Africans should stop living in the past and embrace the opportunities of the modern Africa, a modern Africa that comes with strong industrial drives, entrepreneur support and mega-cities, according to UCT alumnus and television anchor Lerato Mbele.

During her talk, Raising the Bar on Africa, delivered at the UCT Alumni Leadership Forum in Durban recently, Mbele claimed that foreigners still see Africa as the "sun, sea and safari continent" because of its natural beauty, climate and affordability. "However, the situation for people in Africa is far from rosy, and the reality is that the people of the continent suffer at the hands of unscrupulous governments and foreign agencies."

Mbele suggested that South Africa should concentrate on education and skills development, local investment, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and creating a supportive infrastructure.

"The benchmark should be the world, but focus should stay on Africa."

Mbele called on the media to assist people to understand the continent better by telling the African story in well-written and well-researched journalism.