Pietermaritzburg, 17 June 2025 – In a commendable move towards promoting eco-consciousness among the youth, Liberty Midlands Mall has officially launched the ARTopia School Arts Project — a dynamic, environmentally themed visual arts initiative for primary school learners in Pietermaritzburg. This year’s edition, aptly titled “Sustainable Strokes,” invites students from Grades 1 to 7 to express their views on pressing environmental topics through original, creative artworks.

The initiative fuses artistic expression with environmental awareness, offering learners an engaging platform to interpret sustainability, climate change, conservation, and renewable energy through their own creative lenses.

A Creative Platform With A Purpose

The ARTopia School Arts Project isn’t merely a contest; it’s a vehicle for environmental education and creative expression. Participating students are required to use recycled paper and eco-friendly materials to craft original pieces of art that confront issues like recycling, the impact of climate change, conservation efforts, and the prospects of a sustainable future.

With a total of R30,000 in cash prizes up for grabs—split into R10,000 per winning school—and additional prizes planned, the stakes are high. The competition aims not just to reward artistic merit but to embed sustainable values in young minds in an imaginative and lasting manner.

Key Campaign Phases

Phase 1 – Artwork Creation (Now until 27 June 2025):
Participating learners, from Grade 1 through Grade 7, are currently creating artworks using recycled materials, with submissions closing on 27 June 2025.

Phase 2 – Public Exhibition (1–14 July 2025):
A curated selection of artworks—up to 15 per category from each participating school—will be showcased at Liberty Midlands Mall. Visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite pieces, engaging the community in this youth-led conversation on sustainability.

Phase 3 – Winners Announced:
Winning entries, as determined by public vote, will be featured on limited-edition canvas tote bags—a collectable nod to eco-conscious living. These will be distributed at Liberty Midlands Mall, ensuring young artists see their work translated into functional, meaningful keepsakes.

Building Tomorrow’s Thought Leaders

Lawrence Joubert, General Manager at Liberty Midlands Mall, stated, “The ARTopia School Arts Project offers learners a platform to showcase their creativity while engaging deeply with the concept of sustainability. We’re eager to witness the powerful messages these young artists will convey through their work and to celebrate their talent through our public exhibition. This is one of many ways we strive to support impactful, community-driven initiatives in the Midlands.”

Key Dates To Remember:

• Final artwork submissions: by 27 June 2025

• ARTopia Exhibition: 1–14 July 2025

For more information on how to participate, contact Ronael Seyambu at Ronael.Seyambu@epsgroup.co.za. Learn more about Liberty Midlands Mall and its community initiatives via www.midlandsmall.co.za or follow @libertymidlandsmall on social media.

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Cape Town, South Africa – [June 2025] — Volvo Car South Africa is proud to announce an exciting new ambassadorship with award-winning musician and sustainability advocate Jules Harding, lead vocalist of the popular electronic duo GoodLuck. This collaboration sees the band sliding behind the wheel of the EX30, Volvo’s compact and sustainable, fully electric SUV.

 

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Jules Harding, known not only for her chart-topping music but also for her passion for eco-conscious living and innovation, will be the face of Volvo’s movement towards a more sustainable future. The EX30 represents a bold step in that direction, engineered to reduce environmental impact without compromising on performance, safety, or style.

“Partnering with Volvo South Africa, a brand that aligns so closely with my values around sustainability and innovation, just feels right. As new parents, safety is also of super importance to Ben and me,” said Harding. “The EX30 is more than just a car—it’s a statement about where we’re going as a planet and as a society.”

The Volvo EX30 is designed for the next generation of drivers: it’s fully electric, tech-forward, and produced with a smaller carbon footprint than any Volvo car before. With high-end features in a compact, urban-friendly package, it embodies Volvo’s commitment to electrification and smarter mobility.

“We are thrilled to welcome GoodLuck’s Jules Harding into the Volvo family,” says Felipe Yagi, Head of Marketing & Communications at Volvo Car South Africa. “Her voice and her vision resonate with a growing audience who care about the future of the planet, and that’s exactly what the EX30 stands for.”

