Namib Independent Issue 170

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Independent Namib

Tel: 064 200497

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Issue 170 - Thurs, 15 Oct 2015 to Wed, 21 Oct 2015

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"I wanted to prove that we SMEs are not what we sound... we are capable of being competitive in the market place."

What Standard Bank is doing is a creative and worthwhile initiative for uplifting poor communities and the country out of poverty.

Nangula Nashandi, of event organising company Nashville Investments, which was responsible for organising the recent NCCI SWAITEX expo.

See Page 5

First Lady, Monica Geingos, commending Standard Bank at the launch of their Buy-a-Brick Initiative See Page 12

Walvis Bay to pioneer urban development

See Page 6

The much awaited Strand Hotel opened its doors has revived the atmosphere of the Mall beachfront area. (Photo Donna Collins)

Strand Hotel in fishing industry Millions invested

opening brings life to the Mole!

Donna Collins

The opening of the Strand Hotel last Friday confirmed that this new 4-star development at the popular Mole has already injected life back into this beach front hub, which promises to to be a huge draw card just in time for the holiday season.

After a much anticipated wait, the

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doors of the Swakopmund Strand Hotel swung open to the public last Friday at 12h00 on the dot, as people, overseas TV crews, the press and curious by-standers gathered around the steps waiting to get a glimpse of the dazzling $350-mil O&L development inside and out.

An unofficial count down by management, developers and other

stakeholders involved in the making of this majestic beach front hotel, marked a historic and unforgettable moment. And true to their promise, the beautiful new Strand Hotel has revived the beachfront ambience of the Swakopmund Mole with international flair that is going to boost the offerings of this special holiday town even further.

The overwhelming turnout of public interest expressed on opening day saw an overflow of visitors trying out the Continued on Page 3

Niel Terblanche The demolition of the old fishmeal plant and surrounding buildings at Etosha Fishing in Walvis Bay is already well underway and the work is a tangible indication of millions of dollars being reinvested in the fishing industry.

The Oceana Group, one of the biggest fishing companies in South Africa and of which Etosha Fishing is a subsidiary, recently announced plans to invest N$172.2 million in two new facilities in Namibia and Angola.

In Namibia, the company plans to replace its fishmeal production capacity with an additional 2,000 tons

by September 2016.

"We are putting a new fishmeal plant in our cannery in Namibia with better technology and better quality.

It will deal with trimmings from our canning operations," Oceana Chief Executive Officer, Francois Kuttel, said at the recent 2015 International Fishmeal and Fish Oil organisation conference.

The Managing Director of Etosha Fishing, Pieter Greeff, said the investment entails far more than just the rebuilding and refurbishment of the old fishmeal plant. “The old plant was built and Continued on Page 3

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

SA Outreach programme helps to grow DRC pre-school

Contact Us Tel (+264 64) 200 497 Email info@namibindependent.com.na Sales Sharon Brooks 081 394 1235 sharon@namibindependent.com.na Rita Potgieter 081 150 5455 rita@namibindependent.com.na Gareth Amos 081 129 2157 gareth@namibindependent.com.na Editorial Niel Terblanche niel@namibindependent.com.na Design Maggie’s Attic Graphic Design sonya4maggiesattic@gmail.com 081 129 2158 Address 127 Theo Ben Gurirab Street (MVA Office Complex), PO Box 5085, Walvis Bay, Namibia Disclaimer: Namib Independent is published by Halfround Communications CC. All rights are reserved. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within, no liability can be accepted by the publishers or contributors for any errors, misstatements or omissions which may have occurred. The opinions expressed in the publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Also, the publishers accept no legal liability regarding copyright ownership for material which was supplied directly to the publishers by any of the advertisers or contributors.

Pictured here some of the underprivileged children of the DRC kindergarten. (Photo Donna Collins) Donna Collins

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In these times of financial hardship, when the needs of underprivileged children don't even cover a basic meal, clothes to wear or an adequate place to sleep - it is heartening to see that there are people that still care and do want to make a difference.

Last week a team of hardworking volunteers, from a Potchefstroom outreach group, were building a large netted vegetable garden at a DRC kindergarten, using donated planks of wood to make adequate size patches to plant a wide selection of vegetables for the school's daily feeding scheme.

The team of 21 young boys and girls from the 'NG Puk Handelaar' outreach programme, led by group leader Carla Stevens, all travelled up by coach to Swakopmund for the week. It was said that theirs is an outreach building project which concentrates on charity work, putting systems into place where there is none, for the betterment of the recipient.

They said that they have many projects which they attend to, and that they chose this particular DRC

pre-school as a priority which needed their support, and were connected locally to the NG Swakopmund.

This is just one of dozens of do good projects these young folk embark on throughout the year throughout different destinations around Africa, and even abroad. Whilst in Swakopmund, their aim was to establish a well designed vegetable garden that could yield crops, enabling the school to grow its own produce and become more self-sustaining in the future, as funds are also very limited.

It was said that there are nearly 40 children registered with the school who get a basic breakfast in the morning since most, if not all of them, do not receive adequate meals at home. In addition to this, the school cooks up heaps of vegetables and other nutritional ingredients to prepare enough for the many hungry children who come looking for food on a daily basis, providing DRC children with at least one meal a day.

"The new vegetable garden is going to reap a lot of goodness for these needy children, and we were so happy to have been part of this experience, to better the lives of those less fortunate," said Carla.

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

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Strand Hotel opening Millions invested brings life to the Mole! in fishing industry Continued from Page 1 restaurants bars and coffee shops which ran at full capacity. Apart from some teething problems, the newly trained staff handled well despite being challenged to the max under such enormous pressure.

The choice of three wining and dining experiences and bars, plus elevated sea-facing terraces where tables and umbrellas beckon you to come and participate in Namibia's own 'South of France' experience, it is little wonder why there are predictions of the hotel being a huge attraction during holiday season.

Top-class restaurants, coffee shops, and bars that occupy the ground floor, include the already popular meeting place - 'Brew & Butcher', with its in-house Microbrewery, beer garden atmosphere, fully stocked bar with big flat

screen TV. All tables were prebooked on Friday and there was standing room only for those people who packed themselves in for some German 'gemütlichkeit'.

With choice being the operative word, the 'Farmhouse Deli' with its open plan delicatessen bistro style restaurant and coffee shop, offers an all day a’la carte menu, for the breakfast, lunch and dinner clientele, and for those who are dining on the lighter side, or who otherwise want to indulge in coffee and a mouth-watering patisserie.

The 'Ocean Cellar Seafood Restaurant and Oyster & Wine Bar' with sea facing terrace, fills the need in town for such a restaurant.

Both indoor and outdoor seating all with spectacular sea views, is going to be hard to beat. It is open seven days a week from 12 noon through to 10pm serving not

only lunch and dinner but also a tasty array of all day snacks. A special and unique feature is its Show-Kitchen where diners sit at a counter watching the chefs in action.

Already this past week end, the warmer weather coupled with the opening of the new Strand brought renewed life and atmosphere to this part of beachfront, which due to the lengthy construction process was closed as a walkthrough for the public.

This modern 4-star Strand Hotel which has been built on a historic landmark replaces the old order with a sweeping modern luxurious beach resort, that hugs the shoreline, whilst blending both the architectural style of this quaint coastal town with its natural surroundings. It has changed the image of the Mole,

Thomas Muller (GM Marketing IT O&L Leisure) with Christoph Holzapfel (GM Strand Hotel) opened the doors to the Strand Hotel on Friday. (Photo Donna Collins) and is reviving the nostalgic seaside resort ambience with a contemporary beach resort that boasts international standards.

From front desk, to bicycle hire, and head chef, nothing has been spared in providing a top class first hand impression of what the hotel has to offer its visitors and guests.

And already with accommodation bookings pouring in, the hotel has experienced a promising occupancy of their rooms in the first week, with the peak holiday season days fully booked.

Arriving at the Strand is an amazing experience as one passes through its 13m high and 9m wide grand entrance which

travels right through the Hotel offering sea views at either end.

The Reception, consisting of three individual desks and an inviting open fireplace, rounds off the residential feel and warm welcome.

Accommodation is luxurious with 125 rooms, all featuring floor-to-ceiling panoramic and sliding windows with views of the beach and sea or the garden park. The six room types feature tea & coffee stations, mini-bars, hair-dryers, TVs, free Wi-Fi Internet access, telephones and air-conditioning.

Roux-Ché Locke (O&L Group Manager: External Relations)

said that the Ohlthaver & List Group of Companies together with its hospitality portfolio, 'O&L Leisure', is the force behind this development - and with Swakopmund already rated as Namibia's major holiday destination, the Strand Hotel has changed the image of the Mole, with it becoming a huge attraction for locals and a preferred choice hotel for visitors."

The building phase of the hotel created 1500 jobs over the project life while 250 permanent positions have been filled in various departments of the hotel.

Continued from Page 1 first used in 1965. Since then the needs of the fishmeal market changed drastically and we need to keep up with the trend.

Besides product trends changing, the old plant was costing the company a fortune in maintenance and it was no longer really viable to produce fishmeal under these circumstances.” Greeff said.

