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It’s strange, how in a single brief moment in time, with only a few words spoken, one’s life can change so completely. Suddenly all you know, trust and rely upon, Yavi Madurai plummeted into the depths of the unknown.
This is precisely what happened to self- professed 33 year old, “control freak”, Yavi Madurai.
On the 14th of November 2003, at 15h02, her doctor uttered those words, “It’s breast cancer”. As life around her continued on as normal, the earth still spinning on its axis, people still going about their daily lives, hers came to a painful, grinding halt.
Hopes, dreams and wishes seemed far away now – especially those of becoming a mother.
What followed in the next two weeks, she can only describe as a “Brown Blur” – A surreal experience of living in the limbo between brown medical buildings, carrying brown envelopes containing test results.
Soon this muted hue seemed to seep into every aspect of her life, staining her days with sorrow. But a bright reprieve was to soon emerge from the depths of this monochromatic existence, coming in the form of another cancer patient.
Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment” story acted as a catalyst for Yavi, triggering a metamorphosis within her. And like the seasons bring about the change from caterpillar to butterfly, so the new Yavi was born.
Previously her life had been lived in the fast lane, ambitious, driven and always on the go. She never stopped to appreciate the beauty contained within the tiny moments between life.
But now, Yavi had been presented with the precious gift of choice. It was as if her cancer said, “hey listen, wake up, value it”.
She began to view the world through different lenses, counting her blessings for the things she had previously taken for granted.
She decided that her greatest weapon against cancer would be a positive attitude. Even through the physical and psychological devastation of a partial mastectomy and the aggressive courses of chemotherapy and radiation, her positivity was unwavering.
Yavi Madurai soon discovered the undeniable, yet inexplicable power of the mind-body-connection, as her new attitude began to have a marked effect on her recovery.
But perhaps Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment” greatest gift came from the “Moments in Time” project, which made her see her cancer as a gift from God. This knowledge allowed her to find profound meaning, in what was once a seemingly senseless struggle.
Cancer was no longer a burden under which she stumbled and faltered. Rather, it was a second chance at life.
And then, as if by some act of universal synchronicity, Yavi was granted her greatest wish, giving birth to a beautiful baby girl in October, breast cancer month.
This survivor had come full circle, from fighting for her life, to giving new life.
She believes that her cancer not only prepared her for the challenges of motherhood, but also gave her a priceless heirloom, a legacy that could be passed onto her daughter; the fundamental values she learnt, that so wholly transformed her life.
Today, Yavi Madurai is grateful for every new day and loves getting up in the morning. “I feel alive and know that I am now living in the moment”
Branding solutions and Reputation Management
Brand positioning and reputation management go hand in hand and serve as the heart of the Marketing and or Communications strategy of any company which in effect is the foundation of that company. At BBT, we have a passion for brand management solutions and ensuring a company’s reputation is managed efficiently
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Pieter-Louis Myburgh is a multiple award-winning investigative journalist and author.
Pieter-Louis’s recent work on the Department of Health’s dodgy R150-million Digital Vibes contract booted former health minister Zweli Mkhize from his cabinet position.
In 2019, Myburgh’s acclaimed book, Gangster State (Penguin Random House), exposed former ANC Secretary General and ex Free State Premier Ace Magashule’s questionable conduct.
Among myriad issues unpacked in the book, Gangster State — in painstaking and forensic detail — revealed Magashule’s links to a controversial R255-million asbestos audit contract from the Free State’s provincial government. This led to the arrest of Magashule and other officials and businesspeople involved in the deal.
Pieter-Louis Myburgh was also part of the #GuptaLeaks team that in 2017 processed and published damning details from a huge trove of emails and documents pertaining to the shady business dealings of the Gupta family, South Africa’s most notorious state captors.
In that year, Myburgh’s first book, The Republic of Gupta (Penguin Random House), was published.
Myburgh’s first major breakthrough as an investigative journalist came in 2015, when he exposed malfeasance around a botched R3.5-billion locomotives contract at South Africa’s state-owned rail commuter entity, Prasa.
For this, Pieter-Louis Myburgh won his first of three Taco Kuiper awards, South Africa’s most prestigious accolade for investigative journalism.
Myburgh currently plies his trade for Daily Maverick’s celebrated investigations team, Scorpio.
Drawing from his work on some of the country’s biggest news developments and political scandals, Myburgh’s keynote address is an unflinching reflection on South Africa’s corruption and governance crisis.
