Issue 15

Beyond

2ND QUARTER 2012 ISSUE 15 R29.95

sustainability quarterly

current affairs finance & business development & education travel & TOURISM TRADE & INVESTMENT

SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR MARINE RESOURCES Do we have the energy to change?

En route to a sustainable future www.beyondpublishing.co.za

Carbon dioxide capture & storage plan

it’s not just about investing R82 billion in capital projects and millions of rands in education. it’s about investing in the prosperity of our nation and generations to come.

For us, innovation for people begins with creating new opportunities. When we say we’ve invested millions in education, what we mean is we’ve changed the lives of thousands of undergraduates and postgraduates that have been part of our bursary program.

At the same time, our R250 million commitment to University development and research programs, is helping support excellence in tertiary education.

Our investment of R42 billion in South Africa, over the past 3 years on numerous capital projects, means more doors have opened for new job opportunities.

And we will continue to do so with our further investment of R40 billion over the next two years. So, for us it’s not just about numbers, it’s about innovation for the future of our nation.

www.sasol.com

CONTENTS 18

24

28

40

06

Editors note Charlene Heyburgh

18

BY THE NUMBERS

10

WORLD NEWS

12

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

14

SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

18

SUSTAINABILITY Do we have the energy to change?

20

SUSTAINABILITY Acid water everywhere…

24

SUSTAINABILITY Biodiversity planning

26

SUSTAINABILITY When will the houses face north?

28

SUSTAINABILITY First independent wind power programme in Darling

32

FINANCE Sustainability reporting in South Africa

34

SUSTAINABILITY South Africa’s reliance on coal-fired power

36

ECO Carbon dioxide capture & storage plan

40

SUSTAINABILITY Sustainable Development and Action Plan

42

FINANCE The unsecured credit spike

44

DEBT REVIEW Can you spot the difference?

46

FINANCE Government’s planned retirement reforms

50

HEALTH Can we flee the Flu?

52

EDUCATION The Green Paper on higher education and training

56

EDUCATION Helping Colleges and Universities to go green

58

Communicating responsible consumerism

60

Woman of Substance Mandisa Zitha

62

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CONTENTS 68

72

74

78

6

66

SKILLS & TRAINING Get a better return on your investment

68

SKILLS & TRAINING Graduate Internship a valuable business tool

70

JOB CREATION 12 point implementation plan

72

ECO Sustainability of marine resources

74

SUSTAINABILITY Helping our local fisherman

78

TECHNOLOGY The economy and sustainability

80

Technology REVIEWS

82

Technology Sony Xperia S review

84

MOTORING The future of green motoring

88

BOOK REVIEWS

90

Let’s drink to biodiversity

92

ECO What is an eco-estate

94

How to be a responsible traveller

98

BEYOND THE BEAT The youth, challenges and opportunities

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EDITORS NOTE

CREDITS Managing Director TB Mabecha Editor Charlene Heyburgh PROJECT MANAGER Jerome Dyson

S

outh Africa has recently been voted as one of the 10 unhappiest countries in the world and according to the poll, even Zimbabwe is happier than we are! So, what is making all of us so unhappy? Could it be the distressing news that we are subjected to on a daily basis whenever we switch on our television sets or read a newspaper?

What really pushed my “happiness levels” to an all time low recently was the Limpopo textbook debacle. So many fingers were pointed but who is really to blame? Our Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga perhaps? Our President, who has the ability to push my “happiness levels” to its lowest, seemed genuinely disturbed by the saga and announced that there “would be consequences”. I was briefly impressed by his statement and felt relieved and a bit “happier” until my eyes spotted the next headline, “New R2bn jet for Zuma”. How can we succeed in creating a sustainable future for ourselves if our leaders act in this manner on a continuous basis?

Sustainability week runs from the 25th – 29th of July this year and we have explored various sustainability issues and sustainable solutions in this edition. We take an interesting look at sustainable housing solutions as well as the urban planning issues that we face.

Once again, we have incorporated something for every type of reader. Check out “The future of green motoring” where we are sure to get you excited about the vehicles that we will be driving in the near future. For all the bookworms, we reviewed some amazing new releases from Unisa Press and if you are travelling this winter, we give you tips on “How to be a responsible traveller”.

Enjoy the read.

Sales ExecutiveS Joseph Gumbo Khayalethu Jacobs Anthony Botha Emile Polman Thando Jevu Linda Schady Laurenda Hagglund Traffic Controller Laurenda Hagglund Accounts ExecutiveS Laurenda Hagglund, Kelly Keur Office Administrator Kiara Hagglund DESIGN Aerspacestudios info@aerspacestudios.com PRINTING

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Beyond Publishing CK 2008/187319/23 25 Voortrekker Road, Unit 29 Goodwood, 7460 Tel: 021 592 5725, Fax: 021 592 5714 Email: beyondpublishing@telkomsa.net The opinions in Beyond are not necessarily those of the publisher.

COPYRIGHT MABECHA PUBLICATIONS. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission from the publisher.

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BY THE NUMBERS 19.8 SECONDS 12000

Between10000 and 12000 clothing and textile workers could lose their jobs as employers and the South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union blame each other for a breakdown over wage agreements

5 MILLION

The number of babies born as a result of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) has reached an estimated total of 5 million since the world’s first, Louise Brown, was born in July 1978,

40 MILLION 10

The African National Congress’ four-day-long policy conference has cost the party R40 million

150

Gunmen killed 10 people and wounded dozens when they opened fire and hurled grenades into two churches in the eastern Kenyan town of Garissa

23 000 5

Yohan Blake set himself up as the man to beat in London with a stunning 200 metres victory in 19.8 seconds, beating world record holder Usain Bolt

Palestinian police arrested 150 people during a crackdown on illegal weapons in the West Bank

4-0

Spain beat Italy 4 to 0 in the final game of the Euro 2012

The UN refugee agency said a total of 23 000 Angolans have been repatriated since last year from neighbouring countries where their refugee status officially ended.

60

employees lost their lives at the KDC West Ya-Rona Mine Shaft, near Merafong in South Africa, after a fire broke out

A fire left 60 people without homes in Khayelitsha, Cape Town last month

$380 million

Sony said it has agreed to buy cloudgaming firm Gaikai for $380 million

R8.6 MILLION

A UK high court ordered the state to return £679 000 to billionaire Christo Wiese, the single largest shareholder in Shoprite Holdings, after the cash was originally seized from him in April 2009 at a British airport

10

60

Apple has forked out $60m to settle the row over the name IPAD with Chinese firm Proview Technology

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WORLD NEWS

SAUDI ARABIA LETS FEMALE ATHLETES COMPETE IN OLYMPICS

SPAIN WINS EUROCUP World Champions, Spain, took their place among the game’s greats when they trashed Italy 4-0 to become the first team to win successive European Championship titles. Spain have become the first European side to win 3 major tournaments following their success in Euro 2008 and the World Cup 2 years ago. The only other team to win 3 successive major titles was Argentina who lifted the Copa America in 1945, 1947 and 1947 when that tournament was held annually.

12 10

Saudi Arabia will let its female athletes compete in the Olympics for the first time, its embassy in London said. Until now, Saudi Arabia was one of three countries that did not allow women to participate in the games. The other two -- Qatar and Brunei -- also reversed course this year and said they will send female athletes to the London games, which begin on July 27. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to reaffirm its support for the sublime meanings reflected by Olympic Games and the cherished values of excellence, friendship and respect that they represent,” the Saudi Embassy in London said in a statement announcing the decision. The International Olympic Committee had been pressing Saudi Arabia to allow women to compete.

The decision is a rare concession for a kingdom where women are banned from driving. They also cannot vote or hold public office, though that will change in 2015. Brunei will send a woman who will compete in hurdling.

EGYPT’S 1ST ISLAMIST PRESIDENT SWORN IN Egypt’s first Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi, has been sworn in, propelling his Muslim Brotherhood into power after 84 years of struggle, although the military remains determined to call the shots.

Immediately after swearing his oath, he said a civil, national, constitutional and modern state was “born today”. The bearded US-trained engineer is Egypt’s first non-military president since army officers toppled the king in 1952. For the Brotherhood, banned and repressed under ousted leader Hosni Mubarak, it marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes.

“I swear by Almighty God that I will sincerely protect the republican system and that I will respect the constitution and the rule of law,” Mursi told judges at the Supreme Constitutional Court, repeating vows he had uttered the day before to supporters thronging Cairo’s Tahrir Square. “I will look after the interests of the people and protect the independence of the nation and safety of its territory.” Mursi, 60, took his oath in the constitutional court, instead of parliament as is usual, because the court had dissolved the Islamist-led lower house earlier this month amid a raft of measures to ensure enduring military influence. Mursi had shown his distaste for this by his symbolic oath-taking in Tahrir, crucible of the anti-Mubarak revolt, where he said the people were the only source of power, in a dig at the generals who see themselves as the state’s ultimate arbiters.

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

Gordon Igesund appointed as new Bafana coach Igesund was appointed ahead of fellow South African Steve Komphela, the SA Football Association announced.The duo were the only two candidates left in the race to find a replacement for Pitso Mosimane who was sacked on June 5 after a string of poor results. “It was not an easy decision as both coaches are well equipped to take Bafana Bafana forward,” said Safa president Kirsten Nematandani. Safa said in a statement that Igesund had been offered a two-year contract with a mandate to reach at least the semi-finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), which will be hosted

by South Africa. He was also expected to successfully guide the team through the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers and earn a place in the tournament in Brazil.

Igesund, 55, is the only man to have won the Premier Soccer League title with four different clubs.

14 12

South Africans unhappiest according to poll PRESIDENT APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER South Africa is one of the 10 unhappiest countries in the world - even unhappier than Zimbabwe, according to a report.

That’s according to the Happy Planet Index (HPI), which has been issued by the New Economics Foundation, a British non-governmental organisation.

Altogether 151 countries were polled, and South Africa was ranked as number 142 on the list. The HPI says that citizens of a happy country should have a life expectancy of 87, their level of happiness should be 8 out of 10 and their carbon footprint should not be bigger than 1,7 hectares per capita.

South Africans have a life expectancy of 52.8 years, their happiness levels average at 4.7 and their carbon footprint is 2,6 hectares per capita. Zimbabweans have a life expectancy of 51,4, their happiness levels averaged 4,8 and their carbon footprint was 1,2. Botswana was rated as the unhappiest country, and Costa Rica as the happiest.

President Jacob Zuma has appointed South Africa’s first female national police commissioner, Mangwashi Victoria Phiyega, to replace Bheki Cele, who has been fired after a presidential board of inquiry found him unfit for office. Phiyega has been serving as chairperson of the Presidential Review Committee on State-Owned Enterprises, and deputy chair of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers. “Ms Phiyega brings a wealth of experience as a senior executive who understands the responsibility of government in the fight against crime and the duties imposed in dealing with state assets,” Zuma told a press briefing.

“I have every confidence that she will show leadership and acquit herself well as national commissioner.” Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa welcomed Phiyega’s appointment, saying she brought with her a “wealth of experience on strategic leadership and a sound management background, both from public service and the private sector”.

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SUSTAINABILITY NEWS Cape Town chosen to host world-leading green event

Nicola Milne

Green Building Council looking for local speakers for annual Convention In an exciting move that is designed to tap into, and showcase, the growing local sustainability and “green” knowledge base available in SA, the Green Building Council of South Africa is calling for proposals for presenters for the upcoming annual GBCSA Convention and Exhibition 2012, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from the 23rd to the 25th of 16 14

October. There are two categories under which the GBCSA are looking for presentations. The first is the 50 minute Education Sessions and the second is the 10 minute Rapid Fire Talk. Subject matter should cover preferred topics of interest such as building performance, energy efficiency, green jobs, human behaviour, government and policy, legal issues, international challenges and opportunities, development and innovation in technologies and thought leadership, to name a few. Proposals must be submitted via email to donnep@ gbcsa.org.za. The GBCSA along with independent reviewers will select the proposals to present at the event.

The Green Building Council of SA (GBCSA) will host some of the most influential green leaders from around the globe in October 2013. At the recent World Green Building Council (WBC) Congress in Stuttgart, Germany - Cape Town was announced as the host city for next year. The Congress attracts prominent thought-leaders from over 91 Green Building Councils worldwide.

This distinctive gathering of global and local thought-leaders will run in parallel with the highly regarded GBCSA annual convention and exhibition. The engaging programme will be designed to inspire this global network, facilitate knowledgeexchange and progress the green building agenda. A blend of inspiring speakers will engage in public sessions with GBC members to address common challenges such as international policy and strategies. As the local chairs of the African regional network, the GBCSA proposes an ‘Africa Day’ envisaged to showcase the fledging African Network of GBC’s, promote dialogue and address challenges unique to our continent.

Outstanding contributions in sustainable development were also honoured at the recent WorldGBC Congress. Nicola Milne, founding CEO of the GBCSA, received a Chairman’s accolade for her pivotal role in transforming the South African market and making the organisation a leader for the region.

WorldGBC Chairman Rick Fedrizzi, who presented the awards said that “Tonight, we honour a number of exceptional leaders for their drive, their commitment and their passion for green building.

They are at the forefront of the global green building movement.”

SOUTH AFRICAN PIPE INDUSTRY NOW PROUDLY HEAVY METALS FREE SEPTEMBER IS CLEAN-UP AND RECYCLING MONTH September is traditionally the month in which South Africans from all walks of life are encouraged to clean-up and recycle where they work, live or play.

This year, 10–15 September will once again be proclaimed “Clean-up and Recycling Week”. As in previous years, various clean-up events will take place during this week in an effort to make people aware of the fact that “Plastics don’t litter, people do”. The highlights of this week will undoubtedly be the celebration of national Recycling Day on Friday, 14 September and the 27th International Coastal Clean-Up Day on Saturday, 15 September - one of the world’s biggest volunteer efforts for ocean health. “Over the past 16 years, Plastics|SA has supported and coordinated various environmental initiatives such as Recycling Day and the International Coastal Clean-Up to educate the public about the importance of recycling plastics and encouraging them to help us rid the environment of litter”, says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director of Plastics|SA. What originally started out as a plastics industry drive, has since developed into a country wide awareness campaign that is supported by all of the players in the packaging industry, including the glass, cans and paper converters and recyclers. “During September we see packaging leaders united around a common goal – that of litter-free streets, rivers and beaches - by mobilizing local communities to make a difference in their own neighbourhoods,”

Steyn explains.

Earlier this year, Plastics|SA used the Water Week celebrations held in March to launch its new “berg2beach” campaign.

“We will be sending the message out that plastics make it possible for us to enjoy the great outdoors and practice our favourite sports and leisure activities.

At the same time, however, everybody has the responsibility to ensure that plastic litter doesn’t end up defacing the natural beauty and diversity of our dams or rivers, hiking trails, mountains and beaches,” Steyn explains. Plastics|SA has also initiated a highly successful “Clean-Up and Recycle berg2beach” Competition aimed at schools and organisations. “There are exciting cash prizes and appliances valued at more than R120 000 to be won. Supporters can enter any of the four categories in the competition”, Steyn explains. In each category, schools or pupils must ensure that teachers, fellow pupils, community members, municipality, businesses and the media are involved in their campaigns. Big businesses have also shown their support for the Plastics|SA initiatives through sponsorships. During September SASOL, Pick n Pay, WESSA, Eco-Bin, KZN Wildlife, Astrapak, Tuffy Manufacturing and the Plastics Industry polymer groups will all be contributing towards turning the tide on litter in South Africa during September.

For more information on clean-up initiatives, drop off sites, the competition or hints and tips on how to recycle, visit www.plasticsinfo.co.za; www.cleanupsa.co.za; www.recyclingday-sa.co.za or www.mywaste.co.za

The Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) is proud to announce that lead has been eliminated from all locally-manufactured plastic pipe products and that all plastic pipes manufactured by its members are guaranteed to be free of heavy metals.

“SAPPMA was established to create absolute quality, trust and integrity throughout the value chain of the industry. In the interest of the consumer and good business practice, SAPPMA strongly promotes the highest possible product quality standards as well as environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and materials,” says Jan Venter, CEO of SAPPMA. Although lead does not leach from the plastic pipes and does not pose any danger to people once installed, SAPPMA felt compelled to create a safer environment for the manufacturers where lead poisoning does pose a risk for their workers.

“We embarked on this journey 2006, as a voluntary policy of heavy metal free stabilizers for the manufacture of PVC pipes. The reason for the initiative was based on health and environmental considerations and we are immensely proud of having reached our goal of eliminating all lead stabilisers from SAPPMA members’ piping products five years ahead of the anticipated European Union (EU) targets”, Venter explained Following its unprecedented success, SAPPMA and its members are now driving forward an initiative with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) to exclude lead stabilisers from all current and future SABS specifications.

ADVERTORIAL

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ike packaging, which preserves and protects products, Nampak preserves and protects the environment against the impact of packaging manufacture and waste. Part of the JSE Sustainability Index, Nampak’s environmental policy commits all businesses in the group to pursuing green quality standards.

At a corporate level, Nampak supports the WESSA/WWF Eco-Schools programme, which is one of the fastest growing environmental education programmes in the world. Since its start in South Africa in 2003, it has helped reach over 1 000 schools, 30 000 educators and 500 000 learners! As a means of aligning its corporate social investments, Nampak introduced Eco-Schools to its partner schools network, specifically in the province of Gauteng. As a rule, partner schools are located close to the company’s manufacturing facilities and provide a talent

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pipeline for its bursary scheme and graduate development programme.

In terms of glass, Nampak Glass participated in the restructuring of the glass recycling supply chain and was also a founding member of The Glass Recycling Company, which aims to promote and increase the recovery rate of glass. Presently, that figure is approximately 37%. Nampak Glass invested in a state-of-the-art cullet plant, giving it the means to collect 84 000 tonnes of waste glass in 2011 alone. Consequently, Nampak Glass uses 45% cullet (recycled waste glass) in its manufacturing process, significantly reducing the demand for energy and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

As the leading producer of metal beverage and food cans in South Africa, Nampak Bevcan and Nampak DivFood play a role in terms of managing sustainability issues where lightweighting is a key trend.

Nampak’s Research and Development

facility, which is widely regarded as the most advanced packaging science and technology centre in the southern hemisphere, developed a universal lacquer to coat the inside of food cans. In so doing, it replaced 11 different lacquer systems.

On the paper side, Nampak Cartons & Labels Epping has aligned its purchasing strategy with the Forestry Stewardship Council’s chain of custody certification programme (FSC) which confirms that raw materials are responsibly sourced from sustainable forests before being tracked and traced through manufacturing and distribution channels to the point of purchase.

Likewise, Nampak Corrugated has increased the amount of recycled paper in its board. An investment in a brown paper mill is enabling its ongoing success in this regard.

Nampak Recycling is one of South Africa’s largest recyclers of secondary fibre. It collected and recycled some 221 000 tonnes of waste paper and board in 2011.

At an industry level, Nampak Petpak is a founding member of PETCO, a body that is focused on increasing public awareness of recycling initiatives in the PET space. In 2010, 38% of PET was recycled for staple fibres, like carpeting, clothing, sleeping bags, pillows and duvets, as well as ceiling insulation, geotextiles and packaging for food and non-food products. Nampak executives are also active members of Plastics SA. In 2011, Nampak Polycyclers converted 5 050 tonnes of polyethylene to make buckets, crates and refuse bins.

Finally, Nampak Flexible is pursuing a target of zero waste to landfill. A number of programmes are up and running in this regard, including reprocessing postindustrial flexible waste as warehouse pallets and school chairs. All knowledge is shared with the Multi-Layer Packaging Forum, an industry grouping chaired by Nampak Flexible.

Upcycling is also a focus area and the Bag4Life project involves the Hillcrest AIDS Centre, Nampak Flexible and Unilever.

Previously unemployed crafters make a range of bags from Unilever’s post-industrial flexible waste, which are used for gifting and promotional purposes in the businesses.

Through a tireless commitment to making the environment greener, rain has a significant impact. At Nampak, Africa’s largest packaging company, we work on the same principle.

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SUSTAINABILITY

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Do we have the energy to change?

Writer Michelle Nel

T

he whole world has become aware of the concept of climate change; the idea that human generated amounts of CO2 are changing climate on earth in a way that threatens people and the planet. Whether you are a climate campaigner or sceptic, the bottom line is, we are burning too much fossil fuel and it is both polluting and finite.

Eskom has secured funding to finance the massive coal-fired plants, Medupi and Kusile, which will generate 4 800 MW each. This will keep the lights on in the medium term, but produce masses of carbon emissions, air pollution and acid mine drainage.

Enter nuclear fuel. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima in March 2011 was used by pro nuclear activists to praise the sturdiness of nuclear reactors and by the anti lobby to highlight the dangers of nuclear power.

South Africa has committed to increasing nuclear capacity by 9 600 MW (from 1,844 MW). Germany, Switzerland and Italy have completely rejected nuclear energy after Fukushima.

According to the Heinrich Boell study ‘The true story of nuclear power’ South Africa spent 13 years pursuing the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor. It spent R9-billion on research and another R22-billion was needed to complete a prototype.

Anne Lauvergeon, the former chief executive of Areva, said: ‘the cost of nuclear reactors has “always” gone up because the safety requirements are ever higher. “Safety has a cost”’.

Uranium mining brings acid mine drainage, which is corrosive, toxic and radioactive.

People living on radioactive land on the West Rand have been rehoused. Low- and intermediate-level wastes from the Koeberg site are trucked in drums to a site 500 km north at Vaalputs in the Northern Cape desert.

Drums are stored below surface in trenches.

High level waste remains dangerous: to reach the end of its radioactivity it must be insulated for 244 000 years. By comparison,

the human race is only 200 000 years old (agriculture 10 000 years and cities, 6 000 years).

Koeberg’s highly radioactive high level waste – mainly spent reactor fuel – is placed in storage ponds on site. No high-level storage solution has been found.

The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) argues that it is only accountable for overseeing licensed nuclear facilities.

Radioactive contamination outside these facilities is unpoliced.

