Our Sports Personality 2013 ... Samkelo Radebe

" I don't want to sit back and watch other people change the world for me. If I can be a part of it to make a change, I want to be a part of it" - Samkelo Radebe (Gold Medalist at the Paralympic Games and iStart2 Ambassador)

Talking to Samkelo is almost like running a race... lots of energy, passion and a strong belief that nothing is impossible is always a given. Whether we chat about his accomplishments, his nominations as one of the 200 Young South Africans for 2013 (Mail & Guardian), the Sports Personality of the Year, Against all odds by NYDA ( on Monday it was a nomination ... on Friday Samkelo was announced the Winner of the NYDA Future Leaders Presidential Award  in Durban. Well done and congratulations!) ...

...or the trip to France to participate at the World Championship, the positive energy just flows. On a more serious note he shared his thoughts on the Oscar Pistorius saga and his support as a friend.

On a lighter note what it was like to get a drivers license WITHOUT hands and what it means to take up the challenge to be iStart2's Ambassador over the next few years. Indeed a young man who sets the world on fire. 

Thank you for voting 
Samkelo Radebe 
as Sports Personality of the Year 2013
at the Gauteng Sports Awards 

             
To listen to the show ( and it is really a great show!) just click play on the podcast below:



Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Don't forget to Like our facebook page and follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

My Black President ... InkuluFreeHeid

On 27 April 1994, South Africa took her first step into freedom. On that day, we came together as a nation and showed the world that conflict can be overcome. That hurt can be turned into hope. And that when we work together, miracles do happen. Now, almost twenty years later, we need to come together again to make the Vision for South Africa 2030 a reality. This is the central message from young youth leaders from InkuluFreeHeid, our guests on the iStart2 Show.

iStart2 collaborating with InkuluFreeHeid

We chatted to Amukelani Mayimele and Erik de Ridder about the mission, the goals and how InkuluFreeHeid is going to contribute and unite South Africans behind efforts to deepen democracy, enhance social cohesion and find solutions to pressing economic challenges of our time. Join their nation-wide conversation by visiting the website at www.inkulufreeheid.org

To listen to the podcast of the show and their favourite music by Brenda Fassie (Black President) and Lira (Uprising), just click play:

Listen to the iStart2 Show on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. The show is on every Monday at 18h30 and repeated on Thursdays at 19h00 (SA Time)

Don't forget to Like our facebook page if you are interested to follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

Thula ... Sibongile Khumalo

"This morning I woke up with a deep sense of gratitude. Grateful that I am alive in this country at this time. That, challenges notwithstanding, I have an opportunity to contribute to an initiative, a movement that calls on us CITIZENS to make a difference. That this difference is vested in the decisions of each and everyone of us, and the actions of each and everyone of us to ultimately affect the way we think in a constructive and productive way. Grateful that we still have a sense of community that spurs us to action for the greater good of society." - Sibongile Khumalo (launch of the Citizens Movement - Citizens ZA, 27th April, 2013)

Someone once described Sibongile as “a musical adventuress and mezzo soprano with an outstanding vocal range, Sibongile Khumalo has been hailed the queen of South African jazz, the Empress of Soul, a diva for the 21st century. If it’s star quality you’re after, then look no further.”

Our team in the Radio Today studio was taken aback by her warmth, humility, wisdom and sense of humour... a beautiful human being. We fully understand why she believes the world needs dreamers who don't just dream, but dreamers who DO! To listen to a podcast of the show just click "play":

Listen on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 869 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Don't forget to Like our facebook page if you are interested to follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

Please Note: (On Tuesday 11 June 2013 all radio stations on the DStv Audio Bouquet are changing their numbers. Radio Today's DStv Audio Channel number will be 869 in future)

Our Future, make it work ... Bobby Godsell (Part2 - Citizens Movement)

How can we involve society at large in contributing to a better future towards the 2030 Vision for South Africa? How can I get involved? How do we make it work?

HIGH-profile business and political leaders have signed up to be patrons of a new Citizens Movement, which is meant to promote good values, community work and philanthropy. Businessman Bobby Godsell and former trade unionist James Motlatsi are the "conveners" of the movement. We chat to Bobby Godsell about what we CAN DO to make South Africa a better place and realize the vision for South Africa 2030.

