Expatriate Mag Issue 11

R 29,95

Monica

Rubombora

From an Umtata Seamstress to an Accenture Director

Bertha

Charuma

Queen of SA Radio

Nedbank’s

Mumbi Odame How to Turn Tragedy to Triumph

.

Issue Africa ’s n en

en’s Issue om .

W

. African Wo m

One of Africa’s Most Influential Young Women

e su

IDC’s Dr. Chimhanzi

Women’s an Is ric f A

• Seychelles Travel Story • Inside SA Home Affairs • Rain - Rosebank’s Women’s Only Spa • Rumbie by Rumbie Designs Issue 11

w w w. ex p a t ri a t e . c o. z a

LUXURY OCEAN RE SIDENCES WATAMU s +%.YA

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3RD ANNUAL EXPATRIATE SPRING DAY DINNER 3RD ANNUAL EXPATRIATE SPRING DAY DINNER 31 AUGUST 2013

For the third year in a row, join us for our festive celebration to ring in the new season. This is our signature event of the year with short and sweet inspirational speeches, entertainment and a memorable meal. To cap it all we will dance our way into September as the night wears on.

Watch out for details on www.expatriate.co.za and register via this website in the month of August.

Email enquiries to subs@expatriate.co.za orcontact contact Carol on 0822146421.

Email enquiries to subs@expatriate.co.za or Carol on 0822146421.

SEE YOU THERE! MISS IT, MISS OUT!

Contents 6 Editorial 10 Inside Home Affairs 13 Expat-tivities 20 Dr. Chimhanzi :

IDC Senior Strategist

Today, Medical Doctors are increasingly citing stress as a major contributing factor to most illness. The Perfect Health Course offers a five-step exploration of mind-body medicine and Ayurveda.

We therefore offer 5-Module Courses on Team Building Through Conscious Leadership & Healthy Lifestyles, as well as one-on-one, customized Leadership Mentoring & Coaching Services.

Employer benefits include reduced absenteeism, better productivity, improved work relationships, fewer sick leave days & medical bills.

Course outline:

23 Bertha Charuma:

Queen of SA Radio

Session One: Know Thyself: Your Chopra Centre–certified Perfect Health Instructor introduces the Foundational Principles of Ayurveda, Meditation, and Yoga. The Mind Body Type (Dosha) Quiz is used as the tool or self-discovery and self mastery;

26 Monica Rubombora:

Accenture SA Director

Session Two: “Food as Medicine,” How to select the most nourishing foods for your mind-body type;

29 Angela Odame:

Head of Client Strategy, Nedbank 32 Rumbie by Rumbie Designs 36 Expat-travel:

Honeymoon in the Seychelles 40 Book Review::

The Polygamist by Sue Nyathi 44 Expat-techtalk:

Lean Digital Marketing 46 RAIN Urban Boutique Spa 49 Sakutukwa:

The price of raising children in the Diaspora 50 Lynnsanity

When black and white became grey 51 Dynamic investment for dynamic people 52 Last Word::

Africa still has slaves

Session Three: Rejuvenation and Renewal. How to eliminate toxins that accumulate in the mind and body as well as How to introduce gentle rejuvenating practices & techniques to relieve stress, and anxiety, as well as adopting a personal daily routine for balance and health; Session Four: Learn How to Attain Emotional Freedom as the key to your physical, mental, and emotional health as well as How to practice Conscious Communication; Session Five: Discover How to Harness The Healing Power of the Five Senses: Sound, Touch, Sight, Taste, and Smell as well as How to Strengthen the Body’s Inner Pharmacy by using each of the senses to heal and balance your mind-body.

Discover & Manifest Your Destiny For Further Information & Customized Events Bookings, Kindly Contact: Scholastica Sylvan Kimaryo (Mrs) Former United Nations Ambassador to SA & Lesotho (2001-2009) Deputy President, The Ayurveda Foundation South Africa (TAFSA).

Founder & CEO Maadili Conscious Leadership & Healthy Lifestyles Coaching Email: sskimaryo@maadili.co.za Website: www.maadili.co.za Skype: sskimaryo Tel: +27 72 212 9572 Member E-Fax: 0866 15 44 11

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

LADIES, ARE WE THERE YET? grow. Female entrepreneurs, artists, pioneers and leaders are found on the lists of most powerful and influential people in the world.

A Woman’s right to make decisions relating to her body has been recognized in many jurisdictions.

ith mothers’ day just past, one would hope that fathers and children across the country are still whipping up breakfast in bed for the mothers. A futile hope, I know - but a girl can dream. It is more likely that it has all gone back to normal and the definition of mother is now what it is for 364 days of the year: “a person who does the work of twenty - for free.”

Be that as it may, it is important to take time out to consider how far we have come, not just as mothers, but as women since the feminist movement for women’s rights was sparked by - among other things - Betty Friedan’s “The Feminine Mystique” some 50 years ago.

Equal opportunities when it comes to education and career advancement have been granted in most countries, first and third world alike. The number of women in business and politics continues to

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As we recognise our achievements, we must also take a sober moment to realise that we are still not there yet. Rape has reached pandemic stages in this country. An assault on one woman is an assault on all and it is our duty to speak out and to stand with those who have been hurt against the perpetrators.

Protecting another woman is ultimately protecting yourself whether it is by teaching your son to respect a woman or by going out to march with other women or by supporting organisations that protect women and children who have been victimized.

In this edition we toast our amazing achievements as women and embrace our potential for continued growth. As one clever woman said, “It shouldn’t be easy to be amazing.

Then everything would be. It is the things you fight for and struggle with before earning that have the greatest worth. When something is difficult to come by, you’ll do that much more to make sure it’s even harder-or impossible- to lose.”

Carol Malonza, Director Twitter @mueni8

Available at

Publisher: The Expatriate Forum and Magazine (Pty) Limited Reg. Number: 2010/012428/07 P O Box 4935, Randburg, 2125 Tel: +27 11 7917484 www.expatriate.co.za Director: Carol Malonza – carol@expatriate.co.za Managing Editor: KC Rottok – editor@expatriate.co.za Deputy Editor and Content Advisor: Leah Maina – leah@expatriate.co.za Publishing Executive: Sheila Lynn Senkubuge Advertising and Event Enquiries sales@expatriate.co.za or 0822146421 Edition Writers/Contributors : Keith Kundai, Wanjiru Waichigo, Chionesu Sakutukwa, Andreas Krensel, KC Rottok, Sheila Senkubuge, Patrick Mungai and Yaw Peprah.

Art Direction, Design and Layout: Mike Obrien mike@obriendesign.co.za Photography: Mzu Nhlabati www.creativenation.co.za Website: Drutech Media (0781121311) To subscribe or contribute an article, email us at subs@expatriate.co.za All rights reserved. Excerpts may be used as long as this magazine is credited as the source. Longer versions of our content may only be used with the written permission of the Publisher. Neither the publisher nor the editor accept responsibility for any of the information from edition writers or contributors.

Whilst we have taken care in preparing this publication, the publisher/editor does not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The editor retains the right to edit all contributions. Advertisers are responsible for their material. © Expatriate SA: ISSN 2218 – 757X

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ll Danquah is the brainchild of Mr. Kwabena Danquah who fell in love with South Africa during his first visit from his country Ghana in 1999. Mr. K. Danquah ventured into all kinds of new business possibilities other than that of the steel industry he had refined to a growing success story in Accra-Ghana. His passion for architectural renovations of buildings soon became very profitable as he acquired buildings and turned them into commercial and residential units in record time to be rented out as return on his investments.

As an entrepreneur, he handpicked a management staff that mirrors his business strategies.

All-Danquah very soon turned into a very competitive and successful rental and maintenance business with a considerable number of properties in Kempton Park and Johannesburg CBD. He also ventured into a steel business by acquiring a factory in Vanderbijl Park which he registered as Comet Steel (Pty) Limited. The group’s head office is situated at 45 Albatross Street in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.

All-Danquah staff compliment consisted of only three employees when it was established in 2003. In 2012, the staff compliment expanded to a total of 37 of which four are Executive Managers reporting directly to the CEO.

On 1 March 2012 the CEO and Management of All-Danquah decided to venture into new fields of hospitality due to All-Danquahs’ rapid growth and successful rental management structure.

All-Danquah’s tranquil new Guest Lodge in Edleen, Kempton Park came to life in February 2012 as well as a cosy sit-down diner Restaurant with ample space for 40 people. The Conference facility can host up to 60 delegates and caters for the most discerning of clients. There is also a Quantum bus available to transport visitors.

Food lovers will simply love the All-Danquah Restaurants’ continental dishes as well as African cuisine.