The new plant will make use of totally new processes in order to produce fishmeal with significantly higher protein content which is sought after on the international market and specifically in China, according to Greeff. He said the old plant used a process whereby fishmeal was flame dried which meant that higher protein content could not be achieved in the end product.

“The investment of at least N$24 million in the new plant means that fishmeal will be steam dried. The way the new plant is designed will also save on energy costs because 80 percent of the steam will be reused in the process. All the waste steam will be reused in the evaporators to increase the protein content of the final product.

After the waste steam has gone through all the processes it will go through a seawater scrubber to minimise the odour associated with fishmeal plants.”

He said the new plant will be able to process up to 300 tonnes of raw fish per day. Etosha is currently importing frozen fish from countries like Morocco and Mauritania to compliment fish caught in Namibian and Angolan waters by the company’s own vessels. Fishmeal is produced from leftovers of the canning and wet fish processes in other parts of the factory.

“The construction of the building and the installation of the new fishmeal plant will not interfere with the normal functioning of the factory. We are currently outside the season and, if the new facilities are ready in September 2016, the company will be able to start production in the new season.

The work will not have any influence on employees or their jobs.”

In Angola, the Oceana Group is partnering with the government and expects new facilities to be up and running in December.

"We are busy commissioning a plant in Angola that I think is an important investment," Kuttel said.

Fishmeal is recognised by nutritionists as a high-quality, very digestible feed ingredient that is favoured for addition to the diet of most farm animals and fish in aquaculture.

In July this year, Oceana closed a "game-changer" transaction in the global fishmeal sector with the US$382.3million purchase of Daybrook Fisheries in the state of Louisiana in the United States of America.

The African investments, in addition to the Louisiana menhaden and fishmeal operation at Daybrook Fisheries, will be followed by a period of consolidation at Oceana, to make sure that "investments are done efficiently," Kuttel said.

Oceana also sees an opportunity for synergies between its African and American fishmeal investments that could take place during this consolidation period, he said. At the IFFO conference, Kuttel said fishmeal is "probably the most attractive" sector to invest and grow within the seafood industry.

The acquisition has provided Oceana an additional 25,000 metric tons to its projected total fishmeal capacity by end of 2016, which is estimated to be at 107,000 tons.

Kuttel did not rule out further acquisitions in the Peruvian fishmeal sector in a few years, but at the moment "timing is not right," he said "Certainly Peru is the most important hub for fishmeal, so one has to take a look at Peruvian investment opportunities," Kuttel said. "After a few years we will look at possibly expanding again.”

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News

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Training strengthens EBH capacity in local market Niel Terblanche Elgin Brown & Hamer (EBH) Namibia’s partnership with RollsRoyce has recently been strengthened through a training opportunity which has seen four employees boost their skills in marine engine repair overseas.

The employees were chosen, along with three Rolls-Royce trainees, to undergo a training programme at RollsRoyce’s engine factory in Bergen, Norway.

“The partnership with Rolls-Royce is of significant strategic importance to EBH Namibia, and the training that our employees have received is invaluable in terms of the transference of globally sought-after skills,” said Hannes Uys, Chief Executive Officer of EBH Namibia.

This initiative is in line with EBH Namibia’s drive to provide ongoing training for its employees, so they can grow in their careers while at the same time meeting the needs of the company’s increasing list of international customers.

“Serving the African market via our Namibian service hub, is a key part of our strategy to provide a good service in every port, every day. To live up to our own set of high standards, we need to invest in our relationship with our partners and invest in our employees,” says Patrick Adam, Service Centre Manager Africa: Rolls-Royce.

“Together with EBH we now have seven engineers trained who will be able to provide all required service

and overhaul work on-board our joint customers’ vessels.”

The three trainees from Rolls-Royce - Nestor Ndapuka, Sethole Montonane and Brian Profitt - and four trainees from EBH Namibia - Jacobus Jacobus, Joseph Nendongo, Silas Shihepo and Teopolina Shilongo - were joined by EBH Namibia’s HR Manager Patrick Chizabulyo, Mechanical Superintendent Erwin Keiseb, and Rolls-Royce’s Patrick Adam.

Chizabulyo described the training as “an important milestone” in the mutually beneficial relationship between EBH Namibia and Rolls-Royce.

“An important part of our value offering to our customers is to find synergistic partnerships with other players in the industry and to leverage off each other’s expertise. The training that our employees received will enable them to assist our partners, Rolls-Royce, in the repair and overhaul of Bergen engines, and will also enhance our own skills base at EBH Namibia,” said Chizabulyo.

Based on an agreement which was signed in early 2011, Rolls-Royce, under its marine division Marine & Industrial Power Systems (MIPS), has been operating a dedicated servicing hub at EBH Namibia’s Walvis Bay facility.

EBH Namibia has been providing artisanal and semi-skilled labour, working alongside Rolls-Royce technicians in propulsion and related mechanical work. The newly-acquired skills will enhance Rolls-Royce and EBH Namibia’s position to tender for

EBH Namibia and Rolls-Royce team which attended engine repair training at Rolls-Royce, Bergen: From left to right: Patrick Adam (Rolls-Royce Service Centre Manager Namibia & Ivory Coast), Teopolina Shilongo (EBHN), Joseph Nendongo (EBHN), Erwin Keiseb (EBHN Technical Superintendent) Jacobus Jacobus (EBHN), Silas Shihepo (EBHN), Svein-Magne Ripe (Rolls-Royce), Odd M. Tvedt (Rolls-Royce) Bergen overhaul work in the future.

“Rolls-Royce proposed that EBH Namibia nominate a few employees to attend training at their Bergen Engines facility in Norway,” explained Chizabulyo.

Bergen Engines, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Power Systems, manufactures a range of medium speed gas and liquid fuel engines for the marine and offshore oil and gas industries. The training programme for EBH Namibia was extremely comprehensive, and included basic electrical and control systems, mechanical adjustments and start-

up procedures, the maintenance of water and oil pumps, the overhaul of cylinder heads and valves, assembly line training and an introduction to gas engines.

“It was a fascinating experience for those of us from EBH Namibia to experience the world class expertise of Rolls-Royce firsthand, and we were overwhelmed by the positive and welcoming culture at their Bergen facility,” said Chizabulyo.

EBH Namibia prides itself on its skills development programmes, which have included exchange

programmes with other leading shipyards around the world.

“As a player in the global shipping industry, we have long since placed training and career development at the top of our agenda. This is becoming an increasingly important part of our overall aim, which is to provide our clients with the highest levels of support and service, further enhancing our position as a shipyard of choice on the west coast of Africa,” Uys concluded.

Cultures clash on crime Niel Terblanche

Besides an almost unsurmountable language barrier, the huge difference between the Namibian and Chinese cultures in approaching certain aspects of the day to day matters in society was placed in the spotlight at a meeting held in Walvis Bay. The meeting between the Namibian Police and the South West Association of Chinese and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce laid bare issues pertaining to crime against members of these bodies and foreign nationals working in Namibia.

At the head of the table was the Erongo Police Regional Commander, Commissioner Samuel Hoebeb, and several prominent Chinese business personalities from Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. The aim of the meeting was to establish a committee that would be responsible for easing the relationship between the associations and local law enforcement agencies.

Commissioner Hoebeb said that all avenues must be explored to minimise crime against citizens and

foreigners alike. The establishment of a special committee that will meet on a regular basis with the various heads of department within the police structures is aimed at getting crimes reported on time and in the correct fashion.

“The committee will deliberate on what has exactly transpired within the community, and specifically within the Chinese community, and find ways to best address issues that arise from these meetings. It is however the mandate of the Namibian Police to protect and serve every soul within the borders of the country regardless of their nationality.”

Commissioner Hoebeb pointed out that, in many cases, crimes are not reported simply because it is deemed too insignificant or that the police would not be able to investigate.

“If the police are not informed on crimes, members will have no knowledge of such incidents and would also not be able to do anything about it. It is important to find a better way of communication so that every person feels safe.”

The severity and frequency of

crimes against Chinese nationals came to the forefront when members of the audience were given the opportunity to elaborate on recent incidents. In just a few minutes, the statistics regarding incidents over the past three years made available by commissioner Hoebeb more than doubled when the members of the Chinese community started to relate their experiences.

Robbery and theft were highlighted by the community as regular incidents.

Commissioner Hoebeb said people should be aware of their

surroundings when going out in public at all times. He also told delegates that carrying valuables and large amounts of money when on the street will increase the probability of them becoming victims of crime.

One specific question was why the police are not aware of crimes being committed which emphasised the differences in between the cultures of the two countries. In China hundreds of police officers patrol areas at all times and in many cases see actual incidents as they happen.

Other issues highlighted during the meeting were the slow reaction

time of police officers once a crime is reported and the return of stolen goods to the rightful owners.

After a lengthy deliberation on just how crime in general could be prevented, Commissioner Hoebeb had to insist that the process of creating a special committee had to start in earnest. He asked members of the various associations to appoint members and also to work out and present him with a schedule for the regular meetings before declaring the meeting closed.

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

Young, dynamic woman drives SWAITEX success

chance, and am privileged to have been a part of this - it just shows that the NCCI believes in SMEs and it pays to be a member."

