“I’ll Not Apologize”
Nearly two days after the Lower House of Legislature declared “Vote of no confidence” in Superintendent Fong Zuagele and Assistant for Development Teeko Yorlay, the Assistant Superintendent has voiced out another defiant statement saying that he will not apologize to anyone claiming that he has done no wrong.Speaking on Radio Saclepea Morning show on 25th September 2014, Mr. Yorlay said as far as he is concerned, anything he did was in the interest of the county and therefore doesn’t owe anyone an apology and again he will not resign his post.“Even though the lower House said they will not work with us, we are still in the county doing our work until President Sirleaf can decide what decision to take,” he said.“I knew that the position of assistant superintendent is not a lifetime job and once you are born, you must expect to die. So if we are afraid to leave the job, then no need we accept the job,” he said.Mr. Yorlay said he would only apologize if he is guilty of what he was accused of, but if he had not done what he is accused of, then, he has no reason to apologize.“I have a life to live beyond the assistant superintendent for development, and I am going to create a checkpoint of thinking just because I want the assistant superintendent for development job,” he added.“I am not going to apologize for doing the right thing and for people saying the wrong thing about me,” he maintains.There has been no understanding among the 53rd Nimba Lawmakers and the Nimba County leadership headed by Fong Zuagele since the induction of Zuagele as superintendent of Nimba in March.The problem was impeding development activities across Nimba till this Ebola crisis.Even though, Fong Zuagele during his induction vowed to unite Nimbaians regardless of tribes, the level of division under his administration appears to be widening.Those who listen to Mr. Yorlay’s statement this morning expressed some disappointments and called on him to come down and show respect to the lawmakers.Robert Mehn of Saclepea City, “I want the superintendent to come down, because the way the money was used was not appropriate; even now the holding center in Ganta is yet to open due to lack of materials. So some of the money could be used to purchase these needed materials, but, instead, they divided the money among while people are dying.” Superintendent Fong Zuagele was very moderate in his approach concerning their visit to Monrovia where they faced legislative inquest.Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
The RCMP is investigating another assault at Looney Toons Night Club.On August 20th, the RCMP detachment received a complaint from B.C. Ambulance of an injured male in the parking lot of the club.A police investigation has revealed that an unidentified native male punched the victim from behind before leaving the scene.- Advertisement -Ambulance crews transported the male to the Fort St John Hospital where he was treated for a minor concussion and laceration on his head.The suspect is described as a being a large native male in his early 30`s wearing a black hat with black framed glasses. At this time police do not have any suspects and are asking for the public`s help identifying the person responsible for this crime.If you have any further information, please contact the RCMP at 250-787-8140 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.crimestoppersfsj.caAdvertisement Meanwhile, the RCMP is still investigating another serious assault at Looney Toons Night Club on August 5th. In this incident, Jonathan Rae Honeywell was charged with two counts of assault and one count of aggravated assault after an attack, in which one male was transported to Vancouver General with serious injuries and two other men were transported to the Fort St. John Hospital with minor injuries.The RCMP is wishing to speak with people who may have witnessed the assault on August 5th. Honeywell`s next court appearance is set of September 1, 2010.
Once again the Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Ltd showed why it is the leading insurance company that supports the talent of young sportsmen and women.Table tennis sensation Thuraia Thomas receives the sponsorship cheque from Hand-in-Hand’s Marketing Coordinator Shafeena JumanOn Tuesday last, the company continued its support of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) by sponsoring Guyana’s 2018 National Girls’ 13 and 15 years Champion, Thuraia Thomas.Thomas will be representing Guyana at the Caribbean Pre-Cadet Table Tennis Championships scheduled for August 24 to September 1, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Caribbean Cadet and Junior Championships feature girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years and under in the Caribbean Region and form the basis for regional table tennis supremacy.It is the incubator for the development of young emerging table tennis talents and a platform from which all regional table tennis stars commence their journey.Thomas is also the winner of the US Open and Caribbean titles and is under the tutelage of Coach Dwain Dick, Colin France and Linden Johnson.In a simple presentation at the company’s head office, Marketing Coordinator Shafeena Juman proudly handed over sponsorship to Thomas.Juman expressed delight in once again being able to support the bright and talented athlete, and assured that the company will always continue to support the development of sports, especially in the future generation. She also wished Thomas success at the event.In return, Thomas thanked the company for its longstanding support and promised to bring home the prize.
