Spotong Edition 3

ISSUE 3

agazine m e d a r t s n r e sa’s best tav

www.spotongmag.co.za

Trade Feature

The Importance of

Rainy Day Savings Stokvels

Get better deals at Wholesalers

KZN Gets

SELLING AND SERVING WINES Taverns Get Ready for

AFCON

2013

Win Bisquit Cognac 2012 Summer Gift Packs!

NEW LIQUOR LEGISLATION For Details go to .co.za www.spotongmag ores Also Available in St

Townships in s M T A f o d n a m e verweight • High D O & se e b O g in e b Dangers of

CONTENTS In This Edition

E T O N S ’ R O T I D E

T

his issue comes at a time traditionally characterised by the exchanging of gifts and often incorporates travelling and shopping sprees. Having a good time however doesn’t mean you don’t have to save for a rainy day. Tendani Matshisevhe from Sanlam gives us an intensive guideline on saving and investment on page 22.

With townships increasingly becoming popular tourists destination, as seen by the mushrooming tours on offer in Soweto and Gugulethu, local restaurants in these areas need to upgrade to a world-class standard, in terms of customer service and satisfaction.

In our Finance on page 25 Banking feature we speak to Marc Sternberg of Spark ATM Systems who explains why it’s important for traders operating in townships to install instore ATMs on their business premises.

In an exclusive interview with Sisa Ntshona, Head of Enterprise Development at ABSA, we learn about the entrepreneurial pitfalls faced in South Africa on page 18, as well as the pool of funding opportunities and business support structures available in both government and private sectors.

Spotong wishes you a great festive season and a happy New Year.

In our Trade feature on page 35 we look at ways restaurants can Remember to buckle up and don’t drink and drive. improve their wine service for customers. We speak to Marilyn Cooper, Chief Executive of Cape Wine Academy, in Johannesburg and also share the experiences of traders like Mnikelo Mangciphu, the owner of Morara Wine and Spirit Emporium Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @SpotongMagazine. in Soweto. editor

Donald Makhafola

contributor

Mashabela Seshoka Andrew Lukhele Adolf Netshiukhwi Siyamthanda Ndaba

publishing house

sales

Leroy Senderayi Katlego Tshetlo Mosadi Julie Teffo

CREATIVE director Quinten Tolken

Design & layout Janine Steyn

subbing & proofing Carrie Cleminson Brendah Nyakudya Contact Media & Communications Block A, 388 Main Avenue, Randburg Tel: +27(0) 11 789 6339 Fax: +27(0) 11 789 7097 email: pressman@contactmedia.co.za web: www.contactmedia.co.za

CEO & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

GLF Column 4 INDUSTRY NEWS TRADE FEATURE 2

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You Need Sufficient Stock to Run a Successful Business

10 Wine Reviews

Licquor License

12 New KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Act to crack down

unscrupulous traders 13 Liquor Industry comment on the draft shebeen regulation

TAVERN AND RESTAURANT REVIEWS entrepreneur feature

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18 SA needs to adopt a Culture of Entrepreneurship

Saving & investment

Finance & Banking

COMMUNITY LEADER

HEALTH & lifestyle

Education & Training

22 Saving is not only for rich or successful business people 23 SA lags behind in saving 25 High demand of ATMs in Townships 28 Rescuing Childeren and securing their future 29 Don’t be a couch potato

31 Entrepreneurs need constant skills renewal to be competitive

MARKETING 32 Consumers buy what they see in displays

Trade

35 Product Reviews

PROPERTY

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

36 Renovating can add or take away value from

your property

it and web manager

SPORT

Gwen Sebogodi

Tinique Morgado

REPRO & PRINTING Kadimah Print

Sean Press

38 Transforming Taverns into fans’ soccer hubs 40

EVENTS

41 Matome Mbatha Promoting the Profile of SA’s Wines

managing director and publisher

42

Donna Verrydt

finance and operations DIRECTOR

CONTENTS

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY:

Lesley Fox

sales manager Chioma Didi Okoro

StokvelS TRAVELLING TIPS

46 Planning your trip

FEATURE

47 Drinking while pregnant can harm your unborn baby Copyright © 2012 Contact Media & Communications. Spotong is published by Contact Media & Communications. All material is strictly copyright with all rights reserved. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without the express written permission of the publisher. No responsibility will be accepted for unsolicited material. The publisher accepts no liability of whatsoever nature arising out of or in connection with the contents of this publication.

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication, the publisher does not give any warranty as to the completeness or accuracy of its contents. The views and opinions expressed in Spotong are not necessarily those of the Publisher or contributors.

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Tavern LISTINGS www.spotongmag.co.za

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GLF Column

R E N R O C S R E D A R T President of the Gauteng Liquor Forum, Linda Madida speaks during their recent Strategic Summit.

W

e welcome Spotong as the only publication in the country that is committed to highlighting the challenges and successes of the liquor industry, at the same time empowering traders through its quality industry related content. This historic partnership means that the days of silence for liquor traders have come to an end. We now have a mouthpiece that will report the truth about issues affecting traders.

We all know that many people have incorrect and uninformed perceptions about liquor traders, especially shebeens and taverns, as places that breed criminals, rapists and promote underage drinking. But as the GLF we’re dedicated and determined to ensure that all traders belonging to various associations affiliated to our forum, comply with their respective Code of Conducts that encourage responsible trading, alcohol consumption and also prohibit the selling of alcohol to visibly pregnant woman, children under the age of 21 or public servants wearing uniforms such as police, soldiers, nurses and paramedics. We believe that having Spotong as our media partner will definitely assist in taking forth these good practices to all liquor traders through out Gauteng, and educating them about the do’s and dont’s of liquor trading.

Our Organisation recently held our Strategic Planning Summit at Isolomzi Place in Palm Ridge to pave a way forward and we would like to thank the United National Breweries for funding the event as well as the South African Brewery who sponsored the facilitators for the two day event. The summit was held to address the drafting and

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The Gauteng Liquor Forum (GLF) is pleased to announce the partnership deal it has struck with Spotong Magazine. adoption of our constitution, Code of Conduct for all 15 associations. We also outlined GLF’s Mission and Objectives, setup Organisational Structures, committees and goals and identified External Stakeholders.

Among the speakers at the event was Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Rautenbach from the SAPS Provincial office who deals with liquor law enforcement and compliance as well as Max Mothlake from the Gauteng Department of Economic Development. The discussion with Lieutenant-Colonel Rautenbach was on liquor law enforcement and compliance; he also spoke out about illegal trading, non-compliance and sometimes the unfair treatment of liquor traders by some of the police. We agreed to open all the doors of communication wider as we move forward. Mothlake told delegates that the Liquor Board had finally agreed to replace the Shebeen Permits with Shebeen Licences and that the department will consult extensively to ensure that all traders concerns are urgently addressed.

of Community Safety have allegedly instructed provincial police to close down at least five shebeens every week whilst the Department of Economic Development is undertaking the process to legalise these shebeens. This leaves the affected families without a source of income. Therefore we need to intensify our action as GLF to communicate and engage constructively with all relevant departments in government and other stakeholders to reach an amicable conclusion that would be in the interest of all parties.

The GLF once again wants to extend a special thanks to Sean Press, CEO & Development Director of Contact Media and Communications, Editor of Spotong, Donald Makhafola, and the entire leadership of the GLF for working tirelessly to facilitate the whole process and see to it that the two parties sign the agreement.

GLF General-Secretary Mlungisi Majola

We view this decision taken by the Liquor Board as a victory for all liquor traders in the province but in our capacity as the GLF, we will ensure that the process brings relief to all liquor traders including those trading illegally by assisting them to apply for licences.

However we have learnt that the Department

Some of the members of the Gauteng Liquor Forum’s Executive Committee at the Strategic Summit in Palm Ridge.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Distell Sees 15% Revenue Growth Distell has posted an impressive 15% growth in revenue for the year to June 2012, despite subdued consumer spending in many of the markets where it trades. This growth has been bolstered by a 9.9% increase in sales volumes across its portfolio of wines, spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) brands in both domestic and international markets and favourable exchange rate revenue rose to R14.2 billion. Earnings were impacted, however, by a once-off extraordinary excise duty provision amounting to R297.8 million as a result of a reclassification of wine aperitifs by the South African Revenue Service.

Referring to the increased sales volumes in all product categories, Distell Group Managing Director, Jan Scannell, says RTD brands and ciders have performed exceptionally well. “A suite of strong brands across the portfolio also meant revenue growth could be achieved without sacrificing margins. Gross margin improved to 34.7% from 32.7% a year ago.”

2012 Cape Wine Guild Proteges - Chandre Petersen, Heinrich Kulsen, Philani Shongwe, Tamsyn Jeftha, Sacha Claassen, Elmarie Botes.

Nedbank Ups Investment for Transformation in the Wine Industry Over the past six years, Nedbank has invested more than R1.3 million to transform the wine industry and has almost trebled its annual contribution for 2012 to enable more aspirant winemakers to join the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme. The bank has been a keen supporter of the Guild, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, for almost two decades.

Nedbank’s R684 000 investment to the Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust will boost the Guild’s Protégé Programme which currently supports six young qualified winemakers completing their three-year internships under the mentorship of some of the country’s finest winemakers.

“To create a flourishing wine industry, we need a corporate investment to 4

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make things happen. And through the support of the Nedbank Foundation we are able to implement our Protégé Programme by giving these winemakers the ability to one day plough back their knowledge and expertise, and thereby help to create a sustainable wine industry,” says Louis Strydom, Chairman of the Cape Winemakers Guild. The Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, a first for the wine industry, was launched in 2006 with the goal of encouraging transformation by cultivating, nurturing and empowering promising individuals to become winemakers of excellence.

“Education and skills development are part of our Corporate Social Responsibility focus areas. Our involvement in this project is inspired by the realisation that education and skills development play a key role in growing the economy. We are pleased to see how the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme continues to make things happen,” said Kone Gugushe, Nedbank’s Divisional Executive for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Students interested in applying for the Protégé Programme can visit the Guild’s website at www.capewinemakersguild.com

He said the company was on track with its goal to increase the year-onyear contribution of export sales to revenue. The revenue derived outside South Africa, on a non-duty paid basis, comprised 27.5% of the total, up from last year’s 26.4%.

In the domestic market, Distell had outpaced the rate of growth achieved in the national retail alcoholic beverage sector for the reporting period, Scannell said. The company had grown local sales volumes by 9.6%, while revenue had risen by 13.8% to R10.6 billion.

Strong growth within the company’s spirits division came from brand leader Amarula, cognac brand Bisquit and the Three Ships whisky range. All three brands achieved double-digit growth.

Nederburg had performed extremely well in the premium sector. Paarl Perlé and Autumn Harvest Crackling had also delivered excellent results in the popularly priced category.

The company’s sparkling wines had marginally outperformed the industry average, while fortified wines had shown an exceptional growth in volume and value, led by Sedgwick’s Old Brown Sherry.

Wine sales growth had been slightly below the national average of 4.3% but Scannell said that there had been some significant highlights.

Chibuku Expands Across Africa

Liquor Traders Donate Uniforms to Pupils

SABMiller is expanding its African beer brand, Chibuku, into 10 countries across the continent. Chibuku is an opaque beer based on traditional African recipes using maize and/or sorghum, depending on local tastes.

The expansion of the brand more than doubles the number of Chibuku markets to four (Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe) at the beginning of 2011.

Sold in one litre cartons, Chibuku is a low-alcohol beer that ferments in the package with alcohol strength increasing from 0.5% Alcohol by Volume (ABV) on day one up to 4% ABV on day five before expiry. Given its short shelf life it must be brewed and consumed locally. A new variant, ‘Chibuku Super’ was launched in Zambia in September.

Chibuku Super is lightly carbonated, pasteurised - meaning it has a fixed alcohol content of 3.5% ABV - and is sold in Polyethylene Terephthalate packaging. Its longer shelf life means the distribution model for ‘Super’ is closer to that of a clear beer.

Chibuku Super has been brewed successfully on a small commercial basis in Zambia for the past 12 months.

A larger plant has been commissioned at Kitwe, in the north of the country, to further grow this category. New ‘Super’ production lines will also be in place in Mozambique and Zimbabwe by the end of this year.

Following successful pilot schemes in Ghana, Mozambique, Swaziland and Tanzania, full-scale Chibuku production has now been launched in each of these countries. A Lesotho pilot has been launched with commercial sales expected in the next few months and in Uganda a brand new plant is being planned as part of the new brewery under construction in Mbarara.

SABMiller’s expansion of Chibuku is part of its strategy to make more affordable beers for lower-income consumers across Africa, taking a share from the often unsafe ‘informal’ alcohol market.

It also provides a guaranteed market for smallholder farmers through which SABMiller sources the maize and sorghum used in production. In the year ending March 2012, SABMiller sourced maize and sorghum from approximately 40 000 smallholding farmers across Africa.

The National Tourism and Hospitality Association (NTHA) in Meadowlands have recently donated school uniforms to more than 170 underprivileged pupils from various schools in the area.

The NTHA was launched in 2000 and is an affiliate of the Gauteng Liquor Forum (GLF) which consists of shebeen and tavern owners. President of the NTHA, Fanny Mokoena, said this was part of their social responsibility initiative to give back to the community. “As responsible business people, we take it upon ourselves to help our community in any way that we can and where we see there is a dire need,” Mokoena said.

She said this was one of many social initiatives that the NTHA has undertaken to uplift the community and they were working with local Ward Councillors and

Community Development Workers (CDW) to identify needy pupils from various schools in Meadowlands. Mokoena said after the CDW had conducted a thorough assessment at least three pupils, whose parents or guardians could not afford to buy them school uniforms, were identified and given uniforms.

