Brian Kazungu, 27/04/2021

Singer, songwriter and Artist & Repertoire (A&R) executive, Israel Sebenzo is set to release a new single titled “Restoration” on the 30th of April this year, a first of a series of singles to be dropped leading to his new EP coming this July. 

Restoration, which will be available on all digital platforms upon release features acclaimed South African singer, songwriter and vocal coach, Mabongi Fero.

The collaborative song which displays Israel’s consistency in the quality of production and engineering of solid ‘smooth’ sounds has been enhanced by the team work which comes through working with the industry’s finest acts.

While speaking about this song which is centred on the fulfilment of God’s promises to humanity, the ecstatic Sebenzo said “I will be releasing singles this time every month leading to another EP, which has become a custom towards my birthday month in July”.

He further added that the song is inspired by a scripture in the Bible from the book of Genesis 26 where there is a story of Isaac who was re-digging wells of water which had been previously dug in the days of Abraham, his father.

“God kept His covenant with Isaac, for Abraham’s sake. After the same pattern, God keeps His covenant with us for Jesus’ sake.

This is a song of breakthrough.

It took faith, work and commitment to dig the wells again, but the provision was there when Isaac sought it diligently. The spiritual resources that sustained previous generations are available for us today if we seek them with faith, work, and commitment.”

It comes to reassure listeners that the Lord has not forgotten about them.” he said.

Sebenzo, who launched the Israel Sebenzo Media & Entertainment Group (ISMEG) Record Label under which he also released his self-titled EP on his birthday, the 22nd of July, has once again promised that the trend will be continuing.

He also explained that he will be doing some podcasts as a way to mentor upcoming musicians and promote the music industry while still keeping his focus on dishing out more new music and other projects.

Brian Kazungu, 31/01/2021

Just a few days after his release from Chikurubi Maximum Prison in Zimbabwe, award winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, a reggae music fanatic, has sent social media users into a frenzy with his anti-corruption song titled “Dem Loot”.

In the first publication of the free style ‘jam’ on social media today, Hopewell asked for a good music producer for doing a song against looting.

Find me a good music producer, we must sing AGAINST LOOTERS and sing them out of town!😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/1rMcSORsaY

— Hopewell Chin’ono #NoToLooters (@daddyhope) January 31, 2021

The post has already received 5000 likes, 3000 comments and over 300 shares within 3 hours.

Within a short space of time he had already released another video of the same song featuring Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni showing some dance moves.

Vanoba…
Vanoba, Vanoba, Vanoba;

The Shona Version👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/nc9am0sspR

— Hopewell Chin’ono #NoToLooters (@daddyhope) January 31, 2021

He also posted a Shona version of the same song.

Vanoba…
Vanoba, Vanoba, Vanoba;

The Shona Version👇🏿 pic.twitter.com/nc9am0sspR

— Hopewell Chin’ono #NoToLooters (@daddyhope) January 31, 2021

The Shona version had with 20 minutes garnered 800 likes and 300 comments while the Museveni version attracted almost a thousand likes and over 200 comments in less than an hour on Facebook alone.

The hype has also brought about a Them Loot challenge where people are now posting their own videos singing along to the same song.

Hopewell has so far been controversially arrested on several occasions mostly for exposing corrupt activities by government officials in Zimbabwe

Brian Kazungu, 29/01/2021

The Covid-19 Pandemic has forced Ster-Kinekor Theatres to adopt the voluntary business rescue route in order to rehabilitate the once profitable business whose cash generation has been negatively affected by lockdown measures meant to contain the spread of the virus.

Below is a Press Release detailing circumstances that has necessitated the business rescue option and highlighting the way forward and the prospects of the business in both the short and the long run.

Ster-Kinekor Theatres Press Release

29 January 2021

Ster-Kinekor enters Business Rescue

All Ster-Kinekor cinemas remain open

The board of directors of Ster-Kinekor Theatres Proprietary Limited today announced that the company has commenced voluntary business rescue proceedings as with effect from 27 January 2021 in terms of the Companies Act. Business Rescue aims to facilitate the rehabilitation of a company.

Up until February 2020, Ster-Kinekor welcomed millions of movie goers every year to their cinemas. The business was profitable and highly cash generative, with good prospects of future/ ongoing profitability from the pipeline of blockbuster film content that had been scheduled.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent economic lockdown instituted by the South African Government at the end of March 2020, all cinemas were required to shut down, and only permitted to reopen under strict conditions as from the end of August 2020.  Since then the Company has been operating under various forms of restriction, including curfews and mandatory limits to the number of guests per auditorium. In addition, there has been an impact of the rescheduling of blockbuster film contents from the original date. The second Covid wave hit South Africa and other countries in December 2020, with further lockdown measures and curfews reintroduced across the cinemas.

These factors have meant that Ster-Kinekor has been trading at a loss, as the company continued to incur costs.

The continued lack of content for the next 4-5 months means that the business is heading for further operational and cash flow challenges.  The board is of the view that the safe harbour that business rescue provides, in terms of providing a legal moratorium, will assist the business to return to profitability, once operating restrictions have been lifted, when international film distributions start to flow again.

Stefan Smyth, a Partner at EY South Africa, where he leads their Africa Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy practice, has been appointed as the Business Rescue Practitioner.

The Business Rescue Practitioner operates as an independent party, who together with the board and executive team, will oversee the business rescue as defined by Chapter 6 of the Companies Act. The Business Rescue Practitioner will on a temporary basis, supervise the management, affairs and business of the company and will devise, prepare, develop and implement a plan to rescue the company.

Ster-Kinekor cinemas remain open

 “For our customers, it is important to note that our cinemas remain open for business.  Movie goers can continue to book their movie tickets through our website, App or in-store. All cinemas have instituted strict Covid-19 protocols, which mean temperature checks and hand sanitizing on arrival and inside the auditoria and mask wearing as appropriate. Every two seats are kept vacant for social distancing”, noted Acting CEO Motheo Matsau.

Ster-Kinekor executives and Business Rescue Practitioner teams are engaging with employees, who have been requested to continue with their normal work duties, also under strict Covid -19 health and safety protocols, delivering the exceptional service that customers have come to expect from Ster-Kinekor.

“My team and I will immediately begin consultations with all affected persons and stakeholders and intend to communicate more fully in due course”, noted Smyth.

“We look forward to the support of all stakeholders in this process”, concluded Smyth.

Affected persons can contact the business rescue practitioner via email on [email protected].

 ENDS

Issued By:                                              Louise Brugman

On Behalf Of:                                        Business Rescue Practitioner of Ster-Kinekor Theatres

E-Mail:                                                   [email protected]

Tel:                                                         083 504 1186