Contact Details: All Danquah Head Office: Tel 0119755006 Fax: 0119755008 E-mail: info@alldanquah.co.za, barbara@alldanquah.co.za, ryna@alldanquah.co.za, arthur@alldanquah.co.za All Danquah Restaurant: Tel 011 394 4236 E-mail: restaurant@alldanquah.co.za All Danquah Guesthouse: Tel 011 393 6583 From left - Ryna Snyman (Group Consultant), Kwabena Danquah (CEO), Barbara Benhura (Finance/HR Manager) and Kofi Arthur (Project Manager)

Okavango Flats (20 Units)

New All-Danquah Head Office

Residential Property

Quattro Building

NBS Building

All-Danquah Guest House

All-Danquah Restaurant

Comet Steel premises, a member of the All-Danquah Group

Inside Home Affairs

Work permits choices for foreign companies was recently approached for immigration advice by a US based company who won a contract to demolish an industrial site in South Africa. The demolition would take approximately 17 weeks and the company was intending to send eight of their experts over for the duration of the project.

I decided to write about this client experience because it is a common enquiry we receive these days. I will not delve into the eventual outcome of the process but I believe that discussing the options available to companies in similar situations will be informative.

The US company had two options. For assignments shorter than 12 weeks, one can think of the sec 11 (2) permit. This permit allows the foreigner to work and is issued at the port of entry into South Africa. The foreigner needs to present a letter of approval issued by the Department of Home Affairs. In order to obtain the requisite approval letter, one needs to submit the flight details, passport copies and most importantly a request in writing by the local company explaining why they need the foreigner. The time

Home Affairs needs to issue such letters varies. In 2012 it took a few weeks but this has since improved to a time period of five to ten working days. In the beginning of 2013, we actually received a permit within 24 hours.

such a scenario the registration of an external company might be a solution. The Immigration Act also allows for an affiliation between the overseas and local company. Here the demolition contract could form the basis for the affiliation.

The conditions attached to the section 11 (2) permit are that it cannot be extended and the assignee needs to leave South Africa before the visa expires.

A practical solution of course can be to involve more employees on the project and limit their assignments to a maximum of 12 weeks and therefore apply for section 11(2) permits.

The alternative for the US company was a straight forward intra-company transfer work permit.

This was preferable because the project duration exceeded the 12 week threshold and there was a chance that the project would take longer than the planned 17 weeks.

This option offers more flexibility but is also more expensive if the company involves third party advisors. The preparation might take a little longer compared to the section 11(2) permit because more documents are required and processing times at most South African embassies might be longer than five working days.

Thus for projects with very short lead times, this might cause unwanted delays.

An additional point to mention is, as the name says, that the intracompany transfer work permit is designed for companies who wish to transfer employees to their South African branch. A lot of international engineering houses or service providers who get awarded a short term contract might not have a subsidiary yet or do not want to establish one for good reasons. In

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On a different note, it seems like lately I bring only good news about home affairs to our readers. We have certainly witnessed a certain attitude change particularly amongst high ranking officials who appear to be doing their best to deliver a quality service. They respond to emails within appropriate timeframes and give feedback to questions. The processing times at the central hub in Pretoria are much shorter than they were six months ago. Unfortunately the regional offices still take an awfully long time to capture submitted applications. It seems that the physical distance between the Minister of Home Affairs and her employees has a direct influence on their performance; the closer they are the better their performance.

Andreas Krensel is the owner and managing director of IBN Consulting in Cape Town (www.ibncapetown.com). He is a qualified German attorney with an LLM from UCT and has been assisting foreign investors in South Africa for the past ten years.

@Soil_Child

Soil Child Clothing

ExpaT-TivitieS

Afrika Shindig at Chez Ntemba

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1 - African poetry from Edith Katshi, 2 - Introducing one of the designers Mam Lizzie, 3 - Showcasing African designs, 4 - Simon from the sponsors Buphe, 5 - Miss Zambia SA, Vivian Ncube, one of the African pageant winners who participated in the event, 6 - Representing Gabon.

DAMELIN CHARITY DINNER (Sponsored by Expatriate Mag)

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1 - Dinner fashion show, 2 - Dinner fashion show, 3 - R12000 raised for Florida Baby House, 4 - Dinner entertainment, 5 - Student organisers, 6 - Dinner fashion show

More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag

WWW.EXPATRIATE.CO.ZA

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THE 2ND ANNUAL EXPATRIATE GOLF DAY Sponsored by: Kenya Airways, Tectura International Architects, Set Recruitment, Park Inn Hotel, RSM, Tintswalo at Waterfall Hotel, Delta Cabs, Drutech Media, Sankofa Insurance.

ExpaT-TivitieS

XPATRIATE MAG KENYA AIRWAYS SPONSORED OLF DAY 2012 – JACKAL CREEK JOHANNESBURG

nya Airways, “the Pride of Africa” is a world class international airline that is a quent winner of the African airline of the year. www.kenya-airways.com

ER SPONSORS K INN RADISSON

ted in Sandton, this Park Inn hotel near Johannesburg provides superb access to the top businesses, shops and golf ses in South Africa. www.parkinn.com/hotel-sandton BETTY AND DICKSON CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

Betty and Dickson is a medium size practice of chartered accountants and registered auditors based in Randburg. w.rsmbettyanddickson.co.za NI HOSPITALITY

ni Hospitality, a South African hospitality management company, manages and markets a wide selection of both ar and 4-star hotels. www.akanihotels.co.za LOKO STRATHAVON HOTEL

oko Strathavon is an exclusive boutique hotel close to the heart of the Sandton business district. www.strathavonhotel. a

TURA INTERNATIONAL ura International is a firm of architects and planners with five active operations across the African continent. www. urainternational.com CORPSAFE

Corpsafe are distributors of all major brands of corporate uniforms and clothing. www.cjvcorpsafe.co.za ET

et is an ICT solutions company based in Sunninghill. www.atnet.co.za E STUDY FELLOWSHIP (BRYANSTON)

christian mens fellowship of BSF International congregates in Bryanston on Monday evenings. Charles 0824569814.

AGARE ENGINEERS gare Engineers are an independent consulting engineering company started in 1989 with offices in South Africa, wana and Kenya working for public and private sector clients. Contact 011 802 7532.

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Gym group offers state-of-the-art facilities in Bryanston and Woodmead with capability to service all of your ing needs. www.thegym.co.za

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e pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag

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02 04 1- Closest to the pin on the first nine – Michael O’Brien, golf set from CJV Corpsafe, 2 - Closest to the pin on the second nine – Lucas Molobya, golf set from CJV Corpsafe, 3 - The longest drive – Carl Endenburg (middle) of Set Recruitment wins a practice putting cup

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ExpaT-TivitieS

THE 2ND ANNUAL EXPATRIATE GOLF DAY

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1 - 13th place (13 prizes for 2013) – Charles Karobia (left) wins a CJV Corpsafe golf set, 2 - 12th place – David Ngugi (middle) wins an airport pick up from Delta Cabs, 3 - 11th place – Patrick Ndururi wins a Pro Shop Cooler Box, 4 - 10th place – Ndegwa Nderitu wins a portable putter, 5 - 9th place – Brendan Turner wins a Nike Duffel bag, 8th place – Xoushou (Absent at prize-giving) wins a Nike Duffel Bag, 7th place – Moolman (Absent at prize-giving) wins a complete set of iron covers 6 - 6th place – Patrick Pillai (left) wins a pack of Titleist Tour Golf Balls, 7 - 5th place – Robert Rono (left) wins a Callaway gift pack, 8 - 4th place – Michael O’Brien wins a romantic night for two at Tintswalo at Waterfall Hotel, 3rd place – Anthony Destombes (Absent at prize-giving) wins a Cleveland 60 degree lob wedge, 9 - 2nd place – Nyaga Githae (right) wins two return air tickets from Kenya Airways to Nairobi as well as airport pick up from Delta Cabs, package worth R10,000, 10 - 1st place – Duncan Mcmurray (middle) wins a weekend at Park Inn Hotel worth R4,000 as well as a website package from Drutech Media worth R15,000..

More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag

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THE 2ND ANNUAL EXPATRIATE GOLF DAY

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1- Key note address from Issue 10 cover personality Dr. L. Desire Kikomba, 2- Prize giving dinner entertainment from African Crest Radio, 3 - Item auction from Dawie Muller from On Course Golf Promotions , 4 - Craig from the Tintswalo at Waterfall stand, 5 - Park Inn Hotel stand, 6 - Registration desk, 7- Delta Cab stand, 8 - Dajo Technologies four ball, 9- Sankofa Insurance stand.

