African Scholar Magazine - April - June 2014 Issue by African Scholar Magazine

THE

AFRICAN SCHOLAR BEST AYIORWOTH MICROFINANCE ENTREPRENEUR

DR. SANDILE KUBHEKA

YOUNGEST UKZN MEDICAL GRADUTE IN HISTORY

SOLOMON MAHLANGU SCHOLARSHIP FUND

HUMAN CAPITAL EXCELLENCE IN AFRICA GLOBAL CAREER COMPANY

XOLISILE SELATELA LEADER, VISIONARY, ATTORNEY

VOLUME 09 APR-JUN 2014 R24.99

Tenova is your Destination

Total technology solutions across n Engineering & EPCM services n Open pit mining & underground solutions n Solid / liquid separation n Electric furnaces &

58 Emerald Parkway Road, Greenstone Hill Ext 21 Johannesburg, South Africa Phone +27 11 899 9111 Fax +27 11 899 2302 enquiries.TMM@tenova.com www.tenova.com

TENOVA is a worldwide supplier of advanced technologies, products and

At Tenova Mining & Minerals we value Our People, offering and fostering an inspired and global career destination of choice. It is our people who deliver success for our Clients â&#x20AC;&#x201C; their innovative thinking, outstanding knowledge, professional expertise and passion for excellence. We are well positioned to attract and retain talent across generation groups offering attractive careers, personal growth opportunities, employment equity, recognition and reward for excellent performance.

the mining & minerals value chain and bulk handling n Advanced process technology & modular plant solutions associated plant solutions n Client support services

engineering services for the metals and mining & minerals industries

Harnessing the power of nature? Naturally.

Renewable energy plays a vital role when it comes to balancing the need for more power with minimum environmental impact. Addressing challenges like intermittent supply and often connecting remote locations, ABB has integrated more than 200 gigawatts of hydro, wind and solar power into the grid â&#x20AC;&#x201C; enough electricity to serve the needs of nearly 70 million people. We offer a range of products, systems and services for power generation, transmission and distribution to help increase power capacity, enhance grid reliability, improve energy efficiency and lower environmental impact. With a 125 year heritage of technology innovation ABB con-tinues to shape the grid of the future. For more information please visit us at www.abb.co.za

ABB South Africa (Pty) Ltd Power Systems and Power Products Tel. 010 202 5000 E-mail: info@za.abb.com

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITOR

ne day, I met a young girl in Botswana by the name of Masego*. She was in the middle of a phone conversation with her father. Because the conversation was in Tswana, a widely spoken local language in one of Africa’s least populated capitals, I could not get everything she was saying except when she dropped the phone and sadly asked, in English, “who will pay for my tuition fees then, if you can’t even pay for my application fee?”

Lucky Musonda

CONTRIBUTORS Lovelife, Epic Communications (Pty) Ltd, Global Career Company, How we made it in Africa

ADVERTISING AND SALES Andrew Mphande andrewm@africanscholar.co.za

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Isaac Ndhlovu isaacn@africanscholar.co.za

EVENTS AND EXPOS Chilalo Mumba chilalom@africanscholar.co.za

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscribe@africanscholar.co.za

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Tawanda S. Hojane Tigital Media +27 78 800 4487

Masego was supposed to apply for a college place; the day I eavesdropped on her phone conversation was the deadline for submitting applications for the next intake. She missed out on another chance, for the second time. She has been eager to take up a study programme at one of South Africa’s institutions of learning. There are many young girls like Masego across the continent. Many who have missed out on so many years of college or university for various reasons. At a family level, we know that the responsibility to educate children lies in their parents or guardians. Unfortunately, this responsibility is sometimes partially fulfilled and not at all in others. We continue seeing girls like Masego; girls who, instead of being encouraged and supported to enable them attain higher education, are forced into early marriages, are left to find their ways into higher institutions of learning. Some families across the continent, when faced with financial challenges, opt for sending their male children to school at the expense of female ones. I did not have a chance to hear the full story from Masego, but the little information I gathered gave me the impression that she was a girl determined to go to school and with an ambitious plan for her future. What was saddening was the level of despair slowly creeping into her. She was losing hope, like many of the girls across the continent who are not adequately supported.

PRINTERS Burlington Data Print

PUBLISHED BY The African Scholar T. +27 11 794 4141 / +27 11 704 5084 F. +27 86 626 1231 info@africanscholar.co.za www.africanscholar.co.za

African Scholar Magazine Copyright © African Scholar Magazine. All rights reserved. Request to lift material should Be made to the editor. While every effort has been made by the publisher to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for, any errors, or loss incurred as a result.

Africa is full of too many Masegos. Many a time, we are carried away with economic statistics, basing our projections or planning for growth on only figures that give us our narrow view of what constitutes value, monetary value; we leave behind and out a key component in the equation and/or formula for Africa’s prosperity; the contribution of women and girls in economies. As a continent, we need to begin re-directing our resources from areas that maintain the status quo, towards those that will help turn the tide against Africa’s misfortunes and slow growth. We should not pat our backs just yet; just because we are growing with the global south at an unprecedented rate. We can do better than the rest of the global south. The UN Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI) concluded that over the past four decades, women education has prevented more than 4 million child deaths. We must remember that every time we lose a life, we also deny a child a chance to realize their potential. The International Food Research Policy Institute (IFRPI) states that investing in girls’ education could boost Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural output by 25%. At the same time, the UN Global Education First Report states that an additional school year can increase a woman’s earnings by 10% to 20%. These and many returns are what comes out of investing in our girl children’s and our women’s education. We must support our girl children and encourage them to attain the highest levels of education possible even in the face of diverse societal and cultural expectations. On May 11, we joined the rest of the world in honoring mothers like Xolisile Selatela who, despite the challenges they find themselves in, in their professional environments, in their communities, in their homes, continue to stand tall and achieve greatness, against all odds. We do so even today. We know of many fathers who are doing all they can to support their daughters and wives, we salute you too. Enjoy!

