Beyond Sustainability

Beyond

2ND QUARTER 2013 ISSUE 19 R29.95

sustainability quarterly

CURRENT AFFAIRS FINANCE & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & EDUCATION TRAVEL & TOURISM TRADE & INVESTMENT

ECO-FEMINISM FOR MEN ECO-TOURISM – BOUNTIFUL BULUNGULA RECYCLING OF GREY WATER HOPEFIELD WIND FARM LETSATSI & LESEDI PHOTO-VOLTAIC (PV) INSTALLATIONS COOKHOUSE WIND FARM

www.beyondpublishing.co.za

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Linksfield Golf Club

Sports and Water - the link

Water Wise investigates how much water is used, on average, to keep sports grounds and facilities running smoothly, and discuss how you can make a difference as a sportsman, for water conservation.

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n 2011, Rand Water’s environmental brand, Water Wise, commissioned a market research survey into water use on sports facilities such as golf courses, bowling greens, grass tennis courts, public parks and horse racing tracks. The aim of this research was to understand how water is used to irrigate turf and whether managers and staff are aware of their water use and ways to reduce it.

The survey was encouraged in light of statistics that showed that golf courses can use up to 1.2 million litres of water a day for turf irrigation. This figure shocked and angered many members of the green industry who felt the figure misrepresented them and their water conservation efforts. In response to these concerns, Rand Water set out to clarify the amount of water used for turf irrigation, as well as the various drivers and barriers managers and workers face daily in their struggle to find a balance between customer satisfaction, water conservation and economic sustainability.

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Results of survey Two hundred facility owners and managers (Table 1) participated in the survey, which provided Rand Water with interesting and sometimes surprising results.

- Only 3.5% of facilities are not irrigated and survive on rain water alone, while a large 67% of them are irrigated manually.

- Sixteen percent are irrigated with fully-automated systems and 13.5% are irrigated with semiautomated irrigation systems.

- Surprisingly, only 58% of the managers and owners surveyed where aware of the total irrigation capacity of their facility, which was an average of 844 litres per hour.

It was also concerning to note that less than 18% of owners and managers of these facilities had actually kept record of their rainfall figures for the previous year.

What is being done?

- When asked whether they treat their wastewater or run-off for use in irrigation of their turf, only 17% of managers and owners said yes.

- More than 65% of the facility owners and managers obtain their water from municipal sources i.e. a paid source.

While these statistics indicate large amounts of municipal water is used to irrigate sports grounds and facilities, and while many managers and owners are unaware of the amount of water utilized on their grounds, it is reassuring to note that 86% of the respondents interviewed were interested in reducing their water usage.

Table 1. Type and number of facilities that participated in the market research survey conducted by Water Wise.

Facility

Number

Golf course

52

Cricket pitch

16

Bowling green

13

Grass tennis court

16

Rugby/soccer field

19

Athletics track

7

Horse racing track

4

Artificial turf

6

Office parks

24

Public parks

20

Factory parks

3

General landscapes

26

Other

73

What can be done to increase water conservation?

You may be asking what can be done to increase the conservation of water on your sports grounds, in your office gardens, or at your local nature reserve or park. This survey showed that the most important driver to water conservation was more information on how to conserve water, with 86% of respondents requesting this as an encouragement to water saving.

In response to the need for more information on water conservation, Rand Water’s environmental brand, Water Wise, is striving to make people aware of how they can save water. Have a look at these tips on water conservation on sports grounds and at sports facilities and make it your goal to become Water Wise.

The Wanderers Golf Club

Water Wise tips for sports grounds and facilities - Retrofit all bathrooms with low-flow shower heads and taps, and dual-flush toilets.

FACT: Water-saving showerheads can save up to 50% of water used when compared with conventional shower-heads.

- Install rainwater harvesting tanks and use all collected rainwater for irrigation of sports grounds, gardens and turf.

FACT: Every 1 m2 of roof generates 1 litre of water from 1 mm of rainfall. So 20 mm of rain fall on a roof of 100 m2 generates 2 000 litres - Investigate the installation of a grey water system that will collect and purify greywater so that it is suitable for irrigation.

FACT: 60% of wastewater is potentially available for re-use - Hydro-zone gardens and landscapes on sports facilitites, in other words, place plants with similar water needs together.

FACT: Hydro-zoning results in water savings of between 30 and 80%.

- Reduce lawn areas or replace lawn with other material such as permeable paving if possible.

FACT: Lawns are high water-use zones.

Encourage your sports facility to become Water Wise!

For more information on water conservation and water saving tips, visit www.randwater.co.za and click on the Water Wise logo or call 0860 10 10 60.

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CONTENTS 18

08

EDITORS NOTE CHARLENE HEYBURGH

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BY THE NUMBERS

12

SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

14

SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

18

RECYCLING OF GREY WATER

22

CITY OF EKURHULENI’S 2012 BLUE DROP CERTIFICATION AWARD

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RAND WATER

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THE COOKHOUSE WIND FARM

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THE HOPEFIELD WIND FARM

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THE LETSATSI & LESEDI PHOTO-VOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS

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CAPE TOWN STADIUM – SUSTAINING THE WHITE ELEPHANT

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STANDARD BANK WINS GREENEST BANK IN AFRICA AWARD

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WASTE RECYCLING – RUBBLE, RUBBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE

46 54

LANDMARK AGREEMENT PAVES LIFE CYCLE OF CLAY BRICK

58

INTERVIEW WITH KHULEKANI MATHE, ACTING HEAD OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARIAT

60 58

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POVERTY & DEVELOPMENT – COULD JACOB ZUMA HAVE A LULA MOMENT?

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CONTENTS 62

WHAT DOES THE BRICS DEVELOPMENT BANK MEAN FOR SOUTH AFRICANS?

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64

THE INDUSTRIAL POLICY ACTION PLAN

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MUTUAL BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES ADOPTING GREEN ALTERNATIVES

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THE CHAMPIONS OF GREENING

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DTI AWARDS FIRST TWO INCUBATORS IN ITS INCUBATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME

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SA’S SKILLS SHORTAGE HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY TALENT IS IDENTIFIED

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MEDO PUTS SOUTH AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS ON THE FAST TRACK TO GLOBAL BUSINESS SUCCESS

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ECO-FEMINISM FOR MEN

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THE END OF NATURE OR THE BEGINNING?

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE NOT PETITIONS

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DEBT REVIEW

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NISSAN AND ESKOM ENTER INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH PROJECT

92 100

CAR REVIEW – THE TOYOTA I-ROAD

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BOOK REVIEWS

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ECO TOURISM - BOUNTIFUL BULUNGULA

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KNYSNA OYSTER FESTIVAL

120

SOCIAL MEDIA LAWS – BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU TWEET

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EDITORS NOTE CREDITS

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he renewable e n e r g y industry has continued to grow globally and South Africa, which is well-known for an abundance of natural resources as well as ideal wind and solar conditions, is on its way to becoming one of the key producers of renewable energy in the world, thanks to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) which was designed to start and stimulate the industry in our country.

In November last year, 28 renewable energy project bidders received the boost they had been waiting for when government signed power purchase, implementation and direct agreements start the journey on our path towards socio-economic and environmentally sustainable growth. These projects total an installed capacity of 1 415 MW at an approximate investment of R47 billion. It certainly is an exciting time for this emerging industry as we begin to move away from our reliance on coal and explore cleaner forms of energy.

In this edition of Beyond, we take a closer look at 3 of the renewable energy projects under the REIPPPP. The Cookhouse Wind Farm, which covers over 9,000 hectares of land in the 2nd wind farm under the programme as well as the Letsatsi and Lesedi Photo-Voltaic (PV) Installations.

More great industry news is that Standard Bank has won the title of the “Cleanest Bank in Africa� and they are now ranked as the 12th greenest bank in the world for their commitment to renewable energy projects. Read all about how they achieved this on page 48.

Another exciting highlight in this edition of Beyond is our interview with the Acting Head of the National Planning Commission Secretariat, Mr Khulekani Mathe, on page 58. We picked his brain on his role in the NPC and his involvement in drafting the National Development Plan.

In our Eco-tourism section, we feature Bulungula, a hidden gem on the Wild Coast and the community-based, eco-friendly Bulungula Lodge which is partly owned by the people of the Nqelini village.

In our car review, we showcase the Toyota i-Road and for our bookworms, we have selected 3 books to keep you occupied during the colder evenings.

Enjoy the read.

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MANAGING DIRECTOR TB Mabecha EDITOR Charlene Heyburgh PROJECT MANAGER Jerome Dyson SALES EXECUTIVES Emile Polman Shalako October Robert Sakanyi Loyiso Ngavu Linda Schady Selwyn Petersen Anthony Botha Gaynor Thompson TRAFFIC CONTROLLER Kiara Hagglund ACCOUNTS EXECUTIVES Laurenda Hagglund OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Carmen Puma DESIGN 1upcreative, mario@1upcreative.co.za JUNIOR DESIGNER Kieron Hagglund PRINTING

DISTRIBUTION

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

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BY THE NUMBERS 4.6 MILLION

The number of unemployed people in South Africa which increased by 100 000 people to 4.6 million between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 according to Statistics SA.

19.38 MILLION 313

The number of unemployed people across the 17 EU countries that use the Euro according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistics office.

The number of rhino lost to poaching in South Africa since the beginning of the year as stated in a report released by the Department of Environmental Affairs.

R11 BILLION 0.9%

The amount of revenue that South Africa has lost in the mining sector due to the 2012 / 13 illegal strikes.

South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.9% in the first quarter of 2013 according to Statistics SA.

R1 MILLION

The amount that the Democratic Alliance (DA) will contribute to the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance (OUTA) to continue its court battle against e-tolls.

800

The amount of unemployed young people that were absorbed into the biodiversity sector through the Groen Sebenza jobs fund partnership.

3RD

South Africa is rated 3rd in the world in supplying safe, drinkable tap water.

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The number of countries in the EU alone with access to safe drinking water.

$12 MILLION 10

The amount that Google will be investing in the Jasper Power Project, a solar power plant that will be built in the Northern Cape.

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SUSTAINABILITY NEWS t

t

Facilities Manager:Imvelo Facilities Management (An Old Mutual Property &Dijalo Property Group JV ) Green Star SA Accredited Professional: PD Naidoo& Associates

FIRST GREEN STAR RATED BUILDING FOR PAARL – 31ST CERTIFICATION FOR SA The new Cecilia Square office building in Paarl, which is located adjacent to the N1 close to the Paarl Mall and is scheduled for completion in September, has received a 4 Star Green Star Office Design Rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

6 GREEN STARS TO SHINE AT ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS HEAD OFFICE The new Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA )head office in Pretoria has received a 6 Star Green Star SA Office Design v1 certification from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).

This is the first government building in South Africa to achieve a 6 Star Green Star SA rating, as well as being the first 6 Star rated green building in the City of Tshwane.

A further stellar accomplishment was that the project achieved the highest score for a large commercial office space of this magnitude awarded by the GBCSA to date.

“The DEA has taken the lead, and is demonstrating commitment to market transformation in the built environment in South Africa. This is an exceptional illustration of the public and the private sector working together to deliver an outstanding example of green building,” said GBCSA, CEO Brian Wilkinson. ‘’Through this Green Building we will propel the department above the construction industry players, setting a good example for other organisations, of course for the benefit

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of the environment and future generations’’ concluded Minister Edna Molewa.

The new DEA head be a catalyst in the environment, spurring adoption of sustainable

office is likely to South African built momentum of the building practices.

Fast Facts: t Project size: 30 654m2(Green Star SA certified area) t Project cost: R653-million t Project start: July 2012 t Project completion: May 2014 t Green Star SA Certification: 6Star (82 points), May 2013 t Building Owner: Department of Environmental Affairs t Project developer: Imvelo Concession Company (Private sector participant - comprising Old Mutual, KagisoTiso Group, Wiphold and Aveng GrinakerLTA t Design & Construction: Aveng GrinakerLTA &Keren Kula JV t Architect:Boogertman& Partners t Quantity Surveyor: Pentad and PDNA Consulting Engineers

Owned by Lazercor Developments, this desirably situated and innovative office space comprises two buildings on the project site which are part of the same development sharing a common address, a single entrance and common parking areas, whilst being connected to each other through ground floor walkways.

Michelle Ludwig of PJ Carew Consulting, the green consultant for Cecilia Square, explains that Cecilia Square managed to achieve a 55% reduction in energy and a 70% reduction in water consumption by adopting simple measures such as harvesting rain water runoff and using energy efficient lighting.

“The GBCSA wish to congratulate the owners, developers and technical team that collaborated on Cecilia Square, says Manfred Braune, Technical Executive for the GBCSA. “This building is innovative and unique in its split design and we are very excited to see developments such as these aiming for, and achieving, their Green Star SA status.”

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SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

GO AHEAD GIVEN FOR ESKOM’S SERE WIND FARM PLASTICS INDUSTRY TO HOST FIRST AFRICAN MARINE DEBRIS SUMMIT: “WAVES OF CHANGE: AFRICAN LESSONS TO INSPIRE LOCAL ACTION” 6 – 8 JUNE 2013, SANBI CONFERENCE CENTRE, KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL GARDENS The first-ever summit to focus specifically on the issue of marine debris around the African continent will be taking place during World Environmental Week and World Ocean Day, 6-8 June 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Plastics|SA, the umbrella body representing the South African plastics industry, has announced that it will be joining hands with the Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the United Nations Environment Programme in organizing the conference which will bring together marine debris researchers, natural resource managers, policy makers, industry representatives and the non-governmental community.

The extent of marine debris around Africa According to Douw Steyn, Plastics|SA

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Director of Sustainability, marine debris is a historical problem that continues to grow.

“The world’s oceans and waterways are constantly polluted with a wide variety of marine debris ranging from cans and plastic bags to derelict fishing gear and abandoned vessels. Many animals, such as sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals, have been known to ingest and get entangled in marine debris, which may lead to loss of nutrition, internal injury, intestinal blockage, starvation, and even death,” Steyn says.

However, marine debris is an international concern not only because it washes up on beaches and shorelines worldwide, but also because debris can be transferred from one country serving as a vector for alien animals and plants to another via ocean currents.

“International cooperation is needed to create public awareness while developing ways to decrease the amount of debris in oceans around the globe”, Steyn explains.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa has given state company Eskom a licence to go ahead with its Sere wind farm near Koekenaap in the Western Cape.”Sere is our first large-scale renewable energy project,” Eskom chief executive officer Brian Dames said in a statement. “It demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and to investing in a sustainable energy future.”

The project will cost R2.4-billion and is expected to be in full commercial operation by the end of 2014. It is expected to create about 170 direct jobs during construction Taking its name from theNamaword for “cool breeze”, the Sere wind farm will generate up to 100 megawatts (MW ) of power for the national grid and will lead to the saving of approximately 4.7-million tonnes of carbon emissions over 20 years.

It has been funded by a group of development finance organisations, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, Clean Technology Fund and Agence Francaise de Developpement.

Forty-six Siemens 2.3-108 wind turbine generators will make up the Sere farm, as well as construction of a new substation and 132-kilovolt (K V ) distribution line.

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ECO

RECYCLING OF GREY WATER AND ITS SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION 18

GREY WATER Issued by: Talbot & Talbot

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ccess to water is an urgent issue facing Southern Africa, with nearly a 100 million people lacking adequate access to water. While access to water has become a global concern, solutions remain local, as scarcity varies from region to region depending on the combination of socio economic factors,

projections draw attention to how predicted changes in rainfall, limited resources for adaptation and lack of institutions and/or are likely to leave communities extremely vulnerable.

Climate change is also predicted to have profound implications on water resource supplies. Modelling by the Council for shows regions in Southern Africa will become hotter and drier over the next 50 to 100 years, putting farms, industry, domestic water supply and natural ecosystems at risk.

Combined with the social changes affecting demand, quality and supply, these impacts have the potential to seriously disrupt water availability. As climate changes start to take effect, individuals and communities will take actions to respond to and accommodate changes in water availability. This may be by expanding supply in a way that reduces climate variations, or addressing water use and demand to reduce the exposure to climatic variability and extremes.

Such implications are especially pertinent for communities and countries which rely heavily on water for their GDP and daily subsistence. More than 70% of the Southern African Development Community’s population depends directly on farming, and overwhelmingly so on rain-fed agriculture.

Agriculture already accounts for almost 70% of the global water diversion, and the pressure for agricultural production is not likely to ease, as food security is one of the major Millennium Development Goals.

But with an emerging economy and rapidly growing population, the demand for water by municipal and industrial sectors in many cities in Africa is likely to increase the competition for water. It is expected that water that has historically been reserved for agriculture will be diverted to the urban and industrial sectors.

Growing global pressures for freshwater resources and the increasing scarcity, cost and political controversy associated with securing new sources of supply has meeting current water requirements. The sustainable reuse of greywater is a viable option which may help to lighten some of this pressure, and could be a key strategy that reduces water demand and increases its availability for primary users, such as domestic and animal life or agriculture.

in different parts of the world, generally refers to water from all non-toilet household activities and includes baths, showers, hand basins and clothes washing machines or the laundry. Toilet water and water from kitchen sinks is considered black water, as this contains elevated levels of pathogens, nitrogen and other elements that require treatment at a sewage treatment works.

Greywater constitutes the largest volume of water wasted through general consumption.