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREGame Center: Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, 10 a.m.You’d better believe the Turks.In Baghdad and Washington, everyone is freaking out. Even Tehran expressed its opposition over the weekend to a Turkish invasion.To say that Turkish patience with the PKK is wearing thin would be a severe understatement. The Marxist organization, deemed a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, has waged war since 1984 for its aims to swap what it calls occupation for another type of ideological oppression – a neo-socialist state carved out of parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.After so many years and nearly 40,000 killed in the Turkish fight against the PKK, why pick this inopportune timing – namely, when there’s an Iraq in flux with a blessedly stable north – to go in and take them out?What would Ataturk do? Ataturk was the father of modern Turkey, yet also gave birth to fierce nationalism and an example of modernism for Islamic nations. Turks who take pride in the Ataturk legacy have spilled out in the streets in recent days to demand action.“We can’t say when or how we will do it, we will just do it,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said of attack plans. At least that’s a switch from the tide in recent years of hashing out war plans first on cable news, stripping the element of surprise in a way that would make Napoleon cringe.Ataturk led the war for independence, and there’s little doubt that he would quash the PKK. No doubt he’d act swiftly to defend Turkey, as the keepers of his legacy, the Turkish military, are sworn to do – as well as keeping the country secular.Because that’s another thing Ataturk would have had little patience for: Islamist movements within Turkey, tension that has shaped the terms of Islamists Erdogan and recently elected President Abdullah Gul.I’ve thought about the WWAD – what would Ataturk do? – and weighed my months of resistance to Turkish military action in Iraq, believing as many do that this would only jack up a country that’s already on shaky ground.However, the WWAD has won out.I realize there are serious, legitimate reasons to tell the Turks to stay home, but staunch opponents of terrorism can’t be hypocrites. The Turks should be able to defend their country as anyone would – or more than most try.Go for it, Turkey. Come in to get rid of the PKK. But I’d argue that a limited incursion is too limited – and if you come into the kitchen and make a mess, you have a responsibility to grab the dustpan and broom, get down on your knees and sweep it up.This is my dream scenario: After Turkey crosses the Iraqi border and kicks some PKK butt, it should stick around to help out the security situation. (Realizing, of course, that agreement between Iraq and the U.S. on this would be tense at best, and homicidal at worst.)Turkey wasn’t much help in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Turkey also has the second largest standing armed forces in NATO. But they should think about regional and domestic security, the Islamist forces of Muqtada al-Sadr and al-Qaida in Iraq that are hellbent on the re-establishment of the caliphate from the Ottoman Empire days.Think about the Islamic movements within Turkey, which for years have drawn influence from Hezbollah ideology. The old Ataturk unity now regaining strength works voodoo on the Islamists trying to upend Turkish secularism.And what could Turkey do with any captured PKK members, radicals intent on forcing a socialist utopia? Ship them to Venezuela, of course.Bridget Johnson writes for the Daily News and blogs at insidesocal.com/friendlyfire. E-mail her at bridget.johnson@dailynews.com.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! “I am not ordering you to attack; I am ordering you to die,” Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is quoted as telling his troops in the 1915 battle of Gallipoli, in which British and French forces were prevented from taking Istanbul with heavy casualties.So seems the motto of Kurdish rebels who keep ambushing Turkish soldiers on the Iraqi border, racking up a Turkish body count of 42 in the last month as well as kidnapping eight soldiers.The Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, has embraced a death wish.Tanks have massed along the Iraqi border, just waiting for the word go. On Oct. 17, the Turkish parliament voted 507-19 in favor of going into Iraq to rout the PKK. And just days ago, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said, “We are determined to make those who cause this sadness grieve with an intensity that they cannot imagine.”