Lucky Musonda *not her real name

The African Scholar Magazine Inspire. Inform. Impact.

African Scholar Magazine

@African_Scholar

African Scholar Magazine

In this edition

Cover Story page 22

Features

Xolisile Selatela

08 Best Ayiorwoth Microfinance Entrepreneur

12 Dr. Sandile Kubheka Youngest UKZN Medical Graduate in history

14 Growing our young talent Tenova

16 Pastel Why a career in accounting spells excellent growth prospects

20 Careers In Africa Assessment of Soft Skills by African employers

22 Xolisile Selatela Question & Answer

26 Domithila Silayo African Entrepreneur

32 Global Career Company Talent Gap in Africa: Challenge to Businesses

36 Dirane Thato Mosholi FNB

40 Nedbank Property Finance Academy 44 Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund NYDA

46 Maths & Science In South Africa 48 Graduate Programme Massmart

52 Lebogang Kola Studietrust

Lifestyle 50 Recipes Extraordinary marinated & roasted chicken, potatoes & chickpeas

51 Recipes Chicken legs

54 Lovelife A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;cutâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; above the rest

www.africanscholar.co.za

2 2 MAKE A SMART CHOICE, BECOME 1A CHARTERED 3 6 ACCOUNTANT 5 45 6 3 2 0 2 4 8 3 9 4 7 4 65 6 7 6 8 5 8 0

w - 5 = 2 3

a future leader in business

+ 2 = 8

Cool Facts About CAs(SA) and More Reason to Believe:

30% of all South African CEOs are CAs(SA)

A CA(SA) earns on average 30 to 40% more than other young professionals

db = 10 log 10 P1 P2

Source level

75% of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) of JSE top 200 are CAs(SA)

Now I CAn

When you are a Chartered Accountant you become a leader in business with the flexibility to work anywhere in the world, not forgetting the financial rewards and job security so you can finally live the EXTRAORDINARY LIFE.

Visit www.nowican.co.za/mobi to register and for more information.

www.nowiCAn.co.za www.africanscholar.co.za 7

FEATURE

Best Ayiorwoth

The story of Best Ayiorwoth:

Starting a microfinance business at age 19 Words By Kate Douglas, How We Made It In Africa

hen Ugandan Best Ayiorwoth had to cut short her high school education because her family could not afford to pay her tuition, it broke her heart. However, this became the driving force that inspired her to start an award-winning microcredit business, at just 19 years old, that would go on to help hundreds of women and young girls in Uganda. Best Ayiorwoth, winner of the 2013 Anzisha Prize “Personally, I love being educated. I always wished to go to high standards in my education if it was possible. But unfortunately I did not have the chance to go to the level of education I wanted and I stopped at Secondary Four in Uganda,” Ayiorwoth told How we made it in Africa. Having lost her father at the age of eight, Ayiorwoth’s mother strained to look after a family of seven in the Nebbi District in northern Uganda. “My mother pushed me up to Primary Seven and she died while I was desperately waiting to join high school. I was 13 years old then. My two older sisters and brother struggled to push me to Secondary Four,” she explained. “I never wanted to stop at that point in my education so it angered me… I would always remind myself that someday when I could, I would ensure that every girl child in my community received the best education Personally, they could.” Startup capital from her first salary At the age of 17, Ayiorwoth moved to Kampala and joined vocational training schools that offered courses such as catering, graphics and web design. She later joined S7 Project, a skills empowerment centre, and got trained in catering and entrepreneurship. Through S7 she got a job working in a Mexican restaurant, where she received her first salary and the startup capital she would later use to follow her dream.

www.africanscholar.co.za

“

I love being educated. I always wished to go to high standards in my education if it was possible. But unfortunately I did not have the chance to go to the level of education I wanted and I stopped at Secondary Four in Uganda”

“I wanted to prevent what happened to me from happening to other girls because I knew it was a social injustice. So the first salary I got from the restaurant is what I used to open my organisation,” explained Ayiorwoth. She realised that if she could empower mothers financially, they would support the education of their children, especially young girls. “I have seen that when families can’t maintain all their children at school and have to make a choice, they would often choose a boy over

Best Ayiorwoth

a girl,” she highlighted. In early 2011 Ayiorwoth went back to the Nebbi District – where she had witnessed many girls, like herself, drop out of school – and started the Girls Power Micro-Lending Organisation (GIPOMO). Using her savings of USh 100,000 (US$40), Ayiorwoth started slowly by giving monthly micro loans to enable women to grow their small businesses. With a 10% interest rate, she kept reinvesting her profit back into GIPOMO. It wasn’t long before her initiative caught the attention of her mentor at S7, who loaned her an additional USh 800,000 ($322) to boost her enterprise. “My organisation has a unique twist in microfinance by providing tied loans to women who make a commitment to grow businesses while keeping their girl children in school,” added Ayiorwoth. Today GIPOMO has helped 64 women start their own businesses, 111 women expand their existing businesses, and kept 168 girls in school by supporting their mothers. At the beginning of 2013, Ayiorwoth won USh 1m ($400) at the FINA Africa Enterprise Business Challenge. In August she won first place and US$25,000 at the Anzisha Prize, a competition that recognises and celebrates African entrepreneurs under the age of 22 who are using entrepreneurship to solve problems in their communities. Using a portion of the prize money, GIPOMO has already scaled up its operations four-fold, expanding to four different subcounties in northern Uganda.