In addition Mokoena who’s also the chairperson of the GLF said that NTHA wanted to take the initiative to other areas in Soweto and make it an annual project.

They realise that as a result of poverty and unemployment, and as local businesses, that they need to intervene and help needy members of their community.

NTHA was instrumental in the establishment of the GLF and Meadowlands Tourism Development Centre which is a non-profit tourism development organisation.

Managing Director of SABMiller Africa, Mark Bowman said, “We have been investing heavily to grow capacity and stay ahead of demand across Africa. The expansion of our Chibuku operations illustrates how we are driving our affordability strategy, product innovation and maintaining momentum behind our ‘Farming Better Futures’ programme through this continued investment.” www.spotongmag.co.za

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TRADE Feature

ell S to how Know

ines W e v er S and sweet red and “some other brands but wine fundis (experts) just love the likes of Porcupine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, among others.”

He says when a customer has made the decision to come to your restaurant they know they want wine and they have an expectation of what the price will be.

What customers want from you is clear communication of your wine offering and a taste, that is what matters most, adds Mangciphu.

By making sure that you have sufficient knowledge about wines, you can focus your time in front of your customer selling your wines and providing an outstanding service.

I

f you go to all the effort to highlight your best wine offering to your customers, the most important bit is how you serve it to them when they’ve placed an order.

Attractive, glassware, wine coolers and ice buckets are tools that will help to create an enjoyable wine drinking experience for your customers.

Marilyn Cooper, co-founder of the Soweto Wine Festival and chief executive of the Cape Wine Academy in Johannesburg, emphasises that service is important saying it’s ideal for a restaurant to employ a ‘Cape Sommelier’ who is both knowledgeable about food and wine. She says in order to “up sell” knowledge is vital and a waiter must know his wine list well, together with vintages, and be able to offer alternatives to the customer’s request if their favourite wine is not on their wine list.

Cooper says a waiter can recommend certain wines to customers but commented that South Africans generally prefer to order their favourite wines. “In better establishments and hotels, clients are more open to suggestions.” She noted that waiters usually make mistakes when serving a wine by not opening it in front of customers, not offering a taste and as well as forgetting to top up the hosts’ wine.

Mnikelo Mangciphu, also co-founder of the Soweto Wine Festival and owner of Soweto’s Morara Wine and Spirit Emporium, says it’s very important for a waiter to be able to establish customers’ palette in readiness and appreciation before making a wine suggestion or recommendation. “You don’t want to offer a Shiraz to someone who would enjoy a Rosé better.”

However, Mangciphu says in Soweto, beginners love Robertson’s Rose or

The Wine List: The single most important tool to help you sell more wine is the wine list itself.

Ensure you have enough copies available and that they are clearly visible and accessible to your customer – at the bar, at the table or as part of the food menu.

You may wish to draw your customer’s attention to a specific wine by adding a ‘We recommend’ note to your list or by attaching a menu tag.

Service and Selling Techniques

Before your customers are seated, the following must be checked and prepared: • Know your wine range list - hold a team tasting and take time to familiarise yourself with the wines you have to offer and what promotions you can run.

• Wine displays on your chalkboards must be up to date, visible and show relevant information • Stock check your shelves/fridges and ensure that wines are at the right temperature. Check if open wines are still fresh.

• Prepare and clean glassware, wine coolers and ice buckets.

• There is a misconception that it’s all about price and it’s not! Most customers have an overall price expectation but are more interested in choice. www.spotongmag.co.za

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TRADE

Feature

• Up sell to a better quality wine, for example, if your customer asks for a glass of “white wine”, don’t give them a glass of your cheapest white wine but let them know the range of white wines you have, recommend a particular wine and let them make a decision based on the information.

• If your customer orders a meal, recommend a glass of wine to accompany it.

Don’t disappoint your customers when you serve their wine, amaze them with perfect service.

• Temperature starts with the right wine at the right temperature. Reds should be served at room temperature and whites, rosés and sparkling chilled.

• If you are serving wine by the glass, make sure you’re confident the wine is fresh – once open, wine needs to be served as quickly as possible, certainly within 24- to 36-hours unless preserved using a range of wine preservation systems.

• Check if your glassware on the bar top is clean and is at the right temperature.

• If you are serving a bottle of wine, make sure you open the bottle before you hand it over; it’s too easy to forget this if the wine is in a screw-cap.

• Make sure your customer can see that you are pouring them what they asked for. You may also wish to ask if one of them would like to try the wine. If so, pour a small taster for the customer to try and then upon confirmation to proceed, pour for all of them.

• Create atmosphere, the whole experience needs to look good to your customer. Attention to detail and ice buckets/wine coolers, branded glassware, candles/flowers on the table will all help to create table theatre and a welcoming environment.

Sales isn’t just about great communication, it’s about spotting opportunities.

• Know your customer, if you can spot typical groups of guests, then you can tailor your offering for example: some business diners are more likely to spend big if they are entertaining clients – make sure they know the top end wines in your range. If a customer calls to make a reservation for a birthday or celebratory meal ask if they’d like a bottle of fizz on ice for their arrival.

• Speedy, professional and perfect service gives you an opportunity to take an order for a second drink.

• Keep your eye on the table, empty or nearly empty bottles and glasses are a prompt for you to ask whether you

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can get your customer another bottle or glass.

• Make recommendations, customers will respond well to personal recommendations from you. Engage in some informal chat with them and let them know which is your favourite wine on the list and why.

There are three simple steps to assess a wine: Sight • Is the wine clear or cloudy? Clarity means the wine is good to be served but cloudiness suggests a fault.

• What colour is the wine? Hold the glass of wine over a white background - the shade can help to indicate whether a wine is young or aged.

Smell • If it smells musty or stale, or if it smells like damp cardboard and is therefore corked, the wine is probably not servable.

• If the wine’s in good shape, there are many other aromas that you may pick up on including leather, bread, cream, petrol and honey to name but a few.

Tasting • An ‘off dry’ and ‘medium’ wine lie between dry and sweet on the scale.

• If the wine makes the insides of your cheeks tingle and your mouth salivate, it has good acidity levels and this is what makes it refreshing.

• If a red wine taste bitter and feel dry on

the gums, tannins are present. Tannins are in grape skins and the more contact a wine has had with the skins during the production process, the more tannins there are likely to be.

• A wine is either light, medium or full bodied. Body refers to how rich and weighty the wine feels in your mouth.

• A wine is either has a short or long finish. This describes how the flavours linger or disappear quickly in your mouth.

Food and Wine Matching • Light foods go well with light wines, heavy foods with heavy wines and rich, hearty dishes need intense, full-bodied wines.

• A plain dish needs a less intense wine, big flavour needs a big wine. A big wine is a large-framed, full-bodied wine with an intense and concentrated feel on the palate.

• High acidity wines match high acidity food such as citrus sauces.

• Match sweet wines with desserts.

• Highly salty foods work well with sweet wines – they balance each other out.

• Fatty foods need high acidity wines.

• Spicy foods need spicy wines.

• Hearty red wines go hand in hand with meat.

All of the above elements will help determine which wines should be matched with which food.

WINE

Wine Reviews

. . .

D N E M M o C E R WE NEETHLINGSHOF’S NEWEST CHENIN BLANC It’s the first Chenin Blanc that winemaker De Wet Viljoen has made since he joined Neethlingshof almost a decade ago. The wine has a lovely creamy mouth feel with more tropical flavours. The new Chenin Blanc also has some interesting aromas of stone fruit as well as pears and guava on the nose.

Talking about the wine, Viljoen says the richness of flavours are, however, well balanced in the wine which he allowed to rest on the lees to develop that lovely creamy mouth feel.

“I felt we needed another white wine to complement the existing range. We have four already - two Sauvignon Blanc of which one is a singlevineyard wine, an unwooded Chardonnay and a Gewürtztraminer. For me the Chenin Blanc perfectly balances the existing quartet and I believe it will enrich the experience of people who know our wines.”

The 2012 Neethlingshof Chenin Blanc is available in stores and retails for between R35 and R40 a bottle.

AuNCHES L x u o R E

Z . L C C Á R J. g N o DESIDERIuS P LE DOmAINE IN A STYLISH GIFT HANDBAg The delightful new Seize the moment and add extra glamour to your festive season gifting with the singularly noble flagship Desiderius Pongrácz, available in a dazzling golden gift handbag at selected fine wine shops.

Boasting a gorgeous design emblazoned with the Pongrácz coat of arms, this designer accessory is the perfect festive season extravagance to spoil someone special.

Inspired by Hungarian nobleman Desiderius Pongrácz, the prestigious 2003 vintage flaunts a white-golden hue with a faint grey-pink tinge that complements its aroma of precious, delicate spices and wonderful crisp foaming mousse. Desiderius Pongrácz is an elegant blend of the classic Champagne varietals, Chardonnay and Pinot noir and is set apart by its distinctive fluted bottle. It has a rich complexity and classic yeasty character imparted over time from prolonged maturation on the lees for over seven years as well as a wonderful foaming mousse with a persistent bead. As the wine matures it tends to develop wonderful creamy, nutty characteristics on the nose and a full bodied texture which lasts for ages on the palate.

The Desiderius Pongrácz gift handbag is available at selected boutique wine stores at around R235.

NDRED NEDERBuRg’S 56Hu TuRED - JuICY AND SoFT-TEx

There’s a new collection of bright, lively and very smooth-drinking wines bursting with fruit flavour, launched under the 56HUNDRED label by Nederburg. Starting with a 2012 Chenin Blanc and a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, the lightly wooded wines take their name from the price of 5 600 guilders paid by Philippus Wolvaart in 1791 for the farm he was to call Nederburg.

The name is not just to commemorate a purchase price though, according to Nederburg cellar master Razvan Macici, “We also commemorate the man himself. With these appealingly juicy, soft-textured wines we are celebrating passion, time and 5 600 guilders. When Wolvaart bought the farm, times were tough at the Cape. His hard work, indomitable and never-say-die spirit let him dream big and overcome the seemingly impossible. He inspires us to take the first bold step and enjoy life to the full.”

The 56HUNDRED wines are available nationwide.

The Chenin Blanc sells for around R35 and the Cabernet Sauvignon for around R45 a bottle.

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non-alcoholic sparkling white, J.C. Le Roux Le Domaine, offers an exquisite taste of pure bubbly, the perfect sip for the new season.

This vibrant nonalcoholic newcomer is made with the same care and dedication as the rest of the J.C. Le Roux range. “J.C. Le Roux Le Domaine Non-Alcoholic is an enchanting sparkling white that comes alive on the palate. It has all the finesse, crisp freshness and gentle sweetness of J.C. Le Roux but in a nonalcoholic alternative to be enjoyed anywhere and anytime. Its mouthfilling sweetness and clean finish will enliven any occasion,” says winemaker Elunda Basson.

This brand new offering from South Africa’s leading home of sparkling wines is the ultimate indulgence and a glamorous companion for any occasion. The wine is available countrywide and it sells for around R40.95 a bottle.

ROLL THIS SummER WITH oBIKWA Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2012 is the ideal summer wine and has smacks of tropical fruit with a smattering of gooseberries and fig.

Obikwa has plumped up its feathers with a bold new look for this easy drinking and down-to-earth quality wine that expresses its true varietal character and rich, ethnic charm. Keep your eye out for the bottle with the brilliant colours and the daring, bright yellow Obikwa ostrich.

The newly spruced up Obikwa Sauvignon Blanc 2012 has already stuck its neck out in leading supermarkets and liquor outlets country-wide retailing for R28 a bottle.

OCK RIDGE’ C A E p O T S N IO IT D AD

Waterkloof Estate extends its Peacock Ridge range with two brand new additions, – a Chenin Blanc and Shiraz. The Peacock Ridge wines are rounder in character and encompass great generosity and a more fruit-forward style.

Peacock Ridge Chenin Blanc 2011

Peacock Ridge Shiraz 2011

Chenin Blanc 2011 allures with quince and stone fruit flavours which add complexity to the wine and has a lovely texture balanced by a bright acidity for freshness and structural finesse.

The Shiraz 2011 reveals hints of red and sour cherries as well as spice on the nose whilst ripe, juicy flavours are balanced by a fresh acidity.

Talking about the making of the wine, Waterkloof winemaker Werner Engelbrecht says the grapes were de-stemmed before going into the press and the free run juice was separated from the skins immediately. In pursuit of a more individually styled wine, Werner relied on wild yeasts only and it took nine months to complete the natural fermentation process.

He says 10% of the wine was fermented in old oak barrels and the rest in stainless steel and then the wine was left on the secondary lees for one month before bottling.

The Peacock Ridge Chenin Blanc 2011 is extremely versatile and will go with a variety of dishes.

“We looked for bush vineyards that are cultivated under dry-land conditions or where irrigation is kept to a minimum during the growing season. This helps to ensure that the vigorous growth is kept in check and produces wonderfully concentrated fruit to produce a wine with notable elegance and freshness, allied to a fine texture,” explains Engelbrecht.

He says deep red soils provide moisture and nutrients, which gives Shiraz its supple and spicy characters. “The grapes were fermented naturally with ‘wild yeasts’ in a combination of stainless steel and wooden fermenters, after which the wine was aged in oak for six months before it was bottled”, says Engelbrecht.

The wine is a sublime food partner and will complement venison and game dishes exceptionally well.

Peacock Ridge range is available at R59 a bottle, at selected supermarkets and wine outlets countrywide.

Liquor License

New KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Act THE Crack down ON Unscrupulous Traders

Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Rautenbach from Gauteng SAPS Liquor Control and Liquor Law Expert, Simon Ndlovu.

A

ccording to the new KwaZuluNatal Liquor Act, tavern owners in the province who have been found guilty of selling alcohol to children, visibly drunk people and pregnant women could be sentenced up to five years imprisonment.