An average household (family of 4) will consume between 200-300L of potentially reusable water on a daily basis. Between 50 and 80% of which is wasted could be reusable greywater. By appropriately matching water quality to water need, the reuse of greywater can replace the use of potable water in non-potable applications

as well as supplement basic water supplies during times of restriction or scarcity. The reuse of grey water will also reduce the requirement for wastewater treatment by the utilities. This will become increasingly

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important as wastewater generation from cities is expected to reach unprecedented volumes in the coming decade due to rapid urbanisation in cities across Africa. Disposal of wastewater is a serious problem in African cities, as many cities lack the infrastructure or technology to effectively accommodate and treat wastewater or have functional water service utilities (or legislative frameworks) to assist in effective water management.

greywater has the potential to cause harm to both human health and the environment. The receiving environment cannot neutralise and assimilate all greywater pollutants, so the responsibility lies with user to ensure that the quality and quantity of their greywater meets the appropriate requirements. Good education, management and monitoring policies will be required to ensure effective community greywater usage; however the

required.

For many rural communities, greywater can provide valuable sustenance for agricultural However, if used in an environmentally crops as well as meet a wide range of other friendly manner, the risks associated with social and economic needs. It utilises a the reuse of greywater to the environment valuable on-site resource and reclaims are low. The topsoil is the most biological otherwise wasted nutrients. Many lower income or rural communities live without access to a household water connection. In remove excess nutrients from the greywater these communities, women and children including organic material, nutrients, salt and often have to walk long distances or wait in sediment. This preserves natural groundwater line in order to access water which then needs sources and may result in additional recharge to be carried home. In these households, of groundwater sources in areas where the reusing water in the home and for household gardens/horticulture is critical as it reduces therefore offers a variety of opportunities, as the reliance on freshwater supplies while well as challenges. Greywater technologies contributing to food production, thereby do exist, but the availability, use and policies improving rural livelihoods. In developed for such technology countries, the use widely around of greywater has SMALL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS vary the world. Many already reduced AND NEW, MORE FLEXIBLE, regions lack clear freshwater demand, regulations or strain on waste GREYWATER POLICIES HAVE water treatment DEMONSTRATED THE SUCCESSFUL standards regarding capture plants and energy USE AND BENEFITS OF GREYWATER greywater and reuse. Rural consumption.

AT MULTIPLE SCALES. communities Aquifer recharge is certainly may improved in some not have access to adequate knowledge, infrastructure or funds to assess and treat and plant growth is supplemented from the greywater before reuse, should this be required. Therefore the implementation of water. Water savings are consequently increased and expenses reduced, as approach and an understanding of the consumption of municipality controlled inherent nature of the source of the water, freshwater supplies in these urban and perias well as the direct needs and concerns of urban areas is decreased. the user or surrounding community. At a The use of greywater needs to be carefully be underestimated. These include reduced controlled and monitored, as the inherent reliance on potable freshwater for nonpotable related activities, supplementation of according to the source. The temperature and basic water supplies in times when demand nutrient value contained in greywater provide outstrips supply or during times of restriction the perfect environment for anaerobic or scarcity, reduced loads on wastewater bacteria to breed and produce by-products disposal systems and reductions in costs. such as methane and hydrogen sulphide.

Furthermore, the original constituents used Small demonstration projects and new, (such as phosphates or boron in washing powder may be toxic to plants at high concentrations, or salts which may impact of greywater at multiple scales. on the saline levels of the soil) may cause soil contamination or worse, leach into the ground water. Unchecked, the use of 20

TIPS ON REDUCING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS FOR SMALLSCALE APPLICATION OF GREYWATER FROM HOUSEHOLDS (ADOPTED FROM WWW.OASISDESIGN. NET/GREYWATER/) t

t t t

t t t

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Avoid sprinklers to distribute grey water but use subsurface irrigation systems; Do not put grey water on food plants; Do not allow pets to drink the grey water; Do not allow grey water to leave your block or enter stormwater systems; Do not irrigate with grey water during periods of wet weather; Monitor nuisances such as odours or ponding; Carefully select soaps and detergents for household use that contain fewer toxins and are environmentally friendly; Do not store greywater for more than 24hrs before reuse.

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consecutive year since the Blue Drop

CITY OF EKURHULENI’S 2012 BLUE DROP CERTIFICATION AWARD

B

Department of Water Affairs’ incentive-based regulation programme that acknowledges the management of drinking water quality according to the risk management principles endorsed by the World Health Organisation and in line with the legislative requirements of Section 62 of the Water Services Act. This implies

that achieve a score above 95% of the Blue

but also the ability of the municipality to sustain the quality, as well as preparedness to deal with any incident that may pose a health risk to the public. This prestigious

Through the City of Ekurhuleni’s dedication to providing its consumers with excellent water services, the City has managed

These criteria are (1) Water Safety Planning, (2) Drinking Water Quality Process Management & Control, (3) Drinking Water Quality Compliance, (4) Management, Accountability & Local Regulation, and (5) Asset Management. Municipalities are assessed on all these criteria and they must comply with all of them.

Ekurhuleni was therefore crowned as the top scoring municipality in South Africa and awarded a Platinum Blue Drop Award by the Department of Water Affairs during the release of the 2012 Blue Drop report.

The City of Ekurhuleni made it to the number one spot for its drinking water quality management with an impressive score of 98.95% followed by the City of Johannesburg with 98.92% and Mogale City with 98.79%. In all, 153 of South Africa’s 287 municipalities and 931 water systems were audited for this year’s report.

The City of Ekurhuleni’s persistence and continual improvement to ensure clean and quality tap water was congratulated by Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa who made the announcement during the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) Conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 07 May 2012.

The City of Ekurhuleni has been in the recipients and the City’s Blue Drop score has progressively increased since the inception in Figure 2 below. The Platinum Blue Drop status and the constantly increasing Blue Drop scores achieved by the City of Ekurhuleni

Figure 1: Deputy Minister of Water Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhatsi, presenting the City of Ekurhuleni (WSA) and Rand Water (WSP) as the top achievers in the country.

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regards to overall management of drinking water quality.

The success of obtaining the Blue Drop and being the top achiever in the country can be attributed to dedication and team work by the Blue Drop task team, involving the Planning, Operations and Revenue sections, that coordinates all aspects regarding Water Quality Management.

THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS STATED THE FOLLOWING IN THE BLUE DROP REPORT: Ekurhuleni gave a magnificent performance indeed. This water services authority had many challenges to face as their services area stretches over varied areas but they held true to their endeavour towards excellence and ultimately achieved. The extraordinary team effort can be regarded as the most remarkable attribute to this commendable Blue Drop performance. The citizens of Ekurhuleni can have the greatest of confidence in the manner drinking water quality is being managed in the area they reside.

Figure 3. Ekurhuleni’s Blue Drop Task Team. From left to right: Albert Kgogome, Hendrik Groenewald, Smuts Marais, Annamarie Maurizi, Dumisani Gubuza, Galaletsang Malebana, Johan Vorster and Dannie van der Merwe.

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ADVERTORIAL

THE KOMATI BASIN WATER AUTHORITY (KOBWA) CELEBRATING TWENY-ONE YEARS IN WATER MANAGEMENT

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his year the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) celebrates twenty one (21) years of existence.

In the past two decades KOBWA has made giant strides as well as met challenges and which have taken the company to where we

are today.

Our Vision is; To be an international Centre of Excellence in Integrated Trans-boundary Water Resource Development and Management Our Mission is; To Stimulate and Facilitate Development within the Komati Basin and Avail our Services to Other Basins in Line with the Party States Development Strategies KOBWA’s Current Strategic Objectives are; - Managing the Water Harvested by the - Phasing out Resettlement Function and making transition to new role in “Risk Management, Quality and Socio-Economic Development”; - Effectively liaising with all stakeholders to promote strong relationships, collaboration and cooperation; - Ensuring sound and effective human management of KOBWA to meet internationally accepted/recognised corporate governance requirements; - Structuring and positioning KOBWA for a new mandate that would include planning and implementation of additional water resource development and management projects in the Party states.

The history of KOBWA is rooted in the Komati River which is based in the Incomati

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River Basin which is shared by South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. The Komati catchment comprises the Komati River and its tributary the Lomati River. The Komati Basin Water Authority operates in the Komati sub-catchment area.

The Incomati Basin. KOBWA’s area of operation is the sub-catchment area which covers the northern part of Swaziland and part of the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa.

The Treaty on the Development and Utilisation of the Water Resources of the Komati River Basin After securing Mozambique’s cooperation, the Governments of the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland signed The Treaty on the Development and Utilisation of the Water Resources of the Komati River Basin in 1992, The purpose of the Treaty was to provide for the development and utilisation of the water resources of the Komati River Basin and for the establishment of the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA).

The Parties (the Government of the Republic of South Africa the Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland) assigned KOBWA to; design and construct of Maguga Dam (Swaziland) and Driekoppies Dam (South Africa) as well as operation and maintenance of the infrastructure. Currently, KOBWA is focusing on the operation and maintenance of the dams and related infrastructure.

In Retrospect, KOBWA has ...; - A Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of water resources that was signed

by the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland in 1992 - Managed the Driekoppies Dam Relocation Action Plan focused on communities that were affected by the project. Affected homesteads could either relocate to the new Shoemansdal extension or be compensated in cash. A total of two-hundred and twenty seven (227) households were relocated to the settlement

- Handed over the management of three Resettlement Allocation Project (RAP) to agricultural projects which were; Schoemansdal, Middelplaas and Schulzendal. These included agriculture sheds and farming implements to bemanaged

- Mobilised technical expertise within projects in Mpumalanga. Communities that

- Established the Phindulwandle Nursery in order to propagate medicinal and indigenous plants and it was handed over to traditional healers. This also compensated for the loss of medicinal plants during the construction of the Dam

Gommorah/Skoon Plaas and Block-B all in the Nkomazi Local Municipal area. In addition to contributing R1.3million to the project, KOBWA was utilized by the Governments as an implementing agent in the Basin.

- A multi-million nursery that is currently under construction at Middelplaas

- Increasing information sharing forums such as hosting the Komati Joint Operations Forum (KJOF), a technical informationsharing forum that meets once a month to discuss water and environment issues of the Komati Basin. The Water and Environment Management Campaigns that are conducted with schools in the Basin, promote the protection, considerate utilisation and sound management of natural resources.

traditional healers who live around the area of Driekoppies Dam. This is part of the compensation process for the loss of indigenous plants during the inundation by the Dam. There are indigenous plants that have a medicinal function. The current phase will cost E/R2.3 million once the project is complete, it will cost E/R4.5 million and the

- Developed eighteen hectares of vegetable gardens as compensation to the communities who lost their gardens during the construction of the dam. A total of one-hundred and thirty eight (138) mostly women, were worked on the gardens - Given communities a total of 155 ha of sugar cane projects.

- Promoting the values of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through the Corporate Social Responsibility program.

Therefore, support has been made to improve access to water and better sanitation to the following; Ukukhanyakwezwe Home-Based Care, Sivusithemba Orphanage, Intfutfuko yaBogogo, Tinhlonhla High School, Sisini Primary School, and the New Methodist Church.

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ADVERTORIAL

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and Water purchases its raw water from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and draws from the Vaal Dam, which in turn is supplied by the Katse, Sterkfontein, Grootdraai and Woodstock dam system.

Vereeniging before having to be lifted (pumped) approximately 380 m from the Vaal River basin and transported to the higher lying areas of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand. The water is then widely distributed via an extensive network of pipelines to various industries, municipalities, companies and individuals within Rand Water’s approximately 18 000 km2 area of supply.

This area of supply comprises most of Gauteng, but also extends to Rustenburg in the North West Province, Bethal in the Mpumalanga Province, and Sasolburg and Heilbron in the Free State Province. Rand Water is an organ of state, which reports directly to the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry. Rand Water has a mandate to enhance economic development and quality of life through the supply of potable water.

Please highlight three key messages you would like to send to the readers about Rand Water and the environment.

1. Rand Water as a sustainable water service provider is an environmentally responsible company, and these sentiments are echoed inherently in their mission statements, values, policies and projects. Rand Water carries out their activities with respect for the environment.

2. Realising that the supply of water has an intrinsic value and is a limited resource essential to life and the economic progress, Rand Water considers; service , people, consumers; public and the environment in ensuring a reliable consistent good quality clean healthy water supply to meet the present and future social and economic needs at an affordable price.

3. As a bulk water stressed country Rand water conservation as of employees and environmental issues.

utility in a water Water commits to well the education communities on

What are some of the biggest projects Rand Water has worked on in terms of the environment?

The duplication of a 52km water supply pipeline, routed adjacent to the existing pipelines, within the existing servitude, from Vlakfontein (Benoni) to Mamelodi.

The pipeline has an internal diameter of demands, whilst maintaining a positive 2.5m/s. The routed went through parts of Kungwini Local Municipality and City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipal area. The alignment was split into two phases. Phase 1 of the project has already undergone an environmental assessment and received subsequent authorisation (Gaut: 002/0708/N0643) while the second phase is phase included numerous interactions and mitigation measures with various landowners whose properties were affected by the construction activity. Currently all

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water crossings affected in phase 1 are being monitored for compliance. The second phase

through or around the southern boundary of the Rietvlei Nature Reserve and on the Bronberg reservoir site numerous Juliana Golden Mole have been observed. The Woodhill Golf Estate will present social challenges, while the numerous iron age and heritage sites such as the Sammy Marks museum has also taken huge planning to mitigate all the environmental impacts.

The construction of the BG3 pipeline which is a 3,5m diameter 8600 m long, reinforced steel raw water pipeline from the Vaal Dam Wall along the Vaal River and on to the Zuikerbosch Canal Control Works, Midvaal Local Municipality with authorization Gaut 002/05-06/0703. This pipeline has a working strip of 47m and is predominantly being laid within the existing Rand Water servitude. The water through put of this pipe will supply almost a third of Rand Water’s current raw water abstraction needs.

The environmental authorisations have included a heritage permit and several Water Use Licences.

GDARD - January 2005

closeness of the new excavation to the existing older pipeline, the close proximity to the Vaal river, the size of the pipe as well as the depth of the required excavation.

As with almost all pipeline projects, many interactions and negotiations are required with landowners. As this project is still currently ongoing, the disturbed areas and properties are also still being reinstated

of engaging with both children and adults.

This is done via a process of education, edutaining, research and awareness through advertorials conferences, a wide range of magazines, talks, lectures, shows, pamphlets and newspapers. The target market for these being the green industry, buildings, businesses, municipalities, communities, school children and tertiary institutions.

Rand Water on an annual basis has a team of staff that identify areas over or adjacent to pipelines that have caused or could cause environmental degradation that could lead to damage of the pipeline or place it at risk.

At any one stage there are approximately 30 projects in process. Projects will range from repairing of erosion on access roads, repairing river or stream bank erosion and even illegal mining of sand/soil within the servitude area. This continued proactive work ensures that Rand Water’s staff have access to pipelines for monitoring and that the infrastructure is secured.

Are there any interesting statistics that you would like to share in terms of the environment and water wise that will give our readers more insight into what you do?

Awareness levels on water wise have steadily increased over the years. This increase in awareness can be attributed to an steady ongoing campaign to innovatively place the Water Wise brand and it’s message in every possible corner of Gauteng and South Africa, on a shoe-string budget.

Water is a scarce resource in South Africa and use must be preserved. It is a known fact that price controls on their own do not reduce and control excessive use and wastage and hence it is necessary to implement a combination of both water conservation and water demand management initiatives. all water aspects before the water enters the distribution again once it exists this system (water demand management is limited to the water reticulation system and usually addresses aspects such as leak

14 October 2011 Technically this project has face several challenges mainly due to the terrain, the

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In order to achieve the goals of water conservation, there is a continuous process

on Water Wise

Water Wise

What can the public do to assist in keeping the environment in a good condition?

Follow the basic Water Wise principles: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Respect water, respect life Don’t waste water Don’t pollute water Pay for water Services Environmental Action Conserve water, conserve environment

the

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

KEY ADVANTAGES OF SENTER 360

COMPANY PROFILE

– Africa’s pivot of success

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ADVERTORIAL

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EWSETA

ENSURING DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY AND WATER SKILLS

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he Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) is one of 21 SETAs currently operating as a statutory body in terms of the Skills Development Act. Prior to 2010 it was referred to as the Energy SETA (ESETA) but with the addition of the water services sector to its portfolio changed to the EWSETA. EWSETA Mandate EWSETA addresses the sub-sectors of electricity, nuclear, renewable energy and water, and waste and sanitation. It has the overall responsibility to implement and manage skills planning, quality assurance and skills delivery in these sectors. EWSETA executes its mandate as determined by the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III).

by further and higher education and training institutions and including internships, experiential learning and work experience within their syllabus.”

Central to the objectives of the NSDS III is the placement of students and graduates especially from Further Education and Training (FETC) Colleges, Universities and Universities of Technology. The EWSETA has entered into a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with these institutions, and employers in the sector, to form a platform for greater collaboration and success. Flowing from these MoUs came 20 projects totalling approximately R300m that will see young professionals (artisans, technicians, engineers) in the water and energy sector. Efforts to ensure placement for these individuals are advanced.

EWSETA is accredited by the South to perform all relevant quality assurance functions including provider accreditation,

such we coordinate, facilitate and assure quality sector-relevant skills development programmes for our stakeholders in line with national skills development priorities.”