Innovative thinking to overcome challenges Ayiorwoth started off providing credit to individual women but after two did not repay their loans, she changed her business strategy. She decided that in order for women to access finance, they needed to belong to a group of at least three. The strategic thinking behind this was that the women in a community knew each other and could group themselves with people they trusted to become guarantors for each other’s loans. “We give them the freedom to choose who they want to be with in a group so that loans are secured. So if one woman has a problem of paying then the two others can always figure it out and stand in for that person,” explained Ayiorwoth. “This makes it easy for women without formal collateral to access financing in an easy way.” Another challenge Ayiorwoth faced was that many of the women she worked with were illiterate, and the use of multiple languages made communication a challenge. To reduce this problem she collaborates with local government women representatives in communities to assist with communication. Furthermore, Ayiorwoth explained that if she discovers that the mothers are not investing in their daughters’ schooling through income earned in their business, they will be disqualified from accessing finance from GIPOMO. “That is the reason why we sometimes talk to those girls

FEATURE

personally and we enquire exactly what is happening,” she added. GIPOMO has also launched a Women in Agriculture fund, in collaboration with the Ugandan government, to provide microfinance to women interested in commercial agriculture and value addition.

Ambitious plans for the future At the moment, GIPOMO only operates in one district in northern Uganda but Ayiorwoth, who has just turned 22, has big plans for her organisation. “Right now I’m just trying to lay a good foundation so we can achieve real impact in one district. But in five years I see my organisation directly reaching 5,000 women in northern Uganda; and in 10 years, launching similar initiatives in different parts of the country. And we can even go further ahead and say that I see my model being replicated in various African countries because I know that the same problems are faced elsewhere,” she emphasised. “For me, this is a new movement that redefines microfinance; to provide for specific needs in specific communities. Microfinance can never be relevant if it has one model. In one community, it should provide affordable finance for girl education and in another, it should provide affordable finance for land ownership – whatever the challenge a community faces.” According to Ayiorwoth, GIPOMO is also launching an Education for Girls fund that will focus on providing no-interest loans to households interested in enrolling out-of-school girls into a skills development programme. “I believe that once the girls possess practical skills, the chances that they will establish enterprises that apply these skills are high,” said Ayiorwoth. “In this way, my organisation would be developing a new generation of mothers that are skilled, entrepreneurial and financially empowered to contribute to family welfare and the education of their daughters.” Advice to other young entrepreneurs Ayiorwoth accredits a lot of her success to her mentor at S7, which she said continuously encouraged and challenged her to utilise her full potential. She also wants to tell other young entrepreneurs that, no matter what their background, they have the potential to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. “They have to actually do something that they feel strongly passionate about, and in most cases they should seek inspiration from their own experience… If you had a terrible experience, you should despise the experience to the extent that you are continuously seeking a solution for it,” she concluded.

www.africanscholar.co.za

Your difference could

make all the difference

to our world!

At British American Tobacco we have a unique mix of people from many cultures and backgrounds. We are one of the world’s most international businesses with a portfolio of globally recognised brands, a culture of open-mindedness and a bright future. Having a diverse range of people who support each other’s success creates a unique mix. We call it “BRINGING YOUR DIFFERENCE”. Our differences are balanced by a common view on our industry – we support the freedom to choose – and that philosophy runs throughout our business. Being free to discuss and debate means we develop our business in exciting ways and give individuals their voice. Empowering teams creates fresh ideas and different experiences. That’s why, if you have the talent and motivation to help us succeed, you’ll find we are just as committed to helping you reach your full potential. We want the best people to work for us and if you’re looking for the best outlet for your talents, you could find a career here that gives you so much more. We’re looking for our next generation of leaders. Our Global Management Trainee Programme is your way to becoming one of them! The Programme extends over two years. You choose the business function that best suits your strengths and your development is structured around a clearly defined set of targets.

We support you by: • Assigning you a coach to help you get the most from the programme; • Providing mentorship by experienced managers from within the business; • Introducing you to our Global Network of Management Trainees; • Making sure that you are exposed to as much of our business as possible through cross-functional stints both within your country and within BATs Southern African Area; and • Offering you great rewards (Pay and Incentives).

Once the Programme is completed, you’ll be looking at your first management post in British American Tobacco. Your next step is to build on the skills you have learned and to start fulfilling your long term aspirations; telling us where you want to go. There’s a wealth of open learning resources as well as functional, managerial skills and business awareness training aimed at helping you to learn at your own pace in your own location.

www.africanscholar.co.za

Here’s what our current management trainees have to say about the programme... Natasha Chisanga

Finance Management Trainee, BAT Zambia Being part of a global company like BAT presents an endless passage with various options that I know will lead to a great career, and the Management Trainee Programme is just the start. The coaching and mentorship culture is something that really stands out about the business – I feel tremendously supported which inspires the confidence it takes to succeed on the Programme.

Takula Malaba

Marketing Management Trainee, BAT Zimbabwe I was always aware of BATs solid reputation within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector. As a graduate looking for employment opportunities, I believe the trick is in finding the right fit for your personality and career ambition. My limited experience on the Management Trainee Programme thus far has confirmed that I made the right choice to join BAT. As a Zimbabwean, I feel strongly about the development of our economy and one of my goals is to develop the right skills and experience that will help me make a meaningful contribution. Becoming a Management Trainee at BAT Zimbabwe is the first step in what I know is going to be an exciting journey of learning and exposure. I am very proud to be a part of this world class organisation that values its people!

