psm 2015 october edition

OCTOBER 2015

PUBLIC SECTO

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2015

R30.00 (VAT INCL) SOUTH AFRICA

Dynamic women• Minister Bathabile Dlamini on

building a caring nation • Minister Dipuo Peters steers

transport sector to success

Game changer Poppy Khoza is breaking barriers for women in aviation

Brand identity Commissioner Tom Moyane on rebuilding the image of SARS

Provincial Focus MEC Creecy’s plans to improve financial management in Gauteng

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Regulars10 Conversations with leaders Minister Bathabile Dlamini is spearheading eff orts to build

a caring country

14 Conversations with leaders Minister Dipuo Peters on steering the transport sector to

success

18 Profi les in leadership SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane on rebuilding the brand

22 Vital stats Fast facts at your fi ngertips

26 Upcoming events A look at local and international

events for your diary and information

28 Women in the public sector SACAA CEO Poppy Khoza takes SA's

fl ag to the skies

36 Provincial focus MEC Barbara Creecy

has a fi rm hand on Gauteng’s fi nances

38 In other news News you need to

know while you are on the go

42 Trailblazers SACAA’s Executive

of Legal and Aviation Compliance Mmanare Mamabolo is making a mark for women in the aviation industry

44 International relations President Jacob Zuma unpacks South Africa’s

foreign policy

76 Financial fi tness The importance of drawing up a proper will

78 Public Sector appointments Who is new on PersalContents

October 2015

58

Vital stats Fast facts at your fi ngertips

Upcoming events A look at local and international

events for your diary and information

Women in the public sector SACAA CEO Poppy Khoza takes SA's

fl ag to the skies

Provincial focus MEC Barbara Creecy

has a fi rm hand on Gauteng’s fi nances

In other news News you need to

know while you are on the go

Trailblazers SACAA’s Executive

of Legal and Aviation Compliance Mmanare Mamabolo is making a mark for women in the aviation industry

Features46 Release of crime stats Government to intensify crime fi ghting eff orts

50 Rating SA’s progress Minister Jeff Radebe tracks the 2014 Development Indicators

54 State-owned enterprises to boost the economy SOEs can live up to their potential and deliver on their nation-building mandate

58 Mkuseli Apleni is passionate about public service

DG Apleni on ensuring that those within SA's borders feel safe

62 Gloves come off in fi ght to save water President Jacob Zuma has declared war on water

leaks

66 Upgraded Mthatha Airport a gateway to Eastern Cape

Newly-built airport is likely to transform the economy and landscape in the province

70 Revitalising township economies The Gauteng Provincial Government has

introduced measures to boost township businesses

28

14

Public Sector Manager • October 20152

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74 Opinion SANRAL’s head of Marketing and Communication Vusi Mona shares why South Africans need to be tolerant and forward-thinking

Lifestyle

81 Health and well-being Understanding Down’s Syndrome

84 Food and wine MasterChef South Africa winner Siphokazi Mdlankomo

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90 Car reviews To infi nity and beyond

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MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

The numbers tell the story – currently there are about

16.5 million South Africans who benefi t from social grants.

Not only is this a dramatic increase from the 2.5 million in

1993, but also a clear indication that government is committed to

bettering the lives of the country’s most vulnerable.

As the country commemorates Social Development Month we

can look back with pride at the support we have given to South

Africans over the past two decades.

South Africa’s social assistance programme is making a diff er-

ence in the lives of millions of citizens and deserves to be lauded.

As Minister Bathabile Dlamini pointed out: “Our social assistance

programme continues to draw admirable worldwide attention as

among the most eff ective poverty alleviation initiative ever imple-

mented by this government.

“Together with 16.5 million recipients of the social grants, we

can take great pride in the recent World Bank report “The State

of Safety Nets 2014”, which ranks the child support grant among

the top programmes across the world and the largest in Africa.”

At least 11 million South Africans benefi t from child support

grants.

During this month, government will highlight programmes aimed

at fi ghting poverty and building a caring society.

One such programme is the national service delivery improve-

ment strategy called Project Mikondzo, which means footprints

in Xitsonga.

It refers to the Department of Social Development’s aim to ex-

pand and leave a positive service delivery footprint.

Project Mikondzo targets the poorest wards, which have been

identifi ed and prioritised by Cabinet. It focuses on the marginalised,

vulnerable and those who live in poverty.

To better understand the social challenges these groups face,

administrative staff from the department, South African Social

Security Agency and National Development Agency are based in

communities where they carry out fi eldwork to ensure that access

to services is enhanced and that government adequately responds

to immediate socio-economic challenges of communities.

According to the department, to date Project Mikondzo has been

able to access approximately 870 wards out of 1 800 wards

across South Africa and these visits have allowed it to

understand the diverse needs of various communities.

Government has also made much progress with early

childhood development (ECD) as we strive to address the

needs of children in the fi rst 1 000 days of their lives.

Currently, the number of children benefi tting from ECD

services stands at over 1.3 million and more than 700 000

are subsidised by the state.

While we have a lot to celebrate, we also have a lot to do.

Violence against women and children remains at unac-

ceptable levels and substance abuse continues to destroy

lives and families.

Government is committed to dealing with these scourg-

es and has programmes that do so. Just recently, President

Jacob Zuma visited Eersterust where he and other govern-

ment leaders committed to stepping up eff orts to curb

the drug problem, while Minister Dlamini and her team

have been rolling out White Door Centres across the coun-

try. These serve as temporary shelters, providing accom-

modation and other basic needs such as food, clothing,

counselling and psychosocial support to abused women.

While government will continue with these initiatives

and others, the battle cannot be won by our eff orts alone.

Communities, non-government organisations, religious

organisations and any one else who has an interest in this

country must also step up to the plate and join hands

with government.

For our part, we will continue to work towards ensuring

that South Africa is a better place for all who live in it.

SA’s social development success story

Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.


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Acting Director-General Donald Liphoko.

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Stop the carnage on our roads

If you were to ask a room full of people to put up

their hands if they, or someone they know, had been

involved in a road accident, chances are most people

would raise their hands.

The sad reality is that road accidents take a massive toll

on society and its eff ects are usually devastating. When

breadwinners are involved in fatal crashes they often

leave behind families who face a bleak future without

their loved one or a source of income. Surviving victims

often sustain severe injuries or disability and may be

faced with lifelong incapacity.

The impact on the economy is just as worrying. It is

estimated that more than R300 billion is lost by the

South African economy annually, both directly and in-

directly, because of road crashes.

South Africa has one of the worst safety records in

the world, and over 80 per cent of crashes are caused

by human factors. The fact that 40 people die on our

roads every day is tragic.

Often when people speak of road accidents the ques-

tion is: “What is government doing to stop the carnage?”

Quite simply, government is doing a lot.

Government is committed to taking unroadworthy

vehicles off the road. We also continually

concentrate on ensuring better traffi c

management, educating drivers,

ensuring better road engineering

and better enforcement.

However, these interventions

without the support and coop-

eration of motorists will never

be enough.

Government, therefore, ap-

peals to all road users to

obey the rules of

the road and keep to the speed limit. All front seat oc-

cupants of a vehicle must wear a seat belt. Adults must

place younger passengers in car seats and insist that

everyone buckles up. If you are intoxicated, you should

not drive but seek alternative transport methods.

The onus rests on all of us to ensure that our vehicles

are well maintained and roadworthy. Drivers of buses,

taxis, light delivery vehicles and heavy motor vehicles

are duty bound to ensure that their vehicles are fully

roadworthy.

We must reach a point where we all agree that road

safety is everyone’s business and acknowledge that bad

driving destroys lives.

This October, during Transport Month, government

will concentrate on four key pillars related to transport,

which are all interlinked.

Government will highlight that jobs have been, and

will be created, through infrastructure and other ser-

vice delivery programmes in the transport sector. We

will showcase major infrastructure developments or

improvements and show their impact on the economy.

There will be special transport-related programmes

aimed at the youth and women. Lastly, we will rally all

sectors of society to make road safety a priority.

Earlier this year the Department of Transport reaf-

fi rmed that it would concentrate on the maintenance

of road infrastructure, upgrading rail infrastructure and

services, as well as building and operating our public

transportation in line with the National Development

Plan.

Billions will be spent over the next few years to im-

prove and develop new road infrastructure, upgrade

and further develop our rail and train networks. We will

continue to invest heavily in public transport, which

will form the backbone of future mobility, as well as

the aviation and maritime industries.

We are convinced that our interventions and invest-

ment in transport will ensure that we change the lives

of people. Our eff orts to make transport the heartbeat

of the economy and society will ensure that together

we move South Africa forward.



conversations with the leaders

Minister Dlamini spearheads eff orts to build a caring country

W ith an Honours degree in social work on the

one hand and practical experience in the fi eld

on the other, it is clear that Social Development

Minister Bathabile Dlamini truly cares about the social well-

being of South Africans.

This concern for the welfare of others is spurring on the

Minister and her department to develop programmes

to create a more caring society.

As the country commemorates Social Development

Month during October, Noluthando Mkhize found

out more about these efforts.

In 1989, Minister Dlamini graduated from the Univer-

sity of Zululand in KwaZulu-Natal with a Bachelor of Arts

(Honours degree) in Social Work, which she passed with

distinction. She then put this knowledge into practice,

working as a social worker at a non-profit organisation

called the Pietermaritzburg Cripples Association in

KwaZulu-Natal in the 1990s.

It was during this time, says the Minister, that she re-

alised that social assistance programmes for families

living in poverty needed to be the cornerstone of the

government’s support to these families.

“Over the years the Department of Social Develop-

ment has contributed to implementing government’s

comprehensive social security strategy through social

assistance programmes,” she points out.

Social grants are an integral part of the programme.

“There are currently over 16 million persons receiving

social grants in South Africa.”

According to Minister Dlamini, of these 11 million

are children, three million are senior citizens receiving

older persons' grants and about 600 receive the war

veterans’ grant.

Fighting fraud and corruption The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which

administers social grants, has had its fair share of fraud

and corruption-related cases but Minister Dlamini says

her department is fighting this scourge through its fraud

prevention strategy.

“It is pleasing to note that our fraud prevention strat-

egy, which we have rigorously employed over the past

few years, is having the desired impact.

“This can be seen in the number of cases recorded

year-on-year from the 2013/14 financial year to date.

Between April 2013 and March 2014 about 3 571 cases

Public Sector Manager • October 2015 11

were captured on the Fraud Case Management System.

At the end of January 2015, only over 1 000 cases were

captured.”

According to Minister Dlamini, the decline is an indica-

tion that the department is winning the fi ght against fraud

and corruption.

“Since 2010, 261 officials have been suspended,

five were dismissed, five convicted of fraud and

12 resigned before disciplinary hearings.”

In 2012 the department embarked on a process of re-

registering grant benefi ciaries to root out ‘ghost’ benefi ciar-

ies and ensure that grants are paid out only to existing and

deserving South Africans.

“Through the re-registration process we eliminated fraud

and corruption and created a conducive environment for

SASSA to have a solid database of all benefi ciaries, which

enables it to pay the right grant, to the right person, at

the right place.”

She says at the end of the re-registration process more

than 300 000 fraudulent payments, which included dupli-

cated grants, were cancelled.

Adoption process to run smoother Another priority of the department is safeguarding the

interests of children.

It proposed amendments to the Children’s (Act 38 of 2005)

which will allow social workers employed by government to

process child adoption applications, as opposed to this being

done only by adoption agencies.

Currently, adoption services are provided by social workers in

private practice and child protection organisations accredited

by the department to render adoption services, explains the

Minister.

“These service providers charge fees for the services that they

provide. By implication it means that all the people who cannot

aff ord to pay for adoption services, but are willing to adopt a

child, are excluded from accessing the service.”

She adds that social service delivery is the responsibility of

the state, private sector and civil organisations, and it was not

proper that adoption was left in the hands of the private sector

and child protection organisations.

“The omission of the department’s social workers in the

process of adoption, as stated in the Children’s Act, was an

oversight from my department’s side,” she acknowledges.

“The use of private adoption services or public adoption ser-

vices from the department should be a matter of choice by

people who are willing to adopt children.”

The foster care programmeThere are more than two million orphans in the country and

the department is constantly looking at ways to improve foster

care.

Minister Dlamini has appointed a committee on foster care

that is expected to develop standard practices for providing

care for children needing foster care.

“The work of the ministerial committee on foster care is ongo-

ing. The committee is busy conducting a detailed evaluation

of the foster care programme countrywide. This involves an

evaluation of systems and stakeholders active in this fi eld. The

intention is to obtain evidence, which can be used to infl u-

ence policy.”

“The next stage will be a comprehensive research project into

the eff ectiveness of the foster care programme. Once its work is

concluded the committee will advise us on measures that may

be considered to improve the quality of foster care services.”

In the meantime, the department has over 130 000 children

on the orphaned and vulnerable children’s register.

“These children are beneficiaries of services rendered

through the Isibindi model.”

The Isibindi model is a social development initiative >>

that deploys trained community-based child and youth care

workers in communities to provide care, protection and devel-

opmental support to vulnerable children and families.

“The department trains child and youth care workers who in

return provide direct support to orphaned and vulnerable chil-

dren in their homes through life skills programmes.”

According to the Minister, more than 2 000 children, youth and

persons with disabilities have also received services through the

Isibindi model.

Combating substance abuse Government is committed to curbing substance abuse, says

Minister Dlamini.

She points out that government has developed and imple-

mented the Prevention of and Treatment for Substance Abuse

Act (Act 70 0f 2008).

“Cabinet has also established the Inter Ministerial Committee

(IMC) on Combating Substance Abuse, led by the DSD to advance

policy interventions on these matters.”

The IMC has developed the Integrated Anti-Substance Abuse

Programme based on resolutions from nine provincial summits

and the national summit held in 2011.

Government also established the Central Drug Authority and

reviewed the National Drug Master Plan 2013-2017 to respond to

the supply, demand and harm caused by drugs and substances

in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.

“In line with the view that drug use disorders are preventable

and treatable, we have rolled out community-based programmes

to create awareness and promote prevention programmes tar-

geting all communities, especially the youth.”

“Government has also established seven public treatment cen-

tres, three in the Western Cape, one in Gauteng, one in Mpu-

malanga and two in KwaZulu-Natal. We have put aside funds to

construct six more public treatment centres to ensure that each

province has at least one public treatment centre.”

The new centres will be established in the Limpopo, North

West, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape.

Improving social development servicesMinister Dlamini established a ministerial committee to assist

in reviewing the implementation of the White Paper on Social

Welfare, which is the main policy framework that looks at the

provision of social development services in the country.

When the committee presented its findings to Minister Dlamini

recently it noted that funding disparities on poverty, basic hu-

man needs and the social development priorities

had been reduced.

The committee also noted variations in budget

allocations per province for these areas. For ex-

ample, in the 2015/16 financial year, the Eastern

Cape allocated R264 per poor child while Gauteng

allocated R1 323. KwaZulu-Natal allocates R2 per

poor person while the Northern Cape allocates R79.

The committee suggested that there is a need to

standardise budget allocations across provinces.

The committee was also encouraged that there

are many new and amended policies, legislation

and programmes to address poverty, basic human

needs and the social development priorities of all

people.

The final report is expected to be submitted to

Minister Dlamini by March 2016.

Strengthening the family systemMinister Dlamini believes a caring nation can only

be created through a strong family system.

“We believe South Africans must promote and

protect the family unit as a way of fighting social

challenges facing the country.”

As part of efforts to create a functional family

system, the department has put forward proposals

on how South African families should be supported

through the White Paper on Families.

“Specific programmes to strengthen families in-

clude, among others, parenting programmes, mar-

riage preparation and enrichment programmes,

mediation programmes, reunification programmes,

fatherhood programmes, programmes for families

in crisis and the implementation of a framework

on positive values.”

Minister Dlamini believes every South African

should share her concern for the social welfare of

the country ’s citizens.

She says fighting social ills cannot be the respon-

sibility of her department alone and must be ad-

dressed in conjunction with every member of the

community.

“This is the only way to move South Africa forward

away from social ills,” the Minister adds.



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Writer: Chris Bathembu Photographer: Kopano Tlapeconversations with the leaders

A n affordable, safe and reliable public transport

system - that is what Transport Minister Dipuo Peters

and her department is working towards.

As the country marks Transport Month in October, Min-

ister Peters says her department is beefi ng up its policies

and is optimistic that increased investments in transport

infrastructure will set up South Africa up as a transport hub

for southern Africa.

While South Africa has modern and well-developed trans-

port infrastructure, some argue that decades of underinvest-

ment in the maintenance and development of transport

networks have hampered what could have been otherwise

fast economic growth.

But in a wide-ranging interview with PSM recently, Minister

Peters said government was beginning to turn the corner to

ensure that the transport sector meets the growth demands

of South Africa’s economy.

Attracting young people to the transport industryGiven the role that the transport sector plays in the economy,

the Minister says it is important that government invests heav-

ily in the sector and that it must attract the skills of young

people.

“I’m happy to say we are working with a number of universi-

ties, including the University of Johannesburg, to ensure that

students who are studying in the fi eld of transport can be the

ambassadors of the transport sector.

“We have sent more than 30 young people to do their post-

graduate studies at the World Maritime University in Sweden.

We are also sending some to Japan so that we make sure we

bring in these skills,” says Minister Peters.

South Africa has the largest maritime industry in the con-

tinent, with major shipping lanes passing along the South

African coastline in the South Atlantic and Indian oceans.

More than 95 per cent of the country’s exports are conveyed

Minister Peters is steering the transport sector to success


by sea, and the eight commercial ports are the chan-

nels for trade between South Africa and its southern

African partners, as well as hubs for traffi c to and from

Europe, Asia, the Americas and the east and west coasts

of Africa.

Minister Peters says South Africa’s universities will

be crucial to supplying the critical skills the industry

demands to grow the economy and create jobs.

Developing the skills needed and attracting more

young people to the industry will help address some of

the challenges it faces, which include the decline of the

shipbuilding industry and the fact thaet very few com-

panies are operating ships registered in South Africa.

Transforming the rail industry Maritime is not the only industry that the department

is eyeing for major reforms; rail is also on its list.

The problem of aging rail infrastructure, which the

government has begun to address, has been a major

area of concern. South Africa has an extensive rail

network – the 14th longest in the world – connecting

with networks in the sub-Saharan region. The country’s

rail infrastructure, which connects the ports with the

rest of South Africa, represents about 80 per cent of

Africa’s total.

Government is investing more than R53 billion in

a facility that will enable South Africa to produce its

own trains. The country’s rolling stock is more than 50

years old and Minister Peters acknowledges that this

is not acceptable.

“We have arrived at a point where we have to make

it possible to revitalise our rail system. We also want

to make sure that we don’t export the resources that

we have. We will be building our own academy where we will train

artisans, technicians and train drivers,” she adds.

More than 600 trains will be bought and 580 of these will be built in

South Africa, while 20 will be imported from Brazil.

On the issues overshadowing the Passenger Rail Agency of

South Africa (PRASA), Minister Peters is confi dent that the chal-

lenges can be overcome.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, who conducted an investigation

into the aff airs of PRASA, found widespread evidence of maladminis-

tration, improper conduct and nepotism at the organisation.

Minister Peters says she is concerned about the developments

at PRASA but adds that the organisation is working to resolve the

problems.

“I want to indicate that we have reports and the Auditor-General

went back to previous years to show me of they have been raising

red fl ags about the procurement challenges at PRASA so the problems

are not starting now.

“But let me also indicate that PRASA employs more than 18 000

people and the majority are competent and committed to delivering

services to our people - this is what we need to focus on.”

The Minister adds that some of the biggest challenges at PRASA are

being linked to infrastructure, such as ineff ective signalling for trains.

“It is important that we get our systems organised. We need to

strengthen the security of commuters as well as the challenges related

to cable and metal theft. However, challenges are never insurmount-

able. It would be wrong of us not to address challenges and this is

what we are doing at PRASA.”

SANRAL to continue to improve road network On the improvements of the country’s road network, Minister Peters

says the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) will

continue to be at the forefront of improvements.

While the Department of Transport is responsible for overall policy, >>


road building and maintenance is the responsibil-

ity of SANRAL as well as the nine provinces and

local governments. Approximately 19 per cent

of national roads are toll roads, most of which

are maintained by SANRAL. A multibill ion rand

freeway improvement scheme was implemented

in Gauteng in 2007 and has significantly eased

congestion on the province’s roads. But the deci-

sion to introduce e-tolls to pay for the project ’s

costs has been met with some opposition.

But Minister Peters says following a revised fee

plan announced by government in May, com-

munities in Gauteng have accepted e-tolls and

are beginning to pay.

In terms the new dispensation, all road users –

with or without a SANRAL account – will pay, but

at an affordable, capped monthly rate, with light

vehicle owners only paying 30c per km.

“Our people were saying that the amount they

had to pay was a bit high. Also people were not

sure exactly how much they were going to pay

on a monthly basis, so I would say in the first

dispensation, there was no proper planning. The cur-

rent dispensation is more manageable, more user-

friendly and acceptable.”

Transport Month She says the Department of Transport will continue to

use Transport Month to highlight issues of road safety,

job creation and the role of women in transport.

“Our goal is to get everyone to understand that trans-

port is not supposed to be a killer. I t is supposed to

be an enabler and facilitator.”

In 2011, South Africa joined the world in implement-

ing the United Nations (UN) Decade of Action for Road

Safety, which runs until 2020.One of the key elements

of this campaign is to halve road fatalities by 2015. This

year South Africa will be expected to report to the UN

on what it was doing to reduce the number of road

deaths and injuries.

“ In the end, as a country, we want to ensure that

there is secure, reliable and affordable transport. This

is why the investment is growing, both on roads and

freight,” says Minister Peters.

Women in transport While there are many women participating in the trans-

port sector, the Minister believes more can be done.

“We need to ask ourselves what are we doing as the

Department of Transport and entities of the depart-

ment to assist women in transport. One of the things

I say to women is that if the President can appoint a

woman as the Minister of Transport, it means there’s

a place for women in the this sector and those who

are entrepreneurs should get involved.