Pieter-Louis Myburgh is also a regular guest on current affairs and news shows on some of South Africa’s major radio and television stations.
After obtaining a honours degree in journalism from Stellenbosch University in 2009, Pieter-Louis Myburgh kicked off his career as a journalist at Beeld newspaper in Johannesburg before later joining Afrikaans weekly Rapport, where in 2015 he exposed the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) infamous multi-billion rand tall trains scandal. Myburgh has also worked at NEWS24, where he formed part of the #GuptaLeaks team that helped expose South Africa’s most notorious state captors.
Myburgh joined The Daily Maverick’s investigations team, Scorpio, in early 2019.
Sifting through heaps of records, documents and exclusive source interviews, Pieter-Louis Myburgh explores Magashule’s relationship with the notorious Gupta family and other tender moguls; investigates government projects costing billions that enriched his friends and family but failed the poor; reveals how he was about to be arrested by the Scorpions before their disbandment in the late 2000s; and exposes the methods used to keep him in power in the Free State and to secure him the post of ANC secretary-general.
Most tellingly, Myburgh pieces together a pack of leaked emails and documents to reveal shocking new details on a massive Free State government contract and Magashule’s dealings with a businessman who was gunned down in Sandton in 2017.
These files seem to lay bare the methods of a man who usually operated without leaving a trace. Gangster State is an unflinching examination of the ANC’s top leadership in the post– Jacob Zuma era, one that should lead readers to a disconcerting conclusion: When it comes to the forces of capture, South Africa is still far from safe.
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Kevin Fine has 25 year career that has spanned Executive Leadership, National Broadcasting, Brand Management, Community Development and Entrepreneurship.
He is a regular speaker on the local and international circuit as well as inside corporates, and the media industry at large. Fine shares his collaborative views through articles, speaking panels, and keynote presentations applying his experience and interests on topics including: Company Culture, the Content Economy, Thought Leadership, Sustainability, Business Growth, Audience Monetisation and Future Trends.
More recently and after 8 years leading the biggest regional radio channel in South Africa – Jacaranda FM, Fine was appointed Managing Director of a new business called “Expedite” within the Kagiso Media Radio division. The business focuses solely on accelerating businesses by innovatively leveraging media resources and inventory. He has since left and stepped in to the Entrepreneurial and speaking world full time.
Kevin Fine was a key part of Jacaranda FM’s success and leaves the station with audience numbers in South Africa’s top 10. Digital engagement and reach achieved unprecedented levels, with both jacarandafm.com and the station’s the biggest YouTube channel in the number 1 spot in the country. Internally during 2019, the station’s culture was qualified as a Gold Best Company to Work For in the Deloitte and Touche survey.
Kevin Fine major achievements were ensuring a strong CAGR, profitability, brand presence and benevolence. Under his leadership, the station also received prestigious accolades, with more than 30 awards, from listeners and industry peers, including: “Commercial Radio Station of the Year” 2015 The Roger Garlick Award, a Gold Loerie, and an International One Show Award for the “More Music You Love” Live Billboard Campaign.
Three major sustainability projects completed included Project Khanya distributing light to 25000 homes, Project Water Drop which delivered millions of liters of water to drought stricken communities before sinking boreholes and wells, and Hearts for Mandela Day ensuring heart surgery for 67 children.
Prior to Kevin Fine time at the station, Kevin was CEO at 101.9 Chai FM, brought in to remodel, reformat and relaunch the station in 2010.
Additionally, Kevin Fine also founded (and is a director of) the Little Champs Sports Academy, A sports development programme for early childhood. His passion for sport, and sports marketing also saw him manage the EA FIFA game Franchise in South Africa for 3 years and running the FIFA Interactive World Cup Event for South Africa. He also went on to head up the Football For Hope Program, Alexandra at the FIFA World Cup 2010.
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With their mischievous rock sound, Lonehill Estate shows are riddled with humorous anecdotes and eye-twitchingly good music. The band has achieved much in recent years.
Lonehill Estate (Nathan Ro, David Waugh, Sunshine D and Mark van den Berg) is one of the top live performing bands in South Africa.
With their mischievous rock sound, their shows are riddled with humorous anecdotes and eye-twitchingly good music. The band has achieved much in recent years.
The band burst onto radio in 2005 with hit singles “Girl On A Roof” and “Skyward” dominating the airwaves.
The band did however get to perform alongside Muse, Korn, Good Charlotte and 30 Seconds to Mars at the 2008 My Coke Fest that same year.)
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