Baleka Mbete denies protecting Zuma during his presidency, calls him ‘crazy’: The former speaker of the National Assembly said she was doing her job at the time and, if needed, she would have protected FW de Klerk

– The Mail & Guardian

Blockout a digital guillotine against pro-Israel celebrities:

I enjoy pop culture and keeping abreast of celebrities, movies, series, fashion and music. That means I have an affinity to certain celebrities, pop icons and moments in the celebrity world. 

Partaking in pop culture is a form of escape from the murkiness and desolate place the world can be. I need this dose of escapism to keep my mind fresh and not focused on the doom and gloom we’re bombarded with. 

Sometimes I — to use a woke phrase — cancel a celebrity when they do something despicable or stand for a cause that I don’t support. 

I often feel guilty. Why am I spending time on this nonsense when people all over are suffering, when children are starving and human rights are infringed upon? 

The recent Met Gala gave me a proper Hunger Games vibe. The rich and wealthy flaunted their wealth and fashion choices while in other places pamphlets and food were dropped where Palestinians were being killed by Israel Defence Forces.

It left me questioning why I should enjoy the sartorial choices of the wealthy at the Met Gala. I reminded myself that humans are complicated creatures; we can enjoy things yet still grieve and feel pain as innocents suffer. Those things are not mutually exclusive. 

The thing that sticks out is that while these obscenely rich people flaunt their style, air time is given to them, air time that can be given to highlight the plight of people living in a refugee camp that is being bombed.

What I tend to focus on are celebrities who use their voices for good. The likes of American actor Mark Ruffalo, American rapper Macklemore, Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and the Hadid sisters — American models Gigi and Bella — to name a few.They are people who use their platforms of millions to speak out for Palestine. 

I scroll past people who support Israel. The likes of actor Jerry Seinfeld, Canadian singer Justin Bieber, the Kardashian family and DJ Black Coffee, who puts profits ahead of human rights, need to stay far away from my cell phone. 

One thing good about the Met Gala was that it sparked a movement I can get behind. It is called Blockout 2024. Al Jazeera reported that users are calling it a digital guillotine against celebrities’ silence about Gaza. 

So far, celebrities such as Taylor Swift have lost thousands of followers on various platforms. The idea behind Blockout is to stop celebrities from receiving money from social media platforms. 

One ingenious idea that people had was to go online to Skims, Kim Kardashian’s clothing brand, and add items to the cart for purchase. They then abandoned the items in the cart. This prompted emails and ads on social platforms reminding people to complete their purchases. Once these reminders popped up, the brand was subsequently blocked. 

The brand would have had to pay money for the reminders. By blocking Skims follower numbers would decline, leading to less ad revenue and more reluctance from other brands to work with Skims. I am on board with blocking these tone-deaf celebs. 

Look at the Weeknd and Mark Ruffalo; their solidarity with Palestine has seen scant decline in popularity or work opportunities. Rapper Macklemore has been particularly vocal in his support for Palestine, especially with his new track, Hind’s Hall. 

The Hadid sisters might lose modelling contracts but I’m pretty sure they’d prefer to not work with those collaborating with or supporting the genocide. Sometimes, movements and the cancel culture, well this form of it anyway, have a positive effect. 

My pop culture affinity has been doused a bit; I find myself having less time for it. Who knows what I’ll do when the next season of one of my favourite series, Stranger Things, comes out, especially since one of the actors was seen holding a sticker saying “Zionism is sexy”. 

Don’t get me started on the backlash faced by footballers who support Palestine and the indifference to players supporting Israel. I’m looking at you, Oleksandr Zinchenko, I hope Arsenal fails dismally when it tries to win a trophy.

Blockout and the protests on university campuses against Israel’s actions in Gaza leaves me feeling hopeful. I’ll end this piece off with admiration for the generation putting this into action. The name of a song by The Who comes to mind — The Kids Are Alright.