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ExpaT-TivitieS

GHANA INDEPENDENCE DINNER, PRETORIA

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1 - Attendees arrive, 2 - Prayers to open the event, 3 - All-danquah staff at the event, 4 - Receiving Expatriate magazine on arrival, 5 - Dinner entertainment, 6 - Hon. Hanna Tetteh (left), Ghana’s Foreign Affairs minister with the Ghanaian High Commissioner

Kanda Bongo Man Live in Johannesburg

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More pics available at www.facebook.com/expatmag

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MISS EAST AFRICA SA

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1 - Winner of Miss East Africa SA 2013 from Ethiopia , 2 - Miss Sudan SA 2013, 3 - Miss Star QT SA 2013, 4 - Miss Kenya SA 2013, 5 - Miss Uganda SA 2013, 6 - Some participants showcasing red evening dresses, 7 - Miss Congo SA 2013.

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DR. CHIMHANZI

IDC SENIOR STRATEGIST, INFLUENTIAL YOUNG AFRICAN WOMAN TO WATCH

Pic courtesy of Dr. Chimhanzi Zimbabwean-born Dr. Jacqueline Chimhanzi is Senior Strategist at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) which has a mandate to promote and fund industrialisation in SA and the rest of the African continent. Prior to that, she was Lead, Africa Desk with Deloitte South Africa.

Featured on the Forbes 20 Youngest Power Women in Africa 2012 list – women under 45 who are shaping the narrative of the continent’s rising - she is a Fellow of the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Programme, Oxford University and a founding member of New Faces New Voices - under the patronage of Mrs Graca Machel - which is committed to widening financial access for African women entrepreneurs.

She holds a BSc (Hons), MBA (with Distinction) and a PhD (Strategic Marketing) - all from Cardiff Business School, UK.

At the beginning of the South African winter in 2013, Dr. Chimhanzi took time off her busy schedule to speak to The Expatriate SA magazine.

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Do you feel a positive contribution can be made by Africans living outside the continent?

There are a number of things Africans in the Diaspora can do such as contributing their knowledge in key areas crucial for driving our economies forward.

Think-tanks can be formed which allow both incountry citizens and the Diaspora to participate, share ideas and jointly craft solutions. The contribution of the African Diaspora needs to be defined beyond remittances and structures put in place. India, for instance, has a Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs which enables its Diaspora’s contributions. .

What is Africa doing right and what needs to be done for the continent to continue on an upward trajectory?

The African renaissance is as a result of the confluence of a number of factors, some that are exogenous like the global crisis which did not affect Africa, and some that are the result of deliberate efforts on the part of Africans. I will focus on the latter. First, we are seeing more investment focussed reforms with providing for greater ease in the way that business is conducted on the continent. However, the pace of these reforms needs to increase as does the entrenching of the institutionalisation of the reforms so that investors have confidence for the life span of their investments.

Second, the continent is generally more peaceful than it has ever been with less wars and conflicts.

These factors will ensure the inflow of much needed capital to close the African infrastructure deficit and trigger Africa’s industrialisation.

Africa is now viewed differently and we need to seize that opportunity by laying the necessary foundations.

In your view, is the position of the African woman in society improving?

The next decade will see tremendous changes on the African continent, particularly in the growth of the female economy. African women represent a huge untapped market as emerging business leaders, consumers and household decisionmakers. There are improvements in the areas of education, health, earning power and entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial women are also making a strong contribution to GDP growth; in Uganda and Kenya close to 50% of all SMEs are owned by women.

That said, women still face enormous challenges. I think the fact that in 2013 we are still having conversations regarding combating domestic violence and increasing women’s access to finance is a travesty. This would be the reason why the AU has dubbed 2010-2020 the African Women’s Decade. This aims to put women at the centre of development on the continent and create conditions which guarantee all African women a piece of the continent’s socio-economic development.

As a female professional, what is your view of the status of women in the workplace?

Women have made progress in the workplace but I think it still remains, fundamentally, a man’s world. I think as a woman you have to really prove yourself before the opportunities and promotions come.

My advice to other professional women is to be consistent in the delivery of quality work. Your work must speak for you.

I believe in quota systems that dictate the numbers of women at certain levels. We need to formalise and institutionalise our approach to addressing gender imbalances as we do with any other imbalances in our societies. Importantly, a quota system must not be equated with tokenism or charity; it is simply a way of ensuring that there is a process in place for identifying and grooming capable women. If that is not done, then what incentives are there for organisations to promote women?

Interestingly, it is in the interests of organisations to develop women in light of new evidence that women bring certain beneficial qualities and perspectives into the workplace. A 2012 study “Women Matter” by global consultancy firm McKinsey, found that in companies with a critical mass of women, performance increased significantly.

What do you view as your positive attributes?

Judgement and appropriateness speak to my EQ and my worldview.

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I lived in various countries from the age of ten and have travelled extensively. So whilst I am very African in my being, I am very global in my outlook. I lived in Ethiopia between 1984 and 1988 and went to the American International School. Having had classmates from all corners of the world, I have the wherewithal to contextualise my interactions, understand where people are coming from and engage at the appropriate level. I also engage very easily and very happily with folk in rural Zimbabwe. I straddle both worlds very comfortably.

What drives you?

There is debate right now about whether Africa is really rising. I am driven by the desire to see a better Africa that has unequivocally risen in my lifetime. It can be done! It’s the things that we all do every day that add up. I am conscious of my role and always remind myself of it. I am, in fact, my harshest critic!

lot working with her. She has a “can do” mind-set and is a visionary who pays equal attention to detail which I think is a rare combination.

“There is debate right now about whether Africa is really rising. I am driven by the desire to see a better Africa that has unequivocally risen in my lifetime. It can be done! It’s the things we all do every day that add up...”

You have an impressive array of accolades from a number of reputable entities, which one stands out for you and why?

You know, I am driven by the average person – the human stories and faces behind the numbers and the statistics.

I find enormous inspiration in people trying to make a living in the most difficult of conditions while maintaining their dignity like the hairdresser braiding hair for eight hours with a baby on her back so as to send money back home to Nigeria or Zimbabwe.

Undoubtedly, the Archbishop Tutu Leadership Programme at Oxford University. It is a PanAfrican and highly competitive programme so being accepted was a major achievement for me. It is unconventional as participants are chosen on the basis that they are already leaders but may not be conscious of it nor aware of the role they could play in the transformation of Africa. It brings out the leader with the question -“Why would anyone want to follow me?” whilst acknowledging that people can lead in whatever capacities they find themselves in - not just as positional leaders but also as followers.

As for someone in the public arena, it has to be Graça Machel – she is formidable and I have learnt a

The introspective and, often, painful experience is akin to an onion being peeled. With each layer gone,

Who inspires you and why?

you are more exposed until you get to your very core and you have to decide how you harness or fix that core. It has had a massive impact on my career giving it a decidedly Africa focus. The class of 2012 was captured in a 4 part Al-Jazeera documentary titled “Tutu’s Children” which your readership can watch on the internet.

What is your leadership and management style/philosophy?

Feedback from members of teams that I have led would suggest my style is inclusive and empowering.

My natural inclination is to ensure that team members are able to give the best of themselves. I want the final outcome to be collectively owned but also lay importance on the quality of the journey. There is an analogy that resonates with me, that I took away from the Tutu Programme – that of an effective leader as being at the centre and facilitating conversations with a circle of stakeholders versus the way we conventionally depict leaders as being at the top of a hierarchy.

What country are you most impressed with and what can the rest of the continent learn from there?

Kenya impresses me enormously - the maturity and growth in its journey from 2008 to the most recent elections. It is also the technology pacesetter on the continent with mPesa, mKesho, mFarm, iHub, Silicon Savannah etc. But I am fascinated more by the spaces where these ideas are birthed and executed – the source. How can other African countries also create those spaces?

Expatriate Mag team

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Bertha Charuma

Queen of SA Radio

remember listening to her on Metro FM taking us through delightful rhythm and blues when I was a student at Wits University about a decade ago. When we met outside the studios of Radio 2000 at the SABC in Auckland Park, my first thought which I let out as a remark was that she looked much younger than I imagined.

“I will take that as a compliment,” she smiled. “I am no spring chicken; I was born in 1970.”

She left me to do the maths as she reached for her headphones

and approached the microphone to talk to the millions of listeners who were tuned into her mid-morning show. I wondered whether this was just a brief meeting to schedule the actual interview but soon learnt that her plan was that we conduct the dialogue in the interludes that she would have as she hosted the show.

This was the opportunity to watch a true professional in action. It takes considerable poise to be able to chat to someone while cuing music, taking calls, shifting numerous dials, making occasional on-air remarks and going back and forth with a

producer in an adjacent room.

“I am a woman, I can multi-task,” she summarised quite simply.

Her gender aside, Bertha can probably do this with her eyes closed having been in the industry since joining the Zimbabwean Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) as an intern in 1990. She recalled that she only took up the job because of a strong desire to be independent, to earn some money and move out of home.

“I was a wild child with a bit of a rebellious streak,” she admitted.

In the course of our discussion, numerous examples of bravery and extraordinary traits in Bertha became apparent. Unbeknown to her parents, in her third year at Oriel Girls High School, she hopped onto a bus from Harare to Marondera High where she successfully begged the headmaster for a place at the boarding institution.