South African Advanced Energy [R] evolution scenario (a Greenpeace scenario developed in conjunction with the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Dutch Institute Ecofys, the Institute for Sustainable Futures (Sydney) and the European Renewable Energy Council) shows how energy consumption can be reduced, while still continuing to develop.

If renewable energy is implemented with comprehensive energy efficiency measures, South Africa could avoid building Kusile, or six new nuclear power stations.

Decentralised energy systems, where power and heat are produced close to the point of final use, will avoid the current waste of energy during conversion and distribution.

Building up clusters of renewable micro grids, especially for people living in remote areas, will provide sustainable electricity to the over two million households.

ASll cost-effective renewable energy sources should be accessed for both heat and electricity generation – these include wind, photovoltaics, solar thermal, geothermal, ocean and hydroelectric power. The alternative is cheaper and provides almost 100,000 green jobs. By 2030, 49% of electricity can be produced from renewable sources, increasing to 94% by 2050.

WHAT ABOUT FRACKING? There is something about ‘natural gas’ that seduces people into thinking this is ‘green energy’. It is non-renewable (by definition, not sustainable) and mining pollutes.

At best it is a compromise; a transitional fuel till renewables come fully on line.

In hydraulic fracture (“fracking”) sand, water, and chemicals are injected into the rock layer, creating cracks that allow the gas to seep out. Shell wants to frack for shale gas in the karoo and is promising vast stores of gas and hundreds of jobs. “We are bringing scientific analysis and cost-benefit to a mining technology that presently spans more than 230 000 square kilometers,” says Jonathan Deal, national coordinator of Treasure the Karoo Action Group.

Fracking consumes anywhere between 9000 and 29000 cubic metres of water on a single well. At least 260 chemicals are known to be present in around 197 products added to fracturing fluids and some of these are known to be toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic. Air pollution is caused via the potent carcinogen benzene. When fugitive emissions from fracking are taken into account then the GHG footprint of shale gas is significantly larger than conventional gas.

NO NUKES FOR MALI Faleans, villagers in the south west region of Mali, have organised against the uranium mining. Falea is a community of 21 villages in the south-west of the country says Dr David Fig, a Johannesburgbased environmental researcher.

Prospecting already being done

by Rockgate, an opportunistic Canadian mining company seemingly bent on extracting Africa’s riches and getting out.

Local people, united in a strong community organisation, have raised objections about the impact of radioactivity and heavy-metal toxicity on their soil, water and crops.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Acid water everywhere…

Writer Michelle Nel

T

he flow in the Crocodile River is largely artificial. Johannesburg’s rivers are carrying vast quantities of water brought to the reef to support the city that grew around the mines. And in turn, mining is making the water undrinkable.

Mariette Liefferink has been described as a ‘hyperactive angel’. She is an icon of civil society activism, with a dress sense as meticulous as her research and thanks to her efforts ‘Acid Mine Drainage’ (AMD) has entered ordinary conversation. AMD occurs

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when air and water comes into contact with pyrites-rich mined out areas. It contains sulphuric acid and toxic metals and pollutes rivers. Currently AMD is treated with lime.

This neutralises acid and precipitates the heavy metals. These can be flocculated forming a High Density Sludge. Sludge settles, and relatively clear water overflows, which is discharged to the rivers. According to environmentalists this is problematic; the overflow contains dissolved solids (tds), mainly calcium sulphate, at levels unsuitable for agriculture, river life, and expensive to

purify. Sulphate/solids/salt levels should be below200ppm but are up to 4 700 mg per litre. “By 2014 there will not be enough water from Lesotho Highlands Project to dilute the salts,” says an engineer from the Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the company involved in water transfer. “In 2019 next phase of Lesotho Highlands comes on line to dilute but this is no permanent solution.”

The East Rand’s dolomite caves are threatened by acidity, the central basin’s tourism shaft at Gold Reef City could flood,

The East Rand’s dolomite caves are threatened by acidity, the central basin’s tourism shaft at Gold Reef City could flood, and West Rand is already decanting and poisoning rivers.

and West Rand is already decanting and poisoning rivers. Pumping is required to keep water levels below uncontrolled decant limits. One pump station and treatment plant on West Rand should keep levels manageable unless there are heavy rains.

A second plant will be built to keep water below environmental critical level (ecl) to stop decant through the Krugersdorp Game Reserve. The sludge is sent to licensed tailings facilities. Getting new facilities licensed is difficult. Most of the sludge will go a pit in the Western basin which is one

Some solutions

Mariette Liefferin

kilometre long, 500 wide and 50 deep. The waste from reworked mine dumps is also sent there.

These pits are currently water catchers (water runs back into the mines and gets repolluted). Eventually, the deposited sludge, because it is very fine, will cap the pits and seal them. Water will evaporate off.

The TCTA engineer says government has R433 million for whole medium term AMD strategy. The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) is a doing a feasibility study on a long term strategy “If DWA were to give TCTA the go ahead, it could raise funds from the Lesotho Highlands levy and charge domestic and industrial users to raise funds to treat AMD water properly,” the engineer says. Government is still arguing over who is liable to pay to clean up AMD. The original miners have sold and left. One cannot saddle current owners with all the liability. People must get on with tackling AMD. “We don’t have the luxury of time to experiment with various options. People are against the liming but haven’t given us real alternatives,” says the engineer.

“Droughts are coming to the reef. Water restrictions will force us to pay for Lesotho Highlands water just to dilute salts in the river; 220 cubic megalitres; environmental portion; not available to users. The Vaal barrage has to have 600mg of salts per litre or less, to be usable. People will only care when their taps run dry.”

Ironically Johannesburg has allowed infrastructure decline to the extent that there is a 40% loss of potable water through leaks.

We have paid to clean this water but are unable to recoup money from sales. In waterrich eThekwini, water costs R26 per cubic metre. In water scarce Johannesburg, even with Lesotho Highlands levy, it is only an average of R12. If we had a higher tariff we could also pay for cleaning AMD properly, asserts the engineer.

Mine voids can constantly generate AMD. Scientists have no idea how long the water will take to stabilise but it will eventually, because there will be no further pyrites to oxidize.

Johannesburg buys some 500 000ML potable water per annum.

With 40% loss due to leaks we cannot recoup costs of 200 000 ML. Times a cost of R2968 per ML R567 million is water per annum. Imagine if R567 million went towards AMD treatment per annum? It is equivalent to government’s whole medium term budget.

Anglo Coal is currently treating AMD by reverse osmosis in its Witbank plant and the treatment costs R10 per Kilolitre. Water Affairs could opt for desalination to make potable water. Pumping clean water from far is more expensive than cleaning dirty water close by.

Durban is learning that it is cheaper to clean effluent than desalinate seawater. To desalinate water one can call in the experts like Aveng.

Anglo Coal was clever and made sure it retained ownership of the plant; Aveng simply manages it.

Aveng Water, Optimum Colliery and Hendrina Municipality received a prestigious Blue Drop award – a first for drinking quality water that is reclaimed from mine water.

According to online publication Science in Africa, Rand Water’s Project AMANZI explored AMD treatment options. Randfontein Mine successfully tested reverse osmosis and Western Areas Gold Mine explored the GYP-CIX process. The GYP-CIX process de-ionises solutions. Sulphuric acid and lime are used because of their low cost. Chemicals represent 85% of operating costs. If nitric or phosphoric acid, and ammonia or potassium carbonate were used, reactions would eventually form well-known fertilizers, ammonium and potassium nitrates and phosphates. This could be sold and help fund water purification.

At Western Areas Gold Mine, partially treated AMD and added fertilizers was used to grow fruit and olive crops using drip irrigation.

21 23

ADVERTORIAL

Gauteng Partnership Fund GPF and NHFC partner to fund Affordable Rental Housing Entrepreneurs

T

he Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) has partnered equally with the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) on a R200 million Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Fund (EEPF) programme aimed at HDI owned companies pursuing rental housing opportunities in Gauteng. GPF and NHFC formally entered into this co-funding agreement on the 18th June 2012. The EEPF is an incubator programme designed to promote participation of black entrepreneurs in the affordable rental property market.

The EEPF Programme was initiated as an intervention for the affordable housing market. Black property entrepreneurs have to date experienced a myriad number of constraints in entering this market. This partnership provides a funding solution to address the capital gap experienced by these property entrepreneurs. While the global financial woes have unabatedly continued to pound on the confidence of the banks to

24

increase their quantum of funding in the low end of the housing market and continued to frustrate our programmes, we have shown great resilience and innovative design capabilities in our funding models said GPF CEO, Kutoane Kutoane.

In its efforts to promote the sustainable entry of BEE participants in ownership of medium density property in the inner cities, the NHFC has partnered with GPF, to enable the radical transformation of the affordable rental property market, said Samson Moraba, CEO of the NHFC. These participants are selected through a public call and vigorous selection process on an annual basis says GPF’s Chief Investment Officer, Boni Muvevi. He further stated that this partnership will ensure that EEPF projects would have up to 95% project funding available.

The GPF mandate has evolved over the years in line with the evolving provincial government housing objectives. Thus GPF have extended their funding facilitation

reach to cover the wider affordable rental housing market. It is estimated that 25% of the households in South Africa has no access to housing due to affordability challenges.

These would be households that earn above the government housing subsidy threshold while at the same time not qualifying for bank mortgages due to the perceived high risk and low credit rating. The assumption would be that the percentage could be much higher in Gauteng.

GPF launched EEPF in 2010. After a public proposal call was made, prospective entrepreneurs are short-listed and put through a rigorous induction programme that covers aspects such as property, facilities and resources management. Once a project is approved, a dedicated GPF programme manager will be available to assist with any challenges. The first proposal call yielded 11 successful participants, of whom 8 have secured projects after their proposals were approved. In total, the Board of Trustees of the GPF has approved R100 million for the EEPF facility and another R100 million from the NHFC as part of the co-funding agreement. Additional funding will be considered depending on the programme’s success.

In line with the provincial government objective of delivering 20000 rental accommodation units by the year 2014, GPF has committed in their current strategy to the objective of facilitating funding for 6000 of those units. This calls for over R1.4 billion in funding resources of which the government will need to contribute about R470 million.

With the new partnership between GPF and NHFC, as well as the benefit of experience, the provision of affordable accommodation makes economic sense and is therefore a good investment for entrepreneurs.

For further information on the EEPF programme, please contact the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) on (011) 6856600 or email Immaculate Shembe at immaculates@gpf.org.za . Alternatively, you may also contact Jamez Manyapelo at the NHFC on (011) 644-9887.

Leveraging affordable Leveraging affordable housing finance

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Gauteng Partnership Fund is a partner of choice in the mobilisation and facilitation of fundingPartnership for the delivery Gauteng Fundofisaffordable a partner housing. of choice in the mobilisation and facilitation of funding for the delivery of affordable housing.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Biodiversity planning Writer Michelle Nel

Getting more ‘vitamin G’ from our urban and peri urban design

V

itamin G’ is the green space vitamin and it’s as essential to our wellbeing as conventional vitamins and minerals. “There is a strong relationship between the amount of green space in our living environment and health,” says Jim Vaughn, a city environmental coordinator in Minnesota, USA. Human beings are “phytotrophic”- attracted to trees, grass and animals.

Thus gardening and hiking are beneficial; even a window view is healing. And like a vitamin, evidence suggests that contact with nature is needed in regular doses.

“Integrating nature into the urban fabric is a public health measure designed to reduce physical, social, and psychological

26

breakdown in urban dwellers.”

In Johannesburg we have to battle the getrich-quick mentality to hang onto our open spaces. Huddle Park below Linksfield Ridge is part of a massive green lung and ecologically sensitive wetland area in Eastern Johannesburg. It was threatened by overdensification, but thanks to citizen activism aided by wetland champions Paul Fairall and Marion Laserson, a fairly big area has been retained as open space for recreation. Also threatened is the Modderfontein area nearby which is being developed for business and residential clusters by Heartland, an offshoot of chemicals company AECI that owned the land. Hopefully the destruction of the sponge areas to the south of the Modderfonteinspruit and dams, which will be ‘developed’, will not impact too much on the permanently wet areas. Up country, open spaces are also not immune from threat. And besides ‘vitamin G’, rural spaces often contain red data species in biodiverse ecosystems. For example, the

Haenertsburg grasslands of Limpopo would have succumbed, but for activists guided by feisty Cathy Dzerefos, founder of the Limpopo Branch of the Botanical Society.

The Pedi people call the Haenertsburg ‘Byadladi’ meaning ‘plenty of root foods’. Gold diggers arrived in 1887. The Haenertsburg grassland occurs on a granitebased portion of the Drakensberg escarpment which extends north from the Wolkberg.

There are many endemic species in this high-rainfall, granitic area. The rampant destruction of the grassland habitat for plantations began the demise of associated flora and fauna.

Proximity to Haenertsburg village and plantations has further degraded the grassland as there is a lot of mowing, ploughing and fire break burning. Until a decade ago, the entire grassland was burnt every winter.

Today landowners and biologists are starting to implement rotational burning to protect biodiversity.

Why does biodiversity matter?

Huddle Park below Linksfield Ridge is part of a massive green lung and ecologically sensitive wetland area in Eastern Johannesburg.

Sadly the grassland has also been used for dumping. Timber trucks, off-road vehicles, motorbikes and quad bikes have created destructive paths and tracks. Uncontrolled grazing and invasive alien plants have exacerbated the damage. The degradation of the Haenertsburg grassland is at last being challenged and rectified with funding from both the Botanical Society and the National Lottery. “There are provincial nature reserves in the area,” says Dzerefos. “The Wolkberg Wilderness/Lekgalameetse complex lies to the south-east, conserving escarpmental habitat. The Wolkberg Wilderness Area,the Ebenezer Dam Nature Reserve and commonage should be managed as a cluster.”

The commonage has red-listed amphibian and reptile species: Breviceps sylvestris sylvestris (Northern Forest Rain Frog), Cacosternum nanum nanum (Bronze Caco), Acontophiops lineatus (Woodbush legless skink), Trachylepis homalocephala (RedSided Skink),Tetradactylus eastwoodae

(Eastwood’s Long-tailed Seps),Afroedura multiporis multiporis (Woodbush Flat Gecko), Lygodactylus methueni (Methuen’s dwarf gecko), and Bradypodion transvaalense (Wolkberg Dwarf Chamaeleon).

The commonage should be proclaimed as a Provincial Nature Reserve. This would prevent such actions as illegal fencing by Mr. J.P. Fourie, Executive Director of National Airways Corporation, who also bulldozed a large section of the proposed nature reserve, trashing plants and cutting members of a church off from their holy spring, and animals from water. A Mr. N.R. Kgopa then claimed that the Haenertsburg Grasslands was legally his in terms of a Land Claims and that he wanted to sell plots to members of his community. The land was actually under claim by a different (the Mammabolo) community.

This World Biodiversity Day (May 22), Worldwatch Institute raised awareness of biodiversity losses worldwide. The current rate of species extinction is up to 1 000 times above the Earth’s normal extinction rate, a level of loss that has not occurred since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The five threats to biodiversity are habitat change, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species, and climate change, all of which are almost exclusively human driven. “The consumer society is destroying the planet,” said Bo Normander, Director of Worldwatch Institute Europe.

To conserve biodiversity, scientists assign concrete values to natural resources. Thus, individuals must weigh the immediate financial gains of logging a forest, against forest ‘services’ such as carbon sequestration, flood protection, and habitat.

Another important aspect of ecosystems is mitigation of environmental catastrophes. For example tsunamis will cause far less damage in areas where mangroves and dune forests are intact. In order to make our contribution to protecting our own shoreline we need to learn what is supposed to grow along the protective dunes, on the shorelines and in the rock pools.

To this end an excellent publication

by Flora & Fauna Publications Trust called ‘The Beach Book’

by Jeremy Gosnell is essential reading for all spatial planners in coastal cities. Contributors include Geoff Nicholls, Tony Abbott, Elsa Pooley & Richard Boon with further invaluable assistance by Joan Smith, Jane Bertram and Dr Kerry Sink. Dr Rob Anderson from UCT advised on the seaweeds.

Available from Flora and Fauna Publications Trust nflora@mweb. co.za. www.floratrustkzn.com.

When will the houses face north?

Writer & pictures Michelle Nel

T

he ANC inherited a housing backlog of 2 202 519 but has built at least 1.4 million homes. Now all we need is to make sure that the next tranche has basic green features like ceilings and solar water geysers. Our government has been beavering away since 1994 housing the poor but someone keeps moving the goalposts. In spite of this, 1 323 205 people now have housing subsidies and the percentage of home-owners has risen from 66% to 77% of households. But, are these houses environmentally sustainable? The first criterion of sustainability is durability.

According to South African energy researcher, Leila Mohammed, sustainable housing would also incorporate: Housing design: Taking advantage of passive solar design through facing houses north. Placing larger windows on the northern side. Creating thermal mass that absorbs heat. Supporting greening initiatives such as planting deciduous trees that block summer sun but lets through winter rays.

Installation of roof overhangs, ceilings,

28

ventilation, insulation and draft and damp proofing.

Building materials: Using materials such as earth, strawbale or recycled materials.

Installation of water and energy efficient devices such as dual flush toilets, rain harvesting tanks, grey water recycling, vertical geysers, energy efficient lighting and solar water heaters. Avoiding hazardous materials. The technology must be appropriate so that the users can carry out on-going maintenance.

Location Accessibility to amenities and jobs.

Locating settlements away from floodplains and hazardous industries.

Process Participation that empowers local people.

Allowing for future upgrade of the house and area. Promoting the minimisation of resources, including land. Promoting the use of recycled materials, and the use of renewable over non-renewable resources.

Minimising the damage to sensitive landscapes, including scenic, cultural, historical, and architectural features.

(Mahomed: Proceedings: Strategies for a

Sustainable Built Environment, Pretoria, 2325 August 2000) Moving the earth More than a third of the world’s people live in houses built with earth. There are twelve main methods of building with earth, of which seven are more commonly used. Houses built with traditional earth technologies make up the largest number of informal houses in South Africa. Two methods of construction using earth have been evaluated and approved by Agrément SA: the BESA [Bitumen Emulsion Stabilised Adobe] system and the Hydraform system.

In South Africa the two commonly used earth building technologies are mud block (adobe) and wattle-and-daub. CSIR Building and Construction Technology researched more durable earth buildings and produced “Building Houses with Earth Blocks. A guide for upgrading traditional building methods using handmade earth blocks” ‘Contain’ your enthusiasm In Windsor East north of Johannesburg affordable housing takes the form of “”container living” reports Steel shipping containers were offloaded in mid-April 2012. The target market is those who earn less than the requisite between R5 000 to R15 000 a month to qualify for subsidised housing or a bond. We offer a decent place for rental,” says CEO of Jika Properties and Citiq, Paul Lapham.

“South African banks are notoriously conservative in terms of giving people bonds.

They are unlikely to bankroll container homes.” Each Windsor East apartment consists basically of two containers … each 2.4m wide.”

Containers are durable. They are being insulated with polystyrene which is used in fridges. The building is guided by an engineer’s report. Lapham says it took a mere three days after the foundation was laid to assemble the three-storey structure.

Tenants should be able to take occupation on August 1 if all goes according to plan.

(Moneyweb)

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SUSTAINABILITY

First independent wind power programme in Darling Writer Reagan C Adams 30

R

eaching 50 meters into the sky, a wind energy tower supports three blades, each the length of a tennis court. Four of these structures, called turbines, you will see in Darling, a small town 70km outside Cape Town. These turbines generate electrical power through their mechanical motions as they are pushed by the wind. Because of the gentle consistency of strong winds over the hills of the Swartland landscape, Darling presented the ideal location for this wind farm. The project is seen to generate seven gigawatt hours of green energy per year.

A first in South Africa (SA), investments of billions are made into this wind farm project by international donors, government and the private sector. An estimated R50-billion has been invested, considering renewable energy being a fledgling industry. Greg Nott, director at Werksman Attorneys, says, “We are seeing immediate growth in a short period of time, and the entire scope of the country’s economy would be affected by this development, from grassroots and community levels.”

The Darling wind farm (DWF) is the signature project of Darling Independent Power Producer (Darling IPP), founded in 1996, to address SA’s potential for producing renewable energy. After a decade of delays and concerns regarding environmental impacts, the go ahead was finally given in 2006.

It is valuable to see where it places SA in terms of creating a green environment, a strategy that is receiving constant global attention and efforts. Due to conventional electricity being less sustainable, this project is particularly crucial in the fight against climate change. A unit of green electricity substitutes one unit of conventional electricity, which makes use of polluting sources like coal.

An ever present natural occurrence, wind is a sustainable fuel source which does not create toxins and its energy can be exploited without causing damage to the environment.

What is also great is that the energy used in producing and building a wind turbine is paid back in the first 3 to 6 months of operation.

With a lifespan of approximately 30 years, the turbines can be removed, leaving behind no signs that it ever existed.

As renewal energy, such as wind-generated electricity, is less damaging to the environment the main benefit is the reduction of air pollution, in the same equivalent should electricity have been generated conventionally. During its projected 20year lifespan, experts have estimated that

the 13MW will ‘save’ 850 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, over 6 900 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, just under 3 500 tonnes of nitric oxide, 420 tonnes of particulates, and almost 52 000 tonnes of slag and fly ash. It will also save the national resources of 455 000 tonnes of coal and 1.7 billion litres of water used in the equivalent conventional power station.

Over time, the manufacture of wind turbines becomes cheaper and more effective with the improved productivity of newer designs.

More electricity can therefore be produced from more cost-effective turbines. And as a result, the cost of electricity from wind is now on a level with conventional electricity costs.

People can therefore no longer criticise wind energy as being expensive. Although current production costs approximately double the cost of conventional production, 60c/KWh will be considerably reasonable when Eskom starts increasing prices. More so is the costs of atmospheric pollution and climate change that are not accounted for with the generation of conventional electricity. The job creation and the fact that within three months of erecting a wind turbine, the energy cost associated with that process is paid back in full cannot be compared. The global interest in investing financially shows that wind energy is feasible.