EWSETA is also responsible for determining grant disbursements to qualifying stakeholders. The Department of Higher education and Training (DHET) has recently promulgated new grants regulations with a special emphasis on Pivotal Grants. “The SETA will focus allocation of grants to Pivotal programmes, which are primarily full

OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT TO RIGHT:

In an attempt to curb unemployment and attain appropriate skills EWSETA encourages and support learners from basic schooling to pursue careers in its sectors through career guidance and support. The EWSETA provides an enabling environment to streamline the skills pipeline for learners from schools to FETCs or universities, and

Water Sector Focus Similar to all other SETAs, NSDS III aligns the EWSETA’s strategies with the development strategies and macro-economic policies of government and industry. These include the Human Resource Development Strategy for South Africa (HRD-SA), New Growth Path (NGP), Industrial Policy

Action plan (IPAP), National Development Plan, and rural development strategies. Most importantly, EWSETA aligns its water sector support strategy to relevant policies and frameworks in the sector including relevant Strategic Infrastructure Programmes (SIPs) and most robustly, the objectives of the National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS) 2-Capacity building Chapter.

The EWSETA remains committed to NSDS III and its eight goals, with a particular focus on ensuring that transformational imperatives are adequately addressed and measurable impact is achieved.

Transformational imperatives include gender, race, youth, class, age, disability and most importantly rural development. With this in mind EWSETA through its Water Sector Business Unit support the NWRS 2 objectives as follows: In formalising and strengthening existing mechanism and process for Department of Water Affairs (DWA)

a collaborative agreement with Department of Water Affairs (DWA).

Already signed with the following key stakeholders: Water Institutes South Africa (WISA); Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA).

EWSETA participate in the Water Sector Leadership Capacity Building Group.

In addition there is representation in the Inter-Ministerial Capacity Building Task Team for the water sector.

EWSETA, like most SETAs, is grappling with the challenges of

Mr Zokwana ( The Chairperson of the Board EWSETA), Mr Gradwel ( The CEO of EWSETA).

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conducting labour market research in its designated sectors. Although the SETA was initially formed to promote skills development, its mandate has since broadened to include labour market research and industry analysis. Capacity is brought into the EWSETA to conduct and secure a comprehensive Labour Market Intelligence Survey (LMIS) as part of its institutional mechanism for skills planning. The EWSETA also University of Western Cape (UWC) to develop a research strategy. The year Sector Skills Plan (SSP) at the beginning of NSDS III, and has since twice conducted annual updates (211/2012 and 2012/2013 respectively).

The SSPs has despite challenges mentioned, made an attempt to identify the sectors’ skills demands and supply challenges and scenario planning.

The SETAs through its collaboration with Further Education and Training Institutions (FETCs) commissioned the University of Stellenbosch to conduct research aimed at identifying FETCs further investigate capacity of FETC Educators and also the infrastructural challenges.

Ensure water education integrate into public awareness, education and outlined in NSDS III, goal 4.8 is to “Build career and vocational guidance in the sector”. The most important focus is to review career pathing for learners in the sector and also to ensure that all occupations are aligned to the Organising Framework for Occupations (OFO). Deliverables implemented includes amongst others, the career guidelines developed and distributed to all stakeholders including schools.

Career exhibitions have been conducted especially in rural communities.

EWSETA’s Annual Performance Plan (APP) highlight how the SETA adopts

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pipe-line is addressed from secondary education up to access to the labour market. The SETA is further exploring out-of-the-box approaches to engage young people and to encourage them to consider the water sector as a career of choice.

of students from bursary support to experiential learning. EWSETA will support WISA in its efforts to be successfully registered as a professional body, primarily for Process Controllers.

In addition, EWSETA will continue to strengthen its relationship with professional bodies in the engineering

FETC programmes to meet needs of has signed collaborations agreements with 24 FETCs. As indicated above, the SETA is also implementing FETC research projects. All these efforts are aimed at ensuring that infrastructure of FETCs is robustly considered to address the skills supply challenges in the sector.

The Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande has declared 2013 as year of artisan development. Currently, the water sector in the EWSETA does not have however, the sector implement trades under a different ETQA scope (i.e. plumbing). There is a debate in the sector to register Process Controllers as a trade. The gazette registering/ listing trades has made a stipulation that there are occupations that can’t be regarded as trades and unfortunately, Process Controller and Operators has been reported as such. Once consensus is reached, the sector will advocate why Process Controllers at a lower level should be regarded as trades. EWSETA will play an instrumental role in leading the sector in this regard. EWSETA is also represented in the Water Research Commission (WRC) Reference Group.

All these efforts are geared at ensuring that water intelligence challenges are addressed.

Provide an enabling environment for collaborations already signed with HETs, and particularly the collaboration signed with MISA, EWSETA is already positioned to address the pipe-lines

The issues of quality assurance remain a challenge. The water sector is excited about the establishment of the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). The

development and quality assurance from (NQF) 1-10. The Framework makes provision for any institution to develop there is Industry support and resources. With this background, EWSETA will continue to support other SETAs already aligning to the QCTO occupational curriculum framework (LGSETA already scoping the Water and Waste Water Process Controllers for Occupations (OFO) code 313201).

EWSETA will also be responsible for some other sectors and stakeholders.

The Minister of Higher Education and Training has requested the Chief Executive National Skills Development Strategy for Renewable Energy and Energy and Resource EWSETA has engaged the process with the German Community for International Cooperation (the Deutsche GeseIIschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit or GIZ).

The deliverables of this project are well researched and include global, regional and nearing completion.

“It is our vision to be a leading skills development authority, facilitating internationally acclaimed skills development and workplace learning for economic growth and sector development in the energy and water sector.” EWSETA continue to enjoy full support of the Accounting Authority under the able leadership of Mr Senzeni Zokwana to effectively implement its mandate.

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SUSTAINABILITY

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O

ne of South Africa’s leading renewable energy projects includes that of The Cookhouse Wind Farm, which covers over 9,000 hectares of land. It received a positive record of decision from the Department of Environment in May 2010 for the erection of up to 200 wind turbines. South Africa has immense wind energy resources and government has “demonstrated praiseworthy vision and leadership to exploit this abundant renewable resource to power the nation’s growth: green jobs, energy generation and inclusive, sustainable growth”.

The Cookhouse Wind Farm is located near the town of Cookhouse in the Eastern Cape Province, approximately 180km NNE of Port Elizabeth. The Cookhouse Wind Farm project strongly supports the Government’s objective to achieve socio-economic development in South Africa. This project

The Cookhouse Wind Farm will have an installed capacity of 138.6 MW, powered by 66 Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines and to commence construction within the SA REIPPPP framework, which has started in January 2012, with commercial operations planned for June 2014.

of 66 turbines in the Cookhouse Western Stage which has already been selected as REIPP Procurement Programme. In addition, the project will actively invest in socioeconomic development initiatives, focusing on, although not limited to: education, health and HIV/AIDS, skills development and environmental conservation.

The Cookhouse Wind Farm project will development and job creation through the

Aurecon has acted as Owner’s Engineer on the Cookhouse Wind Farm project since early 2009, providing a wide range of technical advisory services to help progress phases, including the layout design of the wind farm, wind resource and energy yield assessments and technical advisory services.

Renewable energy is recognised internationally as a major contributor in protecting our climate, nature, and the environment as well as providing a wide range of environmental, economic and social term global sustainability.

is a clean form of energy, which means that no pollution is produced by the operation of the machines. Using wind power can reduce and perhaps eventually eliminate the world’s dependence on energy generation that causes

THE COOKHOUSE WIND FARM Writer: Andrea Schroeder

has developed a comprehensive Economic and policy instruments of Government that are relevant to this important objective.

African Clean Energy Developments (Pty) Limited (ACED) is a South African registered company dedicated to the development of renewable energy projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. ACED has placed immense value in addressing the socio-economic conditions in the local communities surrounding the Cookhouse project through: local content through assembly and construction activities, rural development and community involvement through direct investment, plans to expand education & development skills given active project involvement, extensive BEE enterprises being established and socio-economic development in the Cookhouse region.

development of local industry, local and regional economic motivation through jobs and training during the construction phase and over the twenty year life of the project.

The Cookhouse Wind Farm will also make a contribution socially as it represents an investment in clean, renewable energy, which, given the challenges created by climate change, represents positive social electricity network requires considerable reform over the coming decades if the country is to successfully diversify its generation mix to sources other than coal to meet the increasing demand for power. This view is supported by The Department of Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010-2030 which anticipates the introduction of 41 346 MW of new generation across various technologies and geographies over the coming 20 years.

pollution. Burning coal, for example, release carbon dioxide, sulphur and even soot into the air. However, nuclear power plants produce toxic wastes for which there is no solution.

Wind farming is also compatible with other activities, such as traditional agricultural farming. The Cookhouse Wind Farm will contribute to sustainable development in South Africa environmentally by displacing some coal-dominated power generation in South Africa with wind power, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of South Africa.

Although wind energy is a fairly new concept in SA, it has the potential for 30,000MW of wind energy. Industrialised countries such as Germany, Spain, Denmark and the US are investing heavily in wind energy, but among China and Brazil that have adopted it on a large scale.

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uppe marketing A08948/A

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SUSTAINABILITY

HOPEFIELD WIND FARM Writer: Rishqah Roberts

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n an effort to reshape our electricity network and add variety to our generation mix of sources, besides coal; and to meet the ever increasing need for power, South Africa is funding a total of 28 renewable energy projects worth billions of Rand.

Paul Nel of Aurecon, the market leader in renewable energy and trusted advisor for challenges facing the building of these renewable energy projects. Such as; the lack of local experience with these types of projects and the fact that the technology involved is all new to the South African market. Aurecon is playing a leading role in ensuring the success of a total of 6 of the 28 renewable energy projects.

Farm, which is the second wind farm under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) led by the Department of Energy and the most advanced large scale wind farm in South Africa today. It is located on 2 200 hectares of farmland near the town of

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within the Western Cape. The farm is expected to have a total installed capacity of 67 MW; Vestas V 100 1.8 MV turbines are to be delivered in the second quarter of 2013 and are expected to meet the 67 MW capacity. The estimated total project value is R1.5 billion. The wind farm is to secure an annual yield of approximately 190 GWh and is expected to be commissioned by 2014.

developer; Umoya Energy (Pty) Ltd, was structured in this manner. These results are to be achieved through local contracts of employment together with a host of other related community projects.

Aurecon was appointed by Vestas to provide support for the project, in terms of site supervision; ensuring a high technical quality of balance of power constructed on site. They are also to provide health, safety and environmental monitoring to guarantee compliance with both the legislature and international best practice.

development within the local community in which the wind farm is situated. In this regard, Vestas is taking its responsibility very seriously and is excited to contribute not only to the long term renewable energy generation in South Africa, but also the sustainable development of the communities within which Vestas works; says Phylip Leferink, the Vice President of Sales Benelux and South Africa Central Europe.

Vestas; is the world’s current leader in wind energy and their package offers its customers assured performance helping them avoid unanticipated operating costs of any kind.

and is expected to continue for 14 months, during which time there is to be community development and upliftment within the Town

Thus the project has a strong local economic development obligations; other than the supply of clean energy as it

Delivering clean energy in support of the of Vestas. Their wind power from more than 47 000 wind turbines currently reduces the carbon emission by approximately 55 million tons of CO2 annually; while simultaneously building energy security and independence.

The commercial wind farm may be seen as blowing new found positivity into the positive side effects promises to have come with it. Breathing fresh air into the Towns property markets, as reported by Pam Golding Properties, there is hype about town regarding the new job opportunities to come and the new found demand for local business and services to be provided. There is also an excitement in the Town concerning the future of the small scale farming community, which tend to focus on crops; fruit trees and livestock farming.

as a popular weekend getaway amongst Capetonians; but now, with the wind farm development the demand for small holdings within the area has increased rapidly since it became obvious that the sustainable energy project would venture forward.

Judging from all this, what initially began as an effort to reshape the South African electricity network and offer variety; other than coal, to our generation mix of sources and meet the never-ending need for power has evolved into a full scale operation with multiple positive effects not just locally, but nationally and even internationally as well as to the local job market and the economy as a whole.

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green and having ample PV energy to power their electronic equipment, as well as other general building functions.

THE LETSATSI AND LESEDI PHOTO-VOLTAIC (PV) INSTALLATIONS Writer: Andrea Schroeder

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resident Jacob Zuma spoke at the seventeenth Conference of the Parties (COP 17) climate conference in December last year, where he said that the biggest barriers to developing renewable energy in Africa to-date were not

In South Africa, there are long, bright days which makes it the ideal environment in which to generate electricity by harnessing the power of the sun. This is still a relatively new idea in the country, and many people ask the question, “How does solar photovoltaic work?”

the South African Renewable Energy Fund, which is aimed at unlocking the country’s green growth potential through the funding of large-scale renewable developments. The funding, according to President Zuma, will be achieved with the assistance of global

The process is fairly straightforward to understand and the easiest way of explaining it is by describing the various fundamentals involved in a photovoltaic (PV) system. The process can be explained in three simple steps. Firstly, by installing solar panels on your roof, you enable the PV cells to absorb sunlight, which they convert into Direct Current (DC) power. Secondly, this DC power is then directed to an inverter, which converts it into an Alternating Current (AC).

This is the standard kind of electricity that the appliances and lights in your home use.

will provide innovative funding solutions to facilitate it.

The Government of South Africa, through the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has set aside R800 million to establish the Green Fund.The objective of the Green Fund is to lay the basis for the South African economy to make a transition to a resilient development path delivering high impact economic, environmental and social

in green initiatives that will support South Africa’s transition towards a green economy.

The Letsatsi and Lesedi Photo-Voltaic (PV) Installations were two of the 28 renewable energy projects that aim to solve South Africa’s energy crisis and contribute to a greener economy. Both of these projects correspond to an installed capacity of 75 MW DC. The Letsatsi Park will be installed at Soutdrift, near Bloemfontein in the Free State. Lesedi, on the other hand, is located at Humansrus, near Kimberley in the Northern Cape. Construction of both installations have already commenced at the start of the New Year.

directed into a breaker box, it’s ready to be used in your household as free sun energy or redirected into the grid to be stored and made use of at a later stage.

How solar energy works is by using the power of the sun to “give life” to various devices. Your setup absorbs and converts daylight into useable electricity. Once the atmosphere, they arrive at the surface at about 1 000W per square metre. In terms of electricity, the implications of being able to harness this phenomenal resource of sustainable solar power are numerous.

Uses of solar energy include providing electricity for properties such as homes and businesses. In a household, solar panels can be used for your lights, computers, televisions, washing machines, kitchen appliances and even air-conditioning.

Moreover, in businesses commercial

The Letsatsi and Lesedi Photo-Voltaic (PV) Installations are owned by the consortium of Solar Reserve, Kensani Group and Intikon Energy. Aurecon has teamed up with Lonjas to provide services to the owner of both projects, together with design review as well as construction supervision and health and safety monitoring, amongst others.

SolarReserve is abiding to spread out its clean energy portfolio with advanced photovoltaic (PV) projects throughout the country and the world. SolarReserve’s Letsatsi Project in South Africa will produce over 75 MW of energy annually for South African residents.

SolarReserve’s South Africa PV Projects will play a part in helping South Africa meet its renewable energy targets, in addition to stimulating long-term economic development and job creation that contribute substantially to the development of South Africa.

The Letsatsi and Lesedi PV projects alone will generate enough clean energy to power over 50,000 homes and will create approximately 600 construction jobs and 100 SolarReserve, as the U.S. developer of utilityscale solar energy projects, joined with the Kensani Group, an experienced empowered infrastructure player in the Southern African market, and Intikon Energy, a South African developer of renewable energy projects, to develop three large-scale photovoltaic solar energy projects in South Africa.

In December 2011, the South African Department of Energy (DOE) awarded the consortium with preferred bidder status for their two 75 megawatt (MWDC) projects, the Letsatsi and Lesedi PV plants, and months later, in May 2012, DOE additionally awarded the consortium for their third project, the Jasper Solar Energy Project, bringing the total projects up to 238 MW and accounting for a 20 percent share of South Africa’s solar energy market.

The preferred bidder status provides the consortium with the right to proceed with executing the 20-year government-supported power purchase agreements with Eskom, the South African Power Utility.

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Community development in South Africa: Corporate intervention

M currently being incubated around the country.

Joint efforts equals bursting progress The SSMB division’s objective is to create employment, promote inclusion and social cohesion within the small

Much has been achieved over the years with respect

the challenges met by small scale operators and SMME’s in the minerals sector.

government, private enterprises and communities to

Covering areas such as extractive technologies in

strategies aimed at achieving sustainable community well-being.

sustainability, environmental matters, as well as training and incubation, SSMB aims to promote the minerals appropriate community development programmes.

country’s mineral wealth.

willing to enhance and expand their corporate social

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Theresa Ditsie government departments, local municipalities and mining houses; covering programmes that included matters, training and incubation.

For further information on the community development programmes offered by Mintek please contact:

or Nirdesh Singh

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CAPE TOWN STADIUM

SUSTAINING THE WHITE ELEPHANT Writer Kendal Brown

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lmost from the moment the idea of building a new soccer stadium in Green Point for the then impending 2010 Soccer World Cup was mooted, doomsayers were screaming “white elephant.” Their frantic cries fell on ears deafened by the rhetoric of those who were determined to build an admittedly may dictate.