CELEBRITY chef Conrad Gallagher moved to Hollywood hoping to land a multi-million euro TV deal, friends have told donegaldaily.com.The Letterkenny cook caused another storm last week when he left Ireland – and debts – to move to America.Now we can reveal the real reason – the Co Donegal man is hoping to make an American version of his TV3 show ‘Head Chef’ for one of the top networks. “Conrad has been showing the series to several top American TV stations,” said one friend in Letterkenny.“He is hoping that the format can be repeated in the States with him in the starring role.“He is very positive about it all. There’s room for another Gordon Ramsay on American television.“Conrad will know sooner rather than later if this is going to work.” One Co Donegal businessman is hoping Gallagher does net a big money deal – so he can get his bill paid.Maurice Kettyle of Kettyle Meats in Letterkenny claims Gallagher, from Hawthorn Heights, owes him about €7,000 for produce he supplied to his restaurants.“He has conned the country again. If I was broke I couldn’t afford the airfare to LA let alone set up a new life there.“There were two big deliveries that went unpaid, it was about €7,000. The cheque bounced.“I contacted him a number of times and it was the same old story. Now I hear that he has left the country. “It is difficult enough to do business without this type of behaviour. I don’t know how he can take in money and not pay his debt, signs, staff and suppliers,” fumed Mr Kettyle.LEAVE YOUR COMMENT BELOW© 2011 donegaldaily.com, all Rights ReservedThe copying, republication or redistribution of donegaldaily.com Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited by law. Follow us on www.twitter.com/donegaldailyFollow us on www.facebook.com/donegaldailyCONRAD GOES TO HOLLYWOOD! CHEF IN BID TO BECOME AMERICAN TV STAR was last modified: February 6th, 2012 by BrendaShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:CONRAD GOES TO HOLLYWOOD! CHEF IN BID TO BECOME AMERICAN TV STAR
Wireless broadband would provide more reliable service during a natural disaster and more consistent service on a regular basis, Councilwoman Carol Herrera said. Her cable Internet service keeps crashing, so she sometimes can’t log into her e-mail, Herrera said. Wireless broadband might benefit home-based and small businesses, but most large corporations would likely stay with T-1 service, said Steve Smith, president and chief executive officer of the Diamond Bar Chamber of Commerce. Other cities have touted wireless services but only provide wireless access in certain areas, he said. “If they are able to pull it off, they will be one of the first cities that actually did a real wireless network,” Smith said. “If they’re able to do that, more power to them.” Rodney Tanaka can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2230, or by e-mail at rodney.tanaka@sgvn.com.160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! DIAMOND BAR — The Diamond Bar City Council wants to go wireless to entice high-tech businesses and connect the community. The council is looking into municipal wireless service that would provide Internet connection throughout the city. The council told staff on Tuesday to talk with Southern California Edison about mounting antennae on power poles. Councilman Bob Zirbes said he favors a public owned and operated system, which would provide low-cost, high-quality service without the focus on profits. AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week Such an amenity could attract tech companies that generate high sales tax with low impact, Zirbes said. Councilman Jack Tanaka said he prefers a public-private partnership because the technology changes so rapidly. “When it comes to technology, a company would do a better job in keeping up and maintaining the most up-to-date and latest equipment,” he said. “I think it’s a great idea, as long as the cost is kept reasonable.” One possible model is Chaska, Minn., which is a close match to Diamond Bar, said Ken Desforges, Diamond Bar director of information systems. Chaska spent $900,000 to develop the infrastructure and has annual costs of $250,000. The city will recoup its costs in five years and will generate $200,000 annually, he said.