This ambassadorship will see Harding driving the new EX30 across South Africa while amplifying messages around sustainable living, electric mobility, and the transformative power of music and technology.

As part of the partnership, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, road trip stories, and green lifestyle insights will be shared across both GoodLuck and Volvo’s digital platforms. As one of South Africa’s busiest touring bands, travel is a major necessity and constant part of the band’s tour life, innovating this element with electric vehicles amplifies their commitment to fossil fuel reduction and mindset change.

This partnership represents more than just a vehicle; it’s about driving change, powered by clean energy, creativity, and conscious choices.

How sustainably focused are GoodLuck as a band?

As of December 2022, GoodLuck and South Africa’s Versofy SOLAR joined forces to create a powered partnership for an electronic band that cannot function without a stable power connection – whether creating popular music, authentic content or taking it easy after a week’s full lineup of live shows across the country.

Versofy SOLAR’s innovative and accessible solar rental service provides the band with an uninterrupted solar power supply all day and night in a country plagued by load shedding. In this evergreen partnership, Versofy SOLAR provides GoodLuck with the relevant solar systems for GoodLuck HQ and GoodLuck’s home away from home in the Cape’s Southern Suburbs. This partnership, coupled with Volvo South Africa’s ambassadorship and its EX30, will allow GoodLuck to travel and tour the country, quite literally, from the power of the sun.

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In the past 12 months alone, over 20,783 square meters of retail space has been let, while leases for more than 150 existing tenants have been renewed — a clear indicator of strategic tenant retention and demand-driven leasing activity. This forward-looking leasing strategy responds directly to the needs of an upwardly mobile clientele, bringing in convenient, on-trend retail and leisure options.

Among the most celebrated developments is the return of Spur, one of South Africa’s most iconic family dining brands. After nearly a decade-long absence, the beloved restaurant has been warmly welcomed back by the community. Its comeback signals a renewed focus on home-grown, family-centric experiences within the mall.

New retail additions include major names like Huawei, Levisons, Mochachos, Pet Shop Science, and local lifestyle brand ZuluZenith. Financial services brands African Bank and Travelex have repositioned to more shopper-friendly areas, while several new entrants are currently outfitting their stores in anticipation of their Fourways Mall debut.

Evolving Lifestyle And Entertainment Offerings

A standout attraction under development is the refurbishment of the mall’s famed aeroplane installation — a project long-anticipated by regulars. Once unveiled, this feature is expected to draw significant foot traffic and become a defining experiential landmark.

Further reinforcing its positioning as a lifestyle destination, the mall has launched Match Padel, offering eight rooftop courts, a café and panoramic views of the West Rand. This aligns with Johannesburg’s growing appetite for social, accessible sports. Complementary wellness additions like High Performance Training (a Hyrox-affiliated studio), Beauty on Tapp, The Fitz, and Wellness Warehouse expand the health and fitness portfolio for increasingly health-conscious shoppers.

Additional entertainment hubs, including Total Ninja, Urban Playground, Planet Fitness, and Bloc 11, are scheduled to open in the coming months, extending Fourways Mall’s appeal to a diverse, multi-generational audience hungry for experiential leisure spaces.

Sustainable Infrastructure And Enhanced Visitor Experience

Environmental responsibility remains a priority, with work underway on a large-scale solar power installation that will blanket an entire section of the mall’s rooftop with solar panels. This initiative will significantly reduce the centre’s environmental footprint while supporting energy resilience.

Recent upgrades have also improved the visitor experience: enhanced signage, intuitive wayfinding, brighter lighting, a revamped e-hailing drop zone, and an upgraded parking management system have collectively elevated convenience and security.

“The strong performance of our new tenants confirms that our leasing strategy is on the right track, and we are delighted to have made significant improvements in the overall shopper experience,” said Juan Palm, Fourways Mall Centre Manager. “We’re committed to improving the quality of life for everyone who visits our mall by housing greater variety, joyful experiences and access to the brands and services they know, love and need,” he added.