Let’s approach this from a hopefully reasonable point of view. Admittedly, the old Green Point Stadium needed a major facelift. According to the powers that be (whoever they may have been at the time) merely spending several million upgrading it was not acceptable. Billions was seen as preferable even if it wasn’t entirely clear structure) would be maintained after it was used a few times for the SWC. However, some people made a lot of money at the time and left the problem of keeping this titanic

Hiring the stadium is a frightening prospect so only those with substantial funds can really make use of it. So, what are the chances that it will be hired enough to sustain itself? At present, it costs approximately R57 million per annum to maintain. Income is approximately R12 million! Do the math!

Business plans have been proposed, public invited to suggest solutions and blame laid at the door of the failure to obtain an anchor tenant. Western Province Rugby has been touted as the obvious choice of anchor tenant but ask yourself why would they want to take

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already own a stadium which in comparison requires a minuscule part of their income to maintain. Given that between the Stormers and Western Province, who attract many fans, having a larger seating capacity could be an attraction but those extra seats would expenses.

Cosatu has an interesting proposal. Knock the whole thing down and use the land to build affordable housing for underprivileged persons. Anyone counted the additional for solutions to satisfy all affected parties whole. I don’t envy them the task, do you?

Nonetheless, the city leaders insist the stadium is far from a white elephant and is bound to be gainfully occupied on a regular basis in the near future. That is a hard pill to swallow considering three years of very seat stadium. This is certainly not enough to indicate a growing trend in the stadium’s utilisation. Plans to increase utilisation are said to focus on long term solutions but how long is long term when it’s already three years since the SWC? What losses have been incurred in that time and how much more before a long term solution kicks in?

Some calling for the stadiums demolition have asked the premier to appoint a commission of inquiry to establish why and how the national government and FIFA were able to pressure the city into building the stadium? There are also fears of the stadium degenerating because of lack of maintenance. The leaking roof is already a

cause for concern and winters in the Western Cape are wet and windy!

Many have expressed concern as to how the whole thing came about. Newlands stadium could have been utilised. It houses close on a brand new stadium seems somewhat over the top. Agreed, over eight matches that Cape Town hosted during the World Cup would mean the loss of, let’s for arguments sake, say, some forty thousand ticket sales.

That adds up to a loss for let’s see....oh yes, FIFA. So rather lump the good citizens with having to build a stadium it appears they didn’t really need rather than FIFA lose out government or rather its tax payers. That’s a scenario one might consider. It seems from research that there has been plenty of dirty work at the crossroads. One doubts it will ever be revealed and even if it is, it will be covered up. The blanket of corruption is thick and broad and obscures much. The only thing that is blatantly apparent is the Point Common.

Personally I think it’s a stupendous piece of modern architecture. The surroundings have been beautifully transformed but as long as the rancour that surrounds the stadium remains, it will never have that sparkle that makes it a famous and not infamous landmark. Only when it proves its worth as a sustainable venue will the controversy surrounding it dissipate. If not, then the perceived white elephant may well become an albatross around the neck of those who insisted on its construction and those forced to foot the bill of maintaining it.

SUSTAINABILITY

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STANDARD BANK WINS THE GREENEST BANK IN AFRICA AWARD

energy project, they signed a R20 Billion Funding Support Agreement for renewable energy projects within South Africa, with the Commercial and Industry Bank of China, the Banks largest shareholder. In terms of this agreement, they are to fund renewable energy projects for the next twelve years, up until the year 2025. This funding is to be used to fund projects with preferred bidder status according to South Africa’s REIPP Programme. Such as the Solar Parks and other government approved developments.

This deal seems to be a win-win for both the South Africans and the Chinese as it will promote the investment potential of South African solar power capabilities to Chinese

Writer: Rishqah Roberts

S

energy. tandard Bank has won the Greenest Bank in Africa Award and is now said to be the “Greenest and Cleanest” of them all for their commitment to Renewable Energy Projects.

But what exactly did they do to achieve the ranking of 12th Greenest in the world and Cleanest in Africa, according to the standards of the Bloomberg Markets?

They made the “biggest gain in renewable energy” according to the Bloomberg standards. Alastair Campbell, the Executive Vice President of Power and Infrastructure Finance, says it all began with three years behind the scenes work; when government Programme that later grew into the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer (REIPP). Campbell says they took a proactive approach to this strategic and socially important sector, and actively sought the deals they would underwrite.

And this way sought to underwrite US $ 1.1 Billion in government approved projects, of which 314 Million was for solar parks. After this, they were ranked 12th in the world according to Bloomberg. However, this was only one of the things done to achieve their new found ranking. They had also lent amounts to clean energy projects and reduced their own power consumption and footprint. , As part of their ranking process, Bloomberg looked at what banks were doing in an effort to reduce their waste; carbon footprint and

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environmental impact, which accounted for 30% of the score, as it included a reduction in air emissions, water usage and gains in clean energy were also looked at. What gave Standard Bank a great boost in the right direction was their new Rosebank Building.

Green Building Council of South Africa.

Achieving this ranking came about in stages. successful after they had backed 11 wind and solar projects valued at a total of R9.4 Billion. They underwrote contracts valued at this amount in debt; provided comprehensive corporate and investment banking services to all their clients through providing interest; currency hedges; carbon trading credits; corporate bonding and guarantee facilities.

After all this, their clients will have produced 338 MW in wind power and 235 MW in Solar Photovoltaic out of the expected 1.416 MW from the projects combined. This makes the Standard Bank Group the largest funder of the 28 wind and solar power projects

During the second round of bidding; Standard Bank provided funding for 7 out of the 19 projects; valued at R7.1 Billion.

Campbell says that the Standard Bank Group hopes to continue to be the leader at the third bid in August. And he says that the Group a meaningful role in each bid roll out and support the third bidding window.

Amongst all of this, to ensure their readiness for the multi-year process in the renewable

Campbell believes that Standard Banks ranking may improve due to their commitment to governments renewable energy programme. This lays down the next two to three years as involving intense activity both locally and internationally.

The award further cements the Standard Bank Groups position as part of the JSE Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index, whose aims are, as the JSE explains “to identify those JSE listed companies that integrate the principles of the triple bottom line and good governance into their business activities”.

Bank automatically gains entry into the low environmental impact category and so by funding socially responsible projects; such as the Solar Parks, it is just another sign that the Standard Bank Group rightly belongs in the JSE SRI. Campbell is of the opinion that the Standard Bank group owes its leading position to their in-depth understanding of the sector and the South African Market. The ranking represents their commitment to sustainability in every aspect of their business operations not just within their immediate environment, being South Africa, but worldwide as well.

This may be seen to great extents and is physically manifested in their structures; as seen in their Rosebank building, which was their new buildings shall be built from now on.

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RUBBLE, RUBBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE Writer: Michelle Nel

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lmost every day, a little piece of a peri-urban suburb like Linbro Park is treated like Someone Else’s Rubbish Bin. Local residents are reporting perpetrators but landscaper Juanita Knox says it’s futile.

“There are no legal, convenient dumps,” she argues. “I have been working closely with building contractors around Gauteng for the past 25 years. “Contractors need cheap, convenient dumpsites. On each project, we

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excavate 150 cubes of rubble and produce waste greens too.”

“The city is cultivating a crop of acne which will cost millions to clear (and leave scars).

There are a few private dumps but the costs are prohibitive,” she says.

but were closed. Linbro still takes greens - as long as you are a householder. Clean greens can cost Knox R120 for a quarter bakkie load

at a city dump.

“There was a place opposite Kyalami Ranch that charged only R40 per load of greens and converted it into compost for resale. It closed due to poor management,” Knox says.

Culterra allows the dumping of green waste at a nominal cost (about R10 a load) and this is then made into compost for sale. There is a private dump site behind the Chloorkop dump. Private rubbish dump near Klipfontien

that costs R129 per bakkie load.

Bakkie contractor “Shadrack’ says it is a struggle to dump building waste and he has to drive all the way to Primrose. He only does garden waste with a one ton bakkie because this small size is allowed at most garden centres. However, some are even refusing to take garden waste now, he claims.

Mechanical engineer John des Ligneris, who ran the comprehensive Pikitup waste reclamation site at Kya Sands (which sadly closed because recycling was not yet viable) says many components of building rubble can be re-used. He believes that people should be allowed to dump clean rubble for free and only be charged if the waste is mixed and requires sorting.

a considerable portion of it being building rubble. Faced with the increasing cost of building materials, dumping and fuel, it makes sense to reuse useful construction materials,” he explains.

IMS Engineering produces a crushing plant for demolition rubble and concrete debris, broken road paving, asphalt, railway sleepers ‘David’ says he has to take building rubble and blocks. The mobile crushing recycling all the way to Dobsonville near Roodepoort His idea is that rubble sorting sites be sited plants are designed to separate reinforcing or to Honeydew where he is where he is close to informal settlement. Some reclaimed steel and crushed materials into two saleable charged R50 per four cubic metres. He rubble could be fashioned into building products. A Hazemag screening and aircharges R500 per load. blocks which could then be sold cheaply to pressurised soft and organic materials informal dwellers to erect proper houses.

Dumpers should be registered says Knox. separating plant can be added to further clean They get a disc to display on their vehicles.

All South Africa’s 283 municipalities could up the saleable, At Robinson (near recycled material Turffontein) clean WITH TOO MUCH BUILDING IN JOHANNESBURG , AND aggregate. builders rubble can be dumped for free but mixed waste costs money.

TOO FEW AFFORDABLE , LEGAL DUMPSITES, THE RU BBLE RABBLE DE FAC ES OU R G RE E N SPAC ES. CAN’T WE TURN THIS RUBBISH INTO USEFUL PRODUCTS?

dumpers if they have few legal alternatives,” says Knox. She would like to see spent quarries turned into rubble dumps. “There is a quarry on the way to Pretoria. When this is mined out, can it not be used to dump building waste?” she wonders.

Knox says that the Randburg Waterfront/ Brightwater Commons began life as a spent into an entertainment venue.

Perhaps the answer lies in using the rubble operating at a site in Linbro Park for some four years. The company accepted clean building rubble and recycled it. It separated sand and stone into clean material for sale.

Rubbletech recycled bricks and steel, and broke mortar to obtain building stone.

Rocks were crushed or cleaned and sold.

Even sand-rich cement could be crushed back into building sand. Unfortunately the operation ran foul of waste dump permit rules. Rubble recyclers must be sited away from dust-sensitive areas. It currently lies close to a Pick n Pay distribution centre.

Rubbletech charged a mere R15 a load to dump rubble. This service is much needed and sites should be found that are away from dust sensitive neighbours and wetlands. Over the four years, Rubbletech managed to save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of stone and sand that would have had to be quarried.

use waste to create business opportunities for the unemployed, says des Ligneris. He wants to set up an ‘Environmental Business Park

“Household waste should come in two bags: “dry”(60% of waste) and “wet”(40%),” he says. “This goes to a Material Recovery Facility, (sorting factory), where workers sort the “dry” materials into paper, plastic, glass and tins. Garden waste can produce excellent compost for sale. All the necessary machines are mobile, so various sites can rotate the equipment, saving money.”

Builders rubble can be crushed and screened to produce sand and aggregates for concrete, bricks and paving blocks. One simply needs a self powered mobile crushing and screening machine that can be positioned either at the

Materials handling specialist IMS Engineering is supplying recycling machines for the construction industry so they can minimise waste at source.

“Construction can unlock value from construction waste”, IMS Engineering construction materials and recycling sales manager, Jonathan Smith, told Engineering News.

“In most developed countries, 20% upwards

According to waste stream analysis and prioritization for recycling by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, dumping was a problem in Johannesburg (April 2005). Building rubble and material can be reused or processed to disposal sites and building sites. Crushed building rubble has a number of useful applications, e.g. as a raw material for the manufacture of bricks (as undertaken by Skip Waste in the south of Johannesburg).

is made up of building rubble (the reason is suspected to be the high charges for rubble disposal).

REPORT ILLEGAL DUMPING to Pikitup Security Risk Department Desiree Ntshingila, Communication and Stakeholder Management: desireentshingila@pikitup.co.za Cell 079 506 0568 Or Johannesburg Metro Police: By Law Unit is Superintendent Rajah at 011 490 1630, ratsamyr@joburg.org.za

Africa, this number is closer to 80%, with 53

LANDMARK AGREEMENT PAVES LIFE CYCLE OF CLAY BRICK

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he signing of a landmark agreement between the Clay Brick Association of South Africa (ClayBrick.org) and the University of Pretoria’s Department of Architecture is to set in motion the

of its kind ever to be undertaken in South Africa.

This groundbreaking study entitled a ‘Life Cycle Assessment for Clay Brick masonry walling in South Africa,’ intends to measure the full Life Cycle of Clay Brick from cradle to cradle, and is also scheduled to be published as internationally recognised academic research.

At Coetzee, Executive Director of ClayBrick. org, explains, “With the decisions of building

sustainability, the aim is to benchmark Clay Brick as a green building material based on much needed, factual and credible research, particularly in a South African context.

“Through this Life Cycle Assessment, we will be able to calculate the environmental impacts of a Clay Brick building; from initial production of the material to construction, and overall operation, in terms of energy usage, water consumption, resultant greenhouse gas emissions and recyclability, among others. The thermal performance of Clay Brick walling structures will also be compared to newer methods, like the light steel framed walling systems.”

Project Coordinator at the University of Pretoria, Professor Piet Vosloo adds, “From the university’s perspective the overall aim of the study is to conduct a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment of Clay Bricks according to internationally accepted benchmarks provided by the ISO14040/44 standards.

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The Clay Brick LCA study will be rolled out include a detailed Life Cycle Assessment to determine the environmental impact of Clay Brick from raw material extraction through to manufacture, transportation, construction on-site, as well as the operational life of the building, and also the demolition, disposal and recycling thereof.

As part of the second phase, a thermal modeling study offering comparative data between the thermal performance of Clay

Brick walling and other alternate walling structures will be undertaken. The designs for comparison will include a 40m² house, a

be available for the industry and building professionals to see where improvements can and should be made.”

of ± 2000m². The wall constructions to be compared include:

Furthermore, new legislation and the pending implementation of Green Tag labeling are also key considerations. “It is essential to have an accurate picture of where Clay Brick products lie in the Green Building spectrum,” adds Harris.

Double brick cavity wall (un-insulated) Insulated double brick Light steel frame 140mm hollow concrete block

The performance of each of these construction methods will be assessed across the six climatic zones of South Africa, and in accordance with the guidelines of SANS 10400XA, which is the building regulation country.

According technical consultant, Howard Harris of Structatherm Projects, “Building professionals and/or property owners who wish to be leading on the path to sustainability are moving towards making decisions on products that ‘tread more lightly on the planet.

“Clay Brick, as a product has good environmental credentials when compared with steel and aluminium (based on international research). This data needs to

THE TEAM SET TO MAKE HISTORY WITH THE CLAY BRICK LCA STUDY: (front left-right) At Coetzee (Clay Brick Executive Director), Professor Karel Bakker (Dean, Department of Architecture, University of Pretoria), Nico Mienie (Clay Brick Technical Chairperson), Howard Harris (Clay Brick Technical Consultant) with also from University of Pretoria (back left-right) Professor Dieter Holm, Gregory Rice (Research Assistant) and Professor Piet Vosloo (Project Coordinator)

The Clay Brick Life Cycle Assessment will follow the broader scope and methodology as that undertaken by Energetics and commissioned by Think Brick, Australia’s - the sister organisation to the Clay Brick Association in that country. This is due to similar climatic zones, with the South African research anticipated to follow comparable trends to the Energetics Australia LCA study.

“Other common factors that have an intensity, building methods, as well as coal and gas costs which are very similar between Australia and South Africa, and the fact that distributors of Clay Brick building products to reach the building sites,” says Harris.

“In the South African study, the socioeconomic aspects will also be looked at in greater detail due to employment creation within the bricklaying and associated sectors being an urgent imperative,” adds Harris.

The value of the industry as an employer and the economic multiplier impacts thereof, will also be explored in the LCA study, with the Clay Brick masonry industry as a provider of jobs, and a means of wealth creation, in terms of assets highlighted.

The Clay Brick Life Cycle Assessment will be an ongoing study as it maps out the improvements made to all the metrics into the future.

“What this research means to the Clay Brick industry is that we will be able to maintain the high ground when we talk about our products, particularly in a green building context so as to bypass any potential of being labeled as greenwashing. We are proud of the partnering relationship established with the University of Pretoria and look forward to working with Professor Vosloo and his team in proving the sustainability of Clay Brick.” concludes At Coetzee.

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www.honeycomb-bee.co.za

SANAS Accredited

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BEYOND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW THE ACTING HEAD OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION SECRETARIAT, MR KHULEKANI MATHE, ON HIS ROLE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE NDP. THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. Writer: Robert Sakanyi 1. What has been your involvement and challenges in the formulation of the NDP? I started working for the NPC as the Senior Expert responsible for three areas: education, health and social protection.

In this capacity, I coordinated research in the commission; consolidated inputs of the commissioners into chapters, including drafting some of the NDP chapters.