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORERose Parade grand marshal Rita Moreno talks New Year’s Day outfit and ‘West Side Story’ remake “We’ve had a net gain of 20 people,” Remige said. “If they are planning on hiring 1,100 deputies, and we’re only hiring an additional 20 a year, it’s going to take (55 years).” But Sheriff Lee Baca said he expects to hire 1,000 deputies next year for a net gain of about 600. “The hiring is not the problem,” Baca said. “It’s the fact that we have people who are retiring and leaving to work closer to home and it takes a while to get things moving in the right direction. “The Board of Supervisors have given us substantial funds in order to provide the necessary services. It also involves constant adjusting of overtime to fill vacancies to extend jail services, patrol services, as well as detectives.” Because of the staffing shortage, the department expects to spend a record $160 million on overtime this fiscal year for jail and patrol deputies to work multiple shifts. In his last semiannual report, Special Counsel Merrick Bobb wrote that the department’s recruitment and hiring challenges are a result of unprecedented attrition, increased demand for law enforcement personnel throughout Southern California and a higher than normal number of retirements. In March 2002, the department had about 9,000 sworn officers. As a result of budget cuts during the recession and a three-year hiring freeze, the department lost about 1,000 officers. The department now faces significant challenges to rebuild its force including stiff competition from local police agencies offering higher pay and superior retirement benefits, Bobb wrote. Those agencies are actively courting sheriff’s deputies with signing bonuses, new equipment and promises they will not have to work in the jails. After they are hired, deputies spend an average of five to eight years working in the jails before getting a patrol job at a sheriff’s station, Remige said. That’s up from an average of one to two years when Remige joined the department in 1979. “Supervisor (Michael D.) Antonovich urges the sheriff to revisit the practice of placing new deputies in the jails for extended periods of time and to work with the rank and file to determine how best to make the department as attractive as possible for recruits who are beginning a law enforcement career,” Antonovich spokesman Tony Bell said. Remige also said he blames the Board of Supervisors’ decision to cut $200 million from the department’s budget in the past three years for the understaffing, which he said has contributed to eight inmate murders in two years at Men’s Central Jail. “We are paying for the mistakes of the past when the majority of the Board of Supervisors cut the sheriff’s funding,” Bell said. “We’re paying for that because the sheriff was not able to recruit and train deputies and he had to close the academy.” But Baca said the increase in jailhouse slayings is a result of a variety of factors. “A lot of it is because of the faulty design of the old jail,” Baca said. “It’s also decisions made in the classification system and an antiquated jail system that is labor-intensive.” Remige also said he’s received anecdotal reports from deputies that it’s taking them longer to respond to calls for service, especially in unincorporated parts of the county in the Antelope Valley and elsewhere. Department response-time reports show that the time it takes for a deputy to respond to a call have been increasing countywide since the supervisors slashed the department’s budget in 2002. The reports show it took an average of 4.8 minutes to respond to an emergency call in Sheriff’s Department contract cities in 2002 – rising to 5 minutes this year. Emergency call response times in unincorporated areas rose from 6.2 minutes in 2002 to 6.4 minutes this year. Priority calls in contract cities went from 9 minutes in 2002 to 11.1 minutes this year and similar calls in unincorporated areas rose from 10.7 minutes to 12.9 minutes. In those years, routine calls in contract cities increased from 37.6 minutes to 42.9 minutes and in unincorporated areas from 40.7 minutes to 49.9 minutes. — Troy Anderson, (213) 974-8985 troy.anderson@dailynews.com160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! An inability to recruit and retain qualified deputies has contributed to a recent spate of jailhouse murders and growing response times to emergency calls, sheriff’s union officials said Friday. While the Sheriff’s Department has hired 584 people since it began a renewed recruitment campaign in July, it has lost a similar number to surrounding law enforcement agencies and to retirement. The department has about 8,150 sworn officers – 1,100 fewer than budgeted. The department is losing about 430 officers a year, including 100 to 150 who take jobs at other law enforcement agencies, said Steve Remige, president of the 7,000-member Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs.