Carla Sousa

Marketing Management Trainee, BAT Angola As a British American Tobacco Management Trainee, I feel I have finally arrived at the beginning of an epic journey. Even though I’ve only been in the business for around five months, I have experienced BAT to be highly authentic and very unique in its approach to Management Trainees. The business is already delivering on all of the expectations I have in terms of career development as well as business and leadership training. I have the freedom of bringing my personal talents to the fore – no idea is shot down. Instead, individuality and creativity are welcomed openly.

We are looking for: We are looking for Southern African Graduates from: South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique Degrees Required / Focus Areas: FINANCE DEGREES: Commerce (Minimum Accounting 3) MARKETING/COMMERCE DEGREES: (Marketing Honours / Post Graduate Diploma)

How to apply:

Minimum Requirements: • Citizenship from relevant country in relation to the role being applied for • Valid driver’s license on commencement of the Programme • Completed Degree on commencement of the Programme • Passion, commitment, curiosity and hunger to learn and succeed.

Apply online at www.bat-careers.com click on Graduates. Closing Date for applications is 7 August 2014 www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Dr Sandile Khubeka

UKZN produces the

Youngest Medical Graduate in its history

Words By Maryann Francis

r Sandile Kubheka, recently completed his MBChB degree from UKZN’s College of Health Sciences at the young age of 20, making him the youngest MBChB graduate in its history. Kubheka who hails from Newcastle in the KZN province, was ecstatic to be the youngest graduate and to have also attained a distinction in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He was voted by his class as a recipient for the Yashiv Sham Bursary for having compassion and caring qualities and the Enid Gordon Jacob Good fellowship Prize for character and good conduct which in the eyes of his fellow classmates promoted good companionship. Kubheka began his formal schooling at the tender age of 5. He was promoted in April of his Grade 6 year to Grade 7 and completed his schooling at Siyamukhela High School at the age of 15. He then enrolled at UKZN’s Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine where he served in the Rural Development Club, in the Happy Valley Clinic and in the Medical Student’s Representative Council. Kubheka volunteered much of his time, providing free medical

“

I’ve had a very humble upbringing and my mum has greatly assisted in keeping me grounded. My mum raised me on her own as well as my four siblings. I am the first to qualify as a doctor in my family.” - Dr Sandile Khubeka

treatment and advice to rural communities attending the Happy Valley Clinic and Madadeni hospital. He enjoys giving back to the community and had this to say, ‘I love working especially with rural communities that often don’t have easy access to medical treatment. I assisted in registering the Happy Valley Clinic as a Non-Profit Organisation during my student years and will continue to work with disadvantaged communities in the future.’

www.africanscholar.co.za

‘I’ve had a very humble upbringing and my mum has greatly assisted in keeping me grounded. My mum raised me on her own as well as my four siblings. I am the first to qualify as a doctor in my family.’ Kubheka is serving his internship at Grey’s hospital in Pietermaritzburg. He hopes to eventually register for a Masters of Medicine degree, specializing in Internal Medicine and to super specialize at some stage in Endocrinology. Kubheka said he acquired an interest in Endocrinology after being inspired by UKZN’s Head of Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Professor Ayesha Motala, as well as having a family member who has Type 2 Diabetes. The medical class of 2013 also voted Kubheka as most likely to be ‘the next South African Minister of Health’.

Dr Sandile Khubeka

FEATURE

STUDY IN AUSTRALIA FIRST INTERNATIONALLy FOCUSED RESEARCH INTENSIVE STUDENT–CENTRED TEACHING INSTITUTION IN AUSTRALIA

The University of Sydney is one of Australia’s largest and most prestigious universities. Established in 1850, it is Australia’s first university, and a member of the ‘Group of Eight’, Australia’s premier research intensive universities. It is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world and amongst the top four in Australia. Our 49,000+ students (including almost 11,000 international students representing 130 nationalities), enjoy an academic experience of the highest quality. We offer the most comprehensive range of degrees, majors and individual subject choices of any university in Australia, taught in 16 Faculties across eight campuses. Areas of study include Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Architecture, Design and Urban Planning, Arts and Social Sciences, Business, Dentistry, Education and Social Work, Engineering and Information Technologies, Health Sciences, Law, Medicine, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Science, Veterinary Science and Visual Arts.

Our academic and teaching resources include Australia’s largest university library, and state-of-the-art technical, computing and research facilities. Our faculty is a mix of local and internationally recruited academics with extensive teaching, business and industry expertise. They bring years of knowledge gained from research in their respective fields into the classroom, providing students with a stimulating academic environment. Our sporting amenities, clubs and societies are second to none. Our student support services have been rated as the best at any Australian university. We are committed to maximising the potential of everyone in the global community we serve, seeking to develop curious minds that embrace challenge and change. We help seek knowledge and devise solutions. Over the past 160 years, we have maintained a proud tradition of excellence in education, and are relentless in our efforts to provide a fertile environment where the brightest minds flourish.

www.africanscholar.co.za www.sydney.edu.au - io.info@sydney.edu.au

CRICOS 00026A

WHY STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY?

FEATURE

PTenova Mining & Minerals

Growing our Young Talent

enova Mining & Minerals South Africa is the broadbased black empowered operating arm of the global Tenova Mining & Minerals Group. The Company focuses on the provision of total innovative solutions across the full mining & minerals industry value chain in South Africa. Having been with the Tenova Group for eight years, Nomkhosi Sithole, Human Resources General Manager for Tenova Mining & Minerals South Africa, is at the helm of the Company’s transformation journey. “We are deeply committed to ensuring full strategic alignment between Tenova Mining & Minerals South Africa and the Codes of Good Practice in terms of Black Economic Empowerment,” says Nomkhosi. “As part of this, an important focus area is the development of our employees and the identification of those with the potential to progress to senior and management roles. “Developing young talent is a priority at Tenova. We provide our promising employees with the full support they need – through leadership development, mentorship and coaching - to steer their careers to their chosen ‘destinations’.” With a BA Honours degree and post-graduate diploma in

www.africanscholar.co.za

Human Resources, Nomkhosi has travelled the journey herself from promising young graduate to management level. “I have experienced the challenges and triumphs personally that our young talent will face in the future as they strive to achieve their career goals. But I found that success lies in hard work, a willingness to learn and my focus and drive concentrated tightly on my end goal. I know where my career destination is.”