The time frames for producing the plan were very tight but all of us regarded our involvement as a privilege and so we were willing to work very long hours to ensure the task is completed. Commissioners are only appointed on a part-time basis, and the secretariat has been understaffed most of the time. Every Commissioner and secretariat member has, and continues to do everything in their power to ensure that we achieve our objectives. The NPC also enjoyed wonderful support from the research community and society in general.

2. What has been the general reception of the plan by various stakeholders in South Africa since its implementation?

The general reception has been very positive.

Many people are eager to contribute to its implementation. This applies to stakeholders in both the private and public sectors. The President has described the NDP as the country’s “roadmap” for the next twenty years and government departments are working with the NPC to incorporate it into their existing and future plans. Business 58

organisations have pledged their support for the plan and are developing their own initiatives to implement it in various sectors.

One of the fundamental pillars of the plan is encouraging active citizenry so we’ve had extensive engagements with civil societythe faith community, unions and others.

3. Since the plan is intended to be the direction South Africa needs to take, how existing long term plans and policies of departments with the NDP. The NPC was appointed to take a broad, cross-cutting, long term view of the country.

In taking such a view, it is inevitable that some departmental long term plans need to pay a little more attention to the wider context, or long-term trajectories of other sectors. The NPC consulted widely on the proposals in the plan, and also assessed some of the long term strategies of departments.

Given that the different plans that currently exist were developed at different times, there will be an ongoing process of ensuring

The NPC secretariat is working closely with the Department of Performance Monitoring and Evaluation and all sector departments on the compilation of the Medium Term Strategic Framework of government for the 2014-2019 electoral cycle. The Medium Term Strategic Framework is based on the NDP. 4. – Chapter 5 (“Ensuring Environmental Sustainability and an equitable transition

to a low carbon economy”) - Seems to be over ambitious as say for example, a zero

areas. What gives us hope to attain this?

The chapter actually refers to a ‘zero waste society’, rather than a zero waste economy.

Implied in this target is that as a society we should aim to recycle and reuse the waste we produce rather than suggesting that we should produce no waste at all.

Some of the targets in the plan are indeed ambitious. South Africa has committed internationally to a number of carbon emission reduction targets that are also extremely ambitious. In order to meet those targets, all sectors will have to make a contribution to the change. Clear principles are spelled out in the NDP to guide us on this journey. We do not have a model to achieve this yet, but are working with the relevant South Africans, we need to change our approach to sustainability and all sectors of society need to make a contribution to put us on a more sustainable path. Ambitious targets should help us with this.

BIO Khulekani Mathe is the Acting Head of the National Planning Commission Secretariat. He joined the public service in 2007 as Senior Policy Analyst in the Presidency. He moved to the National Planning Commission Secretariat, in March 2010. He has been responsible for all education, health and social protection work in the National Planning Commission Secretariat.

He previously worked for Procurement Dynamics, a development consultancy and a number of education NGOs in KwaZulu Natal.

He was Programme Manager at Operation Upgrade of South Africa (1995 – 1999) and Executive Director at Tembaletu Community Education Centre (1999 – 2003).

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COULD JACOB ZUMA HAVE A LULA MOMENT? Writer: Michelle Nel

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jobs at the same time. Former Brazilian President, Luiz Ignatius Lula Da Silva’s victory in 2002 in demonstrated how, Brazilian economist Professor Giorgio Romano Schutte told participants at an event co-hosted by civil society NGO, SACSIS and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Lula’s efforts resulted in some 20 million Brazilians being pulled out of poverty within 10 years. From the Brazilian experience, to and money”. Brazilians agreed that it is unacceptable to have extreme poverty in a middle-income country.

Under Brazil’s Workers’ Party, the bottom 20% of Brazilians increased their incomes up to 70%. The top 10% of the population had a much smaller increase. The gap between rich and poor narrowed.

Lula left the rich alone but he supported the poor; for example, via the Bolsa Familia programme, which directly transferred cash to the poor and kept their children in school.

Lula also ensured that the minimum wage was increased enormously, with links to pension funds. Credit lines were also opened to Brazil’s poor.

Rightwing papers criticize social grants and say it makes people lazy, said Schutte. In fact it increases jobs because the poor are then able to buy goods and services from small businesses. In Brazil, public schools feed children and buy the food from local smallholders. (This is in fact also done

by South Africa Basic Education schools nutrition programme for the poorest schools.)

South Africa has a reasonable record of providing for the poor” Professor Steven Friedman, Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy argued South Africa’s democracy work for the poor, at an event 60

co-hosted by SACSIS and the Friedrich real problem is inequalities in the market economy.

We need to shift the balance of power towards poorer working people, and business has to be part of the story. Talking to elites is vital because they are more powerful than the government, argued Friedman.

“Transformation from an oppressive regime to a formal democracy doesn’t create inclusive economy automatically. Structural reform is incremental,” said Friedman.

“In 1973, during the Durban strikes, workers won the right to have an eight hour day (as opposed to a 10-hour day). This victory was a structural shift. This change cannot happen without negotiation. Negotiation is not an ‘event’ at a fancy hotel. It is a process, says Friedman.

“Anyone who says that full employment is possible is deluding themselves. If you have adequate services, for example social grants, it enables people to at least live decent productive lives.”

“We should not underestimate South Africa’s achievements,” said Dr Iraj Abedian, Chief Holdings. “Our biggest failure is education.

We are fussing about curricula when many schools do not even have roofs or intensive. Education needs to support this.

Abedian said that the National Development Plan is not a plan. It is a vision because there are no time lines, nor resources allocated.

Discourse does not alleviate poverty, he said.

Some 50% of the national income (GDP) goes to the state because we have such a huge civil service. How much must the business half improve to become globally competitive?

Foreign and local investors have the same needs said Abedian. They simply want a return on investments. “We need to make are at the mercy of the state whereas the rich have options. Business has moved from the typing pool to the computer. Government wants to expand the typing pool to create more jobs. And if it really wants to achieve results it appoints consultants. It will take two generations to internalize new values of being businesslike.”

“Education must be improved but economists say it is too expensive,” said Leonard Gentle Leonard Gentle is the director of the International Labour and Research Information Group (ILRIG), an NGO that produces educational materials for activists in social movements and trade unions. To this, one can riposte with, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

There are simply new names for old economic concepts. The RDP has become the New Growth Path without any real change, said Gentle. The old regime began privatisation of state owned enterprises1987; the ANC simply continued this. At the same time, shareholdings of six big companies have shifted overseas.

Government helps the rich to trade with a bond market. Public services packages are obscene. The poor don’t matter, said Gentle. We need to move from passive citizenry to people doing it for themselves.

Demonstrations, public pressure on the ground and coalitions are the way to go.

cadre deployment.”

WILL THE ANC TRANSFORM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DURING PRESIDENT ZUMA’S SECOND TERM IN OFFICE?

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BRICS

WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT BANK REALLY MEANS FOR SOUTH AFRICANS Writer: Kendal Brown

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Durban earlier this year provides an interesting insight into more

Initially one hundred billion USD has been earmarked to get this ball rolling.

(Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). In this rapidly changing world scenario there can be no doubt that BRICS is setting itself up to challenge other similar organisations in the quest to protect national and continental interests. It’s a very interesting coalition when you think of it. Russia, stretching from Eastern Europe and over northern Asia, India dominating the sub continent, near neighbour China central and eastern Asia, Brazil South America and South Africa, Africa!

These two initiatives will be scrutinized as to progress in September 2013 when

It’s an interesting spread covering areas of vast untapped resources both natural and

Governors get together. Suggestions have been made that the new bank is a way to get around the IMF and the World Bank?

Seems pretty obvious, and why not? Control and dominance are easily affected through

An interesting obstacle though within BRICS may be to avoid China becoming the dominating force within the organisation

Whether the economic collapse of recent

Beijing to have to resist. Let’s face it though, the whole world can see the likelihood that China is set to become the worlds’ dominant

coming anyway, is a moot point. Whatever the case, the ship has left the harbour. We live in interesting times.

half the world’s population and twenty-

However there is no doubt the scene is set for some very interesting future scenarios.

sailing though. A major rock lurking below the waters is the failure as yet to reach an agreement on the funding of the development bank. The captains of the ship will no doubt be working hard to resolve this in the weeks and months ahead.

One of the most interesting developments to emerge from the summit was the establishment of a new development Bank.

Financing infrastructure seemed to be a major aim of the new institution with BRICS leaders insisting there should be capital contributions to the bank to ensure this is possible.

Naturally as host, President Zuma encouraged the summit to give close attention to his country’s economic problems. “BRICS provides an opportunity for South Africa to promote its competitiveness. It is an opportunity to move further in our drive to promote economic growth and confront the challenge of poverty, inequality and

Additionally the establishment of the CRA (contingent reserve arrangement) was agreed to make sure BRICS countries would be able to combat short term liquidity pressure

Trade levels have increased dramatically since the beginning of the new millenium

can very possibly overturn long standing dominations though probably not without

times increase in trade between BRICS and Africa over the last decade has been worth three hundred and forty billion USD a year.

Africa and China trade within itself has increased twenty times since 2000. It’s not likely to slow in the near future.

liquid reserve holdings are phenomenal.

Money is power so holding back from

The BRICS summit in Durban was very bold in its outlook. Some may say too idealistic.

The future will tell. But as they say, “faint heart never won fair maiden”, so hats off for going big. The BRICS forum provides an ideal platform to help, not only South Africa on the brink of beaming a valid alternative to other institutions which have dominated world affairs for the past decades and where self interest has excluded developing nations from making appropriate progress.

It seems the scene is set for these emerging nations to take the spotlight on the world all its citizens and not just for the privileged

and widely dispersed allies.

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THE INDUSTRIAL POLICY ACTION PLAN Writer: Reagan C Adams

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Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) aims to retain, grow and diversify South Africa’s industrial base. The latest version, 2013-16, would focus on value-added production, with state support centred on nurturing industrial development. In its aim to promote reduce unemployment, one of South Africa’s greatest social and economic challenges, until 2016.

Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies said: “The IPAP is based on the need for sustainable, long-term development that is underpinned by higher growth, exports and labour-intensive, value-adding economic activity in the production sectors, led by manufacturing.”

The 2013-16 IPAP is hoping that better promotion of South Africa’s productive industries will attract international investment. In the past, South Africa could attract international investment as we offered cheap electricity. “We must now use mineral

Africa in the past year. Yunus Hoosen, the director for investment promotion in the dti, said that in terms of the companies’ available funds for investment, the investments made, were however relatively small.

With reference to South Africa’s massive infrastructure development drive, the minister said the strategy offered “the possibility of substantially increasing aggregate demand for the key inputs that will be required and for the localisation of a wide range of manufactured inputs”. Other manufacturing growth opportunities are seen in the exploration of new export markets, as well as expanding trade with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations.

“Consumer-driven growth has severely outstripped productive industry growth,” he said. “We have to get manufacturing going again. We have realised this lack of productivity-based growth is unsustainable for our economy. This new IPAP shows some progress in targeting the problem.”

The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has recognised that the South African economy has to become more familiar with foreign competition, in order for South African companies to gain access to other countries in return. Mr Davies made mention that the US retailer, Walmart’s takeover of South Africa’s Massmart deal has begun to create jobs. “We see that foreign companies coming into South Africa can bring opportunities but we also want our companies industrialising abroad,” he said.

The implementation of IPAP faces some severe global and domestic headwinds.

The Global Crisis and subsequent Great Recession have, since 2008, slowed the world economy generally and export demand in two of our key traditional markets in particular. Europe and the United States.

This has coincided with ongoing currency overvaluation and volatility, which predated the crisis but exacerbated its impact on the tradable sectors of the South African economy. Domestically, producers have been subject to large and rapid electricity price increases over the last three years, cumulatively of the order of between 75% and 140%. Port charges, among the highest

Global businesses like Procter & Gamble and Hisense have also invested in South

“Our experience in the implementation

Mr Davies said. offshore interest.

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The aim is to increase

of the IPAP demonstrates that industrial policy works, provided it is well designed, adequately resourced and informed by robust and constructive stakeholder dialogue and partnerships,” Mr Davies said in a statement.

The department said this had been demonstrated in a number of sectors. For example, in the automotive sector, technical work on the transition from the Motor Industry Development Programme to the Automotive Production and Development Programme next year has mostly been completed.

In the clothing, textiles, leather and footwear sector, the Clothing Textile Competitiveness Programme, has improved competitiveness.

It brought together manufacturers and retailers to take advantage of the proximity, manufacturers, the department said. “The programme managed to arrest employment losses in the sector by 2010, with a modest increase in employment seen in 2011”, the dti reported.

The Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme, an addition to the manufacturers to emerge competitive, by investing now and enduring current period of economic uncertainty. Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, has made R5.8 billion available over three years.

“The government has deployed a range of complementary and integrated measures to grow the economy and create jobs. IPAP 2012-13 is one of the key pillars of this broader approach,” Mr Davies said. He but a strong foundation has been laid. This makes it possible to arrest the threat of deindustrialisation and grow value addition and jobs in the manufacturing sectors of the economy, thereby underpinning economic growth and employment creation in the rest of the economy.”

The department believes that the 2012/13 has demonstrated what is possible in a range of sectors through constructive and ambitious partnerships and built a number of critical enabling platforms. Through similar partnerships, the dti wants to arrest the threat of deindustrialisation and grow value addition and jobs in our manufacturing sector.

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MUTUAL BENEFITS FOR BUSINESSES ADOPTING GREEN ALTERNATIVES 68

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ue to the growing pressures of climate change on a global scale, consumers are increasingly becoming more knowledgeable about their impact on the environment, due to initiatives such as Earth Day, celebrated worldwide annually on the 22 April. This has also led to an increase in the demand for businesses that supply environmentallyfriendly products and services.

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This is according to Christo Botes, spokesperson for the Sanlam / Business Partners Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, who says that there has been a gradual growth in the number of South Africa entrepreneurs creating eco-friendly service-focused businesses.

“This trend could mainly be ascribed to consumer demand, especially the more sophisticated and demanding consumer, and the entrepreneurial trait of always looking out for new opportunities of carving out a niche market for him or herself and be the

there are opportunities for business owners to capitalise on in terms of implementing more sustainable products and practices for their customers.

“Business owners need to continually look at sustainable products and practices to remain competitive. For example, in the market that I operate in, there is a huge drive coming from architects and designers who are designing full green projects in line with international trends, and those companies who have not recognised the trend of sustainable practices are frequently losing market share to

lines and/or alternatives.”

One such entrepreneur who noticed this gap is Warren Graver, founder and director of Envirodeck, who saw an opportunity to providing an alternative to timber in the decking sector.

Graver says that the growth of green products in this industry has been phenomenal, not only in international markets, but also increasingly in South Africa. “Nowadays 70

costs to maintain. But although I noticed a considerable gap in the market for a smarter option, it proved extremely tough to penetrate a market when no one had ever seen or heard of such innovative products.”

He adds that while eco-friendly products have now become the buzzword amongst South Africans and that the demand for green alternatives is increasing due to consumer awareness, business owners must still be mindful to the fact that the market might be hesitant to initially switch from their original purchase.

“It is imperative that green alternatives introduced remain competitive against the traditional markets.

While customers want to be more environmentally friendly, the industry is still price sensitive compared to the traditional industry and a consumer will likely only select a green product if it provides a cost saving to the consumer.

A recent BBMG Conscious Consumer Report revealed that nearly nine in 10 Americans say the words “conscious consumer” describe them well and that 87% of respondents are more likely to buy from companies that are committed to environmentallyfriendly practices.

Botes says that this change in consumer behaviour is also gaining momentum in South Africa and provides a gap in the market for local entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to not only make a difference in the environment in which they operate, but to also ensure they remain competitive and current.

“Many consumers are looking for ways to minimise their impact on the environment and as a result, ‘going green’ is increasingly being regarded as an attractive business strategy.”

becoming unsustainable, unmaintainable

“Our products, for example, are not only manufactured with recycled material, thereby providing to climate change, but they also don’t have to be maintained which provides a cost saving throughout the lifecycle of the product,” says Graver.

innovative green product offerings.”

Graver says that the concept of green decking versus traditional timber was an easy business decision for him but that the company initially felt resistance from the industry who were reluctant to change practices due to a lack of awareness around

Botes says that while the trend of living a more eco-friendly existence is on the increase, it is still crucial for businesses new market. “While entrepreneurs usually identify a problem or gap in the market where they are able to offer an alternate solution, it is crucial to ensure that this solution is integrated into a business plan that promotes correct market.”

“Through intense research and product sourcing, it revealed how timber is fast

SHRED THE MYTHS. FACE THE FACTS. BE PART OF THE PAPER STORY. Paper and printing kills trees and destroys forests.

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Paper and print has a high carbon footprint compared to digital mediums.

Trees convert greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into life-giving oxygen.

Paper comes from trees and in South Africa, 600 million trees across 762,000 hectares are specifically grown for use in pulp and paper manufacture, making our plantations important carbon sinks for our planet. Paper mills also make use of renewable energy sources, further lowering paper’s carbon footprint. Reduce your own footprint by printing large documents, instead of referring to them on your computer again and again. Bear in mind that one email with a 400kb

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THE CHAMPIONS OF GREENING Writer: Martina Gluckman

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ompanies and forward thinking employees alike have been addressing the idea of greening business operations, yet often

how and awareness. Employees need to be induced with a healthy dose of these three aspects through behaviour change and environmentalawareness courses before

allowing feedback and suggestions.

