Download - PSM 2015 May Edition

MAY 2015

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R29.95 (VAT INCL) SOUTH AFRICA

Zero toleranceGetting tough on fraud and corruption

Lifestyle:• How to deal with

hypertension• Mother’s Day gift

ideas

Energy injectionMinister Tina Joemat-Pettersson reflects on energy boosting initiatives High hopes

Researcher Phuti Chelopo tackles TB

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Contents May 2015

Regulars

10 Conversations with leaders Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown on how

government plans to deal with the country’s energy constraints

14 Conversations with leaders Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson details government’s

energy ambitions

20 Profiles in leadership SAQA CEO Joe Samuels on building and maintaining the

organisation’s good reputation

24 Vital stats Fast facts at your fingertips

25 Upcoming events A look at local and international events for your diary

and information

26 Women in the Public Sector Gauteng Department of Finance’s Hester Hattingh has

the tough job of managing and responding to injury on duty claims on a daily basis

28 Trailblazer Young researcher Phuti Chelopo is on the hunt for a TB

breakthrough

32 In other news News you need to know when you are on the go

40 International relations SA and Zim cement relations following President Robert

Mugabe’s first state visit since 1994

Public Sector ManagerTHE MAGAZINE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR DECISION-MAKERS

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Public Sector Manager • May 2015

Features

Lifestyle80 Food and wine Winter warmers with chef Reuben Riffel

82 Health and well-being Hypertension: The silent killer

84 Travel Cape of good times – exploring the beauty of the

Western Cape

88 Grooming and style Retro rewind: Jumpsuit(ed) and ready to go

90 Car reviews The wonderful world of all-wheel drives

94 Defensive: Anticipating danger How improved observation skills can make you a better

driver

96 Nice-to-haves How improved observation skills can make you a better

driver

64 Opinion Minister Jeff Radebe talks about the calibre of public

servants needed in SA 66 Opinion Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa reflects on the

role played by artists in the African Renaissance

70 Opinion Deputy Minister in The Presidency Buti Manamela on

changing the face of SA’s economy

72 Opinion It’s self-assessment time for SA as the country prepares

for the African Peer Review Mechanism Review

34 Free State in the spotlight Unpacking the good story that the Free State province

has to tell

44 Ensuring small business becomes big business Minister Lindiwe Zulu says private and public

partnerships can boost support for small businesses.

48 Local government’s good story SALGA’s recent National Members Assembly was a time

to reflect on progress so far and improvements needed

52 Black industrialists key to economic growth Government has set a target of developing 100 black

industrialists to achieve economic transformation

54 Tough stance on fraud and corruption The South African Social Security Agency is determined

to protect social grants meant for the poor and vulnerable

56 Full steam ahead for infrastructure projects The South African Social Security Agency is determined

to protect social grants meant for the poor and vulnerable

60 DNA Act to tighten net on criminals The DNA Act will ensure that criminals have no place to

hide

42 Provincial focus Limpopo Finance MEC Alfred Phala on maintaining the

financial stability of the province

76 Financial fitness Protect your money from scam artists

78 Public Sector appointments We take a look at who is new on Persal

79 Book reviews Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa wants to promote the

culture of reading in SA

40

84


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12199

MAKING

MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

Workers’ rights are human rights

Each year on 1 May we celebrate Workers’ Day. As with other

national days, Workers’ Day owes its significance to our shared

history of exclusion and our fight for universal rights.

Workers’ Day presents an opportunity to remember all those who

fought tirelessly for the rights that workers enjoy today. Just 21 years

ago, workers in South Africa were subjected to merciless exploitation

and enjoyed almost no rights.

Today, workers’ rights are enshrined in the Constitution. They include

the right to fair labour practice; the right to form and join trade unions,

strike and picket; and the right to collective bargaining.

Undoubtedly there are some who feel that the pendulum has swung

too far in the favour of workers. There are those who decry workers’

rights, claiming that they hurt productivity, business and industry.

This is their right and our democratic space allows people to argue

as such. However, should we forget our recent past we risk repeating

the same mistakes. The majority of people in our nation form part of

the working class, and we dare not allow those who

toil to move South Africa forward to be subjected to

exploitation.

Our democracy will never be successful if the plight

of the working class, whether they are employed or

unemployed, is not attended to.

The workers are the people who build our roads,

bridges and power stations. Daily, they don their over-

alls and gumboots and go into the mines. They steer

our trains, deliver our mail and work in factories. They

get up at the crack of dawn, come rain or shine, to

plough the lands. These men and women are the foot

soldiers of our economy. Our economy is built on the

back of workers.

However, these very same workers are often exploit-

ed; therefore government is determined to ensure that

the rights of workers are protected.

At the most basic level it is also true that workers’

rights are human rights. Just as we cherish the right to

life, right to freedom of speech and our right to vote,

we must protect and enhance workers’ rights.

It is my view that there does not need to be a contes-

tation between the rights of workers and the impera-

tives of business and industry. The simple fact remains

that neither can flourish without the other.

When the global economic crisis hit in 2008/09 it

resulted in millions of lost jobs worldwide and saw the

closure of businesses and industries. South Africa was

not spared and we too lost jobs. However, due to sound

fiscal policies and a robust economy we bounced back

and largely weathered the storm.

A deeper look at our underlying recovery would no

doubt point to sacrifices by both labour and business

for the greater good of our nation and economy. Even

though the world has moved away from the abyss of

2008/09, the economy remains fragile to this day.

Now, more than ever, there is a need for greater


synergy between business and labour. In these

tough economic times innovative and new

thinking is called for - be it profit share between

business and their workers, or an increase in

incentives.

What we cannot afford is a continuing of

hardened positions with neither side willing

to budge. Such actions will only hurt business

and workers, and ultimately our economy.

In the coming months labour and business

will meet over salary negotiations. All indica-

tions are that these discussions will be both

frank and robust. Negotiators on both sides will

no doubt push for the best possible deals. How-

ever, at the end of the day, whatever is decided

on must be to the benefit of workers and our

economy.

Government trusts that these negotiations

will unfold in a constructive manner and that

if workers do ultimately decide to exercise their

right to strike, they do so within the confines of the law.

The many rights enshrined in our Constitution and

our laws must be tempered by responsibilities. In the

end, whatever we do must be for the greater benefit

of society. When strikes turn violent they negate the

important fights for better pay and better working

conditions.

Twenty-one years after the dawn of democracy we are

still grappling with the crippling legacy of apartheid,

which manifests most notably in the triple scourge of

poverty, unemployment and inequality. The only way

to overcome this legacy is by creating more jobs and

businesses. This will ultimately grow our economy and

move South Africa forward.

Those who decry workers’ rights often conveniently

forget about the debilitating legacy of apartheid spa-

tial planning. Most people live far from their places of

work, and many people rely on public transport. It is

not unusual for workers to get up at 3am just to be

able to get to their places of work on time. Often, such

workers will have to use two or three different forms of

public transport just to get to work.

This is a daily reality for millions. Many within our so-

ciety toil daily to put food on the table and often do

so at great personal or family expense. Many, no doubt, commit

an extraordinary amount of time and energy to their employers.

It is easy to forget that without protection for workers the very

people who have to sacrifice everything just to work would be

vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

We must therefore celebrate and cherish workers’ rights and

other advances made since 1994. In the reply to the State of the

Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma spoke about the new la-

bour laws or amendments that were coming into effect this year.

“In terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the

Labour Relations Acts as amended, all workers will be employed

permanently. Temporary work contracts will not exceed three

months,” he said.

President Zuma also indicated that Deputy President Cyril

Ramaphosa would continue to lead the NEDLAC dialogue relat-

ing to a national minimum wage.

Along with ensuring workers’ rights, we are determined to lay

the groundwork for a flourishing economy that can create jobs.

This will be done by addressing the bottlenecks in the economy

and implementing the National Development Plan. There are also

plans in place to unlock the ocean and green economies.

Join government this Workers’ Month in commemorating the

massive strides we have made as a country. The backbone of our

economy is workers so let us celebrate living in a nation where

workers’ rights are human rights.

Public Sector Manager • May 2015 7

Acting Director-General Donald Liphoko.

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL

On 25 May people across our continent will be marking

Africa Day 2015. It is a very significant date because

it commemorates the establishment of a pan-African

institution, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which later

became the African Union (AU).

The OAU was established in 1963 in the aftermath of African

nations’ lengthy struggle to be free from colonialism. The first

country south of the Sahara to taste freedom was Ghana, in

1957. This sparked a wave of resistance to colonialism, with other

African countries also taking up the struggle against their co-

lonial rulers.

Having been in the vanguard for freedom, Ghana convened

the first Conference of Independent African States in 1958. Ethio-

pia, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia were among the

countries at the conference. The conference signalled Africa’s

objection to colonial rule.

Along with the OAU, African countries established the African

Economic Community (AEC).

The AEC’s goals were the establishment of free trade areas,

customs unions, a single market, a central bank and common

currency. The AEC has various pillars of economic community,

which include the Southern African Customs Union and South-

ern African Development Community. South

Africa is a member of both organisa-

tions.

The OAU was disbanded in

2002. In its place arose the AU,

which was launched in South

Africa in 2002. The AEC is still

in place, pursuing mutual eco-

nomic development among

most African states.

South Africa will host the next

AU summit, the 25th African Union

assembly, in Johannesburg, this year.

The AU’s theme for 2015 is “Year of

Empowerment and Devel-

opment towards Africa’s

Agenda 2063”.

South Africa’s ties to

the AU are strong - former Minister of Home Affairs

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma became the AU’s first female

chairperson in 2012. In addition, South Africa’s Professor

Salim Abdool Karim, director of the Centre for the AIDS

Programme of Research in South Africa, received the

AU’s Kwame Nkrumah Continental Scientific award in

the Life and Earth Sciences category.

Africa may be rid of colonists and imperialists but we

are not free of poverty, unemployment, food insecurity

and health risks such as HIV and AIDS, malaria, Ebola,

tuberculosis and yellow fever, among others.

In addition, economic colonisers have an eye on Afri-

ca’s rich store of natural resources, such as irreplaceable

rainforest trees and diverse minerals. Our commercial

and subsistence farmers are feeling the effects of cli-

mate change. We are fighting a new form of oppression,

fighting for freedom from a complex range of factors

inhibiting our socio-economic development and suc-

cess in the global arena.

Where does South Africa fit in? We are committed to

fighting the challenge of unemployment, poverty and

inequality. As public servants we have a responsibility

to use our positions to help South Africa face up to and

beat the triple challenge.

We have the ability to contribute to endowing South

Africa and indeed Africa with a generation of edu-

cated and insightful thinkers and innovators. People

of Africa, taught and trained to apply their hearts

and minds to finding home-grown solutions to

the challenges that Africa faces and to realise the

goals of the AU.

These include unity, solidarity and political and

socio-economic integration, sustainable economic,

social and cultural development, advancing

development by promoting research

and collaborating with one an-

other, and experts beyond

Africa, to rid our conti-

nent of diseases that

can be prevented.

Celebrating Africa


CONvERSATIONS wITH THE LEADERSWriter: Amukelani Chauke

Minister Lynne Brown looks forward to brighter days

Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown has had her

hands full in recent months, with the challenges at

Eskom and the country’s electricity supply keeping

her on her toes.

Despite the tough times and occasional darkness, the

Minister believes there are brighter days ahead, especially

with the war room established by Cabinet.

The war room, headed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and

comprising government Ministers and Eskom officials, was formed

to accelerate solutions and keep the nation abreast as load-shedding

was rolled out to ease the pressure off the power grid.

The war room was also tasked to come up with short, medium- to

long-term solutions to stabilise the power utility.

In an interview with PSM at her offices in Parliament in Cape Town,

Minister Brown said the war room had been busy.

“There is much progress that the war room has made. My role is as

the Minister, responsible for Eskom. We still have line function respon-

sibilities and I still have to be responsible for my line function, Eskom.

“If, for example, an instruction has to be given to Eskom, I still have

to do so and we still have oversight over Eskom. The issue that we

are trying to deal with in the war room is electricity supply and much

has been done,” she said.

The Minister also added that progress had been made in imple-

menting the five-point plan aimed at dealing with energy constraints.

Essentially, the five-point plan is aimed at presenting government’s

response to Eskom’s immediate and short-term interventions to limit

the risk of load-shedding, in a manner that also ensures that Eskom

is able to play a strategic role in the developmental state despite its

constrained capacity to do so over the next three years.

One of the immediate measures was for the war room to urgently

look at the maintenance of key power plants to boost their opera-

tional efficiency from 72 per cent to 80 per cent.

Government was also to get a detailed plan from Es-

kom on how it would manage its cash flow in order to

finalise a funding model to ensure the future sustain-

ability of the power utility.

Also as part of the five-point plan, the war room was

tasked to look at cogeneration capacity and ensuring

that existing power-purchase agreements are renewed

to restore some 1 390 megawatts (MW) of power that

is being supplied to the grid.

The war room also needed to work with the Depart-

ment of Energy to go into the market and procure ad-

ditional capacity onto the grid.

It also needed to act to enable Eskom to put in place

additional cogeneration contracts with municipalities,

which have power stations, that can augment the grid.

Gas was also to be sourced to generate electricity of

between 500 MW to 2 000 MW in the short- to medium-

term.

“From the five-point plan, you can see that on the

first point, to stabilise Eskom, the President has an-

nounced a cash injection of R23 billion … and on the

other hand, it is to ensure that Eskom runs itself,” ex-

plained the Minister.


Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown.

It was during his State of the Nation Address that

President Jacob Zuma announced the R23 billion cash

injection, which National Treasury later announced had

been raised through the sale of non-core state assets,

a transaction that the Minister of Finance will make

public at an appropriate time.

“In cogeneration, independent power producers

(IPPs), all of the medium- to long-term processes, are

coming on track now.”

She said in December, the Department of Energy had

put out a list of all the requests for proposals on co-

generation, coal IPPs and gas. “That happened easily,

amicably and smartly because it is right there in the war

room. So I think the war room has been quite successful

in how we want to take the process forward,” she said.

To date, the Department of Energy has entered into

contracts with IPPs to provide peaking plant power of

1 000 MW, which is currently being built.

It has so far managed four procurement processes

for renewable energy projects by the private sector,

which has resulted in contracts being entered into for

3 900 MW of power, with more than 1 500 MW already

on the grid.

Plans are being developed to convert Eskom’s existing

diesel-powered open cycle turbines to gas.

Maintenance of power plantsAt The New Age business briefing, President Zuma an-

nounced that he would soon instruct government to

look at the maintenance of power plants, and assess the

performance of managers and engineers at that level.

This is something the Minister also prioritised. She

said the war room led a process of ensuring that Eskom

immediately implemented maintenance schedules.

“Eskom has carried out emergency repairs at the Ma-

juba Power Station. Majuba is now able to provide full

power in the morning and evening peaks and an aver-

age of 85 per cent power during the day.”

When the Deputy President recently appeared before

the National Council of Provinces and the National As-

sembly to answer questions for oral reply, he said much

progress had been made at war room level to carry out

maintenance at power plants.

“These include adherence to planned maintenance

schedules and the deployment of senior managers to power

stations. Synchronisation of the first unit of the Medupi Power

Station to the grid successfully started in February. Barring any

unexpected delays, it is due to provide full power to the grid

by the middle of the year.”

Deputy President Ramaphosa said there was light at the end

of the tunnel and that in a bid to reduce electricity demand,

the Department of Energy would soon announce the awarding

of incentives or subsidies for successful demand side manage-

ment proposals that would include solar water heating and the

replacement of light bulbs and geysers.

Minister Brown told PSM that the maintenance of power plants

was essential to ensure their smooth running, even during

scheduled maintenance.

She said the main problem was not that Eskom did not have

enough generating capacity, pointing out that when all power

stations are up and running at the same time, the country has

much more electricity than the very highest level of demand

in any year.

“To put that into numbers, we have about 15 per cent more

than we need now. Technically this is referred to as the ‘reserve

margin’ and, globally, 15 per cent is considered to be an ac-

ceptable level.

“If we just had planned maintenance – and warned people of

planned maintenance in advance – we would never need to

load shed more than once,” she said.

Consumers urged to use energy sparinglyWhile the war room finalises incentives for demand manage-

ment, the Minister said citizens also needed to play their role

“to ensure that pressure is eased off the power grid.”

She said the challenge was consumption by upper-middle-

class consumers who leave non-essential appliances on when

they are not in use.

“We use more lighting – we use outside and inside lighting;

we use underfloor heating. All these things we need to stop.

“If you are not in your bedroom, you don’t have to leave the

TV on there. Switch off electricity where you are not using it.

People with pools need to switch off pool pumps when the

pool is not in use.

“People with heaters, change to gas heaters. Poor people make

a fire in a tin and bring it into the house. It is important to use

electricity sparingly because it actually saves them money and

it saves us,” she urged. >>


Eskom board decisions, suspensionsIn March, senior executives at Eskom were suspended to allow

for an inquiry into the company’s operations and the chairper-

son of the board also stepped down.

Minister Brown welcomed the board’s decision to suspend

the executives, saying she had been concerned about the in-

stability of power plants, the utility’s financial liquidity and the

lack of credible information from Eskom.

“I welcome the board’s decision to launch a comprehensive

and holistic audit into the matters as highlighted.

“In my view it should be deeper than a mere fact-finding

exercise and it should deep-dive into the company to tell us

what is wrong and how it should be fixed.”

Recently Brian Molefe was appointed as Eskom's acting CEO.

How the Minister maintains her energy levels While she is tasked with ensuring that Eskom’s power plants

are well maintained, the Minister also has to take several meas-

ures to maintain her own system.

This is necessary for her to work towards solutions in what

can be a stressful energy environment.

“I have to work in calmness, so I have to create the calmness.

I have a very small yard that I sit in early in the morning.”

She also said going home to a 10-year-old and 12-year-old

gives her the much-needed balance in her life.

“But generally, I try to eat properly, take my vitamins, drink

enough water during the day just so that I am able to sustain

myself in a day.

“I try to take a weekend off every now and then, at least after

eight weeks, to make sure that two days in those eight weeks

I have down time because I think you have to find a happy

balance. I meditate, I read a lot, I try to go to the theatre as

much as I can and I try to watch the kids playing soccer and

swim – they are keen sports people,” she shared.

Skills development, job creationOn the back of making billions of rand in profits last

year, state-owned companies like Eskom and Transnet

have played key roles in skills development and job

creation through the New Build Programme.

The Department of Public Enterprises recently up-

dated its parliamentary portfolio committee on the

progress made through the New Build Programme.

Makgola Makololo, the department’s Chief Director

responsible for Energy, said Eskom had contributed

to its developmental mandate by creating direct and

indirect jobs.

While the direct jobs have been created within the

power utility’s business environment, the indirect

jobs have come from contractors servicing Eskom,

especially through the build projects.

“Over the past three financial years, Eskom suppliers

have committed to creating 7 000 jobs and retaining

700 jobs when they are awarded a contract.

“As a direct result of Eskom business in the new build

projects, there were 24 251 jobs created by suppli-

ers in the Medupi, Kusile, Ingula and Power Deliver

Project at the end of December 2014,” she said.

Eskom has set a target to create more jobs through

the New Build Programme in its corporate plan – 16

334 in the 2014/15 financial year, 8 317 in 2016, 4 750

in 2017 and 2 000 in 2018.

Kgomotso Modise, the department’s Deputy Direc-

tor-General responsible for Transport, said with the

vision of moving freight from the road to rail, while

investments will go towards ports and pipeline infra-

structure, the bulk of it will go towards rail.

Modise said Transnet aimed to create one million

jobs by 2022.

“Transnet will create approximately 540 000 direct

and indirect job opportunities over the next seven-

year period.

“In addition, it is also expected that another 480 000

job opportunities will be induced through Transnet

spend.”

With an annual training investment of R1 billion,

Transnet will train 3 000 artisans and 1 600 engineers

over the next seven years.

CONvERSATIONS wITH THE LEADERS


Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has the right energy for the job

CONvERSATIONS wITH THE LEADERSWriter: Cathy Grosvenor

South Africa is committed to building a low-carbon, green

economy and pivotal to making this imperative a reality is

the Department of Energy (DoE), with Minister Tina Joemat-

Pettersson at the helm.

Appointed to the position in May 2014, Minister Joemat-Petters-

son’s challenge of ensuring sustainable energy security for South

Africa is one that requires huge amounts of dedication and focus.

“With the country’s historic over-reliance on coal, every second

counts when it comes to diversifying our power-generating capac-

ity,” she says.

Energy roadmap

The Integrated Energy Plan (IEP), developed in 2013, provides a

roadmap for the future energy landscape of South Africa. The IEP

guides future energy infrastructure investments and policy devel-

opment. It seeks to achieve this objective premised on a balanced

view of the ‘3E’ imperatives – energy access and security; economic

growth and development, and environmental sustainability.

“Once adopted by Cabinet, the IEP will become the DoE’s primary

guiding document which will also inform the Integrated Resource

Plan (IRP) going forward. The IRP 2010-30 is the department’s 20-

year energy mix plan, which promotes the use of all energy sources,

and a move away from over-dependence on environmentally un-

friendly fossil fuels like coal.

“Coal is currently South Africa’s primary energy source. The cur-

rent IRP makes provision for an energy mix that includes

6,3GW of coal, 11,4GW of renewable energy, 9,6GW of

nuclear power and 11,0GW of other generation sources,”

explains the Minister.

A host of renewable energy solutions are receiving

high-level attention. One of these is partnerships with

independent power producers (IPPs) that will contribute

to South Africa’s energy mix through solar photovoltaic

technology, wind, small hydro and concentrated solar

thermal generators.

