Ashraf Garda

On December 23 1987 Barry Dwolatzky was told he had hairy cell leukaemia and less than a year to live. Luckily he survived the dire prediction and in 2020 used the enforced quiet of COVID to write the absorbing story about how he found himself unexpectedly lying in a hospital bed in London more concerned about the contents of his briefcase stashed under his bed than the prospect of his life ending in a few months. The mystery of the briefcase’s contents and his presence far from South Africa forms the pivot of much of his story. It begins in a conventional middle class white suburb in Johannesburg in the 1950s as a bullied but clever outsider and stretches through to his eminence as Emeritus Professor of Software Engineering at Wits University and founder of the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct. His path is deceptively ordinary but the evolution of his personal commitment to social and economic justice and the consequences for his life choices were anything but ordinary. His opposition to Apartheid shaped and distanced him from his professional and much of his personal world. Supporting the ANC and seeking active service in social projects in Mozambique his life took unexpected turns which in hindsight have symmetry but at the time appeared bewildering. Barry’s personal choices were not easy nor simple but his commitment to South Africa and the ending of Apartheid was profound. Told with the sensitivity and self deprecating voice of someone discovering his place in what became the fourth Industrial Evolution, Barry shares his vulnerability and delight in finding the world of IT and discovering his ability to teach while pursuing his own commitment to political change. The story of Barry’s less than ordinary life is proof of the adage never judge a book by its cover. His coded history is complex yet simple, curious yet obvious and proof that a life well lived is both inspirational and worth sharing.

The world has entered a period of accelerated change. This has everything to do with the disruptive events of 2020, the cognitive rewiring which each of us is going through, and the profound macro shifts reshaping the world as we know it. We are living through an unprecedented period of rapid and pervasive transition. Every aspect of our reality is shifting, from how we work and play, to how we educate our children and care for the health and wellbeing of our families, ourselves and our neighbours. How does this affect the future of strong, dominant sectors such as tourism and travel, consumer, retail, property, education, health, automotive and financial services, among others? Can we rewire these and other sectors for a new reality? Do we even have the wherewithal to reimagine the future? How do we start the process of pressing the reset button? Can we reimagine the world we live in and take proactive steps to play a part in it? Do we have the tools to shift our business strategies? Are we primed to take advantage of the opportunities on offer? Can we sidestep our fear of the unknown and open our minds to exciting new possibilities? Transport yourself into the future with global future strategist, speaker and disruptor Abdullah Verachia as he leads you through the fundamental shifts taking place at every level and how these will reshape the world as we know it. Envisage a new reality, new cross-border opportunities and new avenues for personal and business growth. Unlock key insights revealed in Disruption Amplified that will inspire your own rethinking during this remarkable and transformative time, and step boldly into a new tomorrow.

Basetsana Kumalo (née Makgalemele) shot to fame as a fresh-faced Miss South Africa in 1994 and soon became the face of South Africa’s new democracy. As the first black presenter of the glamorous lifestyle TV show Top Billing, she travelled the world and interviewed superstars like Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Jon Bon Jovi, Will Smith, the Bee Gees, Gloria Estefan and Luther Vandross. After a successful career in television, Bassie’s drive and ambition took her into the world of business. The street savvy that her entrepreneurial mother gave her stood her in good stead as she built a media empire. When she married the handsome businessman Romeo Kumalo in a fairytale wedding, they became South Africa’s sweethearts and ‘it’ couple. Bassie – My Journey of Hope recounts the stories of Bassie’s life as a celebrity, including her relationships with mentors like Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Graça Machel. She also shares the secrets of her success and all the lessons she’s learnt along the way, and opens up about the pressures of her high-profile marriage to Romeo, their heartbreaking struggle to have a family, and how they made sure that their loving and respectful union has lasted two decades. Bassie also talks frankly about the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of boxer Dingaan Thobela and the legal battles she had to fight to protect her name and her brand over the years. She gives her account of the stalker who harassed her for decades, and the non-existent ‘sex-tape’ allegation that rocked her family and career, leading to painful experiences of cyber-bullying. It is an intimate, inspiring and entertaining account of a remarkable life.

This revealing biography details the life of Bill Jardine, anti-apartheid activist and noted sportsman, who played a key role in racially unifying sports and facilitating South African participation internationally.