“We are going to include in the performance agree-

ments of all CEOs, Directors-General and Deputy Di-

rectors-General a target to achieve women empower-

ment,” she adds.

With the department's many initiatives to improve

and develop the transport industry, the road ahead is

guaranteed to deliver a smoother ride.



Government is working hard to improve the country's road network.

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ProFiles in leadershiP Writer: *Sandile Memela

Re-imagining the SARS identityThere is a clear and coherent progressive mindset to

the newly appointed Commissioner of the South

African Revenue Service (SARS) Tom Moyane.

It marks a sharp turning point in the image and role of

SARS and how it will be perceived.

The sense of urgency, decisiveness, insight, principled

commitment and stubborn hands-on approach of the

man who has to restore the credibility and integrity of

SARS, for example, is sure to impact on staff morale, public

perception, national confi dence and, above all, govern-

ment fi scus.

In a word, it is about refocusing the energy of the

organisation, rebuilding public trust and making the

staff the epicentre that holds everything together

at SARS.

It is envisaged that for the next fi ve years until

2019, Moyane’s priorities will be, primarily, to em-

phasise revenue collection, mobilise citizens and

corporates to pay tax and galvanise more than

14 000 staff around the country to reclaim SARS as

their organisation.

A qualifi ed economist, Moyane was appointed Com-

missioner in September 2014, an announcement he

says he was pleasantly surprised by.


“I must say that I was positively surprised by this level of ac-

knowledgement and honour. As much as one always dreams

of doing something big in the service of the country and the

people, I did not think it would be at this level.

“I am deeply humbled and have taken this in my stride to

work together with everyone to make SARS the institution that

it deserves to be. In fact, this is not about me but a team that

will make the country and continent very proud,” said Moyane.

He plans to focus on the signifi cant achievements of the

past 12 months that have been overshadowed by a barrage

of negative and hostile media coverage.

Celebrating successThese successes include the launch of the National Revenue

Forum, receiving a clean audit, increasing arrests at ports of

entry, changing the operating model and organisational trans-

formation, among others.

Since July, Moyane has elevated the new structural changes

to eff ect visible transformation to redefi ne the core mandate

of SARS.

He speaks with passionate intensity about ideals and values

of the organisation that should be aligned to the Constitu-

tion of the country to promote pride, integrity and morality

among staff and citizens.

Moyane is also implementing plans to recreate a SARS that

is punctuated by a culture of openness, transparency and

fearlessness to speak truth to power.

This is to encourage staff and citizens, if they will, to reassert

the reputation of the entity as the epitome of what is excellent

and great about the country.

At a long-awaited National Management Forum at Birch-

wood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni recently, Moyane

convened a much-anticipated no-holds-barred interactive

session with top executives to take stock of the organisation.

The thrust of the gathering was to dispel myths, take stock

of the past year and chart the way forward. Above all, it was

to bring in the new structural changes.

In the room were 120 top executives from all over the coun-

try who make up the leadership and management of the

organisation.

They were joined by the chairperson of the Advisory Board,

Judge Frank Kroon, and two board members.

A new way of doing thingsMoyane spoke with the candidness of a man with nothing

to hide.

“The new operating model will reduce the risk associated

with the concentration of various, unique functions under

the leadership of a single individual. This was the case under

one single division, which controlled over 70 per cent of the

organisation.

“In fact, it practically demonstrated that cabals with too

much power in the hands of a few can truly destroy an

organisation. This was a very unhealthy and dangerous struc-

ture that cannibalised other key functions,” said Moyane.

In a sudden optimistic change of tone, he confessed to

a desire to rebuild an organisational culture that promotes

active citizenry and inclusiveness to give a sense of belonging

and ownership, especially to staff .

“It has been almost a year since we took stewardship of this

great institution. We are here to make a commitment that we

must break with the unhealthy horrors of the past to embrace

that which is new, sustainable and great.

“We need to have a progressive leadership that crafts a new

vision and creates a culture where people speak truth to pow-

er. We have to learn to face honest facts about our realities.”

He stressed the need for a people-centric philosophy that

puts the staff fi rst.

“There has been much anxiety and excitement around the

introduction of the new operating model. But this structural

adjustment programme is about all of us embarking on a

journey that will create a big diff erence in the organisational

culture, staff , clients and people of this country, at large,” he

added.

Radical change on the cardsMoyane has made it known that he wants to see a radical

change in how SARS operates. This is to be eff ected, latest, by

the beginning of the new fi nancial year in 2016.

“We all are of the same mind about the future SARS that

we want to see happen in our lifetime. No doubt, it must be

a pride of the nation, trusted by all.

“This is a continuation of the journey for a better un-

derstanding by all parties. We believe our staff re-

main an essential segment of this administration. >>


“In fact, we believe that our employees are the most important asset

in the service delivery model of our country.

“They are the lifeblood of the government’s service delivery pro-

gramme. Thus a dysfunctional SARS is not an option,” said Moyane.

Moyane spoke about using SARS to drive citizen activism and

corporate responsibility. In fact, he plans to use the two pillar of busi-

ness, that is, Business and Individual Tax and Customs and Excise to

drive the organisation’s agenda. This will support the core mandate.

Optimising human capitalHe also stressed the need to focus on the human element.

“My big question is how much have we spent on the develop-

ment and training of our own staff that are the greatest engine of

this organisation?

“We must recognise and accept that technology by itself cannot

bring discipline, good people and excellent strategies or high-level

performances do.”

Moyane pointed out that SARS was not about technology and

opulent buildings.

“We have achieved all that we have because we have a resilient

team of proud and hardworking specialists, professionals and work-

ers who make us what we are.

“As a result, we will optimise our human capital endowment to

create a more efficient and effective approach to meet the service

delivery requirements across the entire organisation.

“This means we will review the modernisation strategy to make

sure that we get value for money. We need to go back to basics

to give the organisation a human face that people can relate to,”

said Moyane.

Modernisation programmeThe ICT modernisation programme is under review by

reputable IT governance organisation, Gartner. It has

noted, with concern, the lack of governance in some

of the procurement process.

“The organisation is what it is because of its staff. No

single leader can be greater than the organisation,” said

Moyane.

“We need a radical shift in attitude of individuals to

meet their national obligations of paying their taxes.

The training and upskilling of our staff will make this

easier to achieve,” said Moyane.

The revision of SARS values to be aligned to the con-

stitutional principles and ideals will intuitively connect

with the people inside and outside the organisation.

Echoing the sentiments of Vision 2030, Moyane said:

“We will turn our programmatic goals into practical

interventions that promote the ideals, principles and

values of this country, especially the fairness, account-

ability, integrity and respect for the Constitution.

“In fact, these must become an inherent part of the

character of the people that work for this organisation.

We are the custodians of the integrity of this nation.”

Public service experience Moyane has spent many years in the public service.

His qualifications include a BSc Economics from the

Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique.

As a development economist, Moyane served, until

recently, as the Advisor on Turnaround and Security

Strategies at the State Information Technology Agency.

He is a former National Commissioner for the Depart-

ment of Correctional Services and has also served as

Chief Executive Officer for the Government Printing

Works.

Moyane was also Managing Director for Engen Mo-

zambique as well as Regional Coordinator for the Re-

gional Spatial Development Initiatives and Chief Di-

rector for Industry and Enterprise Development at the

Department of Trade and Industry.

Before joining SARS he was Commissioner at the De-

partment of Correctional Services.

*Sandile Memela, Executive: Media and Public

Relations at SARS.

ProFiles in leadershiP


vital stats

Fast facts at your fi ngertipsPaving the way for development

Compiled by: Dorris Simpson

Medupi Power Station to empower SA’s economy Medupi is a green-fi elds power plant comprising six units rated in

total of 5 764 megawatts (MW) installed capacity. Its completion is

expected to grow South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by

about 0.35 per cent a year. President Jacob Zuma offi cially opened

Unit 6 of Medupi recently. The President also used the occasion to

detail some of the benefi ts of Medupi in stimulating the Lepha-

lale region and Limpopo. Eskom Acting CEO Brian Molefe said

the unit would enable the utility to supply South African homes

and businesses and empower economic expansion to millions.

• Construction activities at the plant started in 2007 and the

station is planned to be fully operational in 2019.

• Unit 6 is expected to add at least 800 MW to the national power

grid.

• Lephalale’s GDP has increased by about 95 per cent per year

as a result of the constructions, while creating jobs for about

18 000 construction employees and 2 000 supporting staff

sourced mostly from the local areas.

• The project contributed to the improvement of local skills and

South African companies were prioritised for procurement and

obtained 62 per cent of the R75 billion worth of contracts.

• Eskom built 995 houses and bought 321 fl ats at a cost of

R1 billion in the Lephalale area.

• Other benefi ts of the Medupi project included skills develop-

ment and investment in excess of R2.3 billion in infrastructure

and socio-economic development initiatives in Lephalale.

Source: SAnews.gov.za

Assessing progressPresident Zuma recently provided an update on the

work done thus far in the implementation of the fi rst

year of the Medium Term Strategic Framework, based

on the programmes outlined in the State of the Na-

tion Address in February. The President indicated that

the South African economy, as with many economies

in the world, continued to struggle to fully regain its

pre-fi nancial crisis growth momentum.

“We have decided to look inward for growth opportu-

nities, hence the development of the Nine Point Plan

that we announced in February,” said President Zuma.

Industrial Policy Action Plan • Government support has taken the automotive

sector from the production of 356 800 units in the

year 2000 to over 566 000 units in 2014.

• This support has grown auto exports from 11 000

units in 1995 to over 270 000 units in 2014. This

resulted in 300 000 jobs in the automotive sector.

Auto sector, agro-processing and electronics• Some of the investments in the auto, agro-pro-

cessing and electronics sector include R5 billion

by Mercedes Benz, R3 billion by Ford and R4 billion

by Unilever, in four plants over the past four years,

and R228 million from Samsung.

• There was a strong turnaround in manufacturing


exports. Auto exports amounted to R115 billion in

2014, which is 12.7 per cent of total exports in the

country.

• By the end of March this year, R3.7 billion in support

of the private sector, had been approved since the

inception of the Clothing and Textile Competitive

Programme in 2010.

• Since 2009, the Department of Trade and Industry

(the dti) supported agro-processing industries, to

the value of R1.2 billion through various schemes.

Industrial development • The Black Industrialist Programme, designed to

transform the manufacturing sector and unlock the

potential of black entrepreneurs, was introduced.

• Initial funding of R1 billion has been secured from

the dti for the 2015/16 fi nancial year, and R23 billion

from the Industrial Development Corporation for the

next three fi nancial years.

Infrastructure development• Government and public agencies invested just over

R1 trillion in infrastructure between 2009 and 2014.

• The investments are in energy, road, rail, ports, public

transport, bulk water and sanitation, hospitals, basic

and higher education infrastructure and innovative

projects, such as the Square Kilometre Array and

Meerkat.

• From 2009 to date, 41 351 km of fi bre optic cables have been

rolled out to provide the broadband capability for the economy.

Agriculture• Notable progress has been made in the development of Agri-Parks,

with 43 of the 44 sites having been identifi ed. One Agri-Park is

ready to be launched in the North West.

Basic education• The 2014 Annual National Assessments results indicated that

Grade 3 targets in both literacy and numeracy have been ex-

ceeded, including Grade 6 Home Language.

• Performance in Grade 6 and 9 Maths and First Additional Language

is still below par.

• The implementation of the Maths, Science and Technology Strat-

egy will be strengthened in all schools.

• In addition, government will ensure improved teacher supply,

training and development.

Health • On the health front, South Africa has been praised by the United

Nations AIDS programme for its successful response to HIV and

AIDS.

• Access to antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV and

AIDS was expanded to 3.1 million people, exceeding the 2014/15

target of three million.

• The screening for tuberculosis has been expanded, with 15.2 mil-

lion people reached, which exceeded the target of six million.

Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy• Cabinet approved the fi nal amendments to the Broadcast-

ing Digital Migration Policy, which unlocked the project to

enable implementation.

• Cabinet also approved the decision for government to pro-

vide free set-top-boxes to the fi ve million poor TV-owning

households.

• To date, the Ministry of Communications has concluded

and signed Bilateral Engagements with neighbouring coun-

tries, including Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho

and Swaziland, in order to minimise cross-border radio fre-

quency spectrum interference.


A HOL IST IC APPROACH TO DEL IVER ING SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED SETTLEMENTSThe National Development Plan (NDP) aims at achieving comprehensive delivery of much needed services to communities. Over the past few years, substantial progress has been made in migrating from the defunct mandate of housing to embrace the sustainable integrated human settlements model.

Mpumalanga Human Settlements MEC, Violet Siwela, declared the Department should approach the roll-out of projects in line with this broadened mandate.

Advertorial • Mpumalanga

The Depar tment ’s Mandate

Sustainable human settlements are defined as well managed entities where economic growth and social development are in balance with a carrying capacity of the natural systems on which they depend for existence and result in sustainable development, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and equity.

The South African Constitution mandates the Department of Human Settlements to provide adequate housing and integrated human settlements. Section 26 of the Constitution emphasises the centrality of the Department’s role in coordinating the development of sustainable integrated human settlements. The Department is therefore well positioned to facilitate coordinated planning towards the realisation of progressive development.

Emthonjeni Community Residential Units Project, Emakhazeni Local Municipality

A Community Hall at Mashishing, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality

MEC: Ms. Violet Siwela

CFO: Mr. Dumisani Shipalana

HOD: Mr. Kebone Masange

Spokesperson: Mr. Freddy Ngobe

MEC, Violet Siwela

Focus on Fast Growing TownsTo ensure the development of integrated human settlements, the Department is focusing on fast growing towns. Commonly known as the Breaking New Ground initiative (BNG), planning for integrated projects and delivery of infrastructure were recorded at the Mbombela, eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete, Govan Mbeki, Bushbuckridge, Victor Khanye and Umjindi Local Municipalities. Similar projects which have evidenced considerable development include the much talked about Klarient at eMalahleni and Standerton, Lekwa Local Municipalities. Supported by other role players, these interventions also address the ageing infrastructure (water and sanitation) and new major infrastructure projects in municipalities. In the process, the Department focuses on internal reticulation.

Revitalising Mining TownsTo improve socio-economic conditions, special attention is also being given towards revitalising distressed mining towns with a view to advance the living conditions of communities living at eMalahleni, Steve Tshwete and Thaba Chweu Local Municipalities. The revitalisation of mining towns seeks to mitigate challenges bedevilling these areas after mines have either shut down or retrenched employees, leading to dwindling infrastructure and economic slump.

MEC Siwela said, “Given this intervention, it remains our belief that a turnaround in development will be realised, leading to expansive economic activities and better living conditions.” She added that the Department is required to go beyond just building houses by ensuring the

facilitation of sustainable integrated human settlements with the provision of basic services to households and other amenities.

Issuing of Title DeedsTo restore dignity, pride and a sense of property ownership, the Department has so far issued nearly 6 500 title deeds which translates to 64% of the total planned target of 10 000 to be handed out this financial year. Title deeds will continue to be handed over throughout the province as soon as they are released by the deeds office. “I would like to urge the beneficiaries to safeguard their title deeds and use them to improve their livelihood,” charges MEC Siwela. In normalising the rental sector, the Mpumalanga Rental Housing Tribunal is continuing to mediate and resolve rental cases or disputes between landlords and tenants. The existence of the tribunal and issuing of title deeds is in a way ensuring that people’s rights are respected and restored as espoused by the Constitution.

General DeliverySince the beginning of the 2015/16 financial year, the Department has been

hard at work delivering over 17 500 housing opportunities, which comprises of 9 301 housing units and 8 260 sites across the province. By the same token, the Department has prioritised servicing of sites in order to ensure that water, sanitation, electricity and access roads are implemented before top structures (houses). Fully serviced stands will be made available for beneficiaries who want to build their own houses, thereby ensuring social cohesion among people of various income brackets.

Whilst delivering on major infrastructure projects, the Department is not neglecting the rural parts of the Province. Rural communities are being supported through Rural Housing, Farm Worker and People’s Housing Process Programmes that will yield a total of 3 493 housing opportunities in this financial year.

By sustaining previously marginalised groups, the Department continues to support women contractors with a budget of R217-million to deliver projects in various parts of the Province. This programme seeks to aid women contractors to fully participate in the construction value-chain. Regarding youth empowerment, R70-million has been made available for youth enterprise development training through the recently launched Youth Brigade Programme. With such plans in focus, it is clear that it will assist in dealing with the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality in distressing communities. The Department has a budget of R1.677-billion to deliver on its mandate of coordinating integrated sustainable human settlements for the 2015/16 financial year.

CONTACT DETAILSBuilding No. 6 & 7, No 7 Government Boulevard, Riverside Park, Mbombela, 1200 • Tel: +27 13 766 6088 • Fax: +27 13 766 8441 • Web: www.dhs.mpg.gov.za

Mpumalanga • Advertorial

Youth Brigade Launch in Nkomazi

Titlle deeds hand over celebrations

Klarinet Integrated Project at eMalahleni Local Municipality

uPcominG events Compiled by: Maselaelo Seshotli

GovTech conference 25 – 28 October 2015The State Information Technology Agency (SITA) will this year host the 10th instalment

of the government technology conference, which has become popularly known as

GovTech.

The conference is a great Information and Communications Technology (ICT) plat-

form for the leading industry players and their associated innovations in the ongoing

quest to fi nd practical and progressive solutions to a developing nation using ICT tools.

The theme for this year’s event is “Partnering for Service Delivery” and the sub theme

is “Connecting Communities for Development and Growth”.

The 2015 conference will refl ect on the journey travelled thus far by South Africans

both in the public and private sector spaces as they work together to transform the

problem that was once ICT and make it responsive to societal challenges.

The event will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre

in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

For more information go to www.govtech.co.za

Sports and Events Tourism Exchange 2015 27 – 29 October 2015Sports and Events Tourism Ex-

change (SETE) has become a signifi -

cant event in the sports and events

tourism calendar and is aimed at

positioning South Africa as a sports

and events tourism destination.

The event is now in its fi fth year

and will be hosted by the City of

Tshwane.

Since its inception the SETE has

become the meeting place for key

decision-makers in the sports and

events tourism industry to network,

do business and debate issues of

national importance aff ecting the

growth of the sports and events

tourism sector.

International buyers from over 20

countries were hosted over the past

three years resulting in estimated

business of over R30 million for the

South African sports and events

tourism industry.

A new partnership with the City

of Tshwane means that for the next

three years Tshwane will be the

home of SETE.

This year’s event will take place

from 27 to 29 October 2015 at the

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn, east

of Pretoria.

The two-day conference and

table top exhibition will focus on

golf tourism, the business of sport,

and trends in the sports and events

tourism industry, which are among

the key issues to be debated at this

year’s conference.

For more information go to

www.sportsandevents.co.za

Eastern Cape Maritime Summit 2015 13 November 2015As the biggest and most comprehensive maritime initiative in the region, the Eastern

Cape Maritime Summit draws participants from every sector of the maritime economy.

These include policy-makers, funders, investment agencies, existing maritime busi-

nesses, entrepreneurs, conservationists, researchers, media and the public.

The summit provides a platform for business-to-business discussions and trade

between maritime industry players across South Africa, with specifi c application to

the stimulation of the ocean economy in the region.

It also provides local business people, the rest of the country, continent and globe

the opportunity to understand the business environment as well as network with its

stakeholders at the heart of Africa’s maritime economy.

It is hosted by, among others, the Department of Transport, Transnet, National Re-

search Foundation, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality and National Sea Rescue Insti-

tute.

The one-day event will take place at the Boardwalk Convention Centre, Port Elizabeth

in the Eastern Cape.

For more information go to www.maritimesummit.co.za


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Poppy Khoza is flying SA’s flag high

The aviation industry is historically dominated by men,

not only in South Africa, but across the world. One can

probably count on one hand the number of historically

disadvantaged individuals, particularly African women, who

hold meaningful positions in aviation. Poppy Khoza, who heads

the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) as Direc-

tor of Civil Aviation (CEO), is one of these few young female

pioneers in aviation.

She shared her thoughts with PSM on the civil aviation in-

dustry and how South Africa measures up to the rest of the

world.

“South Africa’s civil aviation safety and security sector is held

in high regard by peers across the world. This is not just a self-

gratification claim but an assertion held by many independ-

ent and reputable international organisations responsible for

upholding global aviation safety and security standards. In

fact, in several instances South Africa is regarded as a pioneer

in the aviation field,” Khoza explained.

Safety and securityFor almost seven decades South Africa has been a signatory

state to the Chicago Convention of 1944, which established

the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a

specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) that sets

international standards and regulations necessary for safe,

secure and efficient air transport. This means that South

Africa is expected to exercise civil aviation safety and security

oversight in line with ICAO standards and recommended

practices.

According to Khoza, ICAO member states are expected,

through their respective civil aviation authorities, to imple-

ment safety and security oversight critical elements, as de-

fined by ICAO, in a way that assumes the shared responsibility

of the state and the aviation community.

Critical elements of a safety and security oversight system

encompass all civil aviation activities, including areas such as

aerodromes, air traffic control, communications, personnel

women in the Public sector


licensing, flight operations, airworthiness of aircraft, accident

investigation and transportation of dangerous goods.

ICAO and other reputable global civil aviation organisations

use these elements during their auditing of a country’s

oversight capability. These auditing exercises are aimed at

determining a particular country’s level of compliance with

globally accepted civil aviation safety and security standards.

SA raising the barKhoza indicated that South Africa was doing very well in

terms of compliance with the set international civil aviation

standards.

“South Africa’s level of effective implementation of ICAO’s

eight safety and security critical elements is rated at 84 per

cent; which is above the world average of 62 per cent. The

84 per cent excludes progress made since ICAO’s last audit

in 2013 and the accident investigation function, which was

not audited. When taking these two into account, our rating

could possibly be higher and above 90 per cent.