Another priority area is nuclear power, with the aim of

South Africa becoming globally competitive in the use of

innovative technology for the design, manufacture and

deployment of state-of-the-art nuclear energy systems

and power reactors, and nuclear fuel-cycle systems.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson knows that the energy port-

folio entrusted to her is critical to South Africa’s sustained

economic growth and thus also government’s tackling of

unemployment, poverty and inequality.

“The importance of the DoE’s mandate cannot be over-

stated. It is only with the availability of varied, modern

energy services that South Africa can meet the priority

needs of millions of citizens in terms of human and social

development as well as sustainable economic growth,”

she stresses.


The Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant, situated in the Western Cape, is the only nuclear power station in Africa.

The Minister points out that the country is looking

beyond Eskom for sources of energy.

“Our role is finding innovative and sustainable ways

of complementing Eskom’s power-generating capacity

in order to ensure a secure power supply for the coun-

try. We are committed to developing and promoting

new sources of energy, while also taking into account

environmental considerations.

“My department contributes to the collective national

efforts, including the implementation of the National

Climate Change response strategy, the Green Economy

Accord and the National Development Plan (NDP) –

all of which are geared towards less carbon intensive

electricity production through the procurement of

renewable energy sources.”

Energy Month

May is Energy Month and as much as energy security

is a government imperative, it is also the collective re-

sponsibility of all South African citizens. The minister

urges businesses and individuals to reduce energy

consumption in their everyday lives.

“The call to cut down on our electricity usage is not

unique to South Africa, and needs to be viewed in a

global context. It is not just about Eskom’s challenges,

but about securing our children’s future.

“The energy challenge is a global one; natural resourc-

es used to power industrial society are diminishing as

demand increases,” she says.

“That is why global initiatives like Earth Hour exist, and why over

150 countries join forces to encourage individuals, businesses and

governments to take positive action by turning off their lights for a

designated 60-minute period.”

In South Africa, Energy Month sees government organisations part-

nering with stakeholders to promote energy saving and spread aware-

ness of South Africa's energy needs. A big part of these awareness

campaigns is to draw more attention to the many renewable energy

options available through resources that are naturally replaced, such

as sunlight, wind, rain and waves.

Renewable energy

In April, Minister Joemat-Pettersson announced a number of new

energy initiatives aimed at the private sector, including a large expan-

sion of the renewable energy programme and shortened procurement

processes over the next year, designed to speed up the commissioning

of new energy capacity.

She also announced the 13 successful bids for phase four of the IPP

procurement programme, which will contribute 1 121MW to the grid.

The Minister says she expects the financial close for the bid window

for this phase to be in the fourth quarter of this year, and for the pro-

jects to be commissioned from November 2016.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson also announced that a fifth window

would be opened, and that she would approach the National En-

ergy Regulator of South Africa to ask for a determination for another

6 300MW of independent renewable energy to be built.

The issuing of confirmation letters to the 13 preferred bidders brings

the total number of projects that the department has approved to

79, with a capacity of 5 243MW across all renewable energy windows.

“This represents a massive investment of R168 billion in economic

infrastructure in South Africa, which will contribute to economic

growth and job creation.

“South Africa has vast alternative energy sources at its disposal and

already the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procure-

ment Programme has successfully channelled substantial private sec-

tor expertise and investment into grid-connected renewable energy

in South Africa at competitive prices,” notes the Minister.

In 2014, a Bloomberg New Energy Finance Climate Scope report

ranked South Africa third globally behind China and Brazil and first


Government is exploring a number of options, including solar energy, to diversify power-generating capacity.

CONvERSATIONS wITH THE LEADERS

among African countries for clean energy investment.

The renewable build started following the 2008 power crisis. A

national 2010 energy plan called for a diversification of energy sup-

ply and within four years, a total of 4 322MW had been procured.

The plan saw IPPs bidding in four separate windows, and successful

bidders being given a guaranteed market through a power-purchase

agreement with Eskom.

“Going forward, the renewable energy IPP procurement pro-

gramme will be expanded and accelerated, and the procurement

process will be shortened and simplified. The DoE has also reached

out to small-scale IPPs, with projects that are between 1 and 5MW

in size,” adds the Minister.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear will play a key role in supporting base-load generation capac-

ity for the energy future of South Africa, especially given the need

for the country to reduce carbon emissions.

Government continues to make significant progress in its engage-

ments with nuclear vendor countries as part of its expanded nuclear

new build programme.

“South Africa has held consultations with a number of nuclear ven-

dor countries, including the United States of America, South Korea,

Russia, France, Japan, Canada, and China.

“All of them - with the exception of Canada - have Pressurised

Water Reactor nuclear technology, similar to the Koeberg Nuclear

Power Plant situated in the Western Cape. South Africa has been

safely using this technology for the past 30 years,” explains Minister

Joemat-Pettersson.

Inter-governmental framework agreements have been concluded

with all vendor countries, except Canada and Japan, whose agree-

ments are at an advanced stage of completion. All

these countries took part in three nuclear vendor pa-

rade workshops, which started in October 2014 and

concluded in March 2015. The nuclear vendor parade

workshops entail vendor countries presenting their

nuclear technology offerings.

The NDP requires that thorough investigations be

done on various aspects of the nuclear power-gen-

eration programme before a procurement decision is

taken.

Training

Meanwhile, 50 trainees from the South African nuclear

industry will spend the next four months in China, tak-

ing part in nuclear power plant operations training.

The trainees come from those major role players in the

nuclear industry that continue to support the govern-

ment in its ambitions to roll-out the nuclear new build

programme.

“Trainees will receive lectures in nuclear safety regu-

latory system, nuclear power plant-related subjects

such as physical characteristics, nuclear island system

equipment, codes and safety oversight, steam power

conversion system, material science, conventional is-

land system equipment, thermodynamics and basis of

reactor thermal hydraulics and radiation protection,”

says the Minister.

The second phase of this initiative will see South Africa

sending 250 trainees to China to be trained at various

levels.

President Jacob Zuma, Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation’s SAFARI-01 reactor celebrations in the North West.


A much more intensive training programme is envis-

aged in the near future. It will cover on-the-job training

at nuclear power plant construction sites; bachelor's

degrees in engineering, natural and social sciences;

financial and project management programmes; as well

as post-graduate courses and research collaboration

between South Africa and major developed countries

including France, Russia, China, USA, South Korea and

Japan.

“South Africa hopes to add a total electricity capacity

of 9 600MW to the grid by 2030, with the first reactor

unit connection made in 2023, well in time for the re-

tirement of the aging coal fleet.”

Minister Joemat-Pettersson says that the procurement

process will be presented for approval to the Energy

Security Cabinet Sub-committee and endorsed by Cabi-

net. Once endorsed, it will be presented for deliberation

by Parliament, and then government will launch the

procurement process.

Women and youth participation

In line with the DoE’s commitment to contribute to the

national effort to address poverty and unemployment,

the department has embarked on various initiatives to

assist vulnerable communities.

“Government has made it possible through policy to

pave the way for women to take part in the oil and gas

sector as equal participants. The DoE and Women in Oil

and Energy South Africa (WOESA) hosted an informa-

tion session for businesswomen in Pretoria recently.

“At this session, women motivated that workshops

be held in all provinces, with the intention of allowing

them to access information on upcoming opportunities

in the energy sector,” says the Minister.

She adds that a memorandum of understanding has

been signed with WOESA that will see the department

engaging with communities on available business op-

portunities in the sector.

Integrated National Electrification Programme

Energy access has been at the heart of South African

energy policy since 1994. Prior to 1994, two in every

three South Africans did not have access to electricity.

“Today, four out of five South Africans have access

to electricity either via grid connection or non-grid

connection. The country’s rate of access to electricity has increased

from 34 per cent since 1994 to 86 per cent and the DoE is working

towards full universal access by 2025 through the upgrading and

strengthening of the electricity network infrastructure in the country.

“This target is in line with the UN General Assembly’s declaration

that universal access to clean energy should be achieved by 2030.”

Other projects:

• TheDoEisengagedinaprocesstodesignaGas-to-Powerprocure-

ment programme for a combined 3 126MW allocation.

• TheCoalBaseloadIPPProgrammewillprocure2500MWofelectric-

ity from coal-fired power stations. This programme is designed to

encourage meaningful local participation, and requires 51 per cent

South African entity participation.

• AtreatybetweentheDemocraticRepublicoftheCongoandtheRe-

public of South Africa on importing hydroelectricity from Inga came

into force in March 2015. The treaty obliges South Africa to negotiate

an off-take agreement for the purchase of 2 500MW of electricity

generated from the Grand Inga Phase 3 Low Head project, with a

right of first refusal for up to 30 per cent of generated capacity from

all future phases.

• Theintroductionofanewprocurementmodelforthenationalsolar

water heating programme is at an advanced stage. Government has

decided to stop the subsidisation of imported solar heaters in favour

of local manufacturing to increase job creation, industrialisation and

the socio-economic impact of the programme.

Despite the country’s energy challenges, the efforts of Minister

Joemat-Pettersson and her team are ensuring that there is light at

the end of the tunnel.


ENDORSED BYPUBLISHED BY

U N PA C K I N G T H E N AT I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T P L A N F R O M P U B L I C A N D

P R I VAT E P E R S P E C T I V E S

Fu l l y endorsed by the Nat iona l P lann ing Commiss ion Secre ta r ia t in the Depar tmen t i f the P res idency, Topco Media wi l l hos t the Vi s ion 2030 Summi t

to examine, ou t l ine and unpack the NDP f rom the pr iva te and pub l ic sec to r perspec t i ve. For book ings and sponsorsh ip, con tac t C lay Tsapi on

[email protected] o r on 0860 00 9590

AIMS & OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE

To Raise Awareness and position the NDP as a South African plan – not only a government plan

Unpack the NDP into an easy-to-understand, practical document outl ining how government departments, provinces, municipalit ies, state owned enterprises and agencies.

Promote and encourage public-private partnership investment

opportunities in provincial and local government.

Present businesses and investors with a platform to showcase innovations, solutions, plans and init iatives that can help fast-track the realisation of the set goals

Showcase private and public sector support and commitment to the NDP.

PROFILES IN LEADERSHIPWriter: Albert Pule

Photographer: Ntswe Mokoena

Joe Samuels has certainly proved that he is more than suit-

ably qualified to head up the South African Qualifications

Authority (SAQA), with the organisation repeatedly receiving

unqualified audits with him at the helm.

Since his appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2012,

SAQA has received unqualified audits.

In fact, this is a feat that SAQA has managed for the past 17 years.

With Samuels, who has a Bachelor of Science degree, Honours

in Physiology and Masters in Adult Education, as CEO, SAQA has

built a good reputation in qualification verification, so much so

that private companies in the business of verifying qualifications

consult with it.

Samuels says that since ascending to the hot seat, SAQA has

grown, even with limited resources and operating in a challeng-

ing environment.

Samuels strives to keep up the standards

“The past three years have been challenging, but there

have been a number of positives during this time,” he

says with a smile. He took over from Samuel Isaacs after

being his deputy for seven years.

What is SAQA and what does it do?

SAQA is one of the institutions that fall under the De-

partment of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and

is charged with the responsibility of developing and

implementing the National Qualifications Framework

(NQF).

“This means that when we moved into the democratic

order in 1994, we inherited many different departments

of education and had to bring all of the qualifications

from those departments together into one single frame-

work, the NQF.”

In 2000, the then Minister of Education Kader Asmal

instituted a review of the SAQA Act, which was com-

pleted in 2007.

According to Samuels, the authority is responsible for

registering qualifications on the national register. “We’ve

got the biggest database of qualifications and learner

records in the country - The National Learners Record

Database,” he says.

Balancing the books

Samuels says the secret to achieving consecutive un-

qualified audit reports is having proper systems in place,

very clear policies and adherence to the Public Finance

Management Act (PFMA).

“Apart from these, you must also have people who

know what is expected of them and who know what

they are doing.

“You must also have proper monitoring and evaluation

in place and make sure that everyone in the organisa-

tion buys into that approach.”

He adds that one aspect that has helped the authority


CEO of the South African Qualifications Authority Joe Samuels.

to keep the purse strings tight and balance the books is

regular meetings, especially for the financial manage-

ment committee.

“When we have auditors raising a few issues, the com-

mittee looks at these holistically and says we need to

brush up on them. We also look at other areas that

need attention.

“The committee keeps a record of issues and monitors

them over time to ensure that we are doing what is ex-

pected of us. We take audits very seriously, if a problem

is pointed out we fix it immediately or set time frames

to fix it and we all work together to make sure that we

fix whatever needs to be fixed,” he adds.

Tackling fraudulent qualifications

Samuels says that recent reports of high profile indi-

viduals with fraudulent qualifications highlight the

need for the public service to clean up and deal with

this issue.

He warns that those in the public service especially,

should rectify the problem or face being embarrassed

in public.

“We must make sure that the public service is beyond

reproach. I urge everyone in the public service to ensure

that their qualifications are verified.”

Samuels says this is important because it will raise the

public’s confidence in the public service.

“Those people who don’t have a qualification mustn’t

wait until somebody finds out, they must come out. It

is better to close the gap rather than be caught out,”

he cautions.

Fraudulent qualifications do not only damage the

county’s reputation, but also harm the reputation of

the NQF.

Samuels also urges people who are planning to study

overseas to consult with SAQA about the qualification

and institution they are planning to study at.

“You can send an e-mail to SAQA and we will be able

to advise whether the institution where you want to

study is legitimate or not.”

National Fraud Register

Last year Minister of Higher Education and Training

Blade Nzimande asked SAQA to develop the National

Fraud Register, which will list individuals who have committed quali-

fications fraud.

“We are busy investigating how to set up the register and are look-

ing at a number of legal issues first because as soon as you say

someone has a fraudulent qualification, the question will be asked,

who makes that decision? We got advice from the State Law Advi-

sor, which said it’s the courts that must make the determination if

a qualification is fraudulent or not.

“When someone has misrepresented their qualification and it

comes to our system, SAQA takes the matter to the police for them

to take the matter forward.”

Lending a helping hand to others

Samuels says that over the years SAQA’s reputation as a verification

authority has grown in leaps and bounds.

The authority was recently approached by private qualification

verification institutions to help them and that this has given SAQA

a huge stamp of approval.

He adds that before the interview with PSM, he was in a meeting

with a representative from one of the institutions to request SAQA’s

intervention.

Relations with African continent

Samuels says that SAQA recently held a seminar with 14 countries

that send students to study at South African universities. Zimbabwe

currently sends the highest number of students to study in South

Africa.

Nigeria, the United Kingdom, China, India and Pakistan also took

part in the seminar.

“We are setting up a network of qualification verification agencies

to help and learn from each other and the response is positive,” he

says.

Samuels urges all employers to be vigilant about employees who

submit fraudulent qualifications and to be aware that some institu-

tions offer qualifications they are not supposed to.


Building green business Government and business save energy and money with support from the National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africa (NCPC-SA)

What we have done

In partnership with

Industrial Sustainability Conference 2015

Tue 21 – Wed 22 July 2015International Conference Centre, Durban

To [email protected]

+27 11 463 9184 www.manufacturingindaba.co.za

Pretoria +27 12 841 3772 Cape Town +27 21 658 2776 Durban +27 31 242 2441 [email protected]

King Shaka saves power

An energy-efficiency programme inspired by NCPC-SA has taken off at Durban’s international airport. King Shaka International Airport has inthree years saved enough energy to power 225 middle-income South African homes. By early 2015, electricity savings amounted to 1.9 gigawatt-hours, valued at R2,7m.

R759msaved in 4 years

2 500South Africans trained in

energy efficiency since 2010

866 GWhsaved in 4 years

800 000tonnes reduction in carbon emissions

National Cleaner Production Centre of South Africawww.ncpc.co.za

About NCPC-SA

NCPC-SA helps government and industry to cut costs by reducing their use of energy and water, and through better waste management. It is hosted by the CSIR on behalf of the dti.

NCPC-SA provides training, skills development and policy advice. It assesses potential energy savings, develops action plans, and supports implementation.

First we show people how we can save them money; then we help them to do it.

“NCPC-SA enables industrial development alongside energy efficiency and environmentalprotection. We want every municipality to be more resourceful with energy and waste. We are here to help them.”

T he NCPC-SA has already helped companies to save R780m in energy, water and waste costs and identified R600m more in potential savings through assessments.

As a programme of the dti, the NCPC-SA offers a range of subsidised services to enable businesses to cut costs, save energy and comply with environmental legislation.

“Provinces and municipalities all want economic development. NCPC-SA is supporting local and provincial government as they help businesses to develop in a sustainable and efficient way,” said NCPC-SA director Ndivhuho Raphulu.

“We help government to implement its own development plans, and to encourage its local businesses to meet green targets.”

NCPC-SA also provides government departments and municipalities with specialist skills and training, and with energy assessments.

NCPC-SA is active with local governments in Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Polokwane and Mbombela.

“We have the expertise to help all levels of government to meet energy efficiency and cost saving targets,” Raphulu said. “Government can save millions quite quickly while building a more efficient economy.”

www.ncpc.co.za

vITAL STATS

Fast facts at your fingertips

Compiled by: Dorris Simpson and Ursula Graaff

South Africa has the ability to attract foreign investment and

host multi-national companies with great success. We are a

dynamic economy and a popular destination for investors.

Since the advent of democracy, the inflow of investment from

top international companies has reinforced our credentials. South

Africa offers the stability of a developed country along with the

lucrative opportunities of a vibrant emerging market.

• SA attracted R62 billion in investment inflows in 2014.

• SA ranked high in attracting foreign investment among the BRICS

countries.

• SA is ranked 63 out of 132 countries making the country the sec-

ond-best performer after Brazil among the BRICS nations to con-

vert foreign direct investment into social progress by the “Foreign

Direct Investment and Inclusive Growth: The impacts on social

progress” study.

HealthcareSouth Africa has also recorded great improvement in healthcare, educa-

tion and access to services.

• More than 1 500 health facilities have been built since 1994.

• Primary healthcare is free and hospital fees for pregnant wom-

en, children under six years and people with disabilities were

abolished.

Education • Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities cater for

over a million children under four years old.

• Grade R enrolments has more than doubled from 300

000 in 2003 to 705 000 in 2011, reaching the level of

universal access.

• More than 8 million learners are benefiting from the

no-fee school policy which has helped increase enrol-

ment in secondary schools from 51 per cent in 1992

to 80 per cent currently.

• The National School Nutrition Programme provides

meals to nine million learners

Increased access to basic services

Life has improved for many South Africans and al-

though progress has been made, much more still needs

to be done to change lives. The progress includes:

• 9, 1 million households had access to regular waste-

removal services in 2011, from 6. 3 million in 2001.

• 73 municipalities had more than 90 per cent of house-

holds accessing electricity in 2011, versus only one

municipality which had more than 90 per cent of

households accessing electricity in 1996.

• 72 per cent of households have access to waste-

removal services - an increase from 55 per cent in

2009, as per the Twenty Year Review report.

• 95 per cent of households have access to a basic level

of water (one stand pipe within 200m) in 2012, from

about 60 per cent in 1994, according to report.

• 86 per cent of households had access to electricity in

2014, from just more than 50 per cent in 1994.

• 83 per cent of households had access to basic sanita-

tion (a ventilated pit latrine as opposed to the bucket

system) in 2012, from just more than 50 per cent in

1995.


Africa Day 25 MayAfricans across the continent will gather in various

places to commemorate annual Africa Day.

This is the day when the continent reflects on the

founding of the Organisation of African Unity, the

precursor to the African Union (AU).

The commemoration of Africa Day acknowledges

the progress that the continent has made and re-

flects on the challenges Africa faces in a global en-

vironment.

The AU is at the centre of the continent's renewal

process, aimed at making a break with a past that

was characterised by political instability, poverty and

underdevelopment.

UPCOMING EvENTS Compiled by: Ursula Graaff

World Economic Forum on Africa3 June – 5 JuneThe World Economic Forum on Africa will take place in Cape

Town in June, with the support of the South African Govern-

ment.

Convening under the theme “Then and Now: Reimagining Af-

rica’s Future”, the meeting will mark 25 years of change in Africa.

It will also provide an opportunity for senior decision-makers

from industry, government, academia, civil society and the me-

dia to accelerate inclusive growth while bringing about sustain-

able development for the continent.

The event will focus on the continent’s efforts to enhance com-

petitiveness, invest in human capital, strengthen risk resilience

and harness opportunities arising from technology adoption

in all sectors.

The World Economic Forum on Africa will take place at the

Cape Town International Convention Centre from 3-5 June.

For more information go to www.weforum.org National Youth Day16 June

Every year South Africa celebrates Youth Day in

commemoration of the Soweto Uprising, which

took place on the 16 June 1976.

Protests started in African schools after a di-

rective from the then Bantu Education Depart-

ment that Afrikaans had to be used on an equal

basis with English as a language of instruction

in secondary schools.

The issue, however was not only limited to

Afrikaans, but the whole system of Bantu edu-

cation, which was characterised by separate

schools and universities, poor facilities, over-

crowded classrooms and inadequately trained

teachers.

On 16 June 1976, more than 20 000 pupils

from Soweto began a protest march. In the

wake of clashes with the police, and the vio-

lence that ensued during the next few weeks,

approximately 700 hundred people, many of

them youths, were killed and property de-

stroyed.

The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC),

with strong support from the National Youth

Development Agency (NYDA) and various gov-

ernment departments will lead the Youth Day

commemorations.

SA AIDS Conference9 June - 12 June

Delegates from

a c r o s s t h e

world will gath-

er in Durban

in June for the

7 th SA A IDS

Conference.