Meanwhile the expo ended off on a high note on Saturday, with exhibitors being awarded best in their categories. The wide variety of stalls and stands both inside and outside the Dome, under the theme “How can we better industrialise the Erongo Region using available resources?� of which 13 SME stalls were sponsored by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Once again the expo was hosted by the NCCI (Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Swakopmund branch), and was created to give the upcoming Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) the opportunity to show case their products while networking on both local and international levels.

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Prize winners: *Best Exhibition Stall D.G. FRITZE JOINERY CC *Best SME Stall JOSEPH WOOD WORK *Best Product Knowledge OANAB CONCRETE INDUSTRIES *Best Food Stall ALLADINS TAKE AWAY *Most Committed Exhibitor FINISHING TOUCHES *New technologies/Novelty Product MULTI ONE *Best Customer Service BANK WINDHOEK

The 'power house' behind the NCCI SWAITEX Expo success: (centre) SME entrepreneur Nangula Nashandi (Nashville Investments) who was contracted to organise the four day expo, is seen here with Alta Breedenkamp (Conference Manager Swakopmund Dome) and Emelia Ethana (SWAITEX Intern IUM). (Photo Donna Collins) Donna Collins Now that the NCCI SWAITEX dust has settled and everyone is patting themselves on the back for a job well done, with exhibitors already in the bag for next year, there is a particular driving force behind this success story who has remained out of the limelight - and her name is Nangula Nashandi.

The young and dynamic 20-something rising star who owns a SME event organising company in Swakopmund - Nashville Investments, was responsible for organising the logistics of the NCCI SWAITEX from start to finish, in just under three months.

Taking note of the number of nearly 14 000 visitors who flocked to the four-day expo at the Swakopmund Sports Dome, which ended last Saturday, and the resounding success

and positive feedback from the 240 exhibitors who took part - Nashandi is flying the flag for SMEs. "My proposal was accepted over five 'big fish' companies who tendered, and in July I was contracted to organise this year's NCCI SWAITEX - I came in as a hungry, determined young entrepreneur with under three months to do it in - and did my best," said the bubbly Nashandi.

"I also wanted to prove that we SMEs are not what we sound - we are more than that, and if you give us the opportunity we will prove to you what we are capable of producing and being competitive in the market place.

"Because my business career is only starting out, I am driven by my goals and challenges, not just by the money - it is way too soon to be driven by money - I want to be driven by passion, and show other young women out there that it can be done if

you set your mind to it.

"I feel so sad for those ladies who are waiting for men to give them the power to be themselves, they must look further than that." she continued.

"I would rather be out there working hard, not sleeping at night, with a small pay check - and have my own power - because everything I have is about me."

She went onto say that the public have expressed that the expo was a success - for which she is thankful, and that the results speak for themselves. She went on to mention that, in the short time allotted to her, she pulled off some of the highlights including the Gala Dinner, the Parade, and the official opening which was officiated by the Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

"I feel confident that I will be able to achieve bigger and better things at next year's expo if I am given a

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

Namcor makes positive strides towards fuel security Jacques du Toit Namibia’s strategic petroleum reserves will increase by 16 days with Namcor finishes building their 75 million litre bulk fuel storage facility in Walvis Bay. Namibia can currently store enough fuel for 14 days, going up to 30 days when the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) succeeds in building the largest fuel storage facility in the country.

This N$4 billion investment will aim to meet Namibia's current strategy in terms of strategic fuel reserves, which states that the country should hold between 30 to 45 days of reserves. Strategic fuel reserves are used to provide economic and national security during economic crisis.

In order to be part of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which is at the heart of global energy dialogue, a country is required to store at least 90 days of fuel reserves.

The United States of America can currently hold 4.1 billion barrels in strategic reserves and South Africa 45 million barrels. Botswana, on the other hand, has no strategic petroleum reserves and Zambia has recently started to expand their reserves. Namcor’s new fuel storage alone, will be able to hold 471,698 barrels.

The bulk storage facility will be the first-ever to be 100 percent owned by the government through the parastatal Namcor. Existing storage facilities are owned by private oil companies.

Tender adverts were put in local press during 2014 for the construction of the facility.

Reporting on the progress, Namcor’s Executive of the Commercial Business Unit, Ludwig Kapingana, commented that, “We have already identified a site and are currently finalising designs. We are also currently busy studying possible routes for the pipeline.”

Kapingana explained that there would be three components to the facility and these

Walvis Bay to pioneer urban development Jacques du Toit Walvis Bay will lead the way in urban development with the launch of Namurban, a program to develop efficient use of resources in developing countries.

Namurban is a two year research project with a budget of N$6.6 million between the Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) and the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK) in Finland. The main focus will be on clean water and sanitation, renewable energy, housing and integrating all of this with technology.

The project will be funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Finland, SAMK as well as ten Finnish companies, companies who will hope to later pluck the fruits from this investment.

SAMK and PON have been working together since 2012 on issues relating to land and sea. Most notable is Namibia’s deep sea fisheries research vessel, the R/V Mirabilis, which was built in Finland and procured by Namibia with the help of an interest free loan

by the MoFA. According to the project manager, Dr. Minna Keinänen-Toivola, Namurban will help to build closer ties between Namibian and Finnish educational institutes by exchanging knowledge about education, research and development.

The aim of this project is to develop a framework on how to efficiently use resources in an urban setting. Even though Namibia has been selected for the pilot study, the goal is to find innovative ways to improve urban settings and then applying it to a larger scale.

Not only here, but also in other developing countries.

This project is part of the Business with Impact (BEAM) program, funded by Tekes and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. BEAM aims to assist Finnish enterprises and other actors in addressing global development challenges by converting such challenges into successful and sustainable business.

This is done by piloting and demonstrating innovations that improve well-being in poor countries.

The ten Finnish companies which are actively participating are Aquapure Ltd.

included a tanker jetty and two berths as well as the pipeline that would carry the oil to the facility, to be located in Walvis Bay. The China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) Ltd, which is also responsible for the N$3 billion expansion of the Port of Walvis Bay and the Road Construction Company (RCC), are going to construct the bulk fuel storage facility.

Namcor also recently revealed the restoration of their 50 percent import of refined fuel mandate.

In 2008, Glencore was contracted by Namcor to source and supply the 50 percent but the contract was cancelled in 2010 due to the significant risks Namcor was exposed to after falling into a debt trap.

This left private companies with the obligation to import fuel. Currently, all of Namibia’s fuel is imported by Engen, Puma, Shell Vivo and Total.

Namcor’s board chairman Johannes !Gawaxab said that: “We are committed to re-instate the import mandate and have assessed some

options.

“The first was to create a trading company, the second a joint-venture. We are also keen to explore a bilateral agreement that the Governments of Namibia and Angola signed.”

Namcor did distribute refined products for wholesale purposes, but was forced to purchase this from the private sector rather than importing.

The company has around nine percent of the wholesale distribution market and manages three depot facilities although it does not currently have any retail sites. !Gawaxab pointed out that even without the 50 percent mandate, Namcor already receives N$700 million in revenue from its normal business activities.

“Just imagine what we can do for the economy with 50 percent or 100 percent of the import mandate.” !Gawagab said the state-owned enterprise is fully competent to handle the fuel import mandate. Plans are also afoot for the purchase of a tanker fleet to transport the petroleum. “There is a lot of pro-active investment.

Namcor has the potential to become one of the largest companies within the next five to ten years,”!Gawaxab said.

Namcor lubricants are available at depots in Windhoek, Otjiwarongo, Mariental and Keetmanshoop and their agent in Walvis Bay. They are also in the process of establishing distributors in Ondangwa, Oshakati, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Windhoek and Lüderitz from where lubricants can be collected or delivered.

The NAMURBAN project was officially launched on 1st of October 2015 in a ceremony at the Residence of H.E. Ambassador of Finland, Ms. Anne Saloranta in Windhoek, Namibia. In the photo, from left if the Finnish ambassador to Namibia, Anne Saloranta, the rector of PON, dr. Tjama Tjivikua, and the project manager, Dr. Minna Keinänen-Toivola of the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences. Photo by Heikki Koivisto. (water filtration), Fimuskraft Ltd., GA90 Recycling Ltd., IntLog Ltd. (logistics), Naps Solar Systems Inc., Rannan Teollisuuskone Ltd. (construction), Riffid Ltd. (technology services), Sansox Ltd. (water treatment), Scanhomes Ltd. (innovative housing), and SWOcean Ltd. (technology solutions).

The specific solutions of Namurban are based on the analysis of the current situation and needs for urban technology and systems in Namibia.

Why Walvis Bay “Namibia’s vision 2030 states that by the year 2030, Namibia will be a prosperous and industrialised country, developed by its human resources, enjoying peace, harmony and political

stability. Namibia’s National Development plan (NDP4) focuses on increased income equality, employment creation, and high and sustained economic growth. The economic priority areas are logistics, tourism, manufacturing and agriculture.

The research project will be the first to study and develop a sustainable technological concept on urban environments in developing counties using a pilot site, the coastal town of Walvis Bay in Namibia. The expected results include proposals for solutions on affordable housing, increase in renewable energy and clean water in Namibia,” writes the project manager, Dr. Keinänen-Toivola.