The Liquor Act that came into effect on 1 August replaced the Liquor Act of 1989. The new Act outlaws the sale of methylated spirits, prevents people from trading alcohol at service stations and bans the sale and consumption of alcohol on school sporting fields.

Meanwhile the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism has launched the provincial Liquor Authority that will be responsible for issuing licences to traders and micro brewers as well as monitoring and enforcing compliance in the liquor trading.

In Gauteng, provincial liquor control Lieutenant-Colonel Johan Rautenbach expressed concerns regarding noncompliance such as selling alcohol to minors, identification and display of licenses/permits, appointment of managers, alteration or extensions 12

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to liquor premises, transfer of liquor licenses, failure to adhere to the trading hours as stipulated in their liquor licenses and illegal brewing.

Addressing members of the Gauteng Liquor Forum recently, Rautenbach said some sections of the current Liquor Act were not properly checked by the liquor authority and must be amended because they make operating a business difficult for liquor traders. For example, Section 40 (1) of the Gauteng Liquor Act, Act 2 of 2003, says a license holder must appoint an individual to manage and be responsible for such business. And Section 40 (2) says if the liquor license holder is not operating or managing the business, he/she may appoint another person to manage the business.

Rautenbach said this part of the Act is inconveniencing license holders because if during raids police or inspectors find anyone who’s not a business manager selling alcohol to customers, the license holder gets a non-compliance notice and subsequently a fine. He said in most cases traders were issued with noncompliance notices and given time to resolve the problems highlighted in the

notices. Police then conduct follow up investigations to check whether the identified problems have been rectified. Traders who failed to comply with their notices were reported to the Liquor Board for prosecution and for an appropriate penalty to be taken against them.

Rautenbach said the law exclusively makes provision for the brewing and selling of traditional beer but he made a plea to home-brewers to refrain from using illegal concoctions. He said police found some of the home-brewers using unhygienic practices thus putting consumers’ health in danger and that’s the reason police confiscate all the ingredients that illegal brewers use during raids.

He said Pretoria has a high prevalence of liquor related crimes and noncompliance, during most of the raids conducted in the area police found some of the shebeens operating as distributors supplying illegal traders.

Rautenbach told tavern and shebeen owners that it was illegal to sell loose cigarettes and traders could get a fine of R1 000 for each cigarette sold.

Liquor License

stry u nd I or u q i L

n o i t a l u g e R n e e b The Draft She

Albert Moletsana enjoys his beer at a local shebeen

M

embers of the Gauteng Liquor Forum (GLF) made an appeal to the MEC of Economic Development, Nkosiphendule Kolisile, to put a moratorium on raiding of illegal shebeens in an effort to give operators a time to apply for Shebeen Licenses. This was part of GFL comment on a Draft Regulation on Shebeen License, which was published for public comment on 5 October 2012. The GLF said their input should be viewed in a positive light and as a genuine endeavour to create sound and workable regulations.

The draft Regulations provide for an option of on-consumption and an off-consumption licence but the GLF made an appeal to the Liquor Board to take “serious” consideration about creating a third category for on-and-offconsumption. The provision on trading hours has been a sore issue for the GLF because some of their members

said lesser hours would put them at a disadvantage when compared to taverns that have extended operating hours.

In its submission, the South African Brewery (SAB) said it welcomes the approach adopted by the Gauteng Liquor Authority with respect to the licensing of valid Shebeen Permit Holders, the diversity of ownership in the liquor industry with regards to on- and off-consumption, and the development of an ethos of social responsibility in the liquor industry.

SAB welcomed the removal of the limits and restrictions of the quantity, type and volume of liquor able to be sold per week. “We kindly request though, that the removal of these limits be clearly articulated in this regulation and that any conditions able to be imposed on the licenses by the Gauteng Liquor Authority cannot include a restriction on the quality, type and volume of liquor

able to be sold. This will furthermore allow for Shebeen Licensees to be treated in the same light as taverners to ensure a concept of fair trade.”

Furthermore, SAB agreed that the powers conferred on inspectors in terms of the Act, must apply to Shebeen Licensees to ensure uniformity and that all liquor traders are treated equally.

With regard to the trading hours, both SAB and GLF recommend that trading hours be amended to be in line with those for licensed outlets which from Sundays to Thursdays is 10h00 – 22h00 and Fridays – Saturdays, including public holidays, is 10h00 – 02h00.

SAB said it was committed to partner with the Gauteng liquor Authority in its continued efforts to normalise the liquor industry in the province, and remains committed to promoting responsible alcohol use and the eradication of irresponsible drinking. www.spotongmag.co.za

13

16 DAYS CAMPAIGN GAUTENG PROVINCIAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS: DATE

VENUE

TIME

ACTIVITY

29/112012

Community Hall, Ext. 07, Ratanda

10h00

Men and Boys Dialogue Workshop

29/11/2012

WARD 9 Ekurhuleni Municipality

10h00

Donation of food gardening starter packs

DESCRIPTION

REGION AND CONTACT PERSON

The program aims to encourage men and boys to advocate for no violence against women & children through active participation in gender based violence programs such as Men as Safety Promoters HCT; Donation of starter packs; Vaccination of pets

Khumo Kgomoeswana 082 469 0589

Alpha Conference 19h00- 07h00 Young Men’s Seminar Centre

Young men aged between 18- 25 years will be sensitized on issues of Gender Based Violence.

Thapelo Moiloa

30/11/2012

Ext. 07 and Ext 23 10h00 (Ratanda)

Anti-Rape Awareness Campaign

Campaign aimed at making the community aware Peter Kele of available services & channels related to rape 082 805 7966 & domestic violence. Also encouraging affected community members to seek help.

30/11/2012

Swaneville/ Rietvallei 2&3 Community Hall

09h00

Awareness, advocacy against women abuse

30/11/2012

Alexandra ward 81

09h00

Claiming unsafe spaces

Awareness, advocacy against women abuse; Mfundokazi Xokomfu Provide care and support to victims of abuse and / Mosadi Motiang / violence Ikgopoleng Rankudu / Iris Cindi (011) 9507700 Awareness to the community on the identified Maki Madolo hot sport where rapes and killings take place.

(011) 582-1552 or 082 Areas between River park and Lombardy 464 2945

30/11/2012

Primrose Makausi 10h00 informal settlement

Presentations

30/11/2012

House no 184, 189, 195 von Hagen Street, Pretoria West

Launch of the Transformation of the 3 houses into structure Development of Tshwane that speaks to the holistic needs of the victim of Shelter for abused women abuse and children

Judy Apie 078 049 9959 Ntlogeleng Mogotsi 012 358 8773

04/12/2012

WARD 20 Wedela 10h00 Carletonville

Donation of food gardening starter packs

HCT; Donation of starter packs; Vaccination of pets

Sakhile Mngomezulu

Suikerbosrand, Heidelberg

VEP Summit

The objectives of the Provincial Victim Empowerment Summit would be to share successes and lessons learnt in Gauteng over the past 15 years and identify core challenges / recommendations

Myrtle Morris 082 469 0592

30/11/2012

05/12/2012

COMMUNITY SAFETY

10h00

09h00

Presentations on Sexual Offences Act, Mental disability, Economic Empowerment

Sakhile Mngomezulu 072 566 8080

084 805 2247

Grace Moloi Patricia Moloko Lindiwe Mbenge and Sam Ntuli

072 566 8080

06/12/2012 06/12/2012

06/12/2012

WARD 31 City of Johannesburg

10h00

Ouraadsaal

10h00

Meadowlands Welfare centre

Donation of food gardening starter packs

HCT; Donation of starter packs; Vaccination of pets

Community Participation To educate children on GBV in the fight against GBV

09h00- 14h30 Men As Partners

Dialogue on Men’s Role in addressing gender based violence:” Promoting Men ‘s health in totality physical, mental and socio economic

Sakhile Mngomezulu 072 566 8080 Tarusha Naidoo 012 358 0310

Peggy Ramodiko 082 572 4290

health”(City Wide Event) 06/12/2012

Tshwane City Hall 09h00-14h00 Prayer Day

To galvanise interfaith sector for meaningful Mathibela Sebothoma public participation via social cohesion and Nation 072 649 1799 Building

06/12/2012

Zonkizizwe

Dialogue

Dialogue on Gender Based Violence, Religion, Gender Equity, Substance Abuse, Human Rights and Men’s Health

06/12/2012

West Rand District 10h00 Municipality

Men’s Dialogue

To discuss the role of man in ending GBV and Gafi Modise share ideas on developing action plan that will be 083 455 7698 recommended to WRDGF for adoption.

07/12/2012

Daveyton

10h00

16h00- 22h00 Reclaiming the night

08/12/2012

Constitutional Court

08h00- 12h00 Imbizo between Premier and the Justice cluster

08/12/2012

Soccer City

15h30

09/12/2012

Religious places of worship in Gauteng

07h00

10/12/2012

Sebokeng

16h00- 22h00 Reclaiming the night

Women will walk about on the streets wearing their miniskirts to reclaim their safety. The message of reclaiming the night is about emphasising the safety and rights of women

Ekurhuleni Region CPD, Intake and Field (Zonke office)

Tarusha Naidoo 012 358 0310

The Gauteng Premier will engage in discussions Thapelo Moiloa with the Justice cluster (Minister and Deputy 084 805 2247 Minister for Justice & Constitutional Development, Judges, Magistrates & Prosecutors) on the poor conviction rate on cases of sexual offences.

Campaigns on sensitization of Men in Soccer matches

Messages on No violence against Women and Thapelo Moiloa Children will be highlighted at the soccer matches 084 805 2247 hosted in Gauteng within the 16 days campaign with special focus on the Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs match Religious sector campaign The various religious organizations will be Thapelo Moiloa on Gender Based Violence addressed on Gender Based Violence by the 084 805 2247 leadership of Gauteng Provincial Government including MECs and top officials Women will walk about on the streets wearing their miniskirts to reclaim their safety. The message of reclaiming the night is about emphasising the safety and rights of women

Thapelo Moiloa 084 805 2247

REVIEWS

Tavern & Restaurant Reviews

E N I D & E N I W O SPOTS T

T N A R U A T S E R & B PYU STHEE SDPOITBTOEQUNEG NCH OUR THIRST South Africa’s tourists ready to enjoy w no is d s yar ap scr a ger, Wilson Rapitsei, wa What was once an upmarket cuisine. Mana nt, ura d sta an Re d & foo b Pu the g t Sediben tell us abou owlands, Zone 10. delighted to of e on are e “W t, eatery located in Mead service at the restauran we d an ts ran tau le res t those humb Soweto’s upmarke It started off as one of od service which ople could pe ere wh a are pride ourselves on go the in spots t your visit. The food rst, the adven we feel adds value to go and quench their thi st, aly cat restaurant are p was a of the 2010 World Cu and the decor inside the nt ura sta Re & b Pu turning the Sedibeng exquisite,” he said. with visiting into a place booming

carte menu but Sedibeng offers an a la corporate d an t ris also cater for tou ns, birthdays tio mo pro ts, ffe bu lunches, . and Christmas events a the venue can With the extended lap out 600 people. now accommodate ab area for private VIP There’s an exclusive ard pool is the gatherings. The backy eng. cherry on top for Sedib

Sedibeng Manager, Wilson Rapitsei

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www.spotongmag.co.za

NE THE ZOIC AN ENJOY AFR CUISINE HERE!

Lucky Mazibuko, though many people remember him as a journalist and Aids Activist, he was the man behind the launch of The Zone in Emdeni in 1998, a pub in the heart of Soweto.

S – HOME DJEMBA M HOME AWAY FRO

Manager John Gujamo says, “Though our patrons are mostly the working class, we do have high profile people who visit now and then. The weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) is the busiest period of the week for us.”

Staple food at The Zone is mainly pap and steak, though fish and chips are also popular. The pub has resident DJs to keep patrons on the dance floor playing good and soothing music.

“This is definitely one place where you can enjoy your drinks without breaking your leg (standard prices for drinks).”

The Zone Manager, John Gujamo

At The Zone, they have a database where customers can voluntarily register their names and contact details in order to be invited when they have specials or events. John says they are receiving a great response from their customers.

Owner of Djembas, Dumisani Hadebe

ETTER B E – H T A Z A Y N A P RAAI IN SOWETO

Dumisani Hadebe, owner of Djembas is a true entrepreneur. Once a butcher and greengrocer, he has now opened his tavern in Emdeni.

PLACE TO B

“Most people who patronise Djembas are mature like me so I wanted to have a different and unique tavern in the area. At first I had to sell beer and food in a zozo (shack) from my house when I started back in 2003 but I knew that one day I would have one of the best Pubs in the South,” explained Dumisani.

Panyaza is a well established place where people from all walks of life can go and enjoy the best braaied meat in Soweto.

“There’s no VIP area because we are all the same. I treat every person with the same respect, whether they’re from townships or tourists from overseas.

People love the place,” explained the owner, Panyaza Mcineka.

Now Djembas has an outside structure where people can enjoy their drinks and meals. On Sundays you can catch live bands, local artists and DJs. “I started this place because I wanted to give back to my community; I wanted to groom young talented and upcoming artists in this area.”

He explained that he originally started in Mofolo, back in 2003, before moving to Rockville where he says he enjoyed the company of different people. He then relocated to White City which he describes as a “happy place to be.”

South Africans love to braai and love sharing this local love with international tourists; there’s no better place than Panyaza if you want to braai.

He jokingly adds, “We allow people who are over 21-years-old, we don’t discriminate as long as you can still walk on your own.” After a good meal, Panyaza offers a good range of drinks from ciders and beers to good whiskeys.

Pay a visit at Djembas to enjoy a cold beer with succulent and juicy grilled chicken or fish, although their menu offers a variety of delicious meals to choose from.