There are of course also benefits for the local community. During construction, 14 jobs were created per megawatt (MW) of power.

A further 30 jobs were created indirectly as a result of activities relating to the wind farm.

As a shareholder in Darling IPP, the local community will enjoy the benefits from the dividends generated once the planned second phase has been implemented. The dividends will be invested into the community in the form of education and training, skills development initiatives, or even electricity.

With this first phase however, no immediate financial benefit will accrue.

Part of the plan is to develop a research, training and educational centre for renewable energy applications on land adjacent to the farm. This will require considerable outside investment to realise.

Key to maintaining the growth of the renewable sector locally is to ensure that the market is not treated in isolation from economic developments around the globe.

An abundant source of energy, wind will never run out and is also the world’s fastest growing energy source.

Revolving at a constant speed of 32 revolutions per minute, the Darling wind turbines represent the beginning of an industry whose time is here.

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FINANCE

34

Sustainability reporting in SA Writer Anwar Booley

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s a normal, working citizen in SA, one is in many ways in oblivion to matters around us facing global change, sustainability etc. By no means is it right or wrong, however, the time has come for us to start raising the bar for matters of such importance. The corporates are engaged with these matters on an ongoing basis. It’s been the third generation of reporting already. It has become the norm of citizens to expect corporate citizens to pay their dues regarding how they are managing these issues as well as contributing to sustainable development, however, notwithstanding the fact that as normal citizens, we are not exonerated from our responsibilities thereof.

Sustainability reporting is a fundamental analysis of the impact a company has in the environment and its social structures in which it operates. It also reflects accountability for its actions. Research has shown that there are eight areas where a business can benefit in respect of good citizenship: Reputation management, Risk profile and risk management, Employee recruitment, motivation and retention, Investor relations and access to capital, Learning and innovation, Competitive and market positioning, Operations efficiency, License to operate.

KPMG has been surveying Corporate Responsibility (CR) since 1993. This global survey is conducted every three years with the most recent being in 2006. The survey analyses trends in the CR reporting of the world’s largest corporations. Last year it was found that corporate responsibility has gone main stream. Ninety nine percent of the largest companies worldwide issued reports up from eighty percent in 2008. Reporting has become the norm among the top 100 companies.

South Africa is no different, with KPMG conducting a survey of SA companies to assess the level of compliance with relevant sustainability reporting requirements and guidelines. The last survey was conducted in 2006. It covered 141 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange All Share

Index. The survey takes into account the latest development in internationally sustainability reporting. Also taken into account is South African requirements and guidelines, ie the King II Guidelines and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes of Good Practice.

South Africa is faring well with 86% of SA companies reporting in their annual some sort of sustainability reports albeit it being a stand alone also. This reflects the influence of the King Code for Corporate Governance (KingII). Very few companies seek the assurance of their sustainability reports.

Below are the top ten JSE All Share companies in respect of sustainability reporting as per 2011 rakings. They are listed in order of position: 1 The Bidvest Group 2 Eskom, 3 AngloGold Ashanti, 4 Anglo American Platinum, 5 Exxaro Resources, 6 Gold Fields, 7 Impala Platinum Holdings, 8 Sasol, 9 Northam Platinum, 10 Lonmin Plc. Three important trends impact on the onus on South African companies to adhere to the principles of sustainability reporting. These are the King II Report, the international Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the JSE’s Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index.

The King II Report. In 1994, corporate governance in South Africa was institutionalized by the publication of the King Report on Corporate Governance that was set up to ensure transparency and accountability within companies. The revised King II Report was released in 2002 and, in 2003, compliance with certain aspects of this report was made a compulsory requirement for companies listed on the JSE. The GRI framework. The GRI develops and disseminates globally applicable sustainability reporting guidelines which provide a framework for reporting on an organisation’s economic, environmental and social performance. The first draft guidelines of the GRI were released in 1999 and updated in 2002. The third generation (G3) of the reporting guidelines was released in October 2006.

The SRI Index. The SRI Index was

launched by the JSE in 2004 as a means of identifying companies that have integrated the triple bottom line approach into their business activities. The aim is to facilitate investment in such companies. For each of the triple bottom line categories, namely environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability, the SRI Index is structured to reflect the complex nature of social responsibility in South Africa.

Criteria for acceptance to the JSE’s Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index: Environmental sustainability reporting should reflect strategies to measure and monitor the impact a company has on the utilisation of a country’s natural resources, and to ensure that resources are used in a sustainable manner, while negative impacts on the environment are reduced. Economic sustainability reporting addresses whether a company focuses on short-term profits or has positioned itself in order to achieve long-term growth. Social sustainability reporting should give recognition to the fact that a company is a key component of modern society, and that a company needs to maintain positive relationships with a wider range of stakeholders. In South Africa companies need to show that they are engaged in social upliftment, as well as in redressing imbalances caused by past political systems.

At present there is a trend to publish comprehensive stand-alone sustainability reports and provide only a summary in the annual reports. It is expected that this trend will continue in future reporting. Few of the sustainability reports were subjected to independent auditing and assurance processes. International trends, however, suggest that there will be an increase in external assurance of the published sustainability reports. Stakeholders want to be sure that the information published by a company is a true reflection of its sustainability policies, and not simply a public relations brochure.

35 33

SUSTAINABILITY

South Africa’s reliance on coalfired power

Writer Richard Brown

C

forecast coal supply is to remain flat in the short to medium term, owing to long lead periods between exploration, development and commissioning of mines. An investment of approximately R90 billion will be required to develop 40 new mines in order to meet the anticipated increase in both domestic and export demand for South Africa’s coal.

The environmental impact is paramount to this debate. According Water and energy are among the major to a report delivered by World Wildlife Fundcontributors to production costs.

SA (WWF-SA), South Africa’s reliance on coal has resulted in the country’s green-house gas fired power. Coal is generally an inexpensive emissions being double the global average source of energy. Although we have large per capita and per GDP. However, in addition coal reserves, this fossil fuel is not finite. The to this, our dependence on coal is having widespread power shortages South Africa has devastating impacts on our water resources. been experiencing since 2008, highlight the According to the report, only 12% of South risks that are inherent in this heavy reliance Africa’s land area generates 50% of the on coal. According to Frost & Sullivan, oal provides for about 80% of the energy needs in South Africa.

It supports about 90% of the electricity generation; provides feedstock for the country’s synthetic fuels manufacturing industries and is used directly in the steel, cement and brick industry. This begs the question of our over reliance on coal-

36

countries river flow. This highlights the need to plan the development of our landscapes to protect the country’s most important water, soil and biodiversity resources.

WWF-SA further states that the near-term interest of coal stakeholders within business, labour and government are constricting the development of an adequate exit strategy for South Africa’s dependence on coal-fired power. South Africa is at a point where the country is taking a short term view of increasing coal use as opposed to reducing it. They also criticized the government’s Integrated Resource Plan, which aims for 9% of all electricity to be sourced from renewables by 2030, as inadequate and incremental.

The alternatives are not far to find. South Africa is blessed with adequate renewable energy resources which can compliment or supplement the country’s energy mix. This will address both the energy insufficiency as well as the heavy carbon footprint. The country also has abundant resources in the form of solar and wind energy. The Government’s White paper on Renewable Energy Policy, released in 2003, supports the development of alternative energy systems with an ambitious target of generating 10,000 GWh green electricity by 2013. The number of renewable energy projects in South Africa is slow on the uptake due to the fact that the major focus is on production of cheap energy from fossil fuels. The major challenge for the implementation of clean energy technologies is the large deposits that the country has and its electricity generated from coal production is among the cheapest in the world.

Solar energy has the greatest potential in South Africa. The total area of high radiation in South Africa amounts to approximately 194,000 square kilometers, including the Northern Cape, one of the best solar resource areas in the world. South Africa has an average daily solar radiation of between 4.5 and 6.5 kWh per square meter.

Solar thermal heating is the predominant mode of solar energy unitization in South Africa. Taking the need to clean energy resources into account, Eskom is building a 100MW concentrated solar power project in Upington with financial assistance from the World Bank.

The challenge remains for the stake-holders involved to come up with an amicable solution in the short and long term which will be in the best interest on the country and for generations to come. We only have one country.

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Carbon dioxide capture & storage plan Writer Sara Booley-Davids

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outh Africa is a coal-based economy, where coal is a primary feedstock for nearly 90% of total electricity generation. Because coal-powered plants are one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2), South Africa emits around 400 Mt of CO2 annually – that is mainly from electricity and Syn-fuel industry. As a response to this alarming emission status, our government has become committed to the management of the efficient use of its coal usage by reducing CO2 emissions, one of the main drivers behind global warming.

This is where South Africa’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) “roadmap” plan comes into action: a long-term mitigation scenarios plan to reduce total CO2 emissions by 34% by the year 2020 and by 45% by the year 2025. You may think these goals to be a long shot – but research shows that CCS is able to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% to 90%, particularly from sources like electricity generation plants, coal-to-liquid plants and cement manufacturing plants.

Although at first glance CSS may come across as an arbitrary concept, but it is in fact a very researched topic that has already been implemented in countries like Norway, USA and Canada. Alongside South Africa, several other countries are looking to implement

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the method themselves as their obligation towards the environment. In brief terms, CSS involves the capture, transportation and storage of carbon dioxide which is stored deep beneath the earth’s surface (roughly 1km deep) within porous/permeable geological formations. It is a 4-step process which is still undergoing much investigation before it will actually be implemented in South Africa. The process begins, whereby the CO2 is captured in large amounts after being separated from the many other gases which are, too, emitted during the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation. Once the CO2 is isolated from other gases, it is compressed and then transported underground via underground pipelines. The compressed CO2 will then be injected deep within those rock formations – of which potential geological sites include saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas reservoirs and deep coal seams that are unable to be mined.

After injection, the CO2 storage would need to be monitored in case of risks posed by leakage etc. (of which the risk is minimal, but monitoring the site remains an important part of the process nonetheless).

Funding of this CCS action plan has been approved by the World Bank in the amount of $1.2million U.S. dollars towards CCS activities over a 2-year period. The funding

will be contributed towards several aspects of the project, including the development of CCS regulatory framework and identifying potential storage sites. Smaller scale projects will also be conducted from the fund in order to ascertain technological reliability and cost efficiency of the overall CCS plan. These projects will then have to be monitored over time to assess the risks associated with longterm leakage of CO2 as well as the collateral damage that may result from such leakage.

Based on the given funding for South Africa’s Carbon Capture and Storage plan, the roadmap of CCS activities consists of 5 stages that starts with a preliminary investigation of CCS potential in South Africa. Once CCS is found to be a valuable process, the identification and development of geological sites in which the CO2 is transported and stored will then take place.

An experiment of the injection of CO2 into these geological sites will then be conducted within the underground storage cavities in order to test the technological feasibility of the CCS activities. The fourth and fifth stages of the plan consists of developing a demonstration plant whereby the entire CCS process will be demonstrated and perfected, which shall be followed by the expansion of the CCS process to commercial electricity plants.

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Murray Bolton, joint chief executive of Cargo Carriers is excited at what the two companies will bring to each other.

ADVERTORIAL

Cargo Carriers acquires 55% of Zambian logistics business

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n a move designed to boost the growth of the Cargo Carriers mining business, and diversify its earnings through subSaharan Africa, Cargo Carriers, a JSE listed logistics business, has acquired a 55% stake in Zambian based BHL for an initial price of US$2.2m.

Murray Bolton, joint chief executive of Cargo Carriers is excited at what the two companies will bring to each other. Cargo Carriers brings a high-level SHEQ (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) capability and access to capital to enable BHL’s growth ambition, while BHL gives Cargo Carriers a significant footprint in sub-Saharan Africa and extends its recently won gains in the mining industry in South Africa.

BHL’s primary business is the transportation of copper concentrate, lime and sulphuric acid in Zambia and the DRC, although it also provides logistics solutions in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors.

The fit with Cargo Carriers in this respect 40

is a good one, with Cargo Carriers having substantial logistics operations in both Agriculture and Mining.

“There is no doubt,” says Garth, Murray’s brother and joint CEO. “The centre of gravity for mining has moved north. If we want to be players in this market we needed to be present in these countries.”

He has a point. Central Africa has also been described as the breadbasket of the world, something that will not have been lost on this strategically-managed supply chain business with major interests in agricultural and chemical logistics.

Zambia is in the middle of the East African sugar belt. Cargo Carriers’ longstated intention to compete in this zone by extending their operations from Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Zimbabwe will be given strength by a presence on the ground in Zambia. The acquisition also provides risk reduction for Cargo Carriers as it spreads its business over more countries and more

currencies.

The move to strengthen its Southern and Central African business capability will please global mining, agricultural and chemical businesses who are themselves looking to expand into the world’s fastest growing continent, but are faced with challenges to find logistics partners who deliver the required Safety and Environmental standards.

Although the acquisition price is dependent on profit guarantees over the next three years, both parties believe that there are substantial growth possibilities that will emerge as a result of the transaction. Bolton asserts that BHL management and shareholders’ real opportunity comes from growing the business beyond the three-year horizon.

Indeed, for Cargo Carriers the acquisition of local experience and know-how is as important as the acquisition of the long-term contracts that BHL hold.

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National strategy for

sustainability Writer Kendal Brown

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ACTION PLAN

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NFSD which was adopted by the Cabinet in future generations life by restoring the uyelwa Patience Sonjica, Minister June 2008. previous ecosystem damage and resisting to of Water and Environmental Affairs From 2009 to 2010 Phase two was contribute to further ecosystem damage. published a draft national strategy undertaken and involved the formulation Sustainable development ties together on sustainable development and of a strategy and action plan for the period concern for the carrying capacity of action plan that will operate 2010 – 2014 to facilitate the implementation natural systems with the social challenges between the years 2010 and 2014. of the vision, goals and strategic priorities as faced by humanity. As early as the 1970s, It drew one comment on the outlined in the NFSD. It included proposals “sustainability” was employed to describe official government website which read, for an institutional framework to drive an economy “in equilibrium with basic in part, “I think the policy is perfect and in sustainable development and for a process ecological support systems.” Ecologists order but whether we have the mechanisms of monitoring and evaluation of progress in have pointed to The Limits to Growth, to ensure that these policies are put into implementing the NSSD. The third phase is economic sustainability and sociopolitical practice remains to be seen…” Does this from 2011 until 2014 and onwards. Although sustainability. one comment speak for all South Africans? many relevant activities are already In another, slightly larger nutshell, here is Are we all concerned with sustainable being implemented, a formal development or is it something most of us will simply leave to I think the policy is perfect and in order but implementation of the action the politicians, scientists and whether we have the mechanisms to ensure plan will commence on approval of the NSSD1. Implementation big business to resolve? What is that these policies are put into practice will be accompanied by ongoing sustainable development exactly? remains to be seen… monitoring and evaluation of In a nutshell it can be explained as progress towards a sustainable the ability to meet the needs of the society which also then provides feedback what the National Strategy for Sustainable present without compromising all the future for a system of adaptive management. Phase Development (NSSD) is essentially generations by meeting their own needs.

III implementation progress evaluation will about. Given that since 1972 the concept Wikipedia explains it as follows: inform the NSSD 2 (2015 -2020). of sustainable development has been on Sustainable development (SD) is a pattern It would appear that this strategy has been the international conscience since the of economic growth in which resource use formulated due to the fact that South Africa’s United Nations Conference on the Human aims to meet human needs while preserving natural resource base is under severe Environment in Stockholm at that time, the the environment so that these needs can pressure. Many ecosystems have already South African government was goaded into be met not only in the present, but also for been seriously damaged and it appears South action as recently as 2003 when the National generations to come (sometimes taught as Africa is likely to suffer further setbacks due Framework for Sustainable Development ELF-Environment, Local people. The term to climate change. For this and other reasons (NFSD) produced its action plan. . ‘sustainable development’ was used by the NSSD has been brought about.

What follows is an excerpt from summary the Brundtland Commission which coined My take on it is, if the UN has been on about of the National Strategy for Sustainable what has become the most often-quoted it since 1972 then sustainable development Development drafted from the National definition of sustainable development had obviously become an issue even long Strategy for Sustainable Development and as development that “meets the needs of before that. If so, why has it taken any of the Action Plan 2011 – 2014. the present without compromising the governments so long to actually do anything The process of the NSSD comprises three ability of future generations to meet their about some serious planning? And, if they phases. Phase one occurred from 2003 to own needs. “Alternatively, sustainability are only now trying to put a strategy in place 2008 and an analysis of long-term economic, educator Michael Thomas Needham how many more years/decades will go by social and environmental trends and related referred to ‘Sustainable Development’ “as before it is really implemented? Is this just policy initiatives were undertaken in this the ability to meet the needs of the present another case of too little too late? phase. This informed the vision, goals while contributing to the future generation. and strategic priorities for sustainable There is an additional focus on the present development. Phase one culminated in the generations responsibility to improve the 43

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FINANCE

The unsecured credit spike Writer Zak King

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ccording to the National Credit Regulator there has been a recent spike in the amount of unsecured credit being extended to South African consumers. There was a 25% quarter on quarter increase in regard to unsecured lending. An unsecured loan is a loan that has no collateral or asset backing the deal. A normal example of a secured loan is when a person buys a car. The car is an asset that the bank could, and will, take back and sell to offset any loss if a consumer stops payment. Traditionally banks did not offer this type of credit to low income consumers. Recently however, the big banks are increasingly extending unsecured loans to consumers. Over the last few months the amounts being offered to consumers has increased.

While there are limitations placed on the amount of profit that can be made on credit, it is true that the limits placed on interest rates for unsecured credit are a lot less restrictive, and creditors can therefore make a lot more money by offering this type of credit. Of course, since it is not asset backed, there is also a higher risk to the bank should the consumer default on their monthly repayments. It’s higher risk but offers a higher reward.

It seems the banks are now prepared to take on these risks, and while in the past, banks limited the damage an unsecured loan could do by only offering smaller amounts for this type of loan, it might surprise you to learn that increasingly higher amounts

are becoming available to the average consumer. At present one of the highest amounts available is around R230 000.00 from Capitec. That is a whole lot of cash.

One must remember that according to the National Credit Act, consumers can only be given money if they can afford to pay it back.

The various creditors offering these loans have to do their homework when making their decisions to grant consumers a loan. If they don’t and the consumer gets into trouble and is unable to pay it back, then they could be held liable for reckless lending.

At present, about half the South African credit users are having problems repaying their debt, meaning that automatically they probably do not qualify for any more loans but it seems the other half are hungry for more and more credit. Reports are coming in that consumers are using these new loans to either service existing debt (which is nearly always a bad idea) or to make purchases.

Some consumers are using these increased amounts available to purchase homes and cars. This is done however at a higher rate than would be available through traditional secured credit. Many of these loans have an interest rate of around 18% to 25%. This means huge profit for the lender and a lot more interest payments by the consumer.

Presently unsecured lending accounts for 8% of the total credit offered by the major banks.

The Reserve bank and other parties, while initially concerned, have now dismissed the possibility of this forming a credit bubble.

Others like Deborah Solomons of the Debt

Counselling Industry (theDCI), points out that this type of lending is indicative of a dangerous trend. If so, many consumers are already in trouble and the economy is going through a huge down turn (with more trouble to come and interest rates set to go up at some point around year end), why are people borrowing more money instead of focusing on paying off their existing credit?

Solomons is convinced this points to a looming economic implosion. Many experts say that consumers are borrowing more and more to make payments on existing loans.

This means that these consumers are now able to pay their monthly payments but are now doing so at an even higher interest rate and thus will pay more over a longer time period.

At present many banks are touting loans and calling them “consolidation loans” when in fact they are just normal loans that consumers can use to pay off their other debts, if they want to, and then pay a higher rate to a single creditor. Beware! A higher rate means more payments over a longer period. Should the repo rate go up, many consumers may begin to default on these new loans leaving them with legal costs and judgments against their names. Experts on debt from the Alliance of Professional Debt Counsellors advise rather paying off your smallest accounts, or highest rate accounts first, while reducing your household expenses rather than rushing to take out a new loan.

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FINANCE

DEBT REVIEW Can you spot the difference?

Writer Zak King

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t the recent World Economic Forum held in Addis Ababa, Cas Coovadia of the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA) made mention of a great sounding initiative from BASA which could see many troubled South African consumers repaying smaller instalments at lower rates toward their debts.

You would be forgiven for mistaking this for the current legal process of debt counselling, however, what was being referred to, was rather a voluntary process of debt mediation.

With almost half of all credit active consumer accounts being in default or behind on payments (in many cases 3 months behind) there is a huge need to try and rescue the credit industry in South Africa. Creditors are feeling the pinch more and more as consumers are not making repayments timeously.

What can be done? Well, normally when a consumer doesn’t pay their debt, they are handed to a collections department (either internally or externally) who try to harass the consumer into making payment. Should this fail, then the consumer is handed to an attorney to commence legal action.

Normally this will involve a summons and judgment. Armed with this judgment, the creditor can try to collect any assets involved or try to get a portion of the consumer’s

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income. All of these collection methods can cost the creditor a pretty penny and eat up all their profit on a loan. In some cases even when they do manage to get a portion of the consumer’s salary each month, over 25% of the amount collected goes to someone other than the creditor.

All these factors are good reasons why most creditors like the debt review process, which has a fee structure lower than 8% with far less work on the creditor’s behalf. So why are the banks now talking about voluntary mediation as opposed to the established debt review process?

Well, it is good to mention that the National Credit Act has established debt counselling, and it is here to stay. Consumers who take advantage of any voluntary debt mediation, will still be able to go for debt counselling should they need to at some future point. So what’s the difference?

With Debt Review any troubled consumer can apply for help. With the help of a Debt Counsellor a proposal is given to the courts and the consumers contracts are replaced (temporarily) by a Court Order. This means that the consumer can defend against any legal action taken against them by a creditor.

Through the proposed voluntary system, the banks (and other creditors) will determine who they feel qualifies for the programme.

Mostly this will be consumers who can pay

back about +- 78% of their debt obligations.