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Thursday, 15 October 2015

News

7

New NDF officers take the lead

The Minister of Defence, Mr Penda Ya Ndokolo, accompanied by senior National Defence Force officers walk onto a military parade where 59 graduates from the most recent officers course from the three service arms of the NDF received their Presidential Acts of Commission.

Niel Terblanche The continuous effort to modernise and develop the capacity of the Namibian Defence Force training and the enlargement of the commissioned officers cadre remain the backbone of

the force.

In this regard, 59 NDF members paraded on the Jan Wilken Stadium to receive their presidential commissions from Mr Penda Ya Ndakolo, the Minister of Defence. The officers graduated from the fourth intake of the Quartermaster

FNB plays vital role in Youth Expo

Ingrid Goeieman of FNB Namibia, Mrs. Calista Swartz – Gowases Director of NYC, Mr. Mandela Kapere Executive Chairperson of National Youth Council For the past nine years sponsorship was the key to the successful staging of the annual Youth Expo.

The First National Bank Foundation is the main sponsor of this event and, like the previous years, once again stepped up to the challenge and has approved an amount of N$75,000.00.

This year’s National Youth Enterprise expo will take place at the Oshakati Sport Stadium.

At the recent launch of the event, Sponsorship and Donation Manager of FNB Namibia Ingrid Goeieman said: “FNB no longer sees this funding as a sponsorship but rather as a partnership between us and NYC – especially with the new strategic focus towards 2020/25 and

the 4 Ps which are People, Planet, Partners and Performance. Our relationship with the NYC through the FNB Youth Expo comes a long way and without the first 3 Ps, one cannot expect performance. The NYC has proven that the Youth Expo has created a platform for upcoming young entrepreneurs to showcase their talents as future economic carriers of this country.”

FNB Namibia will also be at the Expo with the main focus on e-solution products such as cellphone banking, FNB App, online banking, e-wallet, etc. In addition the bank will also provide some focus on our traditional product offerings such as loans, investments, transactional accounts to share information and qualifying criteria.

Commissioning Course held at the Military School since July.

“The course is meant to transform Warrant Officers and senior NonCommissioned Officers with the correct leadership qualities into Commissioned Officers to take command of various units now and in the future. The course started with 60 participants from the three service arms of the NDF and, after twelve weeks of gruelling training, 59 managed to graduate,” Mr Ya Ndakolo said.

The Minister pointed out that eleven of the participants are women and stated that the inclusions of female participants is a clear indication that the NDF is aligning itself with Government efforts to address the equality of gender in the mainstream of command. He said the participants comprise a mixture of people with special skills, knowledge and experience.

“The unique ability of the NDF to combine traditional peacekeeping duties with the provision of humanitarian support has become a hallmark of the force in the region and internationally.

Namibia’s continued participation in peacekeeping missions forms a key element of the country’s foreign policy. It is an important national aspect in meeting international obligations as a member of the United Nations, the African Union and the Southern African Development Community.

Mr Ya Ndakolo said Namibian

Graduates of the fourth Quartermaster’s Commissioning Course of the NDF parade on the Jan Wilken stadium before receiving their Presidential acts of Commission from the Minister of Defence. peacekeepers have fulfilled their UN and AU mandates with a combination of professional excellence and unselfish humanity that is a very unique Namibian trait.

Before handing over the acts of commission to the candidates, the Minister also acknowledged the dedication and commitment of the personnel involved in the training of the NDF’s newest officers’ cadre. He paid tribute to the commandant of the Military School and his staff for a job well done.

“Besides the commitment of candidates and the skill of their instructors, the support of families during training is equally important. Their support and encouragement was vital for the graduates to achieve their goals.”

8

News

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Confusion about north harbour cleared The Namibian Port Authority was forced to clarify its stance after confusing media stories were published surrounding the construction of special facilities for landing Liquid Petroleum Gas in the new North Harbour project.

Confusion arose after it was reported that pending Government approval of the already controversial Xaris gas powered electricity generation plant is hampering the N$4 billion harbour development. The harbour is being developed to become the preferred import and export hub for the whole of the Southern African Region. The import of refined petroleum products is one of the main reasons the so called north harbour project is being developed.

Walvis Port engineer, Elzevir Gelderbloem, said during a recent regular information meeting that the development and construction of the oil terminal is not affected by the embargo placed upon the construction of the gas powered electricity generation plant behind Dune 7. He said that although the special gas receiving terminal might not form part of the initial construction, contingencies have been built into the development of the oil terminal to accommodate gas facilities should the need arise.

“The LPG and the oil terminal are two separate projects, which should not be confused with each other.”

With the Government recently announcing that the Kudu Gas project is too expensive to develop as an electricity generating project, the cheaper solution would be the continuation of the Xaris or a similar project.

Xaris Energy, an Australian company, was awarded the tender by NamPower for the joint development of a 250-megawatt power plant in November last year. President Hage Geingob however, put a halt to the project after emerged that the budget had almost doubled within a short span of time.

The LPG project was planned as the second phase of the oil terminal that would have enabled liquid gas to be imported for the utilisation of Xaris power station.

The other project is the Port of Walvis Bay’s new container terminal on reclaimed land. Construction started in May last year. The construction of the N$3 billion project is expected to be commissioned in September 2017.

On completion, Walvis Bay will have more than doubled its capacity to handle containers 750 000 TEU per year from 350 000 TEU currently. The twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) is the unit of cargo capacity often used to describe the capacity of container ships and container terminals.

During the information meeting in Walvis Bay, Mr Gelderbloem said the construction of the Luderitz port internal railway network is more than three quarters complete.

"Once the port of Lüderitz is connected to the country's railway network, it will enable the port to import and export cargo via rail, which is more cost effective than road transport. The rail connectivity will unlock the port's potential which can otherwise not be utilised," said Gelderbloem.

The FNB Foundation has enabled the Namibia Scientific Society (NSS) to prevent important book collections from leaving the shores of the country.

The Chairperson of the foundation, Jane Katjavivi, handed over an amount of N$500 000 to the NSS for the retention of a major collection of books worth millions.

This occasion coincided with the 90th anniversary celebration of the NSS last week.

Katjavivi said that one of the focus areas of the FNB Namibia Holdings Foundation was heritage and culture, and The FNB Group is proud to be contributing to the acquisition of this major collection of books by the Namibia Scientific Society.

“This collection is comprised of 10,000 books. I have looked through the list of titles and it is truly an amazing library in itself. The books have been collected over many years by Mr Ihrlich. They include the old and the new. Around 600 of the books are more than 100 years old, covering the history of the Namibia in precolonial days and the early colonial period. Others were published through the course of the twentieth century.

There are books on Namibia written by Namibians and non-Namibians, published in Namibia and outside the country, and books that are historical accounts, political analyses, social and ethnographical studies, and much more. It is really a fantastic collection.”

Katjavivi went on to say that heritage is important.

“Without knowing where we come from, it’s harder

to see where we are going. This is true in personal terms and also in terms of communities and nations.

Knowledge of our individual and collective past, of history, culture and tradition, provides a solid foundation for the present, and for building the future.”

The Namibia Scientific Society wishes to acquire the Ihrlich collection, which is probably the largest private collection of books relating to Namibia. Universities overseas have been bidding for the collection, because they recognised its importance and the Namibia Scientific Society was looking for funds to prevent these valuable books from leaving the country, so that they can be accessed by the Namibian public. As has been said by the Scientific Society, ‘This is our national heritage, and it should be maintained for us Namibians!’

“We hope that FNB’s contribution will enable you to obtain this collection and in turn challenge other corporates to also give funds so that these books will remain in their rightful place, in Namibia. We believe that our support will enable members of the Scientific Society and other researchers to continue their research and provide a sound base of knowledge for our country’s development. Thank you to the Scientific Society for preserving our national heritage. We value your contribution to research, science and innovation and urge you to continue this good work,” concluded Katjavivi.

Foundation ensures rare books remain in Namibia

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One of the world’s foremost emerging uranium companies, Swakop Uranium, is focused on developing and operating the world's third-largest known primary uranium deposit near the town of Swakopmund in Namibia. We need energetic, self-motivated and confident people to apply for our roles and we regard you as our “Employee of Choice”.

VACANCIES INTERNAL AUDITOR Location: Swakopmund Reports to the Senior Internal Auditor MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB: To conduct and follow up the internal audit engagements and, procurement and contract monitor related to the Company, and to conduct complaint investigation when necessary.

Key Performance Areas: • Conduct internal audit engagements in accordance with the Internal Audit Plan and /or as requested by management.

• Draft audit reports and provide value add recommendations on internal control processes, systems, policies and procedures, etc.

• Plan and execute Internal Control Verifications in line with the needs of the business.

• Draft the departmental monthly reports, the annual internal audit report or any other reporting for further review.

• Gather risk information from internal or external resources and; identify and analyze areas of potential risk to the Company.

• Facilitate the risk analysis activities and processes of end user departments.

• Evaluate and investigate complaints on an ad hoc basis, with a high level of confidentiality, tact and discretion.

• Follow up the implementation of corrective actions that relate to previous audit reports.

• Maintains effective working relationships with colleagues / other team members and management.

Requirements and experience: • Bachelor’s degree in Auditing, Accounting, Finance or Commercial at an accredited university.

• Certified Internal Auditor/ Chartered Accountant qualification will be an added advantage.