Similarly, the green champions need to take management under their wings. Reporting back to administration, disclosing successes

to get this idea started. In this article, I would like to share my observations on how to get the green process off the ground with long lasting effects and overall willingness.

or measures. Preparing people for upcoming changes, goes half way to accepting these adjustments. Without this staff commitment, greening a building is going to be slow and probably unsustainable in the long run.

of monitored processes, motivating the release of funds for green investments is all part of the green team’s task.

In my experience, there are two main ingredients: unanimous agreement and buy-in from both staff and management.

Quite simply speaking, whoever instigates the green movement needs to be aware that management or concerned employees must be on the same page to ensure that the project is successful. That sounds like a big task, and in some organisations it is, but with the right

The entity that will have to be formed in between management and staff is the “Green Team”: A number of employees (one person seldom can do it all) who are keen to be the green champions to the organisation.

Some employees might volunteer others might need to be motivated. Ideally, the green team would consist of a representative cross section of the organisation. These staff members should come from either each

is achievable. In fact, it can be an enriching experience to be proud of.

It is quite understandable why management needs to be behind the greening process. Not only does administration need to make time available for staff to comfortably achieve their green goals, but also to make funds

time to green a company during regular working hours. Quality and continuous progress needs time and dedication.

But why is it important to get staff buy-in?

Would it not be simpler to just order staff to do what they are told? Our experience has shown that staff needs to be guided into the process and be motivated to adhere to new rules and regulations. In my previous article “Switched On” I have mentioned the importance of staff motivation know72

formidable green police or respected green champions. But when the green champions get it right, they achieve goals whose the organisation. The elation and pride can be felt by everyone in that organisation, from the executives to the management to any member of staff. They are all champions!

department of operation. Having staff on as the building or procurement manager, will formed, they can get rolling: brainstorm ideas, gather information and most importantly equip themselves with the best and carbon management by attending relevant training programs. Developing an environmental strategy together as a team is in formation. Once the team had their own training, the green champions will know what can be expected of all other employees. They will know exactly how to reinforce what was learnt, and how to motivate staff to adhere to other words the green champions will take employees under their wing through ongoing motivation and behaviour monitoring,

LEARN NEW SKILLS AND BECOME PART OF THIS EXCITING INDUSTRY. Contact: Bianca Lindemann Terra Firma Academy Manager Office: 011 568 0768 Mob: 082 424 5540 E-mail: Bianca@terrafirmaacademy.com Or visit: www.terrafirma-academy. com

ECO

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OPEN TRADE TRAINING CENTRE 16 YEARS WORLDSKILLS SA AND OTTC OTTC’s participation with Worldskills South Africa and Worldskills International.

OTTC was invited to the Worldskills SA in 1996 from the Skills SA Foundation Committee for the refrigeration trade for participation of 1997 National Competition.

The committee consisted of members from: Eskom, ABI, COTT, Telkom, SA NDF, Spoornet, Carrier, Training Centres. The Skills SA Foundation- Refrigeration Committee was part of the Skills SA Committee leaded by Eskom Mr Nigel Fitten.

In the 1997 committee election Isolde Dobelin was elected as Chairperson for the Worldskills SA Refrigeration Trade. She held this position until 2007. She is still a member of this committee.

1997 National Skills SA Competition held at Eskom Training Centre

OTTC wins 2 Gold Medals with Hendrik Botha and Nico Du Plessis

Burt Bouwer participated in Montral Canada Worldskills 1999

Kobus Kies participated in Helsinki Finland Worldskills 2005

Ivan Theron & Bob Vuletic Technical Expert SA, participated in Shizuoka, Japan Worldskills 2007

Nico Barkhuizen & Bob Vuletic participated in Calcary, Canada Worldskills 2009

Dewet Britz, Carmen Adams & Bob Vuletic participated in London, England Worldskills 2011

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SPONSORS 74

WORK WITH US! WORLDSKILLS AND OTTC The worldskills South Africa is hard at work to promote the interest of the Trade Industry at Large.

The success of this initiative cannot succeed without the entire Industry that it serves. However, Industry should become more involved.

OTTC was again selected to host the National South African 2013 Competition.

Seven participants entered the competition from 16th to 17th May 2013 to determine a winner, who will be sent to Leipzig, Germany for the International Skills Competition.This competition was organized by Bob Vuletic-Technical Expert for world skills South Africa and OTTC. The rules and criteria of the competition were as per the international skills competition.

Three Industry representatives were nominated as Judges for the HVAC skills competition.

Dylan Le Maitre, Rudi Smith -DTS, Marko Combrink-Ampair, Trevor Godsmark- J.W.C. Refrigeration, Wiehan Sauerman-Mother Cool, Luke Rosslee and Ashley Scholtz-Apollo Air were the participants.

DAY 1 Theoretical Test , Electrical and Mechanical fault finding and manufacturing of a heat Exchanger DAY 2 Top 5 participants were selected and 2 were eliminated Task was to build a refrigeration plant FINAL RESULTS WERE Dylan Le Maitre- Gold , Rudi Smith – Silver and Marko Combrink – silver The top 2 participants did 4 weeks of training at Cubicool to build up skills and confidence to comply with the international criteria and 4 weeks at OTTC under the supervision of Christan Richter, Gold Medal winner of German apprentice 2009 and European Competition 2010.

5 Worldskills participants are OTTC Students and have been chosen by winning the South African National Worldskills competition.

For more information please visit: www.worldskills.org www.ottc.co.za msc@mweb.co.za isolded@ottc.co.za

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DTI AWARDS FIRST TWO INCUBATORS IN ITS INCUBATION SUPPORT PROGRAMME

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n an effort to develop sustainable entrepreneurial businesses in South Africa, in late 2012 the DTI launched the ISP (Incubator Support Programme), encouraging private sector partnerships with government to support incubators to develop micro and small businesses. At the time of the launch, Trade and Industry Minister, Mr Rob Davies said that “This is one of the best platforms that a country can use to promote broader economic participation, uplift the country’s entrepreneurial base and encourage start-up activities.” As a highly respected operation

in SA, MEDO (the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation) is proud to announce that the organisation has secured

Says MEDO CEO Judi Sandrock, “We plan to apply for more! We really want to accelerate micro and small business growth which I believe is absolutely essential to economic growth and job creation in this country. 80% of the Japanese economy was established on small start-ups - mom and pop shops - and with commitment and effort it could be the same for us here.”

ICT and the Mining and Heavy Industries sectors, providing valuable training and support to businesses that can service and supply these industries.

The Incubation Support Programme aims to see businesses nurtured into sustainable enterprises that are graduated into the mainstream economy and that can provide employment and contribute to economic development.

It is believed that the successful enterprises will have the potential to revitalise communities and strengthen local and national economies.* Davies said at the launch that the programme is envisaged to bring enterprises from a survivalist stage and informal economy into being the main players in the mainstream economy.

ABOUT MEDO

CEO JUDI SANDROCK 76

As a strategic advisor and onthe-ground implementer of sustainable micro and small enterprise development, MEDO is not only helping to secure supplier relationships and expand trade within and outside South Africa, the company’s vast cumulative knowledge and experience in the Enterprise Development space ideally positions them to assist corporate clients with their ED strategies and BBBEE point accrual.

MEDO has recognised the need to assist organisations to develop winning Enterprise Development strategies, operational roll-out plans and other related advisory services to support their BBBEE and broader investment priorities. A robust Supplier Development Programme has been developed to prepare for the revised BBBEE codes due this year.

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SA SKILLS SHORTAGE HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY TALENT IS IDENTIFIED

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here is a widely held opinion, supported in some cases by fact, that there is a limited availability of skilled resources in South Africa. The latest research to support this statement is the March 2013 Adcorp Employment Index, which revealed that there were more than

Boucher says that this issue can be attributed

adequate supply of the requisite skills.

between formal learning institutions and the workplace as to what skills or expertise are needed to be taught in order to service the requirements of workplace now and in the future.

“Another possible factor is the inappropriate

in the private sector in 2012.

of the type of skilled resources required by the country is a systemic issue affected by a number of possible factors. “There is inadequate, or perhaps invisible, long-term planning in place, which could assist to identify the necessary skills required in the future, and ensure the development of an

She says that the quality of students leaving school could also be a possible contributor.

“Many students do not have the required grades, in the necessary subjects, to enter tertiary education institutions to study for the professions that are currently experiencing a shortage of skills. This, along with

However, according to Suzy Boucher, Managing Executive of Human Capital Institute Africa (HCI Africa) and partner for the 2013 DHL Rising Star Awards, this is a fairly broad statement. “Certainly in particular sectors, such as engineering, there is a scarcity of skilled resources, while in other sectors there is an adequate supply of skills, but the holders of those skills may have a limited ability to translate their skill into effective and productive contributions.

Compounding this situation is the very real issue of people entering the job market with inappropriate, or inadequate, skills.”

Boucher points to the results of the index, which revealed that there are 580 000 unemployed graduates in South Africa, most of whom are trained in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and do not hold the

the workplace.

“Due to the complex and fast-paced work environment, employers increasingly look to hire employees who are already trained and have relevant experience. Therefore, the challenge with producing graduates holding degrees in the humanities, arts and social sciences is that, while they have the intellectual capacity, they do not have immediately applicable technical skills and capabilities that employers can put to work.

This is in comparison to an accountant or an engineer, who is able to immediately deliver results by applying the theory they acquired from their degree to real life work projects.”

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action programmes, which accelerate promotions into senior leadership and skilled functions without appropriate development and support activities.”

transformation targets foisted onto the tertiary education institutions, means the

Plan

Develop

Execute

number of students in disciplines where the scarcity of skills is most apparent.”

Boucher adds that while South Africa is suffering from a skills shortage, the country also has an abundance of untapped potential, but that the challenge is to discover and unleash that potential in a planned and deliberate manner.

“The challenge in South Africa is that, broadly, we don’t have the necessary mechanisms to identify talented individuals.

The skills availability that we are able to report on, namely the formal work sector, represents only a fraction of the skills group in the country, and excludes those individuals who hold required and desired skills, such as entrepreneurs and business owners and employees of micro-enterprises.

development efforts in the workplace are mostly limited to a select few employees available to invest in talent. Usually the and managed to target middle to senior management levels, thus overlooking the majority of employees” Boucher says that in order to increase the reach of talent, the paradigm for the discovery of talent needs to be altered. “It is as much the individual’s responsibility to be aware of their unique talents, skills and strengths and to make their employers aware of their value, as it is the responsibility of managers and human resources to identify and develop talent within their organisations.”

She says that one such way to do this is through initiatives such as the 2013 DHL Rising Star Awards, which is designed to discover talent while also complementing existing processes. “The aim is to enable organisations to engage directly with their employees and provide employees with an open platform to present their talent, rather than waiting to be noticed. Not only will company, but it will also contribute to the establishment of national and sector talent pools,” concludes Boucher.

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SKILLS & TRAINING

MEDO PUTS SOUTH AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS ON THE FAST TRACK TO GLOBAL BUSINESS SUCCESS 80

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magine what could be achieved if you could pluck a budding entrepreneur from his roots in small-town South Africa, and put him through a business bootcamp, complete with a whirlwind trip to the UK, to sign deals with hungry investors? That’s exactly what MEDO (Micro Enterprise Development organisation) has done. And the results speak for themselves.

Five of the eleven small business represented on its current programme signed deals or partnerships with stakeholders in the UK

(and Europe). And the remaining six created networks with potential partners, with a long-term view for exponential business growth. “We had more successes than we were expecting,” says Judi Sandrock, CEO and founder, MEDO, speaking on the group’s return to OR Tambo this morning. “And I found myself thinking, wow, If only I’d had this opportunity 25 years ago when I was just starting out.” These entrepreneurs are awestruck with how valuable this trip was. And as an organisation, MEDO has stuck it to the naysayers who believe there are no blackowned ICT companies in South Africa, and

that the UK doesn’t want to do business with South African start-ups. But we had over 100 applications from black-owned ICT companies. And the UK businesses were absolutely hungry for the opportunity to meet these entrepreneurs,” she says.

All the entrepreneurs have come home empowered with new business knowledge,

some of the entrepreneurs admitted to me they think their businesses are better than

some of those owned by UK businessmen. is that these South African business owners can stand anywhere, on their own. They are world-class businesses,” says Sandrock.

To facilitate this initiative, MEDO partnered with BT (British Telecom) Global Services to recruit 18 world-class entrepreneurs to its programme. The programme included a bootcamp session at the University of Stellenbosch’s Business School (USB), where the entrepreneurs were exposed to the Executive Development programme. “Our

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philosophy is to create an entrepreneurial ecosystem, where different role players come together to create the support networks and the mentoring needed to uplift entrepreneurs.

Here, the MEDO entrepreneurs honed their business skills, including their business

skills development. “One of the selection criteria for the entrepreneurs is that they want to engage in the formal economy to create more jobs. And we believe the programme has taught them the value of development, both for themselves and for their staff,” says Sandrock.

models that would impress businesses in the UK,” explains DeWet Schoeman, Director: Centre for Applied Entrepreneurship, USB. Armed with their new skills, the MEDO team jetted off to the UK for eight days of intensive trade talks, meetings and networking.

For Dean Thompson, owner of Inferno Films (a corporate and marketing video production company), the trip put his wildest dreams very much within his grasp. “Doing business with global partners was part of my longterm strategy. And this trip totally re-aligned that strategy. I signed a deal with Jacaranda, the biggest corporate video production company in the UK, to shoot local footage for their clients. It made me realise that, if I can secure a partner in the UK, there’s

“It was the opportunity of a lifetime. MEDO gave us two days ahead of the trip, to set up our own meetings with potential partners in the UK,” explains Veronica Shangwali Aswani, founder of Wavunow.com, the e-commerce website that brings rural African crafters to the global community. “All three Bloomberg - were a success, and I have verbal agreements with each of them for orders. I’m going to be liaising with them to ensure we produce items of the right standards for the European market, so Wavunow can meet their needs. But I can say with certainty that we’re going to have many small industries develop out of these deals”.

This was one of MEDO’s biggest goals in

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the world. After all, the world is receptive to into our market,” he says.

And it’s exhilarating, says Raphael Mohlala, one half of the team behind Phakamo Holdings, an IT Enterprise Architecture Management and Governance service provider. “MEDO fast-tracked our goal to become partners, and not just users, of global IT brands. We signed two deals, with Alfresco and Masabi technologies, to become their representatives in South Africa and in Africa. Alfresco has already invited us to a summit in Barcelona later this year,

to discuss the impact technology is having in Europe and the US”.

experience, the exposure to international business and to the great minds that drive companies such as BT Global Services. “It seldom happens that a budding entrepreneur has the opportunity to be addressed by the CEO of a company like BT Global Services, and to be able to ask him questions,” says Jay Pancham, founder of IT company Harpan Technologies. “I’ll be using everything I learned to focus and reorganise my business, so that I can see real growth”.

For MEDO, the end of the trip doesn’t signal the end of its ties with these entrepreneurs.

It’s the start of ongoing development and coaching, as it drives these small business owners toward their goals of business growth and success, through regular management skills development and further education.

And as Schoeman says: “This programme has simply opened their career development path and not one of these entrepreneurs

For more information on MEDO, visit www.medo.co.za and follow them on Twitter @MEDOnews.

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ECO-FEMINISM FOR MEN Writer: Cris Robertson

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co-feminism makes a good point: our devastating domination of the environment has gone hand-inhand with that of women, and so to remedy one means remedying the other. The theory behind this movement is credible and agreeable,

something that shares less consensus. So, how do we go from disagreements and delays to armistice and opportunities?

Part of the answer lies in the understanding that eco-feminism is not a traditionally feminist stance. It goes without saying that, historically, it has its roots in the whole ‘male versus female’ thing, but its future lies in assimilating masculinity and femininity. In other words, you can still be a man and be an eco-feminist.

History has never been shy of comparing the beauty and mystery of Nature with that of women. And at times, this has been quite

enquiry that stand out; like Francis Bacon’s insistence that in order to know Nature, we should be “torturing her secrets from her”.

Our modern ancestors made a sexuallycharged science experiment of the natural world, and with it, made a second-class citizen of the woman. However, these similar treatments of oppression are not just a memory of history.

Even today, as man continues to ‘rape’ the natural resources that the Earth has been born with, women all of over the world remain impoverished, uneducated and without rights. We are now living in the Anthropocene impact humanity has had on Earth, though this would be more telling if it referred directly to the impact of men, not women.

Although we are all to blame, “men have to shoulder most of the blame for what we are doing to the planet” says Robert Walker.

But, it cannot be expected that every man admits guilt and responsibility on behalf of his male species. That would be an illogical reversal of gender dynamics. Now is not the time for categorised blame. Now is a time

rather the one-dimensional thinking behind man’s uncultured exploit and domination of other people and other things that needs investigation.

The values and goals that were (and possibly still are) associated with masculinity have been favoured, and to our detriment. It

has left us with ravaged wildernesses, declining biodiversity, and inequality in values and goals associated with femininity, on the other hand, have for the most part been neglected, and it is in this light that ecofeminism makes its worth. Whether you’re a man or a woman, there needs to be a balance of masculinity and femininity. Just as if there has been an overvaluation of masculinity, if there is an overvaluation of femininity it also means that a cruel ‘logic of domination’ applies. The ‘ethics of obligation’ need to be met with an ‘ethics for care’.