She felt that she was bound to fail if she remained in a day school.

On completing her O level education at Marondera, Bertha had had enough of school and convinced her father to allow her to attempt the customary two year A level

studies over a one year period in a city college. It proved an impossible task and she therefore returned to Oriel where she obtained her A level certificate in 1989.

“I was quite the maverick back then and I also got bored very easily.

After a year and a half at ZBC, I needed a new challenge and the spirit of adventure led me to Johannesburg where I rented a back room in Orlando East, Soweto. I stayed here for a few months before learning of an opportunity at BOP Radio and TV in Mmabatho which I successfully pursued.”

Bertha worked as an education script writer and continuity

presenter at this TV station that served as the regional media house for the homeland of Bophutatswana.

She recalled that the people were very welcoming and she quickly became fluent in Setswana which is important as knowledge of a local language frequently comes in handy for a foreign born entertainment personality.

“While at BOP, I completed a Bachelors degree in Communication and Industrial Psychology through UNISA. Other than my TV role, I was also a producer for a current affairs programme at Radio BOP. Then one day the presenter of the show was unavailable and I stepped in. Before long I was the presenter

for the 9 am to 12 pm slot which I handled up to 1999 when I returned to Johannesburg as a presenter at Metro FM.” Metro was a different kettle of fish from Radio BOP, as is her current role at Radio 2000 where she is the mid-morning maestra. While BOP was a regional station, Metro is a national commercial radio station with all the glitz that attracts a popular listenership. Radio 2000 has a public serving mandate and has a more informative slant that is appealing to a mature audience. I suggested that her profile speaks of versatility.

“Entrepreneurship taught me a lot. I have new found respect for people who go out there and start their own businesses. It takes a lot of tenacity and it has taught me to be a fixer and not a whiner. All employees out there should be grateful and not take for granted that someone sweated to set up the system from which they earn a living.”

“Fortunately the incident did not erupt and I did not get fired,” she said gratefully. “Another incident that stands out as a major bleep was when I was an MC at an event in Potchefstroom. As I stepped out to introduce former President Thabo Mbeki, my sleeve gave way and I flashed the hundreds of people who were in the audience. I remember Mbeki was the perfect gentleman; he helped me fix my top and gave me a fatherly hug which gave me the strength to carry on with the evening like it had not happened.”

“This was the opportunity to watch a true professional in action. It takes considerable poise to

As grateful as she is be able to be interviewed for having dealt with those blunders, Bertha is grateful “Well they all happened by a magazine while for everyday life. Indeed her show on Radio 2000 at different times in my life and can be said to have cuing music, taking calls, is called ‘Life with Bertha’.

Her personal philosophy is been reflective of the phase I was in at the time,” she shifting numerous dials, best summarised by the way she describes herself on the responded. making occasional on-air station website: Other than radio, Bertha “If I had to define has also graced the small remarks and going back myself in 30 seconds I would screen. Her time on TV life is consistent, the sun includes being the centre and forth with a producer say rises in the morning and it piece of Africa Within, a it’s what you do with show on SABC 3 showcasing in an adjacent room....” sets, your life that defines it. I the lifestyles of well-to-do Africans and reading the news on E-TV’s mobile service. She has also ventured into the entrepreneurial space; when she left Metro in 2005, she set up Lib and Rose Consulting, a media company that focused on bringing ideas to life through events and other avenues which also has real estate interests in SA and Zimbabwe.

Other than facing the challenges that come with starting a business, her work in entertainment has also included a few times when she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. She was once caught on air talking ill of a very prominent personality while at Metro FM.

truly believe this and live my life this way. I wake up looking forward to what I have in-store for myself and that’s it! You determine what your life becomes. This is what I stand for and I express it every day when I am on-air. I love a state of mind that is passionate about living to the fullest; that is what I prescribe to.’”

- KC ROTTOK

Monica Rubombora From an Umtata Seamstress to Director, Accenture SA 36

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n 1991, in the beautiful setting that is Port St. Johns in the Eastern Cape, a young Monica wedded Dr. William Rubombora. She had immigrated to the country a year earlier to join the medical doctor who had moved here from their native Uganda in 1984. The couple lived in Umtata and although Monica had a Bachelors degree in Social Work and a post-graduate diploma in computer programming, her initial occupation was sewing and selling women’s clothing.

“It was a very profitable business as the costs were low and I would sell the clothes at good prices to the nurses at Umtata Hospital where my husband worked. The only stressful aspect was that some clothes were sold on credit and I wasn’t accustomed to chasing people for payment. I later took up another vocation at the Department of Health and Social Welfare in Ciskei when we moved there in 1992,” she recalls.

Monica pursued an Honours degree i n

Human Resource Development at the Rand Afrikaans University and through a lecturer there got an interview at First National Bank in Johannesburg in 1995. She longed for the big city ‘vibe’ which was different from the quiet serene life of the homelands.

the manager offered it to me without batting an eyelid. Life in Johannesburg turned out to be far more expensive than life in Eastern Cape. Rent for my small apartment in Hillbrow nearly wiped out all my net pay. I have since improved my negotiation skills.”

“FNB flew me here for an interview after which they asked me what I would want as an annual salary. I had read somewhere that

Dr. Rubombora moved to Johannesburg in 1996 and in the same year Monica left FNB for Momentum Life in a similar role of training staff to communicate and sell company products to customers.

Her stint at Momentum Life was short lived as she left shortly after for a training role at an outsourcing company called Electronics Data Systems where she served for six months before joining Accenture as a management consultant in June 1999.

“I try not to view myself as an immigrant as this would limit my focus; I am inspired by the words of Hillary Clinton who after losing her presidential bid embraced the Secretary of State role and declared ‘you should bloom where you are planted’...”

one needs to negotiate for a 1015% increase from the current pay. So I did just t h a t and

“I was constantly head-hunted,” she explains. “In fact, there was a particular recruitment agent who continuously presented improved offers to me. But I stopped being a nomad when I joined Accenture which offered me a diversity of opportunities that matched my aspirations”.

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company in more than 120 countries. Its South African subsidiary is a sizeable organisation of over 2,000 employees with clients in both the private and public sectors.

Monica’s early work included consulting work at the national, provincial and local government departments.

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She was involved in driving major technology-led transformational initiatives at SARS, National Treasury and the major municipalities.

Monica’s triumphs in academia also continued as she graduated with a Masters in Business Leadership from UNISA in 2001.

“While doing work for the Gauteng provincial government in 2006, I was requested by the client to take up a position as the Deputy Director-General in Procurement at the Shared Service Centre.”

Monica’s role involved managing the province’s procurement discretionary spend of 19 billion rand on a range of purchases from school books to medical supplies.

She worked closely with the Premier of the Province and other senior officials placing her at the centre of the decision making fraternity in Africa’s richest province. In 2008, she returned to Accenture as a senior executive and director on the company board responsible for, among other tasks, business development, sales and execution of client value propositions in Accenture’s Health and Public Sector Operating Group.

In 2012, she was named the Talent and Organisation Business Portfolio lead. She leads a team of 90 people who provide the service to a number of clients in the private and public industry. She heads this significant business unit while acting as the lead in other consultancy projects that Accenture has at the Independent Electoral Commission, City of Joburg, Standard Bank and

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Vodacom among others.

Monica credits her husband for enabling to reach the heights she has achieved.

“He has been my number one fan by encouraging me even when I was uncertain. I feel blessed because I frequently work long hours and he also has his own demanding job as a medical practitioner and combines that with taking care of all of us. My two children are also an inspiration; Vanessa, a third year medical student at UCT and Itote, a high school student at St John’s College. I know of women who have left senior positions due to the challenges of attaining a desirable work-life balance. A supportive home network has been an essential part of my success.”

In spite of spending 22 years in SA and becoming naturalised citizens, the Rubomboras have very strong ties to Uganda and visit their country of origin at least once a year.

“We have a number of initiatives in Uganda and would like to do even more. I have an attachment to the country and most of our extended family still lives there. At the moment, I try not to view myself as an immigrant as this would limit my focus; I am inspired by the words of Hillary Clinton who after losing her presidential bid embraced the Secretary of State role and declared ‘you should bloom where you are planted’.”

political and entrepreneurial space. In spite of being a black, an immigrant and a woman, she approaches the South African corporate environment with an open mind.

“South Africans overall are generally very warm and welcoming people. I don’t believe that we should allow ourselves to be consumed with the idea that we will be discriminated against. Of course we should be conscious of it but thinking like a victim makes you one even before others have shown prejudice against you. Rather work with them and bloom with them.”

Monica is passionate about what she does and describes it as a problem-solving role. In her view, consulting is like “peeling an onion” to get to the core of what clients really want to achieve and working alongside them to get the results. In spite of rising to such a high level, she continues to work diligently being prepared for whatever opportunities may come her way both within and outside her current organisation.