• At least 5 years progressive experience in auditing.

• Audit experience in a mining environment will be an added advantage.

• Code B driver’s license.

Send your cv’s and other relevant documents to recruitment@cgnpc.com.cn by 26 October 2015. Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply.

SUPERINTENDENT PROCUREMENT Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund Reports to the Manager: Contracts and Procurement MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB: To support the Supply Chain procurement department by acting as the focal point for transactional procurement related to strategic and core commodities and commercial requirement. The position will also takes up key control over procurement activities related to small and large capital projects.

Key Performance Areas: • Executes market research specific to category supply markets to identify potential strategic procurement levers.

• Uses and understands procurement policies and procedures for operational, sourcing and contracting.

• Manages the value chain, administration and staff related to sourcing, pricing, planning and action the procurement of materials, consumables and services.

• Builds & manages relationships with internal stakeholders by acting as the focal point for customer queries relating to Supply Chain.

• Supports procurement operations and overall strategic procurement plans and execution of strategic sourcing.

• Analyses suppliers’ capabilities and positioning in order to identify supplier related levers prior to contracting.

• Optimizes procurement expenditure in line with Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) • Conduct negotiations with major suppliers in an effort to obtain more advantageous terms of business.

• Drafts a robust contract that accurately captures the commercial and legal terms, agreed between the Company and related supplier.

• Monitors and reduces risks and liabilities associated with the execution of the Company’s procurement / supply chain strategies.

Requirements and experience: • BTech Degree or related Bachelor degree in Procurement and/or Business Administration or equivalent.

• Alternatively, a relevant combination of formal procurement-related qualifications and additional specialized studies.

• 10 years’ experience in procurement, contract and supplier management of which 3 years should be on a supervisory level.

• Track record in execution of procurement contract and Tender Process, Supplier Analysis, Performance and Negotiation, Legal Compliance and Risk Management.

• Track record of delivering results through project planning and management involving diverse stakeholder groups.

• •

SAP MM experiences Code BE Drivers’ License

Interested persons should submit their CV and relevant supporting documents to recruitment@cgnpc.com.cn or via fax on number 064 410 9001, or hand delivered to Husab Tower, c/o Leutwwin and Nathaniel Maxuilili street Swakopmund by 26 OCTOBER 2015.

Enquiries can be directed to the Recruitment Team at 064 410 9000.

Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply.

SENIOR OPERATOR: METALLURgICAL SAMPLINg Location: Husab Mine, Swakopmund Reports to Senior Metallurgist Metallurgical Accounting MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB: To perform the monitoring and sampling of all metallurgical samples safely and efficiently on his/her 8 hour shift. The incumbent may be required to perform additional tasks as may be directed by the Senior Metallurgist.

Key Performance Areas: • Enforces all safety, health and environmental procedures in area of responsibility.

• Ensures all unsafe areas are demarcated and complete near miss report and follow up on all actions to make the area safe.

• Coordinates start-up of all sampling equipment (e.g. auto samplers, etc).

• Managing all sampling buckets in the plant.

• Perform ad hoc maintenance on equipment to improve efficiency.

• Coordinates taking of various plant samples to optimize plant performance.

• Place pre-printed barcode labels onto the sample containers.

• Deliver samples to the lab as per requirements.

Requirements and experience: • Gr 12 Senior Secondary Certificate • Code B Driver’s License is compulsory • 5 years plant operation experience • Sampling experience (plant or laboratory) an added advantage Interested persons should submit their CV and relevant supporting documents to psujobs.proc@cgnpc.com.cn or via fax on number 064 410 9001, or hand delivered to Husab Tower, c/o Leutwein and Nathaniel Maxuilili street Swakopmund by 26 October 2015.

Enquiries can be directed to the Recruitment Team at 064 410 9000.

Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply.

MAINTENANCE PLANNER Location: Husab Mine Reports to the Superintendent: C & I MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB: To plan, schedule and co-ordinate all maintenance work and resources required maintaining and enhancing plant / equipment availability and efficiency, by the most cost-effective methods available, and to assist the Maintenance Superintendent with scheduling and budgeting.

Key Performance Areas: • Implements required changes to work packages or master data • Checks for correct manning requirements on work order operations • Establishes and maintains sound maintenance plans and practices • Ensures completion of maintenance work to the highest standards for the various planning functions of the process plant • Assist with the achievement of compliance to all relevant legislation, agreements, standards, codes of practice, statutory and other reporting standards • Produces clear and accurate maintenance plans and reports • Maintains documentation control systems, including management and control of technical information • Establishes and maintains a database of all tasks to be used to compile the weekly plan, benchmark current work standards and optimize work performance • Co-ordinates and controls spares, critical stock and component control requirements Requirements and experience: • Recognised Trade Diploma / Qualification with 4 technical theoretical subjects (N3 level) or Grade 12 with 4 technical theoretical subjects • Code B driver’s license • 5 – 7 years post apprenticeship artisan experience preferably with exposure in a mine mineral processing environment of which 3 years should be on Maintenance Planner level • A proven track record in a maintenance planning role • Significant experience and ability with integrated maintenance systems such as SAP Interested persons should submit their CV and relevant supporting documents to psujobs.eng@cgnpc.com.cn by 26 October 2015 Previously disadvantaged Namibians meeting the above criteria are encouraged to apply.

Through its commitment to its people, the company offers a competitive remuneration package and the opportunity to work alongside some of the most experienced and dedicated people in the industry. Clearly indicate the position you are applying for as well as your name and surname in the subject line of your application email. Applications received that do not meet this criteria will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date of this advertisement and no documents will be returned. Short-listed candidates must be willing to undergo pre-employment selection assessments.

For more information on the company, please visit www.swakopuranium.com

10

News

Thursday, 15 October 2015

DBN awards innovation Press Release

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has announced the winners of the fourth annual Good Business and Innovation Awards last week.

MeatCo was voted as the overall winner in the Large Enterprise category.

Following veterinary restrictions imposed

by South Africa on the import of weaners, the Namibian beef production sector was in a depressed condition. Vulnerability to restrictions indicated over-dependence of the sector on exports of weaners to South Africa. In order to address the shortcoming of weaner production as a major activity of agriculture, Meatco received finance to add value to beef by purchasing weaners from local farmers and raising them to slaughterable cattle on feed lots. DBN finance was used to develop feed lots and procure cattle from farmers. In the process, an additional 538 direct jobs were created, and satellite feed lots were established at Otavi and Gobabis, providing additional opportunities for farmers to sell cattle.

Talking about the award, DBN CEO Martin Inkumbi, noted that although direct investment in agriculture is not within the scope of DBN's operations, further processing in the agri-industry, particularly packaged beef cuts to be produced and exported by Meatco, falls within the Bank's mandate as food manufacturing.

Certificates of Merit were presented to Wordpress Namibia and Namclay Bricks and Pavers. Wordpress Namibia is a start-up print manufacturer that prints high-volume runs of newspapers, as well as supplements that were previously printed in Namibia. Namclay Bricks and Pavers manufactures building material from clay that remains from mining operations in Uis. SMEs Magnet Bureau de Change received the Award for Best SME. Magnet Bureau de Change received finance to establish new branches in various Namibian centres, including Keetmanshoop, Ondangwa and Rundu. The company previously used DBN finance to open the business in 2011, and to expand to Hosea Kutako International

The best of the Development Bank of Namibia's best. The Bank's 2015 Good Business and Innovation Award recipients were announced at an event on Wednesday, 7 October 2015. FLTR: DBN CEO Martin Inkumb, Isdor Muronga (MD: Medi-Rad which won the Innovation Award for mobile mammography), Maggie von Luttichau (MD: Magnet Bureau de Change, which won the award for Best SME) and Adv. Vekuii Rukoro (CEO of Meatco, which won the award for Best Larger Enterprise).

Airport in 2012.

Talking about the Award, CEO Martin Inkumbi said the Bank has targeted a transformative effect on the banking system as one of its goals. He highlighted the Bank's role in expanding access to banking through Nampost Savings Bank, a former Good Business Award Winner. He said that one of the Bank's goals in the sector is to increase local ownership of financial holdings, and that Magnet Bureau de Change, wholly owned by a Namibian woman, fit the bill for ownership by a formerly disadvantaged Namibian, as well as the Bank's focus on development of women entrepreneurship.

Cottage Village and Kings Service Station were named runners-up in the SME category.

Cottage Village used DBN finance to construct a building materials warehouse that stabilises the supply of building material in the recently proclaimed town of Okalongo. Kings Service Station used DBN finance to develop a service station and retail facilities at Ondando village.

Innovation Medi-Rad was the winner of the Innovation Award. The company presented a plan for a mobile mammography unit to be used in screening for breast cancer. Mammography is currently centralised in Windhoek and Swakopmund. By utilising a mobile mammography unit, Medi-Rad will effectively

be able to provide mammography in Tsumeb and Oshikoto without restricting access to those who can travel to fixed premises.

Talking about the Award, Martin Inkumbi said that the Bank has a long association with the medical services sector and has financed medical technology and services for other entities. The concept of mobile mammography services, he said, is one that the Bank believes will have an immediate impact on women's health.