“South Africa also maintains the essential Category 1 status

as declared by the United States Federal Aviation Admin-

istration. South Africa is also in good standing in terms of

compliance with other global requirements as outlined in

various parts of the world, including on our continent, Eu-

rope and other regions.”

This is attested by the many years that South Africa has

managed to maintain an admirable safety record in terms

of scheduled commercial operations. The country has had

an impeccable zero (0) per cent accident rate in relation to

scheduled commercial flights for a number of years, thus

setting the standards in aviation safety.

All of this means that South African air carriers are free to

operate throughout the world and likewise air travel opera-

tors from across the world feel confident and are allowed,

by their respective countries, to operate in and out of South

Africa, Khoza explained.

She added that all these compliance and mutual collabo-

rations were crucial, considering the catalytic role that civil

aviation plays in the economy.

“For instance, a 2011 report released by Oxford Economics

estimates that the aviation sector contributes over R50 billion

to South Africa’s gross domestic product, making it a key

role player in the economy. In addition, the aviation sector is

said to support approximately 227 000 jobs in South Africa.”

Global aviation standardsAccording to Khoza, South Africans should take pride in

knowing that their country was appointed as the Chairper-

son of the ICAO’s Aviation Security Panel.

The announcement was made at the ICAO Aviation Security

Panel meeting held earlier this year. Khoza will represent

South Africa, making her the first woman to take up the

position.

“The appointment is a demonstration of trust and faith by

the global aviation community in South Africa’s capabilities

on aviation matters and specifically aviation security. This

move bodes well for the advancement of the transformation

agenda which must continue as women play a meaningful

role in all sectors previously dominated by men, not only in

South Africa but beyond our borders too.”

She plans to use her tenure to advocate for the continued

elevation of the aviation security agenda across the African

continent.

“Recent tragic aviation events such as 9/11, MH17, MH370

and German Wings call for greater cooperation amongst all

aviation role players. The global community needs to share >>

Minister Dipuo Peters (centre left) and SACAA CEO Poppy Khoza with some of the bursary recipients. Bursaries are awarded to young aspiring aviators.


pointers on successes and challenges faced in aviation se-

curity.

“The challenge is for the various states to implement meas-

ures against the specific threats which they face, while find-

ing a balance that would not stifle aviation activities.”

Innovation in aviationAccording to Khoza, the aviation industry is a very dynamic

one, characterised by innovation and rapid technology ad-

vancements. The most recent technology

modernisation involves remotely piloted

aircraft systems (RPAS), which are aircraft

that can fly without a pilot on-board. Com-

monly known as ‘drones’, they can be con-

trolled remotely by an individual on the

ground, from another aircraft or through

an on-board computer system.

Traditionally, RPAS were used primarily

in military operations; however, they can

also be used for other purposes such as

aerial surveillance, scientific research, and

journalism.

These types of aircraft are a relatively new

component of the civil aviation framework

and their rapid advancement has caught

many civil aviation regulators worldwide

by some level of surprise. Authorities across

the world have been putting their heads

together in an attempt to understand, define and ultimately

integrate this technology into the mainstream aviation sector.

“RPAS constitute a relatively new, but rapidly growing,

component of the civil aviation framework. Under normal

circumstances ICAO would take the lead in terms of develop-

ing standards and recommended practices; and civil aviation

regulators would then translate those into legally enforceable

civil aviation regulations.

“In the absence of guiding documents from ICAO, regula-

tors such as the SACAA have had to swiftly derive measures

to address the regulation deficiency in response to a growing

demand to regulate this sector,” Khoza said.

On 1 July 2015, the SACAA introduced new regulations to

administer RPAS, making South Africa one of the very few

countries to do so.

Two weeks after RPAS were integrated into the South

African civil aviation airspace, the SACAA issued the first RPAS

pilot’s licence - the first of its kind in South Africa, the conti-

nent and most parts of the world.

“These achievements are in line with the SACAA’s desire to

promote the development and sustainability of the aviation

industry in partnership with relevant players,” Khoza said.

Facilitating developmentThe SACAA is committed to contributing to the country’s

growth by contributing to achieving

the goals set out in the National De-

velopment Plan (NDP).

“The local aviation industry has a

massive potential to become a sig-

nificant manufacturing employer. All

role-players, including the SACAA as

the regulator, need to put heads to-

gether to find a sustainable way of en-

abling South Africa to become one of

the key aviation manufacturing hubs.

“However, we can only achieve this

if we acknowledge the importance of

transformation which will unlock ad-

ditional capacity rather than rely only

on the current pool of skills.”

Transforming the aviation industry

According to Khoza, more young people need to be lured

into the aviation industry.

“We need more young people to join the aviation industry,

as there is a shortage of specialist aviation skills across the

world. It is also critical that women and historically disadvan-

taged individuals (HDIs) consider careers in aviation as the

current statistics relating to previously disadvantaged per-

sons, in particular, are nowhere near reflecting the country’s

demographics with HDI pilots constituting a mere eight per

cent of total licensed personnel.”

She added that there was a need for transformation initia-

tives to be consolidated.

"There are a number of initiatives such as the Joint Avia-

tion Awareness Programme (JAAP). The only challenge at

the moment is that transformation efforts are fragmented

and there is no central driving mechanism to consolidate >>


“We need more young people to join the aviation industry, as there is a shortage of specialist aviation skills across the world.

It is also critical that women and historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs) consider ca-reers in aviation as the current statistics relating to previously

disadvantaged persons, in particular, are nowhere near

reflecting the country’s demo-graphics with HDI pilots consti-tuting a mere eight per cent of

total licensed personnel.”


transformation initiatives.”

The JAAP is aimed at bringing together aviation role players

to pursue and achieve transformation by ensuring that previ-

ously disadvantaged youth have access to aviation awareness

and career development.

The programme routinely visits over 400 schools across the

country every year, particularly those that are based in rural

areas. In the process, more 10 000 learners, especially those

who are in Grade 11 and 12 are introduced to various careers

and opportunities in the aviation sector.

Bursaries for aspiring aviators“We have noted that once we have sparked the

youth’s interest in aviation; their chances of ful-

fi lling their dreams are quickly thwarted by the

lack of fi nancial support.

“It is for this reason that the SACAA introduced

a bursary scheme to support these kids in their

quests to enter the aviation industry. This is

one of the ways that the SACAA is

contributing to the NDP.”

In the past fi nancial year, the

SACAA spent R3.4 million to

train 27 young and aspir-

ing aviators, the majority of

which are females.

Stellar performance on governance mattersLast month the SACAA re-

ceived a clean audit award

from the Auditor-General of

South Africa for the third year

in succession. The SACAA also

recorded 100 per cent against

performance targets set for the

2014/15 fi nancial year.

“Entrenching good govern-

ance across the organisation and

elevating organisational perfor-

mance in relation to the mandate

were some of the key priorities for

the SACAA over the past three fi nancial years.

“The Auditor-General’s pronouncements over the past

three years and the continuing global recognition suggest

that we are accomplishing our goals. While we are thrilled

by the continuous local and global recognition, we are

also cognisant of the fact that organisational performance

is not and can never be a once-off incident. As such, the

litmus test will be to maintain these remarkable records,”

Khoza added.

The SACAA’s performance target achievement was an

incredible achievement when taking into account that

the SACAA is self-funded and applies the user-pays

principle, she pointed out.

“During the last fi nancial year, the SACAA had

to implement cost-containment measures as

decreed by National Treasury. This meant that

we had to elevate performance with fewer

resources and I am glad that my team did not

disappoint.”

The right woman for the jobKhoza’s appointment as the Director

of Civil Aviation in 2013 made her the

fi rst woman and fi rst black woman

to occupy the position in the his-

tory of the SACAA.

It also set a precedent for

further transformation in the

aviation industry.

“Transformation is some-

thing close to my heart. It

will be fulfi lling to witness,

during my tenure, an in-

crease in the number of ca-

pable women and HDIs taking

up senior positions in the avia-

tion industry.

“I have always refused the no-

tion that in aviation, the ambitions

of HDIs and women stretches only

as far as jobs that are down the line

on the food chain. If I shared that

belief I would not have progresses


and opportunities in the aviation sector.

Bursaries for aspiring aviators“We have noted that once we have sparked the

youth’s interest in aviation; their chances of ful-

fi lling their dreams are quickly thwarted by the

lack of fi nancial support.

“It is for this reason that the SACAA introduced

a bursary scheme to support these kids in their

quests to enter the aviation industry. This is

one of the ways that the SACAA is

contributing to the NDP.”

In the past fi nancial year, the

SACAA spent R3.4 million to

train 27 young and aspir-

ing aviators, the majority of

which are females.

Stellar performance on governance

Last month the SACAA re-

ceived a clean audit award

from the Auditor-General of

South Africa for the third year

in succession. The SACAA also

recorded 100 per cent against

performance targets set for the

2014/15 fi nancial year.

“Entrenching good govern-

ance across the organisation and

elevating organisational perfor-

mance in relation to the mandate

were some of the key priorities for

The SACAA’s performance target achievement was an

incredible achievement when taking into account that

the SACAA is self-funded and applies the user-pays

principle, she pointed out.

“During the last fi nancial year, the SACAA had

to implement cost-containment measures as

decreed by National Treasury. This meant that

we had to elevate performance with fewer

resources and I am glad that my team did not

disappoint.”

The right woman for the jobKhoza’s appointment as the Director

of Civil Aviation in 2013 made her the

fi rst woman and fi rst black woman

to occupy the position in the his-

tory of the SACAA.

It also set a precedent for

further transformation in the

aviation industry.

“Transformation is some-

thing close to my heart. It

will be fulfi lling to witness,

during my tenure, an in-

crease in the number of ca-

pable women and HDIs taking

up senior positions in the avia-

tion industry.

“I have always refused the no-

tion that in aviation, the ambitions

of HDIs and women stretches only

as far as jobs that are down the line

on the food chain. If I shared that

belief I would not have progresses

SACAA CEO Poppy Khoza.


to where I am today. I am of the view that women are

capable of occupying any position anywhere in the

world and we have witnessed this as demonstrated by

our government where we see a fair balance of women

leaders in Cabinet. Women must stand to be counted

even when standing is not easy,” Khoza said.

Since her appointment she has increased the number

of capable females within the organisation’s top leader-

ship structure from 20 per cent to 40 per cent. Some of

these women rose within the ranks of the organisation

even though the numbers of senior women leaders

across the industry are dwindling.

Khoza has also ensured that the SACAA provides

technical training and assistance to its African peers

with the aim of improving aviation safety and security

across the continent.

Recipe for success Sharing the secrets to her personal and organisational

success, Khoza said sticking to the basics and doing

things right had yielded the results. This is the tone and

culture she is setting at the top to ensure the success

of the organisation.

This includes ensuring that everyone in the organisa-

tion understands and supports the role and mandate of

the SACAA. Ensuring that good governance and supe-

rior service delivery form part of each employee’s DNA,

and being realistic during the planning and strategy

development process while forming good relations

with stakeholders has yielded positive results.

Khoza added that success was also determined by

having the right team, processes and resources.

“In our case, we have noted the need to streamline

and update our processes… To succeed you also re-

quire committed and appropriately skilled personnel.

The SACAA is about to finalise its organisational review

process. It is about having the right skills, right number

of employees, the right candidates for the right jobs,

and job descriptions that will produce the right out-

come. Performance and consequence management are

also at the top of the agenda to ensure that the organi-

sation is led appropriately and with integrity,” she said.

With nearly two decades of experience, 13 of them

in senior management, and backed by training and

academic progression largely in strategic leadership,

business administration, and aviation, Khoza has cer-

tainly earned her stripes. It would seem as if she is the

right woman to raise South Africa’s flag – literally taking

it to the skies!

*Kabelo Ledwaba, acting Senior Manager: Com-

munications and Marketing at the SACAA.

Initiatives such as the Joint Aviation Awareness Programme have been launched to attract young people into the aviation industry through awareness and career development programmes.


ADVERTORIAL

N O R T H W E S TG A M B L I N G B O A R D

Gambling in South Africa has been heavily restricted since 1673, with South Africa’s Gambling Act of 1965 officially banning all forms of gambling except horse racing which existed as a sporting activity.

Casinos started operating in the old South African regime in the late 1970s and most citizens could not access those gaming establishments. By 1995 an estimated 2000 illegal casinos were believed to be operating within the country. In 1994, when the new democratic government came to power, all forms of gambling were legalised. In 1996 the National Gambling Act instituted a system of licensed casinos and horse racing was also proclaimed a gambling activity.

The National Gambling Act of 1996 made provisions for the regulation of gambling activities and the promotion of uniform norms and standards in relation to gambling throughout the country. It gave definition to different gambling notions, described how the 40 gambling licenses should be distributed among the provinces and provided information on liability. It also established the National Gambling Board, an organisation responsible for the supervision and regulation of the gambling industry. This change in legislation saw the establishment of legal casinos, and other forms of gaming.

In 2004, another National Gambling Act repealed the Act of 1996, and in 2008 The National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced. Each of the nine (9) Provinces in South Africa has a gambling board that is mandated to regulate gambling activities within the Province.

ORGANISATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTThe North West Gambling Board was established in 2001 to regulate gambling activities in the North West Province. The Board is established in terms of section 3 of the North West Gambling Act,

2001(Act No. 2 of 2001), as amended, and classified as a Schedule 3C Public Entity in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999). The authority is a member of Gaming Regulators Africa Forum and International Association of Gambling Regulators.

VISIONTo be a leading and socially conscious authority in the regulation of gambling in the world.

MISSIONTo provide effective and efficient regulatory services and maintain a gambling industry, which contributes to socio-economic growth and development.

VALUESThe North West Gambling Board’s approach to service delivery is premised on the following values:

1. Service Excellence2. Integrity3. Transparency4. Honesty GOVERNING BODIESThe Board of Directors is comprised ten members under the Chairmanship of Mr LW Vere and Mr Fortune Sekgaphane as the Chief Executive Officer. The members of the Board from various fields are appointed by the MEC responsible for Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development in the province. The term of office of all directors is three years and the three committees, namely the Compliance Committee, the Human Resources Committee and

Promoting responsible gambling in the province.

Physical Address: North West Gambling Board, 131 University Drive, Mmabatho, 2735, South Africa Telephone: (+27) 18 384 3215 | Fax: (+27) 18 384 2290 | Email: [email protected] Website: www.nwgb.co.za | The toll free helpline number is 0800 006 008.

Audit and Risk Committee assist the Board in discharging its responsibilities.

CORE BUSINESS Gambling activities were introduced in the North West Province in terms of the National Gambling Act with the objective of uplifting, advancing and economically empowering historically disadvantaged communities as well as providing entertainment, sport and recreational facilities to members of the public. The main services of the North West Gambling Board include:

• Registration and licensing of all establishments where gambling is conducted or operated, so as to better public engagement in gambling, promote safe entertainment and good morals.

• Registration and licensing of all employees and third parties participating in the gambling industry.

• Approval and registration of all gambling devices. • Monitor and enforce compliance with legislation and licensing

conditions, thereby ensuring that gabling is conducted in a fair and honest manner.

• Eradication of any forms of illegal gambling operations and promotion of responsible gambling.

• Monitor and enforce compliance with the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act (which aims to ensure that the economy is structured and transformed to enable the meaningful participation of the majority of its citizens and to create capacity within the broader economic landscape at all levels) and Codes of Good Practice.

• Collect and administer prescribed gambling taxes and levies.

The North West Gambling Board, is home to four casinos with 1 774 gambling machines and 76 gambling tables, three route operators with 653 limited payout machines rolled out at the site operator premises, 11 bookmaker operations, three bingo operations, two totalizator licence holders with 11 branches and four agencies and five amusement machine licence holders. In total all licensed gambling operations employed 1 410 employees and raised a total turnover and gross gambling revenue of R3-billion and R608-million respectively and contributed R48-million in levies and taxes to the Provincial Revenue Fund from April to August 2015. The North West Gambling Board has six programmes with an operational budget of R52 661 000.

The North West Gambling Board staff complement as at 01 August 2015 was 77 in total, i.e. 68 permanent and 9 temporary employees.

APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO INTERNATIONAL FORAIn line with its vision to be a leading and socially conscious authority in the regulation of gambling in the world, the CEO, Mr Fortune Sekgaphane, was elected as one of the 14 trustees to the International Associates of Gambling Regulators (IAGR) which consists of representatives from gaming regulatory organisations throughout the world, whose mission is to advance the effectiveness and efficiency of gaming regulation.

Mr Sekgaphane is currently the Chairperson of the Gambling Regulators Africa Forum (GRAF) Sub-Committee on Illegal Gambling and Technology, a position he has held since 2008.

He possesses a wealth of experience within the gambling industry and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Mpumalanga Gambling Board in 2004, before joining the North West Gambling Board in 2008.

Mr Sekgaphane is the first CEO in the gambling industry to be involved with the rollout of the limited payout machines whilst with Mpumalanga Gambling Board.

COMBATING ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE GAMBLINGThe Board is mandated in terms of section 31 of the National Gambling Act, 2004 (Act No.7 of 2004), as amended to ensure that unlicensed gambling activities relating to casinos, wagering and betting are detected and prosecuted.

To date the Board has identified 62 unlicensed gambling premises across the province that are costing the economy of the province millions of rands. Together with its stakeholders which include the South African Police Service, the Board has managed to confiscate 871 unlicensed gambling machines from unlicensed gambling operators since 2010, 819 of which have since been destroyed.

In an effort to educate members of the public about the risks and dangers of taking part in unlicensed gambling, the Board has embarked on an education campaign in partnership with the Setsokotsane programme, which is led by the Honourable Premier of the North West Province, Supra Mahumapelo.

The Board has an anti-fraud free hotline (0860 545 545) utilised for reporting illegal gambling activities. Punters with gambling problems are excluded from gambling sites and those suffering from gambling addiction are referred to the National Responsible Gambling Programme, which offers programmes to educate gamblers and potential gamblers about responsible gambling, counselling and treatment options.

COMMUNITY SOCIAL INVESTMENT (CSI)The licences issued by the Board carries a condition which requires the licence holders to contribute 1% of gross gaming revenue, toward socio economic development projects in the North West Province.

A total amount of R 5 952 104.72 has since been spent on corporate social investment projects during the 2014/2015 financial year.

Provincial FocusWriter: Chris Bathembu

Photographer: Siyasanga Mbambani

MEC Creecy has a fi rm hand on Gauteng’s fi nances

For 10 years, she served the Gauteng Legislature in a number of

capacities, including Deputy Chief Whip and Chairperson of the Social

Development and Education Committees. Now Barbara Creecy is

proving her worth once again, managing the fi nances of South Africa’s

richest province.

The Gauteng Provincial Government has grown its revenue from R2 620

billion to R4 344 billion over the past fi ve years. As the MEC for Finance,

Creecy has vowed to strengthen fi nancial management in the province,

deal decisively with fraud and corruption and pay suppliers on time.

In an interview with PSM recently, she revealed that preparations

were at an advanced stage to roll out an electronic platform through-

out the province that would allow all current and prospective sup-

pliers to send invoices for their services directly and communicate

about non-payments.

Paying suppliers on time

The electronic invoicing or e-invoicing system is expected to

reduce the time it takes for suppliers to send invoices to govern-

ment departments from 60 days to just under two days after

the work is completed.

The new system will allow suppliers to submit invoices elec-

tronically via any internet connection or at Thusong Service

Centres.

“I think the e-invoicing system is a signifi cant development for our

province. The platform will help us in our ongoing battle to ensure that we pay

suppliers on time. One of the challenges we have been faced with is meeting

the 30-day period for suppliers to be paid,” MEC Creecy explains.

The national government has acknowledged in the past that paying suppliers

within 30 days is a challenge for many departments. Delays in payment have

a signifi cant impact on small businesses, economic growth and job creation.

“We did a study last year to determine where the logjams in relation to paying

suppliers on time were. One of the things we found was that it takes a very long

time between the point where goods and services are delivered, particularly if

they are delivered to a decentralised government facility, to that invoice reach-

ing a centre where it can be approved.”


Suppliers who do business with government have been in-

vited to register on the database so that they can receive train-

ing on the new system. More than 350 of the more than 800

suppliers to the provincial government had been put on the

system. The e-invoicing system also alleviates the frustration

that suppliers are often confronted with when invoices get lost.

Transforming township economy Under MEC Creecy’s leadership, Gauteng Provincial Treasury is

also forging ahead with its programme to support the town-

ship economy.

A study by the province has found that it is very diffi cult

for township-based businesses to access fi nancial support.

An overwhelming number of Gauteng residents live in town-

ships and their collective buying power runs into billions of

rand. According to the provincial government, the township

economy includes street vending, taverns, minibuses, spaza

shops, burial societies, stokvels, hair salons, plumbing and

panel beating, among others.

MEC Creecy says the township economy can only succeed

if suppliers of goods and services receive fi nancial support to

access the market.

“A lot of suppliers start off and then they fi nd it very diffi cult

to access markets, and as a result they are not sustainable. The

provincial government has signed a memorandum of under-

standing (MoU) with the big banks and one of the things we

included is the aspect of access to fi nancial support. It’s very

diffi cult for township businesses to access commercial loans

and we have addressed that in the MoU.

Recently, the Gauteng Provincial Government announced

that First National Bank (FNB) had been selected as the service

provider to manage the multibillion rand centralised banking

services account of the province. FNB will manage all the bank-

ing transactions of the provincial government, including the

payment of salaries of 200 000 offi cials and supplier payments

of more than R3 billion per month.

MEC Creecy says part of the agreement with FNB was that

the bank would assist the provincial government with fi nancial

support for the township economy.

“If they feel that these enterprises don’t have the appropriate

skills to look after their money, then they must do something

about that particular problem,” she adds.

The province is also setting aside the procurement of goods

and services under R500 000 for township entrepreneurs.

Open tenders will improve transparency The province is currently piloting the open tender process,

which allows the public to witness the decision-making pro-

cess around the awarding of tenders.

MEC Creecy says the province has proven its critics wrong

and has now successfully awarded two tenders through the

process – the banking tender and the more than R50 million

upgrade of Cedar Road in Sandton.

