfast discussion hosted during the event by veteran journalist Tim Modise. The discussion featured healthcare and humanitarian leaders unpacking the changing humanitarian landscape and exploring sustainable funding solutions for a strained global aid system.

Claire Waterhouse, Director of Advocacy and Analysis for MSF Southern Africa, said although MSF does not rely directly on government funding, global aid cuts still have significant indirect consequences on humanitarian operations.

“When aid is cut to organisations normally assisting with food and nutrition, MSF’s clinics are filled with malnourished children. When shelter programmes are cut, MSF does not have anywhere to refer vulnerable patients to after hospital discharge,” she explained.

The organisation says humanitarian crises can no longer be viewed as isolated global issues, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how health emergencies quickly affect societies across borders.

“Healthcare is everybody’s concern. What affects one person can ultimately affect all of us,” Mkandhla said.

Beyond fundraising, MSF believes initiatives such as the golf day help build awareness around humanitarian healthcare challenges while encouraging South Africans and businesses to become more involved in social impact efforts.

For MSF, partnerships are not limited to financial contributions. The organisation also welcomes skills-sharing, services and collaborations that can strengthen humanitarian operations and expand healthcare access for vulnerable communities.

At the same time, MSF maintains strict ethical standards regarding partnerships in order to protect its independence and neutrality. Industries such as arms and ammunition, alcohol, tobacco, gambling and mining are among those from which the organisation does not accept funding.

Founded in 1971, MSF has spent more than five decades delivering emergency medical care in some of the world’s most under-resourced and crisis-affected environments. Today, the organisation’s global network includes approximately 67,000 staff members supported by more than 7.1 million donors worldwide.

In South Africa, MSF has supported healthcare initiatives focused on HIV, tuberculosis, and gender-based violence, among others. Current projects include its work in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, where the organisation supports the Department of Health in improving care for patients living with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

As humanitarian needs continue to rise globally, MSF maintains collective action, sustainable partnerships and public support will remain essential in ensuring healthcare reaches communities most in need.

By: Ntsika Tshangela

The Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa (PSASA) Pretoria Chapter delivered an evening of inspiration, insight and professional excellence during its highly anticipated Speaker Factor Competition Regionals hosted at the Eduvos Pretoria campus on 30 April.

The event, which formed part of the Chapter’s monthly meeting, brought together professional speakers, aspiring presenters, coaches, facilitators and communication enthusiasts for a dynamic programme that celebrated the art of speaking while unpacking the realities of building a successful career on stage.

While anticipation had initially built around a five-speaker line-up, the regional competition ultimately featured four compelling contestants, each given five minutes to command the stage without the aid of slides or visual distractions, relying solely on the strength of their message, delivery and audience connection.

The Competition, one of PSASA’s flagship platforms for discovering and nurturing speaking talent, challenged contestants to demonstrate not only eloquence, but also relevance, authenticity and professional stage presence.

Each speaker brought a unique perspective from their field of expertise, making the judging process particularly intense as the panel had to determine which two speakers would advance to the next stage of the competition.

Emerging as one of the evening’s top finalists was Pieter Roos, whose thought-provoking speech titled “Dealing with the Digital Elephant in the Boardroom” addressed a challenge facing many traditional leadership structures in the modern corporate landscape.

Roos’ presentation was specifically crafted for grey-haired board members and executives who are intimidated by technology discussions and uncertain about how to approach digital transformation conversations.

His speech focused on equipping senior decision-makers with practical ways of engaging with technological issues so they can continue to fulfil their governance duties effectively and add value to the organisations they serve.

With humour, relevance and strategic insight, Roos highlighted the growing disconnect between rapidly evolving digital realities and leadership teams that often feel left behind by innovation.

Joining Roos as one of the top two finalists was Nhlanhla Mabuza, who captivated the audience with a timely presentation titled “Mental Fortitude in the Digital Era.”

Mabuza’s speech spoke broadly to every human being who interacts with technology, making the topic universally relatable in an age where digital devices, online engagement and constant connectivity have become unavoidable aspects of everyday life.

Through a deeply reflective and motivational message, Mabuza explored the psychological pressures brought by the digital age and the importance of developing resilience, discipline and mental strength in order to navigate a world increasingly shaped by screens, speed and information overload.

The speech resonated strongly with audience members who identified with the demands of maintaining clarity and balance in a hyperconnected society.

The other competing candidates were, Dithebe Menoe, a reserve candidate, who presented a topic titled: It starts with you, intended for young professionals in managerial roles and individuals in overwhelm.

Another candidate, Anthony Peters’s topic, “Breaking free from the shackles of financial slavery” targeted everyone who is a slave in their financial lives.