This means that the majority of the millions of troubled consumers will not qualify or be chosen. Another drawback will be the danger of legal action being taken against the consumer, even though an arrangement is in place. This could happen for many reasons including communication problems or computers auto-generating instructions to external legal firms.

There are things that creditors do not want consumers to think about or to be advised about, such as built-in credit insurance policies which exist on consumers accounts which can cover payments for up to 3 months, in many cases when a consumer loses their job. Also not mentioned, are limits to the charges and interest that the National Credit Act has insured are in place.

This is one reason why the banks might now push some consumers toward a voluntary debt mediation system rather than advise them to get advice from a Debt Counsellor.

This may allow them to skirt some of these restrictions.

Either way, with so many consumers in trouble, any steps that help the creditors recover their funds and consumers to get out of trouble must be looked upon with hope (and maybe a pinch of suspicion) even if it sounds too good to be true.

NHBRC

FINANCE

Government’s planned retirement reforms Writer Steve Mquen

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overnment’s planned retirement reforms has no doubt taken a serious step in advancing the concept and implementation of the planned reforms, despite the fact that this was a discussion point for a number of years, at least since 2004. The critical areas of reform, identified by treasury are: How to reduce the cost of retirement funds; Reform the annuities market; To enforce preservation and introduce portability; To implement a uniform approach to the tax treatment of retirement fund contributions; Improving fund governance and the role of trustees; Tax

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incentives to promote retirement and other investment products.

Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, announced in his recent budget speech that “a series of discussion papers will be released this year on promoting governance over pension funds, improved preservation of retirement fund assets, and how to generate higher levels of income in retirement” The biggest test for government’s planned retirement reform is sustainability. If this new model is to be successful, it will no doubt provide South Africans with better protection and an enhanced deal from the financial service industry.

The cost of retirement funds could be ascribed to the low savings of South Africans as a whole. Here we need financial institutions and asset managers to come to the table during the consultation process. It is clear that they have to revisit their strategies and move away from historical insurance based investment products which are very expensive, rigid and often inappropriate for the people they target. E.g. a monthly premium that starts at R500 is far too high to a large portion of the population. Is a low cost passive style a solution? If this point is addressed adequately, the challenge will be, are lower income groups really in a position to save?

Perhaps we need to ensure that we start saving for retirement at an early stage. The trend is that thousands of people start saving very late. This puts a lot of pressure on them at a later stage as their lifestyle changes.

When we do save, we also need to ensure that our monthly savings is enough and ensure self discipline to carry this investment consistently. This may sound like financial education, but is critical if we are to succeed.

Talking about financial education, I think this should also be on the priority list of treasury. For example, the whole concept of compounded interest and the eroding effect of inflation on savings should be explained.

Our aim should be to retire earlier than later. The retirement age in South Africa is generally set to begin at age 55. However, statistics show that only six percent of our population can retire comfortably. The rest remain in poverty, and are forced by circumstances to continue to work to the age of 65 and sometimes beyond. If we plan to retire earlier, our contributions to our savings must be higher. You do not only need a financial plan but also a life plan.

To enforce preservation may not be something that augers well with the South African population. Self discipline on the other hand may be totally unrealistic. The majority of South Africans use pension and provident funds as their main form of savings, However, because they can access these funds should they change jobs, the money is often used to settle debts or to buy fancy things. By the time they realize that they have a serious shortfall, it is generally too late. Enforcement of preservation may be the solution.

Tax is also something that affects savings negatively. Hence it is a positive step from government to look at this. Assistance in this regard will definitely contribute to the overall objectives of reform. In particular, if it is focused on the lower income groups.

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ADVERTORIAL “Plastics make our everyday lives possible, whether driving our cars, working in an office or climbing the next big mountain. Without plastics, life as we know it would be virtually impossible,” says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director for Plastics|SA and an avid outdoorsman in his own right.

Plastics make it possible… to enjoy the great outdoors!

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t is often said that you need special shoes for hiking – and a bit of a special soul as well. We all know what a huge difference those “special” shoes, water bottle, rope, helmet or sleeping bag can make pitting one’s strength and endurance against the great outdoors.

Have you ever considered exactly how much of the sportswear you depend and rely on, is made from plastics?

“Plastics make our everyday lives possible – whether driving our cars, working in an office or climbing the next big mountain.

Without plastics, life as we know it would be virtually impossible,” says Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director for Plastics|SA and an avid outdoorsman in his own right.

Plastics offer the strength, flexibility, colour, high mouldability and – most importantly the lightweight properties that are needed when manufacturing sportswear and equipment. Without realising it, plastics have become our silent partner in almost every sphere of life, including sport and leisure. “Take hiking boots for example: the lining and tongue can be made from a loosely woven polyester fabric that repels water and allows moisture to rapidly evaporate 50

from the boot’s exterior, keeping the hiker’s feet dry in the wet and cool in the heat. For comfort and support, the mid-sole can be made from ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), which provides lightweight cushioning. Polyester foam padding, on the other hand, provides extra comfort on the insoles,” Steyn explains.

“Similarly, running shoes that weigh just a few grams yet provide the strength support and suppleness that athletes demand as they power out of the running blocks, can make the difference between victory and defeat”.

In other sporting applications, carbon fibre composites are used for rowing skiffs; polypropylene and elastomer for masks and snorkels for underwater swimmers and divers and nylon runners for in-line skates; ABS protective helmets for footballers or space age composites for racing bicycles.

“However, wearing it or using plastics is only one side of the coin”, Steyn explains.

“The sporting fraternity realises the impact of plastics on their lives and recreational activities. We need to spread the message that we all need to be responsible plastics users. We need to clean-up and recycle plastic products”. Plastics|SA increased its commitment to combat litter in South

Africa through the establishment of its Sustainability Council. “Sustainability and protecting our environment is one of the core functions of Plastics|SA”, Steyn says.

“Our Clean-Up and Recycle theme for 2012 is “Berg-2-Beach” and, in partnership with SASOL, WESSA and the various polymer organisations within the plastics industry, we want to encourage all South Africans to help keep South Africa clean, from the mountains to the oceans”.

According to Steyn, this campaign will culminate in the annual Clean-Up South Africa month which takes place in September each year. During this month Plastics|SA encourages schools, clubs, businesses and the general public to clean-up and recycle where they live, play and work by initiating clean-up drives or participating in the annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day on 15 September 2012.

Steyn concludes: “From now until the end of September, we are making a strong appeal to everybody using and enjoying the great outdoors – whether you are a mountaineer, hiker, canoeist, or part of the fishing and diving fraternity - to adopt a spot where you can help reduce the amount of plastic litter found in the environment through initiating a clean-up effort. Whilst the use of plastic products makes a positive contribution to our lives and wellbeing, we need to remember that plastics do not litter, people do!”

Hints and tips on how to plan an effective clean-up and recycling effort in your area, can be found by visiting the Plastics|SA website on www.plasticsinfo.co.za / www. cleanup-SA.co.za / recyclingday-SA.co.za or visit www.mywaste.co.za to find your closest recycling or drop-off site.

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HEALTH

Can we flee the Flu? Writer Libby Norton

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ust the thought of flu gives us the heebs doesn’t it! Not just the awfulness of it but also the downtime guilt. The world moves on and demands we keep up, so we scramble over ourselves, coughing and sneezing germs on people in buses, shops and offices until we finally cave and stagger home to collapse.

“Flu,” short for “influenza,” is a viral infection that causes upper respiratory symptoms and makes us feel lousy. South Africans don’t have ‘a cold’ anymore – in common jargon, it’s all flu. But, in the UK they’re more picky, still designating the lesser type that’s caused by a different virus, as ‘a cold’. It conforms to the old saying “three days coming, three days here and three days going” which is a useful yardstick when you’re champing at the bit to get back to the office.

The symptoms of a cold are pretty similar but you don’t feel like you’ve been felled by a baseball bat. A cold features chills, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and headaches, and are caught widely the world over on a regular basis. Flu however, can add fevers, body aches, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, malaise or even diarrhoea for some and can make you seriously ill for an extended period.

Epidemics or Pandemics? Every year there seems to be a new ‘flavour of the year’ flu which media guys relish, predicting worldwide pandemics, licking their lips as they spread alarming statistics and raise our already high enough stress levels. You really can’t blame our ex-President Thabo Mbeki for his conspiracy suspicions voiced at a prestigious “Knowledge Management Conference” in Stellenbosch in January backed up by his quoting that “The Council of Europe has asserted that false ‘knowledge’

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was propagated during 2009, which resulted in billions of tax-payer dollars being spent in many countries to respond to a fictional ‘swine flu epidemic’, which benefited the globally dominant and highly profitable pharmaceutical companies.”

He was panned for his comments with memories of his AIDS denialism, but the number of deaths of H1N1 “Swine Flu” did come nowhere near those predicted. In SA there were about 12,500 cases and 93 deaths - in the United States, there were 2,117 laboratory-confirmed deaths, and the CDC estimates actual deaths in the US at between 8,870 and 18,300 which is a heckova wide margin. It helps if you check the numbers against the population (USA Over 305 million) and that usually brings back calm and sanity!

Bouts of flu usually manifest with the change of the seasons and the weather. You can track the flu globally on the internet to see how it passes from town to town, across one region to the next, and check on its prevalence in your own community.

Is it possible to prevent the Flu? Little ones and older people with weak or compromised immune systems are especially susceptible.

Be aware of the risk in public places; keep your hands washed regularly and wear gloves, avoid touching public objects like handrails and door knobs with bare hands, use antiseptic wipes on shopping carts, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth- and avoid or be especially protective near red-eyed, sneezy, coughing people!

The jury is out on flu shots - Dr. Viera Scheibner, said to be arguably one of the world’s most respected scientists and scholars on vaccine medical data.... is highly suspicious of the vaccination industry

calling it pseudo-science fraught with inconsistencies, poorly designed studies, erroneous interpretations, and conclusions that are patently false - by design, not chance. She calls it “an illness industry,” causing a pandemic of degenerative diseases and behavioural problems.

So what to do when you get the flu?

The most important thing is to take immediate steps to minimise its impact, duration and spread. Ditch the antibiotics; they only help with a secondary infection. At the first sign, up your water and Vitamin C intake and clear your evenings (and days too) to get as much sleep as possible. The Harvard medical School says that sleep is too important to shortchange. Inhale steam to improve the quality of sleep. Inadequate sleep messes up our immune function and the more rest you have the quicker your recovery should be.

Sleep is your body’s downtime and it uses this opportunity to run system checks, beat up viruses and make essential repairs.

This is when you need to see a doctor If you have difficulty breathing, experience pain in your chest or abdomen, become suddenly dizzy, are vomiting or if you believe a recent flu has returned, you should see the doctor right away as it could be a secondary infection.

It’s only in recent years that a treatment like Tamiflu or Relenza, were found to manage flu; it may cut the flu to one or two days but like all drugs, they can have serious side effects which you should discuss with the doc. With all our best efforts, we can only flee from flu for so long. We are left with the wisdom of Gloria Silverstein, “If a doctor treats your cold, it will go away in fourteen days. If you leave it alone, it will go away in two weeks.”

SFA020/12

SOCIAL FRANCHISING - EVERYONE WINS! Give our youth a sporting chance to help make South Africa successful Sport For All, South Africa’s first registered Development) and Code 700 (Sociosocial franchise, utilises sport as a vehicle Economic Development) B-BBEE for development and social change. It requirements. In other words, it is verifiable provides an entrepreneur (owner/operator) and measured, so a supporting enterprise with a rewarding business; offers youth can stimulate business at grassroots level employment opportunities and whilst doing social good with gives children - who are inactive meaning and real results and or who have limited access to rewards.

Get your company quality sport coaching - a involved and chance to participate in over 15 Sport For All CEO Kelli Givens different sport codes and life create social change gives an insight into the quid skills training. pro quo benefits of this social that’s good for franchise: “Everyone wins!

This is NOT a charity project, it Companies utilise their BEE business too! is a sustainable business model Codes of Good Prac tice that uses structured curricula to provision to get up to 20 points deliver developmental sports training on their BEE scorecard, the franchisee gets programmes and the latest smartcard the seed funding necessary to set up and technology to track cash flows and monitor kids who can’t otherwise afford to the progress and participation of the participate get the opportunity to be a part children. As such, Sport For All is the of Sport For All. The community benefits by ‘beautiful solution’ for companies who having better-rounded youth growing up would like to fulfill Code 600 (Enterprise and becoming active citizens”

Social Franchising - The Beautiful Solution • • • • •

Uses the structures and management approaches of commercial franchising to achieve social goals Makes profit to plough back into the business to ‘make a difference’ Focuses on sustainability through entrepreneur development, business incubation and youth employment Turnkey Operation includes smartcard technology, storage container, coaching curriculum, kits and sports equipment Hands-on classroom sessions and continuous on-field training for franchisee and coaches

Companies can earn valuable points: 15 (Code 600) Enterprise Development + 5 (Code 700) Socio-Economic Development = 20 POINTS on their BEE scorecard!

SA companies have invested BEE funds to open eight Sport For All franchises plus 10 NEW sites to enable thousands more children to participate daily in over 15 different sport codes creating a foundation for a lifetime of healthy choices.

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EDUCATION

The basic aim of the Green Paper is to align post-school education training systems with the country’s overall development strategies.

The Green Paper on higher education and training Writer Natasha Braaf

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n May 2009, the President promulgated the formation of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) with a mandate to coordinate the education and training of Post-School Education. “What is post- school education?”, I hear you ask. It refers to all education for youths who have left school as well as adults who did not go to school but require education opportunities.

To achieve this, a single integrated, coherent and well-articulated post-school system had to be conceptualised from the existing frameworks like the higher education sector, the SETA’s (Sector Education and Training Authorities), the quality bodies, the NSF and others.This and interactions with a number of stakeholders, gave rise to the “Green Paper for Post-School Education and Training as approved by cabinet in November 2011.

The basic aim of the “Green Paper” is to align post-school education training systems with the country’s overall development strategies, for example, the New Growth Path and the Industrial Policy Action Plan. Bottomline – this paper aims to address the issue of 54

the three million young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who are not accomodated in either the current education and training system or the labour market for that matter.

According to Mr Gwebs Qonde, DirectorGeneral of the DHET, there are particular fundamental areas of transformation that the Green Paper needed to pay attention to: Combating discrimination and providing equal opportunities for all; Expanding opportunities for people in disadvantaged areas; A particular focus on expanding opportunities for youth.

The Green Paper also seeks to set out the challenges facing the post-school system and set out broad policy for: Expanding post-school provision to improve access.

Focus on strengthening and expanding the further education and training college sector (FET’s) as well as the establishment of a new institutional type, the Community Education and Training Centres (CETS’s).

Strengthening the institutions to improve quality. This through an integrated quality assurance framework pooled from the existing quality bodies without the turf wars.

The universities – the strongest component of the post-school – are badgered with problems like access, staffing, funding etc., which the Green paper also aims to address.

Setting out a vision and pathways for achieving a coherent post-school system with articulation, collaboration, and coordination between the different components.

The DHET is developing an integrated data management system among all institutions to establish comprehensive and effective analysed data.

An alignment between the various institutional types and between education and training institutions and the labour market.

Other areas identified in the Green Paper are: DHET will work closely with the department of Science and Technology towards increased support for post-graduate studies and improved research capacity.

Strengthened collaboration between the private and public sector and government.

To build institutional capacity, the Paper proposes the establishment of the South African Institute for Vocational and continuing Education and Training (SAIVCET).

The Paper outlines proposals to overcome the duplication, overlap and complexity of our existing regulatory system of the postschool legislation and statutory bodies.

A copy of the full paper can be accessed at: www.saqa.org.za/docs/papers/greenpaper. pdf.

By 2030, the DHET aims to raise university enrolments to 1 500 000 as opposed to the 889 120 of 2011. Add to this a further 4 000 000 enrolments to FET’s or CETS’s catapulting the projected participation rate to approximately 60%. Hmm! …not too shabby, I say.

Some feel that this Green Paper lacks a clear vision. Some feel that while emphasis is aptly placed on vocational training - it does not come with coherent steps for implementation.

I reckon that it was generally positively received by most bodies and in that spirit, I shall don my rose-tinted glasses - sharpen my pencil, ink my quil, power up my tablet - trust that Joe Public is right there with me and wait for the learning to begin.

SAPI is a voluntary organisation which seeks to promote planning as a discipline and the interests of the planning profession. It is made up of planners from all regions of South Africa, and from all sectors of planning, including the Public Sector, NGO’s and CBO’s, Private Consultants and Academics. It provides the profession with profile, identity and a voice, and it functions as a forum for all people in planning to debate critical issues affecting planning and development. Members of SAPI receive exclusive benefits as per their membership category.

For more information on SAPI and/or to join SAPI, please visit our website at www.sapi.org.za or contact us at: Tel: +27 (0)79 692 6808 Fax: +27 (0)86 514 9673 Email: info@sapi.org.za Private Bag X15 | Halfway House | 1685

2012 SAPI National Planning Awards

Many planners working in both the public and private sector in South Africa continue to play an important role in shaping our built environment and promoting sustainable development.

SAPI would like to recognize the individuals and organisations making noteworthy contributions, to inspire their continued involvement and those of others and to promote the key role of the planning profession in public life. SAPI invites the public and planning profession to make their nominations for the 2012 SAPI National Planning Awards. Nomination forms are available on our website. Closing date for nominations is 17 August 2012. The awards ceremony will take place at the Planning Africa 2012 Conference Dinner on Tuesday 18 September 2012 at the ICC Durban.

SAPI “Know Your Block” Campaign

In marking World Town Planning Day 2011, SAPI has launched an awareness campaign where all South Africans have an opportunity to live and embrace the principles and ideals of sound planning by becoming change agents to improve their neighborhoods.

The campaign recognises that everyone can make a difference, and that change can happen block by block. In building a better country we all have to start with our own neighborhoods. Over the course of the following year the campaign will be aimed at getting the South African public to become more aware of and appreciate their immediate living spaces as well as to consider their challenges and finding creative solutions. For more information on the SAPI “Know Your Block” Campaign as well as to participate in the campaign, kindly contact us.

The Planning Africa 2012 Conference will provide a forum for an expected 600 to 700 delegates and presenters from the across the African continent and beyond, to reflect on key issues in the African context.

The Conference Theme

Settlements, whether large or small host a collection of people and resources, all with a specific determined relationship to each other. Urban and rural planning is about adding or protecting value in settlements to benefit everyone living or passing through these areas.

There are a number of mechanisms, tools and skills that planners can use and combine in different contexts to create, add or protect value. It therefore raises key questions about: What values drive planning? How do and should planners distribute land values? How can planners reassert the use capital value and create new value on the African continent?

Growth, democracy and inclusion: Navigating contested futures 17 – 19 September 2012 International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa www.sapi.org.za

Conference Registrations now open

The conference will highlight three major themes to guide discussions regarding issues or questions on the African continent 1. How to cope with and/or positively steer unprecedented growth of settlements in the light of major urbanisation and an increasing focus on the need for urban resilience?

2. How to do this in a democratic way that ensures governance systems that takes into account the principles of equity, fair distribution and just management of resources?

3. How to include all people in the planning and implementation of infrastructure and services, to contribute to an improved quality of life and of the environment to the benefit of all?

The Conference Programme

The conference programme will feature national and international speakers. Parallel sessions will create intellectual debate and talk to key issues relevant in the African context.

The theme categories are National Planning, Regional Planning, Spatial Planning, Land Use Management, Infrastructure & Settlements, Layout Plans & Urban Design, Planning Skills and Planning Advocacy. Visit www.sapi.org.za for programme updates and speaker profiles.

Who should participate

All planning professionals in the public and private sector, from related professions in planning and development arena (geographers, development planners, economists, public management, sociologists, urban practioners, built environment professionals), researchers and academics, decision-makers in planning and development, donors, funders, local and regional development bodies and associations, coordinators of strategic initiatives, corporate strategic planners, architects and property developers. To secure your place at the conference, please visit www.sapi.org.za to register.

Sponsorship & Exhibition Opportunities

A number of sponsorship opportunities are available to interested companies and organisations. An exhibition will run concurrently with the conference and will provide a unique opportunity for companies, planning organisations, cities, provinces, universities and special developments to showcase and promote their services, products and projects to members of the planning profession and related industries.

For more information and exhibition packages visit www.sapi.org.za

University of Johannesburg Increase efficiency and cut costs

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ransport and supply chain management are two crucial areas of business that can be used to maximise efficiency. Understanding these disciplines is key. Transport, logistics and supply chain management are specialised fields. They are also vitally important to all businesses across industry sectors, which is why courses that cover these disciplines are relevant for people within the sector as well as business owners and managers. “Supply chain management is present in every aspect of any business or company as it plays a big role in the strategic decision making of how actions should take place,” says Professor Gerrie Prinsloo from the University Of Johannesburg Department Of Transport and Supply Chain Management. “It helps to optimise customer service efficiently and effectively, and, if done properly, will reduce costs as well – which goes straight to the bottom line.”

Staying ahead of the game “In any discipline or facet of business, upskilling is vitally important,” says Prof Prinsloo. “Globalisation is the key to the future of South African businesses. In order to truly compete on a global scale though, business owners and managers need to be aware of and keep up to date with the latest national and international trends. With the necessary skills in hand, companies can also handle changing customer needs; but this all requires focusing on constant up-skilling.”

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management offers courses for people who are already running their own business or work full-time, as well as school leavers.

There are four limited contact programmes

for people working in the industry to sharpen their skills; they do not require full-time class attendance. The Certificate Programme in Logistics Management is a practical course in basic logistics where after you can further your studies with the Diploma in Logistics. The Diploma in Road Transport Management gives students an opportunity to improve their career advancement prospects and it is also a good tool for business owners and managers who have a large transport component to their businesses.

To specialise in different modes of transport, for example aviation, maritime or rail transport the department offers the Diploma in Transportation Management.

After the Diploma in Transportation or the Diploma in Road Transport Management is completed, the graduate could enrol for the bridging course to study further and then apply for the BTech Degree.