“As Louis Pasteur said, ‘luck favours the prepared mind’,” she concludes.

Keith Kundai

Other than Hillary’s autobiography, Monica loves to read the memoirs of a number of personalities in leadership in both the

Pic courtesy of M. Rubombora

Angela Mumbi Odame, MBA Head of Client Service Experience Management Strategy at Nedbank

“I believe in intellectual stimulation so learning for me is a continuous process. I am also inspired by growth, not only my own but that of others too...�

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A story of turning tragedy to triumph.... f you think you had a tough childhood, a brief chat with Angela Mumbi Odame may make you re-consider that view. She was born in December 1973 - the third child in a family of four. Her mother passed away three years later which drove her father to alcoholism and prompted him to send her to boarding institutions for both primary and secondary school education.

Angela’s father passed away when she was 24. This was followed a few years later by the demise of her older brother who had battled a drug addiction since the age of 12, then by her first daughter who was born with a hole in her heart and only lived a few months.

You would think that after such a difficult start to life, Angela would be miserable and bitter but the reality is quite the contrary. She is the epitome of positivity and to delve deeper into her person is to discover a woman who has succeeded on both a professional and social level.

The seeds of her career were sown at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya where she completed a five year degree in electrical engineering in 1998. By this time, she had met her husband John whom she had married two years earlier.

“A friend of John’s was working at Citibank at the time and alerted me to an internship opportunity in their Nairobi offices,” she recalled when interviewed by Expatriate magazine. “I was the successful

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candidate on the back of the good grades I obtained in my degree and my initial role was assisting in electronic banking support.”

During the course of her internship, Angela got the rare opportunity to travel to various African countries where Citibank did not have a presence. At the turn of the century, the regional office of this American bank was moved to Johannesburg and she and John took the decision to relocate.

“Our move was quite stress free as we arrived as professional expatriates entitled to a number of benefits including remuneration in foreign currency and a fairly generous housing allowance. But in 2002, the company policy required that we be retained as local staff and the benefits disappeared.”

In 2004, Angela moved to Nedbank which she viewed as a fairly sizeable bank with a lot of opportunities for growth.

“My first role was in transactional banking where I was required to participate in sales at a corporate level of banking products. I was responsible for a team of about eight people having been employed as a manager before progressing to a senior management position.”

A role in management made Angela consider pursuing a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and she enrolled for the course at the Gordon Institute of Business Studies.

“It was a fantastic course but very demanding. I recall that when we began the course we were advised

that something would have to give in the course of our studies and it was up to us to determine what that was. I was determined not to let the intensity of the qualification impact on my role as a wife and as a mother to my two boys. So for the first time as a student, I decided that 50% would have to do rather than pursuing excellent grades which was my nature up to that point.”

Nedbank was an understanding employer and allowing Angela time each month to study for the MBA increased her commitment to the organisation. The course presented a number of practical case studies and was also a fruitful networking opportunity as she got to engage with other professionals.

In 2007, soon after completing the MBA, Angela was appointed Senior Accounts Executive in the International Financial Institutions team responsible for Africa. The role involved a lot of continental travel for short periods of time. To date, Angela can count a staggering 22 countries that she has been privileged to visit as a banker.

After three years in the senior accounts executive role, she moved to the unfamiliar territory of credit and risk analysis as a Senior Credit Manager.

“It was unlike anything I had encountered before in my career as it involved a lot of detailed analysis.

In addition, most of the other people who had joined the division were new to banking in general. It was not surprising therefore that I did

not stay there long; when the position of head of client experience management was advertised, I snapped at the opportunity” Angela said that she is relishing her new role. She is responsible for driving strategies aimed at driving client loyalty in mainly the retail space and involves looking at all aspects of retail banking that impact on the client’s experience.

When asked what the secret to her success is, prioritising education ranks highly.

SOCIETY HOUSE, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

“One of the things my father got right was that he insisted that we did well in school. At times food would be lacking in the house but our school fees were always paid on time. Similarly, I don’t spare a dime when it comes to making sure my kids get the best education; that they attend the best possible private school isn’t negotiable.”

Angela’s own education continues unabated as she is currently completing a degree in theology and a coaching course with Beyond Coaching. She is also a business practitioner for Motivational Maps, a tool used to assess what motivates people.

CHEVRON HEADQUARTERS, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

“I always seem to be studying; in fact one of my children asked me the other day ‘why do they keep teaching you stuff mummy, don’t they think you are clever enough yet,” she laughed.

“I believe in intellectual stimulation so learning for me is a continuous process. I am also inspired by growth, not only my own but also that of others. I coach a minimum of two people at a time. At work, it warms my heart to see someone who others may have written off as weak turn around to become a notable performer.”

Angela stated that she is grateful for the support she has always received from her husband and indicated that she believes she would not be where she is without his encouragement to follow her ambitions. She is a service leader at her church and she concluded our interview by revealing that she is considering going into full time coaching and Christian ministry in future.

- Keith Kundai

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Pics courtesy of R. Muzofa

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She may be young but her stylish designs are definitely of age!

umbie Madzivanyika Muzofa is a 27 year old Zimbabwean born designer who is making her mark in Johannesburg. When she was young she loved drawing and although she struggled to get the proportions right, the one thing she always drew well were clothes designs.

“My parents were very instrumental in nurturing my career,” a smiling Rumbie recalls. “As a young girl I didn’t know much about what I was drawing or designing. They identified the talent and encouraged

me in the field of fashion. They take a lot of credit for enabling me to have a career in fashion design.”

Rumbie says that the level of detail in their designs is inspired by the likes of Marchesa and Versace who she seeks to emulate.

“I am also inspired by God and His works of nature. I always tell myself that since I am made in His image, I have to be as creative as Him.”

Rumbie’s work is coming of age at a time when fashion in Africa is growing with fashion weeks – like the AFI Africa Fashion week in SA – springing up in many countries. She notes that international designers have African derivations in their work and even foreign celebrities are wearing African designs. African designers are also commonly featured in international fashion shows.

“I would like my brand Rumbie

by Rumbie to be a game changer that will contribute to the ongoing fashion

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revolution in Africa. My deepest passion is to make a difference in the lives of young designers and entrepreneurs. By setting an example of success, hope is imparted to all, courage to follow one’s dreams and believing in infinite possibilities.”

The road to making a contribution is not easy. Rumbie reveals that it is not always easy as an artistic person to detach her emotions from her creations and make proper business decisions. It has also been a tough start having begun as a one man team, balancing the demands of producing her designs while raising a young daughter.

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“But I have now found my footing and I am going from strength to strength. My best moments are when my clients are fully satisfied with my product. Women love to look good and it is very refreshing every time I see them excited about my designs.”

Rumbie holds a Masters degree in Fashion and dreams of having her designs in a few international stores soon. She plans to venture into shoe and accessory designs as well and to take her products beyond Southern Africa to the rest of the continent.

Contact: +27 11 057 3545 info@rumbiebyrumbie.com www.rumbiebyrumbie.com http://www.facebook.com/ RumbieByRumbie https://twitter.com/rumbiebyrumbie

Rumbie Muzofa

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Mahéneymoon on Mahé Island, Celebrating 10 years of Development Consulting orty-eight hours after I had said ‘I do’ to the woman of my dreams, I said ‘hello’ to the honeymoon destination of my fantasies. As Kenya Airways hovered in a teasing fashion over the rising humid air that engulfs Seychelles International Airport, my wife and I peered through the window to take in the inviting coastline of milk-white beach.

This is Victoria on Mahe Island, the capital ‘city’ of the Republic of Seychelles. It is a scorching little island tucked into the seascape of the Indian Ocean. Its main airport is situated right on the beach and as one flies in, you spot a scenic presentation of newly installed wind mills placed on a man-made island a few metres away from the natural peninsula.

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Getting through customs was as easy as smelling a spring-time flower.

For starters, it is refreshing to fly to one of very few countries where a Kenyan like me does not require a visa. The subsequent transfer to the hotel was equally painless.

It was a Sunday afternoon and we were met by Mr. Wao, a round fellow of Chinese descent who is the concierge at the Coral Strand Hotel in the Beau Vallon area of the island. He got us settled into one of the deluxe double rooms facing the sea from the third floor of the newly renovated establishment.

It was not long before we were sitting on the deck right on the beach listening to a local band playing Seychellois harmonies in tune with the sound of salty waves crashing against the relaxed tourists sprawled

on the beach. The fruit and alcoholic cocktails served by a flowered-hair waitress put a stamp on the early island experience.

Our first night was a honeymoon disaster. A throat infection kept me tossing and turning. I barely slept as I made several trips to the bathroom to gurgle salty water in the hope that the disinfecting procedure would have instant results. It didn’t.