Eco-feminism, however, faces a backlash of aggression and ridicule. It is its radical position that questions society, and thus demands a restructuring thereof, that breeds an unfounded fear from the male population.

This is because eco-feminism’s backlash has also been supported by a common misunderstanding that eco-feminism is just about putting women in powerful positions, instead of men. This is not the case. Although studies show that empowering women does statistically boost Earth stewardship, food security, and ‘population control’, ecofeminism isn’t just about men and women.

Rather, the point is to remedy all hierarchies that have been poisoned by the ‘logic of and must demonstrate control over another. people, immigrants, the mentally-challenged people and so on, not just women.

So, whilst traditional feminism points the is more of a deeper philosophical critique of our inappropriate thinking. It points the femininity, which has, as a result (rather than a cause) made this a man’s world, and a human’s world. This analysis is relevant in both the treatment of women and the environment. It is not necessarily a question of empowering women and forbidding men, but rather an investigation into how a change in thinking can support both the emancipation of women and the environment.

By introducing a balance of feminine values to economic, political and social spheres that have long been overpopulated by masculinity, eco-feminism attempts to resolve both the poor positioning of women and the environment in the world. This hopes to not only offer relief, but also to offer a better foundation of thinking about our relationship with other people and other things. It is not an attack on men. It is a plea for partnership.

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89

THE ‘END OF NATURE’ OR THE BEGINNING? Writer: Cris Robertson

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narrow-minded. The issue reached the public arena in 2012, after an article in TIME magazine declared that “nature is over”. It has since had intellectuals and common folk alike ringing the alarms.

Yet, it is only our self-centred idea of ‘nature’ that is ending. The relationship between the human world and the non-human world is changing and that has us misunderstanding the implications. Of course, our impact on the world is devastating and in need of revision; but it is as much an opportunity as it is a crisis. We have a chance to reconceptualise a more harmonious relationship with whatever is ‘out there’.

The modern man has forever thought of Nature as the ‘other’. We have written our textbooks and our storybooks about the unknown natural world as something that is reality; caution met with curiosity. Our adventuring colonial ancestors went blindly into the ‘dark’ continent like astronauts on a different planet, but with no intention of assimilating; only conquering. You see, modernity has always been fascinated with the chaos and contingency of life, and has simultaneously been fascinated in trying to control and order that chaos and contingency.

This has left our societies overwhelmed by dividing dichotomies such as ‘us and them’, ‘science and religion’, ‘logic and intuition’ and so on. The modern way of thinking leaves no room for imagining the more complex and beautiful relationships that exist in the as living and dynamic balancing acts; each one contextualised in time and space.

This poses some embarrassing questions to the way in which we interact and relate to the world. If man is told not to interfere with Nature, does that mean that we are not part of Nature? And if we are witnessing the ‘end of Nature’, does that mean we are witnessing our own end? These kinds of questions highlight one thing at the centre of our embarrassment: a confused and inappropriate relationship with the world.

For centuries, our modern rationality has seen our positioning with regard to Nature as one of necessary domination. Even our well-meaning efforts shed light on this. The etymology of conservation and preservation reveal the Latin roots of being ‘with slavery’ and ‘before slavery’, respectively. Either way, these words tell us that Nature is a slave.

As the modern way of thinking slowly integrates with a globalised consciousness, so too does this ‘us and them’ view of the world become less meaningful. We can no longer refer to the non-human world as the ‘other’, when so much of it has already been discovered and, thanks to the internet, In the TIME magazine article, it states that “humans have had a direct impact on more than three-quarters of the ice-free land on the earth”. Yet, evidence of a certain modernistic way of thinking still lingers. Whilst the wilderness is disappearing, Nobel-winning Paul Crutzen says “it’s no longer us against ‘Nature.’ Instead it’s we who decide what nature is and what it will be.” This sounds more like a statement on prisoners of war and the post-war occupation of Iraq. The strong allegiance to the logic of domination is still so dangerously consolidated in our modern assumptions. These days, we are ‘out there’, but also, given that all four corners of the Earth might as well be in our backyard, should we not rethink the reality of this relationship?

The ‘end of Nature’ refers more to man’s crisis of identity than anything else. Our impact on many species and their ecosystems is undoubtedly devastating, but what we are witnessing is not the ‘end of Nature’, but its beginning (albeit in a poor state). Nature was never something that was separate to our own societies, but rather something that we have always been part of. This time in our history is a moment of realisation, where we have to acknowledge how interconnected all things are, and how vulnerable we are to slight changes from anywhere in the world.

If we are seriously considering the ‘end of Nature’, then we have a crude and backwards conceptualisation of what ‘Nature’ is. Think of how Francis Fukuyama’s essay on “the end of history” has been caught off-guard and consequently caught-out. Needless to say, the human-Nature relationship is not again, the Western idea of ‘peace in our time’ is not without its contradictions. If we cease to accept the complex bond between the non-human world and the human world, and carry on this confrontational relationship, the only ‘end’ we will risk is of our history.

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE NOT PETITIONS Writer: Cris Robertson

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s much as the myriad of petition websites have helped spread the word of various issues around the world, they still lack a set of teeth that will give the bite of people-power. Petition websites seem as if they are in competition with each other, which doesn’t gel with these supposedly ‘community’ movements.

For there to be real worth in online cause there needs to be collaboration.

The European Union has recently banned pesticides that harm bees. Hurray! This is online activists via the petition website possibilities of such networking. But wait, I remember signing at least three or four different petitions over the past few years.

Why does Avaaz get all the credit? After all, the online outcry of the Colony Collapse Disorder has been around for years. Surely, if there was a better collaborative space, or a more organised internet community of could not just be celebrating a victory, but celebrating its consolidation and progress in saving the bee species?

This is one of the main problems with different petition websites and different petitions themselves that it gets too repetitive and confusing to internet-users. They want to help, but instead are bombarded with forms other websites that echo the same message.

The result: disengaged, disempowered and disconnected.

The thing with people-power is that it is all about the people. The people organise something, the people get together and partake in it, and the people rejoice in its accomplishments. The anonymity that comes with the internet lacks that personal touch.

Fair enough, the follow-up mailing lists

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and the videos do their best to make things personal, but this is really one of those things where “it’s not what you do, it’s how you do it”. For petition websites to really make their mark, there needs to be an example of the spirit of people-power right from the beginning, not just at the end of it. True representation cannot just be demanded; it has to be developed.

Instead of individual websites competing for campaigns, there needs to be an online community of activists that work together and can organise around certain issues, so as to avoid double counting, cause-clashing petitions. This will make it easier and more appealing for those wanting to get involved.

Short and sweet and not just another a better delegation of who campaigns what, when, where and for whom, can increase process.

Imagine if Avaaz still had the bee petition.

This time, however, it was part of a collaborated petitioning platform that shared information and had optional links to other relevant petitions strengthening and legitimising the online community’s presence and demand for eco-justice. Imagine if these websites were interconnected and thus driven to help fund and support each other where necessary. Such a setting would represent a would be welcoming (rather than obtrusive) and interactive (rather than linear). These are just ideas. Anyone with enough know-how and a passion for change would be able to come up with something spectacular that could dramatically enhance the effectiveness of these online cause campaigns.

This is the challenge to all the tech-savvy do-gooders out there: How can we better emphasise the people-power aspect of online petitions?

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6 YEARS OF DEBT REVIEW

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Writer: Zak King

f Debt Review was a child, it would be of school going age. After 6 years of existence, debt review has matured

it has helped hundreds of thousands of South Africans to save homes, cars and in many cases, even lives. Not bad for a six year old.

Along the way there have been challenges, naturally. There always are in a new industry especially when that industry deals with as established an industry as banking and credit providing. In the past there seemingly have been some very strongly opposed parties to sorting out consumers’ debt via debt review rather than via summonses and judgements.

Since Debt Review costs credit providers nothing in collection fees, it is the most cost effective and realistically sustainable way for creditors to collect on their bad book. Every

month thousands of consumers are setting things right with their creditors via debt stressed and able to cover their basic needs.

12 interesting months: If anything, it has been a tricky twelve months for debt counsellors and creditors alike in regard to the future of debt review. The last few months saw what some considered as an all out assault on the statutory legal process (through the courts and as regulated by the National Credit Act) by those calling themselves debt mediators (who are like from the National Credit Regulator). The NCR surprised many when it took decisive action to shut their plans down. Some Debt Counsellors were sad as they thought the plans might have helped consumers in a cheaper way but most were too worried

that consumers would not have gotten legal assurances to protect their assets through debt mediation to worry. It seems that Debt Review is here to stay. There are some areas of the National Credit Act that need spent much of its time advising the DTI and NCR on how to do so. It is said that a draft of the proposed changes is now making the rounds at parliament in this regard.

NDMA vs. NCR Late last year saw a media war develop between the credit provider funded National Debt Mediation Association (NDMA) and the NCR. This resulted in the NCR giving the NDMA a big public slap on the wrists, by taking them out of the codes of conduct for various parties involved in debt review.

While putting on a bold face this has once again thrown the NDMA a real curve ball and everyone wonders what lies in their future in the wake of the war.

What lies ahead?

Undoubtedly tough times are ahead for consumers worldwide and South Africa will be no exception. Spouses will lose their jobs, retrenchments will strike unexpectedly and over reliance on credit will cause many consumers to become over indebted. Not being able to cover your living costs and pay all your creditors is stressful. Currently, half of the credit active population are trying to cope with this stress. Fortunately, they have somewhere reliable to turn to. There are now more registered Debt Counsellors than ever before. The processes at court are more organised and Magistrates are taking a more active roll in cases. Various industry agreements are speeding up the process exponentially for those who are moderately in trouble. Those in more trouble Counsellors more experienced and realistic in their expectations.

If this is where six years of debt review gets South Africa, we can only look to the the National Credit Act could be out within the next 18 months and these should clear the way for hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, of South Africans to get help rather than turn to protest action and rioting such as has been seen in various countries worldwide. This could just save the Rand further damage. Good for you, you clever little six year old!

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KEV Full Spec 50mm Installation-In Box

Meter reading

Meter Audits

T/A KEV Accurate Measuring KEV started operating in 2002 to help the municipalities throughout the country with their Revenue collection and management.

We have experienced capable staff and technologies to offer different solutions to different problems in revenue management and collection. We are now also involved in the private properties, by assisting them in the water and electricity meters management.

If you need help in the following services: • Accurate billing with accurate information (meter reading and Auditing) • Credit control implementation (disconnections/restrictions and Reconnections) • Electricity and water meter audits • Water network installation and electricity networks(plumbing and electrification) Speak to the company that offers complete water and electricity meter management solution.

KEV Accurate Measuring has offices in three provinces: Head Office in KZN: 031 705 8013 Western Cape Regional Office: 021 556 3658 Gauteng Regional Office: 011 425 2866

“10ning Vision into action” Contact us on 0861 222 872, KZN 031 7058013, Fax 0317056693 Western Cape 021 5563658 Fax 0865173590 or email: info@kevaccurate.co.za or visit: www.kevaccurate.co.za

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NISSAN AND ESKOM ENTER INTO ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH PROJECT Article submitted by: Nissan South Africa

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PICTURE: Barry MacColl, Eskom’s General Manager, Research, Testing and Development (left) with Johan Kleynhans, Nissan’s Director: Marketing, Sales and Aftersales

SA to manage the vehicles on Eskom’s behalf.

“I’m delighted to be handing over 10 Nissan LEAFs for this research project,” said Kleynhans, “the outcome of which will have long term implications for the development of the entire EV industry.”

Barry MacColl, Eskom’s Acting General Manager, Research, Testing and Development, elaborated on the project.

“Eskom has been doing EV research for several years with the intention of understanding the impact of EVs on our grid,” he said, “and we also want to understand usage patterns and charging characteristics of the cars themselves in order to design grid solutions and tariffs for e-mobility.”

MacColl said that while South Africa uses fossil-based fuels for many of its energy processes, a new approach was in the sights of all concerned. “E-mobility is a way of moving people around in a more effective and cleaner fashion which is critical for the economy,” he said.

MacColl added that Eskom is intent upon implementation within the energy body. He also thanked Avis Fleet Services for their role.

N

issan has announced a unique three-year research project with electricity utility Eskom that will include testing the Nissan LEAF,

The project is ahead of Nissan SA’s plans to formally launch the Nissan commercial available fully electric vehicle (EV) - later this year. It follows a pilot programme to promote public awareness with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), and another with the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) with a view to creating a commercially viable infrastructure for the use of electric vehicles.

The announcement of the Nissan/Eskom collaboration was made by Nissan SA Sales, Marketing and Aftersales director Johan Kleynhans at a vehicle handover ceremony of 10 Nissan LEAF cars. The Electric Vehicles will be managed by Avis Fleet Services (AFS), appointed by Nissan

Clive Else, Chief Executive of Avis Fleet Services, said his company was proud to be associated with the project.

“The involvement of Avis Fleet Services, services company, early in the introduction cycle of this exciting vehicle will help establish AFS as a local leader in the practical application of this technology for our customers,” said Else.

Kleynhans acknowledged that a full-on launch of EVs, including the LEAF, in the of government legislation, but he reiterated Nissan’s intent to launch the vehicle for sale before the year-end.

“We are collaborating with all concerned in the e-mobility programme by providing our hands-on experience with EVs and the infrastructure required,” said Kleynhans.

The award-winning Nissan LEAF is the vehicle and has already been rolled out in Japan, the USA and Europe.

With over 60, 000 LEAFs sold globally to date, Kleynhans added that Nissan would be bringing its knowledge of best practices and benchmarking information to support the overall objectives of the programme.

ABOUT NISSAN IN SOUTH AFRICA Nissan South Africa is Nissan’s operational hub for Africa, serving its key South Africa market and 22 countries in Sub Saharan Africa. The company offers a range of locally-produced and imported vehicles in these markets.

Employing nearly 2000 people, its Rosslyn manufacturing plant manufactures the NP200, Hardbody NP300, Tiida and Livina as well the Sandero for Alliance partner Renault. Nissan South Africa is in the vanguard of the recovery of the South African automotive industry and in 2012 regularly outperformed the local market. In the last calendar year Nissan SA brands sold 49 927 units.

ABOUT NISSAN MOTOR CO. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Operating with more than 267,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012.

Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at www.nissan-global.com/ EN/

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CAR REVIEW TOYOTA I-ROAD

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alk up to a Toyota i-Road and you’ll wonder if you’ve strayed into a science

is futuristic and different to anything else. This is also a very compact car at just 850mm wide, it’s no broader than a motorbike. So it should be a cinch to thread

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along a pavement. Toyota reckons that you Crowded towns could become a whole lot easier to park in if we all drove around in one.

Climb onboard and it feels incredibly narrow and the way it whizzes in and out of compact spaces leaves us in no doubt that this car will be incredibly easy to park. It should be

Writer: Jerome Dyson

because it’s really small: just 2,350mm long and 1,445mm high.

Toyota i-Road: Performance Being fully electric, the i-Road enjoys a typically rapid acceleration that only an electric motor can give. Two 2kW motors are mounted in the front wheels and powered by a lithium-ion battery that delivers maximum torque from the word go, giving instant thrust

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when you need it. The i-Road has simple controls to operate, with a conventional steering wheel rather than a handlebar .

If this car were to go into production, it would mowing down pedestrians who would have no idea that a two-seater mobility pod was creeping up on them.

Toyota i-Road: Ride and Handling Here is the i-Road’s trump card: Toyota calls it Active Lean technology and it’s a system which keeps the i-Road stable, no matter how fast you’re going in corners. The front wheels are pushed up and down by a computer to make the i-Road lean into a corner like a motorbike. Microchips calculate how much lean is required and a balancing gyroscope and actuators are used to lean the bodywork, counteracting centrifugal forces of cornering. Sounds complicated, but in reality it works seamlessly in the background and all you notice from the passenger seat is some incredible angles of lean. It feels remarkably stable and planted, even as it

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is that you can mount kerbs without toppling the car on its side or rattling your teeth out.

They’re simply swallowed up by the active suspension. And, the i-Road stands upright when you come to a standstill, unlike a twowheeler. Note also the tiny turning circle of just 3m: it’ll spin around tight corners nearly within its own body length.

Toyota i-Road: Interior Let’s not beat about the bush: climbing into a Toyota i-Road might feel like you’re stepping into the future, but it also feels a little bit like you’re scrambling onto a motorbike. Even Toyota can’t mess with the laws of physics and its tiny stature means it’s cramped in there. There are only semi-skinned doors, so you’ll be partly exposed to the elements.

You sit in tandem, one behind the other, and because of that windscreen and protective roof there’s no need to wear a helmet. The driver enjoys a great view, but space in the rear is limited to children or small adults, whose legs are splayed awkwardly around the driver in front. The way the bodywork

wraps around the rear of the i-Road means it’s pretty claustrophobic, with a poor view.

Toyota i-Road: Economy and Safety Because this is a concept car, there are few detailed breakdowns available of its energy consumption. But, there are zero emissions, since the only carbon gobbled up by the i-Road is whatever’s ingested by the power station at the end of your electric plug supply.

Toyota quotes a range of 50 km and claims that recharging from a domestic power point takes just three hours. You don’t need much juice because the i-Road is so light.

The Active Lean technology means the i-Road feels secure when driving along.

And the extra bodywork, roof and doors make this far safer than a motorbike. Toyota claims a full gamut of safety equipment such car ever reach production, one thing is for sure... I want one.