The confer-

ence comes at

a critical time in

global health,

as 2015 marks

the end of the

M i l l e n n i u m

Development Goals and the beginning of the post-2015 sustainable

development agenda. The theme for this year’s SA AIDS Conference

is “Reflection, Refocus and Renewal”.

The theme provides the opportunity to reflect on what has been

done across an entire spectrum of programmes in response to HIV,

including the structural and social determinants which fuel this epi-

demic.

The conference will take place at the ICC Durban from 9-12 June.

For more information go to www.saaids.com


wOMEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR Photographer: Ntswe Mokoena

Hester Hattingh:An exemplary public servant

Writer: Albert Pule

A gun wielding man waltzes into the reception. People scatter

in all directions and others run for cover behind the counter.

The security guards are in panic mode and chaos ensues.

The man threatens to kill everyone unless the department “pays him

his money”.

As the drama unfolds, one of the security guards, who knows the

man, calls Hester Hattingh to come reason with him. The people

scattered around the reception watch as Hattingh softly speaks to

the man and calms him down.

“He was very upset about the case and threatened to shoot a lady. I

pretended that I wasn’t afraid and went to sit next to him to ask him

to calmly explain why he was upset. I assisted him and promised to

personally follow up on the case with the Office of the Compensation

Commissioner until we are able to get an answer.

“This matter went on for a couple of months and ended up at Labour

Court. He unfortunately lost his case but at least he understood why

it was turned down.”

The man was a teacher from a school in Vereeniging who was in-

jured on duty and was demanding compensation.

This was just another day in the office for Hattingh,

who was named Outstanding Public Official at the 2014

Premier’s Service Excellence Awards.

She works at the Gauteng Department of Finance

(GDF) where she administers injury on duty (IOD)

claims.

She ensures that all the relevant documents accom-

pany the claim and liaises with the claimant.

Hattingh is the go-between the claimant and the

department from the time the claim is submitted up

until it is finalised.

On a typical day she responds to more than 200

emails from Gauteng Provincial Government employ-

ees who need assistance in processing their IOD claims.

Although she continually deals with a mountain of

paperwork, she always has a modest smile on her face

and going the extra mile is a norm, both in and out

of the office.

“I’m not wonder woman, I’m just a normal human

being. I’m a people’s person, a mother, grandmother,

wife, friend, someone who loves God and an employee

passionate about life and my job.”

The self-driven 2014 Outstanding Public Official says

the public service is a calling and the mountain of work


that piles up on her desk every day does not bother

her at all.

“I believe in the power of positive thinking. My life

motto is to change the things I can and to accept

the things I cannot. I don’t entertain negativity and I

strongly believe in teamwork and leading by example,”

she says.

Although she enjoys her job, Hattingh says it comes

with challenges. Frequent changes in procedures, new

systems and difficult claims are some of the challenges

she has to deal with.

“We get difficult customers every day, but I try to not

get too easily upset and listen to the customer and

answer them in a calm way. If they shout at me, I tell

them in a decent manner to calm down so that the

problem can be discussed and we can work towards a

solution,” she explains.

Going beyond the call of duty

Dedicated to her work, Hattingh sometimes uses her

own resources to meet claimants and even works over

weekends without being compensated.

“We received a presidential enquiry from an employee

suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I went

on a weekend, using my own transport, to her house

(about 50km from my house), to pick up the docu-

ments.

“She was not able to submit the documents to us by

hand or in an electronic format that is supported by our

systems. The case is still not resolved, but the employee

now understands the process and is satisfied with the

effort that I put in to assist her.”

That was not the only time she went beyond the call

of duty to assist her clients. Previously she travelled

70km to help a client.

“An employee was allocated an award. He was unable

to submit the original documents for payment to our

office and he was in serious need of money.

“I arranged to meet him on a Sunday, half way be-

tween my house and his (about 70km), to pick up the

documents for submission the next week.”

Hattingh says she would not trade her job in the pub-

lic service for anything because it gives her a chance to

make a positive impact on the lives of the people she serves.

After Hattingh won the award, the then MEC of Finance,

Mandla Nkomfe, had only praise for her.

“Hester is our big star and deserves more than a pat on

the back. The entire executive of the GDF is ecstatic and we

want to see more such individuals in the department. She

is a true symbol of what a public servant should be,” he said

at the awards.

Involvement in community projects

Hattingh is also passionate about the community and is in-

volved in a number of community projects.

As project manager for Lions International’s Florida Branch

(2013/2014) - a charity organisation - Hattingh rendered vari-

ous services to the community.

These included donating clothing and food to informal set-

tlements and less privileged people; buying school clothing

for less privileged school children; taking abandoned kids

from a place of safety to watch a movie and for a meal; ar-

ranging a music afternoon at an old age home and painting

a place of safety and crèche.

Hattingh also started an Adopt a Granny initiative in Rood-

epoort where she encouraged people in the community to

visit and pamper lonely people in old age homes as well as

support them financially.

Hester Hattingh, who administers injury on duty claims at the Gauteng Department of Finance, has been recognised for going above and beyond the call of duty.


TRAILBLAZER Writer: Noluthando Mkhize

Phuti Chelopo on the hunt for TB breakthrough

Writer: Noluthando Mkhize


Imagine a nano-system that is a thousand times small-

er than the size of cells and bacteria. A devise that is

capable of penetrating the body to target the exact

organ where the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium is hiding.

This is the very nano-system that 26-year-old Phuti

Chelopo, a researcher at the Council for Scientific and

Industrial Research (CSIR), is hoping to achieve during

her PhD research on nanomedicine – the combination

of nanotechnology and medicine.

Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating ma-

terials on an atomic or molecular scale, mostly to build

nano-devices or systems.

Chelopo, who originally hails from Seshego in Lim-

popo, says her focus is on developing a new nano-

system to carry the drug to cure TB.

“This nano-system is meant to deliver the drug more

efficiently by targeting where the drug must go in the

body.

“The advantage of a nano-drug is the stability to carry

the drug though various environments in the body and

the ability to release the drug slowly at an acceptable

rate to avoid side effects.

“Nanomedicine has been widely used for cancer

therapies worldwide and there are a number of nano-

drugs approved in the market to fight cancer,” explains

Chelopo.

It was her interest in medicinal or pharmaceutical

chemistry that led to Chelopo’s interest in developing

the nano-system.

She holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Bio-

chemistry and Chemistry, a BSc Honours degree in

Chemistry and a Masters degree in Pharmaceutical

Chemistry, all obtained at the University of KwaZulu-

Natal between 2008 and 2012.

“After I concluded my MSc, I did a search of what I

could do for my PhD and I had a deep interest in learn-

ing something new. I came across some literature on

nanomedicine to treat various diseases, which I found

very interesting.

“What caught my attention about this field was how

fast it is growing and the impact it has made in medi-

cine in the short period of time after its discovery.”

She says when the literature landed on her lap; it was

the perfect time as she had been granted funding from the National

Research Foundation (NRF) to fund her PhD studies.

Around the same time, Chelopo applied for a PhD studentship posi-

tion at the CSIR.

“When I was called for my first interview, I learnt that I would be

working with nanomedicine. It was really amazing as I had more or

less of an idea what nanomedicine was.”

She explains that her research project involves the design of a drug-

delivery system that will potentially help improve TB therapy by trans-

porting anti-TB drugs more efficiently.

“It is the application of nanotechnology, which is the manipulation of

matter at the very small scale of nanometre to make devices or systems,

for medical application. It involves the delivery of drugs, targeting and

diagnostic agents using nano-devices or systems.”

Chelopo is condensing two of the strongest anti-TB drugs, known as

Rifampicin and Isoniazid, by using various physicochemical methods,

which include sizing and microscopy.

“This nano-drug is meant to be taken orally. So I had to test its absorp-

tion on a cell model that mimics the small intestines, which is where the

most absorption of food occurs. Then I did animal experiments to test

for the proportion and the distribution of the drugs using healthy mice.

“This is how far I have got. I’m currently analysing my data and

working towards publishing some of this work in a peer reviewed

journal.”

She says that she is very excited to see the outcome of her research.

Chelopo adds this type of research was not only about learning more

about nanomedicine, but also intended to make a difference in society.

“TB is a huge burden to Africa, far more than cancer. A large >>

Phuti Chelopo, of the CSIR, is hoping to better the lives of those with TB through her research.


What has been the highlight of your career? It was getting the PhD studentship at the CSIR. I think it is

one of the greatest opportunities that came my way. I am

gaining enormous research work experience.

Best advice given?To view each moment of my life as valuable time that I will

never experience again. This, in essence, tells me not to waste

time.

What’s your favourite food?I don’t have a favourite dish, but as long as it is balanced with

a lot of vegetables and chicken, I’m happy.

How do you relax?I love going to game reserves to watch wild animals, reading

devotional books, watching movies and TV series.

What is your favourite holiday destination? In South Africa, I love going to coastal destinations and the

Kruger National Park. Internationally, I want to visit the major

cities in the USA and Europe.

What is one thing that most people don’t know about you? I run a lot to relax my mind and keep my sanity. I also enjoy

motivating youngsters in high school about science.

number of HIV- positive patients die due to TB co-

infection.”

“There is a cure or therapy for this disease, however,

the current drugs have a lot of disadvantages and this

results in a number of side effects.”

The Department of Health recently launched a three-

year mass TB screening campaign that will help reduce

the number of new infections and related deaths.

Chelopo applauds government for the campaign,

adding that it is a vital move.

“I think it is about time that the people of this country

know about TB. It is an airborne disease and highly

contagious. Most of us have, in some way or another

been exposed to TB, however our immune system has

a way of suppressing the infection.

“However if the immune system is compromised a

person is likely to show signs of TB. People already in-

fected should know and take treatment as prescribed

because the emergence of the multi-drug resistant TB

strain is due to the patient being non-compliant to the

current TB therapy.

“If people are aware of this and follow the guidelines

they can help reduce the spread of TB by living healthy

lives by ensuring a strong immune system. This would

ensure economic growth.”

Chelopo adds that the work towards fighting TB is on

the increase in South Africa and praised government’s

support of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for

Tuberculosis and HIV, founded in 2009.

“The fact that it is the Department of Science and

Technology that is mainly sponsoring the project I am

involved in at the CSIR is an indication that government

is really making an effort to ensure that we fight this

deadly infection,” says Chelopo.

She adds that the nanomedicine in-

dustry in the country is not well devel-

oped and should be further explored.

The CSIR and a few universities have

research centres on nanomedicine.

Chelopo says pursuing her PhD has

made her realise that her passion for the

industry has helped her push bounda-

ries.

“I had to learn that for me to under-

stand something, I have to go the extra

mile to comprehend it. Lots of people immediately think that I am so

intelligent because I am doing my PhD, but I have such a huge belief

that if I can do it so can everyone else.”

Chelopo says it is her need to make a difference and a significant

contribution to her field that keeps her motivated.

TRAILBLAZER


AFRICAN MARINE PRESS RELEASE.indd 1 2015/04/21 6:41 PM

Correctional Services officials honoured for outstanding workCorrectional Services torch-bearers were honoured for their

excellence in the workplace at an event held recently at the

Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The awards were handed out by the Deputy Minister of Jus-

tice and Correctional Services Thabang Makwetla and Acting

National Commissioner Zach Modise.

“The top 11 gold medallists were selected by independent

judges from 66 nominees coming from all six regions of Correc-

tional Services, who themselves were selected from thousands

of submissions coming from 243 correctional centres nation-

ally,” Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said.

Correctional Services Excellence torch-bearers recognised for

distinguished performance, covering 11 categories, will join a

growing elite group of Ambassadors of Excellence.

The Correctional Services Excellence torch-bearers include

Bongi Masilela of the Rustenburg Correctional Centre.

The Good Governance Award went to Silungile Gumede of

Krugersdorp Correctional Centre in Gauteng and the Masibam-

bisane Award was given to Bulelani Letuka of Kokstad Manage-

ment Area in KwaZulu-Natal.

Lewis Carolissen of Allandale Management Area in the West-

ern Cape received the Public Safety Award and Norman Luthuli

of Empangeni Management Area in KwaZulu-Natal was given

the Education and Training Award.

Water and Sanitation wins Joint UN award

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) won a joint

award from the United Nations, “Water for Life”, with the Wildlife

and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA).

DWS and WESSA share the award with Project India,

under the category “Best participatory, communication,

awareness-raising and education practice.”

The award aims to acknowledge and promote efforts

to meet international commitments made on water and

related issues in 2015. It recognises excellent projects

which aim to conserve and sustain water and achieve

the Millennium Development Goals, Agenda 21 and

the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.

The DWS/WESSA Eco-Schools projects encourage

water conservation at school level from Grade R to 12.

These involve the whole community, especially those

that are more disadvantaged and may not have access

to portable water.

SARS reports growth in revenue

Despite challenging economic conditions the South

African Revenue Service (SARS) has seen a 9.6 per cent

growth in total revenue in the 2014/15 fiscal year.

“SARS collected R986.4 billion, which is a 9.6 per cent

growth in total revenue from 2013/14,” Finance Minis-

ter Nhlanhla Nene said, as he announced the revenue

service’s preliminary revenue collection results for the

2014/15 financial year. This was R7.4 billion above the

revised estimate announced in the February 2015

Budget.

The Minister said the revenue performance was made

possible by an extraordinary drive by SARS on compli-

ance improvement, which in aggregate added about

R22 billion.

The successful outcome of the 2014/15 revenue drive

lifted the estimated tax-to-GDP ratio from the 25.2 per

cent anticipated in the 2015 Budget to 25.4 per cent

and therefore illustrated the efficacy of the revenue

service.

The contributors to the revenue collection were Per-

sonal Income Tax (PIT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT) and

Value Added Tax (VAT).

PIT total collections were R353.8 billion, which was

R3 billion above the revised estimate in the 2015 Budg-

et of R350.7 billion. CIT total collections were R186.9

billion, R2.3 billion above the revised estimate in the

2015 Budget of R184.6 billion.

VAT total collections were at R261.1 billion, R500


IN OTHER NEWS Compiled by: Dorris Simpson and Ursula Graaff

million higher than the revised estimate in the 2015

Budget of R260.6 billion.

The robust collections performance from SARS is ex-

pected to have a positive impact on the fiscal frame-

work.

The 2014/15 collections target, based on a 2.9 per

cent GDP growth outlook, was set at R993.6 billion in

the February 2014 Budget announcement.

Revenue growth remained resilient as the rate of eco-

nomic growth slowed.

“This resilience was a reflection of two things, the

first being the significant improvements in compliance

by SARS and the policy changes that were introduced

earlier. The combined effect of these measures is an

increase in revenue,” said the Minister, adding that com-

pliance measures yielded R22 billion.

“The significant increase in the vesting of shares

added R8.6 billion to revenue.”

Subsequent to this announcement, the real GDP

growth was revised down to 1.4 per cent in the Febru-

ary 2015 Budget. This was as a result of tentative global

economic performance and domestic supply side con-

straints. The latter included the impact of strikes on the

mining and manufacturing sectors as well as prospects

of significant load shedding.

As a result, in the February 2015 Budget, the 2014/15

revenue estimate was revised downwards by R14.6 billion to

R979 billion.

Johannesburg wins bid to host Global

Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) 2017

The Global Entrepreneurship Network announced Johan-

nesburg as the winner of the bid to host the GEC in 2017.

Accepting the award on behalf of Johannesburg, Min-

ister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu said,

“I am confident that this award will help sustain the mo-

mentum of an entrepreneurial revolution that was given

impetus by President Jacob Zuma when he announced

the establishment of the new Ministry of Small Business

Development.

“GEC 2017 will ensure that small business development

remains firmly on the national agenda and the radar of

all stakeholders.”

Delegates from all over the globe, representing diverse

components of entrepreneurship, gather at the GEC to

focus on the best way possible to help entrepreneurs

start and scale new companies.

South Africa is the first African country to host the event

which has previously been held in the United States, UAE,

China, UK, Brazil, Russia and Italy.


THE HEART OF FREEDOMNestled at the centre of South Africa, the Free State Province is well situated as a potential economic hub that is crisscrossed by various main routes to the rest of the country and its’ ports.

ADVERTORIAL | FREE STATE PROVINCE

The province is lush, mountainous and well resourced with

minerals and farm lands that stretch over thousands of

hectares that produce various crops such as maize, sunflower,

sorghum and beans. Vast acres of orchards bearing cherries,

varieties of peaches and apples stretch for miles throughout

our country side. These are sold fresh and processed into a

range of fresh and dry products that are sold locally and

exported.

Herds of cattle reared for milk and meat are kept for

subsistence and business. Free State is the second largest

meat producer in the country, after Mpumalanga. Equally

significant are herds of sheep that are reared for wool, skin

and meat.

Due to its consistent and abundant basic crop production,

the province has earned the name “the breadbasket of the

country”.

A population of about 2.8 million, Free State citizens are overall

hard working, self-driven and have a strong sense of heritage.

It is the heart of freedom; the birthplace of the African

National Congress.

ECONOMYFour main sectors drive Free State economy namely

agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism. Other

significant economic sectors are services, trade, and

infrastructure development. With the national government

capital infrastructure projects targeted as part of job

creation and overall growth and sustainability of the

economy, Free State infrastructure programmes to this end

include:

• The Solar Plant which is an Independent Power Producer

(IPP) near Bloemfontein. Additional alternative energy

plants of similar natures are in development in the province.

• Bulk Raw Water supply infrastructure with prospects for

future economic investment in the province.

• Investment nodes namely, Bram-Fischer Airport

Development Node, Harrismith Logistics Hub, and the N8

Development Corridor.

• Leading the country in bio fuel production is the province’s

R2.1-billion sorghum based bio fuel production plant in

Bothaville which produces 158 million litres of fuel per

annum.

DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR ECONOMIC PARTICIPATIONThe strength and expansion of our economy lies on the

growth and development of our people through ensuring

job creation, education, health, appropriate homes, good

governance, security, good roads, infrastructure and holistic

nurturing.

Our focus on education has yielded excellent results

especially over the past five years with our government

bursaries educating technicians, engineers, medical doctors,

nurses and teachers. In total, over 8 000 bursaries have been

awarded by government from 2009 to date.

We have successfully formed and maintained partnerships

with China, Cuba, and Turkey where our learners study

medicine, information technology, engineering and

microbiology. We seek to grow and strengthen our

professional skills base.

EDUCATIONIn 2013 our province made history when we attained the number

one position in leading the country in the results of the National

Senior Certificate Examinations. We continue to perform above

80% in this area, while making a concerted effort to improve our

maths and science, starting at lower grades.

“The strength and expansion of our economy lies on the growth and development of our people through ensuring job creation, education, health, appropriate homes, good governance, security, good roads, infrastructure and holistic nurturing.”

Our learners are cared for holistically and nourished to

ensure optimal learning. A total of 573 284 learners benefit

from the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP)

through the provision of meals and the support and

encouragement of a healthy lifestyle.

In addition, 29 school dormitories have been provided for 3

500 learners across the province.

THE GOVERNMENT’S JOB CREATION INITIATIVESThe government’s goal to increase the employment rate

and address the imbalances of the past has led to an

increased focus in black economic empowerment and

overall initiatives to create sustainable employment. Through

its tourism and small business development programmes,

the Free State Provincial Government (FSPG), seeks to

ensure economic growth and development in the province.

Among some of the projects meant for this purpose is the

Maluti-a-Phofung Special Economic Zone (M-SEZ) which

has been established to promote trade, economic growth

and industrialisation.

The M-SEZ is strategically located on the N3 national road,

half way between Johannesburg and Durban, and offers up

to 1 000 hectares of land for industrial development. Some of

the sectors targeted for establishment within the M-SEZ are:

• Automotive

• Pharmaceuticals

• Information and Communication Technology, and Business

Processes Outsourcing

• Manufacturing

Naval Hill Digital Planetarium: Theatre-In-The Sky

The Naval Hill planetarium, located within a game reserve,

is the first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The centre, a

unique tourist attraction for Free State, will become the hub

of eco and astral tourism in South Africa. Once completed,

this will be a formidable resource for communication on

the environment and the natural sciences, as well as the

promotion of the art which will have a positive long-term

effect on the economy of the province.

The planetarium itself is a versatile venue which can be

used for concerts, state-of-the-art presentations, theatre

productions, meetings, conferences and exhibitions. The

auditorium will seat 80 adults or 120 children. Since 2012,

the planetarium has had over 400 000 visitors.

The area is further enhanced by the statue of Nelson

Mandela and the new restaurant, situated on the edge of

the hill, offers a great dining experience under the stars.

The R13-million project is a collaboration between different

government departments and the University of the Free State

(UFS).

Future developments include an international standard

hotel, convention centre and office park, which will make

a definite long-term economic impact on the economy of

Free State. Naval Hill is a must see for tourists and locals alike.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN FREE STATEThe Big Five tourism routes are Free State Province’s approach

to promoting ecotourism and business development.

The crest of our tourism offering is the Golden Gate

Highlands National Park. Situated in the North-Eastern Free

State – among the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains

range adorned by shades of autumn colour – it is a natural

wonder that leaves an insatiable quest for more. The park

gets its name from the shades of gold cast by the sun on

the sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag or

Sentinel Rock, which keeps vigil over the park.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENTThrough Agriculture and Rural Development programmes

the Free State Provincial Government responds to food

security. The need for the province to develop its economy

–especially in the rural areas – is supportive of the critical

need to curb over-urbanisation.

Some of the development projects targeted in this

programme include aquaculture, dairy, agri-villages and

home gardens.