Prof Prinsloo says; “Transport and supply chain management can be incredibly inefficient areas in a business and drain resources, cash and productivity, or they can be areas where a business can actually get the edge over their completion. But in order to maximise the opportunities presented by these divisions, it’s important to understand them.”

Becoming an expert A strong skills set and knowledge base could mean the difference between a moderately successful business and a high-growth business. Over and above the opportunities offered to the people who either work or want to work in transport and supply chain industries, management skills are essential for business owners and managers, and these include understanding supply chains, strategic planning and communication skills.

Courses that teach managers and owners how to forecast the future and the principles of demand management will assist in the running of any business, in any industry.

The UJ Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management offers courses that are industry specific, with course content that is relevant to the various industries that the students operate in.

Course Opportunities BCom in Transport/Logistics Aimed at: School leavers Requirements: University Exemption with the minimum APS score Contact: F Dangor (011) 559 2464 National Diploma in Transport/Logistics Aimed at: School leavers Requirements: University Exemption with minimum APS score Contact: F Dangor (011) 559 2464 BTech Degree in Transport/Logistics Aimed at: Diploma holders Requirements: acceptable undergraduate performance Contact: F Dangor (011) 559 2464 BCom Honours Logistics Management/ Transport Economics Aimed at: Degree holders Requirements: Acceptable undergraduate performance Contact: F Dangor (011) 559 2464 Post Graduate Programmes Aimed at: Post honours degree research Requirements: Relevant honours degree Contact: F Dangor (011) 559 2464 Limited Contact Programmes: -Diploma in Logistics Management -Programme in Logistics Management -Diploma in Transportation Management -Road Transport Management Programme Aimed at: People working in the relevant industries Requirements: Grade 12. For the Diploma in Logistics Management, 2-4 year’s logistics experience and basic mathematics will be compulsory.

Contact: L Barend (011) 559 3461

for more information visit our website www.uj.ac.za/transport

TRANSPORT AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES

On track to your skills destination The University of Johannesburg’s Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management offers a variety of specialized training programmes in Transport and Supply Chain Management to enable industry role players to reach their full potential.

These programmes include: • Degree and Post Graduate programmes in Transport and Logistics Management (including the Course Work MCom specializing in Supply Chain Management) • Diploma in Road Transport Management (including the Certificate in Road Transport Management) • The Transportation Management Diploma • National Diploma in Transportation Management • Certificate Programme in Logistics Management • Diploma in Logistics Management • National Diploma in Logistics Management • Road Transport Management Bridging • Transport Management Bridging These qualifications offer you the following benefits: • Industry related focus areas • Enhanced professionalism • Flexible study options Enquiries: Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management Auckland Park Kingsway Campus (cnr Kingsway and University Road) University of Johannesburg Telephone: 011 559 2464 Fax: 011 559 2029 Email: fdangor@uj.ac.za

www.uj.ac.za/transport

Education Helping Colleges and Universities to go green Writer Rishqah Roberts

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he African Green Campus Initiative is aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and climate change interventions at our College and University campuses.

Granted this may not be high on the priority lists of “things to do” of the youth which the initiative is well aware of and have even prepared for by appealing to their pockets; instead of the greater benefits which the initiative sought to achieve. Thus, with the rising costs of fuel, and an ever limited student budget, the initiative encourages alternative modes of transport which generally reduce carbon emissions, such as car-pooling; public transport; bicycles or

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walking; and in doing so allowing students to benefit from the economic opportunities that arise out of the solutions to the problems presented by climate change.

As indicated by the students and as is general to the public, people are usually more keen to get involved in projects where there are incentives or competitions in place; or where there is just an opportunity to get out there and genuinely have a blast. While there have been no mention as yet of incentives or competitions; the University of Cape Town (UCT) presents the opportunity for good, clean, green fun, as it hosts an annual Green Campus Initiative (GCI) to highlight the serious subject of the deteriorating condition

of our planet in a light-hearted manner; demonstrating the power of energetic leadership and commitment.

Regional workshops on this initiative have thus far been held at three of our country’s campuses: Tshwane University of Technology; UCT and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).

The African Green Campus Initiative is supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training by encouraging the reduction of energy consumption at tertiary institutions as well as monitoring this consumption through the use of energy audits; which is an inspection, of the energy flow in a building; in an effort to reduce the energy input, without negatively affecting the output. Of course the Department is also well in favour of simpler methods which can be adopted by all such as recycling and “waste” projects at residences.

By encouraging the “green” way of life at this level, it subconsciously ingrains it into the lifestyle of students without being too direct and upfront about it. With the youth, being the future of tomorrow, best they get used to the “green” concept as a whole, as eventually all things are bound to revolve around it; with the initiative considering structuring curricula to include more focus on sustainability and creating energyefficient buildings.

While the Department of Higher Education and Training had noted that goals such as energy-efficient buildings are more challenging to achieve than group transportation, they had mentioned that they are currently looking at proposals for infrastructure funding at universities and that “green” building was a key criterion in the approval of new projects.

Our University and College Leaders have been called on to sign the Climate Change Commitment Pledge in an effort to help build upon the legacy of the COP17 Climate Change Summit, which was hosted in Durban in December 2011. The Climate Change Commitment pledge signifies the commitment of the signatories to take action in dealing with climate change implications at their respective campuses. As all eyes are on us as a host nation viewing what we are doing to reduce our carbon footprint, The African Green Campus Initiative challenges the youth of tertiary institutions to go “green”.

Moloko Investment Group is a diversified investment vehicle whose business strategy is to selectively invest in four main portfolios. These portfolios include hospitality, leisure, lifestyle, telecommunications and resources.

Moloko Investment Group is headed by founder and Chairman, Advocate Richard Thabo Moloko, a Harvard trained lawyer turned businessman and a robust management team. These portfolios are carefully considered given their high potential high returns. Through its hospitality and lifestyle portfolios, Moloko Investment Group employs more than 200 employees.

Chairman Thabo Richard Moloko

The Place, No.1 Sandton Drive, Sandton 2146 Tel: (011) 944 9600 / Fax: 086 726 8229 Email: reception@molokoinvestmentgroup.co.za

www.molokoinvestmentgroup.co.za

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Communicating responsible consumerism Writer Cris Robertson

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s the third wave of democracy comes closer to consolidation, the spread of corporate capitalism, (or at least the influence of corporations on government), continues to grow more than ever. Corporations now amount to 51% of the world’s largest economies; and with a concentration of financial power in the hands of corporates, with that comes a concentration of political power. But, just like in a democratic society, they are also accountable to the electorate, the public. If these firms claim ‘corporate personhood’, then they should be expected to be representative of the people. And similarly, as consumers, the public must acknowledge their new role in keeping them responsible.

In a parliamentary democracy, you get to vote for your political representation every four to five years. However, representation and accountability works a little different in a political world where corporations are legally defined as ‘citizens’ themselves.

We, as the electorate get to vote every day, every hour, every time we purchase a good or service from one of these big businesses. Anna Lappe said that “every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the world you want.” This is how democracy works these days, well, at least what we call a ‘democracy’ – you vote with your wallets. So, whilst the democratic character of the electorate process and of society as a whole remains ominous, the real citizens – the consumers – still have just as much potential in their collective action to claim their political voice. In a world where political power is literally bought, as Noam Chomsky discusses in his new book, Occupy, and where companies have just as many rights and liberties as the taxpayer, we as active participants in the consumer

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economy can still topple unrepresentative and irresponsible regimes, like we have seen in the Arab Spring.

Dictators like Ben Ali, Mubarak and Gaddafi all represent the self-serving and powerhungry attitude of traditional multinational corporations. However, the people of these Arabic countries stood up for what they believed in – freedom and democracy – and sent revolutions spreading throughout the region. Corporates should take note here, especially in Western, corporate-capitalist countries. CEOs, not kings, are the ones that are living in castles. The armies have been replaced by brands. The days where Arab dictators could assume that their personal power and hierarchy was sufficient are over.

What is just as true is that corporations can also not assume that profit-maximisation and high returns are sufficient. “With great power comes great responsibility”. Big business must answer not only to shareholders, but to stakeholders as well – if customers are concerned about climate change and global warming, then it is expected that these businesses integrate sustainability policies and goals. If communication on such concerns, issues and interests are not met on a democratic basis, then consumers will understandably react and unite against the tyrannical forces, just as the Arab Spring revolutionaries had done. The consumerelectorate can easily swap over their loyalty from dictator-like corporations to brands that listen, that answer their calls.

The ‘brand’ is how corporations engage with consumers; it is the medium of communication, the channel of conversation.

Naomi Klein, in her invaluable publication, No Logo, says that “branding is the Achilles Heel of the corporate world”. The brand is the political programme of the corporation, which is striking, given that two-thirds of

consumers say they don’t care whether the majority of brands survive or not. In the same way that corruption or sex scandals can ruin a politician’s career, poor consumer service relationships can ruin a corporate brand. A telling example of this is the recent Twitter backlash that McDonalds received in their #McDStories campaign. In an aim to build the McDonalds community, the fast food chain invited Twitter users to share their stories about the so-called ‘restaurant’. This did not go exactly as planned; the trend went out of control with most tweets in the same line as @Muzzafuzza’s comment that he would “rather eat his own diarrhoea”. Such stories, as well as the many subvertising efforts against the multinational firm, have gone hand-in-hand with the growing Slow Food movement and local, organic markets – the people are speaking back and the corporations should listen. Similarly, growing coalitions between advocacy groups, informed citizens and non-governmental organisations, like Greenpeace, have consistently put pressure on under-performing brands, demonstrating that the public does have a voice and can demand accountability.

There are, however, corporations that have responded to customers and socio-ecological contexts. Pepsico, which has one of the most recognisable brands in the world, has recently put a lot of investment, research and development into more efficient services, eco-friendly products, healthier foods and beverages, and liveable communities. Their ‘Refresh Everything’ campaign has funded social initiatives all over North America, directly improving the lives of 115 000 real citizens. As for their own ‘corporate personhood’, Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi says that “we believe that every corporation operates with a license from society, and as a company, we owe society a duty of care”.

Each day TCTA strives to FAST-TRACK water security for the nation and to TRANSFORM the livelihoods of South Africans The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) prides itself on having sustained solid relationships with citizens and communities where we implement projects. Since 1986, we have played a pivotal role in bringing water to the economic nerve-centre of our country. The special role of TCTA can be seen in the water that flows from the dams in the mountains of Lesotho, through tunnels to South Africa, giving birth to new enterprises and meeting the critical needs of households and communities. We continue to raise funding off-budget to build bulk raw water infrastructure, at the same time increasingly supporting Government’s transformation initiatives. The TCTA footprint spans the borders of South Africa and Lesotho, and extends across our country.

E X PA N D I N G O U R H O R I Z O N S

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Woman of Substance Mandisa Zitha Writer Wafaa Abdurahman

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oted as one of the top 200 youth, in 2011 by the Mail and Guardian, this go-getter lives up to the saying that, “the sky’s the limit.” Beyond spoke to Mandisa Zitha, the festival director of The Encounters Documentary Festival.

Who is Mandisa Zitha? Mandisa Zitha is a ‘small-town girl’ from Mafikeng in the North-West. I grew up in a big family with my grandparents, cousins and aunties, a household strictly dominated by women.

Despite being divorced at a young age and raising 4 children, my mother managed to send me to a good school in Mmabatho.

My main interests in school were sports (possibly everything except swimming).

I was also active in fundraising and arts events. I suppose I knew from high school that I really wanted to do something in the arts field.

Tell us about your working experience and your current job. I landed in the Arts by chance. I knew since childhood that is where I dreamt to be, but my path began in the commerce field. I was awarded a bursary to study chartered accountancy at Wits, but soon realised that it was not my calling.

Landing a job with a prominent independent music record company provided me with the break I needed, and opened other doors for me. I was willing to start from the bottom and do anything to prove myself. This led me to the film industry, which is where my many passions lie. Realising that this is my place of ‘becoming’, I decided to embark upon a degree at UCT in Film and Media.

I managed to obtain a bursary from the National Film and Video Foundation, and secured some loans. I am now employed as a festival director for a prominent film festival called The Encounters Documentary Festival. In this position I am responsible for fundraising, networking and building partnerships, film programming and designing industry training programmes. I

also travel regularly to international festivals representing Encounters.

How does what you do contribute to the upliftment of society in South Africa?

We work in the genre of film specifically documentaries. The genre is particularly concerned about social issues, and hence requires a public platform. Documentaries provide a voice to the marginalized and the voiceless. The Festival further provides a platform for debate and discussions around these issues, in an environment that provides audiences with a voice. The genre affords easier entry into the film industry due to its low production costs (compared

and key positions is that they are best able to advance other women. This is critical, for example, in the film industry where we are lacking in Black female filmmakers. So, who is telling our stories as Black women? We have to continuously bring each other up.

What are your views about sustainable development? In my opinion, sustainable development specifically for women should address our economic, social and spiritual conditions, creating a more harmonious environment for us to thrive. Obviously, women being in key positions, to make decisions, are important.

What do you consider as milestones of

I was willing to start from the bottom and do anything to prove myself. This led me to the film industry, which is where my many passions lie. to features), and therefore allows access for many. Our industry requires support for those that have established themselves and development for emerging filmmakers. I am particularly concerned with the emergence of Black filmmakers. We need to get our local filmmakers to tell their own stories. It is empowering to communities that attend the Festival, and see their stories being told on the big screen. We have an Inreach programme that allows people from the periurban areas to attend the Festival, thereby creating access. I believe that Art spaces in the urban areas should make efforts in attracting and creating access for townshipbased communities. Several government departments are recognizing that the Creative Industries are and can contribute to economic growth and job creation. I do think however, that we need to start from the basics, and avail art disciplines to all schools, and further grow our local audience’s appetite for local programmes.

What are your views regarding women in leadership? My view of women in leadership

achievement in your life? Managing to obtain my BA Film and Media degree in first position at an older stage of my life was a proud moment for me. My tenure as Festival Director for Encounters is filled with many achievements. Having led the Festival at the age of 30 has provided me with the confidence I needed to go out into my community and make an impact. I am also a mother of 2 small girls, and have had to manage a career while being there for my family.

What legacies would you like to leave behind? I would like to think that I am contributing to an industry that is still relatively new to audiences and has many challenges. So, we are pioneering many programmes in this field. I hope my presence in this position has opened doors for other Black women in the film industry. My legacies to my children would be for them to know that you can live your life’s passion if you so desire.

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DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN Ryan Falkenberg Writer Wafaa Abdurahman

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happy to accept things just because they have always been done in a certain way. If I can see a better alternative, I won’t keep quiet and just go with the flow. That may have created certain challenges, but as long as I stayed true to my values and did it with the right intentions, I found my ideas were more welcomed than shunned.

Who is your role model? My father, he has always showed me that success is not a uni-dimensional concept. It is not simply measured by your bank balance or your job title. It is measured by how you live your values, how you cherish your relationships and how you contribute to the betterment of our planet (people and nature included).

My father, he has always showed me that his ability to success is not a uni-dimensional concept. Itnotwas just talk but lead a It is not simply measured by your bank balanced life that has left an indelible mark balance or your job title. on my life today.

You have a brilliant product on the market, having to sit in loads of boring training what is it and how will it change the lives sessions.” I guess this is partly due to the fact of South Africans? Clevva is a technology that I was always one of those people who platform that allows companies to capture wanted to skip the training and get on with the the logic that their experts use in making action, but is also due to the realisation that predictable decisions and performing we are currently spending billions on trying predictable activities. As a result, an to train our way out of the skills crisis using inexperienced person with access to Clevva outdated learning models that actually make (via a tablet or desktop), can realistically the problem worse. In 1997, I had a dream perform activities never previously possible. to discover a way to enable an eager 20 year For example, you can now get a sales person old to sell any product or solve any relatively to successfully sell hundreds of complex straight forward technical challenge, without products, as if they were a product expert. any pre-training. Fifteen years later, and This is because Clevva guides them through thanks to my incredible partners and team the client discussion, analyses the client’s at Clevva, I believe we have finally realised need, recommends the rights products this dream. (including cross-sales products) and then Were you a geek at school and how did that automates the quote or order while they play out for you? No, I was a normal sports talk to their client. Clevva can also help mad kid who loved school and was blessed a technical person analyse the problem, with a bunch of mates I’m still very close to correctly diagnose the cause and then show today. I do confess to being someone who them how to solve it. So not only can people always challenges the status quo and is not eyond features Ryan Falkenberg, co-founder of Clevva, a hosted Software As A Service (SAAS) business that has cracked the proverbial code when it comes to overcoming human shortcomings and lacking business and product knowledge with the help of mobile technology.

Give us a short bio on what you do. My whole experience has been dedicated to solving the riddle of “How can someone who may lack knowledge or experience, but who has the right attitude and aptitude, be empowered to perform effectively without

do more with less training, everything they do is tracked so the company can learn from what is actually going on in the field.

What does it take to be an entrepreneur?

There are different types of entrepreneurs, but I believe all share a strong belief in their own ability to succeed. In fact, many have inflated self-belief, but it is what gets them through the tough times. Succeeding in your own business also requires passion, skill, energy, resilience and the ability to inspire and lead others. The entrepreneur who believes he has to do everything himself and doesn’t understand the magic of working in a team, will never kick into the next level and will end up wondering why he works so hard, yet can’s scale the business.

If you could choose anyone to be on your dream team, who would it be and why? My brother, Dayne, who has been my business partner for the last 15 years. Mark Pederson, our IT partner at Clevva who successfully marries technical genius with a can do approach that never ceases to inspire.

What is your favourite place that you have visited and why? Fly fishing on a remote island off Seychelles, because it showed me how our oceans would look if we cared for it a little more.

What do you hope to be remembered for?

In hope simply to be regarded as someone who has made a real difference to unlocking the incredible, untapped human capital in our country. If I can help people become assets, not risks to organisations, and allow more people to become employable as a result of being offered real time support (expertise in very short supply today), then I will be happy.

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OTTC-AMDiploma Qualification AM 1, 2

11

12

AM 1 ,2 AM-P1/2, AM 3

To be presented in Cape Town

To be presented in Cape Town

Design and Tender of NH3 Plant

10

Ammonia Diploma Project

Screw compressor for ammonia plant with liquid ammonia pumps, valve station with hot-gas defrost, surge drum for liquid pumps, problem solving, plotting of ammonia plant in the diagram, determining of cooling capacity Requirements assessments, Calculate refrigeration capacity, Select equipment and components, Make flow diagram, Compile material list, Price material list, Establish all other expenses, Arrive at final selling price, Commencing with small thermosyphon plant, followed by simple pump re-circulation plant, thereafter more complex plants, Course can be extended to last longer or be continued at later date.

AM-P1 AM-P2 AM-3

9

AM-1 AM-2

4 weeks

10-09 to 05-10-2012

07-05 to 18-05-2012

2 weeks

03-09 to 14-09-2012 12-11 to 23-11-2012

04-06 to 22-06-2012 13-08 to 31-08-2012 26-10 to 09-11-2012

21-05 to 01-06-2012 30-07 to 10-08-2012 08-10 to 19-10-2012

21-05 to 01-06-2012 23-07 to 04-08-2012 08-10 to 19-10-2012

26-11 to 07-12-2012

262159,

9246, 9266, 262158

1166705, 116708,

116468, 116704,

116355, 116700

116223, 116334,

116697, 116717, 116418, 116408, 116461, 116389, 116375, 116415, 116397, 116406

2 weeks

2 week

3 week

2 week

2 weeks (66 Credits)

Advanced study of mechanical refrigeration cycle, heat load calculations, cold room design, capacity calculations, food-load, defrost methods; reversed cycles, pressure regulators, humidity control, frequency inverters, methods of energy saving, pump down Advanced study of system design, h, lg p- diagram, sizing of main components, sizing of pipe-work, oil-problems, fault finding, refrigeration cycle analysis, refrigerant types

R - 3/ R-4

8

Safety Regulation, safety protection on plant, safety valves, safety switches, the dry evaporation system, expansions valve control, oil change and service procedures, cooling tower, evaporative condenser, shell and tube condenser, fault finding Flooded system, ice bank = with HP float valve, LP level control, level switch control, flooded evaporator with hot-gas defrost, liquid pumps, oil filter Flooded system, ice bank = with HP float valve, LP level control, level switch control, flooded evaporator with hot-gas defrost, liquid pumps, oil filter Plant instruction, operating of plant with liquid pump, two air-forced evaporators, hot-gas defrost, evaporator plate heatexchanger with chiller-water cycle, trouble shouting, diagnoses and identification, oil drainage, air-purging V-belt alignment, charging of plant.

Servicing of various compressors, remove pistons, remove cylinders, remove shaft seal, check wear and tear, oil filter, suction filter, oil pump,, servicing of shut of valves, repair and overhaul different valves.

3 weeks (60 Credits)

Physical electricity basics in refrigeration, single and three phase systems, single and three phase motors, starters, pressure and temperature controllers, Wiring diagrams for electromechanical controlling, plant protection, motor managements, suction control, defrost control. Electronic motor management, soft starter, frequency converters, electronic cold room controllers

AMELC 1, 2, 3,

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28-05 to 15-06-2012 27-08 to 14-09-2012

2 weeks (57 Credits)

Mechanical principles of refrigeration cycle and components. connection of service gauges, main components, compression principles, compressor types, refrigeration cycle and components, types of heat exchangers, types of expansion devices, pressure switches and thermostats, reclaiming, recharging, SAFE HANDLING OF REFRIGERANTS

R - 1/ R-2

116232, 116243, 116244, 116226, 116463, 116466, 116464, 116465

07-05 to 18-05-2012 09-07 to 20-07-2012 24-09 to 05-10-2012

116236, 116224, 116239, 116699, 116701, 116702, 116334, 116355, 116700, 116468

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04-06 to 08-06-2012

116233, 116713, 116715

1 week (18 Credits)

04-06 to 15-06-2012 30-08 to 10-08-2012

18-06 to 13-07-2012 13-08 to 07-09-2012

07-05 to 01-06-2012 02-07 to 27-07-2012

Mechanical servicing of compressors, repair & overhaul skills, fault identification. Belt drives, pulley alignment. Bearing service.