Wao informed us that the nearest private clinic was quite far from the Hotel and so I braced myself for a long journey to relief. No sooner had I settled into the backseat of the cab than we were pulling into the parking at the destination! I guess if you live in an island 27 kilometres in length, the term “far” is decidedly relative.

Antibiotics and other sleepy forms of medication meant that I was literally

Seychelles out of action for the rest of the afternoon as my caring bride nursed me to health before dinner. We took a walk down a serene path that evening to an expanse consisting of a selection of restaurants. We dined at ‘The Boathouse’ where our hosts treated us to a Creole barbeque consisting of roasted fish served with

who are on the island at any given time.

The following day, Wao arranged for a driver to chauffeur us around the island. We visited some amazing beaches on the way to the Seychelles National Park. Gate fees are pretty cheap but there is not much to see.

ExpaT-TraveL

Our driver was oozing local knowledge as he manoeuvred left and right in the narrow tarmac that cuts across Mahe. He informed us that the country consists of 115 islands of less than 100,000 people, most of whom occupy the three largest islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue. The French were the first

“Forty-eight hours after I had said ‘I do’ to the woman of my dreams, I said ‘hello’ to the honeymoon destination of my fantasies....” a selection of authentic local sides.

The food and ambiance were great but a bill of close to R600 (approx.

USD65) was very much on the high side. We found out during the rest of our stay that this was one exorbitant isle - possibly a consequence of the proportion of free spending tourists

The most memorable feature was the Coco De Mer which is the biggest nut in the world that is endemic to the Praslin Island of the country. The fruit resembles the female form and for this reason it is also called the love nut.

inhabitants having arrived in the 1700’s followed soon after by the British. Slaves from mainland Africa and parts of Asia were brought to attend to agriculture and today’s inhabitants therefore trace their heritage to three continents. They speak French, English and a language

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called Creole which is very similar to the language spoken in Mauritius, Reunion and parts of the Caribbean.

We visited a viewpoint with a great view of a number of islands including a man-made one called Eden Island where a three bedroom apartment costs about a million dollars. We moved on to the less glamorous location of Venn’s Town

which was a missionary school for the children of freed slaves. Not much is left from centuries ago other than the rock foundations of what were believed to be classrooms. Our next stop was a tea factory en route to a fountain where young boys were taking dangerous dives from high trees into a deep part of the river.

We had a brief stop at a market in Victoria where the wife bargained

for a few mementos before settling at Chez Batistas, a restaurant serving the most delicious king clip on tables rooted directly to the beach sand. On our way back, we toured the Takamaka Bay factory. This is a distillery where the world famous rum of the same name is brewed.

“The rest of our stay confirmed Seychelles as a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. There may not be a great variety of activities but you are unlikely to get bored of the sight of stunning strand, the warmth of hospitable natives and the taste of delightful local cuisine....”

ExpaT-TraveL

On arrival at the hotel, Wao wowed us with a brochure of a boat tour he recommended for the following day. We were sold to the idea and set sail from a station not too far from central Victoria. About a kilometre in, we paused to take pictures of a small island inhabited only by birds and their poo.

Further in, we were able to spot various schools of fish through the glass bottom of the boat and

USD50 million for the island prior to his death and rumours abound that there is a massive pirate treasure buried somewhere on the land. We walked around it in about half an hour escorted by Grimshaw’s dog that still lives with one of his workers after which a delicious barbeque was set up as a preamble to lazy relaxation on the beach.

The rest of our stay confirmed Seychelles as a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. There may not be a great variety of activities but you are unlikely to get bored of the sight of stunning strand, the warmth of hospitable natives and the taste of delightful local cuisine.

- KC ROTTOK

That evening the band played a number of Kenyan tunes which was

“I guess if you live in an island 27 kilometres in length, the term “far” is decidedly relative...” went snorkelling with these racing creatures for about an hour. We then proceeded to Moyenne Island which was purchased by Briton Brendon Grimshaw for GBP 8000 in 1962. He is said to have turned down an offer

not surprising given the number of my countrymen we encountered in Seychelles comprising immigrants and tourists.

Book Review

Book Review: The Polygamist by Sue Nyathi How Sue Nyathi describes herself: became Sue because my 3rd grade teacher was unable to pronounce my full name, Sukoluhle - a Ndebele name which means “Beautiful Day”. I guess it must have been for my parents when I made my debut into this world 34 years ago. My love affair with books began at a young age. I loved to read and books transported me beyond the borders of Bulawayo where I grew up with my three siblings.

As I got older, my passion for reading eventually translated itself into a desire to write.

In high school, I gained popularity t h r o u g h my books which were circulated like a rental DVD. All my classmates figured I would become a bestselling author but as life had it I ended up studying finance and investment at University. Nonetheless this did not diminish my first love - writing. Even though I worked in financial markets I would nurture my writing after hours. The economic demise of Zimbabwe forced me to seek opportunities in the Diaspora.

Incidentally, it is in Johannesburg

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where the doors to the world of publishing were opened to me.

Writing for me is pure escapism especially from an arduous role as a consultant in an economic development and strategic planning firm. When I’m not chasing deadlines I love to let my locks down and relax. For me this means being in the company of family and friends, enjoying good food and good wine with a generous helping of love and laughter. Of course there has to be good music playing in the background. Certain songs narrate the episodes in my life The Polygamist Book Review: Gender empowerment and female emancipation are narratives of change ardently addressed in many societies. The third of the UN millennium development goals is the empowerment of women and achieving gender equality; depicting just how engrossed the world is in discussions of equality and empowerment.

However, to clearly examine issues of gender empowerment, one has to delve into the private and every-day living of men and women and observe how, sexuality, gender identities and stereotypes are constantly (re)constructed and negotiated. Zimbabwe born author, Sue Nyathi, delves deep into the lives of four women passionately drawn to a wealthy and powerful

man, Jonas Gomora. She succeeds in making their private lives both public and political in her debut book “The Polygamist”.

Set in modern-day Zimbabwe, “The Polygamist” reminds its readers of the once rich and flourishing country. Nonetheless, it is the everyday living of ordinary individuals that makes the book a page-turner. Joy is Jonas Gomora’s first wife. Having been raised in a well off family, she represents everything Jonas wants in life. What Jonas wants, he gets.

She supports him as he rises up the ladders of power and wealth, and thinks she knows how to exemplify and satisfy him as a wife, until she meets his second wife, Matipa.

Matipa is an ambitious and educated woman who loves the powerful and finer things in life, and this includes Jonas.

Essie - Jonas’s first love and childhood friend - is the only woman Jonas feels he can be himself with, without having to prove his wealth.

Lindani is the youngest. She has the beauty and the body and is not afraid to use it to get men who will give her a comfortable life. As Jonas gets older, Lindani becomes the woman he sees to feel in control, validate his masculinity, and quench his insatiable appetite for women.

The story is narrated through the thoughts, actions and dialogue of these women. The imagined reader is offered a dynamic representation

Book Review

and characterisation of women in African societies and African literature: shrewd, feisty, sexy, and somewhat self-absorbed.

The author is refreshingly and brutally frank, delving into the erotic by describing sex and sexuality as sources of pleasure and power not only for the man but more importantly and radically - at least among African female authors - for the women. Early philosophers, such as Michael Foucault have equated sexual relations to social relations, thereby establishing the intricate correlation between power and sexuality.

Nyathi writes of a hyper sexualised modern African society, where women are preoccupied with money, spectacular dressing, their bodies and sex as a source of self-pleasure and power.

The author employs an old tradition, polygamy, to tease out issues of sensual enfranchisement and victimhood in modern African societies. I am reminded of Nigerian womanist and literary critic Chikwenye Ogunemi’s analysis of the re-construction of polygamous

marriages in modern Nigeria. She is keen to note that many young women now opt for a polygamous marriage to enjoy the security financial and otherwise - of having a husband and the freedom of him not being at home all the time. Nyathi explores the grey areas between agency and victim in modern day polygamy.

Reading the book creates a feeling of having an intimate and passionate conversation (or gossip) with a friend who has safely tucked away her judging spectacles. It is a light read and has a chatty flavour, but the message is heavy.

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literature to articulate how social and biological epidemics are unbiased of economic and social position. More importantly, the author has been able to capture how androcentrism in modern African societies has evolved, and how women unconsciously continue to enable the very system that seeks to oppress them.

Nyathi further unpacks different forms of female friendship and solidarity in cloaked oppressive places. She explores the silent spaces occupied by gender based violence,

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marital rape, choice (dis)ability and HIV/AIDS among middle class and upper class women; women who consider themselves empowered.

She cleverly employs popular

There is a thin line between victimhood and empowerment in Nyathi’s book. And she cunningly leaves it to the readers to decide where to draw that line.

- WANJIRU WAICHIGO NJOGU Pics from book launch held in 2012.