“Everybody told us you can’t do this, but we did, we have

awarded two tenders using the process,” MEC Creecy says.

Over the next 18 months the provincial government wants

all tenders over R50 million to go through the open tender

process. The intention is that by 2019 all tenders in Gauteng

should do so.

Another system the provincial government will be introduc-

ing by the end of this year is the electronic tendering portal,

which would further boost transparency in the tendering pro-

cess. MEC Creecy says the system will allow bidders to submit

their tender documents online and will prevent the loss of

documents and save time for suppliers.

“People will be able to go online and see which tenders are

out and who applied for those tenders … that will help sup-

pliers because if they know how tenders are awarded they will

improve on their preparedness for future tenders.”

Gauteng coffers to continue to improve MEC Creecy has set her sights on increasing the provincial

government’s revenue. Currently the major source of revenue

comes from vehicle licence fees, gambling fees as well as pa-

tient fees at hospitals.

“Patient fees are one area that we are under collecting largely

because there are still loopholes in the collection process.

We are not sure that everything has been paid for or actually

reaching the revenue fund. We will be doing work with the

health department to digitise their revenue collection system.

“We hope that over the next four years, we will be able to

double our revenue collection again as we did in the previ-

ous term.”

MEC Creecy says for the next few years the province will

be very strict on how it spends money and will continue to

prioritise education, health and infrastructure. Last year the

province saved more than R100 million through various saving

mechanisms and Gauteng Provincial Treasury will continue to

cut back on non-core goods and services.



in OTHER NEWS

SA shines at SADC awardsTwo South African journalists walked away with US$2000 for

winning the Television Category at the Southern African De-

velopment Community (SADC) Media Awards competition at

the 35th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in

Botswana recently.

Dennis Tshetlhane and Sam Msibi, from the South African

Broadcasting Corporation, won the award for their entry on the

story of mineworkers from the SADC region who are owed mon-

ey by a provident fund in South Africa. Other winners included

Malawians, Bonnex Julius in the Photojournalism Category and

Winston Mwale in the Radio Category, while Puso Kedimetse

from Botswana was the winner in the Print Category.

Compiled by: Maselaelo Seshotli

The SADC Media Awards are aimed at

promoting excellence in the fields of

print, radio, television and photojour-

nalism.

South Africa also shone in the SADC

Schools Competition, with Imbelani

Matibe, a Grade 11 leader from Thengwe

High School, being awarded US$750.

The Chairperson of the South African

Chapter of the National Adjudication

Committee, Livhuwani Mutshatshi, con-

gratulated the two South African winners.

“On behalf of the National Adjudicating

Committee and the Government Com-

munication and Information System

(GCIS) we would like to congratulate Mr

Tshetlhane and Mr Msibi for flying the South African

flag. These awards are important in promoting regional

integration,” Mutshatshi said.

Themba Sepotokele, GCIS Chief Director: Media En-

gagement, encouraged all members of the media in

South Africa to continue to cover stories relating to

SADC countries to promote regional integration and

to enter the awards.

“While celebrating these achievements, we call on

the media owners, editors and journalists to participate

in the awards as soon as we launch the 2016 SADC

Media Awards. The awards are meant to encourage

journalism excellence in the region,” Sepotokele said.

Celebrating teachers The newly launched Teacher Appreciation and Support

Programme (TASP) is expected to attract qualified teachers

into the profession and improve teacher morale.

The programme, which is aimed at looking after the wel-

fare of teachers both as people and as professionals, was

launched recently by the Department of Basic Education

at the first Annual Teachers Indaba in Pretoria.

“It is hoped that this will improve teacher morale and will lead

to greater commitment to the school's overall health and per-

formance,” said the department’s Deputy Director-General: Care

and Support, Granville Whittle, who was speaking on behalf of

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

Whittle said the TASP is also aimed at reducing teacher >>

C

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CM

MY

CY

CMY

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Get the latest knowledge from leading global experts.

www.ce.up.ac.zaContact us: Tel: 012 434 2500 Fax: 012 434 2505 Email: [email protected]

For customised courses: Email [email protected] for quotations on in-house training.

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The Management Development Programme (MDP) develops employees at middle management level to perform their responsibilities in a more effective and efficient manner within an ever-changing and competitive business environment. Through this programme, managers acquire the competencies needed to deal with contemporary South African management challenges, while focusing on functional and cross-functional business processes.

Enhance your management skills and stay ahead of the competition

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Economics


New Minister appointedThe country’s newest Cabinet Minister, Mosebenzi

Joseph Zwane, was sworn in recently after Presi-

dent Jacob Zuma named him as the new Minister

of Mineral Resources. Minister Zwane takes over

the portfolio from Advocate Ngoako Ramathlodi,

who is the new Minister of Public Service and Ad-

ministration.

Minister Ramathlodi takes over the Ministry that

was left vacant after the death of the former Min-

ister Collins Chabane in March 2015. Minister of

Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa had been acting

as Minister of Public Service and Administration

since March this year.

Minister Zwane previously served as MEC in the

portfolios of Agriculture and Rural Development

as well as Economic Development, Tourism and

Environmental Affairs in the Free State Provincial

Government.

He became involved in politics in the early 1980s

as a member of the Thembelihle Youth Congress

and is one of the founding members of the first ANC

branch in Roadside, where he taught at a farm school.

Minister Zwane has been the regional chairperson

of the Thabo Mofutsanyana ANC region since 2006.

He obtained his secondary teacher’s diploma from

the South African Teachers College in Pretoria and also

has a Certificate in Executive Leadership Municipal

Development from the University of Pretoria.

Minister Ramathlodi has been a member of the Na-

tional Executive Committee of the ANC since 1991.

He obtained a Bachelor of Jurisprudence from the

National University of Lesotho in 1984 and a Bachelor of

Law from the NUL in 1986. In 1988, he obtained a Master

of Science in International Relations from the University of

Zimbabwe and was admitted to the Bar of Lesotho as an

advocate in 1997. In 2009, he was admitted to the Bar of

South Africa and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law

Degree by the University of Limpopo.

From May 1994 to 22 April 2004, he was Premier of Lim-

popo for two full terms. He was the Deputy Minister of Cor-

rectional Services from 1 November 2010 to 25 May 2014.

absenteeism and creating a safe environment for teach-

ers.

The TASP, which will also focus on celebrating teach-

ers every day, will culminate in a seminar at the end

of October, the month in which World Teachers’ Day is

celebrated.

“The TASP proposes that activities need to be set up

which will be dedicated to lifting the morale of teach-

ers,” Whittle said.

The key actors in the TASP implementation will be government

departments, social partners, organised labour and school gov-

erning bodies.

“Our aim is to model all sectors of society as part of governments’

commitment to make education a societal matter,” he said.

The Teachers Indaba was held under the theme "Teachers, the

Heartbeat of the Nation: A Programme for Teachers”.

Newly-appointed Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane takes an oath of office administered by Justice Johann van der Westhuizen.

in OTHER NEWS

››

www.caa.co.zaAnonymous Tip-offs Hotline: 0800 997 263

WE ARE THE REGULATOR OF CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AND SECURITY KEEPING YOU SAFE IN THE SKY

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) is an agency of the Department of Transport, mandated with controlling, promoting, regulating, supporting, developing, enforcing and continuously improving the levels of safety and security throughout the civil aviation authority. We achieve this by complying with the Standards and Recommended Practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), whilst considering the local context. Our oversight include, but is not limited to the following areas: Aviation Security; Aviation Personnel Licensing and Examinations; Aviation Infrastructure and Air Safety Operations.

The organisation was awarded the Best Performing Institution Award amongst all modes of transport in South Africa during the inaugural Transport Awards hosted by the Minister of Transport in 2014. This award came as a result of a continued culture of excellence which has yielded positive results in various aspects of our performance.›› We have achieved another clean audit as confirmed

by the Auditor General in its financial and performance information audit for the 2014/15 financial year. This is the

third year in a row that the SACAA is recognised for this achievement and this demonstrates that the Regulator’s financial controls are intact.

›› South Africa continues to perform well in the various safety and security ICAO audits and has over the years maintained its Category 1 Status with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

›› South Africa continues to enjoy an admirable safety record in relation to commercial operations.

›› The appointment of South Africa as the Chairperson of ICAO’s Aviation Security Panel, as represented by the Director of Civil Aviation, is a demonstration of trust and faith by the global community in South Africa’s capabilities in aviation matters, and specifically aviation security.

›› The SACAA is one of the first entities across the globe to develop regulations for remotely piloted aircraft systems commonly known as “drones”

›› The SACAA has played a significant role in ensuring that the South African civil aviation industry is prepared for and capable of managing the outbreak of communicable diseases such as Ebola.

BEST PERFORMING INSTITUTION

IN TRANSPORT

South African Civil Aviation Authority

SACAA ad 275x210 Sept 2015.indd 1 9/17/15 9:24 AM

trailblaZerWriter: Noluthando Mkhize

Photographer: Siyabulela Duda

Mmanare Mamabolo: A high-flying legal eagle

“I love my job as the ‘chief attorney’ of the SACAA and

also as the chairperson of CARcom, which can be a

bit challenging.

“When we pass a regulation I have to ensure that

it is in the best interest of the civil aviation industry,

while at the same time ensuring that there is a balance

between the interests of SACAA, as the regulator, and

the industry. It is not always easy.”

Mamabolo has to ensure that the decisions made

by SACAA are in the best interest of the organisation

and that the entity is protected against any legal risks

that may arise.

“Every time I make any decision I have to consider

the impact this decision might have. I must protect

the organisation against any possibility of litigation.”

“Before I agree to anything, I ask myself a lot of ques-

tions. When I sign something I already have a mitiga-

tion strategy at the back of my mind.”

All regulations passed by CARcom are also in line with

the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The ICAO is a United Nations agency established

through the Chicago Convention. Its main mandate

is to develop Standards and Recommended Practices

for the civil aviation industry across the world.

SA leads the pack in aviation complianceMamabolo is particularly proud of South Africa’s high

level of compliance to international aviation standards.

“Our record as a country speaks for itself. Our compli-

ance level is at 84 per cent, which is above the world

average of 62 per cent.”

She explains that under her division, there is a section

called ICAO Compliance, which ensures that the local

For Mmanare Mamabolo, being named the top pub-

lic sector leader during the Standard Bank Women

Awards is an indication that women are making their

mark in the civil aviation industry.

Mamabolo, 38, is Executive: Legal and Aviation Compli-

ance at the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA),

the agency tasked with controlling, promoting, regulat-

ing, supporting, developing, enforcing and continuously

improving levels of safety and security throughout the civil

aviation industry.

She says winning the award was reassurance that she is

exceling in her position in a sector that is considered to be

largely male-dominated.

“I regard this as an achievement for all black women in

the aviation industry. It shows that progress is made in this

sector and transformation is taking place.

“It is also a great feeling to be recognised as a public serv-

ant as it shows that I’m representing government well.”

Regulating the aviation industryApart from her role at the SACAA, she is also the chairper-

son of the Civil Aviation Regulations Committee (CARCom).

The main purpose of CARCom is to advise the Minister of

Transport on the development of regulations and advise

the Director of Civil Aviation on development of technical

standards for the aviation industry in South Africa.

CARCom comprises 23 organisational representatives from

across the civil aviation industry. These representatives are

from organisations such as the Recreation Aviation Admin-

istration of South Africa, Airports Company of South Africa,

the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa,

among others.

Mamabolo enjoys both her roles equally.


civil aviation industry adheres to civil aviation regulations,

which are in line with the Standards and Recommended

Practices developed by ICAO.

“These Standards and Recommended Practices ensure that

there is uniformity in the aviation industry across the world.

“Every time an aircraft takes off or lands anywhere in the

world, the procedures are handled in a uniform manner. From

air traffi c control through to airport management and pilots,

we have standardised rules internationally.”

“We do our oversight and surveillance by, among others,

conducting inspections in all sectors of civil aviation. These

include aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation training

organisations and operators. In a sense we do ‘audits’ to make

sure that civil aviation organisations and individuals comply

with the regulations and technical standards.”

If a body does not comply with the regulations, Mamabolo’s

section is compelled to act.

“We may issue a penalty notice or a warning if the lack of

compliance is not that severe. If it is a serious violation or if

fraud has been committed we report the matter the police.

“We can also suspend operating licences. For example if

an aviation training school does not meet certain require-

ments of the regulations or if a pilot or any other licensed

person does adhere to regulations, we can either suspend

or cancel their licence.”

This and thatWhat is your favourite food?

I love good food, especially traditional food.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Durban and Mauritius.

How do you relax?

I love listening to music, especially gospel music.

About Mmanare MamaboloMamabolo holds a Law degree from the University of

KwaZulu-Natal, which she obtained in 2000.

She was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court

in 2004 after serving her articles at the State Attorney's

offi ce in Pretoria.

She has worked for the Mpumalanga Department of

Finance and Economic Aff airs as a legal administrative

offi cer.

Mamabolo was a legal costs offi cer for the Road Ac-

cident Fund before moving to the City of Tshwane Met-

ropolitan Municipality as a legal advisor in the Council’s

property section. After leaving the municipality she

joined the National Energy Regulator as a legal advisor.

She was then recruited by the SACAA and has been

with the organisation since 1 December 2012.


international relationsWriter: Albert Pule

SA ready to support global peace efforts

As countries across the world struggle to deal with

the issue of immigration South Africa, in part-

nership with the Southern African Development

Community (SADC) region, will look at innovative ways to

find solutions to the challenge.

“We have been working hard with SADC sister countries to

find solutions to this international challenge, especially the

problem of illegal immigration,” said President Jacob Zuma,

while addressing foreign dignitaries, heads of missions and

diplomats on international relations issues.

The President noted that South Africa experiences a mixed

flow of migration, made up of people who are genuinely

asylum seekers and people who leave their countries of

origin seeking better opportunities.

To combat illegal immigration the countries engage with

each other through the Joint Permanent Commission on

Defence and Security with Botswana, Mozambique, Na-

mibia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania, he added.

“Joint immigration inspections are regularly held at se-

lected ports of entry by officials from respective partner

countries.”

Another challenge facing the SADC region is that borders

separate families and communities.

“In some instances, the borderline does not effectively act

as a barrier to these communities, particularly those that

conduct normal day-to-day activities such as schooling, trade

and medical care as they will keep coming each day.

“This situation demands innovative solutions. We are part-

nering with SADC neighbours to ensure the proactive facili-

tation of designated community crossing points.”

The South African and Botswana governments will work

together to launch one designated community crossing

point that will help to make movements across the two

countries easier.

“We will launch the innovative project soon in Tshidilamo-

lomo, a village situated on the border between South Africa

and Botswana,” said President Zuma.

Currently, South Africa chairs the SADC Organ on Public

Safety and Security Sub Committee that is aimed at promot-

ing the free movement of persons. The President said that the organ was discussing protocols

relating to a SADC Uni-visa and plans to combat illegal im-

migration and human trafficking.

The single visa will allow entry into countries in the

15-member regional bloc, which includes Angola,

Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mada-

gascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles,

South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Support for refugees“The impact of wars and poverty in the world is manifested

through the expanding refugee crisis,” the President said.

The world has witnessed horrific and deadly journeys by

immigrants from African and Middle Eastern countries across

the Mediterranean, in search of a better life in Europe.

“The painful human tragedy of over four million Syrian

refugees has also reminded us of the need to find a lasting

solution, which is to stop the war in Syria.

“It took the painful drowning of a four-year old Syrian child

to shake the world into action. Attempts to shut the borders

President Jacob Zuma briefs the media on issues related to South Africa's foreign policy.


by some European countries will not assist the situation,”

he pointed out.

President Zuma said that to achieve lasting peace in Syria

the international community should reject all calls for a

regime change in the country.

He further urged the international community to not

support external military interference or any action in Syria

that is not in line with the Charter of the United Nations.

“As immediate relief for the refugees, we call on our

European Union partners as well as Syria’s regional neigh-

bours to assist the Syrian refugees, in full accordance and

compliance with all human rights and humanitarian laws.

We pledge our support to the EU as it grapples with this

challenging situation.”

Intervening in confl ict zones in Africa He added that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa would

continue to represent South Africa in assisting the peo-

ple of South Sudan to fi nd

peace.

For the past few years

South Sudan has been

engulfed by ongoing

conflict, resulting in the

massive displacement of

people and leading to a

humanitarian crisis.

The Deputy President

will continue to work with

all aff ected parties to fi nd

solutions to the confl ict.

President Zuma urged all opposing parties to sign and

respect the agreement, aimed at stopping the confl ict.

“We note and commend the peace eff orts led by the

Intergovernmental Authority on Development. We fur-

ther commend all the parties for signing the Compromise

Agreement.”

The agreement provides the basis for a transitional au-

thority and is an important step to resolving the conflict.

“We therefore call on all parties to honour and respect

the agreement in order for the country to move forward,”

he said.

The ongoing conflicts in other African countries are also

a concern for South Africa as it has resulted in instability to

many parts of the continent, cautioned President Zuma.

“We condemn, in the strongest terms, the various ter-

rorist acts committed on the continent by terrorist groups

in Somalia, Kenya, north eastern Nigeria, Mali, the larger

Sahel, as well as in North Africa.”

He said that South Africa, through the African Union (AU)

Peace and Security Council, will assist the affected regions.

The President added that the signing of the Malian Peace

and Reconciliation Agreement is a step in the right direc-

tion to finding lasting peace between the warring factions

on Mali.

“We reiterate our support for the signing of the Malian

Peace and Reconciliation Agreement by the Malian Govern-

ment, the Algiers Platform Movement and some groups of

the Coordination Movement of the Azawad.”

With regard to Libya, he said South Africa was ready to

help the country rebuild.

“South Africa stands ready to assist Libya in post-conflict

reconstruction and development and to share experiences

in reconciliation and the constitution making processes.”

Participation in international summits South Africa will send

a strong delegation

to the G20 Forum in

Turkey next month

to shape the interna-

tional response to the

current global finan-

cial crisis.

President Zuma said South Africa’s delegation will use the

forum to advocate for the reform of international financial

institutions.

The forum will take place on 15 and 16 November in the

city of Antalya, Turkey.

“Ongoing priorities for South Africa include the promotion

of employment, improving investment in infrastructure and

international coordination on tax matters,” he said.

In December, South Africa will also host the Second Sum-

mit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in

Johannesburg.

“During our tenure as co-chair of FOCAC, South Africa

will continue to ensure that the principles of South-South

cooperation are realised and that special attention is given

to assisting in the implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063,”

said the President.



phenomenon and is a matter that needs to be dealt

with at a multi-disciplinary level across society.”

Gains of the past decadeOver the past decade, contact crimes such as murder,

attempted murder, sexual off ences, assault with intent

to do grievous bodily harm and common robbery have

dropped by 17.8 per cent.

For the same period contact related crimes, that in-

clude arson and damage to property, have also been on

a decline, dropping by 15.6 per cent between 2005/06

and 2014/15.

A similar trend was also noted with property related

crimes such as residential housebreak-

ing, housebreaking at other prem-

ises, theft of motor vehicles, theft

out of and from motor vehicles

and stock theft, with this category

recording a 2.3 per cent decrease.

However, the statistics for the past

year were not too encouraging.

The Minister noted that over the

past year contact crimes, which

were reported by members of the

community at police stations, ac-

counted for 34.4 per cent of all re-

ported crimes and increased by 0.9

per cent.

These included murder, attempt-

ed murder, sexual off ences, assault

with intent to do grievous bodily

harm and common robbery.

Property related crimes constitut-

ed 27.8 per cent of all reported >>

Feature Writer: Amukelani Chauke

Govt to intensify crime fi ghting eff orts

Government is concerned about the levels

of crime in the country and will

continue investing in part-

nerships with businesses and com-

munities in eff orts to curb crime, says

Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.

Releasing the annual crime statis-

tics in Cape Town recently, the Minis-

ter, accompanied by Deputy Minister

Maggie Sotyu and National Commis-

sioner General Riah Phiyega, said the

statistics showed that there were still

very high levels of violence in society.

He said this warranted the need to

deal with social circumstances at a

multi-disciplinary level.

“The trends for the past 10 and fi ve

years have shown a decrease, whilst

in the year under review there has

been an increase in certain cat-

egories of crime… in essence, the

issue of contact crimes is a social

Murder2013/14: 17 0232014/15: 17 805

4.6 per cent increase

Attempted murder2013/14: 16 9892014/15: 17 537


Assault GBH 2013/14: 182 333 2014/15: 182 556


Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko.

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crimes and decreased by 0.8 per

cent.

Other serious crime, including theft

and commercial crimes, declined by

2.2 per cent and accounted for 27.8

per cent of all reported crimes.

The Minister said the levels of vio-

lence and aggression in society was

a serious concern

“The National Development Plan

places emphasis on the creation of

partnerships in creating conditions

of safety and security.

In this regard, we will continue to

work and harness efforts and remain

committed to building partnerships with business and

communities in fighting crime and the eradication of

criminality from our society,” he added.

Police work commended

The Minister said 83.4 per cent of serious crimes reported

by members of the community led to the arrests and

charging of 1 795 947 people, 4 808 of whom were ar-

rested by the elite crime fighting unit, the Directorate for

Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

He added that 1043 life sentences were imposed on 739

suspects with 680 life sentences handed down

for crimes against women and children alone.

In addition, police recovered 36 186 vehicles

that were reported lost or stolen.

“Police detected crime has increased by 16.6

per cent in the reporting period, which resulted

in 350 579 arrests,” the Minister noted.

Satisfaction levels of victims of crimeGeneral Phiyega told members of Parliament that

a lot of progress had been made in improving the

public’s perception of police services.

Citing Statistics South Africa’s 2013/14 Victims

of Crime Survey, the National Commissioner

said that 78 per cent of all victims of crime inter-

viewed indicated that they were satisfied with the police at

crime scenes, while 74 per cent expressed their satisfaction

with the commitment showed by officers.

About 66 per cent indicated that they were satisfied with

police when it came to arresting criminals with 65 per cent

finding officers to be trustworthy.

