THE first phase of an ambitious new public transport system for Nelson Mandela Bay was launched yesterday with the opening of bus-dedicated lanes from Govan Mbeki Avenue to Kempston Road.

The launch of the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS) – a prerequisite for the World Cup – was held at the Mfanasekhaya Gqobose (former Eric Tindale) Building near the Russell Road start of the bus and taxi lane system.

It was attended by Nelson Mandela Bay Deputy Mayor Nancy Sihlwayi, acting municipal manager Elias Ntoba and Eastern Cape Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC Ghishma Barry, among other dignitaries.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Taxi Forum’s Albert Camphor and municipal acting public transport officer Keith Mitchell also attended the occasion.

To read more on the IPTS visit: http://www.ectransport.gov.za/?p=1883

Intengu Communications has been assisting the Border Rugby Union for the past couple of months with the event management and ticket sales for the upcoming Vodacom Incoming Tour test match between the Springboks and the Azzurri (Italy), which will take place on Saturday 26 June 2010.

Our PR Manager Jolene Philip has been working at the Stadium to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and the entire Intengu team will be there on the day to provide support, and of course to cheer our boys on!

If you don’t have your tickets yet, they are available from the Buffalo City Stadium.

Intengu is currently producing a promotional DVD for the programme, to make people aware of the programme and what it offers, to show them how it works, to encourage them to register and to show them how they can use these technologies to improve their lives.

Read more about Connect with Cacadu here: http://www.tradeandinvestcacadu.co.za/index.php/innovateedu

Not only did they finish this gruelling race, but Francois and Markus raised funds and awareness for the Fred Hollows Foundation South Africa – a development organisation that focuses on blindness prevention. FHFSA General Manager Mary Hlalele says that people really rallied around the runners, and that many people had their eyes tested at the FHFSA stand at the Comrades Expo.

Intengu assisted FHFSA with publicity for Francois and Markus’s participation by preparing a press release and producing flyers, posters, t-shirts and a retractable banner.

Read the press release here: http://www.prlog.org/10679299-running-for-vision-blind-runner-raises-funds-for-fred-hollows-foundation-south-africa.html

To find out more about the Fred Hollows Foundation South Africa, visit their website: www.hollows.co.za

Visit Markus’s website here: www.run4vision.com

Intengu recently produced a Pass Guide for Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism, a cutting-edge marketing tool for the city, consisting of discount vouchers and special offers to a variety of attractions, including activities and sightseeing, wildlife and nature, cultural and museums, dining and restaurants and transport in and around Nelson Mandela Bay.

According to designer Melissa Meyer it’s more than just a collection of special offers; it also contains a wealth of information on the various attractions, as well as contact information. “It’s all the information a visitor needs in one neat little package,” she says.

Melissa tried to capture the excitement for the World Cup™, and the slogan, “Feel it, it is here!” in her design. “The design captures a feeling of energy and excitement, and to do this I used splashes of vibrant colours,” she says.

We hope the Pass Guide instils the same sense of excitement in the visitors to the city!

Visit Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism at: www.nmbt.co.za

According to Lyndon, the Tourism Indaba this year was “soccer mad,” and definitely geared towards the World Cup. Lyndon says the Host Cities went “all out” with their stand designs this year, and that this really created a “fantastic vibe” and set a very positive tone for the tourism industry as a whole.

Intengu Communications attended the Indaba for two reasons: firstly, to erect stands for two of our most prominent clients, and secondly to see what is happening in tourism marketing and advertising, not just in the Eastern Cape, but in Africa in general.

Tourism in South Africa is a massive income generating industry, and Lyndon says to see how the best hotels from around South Africa market themselves was a real treat, as no expense was spared ahead of South Africa hosting the world’s biggest sporting event!

To learn more about the Tourism Indaba 2010, visit: http://www.indaba-southafrica.co.za/

Shaakira is originally from Durban, but has been living in Port Elizabeth for the past three years. She the eldest of three sisters, and is married.

After matric, based on her results, she was awarded a scholarship from a radio station.  She decided to study a Bachelor of Social Science in Media and Communication at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Shaakira is currently working towards an Honours degree in Organisational Communications, Public Relations and Marketing through UNISA.

Shaakira reports that Intengu already feels like a “home away from home,” and that the people she works with are “great.”

According to Shaakira, her future at Intengu looks “chirpy!”

It is the longest holiday after Christmas for most of us, and the time when many South Africans travel to see friends and family that live far away.

It is also the time for the Rand Easter Show, the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) and the Zion Christian Church’s Easter Festival.

Whether you are travelling to Johannesburg, Oudtshoorn, Moria or anywhere else in our beautiful country, we at Intengu would like to wish you a safe and happy journey and weekend. And if you’re staying put, good for you! We love it here too!

Intengu has been buzzing with activity during the past month, as you will see from this edition of the Chirp, so this will be a well-deserved break. Easter is considered to be a time of new life, as symbolised by Easter eggs, so our hope is to return from the weekend full of new life and a renewed passion for what we do!

Enjoy the break!

Best wishes,

Celia and the Intengu Team

The event was held on Friday 26 February at the Regent Hotel’s International Convention Centre and 360 guests attended the event. The Premier of the Province, Noxolo Kiviet, was the guest of honour at this event ably assisted by the MEC for Sport, Recreation Arts and Culture, Xoliswa Tom.

On arrival, guests enjoyed a welcome drink, and had the opportunity to have their photograph taken. The venue was decorated in a sport theme, and guests were entertained by the Urban Connection jazz band and MCs Putco Mafani and Marlene Ewers. Award recipients literally walked the red carpet to the stage, which was lit up with fairy lights.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

• Sport Star of the Year
• Sportsman of the Year
• Sportswoman of the Year
• Sport Team of the Year
• Disabled Sportsman of the Year
• Disabled Sportswoman of the Year
• Disabled Sport Team of the Year
• Personality of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Technical Official of the Year
• Journalist of the Year
• Presenter of the Year
• Special Awards
• Recreation Awards

The Sport Star of the Year was awarded to Mark Boucher for his outstanding achievements in cricket during the year. He was also named the Sportsman of the Year.

The Sportswoman of the Year was awarded to Cindy Schwulst who was the World Gold Medallist at the 2009 World Biathlon Championships in Monte Carlo.

Lyndon says that his trip got off to a bad start with his plane in Johannesburg not taking off due to engine failure, which caused further delays in both Frankfurt and Nice. After having had hardly any sleep for two days, he arrived at his hotel in Monaco with only five hours to spare until the award ceremony started!

Lyndon was hosted at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel, where the event was being held. Here he was “spoilt with luxury”, the likes of which he says he’ll probably never see again in his lifetime. He said that going from 38 degrees in Johannesburg to – 12 degrees in Frankfurt was quite a shock to the system, but that he nevertheless enjoyed playing in the snow at 2 am in the morning.

Lyndon says that powerboat racing is a “very big deal” in Europe and the United Arab Emirates, and that the drivers are “treated like rock stars.” With big sponsors and a massive following, Lyndon says that drivers in these countries “get paid big money to do what they love most.”

According to Lyndon, the awards dinner was “spectacular,” with video footage being shown of every champion as he or she walked up to accept his or her trophy. H e added that meeting other powerboat racers from 22 nations around the world was “amazing.”

After his stay in Monaco, Lyndon visited Nice on the French Coast, where he managed to do some sightseeing of old Nice and get a bit of shopping done. Lyndon claims that he is much more fashion conscious now after seeing how the French dress.

MD Celia says that “we are all very proud of our world champion” and we are all look forward to him adding a little “je ne sais quoi” to his work wardrobe!