Chelsea are keeping tabs on Brazilian midfield star Bernard, according to The Sun.The 20-year-old, dubbed the new Oscar, is said to be valued at £6m by his club Atletico Mineiro and is apparently being touted as a possible successor to Frank Lampard.The Daily Mirror say Chelsea are still chasing Bayer Leverkusen striker Andre Schurrle.QPR boss Harry Redknapp plans to approach his former club Tottenham to see if they are willing to sell Scott Parker, the Mirror say.The England midfielder has not played since the European Championship but is one of a host of players Redknapp is said to be keen to sign.The Mirror also say Rob Green is likely to become Redknapp’s number one keeper and that Rangers are vying with Liverpool and Fulham for the signing of Aston Villa striker Darren Bent.The Guardian and the Daily Express also suggest Redknapp is keen on Bent – another player he managed at Spurs.The Daily Mail say Redknapp’s recent appointment could lead to an exodus of highly-paid players, but they are determined not to be forced out of the club by him.It is suggested that Esteban Granero, Julio Cesar, Jose Bosingwa and Ji-sung Park are among those who could be sold.And The Scotsman report that Joe Jordan is out of the running for the Scotland manager’s job as he is working alongside Redknapp at Loftus Road.This page is regularly updated.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 Follow West London Sport on TwitterFind us on Facebook
South Africa is blessed with three world-class canoe marathons, each offering the paddler a supreme challenge along with genuine camaraderie in a field that includes not only those trying to win, but also those who come to compete with themselves and the river.The Fish River and Berg River canoe marathons are more traditional races, consisting mostly of paddling with a little portaging, but the Dusi Canoe Marathon, raced between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, offers a unique challenge, with portaging making up a significant part of the race.Dusi Canoe MarathonFish River Canoe MarathonBerg River Canoe Marathon DUSI CANOE MARATHONThe Dusi is the longest running of the three races, having been contested for the first time in 1951, when world-renowned conservationist Ian Player, the brother of golfing legend Gary, was the only finisher out of a field of eight men.It took Player six days to complete the epic journey – during which time he was bitten by a night adder. Player crawled to a nearby road and managed to get a lift to a police station, where he collapsed. Anti-serum was administered, and he continued on to Durban.The first four editions of the race were contested on a non-stop basis, but in 1956 the race was changed to its present three-stage format, bringing an end to non-stop racing, through-the-night paddling and sleeping out in the open.Toughest canoe race in the worldFor many years the Dusi remained an elite event feared by the average paddler, and it wasn’t until 1967 that the 100-entry mark was finally achieved. By 1970 it was being billed as “the toughest canoe race in the world”.In the words of Ian Player: “No man who has done the 110 gruelling miles can ever be the same again. The memory of the rapids, the steep hills and torturous paths, the aching backs and dry mouths, the burning sun and cold mist and rain, will forever remain in the mind.”The Dusi KingMany great paddlers have taken turns to dominate the Dusi over the years, but one rose above them all; known as the Dusi King and “The Pope”, Graeme Pope-Ellis recorded his first victory with Eric Clarke in 1972. He won for the last time with Tim Cornish in 1990.In those 19 races since 1972, Pope-Ellis had won 15 times and placed second on three occasions. Only a broken boat in 1979 had prevented him from achieving another top-two finish. He has completed the Dusi a record 44 times.The race regularly attracts well over 1 000 contestants nowadays, with the record standing at 2 127 in the first race of the new millennium.The Non-Stop DusiThe Non-Stop Dusi has also been introduced, reviving the tradition of the race as it was in its early days. Only the excellent, the brave – and sometimes the stupid – attempt the Non-Stop Dusi, which has taken over the mantle of “world’s toughest canoe race” from the three-day Dusi.It is interesting to note that Non-Stop Dusi competitors start and finish on the same day – a reflection on the extent to which training, equipment and support have changed since the first race in 1951.FISH RIVER CANOE