Social entrepreneurs across Africa rally to the call to
unite in support of pan African networking by joining the Africans for Africa
Network.
The aim is to change the media narrative from one driven by
western European influence to one that reflects an authentic African voice.
The Africans for Africa Network is a bold initiative and one
that is long overdue. Heading the list of visionary Africans joining the
Africans for Africa Network is Webjunkies.
Kevin Naidoo and Rajen Govender, the joint shareholders of
4sa Technologies (Pty) Ltd, trading under a bouquet of brands (signs4sa.co.za,
cars4sa.co.za, trucks4sa.co.za, bikes4sa.co.za and more), believe wholeheartedly
in this initiative, “As entrepreneurs, we face numerous challenges daily, but
we remain committed to shaping the social landscape where we can. Joining this
initiative was a way of us ‘paying it forward’,“ they said.
Webjunkies, also a division of 4sa Technologies that caters
for website development and online “real estate” management, was deployed to
create an online presence for the Africans for Africa Network. The company is
passionately and competently driven by Naidoo and Govender, both confident
businessmen infused with drive and ambition. Kevin is primarily responsible for
growth initiatives while Rajen, a Chartered Accountant (SA), takes care of all
governance and strategic matters.
Govender explained that the 4sa Technologies Group was
formed to enable the on-line presence of motor related businesses seeking to
extend their reach to a continuously growing, ever demanding and tech - savvy
community. “We are a fully empowered company, principally generating on-line
leads with added website development capability. We have recently extended our
offering to include design, manufacture and installation of all types of
signage,“ he said.
They both hail from Chatsworth, Durban and met up in
Johannesburg in 2010 at a mentorship programme. An immediate friendship was
forged between these two determined, like-minded men. After the programme they
realised that they were eminently suited to working together and set about
outlining an efficient business plan.
In 2011 they acquired an already established family concern
and Signs4sa.co.za, came into being, offering a bouquet of signage services.
This entity is currently the largest in the group. They are supported and
assisted by their experienced and capable staff.
From modest backgrounds – life was not easy – they both say
that it was effort, determination and dedication that got them to where they
are today. Their vision is to create self-sustaining businesses that contribute
meaningfully to the greater South Africa and looking into the future, the world
is their oyster: “we stand toe to toe with anyone in the business”.
As for the Africans for Africa initiative: “We hope to see
it achieve its objectives of ground-breaking, lasting change and creating the
platform dialogue it wishes. It’s about time that Africans take control of
their destiny”, they said.
The aims of the Africans for Africa Network, the brainchild
of Vanessa Perumal, founder of JT Communications Solutions and the JT Comms
African Media Resource Centre of Excellence, are to engage in a series of
dialogues, set up exchanges between artists on the continent, create new
markets for Africa’s cultural content and products and take ownership of the
space in which Africa’s voice is expressed through music and culture in
international arenas.
“We were delighted to have recently launched the website at
the biggest world music festival (Womex 2013) in Cardiff, Wales. We are very
grateful to have had Webjunkies, a key trade-exchange partner, design our
website. We thank them for their generous support,” said Perumal.
Besides the key stakeholder and trade exchange, Webjunkies,
Perumal also set up partnerships with South Africa’s Emthonjeni Arts and Mali’s
renowned FestivalauDesert and various other African networks including IMEXSA,
iStart2, SA Women Engineers, Howiviewafrica, Woldegiorgis Ghebrehiwot from
Mekelle University, Tigray, Ethiopia, Johnny Muteba from Democratic Republic of
Congo, Sam Mokorosi’s Africa The Good News, Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage
Trust - Nozincwadi (Dr Gcina Mhlope) and Harem Clothing.
The first of the Africans for Africa Network’s pan African
exchanges will be hosted by the Emthonjeni Arts with a two-week long residency
with artists from the Malian Festival au Desert, in December 2013. This
first-ever partnership between the two countries emerged out of Africans For
Africa Network’s mission to change the prevailing narrative of Africa from one
driven by Western media, to one that reflects the inherent strengths of the
continent across various Afro-centric platforms.
The website will be managed by Di Sparks who comes from a
Public Relations background. She enjoys working with people and particularly
enjoys sharing knowledge and hopes to stimulate an excitement about the Africans
for Africa network. She hopes to stimulate and push others in common networks
to tell their own African stories that can re-shape and build closer
partnerships. Contact Dees on media@jtcomms.co.za
or 011 788 7631 or visit www.signs4sa.co.za
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