– The Mail & Guardian

Transitioning to sustainability: The holistic conversation at Enlit Africa:

Enlit Africa focuses on the key sustainability transition narrative, incorporating insights across all the energy verticals to create long-term sustainable solutions in Africa

• Enlit Africa runs from 21-23 May 2024 at CITCC, Cape Town
• The event prioritises sustainability and a comprehensive energy transition 
• Africa’s most influential companies in energy, power and water connect at one event to drive the sustainability and transition narrative
• Speakers at the event include Dr Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy; Jacob Mbele, Director General, Department of Mineral Resources and Energy; Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive, Eskom; and Calib Cassim, Chief Financial Officer, Eskom.

Enlit Africa is not only steering the sustainability conversation in Africa but is also emphasising the crucial role of finance and investment in enabling a sustainable transition. Recognising the importance of economic backing in overcoming the continent’s energy and water challenges, the event will feature discussions on financial frameworks and investment strategies pivotal for advancing these sectors.

This year, the event will stand out with the launch of the UNDP Africa Green Business & Financing (AGBFI) Flagship Report, which offers an overview of the current state of green business and finance across Africa. It provides specific references to the wide range of activities, projects, and private companies that are driving innovation and growth in this space.

The report promises to provide invaluable insights into green investments, offering guidance and new models for financing sustainable power and water projects in Africa.

Highlighting the financial component, Enlit Africa offers attendees a unique engagement opportunity with the project pitch sessions scheduled to take place on 22 May. These dynamic sessions will focus on connecting innovators and project developers with investors, providing a platform to showcase and secure support for promising projects in the power, energy and water sectors. Entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to a live audience of potential financiers and partners, to secure the capital necessary to turn promising concepts into reality.

Over three impactful days, more than 180 expert speakers, including influential names like Dr Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy; Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive, Eskom; and Calib Cassim, CFO, Eskom, will address the convergence of leadership and innovation, exploring financial mechanisms to support the role of utilities and municipalities and enhance power and water security across various sectors.

“The line-up of expert speakers this year will be sharing their knowledge and insights on the trends, challenges and opportunities facing these critical sectors,” says Chanelle Hingston, Event Director at Enlit Africa. “They will be unpacking the factors that determine success within the energy transition while ensuring power and water security for the domestic and commercial and industrial sectors. Hosting more than 250 exhibitors, 180 speakers and more than 82 utilities and municipalities, Enlit Africa allows attendees to open new opportunities across the continent.”

The focus for the 180+ speakers includes wheeling frameworks and PPAs; power and water finance and projects; supporting the role of municipalities; and drilling down into updates on the IRP2023, carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), and African metre specifications. Sessions also include the role of solar; ensuring equitable access to the grid; C&I water project overviews; and establishing a robust water and energy ecosystem for a resilient future. The event shapes a critical dialogue on the policies and strategies that will enable end-to-end solutions across the continent.

Featuring a comprehensive agenda and expertly curated networking and matchmaking sessions, Enlit Africa is committed to building partnerships that transcend discussions, enabling actionable solutions and investment opportunities that cater to needs across domestic and commercial and industrial entities. Attendees can enjoy one-on-one conversations that allow for personal engagement and the opportunity to expand their network of industry experts, potential clients, partners, and suppliers. A concierge-style matchmaking programme connects people with new business opportunities in a dedicated networking lounge available to all delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers. Everyone can explore solutions to their challenges and open doors to innovative solutions within an accessible and engaging environment. 

Enlit Africa encourages speakers and other stakeholders to work toward a viable economic climate for energy and water security projects — a key step in transforming Africa’s power and water narratives for a more resilient and sustainable future.

“Enlit Africa offers companies the opportunity to interact with key stakeholders on the African continent, while gathering next-generation insights and building robust strategies for a more sustainable future,” concludes Hingston. “It is an inspiring, solutions-focused event that prioritises sustainability and holistic approaches to resolving the challenges faced by many energy, power and water organisations across Africa.”

Join us at Enlit Africa 2024 to engage in these vital conversations and contribute to the sustainable development of Africa’s energy and water ecosystems.

Register now, and for more information, visit www.enlit-africa.com, or download the comprehensive event agenda. 

Be part of a movement that’s crafting a narrative of change and opportunity for energy and water security across Africa.

– The Mail & Guardian

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