ADVERTORIAL | FREE STATE PROVINCE

The Fish Hatchery: a China-South Africa partnership

The fully functional China-South African Agricultural

Technology Demonstration Centre in Xhariep District has

established six fish farms in the neighbouring towns of

Bethulie, Springfontein, Koffiefontein, Fouriesmith, Zastron and

Petrusburg.

Vrede Dairy

Vrede dairy is a community project stretching over 4 000

hectares of land. The first project phase, consisting of a milking

parlour, has been completed. When fully operational, the plant

will produce up to 100 000 litres of milk per day which can be

processed further into other dairy based products.

A further investment is required for the completion of the

farm, which includes expansion to surrounding farm areas.

AGRI-VILLAGES FOR FOOD SECURITYThe African culture is known for unity and working together, a

concept that created and drives agri-villages. The Wilhemina

agri-village in Ficksburg is the second of its kind in Free

State. The concept is successful in producing self-sustaining

communities that are not entirely dependent on major city

centres.

Wilhemina Agri-Village

The people of Free State have adopted planting food in their

own gardens as part of Free State government’s food security

programme.

The Re Kgaba ka Diratswana (we pride ourselves with

crop production) programme has achieved just that and

continues to reach more communities. This concept has

successfully spread through clinics, churches, communities

and schools where communities plant their own vegetables

off which they live. The programme has reached more than

24 000 households in the province, and has been introduced

to Southern African Development (SADC) countries such as

Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

INTEGRATED HUMAN SETTLEMENTS FOR IMPROVED LIVELIHOODSouth Africa is the only country in the world that provides

wholly free housing to its citizens. Citizens that earn below

R3 500 ($291) per household, qualify for a fully subsidised

government home, which they own.

Providing human settlements for our people is anchored in

the Freedom Charter and the country’s constitution. Both

reiterate the fact that there can be no family without a home.

A house therefore becomes a basic need and a key building

block in the development of the family and society.

Our houses have evolved from a 38m² to the current basic

50m² to up to 90 m² homes in some programmes.

Since 2009, we have built houses that have changed the

landscape of many townships and rural areas, providing over

30 000 homes to our people. We have used human settlement

developments to address other sustainability goals such as

economic development, job creation, education, health and

fighting crime.

The provincial government provides different models of

houses in various programmes such as the rebuilding of old

two bedroom houses into 50m², five bedroom houses with full

bathrooms, tiled floors and ceiling. These feel and look more

like a home, restoring the dignity of our people.

The transformation of former mining hostels, such as

Merriespruit and Zamdela, into Community Residential Units

is a direct response to providing rental-housing and utterly

changing the lives of former hostel dwellers and communities

in which these have been built.

Ensuring affordability, all CRUs are subsidised by the state and

cater for low-income earners at various salary levels. They

are all built within close proximity of the city and work place,

addressing spatial distortions used previously for segregation.

HEALTH Providing quality health care services for the citizens of Free

State has always been a top priority. The province has built

and renovated health care facilities including new clinics and

hospitals so that more citizens have access to health care.

The province is showing good progress in the fight against

HIV and AIDS, with more people participating in Health,

Counseling and Testing (HCT) awareness campaigns. The

major focus of HCT campaigns is to reduce, detect, cure

opportunistic diseases and prevent the spread of the viruses.

The roll-out of the National Health Insurance in Thabo

Mofutsanyana is in progress. NHI seeks to broaden access

to good quality and affordable health services to all South

Africans, regardless of their socio-economic status.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTOur social development programmes are meant to build

socially cohesive communities, and provide a social security

net for vulnerable members of our communities.

Isibindi Programme

Orphaned children are cared for through various

programmes, such as drop-in centres. Safe parks for disabled

children provide necessary care, guidance and stimulation

required for growth and development.

The programme includes a play area, which is equipped

with swings and jungle gyms to assist in the development

of fine muscles, educational toys, computer literacy training

and cultural activities to teach them about their culture and

identity.

Mofutsanyana Secure Care and One Stop Child Justice Centre

The Thabo Mofutsanyana Secure Care and One Stop Child

Justice Centre targets rehabilitation of youth offenders.

The centre keeps young offenders away from hardened

criminals and gives them a real chance at rehabilitation,

preparing them for a normal life in society.

Sport, Arts and Culture

The province invests in sport, arts, culture and recreation as

these play an important role in the developmental agenda

of our country.

Sport also contributes to a healthy lifestyle, promotes unity, a

sense of belonging and social cohesion – as seen in the 2010

FIFA Soccer World Cup and the earlier 1995 Rugby World Cup.

The Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) will play

a role in contributing to cultural tourism of the province.

MACUFE is a culmination of Free State culture and talent and

highlights the arts sector in the province and in South Africa

overall.

Looking to the future

Looking back on 21 years of democracy and how far we

have come, not only as a province, but also as a nation

striving towards unity through diversity, we believe that Free

State has the potential to grow.

Free State Province has a good story to tell... we are

changing lives!

CONTACT DETAILS

Physical: O.R Tambo House,

Cnr Markgraaf & St Andrew’s Streets,

Bloemfontein

Tel: 051 405 5496 / 051 403 3430

Web: www.freestateonline.fs.gov.za

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Writers: More Matshediso and Bathandwa Mbola

SA, Zim cement relations

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe recently

conducted a historic state visit to South Africa at the

invitation of President Jacob Zuma, to strengthen the

historical, cultural and fraternal bonds that exist between South

Africa and Zimbabwe.

It was President Mugabe’s first state visit to the country since

1994 and illustrated his keenness to get Zimbabwe to work more

closely with South Africa by signing five new agreements and

a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on diplomatic con-

sultation and trade cooperation. These are in addition to the 35

agreements that have already been signed.

The two Presidents held official talks behind closed doors and

committed to ensuring that the signed agreements would be

implemented effectively.

They will also lead a Bi-National Commission (BNC) Agreement,

which was signed during the state visit, to elevate relations be-

tween the countries.

An agreement of Cooperation on Water Resources Manage-

ment was also signed, as well as a Joint Water Commission agree-

ment, which was put in place to enhance cooperation in water

resources planning, development and management in the spirit

of mutual understanding and benefit.

Another agreement, regarding mutual assistance be-

tween customs administrations between the two coun-

tries, was also signed. It will further cooperation towards

the establishment of a one-stop border post.

The MOU on diplomatic consultations is set to estab-

lish a mechanism for regular diplomatic talks on issues

in Africa and other matters of mutual interest. Also, the

MOU on trade cooperation is set to provide a platform

for the two countries to consult and share experiences

towards boosting economic development.

President Zuma hosted a state banquet in honour of

the Zimbabwean President and his wife, Grace Mugabe.

During that event President Zuma said: “We recom-

mitted ourselves to working together to increase our

bilateral partnership in various fields including political,

economic and social cooperation.

“Our future interactions and consultations within the

framework of the BNC will boost the implementation

of all agreements that have been signed by the two

countries today and in previous years.”

President Mugabe said as Zimbabwe and South Africa

share experiences, they would be able to adopt strate-

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe recently met with President Jacob Zuma during a state visit to South Africa.


gies that respond adequately to their challenges.

“We want to expand our cooperation for the good of

our people. We must engage more effectively in the

economic, social and cultural domains, so as to raise

our bilateral relations to new levels.

“We hope that your efforts and those of South Africans

will be rewarded by lasting solutions to these problems,”

said President Mugabe.

Business and trading

South Africa is Zimbabwe’s biggest trading partner with

exports at R24.8 billion, while Zimbabwe's exports to

South Africa reached R2 billion.

Speaking at a joint press conference, President

Mugabe urged South African businesses, particularly

those in mining, manufacturing and agriculture, to

explore business ventures in Zim-

babwe.

“We have abundant natural re-

sources in Zimbabwe that could

be mined. We want investors to

come as partners and exploit our

resources,” he said.

Historical ties

Since the formalisation of rela-

tions between South Africa and

Zimbabwe in 1994, President Zuma said the two coun-

tries have enjoyed cordial bilateral relations under the

structured mechanisms of the Joint Commission for

Cooperation and Joint Permanent Commission on De-

fence and Security.

“These structured mechanisms have facilitated con-

sultations and official engagements between our two

countries and provided platforms from which issues of

mutual interest could be raised and discussed.

“South Africa and Zimbabwe not only share strong

historical relations, but also strong economic co-opera-

tion to the extent that the economies of the two coun-

tries are historically and inextricably linked,” he added.

Peace and stability

President Zuma said Zimbabwe and South Africa

needed to consult on a regular basis to advance regional integra-

tion and maintenance of peace and security, considering his and

President Mugabe’s leadership positions in the Southern African

Development Community (SADC).

He noted that they used the opportunity of their meeting at SADC

level to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern,

including establishing an environment of peace and stability in or-

der to achieve regional integration, industrialisation and economic

development and the wellbeing of the region and the continent.

“We are united in our determination to work for peace and sta-

bility in every corner of the continent. During our discussions, we

expressed our condemnation of the attacks in Kenya, which claimed

the lives of more than 140 students. We once again convey our

condolences to the government and people of Kenya, in particular

to the families of the victims.

“This enjoins Africa to unite more than ever to protect the citizens

of our beloved continent from the evils of

terrorism. We are also united in the quest

for sustainable development in the conti-

nent, as expressed in the vision document,

Agenda 2063,” said President Zuma.

He added that they had deliberated on

global and multilateral matters of inter-

est and concern, especially the need for

the reform of the United Nations Security

Council as they head towards the 70th

anniversary of the United Nations this year.

President Zuma said the ongoing peace and security challenges

on the continent also require him and President Mugabe to consult

regularly, with a view to finding lasting peace and stability.

He called on President Mugabe, as chairperson of the African

Union, to lead the quest for peace and stability in every corner

of Africa.

“South Africa will continue to play its role in supporting peace-

keeping and peace-making and also the fight against terrorism in

our beloved continent.

“We must also continue the quest for the reform of international

institutions, including the United Nations which turns 70 this year.

The exclusion of Africa from the permanent membership of the

UN Security Council requires our skilful attention.

“We must move beyond lamentations now and put forward con-

crete proposals for meaningful reform, focussing in the main on

the African continent,” said President Zuma.

South Africa is Zimbabwe’s

biggest trading partner with

exports at R24.8 billion, while

Zimbabwe's exports to

South Africa reached

R2 billion.


It is no easy feat maintaining the financial stability of a provin-

cial government, fostering corporate governance and curbing

irregular expenditure.

In Limpopo, it is MEC Alfred Phala who is tasked with helping

the provincial government achieve these goals.

MEC Phala is a veteran politician and has held key positions

within the provincial government, including that of chairperson

of the powerful Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

He took time off from his busy schedule to sit down with PSM

to discuss the Section 100 intervention in Limpopo by National

Treasury and what is being done to ensure that Limpopo’s books

are in order.

PSM: Could you give us an overview of the core mandate of the provincial treasury in a province like Limpopo? MEC Alfred Phala: The overall mandate and

goal is to ensure that the finances and pub-

lic resources in the province are utilised opti-

mally and that we have a sound management

of those resources and finances. We also deal

with internal controls, ensuring that these

are strengthened. When the Auditor-General

comes at the end of the year all our books must

be in order.

MEC Phala hails Limpopo turnaround

PROvINCIAL FOCUS Writer: Chris Bathembu

HOD of Limpopo Provincial Treasury Gavin Pratt, Limpopo Finance MEC Alfred Phala and Senior General Manager for Sustainable Resource Management Motlhanke Phukuntsi at the Limpopo Corporate Governance Workshop.


PSM: How do you see the role of your department in ensuring that the pro-vincial government finances remain stable, considering the reported cases of maladministration in the past?MEC AP: We continuously enhance the spirit of

corporate governance in all positions of authority and

governance. We are doing a lot of things to implement

the correct decisions and ensure that we continuously

monitor our spending. There is a lot of work that is

being done by provincial treasury to ensure that we

place people with skills in the right positions.

PSM: Briefly tell us about the Limpopo Corporate Governance Workshop that you convene every year. What you want to achieve through this gathering?MEC AP: This workshop, by the provincial government,

is to enhance good governance in the province as a

whole. It cuts across all municipalities and provincial

departments and entities. We preach ethical leadership,

honesty and transparency, accountability and selfless-

ness. All these things are entrenched in the provincial

administration because we don’t want to return to a

situation we were in, where national government had

to intervene because the provincial government had

collapsed.

PSM: Critics may argue that it would take more than just a workshop to fix the fi-nancial and management problems of Limpopo, would you agree? AP: This is not a talk shop. Through this workshop,

we bring together practitioners from various spheres

within the provincial government. Mayors, MECs, HODs

and municipal managers also attend our annual work-

shop. We also bring in people who are skilled in the

field of good governance to come and exchange ideas

so that where ever our managers are placed they are

able to enhance the principles of good governance. All

of this ensures that we are getting good outcomes at

municipal and provincial government level.

PSM: Let’s talk about the Section 100 intervention that was implemented by national government in Limpopo to rescue the province. How has the move by national government assisted and what were the lessons learnt? AP: If you remember, at that time when national government in-

tervened in 2011, the provincial government had almost collapsed

financially and was on its knees. We were not going to pay all cate-

gories of civil servants - teachers, nurses and social workers were all

affected. We were unable to pay service providers and the account

of the provincial government was overdrawn by nearly R2 billion.

So we feel the intervention was correct to restore governance.

PSM: What is being done to ensure the provincial government does not repeat the same mistakes that led to the Section 100 intervention? AP: What has since happened is that we have returned the pro-

vincial government to its feet and it is now standing on two legs.

Today, the national government is convinced of the capacity and

stability of the provincial government to manage its affairs.

We have now got rid of the overdraft, and we have reduced

unauthorised expenditure to very low levels.

In critical positions, such as supply chain, we have people with

skills and we are ensuring that all areas that need attention are at-

tended to, including dealing with people who committed certain

offences; action is being taken against them. A lot of work is being

done by both national and provincial government.

We are now ensuring that we act in a way that does not return

the provincial government to where we were in 2011.

PSM: Do you think there’s a right attitude among senior managers? AP: Definitely, we have moved as far as I’m concerned and those

managers who were part of the intervention team would tell you

that there has been lots of progress. The attitude of senior manage-

ment has changed. Everyone understands that it is their work to

keep things stable and no comes and forces it on them and that I

think is a positive thing.

Now that Limpopo is back on its feet, MEC Phala and his team

are determined to get the province to take great strides into the

future.


FEATURE Writer: Stephen Timm

Ensuring small business becomes big business

Better coordination in government and more partner-

ships with the private sector – these are two ways the

Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu,

aims to boost support to small businesses.

In February, the Department of Small Business Develop-

ment received a R3.3 billion allocation from the fiscus to men-

tor and finance small businesses over the next three years.

Speaking to PSM, Minister Zulu said she would liaise with

other departments, as well as with provinces and municipali-

ties to reduce red-tape and improve the delivery of existing

government initiatives so that they

support more small businesses.

“Now that I am here, I have the ad-

vantage of firstly sitting in (the gov-

ernment’s) economic cluster that

brings together all the ministers that

are relevant for economic develop-

ment. So it means that even in the de-

velopment of policy in government,

I am now sitting there and focused,”

she said.

The Minister’s focus would, for ex-

ample, include how small enterprises

can take advantage of the Depart-

ment of Energy’s solar-water heater

programme or government’s low-

cost housing projects, she explained.

Minister Zulu’s department now

oversees those support programmes

for small businesses that previously

fell under the Departments of Trade

and Industry (dti) and Economic

Development. These include taking

oversight over the Small Enterprise

Development Agency (Seda) and

the Small Enterprise Finance Agency

(Sefa), as well as over various cost-

sharing incentives from the dti.

However, she said her department would continue

to work closely with the two other departments.

The Department of Small Business Development is

also expected to begin setting up a Cooperative Sup-

port Agency and Cooperatives Tribunal this financial

year. Minister Zulu frankly admitted that limited per-

sonnel (the department currently has just 168 staff

members) would likely be a key challenge.

“I really do not want to conclude that it is going to

be possible (to set up the new bodies in 2015/16) >>

Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu.


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because it is also a question of ensuring that I have

enough personnel in the office. [It] is going to take us a

little bit of time to get us people. But I think the possi-

bility of it [happening] is when we go into partnership.”

She said this would include working with the private

sector, including small business support organisations,

big companies and universities, in rolling out support

to small businesses and cooperatives.

“As a department and also just starting, I think the

demand and expectation is very high and therefore in

order for us to meet those expectations, I truly believe

we need to partner,” the Minister added.

Another of the goals of the department is to facili-

tate access to adequate infrastructure and incentives

designed to attract investment to township and rural

communities. The support would include cost-sharing

grants and mentoring for informal traders and town-

ship businesses.

Studies show that very few small businesses that

start in the informal sector migrate to the formal sec-

tor and Minister Zulu said the department was very conscious

of this challenge.

“But we believe that they [informal sector firms] are also useful,

because they are on the ground, because they are giving service

one way or another; those ones are the ones we are saying we

need to help and make sure the infrastructure is good enough.

“They are a necessity, because they are also absorbing jobs,

and people around them… If they are successful, in their small

way, they would employ one or two people. Others would even

go to the extent of employing five or so people.”

The department would also be seeking to amend the National

Small Business Act and plans to table draft legislation in the cur-

rent financial year.

Part of the changes would include a revision of the country’s

present long and complicated definition for small businesses.

Minister Zulu said that the department had approached aca-

demic institutions to assist with arriving at a simplified definition.

Among its long-term priorities, the department wants to set

up a national survey where periodic and reliable statistics on the

small business sector can be made available.

FEATURE


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Presidential inauguration Inauguration of President

Jacob Zuma

Power house Deputy A-G Tsakane Ratsela

– a trailblazer for women

Youth MonthNYDA chairperson Yershen Pillay

on empowering the youth

Young achiever Meet SA’s youngest doctor,

Sandile Kubheka

JUNE 2014

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Presidential inauguration Inauguration of President

Jacob Zuma

Power house Deputy A-G Tsakane Ratsela

– a trailblazer for women

Youth MonthNYDA chairperson Yershen Pillay

on empowering the youth

Young achiever Meet SA’s youngest doctor,

Sandile Kubheka

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FEATURE Writer: Ongezwa Manyathi

A fter 15 years of local government, South African com-

munities are experiencing better access to services such

as water, sanitation and electricity.

Housing developments have created vibrant communities that

have facilities such as crèches, clinics and schools.

Government has also replaced almost 500 informal settlements

with quality housing and basic services over the past five years.

“We have made significant progress since the dawn of democ-

racy to respond to the injunction that ‘there shall be houses, se-

curity and comfort’, cited in the Freedom Charter,” said President

Jacob Zuma.

He was speaking at the South African Local Government As-

sociation (SALGA) National Members Assembly (NMA) held in

Midrand recently.

The NMA is a meeting for local government leaders to reflect on

the progress made in local government and find ways

to strengthen local government and improve services.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Celebrat-

ing 15 years of Democratic Local Government. Going

back-to-basics to consolidate and deepen a develop-

mental and people-centred local democracy.”

The President said many communities were already

experiencing progress by receiving basic services.

“The release of the 2011 Census confirmed the great

strides made in providing basic services. This upward

trend is reinforced by the last report on the non-finan-

cial census of municipalities, which was released on 2

September 2014,” he said.

According to the report, services provided by mu-

nicipalities have reduced poverty.

Local government’s good storySouth Africa has made great strides in redressing the legacy of apartheid at local government level by bringing services closer to communities and restoring dignity to South Africans through increasing access to quality and effective services.

President Jacob Zuma addresses the South African Local Government Association National Members Assembly.


The report shows that 5.3 million households are re-

ceiving free basic services and that of the 11.8 million

who receive basic water services, 2.5 million benefit

from indigent support. Indigent households are those

that qualify for rebates or service subsidies.

Ten million consumer units are receiving sewerage

and sanitation from municipalities in South Africa and

31.1 per cent of these have access to free basic sewer-

age and sanitation.

“While the lives of millions have improved meaning-

fully, there are many others who are still waiting and

who still need to see their lives changing for the better.

They want water, electricity, housing, roads and decent

schools near their homes,” emphasised President Zuma.

South Africa’s good story

The President told delegates that a lot of good had

happened in South Africa during the past 21 years since

democracy and that the country did have a good story

to tell.

“This is a story of a caring, effective government that

has worked wisely and diligently with scarce resources

to make deep, positive changes in people’s lives.

“This is a story of good work and centres of excellence

that have emerged across the length and breadth of

our country, in provinces and in the local sphere,” he

said.

The President encouraged local governments to work

together and share lessons learnt.

These municipalities, said the President, also have

a zero tolerance of poor performance, and conduct

regular performance reviews and implement corrective

measures where needed.

“This is what all municipalities should do, because

local government exists to serve the people. That is

the bottom line.”

He congratulated all municipalities that had made a

difference in changing people’s lives.

“Your work is acknowledged and appreciated,” he said.

The President called on delegates to do better and

work harder to make South Africa a better place for all.

“We should do better in improving services such as

water infrastructure, solid waste management and the

provision of electricity.

“These are simple, basic services that, when provided efficiently, will

make our people’s experience of local government a pleasant one.”

Innovative solutions for an effective local governmentCooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gor-

dhan, who also addressed delegates, urged them to do more with less.

“We have financial limitations in South Africa. The question is how

do you do more with less and for the next few years, that’s all you’re

going to hear,” he said.

South Africa, as with the rest of the world, is facing tough economic

challenges. This means that government as a whole and local govern-

ment in particular, will have to come up with innovative solutions to

provide services to communities.

In an effort to encourage municipalities to think out of the box, a

few municipal representatives shared their innovative solutions with

their counterparts at the SALGA NMA.