Mech

5

116230, 116229, 116712, 116707

116234, 116335, 116241, 116245, 116696

Standards

Dates

Email: ottc@mweb.co.za Includes also Unit

9009, 7480, 9008, 12444, 9007, 13202, 9010, 14106, 9013, 7455, 9016

Mathematics and Physics applied in refrigeration and air-conditioning (Optional for beginners)

Math/ Phys

4

4 weeks (27 Credits)

4 weeks (33 Credits)

Duration

Web: www.ottc.co.za

2 weeks (33 Credits)

t.b.a.

RPI 1, 2, 3, 4

3

Content / Objective

Fax No.: 011-366-1219

Metal Basic: Practical tool skills, bending, soldering, brazing, welding, arc welding, measuring, manufacturing frames, brackets, support structures etc. - implement all stages from planning, drawing, specifying to produce & manufacture components / parts for installation purposes (Optional for beginners) Plotting & manufacturing of refrigeration components, soldering, brazing, welding, arc welding, pipe bending with different bending methods, full pipe installation on wall, insulation of pipes, components and ducts

Tel. No.: 011-816-2580

Coded Welding

MetB 1, 2, 3, 4

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SKILLS & TRAINING

Get a better return on your investment Writer Anton Ressel, Fetola

E

verywhere one looks in South Africa these days, skills training opportunities for small businesses abound. The sheer array of business workshops, conferences, e-learning, short courses, seminars, webinars etc, can make it very difficult to select the best solution for your organisational or personal needs.

In my experience as a business development consultant and trainer, and also a willing recipient of training, I have come to

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believe that there are two kinds of training programmes – those that deliver, and those that do not. The difference between the two can be quite a fine line, but as a rule good business and entrepreneurial training programmes have a number of common traits, some of which I have listed below.

Practical Take Outs and Quick Wins It is important to remember that for many entrepreneurs and business owners, taking time out from running the business to

attend training is not a decision entered into lightly. In a small organisation with limited resources, the two-or-three day absence of a senior decision-maker can have quite an impact.

For this reason, the first essential element to good business training is that it offers tangible, immediately implementable lessons and knowledge. Theory-laden, content heavy training may have its place in certain sectors and contexts, but for the most part business participants need to walk away equipped

CPM BEYOND V Strip:Layout 1 3/12/12 3:28 PM

with information, tools and templates that can make an immediate impact.

Feedback tells us that the templates and tools we provide workshop attendees as part of the Old Mutual Legends business development programme that we manage, are very well utilised and highly valued.

These take-outs allow for quick wins, and ensure that learners feel that their precious time has been well spent by attending the workshop.

Academic vs Entrepreneurial Approach?

If you had to ask me if I would rather learn from a noted professor or a successful businessman with no academic qualifications whatsoever, in most instances I would choose the latter. Whilst academic learning is of great value in context, my own need to gain practical and proven tools for immediate business applications are a greater imperative.

Academic learning provides an important base from which an entrepreneur can grow, but once in business the practical ‘how to’ is of greatest importance. As an example, I learned more in my first 3 months of working in a hotel than I had learned over several years of study and training around the subject matter – the ‘University of Life’ almost always teaches us more than formal learning can!

The ideal business trainer is one who has studied and understands the theoretical foundation of his subject matter, but who has also ‘walked the walk’ in terms of hard-nosed experience.

Chalk & Talk is so Last Century...

A third element of effective business training is a healthy balance between the lecture-based ‘chalk & talk’ approach, and the dialoguebased approach in which the audience is encouraged to contribute, share experiences and get involved. Studies show that people are far more receptive and inclined to retain learning when it involves participation and is activity-based.

Good training programmes contain a healthy balance of theory, practical exercises, debate, group work and time for networking and discussion. The old days of a trainer droning on over a powerpoint presentation are so passé.

We have seen at our workshops that the most valuable learning often comes out of debates and shared experience, which is not surprising because the room is usually filled with capable, intelligent and experienced business people – so we simply give them a voice whenever possible.

Keep Away from the Sausage Factory!

A final element of a powerful training workshop or programme is the effectiveness of the follow-up. Once the course is complete or the workshop over, what follow-up (if any) is provided to learners? Is there an opportunity to access some support or mentorship when trying to implement the new learning? Are there online tools or resources you can access that will help you with this process? In other words, do trainers take the money and run, or actually show a genuine interest in your ability to implement the new found knowledge?

At Fetola, we measure our performance in terms of enterprise development and skills training through two simple matrices – increase in turnover, and increase in jobs in the beneficiary organisations with whom we work. Numbers of people trained are no indication of success, because this in itself is not an indication of any growth or progress.

Because we use business growth as a marker for our effectiveness, we are compelled to offer ongoing support, ensure appropriate follow up and make resources available to beneficiaries as they strive to implement their new found knowledge. It is in our best interests, because we measure our success by their success.

Training in a vacuum very seldom has the desired impact and long-term effect, because it is human nature to forget or be unsure about implementation. Good training programmes understand this, and thus provide ‘aftersales’ service to make sure that learners feel confident to implement what they have learned.

These elements listed above of what makes an effective training programme are by no means exhaustive, and are based on personal experience.However, when assessing skills training options for yourself or your organisation, you would be well advised to ask what they offer in terms of some of these criteria, so that you can be confident of a good return on your training investment.

About the Author Anton Ressel is a published author, mentor, trainer and Senior Business Consultant at Fetola, www.fetola.co.za. He has worked on enterprise development and community upliftment initiatives for NORAD (Norwegian Development Aid), the Embassy of Finland, Old Mutual, the South African Government and many others.

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Graduate Internship a valuable business tool Writer Catherine Wijnberg, Fetola

S

outh Africa sits on a Goldmine of potential – in our youth, in our resources, in our geographic position. What can we do to collectively unleash our full potential, and reach the future we all dream of? The Fetola Graduate Intern Programme (GRIP) is one South African solution that has been developed - from a business imperative, to solve a business need. What makes it different from similar initiatives is its focus on satisfying

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the needs of the driver of the employment solution – namely the business. Simply stated, the programme recognises that unless businesses can make productive use of an additional staff member, all the drum beating about creating employment will come to nothing.

It also recognises that many of the nearly 900,000 frustrated, unemployed graduates in SA are unaware that their skills often do not match the expectations of business, and unless an employee can add real value, no

organisation can employ them.

The Fetola Graduate Intern Programme is a four-phase support programme that provides assistance in the selection, skills training and on the job support of Graduate Interns, and most importantly also provides fundamental support to the host business through its linkage to the Old Mutual-funded Legends Business Support programme.

The overall intention is to place 24,000 graduates into SMME host businesses over the next three years, in a mutually beneficial

value exchange, and to assist those host businesses to grow so that they can turn these internships into permanent job opportunities.

Small Businesses, Big Impact The idea for this national initiative arose from direct experience in Fetola, a small but growing enterprise development consultancy that has hosted numerous graduate interns over the past five years. Initially these were all international interns, placed by an internship agency, but as the value of the programme became clear the thought was – why not South African graduates?

Since 2009, Fetola has hosted 22 University graduates, of which 13 have been local, and we have successfully employed four of these in permanent positions. The programme has been a resounding success for us as a growing small business – for the following reasons: Firstly, we were able to access ‘more hands on deck’ at a time when we were not sure that we could actually afford new staff. Internship gave us the flexibility we needed to bring additional people into the team without having to commit to fulltime employment, and related labour issues and costs.

Secondly, the cost:benefit of young graduate interns is excellent. One can find an intelligent, energetic and educated South African for the same price as a clerk – where the latent potential of the graduate far exceeds their cost, and can be readily unleashed with some guidance and support.

Thirdly, the fresh young energy, new ideas and Millennium-generation thinking boosts innovation and challenges the existing status quo – which is what any business needs in

order to stay ahead of the curve.

Fourthly, we deliberately select Graduates from a cross-section of cultures, regions and social status, which brings a deep insight into the needs, fears, and expectations of our diverse South African society. This is essential for any business wishing to expand and take full advantage of new and emerging markets.

Lastly, our interns are the seeds for our growing team! We use internship to select the best candidates for new positions in the company, and to test if new positions are actually needed.

The Graduates thrive on the programme, and all those who have passed through our doors speak about the ‘huge value that the internship has brought,”(Felix Beckman, intern). There is also a special appreciation of the broad education and experience that arises from working in a smaller company, where interns are exposed to the 360-degree workings of the organisation. This differs from internships in a large corporate, which usually involves a small role in a small part of a division – and often with limited exposure to ‘real’ work. Kalene Naidoo sums this up by saying “The Fetola internship allowed me to find a home to put my passion and dreams into practice. I am able to learn on the job and am amazed how this hands-on experience has helped me understand what is needed to be a valuable employee.”

Business intern Brenda Magwizi agrees. “I like the fact that the company is quite small; it has exposed me to all angles of business, from simple jobs to decisions made by management. It is the ideal start to a career

path and has launched me from Business Intern to a permanent job”.

We believe that the Graduate Intern Programme stands to change how small businesses in South Africa view the concept of internships, and will make a huge and lasting impact in business productivity, job creation and economic growth. Recognising that the success of such an initiative is to approach it from a business perspective and not a developmental one has been the key, and we have been overwhelmed at the initial response to the project.

Fetola is an accredited Enterprise Development Provider with level 2 BEE status, which makes this programme an excellent vehicle for organisations looking to support initiatives that stand to make a lasting difference to South Africa. Partners, funders and interested host businesses are invited to make contact by sending an email to Catherine Wijnberg at cwijnberg@fetola. co.za .

About the Author Catherine Wijnberg is recognised as a catalyst for her innovative thinking in the field of SMME development. She is the Director of Fetola, a fast growing enterprise development agency that operates throughout South Africa, as well as the Fetola Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that makes an impact in sustainable solutions for public benefit. Qualified with a Masters degree in Agriculture and an MBA from Henley UK, Catherine has owned and operated small businesses in five different sectors, including agriculture, tourism & craft development.

JOB CREATION 12 point implementation plan Writer Sara Booley-Davids

A

note, the revitalization of the country’s rail infrastructure was also highlighted.

3 Unblocking investments in major projects.

A small high level team reporting to the coordinating Ministers for the Employment Cluster will focus on proposed changes and regulations to unblock private-sector projects with a substantial impact on employment investment. Measures will include tougher action to address the concentration of ownership and monopoly practices that limit the entry of new enterprises. On the Industrial Policy Action Plan, specific action will be implemented to expand productive sectors and to improve competitiveness.

4 Interventions to improve The plan is aimed at addressing competitiveness and expand the the challenge of unemployment, productive sectors. Industrial which left more than 900 000 policy that will be aimed at South Africans unemployed. prioritizing actions that expand the productive sectors of the economy; supporting a reduction in the costs of development as well as a series of public amongst others; communication; transport; investment schemes – all of which will electricity; construction; food; strengthening address the challenge of unemployment, and the Competition Act. thereby working towards alleviating poverty.

5 Enterprise development and promotion of The plan focuses on the following 12 areas small businesses. Interventions in this area that have been singled as a result of them include scaling up small business incubation being urgent and effective: programmes, as well as the use of BBBEE 1 Short-term employment schemes which codes to encourage private sector support. includes the expansion of the Community Improvements in small business funding Works Programme so that up to 1-million and the expansion of micro-finance will positions will be openly available to be be more readily available to aid enterprise filled by 2013/14. In addition, the Jobs development, as well as possible financial Fund management will proactively identify penalties for CEOs and accounting officers programmes that will ensure commitment of that fail to pay small businesses within 30 its resources by the end of the financial year, days. which amounts to R2-billion this year.

6 Rural development. Scaling up in size 2 Infrastructure and public investments the existing rural programmes aimed at which includes the provision of basic expanding agricultural production by small needs and infrastructure in both urban and scale farmers, as well as extending core rural areas. The Infrastructure Commission infrastructure to rural areas. Targets will be will ensure systematic selection, planning set for investment in rural infrastructure for and monitoring of large projects. This example water, roads, fencing and energy. intervention is aimed at improving the 7 Greening the economy. Purchase capacity of the state agencies to deliver agreements involving 1000MW of infrastructure and to help connect the renewable energy by 2013 should be in work of all spheres of government. On this fter the devastating unemployment effects that the 2008 global economic crisis left the South African economy in, the government had proposed and adopted a 12-point implementation job creation plan within the ambit of the New Growth Path. The plan is aimed at addressing the challenge of unemployment, which left more than 900 000 South Africans unemployed during the crisis period. The state will utilize a series of measures including measures such as short-term employment schemes, enterprise

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place with a targeted 3800MW by 2016 with clear commitments to local procurement of technologies. Scale up financial support for the achievement of the target of a million solar water heaters installed by 2014.

8 Beneficiation. Ministers of Trade & Industry, Mineral Resources and Economic Development will recommend concrete steps to reduce steel prices by the end of September last year. In addition there must be a report on the work of the state-owned mining company, setting out its role and the business plan for realizing greater beneficiation.

9 Public Sector Training. All government departments should spend at least 1% of payroll to develop skills with regular reports on progress through the Department of Higher Education and Training. Artisanship training in particular should be focused on, and expanded across the state.

10 Local procurement. It is proposed that there should be inter-departmental consultations to identify an initial list of products that can be designated for local procurement, of which the target was set to be last year September. Firm action to combat corruption in tender processes with a high level team to be put in place to consider complaints about tender delays or abuses that negatively impact on jobs, cost-effectiveness or economic development.

11 The Post Bank is proposed to operate as a registered bank after legislation had been passed there for. However, action should be taken to accelerate the implementation process.

12 African development: Government will seek to maximize benefits from the Tripartite Free Trade Areas Agreement that brings together SADC, East African Community and COMESA to remove obstacles to moving goods and people across borders.

Further work will be undertaken to identify specific interventions in the continent that will strengthen regional integration and opportunities for the domestic economy.

Consulting ProjECtManagErs ManagErs ConsultingCivil CivilEnginEErs EnginEErs and and ConstruCtion ConstruCtion ProjECt

tsholetso projects tsholetso projects tsholetso projects

Tsholetso Projects is a Civil Consulting Engineering firm established in 1999. This firm was formed in response to the need for civil engineering services to improve the standard of living of different communities in South Africa.

Tsholetso Projects is a Civil Consulting Engineering firm established Tsholetso Projects is a Civil Consulting Engineering firm established in 1999. This firm was formed in response to the need for civil oBjECtivEs in 1999. This firm was formed in response to the need for civil engineering services to improve the standard of livingofoflearners, To promote the creationservices of opportunities for the professional development engineering to improve the standard of living of communities inofSouth Africa.

To support thedifferent initiative of the government developing up-coming enterprises, different communities in South Africa.

To be part of the vehicle for the delivery of infrastructure to the communities.

oBjECtivEs oBjECtivEs To promote the creation of opportunities for oFFErEd the professional development of learners, sErviCEs To promote the creation of opportunities for the professional development of learners, To support the initiative of Project the government of developing up-coming enterprises, management To To support the of the government developing up-coming enterprises, be ofinitiative the for the delivery ofofinfrastructure to the communities.

Planning andpart design ofvehicle rural / urban infrastructure (roads, stormwater, water and sewer To be part of the vehicle for the delivery of infrastructure to the communities. reticulation) and township services sErviCEs oFFErEd Compiling of contract documents sErviCEs oFFErEd Project management Monitoring of construction management(roads, stormwater, water and sewer Planning and design rural /Project urban infrastructure Structural work of (Reinforced concrete, concrete and steel structures) Planning and design of reticulation) rural / urbanand infrastructure (roads, stormwater, water and sewer township services reticulation) and township services Compiling of contract documents Compiling of contract documents Monitoring of construction Monitoring of construction Structural work (Reinforced concrete, concrete and steel structures) Structural work (Reinforced concrete, concrete and steel structures)

Contact: Diphetogo Clement Mokoka Pr Tech Eng, Pr CPM P O Box 8063, Halfway House, 1685 / Suite 3 Stellenryk, Constantia Square 526, 16th Road, Midrand, 1685 Tel: 011 805 6664 / Fax: 011 805 8808 / Email: mokoka@tsholetsoprj.co.za 69 Contact: Diphetogo Clement Mokoka Pr Tech Eng, Pr CPM

ECO

Sustainability of marine resources Writer Reagan C Adams 74

D

ecades of pressure on marine resources, from domestic to commercial fisheries, have brought the sustainability of this ecosystem in question globally.

Together with environmental change, it is affected at a pace that is challenging our ability to provide effective solutions. Interesting global facts: Over US$102 billion in marine resources were traded in 2008; 81% of fish products are consumed by humans, the rest are used for non-food purposes; In 2007 More than 1.5 Billion people derived 20% of their animal protein intake from fish; In 2008 the average individual consumption of fish was 17.2kg;

Most of South Africa’s coastal and marine living resources are suffering declines as a result of exploitive behaviour.

status of South African Marine Resources 29.6% Status uncertain 7.4% Underexploited 48.1% Optimally exploited 14.8% Overexploited Seven of the Top 10 wild-capture species (accounting for over 30% of the global catch) are considered fully exploited with 1 overexploited and 1 underexploited (FAO 2010); 63% of assessed fish stocks require rebuilding.

Nearing complete exhaustion, due to over-harvesting and urban development, our marine ecosystem can be saved if its management and sensitivity towards it is improved immediately. In the past, fisheries were managed on the basis of a so-called single species approach. It only considered the species being harvested in the management with no consideration for any other effect the fishing activity had. As this

strategy has failed us, holistic environmental management strategies and more sustainable fishing practices are being employed. This will ensure present and future generations are able to meet their needs for marine resources.

Marine ecosystems include everything from small organisms like algae and plankton to apex predators like sharks, whales and dolphins. Species cannot survive in isolation, however, and it is now recognised that microscopic worms, molluscs and plankton are vital components ensuring the survival of the planet as we know it.

South Africa’s coastal and marine resources Inlets along the South African coastline serve as nodes of urban development and settlement, among others Saldanha Bay, Table Bay and False Bay. These inlets or bays, marine and coastal systems, especially estuaries, have all suffered severe ecofunctional loss due to the fragmentation of habitats, widespread pollution and resource exploitation.

As it is globally, most of SA’s coastal and marine living resources are suffering declines as a result of exploitive behaviour. Reasons for the general decrease in fish catches over the years include improved fishing methods, increased fishing effort and founding of associated fishing industries in coastal towns and cities.

Recreational fishery facts: It is estimated that 500 000 people participate in SA’s recreational fishery; The value of recreational fishery was estimated to be ZAR2.3 billion in 2003 and in 2011 it was considered to be around ZAR3 billion; The total fish caught in 2003 was estimated at 5600 tonnes, with commercial catch of linefish estimated at 16 000 tonnes.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are being increasingly implemented to protect ecosystems and habitats which support and maintain the diversity of commercially and ecologically important species. The term Marine Protected Area can be applied to many different marine and coastal parks and reserves which offer protection by various levels of restrictions on activities

from the restriction of fishing. The National Protected Area Expansion strategy includes the implementation of offshore MPAs (Department of the Environment and Heritage 2003).

The unintended catch of non-target species is inevitable, as no fishing method is entirely selective. This incidental capture is referred to as “bycatch” and is estimated at 7 million tonnes globally per year.

Bycatch is considered to be one of the greatest threats to the health of the marine environment, wasting valuable resources and causing dramatic declines in many marine species. The wasteful practice of discarding unwanted species is contributing to the global problem of overfishing and declining marine ecosystem health, as well as endangering food security in poorer countries (FAO 2010).

The accumulation of toxic pollutants in fish stocks raises another serious concern over the sustainability of current activities.

Approximately 25% of commercially important species are reef associated, making them directly linked to food security and job opportunities. Pollution, global warming, overfishing and destructive fishing practices threaten these life sustaining ecosystems.

Red roman is a highly resident temperate reef fish common to SA. It was once believed that our oceans are an inexhaustible source of fish and seafood. It is now however acknowledged that the oceans are undergoing dramatic ecological changes primarily due to human actions. Damage to ecosystems is irreversible but fortunately, efforts are underway which aim to expand the area under protection in order to allow this resource base to recover. Globally fishers, conservationists, scientists and managers are taking action to lessen previous unsustainable practices, so to ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come.

Through a combination of approaches the vision of rebuilding fish stocks, conservation of natural resources and sustainable use of marine resources will be realised.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Helping our local fisherman Writer Rishqah Roberts

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eyond had the opportunity to interview Michelle Joshua, the information and Advocacy Officer at the Masifundise Development Trust about their involvement in helping our local fishing communities.

Tell me about Masifundise? Masifundise Development Trust, was established in the 1980’s under the umbrella of TCOE (Trust for Community Development) with the aim to secure educational bursaries for under-privileged students. Hence the name, Masifundise, to lead, to teach, to guide. After 1994, when ABET became a Government programme; Masifundise underwent an evaluation to assess what its “new” core business should be. During this process, we learnt that the rights of small- scale fishermen in coastal communities along the Western Cape coastline had been excluded by new fishing legislation. In 2004, we took a strategic decision to focus our work specifically on fishing communities and registered as an independent trust.

Where is Masifundise based? Our physical offices are at 1 Station Road, Mowbray, Cape Town, but 30% of our staff live in the coastal communities and 70% spend more than 50% of their time in the field.

When and how were the struggles incurred by these fisherman communities first picked up? Traditionally these fishermen lived along the coastline and harvested in a sustainable manner for decades. Always aware of the need to protect the marine resources so that the livelihoods of future generations could not be compromised. In 1999 however, new legislation recognised only three categories of fishermen, thus forcing small- scale fishermen to either become commercial fishermen; recreational fishermen or subsistence fishermen. They argued that they are none of the above.

Their traditional methods of fishing and the gear they use do not qualify them to be classed as either of the specified categories.

They didn’t fit into the recreational category because they fished for food and not for sport or leisure and subsistence fishermen, fish only to eat and are not allowed to sell any of their catch. Clearly households run on more than just fish. The fact that their rights had

actually been taken away resulted in many households, where for generations fishing was their only source of income, thus leaving them destitute. When we identified this gap, we made the plight of small- scale fishermen our focal point.