Some 46 per cent of victims of crime were satisfied with police

response time, while 32 per cent were satisfied with the ability

of police to recover stolen property.

“Eastern Cape had the highest percentage of households who

were satisfied with the police in their area,” she said.

Truck hijacking2013/14: 991

2014/15: 1 279 29.9 per cent increase

Carjacking2013/14: 11 1802014/15: 12 773


Sexual offences2013/14: 56 6802014/15: 53 617

5.4 per cent decrease

National Commissioner General Riah Phiyega.

Feature


of cocaine and 598 743 kilograms of crystal

meth (tik).

Other drugs confiscated included 1 926 256

kilograms of nyaope, 304 865 kilograms of

whoonga and 212 362 kilograms of heroin.

She said 57 clandestine drug laboratories

were dismantled and police shut down 37 979

illegal liquor premises with 1.5 trillion litres of

liquor confiscated.

The National Police Commissioner said 686

police officers were arrested for various types

of crime in 2014/15.

Better conviction ratesDeputy Minister Sotyu said the overall convic-

tion rate for serious crimes had increased by

0.9 per cent from 75.1 per cent in 2013/2014

to 76.1 per cent in 2014/2015.

She stressed that corruption had no place

in the criminal justice system as it often ham-

pered efforts to fight crime.

“Criminality, corruption and other unethical

practices by law enforcement agencies contribute towards

driving crime up.

“A dedicated focus by the employers, oversight agencies

such as IPID, Inspector General, Civilian Secretariat and oth-

ers should, through their interventions, contribute towards

regression of such negative conduct and behaviour to posi-

tively contribute towards crime reduction,” the Deputy Min-

ister added.

Dealing with drugsGeneral Phiyega noted that drugs had

become a problem in South Africa and

proactive intervention was needed to

curb the scourge, as reactive measures

were not sustainable.

She said education awareness cam-

paigns at school level, among others, could be among the

best measures used to fight substance abuse and the dangers

of crime.

“We also noticed … that drug circulation also contributed

quite significantly to some of the crimes that we are manag-

ing for this year.

“There is a drug master plan that has been adopted by

government and all of us, as government departments, have

to contribute towards the drug master

plan.

“We believe that more needs to be

done across various national govern-

ment departments, provinces and

municipalities to ensure that we con-

tribute optimally to the plan as that

will assist us in reducing the crime,”

she said.

During the 2014/15 financial year

police confiscated just over 440 mil-

lion kilograms of cannabis, 302 791

mandrax tablets, 122 140 kilograms

Robbery (with aggravating circumstances)

2013/14: 118 9632014/15: 129 045


Burglary (residential premises) 2013/14: 259 7842014/15: 253 716


Bank robberies2013/14: 212014/15: 17


Cash in transit robberies

2013/14: 145 2014/15: 119


Robbery at residential premises2013/14: 19 284 2014/15: 20 281


Robbery at non- residential premises2013/14: 18 5732014/15: 19 570


B etter access to basic services, increased life expectancy,

decreasing mortality rates and ever expanding access

to Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres – these

are just some of the positive developments South Africa can

boast about, according to the

2014 Development Indicators

Report.

The report, which was re-

leased by Minister in The

Presidency responsible for

Planning, Monitoring and

Evaluation Jeff Radebe re-

cently, indicates that the

country is on a positive tra-

jectory but more still needs

to be done to improve the

lives of South Africans.

Development indicators

are a numerical measure of

quality of life in a country.

The indicators are used as

criteria to measure progress

and assist government to

track, using quantitative

measures, the effectiveness

of government policies and interventions towards achieving

the national goals in areas of development as set out in the

National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030.

The indicators track progress made in various areas of de-

velopment from as far back as 1994 to 2014.

“These indicators play a crucial role in assisting government

and the public to track the effectiveness of government poli-

cies and interventions using aggregate data.

“They employ quantitative measures to track the progress

made in implementing policies against national targets, based

on data sourced from research institutions, government data-

bases and official statistics,” said Minister Radebe.

Basic servicesAccording to the report, between 2007 and 2014, the num-

ber of households with access to electricity increased from

about 10.2 million to 13.4 million. This means that by 2014,

86 per cent of households in the country

had access to electricity.

Access to water was also at a similar level

by 2014, growing to 13.3 million house-

holds, up from 10.6 million in 2007. This

translated to 86 per cent of households

having access to water.

Life expectancyThe life expectancy of South Africans has

improved steadily over the last decade,

with a net increase of 8.6 years between

2003 and 2014.

“The increase in life expectancy can be

attributed to the constant improvement

in the implementation of comprehensive

strategies to combat the quadruple bur-

den of diseases inclusive of communicable

disease, primarily HIV and AIDS, and tu-

berculosis and the reduction in infant and

child mortality rates,” said Minister Radebe.

Mortality ratesSouth Africa has made significant progress in improving child

and infant health, with the country’s under-five mortality rate

decreasing from 85.2 per 1 000 live births in 2002 to 44.1 per

1 000 live births in 2014.

The infant mortality rate declined from 57.8 per 1 000 live

births in 2002 to 34.4 per 1 000 births in 2014.

“On the African continent, South Africa has achieved the

second fastest rate of decline in under-five mortality after

Rwanda. This has resulted from the implementation of a suite

of interventions to improve child health,” said the Minister.

Feature Writer: Albert Pule

Minister in The Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe releases the 2014 Development Indicators Report.

Rating SA’s progress


EducationThe percentage of children attending formal

ECD centres has been increasing steadily over the years.

In 2002, the percentage of 0-4 year olds attending ECD

facilities was 7.3 per cent and by 2014 this figure had

grown to 48.3 per cent.

The number of Grade 1 learners who had

attended Grade R reached 87.2 per cent in 2014.

“While it is heartening that more learners are attend-

ing Grade R, the quality and impact of Grade R varies

across different settings, as shown by the evaluation

completed by the Department of Basic Education and

the Department of Planning Monitoring and Evaluation

(DPME) in 2012.

“Improving the quality of ECD is therefore

an essential ingredient to improving

the results of learners in the whole

education system,” said Minister

Radebe.

The National Senior Cer-

tificate pass rate consistently

improved from 2008 (62 per

cent) to 2013 (78 per cent),

but dipped slightly to 75.8 per

cent in 2014.

The decrease coincided with the

first class that wrote the new Grade

12 Curriculum and Assessment Policy

Statement examinations.

“We need to consistently remind ourselves that

improved matric pass rates are not necessarily the

only indication of improvements in the quality of the

system.

“A more useful indicator would be the number of

learners achieving passes with marks above 50 per

cent. An increased number of learners enrolling for

mathematics and science would also be a reflection

of enhanced quality,” he added.

Economic growth Over the past 10 years the country’s economy has grown at

an average of 3.7 per cent and, in 2014, the growth was 1.5

per cent.

“The global economic recovery since the 2008 downturn

has been slow and uneven across continents,” explained the

Minister.

He attributed the slow growth to poor global economic con-

ditions and the drop in commodity prices, which has had a

huge impact on the mining industry.

Government has come up with initiatives to stimulate eco-

nomic growth, Minister Radebe added.

“Current initiatives to stimulate economic growth include

the government’s infrastructure build pro-

gramme, the war room on electric-

ity, the Operation Phakisa on the

Ocean Economy and Mining

and the Nine-Point Plan.”

Employment T h e r e p o r t i n d i -

cates that one in four

wor k ing age adu l t s

actively seeking employ-

ment remained unem-

ployed in 2014.

In 2014, youth unemploy-

ment reached a peak of 48.8 per

cent among the 15-24 year age group

and 29.6 per cent amongst the 25-34 year

age group.

To reduce the high levels of unemployment, Minister Radebe

said there was a need to develop a spirit of entrepreneurship.

“Reducing South Africa’s high levels of unemploy-

ment requires the economy to be on a labour-absorb-

ing growth path, as well as the development of entre-

preneurship amongst our youth, in terms of interest,

skills development and creation of opportunities.” >>


Progress on priorities Shortly before the release of the report Minister Radebe also up-

dated the country on progress made in implementing the priorities

of government.

He noted that in many of the priorities progress had been made.

“Areas of good progress include scaling up of interventions to

combat new HIV infections and increased access to antiretroviral

treatment for people living with AIDS…”

“South Africa has received worldwide recognition for its HIV and

AIDS programme which has over three million

people initiated on treatment, contribut-

ing to the attainment of the Millennium

Development Goals,” he said.

Rural development and land reform Minister Radebe added that the

slow pace in rural development and

land reform was a concern for gov-

ernment and more needs to be done

to increase the pace of land acquisition.

“Progress on land acquisition for smallhold-

ers has been slow, as has the utilisation of newly

allocated farms and communal land for production.

“There are indications that this is partly due to inadequate sup-

port services, prevailing drought conditions and the use of fallow

communal land for livestock grazing purposes.”

Local governmentThe DPME is contributing to making local government work better

and has initiated an assessment of management practices tailored

for municipalities.

“The initiative is referred to as the Local Government Management

Improvement Model (LGMIM). LGMIM measures the institutional

performance of municipalities across a number of key performance

areas.

“To date, we have assessed 30 municipalities and have used the

results to inform improvements. In the 2015/16 fi nancial year, we

intend to enrol a further 25 municipalities for assessment.”

Paying suppliers on timeMinister Radebe acknowledged that one of the areas where gov-

ernment has been found wanting is the payment of

suppliers within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.

National departments reported 155 572 invoices

worth R3.8 billion which were paid after 30 days. How-

ever, at the same time, 62 887 invoices older than 30

days worth R2.1 billion had not been paid.

“Delays in payment remain a major challenge, with

signifi cant negative impact on small business, growing

the economy and employment creation.”

Cabinet has approved the establishment of a unit

that will help government to deal with the problem.

“The unit is located within DPME and is working

with National Treasury and the Department

of Public Service and Administration,” said

the Minister.

Presidential HotlineThe Presidential Hotline provides a plat-

form for South Africans to lodge queries

and complaints about the quality of service

they receive from government.

“To date we have recorded 207 000 com-

plaints and queries through the Hotline, of which

35 per cent are general queries and 65 per cent are

complaints about services.

“For all complaints and queries we received, 94 per

cent are recorded as resolved and 11 661 (six per cent)

are still to be resolved.”

The nature of the complaints received include la-

bour relations and employment, land and housing,

local government, basic services and utilities, and crime

and justice.

“We are pleased about the progress we have made

so far, however, we are mindful that the road ahead

will be challenging. We remain

committed to the

creation of a

better life for

all South Afri-

cans and the

NDP remains our

roadmap, said the

Minister.

“We are pleased about the progress we have made

so far, however, we are mindful that the road ahead

will be challenging. We remain

committed to the

creation of a

better life for

all South Afri-

cans and the

NDP remains our

roadmap, said the

Feature


Xoliswa Bebula, dynamic, driven and dedicated, heads up Mazwe Financial Services, trading as Mazwe Credit (Mazwe).

In an interview at Mazwe Head Office in Sandton, Xoliswa spoke about her driving principles – and what it takes to be a women-owned microfinance institution in South Africa.

“I see myself as an entrepreneur through and through – I love making a difference,” said Xoliswa – she went on to describe how important it is for her to make a positive impact on people’s lives by making financial services available to the lower to middle LSM tier (income earners ranging from R3 500 – 15 000), and to women-owned construction companies which in turn results in ensuring shelter and job creation for all. This aligns with the key impetus of the NDP and speaks directly to the needs of the second economy.

“The lack of mortgage finance in the middle-income residential market (gap market) was identified in the Comprehensive Plan for the Creation of Sustainable Human Settlements (Comprehensive Plan) as an area requiring intervention and as a result the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) was introduced. The capital subsidy instrument caters for those households whose earnings are above the fully subsidised housing units, from R3 501 to R15 000 a month. These households qualify for FLISP on a sliding scale; with the lowest income stratum (R3 501-R3 600) qualify for a full subsidy amount of R87 000.00+CPIX,” says Xoliswa.

“The banks do not have an appetite for offering mortgage loans to this band of income earners – due to the lack of collateral and title deeds. The majority of people in this tier come from rural areas and want to build back home where both collateral and title deeds pose a challenge.

“Mazwe is not a bank and therefore cannot tap into FLISP. We believe that there is a need for government to introduce FLISP to microfinance institutions whose main focus is developmental, housing in particular. The affordable housing market outlook in South Africa faces an enormous challenge with regard to supply and demand,” says Xoliswa.

“The backlog remains acute and recent estimates indicate that the shortfall could be

as high as 5.8 million. According to the latest figures of household survey of 2011, SA had 6.2 million households that earned less than R3 500 per month. 3.8 million households earned in the range of R3 500 to R10 000, and another 2.3 million earned in the range of R10 001 to R30 000. NCR Credit Market Report Q1 2015 reported that there were 36 442 mortgage loans granted. Out of the 36 442, only five were granted to households whose earnings were up to R3 500 per month. Between R3 501 and R15 000 there were 2 835 mortgages, which is only 7,8% of all mortgage loans granted. Above R15 000, there were 33 602 which is 92%. Based on the above stats it is clear that the FLISP subsidy will never be fully utilised as the first tier banks focus more on the individuals that earn more than the FLISP threshold. Mazwe is positioned well to service this market and her focus is pension backed housing loans and loans to women-owned construction businesses. Our dream is to become a Women Construction Bank.

When asked about her personal story Xoliswa said:

“I was born and bred in Eastern Cape and came to Johannesburg in 1984, starting as a teacher in Maths and Science – which to this day remains one of my passions.

“Making a difference in people’s lives has always been my passion. Mazwe is a vehicle that enables me to live this desire. Our passion is two-fold; making a difference in people’s lives by providing housing and addressing the job creation problem. Mazwe was born in 2006 with a clear vision of addressing the problems of the second economy. The business started small with sweat equity of R500 000 which was lent out within six months.

“The loans were targeting lower LSMs specifically for housing and enterprise development. Throughout our operating years we have been funded by both the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and through the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).”

In terms of focus for the business, Xoliswa said:

“We are focusing on the construction industry. Our target market is CIDB grade 2 to 7 which currently constitutes 10 604 of the 76 000 registered construction companies. Our ambition is to

grow the majority of these businesses from grade 2 to grade 7, all of which depends on the strength of their balance sheets. The higher their grade, the greater the likelihood of them being awarded tenders. This is where Mazwe comes in. We offer financial management training as well as working capital and bridging finance loans with a 3 to 12 months repayment, risk-based interest rate.”

Speaking about milestones and achievements, it was testimony to Xoliswa’s deep and abiding commitment to making a difference that these centred around the people whom Mazwe has assisted in making profound life changes:

“A client was living in a shack in Pretoria with his wife and four children. He approached us and we gave him a R50 000 loan with which he bought material and built a six roomed house. We paid the supplier directly. He then built up to the roof stage – we gave him a further R25 000 and today he and his family are living in that house with their pride and dignity restored. This gave me huge joy.”

“When the only black woman in South Africa to start a company in the Lift industry approached us because she could not pay salaries after having completed a project for government, Mazwe took a risk and supported her. Today Nqoba generates revenue of R10-million and employs approximately 50 people.”

What is Mazwe’s vision?

“We see ourselves as a women-owned construction bank in the near future. We aspire to work closely with the Department of Human Settlements, financial development institutions and municipalities.

“We want to address the need at home whilst at the same time grow into Africa.”

Xoliswa believes strongly in ploughing back and she is convinced that she will achieve this dream by going back to lecturing the Principles of Microfinance, but not before she has made life-changing differences to people of South Africa and later have impact in the sub-Saharan Africa.

MAZWE FINANCIAL SERVICESINTERVIEW WITH THE FOUNDER AND CEO, XOLISWA BEBULA

“Our passion is two-fold – making a difference in people’s lives by providing housing and addressing job creation.”

Postal Address: PO Box 781786, Sandton 2146Physical Address: 1st floor SITA Building, 18 Eglin Road, Sunninghill

Telephone: 011 803 9003 | Fax: 0118039001

INTERVIEW

Feature Writer: Allison Cooper

State-owned enterprises to boost the economy

State-owned enterprises (SOEs) have the ability to

transform the economy if they live up to their po-

tential and deliver on their nation-building mandate.

This is the view of the Minister of Public Enterprises, Lynne

Brown, who is the shareholder representative for 54 million

people in South Africa. Six SOEs fall under her jurisdiction,

namely Transnet, Denel, Eskom, South African Forestry Com-

pany (Ltd) (Safcol), Alexkor and South African Express.

“I am pleased to say that this year all of these state-owned

enterprises made a profit, some more than others. Transnet

made an 8.2 per cent profit, an increase to R61.2 billion and

Denel made a profit of almost 50 per cent, with its order

book currently standing at about R30 billion plus. Alexkor,

a smaller SOE, increased its carats to 70 000, up 50 per cent

from the previous year.

“SA Express, by the time it had its annual general meet-

ing in September, had saved about R140 million … In

another year it will double these savings. Safcol also

made a profit.”

Collectively, these SOEs employ 170 000 people. They

have trained more than 400 engineers and 7 000 ar-

tisans.

“SOEs are huge institutions and we need to push them

to the next level if we want to transform the economy.

There’s not much private enterprise investment into

the economy, due to confidence levels, and SOEs have

the ability to change confidence levels within their

domains,” says Minister Brown.

She believes that the SOEs under her watch are on

the right path.

“All six SOEs have new boards with the relevant

capacity and skills and we have started a process to

train board members to ensure proper oversight.

The responsibility for running the SOEs rests with the

boards and chief executives and they are in the pro-

cess of transforming them to ensure private sector

participation.”

All departments need to work together to improve

capability, the Minister adds. For example, trained many

engineers leave the country so they can be paid more.

“We need to create a pipeline to ensure that training

and skill translate into actual economic improvement

in people’s lives, breaking the cycles of poverty. We

are not there yet, we still have a long way to go,” she

acknowledges.

DenelWhen Group CEO of Denel Riaz Saloojee first took over,

the SOE was not performing optimally. However, his

interventions helped to turn it around.

Denel is the largest manufacturer of defence equip-

ment in the country and a key supplier to the South


Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown.

African National Defence Force.

“We couldn’t sustain business with our dominant

client, the local defence force, so one of the critical

things we had to do was to increase our revenue

streams. We went international and looked at the Far

East, Middle East and South America, with a particular

emphasis on Africa and managed to turn the situation

around, increase revenue streams and become a sus-

tainable organisation,” explains Saloojee.

Other key interventions looked at operational efficien-

cies, cutting costs and aligning Denel’s strategic vision

to that of government.

“We had to demystify the notion of the defence in-

dustry and transform the organisation so that it’s truly

reflective of our democracy. We also had to motivate

our people and make sure that we have a very clear stra-

tegic intent. This is not a once-off thing; if you look at

our contract with shareholders and the Minister, you’ll

see that we are going to be good for the next three to

four years,” he adds.

Denel, in its history, has never had an order book

in excess of R30 billion before. “We are a truly global

company that competes with the best,” says Saloojee,

adding that in August Denel broke into the top-100

defence companies internationally.

“We now have a strong local footprint and that’s our

core business. We are also training young people, en-

gineers, technicians and scientists and will concentrate

on creating a better future, from an economic perspec-

tive, internationally as well. We are in a good space at

the moment.”

EskomEskom connected 160 000 residential users to the elec-

tricity grid last year and 4.1 million connections have

been made in the past 20 years.

“Access to electricity changes people’s lives in dra-

matic ways. People, for example, don’t have to walk

to try and find wood, they can just turn the power on,”

says Acting CEO Brian Molefe.

At Eskom’s annual general meeting in early August,

Minister Brown said that the decisive interventions at

Eskom that culminated in a new board being appoint-

ed, have had the desired effect at the SOE.

“I am confident Eskom is turning the corner and I

have instructed the board to fill all senior management

positions to ensure this consolidation continues. It’s

unacceptable that senior and middle management

positions are staying vacant for too long.

“Two other areas of concern are Eskom’s financial sus-

tainability and improving the reliability of the power

plants.” Eskom’s net profit decreased from R7.1 billion

to R3.6 billion.

The Minister wants to see the power utility boost

plant capacity.

“Although the accelerated maintenance has increased

plant capacity from 65 per cent to 75 per cent, I urge Es-

kom to continue on this trend and increase this thresh-

old to reach at least 80 per cent,” says Minister Brown.

She adds that load shedding will continue for the next

18 months and once again appealed to South Africans

to save electricity.

“Our journey is not without its problems and the chal-

lenges we face are not unique to South Africa. This is

also not the first time that South Africa has had these

kinds of problems in the electricity sector. But we are

dealing with our challenges and are moving forward

in a way that will change people’s lives fundamentally,”

adds Molefe.

TransnetTransnet is the largest and most crucial part of the

freight logistics chain that delivers goods to each and

every South African.

According to Acting CEO Siyabonga Gama, Transnet

grew its revenue to R61.2 billion in the past financial

year and powered ahead in terms of its profitability to

just over R26 billion.

“As the transport and infrastructure service provider

for our country, Transnet is well placed in terms of

creating the necessary impetus to catalyse economic

growth,” he says.

“We’ve seen good growth in rail, ports and pipeline

businesses and exceeded 226 million tons in terms of

what we handled in our railways last year, close to 300

million tons in our ports and more than R17.5 billion

kilometres in our pipeline.”

Transnet has commissioned a new multi-product >>


pipeline and continues to create effi ciencies in the mar-

ketplace.

“I think companies that are using Transnet are very excited

about the optimisation of effi ciencies that they are able to

gain from what we are doing, as it enables them to position

themselves in a far better place than they were one or two

years ago,” says Gama.

Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy, a R337 billion in-

frastructure investment programme, aims to strengthen

South Africa’s logistics backbone and its supply chains,

across a number of commodity segments from coal to

iron ore.

“In the past year we exported a record of 76.2 million tons

on the coal line and more than 59 million tons of iron ore.

“The investments Transnet has been making over the

past three years are beginning to bear fruit. We are not

just about making profi ts, we are making a telling impact

on communities,” he adds

Looking to the future, Gama says that Transnet is going to

continue to catalyse on economic growth in South Africa

by making sure that it optimises the country’s ports, rail

and pipeline system so that the gross domestic product

continues to grow.

