Donate your old jeans and help create jobs: Men on the Side of the Road & G-Star Raw joins forces

That old pair of jeans in the back of your cupboard will save you money, and can also be used by someone looking for work.

A partnership agreement was announced last night (Wednesday) at the first birthday celebration of G-Star Raw’s store at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The store is inviting members of the public to bring their old jeans to the shop and exchange them for a discount on their next purchase.

Over the next 12 months, all denims handed in at G-Star Raw’s Waterfront shop will be passed on to MSR (Men On the Side of The Road), a non profit organisation that acts as a market place for skilled, unemployed workers. In return, donors would receive a 15% discount on any denims they purchase from G-Star Raw.

Lara Sanan, spokesperson for G-Star Raw hoped that people would make use of this opportunity to support MSR.

“We thank G-Star Raw for this vote of confidence in the important work we do,” said Peter Kratz, MSR’s national director.

Customers in seven cities can hire MSR members on a part time or contract basis, that are able, trustworthy and skilled in particular areas. MSR have verified all their skills and workers have identity cards on them at all time.

With unemployment at critical levels, MSR aims to facilitate the placement of skilled and semi skilled workers in part-time or full-time work. For as little as R120 per day potential employers can hire a reliable and trustworthy worker.

Call 0861 WORKER (0861 967537) or visit MSR.org.za for more info.

MyCiti artworks

Call to Artists and Designers –
Commissions for producing original artwork
for MyCiTi Bus Stations in the City of Cape Town’s
Integrated Rapid Transit System

First round submission deadline:
13:00H 19 October 2010

Background: The first IRT stations were completed in time for the FIFA World Cup with bus stations at the Airport, Civic Centre and Stadium. Three large artworks were successfully commissioned for each of these main stations. The smaller stations are currently being completed for the rollout of services to the West Coast along the Atlantis Corridor. There is now the opportunity to integrate artwork into the entrance areas of these smaller bus stations.

Concept: The commissions provide an opportunity for the City of Cape Town to partner with design schools in the city to showcase the talents of local artists and designers in the promotion of the MyCiTi bus service. The artworks should help give an identity to the bus station along the route, taking inspiration from their unique locations, historical and geographic contexts. The artworks will have a limited lifespan of four to five years where after they may be replaced with new works.

Participants: All designers and artists are invited to present proposals. Invitations will be extended to design schools to encourage their students to participate. These schools include, but are not limited to:

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Design
• University of Cape Town, Michaelis School of Fine Arts
• University of Stellenbosch
• AAA School of Advertising - Cape Town
• City Varsity, Film, TV & Multimedia School
• College of Cape Town
• Ruth Prowse School of Art
• Stellenbosch Academy of Design & Photography
• Vega, The Brand Communications School - CT

read more: http://myciti-art.blogspot.com/

New Companies Act implementation delayed

The Department of Trade and Industry ("DTI") today announced that it was postponing the implementation of the new Companies Act until 1 April 2011.

Johannesburg - The implementation of the Companies Act and the Consumer Protection Act have been delayed until April next year to give the government and others time to get ready to comply with the legislation, the department of trade and industry said on Tuesday.

The decision was made after Minister Rob Davies assessed the "level of readiness of the administrative processes required for smooth implementation", and requests by affected parties to prepare properly for compliance with the laws, the department said.

"This will enable the department to finalise all processes required to effectively administer these two pieces of legislation.

"The department is in the process of finalising regulations which will give effect to both pieces of legislation, and the postponement will allow time for more consultation with stakeholders before finalisation."

The ministry said it recognised that the laws would have a significant impact on business practice. The postponement would allow affected parties to adjust their operations.

The legislation had been due to be implemented in the last quarter of the year.

However, there were repeated warnings that business needed more time to prepare to adhere with the onerous requirements in the Consumer Protection Act in particular.

It was argued that companies would have to make a vast financial investment to devise new sales and marketing, pricing, refunds and accounting policies and procedures; conduct extensive staff training; review and reconsider all contracts and product labelling; and purchase or upgrade information technology systems. fin24

Cape Town Book Fair ads nominated

The advertising campaign put together for the CTBF has been nominated as a Loerie Award finalist to see it go to Cape Town Book Fair - "Where the Story Begins"