All images in this article courtesy of S. Nyathi

Pic from shutterstock.com

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Swimming

Expat-techtalk

Lean Marketing n the past, people paid for each marketing message they wanted to broadcast. If you wanted to advertise during a prime time slot on the radio, you would pay a hefty amount for this regardless of who heard your message. Today, businesses can have their own newspapers (blogs), their own TV Channel (YouTube) and their own radio stations (pod casts) often without spending anything. Digital media has enabled lean marketing.

properties (website, blog and social media) with these search phrases?

The following are key terms you must know about Search Engine Marketing: a) Keyword research: - The first thing you need to do is find the keyword phrases (relating to your business) that people are using by using Google’s keyword tool: https:// adwords.google.com/o/KeywordTool.

include website content building, and internal & external link building. This has to be an on-going process for it to work and it takes quite a bit of time and effort. The benefit of SEO is that you won’t be paying for the top spots in Google once you get there.

Content marketing The most inexpensive way to build brand awareness and credibility online is by writing well thought out articles, views, instructions, technical and general information about your products and services. In the digital era, content is king. The more helpful, informative and relevant the content you publish on your web properties is, the more value you give to potential customers.

“The most inexpensive way to build brand awareness

The numerous digital and credibility online is by marketing strategies available are writing well thought out overwhelming to entreprneurs. The first and most important step is to articles, views, instructions, determine one’s marketing goals. For technical and general most SME’s, there are two key goals: information about your • To generate leads from their products and services. In the When you publish content that target market that they can digital era, content is king...” your target audience finds valuable convert to sales, and • to create brand awareness and credibility.

Below is a brief overview of how small business owners can start using digital marketing to create a lean, cost-effective and highly engaging digital marketing strategy to take their businesses to the next level.

Search Engine Marketing Search Engines are the online portals that enable internet users to search for information e.g. Google, Bing and Yahoo. We focus on Google as it is the most used search engine.

Your potential customers are using a variety of search terms on a daily basis to find products and services that you might offer – but are they able to find your web

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b) Pay-Per-Click: - (PPC) refers to the ads you see on the top and also at the right hand side of Google’s search results and is the quickest way to get to the top of search results.

You simply bid on keywords, create an ad and every time someone clicks on your ad, you pay for that click.

The important thing is to make sure you’re taking search engine users to a landing page that is giving the reader all the information they need to buy from you in order to convert the lead into a sale. c) SEO: Search Engine Optimization is all about optimising your website so that Google knows that your web pages are related to the keywords searched for. There are a few ways to do this which

and relevant, you will be viewed as a thought leader on the subject. People trust and buy from thought leaders.

An added bonus is that content is essentially the backbone of an SEO strategy, so these two strategies support each other.

Think of the social media platforms that your target audience are using (such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest) and set up these accounts so that you can distribute content via these channels.

You could also make videos featuring content that would be of interest to your target market and distribute it through YouTube.

Patrick Mungai Patrick Mungai, Digital Marketing Expert, patrick@wsibiz.com, www.wsibiz.com

n mid-February this year, RAIN Urban Boutique Spa in Rosebank was launched.

It is situated in a secluded section of the first floor of the newly refurbished segment of The Zone mall. The spa is open exclusively to women and it was therefore fitting that over 200 ladies graced the launch of this unique offering.

“Stepping out of the traditional spa environment is what gives RAIN the X factor,” Amanda Johnson, a cofounder of the spa, explains to The Expatriate SA magazine. “We aim to deliver personalised and detailed attention to our female clients while meeting their social needs. Our focus is on meeting and surpassing the expectations of the woman who takes an interest in her own wellness and recognizes the need to take care of herself. The concept of RAIN was born with the woman in mind, understanding that women are not necessarily happy when they are beautiful, but are always beautiful when they are happy. We want to make sure that every woman that walks through the door feels absolutely special, taken care of and part of the RAIN family.”

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Amanda is a registered nurse with six years’ experience specialising in neonatal and infant critical care. She is accustomed to a holistic approach to health and sees spa therapies as a natural and highly beneficial part of one’s overall wellness plan.

“I am passionate about people and see the provision of services as an incomplete package without caring and personalised delivery,” she explains.

Her fellow founder of this avant garde establishment is Nicola Hopwood. Nicola is no stranger to the start-up arena. She spent the last three and a half years at an educational and leadership start-up in Johannesburg where she played key roles in multiple facets of the organisation. Former colleagues describe Nicola as having an exceptional work ethic, an innovative mind and outstanding critical thinking skills. These traits are invaluable to the spas development process.

“It’s time women had a space of our own, and what better place than the spa?” Nicola asks. “We want women to be able to have a safe and comfortable place where they can simply be themselves. That’s what

makes RAIN the perfect place to come to by yourself or with a group of your friends for a bridal shower or girl’s night out – knowing you can just be one of the girls.”

RAIN elegantly introduces a trendy and hip verve to the traditional calming spa experience, and sets a new benchmark. With a clean, fresh and airy white palate accented by invigorating aqua green accents, RAIN creates a comfortable, uncluttered and affirming environment for its clientele.

RAIN’s massages are based on a fully customized model where clients are free to explore with therapists the type of treatment that best suits their needs and desires, all at a flat rate based on time rather than type of treatment. For example, for a 1-hour massage, a client can opt for a 30-minute foot reflexology with a 30-minute hot stone back massage at the same cost as a 60-minute full body deep tissue massage.

More than just a spa, RAIN is positioned to be the exclusive women-only rendezvous of choice for the discerning woman seeking a comfortable space to freely interact with like-minded women.

It will double up as a venue for a

WOMEN’S ONLY BOUTIQUE SPA

Nicola Hopwood

Amanda Johnson

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bespoke bridal shower, birthday party, wellness workshop or simply a special girls’ night out.

The Spa membership includes an affordable R350 monthly premium, with all-inclusive benefits including a customised monthly massage, discounts on a wide range of treatments, guest passes, and opportunities for upgrades and special gifting to friends and family.

Since its soft launch in November 2012, RAIN has attracted a growing client base of women professionals.

“RAIN offers an oasis of calm in the busy Rosebank’s business hub. With its central location and proximity to the transport network, we expect our clientele to grow significantly in the coming year,” concludes Amanda.

RAIN is open for business between 09h00 – 18h00 from Sunday to Thursday, and between 09h00 – 20h00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

For further enquiries, contact the spa: 011 447 4534 info@rainurbanboutiquespa.com www.rainurbanboutiquespa.com

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“Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the RAIN...”

The Price of Raising Children in the Diaspora

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation ~ C. Everet Koop, M.D. aising children has never been easy. Before the days of the global village, family was, at the furthest, a bus ride away. When one had a child, your mother would be there to hold your hand through labour. Your aunts would be there in the months before and after the birth to advise you on exactly how to swaddle the baby.

When your baby was a few months old and you had to go back to work, you could take your pick from any number of cousins who look after the baby while you worked. Those were the days of the extended family.

Today we are in the age of the nuclear family and global village the world is so much closer but we are more alone. We travel easily across continents, fall in love with people from other countries and build homes in countries far away from home. We raise our children in an entirely new social context and this has its challenges.

Most of us need fulltime help to deal with children - more so, if both parents are gainfully employed.

Hiring a nanny is difficult for one simple reason: how do you know they are trustworthy? We no longer have the benefit of calling a distant cousin to help. We are faced with hiring a stranger. Aside from the security risks, this stranger will most likely be from a different culture and will bring with them their own idea of how to raise a child. How do you begin to teach an adult the little things you learnt when the ‘village’ was raising you that you would like to pass on to your child?

“The SA High Court recently decriminalized consensual sexual activity between children aged 12 – 16 years of age and today a 12 year old can walk into a family planning clinic with an STI...”

one has to work harder to maximize their earnings and consequently spend less time with the child. In addition, the High Court recently decriminalized consensual sexual activity between children aged 12 – 16 years of age and today a 12 year old can walk into a family planning clinic with an STI. I have no answer to any of these issues but I do know that as busy as we are trying to establish ourselves and become good parents, it is easy to forget that “each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.” Ultimately we are responsible for the foundation that will ground our children when they are making decisions on their own. We may not be able to protect them to same extent we were protected but we can try, as far as possible, to teach them how to protect themselves. That is the price of raising children far away from home.

CHIONESU

This scenario engenders problems our parents never encountered.

Simple questions become difficult.

In a home where both parents are from a different country or tribe or culture and the primary language of communication is English, is it acceptable for your child to grow up speaking English only. How do you teach a child a language they never hear you speak? When they go to school, would it be alright if they learn and begin to speak the local languages regardless of the fact that neither of you understand those languages?

Children of school going age are the source of even greater worry. Stories of sex tapes doing the rounds in high schools, of sexual abuse, drugs, violence in schools and teenage pregnancy have become the norm. It used to be, at least for me, that the “village” had eyes. My mother would know my sins before I even made it home from school. That is not so anymore.