SafcolSafcol is responsible for 187 000 hectares of planted

plantations. It operates in three provinces, Mpumalanga,

KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, and also has an operation in

Mozambique, co-owned by the Mozambique government.

Safcol CEO Nomkhita Mona says that for the fi rst time

the SOE has achieved almost all of its fi nancial Key Perfor-

mance Indicators.

“We continue to grow our asset base, but at the same

time are looking after rural development,” she adds.

Safcol has been progressively proceeding without any

reliance on the national fi scus. The SOE invested R5.1 mil-

lion on social economic development and R1.5 million

towards enterprise development in the past fi nancial year.

AlexkorAlexkor has two business units - the Alexander Bay Min-

ing (Alexkor RMC JV) and the Alexkor corporate unit. The

mining division is the core business of the company.

Investment in the mining operations led to improve-

ment in diamond production and job creation over the

past fi nancial year and the SOE realised growth in the

operations of the mine.

Alexkor saw an increase in diamond production from

46 000 carats to 79 000 carats in the 2014/15 fi nancial

year and its revenue from the sale of diamonds increased

from R277 million in 2013/14 to R414.2 million in 2014/15.

The CEO of Alexkor, Percy Khoza, says the SOE has set

itself priorities to turn the enterprise around, focussing

on change management and exploration.

“We have also done a lot of work at sea, where we have

three concessions. Major explorations have been done

and within three years we hope to see the quadrupling

of production in Alexkor. We are reassured that the future

looks bright with regard to the demand for our diamonds,”

says Khoza.

South African Express SA Express is very involved in transformation, not only of

its management but also when it comes to understand-

ing the aviation industry, says CEO Inathi Ntsanga.

Of its 200 pilots, 19.9 per cent are black, compared to

the industry’s two per cent. “We don’t want to just tick

boxes, we are passionate about transformation,” says

Ntsanga.

One of the aims of SA Express, which now fl ies to all nine

provinces, is to ensure that all South Africans experience

fl ying in their lifetime.

“On the whole I believe we are on the right path,” says

Minister Brown, and this is certainly evident with all six

entities working hard to not only record profi ts, but also

contribute to the economy, skills development and trans-

formation.

Feature


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FeatureWriter: Noluthando Mkhize

Photographer: Kathlolo Maifadi

Mkuseli Apleni is passionate about public service

In isiXhosa the name Mkuseli means protector. It is

certainly apt that it was the name given to the Di-

rector-General of Home Affairs, Mkuseli Apleni, who

says part of his responsibilities is ensuring that citizen’s

identities are protected.

Apleni spoke to PSM about the important work his

department does.

Key among the Department of Home Affairs’ priori-

ties is ensuring that those within the borders of South

Africa feel safe.

This is also outcome three of government’s 14 prior-

ity outcomes covering the focus areas identified in the

National Development Plan.

“We have a responsibility to make sure that people

inside the country and those who are visiting feel safe,”

Apleni points out.

The department also plays a role in facilitating eco-

nomic growth.

“We understand that as a country we cannot grow an

economy on our own. We also need the support of the

people from outside our borders. To do this we need to

have an immigration policy that talks to these issues.”

Changes to visa regulationsHe says the department has had to closely evaluate its

immigration policy and make some necessary changes.


“We had to look at how to amend the policy to deal

with certain issues to balance both the issues of eco-

nomic growth and security.”

Last year government began implementing changes

to immigration laws. The regulations introduced a new

visa system for South Africa.

Speaking of the criticism the new regulations has

attracted, Apleni says that many chose to ignore the

good intended by the regulations.

President Jacob Zuma has since established an Inter-

Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Immigration Regula-

tions, chaired by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa,

to address the unintended consequences of the new

immigration regulations on various sectors, including

tourism and investment.

Ensuring safetyAs part of the new regulations,

foreign nationals intending to

visit South Africa have to apply

for visas in person at South Afri-

can embassies abroad, where their

biometric data (fingerprints) will

be captured.

While there have been concerns

that this requirement would affect tourism, Apleni says

these requirements are not unique to South Africa and

are security related.

“This will allow for the implementation of a risk-based

approach to immigration management, including veri-

fication of applicants prior to arrival in the Republic.”

He adds that data captured at the embassies would

also help identify tourists in the country in the event

of unfortunate incidents.

“We should consider what happened in Kenya where

a shopping complex was bombed and people were

killed as well as in Tunisia, where tourists were attacked

and killed.

“If incidents like these were to happen in South Africa

police would go to the crime scene and take finger-

prints but would not be able to link them to anyone.

However, if the fingerprints were captured when the

person applied for visa, this information would help us.”

Apleni points out that countries across the world also

ask visitors to apply for visas in person.

“If you have to go to the US you need to go to their

embassy and apply in person. If you need to go to

Schengen countries, it’s the same.”

The Schengen area refers to 26 European countries

that have mutually decided to eliminate passport and

immigration controls at their joint borders.

Another area of contention is the requirement, in

place from June this year, that South Africans and

foreign nationals travelling to and from South Africa

with children under the age of 18 are required to pro-

duce unabridged birth certificates.

Apleni says the implementation of the new legislation

is part of government’s commitment to safeguard the

best interests of children and prevent child trafficking.

“The requirements are aimed at es-

tablishing the principle that all children

must have the consent of their parents

when travelling into or out of the Re-

public.”

Changes to the regulations that were

not highlighted include the critical skills

visa, he points out.

“What this now means is that if someone possesses

a critical skill, he or she can come to South Africa and

be given a visa for a year without being given a job.”

The new regulations also make a distinction between

short-stay visas and long-stay permanent residence

permits.

Regarding study visas, he explains that previously

foreign students had to apply for a study visa every

year of their studies.

“We have changed this and now students only apply

for a study visa once and this is valid for the duration of

their studies. This means that if I am coming to South

Africa to study medicine, which takes six years, I will

get my study visa for six years. I do not have to go six

times to apply.”

The department is also keen to see econom-

ic growth translate into job opportunities. >>

“If you have to go to the US you need to go to their em-

bassy and apply in person. If you need to go to Schengen

countries, it’s the same.”


“If you have economic growth without job creation it is

meaningless to the people on the ground,” Apleni says.

According to the new regulations, a person issued

with a business visa must employ or prove that 60 per

cent of the total staff complement is South African citi-

zens or permanent residents.

Operation Fiela Apleni says that his department is working with other

government departments as part of Operation Fiela to

make people feel safe, and ensure that there is law and

order in the country.

“We need to ensure that the authority of the state is

observed. There is a misconception that Operation Fiela

is targeting foreign nationals. In South Africa we have

an integrated approach. The police do raids with the

Department of Home Affairs and other government

departments. If we find that South African citizens have

committed a crime we will arrest them and the same

applies to foreign nationals.”

He says Operation Fiela should instil confidence in

the public as it shows that government is committed

to ensuring safety and security.

Roll out of smart ID cards According to Apleni, more than two million smart ID

cards have already been issued to South Africans.

Currently, the department has more than 140 offices

issuing the cards and is planning to add another 38

offices that will issue them in the current financial year.

Smart ID cards have strong security features to pre-

vent fraud and corruption, an issue on which the de-

partment has a zero-tolerance approach, says Apleni.

“We are working with law enforcement agencies to

deal with corruption. We realise that this is not some-

thing we can fight alone.”

He points out that the department is cracking down

on corrupt officials, adding that action also needs to

be taken against members of the public who were in

cahoots with the officials.

“In matters of corruption, there is both a corruptor

and a corruptee and both should face the full might

of the law.”

Feature

Service delivery a priorityDriven by his passion to serve, Apleni says his ultimate

goal is to help build a department that has the ability

to service the people.

“The bottom line is to ensure that the department is

able to respond to the needs of the people. As long as

there is one person inside the borders of our country

who says I am not serviced, we should not be sleeping

well. We are looking at ways to make services at the

department more efficient.”

Even after five years at the department, Apleni says

serving the people of South Africa is still his passion.

“I am still here to serve the people under the govern-

ment… I have a passion to serve and if everyone at

Home Affairs has that passion we will be able to over-

come any obstacle. We are here to serve, that is why

one of our slogans is ‘We care’,” he adds.


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N E W S L E T T E R S | W E B S I T E S | B R O C H U R E S | D I R E C T M A I L E R S

Contact : Van F letcherBree St ree t S tud ios 17 New Church St ree tCape Town

Cel l : 082 3311158Te l : 086 000 9590Emai l : van . f le [email protected] .za

Feature Writer: Chris Bathembu

Gloves come off in fi ght to save water

It is not something people usually give a second thought

to, but the cost of water leaks is running into the billions,

leading President Jacob Zuma to declare war on leaks.

Every year, South Africa loses nearly 36 per cent of its water

due to water leaks and such losses cost the country about

R7 billion.

But a new water saving programme approved by Cabinet is

expected to save the country millions of litres of water. Presi-

dent Zuma launched the War on Leaks programme in Port

Elizabeth recently, which will see 15 000 artisans, water agents

and plumbers fi xing leaking taps and pipes in their respec-

tive communities as part of promoting water conservation.

Training for unemployed youthWater and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane has al-

ready appointed Rand Water to implement the War on Leaks

project. It is expected to run over a fi ve-year period during

which time 15 000 unemployed youth will be trained within

three disciplines, namely water agents, artisans and plumbers.

This is to ensure that the country’s water and sanitation

sector is equipped with a competent arsenal of skills and

capacity to minimise water losses.

“In his State of the Nation Address, the President raised a

serious concern that annually South Africa loses more than

R7 billion worth of water from aged infrastructure to a

leaking tap. We also have unaccounted water that can’t be

quantifi ed. He (the President) then called on the depart-

ment to come up with interventions,” Minister Mokonyane

said.

“The War on Leaks Programme will not only save us wa-

ter but will provide thousands of young South Africans

with sustainable job opportunities in the form of artisans,

plumbers and water brigades that will work within munici-

palities that have been identifi ed,” she added.

The training will be done in phases, with phase one ex-

pected to recruit about 3 000 young people followed by

5 000 during phase two and 7 000 learners will be trained

during phase three in the 2017/18 fi nancial year.

Preserving waterSpeaking at the launch of the programme, President Zuma

said the water brigades would do repairs, retrofi tting and

replacements. They will be placed in municipalities across

the country.

“Our key message to you is that we must save water.

Water is not unlimited. If we do not look after it, we will


lose it. We all see water leaking all over the streets and in our

homes through dripping taps and pipes.

“These loses also occur in various forms such as under-

ground infrastructure, faulty and poorly maintained equip-

ment and ageing infrastructure,” the President said.

Municipalities are also already engaged in big projects in-

volving the refurbishing of infrastructure, especially leaking

pipes. The War on Leaks project will bolster what the Depart-

ment of Water and Sanitation as well as municipalities are

busy with – programmes to rebuild the broken pipes and

other infrastructure, he added.

About R680 million has been budgeted for the programme

in the current fi nancial year.

Improving capacityMinister Mokonyane said 27 district municipalities in the

country were in a dire state in terms of water capacity.

“Working together with the water boards, we will train

youngsters, give them accreditation through SETAs and they

will be attached to our diff erent water boards, this will help

us with capacity.”

Saving water is everyone’s responsibility. Here

are some tips from the Department of Water

and Sanitation on how you can do your bit.

In and around the house• Turn the tap off between washing your face, brushing your teeth

or shaving.

• Taking a fi ve-minute shower a day will use a third of the water

used bathing in a bath tub, saving up to 400 litres a week.

• Use low-fl ow showerheads, dual-fl ush toilet mechanisms and

water-effi cient washing machines.

• Kettles should not be fi lled to the brim but with just enough

water for your needs. This will reduce your electricity bill too.

• Reducing the toilet fl ush volume alone can save 20 per cent of

total water consumption. This can be done by putting a two

litre cold drink bottle, fi lled with water and a little sand to add

weight, into the cistern.

• Fix a leaking toilet otherwise it can waste up to 100 000 litres of

water in one year.

• Use ‘grey water’ – used water from baths, washing machines

and other safe sources - to fl ush your toilet.

• Do not over-fi ll or excessively backwash your swimming

pool.

• Use a bucket rather than a hose to wash your car. If you

have to use a hose, use a sprayer that can be turned off

between spraying the car. Using a garden hose could use

as much as 30 litres of water per minute.

In the garden• Always water your plants during the early morning hours

or in the evening, when temperatures are cooler. Between

10:00 and 15:00 one can lose up to 90 per cent of water to

evaporation.

• Every time you boil an egg, save the cooled water for your

houseplants. They’ll benefi t from the nutrients released

from the shell.

• Water gardens less frequently, but water well. Using a gar-

den hose could use as much as 30 litres of water per min-

ute.

• Roof water can also be profi tably stored in tanks for water-

ing gardens.

• Use ‘grey water’ to water your garden.

She added that many young people would also be placed in

district municipalities where interventions are needed.

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Danny Jordan said the Nelson

Mandela Metro, which includes Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and

Despatch municipalities, was a water scarce region.

“We have a very serious challenge, it is for this reason that we

took a decision to invest more to secure water as a key resource

for this metro. We are very happy that the President is here to

launch this war.

“In our area as a metro, we must address the question of water

leaks. The many high bills people have for water are not as a

result of their use of water, but the inability of the municipality

to tackle water leaks,” he said.


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http://www.facebook.com//GEMS1GEMOFASCHEME to fi nd out how you can become a member of a winning medical scheme.

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What is ...Big on bene� ts, low on costs, strong on health ... and is one of the GEMS among medical schemes?

Good news for members of GEMS

“A� ordability, accessibility and quality of care have long been the driving force behind the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS),” says Liziwe Nkonyana, Communications and Member A� airs Executive of the Scheme. “For this reason, we were delighted with the recent 28.5% increase in the employer healthcare funding subsidy for in-service government employees. This is by all accounts making a tremendously positive di� erence to the lives of our members.”

“The fact that the employer contribution was backdated to January 2015, thereby resulting in a welcome � nancial windfall for Government employees in August, was well received by GEMS members across the board,” she adds.

GEMS – a positive force in healthcare

Nkonyana notes that GEMS has become an integral part of the South African healthcare funding landscape over the past decade. “GEMS is the only medical scheme in the country that has made an impact on and inroads into the previously uninsured market. The Scheme will continue to strive towards providing a� ordable healthcare cover for public service employees in South Africa.”

“The positive impact GEMS is having on the medical scheme industry continues to set an example to employers in all sectors of our economy where there is still a need to redress past imbalances. The Scheme has achieved this through focused practice, dedication and innovation,” she says.

Some interesting facts about GEMS:

• The Scheme has matured into South Africa’s second largest medical scheme.• It is responsible for 687,694 principal members and approximately 1.84 million lives. • 55.7% of all eligible public service employees are enrolled on the Scheme. • GEMS remains the fastest growing medical scheme in South Africa, with the Scheme processing more than 60 000 new

applications during 2014. • When compared to other medical schemes, the GEMS bene� t plans, namely Onyx, Ruby, Emerald, Beryl and Sapphire, are on average 15% less expensive, with similar or increased bene� ts.• GEMS remains the largest contributor to the overall growth of the medical scheme sector and represented 20.3% of the sector by the end of 2014. • At 7.8%, the non-healthcare expenditure of GEMS, which includes administration costs, is substantially lower than the industry average of 12%.• Over 12 500 healthcare providers are now registered on the GEMS network, ensuring that almost 90% of its members are now located within 10 km of a GEMS network provider.• The average age of GEMS bene� ciaries is 30.19.• The percentage of pensioners covered by the Scheme is 12.72%.

Furthermore, GEMS continues to engage in ongoing research to track the satisfaction levels of its members with respect to various aspects of the Scheme’s services, reveals Nkonyana. Findings from the independent satisfaction survey conducted in 2014 indicated that 78% of GEMS members are satis� ed with the Scheme. The overall level of satisfaction implies a high level of con� dence and trust in GEMS and strong brand loyalty.

The members who expressed their dissatisfaction with the Scheme believed that they were not receiving good value for money, which primarily stemmed from the fact that they had run out of funds or had exhausted their bene� ts and therefore had to fund certain services out of their own pockets. This con� rmed increasing a� ordability constraints witnessed throughout the healthcare funding industry and is a matter that is receiving considerable attention from the Scheme.

“The new, improved subsidy is assisting greatly in ensuring that the Scheme will continue to ful� l its all-important mandate of accessibility and a� ordability well into the future,” concludes Nkonyana.

How the improved employer subsidy will bene� t the members of GEMS

New subsidy Previous subsidy

In-service GEMS members In-service GEMS members

Principal member: R925 Member + 1 : R1 850 Member + 2 : R2 415 Member + 3 : R2 980 Member + 4 : R3 545

R720 R1 440 R1 880 R2 320 R2 760

Government pensioners on GEMS Government pensioners on GEMS

Principal member: R925Principal member + 1: R1 850Maximum medical assistance: R1 850 pm

R1 014

Level 1-5 GEMS members who retire on Sapphire will continue to receive 100% subsidy, provided the subsidy amount does not exceed the amount they retired on.

Writer: Chris BathembuPhotographer: Siyasanga Mbambani


Feature

Upgraded Mthatha Airport a gateway to E CapeVery few people in the world would say no to the

opportunity of exploring the unspoiled natural treas-

ure of the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape. From the

majestic wild beaches and rolling hills and valleys to the an-

cient forests fi lled with yellowwood trees, it is one of the most

beautiful places on the planet.

According to South African Tourism, the Wild Coast is one

of the top 20 tourism attractions in South Africa. The region

is also the esteemed birthplace to many political leaders of

the anti-apartheid movement; the most recognised of them

is former President Nelson Mandela. The Nelson Mandela

Museum, endorsed by Mandela himself, adds a rich heritage

experience to the to-do list.

But most visitors to the former Transkei area, which is eas-

ily used to access the Wild Coast, have been discouraged

by the fact that they have to fl y to other cities to get to the

area. The limited size of the Mthatha Airport’s runway and

terminal building made it unattractive to airlines and dealt

a blow to travellers and the region’s economy.

Although this part of the Eastern Cape is endowed with

natural and cultural resources with a high tourism potential,

this has not been optimally exploited to generate a signifi -

cant impact on economic growth and development. Tourism

offi cials say the inadequacy of the Mthatha Airport has largely

contributed to this.

But all that is set to change. The provincial government is

confi dent that more airlines will now fl y to and from Mthatha

following a massive revamp of the airport.

Following the upgrade, the airport can now receive bigger

aircrafts like the Boeing 737 and already 36 200 passengers

have landed there since April this year.

The terminal building upgrade has improved the airport’s

capacity and will now cater for resting areas for passengers,

restaurants and workstations for other airlines. There is also a

car hire building with parking and washing bay facilities. It’s a

far cry from the previous terminal building where everything

was crammed and there were hardly any amenities for the

travelling public.


Steps have also been implemented to address safety issues

at the airport, mainly to keep stray animals away from the run-

way and there are new landing lights that meet international

aviation standards.

Visitors to the airport will be greeted by an exhibition show-

casing the history of the former Transkei and the heritage route,

which includes the birthplaces of struggle heroes like Mandela,

Govan Mbeki and Oliver Tambo.

Mthatha Airport is part of the infrastructure build programme

of government and the upgrade was done under the Presiden-

tial intervention package in the past administration. The next

step is the development of an office park, retail and hospitality

complex in the non-aviation zone of the airport precinct, which

will include a hotel and a major conference centre.

The Integrated Wild Coast Development Programme and its

constituents such as the upgrading of the airport, the N2 Wild

Coast Highway and the Umzimvubu Catchment Development

will boost the Eastern Cape’s economy by a conservative R40

billion over the next decade, says the provincial government.

Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle

recently led a media tour to the almost com-

plete airport and has set 30 October as the

target date for the official opening of the

new-look facility.

The airport will also be a central part of

the new southeastern node and corridor

being planned for the Eastern Cape through

the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating

Commission. The programme seeks to bol-

ster the province’s industrial and agricultural

development and export capacity.

During the construction period, at least

223 jobs were created and about 120 of

those employed were young people. East-

ern Cape MEC for Transport Weziwe Tikana

noted that a bigger and better airport in the

area was crucial to the province’s economic

growth and tourism and would support ru-

ral development.

“This unprecedented investment in this

airport is indeed making a necessary mark

towards correcting this unnecessary imbal-

ance of neglecting areas in former home-

lands.”

MEC Tikana said the increased capacity of

the airport would unlock the tourism po-

tential of the Wild Coast region and other

historic sites that form the National Liberation Route and the

province’s Home of the Legends programme.

Government’s long-term plan is to reposition the Mthatha

Airport as the “gateway” to the eastern part of the Eastern

Cape. This will be achieved by transforming the airport into a

passenger and freight hub linking road, rail and air transport.

Premier Masualle said the Mthatha Airport development was

another confirmation that government was committed to do-

ing its best to meet the challenge of delivering the necessary

infrastructure.

The Eastern Cape provincial government has published Ex-

pression of Interests in which it requests proposals from inter-

ested parties to manage the airport on behalf of government.

“We want to reiterate that the further development of Mtha-

tha Airport has been identified as an infrastructure project

that could have significant potential in unlocking economic

development in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, the

surrounding municipalities and in the province broadly,” the

Premier said.

The old Mthatha Airport.

The upgraded Mthatha Airport.

MINISTER PANDORANNOUNCES 42 ADDITIONAL RESEARCH

CHAIRS FOR WOMEN RESEARCHERSThe Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor launched 42 new research chairs dedicated

exclusively to women. The research chairs held at various higher education institutions will assist South Africa’s transformation into a knowledge economy, boost international competitiveness and improve

people’s quality of life.

The new research chairs, awarded to local women researchers, has increased the total number of chairs under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) to 197, strengthening the ability of the country’s universities to produce good postgraduate students and high-quality research and innovation outputs.