Young Talent An invaluable entry into the dynamic and varied world of mining and metallurgical processing is how young graduates Khulekani Majola and Tshoane Maboa view their opportunities as laboratory assistants, at the Tenova Mining & Minerals South Africa. They are based at the Company’s metallurgical and analytical laboratory in Kempton Park, South Africa. The laboratory has been an industry leader for more than 30 years, providing services to both Tenova Mining & Minerals Group and the external industry. “Despite the current challenges facing the mining industry in South Africa today, it has the potential to be the powerhouse of the country’s economy for many years to come, and is an exciting industry to be part of,” agree both Khulekani and Tshoane.

Tenova Mining & Minerals

Khulekani Majola Analytical Chemist Khulekani joined the company in March 2013 straight from KwaZulu-Natal University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry. His main responsibilities at the laboratory are metallurgical testwork and R&D projects.

“

The environment at the laboratory is very conducive to my overall growth in terms of wider business skills.” - Khulekani Majola

The opportunity at Tenova Mining & Minerals was not only the culmination of a passion Khulekani had developed at school for chemistry, but also, he believes, an important opening for him to progress further and grow in the mining industry. “Being in a metallurgical, albeit minerals processing laboratory, provides me with practical experience and skills that I require to become a true professional,” says Khulekani.

Tshoane Maboa Analytical Chemist With a National Diploma in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Johannesburg, Tshoane is looking forward to furthering his career as a technical specialist. Tshoane joined the laboratory some 18 months ago with experience at other laboratories, including working at a platinum mining house. His duties at the laboratory are diverse, covering tracer manufacture, and material flow and dense media separation testwork. His move to the Tenova Mining & Minerals South Africa laboratory, he says, has been an enriching and empowering experience, with a greater variety of work and challenges, which he thrives on.

“

carrying out analytical testwork on samples with widely differing mineralogies is a challenge I enjoy as it pushes the limits of my studies.” - Tshoane Maboa

“I am given exposure and contribute to a range of projects, as well as carrying out analytical testwork on samples with widely differing mineralogies – a challenge which I enjoy, as it pushes the limits of my studies,” Tshoane notes. Having been torn at university between pursuing Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, Tshoane particularly

FEATURE

“However, the environment at the laboratory is also very conducive to my overall growth in terms of wider business skills. Being in the minerals processing lab gives me great pride because the work we do here is crucial in determining the feasibility of a minerals exploration exercise, which merges science and business in a great way. We also interact constantly with clients from the mining houses and with Tenova Mining & Minerals engineers. “My long term aim is to move more to the business management side and I believe my chemistry qualification and experience here at the lab, coupled with business training, will be a valuable platform from which to grow in that direction.”

appreciates the interaction between science and engineering that the laboratory, being part of an engineeringfocused Group, offers. “The lab has made me appreciate the interdependency between the two disciplines and I am proud to be part of such a critical link in the chain to bring a project to successful completion. A minerals processing facility cannot be designed successfully without our input on the grade and characteristics of the ore, and a bulk materials handling system will be plagued by stoppages and blockages without our input on how a material flows. “In a way, we are witnesses to both the birth and the fulfilment of a project. It is rewarding to see my analytical chemistry skills assisting our engineers by providing input into mining projects – whether evaluating the feasibility of a new project, or how to upgrade and optimize operations.”

www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Pastel Accounting

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Accounting, perhaps, is the most basic and important business discipline of all and every organisation needs an accountant to keep its finances in order.â&#x20AC;? - Steven Cohen, Managing Director, Sage Pastel Accounting

www.africanscholar.co.za

/ FEATURE Why a career in accounting spells Pastel Accounting

excellent growth prospects

outh Africa is desperately short of chartered accountants (CAs) and other financial professionals, making a career in finance a great career option for ambitious school leavers looking for intellectual stimulation and excellent growth prospects. That’s according to Steven Cohen, Managing Director of South African accounting software company, Sage Pastel Accounting. “It’s not often that you hear of an unemployed accountant,” he says. “In fact, the skills of accountants are needed more than ever as tax laws become more complicated and South African companies try to compete more aggressively on the global stage.” Cohen, a chartered accountant by training and an entrepreneur by calling, says that the stereotype of the accountant as a grey bean counter doing boring work no longer holds true. Accountants today play a central role in setting and driving strategy for their businesses. They don’t just count the numbers, but they also help the business to understand what they mean. “No one is closer to the beating heart of the business than the accountant,” says Cohen. “He or she can look at the numbers in the income statement and balance sheet, and understand exactly what they say about where the business is going. Accounting, perhaps, is the most basic and important business discipline of all and every organisation needs an accountant to keep its finances in order.” Cohen says that this grounding in the fundamentals of business equips chartered accountants and other financial professionals for a wide range of careers. If you study a finance degree like a Bachelor