Panyaza Pub Manager

“I can say Djembas is a ‘home away from home’ tavern where you can get peace of mind with ladies and gentlemen of class,” declared Dumisani. www.spotongmag.co.za

17

ENTREPRENEUR Feature

t p do A to SA Needs

p i h s r u e n e r p e r t a Culture of En

all and ion jobs by 2020, Sm e ideal ill m e fiv te ea cr to th ctive entified as ent’s primary obje urship have been id 80% of start-ups ne re ep tr With the governm En d an ) proximately rprises (SMEs e reality is that ap these businesses fail vary Medium-Sized Ente th er ev w Ho y. om econ s as to why job creators in the existence. Reason of y. s ar ye o tw st fir a worsening econom d an s ill fail within the sk ss ne si l, lack of bu to find from lack of capita Absa, Sisa Ntshona, at t en m op el ev D terprise spoke to Head of En Donald Makhafola hind these failures. out the reasons be

18

www.spotongmag.co.za

Starts 1st December 2012

ENTREPRENEUR Feature

Why do most entrepreneurs fail in the first few years?

The primary reason why businesses fail is because of a lack of Business KnowHow, lack of the skills required to run and effectively manage the business.

Ironically, they don’t fail because of technical reasons. A plumber, for example may be excellent at their skill or trade, but the problem comes in the running of the business. They have to be the Financial Director, Human Resources Director, Quality Director and Marketing Director of their businesses.

So, it’s the skills to run and manage a business that fall short.

It has been said there is not enough of an entrepreneurial culture in South Africa, is this a fair judgement?

Historically, going into business has generally not been as a matter of choice, it was rather as a matter of consequences. Hence, we have seen what we term “reluctant entrepreneurs”.

In the United States, up to 50% of all the people that work would have started a business sometime in their career.

Also entrepreneurship has not been promoted as a career choice even at school level, the recipe has been you go and find a job instead of creating one.

It needs to be part of the curriculum; we also need to crucially improve the maths literacy rate in the country as we currently have the lowest maths literacy rate on the continent. This doesn’t bode well for the creation of businesses.

What is a major hindrance to entrepreneurs getting assistance from financial institutions?

The majority of loan applications we receive are of a low standard, they are generic and don’t display any form of innovation or differentiation. All businesses that exist effectively need to address a problem or a gap in the market.

What may have worked previously may not necessarily work in the future. A business that does not have a client or customers (access to markets) is not a business at all, irrespective of how much funding it has (capitalised). So, the first hindrance is the quality or fundamentals of the business idea or concept.

20

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Secondly, as a rule “Profit is the Reward for Risk”, you have to have something to lose so that the funders get comfort that there is a vested interest from the entrepreneur.

The challenge then becomes what/how much that contribution becomes.

It would seem these businesses are doomed to fail before they have even started operating, how can it be rectified?

One of my favourite quotes is that “Money never starts an idea: it’s the idea that starts the money” by Brahma Kumaris. In every crisis there is opportunity, most entrepreneurial ventures come from solving a problem.

If you are faced with a problem, craft a solution and sell that solution to others.

South Africa has the lowest math literacy rate on the continent and if you can’t do arithmetic, how will you run a business in a knowledge economy? Financial literacy among South Africans is also very low. We need to look at the source of the problem and fix it. We cannot undermine the role of education.

Are there successful examples that we as a country could learn from?

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Aside from 20 years ago, the best time to start a business is now.

The education system is critical and has a direct impact on the quality of entrepreneurs the country produces.

There is a positive correlation between the quality of a country’s education system and its prosperity.

Is there enough funding available for start-ups?

Ironically, there is no shortage of money/ business funding in South Africa – there is a ‘tsunami’ of funding out there! No one has ever been turned away because there is no money in the ‘vault’. You have the commercial banks, the national Developmental Agencies (NEF, IDC, Khula), the Provincial Agencies (GEP, ECDC, Ithala, Limdev, MEGA, to name a few). In my view, funding is not the problem, it’s the opportunities and the people (jockeys) identifying and driving those opportunities.

Do you believe development agencies are fulfilling their mandate?

There is generally confusion or lack of clarity about what developmental agencies should be doing, they are essentially addressing a market failure or gap but are starting to look like banks with their lending criteria and requirements. It’s also a mystery as to how their performance is evaluated or measured.

What would your advice be to aspiring entrepreneurs?

As mentioned, entrepreneurial ventures come from solving a problem.

If you are faced with a problem, craft a solution and sell that solution to others. Offer something of value and you will be relevant. Be different and adjust to the changing market in order to stay in business; capitalise on what your competitors are not doing to win the market. You can either beat your competitors with service or with an excellent interpersonal approach with customers, ensuring they will always come back to you.

How are you at ABSA working to assist entrepreneurs?

ABSA has created a unit called Enterprise Development. This unit is dedicated to promoting and developing entrepreneurship. This is done through three key areas of focus by providing: • Access to Market – Procurement Portal, linking SME suppliers to Corporate Buyers.

• Access to Funding – Providing nontraditional lending solutions, such as Procurement Finance.

• Access to Business Support – Enterprise Development Centres to provide Business Skills and advisory services.

We have realised that we cannot be a ‘spectator’ anymore and have decided to be part of solution by creating an ‘enabling environment’ for entrepreneurs. We go “Beyond Banking” to deliver market solutions that will assist to develop SMEs and ultimately assist with job creation.

L L A C T R A M S S T N I O P E N I L N O O E L A S F O

WHAT IS IN IT FOR MY BUSINESS AS A SMART-APPROVED RETAIL OUTLET?

CONTACT MOLEFE ‘CONC’ MASHABA ON 082 945 7199 OR southerngauteng@smartcall.co.za

SAVING & INVESTMENT

Financial Literacy

for nly O ot N is ing v Sa

l u ccessf u S Rich or ple o e P siness u B

I

n the latest South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Quarterly Bulletin, the second quarter household net savings stuck for the fourth consecutive quarter on 0% of disposable income. The SARB Quarterly Bulletin report reveals a damning picture of South Africa’s extremely poor level of household savings.

Marketing and Communications Manager of Sanlam Sky Solutions, Tendani Matshisevhe, says many people believe only rich people can save but this is not true. If you don’t start saving now, you could find yourself in big financial trouble years from now, he warned.

However, Matshisevhe says a considerable number of the South Africans are faced with many obstacles to saving. Food prices are rising, fuel prices are high and electricity is expensive; all of these factors are pushing up the cost of living and decreasing what we have left to save.

But he says while these expenses are very real, there’s no excuse not to save for a rainy day.

“You must start saving now and the younger you are the better. Saving should become a part of your daily 22

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aside now because you never know when you might need it. You might need a deposit for a house or you might need it if you become ill.”

Matshisevhe has a stern warning for both youngsters and pensioners alike. For the youth, he warns them against spending their companies’ pensions when they change jobs. “Many youngsters change jobs these days. So you work for three years for a company and belong to its pension scheme but when you change jobs, you ruthlessly spend the pension on short sighted things. If you do that, then you’ve lost three years worth of saving.” He advises that you should rather keep that money saved in a saving or retirement product. At the same time he warns pensioners not to rely on their children to take care of them. “Times are changing and we need to change the way we think. Children are moving out and not living with their parents anymore. So parents must stop seeing their children as an investment.”

Matshisevhe also warns against using credit cards because this can get you into big debt. As South Africans we spend on average 40% of our salaries paying off our debts. “We live off credit cards and then stay forever indebted to credit lenders.” He says South Africans particularly get into debts over the activities and you should be disciplined.” festive season. “People spend a lot of He says you can find one or two luxury money over the festive season and this items that you can spend less on. “For is short sighted. Rather put some money example we buy on average R300 worth away so that when January comes you of airtime every month. Maybe we can still have money for your basic bills, like look to buy less airtime or perhaps don’t school fees.” buy alcohol for a weekend. Or maybe don’t go home every month (for those As one of the country’s leading financial that work far away from home) but go institutions, Sanlam is intimately home once every three months. In hard involved in providing South Africans with times like these, you must be clever solutions to meet their short, medium about saving”, Matshisevhe urged. and long term saving and assurance needs. It’s also a major player in the He says if you earn around R3 500 a reform of the retirement industry in month, you could try to save around association with other leading financial R300 and for people earning less, he service companies and the national recommends that they put away at least treasury. Sanlam’s own initiatives R200 a month. “Then try and put this include working in conjunction with the into a bank account or saving product Operation Hope organisation to teach and leave the money there. You will then high school learners about the basics of start earning the interest.” banking, credit, budgeting, investment and entrepreneurship.

He says everyone should speak to a financial expert who would then do South Africa’s saving rate is woefully a ‘financial needs analysis’ to assess short when compared to countries your specific needs. “This will help you like China and India and as a result determine your short-term and longthe country needs to be pushed up to term saving goals. Short-term goals may underpin the ongoing economic growth be saving towards a wedding or a car. and development. The South African Long-term goals would look at saving Savings Institute, the Teach Children for the day you retire.” He says it’s very to Save campaign and a wide range important to have money saved for an of financial institutions are helping to unforeseen event or crisis. “Put money improve the national saving outlook.

SAVING & INVESTMENT Financial Literacy

g in v a S SA Lags Behind in

A

ccording to the World Economic Forum’s 2011/2012 Global Competitiveness Report, South Africa ranks 72nd in the world when it comes to saving, well behind the other BRICS nations. The South African Savings Institute (SASI) Chief Executive Elizabeth Lwanga Nanziri says: “These are startling figures, especially when one considers that the rate of consumption is increasing and the lifestyle gaps from the past are being slowly closed.”

According to Ernst & Young’s 2011 Africa Attractiveness Survey, investors perceive South Africa as the most attractive African country to do business. However, with its low savings rate, South Africa lags behind because this shortfall in national savings implies that domestic investment can only be covered by relying on large current account deficits.

“By improving our national savings, we initiate a virtuous cycle of growth.

However, we also need to acknowledge that in South Africa, there are discrepancies between the levels of consumption and the levels of saving.

If you look closely, you’ll see that for most consumers, acquisitions are made through loans – thus increasing the levels of debt in the country,” says Lwanga-Nanzir.

For the past 10 years, SASI has been teaching consumers and communities to strive for financial freedom through financial literacy workshops and introductions to the formal financial services sector.

Lwanga Nanziri says growth and the levels of domestic savings are especially important for developing economies

because they strengthen local banks and financial institutions.

“The more money local markets and consumers pump into the economy, the greater the number of opportunities for local developments. It is not only about having money for a ‘rainy day’ but also about creating wealth for future generations. A rate of low savings is bad for the country because investments are needed to encourage growth. And traditionally, household savings are an important source of domestic investment.”

“It is important in order to create a virtuous cycle for inclusive growth. The more money we invest in our local banks, the more money they invest in local projects and the higher the opportunities for employment,” she added. www.spotongmag.co.za

23

FINANCE & BANKING

n i s M T A f o d n a m High De

s p Townshi

S

present outh Africa’s townships for ies nit rtu po op of alth a we the to e du es local business ple high concentration of peo ically typ are t tha as living within the are ay from aw ce tan dis t can nifi sig located a pping centres. larger retail outlets or sho to capitalise In order for small business nships’ tow t on the opportunities tha a shift to dense populations offer, vices to ser t ien ven con ing vid pro growing e On . ded nee customers is y and safe eas opportunity is providing tallation of ins the h oug thr h access to cas business the l wil y in-store ATMs. Not onl ffic tra t foo in se rea inc owner see an t tha od liho but also increase the like m the fro h cas aw hdr wit o wh consumers rtion of the ATM will spend a large po th townships Wi re. sto inh cas dispensed lar pu po becoming increasingly n by the see as s, rist tou for destination tours on ip nsh tow increasing amount of esburg ann Joh in eto Sow as offer - such same the n Tow e and Gugulethu in Cap h in cas to ess acc t ien ven need for con townships will increase. rk ATM Managing Director of Spa , says ATMs erg rnb Ste rc Ma s, tem Sys as tangible have the ability to serve esses. To sin drivers of growth for bu ing ATMs tall ins , wth gro help aid this ip and not nsh strategically within a tow idents may res ip nsh tow ere in the city wh current the to work is vital. In addition is an re the , ips nsh tow in lack of ATMs most as s ATM increased need for safer ure. sec y ver not and ing are street-fac a hin wit d “Historically, ATMs locate ng, ildi bu a e sid out to sed store, as oppo the to e du ls ina are not targeted by crim re sto the in nts me ele existing safety ff, etc. We also such as CCTV, guards, sta ants about all rch me our ise regularly adv tions they cau the necessary safety pre criminal id avo to er ord in need to take . erg activities,” says Sternb

In-store ATM is the most effective way to increase your customer’s spending power on your premises.

enerating ATMs could be revenue-g shown e hav s die stu as and tools e portion larg a nd spe that customers same the of the withdrawn cash at ure of nat the on g din premises. Depen can be nt spe t the business, the amoun h cas the of % 80 and between 20% ATM the the kes ma s Thi n. aw withdr www.spotongmag.co.za

25

FINANCE & BANKING business are that bank charges for the h generated cas the as further reduced rease your lled into the nne cha most effective way to inc be can es sal h throug er on your ’s bank ess sin bu the customer’s spending pow o ATM and back int . ner ow is ess re sin the bu ant also a tly, rch as ren me t premises Sternberg says cur account. He says the hos throughout s per ATM ate 0 reb 00 a 24 m y fro tel ally ima approx benefits financi t is withdrawn ording to their their bottom Sternberg says cash tha acc to and ing ica add s Afr th thu nt al Sou spe aw be withdr ly to by consumers is most like er non-financial ll under 10% of these line. “There are many oth ds and services. calculations we the s say He as. are on the purchasing of goo venience is located in rural benefits to hosting a con in increased rural in s ATM to These transactions result in foot traffic ess se acc rea for inc demand ATM such as an al businesses and must be rise revenue turnover for loc and improved the n on atio is tall ns ins atio the an loc on ing impact follow sinesses bu by y and have a direct positive presence abl ult of the fer res a pre , as sed addres customer loyalty the e provided.” economy. “By increasing area for the local vic the ser e in g saf tin and g era t kin op ien ma conven y and of ATMs across the countr w. gro to y econom venient for ugh an increase access to cash more con Sternberg says even tho across de tra , ers sum con n ica res and merchants are told not sto s ail say South Afr ret erg of rnb ber Ste in the num ulting in chine ma ATM erienced the in exp h ng cas bei the country is spurred, res is any to leave g services ivity.”