A Retail Hub Reinventing Its Role

The mall’s continued leasing momentum, investment in renewable energy, and revitalised tenant mix showcase a business model that’s both commercially astute and deeply in touch with its community. Fourways Mall is decisively positioning itself as Johannesburg’s leading retail and lifestyle destination — a place where convenience, entertainment, wellness, and family-friendly spaces converge.

For updates on store openings, trading hours, and events, visit Fourways Mall online or follow @fourways_mall on social media.

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Johannesburg, 13 March 2025: Melrose Arch, Johannesburg’s most celebrated mixed-use precinct, continues to champion positive change through its commitment to community support and sustainability. Throughout the past year, the precinct, which is owned by the Amdec Group, has actively contributed to various charitable organisations and initiatives, demonstrating its dedication to actively creating positive, long-lasting change. The precinct’s focus is on change that benefits both society and the environment by implementing practices that minimise harm to the planet and promote social equity, responsible consumption, waste reduction, renewable energy utilisation and the incorporation of ethical business models.

Khanyi Moyo, marketing manager at Melrose Arch, emphasises the importance of this commitment: “Supporting and uplifting our community is not just something we do. It is an integral part of who we are as precincts. We’ve created a sustainable corporate social investment ecosystem that curates and supports community-driven initiatives and events, allows Melrose Arch to contribute to a greater good, and fosters a sense of purpose and connection while providing essential goods and services that cater to specific societal needs, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all. Our corporate social investment initiatives are driven by a sincere desire to uplift and empower, and we are committed to continuing this perspective in the year ahead.”

Corporate social investment

In 2024, Melrose Arch championed and sponsored several CSI campaigns and provided financial and material support to numerous beneficiaries, all making a tangible difference in their communities. Funds raised at the precinct’s popular Carols on the Piazza concert were channelled to two beneficiaries who each received R54 353. These were the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind, whose donation supports their work of improving mobility and independence for individuals with visual, physical, or developmental needs, and Cornelle Leach, who is undergoing electro-stimulation therapy to restore her vision.

Community upliftment remained a priority, with support extended to organisations such as the Childhood Roads Institute, which received Disney plush toys, buckets of nutrition from SA Harvest, linen sponsored by the Marriott Hotel Johannesburg, and complimentary activation space for a gender-based violence (GBV) awareness initiative valued at R160 000. The Lighthouse Baby Shelter, a refuge for abandoned and neglected children, was given 50 Disney plush toys, while the Look Forward Creativity Shelter received R9 000 worth of stationery to aid in their developmental programs.

Melrose Arch also supported Compass, a non-profit initiative that provides shelter and care for abused and abandoned women and children. Donations included linen sponsored by Marriott Hotel Johannesburg and 100 buckets of nutrition from SA Harvest valued at R50,000 to assist those in need. The Changing Lives Charity Organisation, focused on early childhood development and youth empowerment, was provided with sanitary pads, tampons, and wipes valued at R24 000 for the year. The Community Police Forum (CPF) received several Disney plush toys to support their community initiatives. These particular toys will be allocated to victim support at Norwood SAPS and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit so that each child who has suffered distress is given a toy to help them process their emotional trauma.

Leadership in sustainability

Melrose Arch’s dedication to social upliftment builds on its ethos of responsible corporate citizenship. The precinct operates with a focus on environmental stewardship, incorporating several initiatives designed to minimise its environmental impact. A 7 811-panel, 3.2 MB solar system helps to generate renewable energy, while a potable water system and water cooling plant optimise resource efficiency. On-site waste sorting ensures that recyclable materials are managed responsibly, and the presence of 700 trees and green spaces enhances urban biodiversity while contributing to cleaner air in Johannesburg.

Additionally, Melrose Arch’s innovative and underground super basement, which connects all areas of the precinct, reduces traffic congestion and contributes to lower ambient air pollution levels above ground, making it a cleaner and more efficient space for businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

Melrose Arch continues to demonstrate its dedication to both community upliftment and environmental sustainability. As it looks ahead, the precinct remains committed to its role as a responsible corporate citizen, actively contributing to a stronger, more sustainable South Africa.

For more details and regular updates, visit https://melrosearch.co.za/ or follow @melrosearch on social media.

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