of Commerce and qualify as a CA, you can grow from a junior accountant to financial manager, a financial director or even a chief financial officer in time. For the truly ambitious, the end point might be to become the CEO of one of the JSE’s top 200 companies. According to the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA, 2011), around a third of the CEOs at the JSE’s top 194 companies ranked by market capitalisation are chartered accountants. If that doesn’t appeal, you could secure a job as an auditor with one of the big consulting houses or establish a consulting business of your own to provide tax and accounting services to other businesses, says Cohen. And the financial knowledge you’ll gain from studying accounting could also help you to become a successful entrepreneur. To study accounting at one of South Africa’s major universities, you need to take Pure Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy) as a subject. The minimum requirements for university admission are a Level 4 pass in Mathematics together with a National Senior Certificate with matriculation exemption, according to SAICA. If your goal is to become a CA, you will first need to enrol for a BCom Accounting degree or an equivalent CA(SA) undergraduate qualification at a SAICA-accredited university. One of the major reasons that South Africa has a shortage of accountants is that schools are not feeding universities with students with good enough pure math marks, says Cohen. The low number of students with good math passes - as well as a shortage of those studying science - also affects other professions such as IT and engineering, he says.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Information Technology report in 2013, ranked South Africa’s math and science education second-last in the world. “Our global ranking in mathematics and science education is hampering the growth of the country’s economy, holding back South Africa’s global competitiveness, and limiting employment opportunities for young people,” Cohen adds. South African educators should embrace ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) in the classroom as a means of supporting mathematics and science education, especially against the backdrop of a shortage of high school math and science teachers across the country, Cohen says. Adds Cohen: “There is no substitute for a passionate, qualified teacher, but while we build math and science teaching capacity, we should urgently look at supplementing teachers with technology. Initiatives such as Nokia’s Momaths (http://blog.nokia.co.za/press-office/ nokia-mobile-mathematics-empowerssouth-african-learners) already show how simple technologies such as feature phones can be used to create learning communities for students battling to master mathematics and science.” Cheap tablet computers and lowercost cellular data bring with them new opportunities for math and science education, he adds. Where math and science teachers aren’t available, children could use tools such as video conferencing and video clips as interactive learning aids. “If you have your sights set on becoming an accountant, why not use tools such as Momaths to complement your school learning?” says Cohen.

www.africanscholar.co.za

GRADE(S)

SUBJECT

SAGE PASTEL PROGRAMME BRIEF

Grades 8 to 9

Economic and Management Sciences

Computerised Accounting Module:

Accounting

Certified Schools Programme (CSP):

Grades 10 to 12

This programme compliments the existing theoretical curriculum offered by both the CAPS and IEB curricular by introducing a more exciting practical environment. We believe that accounting is a life skill, which is why our Certified Schools Programme provides schools with software and training to equip students with computerised accounting skills for the market.

Grades 11 or 12

Business Studies

Business Incubator: Helps learners to develop entrepreneurial ideas to create, register and run their very own business. By doing so students will come to appreciate the need to carefully select partners, write and develop business plans, as well as deal with all the required administrative functions to run their very own business one day.

www.africanscholar.co.za

Apply for a Sasol Bursary today.

call 0860 106 235 or visit www.sasolbursaries.com www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Careers In Africa

The burgeoning trend towards the assessment of

‘soft skills’ by African employers

uring the spring peak of diaspora recruitment events in Europe, Global Career Company’s interview teams have seen first hand the burgeoning trend towards the assessment of ‘soft skills’ by African employers. As recruiting needs become more sophisticated in line with business requirements, companies increasingly seek to ally relationship management, influencing, team working and personality fit to the technical skills and experience they need. Covering too, the ability to the diaspora to integrate into the local workforce, and the preparedness of that local talent pool to work in international environments, it is no surprise that these skills have featured heavily among the wishlists of the interviewing companies at these

www.africanscholar.co.za

events. South Africa has long held a lead position in higher education standing in comparison to its regional neighbours. According to a recent league table published by the 4 International Colleges & Universities (4icu), an international higher education search engine

“

and directory reviewing accredited Universities and Colleges worldwide, South Africa is home to seven of the ten best universities across the whole of Africa. The country has a well-earned reputation for leading in business and sciences –high growth career paths across the continent. Engineering study programmes in South Africa, for example, are extensively oversubscribed, in some cases by more than 400%. Additionally, all of the region’s best MBA programmes are based in South Africa. Increasingly, however, employers are looking beyond technical qualifications. A survey conducted by Harris Poll between February 10 and March 4, 2014 indicates that an overwhelming majority of companies believe that soft skills are at least as important as technical, or “hard” skills. A strong work ethic, dependability, and a positive attitude rank as the most important qualities for over 70% of companies, with 16% of companies reporting that soft skills are actually more important than hard skills.

Increasingly, we’ve seen a trend amongst our clients to prioritise candidate’s soft skills.They, of course, want to see top qualifications and relevant experience, but more and more, having only these is just not enough. What sets a great candidate apart from a good one are the less tangible skills - the candidate’s attitude, presence, team skills, and how they handle pressure.” - Sana Chakir, Recruitment Director, Careers in Africa

Careers In Africa

FEATURE

The survey was conducted across the United States, but Sana Chakir, Recruitment Director for Careers in Africa, a recruitment consultancy specialising in Africa, believes that South African employers hold the same view. “Increasingly, we’ve seen a trend amongst our clients to prioritise candidate’s soft skills,” says Chakir. “They, of course, want to see top qualifications and relevant experience, but more and more, having only these is just not enough. What sets a great candidate

apart from a good one are the less tangible skills - the candidate’s attitude, presence, team skills, and how they handle pressure.” It is no wonder that companies have started to take note of soft skills. There is no shortage of research directly linking the soft skills of an organisation’s work force with profitability and commercial success. One of the most widely cities studies initially published by the Academy of Management Executive in 1999, for example, analysed nearly 1000 firms across all major industries and found that organisations whose managers possessed strong soft skills, implementing effective people management strategies and demonstrating personal competency in management skills had increased profits of US$3,814 per employee, US$27,044 more in sales per employee, and US$18,641 in stock market value per employee, on average, compared to firms that had less effective people management. In short, soft skills have been proven to translate into hard,

