This is an annual international trade show. The 2024 Meetings Africa was the 17th edition of this Business Events Trade Show, owned by South African Tourism, with the specific objective of creating a market access platform for African Business Events Products. The KZN Sharks Board attended the 2024 show as a guest of the KZN Convention Bureau. The Acting Marketing Manager, Mrs. N. Ngubane, attended two days of the show from the 26th to the 27th of February 2024.
The Sharks Board enjoyed the advantage of being a guest, which allowed representatives of the organization to maximize their ability to visit many exhibition stalls to meet various business partners, stakeholders, and alliances.
It was during these various meetings that Mrs. N. Ngubane was able to engage with a very important Tour Operator who has been bringing tourists and visitors to the KZN Sharks Board. These engagements enabled an opportunity for further partnership opportunities, as the Tour Operator was very interested in expanding the services by now providing their clientele with a full package offered by the Sharks Board in the form of early morning boat tours and educational harbour boat cruises for school groups and more partnerships.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION THROUGH BEACH CLEAN-UP ENDED WITH THE LAUNCH OF A RECYCLING CENTRE
The KZN Sharks Board has on the 22 April 2024 joined the international community to mark Earth Day at Dakota Beach located next to Isipingo as we make a commitment to protect our planet. The day was celebrated by a Beach Clean-up initiative project and by the launch of a recycling centre undertaken in partnership with Nkwazi News, DSW, Coca Cola, Polyco, Parks, and Umngeni Water.
This has been one of the initiatives the above organizations had to do in educating communities around the area about the importance of environmental protection against pollution, which is the consequence of reckless dumping by our societies that end up harming our marine life and environment. This has been one of the positive cleaning campaigns at Dakota Beach as this will also create job opportunities for the communities around Dakota Beach who will benefit from the Recycling Centre launched by Nkwazi News.
10,000 YOUTH BENEFICIARIES THROUGH SKILLS REVOLUTION CAMPAIGN
The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, was represented by the MEC for Education, Honourable Mbali Frazer, to interact with more than 10,000 beneficiaries – students and youth in general – trained and developed by EDTEA entities and Chief Directorates. This marked the beginning of a series of outreach programs focusing on the Skills Revolution Campaign and interactions with Tintswalo, the Child of Democracy. The event took place at the Durban Exhibition Centre on 20 April 2024.
With the Skills Revolution Campaign, young people have learned about opportunities and get to know what EDTEA and its entities offer. Through testimonials and career exhibitions, young people and the public at large went back home knowing more about concrete programs being pioneered by the MEC as part of the Skills Revolution. These include internships, bursaries, and school support programs for Grade 11 and Grade 12. Those who have grown from being students to full-fledged professionals gave testimonials during the proceedings of the prosperous event. The Sharks Board was in charge of exhibition stands and assisted students with valuable information about their experiences in entities and EDTEA.
The Moses Kotane Institute pioneered the Skills Revolution Campaign and continued to articulate a deep understanding that research, innovation, science, and technology are crucial tools to be used to stimulate growth and strengthen our economy, eventually ensuring a better life for future generations. The institute has partnered with merSETA and institutions of higher learning. There is a focus on clearing students’ debt.