ATM cassettes bankin cant nifi sig l stil is increased economic act re the ips overnight by removing the morning. in townsh the in ce ATM m ien the ven ing con oad the rel and then found that room for growth in t of the left visibly open ligh is The 2011 Finscope survey in or t do tha e es saf iev ATM bel The He market. pulation that there is 33% of South Africa’s po in townships, so that everyone can see increase of retail outlets becoming It’s ns. the atio ng loc ovi al rur rem in ne, live rket has the no cash in the machi the convenience ATM ma s population ion. He ent att e om esses which increasingly critical for thi elc sin unw bu al any threat of ability to boost loc to ATMs for are only loaded with sented by segment to have access s pre ATM ly re ent sto min ins pro y say as onl h to not sed to a are not po op as h cas services in convenient access to cas of g kin rth wo ban l one day’s re commercia es but fact that might have up to R1 mo t the pay for daily living expens tha to s ATM int po lled is k-fi the “Th . in ban ips townsh ic growth the int tha nships is ans me tow is ultimately boost econom an “Th . urb in ide million ins prehensive population growth com a .” is get pe tar sco a Fin d for of s. s nee les ion ch reg s the store ATMs are mu of financial constantly rising and thu se rea inc l wil national household survey ong all h cas to convenient access ge am t ATM host services, needs and usa ial erc mm Research has shown tha Co as. are in new e 10 to 30% South Africans. ngent sites experience an averag talling an banks normally have stri ins er aft er nov tur an ATM in ing se tall rea ins inc of for s .5% ent 71 em , requir ility of cash ilab According to the survey ava deployer, The .

ATM site nt on an nde e ATM pulation hav whereas an indepe rease dec a in s ult South Africa’s urban po e less res o hav als s, ed to the only at the site such as Spark ATM System d usage and car talled access to banking compar dit ins cre ’ be ers can tom and cus s the in lation. Of strict requirement credit in ion uct red 46.8% of the rural popu ng ndi po , 83% withdraw the corres in almost any location.” rnberg adds total banked population ving card terminal charges. Ste pro , nth mo ry eve s ATM money from a critical that the use of ATMs is majority of the financial service for the South Africans.

Is becoming critical for township population to have an access to ATMs for the growth of local economy.

26

www.spotongmag.co.za

n e r d l i h C Rescuing COMMUNITY LEADER

re u t u F their and Securing

T

he worst form of child labour is prostitution and drug trafficking.

This is the reason that Home of Hope came into existence 12 years ago, rescuing vulnerable girls from the streets of Hillbrow and Berea, Johannesburg.

Under the stewardship of Khanyisile Motsa, affectionately known as ‘Mam Khanyi’, the centre started with five children who escaped from a brothel in the area and found refuge in her home.

Today the Home of Hope takes care of more than 60 girls who attend schools while some are in university.

Explaining how she founded the Home of Hope Centre for Girls, Mam Khanyi says, “I saw children on the streets being used by pimps and drug lords and I said this cannot happen, not under my watch.

I didn’t want to judge or shout at the girls but I befriended them and one day I invited them to my house for tea. In fact I did this because I wanted to know more about them so I could deal with their parents.”

Mam Khanyi says the girls visited her regularly and after she forged a trust with them she interrogated them about their lives. After the girls had shared their life stories Mam Khanyi let the girls stay with her, which was the start for the Home of Hope for Girls.

“HIV/Aids is killing people and is one of the causes the children are on the streets. Most of the children when asked the whereabouts of their parents told us that their parents had passed away, leaving them in the care of their next of kin.”

“But I don’t play a game; we are here to help each other, if there are children who need a mother, why can’t I be a mother; if there are children who need a brother, why can’t you be a brother to them”, she asked. “I felt I had to do something to bring up these children with love and a homely environment like any other child.”

Founder of Home of Hop

28

e, Mam’ Khanyisile Mot

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sa

She says children who find themselves in this vulnerable situation mostly come from desperately poor circumstances, broken homes or are downright destitute. Most arrive from the rural areas and/or neighbouring countries of

South Africa. They are promised jobs or schooling in the big city. But once they arrive the agents are paid, they are abandoned and left at the mercy of the ruthless gangsters who hold them captive. They are told they have to sell drugs and work as prostitutes to pay off the money the gangsters have paid the agents to recruit them. Their ID documents are taken from them to make escape more difficult.

The Home of Hope provides food, accommodation and health care (since some of the girls are HIV positive and need Antiretrovirals). It also pays school and university fees for the children with the support of private donors.

She says for the past 12 years the Home of Hope hasn’t received financial support from government, they only rely on private donors. Mam Khanyi says she’s grateful for good hearted individuals who have supported the centre financially and socially over the years because through their interventions the Home of Hope has saved many lives.

During the period of 2010/11 Mam Khanyi received a total of 12 accolades from the corporate sector. She was the winner of the 2010 Feather Award in the Women’s National Community Builder and Humanitarian category, Shoprite-Checkers Woman of the YearYouth movers and the Rotary Clubs of Rosebank and Randburg awarded Mam Khanyi for Community Building in 2010. “By doing this I was not expecting anyone to clap hands for me, but all these accolades are the landmarks in my life. My reward is seeing a child growing up and going to university, her beauty and intelligence are my real accolades.”

Home of Hope has two centres, based in Kensington and Berea, Mam Khanyi says at their centres they’re teaching children some life skills such as knitting to have something to fall back on later in life.

She says their centres are in dire need of a social and financial support because of the high cost of rehabilitating the girls and taking legal action against their perpetrators.

Home of Hope can be contacted on (011) 333 1616 or info@hopehome.org.za.

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Don’t be a

Couch Potato

M

ost South Africans follow a sedentary lifestyle unaware of the dangers of being overweight or obese. With approximately one in five South African children overweight and exposed to a number of health risks as they grow older, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases has specified obesity as a disease in its own right.

The South African Comparative Risk Assessment Report that was conducted by the Medical Research Council revealed that over 50% of South African adult females and 17% of children up to age nine are overweight or obese.

According to the study almost eight million South Africans aged 30 years and older carry a risk for a chronic lifestyle disease due to high cholesterol and 5.5% of adults 30 years and older have diabetes. Government is putting in every effort to promote a healthy lifestyle; Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has set a target to radically reduce Non-Communicable Diseases by 10% by 2020.

The Heart Foundation explains that being obese or overweight can increase the risk of developing health problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, certain cancers, arthritis, gallstones, sleep apnoea, slower healing and an increased susceptibility to infections and psychological problems where people may feel insecure because of their obesity.

Notably Type Two diabetes is becoming more prevalent in South Africa as the number of overweight people increases. This is because diabetes is often associated with obesity and a study has showed that people with a wide stomach girth show a particularly high risk of developing the disease. At least 150 minutes of exercise a week or a reduction of between 5% and 7% of your body fat can lower your risk of developing diabetes by more than half.

While losing between 5% and 10% of your body weight and doing some exercise can substantially lower your risk of getting heart diseases and as well as cancer.

During the National Nutrition Week in October people were encouraged to use the newly developed Food Guide and the recently updated Guidelines for Healthy Eating to learn more about the best choices for healthy eating plans.

Now in its 14th year, National Nutrition Week has been planned jointly by the Department of Health, the Association for Dietetics in South Africa, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and the Consumer Education Project of Milk SA. The Guidelines for Healthy Eating are food-based instead of nutrient-based and were developed using an evaluation of food availability as well as compatibility with the country’s cultural food intake patterns. Both publications have undergone extensive consumer testing.

• Lack of exercise.

• Family history - if parents are

overweight then children often follow the same pattern.

• Pregnancy - the more pregnancies a woman has, the more likely she is to put on weight.

• Negative emotions, which can cause some people to eat as a comfort mechanism.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends the following lifestyle changes for people wanting to lose weight or live healthily: • Regular exercise.

• Increase your intake of fibre to make your stomach feel fuller for longer.

• Eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit daily.

• Use healthy cooking methods such as steaming, boiling and grilling.

• Limit the amount of extra fats in your diet, such as butter, cream, mayonnaise, dressings and oil.

• Limit your salt intake because salt makes your body retain water.

• Drink between six to eight glasses of water a day.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation being overweight is usually the result of energy imbalance in which one’s energy intake has been greater than the energy used over a number of years. The foundation points out that there are a number of factors associated with obesity: • Eating too much of the wrong types of For more information: food (such as takeaways and animal fats). www.heartfoundation.co.za

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29

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Education & training

onstant C eed N rs u Entreprene e v i t i t e p m o C e b Skills Renewal to researched curricula in order to address business management.

Young says a business can fail for many various reasons, adding that there are both micro and macro fundamentals that could lead to a business failure.

“In recent years, a business could have failed because of the global economic crisis or because one is operating in stagnating industries. In South Africa, in particular, one could argue that businesses are failing because there is a lack of knowledge on entrepreneurship, because that is a general perception.”

He says for these reasons, UNISA has partnered with various business organisations and business bodies to ensure a practical approach in business courses they’re offering.

L

ong-term business success relies on continual personal growth and taking a short term entrepreneurial course from a reputable learning institution will ensure that you further your skills in the area that you need it most, allowing you to sustain and grow your business.

In the Future Work Skills 2020 report, the Apollo Research Institute found that the future workplace will require ongoing education for employees to master new and emerging skills and gain knowledge of disciplines outside their own area of expertise.

The Apollo Research’s Institute for the Future is an independent non-profit strategic research group with more than 40 years forecasting experience.

The report says businesses must also be alert to the changing environment and adapt their workforce planning and development strategies to ensure alignment with future skill requirements.

To be successful in the next decade, entrepreneurs will need to demonstrate foresight in navigating a rapidly shifting landscape of organisational forms and skill requirements. They should continuously reassess the skills they need and quickly put together the right resources to develop and update. The report goes further and warns that if government policymakers do not respond to the changing landscape by taking a leadership role and making education a national priority “we risk compromising our ability to prepare our people for a healthy and sustainable future.”

Policy makers should consider the full range of skills training, as well as the importance of lifelong learning and constant skill renewal to prepare people and businesses to be competitive in the changing economic environment.

Professor Jacobus Young from the University of South Africa’s Centre for Business Management says educational institutions must have programmes that are aligned to industry needs and well

Young says UNISA’s value proposition is that the distance between theory and practice is minimised. He says the university endeavours to assist students who are willing to study to get some form of training and education in all facets of business management. “This should also add value in preparing students to become successful entrepreneurs.”

According to the Apollo Research Institute report, the landscape has changed and educational institutions should consider how to adapt quickly in response. Some directions of change might include: • Placing additional emphasis on developing skills such as critical thinking, insight, and analysis capabilities.

• Integrating new-media literacy into education programmes.

• Including experiential learning that gives prominence to soft skills—such as the ability to collaborate, work in groups, read social cues, and respond adaptively.

• Broadening the learning constituency beyond teens and young adults through to adulthood.

• Integrating inter-disciplinary training that allows students to develop skills and knowledge in a range of subjects. www.spotongmag.co.za

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MARKETING

Feature

Consumers Buy

lays p is D in ee S What They • • • •

holidays, major sporting events, seasonal holidays, etc.

Make sure the leading brands are always kept cold in the chillers.

Floor stacks can create additional display areas and improve availability, especially when on promotion.

Consider driving sales through cross merchandising or link buys.

Think about in-store theatre.

Merchandising Tips for Ciders Image by Jason Alden, One Red Eye

I

f you’re not putting your brand on a ‘display’ you’re less likely to put your brand in the shopper’s basket.

According to the study results of the Consumer Buying Habits conducted by the Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI), in-store advertising is the “last three feet” of any comprehensive and integrated marketing plan and it heavily influences consumers in their purchasing decisions.

should be changed frequently to keep consumers stimulated every time they visit your outlet.

POPAI promotes the importance of Point of Purchase advertising in the retail environment by bringing together brands, retailers and service providers.

At The Bar

Before a customer even puts a foot through your door you can get them thinking about your special offer. For example, a message about your wine offering on a chalkboard near the entrance is ideal and you can use this opportunity to showcase a special deal, to communicate by-the-glass price or to simply convey a warm wine-related welcome such as “Great food and great wine within”.

If your pub or restaurant has an outdoor seating area you may also consider branded parasols, bunting, chalkboards and posters. Consumers pay attention to displays and signs and make sure your Point of Sales messages are communicated much faster and clear. Your Point of Purchase material 32

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As the result of the findings it’s clear that trading outlets and brands that fail to provide the in-store marketing and education the consumer seeks out risk pushing customers into the arms of traders and brands who are embracing in-store marketing.

Fridges and shelves are not only for the practical chilling and storing wines; they are a ready made display area so arrange the wines to look visually appealing.

Use bottle boards and chalkboards to communicate your special offers. For example, a simple message stating the wine, the way it tastes and the price will do the trick.

Bar Staff Staff members can do their bit as well by wearing branded aprons and shirts that will give extra visibility to your brand and special offerings.

Merchandising Tips for Beers Make sure you have a core range of the key market-leading beer brands.