Certificates of Merit in the innovation category were awarded to BIA Investments and Oshuulo Trading Enterprises. BIA Investments presented a plan for adding value to mahangu by manufacturing a porridge. Oshuulo Trading Enterprises presented a plan for canning of locally grown Namibian beans.

Judging Commenting on the judging, Martin Inkumbi said the entries were selected within the Bank based on the criteria of the awards which included enterprise administration, viability, use of local resources, employment and development impact. The nominees were then further rated by a panel of judges consisting of external and internal expertise.

The Deputy Minister of State Owned Enterprises, Honorable Engel Nawatiseb, delivered the keynote address, and handed the awards to the recipients.

Sustainable health with innovation. The Development Bank of Namibia highlighted and recognised the most innovative project proposal it received during the 2015 Good Business and Innovation Awards, at an event held on Wednesday, 7 October 2015. Medi-Rad won with a proposal for a mobile mammography clinic. FLTR: Isdor Muronga (MD: Medi-Rad), Acting DBN Chairperson Muetulamba ShingengeHaipinge, and Hon. Engel Nawatiseb (Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises).

News

Thursday, 15 October 2015

More scientific co-operation now possible Niel Terblanche

The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST), and its South African counterpart, the South African Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims at establishing a strategic partnership to enable the support of research output into marketable products and services.

This agency to agency MOU is based on the already existing Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Namibia and the Government of the Republic of South Africa, under which the two nations intend to strengthen and further develop friendly relations in the fields of science, technology and innovation within the development of national economies & systems of innovation as well as in the improvement of their socio-economic standards of life of their citizens.

TIA is a public entity established in terms of the Technology Innovation Agency Act, 2008 to support the State in stimulating and intensifying technological innovation in order to improve economic growth and the quality of life of all South Africans by developing and exploiting technological innovations.

The NCRST on the other hand is a State Owned Enterprise established in terms section 4 of the Research, Science and Technology Act, Act 23 of 2004 to provide for the coordination, development and promotion of research, science technology & innovation in Namibia as well as providing funding to research, science technology and innovation.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Eino Mvula, Chief Executive

Dr. Eino Mvula, Chief Executive Officer of the NCRST and Mr Barlow Manilul, the Chief Execute Officer of TIA during the signing of a new MOU. Officer of the NCRST and Mr Barlow Manilul, the Chief Execute Officer of TIA. “We are excited about this MOU, as it will enable the attainment of the 5 Key Strategic Priorities in National Programme for Research, Science Technology and Innovation, focussing on innovation for the social and economic sector. Our emphasis here is placed on support services and resources for nurturing start-up science and technology enterprises with the goal of developing them into financially viable businesses equipped with the tools for long-term survival and growth.” said Dr. Eino Mvula, Chief Executive Officer of the NCRST during the Signing Ceremony.

The scope of the MOU covers the following aspects: Joint review of research projects for potential technology development support; facilitating Joint Workshops and Seminars on commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP) management; experience sharing on the establishment of a technology station, start-ups and incubation services; and training on Technology Management for government institutions.

Contract workers in a bind Employees of contractors on Namibia’s flagship uranium mine are up in arms about bad working conditions and even worse remuneration.

Workers staged a peaceful demonstration at the mine to hand over a petition to the management of Rio Tinto’s Rössing Uranium, accusing their employers of violating their rights.

The petition stated that contract workers are being exploited as cheap labour, alleging that one permanent employee's salary was equal to the salary of seven employees of a mining contractor. The contract workers used the pay structure of security guards at the mine as an example and stated that they do the same work but get treated and paid differently.

The workers also complained about being forced to work longer hours than their colleagues in permanent employ of the mine and said that if they complain, their job security is threatened by their various employers.

In the petition the contract workers claimed that they do not receive housing allowances, medical aid and social security benefits. They also claimed that in case of serious injuries their employers will just send them home without any compensation where they, more often than not, have to fend for themselves.

The workers stated in their petition that their security access cards are simply blocked without any reason. They further claim that not one of them has been offered a written contract stating that they are formally employed. Job descriptions and conditions of employment are also changed by contractors without formal notification to their employees giving rise to on the job disputes.

They further claimed that workers are victimised if they make it known that they belong to a union.

The workers demanded that all contractor companies on the mine adhere to 'The Way We Work' policy which is a global policy for all in Rio Tinto. They also want Rössing to have disciplinary policies and written contracts for their employees to avoid misunderstandings.

Other demands include the creation of a platform where the contract workers can raise issues without victimisation, medical aid, that work of equal value be fairly remunerated, and that contract workers should be treated similar to Rössing employees when doing work of the same magnitude.

The petition was handed over to Rössing's general manager for operations, Martin Tjipita, and chief financial officer Shaan van Schalkwyk who in turn acknowledged receipt of the petition.

11

German Importer credits Namibian venture All-Fish, a frozen fish import and distributing company in Germany, has achieved a record turnover of over 50 million Euros in the last financial year.

The director of AllFish, Gerard-Peter Maas, attributed the group’s success to its ongoing involvement in Seawork, a Walvis Bay-based fishing company.

All-Fish – along with Spanish sister company Inlet Seafish has been a shareholder in the Namibian venture since 2002.

“Every year, we manage to grow out there,” said Maas. “We now have five vessels in Namibia, and will continue to invest in the business.”

However, Maas said that the group won’t be resting on its laurels when it comes to its activities in Namibia, where it is mainly involved in the production of Cape Hake.

“There still aren’t many companies out there, and you can’t just grow on spot business,” he said. “We need to maintain a regular supply of products.”

While undoubtedly a strong year for the group, Maas did concede that, closer to home, conditions had been more challenging, particularly as a result of the weakened Euro.

“There have been challenges,” he said.

“For instance, cod and haddock prices have been very expensive.”

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12

News

Thursday, 15 October 2015

The First Lady and Standard Bank

CEO launch the “Buy-a-Brick” project Sharon Brooks

Launch of Buy-a-Brick Initiative – Standard Bank Namibia Chief Executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda hands over symbolic brick to First Lady Monica Geingos as the National Facilitator of the Shack Dwellers of Namibia Edith Mbanga (middle) looks on with appreciation.

In an effort to alleviate poverty and the housing shortage in the country, Standard Bank Namibia launched its first flagship corporate social investment initiative “Standard Bank Buy-a-Brick Project” in Windhoek on Tuesday in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. The bank kicked off the campaign by contributing a massive N$500 000 to the initiative.

Through the sale of “bricks” in the form of erasers at any Standard Bank branch country wide until 4 December 2015, the project hopes to raise funds for the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia to build affordable housing for disadvantaged

Namibians. The erasers are symbolic of the Bank’s efforts in erasing poverty in the country and communities.

In order to facilitate poverty alleviation and improved shelter through financial accountability, Standard Bank Namibia has been a development partner with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia and the Namibia Housing Group Alliance.

“The Standard Bank Buy-a-Brick initiative is borne out of a continual assessment of our CSI initiatives and their relevance to the challenges of our time as a country, community and bank.

This initiative falls well in line with our theme of “moving communities forward”.

What better way of moving communities forward than to assist the less fortunate members of our nation to obtain decent homes? We have a duty to assist to move members of our communities into a decent home and we also saw it befitting to launch this initiative this year when we mark our 100 years anniversary in Namibia,” said

Standard Bank Namibia’s Chief Executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda Mungunda went on to explain that the project not only speaks to addressing the housing shortage but also poverty eradication in the country. Despite the fact poverty levels have declined over the past 17 years from an unprecedented high level of 70 percent to around 30 percent, poverty levels remain high in Namibia. It is through the Buy-a-Brick initiative that the call for the eradication of poverty has been answered and encourages Namibians to make a difference by playing their part.

The first lady, Monica Geingos, who is the patron of the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia commended Standard Bank for the initiative, saying, “When we look at our communities there are people who can’t afford low income houses and therefore what Standard Bank is doing is a creative and worthwhile initiative for uplifting poor communities and the country out of poverty.”

Salirocket puts Walvis Bay on the map yet again Sailrocket 2, which smashed the world speed sailing record by the biggest margins in its history, will go on display at this years Advanced Engineering Show in Birmingham in England next month.

The record-breaking vessel will be accompanied by the team that sailed her at over 65 knots (120km\h) down the record course in Walvis Bay. During an amazing two-week period in November 2012, Sailrocket 2 broke the outright speed sailing record three times and also smashed the nautical mile world record.

She demonstrated incredible efficiency sailing at over 2.4 times the speed of the wind in an open, natural harbour. The totally unique craft, representing 11 years work by the team, is a hybrid blend of aviation and hydrodynamic know-how. She is based on a radical concept that removes all the overturning forces associated with sailing boats and is as stable in the air as she is in the water.

The super powerful and efficient craft was designed with the sole purpose of breaking through sailing’s "sound barrier".

With conventional hydro-foils, at speeds around the low to mid 50 knot range, the pressures involved caused water to boil on contact in a phenomenon called cavitation. This offers a brick wall of drag.

Sailrocket 2 was developed to have the power to test radical foil shapes to overcome this phenomena and prove that sail powered boats could go way beyond conventional limits. She remains the only sailing boat in history to have done this.