bottom-line value for companies. This link has not gone unnoticed in South Africa. The government’s Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA), for example, identified management and planning skills as one of five critical skill areas requiring immediate attention. And, last year, the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business launched one-day open programme designed to kick-start soft skills development. As more companies recognise the importance of soft skills, it is becoming more commonplace for companies to look for candidates to demonstrate them as part of the interview process. Globally, professional services companies have led the way in formally testing for and evaluating these qualities at interview. Often relying heavily on the case interview method, sometimes delivered in groups, these firms test not just what a candidate knows, but how they think, and how they are likely to communicate and interact in a group of peers. Increasingly, however, these methods are being

adopted across a range of industries. Cassandra Pittman, Careers in Africa’s Global Talent Acquisition Director, says this is trend they’ve witnessed first hand. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen a remarkable increase in the number of companies who are employing nontraditional interview methods, such as group case interviews and assessment centres.” According to Pittman, not all candidates are prepared for this new style of interview. “I think there are a lot of very bright, very capable, even very experienced people who have been taught to focus on their technical skills; even the best universities have not historically taught their students how to perform in group interview exercises, for example. It’s not that these candidates lack soft skills; they’ve just never been shown how to display them during an interview. It’s not enough to say you’re a good team player; you have to be able to show it. And that can take training and practice to do well, with confidence and authenticity. That’s why we started offering training to our partners and candidates this year to help them prepare for these interview formats. For all candidates seeking career development with progressive companies across Africa, the message is clear: building soft skills is more important than it ever has been, and it is never too early to find out more and raise your level, as companies place a higher premium on these areas.

www.africanscholar.co.za

COVER STORY

Xolisile Selatela

Question & Answer:

Xolisile

Selatela Words By Thabiso Senatla

ho is Xolisile Selatela, how can you describe yourself? Xolisile Masentle Selatela is a corporate employment attorney at Bowman Gilfillan Africa Group (BGAG), who loves the work that she does and has always aspired to be a part of the firm since her earlier years at university. BGAG is one of the top five law firms in South Africa and currently has the largest corporate employment department in the country. Xolisile is a wife and mother who adores her family, as well as her Heavenly Father. They all keep her grounded and provide her with abundant joy, love and strength. She also loves to cook, sing and paint. Being an undergraduate posses its own challenges; you meet new friends, find yourself in new learning environments, you begin a completely new way of learning and so on. How was it for you? Being an undergraduate for me was very exciting – I loved the idea of being in a new

www.africanscholar.co.za

environment where I could learn so much that I would eventually be ready for the “real” world. I was excited about the opportunities that I knew lay ahead of me if I worked hard, and made a full commitment to my studies. I fortunately was not big on parties and alcohol, so that helped me to remain focused on my books and continue obtaining distinctions as I did throughout my schooling career. Thanks to my parents who instilled work ethic in me, I worked throughout my university career, first at a diamond store in Sandton (during my first two years of varsity), and later as a tutor at the university’s law faculty. Even with the additional responsibilities, I still passed with distinctions. I was also invited to be a member of our university’s Golden Key International Honour Society, to which the top 10% of university’s students are invited to across all faculties. I later became the president of our university’s chapter of the society and represented us in various conferences and forums across the country.

Xolisile Selatela

I also got an opportunity to be a part of the vacation programmes of about three of the top five law firms (including BGAG) when I was in my second year of study at university. It was from being a part of these vacation programmes that I was offered articles of clerkship at all three firms. I however chose BGAG because I felt at home there and truly enjoyed my stay there. I thoroughly enjoyed my years as an undergraduate and am grateful for all my experiences during that period of my life.

What is the nature of your daily job, and what are your future plans in moving forward? My daily job comprises a wide range of activities. I spend a lot of my time in the office drafting agreements, pleadings, and attending meetings with clients. I however also do a lot of work that involves dispute resolution, and therefore have to make appearances at court. My work keeps me on my toes,

COVER STORY

and helps me to remain excited and passionate about it because no two days is ever the same. Being in a corporate industry/world is an everyday lesson, you meet and communicate with different people. What is it that the corporate world has taught you thus far? The one thing I learned right in the beginning of my career was, “Don’t take it

What does being a senior associate in a big corporate and commercial law firm take? I would say that it takes a lot of commitment, dedication and passion for what you do – ensuring that you always avail yourself and keep up with the increasing demands that are made on you. Most of the people that are recruited into the large law firms have excellent academic records, but it takes a lot more than a good academic record to help you get recognition once you are in one of the firms. It takes initiative, courage and confidence to get yourself involved in the firm’s business and its activities. I must also say though that having someone or people who encourage you and take the time to develop you also goes a long way. I have been very fortunate to have been surrounded by such people at BGAG. What does it mean to you? It means so much to me because (as I indicated earlier) I have always aspired to be part of a large corporate law firm, and have specifically dreamt of ultimately becoming a partner/director there. Being made senior associate is a step in that direction, and more than anything, it is a confirmation to me, that the dedication I have put in is being recognised. This provides even more encouragement to me to keep me working hard and to remain fully committed to what I do.

“

I have also learned to have fun, laugh and love. The one thing I am grateful for is that, because I love my job, I have never lost my joy. I continue to work hard, but still have been able to build and keep relationships and friendships, and also just have fun.