Innovation is critical in dealing with challenges in local government.

We are an innovative nation with some of the most innovative

ideas coming from the most rural parts of our country,” said Centre

for Public Service Innovation (CPSI) in South Africa CEO, Thuli

Radebe.

She said every year the country witnessed this innovation through

the CPSI Awards, where the largest number of winners come from

local government.

Innovation plays a major role in bringing services closer to the people

of KwaZulu-Natal.

The eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation (EWS) Unit man-

ages water and sanitation within the eThekwini Municipality and has

worked with, among others, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

and the World Bank.

The unit won the 2014 Stockholm Industry Water Award for the “Most

innovative and progressive water utility in Africa”. EWS unit representa-

tive, Dave Wilson, outlined the use of modified shipping containers

as community ablution blocks to solve the sanitation challenge in

informal settlements.

“Innovation comes from desperation,” said Wilson, referring to the

challenges faced by local government at all levels where there is pres-

sure to do more with less, while meeting the ever-growing demands

for services.

The makeshift ablution containers benefit approximately 600 infor-

mal settlements.

“These settlements have been identified for future formal housing de-

velopment by the municipality,” said Wilson. >>


To date, 1 100 ablution facilities have been installed on

600 sites throughout eThekwini, and one facility serves

about 50 shacks within a 200 metre radius.

“The municipality appoints caretakers and community

liaison officers to maintain the facilities, and the toilet

paper and soap are supplied by the unit,” said Wilson.

Apart from creating jobs and stimulating small busi-

ness development, this project also protects the health

of local communities.

Tshwane citizens get free Wi-Fi The City of Tshwane is another municipality that is using

innovation to improve people’s lives through its digital-

technology initiative called Project Isizwe.

Project Isizwe has rolled out some 600 Wi-Fi sites to

date, offering coverage to over two million people. Ac-

cording to the municipality, an estimated three million

people will have access to free Wi-Fi by the end of 2015.

“Internet connectivity must be treated as a basic de-

livery of service. Populations are becoming younger,

which means government needs to keep up and move

with the times, particularly when it comes to young

people,” said the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Kgosientso Ramok-

gopa.

In November last year, the City also launched Tshwane Wi-FiTV,

which hit the one million view mark in early February this year.

Tshwane Wi-FiTV covers topics such as music, current affairs,

entrepreneurship, religion, jobs and sport.

“The Wi-Fi filmmakers for this content were previously unem-

ployed or under-employed,” said Mayor Ramokgopa.

Another innovative platform launched by the City is the DigiM-

bizo, a digital version of izimbizo that national government holds

across the country to communicate face-to-face with communi-

ties.

“DigiMbizo allows Tshwane communities to have an Imbizo with

the Mayor in the comfort of their own homes,” said the Mayor.

Community members are able to use Twitter to tweet their ques-

tions or concerns to the Mayor using the hashtag #DigiMbizo or

#AskRamokgopa and they get an immediate response.

Through the DigiMbizo, the municipality is able to reach so-

cial groups that normally do not attend traditional forums, he

explained.

“It also helps us to monitor public sentiment and enhances the

speed of resolving issues,” said the Mayor.

FEATURE


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PROFILES IN LEADERSHIPFEATUREWriter: Albert Pule

Photographer: Kopano Tlape

Black industrialists key to economic growth

South Africa can look forward to the rise of more black indus-

trialists in the coming years, as the country strives to achieve

economic transformation.

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti), in particular, has set a

target of developing 100 black industrialists in the next three years.

“We believe there is room for the participation of many black

entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector as industrialists,” said

President Jacob Zuma at the recent Black Industrialists Indaba

held in Midrand.

South Africa’s manufacturing sector has played a significant role

in growing the country’s economy, despite the relative decline of

about 19 per cent from 1993. In 2013, it accounted for 15.2 per

cent of the Gross Domestic Product.

“However, despite its importance to the economy, manufacturing

is one of the least transformed economic sectors,” the President

noted.

He said the new crop of black industrialists would benefit from

government policies.

“They will be able to benefit from, amongst others,

the incentives provided for in the Industrial Policy

Action Plan and the host of manufacturing incentives

that government provides.”

President Zuma added that the policy framework

for black industrialists would have a positive impact

on transforming the industrial landscape.

“We believe that the black industrialist policy frame-

work is the right formula to transform the industrial

landscape. The policy will enable the necessary sup-

port mechanisms and financial products that could

be taken advantage of by black business in stimulat-

ing rapid industrialisation.”

South Africa should learn from countries that have

walked a longer distance in terms of industrialisation,

urged the President.

“We can draw lessons from countries such as Brazil,

Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. These countries of-


President Jacob Zuma, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Lebogang Maile, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Mzwandile Masina, businesswoman Dr Anna Mokgokong and Vice President of the Black Business Council Sandile Zungu at the Black Industrialists Indaba.

fer significant insight on the journey of industrialisation.”

First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy Naiko Izumi said one of

the ways that his government supported small enterprises was

by providing them with low-interest loans.

“In support of management in small enterprises, which have par-

ticularly poor management resources and low productivity among

small and medium enterprises, the Japan Finance Corporation

provides unsecured low-interest financing without guarantors.”

Back home, black industrialists across the country will benefit

from government’s R1 billion incentive scheme aimed at creating

more competitive black industrialists.

An industrialist is a person who is directly involved in the origi-

nation, creation, significant ownership,

management and operation of industri-

al enterprises that derive value from the

manufacturing of goods and services

on a large scale, acting to unlock the

productive potential of the country’s

capital assets for the massive employ-

ment of locals.

The dti said despite the strides made

so far, black industrialists are still mar-

ginal players in the mainstream economy and greater efforts are

needed to change this.

“There is a need to expand the base of entrepreneurs and indus-

trialists from the current small base of mainly white entrepreneurs

and industrialists.

“The black majority need to produce more and more entrepre-

neurs and industrialists as a way of creating multiple avenues for

channelling economic opportunities and benefits to the black

population,” the dti said in a statement.

Addressing the indaba, Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies

said that government was committed to deracialising the econo-

my by accelerating the development of black industrialists.

Government has committed financial resources to expanding

and upscaling support for black industrialists, he added.

Black entrepreneurs and industrialists are often faced with major

barriers to accessing finance from development financial institu-

tions.

“The tendency of development financial institutions has been

to employ similar measures as those of commercial banks, in de-

termining eligibility for credit access.

“There is a need to systematically align the respective functions

of these development finance institutions towards a quantitative

black economic empowerment output that will alternatively alter

the racial balance of industrial ownership,” said the

dti.

Access to markets as well as training and capac-

ity building are some of the major aspects that will

play an important role in helping the department

to grow black industrialists.

A major challenge black industrialists have to

contend with is obstacles when trying to access

markets. The barriers are caused by, among others,

the dominance of big corporates in many sectors

such as manufacturing, construction, mining and

mineral beneficiation.

To provide assistance to black

emerging industrialists, the depart-

ment will implement a number of

measures. These include leverag-

ing state procurement through

the Preferential Procurement Policy

Framework Act of 2000, partner-

ships between local supermarket

chains and assisting in the export

of products.

Specialised technical training, in partnership with

development partners, will also be provided in se-

lected areas. Experienced industrialists will also

assist with mentorship and guidance, targeting

individual entrepreneurs.

Incubation support will be given to black and

emerging industrialists in protected conditions until

they are able to operate on their own.

The indaba came up with the following four rec-

ommendations, that will help government acceler-

ate the growth of black industrialists:

• Establishing a committee comprising gov-

ernment, the private sector and experts, to

explore more ways and instruments to accel-

erate the implementation of the Black Indus-

trialists Development Programme.

• Reviewing the Preferential Procurement Pol-

icy Framework Act of 2000.

• Setting up the black majority threshold at

75 per cent for companies qualifying for the

programme.

• Ensuring that skills development is at the cen-

tre of the programme.

“There is a need to expand

the base of entrepreneurs and

industrialists from the current

small base of mainly white

entrepreneurs and

industrialists."


PROFILES IN LEADERSHIPFEATURE Writer: Cecilia de Vos Belgraver

Tough stance against fraud and corruption

In his 2012 SoNA, the President committed govern-

ment to dealing with the triple challenge of unemploy-

ment, poverty and inequality, which further strength-

ened SASSA’s determination to fight corruption.

SASSA’s mandate SASSA’s mandate is to provide comprehensive social

security services against vulnerability and poverty

within the constitutional and legislative framework.

The Social Assistance Act of 2004 provides for the differ-

ent types of social grants, social re-

lief of distress and delivery of social

assistance grants, while the South

African Social Security Agency Act

of 2004 provides for the establish-

ment of SASSA.

SASSA pays social grants to South

African citizens, permanent resi-

dents and documented refugees

living in South Africa who meet the

qualification criteria. The war vet-

erans, disability, care dependency

and child support grants are load-

ed monthly onto grant recipients’

SASSA-branded smart cards.

According to Dianne Dunkerley,

Executive Manager: Grant Policy Support, the smart

cards resemble bank cards and are biometrically reg-

istered on the national social grant payment system.

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Michael

Masutha said South Africa continued to face intoler-

ably high levels of corruption in the social and private

sectors.

“Corruption also deters foreign investment because

investors are unwilling to invest in a country with a high

level of corruption. Corruption should not be tolerated.

Where there is corruption there are two parties: corrup-

tors and corruptees. Some of us, in looking away, are

allowing it to continue,” said the Minister.

The message is clear; crime does not pay, as perpetrators end

up in jail owing to government’s zero-tolerance approach

to fraud and corruption.

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), whose task

is to make a difference in the lives of the poorest of the poor by

providing social grants, has vowed to deal harshly with corruption.

Recently, SASSA hosted a two-day anti-corruption conference

under the theme, “Ensuring human rights for all through a fraud-

free social grants system”.

Role players and stakeholders who attended this second an-

nual conference included the National

Prosecuting Authority, the South African

Police Service and the Department of Cor-

rectional Services.

SASSA CEO Virginia Petersen said the pur-

pose of the conference was to strengthen

co-operative partnerships between gov-

ernment and other role players, in pursuit

of solutions to deal with fraud and corrup-

tion in the social-security arena.

Delegates were told that fraud would

often start small but escalate due to per-

petrators growing bolder and increasingly

greedy. However, perpetrators are even-

tually arrested because of government’s

zero-tolerance policy when it comes to

fraud and corruption.

Petersen said that because criminals would constantly find new

ways to commit crime, ongoing discussions should be undertaken

to assess ways to fight fraud, develop interventions and deal with

professional criminals.

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said SASSA’s moti-

vation to root out fraud and corruption took its cue from President

Jacob Zuma’s 2009 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) when he

said: “We have repeatedly stated our commitment to fight corrup-

tion in the public service. We will pay particular attention to com-

bating corruption and fraud in procurement and tender processes,

application for drivers’ licences, social grants, identity documents

and theft of police case dockets.”


Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.

SASSA on the attackHowever, SASSA is not looking

away. It has taken a radical approach

to address fraud and corruption in its

area of operation. It has introduced

physical barriers to restrict employee

movement, split authorisation, a staff vetting system

and a new biometric system to overcome the problem

of insecure passwords, Social Development Deputy

Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told PSM.

In 2012, the organisation started re-registering its

grant beneficiaries to root out ‘ghost’ beneficiaries

and ensure that grants are paid out only to existing

and deserving South Africans. SASSA also checked its

database against those of other organisations such as

the Department of Home Affairs. This gave SASSA a

solid database of all beneficiaries enabling it to pay

the right grant to the right person at the right place.

Minister Dlamini said re-registration and the introduc-

tion of the biometric payment system gave SASSA a

credible database of beneficiaries.

She added that over 300 000 fraudulent grant pay-

ments had been cancelled, including duplicated grants,

and over 700 000 child recipients had been removed

because they could not be presented by their primary

caregivers for re-registration.

SASSA’s Fraud Prevention Strategy includes tools for

red flagging, appropriate reporting mechanisms and

whistle-blowing to help detect fraud and corruption.

Progress has also been made in fostering an ethical

organisational culture, increasing cooperation with

other agencies and improving policies, procedures

and internal controls, the Minister said.

Fraud in figuresThe Minister admitted it was “deeply disturbing that all

the fraud and corruption uncovered is perpetuated by

the people entrusted with the responsibility to serve;

our own employees, working with criminal elements.”

Since 2010, a total of 261 officials have been suspend-

ed, 53 dismissed and five convicted for fraud while 12

officials resigned before disciplinary hearings.

However, the Fraud Prevention Strategy is working:

the number of cases reported has dropped. There

were 8 000 fraud and corruption cases during 2012/13.

These included investigations of prior

years not previously captured on the

Fraud Case Management System. Of

these, as at 31 January 2015, 1 919

had been closed and 5 145 had been

finalised. There are 670 cases outstanding.

The value of the finalised investigations is R87 490 444.00 and

the regions have recovered R1 207 833.00.

“Between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014, more than 3 571 cases

were captured on the Fraud Case Management System and at the

end of January 2015, only 1 072 cases had been captured. During the

same period, 1 522 cases were closed and 486 finalised (worth R18

092 347.00 of which R455 054.00 was recovered),” said the Minister.

SASSA’s investigative capacity has improved since 2012 and law-

enforcement agencies are helping to uncover fraud and corruption,

and ensure legal action is taken.

During 2013/14, 30 fraud cases involving 84 officials were referred to

law-enforcement agencies, with a combined value of R15 091 076.00.

In 2014/15, 11 fraud cases involving 90 SASSA officials and three Cash

Paymaster Services officials were referred to law-enforcement agen-

cies, with a combined value of R20 950 255.91, said Minister Dlamini.

According to SASSA, most of the people involved with social-grant

fraud are women. The General Manager of the agency’s Fraud Man-

agement and Compliance Department, Renay Ogle, said employees

found guilty of fraud and corruption were mostly in their mid-30s, were

employed for at least five years and 60 per cent of them were women.

She said criminals’ most sought-after targets were the disability, child

support and old age grants.

Minister Dlamini said social grants were intended to protect people

from poverty. “If fraud is not fought, government will never make a

difference in the lives of citizens,” she said.

The Minister lamented the exploitation of grant recipients by ruthless

micro-moneylenders, marketers of funeral policies and other financial

services and products.

Collective responsibility Minister Dlamini said, “Where there is corruption there are communi-

ties. Communities have a role to play in spotting suspicious behaviour

and reporting it.”

In addition, Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu told PSM that citizens

should educate one another about what was legal. “The responsibility

is a collective one. If you know someone is collecting a child grant but

the child does not have shoes you should be asking questions,” she said.

“Remember, it takes a village to raise a child,” she added.

Suspicious behaviour can be reported toll-free to SASSA on

0800 701 701 and via the Presidential Hotline 17737.


FEATURE Writer: Stephen Timm

Full steam ahead for infrastructure projects

For years, pupils and staff of Delta Primary, which lies in an area

riven by gang violence in Steenberg, Cape Town, had to put

up with dilapidated school buildings.

But, things are finally beginning to look up for the 920 learners and

their teachers, following the completion of new school buildings,

including the school’s first hall, in November.

“The entire culture of the school has been transformed,” says

school’s principal Hilton Palanyandi, adding, “they [people] are say-

ing ‘it’s a Model-C school’”.

He says the proof is in learners’ improved marks. The school’s maths

results for Grade 6 increased by 40 percentage points to an average

of 76 per cent, language marks for Grade 6 learners increased from

35 per cent to 45 per cent, while Grade 3 maths remained stable at

66 per cent.

The school is usually vandalised regularly, but Palan-

yandi says not a single window was reported broken

in January after the end-of-year break.

Phase two of the project, which will see the con-

struction of a new ICT centre, field as well as physical

education area for the school, is due to start soon.

The upgrade at the school is part of the Department

of Basic Education’s Accelerated School Infrastructure

Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) to replace mud schools,

launched in 2009.

ASIDI is one of the government’s 18 strategic infra-

structure projects (SIPs).

Recently the department delivered the 100th school as

part of the ASIDI programme. In addition, 342 schools

have received water for the first time, 351 received

decent sanitation, while 288 have been connected to

electricity.

ASIDI forms part of the government’s continuing

commitment to invest in and upgrade the country’s

infrastructure.

During his State of the Nation Address, President Ja-

cob Zuma said that the National Infrastructure Devel-

opment programme continued to be a key job driver

and catalyst for economic growth.

As of last year, about 200 000 workers were employed

on infrastructure projects, Economic Development

Minister Ebrahim Patel said at the time.

It is expected that at least 250 000 jobs would be

sustained in strategic infrastructure projects until 2019,

with at least 60 per cent of all new workers being youth.

In February, the National Treasury revealed that the

public sector had invested just over R1 trillion in infra-

structure between 2009/10 and 2013/14.

The National Treasury projects that the public sector

will spend R813 billion on infrastructure over the next

three years.

In all, 82 per cent of spending will go to building new


Schools have been built and upgraded across the country as part of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative.

energy projects and power stations, expanding the road

and rail network and improving sanitation and water

provision. A number of projects have been completed,

while others are still under way.

As a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), public

sector spending on economic infrastructure (roads,

bridges, dams, electricity and pipelines) is now at its

highest level in 25 years, reveals this year’s Budget Re-

view.

Despite funding concerns and lower spending pre-

dictions, the government continues to work towards

making spending more efficient.

In October, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene an-

nounced that an incentive-based funding approach

would be used to promote more efficient delivery of

infrastructure for schools and health facilities. The first

such allocations will be awarded in this financial year

and are based on provinces’ performance in meeting

planning requirements. Those that get more bang for

their buck will get higher allocations.

The Infrastructure Development Act, signed into law

last year by President Zuma, also aims to strengthen

the capacity of government to implement the rollout

of infrastructure. Among other things, it sets in law

the government’s monitoring body the Presidential

Infrastructure Co-ordinating Council (PICC) and sets

time frames for the approval of regulatory decisions

affecting infrastructure projects. It also provides for the

PICC to expropriate land that is required, subject to the

constitution and relevant legislation.

In September last year, the Department of Higher Edu-

cation published a detailed list of the skills required for

infrastructure projects with an indication of which of

them are scarce skills.

Despite a dip in projected spending on infrastructure,

the state is sharpening its resolve to spend better and

deliver more effectively on large projects. This is a wel-

come sign, particularly as economic conditions are ex-

pected to remain tight over the next three years at least.

SIPS already underwayVamping up South Africa’s electricity capacity forms

the central focus of the government’s infrastructure

programme over the next three years.

Investment in new power stations and electricity distribution is

expected to account for over R166 billion or 20c in every rand spent

on new infrastructure, reveals the National Treasury in this year’s

Budget Review.

A key target in government’s medium-term strategic framework

for 2014-2019 is to increase the electricity generation reserve margin

from the current 1 per cent to 19 per cent in 2019.

While the R10 billion Medupi produced its first power in March,

the power station’s first unit is set to reach full production later this

year, while the R13 billion Kusile power station is set to come online

in 2017.

While work goes ahead on the two new coal-fired power stations,

government also began procurement of 2 400MW of new coal-fired

power generation capacity from Independent Power Producers in

December.

The procurement process for 2 400MW of new gas-fired generation

will start in the first quarter of the current financial year.

By December last year, the Independent Power Producer Procure-

ment Programme had contracted 66 projects to provide more than

4 100MW of renewable energy-generating capacity to the grid.

By February, 32 projects with a capacity of just over 1 500MW had

been connected to the grid. An additional 13 projects will be pro-

cured in the latest bid-submission period to increase renewable

energy-generating capacity to about 5 200MW. The total investment

for all 79 projects is estimated at R169 billion.

Meanwhile, the first of four turbines at the Ingula pumped-storage

scheme in KwaZulu-Natal is expected to begin operating later this

year. >>


FEATURE

Eskom will also spend R18 billion between 2015/16 and 2017/18

to provide electricity to 875 000 households.

Transport and logisticsTransnet’s more than R300 billion capital investment programme,

which is expected to run to 2021 and aims to modernise the freight

logistics network and upgrade railways, ports and pipelines, is already

reaping returns.

Sixty trains now run daily between Durban and Johannesburg, com-

pared with fewer than 20 a decade ago. In addition, in October last

year Transnet reported that container growth on rail had increased

by 109 per cent since 2006. Back then the parastatal was running

four container trains a day between Durban and Johannesburg and

today it is 22 to 24 day. This has helped take 525 000 trucks off South

Africa’s roads per year.

The state-owned enterprise is also conducting ongoing feasibility

studies for the expansion of capacity for the transportation of iron

ore on the 861km rail line from Sishen to the Port of

Saldanha, while a 146km rail connection between Lo-

thair in Mpumalanga and Sidvokodvo in Swaziland and

the Majuba rail project are both at the feasibility stage.

Transnet is also still finalising the new 553km multi-

product pipeline from Durban to Johannesburg with

construction of a coastal terminal and an inland termi-

nal still in progress.

Other key transport projects underway:• TheSouthAfricanNationalRoadAgencyLimitedwill

spend R39 billion over the next three years on main-

taining and improving national roads.

• ThePassengerRailAgencyofSouthAfricahasbegun

its R53 billion procurement of rolling stock. In April last

year, manufacture of the first of 20 new trains began

in the Alstom Lapa (Brazil) plant. The first body shell is

likely to arrive in South Africa late this year.

• Inaddition,578Metrorailcoacheswillberefurbished

in each of the next three years. Signalling systems will

also be upgraded and coaches refurbished.

• TransnethasstartedwithitsmorethanR38billionac-

quisition of 1 064 locomotives for general freight rail.

• MorethanR6billionwillbespentinthecurrentfinan-

cial year in 13 cities on planning, building and oper-

ating integrated public transport networks. New bus

services are being rolled out in Pretoria, George and

Port Elizabeth.