Many try to counter these risks by only placing their children in the top schools which comes with a steep price tag meaning that

SAKUTUKWA Twitter - @ chiovictoria

Lynnsanity

THE DAY BLACK AND WHITE BECAME GREY. “Sweeping over matters and mixing the black and white and creating our own comfortable grey area where we never have to be held accountable will not change the fact that wrong and right still do exist....” here was a time when things either were or weren’t - and because of that, it was easy to decide on which side of the line one would stand. The environment was harsher and less forgiving. It was difficult to get away with wrong doing. But in our pursuit of the free human being, we

lost the distinctions and boundaries that were supposed to define the human race and set us apart from other animals. Callous as it may sound, we are fast approaching an era, where dogs and cats will exhibit more love, empathy and honesty than us.

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Perhaps it all started when the concept of duplicity became a norm, when it became acceptable for one individual to have two faces.

This allows one to present various personalities to various situations in life. Granted one cannot be the same person at a work interview as one is at a bachelorette party but it is questionable when the two are so apart that they are irreconcilable.

If black and white areas still existed, I would probably be on the black side - because I’ve made more than my fair share of bad decisions in this life. But allow me to own that.

Sweeping over matters and mixing the black and white and creating our own comfortable grey area where we never have to be held accountable will not change the fact that wrong and right still do exist.

Our thirst and greed for financial gain, social acceptance and recognition has clouded our ability to discern between right and wrong.

We now live in grey areas of “well, even if I know she can’t stand me, I’ll befriend her because she has good contacts”.

At the end of the day, we have now followed the examples of animals and taken it further than they ever did. Like a female praying mantis eats her male counterpart after mating, we have allowed our animalistic urges that are geared towards, money, power and social standing to supersede what once made society humane. We get what we want and only then do we move on. So we pose and take the right pictures at the right places, holding drinks we can ill afford, smiling next to the man we loathe (but hey, he’s going to help you clinch that deal) so pretend to love him and raise your glass. Forget being true to yourself, just stay in the warm soggy, grey area, because it sure beats the cold.

In society, it makes more sense to befriend a known paedophile because he is richer than everybody else than it does to change work stations at the office place because your colleague has crossed boundaries and attempted to interfere in your personal life. We have now found safety in the grey areas of life and done away with the black and white sectors that clearly spell out right or wrong. Because residing in the warm, musty and damp grey area is safer, you just might get more contacts here and ultimately more contracts.

You might finally be invited to that elusive social gathering you’ve been trying to worm your way into, so what if your soul rots in the process?

So what if you can’t stand your fellow grey area residents and they can’t stand you...it’s all about the end justifying the means.

It truly is some kind of insanity. As for me, I am part of the endangered species, the last of a dying breed, those who believe in black and white and that lines must be drawn at some point. I’m hanging out there in the remaining black and white. I won’t lie, it sure can get cold out here, but I reckon I’ll stick to it!

- SHEILA LYNN SENKUBUGE Twitter - @lynns95

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Dynamic investment for dynamic people Having met a number of the Expatriate readers I am in awe of the sheer dynamism and drive of most of you. These personality traits, in addition to the courage it must have taken to leave one’s country, family and friends for shores unknown, must be the reason why so many of you are successful in your professional lives.

Which brings me to the question of how a dynamic, driven man or woman’s investment portfolio should look.

1. Lifestyle vs lifetime assets

A dynamic investment portfolio includes both lifestyle and lifetime assets, in an appropriate balance. Lifestyle assets are those assets we acquire which provide for the roof over our head and the car we drive, as well as our ‘playthings’ like the holiday home and motorbikes Lifetime assets are our assets and investments that one day will provide us with the financial freedom to retire and live on the income from our investments and include our retirement funds, unit trusts, buy-to-let properties, shares and policies. As we will always need a roof over our head, our houses and cars are not really investments, unless you can sell it and use some of the profit for income-generating investments – but the reality is that it seldom works out that way.

2. Investment and its risks Investing is what makes us financially independent, but sometimes it comes at a level of risk that we might not be comfortable with, such as: - The extent to which your investment will react to fluctuations in the markets.

If the share market takes a dive and your R500,000 investment is now only worth R300,000? Are you okay to wait it out until the market recovers? The counter point of a more risky investment is that it will generally out-grow more conservative investments.

- Very conservative investments might actually also be risky – because of inflation. If your investment does not grow at more than the inflation rate, then the value of your money is actually going backwards – a situation that is not acceptable in a dynamic investment portfolio!

- Investing your money in a scam or fraudulent scheme. A lot of time this happens because we humans are greedy! Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is. Only deal with reputable firms and financial advisors such as a Certified Financial Planners.

- The risk of DIY investing. Most of us would not think of fixing any electricity or plumbing problems in the house ourselves, or operating on ourselves if our appendix burst. We call in the experts when we require any type of specialist advice – and the same should apply when you have capital to invest or want to save.

3. Protecting your biggest asset – your ability to earn a living We invest a lot of time and energy in our careers. But if anything happens that will affect our ability to work and earn an income, even a dynamic investment portfolio might only cover our living and medical expenses for so long. The answer lies in insuring your income in the event of serious illness or injuries, or permanent disability with a policy that ensures we continue receiving an income .

A lot of the time one of the reasons for a dynamic person’s professional success is that they have had the guidance of good mentors, or that they have supporting partners. In order to get an investment portfolio that reflects the success of your professional life, get in partnership with a certified financial planner that will walk with you on your way to even more success.

Hesta van der Westhuizen CFP® Hesta is a Certified Financial Planner at Consolidated and has a BCom-degree and Advanced Post Graduate diploma in Financial Planning Law. She is also Chairperson of the Financial Planning Institute’s Risk committee. www.consolidated.co.za

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The Last Word

Africa still has slaves

“From where I sit, I believe the political will is lacking. It seems that most of our leadership structures serve themselves first and we continue to sell off our continent to the likes of China and India…” t the beginning of the year, I read a book called “The Book of Negroes”, an engrossing read about a young lass and her ordeal through slavery. I then watched the movies “Django Unchained” and “Lincoln” at a time when there is renewed talk of the effects of apartheid on our beautifully divided land.

What gives people the right to invade another’s land and colonise them? What angers me most is that a nation of many let the few run amok and do as they wish. And now we sit here and say poor Africa and Africans, but that’s because we still let this continue. There are no guns that rule over us but we are just as weak because we allow poor leaders to lead us. We have failed our beautiful land and ourselves and will continue to do so.

I tend to have this conversation quite a few times with my father and friends. A common response is to blame colonialism and apartheid.

It is true that these events made a lot of people ‘stupid’ by starving them of decent education, which unfortunately will leave a legacy in our land for years to come. But I am tired of hearing it because we now have the land and can stop relying on the west to save us and instead save ourselves.

I hear things like Swiss Chocolate; where in Switzerland do they grow cocoa? Nigerians buy expensive petrol yet they are amongst the world’s top oil producers. We have the resources and it is a high time we stood tall.

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I recently visited Malaysia which got its independence in August 1957. It has a population of 29.6mil, GDP of $492 billion and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Ghana got its independence in March 1957, has a population of 25.2mil, GDP of $83.18 billion and an unemployment rate of 11%.

Both countries were colonized, have similar climates and I believe Ghana has more resources than Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur has elements of poverty but this was overshadowed by the evident industrialization. So what happened?

In 1991, the former prime minister outlined a vision 2020 wherein, he detailed the plan to make Malaysia a self-sufficient industrialised nation.

A point to note is that the country’s largest trading partners are its Asian neighbours - food for thought for the African renaissance.

The continent has all the commodities and all the professionals we need. Many of our teachers, doctors, engineers, bankers, scientists are seen to be amongst the best in their field. However, many prefer to ply their trade elsewhere because our own continent does not provide an environment for us to excel. From where I sit, I believe the political will is lacking. It seems that most of our leadership structures serve themselves first and this perpetuates the cycle.

We continue to sell off our continent to the likes of China and India.

My father continually argues that the powers that be will seek to continue to sow divisions in our continent if we try to do something for ourselves which is contrary to what is to their benefit. He cites the examples of Gadaffi, Mubarak, Nyerere and Lumumba. This is a fair point but a lot of these presidents were depose/ killed by their own people. Who funded the process of elimination?

In my considered view, if you create an environment where the majority believes that you are working for their benefit and opportunities are ever present, it is unlikely that they will even dream of harming you.

Perhaps it is I who lives in a fools’ paradise, but I long for this paradise to be this land from whence I hail. Oh Africa!

Yaw Peprah is a self employed entrepreneur pursuing interests in business advisory, consultancy and commodity brokering. www.asitissoitis.blogspot.com Twitter - @yawzie

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