This will be the first time that Sailrocket 2 has gone on full public display since she broke the record three years ago. She will be set up exactly as she was the day she set the current record.

Sailrocket 2 was designed and built in the UK by a collaboration between GURIT, FORMAPLEX and AEROTROPE. AEROTROPE was the primary design office

behind both Sailrocket 1 and 2. Both boats were built using GURIT composite materials throughout. FORMAPLEX provided tooling and complete CNC milled foils for SR2’s record breaking session.

Lifestyle

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Lifestyle

13

Discovery of DNA repair methods nails 2015 chemistry nobel prize

Cancer breakthrough as scientists create Malaria protein that could 'destroy nine in 10 cancers' A new cancer treatment harnessing part of the malaria parasite could kill nine out of 10 types of the disease, it has emerged.

A team of Danish and Canadian scientists stumbled across the breakthrough while hunting for a weapon to fight malaria in pregnant women.

Their study revealed that armed malaria proteins can kill cancer.

Raising hopes of a genuine medical treatment for the disease, the researchers say they hope to begin human trials within the next four years.

Malaria expert, Professor Ali Salanti from the University of Copenhagen, revealed that the carbohydrate that the malaria parasite attaches itself to in the placenta of pregnant women, is identical to a carbohydrate found in cancer cells.

In the laboratory, his team have created a protein that the malaria parasite uses to adhere to the placenta, and they have added a toxin.

This combination of malaria protein and toxin seeks out the cancer cells, before being absorbed by the diseased cells.

The toxin is then released inside, triggering a process which kills the cancer cells.

Professor Salanti, working in collaboration with cancer researcher Mads Daugaard from the University of Columbia, has observed the process in cell cultures and in mice with cancer.

Professor Salanti said:' For decades, scientists have been searching for similarities between the growth of a placenta and a tumour.

'The placenta is an organ, which within a few months grows from only a few cells into an organ weighing approximately 9 kilograms, and it provides the embryo with oxygen and nourishment in a relatively foreign environment.

'In a manner of speaking, tumours do much the same.

'They grow aggressively in a relatively foreign environment.'

Professor Salanti and his team are now testing a vaccine against malaria in humans.

It was in connection with the development of this new drug, that he made the discovery that the carbohydrate in the placenta was also present in cancer tumours.

Upon making the discovery, Professor Salanti immediately contacted his former student, and now cancer researcher Dr Daugaard, who is head of the Laboratory of Molecular Pathology at the Vancover Prostate Cancer at UBC. Working together, the two groups of scientists have generated findings, which they hope will provide the basis for a drug to fight cancer.

Professor Salanti said: 'We examined the carbohydrate's function.

'In the placenta, it helps ensure fast growth.

Our experiments showed that it was the same in cancer tumours.

'We combined the malaria parasite with cancer cells and the parasite reacted to the cancer cells as if they were a placenta and attached itself.'

The two groups of researchers have tested thousands of samples from brain tumours to leukaemias, and a general picture has emerged.

Their findings indicate that the malaria protein is able to attack more than 90 per cent of all human tumours: With non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the treated mice's tumours were about a quarter the size of the tumours in a control group.

With prostate cancer, the tumours disappeared in two of the six treated mice a month after receiving the first dose.

With metastatic bone cancer, five out of six of the treated mice were alive after almost eight weeks, compared to no mice in the control group.

Dr Duagaard said: 'We have separated the malaria protein, which attaches itself to the carbohydrate and then added a toxin.

'By conducting tests on mice, we have been able to show that the combination of protein and toxin kill the cancer cells.'

Dr Thomas Mandel Clausen, a PhD student involved with the project for the last two years, added: 'It appears that the malaria protein attaches itself to the tumour without any significant attachment to other tissue.

'And the mice that were given doses of protein and toxin showed far higher survival rates than the untreated mice.

'We have seen that three doses can arrest growth in a tumour and even make it shrink.'

Ironically, the only drawback appears to be the fact the treatment would not be available for pregnant women.

Professor Salanti said: 'Expressed in popular terms, the toxin will believe that the placenta is a tumour and kill it, in exactly the same way it will believe that the tumour is a placenta.'

In collaboration with the scientists behind the discovery, the University of Copenhagen has created a biotech company, VAR2pharmaceuticals to drive the clinical development forward.

Professor Salanti, Dr Daugaard and their teams are now working towards being able to conduct tests on humans.

'The earliest possible test scenario is in four years’ time,' Professor Salanti revealed.

He added: 'The biggest questions are whether it will work in the human body, and if the human body can tolerate the doses needed without developing side effects.

'But we are optimistic because the protein appears to only attach itself to a carbohydrate that is only found in the placenta and in cancer tumours in humans.'

The discovery is documented in the journal Cancer Cell.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Bill Gates Foundation announces implantable remote-controlled contraceptive microchip

Bill Gates, one of the world’s most notable billionaires is at it again, announcing a remote controlled implantable birth control chip that could last up to 16 years.

The idea sprouted after a visit Bill made to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) two years prior, where he asked professor Robert Langer if there was any way to turn birth control on and off via remote control. This would

spare women the trouble of visiting the clinic to have contraceptive implants removed when they wanted to become pregnant.

Langer connected the Gate’s Foundation with MicroCHIPS, a Massachusetts firm licensed to use a controlled-release microchip technology. Since then, the partnership has been busy developing the technology which could see a release as early as 2018, with safety tests starting this year.

MIT stated the implant would have to be encrypted to protect wireless data flow and keep it secure. The chip’s size is 20mm x 20mm x 7mm and reservoirs of the hormone are stored on a 1.5cm-wide microchip within the device.

The birth control microchip would hold nearly two decades worth of a hormone commonly used in contraceptives and dispense 30 micrograms a day, according to a report from the MIT Technology Review. The implant’s daily dose works by a small electric charge that melts an ultra-thin seal around the hormone. The birth control microchip can be implanted

There are three reasons we are not constantly riddled with cancer, and today the scientists who discovered those reasons— three ways that cells repair damaged DNA that can ruin bodies - won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

This morning The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the coveted prize is going to Tomas Lindahl from the Francis Crick Institute and Clare Hall Laboratory in Hertfordshire, England; Paul Modrich from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina in the United States; and Aziz Sancar from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, also in the U.S. “I know, over the years, that I had been mentioned for the prize,” Lindahl said in a telephone call to the academy. “But hundreds of people get considered every year so I feel very lucky.”

He and the other two researchers, working independently over the last 40 years, described three different mechanisms that create errors in DNA—the molecule that controls cell behaviour—and the different ways that chemical and biological processes fix many of these problems.

“All forms of cancer start with DNA damage,” said biochemist Claes Gustafsson, one member of the Nobel chemistry committee.

“If you do not have DNA repair, we would have a lot more cancer. That is how important this is.” He added that the repair techniques let us understand how cigarette smoke, sunlight, and even mundane substances like water can damage DNA and point to ways that the damage can be rectified.

It is not just about cancer, Diane Grob Schmidt, president of the American Chemical Society, told Scientific American in an interview. “The understanding that we have of these mechanisms have helped us design drugs to repair all sorts of DNA errors,” she said. There are also several genetic diseases caused by the inability of cells to fix DNA properly, for instance, and work on the repair methods aids understanding of these ailments and how to treat them.

The discoveries illustrate

the crucial and central role of chemistry, Schmidt added. “These mechanisms are fundamentally about the making and breaking of chemical bonds,” she said.

Scientists used to believe that DNA molecules were extremely stable. After all, they had to reliably transmit genetic information from generation down to generation. Then in the 1970s Lindahl demonstrated that the neat double helix and its components constantly decay. Every day, hundreds of those components, the DNA building block chemicals abbreviated as A, T, C, and G, get knocked out of their places. If the process continued unabated, the development of life on Earth would have been impossible. This insight led Lindahl to discover a series of enzymes and reactions, called base excision repair, which constantly works to fight this decay. The C building block, for instance, is repeatedly broken down into another molecule that should not be in DNA. The enzymes Lindahl found identify that broken molecule and rebuild it into a C. Sancar found that cells use another technique to repair damage to DNA caused by ultraviolet light, the same thing that gives you sunburn. This DNA fix is called nucleotide excision repair. People born with defects in this repair system will develop skin cancer if they are exposed to sunlight. Excision enzymes cut out the DNA lesions. The cell also uses this repair system to correct DNA damage people get after they are born, when they encounter mutagenic substances.

Finally, Modrich found out how a cell corrects errors that occur during a vital biological process: Cell division, when DNA is replicated. This copying process is supposed to produce identical strands of DNA but often there are stretches of the new stand that do not match up. The set of cellular chemicals that Modrich found, a complex called mismatch repair, scans the strands and fixes them, reducing the error frequency during replication by about a thousand times during each replication cycle.

Source: www.scientificamerican.com

in the buttocks, upper arm or abdomen.

Considering this is the same guy who has also funded an oral bait vaccine that sterilizes rats and genetically engineered vaccinating mosquitoes, a treatment that by its very nature could not possibly generate the consent of all patients involved, the profound implications of Gates’ new birth control microchip on human reproduction are astounding.

What are your thoughts on this implantable chip? Does it raise concern?

Do you think that this technology is a positive innovation? Do you think there could possibly be some ulterior intentions behind the production of this technology?