• AlmostR12billionwillbespentonimprovementsat

major international airports over the next three years.

Water ProjectsOver the next three years 229 water and sanitation in-

frastructure projects will be funded by government. In

March last year, President Zuma officially opened the R3

billion De Hoop Dam in Sekhukhune, Limpopo. Work

on the first pipeline, which connects water treatment

works at Steelpoort from the dam, is expected to be

completed late next year. When it is completed the dam

will benefit more than 2 million people in Limpopo.

Investment in cities By 2019, government wil l provide a fur ther

563 000 fully subsidised housing units, 750 000 up-


graded sites in informal settlements and 27 000 social housing units.

Construction is also under way on the R25.8 billion partly privately-

funded Cornubia integrated human settlement, consisting of 50

000 mixed-income, mixed-density houses by 2026.

A series of transformative projects valued at over R128 billion has

also been identified for potential investment in large cities, sup-

ported by a project preparation facility at the Development Bank

of Southern Africa (DBSA).

Working with the Cities Support Programme, metropolitan mu-

nicipalities have identified and sequenced investments to build

more integrated cities – including investments along the Rea Vaya

Bus Rapid Transit system in Johannesburg and MyCiti bus service

in Cape Town.

Broadband and SKA projectThis year will mark the beginning of the first phase of broadband roll

out and Telkom has been designated as the lead agency to assist

with the roll out. Government will connect schools and government

offices in eight district municipalities this year, as part of the first

phase, at a cost of almost R7 billion.

A data centre was opened for the MeerKAT project (which forms is

the precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope last year),

while in February the second of 64 MeerKAT antennas

was unveiled. All 64 dishes of the MeerKAT will be ready

for commissioning by the end of next year.

Hospitals, schools and universitiesIn the next three years, more than R16 billion has been

allocated for the construction, upgrade and mainte-

nance of health facilities. Five hospitals are being re-

vamped and a further five new hospitals are being built.

Added to this R14 billion has been allocated to re-

place 510 inappropriate and unsafe school structures,

and provide water to 1 120 schools, sanitation to 741

schools and electricity to 916 schools by 2018.

The Department of Higher Education plans to spend

over R12 billion over the coming 10 years on growing

the two new universities, which opened in Mpuma-

langa and the Northern Cape last year. The two were

joined by the country’s ninth new medical university,

Sefako Makgatho Health and Allied Sciences University,

which incorporates Medunsa and opened this year.

Work is also going ahead on 12 new FET colleges at a

cost of R25 billion by 2017.

The 18 SIPs and the department tasked with overseeing implementation:1. Unlocking the northern mineral belt with Waterberg as

the catalyst (Public Works).

2. Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial cor-

ridor (Trade and Industry).

3. South Eastern node and corridor development (Rural de-

velopment and Land Reform).

4. Unlocking the economic opportunities in the North West

(Transport).

5. Saldanha-Northern Cape Development Corridor (Eco-

nomic Development).

6. Integrated municipal infrastructure project (Coporate

Governance and Traditional Affairs).

7. Integrated urban space and public transport programme

(Human Settlements).

8. Green emerging in support of the SA economy (Energy).

9. Electricity generation to support socio-economic devel-

opment (Public Enterprises).

10. Electricity transmission and distribution for all (Public En-

terprises).

11. Agri-logistics and rural infrastructure (Agriculture).

12. Revitalisation of public hospitals and other health facilities

(Health).

13. National school build programme (Basic Education).

14. Higher education infrastructure (Higher Education).

15. Expanding access to communication technology (Tel-

ecommunications).

16. SKA and Meerkat (Science and Technology).

17. Regional integration for African co-operation and devel-

opment (The Presidency).

18. Water and sanitation infrastructure masterplan (Water and

Sanitation).


FEATURE Writer: Noluthando Mkhize

DNA Act to tighten net on criminals

Criminals have nowhere to hide with the implementa-

tion of the DNA Act, which has resulted in the creation

of the National Forensic DNA Database of South Africa.

Prior to the Act, there was no legislation regulating DNA col-

lection by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This meant that detectives had no mandate when it came

to collecting DNA samples from those arrested for serious

crimes or from a convicted offender.

DNA is the carrier of genetic information, the essential and

unique characteristics or qualities of someone or something,

which are unchangeable.

The Act officially came into effect on the 31 of January 2015,

providing the required legal framework to ensure that fo-

rensic DNA examination becomes one of the most powerful

investigative tools available for law enforcement to identify

the perpetrators of crime.

The DNA Act will see 5 500 detectives being trained in taking

buccal samples, which are cells found on the side of the cheek.

Section Head of the SAPS Forensic Database Management,

Brigadier Joe Smith, said samples would be taken from offend-

ers serving time, awaiting trial or on parole. This would be

done within the next two years.

“All the information (collected) will be loaded onto a

national forensic database.

“This Act provides us with the required legal framework

to ensure that forensic DNA examination contributes to

the successful and effective investigation of criminal case-

work.”

“The Act formally establishes the National Forensic DNA

Database, which will consist of a number of indices con-

taining the forensic DNA profile derived from samples

collected from different categories of persons and crime

samples,” said Brigadier Smith.

The Act stipulates that there should be a National Fo-

rensic DNA Database, which will play a part in gathering

evidence, eliminating suspects and safeguarding against

wrongful convictions or other miscarriages of justice.

The National Development Plan also stipulates that in

the strengthening of the criminal justice system, there

should be an integrated, seamless national criminal jus-


tice system information and technology database or

system containing information relevant to the criminal

justice system.

The DNA Act is yet another way in which the SAPS is

increasing its capacity in forensics services.

A number of other countries have similar legislation

in place, including Brazil, which in 2012 passed DNA

database legislation into law.

The DNA Act was the talk of the recent 3rd Forensic

Service Conference, attended by experts and players

in the forensic industry

Addressing the conference, National Police Commis-

sioner General Riah Phiyega stressed the importance

of the Act.

“The public interest which is served by the DNA Act is

important, especially in cases of violent crimes where

DNA matching has been proven to be invaluable in

matching a suspect to a crime scene,” she pointed out.

General Phiyega added that the DNA Act would

provide safeguards and strict penalties to ensure that

forensic materials are collected, stored and used only

for purposes related to the detection of crime, the in-

vestigation of an offence or prosecution.

It would be a grave mistake to focus solely on forensic

DNA evidence and ignore other forensic evidence at

crime scenes, she cautioned.

“We need to continually empower all our members at-

tending and processing crime scenes, including the first

responder to a crime scene to understand their roles

and responsibilities and to respect the crime scene.

“The correct way of handling, securing and protecting

evidence from compromise is paramount in ensuring

a quality forensic product and supporting the judicial

process.”

General Phiyega also called on all forensic examiners

to be passionate about their craft and strive to improve

their knowledge and skills in their specialised field.

During the conference, the SAPS revealed that its

Forensic Services Unit had made progress in reducing

the backlog.

Since the 2009/10 financial year, forensic laboratories

reduced the backlog from 59 023 cases to a commend-

able level of about 4 440 case entries, which depicts a

92 per cent backlog reduction up to the third quarter

of the 2014/15 financial year.

The oversight board Police Minister Nathi Nhleko has also appointed a Forensic Over-

sight Board, which will monitor the implementation of the DNA

Act.

“The board will monitor the implementation of the DNA Act

regarding the attendance and processing of crime scenes, the

collection and storage of exhibit material and DNA samples, the

performance of the Forensic Science Laboratory and the National

Forensic DNA Database of South Africa,” explained General Phiyega.

She added that the board would ensure compliance on ethical

and privacy issues.

It has also been tasked with developing a strategic plan that will

be informed by the SAPS implementation plan of the Act.

In addition, the board will also be responsible for receiving and

assessing complaints about alleged violations relating to the abuse

of DNA samples, forensic DNA profiles and security breaches and

the reporting of complaints.

It will make proposals on the improvement of practices regarding

the overall operations of the National Forensic DNA Database and

monitor the implementation of the provisions of the Act.

The board has set up a task team, which will develop rules and

procedures that will inform the governance of the board. It will

also develop a communication and outreach strategy, which will

enhance accessibility of the board to the public, particularly in


National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega.

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The National Library’s collections contain a wealth of information, and include rare manuscripts, books published in South Africa, periodicals, government publications, official foreign publications, maps, technical reports, Africana and newspapers. Many of these are available on CD or microfilm, in digital format or on the Internet.

Specialised servicesThe National Library renders specialised services to the public and to the Library and Information Services (LIS) sector.

Legal Deposit ActIn terms of the Legal Deposit Act, 1997 (Act No. 54 of 1997), South African publishers must supply the National Library (as well as other places of legal deposit) with one copy of every book, journal, newspaper or any other document published in South Africa. According to the Act, a document is any object which is intended to store or convey information in textual, graphic, visual, auditory or other intelligible format through any medium.

Special collectionsThe National Library of South Africa is a treasure house of Africana and other items which reflect the indigenous and colonial history of the country. These are all available for consultation and research.

Information access and reference servicesThe National Library has reference sections in Pretoria and Cape Town for use by researchers, students, the general public, organisations, and government departments. Those who cannot visit the reference rooms personally can direct their reference and research questions to the library by telephone, fax, post or email.

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Community Libraries Conditional GrantThe national Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), in collaboration with provincial departments of Arts and Culture, are coordinating the implementation of the community library conditional grant in all the provinces.

The DAC is a key stakeholder in the development of library infrastructure and services and the transformation of library facilities in the country. The aim is to enable all communities to gain access to knowledge and information, eliminating illiteracy, eradicating inequality in the sector, promoting social cohesion, and developing an informed and reading nation.

The DAC is the custodian of the community library conditional grant. The purpose of the grant is to address specific inequalities in the delivery of public library services to all communities. The Department, in cooperation with the provincial departments of arts and culture, is working to reach certain predetermined targets:• Improved coordination and collaboration between national,

provincial and local government on library services• Transformed and equitable library and information services

delivered to all rural and urban communities• Improved library infrastructure and services that reflect the

specific needs of the communities they serve• Improved staff capacity at urban and rural libraries to respond

appropriately to community knowledge and information needs• Improved culture of reading

The community library conditional grant was deployed in 2007 with the allocation of R1-billion for a period of three years. An allocation of more than R3-billion will be made available for this purpose in the medium term expenditure framework 2015/2016 to 2017/2018. To date, some of the outputs that have been achieved include:• Provinces have built 64 new libraries nationally • Provinces have upgraded 323 libraries nationally

• Approximately 1 274 new jobs have been created in public libraries• Internet access is now available in public libraries in all nine

provinces. Public libraries have established themselves as important providers of training in computer literacy skills

• Subsequently, library hours could be increased in some provinces and closed libraries could be re-opened

• Reading facilities for visually impaired readers in public libraries are being prioritised and rolled out in provinces in cooperation with the South African Library for the Blind, in Grahamstown

• The Department completed an investigation in 2013 into the cost of implementing the South African Public Library and Information Services Bill. The outcomes of the investigation informed the Department, provinces, and the sector on the needs and the cost to deliver public library and information services in accordance to acceptable national norms and standards

• Literacy programmes are presented in all provinces as part of the target to inculcate a culture of reading amongst South Africans

ICT for public librariesThe DAC and the National Library of South Africa continue to rollout ICT in public libraries to bridge the digital divide through access to the Internet.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has partnered with the South African government by providing funds to the National Library of South Africa for an ICT pilot project of two years that is unfolding in 27 public libraries across the country – three public libraries per province. A country grant will be considered once the pilot project has been concluded.

Cooperation with Department of Basic EducationThe provincial departments of arts and culture, in cooperation with the provincial departments of basic education, have started an initiative to enhance the information resources available to learners by building new libraries close to schools.

The purpose of this strategy is to share the role that public libraries and schools play in the education and development of skills in our communities. The roles of the respective departments in the implementation of this strategy must still be outlined.

* Writer: Jeff Radebe

Public office requires devotion

Recently, South Africa laid to rest one of our most dedicated

public servants, the Minister of Public Service and Adminis-

tration Ohm Collins Chabane.

Minister Chabane understood the importance of the oath of public

office. He took his vows and affirmation seriously and embodied

the values that come with holding public office such as fairness,

transparency, ethical conduct and accountability. The late Minis-

ter also understood that to be a public servant is a calling, which

requires men and women of character who can make a difference

to the lives of the people of South Africa.

He pursued his mission to improve governance with determina-

tion and was committed to fighting corruption wherever it occurred,

and in all its manifestations. His work ethic turned on its head the

recent discourse that public servants are incompetent, corrupt and

only interested in the perks that come with positions.

The public service is filled with individuals like the late Minister

Chabane, who have also been true to the calling to serve. Those who

go the extra mile to deliver excellent services by “putting people

first” go about it in a determined and committed way.

The Department of Public Service and Administration recognises

them through the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards, which

reward excellence in the public service, with the ultimate goal of

entrenching professionalism. It is unfortunate that our discourse

tends to be dominated by the questionable actions of a minority

that do not live up to the Batho Pele principles.

The department has identified corruption as one of

the factors that prevents South Africa from achieving

an effective and efficient public service. To this end, it

is working on wide-ranging initiatives that deter public

servants from committing corruption. Government is

also implementing measures aimed at preventing public

servants from doing business with it, and has created the

National School of Government to improve the public

sector’s performance and good governance.

Our efforts against corruption are bearing fruit. A

total of 62 public officials were convicted during the

2014/15 financial year and freezing orders to the value of

R430 million were obtained.

To ensure greater success in rooting out corruption,

we need the public to play its part. We must all be vigi-

lant and report the commission of such crimes to law

enforcement agencies and Chapter 9 institutions. In ad-

dition, the public should assist the prosecuting authority

by providing evidence and acting as witnesses.

South Africans must also desist from engaging in cor-

rupt activities with public servants. We should remember

that it takes two to commit an act of corruption, whether

you offer a bribe or act in certain way to unfairly benefit

you or your business; it is criminal and punishable by law.

Incidences of corruption not only damage the coun-

try’s reputation, but also the trust people have in govern-

ment institutions. This, in turn, has a severely detrimental

effect on economic growth, the country’s overall devel-

opment and our efforts to overcome the triple threat of

unemployment, poverty and inequality.

The late Minister Chabane had noble plans to root

out corrupt practices in the public sector and take our

country forward. It is now the time for us to take his vi-

sion forward, to not become embroiled in self-defeating

discourse, and ensure that our actions speak louder than

words. Corruption is, above all, a societal problem, which

manifests in the public and private sector. If we tackle it

together and decisively we will root it out.

To achieve this, none of us must turn a blind eye to

corruption, or in any way encourage it because by doing

so we are ultimately doing our country a disservice.

*Jeff Radebe is the Minister in The Presidency

responsible for Planning, Monitoring and

Evaluation.


OPINION

Minister in The Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe.

Writer: Nathi Mthethwa


OPINION

Fresh on the heels of Freedom Month in April, Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, reflects on the pivotal role that artists of all genres are playing in the African Renaissance and explains the motivation behind Africa Month.

The regeneration of Africa through cultural celebration

A few weeks ago more than 500 special guests and artists

gathered at the sacred heritage site, Freedom Park, to launch

the inaugural Africa Month Cultural Festival.

The gathering was filled with the spirit of the great African com-

poser, Enoch Sontonga, who in 1897 composed the African Renais-

sance anthem Nkosi sikelel ’iAfrika. It marked the opening of the event.

This is a special song and prayer that has through its lyrics and spirit

spread African consciousness.

The centrality of this initiative remains vitally relevant to our coun-

try. Over the past few weeks, we have been grappling with colonial

symbols that are part of our history. Also, we are still

confronted by challenges of economic inequality, land

dispossession, prejudice and stereotypes, including

Afrophobia and sexism.

Embodied in that stirring Sontonga song, in the spirit

of that great work of art, is the role of the African artist.

We believe it will be our creative intellectuals that lead

the regeneration of the continent.

The Africa Month Cultural Festival, which got under-

way on 1 May, means that Pixley Seme Ka Isaka’s dream

Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, at the launch of the inaugural Africa Month Cultural Festival.


of African Regeneration is being fulfilled. We can para-

phrase the words of this political activist, lawyer and

journalist – uttered way back in the early 1900s – by

saying that, “a new and unique civilization has been

added to the world”.

The time has come for Africa’s renewal to be taken to

a higher level by the continent’s gifted creatives: poets,

writers, intellectuals, musicians, chefs and artists.

In South Africa, some of the foremost and leading

exponents of Pan-Africanism were poets like Mazisi

Kunene and Pitika Ntuli, writers like Wally Mongane

Serote, Mandla Langa and Eskia Mphahlele, intellec-

tual visionaries like Anton Lembede, Robert Sobukwe,

Steve Biko and Nelson Mandela, to cite a few. All have

espoused the spirit of a new Africa.

What we cannot ignore is that in the past 21 years,

all the presidents of the democratic South Africa have

pointed in the direction of Africa’s renaissance.

Tata Nelson Mandela, in his seminal speech in Tunis in

1994 at a meeting of the Organisation of African Unity,

thanked the continent for its role in liberating South

Africa and declared: “Where South Africa appears on

the agenda again, let it be because we want to discuss

what its contribution shall be to the making of the new

African Renaissance”.

Also, former President Thabo Mbeki and the current

President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma, have embraced

this African vision.

The launch of the Africa Month Cultural

Festival will contribute to increasing our

self-knowledge and understanding. The

primary purpose is to encourage us to em-

brace, appreciate and promote our African

identity, history and culture. This is what will

forge closer relations among us.

This inaugural festival draws from the

strength of existing Pan African festivals

throughout the continent. It will be a cel-

ebratory and educational platform that

also creates markets for African cultural

products.

The theme is “We are Africa – Opening the

doors of learning and culture from Cape

to Cairo.”

This is to reposition the role of the arts, culture and

heritage sector in redefining African Identity. It is to

celebrate and mainstream the contribution of the sec-

tor to the economy of the continent and the world.

After all, we are Africa. Our artists must and will share

a home-made but global platform to assert our identity

and contribution to society. This platform must display

the creativity and originality of African artists to pro-

mote the unity of all our people, from Cape to Cairo.

Above all, it must highlight African cultural products

and initiate a programme of trade interaction and cul-

tural exchange.

Among special guests at the festival launch were

celebrated and world renowned poets, novelists, in-

tellectuals, dancers, singers, musicians and designers.

Thus the cultural festival will help ensure that Africa

Month adequately reflects our African identity in its

totality and diversity.

In what is indeed the African Century, arts, culture

and heritage must be elevated to a central leadership

role. Artists must be at the forefront of continuously

developing our self-knowledge, redefining our vision

and promoting Ubuntu and unity among all the African

countries and their people.

Thus we see Africa Month as part of the programme

to raise African consciousness in the post-colonial age

and to fight Afrophobia. >>

At PPC, our transformation philosophy begins with our people and the communities in which we operate. The Kambuku culture lies at the heart of our transformation philosophy – our people achieve our goals and create value for our stakeholders with passion. Contact details: PPC Head Office, 148 Katherine Street, Sandton. Tel: (011) 386 9000 www.ppc.co.za

WE HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN BUILDING THE NATION

TJDR 56682

OPINION


This festival will show how the sector helps us to transcend

the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. It will help us to

redefine ourselves in the world.

We need our cultural practitioners to remind us that none

but ourselves can heal our wounds. Artists must move the

continent towards a new sense of self-determination and

consciousness. As the poet June Jordan said: We are the

ones we have been waiting for!

There is a wind of change blowing through the African

continent. It carries each and every one of us with it. We

the living have been selected by history to be agents of the

regeneration of Africa.

It is in this context that South Africa ratified the Charter for

African Cultural Renaissance last October. In fact, the African

Month Cultural Festival Programme is an artistic and creative

expression of the African Agenda 2063.

It is a platform to promote the African Union programme

towards the attainment of its vision: to build an integrated,

prosperous and peaceful Africa. This vision must be driven

by artists.

With 31 participating countries, the festival promotes Pan–

Africanism, cultural renewal and solidarity.

It will also help strengthen cultural agreements among

African countries.

The purpose of the initiative is to use the sector as a spring-

board towards the continent’s socio-economic develop-

ment, political solidarity and cultural integration.

It is part of the efforts to create a better South Africa in a

better Africa and thus ‘give the world a human face’.

Having recently celebrated the 21st anniversary of

Freedom Day, it is imperative to reflect on the impor-

tant role that was played by the African Union and

African states in the struggle for democracy and libera-

tion in South Africa.

In fact, we should be proud that the African Union

first met on South African soil. Ironically, South Africa

was the first country to wage a liberation struggle and

the last country to be free.

It is much more than this realisation that has made us

decide to dedicate the entire month of May to Africa

Month henceforward. We are committed to providing

the springboard for African arts, culture and heritage

to take its rightful place in the world.

The month-long festival and conference will feature

various arts and culture disciplines, including music,

literature, dance, film, fashion, crafts, theatre, visual arts,

panel discussions and food culture, amongst others.

Significantly, some of the country and the continent’s

leading thinkers, scholars and intellectuals served as in-

fluential members of the Reference Group tasked with

making the festival a memorable and meaningful one.

They include legends and icons like singer Salif Keita,

writers Dr Wally Serote and Mandla Langa, and intel-

lectuals Kole Omotoso and Pitika Ka Ntuli, among oth-

ers. Their role was to provide guidance and leadership.

The festival is a standing invitation to the people of

the world, especially the continent and diaspora, to

gather in South Africa every May.