After a competitive evening of impactful storytelling and persuasive speaking, Pieter Roos and Nhlanhla Mabuza were officially announced as the two finalists who will represent the Pretoria Chapter at the Speaker Factor semi-finals on 9 June 2026.

Unlike the regional round hosted physically in Pretoria, the semi-final stage will be conducted virtually, allowing finalists to compete on a broader digital platform against top speakers from other PSASA chapters and Southern Africa.

Their advancement marks another important milestone in their professional speaking journey and positions them among the Association’s promising voices to watch.

Beyond the competition itself, attendees were also treated to an engaging panel discussion themed “The Business Behind the Stage”, which unpacked the realities of becoming a paid professional speaker.

The panel featured respected PSASA leaders including Taryn-Lee Kearney, Deputy President of PSASA and recipient of the Association’s Stef Du Plessis Founders Award, Ian Hatton, a two-time past Virtual Chapter President and Southern African Educators Hall of Fame inductee, as well as Jacques De Villiers, an award winning professional speaker, author, strategist and observer.

Together, the trio offered candid reflections on the mindsets, skill sets, setbacks and victories involved in building a sustainable speaking business.

Their honest and often humorous conversation provided aspiring speakers with both inspiration and practical guidance on what it truly takes to succeed beyond applause.

The evening once again affirmed the PSASA Pretoria Chapter’s commitment to developing speaking talent, fostering professional growth and creating meaningful networking opportunities for communicators across industries.

With rising speakers showcasing fresh ideas and seasoned professionals sharing hard-earned wisdom, the event served as both a competition and a masterclass in the power of voice, message and influence.

As Pieter Roos and Nhlanhla Mabuza prepare for the virtual semi-finals in June, Thursday night’s regional round proved that the future of professional speaking in Southern Africa remains bright, relevant and deeply impactful.

By: Ntsika Tshangela

Fire up your controllers — the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience is back for 2026, bringing with it a nationwide search for South Africa’s next gaming champion and a total prize pool of R350,000. Now in its fourth year, the tournament series, presented by Hyprop in partnership with MTN, will travel across eight shopping centres from April through to August, before culminating in the National Finals at Canal Walk.

Designed to be accessible to both experienced competitors and newcomers, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience continues to position itself as a platform that meets players where they already are. By hosting tournaments in everyday mall spaces, the event opens up competitive gaming to a broader audience while creating an environment where players can compete, connect and engage with the local esports community. As Christie Stanbridge, Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager at Hyprop, explains, the growth of the series reflects the diversity of South Africa’s gaming scene and the increasing appetite for accessible, in-person gaming experiences.

The competition centres on two titles, EA FC 26™ and Beat Saber, offering players two very different but equally competitive experiences. EA FC 26™ remains a flagship title for football gaming fans, with each mall tournament structured around 12 heats held over a weekend. The top two players from each heat advance to a Mall Final, joined by four players from the online qualifiers. The winner of each mall final secures a place in the National Football Final on 30 August, where competitors from across the country will battle it out for a share of a R50,000 prize pool. Defending champion Hamza Moosa automatically returns to the national stage, alongside an additional finalist from ACGL, the tournament organisers.

On the virtual reality side, MTN’s Beat Saber competition introduces a high-energy format built around precision and rhythm. Hosted on MTN’s Battle+ esports platform, the challenge sees players compete for the highest score during each three-day mall event, with the top performer advancing to the national final scheduled for 20 September. A further R50,000 prize pool will be awarded to the top four finishers, reinforcing MTN’s ongoing investment in gaming as one of South Africa’s fastest-growing entertainment spaces. According to Muyiwa Ladipo, Chief Consumer Officer at MTN South Africa, the competition is part of a broader effort to connect gamers to opportunities that extend beyond casual play.

Beyond the main tournaments, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience offers a range of additional activities aimed at creating a full gaming environment. A Fighting Cup runs alongside the main events, featuring titles such as Brawlhalla, Tekken and Street Fighter 6, with mall gift cards awarded to top performers each day. Visitors can also explore a PC Gaming Zone, enjoy free play stations, and take part in interactive challenges like the Keyboard Rebuild Race, ensuring that the experience caters to both competitors and spectators.

The 2026 tour has already kicked off at Rosebank Mall and will continue across Somerset Mall in Cape Town, Woodlands in Pretoria, The Glen in Johannesburg, Table Bay Mall in Cape Town, Clearwater in Johannesburg and Capegate in Cape Town, before returning to Canal Walk for the final stage of the competition. Each stop is preceded by an online qualifier, giving players multiple opportunities to secure their place in the tournament.

With entries now open, the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience once again invites gamers from across the country to test their skills, engage with the esports community and compete for national recognition.