MARATHONThe Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon was first held in 1982, when 77 competitors took part. In 2000 it attracted a record entry of 1 564 paddlers, ranking it among the five biggest canoe marathons in the world.One of the main attractions of the event is that it is held in Cradock in the Eastern Cape, a central location that makes the race accessible for participants from all over the country, not to mention those who travel from overseas.Another plus for the paddlers is that the river is artificially regulated, guaranteeing them challenging and exciting rapids, fast-flowing water and testing weirs.The Fish River Canoe Marathon takes place every year during the September school holidays – which sometimes means it happens in October!Coelacanth, Fish Eagle awardsAs with many long-distance events, people competing in 10 or more editions of the Fish River Canoe Marathon are recognised. While the Comrades Marathon has the much-prized green number, the Fish has the equally sought-after Coelacanth award. The even more prestigious Fish Eagle award is presented to paddlers who have completed 20 or more events.The event has regularly been awarded the South African Canoeing Marathon Championships, another indication of its standing as a fine, well-loved event.‘Twinned’ with the Avon DescentThe Fish has also been “twinned” with Australia’s famous Avon Descent, which is billed as “the world’s greatest wild water event”.The twinning agreement sees the winners of the two events being flown to take part in the twin event, and has led to stunning success for South Africans in the Perth race:Wayne Volek won in the K1 category in 2000, followed by Martin Dreyer in 2002, and Sven and Deon Bruss in the K2 category in 2003.Daryl Bartho scored successive K1 victories in 2004 and 2005, and Sven Bruss was the K1 champion and Daryl and Brett Bartho the K2 winners in 2007. In 2008, Barry Lewin was crowned the K1 winner in a record time.BERG RIVER CANOE MARATHONThe Berg River Canoe Marathon has been contested since 1961. It is an extremely tough challenge, taking place over four days and covering an astounding 228 kilometres, making it the longest race in South Africa.Compounding the challenge posed by the distance is the fact that the event takes place in winter – the weather can be a fierce opponent, not to mention the tricky nature of the river. The water tends to be fast-flowing, but the channels are narrow, and overhanging trees give another angle to the test.Due to the extreme test that the race poses, the size of the entry doesn’t approach the size of the fields in the Dusi and Fish River Canoe Marathons.The King of the BergFormer Springbok paddler Andre Collins is known as the King of the Berg. He has completed the event an astounding 40 times, a figure that has been matched by Giel van Deventer.Five-time champion Hank McGregor, who has won every big race there is to win in South African canoe marathon racing, as well as the World Marathon K1 Championships in 2003 and the Durban Surfski World Cup (twice), has often said that the Berg River Canoe Marathon is the toughest race in the world.Team raceIn an interesting innovation, the Berg introduced a professional team race in 2008, which employed an original and exciting format.Each team consists of three or four paddlers. To ensure that the competition is competitive, no team may include more than one paddler who has achieved top three places in the previous three editions of the race.The top three times are added together for a cumulative time, but that time can be reduced by one of the team’s paddlers winning “hotspots”, which are worth two minutes off the total time.Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See: Using SAinfo material
A group of entrepreneurs learned a number of valuable business lessons from the experts – among them incubators and funders – at the first MTN Business South Africa digital entrepreneur master class.Entrepreneurs and representatives of MTN Business South Africa take part in a digital entrepreneur master class in Johannesburg on 27 October 2016, where they are encouraged to share the stories of their businesses online. (Image: Musa Sibisi)Melissa JavanEntrepreneurs and stakeholders in MTN Business South Africa took part in a digital entrepreneur master class, a first of its kind event hosted by the business unit of the multinational mobile telecommunications company.Various companies, such as cellphone maker Samsung South Africa and advertising sales company Ad Dynamo exhibited some of their new products and