• Plan for uplifted sales during public

Cider is a fast growing sector in the alcohol market that you can penetrate.

• Ciders have strong regional preferences; make sure you take advantage of the area’s regional tastes.

• Ensure the product is always chilled.

• Focus on key brands.

• Premium ciders are the major providers of value and cash margin; make sure you have enough brands at all trading times.

Merchandising Tips for Wines

• Use your chillers to display a range of white wines for customers who want a table-ready bottle.

• Don’t neglect expensive wines – customers will trade up for special occasions.

• Feature promotional offers both on the fixture and by having floor displays. Try multi-buy promotions and “wines of the month” deals.

• On the other hand, don’t simply feature cheap wines because it will encourage down trading.

Merchandising Tips for Spirits • A wall bay location is best suited for this product category.

• Try, if possible, to allocate at least one full bay to enable clear identification of this section.

• Block products vertically.

• Locate this section late in the traffic flow close to the till point.

• Stock a focused range of spirits and liqueurs.

• Position deluxe/exclusive lines on the top shelf/shelves, premium brands at eye level and price fighting/own label on lower shelves. Allow for promotional space at eye level.

• Keep the fixture full and bottles dusted regularly.

TRADE

T E K R A M E H NEW IN T Product Reviews

Ciaoes One Litre Pack Launch

Ciao brings further innovation with its new convenient one litre pack, designed to resemble a cocktail shaker, and it’s easier to carry.

The stylish new pack is available in three exciting flavours with infused ingredients.

• Ciao Cosmo (Cranberry & Vodka) is infused with Rosehip and Rooibos to leave a unique fruity flavour in your mouth • Ciao Vodcano (Raspberry & Vodka) is infused with Ginseng to add an extra zing • Ciao Caipirinha (Lime & Rum) is infused with Sutherlandia to add an African pulse to this classic cocktail.

“The Nielsen Company reported in June this year that Ciao sales were responsible for 15.7 % of the pre-mixed cocktail segment.

This is exceptional penetration for a new brand,” says Anna-Marie Marks, Category Manager for KWV South Africa.

The new Ciao 1 litre is available in the market at a recommended retail price of R39.95 a bottle.

Colathemba e and Cola Red Win

Stellen Fine Wines is giving South Africans a refresher they would love to enjoy; a sparkling red wine with cola, named Colathemba.

This combination, which is very popular in Europe and South America, was originally brought to Africa by the Portuguese. Colathemba is all-yearround drink that borrows from classic favourites but is lighter and fresher, well-suited to the local climate.

“As a young innovative company, Stellen Fine Wines is leading by example with new, stylish and trend-setting drinks,” says Rudolph du Toit, the company’s Marketing and Sales Manager.

“We jumped at the opportunity to create a sunkissed cooler with an African twist for the local market.”

“We have named our cooler Colathemba, giving it a strong South African identity. Themba is an isiZulu word for trust.”

This unpretentious 8 % cooler is marketed in bottles made from Polyethylene Terephalate and has a six-month shelf life. The bottles are light, convenient and ideal for occasions where glass restriction applies, such as concerts, festivals and live events.

Colathemba is available in 1 litre as well as 1.5 litre bottles at retail prices of R14.65 and R20.65 respectively.

Offering KWV New dy and Cola Distilled Bran

KWV South Africa has decided to expand its offering within the ready-to-drink market with a premium brandy and cola that appeals to less traditional brandy drinkers.

“Brandy connoisseurs have mature palettes and will stick to enjoying their brandy in the pure form. The new KWV3 and Cola drink appeals to the younger market that are confident, independent, have aspirations and who will not compromise on quality. “Compared to other brandy and cola brands, KWV3 and Cola is made with the premium three year old pot distilled brandy and despite the better quality is still priced competitively and has the same alcohol volume of 5.6%,” says Innovative Director at KWV, Gareth Haarhoff.

KWV3 and Cola comes in a slender 330 ml can, a new variation to the market and is best served out of the can to deliver the distinctive KWV brandy and taste.

The KWV3 and Cola is available in liquor outlets nationwide at a recommended price of R10 a can.

’s Grant tes 1912 Fast Recrea Stand Whisky

The deliciously complex and smooth taste of Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky is down to the way it’s made from a method passed down from generation to generation, over 100 years.

Today it’s the expert skills of the Grant’s Master Blender, along with a team of craftsmen, who keep alive William Grant’s pioneering spirit and his passion for blending the finest whisky.

Grant’s Master Blender, Brian Kinsman uses his expertise to recreate 100 bottles of Grant’s Stand Fast from century old records. Kinsman says the new Grant’s Stand Fast is special and is very close to what William Grant created back in 1912. The historic rich and honeyed whisky has been recreated to celebrate its discovery.

“Today, Grant’s is a highly awarded whisky by the experts, this shows that what William created over 100 years ago was a great tasting whisky.” The new Grant’s Stand Fast is a rare and special whisky as it celebrates the remarkable skill of the master blender and the discovery of the ancient whisky book.

The whisky is rich and malty, with vanilla, oats and honey notes. It has a gentle earthy peatiness balanced with dried fruits, citrus and robust old spice on the nose. This is accompanied by a velvety oily mouth feel layered with sweet smoke, tobacco leaves, ripe bananas and blackcurrant.

The whisky has a lingering sweet aftertaste with a hint of peat smoke.

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35

PROPERTY

Lifestyle

Renovating can add or take away

erty p ro p r u yo m fro Value

M

ost people who choose to renovate are happy where they live but either need more space or want to improve their property and its value.

Property Analyst at First National Bank, John Loos, says renovating could easily be more expensive than building a new home or selling your existing home and buying a bigger property.

However, Loos says every cent spent on building, buying or renovating a home will probably be one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

Head of Home Loans at Standard Bank, Steven Banker, says if you would like to extend your home, you should first consider practical issues such as building regulations for the area/complex that you are living in currently. Other considerations are whether you have the actual land space to extend, and whether you would be able to extend whilst living in the property. “So, deciding whether to sell your current property and buy what you want, or whether to renovate what you have to what you want, is a decision that the property owner would need to make with all information in hand.”

“If you are permitted to do the renovations under the municipal by-laws, complex or resident rules, then understand the extent of the renovations, including whether you will be able to live in the property while renovations are going on and if not where else you would live”, asks Banker.

He says in terms of the actual property changes, home owners must always use a builder approved by the National Home Builder Registration Council to do even the smallest renovations to their homes. “In addition, always use a certified electrician and plumber as using someone with little experience or no warranty on their workmanship could end up costing you more money in the end as you may need to repair the damages done to your property.”

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He says the building material prices could increase during the construction or your proposed plans to renovate could be met with unexpected problems that you need to work around.

“Remember that this would have expense implications over and above the building and paying your existing loan.” Banker says as a home owner you should always ensure that whatever your budget is that you have a backup fund of at least 30% of the total building cost, just in case. If you do finish on time and within your original budget, you still have 30% savings towards something else in life.

He says some alterations could add to your property while others could take away value from your property. “For example you may live in a three-bedroom house with two small bedrooms; you decide you need a bigger second bedroom and because you hardly use the third room, you decide to break down the wall between both rooms and make a larger second bedroom. For your own living conditions this may be good now but when you try to sell the property, statistically a two-bedroom home fetches a lower price than a threebedroom, regardless of the room sizes.

This means you may take value away from your property.”

Banker says home owners can apply for loans if they want to renovate their properties but it will be granted based on customer affordability, credit profile and risk assessment, the value of property and extent of the renovations. “If you are building an entire new home to replace your existing home or if the extensions are considered a large extension based on the property changes, the loan could be approved but as a full building loan facility. This means the bank will undertake site inspections and payments are based on a progress status report”, says Banker.

Here are some of the pros and cons that will help you to make a right decision:

Building - The Pros

• You’ll have control over everything

that will affect you on a daily basis.

• You’ll get to learn useful things

about home construction as you monitor the process, and you’ll get a sense of ownership that comes only from watching your house take shape.

• If you choose correctly you’ll have the expertise of the builder, contractors and architect to guide you.

• If you employ professionals they will handle the paperwork for approval with local authorities, sub contractors and suppliers.

Building - The Cons

• Be prepared for the unexpected

costs that occur in most home construction projects, you will have to pay for them.

• Building a house takes time; waiting for it to be completed can be disheartening.

• Finding alternative accommodation during construction can be costly or if you can’t move out while you’re renovating, you’ll have to make peace with living on a construction site.

• Whenever a decision has to be made or a problem arises you have to deal with it.

Buying - The Pros

• You get to shop around and become a •

•

• •

Buying - The Cons

• If your needs are specific it could critical customer. take quite a while to find a home that meets your criteria.

You have the luxury of comparing different homes with different • As you did not design the house features until you find exactly the yourself, you may never find your right combination at the right price. ‘perfect’ house and have to make concessions regarding certain features.

It’s a buyers’ market at present so you can generally drive a tough bargain • Be prepared to spend additional and get the best deal possible, money on updates and repairs if the especially in the case of a property needs some work. serious seller.

• Looking for a new home and making an offer once you’ve found what you You can take your time house hunting. want can be stressful. You might need You can move in straight away and to act fast or make an offer that’s pay occupational rent until the house more than the asking price if you get has been registered in your name but stuck in a bidding war. only if the seller agrees. www.spotongmag.co.za

37

SPORT

s n r e v a T g n i Transform

S N A F R O F bs u into Soccer H

overwhelmed Castle Kingdoms were ence was eri done wonders exp ve is ha Th s

ge nt. an me ch rna tou saying the or ccer So er mi Pre racting new the att e know typical taverns g by rin continued du for their businesses rugby d an s from t wd shebeens in townships cke cro cri , al son usu e sea Th League ure customers.

Az B’s SA .

12 ern are 20 as pretty run down tav t ou the activities through around the vicinity of each Castle 11 ther afield establishments where 20 fur in m t fro tha s ers say oth Janneker also joined by , consuming tes cra er; er ov be keface-lift on ma l sit the ful at ers wh custom received a interested in knowing s and cut-off beer Kingdom which rt vide po pro s sup l om na gd tio beer out of quart bottle Kin l mo monthly pro is all about. Caste t there are a bu ys tra e stl ash rsCa as t d sse tha pa use s curious tins are tied into the campaign an open invitation to e tim t a tha ve at ha t l rke wil s few exceptions. ma thi Lager had in the by and SAB believes me” g term benefits p as the “watching the ga Cu ll we rld as Wo a Fif lasting legacy and lon 10 20 ee thr the Prior to the on us foc ips.

African Brewery occasion with a big for tourism in townsh stle Ca Tournament, the South t tha es cod stle g ‘Ca rtin led tive cal national spo (SAB) launched an initia y identifiable orming taverns nsf Castle Kingdom is clearl tra Lager is sponsoring. at ed aim ’ om gd Kin colours of red, ct tin gh dis ou e Th thr . y countr on approach ed eiv rec om and shebeens across the create “minigd Kin outside walls, stle the “In 2012 each Ca g to gold and white adorn e a total infrastructure upgradin hav l wil unlike the d ht an r sig he ng res mi ref lco another ”. creating a we ce pla super fan experiences ing tak ns s tio nd of taverns. of six on-site activa previously dusty surrou out of e Fiv rt r. pa yea s wa the ktail tables, not a e of tiv coc rse tia ed over the cou Innovative brand The Castle Kingdoms Ini a h wit d, ate to rel erns, gives the investment six activities are sports feature often seen in tav of SAB’s R170 million ign pa cam the ity here and flat of bil ng nsi osp sti spo atm ho Brand Social Re ce a social jovial spa support South Africa’s ing tak us nt foc me op ed up on walls nt and the focused on Soccer Devel screen televisions hoist 2010 Fifa World Cup eve ately 540 g on str a s ha ign pa l environment cam ee xim the forefront. This create a perfect sport-f was to transform appro Lager ips nsh stle Ca tow t 43 tha t in s fac en the es. be to tch affiliation taverns and she for viewing ma the last 55 come bright, s supported football for ha across the country to be a fan Ba of Kingdoms will sponsor d soccer- Janneker says Castle years and has been the inviting and rejuvenate

ar’s Africa Cup rs,” ye yea be used during next Bafana for the last 20 themed venues. s to come fan for bs hu of Nations as says Janneker. o wh ers sum con their love e by gav d The experience together and be unite d live games an s the d ern en tav att to ose le wh ab rs t were no Many owne of football. ormed into s and experience a place to watch game beens have been transf she the of y erg the atmosphere and en

W

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Image By One Red Eye, David Parry

Feature

EVENTS

Services

Listings EVENTxhilaratin g

Grant’s Celebrates Discovery of their k Oldest Whisky Boo

E o wet o S perience at Ex Wine Festival

Eight years ago in Soweto, what began as a small gathering of winemakers trailblazing a new market, and a smattering of curious Sowetans, has now grown into a major highlight on the Gauteng calendar.

The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival was founded by Mnikelo Mangciphu and Marilyn Cooper eight years ago. The festival, in association with Food Network, is growing from strength to strength and adapting year on year to continuously attract more people from in and around Soweto, South Africa and globally.

Glenfiddich Brand Ambassador Katlego Moloto at the Grant’s 1912 Stand Fast Media Tasting

A hundred years later, the Grant’s Master Blender, Brian Kinsman, has recreated 100 bottles of the original Stand Fast whisky using the same records handwritten by William Grant, and the same whiskies from the 1912 original blend for a unique taste. This followed the discovery of the company’s oldest whisky book in the family archive, by Paul Kendall, showing the exact whiskies that founder of Grant’s Whisky, William Grant, used to create Grant’s Stand Fast in 1912.