Established in 2006 by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and managed by the National Research Foundation (NRF), SARChI is a government human capital development intervention to strengthen and improve the scientific research and innovation capacity of South African public universities. The Initiative’s key objectives are to attract established researchers from abroad and industry to South African higher education institutions and to retain experts already in the system. Research chairs are awarded in diverse disciplines in the natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences in response to government priorities.

SARChI also seeks to drive strategic partnerships within the National System of Innovation and the international research community, with the aim of creating a vibrant culture of excellence in research, thus strengthening research capacity to advance the frontiers of knowledge.

Transforming the racial and gender imbalance of the research and scientific workforce is an important aspect of the programme.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Pandor said that so far SARChI had involved mostly men, with four out of five research chairs going to male professors.

“Today, that changes. Today, we make history. Today, we have 42 new female research professors. Now, nearly half of our 201 research professors are women,” said the Minister.

ADVERTORIAL

Address: CSIR Campus, Buiding no. 53, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria | Tel: (012) 843 6300 | Website: www.dst.gov.za

She remarked that the radical transformation intervention by government would shape the future of South African higher education in terms of global rankings and parents sending their children to contact universities in the country or online universities abroad.

Minister Pandor emphasised that the additional chairs are not quota appointments, but rather to recognise impressive candidates of a high calibre.

“SARChI has given women the opportunity that men have always had,” she explained.

South Africa has made progress, but gender disparity remains a challenge in research fields. UNESCO’s data show that 42% of South African researchers are women. Only 30% of researchers with an NRF rating are women. Census data indicates that only 11.3% of the females with tertiary education in South Africa work in the areas of natural sciences, computer sciences and engineering.

Minister Pandor said the dominance of the humanities and social sciences was only to be expected because women had been directed, from an early age, into the ‘soft’ rather than the ‘hard’ sciences.

“We want to change that; and we have to start the change at school level,” she added.

Dr Beverley Damonse, Acting CEO of the National Research Foundation said the NRF had contributed more than R340 million to the research projects of female scientists in 2014 alone; and, since 2002, supported more than 18 000 women in obtaining their postgraduate qualifications.

“Today’s announcement of 42 new female research chair holders is part of our joint effort with the DST to address the gender disparity in the research community. We offer our congratulations to the respected researchers who take up these research chairs and we look forward to their research outputs,” concluded Dr Damonse.

The new research chairs announced include the following: Biomedical Engineering and Innovation; Laser Applications in Health; Integrated Studies of Learning Language, Mathematics and Science in the Primary School; Gender Politics; and Paediatric Tuberculosis.

“Today, we make history.

Today, we have 42 new female

research professors. Now,

nearly half of our 201 research

professors are women”

“Today’s announcement of

42 new female research chair

holders is part of our joint

effort with the DST to address

the gender disparity in the

research community. We offer

our congratulations to the

respected researchers who take

up these research chairs and we

look forward to their research

outputs”


Feature Writer: Stephen Timm

Revitalising township economiesWhile a 30 per cent procurement set-aside for

small businesses has yet to come into force,

the Gauteng Provincial Government has al-

ready introduced measures to buy more goods and ser-

vices from township businesses, as part of a strategy to

revitalise the economy of townships.

The planned set-aside, which was announced by Presi-

dent Jacob Zuma in his State of the Nation Address in

February, has yet to become obligatory for provincial and

national government as a practice note must still be is-

sued by National Treasury.

The Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe

Zulu said in her Budget Vote speech in June that her

department was working with treasury offi cials and that a

practice note would likely be released in September.

But in his Budget Vote speech in June, Gauteng MEC for

Economic Development Lebogang Maile said hundreds of

township businesses had been registered as suppliers on the

provincial database in anticipation of the 30 per cent set-aside.

The preparations form part of the provincial government’s

Township Revitalisation Strategy.

MEC Maile said the Gauteng government currently spends

just fi ve per cent of its R10 billion procurement budget buying

goods and services from township enterprises.

To ramp this up the provincial government wants hospi-

tals to procure 40 per cent of their fresh produce supplies

from black farmers in 2015/16 and 80 per cent in the 2016/17

fi nancial year.

Currently 53 township businesses supply linen to hospitals

across Gauteng. In addition 20 per cent of hospital bread

procurement has been earmarked for township bakeries, in-

creasing to 40 per cent in the next fi nancial year.

The province has also piloted an invoice discounting sys-

tem, which allows short-term borrowing to small businesses

against outstanding sales invoices. In addition, the depart-

ment has piloted a system that enables the provincial gov-

ernment to pay suppliers within 14 days. MEC Maile said in

June that all provincial government agencies were currently

paying suppliers within fi ve working days.

Head of Department Phindile Mbanjwa said some of those

registered on the provincial government’s supplier database

included those who still had just a business idea.

She said her department had also been in talks with other

departments in the provincial government to prepare them

to source from more township businesses.

The provincial government is also partnering with the pri-

vate sector. A partnership with retailer Massmart is expected

to result in R650 million in cash injected into Gauteng town-

ships, with the establishment of 500 retail shops. This project,

which is expected to create more than 1 000 jobs, will be

piloted across the six townships of Katlehong, Atteridgeville,

Sharpeville, Randfontein, Alexandra and Khutsong.

A second project will allow spaza-shop owners to pool their

resources and take full advantage of the benefi ts of bulk buy-


ing while also giving township entrepreneurs opportu-

nities to participate in the Pick n Pay franchise model.

The retailer is also partnering with the University of

Cape Town and the University of Johannesburg to men-

tor township businesses.

Mbanjwa said the provincial government is looking

to get Pick n Pay to agree to off er township businesses

preferential rates at which to buy stock.

It also wants to use a set of three existing hubs – in

Mohlakeng, Winterveld and Tembisa – to boost market

access for township businesses.

This includes having government vehicles repaired

by township businesses at the Winterveld Automotive

Hub. Run by the Automotive Industry Development

Centre (AIDC), the hub was launched in February last

year.

AIDC Incubation Manager Neeraj Kessery said the

organisation was waiting for the Gauteng government

to pass a deviation so that government vehicles could

be serviced by those at the hub, rather than by ac-

credited suppliers as currently stipulated.

He added the idea was for township entrepreneurs

that specialised in spray-painting and panel beating

to use the hub as a stepping-stone in growing their

businesses.

Once the businesses start to grow, the owners should

be able to aff ord their own equipment and workspace

to qualify for accreditation as suppliers with the Retail

Motor Industry organisation (RMI) or the South African

Motor Body Repairers Association, which will enable

them to secure work from the insurance industry.

At present eight businesses are using the hub. The aim

is for the hub to create 82 direct and permanent jobs.

Township business owners can, by calling ahead, book a slot

at the hub and then rent equipment to service customers’ cars

there. The hub also off ers training courses for those looking to

be employed by businesses supported by the hub.

Kessery said the the organisation was also awaiting accredita-

tion from the Sector Education and Training Authority (Seta) to

be accredited as a trainer. He said the Administrative Adjudication

of Road Traffi c Off ences Unit, which manages traffi c off ences, had

already agreed to underwrite any payments from government to

the township enterprises.

In addition, the organisation had also received a commit-

ment from insurance companies that the hub could be used to

service clients’ vehicles, with insurers possibly accruing to score

BEE points for sourcing from more black suppliers.

At present, while they wait for the go-ahead for government

work, the businesses are using the hub to service private clients'

vehicles.

In addition the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) would be

helping to refurbish seven facilities in Ennerdale, Hammanskraal,

Mabopane and Reiger Park, and be assisting with buying new

machinery for tenants to use. This would complement the three

existing hubs.

The GEP’s Head of Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations Mpu-

mi Ndebele said in some cases businesses were operating from

the facilities, which included disused industrial parks but these

needed to be revamped.

Ndebele said in the 2014/15 fi nancial year the agency had

trained 534 informal businesses and helped 25 businesses to reg-

ister their enterprises. This is up from 401 trained in the initial year

of training in 2013/14. That year 79 registrations were concluded.

The agency funded business training and some of the >>

ing while also giving township entrepreneurs opportu-

nities to participate in the Pick n Pay franchise model.

is for the hub to create 82 direct and permanent jobs.

Township business owners can, by calling ahead, book a slot

Feature

beneficiaries were also able to access grants of up to R9 000 from

the community fund.

Ndebele named one spaza-shop owner who, with help from train-

ing sponsored by pharmaceutical giant GSK, was able to diversify

its product range and hire two more people. The owner was also

able to get a R200 000 grant from the GEP to buy a container and

fridges, and acquire more stock.

The Mohlakeng hub, which has been operating since April last

year, currently has six tenants, including four steel companies. Nde-

bele said the hub was vandalised during a strike earlier this year,

but that repairs (mostly involving replacing broken windows) had

been carried out.

At Mohlakeng the hub gradually raises rent on a sliding scale until

the third year when it is closer to the present commercial rate, he ex-

plained. The aim is to have 36 businesses and cooperatives in the hub.

Ndebele added that the agency had a list of various goods and

services that township businesses could supply to the provincial

government such as furniture, as well as cleaning and security ser-

vices. The organisation would help to develop township businesses

to ensure that they are able to provide the right quantity and quality

of goods.

The Gauteng government’s assistance to township businesses is

in keeping with the Department of Small Business Development’s

plan to boost the sector.

Last year the department began rolling out its National Informal

Business Upliftment Strategy, which includes the provision of cost-

sharing grants to unregistered firms to update machinery and buy

stock, and a partnership with municipalities to update infrastructure

and business training.

The department’s spokesperson Cornelius Monama said 373 in-

formal traders had been trained by the end of June in partnership

“It’s big,” says cooperative member Nicodemus

Letlhake when speaking about the Gauteng gov-

ernment’s Township Revitalisation Strategy.

Letlhake, who runs Wyse West, a brickmaking co-

operative with seven other members nearMohlak-

eng, could be one of hundreds of township enter-

prises to benefit as the province begins revamping

old industrial parks and with the province’s pledge

to procure 30 per cent of goods and services from

township businesses.

“I think it [the strategy] is something that can

benefit us a lot,” says Letlhake, who was present

when the strategy was launched at Orlando Sta-

dium.

His municipality helped set up the cooperative

in 2013. Last year the members received help from

the GEP. This included R18 000 worth of market-

ing assistance, including pamphlets, signage, a

website and access to two exhibitions where the

members were able to sell to private homeowners.

Letlhake says the cooperative has added four

employees since it started, but admits that it has

yet to become sustainable and depends on a R430

000 grant from the Mining Forum, sourced from

mines.

The cooperative is looking to get work on low-

cost housing projects from the local and provincial

government.

He says the bricks the cooperative manufactures

do not need cement to hold them together. In-

stead a kind of epoxy glue and their interlocking

design ensure they are secure.

The bricks were over double the benchmark

strength set by the South African Bureau of Stand-

ards, when the cooperative tested them last in

May at a private laboratory.

with the Wholesale and Retail Seta. The plan is to train

1 000 by March next year in sites across the country.

The hope is that with the right kind of support entre-

preneurs can help transform townships from economic

backwaters into thriving economies.


oPinion

Tolerant, forward-thinking South Africans neededThe South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) recently caused a stir when it used celebrities to endorse its e-tolling campaign. Social media was abuzz and there was opposition to the campaign. Head of marketing and communication Vusi Mona explains.

South Africa has one of the most progressive Consti-

tutions in the world, with the guarantee of freedom

of expression at the heart of all the human rights we

enjoy as citizens of a democratic nation.

This freedom of speech we enjoy would not be so pre-

cious if it were not protected or if the protection was ex-

tended only to certain types of expression while denying

the voicing of issues and beliefs that are uncomfortable

for some. In forward-thinking countries like Canada, the

right includes the protection of commercial expression –

both popular and unpopular – including speech seen as

shocking or hurtful.

And herein lies a bone of contention. While we, as South

Africans, should be including ourselves among the tolerant,

forward-thinkers of the world, with commercial expression

included in our many freedoms, some have taken it upon

themselves to be the self-appointed thought-police.

Believing that they have the support of the entire na-

tion as they publicly denounce e-tolling as unpopular,

they have taken to seeing any messaging around e-

tolling as off ensive.

But, we would argue, we believe our right to commer-

cial expression trumps their right to not be off ended.

It is our fi rm view that our mandate to inform and pub-

licise government’s decision to institute the user-pay

principle to fund Gauteng’s upgraded highways should

be held above petty sniping and vicious attacks in re-

sponse to our work.

Marketing and advertising are the domains of expres-

sion where we regularly see organisations put out mes-


sages that are not popular with everyone. And the fact remains

that commercial expression – as long as it is truthful and not

misleading – is protected as normal practice.

South Africans in general – including celebrities and their

fans – are entitled to express themselves as they wish, associ-

ate with whoever they choose and endorse whatever product

or project they like.

There are people, some of them popular and well-

known, who have e-tags, pay their tolls and

openly associate themselves with the SAN-

RAL. And we believe they are entitled to

express this support without fear of ridi-

cule, abuse or attack.

Individuals and groups have the right

to their outrage, but this is subject to the

terms guaranteed in out Bill of Rights. An-

gry people do not have the right to insult or

intimidate the celebrities who have chosen to

endorse e-tolling. Nobody can rightfully shame

them into silence. It is both immoral and wrong.

The liberty to express thoughts and opinions is one of the

central foundations of democracy and civilisation. When the

freedom of commercial speech and freedom of association

is threatened, the foundations of liberty and the democratic

system are also threatened.

Using celebrities to endorse products or services is not unu-

sual – sports stars, actors and actresses, musicians have

all been used (and compensated) to do so. Surely, there

can be no prohibition on SANRAL making use of ce-

lebrity endorsements?

The fact is that, like it or not, those who are paying

their e-tolls are not alone. Those lauding the system

do not stand alone. This is evident in the positive trend

in e-toll income, particularly following the an-

nouncement of the new dispensation.

The lowering of toll costs has ad-

dressed what we understood to be

the concerns of most motorists.

We have 1.3 million registered

users and the number of people

paying their accounts is on the

rise. Clearly their quiet actions and

unvoiced opinions are diff erent to

those who are loud in their opposition

of the system.

Those who endorse e-tolling are part of a

campaign to identify some of those compliant South

Africans that could lend their voice in support of the

revised system – which is why they were selected for

this series of advertisements. And their rights to do so

need to be protected.

We would like to appeal too for reason and respect

for freedom of commercial expression as is the case

in other jurisdictions like America, where advertising

is protected by the First Amendment.

Recently we saw a man escorted out of a gym be-

cause he was wearing a pro-Palestinian t-shirt. Is this

the kind of society we have become? Fortunately, san-

ity and reasonableness prevailed and we saw the gym

coming back with an explanation, an undertaking that

such behaviour was not tolerated and would never be

repeated, and they made a proper and public apology.

We live in hope that those opposed to e-tolling would

consider equally honourable and respectful responses

to SANRAL’s eff orts in future.


The importance of a willThe importance of a willThe importance of a willDeath is not a pleasant thought but something we all need to

prepare for. And part of these preparations is ensuring that you

have a will.

What is a will?• A will, also known as a testament, is a document in which

a person sets out what must happen to their estate when

they die. A person can also nominate the person or persons,

known as executors, who should administer their estate on

their death.

• The person who makes a will is known as the testator (male)

or testatrix (female).

• A person’s estate consists of all their assets (belongings, prop-

erty) and liabilities (debts), which they had as at date of death.

• To administer an estate means to collect or take control of

all the assets of the deceased, to pay the debts which the

deceased left at date of death, and then to pay the balance

left for distribution to the rightful heirs of the

deceased as determined in the will, or if you

do not have a will, to the heirs as determined

in terms of the rules of intestate succession.

Who is competent to make a will?• All persons of 16 years and over, unless at the

time of making the will he/she is mentally inca-

pable of appreciating the consequence of his/

her action.

Who is competent to act as a witness to a will?• All persons of 14 years and over and who at the

time he/she witnesses a will are not incompe-

tent to give evidence in a court of law.

• A benefi ciary to a will should not sign as a wit-


Financial Fitness

ness, because he/she will then be disqualifi ed

from receiving any benefi t from that will. There

are some exceptions to this rule. Consult your legal

representative for more information in this regard.

What are the requirements for a valid will?• As of 1 January 1954 all wills must be in writing. It

can be written by hand, typed or printed.

• The testator/testatrix must sign the will at the end.

• The signature of the testator/testatrix must be

made in the presence of two or more competent

witnesses.

• The witnesses must attest and sign the will in

the presence of the testator/testatrix and of each

other.

• If the will consists of more than one page, all

pages other than the one on which it ends must

be signed by the testator/testatrix, anywhere on

the page.

What is a codicil?• A codicil is a schedule or annexure to an existing

will, which is made to supplement or to amend an

existing will. A codicil must comply with the same

requirements for a valid will.

• A codicil need not be signed by the same wit-

nesses who signed the original will.

How can I amend my will?• Amendments to a will can only be made while

executing a will or after the date of execution of

the will. Amendments to a will must comply with

the same requirements for a valid will.

• When amending a will, the same witnesses who signed

the original will need not sign it.

Should I amend my will after divorce?• A bequest to your divorced spouse in your will, which was

made prior to your divorce, will not necessarily fall away

after divorce.

• The Wills Act (Act 7 of 1953) stipulates that, except where

you expressly provide otherwise, a bequest to your di-

vorced spouse will be deemed revoked if you die within

three months of the divorce.

• This provision is to allow a divorced person a period of three

months to amend his/her will, after the trauma of a divorce.

• Should you however fail to amend your will within three

months after your divorce, the deemed revocation rule

will fall away and your divorced spouse will benefi t as in-

dicated in the will.

What will happen if I do not leave a will?• If you die without leaving a will or a valid will, your estate

will devolve according to the Intestate Succession Act,

1987 (Act 81 of 1987).

Safekeeping of wills• Wills should be kept in a safe place where they can easily

be found when the testator or testatrix dies. Wills do not

have to be stored at attorney’s offi ces or at trust companies.

• If a testator/testatrix decides to keep his or her will in a

safe place him/herself, it is advisable that they inform a

reliable person where the will can be found should they

pass away.

For more information contact the Master of the High

Court of the Department of Justice and Constitutional

Development, email [email protected] or call

012 406 4805.

*Supplied by: Department of Justice and

Constitutional Development


Kingsley MakhubelaChief Executive Offi cer (CEO) of Brand South AfricaKingsley Makhubela has had an illustrious career in the public service, having recently

concluded his tenure as the Director-General (DG) of the Department of Tourism. Prior

to that, he was the Chief of State Protocol at the Department of International Relations

and Cooperation (DIRCO). Makhubela was also at the helm of positioning South Africa

in Portugal and Kenya during his tours of duty as Ambassador and High Commissioner

respectively.

As DG at the Department of Tourism he was an integral part of the team leading

South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the fi rst in Africa.

As the Chief of State Protocol at DIRCO, Makhubela was responsible for coordinating

all incoming and outgoing international visits by the President, Deputy President,

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, all visiting heads of state

and government, and a host of other dignitaries.

He has also served as Ambassador to Portugal from 1996 to 2001 and as

High Commissioner to Kenya from 2001 to 2005.

Makhubela has a Master's degree in Diplomacy from the University of

Pretoria and is currently completing his PhD, looking at the confl ict in

Somalia, at the School of Political Science at the University of Pretoria.

He has been appointed CEO of Brand South Africa for the 2015 to 2020

period.

Public sector aPPointments Compiled by: Maselaelo Seshotli

Joyce Mogale Chief Executive Offi cer (CEO): National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS)

Joyce Mogale holds a Master's degree in Business Management, Postgraduate Diploma in

Health Management, BSc (Hons) status in Medical Sciences and a Higher National and

National Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology.

She is former Regional Executive Manager of the NHLS. She previously held the position

of Deputy Director: Laboratory Services in the Department of Health and Welfare in

Limpopo (the then Northern Province). Mogale has held strategic positions as director

in small businesses She is also contracted as a Non-Executive director of the Limpopo

Gambling Board (Deputy Chairperson), as well as Cygnimart, Metso Minerals and Mining,

Westvaal (Chairperson) and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions boards. Mogale is a Trustee of

the Tirisano, Ububele, Westvaal and Umvuso boards.

Mogale has a good track record in leadership and management skills, and has displayed practical

people management and fi nancial skills during her collective 18 years as a manager in

the public and private sectors.

Her areas of expertise include fi nancial management, strategic planning and

performance management, people management, operations management,

corporate governance and business development.

Mogale was appointed interim CEO of the NHLS by the Minister of Health,

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in November 2014 and was appointed CEO eff ective

from 1 September 2015.

period.

Joyce Mogale Chief Executive Offi cer (CEO): National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS)

Joyce Mogale holds a Master's degree in Business Management, Postgraduate Diploma in

Health Management, BSc (Hons) status in Medical Sciences and a Higher National and

National Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology.

She is former Regional Executive Manager of the NHLS. She previously held the position

of Deputy Director: Laboratory Services in the Department of Health and Welfare in

Limpopo (the then Northern Province). Mogale has held strategic positions as director

in small businesses She is also contracted as a Non-Executive director of the Limpopo

Gambling Board (Deputy Chairperson), as well as Cygnimart, Metso Minerals and Mining,

Westvaal (Chairperson) and ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions boards. Mogale is a Trustee of

the Tirisano, Ububele, Westvaal and Umvuso boards.

Mogale has a good track record in leadership and management skills, and has displayed practical

people management and fi nancial skills during her collective 18 years as a manager in

the public and private sectors.

Her areas of expertise include fi nancial management, strategic planning and

performance management, people management, operations management,

corporate governance and business development.

Mogale was appointed interim CEO of the NHLS by the Minister of Health,

Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, in November 2014 and was appointed CEO eff ective

from 1 September 2015.