OPINION Writer: *Buti Manamela

Changing the face of SA’s economy

When President Jacob Zuma addressed the inaugural

meeting of the Broad Based Black Economic Empower-

ment Council (B-BBEE Council) recently, he put emphasis

on the urgency of implementing our economic policies to effectively

transform its structure and reflect the country’s demographic. He

urged the new council members to put themselves in the shoes of a

Mr. Mofokeng, who is still locked in KwaMashu and is yet to experience

economic transformation 21 years into our democratic dispensation.

The truth of the matter is that the economy of our country still

remains predominantly in white hands, and reflects the patterns

designed by the apartheid system. When replying to the debate

on his State of the Nation Address late in February, the President

reiterated that black ownership of the top listed companies on the

Johannesburg Stock Exchange remains at a meagre 3 per cent.

Despite the unsubstantiated uproar from the proponents of the

status quo, who claimed that the state of economic transformation

had significantly changed, they did not present any evidence to

refute the statement by the President. “But the situation is not that

bad,” proclaimed some. But is it that good? It is important to em-

phasise that those who own the other 97 per cent and their political

stooges are the same ones who hasten to blame government for

the persistent socio-economic challenges. But let’s look at some of

the issues at hand.

Firstly, it is not in the interest of the ANC-led gov-

ernment that the status quo remains in terms

of the ownership and control of the economy

years after Nelson Mandela took office as the

first democratic President. Most former colonies

moved with speed in transforming the struc-

ture of their economies and in ensuring that

the historically excluded, exploited and margin-

alised take ownership and control of the

economy.

South Africa was a colony of

a special type with a unique

and ‘peaceful’ transition from

apartheid barbarism to inclu-

sive and rainbow democracy.

Secondly, there is a huge

difference between the

direct ownership of the stocks in the market on the

one hand, and stocks that are held indirectly by black

people through, for instance, their pension funds.

The latter has no influence or authority to determine

the developmental role in which their investment

should play and therefore have no control of their

shareholding. In fact, many of the decisions taken by

the boards of companies that hold pension funds of

black workers had grave consequences for the same

workers. Take, for instance, the issue that the President

raised at the B-BBEE Council meeting, about how finan-

cial monopolies have invested in the building of shop-

ping malls in townships that house retail giants that in

turn leads to the destruction of small black businesses.

Many of these decisions worked in favour of

white -owned conglomerates, especially those who

sell food (such as Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Woolworths and

Spar), clothing (such as Markham, Truworths and Ed-

gars) and the big four financial institutions. All of these

combined were responsible for the destruction of tuck

shops and stokvels, which were the survivalist mode

of economy in our townships.

The sprouting of these malls was without the option

of black cooperative ownership, and even though there

were equal opportunities availed for ownership of fran-

chises of these retail giants, the absence of venture

capital made it impossible for any form of black

ownership. One may argue that these shopping

malls gave a facelift and reduced consumer costs of

shopping in the township, and also created a

large number of much-needed jobs.

We should not take this argu-

ment lightly and for granted.

We should ask: what is

the opportunity cost of

destroying black small

business, and thereafter

creating an army of casu-

alised labour, and then

mopping up the little

Deputy Minister in The Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Buti Manamela.


income that is earned in the townships from social

grants and low-paying jobs and investing it in Sand-

ton and Hillcrest instead of reinvesting it in the same

communities?

The President also issued a direct challenge to black

business - the idea of the transformation of the econ-

omy lay in investing in spaces that were historically

regarded as sources of cheap labour in the apartheid

economy. Investments must stay in townships and rural

areas. Yes, the face of Sandton, the wealthiest square

kilometre on the continent, should be changed.

But it is important that black business should build

factories and industry next to where our people stay.

The consumer basket (before the decline of the price of

petrol) shows that most workers spend their wages on

transport costs. Beyond this, they also spend valuable

time that they could be spending with their family, or

to further their studies, on the road travelling to and

from work.

Part of a radical economic transformation therefore

includes changing apartheid spatial development

patterns to reduce the time and distance between

townships and the world of work. This administration

is more determined to use policy, legislative and incen-

tive instruments to ensure that the historical structure

of our economy is radically transformed.

But radical economic transformation means that we should

move beyond mere inclusion, and should speak of the direct

and majority participation of the whole of our people. This also

includes using fiscal policy, as was evident in Finance Minister

Nhlanhla Nene’s Budget Speech, to get the state to lead in

using its spend in the economy to support small business and

invest in the health and education of the nation.

The unashamed pursuance of radical economic transfor-

mation means that we have to turn the figures at the Stock

Exchange on their head, and do this urgently.

This radical economic transformation also includes a tar-

geted programme of supporting black industrialists, using

government’s procurement to support women and youth

businesses the beneficiation of minerals to create much-

needed jobs and buying locally produced goods.

There are those who claim that we are stuck in the past and

refuse to move on. However, in as much as we would wish

away apartheid, there remain scars and open wounds that can

only be healed if the economy is in the hands of the majority

of the population.

*Buti Manamela is the Deputy Minister in The Presiden-

cy responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation,

Youth Development as well as Administration.

Public Sector Manager • March 2015 71


* Writer: Vuso ShabalalaOPINION

African leaders have responded to the call for

good governance on the continent.

Participation and compliance is voluntary. It

demonstrates the commitment of the leader-

ship of the respective African countries to good

governance and public accountability.

There are 33 African Union Member States

participating in the APRM process, of which 17

have been reviewed by their peers.

The APRM involves a self-assessment, guided

by an APRM questionnaire. At the same time,

APRM officials conduct a background study

of governance and development issues in the

country.

This is followed by a visit by a panel of experts

who undertake extensive discussions with gov-

ernment officials, civil society and citizens.

Incorporating the country’s own self-assess-

ment, a report is developed and submitted to

the African Peer Review Mechanism Forum of

Heads of State and Government of Participa-

tion Members States for further integration.

When South Africa first underwent the re-

view, its Country Review Report highlighted

significant strengths in each of the four the-

matic areas - democracy and political govern-

ance; economic governance and management;

corporate governance, and socio-economic

development.

The report was complimentary about South

Africa’s peaceful transition and its strong gov-

ernance institutions.

However, it also highlighted challenges that

the country needed to deal with from the

legacy of apartheid. These challenges are ad-

dressed in the National Plan of Action.

Since then, three periodic reports for South

Africa have been submitted to the Heads of

States and Governments of Participation >>

South Africa will soon come full circle in its assessment as part

of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The country

has begun preparation for the second generation review, since

completing the first one in 2007.

The review is a self-assessment, created by African leaders in 2003,

under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development to promote good

governance, economic development and social progress.

It is widely regarded as an innovative approach, designed and imple-

mented by Africans for Africa. The review is one of the ways in which

Self-assessment time for SA

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Members States, which continue to indicate signifi-

cant progress.

The reports have, however, noted the entrenched

challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality

that remain sources of potential social conflict. The lat-

est report was presented by President Jacob Zuma at

the summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2014.

It showed that the country had made extensive pro-

gress on economic development, governance, social

security, health and infrastructure development in the

past decade.

In the area of democracy and political governance,

South Africa achieved better scores in political stability,

good citizenship and poverty alleviation over the 2009

and 2011 period.

Among the other positive developments, it included

the successful local government elections in May 2012

and the national elections in 2009, which were declared

free and fair.

The country also demonstrated good progress in pri-

oritising social economic development.

There were significant improvements in addressing

the adverse effects HIV and AIDS with a total of 14

million people tested at the end of the financial year

2010/2011.

It highlighted the threefold increase in ARV sites, from

490 in February 2010 to 3 000 in April 2012. Since Jan-

uary 2013, more than 20 million South Africans now

know their status and have undergone counselling.

Speaking at the 12th anniversary of the establishment

of the APRM, the late Minister of Public Service and

Administration Collins Chabane said: “The APRM, by its

nature, is an inclusive process that can assist the AU to

solicit inputs from the grassroots, through national re-

view processes involving citizens from diverse political,

economic, social, religious and ethnic backgrounds, such

as the public and private sectors, political parties and

civil society organisations representing women, youth,

farmers, professional groups, trade unions, etc.”

It would be a fitting tribute to this gallant freedom

fighter to use the launch of the Second Generation Coun-

try Review as an opportunity to develop a National Plan

of Action that is closely aligned with the programmes for

the implementation of the National Development Plan

in both the public, private and social sectors.

By promoting good governance and public account-

ability the APRM becomes a strategic instrument for

building democracy, peace and development in the

continent.

South Africans are encouraged to maintain the highest

level of commitment to the success of the mechanism.

The second country self-assessment will commence

with a Country Review Mission by the Panel of Eminent

Persons later in the year.

Let us give the panel the necessary support and co-

operation as they travel the country assessing our de-

velopment. It will help us to address our challenges and

build on our successes. Together we work to move South

Africa forward.

*Vuso Shabalala is the personal representative of

the President on the APRM.

OPINION

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FINANCIAL FITNESS


Supplied by: Financial Services Board

Protect your money from scam artistsYou might want to think twice before you take up that “once

in a lifetime” offer that promises exceptionally high returns

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a scam.

A scam is defined as a fraudulent scheme performed by a dishon-

est individual, group or company. Scam artists pretend to be people

of status and class and can even be people you trust and know.

The scam itself is conducted via telephone, internet or even in

a meeting. Anyone can be scammed, whether they are young or

elderly, educated or illiterate.

Scams are formulated with one purpose in mind - to make money.

These illegal enterprises purchase address books and mailing lists

from data banks and call centre agents or brokers and call you in

an attempt to sell you an investment opportunity.

Remember the movie “The Wolf of Wall Street”, where a team of

young men charm and coerce people over the phone to buy stock

on the stock market? Sad to say, the only people who made money

were the scam artists. The investors lost their money.

This is the world we live in today. Scams do exist and

we need to protect our money and ourselves.

Mariekie Jansen, 60, a retired teacher, received a

phone call a year ago. The person on the other end of

the line had a strange accent and made promises to

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convincing. All Mariekie had to do was purchase the

stocks he was selling. Mariekie, impressed by the idea

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she could buy a brand new car for her son and give

her laatlammetjie (last born) Julia the opportunity to

study at college. She invested R100 000 of her pen-

sion payout. Unfortunately, after Mariekie transferred

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that promised to make her dreams come true. When

she did get hold of them, the company told her to be

patient and that her money would come. It’s been over

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no returns and hasn't seen her

R100 000.

The above scenario is an ex-

ample of a financial investment

scam, also known as boiler

room scam/operation. The

term refers to an outbound

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pressure and dishonest sales

tactics, selling penny stocks,


private placements or property developments. They

convince you that this is a “once in a lifetime” offer and

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The stocks they sell are illegal and the information

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tre agents claim to have offices in different countries

to give the impression of importance and wealth, but

in reality they have set up fake offices and companies.

Most of these agents are not even qualified to work

in the securities industry or authorised to sell financial

products. In South Africa, all financial services providers

(FSPs) have to be authorised by the Financial Services

Board (FSB).

Recently, the FSB released a public warning to all

South Africans to watch out for Fraser Mackie Wealth

Management (FMWM), a company based in Santo

Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, which presents

South Africans with investment opportunities and

promises huge returns such as doubling the invest-

ment. FMWM is not an authorised FSP and therefore

is not allowed to render financial services in South Af-

rica. The truth is that some countries do not feature

high on the radar screen of internationally regarded

jurisdictions in both the financial regulatory or enforce-

ment areas, and scam artists use this to their advantage

because it is extremely difficult to pursue and bring

perpetrators to book.

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) recently re-

leased a booklet - “Combating financial crime in South

Africa” - with information on what to look out for and

how South Africans can avoid falling victim to com-

mon scams.

The Typologies Report focuses on a selection of preva-

lent crimes, defining each scheme, explaining how it

works and providing information on how to avoid be-

ing a victim.

The booklet explains eight common scams that are

currently prevalent in South Africa. It is important to

note that there are new scams being thought of every-

day and this is a dynamic and evolving industry.

Tips• Afinancial investment isa

big decision, especially if

you are parting with your

hard earned cash. Take

time before committing

to an investment. If you are

asked to respond immediately

to a “once in a lifetime offer”, then

take it as an indication that the individual/

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• Researchthecompanythatiscallingyou.Gettheircontact

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tact the FSB’s call centre on 0800 202 087 / 0800 110 443 to

check whether the entity you are dealing with is a registered

FSP and whether they are authorised to sell the financial prod-

uct or render the financial services you are buying.

Kuben NaidooDeputy Governor, South African Reserve Bank Kuben Naidoo has been appointed as a Deputy Governor of the South

African Reserve Bank for a period of five years with effect from 1 April 2015.

Naidoo previously served as an advisor to the Governor of the Reserve

Bank and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee.

He has also done work for the Development Bank of Southern Africa

and served as the Acting Head of the Secretariat for the National Plan-

ning Commission.

Naidoo also worked at National Treasury, where his responsibilities

included education finance, public sector personnel policy, inter-

governmental fiscal relations, capital budgeting, budget reform and

fiscal policy.

He spent two years at the Treasury of the United Kingdom (UK),

where he worked on capital budgets and bi-annual spending

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Naidoo holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Postgradu-

ate Diploma in Public Management from Wits University as well

as a Master of Business Administration from the University of

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Thabani Myeza Executive Commercial Services, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC LtdThabani Myeza has worked for a number of organisations in leading growth

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Myeza’s career transcends diverse industries. He co-led the establishment

of commercial business services for Rand Water. He was also part of the

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Republic of Congo.

While working on various projects, Myeza has gained exposure in regional

and international organisations such as the World Bank, European Investment Bank, NEPAD Agency and the World Economic

Forum.

He holds a B Com degree (Accounting) from the University of Zululand and MBA in General Management from Texas

Southern University.

In his new role, Myeza will effectively position ATNS in the market place through marketing, branding and developing busi-

ness cases to exploit opportunities and gaps in the market, and stakeholder relationship strategies. He’ll lead and manage

the ATNS Information Technology function to meet internal IT needs and to support external business initiatives. Myeza will

also manage turn-key projects to turn ATNS around by exploiting marketing and business opportunities.


*Writer: Siphiwo Mahala

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed him-

self as a patron of reading promotion in South Africa.

At an event at the Harare Library in Khayelitsha, Cape

Town, recently, the Deputy President encouraged South Africans

to be “people of the book”.

The event was part of government’s community engagement

endeavours and commenced with a series of consultations with

the view to establish a reading promotion campaign.

The Deputy President’s vision is the formation of a virtual book

club that would target the youth and operate using some popu-

lar social media platforms.

“We would like to see a consultative process that could lead

to the establishment of a national youth book club,” he said.

This intervention was in response to the lack of a culture of

reading in the country.

Deputy President Ramaphosa made reference to the Reading

Survey commissioned by the Department of Arts and Culture

(DAC), through the SA Book Development Council, which re-

vealed that South Africa is not a reading nation.

The shocking statistics include the fact that only 14 per cent

of the population are regular book readers, and that a mere five

per cent of parents read to their children.

It is common knowledge that literacy underpins development

in various aspects of life and a heightened culture of reading is a

fundamental ingredient in the creation of a prosperous society.

With this in mind, various government components and civic

organisations have been making efforts to promote literacy and

a widespread culture of reading.

“We recognise the ground-breaking initiatives led by the DAC

to develop an appetite for books, especially among our youth,”

said the Deputy President.

Government is not new to reading promotion. In 2001, the

late Kader Asmal, the then Minister of Education, initiated the

Masifunde Sonke campaign, which was followed by the Kha ri

Gude mass literacy campaign in 2008.

In 2007, the DAC announced a R1 billion financial injection to

community libraries through the Conditional Grants.

The DAC investment into library infrastructure has increased

exponentially, with further R3 billion being committed to the

2014 – 2017 MTSF period. As part of this intervention, libraries

have been built and others refurbished in various communities

across the country.

Deputy President Ramaphosa champions reading

However, the existence of library infrastructure alone does

not guarantee that there will be a vibrant culture of reading.

Infrastructure development only lays the foundation for a

thriving reading culture. This is what necessitated the estab-

lishment of initiatives such as National Book Week, which is

a dedicated week for the promotion of reading and writing.

The Deputy President’s involvement in reading promotion

shows government’s commitment to boosting literacy levels.

With better planning and cooperation among the relevant

stakeholders, we can make a more significant impact. The

development of library infrastructure should be intrinsically

linked to a comprehensive reading development strategy.

The consultation process, as suggested by the Deputy Presi-

dent, should be a point of convergence for all stakeholders

concerned with literacy and reading promotion matters. This

process started on a positive note, with direct involvement

of the major stakeholders, including writers, publishers, non-

government organisations, librarians and several Cabinet Min-

isters. The challenge is to sustain the momentum and continue

with this inclusive approach.

The consultation process will hopefully lead to the establish-

ment of an integrated National Reading Promotion Strategy

that is centrally coordinated. It is through collective effort that

we can attain our common vision of engendering a reading

society.

*Siphiwo Mahala is the Head of Books and Publishing

at the DAC.

BOOK REvIEwS


Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has encouraged South Africans to be “people of the book”.

Writer: Nicholas FrancisPhotography: Quivertree Publications

FOOD AND wINE

with Reuben Riffel

Winter WarmersChef Reuben Riffel, who is a judge on Masterchef South

Africa and proud restaurant owner, has a few tricks

up his sleeve when it comes to preparing delicious,

creative meals.

He shared some of his favourite recipes with PSM.


Braised lamb knuckles with green beans,

sesame seeds and salted chillies

Serves 2

200ml rice wine

100g palm sugar

80ml light soy sauce

1 litre chicken stock

1 tbsp freshly grated ginger

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tbsp sesame oil, plus a little extra

600g lamb knuckles

150g fine green beans, trimmed

2 tbsps sesame seeds

2 red chillies

2 green chillies

2 tbsps sea salt

"I find that cooking lamb in stock results

in a cleaner flavour. The salted chillies add a

new dimension to the dish and after you have

tried them once, you will use them all the time."

Method

Put the rice wine, palm sugar, soy

sauce, chicken stock, ginger, garlic

and sesame oil into a pan and bring

to the boil. Add the lamb knuckles, re-

duce the heat and cook slowly for about

1½ hours until the lamb is soft and almost

falling off the bone. Cook the green beans in

boiling salted water for three minutes, drain and

refresh in iced water. Toast the sesame seeds in a

dry pan, add the fine beans with a little sesame oil and

warm through. To serve, arrange the beans on a plate

and top with the lamb knuckles and

braising juice. Sprinkle the salted

chillies over the lamb.

Fresh salted chillies

Slice the chillies and wash in clean

cold water until most of the seeds

are removed. Remove from the water

and sprinkle the salt over it. Mix well and

leave to marinate for 30 minutes.

Milk panna cotta with granadilla coulis and

macerated naartjies

Serves 2–3

300ml full-cream milk

20ml honey

2½ sheets gelatine

100ml water

3 granadillas

1½ tsp sugar

Segments from two

naartjies

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp water

" The combinat ion of mi lk

and honey evokes such special childhood

memories for me. Ma would give each of her

children a glass of warm milk with a spoon

of honey every night before bedtime. I use

milk instead of cream in this panna cotta

for that very reason, and the result is that

it is both lighter and healthier."

Method

Put the milk and honey in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.

Simmer for about three minutes. Meanwhile, soak the gelatine

in the water. Remove the milk mixture from the heat and allow

to cool slightly. Add the gelatine and stir in. Once the gelatine

has completely melted into the mixture, pour it into moulds.

Place in the fridge to set for at least four hours. Scoop out the

pulp from the granadillas and put it and 1½ teaspoons sugar

in a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer and cook for about

two minutes over medium heat. In a clean pan, mix

one tablespoon sugar and one tablespoon water

together and heat. Add the naartjie segments

and macerate them over a medium-high heat

for 20 minutes. To serve, smear the granadilla

coulis onto serving plates. Demould the pana

cottas onto the coulis and arrange the naartjie

segments around it.


"The salted chillies add a new dimension to the dish and after you have tried them once, you

will use them all the time".

HEALTH AND wELL-BEING Supplied by: Government Employees Medical Scheme

Hypertension: The silent killerIt is known as the silent killer, which is not surprising since

most sufferers are unaware they have hypertension.

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure,

affects more than one in three adults worldwide.

The condition causes almost 50 per cent of all deaths from

stroke and heart disease, according to the World Health Or-

ganisation.

World Hypertension Day is commemorated on 17 May and is

an opportunity to create awareness about this disease, which

can be responsible for kidney failure, eye disease and dementia.

“High blood pressure is when the blood pressure in your ar-

teries is persistently elevated. It is a very common condition. It

is not only tense, stressed out people who suffer from it,” says

Dr Stan Moloabi, Executive: Healthcare Management at the

Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS).

“People may have hypertension for years without knowing it,

which is why it can be so dangerous,” he adds.

Blood: The life force behind your beating heartExplaining how high blood pressure occurs, Dr Moloabi notes,

“Every time your heart beats, blood is pumped into your body

through the arteries. Blood pressure is the force of blood push-

ing up against the artery walls.

“This force is important as your blood has to deliver oxygen

and nutrients throughout your body. However, if the

pressure is high, then the heart has to pump

harder, which can damage your blood vessels

and cause health problems.”

Many factors affect blood pressure, Dr Moloabi adds.

“You have a higher risk of hypertension if you are older,

as your blood vessels become stiffer as you age, and if

you have a family history of high blood pressure.

“However, although you cannot do anything about

these two factors, there are lifestyle causes that can

definitely be controlled. These include aspects such as

weight, eating and smoking habits as well as alcohol

and salt consumption.”

Know your numbersDr Moloabi stresses the importance of check ups.