Conducting the media tasting from the distillery in Scotland via a video conference at the Michelangelo Hotel in Sandton, Grant’s Global Brand Ambassador, Ludo Ducrocq, said the new Grant’s Stand Fast is a rare and special whisky and they wanted to celebrate the remarkable skills of the Master Blender and the fascinating discovery of their ancient whisky book.

Speaking at the festival Cooper said, “Now in our eighth year we are a tried and trusted wine festival worthy of the many fine wine exhibitors and big brands that we attract, so much so we are 90% to capacity. I would love to see more wineries dip their toes into this responsive market. It’s unbelievably important and will contribute to sustainable sales now and most definitely in the future. Primarily due to educating this middle market, wine sales and consumption has increased for the first time after years in decline and it all starts here.”

Commenting on the festival, Mangciphu who’s also the owner of Morara Wine and Spirit Emporium based in Soweto and Johannesburg’s city centre, said wine consumption was on the increase but also in a responsible manner. “The TOPS Soweto Wine Festival plays a large part in growing this new market of responsible wine consumers as they are concerned about the etiquette of wine drinking and the responsibility of not getting drunk at wine tastings; this has everything to do with wine education, which is one of the primary objectives of the festival.”

This year’s festival was an exhilarating experience as visitors found their love of wines, be it red, rosé, white or sparkling!

Guests were in for a right royal treat with more than 900 of South Africa’s wines to taste, from firm-favourites such as Nederburg, Fleur de Cap, 4th Street, J.C. Le Roux and Four Cousins to the upmarket wines such as Alto, Meerlust, Plaisir de Merle, Rupert & Rothschild and Ernie Els to empowerment wines that compete with the best in the market such as Kumkani, Ses’fikile and Tukulu.

Up until now, the instructions to make Grant’s have been passed down as a verbal tradition through the generations through its six Master Blenders, who with their own intuition and knowledge would create Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky. Using his expertise, our current Grant’s Master Blender, Brian Kinsman, has interpreted the old records to recreate the 1912 blend, a Speyside style of whisky that has slowly evolved over the years as distilleries have come and gone. Today’s Speyside whisky is undoubtedly more fruity, rich and less peated or smoky tasting than what we enjoy today, but the resulting whisky is still recognisably Grant’s, says Ducrocq.

The bottles won’t be sold, instead they will be included in the family archive alongside the blending book for future generations to raise a glass to Master Blenders past and present.

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Masterchef SA finalist Lungile Nhlanhla and Minnie Dlamini at Soweto Wine Festival.

ORATE B A L L O C S IE R E IN W A S RIA E IG N IN N IO IT IB H X E ON The South African wine industry’s first business-to-business exhibition was hosted recently in Nigeria by Wines of South Africa (WOSA) in partnership with the South African High Commission.

Nigeria is one of South Africa’s biggest markets for wines on the continent with 15% volumes sold in 2011 and its wine market is valued at around US$300 million a year.

The two-day event held at the luxury Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island attracted capacity crowds, from importers to well-heeled consumers interested to experience what is new in wines from their own continent. While the first day was reserved for trade, the second day was opened to the public.

Market Manager of WOSA for Africa and America, Matome Mbatha, said the occasion was an opportunity for Nigerian trade to experience a mix of large-scale and smaller boutique producer offerings from South Africa. He said it was critical that WOSA develop the presence of

South African wines in Nigeria’s key metropolitan cities to maintain visibility.

“Delegates were impressed by the quality and stylistic diversity of what they tasted. We used the platform to highlight that our wines originate in ancient soils and that our wealth of biodiversity makes it possible to produce a vast array of wines and wine styles.

Trade, media and consumers were so responsive to the wines on offer that our intention is to arrange several more of these events to raise the profile of South Africa as a producer of prestige and premium wines”, Mbatha added.

The coveted bottle item was recently handed over to McEvoy during an official event at Melrose Arch Johnnie Walker’s One Bottle Liquor Store in Johannesburg. This exclusive and contemporary Blended Scotch Whisky has been created for the ‘new whisky set’ to enjoy at their exclusive and intimate gatherings.

Explaining the making of the whisky, Beveridge says, “This is an intense, smooth and contemporary blend, crafted from some of our most treasured whiskies, for those who know what they want in life – especially from their whiskies. Like the rare and precious metal after which it is named, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label is rich and refined, delivering the distinctive depth and complexity that is synonymous with Johnnie Walker. In fact, I believe that if

The Annual Mzansi Fela Festival This fun, exciting and entertaining arts extravaganza event of the year is getting bigger and better. Since its inception in 2007, the festival is regarded as the training ground for upcoming artists as well as a platform for established artists and is testimony to the festive spirit of Tshwane. The festival features music, dance, theatre, poetry and comedy performed only by local artists.

The festival will once again take place at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria from Saturday, 01 December 2012 to Wednesday, 12 December.

The City of Ekurhuleni Jazz Picnic This is the perfect pre-Christmas celebratory gift for Jazz lovers showcasing some of the best contemporary and jazz sounds from across the country.

The line up of includes Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Kwani Experience, Mpumi Dlamini, Malaika and more artists will be on the musical menu for the day as well. Bring a picnic basket and the whole family and all your friends to relax after a long year of hard work while listening to some smooth Jazz tunes.

The Ekurhuleni Jazz event will take place on 16 December at the Dries Niemand Picnic Grounds in Kempton Park.

Market Manager of WOSA, Matome Mbatha

um Platin alker W Johnnie R76 000 r o ns f o cti u A Label The first bottle of the newly launched Johnnie Walker Platinum Label signed

by Master Blender, Jim Beveridge, was auctioned for R76 000 and Lyall McEvoy was the winning bidder.

Events Calendar

John Walker were to create a Whisky today, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label would be the result.”

All proceeds raised from the auction will be donated to the non-profit organisation, South Africans Against Drunk Driving.

Jozifest, Festival Jozifest is a new up and coming twoday festival which will surely be one of the highlights of entertainment in the Johannesburg region.

Live acts include 11 International musicians and over 40 of South Africa’s most renowned artists. Names such as Grooverider, Sub Zero, Heist, Funtcase, Jenna G, Krafty MC, Felon, Junior Red, Eligh and Scarub will be performing in the heart of Jozi. Other attractions include the Jozifest Market featuring loads of awesome stalls from retailers to mouth-watering food as well as the Jozifest Carnival and Art/Design/ Video/Photography Exhibition featuring many South Africa’s best artists.

The Festival will be held at the Town Hall, The Woods, Carfax, MASH, Two Street Stages and Carr Street in Newtown from Sunday, 03 February to Monday, 04 February.

Randfontein Show This is all about fun, food and entertainment.

According to the event organisers this year’s show is going to be even better than the previous ones.

The Randfontein Show is a family orientated event catering for people from all walks of life.

Four entertainment stages, delicious food stalls, wine, olive and cheese tent and deli-corner, beer garden, funfair, several adrenalin pumping rides and entertainment from South Africa’s top performers - make this is a value for money family show and one of the favourites on the Gauteng event calendar.

Johnnie Walker Marketing Manager Jody Daniels is handing a bottle of Johnnie Walker Platinum Label to the winning bidder, Lyall Mc Evoy for R76 000.

The show will be held at the Greenhills Sport Stadium, Homestead Avenue in Randfontein from Thursday, 28 February to Sunday, 03 March.

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STOKVEL

Bulk Buying

eals D etter B Stokvels Get at Wholesalers

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uying your groceries in bulk quantities from a local wholesaler can help you get a discounted price, which of course would translate into a tremendous saving for you. This is a valuable habit to note especially in today’s economic climate where global food pricing is sky-rocketing and severely affecting poor consumers and underprivileged households.

Usually most wholesalers and food distributors trade at discounted prices to consumers purchasing in bulk quantities. This would also be a potential opportunity for groups of people who have been saving in the form of stokvels or ‘buying clubs’ to spend their money on end-of-year groceries.

Marketing Director of Makro, Chris Nezar says stokvel groups are able to negotiate better pricing deals for their individual members through bulk buying at Cash and Carry wholesalers. He says stokvel members, as a group, can also negotiate a better deal with transport contractors if transport is required for the delivery of purchased groceries.

Nezar says the group must consider bulk buying if they have a need for the product in bulk quantity and if there is a cost benefit from buying in bulk, “but members have to collectively agree on what they want to purchase. There is no individual choice for members.”

Consumers buying at Cash and Carry wholesalers can get a wide range of fresh stock, product discount coupons and Nezar says that Makro stores have extended their shopping hours for stokvel pre-orders. He says their stores provide pre-orders for stokvels and have a secure shopping environment with electronic funds transfer facilities which are safer than cash payments.

The butchery facilities at Makro also provide more options for meats than just pre-packaged. For instance you 42

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can get a cut to order where the butcher can then slice the roast into chops suitable for your family dinner.

Additionally, butchers can provide other services like trimming fats, slicing or grinding meat and then repackaging it to be freezer-ready at no additional charge. But he advised stokvel groups to place their orders in advance and as early as possible.

Nezar says stokvels are an important and integral part of saving because they have processes that encourage group members to be disciplined about savings. “Group pressure ensures that members do not miss their monthly saving contributions,” he adds.

According to the Shopper Engagement Study conducted by the Point of Purchase Advertising, shoppers are more empowered than ever before to make informed and responsible buying decisions. But surprisingly it turns out that more shoppers are utilizing instore marketing and branding cues to make an overwhelming portion of their purchasing decisions.

As a result of this finding, it’s clear that retailers and brands that fail to provide the in-store marketing and education the shopper needs, risk pushing shoppers into the arms of retailers and brands who are embracing in-store marketing.

If you’re not utilizing in-store marketing to put your product on display as a wholesaler or retailer, you’re likely losing out in the battle at the shelf to get your product into a shopper’s basket. The study found that nearly one in six brands purchases are made when a display with that particular brand is present in store.

Overall, a clear pattern emerged suggesting that displays in general are best targeted to a core group of loyal, female stock-up shoppers, even when she shows elements of high degree of pre-store planning in the form of list making and circular use.

Belonging to a grocery stokvel group could help you to avoid unplanned shopping because you cannot buy what you want as an individual but all members must agree collectively on what to purchase.

STOKVEL

Buyers Guide

r e p a e h c e r a s t c u d o r Some p

year the of es m at certain ti a shopping calendar. cles and build cy s le sa w o ll fo s, ce ri For discounted p Make your Lunch

Watch Less TV

g up your Get into the habit of rustlin pocket ily own food and you can eas er half to oth the ng usi h, half of that cas ntities qua k buy your groceries in bul et. at a supermark

General Shopping

ng around • Compare prices by shoppi es. pric t bes for the h • Familiarize yourself wit s. seasonal sale because • Do not buy things simply of bargain less ard Reg . they are on sale t that – jus are es ens exp ra prices ext ources. res r yet another drain on you quality ing buy by r ppe • Be a smart sho . nts cou it when ing yourself • Delay gratification – giv a purchase ut abo k thin more time to informed, re mo a ke ma ’ll you ans me n. isio less impetuous dec

nnels – going Do you really need 300 cha vice can ser V DST r you in tier down a . too h save you some cas

Downgrade your Brand Purchases

bit over Going for the cheapest is a ng a ppi dro ut abo how the top but you can brand level on everything by roughly and the overall price drops the for pay 30 %. Often you only . ing kag branded pac

Groceries

mach. You • Always shop on a full sto en you wh d foo k jun are drawn to . gry hun shop – it keeps you • Always shop with a list lly need. rea you at wh focused on ckaged food -pa pre – d foo h fres for • Go not good is and re generally costs mo for you. in bulk • Buying non-perishables on your ney mo e sav quantities can p. sho ly month

Food Shopping

food at the • Stop buying processed food ke ma er rath et ark erm sup from scratch. in perishables.

• Buy only what you need often cost ks • Buy in bulk – single pac s. ack lti-p mu as ch nearly as mu se often the s, item k pac ily fam • Buy aller work out cheaper than sm d and ide div be can packages and . use r late for en froz

ger Don’t Let your Eyes be Big y than your Tumm week the Buy only what you need for food which h wit up g ckin sto id avo and could spoil quickly.

ek, it’s not If you run out of food mid-we to trip ond sec a ke ma a big deal to the supermarket. rs

r leftove Cook at home and bring you for lunch.

Car and Insurance

inflated – • Keep your tyres properly well as save as life ir the g lon pro you’ll on petrol. your car will • Regular maintenance of . make it last longer tine to check • Make it part of your rou s regularly. tyre and the cars oil, water your car on e dat to up p kee • Always year your h eac ber em insurance – rem amend so se, rea dec l wil ue val cars’ r you on ue val the retail/market pay the you t tha ure ens to nce insura insurance. right premiums for your car

Cell Phone

tch your Know your cell phone – ma to a plan so le sib pos as y sel usage as clo don’t use. you you don’t pay for service

Swap Toys

d of buying If you have children, instea consider s toy ive ens exp them lots of family. and nds swapping toys with frie their h wit st ere int e los en Children oft ng ppi swa By toys but love new toys. ncy que fre the se rea you can inc ng any of new toys without spendi . ney additional mo

Household Insurance

entory Update your household inv ck on Che es. pos pur ce ran for insu r household you de gra ts; replacement cos are not you ure ens to tly rec cor goods s. item old seh hou r over insuring you

Electricity Bill Savings

in South Africa • Electricity is a problem , so you ring soa p kee ts and the cos keep your have to do what you can to n. dow electricity bill no one is • Switch off the TV when watching. you are not • Turn off the lights when using them. ducts/ • Buy energy efficient pro es the sav also s (thi appliances environment). ces – only • Unplug unused applian en you have chargers plugged in wh gs. thin g are chargin d water and • Wash your clothes in col rather than dry to e sid out hang them using the tumble dryer.

wer Be a Late Trend Fot llo when the

It’s tough to have to wai es consol newest mobile phone or gam can you if but t rke ma has just hit the m until at least the ing buy from k bac d hol hnology is six months after the new tec to 50%. up e sav ld cou you ed nch lau

Get Healthy

act the cost Your health will directly imp cases you e som in of life insurance and nce and ura ins lth hea r you uce can red healthy. get you if s bill avoid unforeseen

Live Closer to Work an appreciating Pay more for the house, and asset, rather than on petrol maintenance on a car.