There is / was talk about these fisherman communities being exploited, can you elaborate? Denying them access to their only source of income, means preventing them from providing for their families. This has increased poverty levels and damaged their ‘already’ low self- esteem. More importantly, it is also a violation of their human rights.

Sadly, due to this, poverty has forced them to look at other means of income. Some resort to poaching to survive; others partner with unscrupulous opportunists, who prey on their vulnerability. Socially these communities are struggling, with teenage pregnancy; out of school youth; drugs and other social evils running rampage, so yes, they are being exploited by the system instilled by government.

How do Masifundise Development Trust’s employees make a difference? When we first engaged with these communities, they were all dealing with the impact of being excluded from the legislation on their own.

Masifundise created a platform for them to get together, to share experiences and to support each other. This lead to the establishment of Coastal Links, a community-based organisation made up of fishermen from coastal communities along the coastline.

Over the years, we have facilitated hundreds of workshops at community level. This has assisted Coastal Links to better understand democratic practice and know that they have rights. We have seen Coastal Links emerge to be a very strong and powerful organisation.

They are well-known by the Department and have been instrumental in the writing of the policy. Currently, the organisation has a presence in all four coastal provinces with a membership that exceeds 2000.

the assistance of the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), Masifundise, Coastal Links and other fishermen; we took the Minster to court.

In 2006, the case was heard in the Equity Court; and the Judge, Nathan Erasmus, ruled in the favour of the fishermen. The Minister appealed and lost this as well. This was a big victory for the Small-Scale Fishers sector (SSF) of South Africa; which meant that a new policy had to be written in order for this sector to be legally included and recognised, and legislation had to be amended to include the SSF sector. Since this ruling in 2006, the communities have anxiously been waiting for six years for this new policy to be finalised.

Whilst the 2006 Court Order guaranteed Interim Permits for every fishing season, this dispensation was badly administered, thus leading to corruption and further exploitation of fishermen.

Can you elaborate on this policy and what it seeks to achieve? The policy seeks to redress and recognise the rights that SmallScale Fishers (SSF) have to access marine resources. It also recognises the benefits in their historical, traditional and social practices and therefore it comes in the form of a community right; as opposed to an individual right. It allows for the harvesting of multi-species, so they can harvest all year long and always have food on their tables.

Additionally, it has a human rights based approach and involves individual fishermen in the process of managing and protecting the resource. Provision is also made for women and the youth, and there is a strong emphasis on value-added and job creation opportunities and it seeks to contribute to the developing economy where SSF and their families will benefit.

In conclusion, I would like to mention that the policy, as it is does not include an implementation plan, but that plans to develop this are underway. It is our hope that the fishermen will be consulted during this process.

Recently Government has passed a policy to better the situation, please elaborate.

Well, after sending numerous modes of communication and even tying ourselves to the gates of Parliament, we failed to get an audience with the then Minister responsible for fisheries, Minister van Schalkwyk. With 77

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TECHNOLOGY

TECHNOLOGY, The economy and sustainability Writer Cris Robertson

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f we are ever to improve upon our relationship with ourselves, each other and the natural world, systems and infrastructures will have to be developed to accommodate these changes.

Interactions between societies and species are complicated by incredible complexity, and mounting stresses on resources and other forms of capital only emphasise the need for change.

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Technological innovation will have to play a massive role in taking the global society to an era of sustainability. Nevertheless, as much as we will have to rely on technology to take us to this new era, we will also be dependent on a stable and growing global economy that can support the necessary investments in research and development needed to build and distribute these necessities.

Each day we are introduced to breakthrough

discoveries and tools that will shape our world and dictate our future. Something as simple as a cellphone has connected us in ways we could never have imagined. The very idea of communication, of privacy, is rapidly evolving with each new upgrade.

What can’t you do on a smart phone? And whilst the modern world is still dominated by the manifesto of ‘bigger, better, faster’, business leaders, scientists and young

The relationship between technology and the economy is not as coincidental as one might think.

destruction’. When the bubbles burst, the installation of one techno-economic paradigm begins to overlap the deployment of another.

Once this theory is integrated with Marina Fischer-Kowalski’s studies on socioecological regimes, one understands that these continuous technological revolutions have been occurring throughout our modern society’s history. The age of the steam engine saw Britain build an empire; the age of the automobile saw the United States of America become a superpower; and the age of the computer has seen the Four Asian Tigers lead the third wave of democracy and post-industrialisation. In fact, one can even attach the recent financial crises to the infrastructure deployment of the information technology and telecommunications cycle – the end of an era Technological innovation will have to play a and the beginning massive role in taking the global society to of a new one. The hope is that the next an era of sustainability. period of sociotechnical change will demonstrate an age of sustainability. The however, is that two of the world’s strongest technological innovations of this period are economies are distinguishing themselves as already on the market – smart-grid greentech leaders in green tech. Germany boasts an and bioelectronics. impressive 20% roll-out of renewable energy What is worrisome, however, is the ‘double in all its electricity produced, and China bubble’ – the boom and busts of internet could see all its electricity demands met with mania and easy liquidity, which the world wind power by 2030. experienced only too recently. Why have The relationship between technology and there been two consecutive bubbles burst and the economy is not as coincidental as one how does this affect the deployment of ICT might think. Carlota Perez, the Venezuelan innovations? Perez assigns these anomalies and neo-Schumpeterian economist, reveals to historical similarities in how the market the link between technological innovation adapts to technological revolutions. Simple and financial dynamics in her book enough, but then how can Germany and Technological Revolutions and Financial China still prosper and leave impoverished Capital: the Dynamics of Bubbles and nations unable to afford an iPad? In theory, Golden Ages. She talks about ‘technothese financial dynamics imply the end of economic paradigm shifts’; how sociothe infrastructure installation phase and the technological change is accompanied by beginning for the deployment phase, but our economic business cycles. These shifts begin economy doesn’t look nearly healthy enough with a period of infrastructure installation, to maintain a socio-technical transition. which markets warm to, and follow with a Part of the reasoning, of course, has to do period of infrastructure deployment, where with a stable economy that can support a the economic and social benefits are realised. market for these technological innovations.

The ups and downs of the economy represent However, capable and effective public the births and bursts of technological bubbles institutions and governments are not to –continuous innovation and ‘creative entrepreneurs are combining creativity and concern to come up with technological solutions that can turn our socio-ecological crises into stories of success. Our idealism may not be so far-fetched after all, but an idealistic imagining requires and idealistic setting.

As much as society has become ever-more technologically-engaged and orientated, we have also become targets of the global economy’s mood-swing irrationality. A slump in the system – be it regional or recessionary – can scare the market into the corner, and stall any potentiality of technological innovations. For example, there is an app for almost everything, but the hi-tech supporting devices are unaffordable to the majority of populations, especially in developing countries. What is also true,

be overlooked. Whilst America struggles to properly regulate banks and boost consumer confidence in its own economy, Germany and China’s strategic investment in research and development have made them financially independent enough to take control of their own economic futures, regardless of the United States’ influence on the global economy. Another aspect is the scarcity of renewable resources. Previous ‘techno-economic paradigm shifts’ have been dependent on the fallacy of an infinite amount of fossil fuels, like oil. As these resources run dry, economies will find it much more difficult to sustain growth and prosperity. So, to imagine a future era of sustainability for a globalised society, a strong-willed government is also needed to guide us through this next phase of the technological revolution. Not only must an economy be supported that can introduce and distribute technological innovations, but recognition must additionally be made that fossil fuel exploitation cannot continue indefinitely. “Investors know resource efficiency is going to be a safe growth sector but lack necessary political framework,” says Dimitri Zanghelis.

Thankfully, there seems to be an increasing interest in aligning the importance of technological innovation, with a healthy economy and a sustainable future. John Elkington’s new book, The Zeronauts: Breaking the Sustainability Barrier, discusses the trap we’re in – the reoccurrence of recessions –and views it as ideal time to initiate the next socio-ecological regime.

This will entail what he calls. ‘Breakthrough Capitalism’. Jeremy Rifkin’s work on the ‘Third Industrial Revolution’ and the ‘energy internet’ has a comparable intricate, yet positive outlook on our future.

Therefore, whether the ‘double bubble’ hysteria is as Perez says, “essentially the equivalent to 1929”, or a seriously systemic mess caused by incompetent governments, the interlinking relationship between technology, the economy and sustainability has never been more clear.

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Technology REVIEWS Writer Charlene Heyburgh

SANDISK EYE-FI WIFI MEMORY CARDS The Sandisk Eye-Fi wireless memory card makes transferring photos and videos from your camera effortless.

No more forgetting your memory card in your camera for months and not remembering what’s on it. When you’ve on the go, you can instantly transfer photos and videos from your camera to your nearby smartphone or tablet. And when within range of your Wi-Fi, your photos and videos will glide seamlessly to your computer. You can then organise and share to your favourite social media and online sites. Available in 4GB and 8GB capacities with a 2 year warranty. www.tudortech.co.za 96 82 80

ACER ASPIRE S3 ULTRABOOK The Aspire S3 is truly designed to meet notebook user’s needs, combining essential features of the smartphone and tablet PC, such as fast startup and Internet connectivity with long battery life.

It offers Ultra long unplugged freedom via instant on and connect, Ultra-slim in an aerodynamic metal design, innovative airflow which enhances comfort and uncompromising performance for content creation and enjoyment. Priced between R9188 and R13788 in leading retail stores.

NEC NC900C PROJECTOR NEC Display Solutions has unveiled the most compact DCI- certified digital cinema projector on the market, the NC900C, specially designed for smaller cinema screens. The NC900C delivers a very low total cost of ownership through innovative features. For instance, it is the first dual easy-lamp digital cinema projector on the market, providing added reliability by showing no blackscreen, and easy lamp exchange and easy transportation. Measuring 621x798x314mm the NC900C weighs in at just 3 kg and can be floor or ceiling mounted. Furthermore, with no exhaust and an integrated lamp power supply, easy installation is assured. As well as delivering excellent performance in small spaces, the NC900C provides added flexibility with 3D in high frame rate support. IMB and screen server with SMS are also integrated. www.nec.com

SANDISK EXTREME SSD The Sandisk Extreme SSD is up to 10 times faster than a 7,200 RPM hard disk drive, enabling computer users to quickly boot and shut down their systems, launch applications faster and reduce waiting times. The drive is also more durable and power efficient, delivering a reliable computing experience while maximising battery life. The Sandisk Extreme SSD has super-fast sequential read / write speeds of up to 550 MB/s and 510 MB/s respectively. It consumes 30% less power than a hard drive disk while generating less heat and noise.

Available in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB from selected retail outlets. www.tudortech.co.za

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TECHNOLOGY

Sony Xperia S review Writer Charlene Heyburgh

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he Sony Xperia S sets a new design trend for the Xperia line and brings massive improvements to it.

What most other competing phones don’t have is the 342ppi pixel density of the 4.3” 720p screen or the 12MP camera. The Xperia S is more than just a screen and camera though. Here is the shortened version:

KEY FEATURES • Quad-band GSM / GPRS / EDGE support; • 3G with 14.4 Mbps HSDPA and 5.76 Mbps HSUPA; • 4.3” 16M-colour capacitive LED-backlit LCD touchscreen of 720p resolution (720 X 1280 pixels) with Sony BRAVIA engine, scratch resistant glass; • Android OS v2.3.7 Gingerbread, planned Android 4.0 ICS update; • Dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion CPU, 1 GB RAM, Andreno 220 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon; • MSM8260 chipset; • 12 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and geo-tagging. Multi Angle shot; • 1080p videp recording @ 30 fps with continuous autofocus and stereo sound; • 1.3 MP front facing camera, 720p video recording; • Wi-Fi b/g/n and DLNA; • GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS; • 32GB built in storage; • MicroHDMI port, dedicated TV launcher; • MicroUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.1; • Standard 3.5 mm audio jack; • Stereo FM radio with RDS; • Voice dialling; • Adobe Flash 11 support; • Deep Facebook integration; • Playstation Certified, access to the PS Store; • Accelerometer and proximity sensor

MAIN DISADVANTAGES The competition will soon have phones with quad-core CPUs and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box. The display has sub-par viewing angles and there is no MicroSD card slot.

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MOTORING

Ecojet

Sandstorm

Writer Jerome Dyson

The future of green motoring 86

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here was once a time when green cars themselves seemed like a futuristic notion. Talk of electric cars, biofuels and even hybrids seemed like a very far-fetched notion, like something out of the space age. Now.....here we are, where these electric cars, biofuels and hybrids are very much the reality, and not to mention growing in popularity.

So...? If the future is now, what does the future hold for green cars? What will everybody be driving in years to come?

Why the future is now! In many ways the future of green cars is already here, take for example a 650 horse power car that looks like the batmobile and runs on biodiesel.

This is the ECOJET prototype by GM, which

was unveiled in 2006.

There are new concepts constantly being introduced to the market that may well be what we will be driving in the very near future. For example, in January 2007, General Motors (GM), introduced the E-Flex, a propulsion system for battery powered electric cars that uses a traditional engine to create additional electricity from, diesel, hydrogen or ethanol.

Further to electrics, hybrids and biofueled powered cars, hydrogen fuel cells are also emerging. The aim of these is to eventually replace the conventional internal combustion engine offering an alternative to our reliance on fossil fuels and its destructive effect on our atmosphere and climate.

Other alternatives being introduced are cars

on uti s l fo so r n o Africa i t a g i r Ir Africa’s pivot of success

COMPANY PROFILE SENTER 360 is a South African company. We have a simple policy of doing business with the highest standards of integrity. We therefore pride ourselves on not merely selling a product, but building long term relationships.

Designed and built in South Africa in 1994, SENTER 360 centre pivots are known for their superior construction quality and strength – above industry standards, and we as a company are renowned for excellent sales and after-sales service.

We have been in the irrigation industry for more than 20 years, specialising in surveying, system design, installation and commissioning of irrigation systems.

We have growing business interests in South Africa, Africa and internationally and offer a turn-key project development service from feasibility study phase to implementation and project management.

One of our recent achievements has been the allocation of an international tender for the supply of more than 50 centre pivots to the South African Government for the Taung irrigation scheme.

KEY ADVANTAGES OF SENTER 360 • The most effective way of irrigating large areas • Ensures constant high yields • More than 96% water distribution accuracy • Manufactured with high quality materials to very high standards of accuracy • Only the best quality heavy-duty drive train components are used to cope with terrain and ensuring years of reliable service • Senter 360 has the strongest centre pivot span structure available today • We carry high levels of stock to be able to supply when you need it

Tel: +27 (18) 469–1331 Email: info@senter360.co.za www.senter360.co.za

Africa’s pivot of success Since 1994

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Acura FX

Nanospyder

powered by natural gas-A Honda Civic has been trailed in the United States that can be re-fuelled at home using an appliance called a “PHILL”. The fact that vehicle manufacturers are investing millions in the development of new prototypes for GREEN CARS is a clear sign that they are our future, and eventually the production of petrol and diesel cars will halt making way for greener, cleaner alternatives.

One thing is certain, green cars will continue to grow in popularity and that in turn will create more demand. Even motorists who are not particularly environmentally motivated will be drawn to the money saving advantages of owning a green car, 88

such as more kilometres to the litre or even no refuelling costs at all and not to mention lower fuel levies and insurance premiums.

So? What vehicles can we expect to be driving in the next ten years.

At a Los Angeles auto show, many of the green cars of the future were unveiled which included: Kia Sandstorm A biodiesel/electric plugin hybrid dune buggy with solar-powered cooling and built in recycle bins. After a few years the body could be switched and recycled for a completely new look.

Mini Biomoke This is a futuristic version of the Mini Moke , an off-roader that was produced in the 60’s. However, its body

can be formed from a single sheet of biodegradable panelling which, at the end of its life would be composed to grow palm trees.

Volkswagen Nanospyder Perhaps the most spectacular of them all. The Nanospyder could be assembled, disassembled and reassembled on a microscopic level, and also boasts an array of sensors that can warn you of impending collisions.

Acura FX 2020 Le Mans This stylish super car relies on fuel cell technology that has not been invented yet. The proposed hydrogen cell would be tested in a Le Mans race, prompting the name. The car will also be made out of fully recyclable material.

Over the next decade or two we can look forward to more cars being developed with recyclable parts as well as alternatives to petrol and diesel , breaking through into the mainstream, in a way hybrid cars have presently done. Hydrogen fuel cell technology seems to be the most realistic long term solution, alongside the potential for further expansion of electric cars.

With resources for oil running low, it is clear that whichever way vehicle production develops in the years to come... GREEN IS THE COLOUR OF THE FUTURE.

Book reviewS

Writer Charlene Heyburgh

Reading Revolution South African Landscape Architecture Author Hennie Stoffberg, Clinton Hindes &Liana Muller Publisher Unisa Press Price R910 sold as a set South African Landscape Architecture: A Compendium is a ground-breaking publication, celebrating 64 of South Africa’s outstanding landscape architecture projects. Influential design, environmental, cultural and scientific professional practice projects, spanning more than 25 years, are documented in full-colour. Since 1985, the Institute for Landscape Architects of South Africa (ILASA) has recognised landscape architecture projects worthy of merit awards. These renowned projects are chronologically ordered in articles, many of which have previously been published in journals (several of which are no longer in print).

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Author Ashwin Desai Publisher Unisa Press

Mandela & Mbeki Author Lucky Mathebe Publisher Unisa Press Price R280 Mandela & Mbeki: The Hero and the Outsider presents a comparative historical study of the narrative of Mandela and Mbeki and its grip on the South African imagination. A persistent theme among historical narratives of South African presidential politics was that Mandela is a ‘hero’, and that his style embodied an inclusive approach.

His former deputy and successor, on the other side, was regarded a little harshly as a ‘prince’. This book is concerned with the historical contexts in which these two narratives were centred, and takes the reader on a journey of what South African history could look like when Mandela, a character of legend, is cast in the role of an introverted ruler, and Mbeki as manifesting the sense of an outsider.

Price R350 This book centres on a copy of The complete works of William Shakespeare, which was smuggled onto the Island and disguised with religious Indian greeting cards, and in which many of the most famous political prisoners including Nelson Mandela signed next to their favourite Shakespeare lines. This is a full colour production boasting 144 pages with hardback & dust jacket containing colour pictures and historic photographs.

With unique features (32cmx24cm) this is an ideal coffee table book for gifts & souvenir. It is a socio-political book with historical elements designed to be a classic collectors’ item with unique design features fit for gifting. This is a book to be enjoyed by academics, scholars, politicians and the reading public. Universities and libraries will also find it valuable to have.

Hyphenated Selves Author Edited by Saloshna Vandeyar Publisher Unisa Press / co-published with Savusa Price R120 Professor Saloshna Vandeyar brought together thirteen co-authors to present us with the most stimulating and original case studies of identity formation and negotiation in the contexts of migration and education. Processes in South African, Dutch, American Mexican, Swedish, Brazilian and German schools are scrutinized while immigrant students from very diverse origins such as the Philippines, Turkey, Central and East Africa and Singapore are studied in the way they perceive themselves in the schools and countries they now find themselves in.

This excellent compilation will appeal to researchers in the fields of education, anthropology, sociology as well as ethnic and cultural studies.

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Let’s drink to biodiversity Writer Michelle Nel

If red wine has been elevated to the status of a health food, then red wine from a ‘wine and biodiversity’ or organic estate, is doubly good for us.

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Nearly 95 % of South Africa’s wine-growing takes place in the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), the richest and also the smallest plant kingdom on the planet.

This Kingdom is both a global biodiversity hotspot and a World Heritage site. It has come under increasing threat from agriculture, urban development and invasive alien species. In 2004, with just 4% of the CFK’s unique renosterveld was left and lowland fynbos ecosystems under threat, the wine industry developed a conservation partnership with the Botanical Society of South Africa, Conservation International and The Green Trust (Nedbank), which led to the establishment of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI). Its mandate is to protect natural habitat and encourages wine producers to farm sustainably. Over 126 000 hectares of natural area have been conserved

by BWI producers in less than four years.

This means that the South African wine industry’s conservation footprint is well in excess of its current vineyard footprint of 102 000 hectares. For every hectare under vineyard, an additional hectare of natural vegetation is committed to conservation – and this figure continues to grow. BWI has received global and national recognition as a business model that unites conservation and agricultural development.

Eating less and drinking red wine (which contains resveratrol found in red grape skins) are promoted as health boosters. Resveratrol is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lowers blood sugar, write Patrick Holford and Jerome Burne in ‘The 10 secrets of healthy ageing’ ( Piatkus 2012). So next time you feel the urge to do something for your health, buy a good bottle of red wine from one of the following biodiversity and wine producers: Uniwines, Villiersdorp Wines, 92

Ashton Kelder, Botha Wine Cellar, Brandvlei Cellar, Darling Cellars, Montagu Wine Cellar ,Montagu Wine and Spirits Company, Perdeberg Wines, Riebeek Cellars, Rooiberg Winery. Another aspect of sustainability is organic agriculture; farming that works with natural fertilisers and pest control which conserves air, soil and water.