“You should visit your family practitioner every one

to two years for a blood pressure test, so that you can

ensure that it is within the normal range, which is 120

over 80.

“However, if you have diabetes, heart disease, kidney

problems or if your previous blood pressure reading

was higher than 120 over 80, then you must have your

blood pressure checked at least once a year,” encour-

ages Dr Moloabi.

Treating and preventing hypertensionThere are a variety of medicines available to treat high

blood pressure, he adds, but making certain lifestyle

changes are key to tackling hypertension. Dr Moloabi

recommends the following measures to stop hyperten-

sion in its tracks:

• Decreaseyoursalt/sodiumintake.

• Exerciseregularly.

• Eathealthily.

• Maintainahealthyweight.

• Limitalcoholconsumption.

• Refrainfromsmoking.

• Reducestress.

Image: http://nowgrenada.com/


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TRAvEL Writer: Sam Bradley

Cape of good timesC apetonians are often accused of being arrogant or blasé

about the idyllic paradise they call home. Whether this is

true or not is up for debate, but the fact that the entire

province is one of breath-taking natural beauty is indisputable. PSM

explores some of the most scenic national parks in the Western

Cape, which should be on everyone’s bucket list and be explored

as soon as possible.

Table Mountain

To get to most nature reserves and game parks a fair amount of or-

ganising, travelling and effort is needed. Table Mountain National Park

is slightly different, as this iconic landmark towers over the entire City

of Cape Town and is easily accessible to all. Not many cities can boast

being built around a national park, and this is exactly what Table Moun-

tain is - a 1 088 metre tall, 25 000 hectare park that sets Cape Town

apart from the rest of the world. Originally named ‘Mountain in the

Sea’ by the indigenous Khoisan people, Table Mountain now welcomes

over four million visitors a year. The park is famous for its natural flora,

boasting over 8 200 plant species (mainly fynbos, which appears no-

where else in the world).

To give Capetonians credit, they do make full use of this natural won-

der on their doorstep. On any given day, providing the Cape Doctor

wind and the famously fickle weather are not spoiling the mood, there

are plenty of hikers, joggers and walkers out and about enjoying the

scenery. There are many ways to get to the top of the mountain, from

the city side (Platteklip Gorge is a steep three-hour hike), the Atlantic

side (Kasteelspoort or Pipe Track) or the south side of the mountain

(Smuts Track and Bridle Path are two of the more gradual ascents).

Less energetic visitors who want to enjoy the view can catch the cable

car to the top.

From the top of the mountain the view fully justifies the long, hard

slog. On one side, the Twelve Apostles disappear into the distance,

while sprawled across the view lies the beautiful waterfront area as well

as Lions Head and Signal Hill. Out to sea is the historically significant

Robben Island and on the far side is Devil’s Peak which gets its name

from the legend that a Dutch pirate named Van Hunks once

challenged the devil to a pipe smoking contest which is still

unresolved and thus a steady stream of cloud pours over

the peak in summer.

De Hoop Nature Reserve

For those after that special holiday feeling that only comes

with waking up in a new and different location, De Hoop

Nature Reserve should be on your radar. Situated three

hours from Cape Town (far enough to get that road-trip

feeling, but short enough for a weekend away), the reserve

makes a great escape for those looking for a relaxing break.

De Hoop Nature Reserve is spread over 36 000 hectares

and forms part of a World Heritage Site as well as a Marine

Protected Area. The area is particularly good for whale-

spotting, with 70km of beautiful coastline and up to 300

Southern Right Whales using the area as a breeding ground

from June to December. De Hoop also has many mammals

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Hikers enjoy the magical scenery of De Hoop Nature Reserve.


(86 species, including a few leopards), birds (260 species

found so far and counting) and fynbos (about 1 500 spe-

cies). The De Hoop Wetland, spread over roughly 17km, is

a great place for seeing aquatic birds, such as pelicans and

flamingos.

The reserve boasts one of the first public-private part-

nerships in South Africa’s hospitality industry, with the De

Hoop Collection responsible for accommodation and many

activities. Accommodation options include fisherman-style

cottages, beautiful manor houses, rustic rondavels and lux-

urious single room suites, all nicely furnished and offering

scenic views over the reserve. Most of the accommoda-

tion facilities are self-catering, although the manor house

includes meals in its rate. For those not inclined to cook,

the Fig Tree restaurant serves three meals a day and can

also arrange picnic hampers.

There are numerous activities to choose from where a

picnic hamper would be an ideal choice. Early morning,

guided bird walks are a great way to learn about the vari-

ous feathered species in the reserve, while the interpretive

marine walk (about two hours) is a good idea during whale

season. There are also guided mountain bike trails, boat

cruises and eco quad bike trails, which offer good ways to

see the flora and fauna. Last but certainly not least - and

just to make you truly appreciate curling up in your com-

fortable bed at night - you can enjoy star-gazing and star

identification in the early evening. This activity is always

worthwhile when out in the countryside, with a clear sky

that’s unobstructed by city lights. The De Hoop Collection

also makes sure that your calendar is full with exciting

events such as Easter egg hunts, birding workshops and

yoga retreats.

Tsitsikamma

Continuing further up the coast of South Africa is a reserve like no other,

the Garden Route National Park. The reasons for the area’s popularity soon

become obvious to visitors. The park boasts sparkling blue oceans and lush

green forests, along with a moderate year-round climate and plenty of ad-

venture activities to keep guests thoroughly entertained.

Six years ago, three areas were amalgamated to form the park. The Tsitsi-

kamma National Park, famously unpronounceable for foreigners and mean-

ing ‘place of much water’ in the Khoisan language, has many claims to fame.

It is the oldest Marine National Park in Africa (proclaimed in 1964), is 30 per

cent covered in fynbos and is the third most visited park in the country. The

Wilderness National Park boasts stunning beaches and plenty of indigenous

forests, while the third major area making up the park, the Knysna National

Lake Area, covers the scenic town of Knysna with all its attractions.

Accommodation options vary greatly, with many choosing to camp or

stay in B&Bs at Nature’s Valley or Storms River Mouth. Knysna spent many

years as nothing more than a quirky coastal town, but in recent years has

shot to prominence with many hotels and restaurants and now boasts a

jam-packed calendar with annual events, such as the Oyster Festival and the

Knysna Marathon. Other accommodation options in the area are situated in

the towns of Wilderness, George, Victoria Bay and Sedgefield.

Tourists will need to be at their most active to fully appreciate all that the

area has to offer. The five-day Otter Trail, one of South Africa’s most scenic

and famous hiking trails, weaves its way along about 45km of the coastline,

while there are also a multitude of day trails, such as the Waterfall Trail, the

Blue Duiker Trail and the Lourie Trail on offer. Nature lovers will also want to

visit the descriptively named ‘Big Tree’, an 800-year-old, 36-metre whopper

of a yellowwood tree that deserves an admiring glance and a tip of the

cap. Adrenaline junkies can challenge themselves to the Bloukrans Bungee

jump, the world’s highest bridge bungee at 216m, while the less brave can

still enjoy a guided bridge walking tour. >>

Tsitsikamma

The Tsitsikamma National Park is the oldest Marine National Park in Africa.

The West Coast National Park in full bloom.


West Coast National Park

With the Garden Route receiving all the accolades and attention, the West

Coast (also known as the forgotten coast) is a hidden gem, aptly named

West Coast National Park. Run by South African National Parks (SANParks),

the isolated park is only 120km from Cape Town and is 40 000 hectares in

size. The Langebaan Lagoon is the main draw card to the park, as is it is not

only home to birds of all shapes, sizes and hues, but it also has photogenic

islands, marshes and wide open beaches waiting to be explored.

Visitors looking to unwind and relax will soon realise they have come

to the right spot. This is particularly true during the spring months of

August and September, when the landscapes explode into a multitude

of colourful flowers as far as the eye can see. Known as West Coast Strand-

veld and Langebaan Fynbos, the vegetation is unique in that it mostly

grows on granite or limestone rocks. Apart from the truly spectacular

flowers, the park also hosts mammals such as eland,

red hartebeest, Cape grysbok, caracal, honey badgers,

mountain zebra and rock hyrax.

As long as visitors are keen to relax and enjoy nature

they will find plenty of attractions on offer. The lagoon

offers plenty of water sports such as water-skiing, kay-

aking, fishing and kite surfing. Many people make the

trip to the park especially for the flowers, which are best

viewed in the Postberg Section (which is only open dur-

ing spring). Other options include game viewing, bird

TRAvEL

watching or just some good, old fashioned relaxing on the

beach at Kraalbaai.

Guests have some interesting and alternative accommo-

dation options to consider. The Duinepos Chalets are old

staff houses that were converted into self-catering chalets

as part of a community-based project. They are situated in-

side the West Coast National Park. Jo Anne’s Beach Cottage

has three bedrooms and is located within walking distance

of the lagoon, while those wanting to be even closer to the

water should consider the Kraalbaai Houseboats. The Larus

Houseboat is an eight-sleeper that can accommodate 15

people during the day, while the larger Nirvana Houseboat

can sleep 14 people on the lower deck and eight on the

upper deck.

West Coast National Park

Some of the accommodation options at the West Coast National Park.


w w w . t o p w o m e n a w a r d s . c o . z a

6 A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 E M P E R O R S P A L A C E

Book a table before 30 June 2015 and receive 10% discount . Quote PSM003 to qual i fy.

22 INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANISATIONAL CATEGORIES WITHIN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS

“ To p W o m e n A w a r d s h a s e l e v a t e d m y p o s i t i o n i n t h e b u s i n e s s e n v i r o n m e n t a n d c r e a t e d i m m e a s u r a b l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s . I t i s a g r e a t p r i v i l e g e a n d h o n o r t o b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h T h e To p W o m e n A w a r d s .”

S a n d i M b u t u m a - P e n t a d ( To p W o m e n Yo u n g A c h i e v e r A w a r d W i n n e r )

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CAR REvIEwS Writer: Ashref Ismail

The other day I was paging through a 1976 edition of

CAR magazine and could not help chuckling at the low

prices of cars in those days. You could buy a top-of-the-

range Mercedes Benz 280 SE for the princely sum of R 36 000.

Of course, it was a lot of money when you consider that the

best-selling saloon at the time, the Ford Cortina, could be had

for around R 8000 for the flagship Ghia version.

Although the Cortina Ghia was the top of the range, it did

not have central locking, air conditioning, power steering

or safety features such as ABS brakes or airbags, which in all

fairness, came much later.

What was even more astounding was the unbelievably lim-

ited number of models available back then. The combined

number of all models and variants available from the seven

major vehicle distributors at the time was just under 200, at

most.

If you compare that with the scenario today, you have no

less than 55 global marques available here with more than a

whopping 3 000 models on offer. In the “good old days” the

variants, too, were very sparse. You had a choice of a four-door

saloon, sporty two-door coupé, family-friendly station wagon,

or bakkie and minibus, the most popular of which was the

Volkswagen Kombi. And that was it.

Today, ongoing improvements in technology have

seen a one-litre, three cylinder car like the Ford Eco-

sport outperform five litre V8 muscle cars like the Ford

Fairmont and Fairlane of the time. My grand-dad would

be turning in his grave!

Needless to say, today’s cars are bristling with ad-

vanced technology, making the common denominator

between old and new only the steering wheel and the

four wheels. Cars have become lighter, faster, roomier,

safer and definitely more reliable and lighter on fuel.

Besides the individual model ranges, the variants have

become even more bewildering. We now have niches

and those niches are further sliced to create another

niche within that niche! Confused? I don’t blame you.

Just think about your macho sport utility vehicle, which

then started spawning sport activity vehicles, multi-

purpose vehicles, cross utility vehicles and now, soft

roaders and crossover vehicles. Had my grand-dad been

around he would have cynically referred to them as

station wagons on steroids!

Yes, those high rise vehicles designed to conquer the

urban jungle are a must-have for motoring enthusi-

asts around the world. Some are permanent four-wheel

drive, others part-time, while many are pseudo off-road-

ers. The fact of the matter is that all manufacturers have

recognised the profit value of having an “outdoorsy” ve-

hicle that appeals to all ages, sexes and markets across

the world. Spacious, with a commanding view of the

road, many of these off-road vehicles never venture

beyond the asphalt surface, but for many, the thought

of its ability to travel on gravel satisfies the Tarzan in us.

Besides the higher ground clearance, the plastic clad-

ding, aggressive wheel arches, roof rails, additional bull

bar and obligatory bigger wheels, it is the promise of “go

anywhere, anytime” that is a huge money spinner for all

Wonderful world of all-wheel drives

BMW is famous for creating niches and then splitting these into further niches. A perfect example is the BMW X4 which is a crossover, four-door sedan coupé with the ground clearance of a soft-roader.


manufacturers, who have long realised the importance

of having at least one in their model line-up. Sacrile-

gious as it may sound, even the purveyors of the uber

luxury vehicle, Bentley, is readying one for production!

For most manufacturers, it is now a case of never say

never. BMW is a case in point. Years ago it remained ada-

mant that it would not go diesel, would not produce an

off-road vehicle and neither would it consider a front-

wheel drive. Today, it has bucked its own values and

produced each of the aforementioned. So into niches

are they that they are seen as being creators of niches,

whilst the others merely play second fiddle. BMW was

among the first to produce a high-performance off-

road vehicle, the X5, which spawned the X3 and now,

a baby X1. What about the GT version, the X6 and X4

with sports car handling and coupé cross-over styling?

So what is left to do, now? How about an M Sport- pow-

ered bakkie or panel van? Never say never!

So how do you navigate among all these oh-so-con-

fusing leisure vehicle types and where do you start?

Just saying you want to outshine the Jones’ by boast-

ing a car with a wheel hanging on the back is not that

simple. The choices are bewildering and you could end

up with a costly white elephant on wheels that would

totally frustrate you long after the “Camel Man” novelty

has worn off.

Let me try to simplify things by suggesting that

off-road vehicles could roughly be classified into the

following five broad categories:

1: Hard core 4 x 4 vehicles: If you see yourself as a

modern day Livingstone or a current Kingsley Holgate,

venturing off the beaten track for month-long adven-

turous expeditions with everything including the kitch-

en sink on the roof, then this type of vehicle is going

to do it for. Rugged, reliable, mechanically simple with

a strong repair-it-yourself characteristic, they are slow,

relatively heavier on fuel but extremely capable in the

rough and wild. Three icons that come to mind are the

legendary Land Rover Defender (which sadly is coming

to the end of its life cycle this year), the never-say-die

Toyota Land Cruiser and of course, the Mercedes Benz

Gelandewagen. In AMG mode, the latter has to be the

most powerful, potent, pointless and extravagant SUV

and, of course, is desirable and affordable to oil sheiks and rappers.

2. Luxury SUVs and crossover vehicles: The difference between

an SUV and a Crossover is essentially its platform. While the SUV is

based on a bakkie chassis, the crossover is based on a car’s platform.

The result is that crossovers use a body and frame that is “one-piece”

while SUVs use a body on frame design.

Often seen as status symbols - make no mistake, these versatile

vehicles are highly luxurious and extremely capable both on and

off road. Designed to carry up to seven passengers and their lug-

gage, they are powerful enough to tow a largish caravan over long

distances with ease. Obviously not cheap to buy or maintain, they

remain highly desirable for families where regular holidays are a

norm. Here you would find vehicles like the multi-award winning

Land Rover Discovery, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota’s reliable

Prado as well as Mitsubishi’s Dakar-winning Pajero, to name just a few.

3. True workhorses: You may be misled into believing that these

vehicles are stripped out, bare essential utility vehicles. Nothing is

further from the truth. Yes, these bakkies and their double-cab >>

The market leading Range Rover seen here in a very unfamiliar pink, over-the-top, overkill bodywork that will never be seen off road.

The Land Rover Defender, one of the most legendary icons, will sadly be killed off by year end thanks to strict emission controls and pedestrian safety standards.


CAR REvIEw

sisters are a truly African sales phenomenon. Nowhere else in the

world are these bakkie-based off-road vehicles so revered. Meant to

be an “inexpensive” way to get into the world of off-roading, they are

highly capable; the diesel versions are relatively lighter on fuel than

their SUV cousins; and come with car-like interior comfort features.

Most boast diff locks and low-range gears. The higher ground clear-

ance, huge loading areas and rugged persona are the reasons they

are so popular. In South Africa, the biggest-selling car is not even a

car. It is the Toyota Hilux! Its list of rivals would include the popular

Ford Ranger, the generous-sized Volkswagen Amarok as well as other

smaller-selling rivals such as the Indian Tata Xenon and the Chinese

Foton Tunland.

4. Bakkie-based 4 x 4s: As the name implies, these vehicles are

offshoots of their bakkie brethren, except that instead of a bakkie,

they have a fully integrated seating and luggage area, often for seven

passengers. These vehicles include Toyota’s Fortuna (based on the

Hilux), Ford’s ugly Everest which is based on the Ranger (a new,

handsome one is on its way) and the Mitsubishi Pajero

Sport based on the Triton.

5. Soft roaders: Now it starts getting interesting…here

you get true off-roaders like Suzuki’s Vitara and Jimny

and a wide choice of luxury off-roaders most of which

are happy to travel either in all-wheel permanent mode

or special terrain selection. They could easily contend on

decent gravel and on slippery surfaces, but will battle

in mud, very rocky and deep water conditions. Seen as

stylish fashion statements, they come in different sizes

and their target market is biased towards females. Almost

every manufacturer has at least one on offer. Some of the

more popular ones include Hyundai iX35, Kia Sportage,

Toyota Rav 4, Volvo’s XC range, VW’s Tiguan, the Porsche

Macan and the value-for-money Renault Duster.

So there you have it, simplified! Now go get yourself

one and explore!

Even Tata joined the off-road fray with its Salon Storme that did not make it to our shores.

Soon to receive a face-lift with a new range of engines and new front end, the second most popular double-cab in South Africa, the Ford Ranger, showed us that you can be rugged, versatile and handsome.

Honda's CRV is among the best value for money soft-roaders in the hotly-contested segment.

The Porsche Cayenne was so successful at proving that SUVs can also have sports car handling that the baby Macan was launched to great acclaim.


www.dormac.net • Email: [email protected] Bay, Durban, Cape Town, Saldanha Bay, Walvis Bay

Writer: Ashref Ismail

Crashes occur for a variety of reasons, but most notably because

there was a lack of concentration resulting in insufficient

space and time to bring the car to halt before hitting a hazard.

People tend to be overwhelmed by thoughts that are distract-

ing and now with the increase in the illegal use of mobile phones

while driving, the problem is exacerbated. Add to this the lethal mix

the huge number of poorly trained drivers, fraudulently obtained

licences, alcohol abuse, fatigue, errant pedestrians, stray animals,

potholes and inadequate enforcement, you have a frightening recipe

for disaster which results in an average fatality rate of 40

people per day.

Let me introduce you to an effective system that

will make a huge improvement to your observa-

tion skills and thereby ensure your safety. It is

called the “Commentary Driving System” and is

successfully used by police forces around the

world as well as off road rally competitors.

As the name implies, you give running com-

mentary about everything you see in front of your car,

behind you and on each side and literally talk out loud to

yourself. Sorry passengers, you’re just going to have to bear with the

driver or help to observe as the proverbial back seat driver.

Since it is called a system, you need to be systematic about the way

you observe and prioritise the hazards you encounter. So it is best

that you start your observation by doing a quick exterior pre-trip

inspection (we discussed this in the last edition of PSM, remember?)

followed by an interior pre-trip inspection. Then quickly describe

your mental and physical condition: are you tired, angry, depressed,

worried, anxious, etc. A quick description of the car’s condition will

help you adjust your speed and be more cautious, particularly if you

know that your car’s tyres are worn and/or the brake pads are faulty.

The same applies to your physiological condition – psychologically,

you ought to drive more carefully when you know that your mental

frame is not optimal.

As you set off, quietly describe the weather, the road type you’re

travelling on and pay careful attention to both moving and station-

ary hazards. This means checking your interior rear view mirror every

eight to 10 seconds, exterior mirrors when changing lanes and all the

while giving “commentary” on all moving hazards such as vehicles,

cyclists, pedestrians and animals that are in front of you, behind you

Ashref Ismail is a member of the SA Guild of Motoring Journalists

and is an accredited Advanced Defensive Driving Skills instructor.

He can be contacted on [email protected] or 061 447 8506.

or to the sides. When describing stationary hazards,

make sure that you start with all road signs, especially

warning signs. If you passed a warning sign and you

did not notice it, you have failed!

Remember to search far ahead, not just in front of the

car’s bumper, in that way you will have sufficient time

to identify potential hazards, predict what they will do

and how they will affect your safety, decide on your

course of action (change speed, change direction or

simply hoot) and once you have decided, execute

the manoeuvre swiftly. From “searching” to

“execution” should not take longer than a

few seconds.

Don’t worry if you see more than you

can talk about. The brain has the pow-

er to register every observation, even

if your mouth has not had the chance

to keep up with your eyes. The important

thing is that the brain will process that infor-

mation and enable you to make the necessary adjust-

ments constantly as you are bombarded with visual

stimuli, especially in an urban environment.

In practice then, it would go something like this: while

driving down the street in your suburb, your eyes con-

stantly search the road for hazards and you spot a ball

bouncing into your path (identification). You predict

that a child will come running after the ball, which

truly happens. You decide on the correct action to take,

changing speed or direction and promptly execute

the manoeuvre.

This folks, in Advanced Defensive Driving Skills is

called: “The SIPDE System” and together with the “Com-

mentary Driving System” is a highly effective solution

to improving your observation, safety and driving

pleasure.

Be safe out there.


DEFENSIvE DRIvING

Defensive driving: Anticipating danger

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