A good way to start is to sign the Citizens Charter by going here

To listen to a podcast of the show (and some music by Simphiwe Dana) just click "play":




iStart2 was part of another remarkable event that took place yesterday at Freedom Park. A declaration of commitment by advocates of social cohesion was signed. The aim is to embrace the National Development Plan and involve society at large in contributing to building a better future. South Africans taking hands...

Launch by Paul Mashatile - Minister of Arts & Culture

A good society is built by active citizens. If you can start, iStart2!

 

Tune in next week Monday @18h30 on Radio Today. Our special guest is one of the greatest diva's of South African music, Dr Sibongile Khumalo.

Listen on Radio Today 1485 AM in Jozi, dstv Audio Channel 169 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za. Don't forget to Like our facebook page if you are interested to follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

Mayihlome ... Bobby Godsell (Part 1 - NDP)

Robert "Bobby" Godsell is a South African businessman and the former CEO of South African Gold Mining Company AngloGold Ashanti. He was the Non-Executive Chairman of Eskom from 2008-2009 and was appointed to the National Planning Commission of South Africa by South African President Jacob Zuma on 30 April 2010. Bobby serves as Chairman of Business Leadership South Africa. He has been described as "a visionary, that has done much to shape the destiny of the South African labour relations landscape" (Russel Edey)

The iStart2 Team is honoured to have had him on our show this week. We chatted about the Vision 2030 for South Africa and his views on the hot topic of the National Development Plan. We also played music by some of his favourite South African artists, Sibongile Khumalo (Mayihlome) and Abdullah Ibrahim (Earth Bird). To listen to a podcast of the show, just click "play":




Next week: HIGH-profile business and political leaders have signed up to be patrons of a new Citizens Movement, which is meant to promote good values, community work and philanthropy. Businessman Bobby Godsell and former trade unionist James Motlatsi are the "conveners" of the movement. Next week we chat to Bobby Godsell about what we can do to make South Africa a better place.
 
iStart2 sign the Citizens Charter by going to http://www.citizens.za.com  

Tune in next week  @18h30 on Radio Today. Listen on Radio Today 1485 AM, dstv Audio Channel 169 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za.
Don't forget to Like our facebook page if you are interested to follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

Outside silence ... Dr Reon Brand

Dr Reon Brand is the perfect iStart2 ambassador. Not only is he an expert on sustainability issues, but he is also a remarkable artist. Reon is Senior Director, Future Directions at Philips Design in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. His primary role is to work with multiple Philips stakeholders to explore future directions for the Philips Strategic Company Innovation program.

 
Dr Brand was born in Cape Town, South Africa and graduated with a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Cape Town. We chat about future sustainability - or what he calls "regeneration" and his art, which takes inspiration from Picasso and Dali amongst others in a vibrant display of passion and creativity. Reon shares some of his expectations about a future world, lessons learnt from his work in China and he offers personal insights into his world as an artist.

To listen to the show, which was recorded in the Amstel Hotel, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, just click play:






In our next show we are privileged to have one of South Africa's most prominent business leaders our country has produced, in the studio. Our topic: South Africa in 2030.  Don't forget to Like our facebook page if you are interested to follow the unfolding of the iStart2 journey (Top left) :-)

Tune in @18h30 on Radio Today. Listen on Radio Today 1485 AM, dstv Audio Channel 169 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za.

WakaWaka ... This light for Africa ... Maurits Groen

1.5 billion people around the world - a quarter of humanity - have no access to electricity, and hundreds of millions more face regular blackouts. The effects of this energy poverty are enormous. Lacking power and light severely reduces the quality of life. Kerosene lamps are widely used for lighting, yet they are very inefficient, dangerous and expensive, and have extensive health and environmental drawbacks

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Maurits Groen, Anthony Droppert and Camille van Gestel

In Haarlem, close to Amsterdam,  we chatted about sharing the sun. Maurits Groen, Anthony Droppert and Camille van Gestel spoke to me about sustainable solutions for our planet ... the successful 'Buy one, give one' crowdfunding of the WakaWaka Power Light last January, has resulted in over 12.000 solar lights for Haitians living off-grid! We are taking hands ... this light for Africa ... waka waka... 

To listen to the interview, click play:



Become part of the iStart2 tribe by "Liking" our iStart2 facebook page and join our movement. Let's take hands to create a more sustainable world.

Join me every Monday at 18h30 (SA Time) and listen to the show on Radio Today 1485 am in Jo'burg, catch us nationally on DSTV Audio Channel 169 or worldwide on www.1485.org.za.

Radio Today. Radio that delivers!