services. MTN Business used the event, which was held on 27 October in Bryanston, Johannesburg, to teach entrepreneurs about a variety of business issues, such as how to set up a company website within minutes.Mike Anderson of the National Small Business Council, speaking at the MTN Business South Africa digital entrepreneur master class in Johannesburg on 27 October 2016, gives recent statistics about small businesses, saying that 43% of small business owners find sales and marketing a challenge. (Image: Melissa Javan)Be a rainmakerMike Anderson of the National Small Business Council said the council undertook a survey of more than 10 000 small business owners. “The fastest growing services among entrepreneurs are professional services. These are your doctors and nurses opening up their own practices,” he said.Anderson commended entrepreneurs. “The animal of an entrepreneur [makes] him go from zero to hero to zero to hero again. It is better to fail a thousand times than to have not tried at all.”Speaking about areas in which small business owners struggled, he mentioned sales and marketing: 43% found this challenging; and business and strategic planning: 26% found this challenging.Anderson urged entrepreneurs to become rainmakers. “Give your business a digital transformation. Be brutal on money.”Lynette Ntuli, CEO of Innate Investment Solutions, speaking at the MTN Business South Africa digital entrepreneur master class in Johannesburg on 27 October 2016, says there is no economic growth or prospects for the country without small, medium and micro enterprises. (Image: Musa Sibisi)David Mphelo said the master class was held so that entrepreneurs could learn the tools necessary to enable them to be the next players in the digital space. “We need to play digital as the next catalysts.”“Digital” and “business”, he said, would be synonymous by 2018. “Global statistics show that by 2018, 1.1 billion new users will be on the mobile messaging platforms.”The Master classesWeiling Chiu of MTN Business Group’s SME division, gave a class on “Marketing your business on a dime”.As an entrepreneur, she said, you should ask yourself daily why you are doing what you are doing. “People buy why you can do it, not what you do… Remember you are your own Picasso of your business.”She showed the entrepreneurs free websites where you could, for example, check your grammar, get free stock images, create templates or newsletters, manage your social media accounts, and post a week’s worth of content on the platforms within minutes.Zukile Nomafu of the small business enterprise support programme National Gazelles gave tips on how entrepreneurs could use incubation programmes to accelerate their businesses. There were more than 90 incubators in South Africa, he said.Small business owners should keep in mind that incubators focused on growth and issues relating to funding, he added. “We do not focus on the normal day to day problems of your business.”On entrepreneurs seeking funding, he advised: “Funders take little risk – they do not like taking risks. So, get your story right first. If you get your story right, 80% of you will not need funding.”Zukile Nomafu of National Gazelles, speaking at the MTN Business South Africa digital entrepreneur master class in Johannesburg on 27 October 2016, says the first 1 000 days of an entrepreneur’s business is difficult. “It is known as the valley of death.” (Image: Melissa Javan)Before joining an incubator, according to Nomafu, you should:• Research your options; this means you should ask yourself what do you want to get out of the programme, such as mentors.• Talk to alumni.• Assemble your team.• Master your pitch.• Decide what you want to give.• Seek legal advice.Going beyond South AfricaIt was important for entrepreneurs to know what they wanted to do, said Omotayo Ojutalayo of the MTN Business Group’s SME division. “Think how is your solution to the South African market and beyond. Is your solution relevant for a country outside South Africa?”She added: “[Your] idea will have a very low optic (vision) if it is too complex to communicate. Keep it simple.”Ojutalayo said entrepreneurs should also think about with whom they could collaborate. “(When attempting to collaborate with someone) think about how far this partner can take you. Ask: can my potential partner add to my business that is appealing to people?“Also, what skills does my partner have that I don’t?”Would you like to use this article in your publication or on your website? See Using Brand South Africa material