Banking

fees.

• Eliminate unnecessary r you e sid out s • Avoid ATM banking network. make sure • Check with your bank to account for of e you have the best typ ds. your nee paying • Sign up for automatic bill that can e aus bec s fee late to avoid . tion uta rep tarnish your credit *Courtesy of Old Mutual www.spotongmag.co.za

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STOKVEL

Culture

Stokvels for

ent m lift p U Community

Members of the Boksburg Vosloorus Food & Beverage Association during one of their gathering in Vosloorus.

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he social economy is one of the top 10 job drivers in South Africa and the sector is set to assist in the New Growth Path. This is government’s economic strategy, with a target to create at least five million jobs by 2020 through various economic activities that would direct surpluses to the social economy.

In 2011, Yogi Nambiar completed case studies on social enterprises in South Africa which were produced by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in association with the African Social Entrepreneurs Network, Belgian Embassy and the University of Johannesburg.

The ILO defines social enterprises as organisations driven by a social mission that apply market-based strategies to achieve a social purpose. They include non-profit organisations and cooperatives that use business models to pursue their mission and organisations that make profits for social upliftment in the communities.

The stokvel concept has expanded to include a range of offerings that cover a broad spectrum of life needs. Money generated from stokvels can be put to good use by either starting or growing an existing business. Although to make a serious difference it may be necessary to join one in which contribution premiums are high.

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The following is the remarkable story about the rise of the Bondtitis Burial Society commonly known as the Bondtitis Benefit Scheme. Bondtitis is the name of a group in Marimba Gardens, a suburb outside Vosloorus, comprising mostly of former Soweto residents who acquired mortgage bonds for themselves.

These elite “black suburbs” were created by the apartheid government in order to develop home ownership and foster a sense of belonging and political stability in black communities.

The name Bondtitis was adopted in the 1980s when bond rates had increased to a level which saw most of the group’s members reeling under the strain of bonds. They were no longer able to pay mortgage bonds or higher purchase accounts. When Bondtitis Burial Society started operating in 1992 they had 25 members. Later they approached an insurance company to form an underwriting relationship which saw them forming a special scheme that would also be applicable to other burial societies as well. Today the Bondtitis Benefit Scheme is a registered co-operative that consolidates the membership of 42 burial societies to provide an integrated and more sustainable service. They have an annual turnover of approximately R300 000, with three full-time employees.

Bondtitis serves as a recruiter and collects membership fees from 900

principal members across the Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces. Bondtitis also have the responsibility of disbursing claims and are underwritten by Capital Alliance.

Highlighting the Bondtitis’ long-term vision, Patrick Mavuso, the chairman of the group said: “In terms of expansion, Bondtitis wants to service bigger groups such as trade unions and church groups.

It also aims to become an intermediary for businesses with blue collar workers, offering them the same burial society membership services.”

The efforts of Bondtitis coincide with the National Treasury’s micro-insurance policy framework that encourages and facilitates the provision and distribution of good value, low-cost products that suit the needs of low-income consumers.

These are provided for by a variety of market players who compete for the market, treat their policyholders fairly and are able to manage the risks of providing insurance.

Some of the few best practices and lessons learned from the Bondtitis business model are that co-operatives are built on a sense of collectiveness, responsibility, belonging, commitment and pride within the memberships. They fill the need to offer a high standard of client service just as any conventional company would do.

STOKVEL Column

Andrew Lukhele

Grocery stokvel groups have long been credited for having taken proactive action by guaranteeing food security for their members’ families through facilitating bulk buying, writes Andrew Lukhele.

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n 2011 the Department of Social Development launched the Food for All Campaign as a measure to address incidents of extreme hunger and malnutrition as well as a vehicle to restore the dignity of many underprivileged South Africans, including children, who experience hunger.

Through this campaign the department aims to deal with unfortunate incidents of this nature by: • Increasing awareness of the plight of people facing food insecurity and malnutrition in South Africa.

• Continuously galvanizing all relevant and willing stakeholders to respond to the plight of food insecurity and malnutrition.

• Aggressively targeting wards where malnutrition is excessively high.

Food prices are rising rapidly and economists are painting a bleak picture for consumers. Ensuring food security by containing and reducing the cost of food is affected by “relatively low levels of competition” in the food retail sector and inefficiencies in distribution that resulted from South Africa’s declining transport infrastructure. Rapidly rising food prices are also undermining poor South Africans’ human right to be free from hunger. Very steep hikes in administered prices are putting sufficient quantities of safe and nutritious food out of reach of the majority of the impoverished households in the country.

Various retail sector suppliers saw opportunities in gaining the loyalty of the stokvel market. Some suppliers have been offering large discounts on bulk buying for stokvel parties or for purchases for other special events such as Christmas.

Sometimes they even invite the stokvel groups to come and spend

their year-end savings in their stores and then suppliers, among other incentives, reward the three groups that spent the most money during the festive season with vouchers to a pre-determined value. Some stores even deliver the goods free of charge, catering for the fact that some stokvels found it difficult to transport their bulky purchases.

societies are prone to companies marketing, supplying or entering into agreements to supply goods or services at prices or terms that are unfair, unreasonable and unjust. This practice is prohibited and as stokvel you have the right to be protected against this practice and conditions.

However, there are other major weaknesses in doing bulk purchases However, stokvels often fall prey to from retailers and wholesalers suppliers limiting the number of items instead of direct distribution they wish to purchase, mostly because channels. Direct distribution means they buy bulk groceries intending to that the producer or manufacturer share these amongst all the members. sells his or her merchandise directly This practice is prohibited and to the consumer at an affordable stokvels need to know that it’s their price. Through direct distribution rights to buy any number of items that producers can sell products cheaply they desire without any prohibitions because the overheads are low and from a supplier. there is no middleman to add costs to the selling prices.

You have a right to high quality goods and services. Suppliers are Grocery stokvels speak to a basic not allowed to vary the quality of the physiological need and they account product or services in a discriminatory for 20% of the total 11.4 million manner. Consumers should be treated stokvel membership. According equally, irrespective of gender, to a survey conducted by African race, socio-economic status or their Response 64% of grocery stokvels geographic locations. make bulk purchases from various retailers and wholesalers once a Stokvels fall prey to suppliers and year but a significant amount of service providers offering them all purchasing is happening throughout sorts of discounts and persuading them the year as well. Indeed the idea of to sign up with their companies for co-operative bulk buying through the year-end, celebration and holiday stokvels is fast gaining ground. outings. Many of these companies will send you e-mails, SMSs or constantly No one feels the importance of bulk call you during odd hours and even buying more than women because on weekends. We all know that these these are people who have to look kinds of offers are designed to rip after children and take care of people off – many of us are aware households. This means that they of that, so stokvels have the right to have to deal with all the financial refuse unwanted SMSs, telephone burdens, the rising prices and the calls, letters or e-mails. You have education of their children. the right to protect your privacy and Lukhele is the founding president of confidentiality in respect of unwanted the National Stokvels Association of or unsolicited correspondence.

South Africa and author of the book Stokvels should protect their privacy by not giving out their personal details Stokvels. He writes in his personal capacity. over the phone. Stokvels and burial

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P I R T R U O Y G N I N PLAN TRAVELLING TIPS

Before the es o motorist g and d on the roa f you i especially a on are going y or e long journ re e holiday, th are certain ep in e things to k road t mind abou tems i safety and to check.

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he following useful hints have been provided by the Automobile Association (AA) and Volkswagen: The first priority before any trip is undertaken is to check vehicle safety. All lights and indicators, windscreen wipers, brakes, steering, exhaust system and tyres should be carefully examined for faults.

Motorists unsure or concerned about the roadworthiness of their vehicles can have a pre-holiday technical examination done at any AA Technical Centre throughout South Africa - with the examination undertaken at a nominal fee.

Motorists are advised to always carry a spare fan belt and radiator hose in the boot, even if the vehicle has been given a clean bill in a technical inspection. These could save time and money in the event of a breakdown and it’s also advisable to carry a spare ignition key.

It’s also advisable before leaving on a long journey to check insurance policies. Motor vehicles, householder, house owner and life assurance policies should be in order.

Newspaper deliveries should be cancelled and provision made for the care of pets. As a further precaution travellers should inform the nearest police station that they will be away from home.

Families travelling an unfamiliar route must plan their journey. The AA offers members a wide range of www.spotongmag.co.za

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route maps, town plans, brochures and road reports. Individually planned itineraries are available to members on request. It also makes good sense to use major routes and not back roads, even if they cut travelling distance.

The AA administers the SOS system installed by the Department of Transport on major highways. SOS telephones are spaced at two kilometre intervals and help is only a call away.

While travelling, motorists should ensure their own safety and that of their families and other road users by using seatbelts and maintaining a twosecond following distance. Following distances must be increased at night, in foggy or rainy conditions and when the road is wet.

Fatigue and eye strain can be avoided by making frequent rest stops.

Driver changes at rest stops are also advisable. It’s advisable to include safety breaks every two-hours or 200 kilometres, as this will reduce fatigue levels.

Cars should be locked when unattended, with no valuables inside the vehicle where they can be seen by passers-by. Never leave children or pets in a locked car, the heat builtup in the interior can cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke and can be fatal.

Take a 15-minute break at least every two-hours.

Prevent sun glare and eye fatigue by wearing good quality sunglasses.

• Avoid eating heavy foods.

• Do not consume any alcohol during your trip.

• An overheated or very cold vehicle can compound the fatigue effects.

• If you can have another person ride with you so you will have someone to talk to and who can share the driving.

• Make sure that you rest when you are not driving.

• Avoid driving during your body’s downtime (01h00 – 05h00).

• Drive according to the road conditions.

• Reduce speed when it’s raining or the road is wet.

• Adhere to speed limits.

• Use low beam headlights (never drive with parking lights) between sunset and sunrise as well as in overcast or misty weather conditions.

• Give yourself a little outside air but make sure that windows are closed enough to prevent entry from the outside.

• Turn on your parking lights and turn off other electrical equipment.

• After you rest get out of the vehicle and walk for a few minutes to be sure you are completely awake before you begin to drive again.

• Don’t leave valuables inside the car where they can be seen by passers-by.

Lock such items in the boot.

• Be especially careful when loading or unloading the boot that keys are not locked inside the car.

It’s also important that motorists carry their drivers licence at all times. This is required by legislation.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

Drinking While Pregnant

aby B rn o r Unb u Can Harm yo

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he number of people affected by foetal alcohol syndrome is three to five times more than those with HIV/Aids and it’s also the biggest cause of mental retardation in South Africa, according to the World Health Organisation. Many women are not aware that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can be harmful to their unborn babies.

Alcohol may be toxic to the foetus and can cause a number of health problems for both the mother and the unborn child including spontaneous abortion, premature labour, stillbirth and foetal alcohol syndrome, which is a variety of different birth defects.

Children who are born to mothers who drink heavily may suffer brain damage, mental handicaps, emotional and behavioural problems and birth defects, including defects of the face, heart and other organs. It should be noted that such damage caused to an unborn child by drinking is permanent and not be cured but is 100% preventable. It is estimated that between one and two thirds of children with special educational needs are affected by their mothers’ alcohol drinking, according to the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence.

drinking completely.

Some studies have found that heavy drinking may be associated with infertility, particularly in women over the age of 30. Heavy drinking by the father may also contribute to problems in their offspring, including cardiovascular defects, low birth weight and immune system problems.

Those who have a drinking problem should contact one of the many support groups that are available in their areas. www.sancanational.org.za

The commemoration of 15 October as National Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day aims to reinforce messages about the risk of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and to encourage early prevention of foetal syndrome diseases. Drinking a small amount of alcohol has not yet been shown to have any negative effects on a foetus, but experts warn that alcohol is a very powerful drug for an unborn baby. Interestingly enough alcohol is considered to be more harmful to a foetus than illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and even heroine, and none of those should be taken during pregnancy as they too can have an impact on the development of a growing baby.

Some experts say that pregnant women should not drink regularly or heavily, and certainly never get drunk. The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women and women who are trying to get pregnant should give up www.spotongmag.co.za

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LISTINGS

Services

LISTINGS Industry Association for Responsible Alcohol Use (ARA) Tel: 011 326 2906

University of South Africa Tel: 012 429 3010

Distell Tel: 021 461 5383

Gauteng Liquor Licensing Board Tel: 011 355 8699

Bara Rank Wholesalers Tel: 011 938 6835

Gauteng Community Safety Tel: 011 689 3600

Cape Wine Academy Johannesburg

South African Breweries Tel: 011 881 8111

Lefatshe Larona Recycle Tel: 083 413 8160

KWV Tel: 021 807 3911

Spark ATM Systems Tel: 021 418 3330

Heart and Stroke Foundation SA Tel: 021 447 6268

Waterkloof Wines Tel: 021 858 1292

Namaqua Wines Tel: 021 913 6187

Tel: 011 024 3616

Home of Hope for Girls Tel: 011 333 1616 / 073 250 2086

Morara Wine and Spirits Emporium Tel: 011 982 2290

Gauteng Liquor Forum Tel: 011 863 3239

Collect-a-Can Tel: 011 466 2939

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Wine of South Africa Tel: 021 883 3860

Wine and Agricultural Industry Ethical Trading Association Tel: 021 880 0580

United National Breweries (SA) Tel: 011 315 7337

Vice Unlimited Head Office Tel: 031 765 6521