People who wish to support organic wine farmers need to look out for Waverley Hills, Avondale, Bon Cap Organic Wines, Reyneke, Rozendal Farm, Org De Rac, Lazanou Organic Vineyards, Upland Organic Wine, and Stellar Organic Winery. The approach of organic farmers is best summed up by Org de Rac. “We believe that healthy, well-balanced plants have the ability to protect themselves against most predators and diseases, our grapes are grown in healthy soil, carefully nurtured with only natural compost and organic nutrients. In order to control mildew disease, we have planted the vineyards to take best advantage of the prevailing wind direction to allow natural drying of the leaves. “Cover crops planted between rows provide additional organic nutrition, while earthworms bred in our vermiculture facility aerate and enrich the soil, improving its living quality. Our environmentally friendly pest-control methods include a small army of ducks that patrols the vineyards, ridding the vines of snails and insects. Drip irrigation, focusing the water where it is needed, conserves this valuable resource. “All picking is done by hand. This secures jobs for our community.We harvest grapes never sprayed or exposed to any form of chemical pesticide, herbicide or fungicide. Absolutely no chemical additives and only half the amount of sulphur content of conventional wine is allowed in the winemaking process, resulting in a healthier wine.“

Why South African biodiversity management is worse than Azerbajan, Albania and Egypt South Africa has performed dismally in a global environmental public health and ecosystem vitality assessment. A report released

by Yale University and Columbia University in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Joint Centre of the European Commission has painted a disturbing picture of poor environmental management in South Africa. The report assessed 132 countries and ranked them according to the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) which essentially tracks both environmental public health as well as ecosystem vitality against ten policy categories: South Africa was ranked 128 and was recognized as one of the countries with the fastest rate of environmental decline. All of the concerns identified in the assessment correlate to ones that have been identified by WESSA (The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa). A degrading environment has direct impact on human health and well being. South Africa is not honouring its commitment to the Convention on Biodiversity which committed us to halving the current rate of biodiversity loss.

See Report: www.epi.yale.edu Contact: Garth Barnes Director of Conservation gbarnes@wessanorth.co.za

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Mission Our mission is to deliver the highest level of service in the industry and help our clients remain industry leaders by increasing both awareness and market share. Our client repres representatives deliver their message directly to potential consumers at home, where they work and shop in order to maximize their target market. We pride ourselves in delivering what our clients desire most: RESULTS! Our services Brand Activations Market Research Product development Direct Marketing and Sales Sales Training Distribution Business management Solutions  Life and Business Coaching  Events  Web design and hosting       

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ECO

What is an eco-estate Writer Reagan C Adams

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n eco-estate is a response to the need to live sustainably in a world where ecosystems are being over-exploited. Sustainability, in environmental terms, means we can continue to do what we are doing, in a manageable way, with little impact on the environment. As human existence is directly linked to the health of the environment, sustainable practices ensure that ecosystems will be available for future generations to enjoy.

Then keeping sustainability in mind, the creation of eco-estates aim to balance the needs of human societies to live comfortably, with the need of the environment to preserve itself. As people are becoming increasingly aware of sustainability, earth’s need for conservation, and have the need to live a balanced lifestyle, eco-estates are sought after by many. It could also be an answer to overcrowded areas, and the need for

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personal space. This kind of living promotes biodiversity, the preservation of unique ecosystems, the health of the environment, and a high quality of life.

An eco-estate is developed on lush land, in keeping with the natural environment of the flora and fauna of that particular region. Space is one of the major principles of any eco-estate.

Hence, homes are structured spaciously, up to quarter less than conventional structuring. Living on an eco-estate, one should feel the freedom and privacy a serene environment has to offer.

A few examples of eco-estates are: Zebra’s Nest Eco Estate, Sabi River Eco Estate, Gamka Private Eco Estate and Simbithi Eco Estate.

Although some eco-estates did not stick to what an “eco-estate” should be, some have embraced those features that distinguish a genuine eco estate. Zebra’s Nest Eco Estate claims they are one of these who have: No

artificial landscaping; No golfing, equestrian centres, vineyards or orchards. Only nature at its primeval best... and beautifully simple to maintain; No commercial agriculture; The re-introduction of indigenous trees and plants while judiciously removing alien species.

And at Zebra’s Nest - like all real ecoestates – you will find all road reserves wider than average - wide enough for paved roads to meander through the reserve while allowing for trees to be grown alongside.

No long, straight stretches of road - just a gently curving, tree-lined area leading to your home, preserving the pleasant, scenic atmosphere, with buildings harmonising with and complementing the environment.

Another eco-estate that seems to hold true to its name is the Sabi River Eco Estate. Here, every possible environmental and ecological implication was considered with design and strict procedures will be adhered to before, during and after developing the estate.

De Doornkraal 13 x 8.8 ad 3/12/12 4:00 PM Page 1 C

Indeed, permission for the development was conditional on an Environmental Management Plan being submitted after the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The estate meets and exceeds all the criteria for an eco-estate in South Africa, as defined in SA Property Magazine in March 2006 being: Not introducing an artificial concept onto the landscape such as golfing, equestrian centres, vineyards or orchards; Allowing no agricultural activity; Being relatively inexpensive to establish, relying mostly on nature’s own landscaping rather than man-made ones; Removing alien species and introducing endemic trees and plants; and all traces of agricultural activity will be removed and landscape architects will plant over 4000 indigenous trees on the land before the development is complete.

These trees, sourced from the Lowveld’s biggest indigenous tree supplier, Fishwick Nursery, will as far as possible be endemic to the Valley. In addition, a condition of sale will be that all homeowners plant at least six indigenous trees on their stand - a provision that is seen as a positive move that will be welcomed by everyone who is interested in owning a property on the estate.

All road reserves are wider than average - wide enough for paved roads to meander through the road reserve, and allow for trees to be planted in the meanders. This means that there will be no long straight stretches of road; rather a gently curving, tree lined area leading to homes.

The objective behind the estate is to return the area to the pristine, natural splendour of the Sabi River Valley. Eco-guidelines are intended to create harmonious living and a theme for the estate that permeates through every development aspect.

A challenge some eco-estates have faced and fallen prey to, is the temptation of money.

Money is generated from vineyards and golf estates which go against the true purpose of an eco-estate.

The preservation and enhancement of biodiversity of species is a central theme to an eco-estate. The re-introduction and conservation of indigenous trees and plants will see an increase in the variety of birds, small animals, insects and plants. When industrialisation was at the order of the day I suppose we never realised we will one day be heading back to how our forefathers had lived – with the difference of technology.

Not only because urban development is unsustainable and over-exploited, but also our need to re-introduce ourselves to nature that will lead to a better quality of life.

An eco-estate is a response to the need to live sustainably in a world where ecosystems are being over-exploited.

Sustainability, in environmental terms, means we can continue to do what we are doing, in a manageable way, with little impact on the environment.

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How to be a responsible traveller Writer Anwar Booley Responsible travel is about having authentic holiday experiences that enable you to get more out of your travels and to give more back to your destinations and their local people.

tips to travel responsibly • Choose a responsible operator by reading up on the agencies policies and feedback from clients. This will enable a trustworthy relationship with your agent to provide excellent customer service.

• Always have a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything before you head off to your destination.

• Reduce your carbon emissions by travelling by train or public transport.

This will also be a cheaper way to travel.

• Book direct flights avoiding any transfers.

• Read up on the local cultures and learn a few words of the local language so you can communicate with locals. Travelling with respect earns you respect.

• Always ask your tour operator for tips on responsible tourism and get as much information as possible.

• Ask your tour operator if there are any social projects that you could visit on your trip and how you can support them.

• Always make 2 copies of each document that you will need on your trip, one should be left at home with relatives and one always kept with you should you lose any original documents.

• Always ask your tour operator for an itinerary so your tour can be planned to schedule before you depart.

• Read up on airport policies regarding your luggage and items you pack in to avoid any delays.

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consider the following • Hire a local tour guide to discover more about the places you want to see and the culture of the locals.

• Always arrive 15 minutes earlier than scheduled wherever you go.

• Do not buy products that are imported or made from endangered species, hardwoods or ancient artifacts.

• Travel with public transport or as groups to lower your expenditure on all your travels in and around the destination.

• Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places. Always ask if you are unsure as certain actions can offend the locals.

• Use water wisely as it’s very precious to most countries.

• Make sure that water in the destination is drinkable to avoid getting any sicknesses that can affect your trip.

• Try to make use of using as less paper as possible, always keep brochures in a safe place to avoid losing them and replacing them.

• Many travellers enjoy capturing those exciting moments of their trip by taking photos. Always ask locals for their permission if you want to photograph them. Many temples, mosques and holy places don’t allow photography, always be sure and ask a local for advice.

Always be mindful of your actions. Dress and act modestly so that you don’t offend others.

back from your trip • Write to your tour operator with any comments and feedback about your holiday.

• If you have promised to send any locals pictures of your hometown, please do so as many are promised and not all arrive.

• Enjoy the memories and reflect on your experiences to start planning your next trip.

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Thirty luxury chalets are spread out in U-formation on either side of the lodge, offering excellent views of animals approaching the waterhole from the opposite bank. The lodge has a 5 star rating and chalets are equipped with both air-conditioning and ceiling fans, mini-bars ,tea and coffee facilities.

Responsible tourism atTau Game Lodge

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n the far Northern border of South Africa lies a beautiful area known as the Groot Marico and it is in this spectacular setting, in the malariafree Madikwe Game Reserve, that privately owned Tau Game Lodge is situated. Thirty luxury chalets are spread out in U-formation on either side of the lodge, offering excellent views of animals approaching the waterhole from the opposite bank. The lodge has a 5 star rating and chalets are equipped with both air-conditioning and ceiling fans, minibars ,tea and coffee facilities. Each chalet has its own wooden deck, which allows one to experience the bush in privacy and is equipped with an en-suite bathroom and open-air shower. Since its inception, the Tau Foundation, driven by Tau’s director, Clifford Green, has implemented a number of impressive projects in the local Supingstad community and we are proud of what the Tau Foundation has achieved so far.

The social responsibility programme is delivering tangible results at the various local schools. This includes the fencing and safe keeping of the school properties and upgrading of the school sports fields and play grounds, as well as the renovation of school buildings and facilities, setting up of vegetable gardens, computer rooms, creating 98

a borehole and installing guttering and water tanks and toilets with running water at the high school. Guests visiting the lodge are offered the opportunity to visit the Supingstad schools, some traditional historical sites or they can contribute to the soup kitchen which Tau arranges at the schools. These tours are led by our community officer, Itumeleng Michael Senne.

The Tswana traditional singer-dance group, Ditshepe tse di Tshetlhana, was formed in January 2004, in the nearby village of Supingstad, under the leadership of Sacky Suping. The group was formed to add flair to the growing tourism in the area and help existing programmes for community development. Our guests play a critical role in supporting the Tau Foundation by integrating local and international travellers and rural people to their mutual benefit.

The Tau Tree Fund The Tau Tree Fund was started to allow visitors to the Tau Game Lodge the opportunity to plant protected tree species and to learn a little about the trees that they are planting, thereby playing an active role in conservation. Information supplied to the guests includes the medicinal purposes, African folklore, natural habitat, ecology, animal and plant relationships, etc. of their

chosen tree.

As an alternative project to assist in sustainability of the Mmasebudule community project, the task of supplying trees to lodges in the Madikwe Reserve was initiated. This project was designed to teach the community to collect seeds and germinate indigenous trees for resale both within and outside of the game reserve. They have been supplying trees to a number of lodges in Madikwe, who in turn have either planted them, or in our case, have also sold them to guests who have then planted them, with all profits then going towards the Tau Foundation.

We are working closely with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and our supplying nurseries, so that from time to time when the trees seed, they are able to collect seeds for further regeneration During Arbor week this year, Tau pledged to plant a tree each day of the first week of September and staff members of each Lodge department were involved with this on a daily basis For any additional information, please feel free to contact us on +27 11 314 4350 or taugame@mweb.co.za www.taugamelodge.co.za

Already there are many youth that are making tangible differences in the communities that they live.

BEYOND THE BEAT The youth, challenges and opportunities Writer Brow Beat

Y

outh month has come and gone.

For some it was a time of looking back at their youth gone by and for others it was a time to reflect on the bygone youth and their struggles for the improvement and betterment of our society.

Just the other day I had a discussion with a senior citizen and asked him about the challenges that they faced in their youth. He started off saying that in retrospect, looking at their challenges and what is anticipated as future challenges seems so incomparable at this stage. What they considered as hardship and problems, for example, growing up without having some of the basic services that we take for granted today; having to leave school before being able to matriculate or attend a tertiary institution, due to financial problems; sometimes having a lack of clothing and other items, all seems pale in comparison to what the future holds for youth 100

and society at large. This man seemed very wise and informed me that he did research and discovered that by the year 2015, we may have a lack of adequate water for all our citizens, due to over-population and the lack of enough dams. He further stated that if we thought unemployment was high at this stage, it may become even higher, as an example, South Africa is currently riding the wave of car export sales across the world.

Many of the countries we export to, is in the process of building small car plants and this will eat into car export sales. It means that this industry will sell less with the result that they will need to reduce labour and add to the unemployment rate.

He hastily cautioned that all was not doom and gloom and proceeded to show me how technology is on the up and growing faster each year. The one example he showed me was of a car that already exists that is steered by a joystick and small buttons that

you normally find on a gaming control. The other car is completely remote controlled and is said to be “accident free.” Other technology is the pen-like computer with a virtual key-board and screen. This man obviously seemed taken by all these new gadgets and said that he is saddened that he may not be alive long enough to experience it and that’s where the youth of today has an advantage over him. There is much that the youth can do to go into the future using these technologies to improve our quality of life as well as other means that are more accessible to the broader society.

Already there are many youth that are making tangible differences in the communities that they live. Many social entrepreneurs are on the rise and doing things amongst you, disseminating the knowledge and information that they have acquired. Sometimes it is best for youth to take up the issues that they need to deal with and come up with solutions for their future. We can all be but catalysts for this to happen and become reality.

With all this said and done, it still remains important that the adults of today provide the necessary mentorship to the youth, giving them some direction and showing them how they can turn their challenges into opportunities that will work for the greater good of all society. It is said that it is not what we do ourselves that count that much, but how we involve and share the knowledge and skills, for it to live long after we are gone. The youth can conquer!

Till next time!

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ADVERTORIAL

Business unusual at the City of Joburg!

Emile Polman, spoke to Floyd Sibandze, Head of Investor Relations at the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) on their bond portfolio.

On our ability to maintain our bond portfolio. The City of Johannesburg is not operating in isolation. It is impacted by all market forces. But the key thing to note is that we have been doing lots of work on refining our processes, on ensuring that whatever bottlenecks and challenges we’ve been experiencing are resolved. And we have made great strides in most of the pertinent issues’ for example, reduction of incorrect bills from 64,000 to be virtual a few hundreds, and we continue to eliminate most of the system challenges.

We have been focusing on strengthening our balance sheet, streamlining activities that previously consumed a lot of time; we have established teams who focus on certain elements of our delivery value chain.

Essentially, we now have teams specializing on various aspects of our processes.

We have tightened our credit policies. For example, if a customer’s account in not paid in 30 days, credit control processes kickin immediately, and engagements with our customers commence. Previously we left these processes little too late to around 90 days, at which point the amounts owed are much higher. In this way, we are curbing the growth of the debtors’ book from increasing and ensure that we sit with acceptable debtors on our books. Further, we have now stratified our customer base such that those customers having challenges paying timeously for municipal services are put on a prepaid option. We continue to improve our revenue collection strategies; at present our collection rates are 92% compared to 88% at around this time last year.

In 2006, we set up a Liability Redemption Fund (Sinking Fund) to enable us to redeem our bond liabilities when they fall due. Most people are aware that this Fund was able to redeem the R1billion debut bond (CoJ01).

Currently, the Sinking Fund has assets close to two billion Rands, earmarked for the redemption of our bonds; and these assets are managed by an external fund manager and as such are not available to be swallowed by operations even under extremely stressed scenarios.

We continue to service our bonds comfortably in the form of coupon repayment from normal operations; and we continue to make periodic contributions to the Sinking Fund to ensure that we are cushioned against whatever market challenges that may arise given the volatile global economy as we all see it now. We have come very far in terms of cementing a name for ourselves as a credible market player in the debt capital market. Our bonds are held by mostly asset managers and pension fund schemes, who I must mention undertake extensive research before taking a particular credit into their books. Having passed those tests, we believe we have established ourselves as an organisation that is important in our society.

We pride ourselves as the market leader in the municipal space in many aspects; we were the first municipality to ever issue a municipal bond; we are the only municipality participating in the commercial paper space.

We, therefore, have such a rich legacy that we are always going to protect.

Possibilities of a downgrade in the next credit review? We do not foresee a downgrade in our upcoming rating review.

We are trading on a much solid ground than before. In the previous engagements with the rating agencies, we agreed on areas needing urgent attention and intervention from our side. We have subsequently focused on those highlighted areas; improving and optimizing our financial position based on the findings and recommendations of rating agencies.

It’s important to note that a downgrade is a function of an aggregate of factors; some of which are exogenous, for example, the recent downgrade of South Africa’s government bond rating from stable to negative impacted us as well as many other rated sub-sovereigns.

The City of Johannesburg is not immune to market dynamics; and as a result our outlook has been adjusted as well to negative, mirroring the same action taken on the country. Clearly, this has nothing to do with the structural improvements in our financial and debt metrics. It was an action purely based on the adjustment in the sovereign outlook; not a deterioration of our fundamentals. As mentioned earlier, we continue to make strides in improving our operations, in eliminating some bottlenecks and improving in areas where we have not been doing so well on. We have committed ourselves to deleveraging the balance sheet to sustainable levels in the medium to long term and this can actually be seen in the reduction in the debt-to-revenue ratio improvements.

For examples, our debt-to-revenue ratio has showed some improvements from 54% to 46% in 2009/2010, and we are projecting further improvements given the host of interventions we have put in place; most of which are starting to pay-off. We have implemented an active debt management strategy; whereby we are aggressively buying back some of our bonds when it’s cost-efficient to do so, and paying- off some loans in some instances. This is largely driving down our gearing levels.

In a nutshell, it is business unusual at the City of Joburg, we are breaking loose and changing course.

Investor Relations Johannesburg continues to contribute approximately 16% to the country’s GDP. This is a significant contribution indeed!

This contribution is not amidst challenges as you know them.

Each day we are implementing interventions that are addressing these challenges; each day we are doing our bit to make Jozi remain what it has always been – the heartbeat of the economy.

At the heart of these interventions is an acknowledgement that the City of Joburg is in a lifelong partnership with its citizens; with the residents of Jozi and remains the heartbeat of not just the South African economy but of Africa as well.

Speak to us; speak to the Investor Relations unit at the City of Johannesburg’s central bank – the Treasury!

Visit our website at www.joburg.org/investors/investor relations

City of Johannesburg Finance: Treasury Department – investor Relations 2040

We are all players

14th Floor Jorissen Place 66 Jorissen Street Braamfontein Johannesburg

PO Box 1450 Braamfontein 2000

Tel: +27 (0)11 242 1063 Fax: +27 (0)11 242 1055 www.joburg.org.za

ADVERTORIAL

Katz Roofs & Bricks

K

atz Roofs & Bricks was started in 1951 as Jules Katz & Co by Jules Katz. The business sold plumbing, electrical and light fittings and was situated in Du Toitspan Road, Kimberley.

The company later moved to Beaconsfield where Jules Katz also started a timber business. He retired in 1997 and his son, Barry, carried the legacy and formed Katz Roofs & Bricks in 2003. The business was then sold to Magnificent Mile Trading 120 (Pty) Ltd in July 2009.

The ultimate differentiator in the market is service – which is made up of exceptional product quality, innovative solutions, competitive prices, on-time and in-full delivery. The business of all employees at Katz Roofs and Bricks is to deliver on all

these facets. Our customers come back most of the time to experience this total service offering.

Our vision is to be the preferred manufacturer and supplier, in our region, of roof trusses and roofing materials by being a customerfocused and customer-driven company which provides innovative roofing solutions guaranteeing an unsurpassed level of quality, reliability and availability.

A Project Specific One-Stop Shop service is offered, which is tailored for specific projects of our customers, which gives our customers peace of mind in that a significant percentage of the material required is procured through one door!

Largest Supplier of Corobrik bricks and pavers in the region. We are pleased to offer concrete (cement) Maxi Bricks, normal bricks and a wide range of pavers.

Our experts will be pleased to be of service!

All product types of AfriSam cement available Call us for free expert quotation!

105

IDC, German Development Bank launch Green Energy Efficiency Fund

The Industrial Development Corporate (IDC) and the German Development Bank (Kfw) have launched a R500 million Green Energy Efficiency Fund (GEEF). During the launch of GEEF IDC Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Qhena said the intention was to encourage and promote investments in both energy efficiency and renewable energy in South Africa.

Energy efficiency should be a strategic priority for companies, particularly given the fact that South Africa was moving to higher, cost-reflective electricity pricing.

“We want to provide increased access to energy efficiency and renewable energy financing across all industry sectors. Setting up this fund with KfW is crucial for the country and a key addition to our portfolio of ring-fenced funds directed at a specific goal” said Qhena.

GEEF focuses on private sector companies registered and operating in South Africa and provides loans ranging from R1 million to R50 million at a concessionary rate of prime less 2%.

GEEF allows for loan repayments of up to 15 years, depending on the energy efficiency or renewable energy technology. Standard IDC fees, credit policies and procedures apply.

Added Rentia van Tonder, Head of Green Industries SBU: “Funding is available to companies who plan to implement financially viable projects in South Africa. In other words, projects that will provide significant energy savings and/or emissions reductions, or will offset grid-connected electricity through renewable energy generation for self-use.”

“Financing of projects is based on global climate mitigation principles combined with specific IDC funding criteria, which will form the basis on which funding can be accessed,” said van Tonder.

Van Tonder said technical support will be provided, in conjunction with KfW, to applicants if required. “We have access to both local and international technical experts who will develop eligible enterprises by performing energy assessments, calculating financial benefits and supporting the selection of eligible equipment and enhanced performance technologies.”

Investing in energy efficiency ensures business competitiveness through the modernisation of industrial equipment and the use of energy efficient technologies, resulting in reduced energy and other costs while increasing profitability. Additional benefits include improved product quality, enhanced production capacity and improved company image due to carbon footprint reduction.

GEEF will present opportunities to lower energy costs, improve profitability and invest in new technologies that facilitate South Africa’s transition towards a low carbon economy. This in turn contributes to global climate protection, while supporting South Africa’s economic development and growth. Ultimately, greening South Africa’s industrial base will lead to long-term industrial competitiveness and job creation.

The fund supports the IDC’s alignment to government’s key initiatives: Industrial Policy Action Plan and the New Growth Path with a specific focus on growing the green economy.

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