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BOOK REVIEWS

FROM POVERTY TO POWER

THE BRAND BOOK

PUBLISHER Jacana

HEART, MIND & MONEY: USING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR FINANCIAL SUCCESS

PRICE R295.00 Price subject to change

AUTHOR VANGILE MAKWAKWA

The twenty-first century will be defined by the fight against the scourges of poverty, inequality and the threat of environmental collapse-just as the fight against slavery or for universal suffrage defined earlier eras. Rooted in decades of Oxfam’s experience across the developing world, From Poverty to Power argues that it requires a radical redistribution of power, opportunities and assets to break the cycle of poverty and to give poor people power over their own destinies. The forces driving this transformation are active citizens and effective states. Because people living in poverty must have a voice in deciding their own destiny, fighting for rights and justice in their own society and holding the state and private sector to account, there is a need for active citizens and effective states because history shows that no country has prospered without a state structure that can actively manage the development process.

The author, Duncan Green, is increasingly focused on how change happens and From Poverty to Power is full of examples of this.

PUBLISHER JACANA

Given the ever-increasing importance of marketing, The Brand Book is an invaluable marketer’s tool and an ultimate guide to marketing and brand management. It covers challenges faced by most company executives and marketers today, by outlining a new ‘howto’ approach with easy-to-follow illustrated examples. A comprehensive guide to the do’s and don’ts of marketing, the book de-mystifies marketing and brand jargon with an easyto-understand-and-relate-to method, using examples at both local and global levels. The Brand Book focuses not only on how to build and maintain a profitable brand, but also how to make it sustainable and affordable, making it ideal for senior company executives, CEO’s, FDs, non-marketers, senior marketers and brand managers as well as academics.

AUTHOR Duncan Green

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PRICE R165.00 Price subject to change Intelligence and education are often considered primary keys to financial security in today’s world. Yet, money-trouble is still a problem faced by thousands of people in spite of their schooling and acumen. The root of this issue is frequently something almost never thought of when considering finance: emotion. Emotions are the link between one’s thoughts and one’s behaviour. Applying emotional intelligence to finances can help one improve financial health and live a happier life; the lessons in this book are a smart investment.

AUTHOR THOMAS OOSTHUIZEN PUBLISHER JACANA PRICE R180.00 Price subject to change

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AT TAU GAME LODGE

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

The social responsibility programme is delivering tangible results at the various local schools. This includes the fencing and safe keeping of the school properties and play grounds, as well as the renovation of school buildings and facilities, setting up of vegetable gardens, computer rooms, creating 108

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

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

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

THIRTY LUXURY C HALETS ARE S PR EAD O UT I N U - F O R MATI O N ON EITHER SIDE OF THE LODGE, OFFERING EXCELLENT VIEWS OF ANIMALS APPROACHING THE WATE R H O LE FROM THE OPPOSITE BANK. THE LODGE HAS A 5 STAR RATI N G AN D CHALETS ARE EQUIPPED WITH BOTH AIR-CONDITIONING AND CEILING FANS, MINI-BARS ,TEA AN D C O F F E E FAC I LITI E S . chosen tree.

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

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

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ECO-TOURISM

Writer: Michelle Nel

BOUNTIFUL BULUNGULA

T

he Rough Guide rates Bulungula as a top ethical travel experience.

You may end up with clay paint on your face, grinding corn and brewing local sorghum beer, umqombothi. Power is supplied from the sun. The ‘rocket showers’

on a little thoughtfulness.

Bulungula was founded by youngsters, Dave Martin and his wife Réjane Woodroffe.

The story goes that David and Rejane were hiking along the Wild Coast and fell in love with a small promontory and its adjoining traditional village.

As one approaches Bulungula, walking the Wild Coast from Coffee Bay via Hole in the Wall, Bulungula looks like a tiny island.

There are many pretty hamlets and rolling hills on this part of the Wild Coast. Once you’ve puffed your way to the top, the vista is breath-taking (which is why you stop to get it back). Imagine lugging water, wood or a bucket of mussels over that terrain.

“We opened the Bulungula Lodge in 2004 in one of the poorest, most remote villages to Martin.

The villages Nqileni, Folokwe, Mgojweni and Tshezi are part of the indigent Amathole district. Some 78% of households live below located at Nqileni village, the most remote village at Xhora Mouth. Some 800 people live here. The closest clinic is a two hour trek away. Until recently, school was held under the trees. Only a handful of people have matriculated and most adults are illiterate.

Half the villagers are under 21 years old.

In 2002 Dave and Rejane went on a Wild Coast hike and saw the site. In 2004 they

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began building a lodge and in 2005 they were married there. It’s interesting to hear Wild Coast lodge owners discuss their challenges.

They fall into an animated conversation about how to repair the ablution block which is a spectacular rondavel made of wattle painted murals, each by a different artist.

Each cubicle surrounds a musky composting toilet.

The block was shifting on its foundations because it was built over an old rubble pit.

A concrete slab was inserted under the block.

The walls are cracking a bit so the two lodge owners puzzled out a plan there and then a steel ring could be placed around the wall above the windows, to hold the structure together.

The lodge has been a big success and has created jobs for over 35 people in the village through working at the lodge directly and through the community-owned and run business we helped start (horse-riding, canoeing, veggie farming, etc.). As the Bulungula Lodge began starting more and more community development projects, we realised that it was necessary to start a dedicated organisation, the Bulungula Incubator (BI) which would focus solely on community development work; separate from the lodge business.

But before the BI was launched, Dave and Rejane had lived in the community for some years. They put the social infrastructure in place which allows people to come implement their rural development ideas. The Incubator was established in Nqileni in March 2007, as a platform for promoting rural development in the Xhora Mouth Area Projects within four key portfolios: education, health and nutrition, basic services (clean water and sanitation) and sustainable livelihoods.

Annette, David’s mother lived at Bulungula for two years, and helped set up the prepoint of a preschool but now the demand is huge. The school could take its place among the best in the country. There are 60 children in three classes, with two teachers per class.

The outdoor equipment is excellent, and classrooms are well stocked with drawing materials, books and educational posters. In addition the teachers make use of waste in order to build new equipment. Egg boxes, plastic containers and paper rolls are neatly stacked in the storeroom waiting their turn to be made into artworks or toys.

Games (remember dominoes, lotto and snakes and ladders) were donated to help the children learn through playing. As many of the teachers did not play these games when they were children, they spent some fun afternoons learning through play themselves. The school principal runs parent workshops; recent ones have covered intellectual stimulation, making containers and musical instruments, and improvising games. Mothers are taught about nutrition and vegetable gardening. Vegetables are grown in the school garden. The mothers take turns to cook the preschoolers’ lunches (in lieu of fees).

An Early Childhood Development Training Project is training 20 practitioners including from neighbouring villages. The Bulungula

Scholarship Project helps children from the Jujurha Preschool, to further their education Mthatha.

The BI has focused on job creation to supplement meagre earnings from subsistence farming, government grants, Bulungula Lodge which assisted community members to set up their own enterprises, including village tours, a restaurant, canoe other tourist services. The Village Homestays was successfully launched as an experience in traditional Xhosa hospitality during a busy Christmas holiday period.

When the BI was formally constituted in

powerful, positive multiplier effect; for example the cook at the Bulungula Lodge spends R50 on a haircut, the hairdresser uses this to buy a skirt, and the seamstress buys a chicken. The original R50 from the tourist has multiplied into R150 worth of goods and services.

Bulungula supported an affordable cooking insulation box enterprise to reduce the amount of indigenous wood harvested for fuel. The Wool Products and Felting group have included locally sourced wool in scarves, blankets, laptop holders and hand bags.

A new project is on the cards: growing vegetables to send to town via empty delivery trucks (which have supplied the lodge and

A SPECIAL PROJECT ON THE WILD COAST GIVES THE LO C A L C O M M U N IT Y A 6 0% STA KE I N A TO U R I S M H U B .

2007, the work expanded into agriculture and micro-enterprises. An essential oils and botanicals project was launched through the Zizamele Farmers Co-operative. Farmers have produced in excess of three tons of fresh lemongrass.

The Nqileni Sewing Team has grown from producing a few items for the Bulungula Lodge craft shop to managing large orders for corporate laptop bags.

Local products and services create a

trading stores). The BI sells an inexpensive DVD on setting up micro enterprises. One can also watch short video clips of the micro enterprises on YouTube.

A Rural Technical Skills Centre has been built. Apprentices are learning sustainable building methods, carpentry and metalwork, permaculture and organic farming, sustainable water management, renewable energy installation, compost toilet management and business skills.

The village that sprawls around the hillocks nearby shows that green services are catching on. Solar panels have popped up on roofs and water tanks collect rain from roof downpipes. Who knows, before long there could be DSTV dishes running on methane from each cattle kraal.

Contact Rejane: rejane@ bulungulaincubator.org or on 047 577 8908.

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Explore winter in the Garden Route With moderate temperatures and crisp, clear days, the African winter is undoubtedly Knysna’s secret season. You are welcome to indulge in lazy late mornings, crackling fires, fantastic food and wonderful wine, but our natural playground is sure to get you out from under the covers and into the fresh air and gentle sunshine. Brenton on Sea Cottages invites you to experience the best that winter in the Garden Route has to offer.

Telephone: +27 (0)44 381 0082/3 Facsimile: +27 (0)44 381 0026 Email: info@brentononsea.net 112

www.brentononsea.net

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BRENTON ON SEA COTTAGES

B

perfect base from which to explore winter in the Garden Route

With moderate temperatures and crisp, clear days, the African winter is undoubtedly Knysna’s secret season. You are welcome to indulge in food and wonderful wine, but our natural playground is sure to get you out from under the covers and into the fresh air and gentle sunshine. Brenton on Sea Cottages invites you to experience the best that winter in the Garden Route has to offer.

Knysna sits at the heart of the world renowned Garden Route, with Brenton on Sea central to the greater Knysna area. This positions Brenton on Sea Cottages as the perfect base from which to explore the rest of the Knysna area, as well as the neighbouring towns on the Garden Route.

But you won’t be spending much time in your cosy, thatch roofed, wooden cottage overlooking the Indian Ocean, as Knysna boasts a wealth of activities sure to warm you up during winter.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary between 28 June and 7 July, the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival invites you to don your party hat and take part in the fun. With a variety of sporting and lifestyle events on the program, as well as a full Young Oyster Festival and events cool enough for the teens, this year’s festival promises fun for the whole family.

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If you can’t join us for the festival, our secret season is the perfect time to discover what our miles of unspoilt beaches, acres of mysterious, indigenous forests and sparkling estuary have to offer...

You don’t have to get wet to enjoy our Right whale already having been spotted in May, our shoreline is ideal for coastal whale spotting and whale watching excursions per boat. You could take to the estuary in style on a luxury yacht or authentic paddle cruiser, or work up an appetite and rent your own canoe.

And the best way to satisfy that appetite is to of the wonderful restaurants at the Knysna Garden Route, followed by some shopping or a gentle stroll along the waterfront.

Knysna is known for the quality of its mountain biking and running trails, so take to the forest on your bike, in your running shoes, or with your family for a leisurely stroll or picnic. Explore the second oldest visit the Dalene Matthee memorial and Big Tree, marvel at the fern forests and multitude of plant and animal species that live in our

Course on the Garden Route at Simola Golf and Country Estate, as well as the courses at the Knysna Golf Club and Conrad Pezula, take an easy drive to conquer the courses at the Plettenberg Bay Country Club and Goose Valley Golf Club, both in Plettenberg Bay, or the George, Kingswood Golf Estate or Fancourt courses in George. Or take on Course at the Oubaai Hyatt Regency just outside George.

And after a full day of exploring and having fun, be sure to catch the magical sunset from your comfortably elegant unit at Brenton on Sea Cottages. Choose from our self catering chalets with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge and fully equipped kitchen or our semi self catering cabins with an en suite bathroom, kitchen and balcony. Or spoil yourself in our luxury honeymoon suite with spa bath. All our units have access to braai facilities.

You’re sure to feel right at home in our tastefully decorated cottages, so join us this winter to discover that typical Brenton

please contact us for more information. an eye out for the elusive Knysna elephants!

If you appreciate nature in a different way, Knysna is not only home to three world class golf courses, but within close proximity of all Garden Route golf courses. After you’ve

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HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT AT THE 2013 PICK N PAY KNYSNA OYSTER FESTIVAL

B

e sure to wear your party hat when you head down to Knysna between 28 June and 7 July this year, as the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival will be celebrating

more than 100 events on the programme, there will be fun for everyone.

to showcase their talents in what promises to be an evening of culinary delights and gastronomic greatness.”

as Oyster Hotspots. Here you will be able to sample oysters a la natural, as well as oysters cooked according to the restaurant’s own original recipes.”

“Knysna has long been regarded as the pearl of the Garden Route,” said Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt. “And with pearls being the traditional gift for 30th anniversaries, the 2013 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is sure to shine as it presents attendees with a wide array of activities and events.”

“And of course we cannot forget about the oyster shucking and eating competitions.

Regularly drawing record amounts of participants and spectators, these events are known for their fun factor. On 3 June 2012 Sonya Thomas, also known as ‘The Black Widow’ of competitive eating, ate 47 dozen

“On the menu is a smorgasbord of events to thrill and delight the most discerning of

exclaimed. “This record was set in New Orleans, but I can’t help but wonder if we’ll

Pick n Pay said, “We are thrilled to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of this popular family festival. It’s a chance for us to showcase our offerings to our loyal customers and through our presence there to share our journey to Goodness with them.”

“28 June to 7 July is sure to be the best 10 days of your winter,” Nicci concluded.

“Especially if you spend them in Knysna at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, South Africa’s largest lifestyle, sporting and family event. With over 100 sporting, lifestyle,

charities, the festival truly offers something we’ll take care of the rest.”

this year’s Festival...” the Admiral’s Ball with the SA Navy Dance Band - the perfect opportunity to display your own pearls and dance the night away.

The Festival enjoys a wonderful relationship with the South African Navy, who are attending once again and, along with the Admiral’s Ball, the Navy Band performance is not only an event not to be missed, but the

“Showcasing over 40 top South African wine producers as well as bubbly from the Cap Classique Association, the Knysna Wine Festival & Night Food Market invites you to meet local winemakers, taste their current releases and learn more about the latest trends in wine making,” said Nicci. “And it only makes sense to pair this extremely popular event with the Night Food Market and line the stomach!”

“The Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna challenges restaurants in and around Knysna to compete in a variety of categories for recognition by judges and the public,” Nicci continued. “The event allows them

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“So train your taste buds and stock up on the milk thistle,” she urged. “This year promises to not only satisfy your taste buds, but to astound them.”

Bronwen Rohland Director of Marketing

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HAPPY BIRTH

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HDAY MADIBA

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SOCIAL MEDIA LAW THINK BEFORE YOU TWEET! Writer: Reagan C Adams

H

osted recently on Carte Blanche, Social Media Law specialist, Emma Sadleir explains Social Media law as: “The law that regulates any conversation that takes place over the internet, called User Generated Content (UGC).” She says that the instant a person publishes information - including comments on Tweets, Re-tweets or even the hosting of comments on one’s Facebook page - you are subject to the same laws that would apply to the traditional media. So even when it’s not your own words, every person who has access to the internet and publishes content is considered a publisher.

During the last decade or so social media and its variants have sky-rocketed in such a way that no person could possibly chart them all at once. My feeling is that most social networkers choose two or three mediums that will work for them, whether business or personal.

while freedom of expression is a very important constitutional right, that right is not unlimited. “If your speech infringes on the rights of another, violates copyright or constitutes hate speech then your freedom is legally limited,” says Sadleir.

Social media is probably one of the most amazing tools of our time, as it connects people at any time, in any place and in a space they prefer. You can tweet on your bus ride home or Skype while putting your green world is literally in the palm of your hand.

the South Gauteng High Court recently ordered an interdict against a South African Facebook user to stop posting content about a friend on Facebook. This proved that South Africans will have to take responsibility for the content they post on Facebook and Twitter.

Although social media adds tremendous value to our lives it can also have the adverse effect if we are not sensitive to what we put

Ms Sadleir’s advice is that if you wouldn’t be prepared to put your name and face next to a comment on a major Billboard in a high on the internet.

Recent events have now shown many successful lawsuits being won for claims of Defamation of Character, where in the past persons were not very successful in winning lawsuits against comments posted about them on social media. The argument that the internet allows for freedom of expression, without boundaries, is no longer accepted as recent lawsuit wins have revealed.

The law of defamation states that as soon as the publication reaches a third party it has been published. As for freedom of expression on the internet, Ms Sadleir explained that

While it is clear that a person could be held liable for publishing a negative comment on the internet about another, which may bring him or her in disrepute, companies and brands platform for consumers to complain about products and services, one must also be wary of how we utilise this platform.

In February 2011 it was reported that Gold Reef City had won a defamation lawsuit against the current affairs television show, Carte Blanche in The High Court in Johannesburg. The court ruled that a Carte Blanche report in 2005, which questioned the safety of its rides, was considered defamatory and that Gold Reef City was entitled to any losses that it could prove to the court.

Whether an individual citizen journalist, traditional journalist or average Joe, publishes information that could be deemed defamatory to either an individual, company or brand, it seems that one could certainly be liable for defamation for unsubstantiated negative comments.

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