Kingsley Makhubela has had an illustrious career in the public service, having recently

concluded his tenure as the Director-General (DG) of the Department of Tourism. Prior

to that, he was the Chief of State Protocol at the Department of International Relations

and Cooperation (DIRCO). Makhubela was also at the helm of positioning South Africa

in Portugal and Kenya during his tours of duty as Ambassador and High Commissioner

As DG at the Department of Tourism he was an integral part of the team leading

As the Chief of State Protocol at DIRCO, Makhubela was responsible for coordinating


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Untitled-3 1 2015/03/17 03:51:17 PM

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

JUNE 2014

PU

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PU

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E 2014


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

E X C L U S I V E S U B S C R I P T I O N O F F E R

SUBSCRIPTION OFFERS

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

1. 1 Year Subscr ipt ion (11 I s s u e s ) A t 1 5 % D i s c o u n t – R 2 8 02. 2 Year Subscr ipt ion (2 2 I s s u e s ) A t 2 5 % D i s c o u n t – R 4 9 43. 5 X 2 Year Subscr ipt ions A t 3 5 % D i s c o u n t – R 2 1 4 14. 10 X 2 Year Subscr ipt ions A t 4 0 % D i s c o u n t – R 3 9 5 3

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EFTs to FNB, current account 62327164795, branch code 20-14-09, (Adderley Street), using the same name

on this form as the reference for your payment.

Subscriptions include free postage and packaging

With th is o rder my subscr ip t ion w i l l con t inue to be serv iced w i thout in te r rupt ion fo r as long as I w ish under your cont inua l renewal pr iv i lege, where each year I w i l l be inv i ted to cont inue my subscr ip t ion a t the pr iv i leged subscr ibers pr ice then in e f fec t , un less I dec ide o therw ise .

Y e s , I w a n t t o s u b s c r i b e t o t h e P u b l i c S e c t o r M a n a g e r M a g a z i n e

C O M P L E T E T H E F O L L O W I N G I N F O R M AT I O N :

w w w . g c i s . g o v . z a

health and well-beinG

Understanding Down’s syndrome

Down’s syndrome or Down syndrome is a chromo-

somal disorder eff ecting, on average, one in 500

babies in South Africa. Although women of all ages

can have a baby with Down’s syndrome, the risk increases

when the mother is older, says Government Employees’

Medical Scheme’s (GEMS) Principal Offi cer Dr Guni Goolab.

The risk of a 40-year-old mother having a baby with

Down's syndrome is around 16 times more than that of

a 25-year-old. “This is not to say that older women should

not have children, as most women have babies without any

complications, however older mothers should be aware of

their heightened risk of having a Down’s syndrome baby,”

Dr Goolab cautions.

Down’s syndrome presents itself in a

variety of ways and each individual is

aff ected diff erently. “People with the

condition often have characteristic fa-

cial features including almond-shaped

eyes and a fl atter bridge of the nose

than usual. Most have mild to moder-

ate intellectual impairment, while some

are able to participate in mainstream

schooling.”

Extra genetic materialThe condition is caused by extra genetic material on

the 21st chromosome of a person’s DNA and results

in mental and physical disabilities of varying degrees.

“Often people with Down’s syndrome suff er speech

defects but they generally have better levels of un-

derstanding than their speech would lead others to

believe. Do not make the mistake of believing that they

do not feel the eff ects of prejudice from unenlightened

people,” says Dr Goolab.

On the whole, people with Down’s syndrome have

a shorter life expectancy, although improved medi-

cal technology is helping to prolong their lives and

improve quality of life. Around half of

people with Down’s syndrome will suf-

fer heart problems and many also suff er

from respiratory problems. Ninety per

cent have stunted growth and around

80 per cent have low muscle tone.

“People with Down’s syndrome often

face prejudice from those who do not

understand the condition. Although

they may look slightly diff erent to the

rest of us, and could require help with some tasks,

there is no reason to show them less respect. Rather,

we should off er support and understanding as these

individuals often face challenges in aspects of their

everyday lives that most of us take for granted.”

Improving development Families with Down’s syndrome children need to under-

stand the condition, the possible health risks associated

with it and what can be done to reduce the impact >>

The risk of a 40-year-

old mother having

a baby with Down's

syndrome is around

16 times more than that

of a 25-year-old.


of the condition on the child’s life. “While some birth

defects, such as heart and gastrointestinal problems,

can be resolved with surgery, Down’s syndrome itself

cannot be cured. There is also a range of therapies and

activities that can help to improve development in such

children,” explains Dr Goolab.

Such intervention, which usually in-

cludes physical therapy, occupa-

tional therapy, and speech and

language therapy, should

be started as young as

possible, according to

the child’s abil it ies.

“Your doctor will be

able to refer you to

experts who specialise

in helping children to

make the most of their

gifts and manage their

difficulties. Parents should

be aware that the sooner

therapy is started, the better the

outcomes for the child with Down’s

syndrome,” Dr Goolab adds.

Parents of Down’s syndrome children should ensure

that they are screened for heart, gastrointestinal and

respiratory problems associated with the condition.

“One problem that frequently affects people with

Down’s syndrome is obstructive sleep apnoea, which

is difficulty breathing while sleeping. Parents should

watch out for this, with the most common symp-

tom being snoring interrupted by periods of si-

lence followed by gasping for air. This condition

causes severe sleep disruption, which can worsen

the learning difficulties that Down’s syndrome peo-

ple often already face.”

ScreeningScreening for the condition during pregnancy is

common, particularly where the mother is over the

age of 35 or where there is a family history of chromosomal

abnormalities. If early warning signs are detected then further

diagnostic tests are performed to determine whether or not

the foetus has developed the condition.

In cases where the tests indicate a high probability that the

baby would have Down’s syndrome, some parents opt for abor-

tion, often because they fear possible financial

and emotional pressure or out of concern

that the child will not have a good

quality of life.

Down’s Syndrome South Af-

rica, a non-profit organisa-

tion working to improve

the quality of life of peo-

ple with the condition,

however, does not con-

sider Down’s syndrome

a reason for terminating

a pregnancy. “People with

Down’s syndrome do lead

full and rewarding lives and

make a valuable contribution to

our society,” points out the organi-

sation. “However, we realise that parents

need to make the right decision for themselves.”

Dr Goolab reiterates that people with Down's syndrome have

a contribution to make to society. “We should value them for

their tenacity and the diversity they bring to our country,” he

adds.

Supplied by: Government Employees’ Medical Scheme

health and well-beinG


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Writer: Samona NaiduPhotographer: Tegan SmithFood and wine

Supper with

Dynamite defi nitely comes in small packages and

Siphokazi Mdlankomo, the domestic worker

turned chef, who won the hearts of South Africans

in the cooking reality show MasterChef SA, is proof of this.

Through her traditional technique and mouth-watering

dishes, Mdlankomo secured the runner-up spot in the

competition last year and has been leaving a trail of inspi-

ration in kitchens across the country ever since.

She was raised by her mother and grandmother in Tsolo,

near Mthatha, Eastern Cape and cooking was a huge part

of her childhood.

Before she captured the nation’s attention, the petite

chef worked as a full-time domestic worker for a fam-

ily in Newlands, Cape Town. Her dishes soon caught the

attention of everyone around her and, in 2012, she made

it to the semi-fi nals of SA Cook-Off .

She confesses she is the biggest fan of MasterChef. “I

watch every season, from the South African seasons to the

Australian, UK, American, and even the Canadian Master

Chef,” she explains.

This prompted her to give the show a try and she

excelled.

Since then, Mdlankomo has become an inspiration to

young chefs and domestic workers everywhere.

“Being a domestic worker is just like any other job, which

you should be proud of doing. It is a profession from which

you earn your income,” she says.

“My MasterChef journey was quite amazing and has

taught me so much. Today I still work as a domestic worker

but an extraordinary one.”

Her bubbly personality and endearing, caring nature is

the secret to her incredible dishes.

We share her signature recipe for a home cooked dinner

that is bound to leave you wanting more.

Siphokazi


Ingredients:

4 medium lamb shanks

2 red onions (sliced)

1 X 400g canned tomatoes

250 ml red wine

750ml beef/chicken stock

2 carrots (peeled and sliced)

2 celery sticks (sliced)

30 ml olive oil

2 cloves garlic (crushed)

4 sprigs of thyme

2 sprigs of rosemary

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

Flour to dust

Polenta ingredients:

2 cups of chicken stock

1 cup of polenta

2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Season the

shanks with salt and pepper, and then

dust with fl our. In a heavy-based, cast

iron pot heat the olive oil and brown

the shanks, remove from the pot once

the outside has been browned and set

aside.

In the same pot sauté the onions for

two minutes then add garlic, vegeta-

bles and herbs and cook for a further

two minutes. Add red wine and cook for

fi ve minutes. Place the shanks back into

the pot and add the tomatoes, stock

and sugar. Cover the pot with a lid and

cook in the oven for 2.5 hours or until

tender.

Be sure to keep checking every now

and then and add more stock in if need

be, you don’t want the lamb to dry out.

For the polenta

Heat the stock in a pot and bring to

boiling point. Once the stock is boiling,

pour in the polenta, in a steady stream

and use a whisk to stir the mixture so

that there are no lumps. Put the lid on

the pot and turn the heat to very low

and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from

heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Serve and enjoy.

Lamb shanks with soft creamy polenta

GroominG and stYle Writer: Gilda Narsimdas

South Africa’s fashion fi xers Alan Foley

and Krishen Samuel are ‘trend men’

on a mission. Their attire is bold, in-

novative, on-trend and a mix of eff ortless

class and style. They’ve teamed up to share

their expertise about fashion trends, styling

and the ultimate dos and don’ts for men

and women.

SA’s ‘trend men’take on style


Men in styleGo bold: These days men are pushing the

envelope when it comes to their personal

style and grooming. We encourage bold

choices. Whether on the golf course or

in the boardroom, subtle yet innovative

statements are key to any look. Do add a

fashion-forward touch to a suit or formal

attire with printed socks, a tie or pocket

square but don’t opt for all three at the

same time.

Get tailored: Every man needs a good tailored suit. Your suit should be made for you.

Many guys pull a suit off a rack and take it home. We suggest using a tailor to make the

necessary adjustments, it’s crucial! The sleeves of your blazer should be a tad shorter

or slightly pulled back to reveal the cuff trim of your shirt - aim for that look and feel.

Look professional: Cardigans and blazers work best for casual or corporate

looks. Choose bright colourful options to look trendy, but still put together and

professional. It is more important to look good and have your clothes fi t well

than to be dressed head-to-toe in ill-fi tting popular brands. Well-fi tted clothes

complete your groomed look. It is important to fi nd a great tailor to achieve this.

Find your fit: If you wear clothing that is too tight you

will attract attention to the wrong parts of your physique.

There needs to be a balance. Getting the right fi t is of

the utmost importance. For example, get fi tted for the

right bra size. You can look amazing in anything; you just

need to understand the basics of your body.

Grooming: When you are well groomed it takes your

ensemble to another level. Hair and make-up have to

complement your clothes. Keep your make-up light but

eff ective.


Women in styleClassy at work: Women are the powerhous-

es of fashion. They are risk takers and fashion

connoisseurs, yet with the variety of brands

and trends available it is easy to overdo and

over-style an outfi t. It is important to keep it

classic and classy. Know what to wear and

when – this is the key to the perfect style, es-

pecially in the workplace

Size is everything: If you are

apple or pear-shaped or athleti-

cally built buy clothes that fi t

and complement your shape.

Dress for your size. Wear clothes

that conceal or complement

your curves. Don’t buy bigger

clothes to hide your curves as

you might end up looking like

you are wearing a tent.

car reviews Writer: Itumeleng Motuba

South Africans are generally brand loyal and it takes us a

while to open up to the idea of something new. Those

who are not car enthusiasts are often not even aware of

brands such as Infi niti, Koenigsegg and Pagani. And while they

may be new or foreign names to the South African market, these

brands have stood the test of time in other countries.

Infi niti, for instance, is the luxury line of Nissan and although it

is about 26-years -old, it has only been in South Africa for three

years. So yes, it is fairly new and fairly luxurious. I had the privilege

of spending some time with the latest Q60 convertible seven-

speed automatic

and got to under-

stand why Infiniti is

loved across the world. But it

is only fair to see how the Q60 measures

up to its peers – the BMW 4 Series Convertible, Audi

S5 Cabriolet and the Lexus IS C. In all honesty, these

are some pretty big boys to go up against but the Q60

seems to be able to keep up.

It is elegant and there is no doubt about it being a

good car and quite an impressive drive, after all it is

fi tted with an impressive V6 engine. The 3.7 litre per-

forms well, moving with ease, although the engine

noise might be a little loud for non-petrol heads. It

puts out a decent 235 kW of power and 360 Nm at

5 200 rpm of torque, which is on par or even a little

better than its counterparts. But is it good enough to

make a loyal BMW or Audi driver change gears and

jump into the Infi niti ship?

The Q60 is appealing to the eye with its beautiful

lines but lacks that fi nesse that would have made it

drop dead gorgeous. The hard roof top, though, is a

plus as it beats the soft tops of its counterparts. The

Q60 maintains the striking coupe look and yes, the

fact that it is a convertible defi nitely compromises boot

To Infi niti and beyond


space, but when that top is down who has time to worry

about boot space.

The interior also hits the right notes as the Q60 has a neatly

packed cabin. Everything is easy to manoeuvre and accessible

to the driver, including the aircon and optional navigation

system. It comes with leather upholstery, heated front

seats, dual zone climate control, proximity key, rear

parking camera, a six-speaker SiriusXM Stereo with a

USB pod, Bluetooth smart connectivity, seven-inch

touchscreen display, auto on/off Xenon headlights

and 18 inch aluminium alloy wheels.

We all know that with great power comes great

responsibility and the Q60 has brilliant safety fea-

tures. It comes standard with dual front and front-

side airbags, plus traction and stability control sys-

tems and also has pop up roll bars that deploy if the

car rolls over.

Infi niti says that ultimate luxury is more than perfection.

It is a feeling of unrestrained joy that unleashes something

special in your heart. Well, the truth is the car will tug at your

heartstrings but it will not leave your gasping for air while

your heart skips a bit like its cousin the Skyline GT-R. The Q60

Coupe GT starts at about R620 000 while the top of the range

Q60 Cabrio GT will set you back about R710 000. While the

price is a bit steep, that beautiful engine is worth every penny.

BMW 4 Series Convertible

The breathtaking 435i seems to be a little underpowered com-

pared to the Q60 as it has a turbocharged 3.0 litre six cylinder

engine which puts out 225 kW and 400 Nm. What it lacks in

engine power it makes up for in looks. The 4 series will set you

back about R790 000.

Audi S5 Cabriolet

In all fairness, while Audi is yet to introduce its new model,

the S5 Cabriolet has stood the test of time. The S5 Cabriolet is

for those with appetites for power and speed as it has a 200

kW, 3.0-litre, TFSI V6 and with a 3.0-litre TDI, combining 180kW

with a massive 500Nm in the off ering as well. It retails at just

below R700 000.

Lexus IS C

Although not as popular as Audi and BMW, the Lexus IS C

refuses to be left behind with its 2.5 litre V6 engine, which has

153kW power and 252Nm at 4800rpm of torque. Lexus is the

direct competitor for Nissan as it is the luxury line for Toyota.

It beats Infi niti when it comes to pricing as the IS C comes in

at about R650 000.


South AfricaDevelopment Fund

At the heart of every Dell employee is a winning culture.

That’s how we define success at Dell. And that is why every day, across the globe, Dell employees focus on delivering results that make a positive difference, not only to our bottom line, but to the lives of the people around us. This mind-set is what set us apart from every other company out there, and what consistently drives us to strive for more.

Learn more about our winning culture at www.delldevelopmentfund.co.za.

Ambition. A winning spirit. A passion for technology.A desire to empower the communities we serve.

6187Dell_DDF_ImpumeleloAd_F.indd 1 2014/06/03 3:37 PM

traveltravel

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) North Coast can conjure up many

images for South Africans looking for a holiday away from

the rush of the city: untamed wilderness, desolate beaches

and peaceful solitude can all be found in this wilderness paradise.

We explore a few of the destinations available and those that simply

have to be added to the bucket list (and won’t break the bank in

the process).

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve – Hilltop CampJust 280 km north of Durban, the Hluhluwe–lmfolozi Game Reserve

has two claims to fame – it is the oldest proclaimed game reserve

in Africa, and boasts the world’s largest white rhino population.

These two facts alone should give South Africans reason enough

to visit this 96 000 hectare (ha) reserve, never mind the beautiful

wilderness vistas and large number of species that can be seen in

their natural habitat. Once the royal hunting ground for the Zulu

Kingdom in the days of King Shaka, the park now has claim to the

Big Five and the elusive wild dog. In total, the park has 86 species

of animal, and 340 bird species. Taking a game drive along the 300

km road network is the main attraction in the park, and there are

self-guided car trails as well as guided walks available.

Hilltop Camp in the north of the reserve has offered accom-

modation since 1934, although the resort has been extensively

renovated since then. It offers various accommodation

options, starting with 20, cheaper two-bed rondavels

(with communal bathrooms and kitchens). There are

also two-bedded and four-bedded self-catering chalets,

as well as non-self catering chalets, which are close to

the reception and restaurant area. The restaurant (Mpu-

nyane) is fully licensed and has stunning panoramic

views of the reserve, while the resort also has a fuel

station, shop, swimming pool and jungle gym. Hilltop

Camp guests can also enjoy a forest trail and the Hlaza

Hide to view game from.

Headdue north

Writer: Sam Bradley


Contact details: [email protected], 033 845 1000.

Location: Hilltop Camp is in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game

Reserve, about a three-hour drive north from Durban.

Prices: Due to being in the reserve, overnight guests are

charged a conservation levy of R145 per adult and R75 per

child under 12 (SADC residents only pay half this fee on pres-

entation of an ID card). These fees make the actual costs hard

to calculate exactly, but as a rough guide rondavels cost R570

per night, while a four-bed self-catering chalet is R2 230 per

night. Guided walks are R250 per person.

BonamanziBonamanzi means “look, water” in isiZulu and the viewing deck

certainly off ers beautiful views over the waterhole. Bonamanzi

is a 4 000 ha privately-owned wildlife and bird sanctuary, which

has been in operation for a number of years. It has a wide

range of buck and smaller mammals and it’s also built up a

great reputation as a birders paradise with many species of

birds to challenge the avid watcher. This natural heritage site

is very well positioned as it is close to Hluhluwe Game Reserve,

and it has St Lucia and Cape Vidal to the south and Sodwana

to the north.

The reserve has many accommodation options, ranging from

chalets to self-catering treehouses and lodges, as well as a

campsite. A holiday needs two key elements – great food and

a peaceful setting. Bonamanzi undoubtedly has both. Gerhard

is in charge of the kitchen and he does a truly amazing job.

Buff et breakfasts, lunches on the viewing deck surrounded

by nothing but jacana dancing over the lily pads, followed by

four-course dinners by the fi re will leave guests feeling like

royalty. The peaceful setting is also not lacking at Bonamanzi.

Mornings can be spent on peaceful walks and picnics

through the park, while afternoons can be spent snoozing by

the pool. Sunsets on the viewing deck are a must-do event,

and desserts around the bonfi re and under the stars are a great

way to round off the day.

The more actively inclined can walk through sections of

the park as reassuringly; there are no serious predators in the

park. The trails meander past scenic views, with many hides

overlooking waterholes for a well-earned break. There are also

guided walks, game drives and boat cruises available. During

the busier seasons there are bush braais at the outdoor lapa,

and if the kids become too energetic there is also a nearby

crocodile farm.

Sodwana Bay – Coral DiversSodwana Bay has become the home of scuba diving in South

Africa due to the good all-year round diving conditions and

magnifi cent reefs that can be explored. The imaginatively

named 2 mile reef, 5 mile reef, 7 mile reef and 9 mile reef all

boast beautiful coral and lots of animals that call the reef home,

including turtles, manta rays and whalesharks. The closest reef

(2 mile reef ) has a wide variety of caves and overhangs that

will keep a diver intrigued for a few days at least.

Coral Divers is a large lodge situated two kilometres from the >>


Contact details: [email protected], 083 634 0895.

Location: Two and a half hours north of King Shaka International

Airport, Bonamanzi is six kilometres off the N2.

Prices: Prices vary depending on season and availability. Treehouses

are R1 800 per unit per night and the campsite is R200 per person

per night (R100 per child).

traveltravel

beach and the unofficial base camp for divers in the region. The

lodge is very well set up for travellers on a budget. Safari tents

are a comfortable yet affordable accommodation option (there

are also cabins available) and the self-catering facilities are very

good. Our group mentioned that we planned to braai and were

very impressed to find our fire already lit by the amazing staff.

The restaurant is well priced with a good selection of meals and

due to the popularity of the lodge there is always a good vibe

around the pool and bar area.

Sodwana Bay is definitely more exciting if you have an interest

in diving and Coral Divers offers all the diving courses, ranging

from the beginner Discover Scuba Diving course all the way to

instructor level – so nobody has an excuse for not being involved.

However, for those who prefer staying above water at all times,

there is quad biking, horse-riding, micro-lighting and hiking avail-

able, as well as a beautiful beach to be enjoyed. Failing that, the

nearby Makhasa Game Reserve offers day trips and there are also

hiking routes that lead through the stunning wetland scenery.

In conclusion, the north coast truly is a wilderness that an out-

door enthusiast will fall in love with. Revealing any more

details on the various locations would simply spoil the

holiday, so I’ll rather sign off with a simple list of Do’s

and Don’ts. Do pack a camera, binoculars and lots of

beach clothes. Equally important, make sure you don’t

pack any of those holiday spoilers such as cellphones,

work documents or anything that could disturb the

peaceful bliss that is the KZN North Coast.


Contact details: [email protected]; 033 345 6531.

Location: Coral Divers is in iSimangaliso Wetland Park,

roughly 350 km north of Durban.

Prices: Prices during peak seasons start at R230 per person

sharing in a safari tent (R145 in low season). Due to Coral

Divers being situated in the KZN National Park, a park fee of

R70 per adult per night is also charged, which is included

in these rates.

OCTOBER 2015

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2015


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building a caring nation • Minister Dipuo Peters steers

transport sector to success

Game changer Poppy Khoza is breaking barriers for women in aviation

Brand identity Commissioner Tom Moyane on rebuilding the image of SARS

Provincial Focus MEC Creecy’s plans to improve financial management in Gauteng

psm 2015 october edition

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