Source: www.collective-evolution.com

14

Worldwide

Thursday, 15 October 2015

Worldwide No charges pressed against Cecil the Lion's killer Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist and big-game hunter who killed Cecil the Lion while on a July hunting expedition, will not face charges in the beloved big cat's death, a Zimbabwean minister said Monday.

There has already been ample publicity surrounding the lion's death, said the country's minister of environment, water and climate, Opa Muchinguri.

"If you talk to him, tell him that tourists are welcome here," she said.

"No hunting, though."

Palmer and his family faced threats and saw worldwide protests unfold, including demonstrations outside

his Bloomington office after the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force reported that Cecil was lured out of Hwange National Park and shot with a compound bow.

Cecil lived another 40 hours until the hunters tracked him down and shot him with a gun, the conservation group said.

He was then skinned and beheaded.

The hunters also tried to destroy the GPS collar that Cecil was wearing as part of a research project backed by Oxford University, according to the conservation group.

Palmer said in interviews that he could not see the collar because it was buried beneath Cecil's mane. He also said that it was not illegal to kill a

collared lion.

Social media took aim under the hashtag #WalterPalmer. "A poor excuse of a human being," "a killer" and "Satan" were just a few of the Twitter insults hurled in his direction.

A Facebook page devoted to shaming Palmer still has more than 17,000 members.

Celebrities such as model Cara Delevingne, actress Alyssa Milano and TV host Sharon Osbourne - who have a combined total of 8.39 million followers - joined in as well.

"I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favorite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt," Palmer said in a statement in late

July. "I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt."

Palmer disappeared for a spell and shuttered his office, River Bluff Dental, as he weathered the storm of criticism and threats. He returned to work last month.

Two Zimbabweans have been charged in the case, and before Monday, officials there had said they wanted Palmer extradited to face charges.

The 55-year-old dentist had indicated that he would cooperate, although he said he had yet to be contacted by anyone about the

investigation.

Cecil's killing apparently was not the first time Palmer landed in trouble while hunting. A man with the same name and age, and from the same town, illegally killed a black bear in Wisconsin several years ago, according to court documents.

That individual pleaded guilty to making false statements knowingly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and was sentenced to one year on probation and ordered to pay a fine of nearly N$40,300, records show.

Source: www.edition.cnn.com

Pensioner assaulted supermarket shopper

A court was told Raymond Newton, 71, became violent when Pamela Mann tried to reach past him to buy some vegetables.

Angry Raymond Newton, 71, blocked Pamela Mann from getting to the vegetables in a branch of Morrison's.

A court was told she had reached to pick some up but he attacked her, pushing her in the chest and hitting her around the head by ''boxing her ears''.

Ms Mann told Sunderland Magistrates Court that Newton seemed to be watching her and deliberately

blocking where she was going.

She said: "I was heading to the carrots and I know it sounds trivial, but the gentleman went in front of me and blocked the area.

"I said 'excuse me could I just get in to get some carrots please?' and the man said 'no you cannot, I am getting carrots'.

"He said 'you are not getting in front of me, no-one is getting in front of me'. It was very odd. His behaviour was bizarre."

Ms Mann said she reached across without any contact with the pensioner at all and picked up some carrots.

But Newton began to push her in the chest and then hit her around both sides of her head, which she likened to "boxing her ears".

She added: "I was just stunned. I could not believe this had happened to me in the supermarket over carrots.

"My right ear was ringing and I staggered backwards."

Ms Mann said the last thing she wanted was to have any confrontation with anybody.

Newton, who walks with two sticks after a hip replacement, denied Ms Mann's version of events and claimed she pushed him first.

He told the court: "She said she wanted access to the carrots, I said I was looking at them.

"She hip-thrusted me and I staggered, it was a good job I had the trolley so I could steady myself."

Newton claimed it was then he pushed Ms Mann three times in the forehead, saying it was in self-defence.

He said: "I thought she may have some kind of missile because I realise ladies carry a lot of merchandise in their bags.

Something which could hurt me further.

"I was very, very worried for my own personal safety."

Iain Jordan, defending, said Newton had no previous convictions or cautions, was of good character and that he pushed Ms Mann on impulse.

But magistrates accepted Ms Mann's version of events, saying she was a

Schoolboy destroys dozens of houses A huge fire in an apartment block was caused by a schoolboy copying a science experiment in his bedroom.

The 14-year-old boy, who has not been named for legal reasons, admitted starting the N$62 million fire in Plymouth, Devon, in June, after making a homemade Bunsen burner using a can of Monster and hairspray.

The teenager lit the Bunsen burner to test the strength of the flame before blowing it out after five seconds. He then opened a window and sprayed air freshener to hide the smell before going downstairs.

But 30 minutes later the smoke alarm went off and his mother found his bedroom full of smoke, the flame apparently had set fire to a pile of clothes. The fire spread to the entire block of flats in Clowance Street and 100 people having to

be evacuated.

The teenager admitted arson with intent to endanger life when he appeared at Plymouth Youth Court.

Prosecutor Gareth Warden said the boy was quiet and withdrawn and obviously very upset about the incident taking place.

The boy, who sat with his mum in court, had previously been on a fire safety course after a similar incident when he had started a fire in his bedroom.

The boy was bailed to appear before a judge at the city’s Crown Court for sentencing later this month.

Source: www.metro.co.uk

credible witness who was consistent with her evidence, and found Newton guilty of common assault and ordered him to pay Ms Mann N$3,000 in compensation.

He was also fined N$1,200, plus a N$400 surcharge, and ordered to pay N$12,400 court costs.

Following the hearing Ms Mann, 54, who cares for her daughter with severe special needs, said: "I was pleased with the verdict, I only did this because I wanted to prevent it happening to anyone else.

"It is surreal that all this happened because of carrots. It sounds so trivial, but it has been very upsetting. It has dragged on for a long time and I am just pleased it is over."

She revealed later she tracked “nasty” Newton down and said: “Staff told me he had been targeting women. They were begging me to take it further to stop him doing it again.”

Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Thursday, 15 October 2015

The next generation of Toyota Aygo port as standard. Safety wise all models get ABS with brake assist as well as dual front and side airbags.

The Aygo X-Play Silver and X-Play Black get the two-tone colour options as well as the added leather bits in the interior.

Toyota Aygo Pricing Aygo 1.0 – R 138 900 Aygo X-play Black 1.0 – R139 900

Funky style The Aygo aims at the buyer looking for something a bit more stylish than a standard A to B shuffler. The front end is particularly prominent with a massive X streaking across its nose. Interestingly Toyota has gone with the slogan “make your mark in the new Aygo”. Maybe it could team up with the electoral commission for the next municipal elections and promote some synergy.

Back to the car, the rear is maybe not as big a hit as the front, but it has its own look and overall it should have appeal to the youngsters.

The two-tone colour is also a stylish new addition to the range. The roof can be ordered in black or silver to contrast with the body colour.

The interior does not carry through on the funky design and feels functional rather than stylish. The centre-mounted touchscreen is easy to use and an upmarket addition to the segment.

Everything inside works with perfect Toyota precision and it does not rattle or shake when you get up to speed. The ventilation system could be better as you only have two adjustable vents in the

Aygo X-play Silver 1.0 – R 139 900

The Aygo comes standard with a 3-year/100 000km warranty but a service plan is optional. All customers who buy an Aygo before the end of the year will get a free service plan included in the sale price.

Source: www.cars.co.za

vehicle. The middle ventilation shaft sits behind the touchscreen and fires air at the roof.

Three-cylinder engine The engine carries over from the previous generation Aygo, but Toyota says it has managed to improve the fuel economy figure. The 1-litre engine is good for 51 kW and 95 Nm of torque with a claimed fuel consumption figure of 4.4L/100km. It’s also good for a sub 15-second 0-100kph time that should keep you in touch with traffic.

The clutch is extremely light and takes some getting used to. Finding the bite point took some time and a few drivers found their resting foot would often drag the clutch. Just something to be aware of. The Aygo does require some revs to get it off the mark but the five-speed manual ‘box is a slick-shifter and helps keep the engine on the boil.

Ride and drive While trudging through the traffic of Durban central, the Aygo showed its new party piece. The ride is exceptional, even over some nasty road works and aggressive speed bumps it stayed settled. The suspension soaked up the bumps impressively and the interior held together without flinching. The steering is well-weighted and thankfully doesn’t feel as over-assisted as some of the other Toyotas in the range.

Toyota Aygo Range The standard Aygo comes well specced, but does not come with a two-tone roof.

It does not get leather on the steering wheel or gear lever either. It does get Bluetooth, a 12V socket and a USB

Ever

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15

Motoring

The Toyota Aygo is a funky little A segment city slicker that is built in partnership with the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 107. It aims to bring costs down, and provide an uncomplicated and reliable city vehicle. A new version has just been launched now that the segment is starting to show a little more life with the entrance of Volkswagen’s up! We were at the launch in Durban as the cars arrived off the container to get a first spin in them.

Motoring

Eficient and friendly service and conveniently situated in the town centre.

PO Box 43, Walvis Bay Corner of Sam Nujoma Avenue & 10th Road Tel: 064 207248 | Fax: 064 207253 Email: wvbconv.centre@iway.na