- Xolisile Selatela

www.africanscholar.co.za

personally!” The corporate world is a high pressured environment, which therefore requires a tough skin and knowing that nothing that takes place is personal. It is a business that has to run well, and therefore, the quality of the work produced is of utmost importance. I have also learned to be patient and understand my client’s needs. Our client’s expect only the best from us, and I have learned that they are a priority. I have also learned to have fun, laugh and love. The one thing I am grateful for is that, because I love my job, I have never lost my joy. I continue to work hard, but still have been able to build and keep relationships and friendships, and also just have fun. What are some of the challenges have you had to encounter in your career journey? Being female in a male-dominated environment is not easy, so that on its own is challenging. Fortunately, our firm, is very good with developing women in the industry and giving them opportunities to establish their careers. I’ve also discovered that race is often a problem in the corporate world and may have an impact on a person’s career development. The one way to make this a non-issue is to work hard and show your commitment to the business. Our firm is constantly working on transformation, which has helped to open up many doors for young black people in the industry. You have studied LLB in the University of Johannesburg, how did you go about choosing this course/career, and how can you describe the skills needed for this profession? Growing up, I was always considered a great orator and had good command of many different languages. This naturally led me to a career where speaking and writing were dominant, not only because I was good at them, but I enjoyed them as well. In terms of the skills required for this profession, the two mentioned above would be the first. However, there is also a need for excellent analytical and

www.africanscholar.co.za

“

Choose a field of study that will provide you with the greatest joy – what you are most passionate about. That one thing you truly believe you were made for and also know that you will excel at. - Xolisile Selatela

research skills, as not only would you be required to know the required legal principles, but also how to apply them to practical everyday situations. Interpersonal skills are also extremely important as one would be required to relate to many different people and establish good working relationships. Most students are eager about getting their feet in tertiary institutions (colleges and universities), at times they don’t consider thinking about what exactly they want to be and some of them choose courses that they were not intending to study. Question: How can you advise prospective students in doing the right thing when choosing their fields of studies? Choose a field of study that will provide you with the greatest joy – what you are most passionate about. That one thing you truly believe you were made for and also know that you will excel at. Often we choose our careers based on our parents and other people’s limitations, but my advice is that you rather go with where your purpose lies because that is surely what you were created for. If you do that, you are bound to succeed far above other’s expectations which are often limitations in any event. Use your natural gifts, talents and skills and study something that will help you enhance them. That way, you will not only have a successful career, but also be fulfilled and content. What keeps you going, and how can you motivate African Scholars who are

eager to be in the same level as you to keep working hard? The love I have for what I do keeps me going and as I said, my Heavenly Daddy and my family give me so much joy, love and strength that I never feel like I want to give up. I also have great dreams of where I would like my career to go, and how it can positively impact South Africa and the rest of Africa. I am a visionary, and that keeps me going. As I progress in my career, I see my vision being realized a step at a time, and that is what keeps me going. Knowing that each day I am one step closer to reaching my dream… To motivate African Scholars, I would like to say, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18 So allow yourselves to have big dreams – do not let people bring you down regardless of your background or your circumstances! You are great, and can truly become what you purpose in your heart and mind.

/redbulletin

HY THAT PHOTOGRAP BREATHLESS U LEAVES YO HO ARE THE PEOPLE W WORLD E CHANGING TH THAT ADVENTURE NDARIES U BO KS EA BR

UR YO OOUMRENT. Y M . T N E M O M BEYOND THE ORDINARY

SUBSCRIBE NOW! 12 MONTHS + RED BULL EDITION TRIPLE CD COLLECTION FOR ONLY

R228 R19 PER ISSUE

Simply go to www.getredbulletin.co.za or call 0860146247www.africanscholar.co.za or Fax 0865691192

FEATURE

Domitila Silayo

he idea of producing Jatropha soap came to her when she and her brother attended an agricultural festival in 2012 and were introduced to some of the medicinal and cosmetic uses of the Jatropha plant in her country. For example, the plant extract has healing properties for a number of skin problems, such as ringworm and dandruff. “The plant has seeds and we extract oil from the seeds and we use the oil to make soaps. We have Jatropha plants in our country but people are not using it,” explained Silayo. “So I thought that was an opportunity and started making the soap.” After researching how to make soap and raising finance from family to buy oil and equipment, Silayo and her brother went into producing Jatropha soap from a room they have rented. Today they produce about 1,000 bars of soap a month and have one other fulltime employee.

Expansion plans While the business is still young, Silayo has big ideas for Jatropha Soap Production. For starters, she sees an opportunity in producing hotel soaps and supplying the local hospitality industry in her area. Silayo was the second runner up for the 2013 Anzisha Prize, a competition that recognises and celebrates young entrepreneurs in Africa who are using entrepreneurship to solve problems in their communities. She told How we made it in Africa that she is using the award money to modify her product range, and will then look at diversifying her products. “So we want to invest in making sure the product we have is good and stands out in the market before bringing out another product,” she explained. However, Silayo’s business faces a

www.africanscholar.co.za

Domitila Silayo

FEATURE

Domithila Silayo Twenty-one-year-old Domitila Silayo is the founder of Jatropha Soap Production in Tanzania, which produces handmade soap with medicinal uses. Words By Kate Douglas, How We Made It In Africa number of challenges that need to be addressed before she can take Jatropha Soap Production to the next level. “My company is still small – it’s just starting, and there are other big companies that are producing soap with similar benefits to society in line with helping skin diseases. So the market is a challenge. People often run to the products belonging to a big brand first. They don’t always run to the new products that are from small brands and starting at the bottom. So that is a very big challenge.”

Business lessons and advice “There are a lot of people who are entrepreneurs in Tanzania but not a lot of them are educated,” said Silayo. “Most of them call themselves entrepreneurs but there are some things they need to learn to be an entrepreneur. Like how to manage their finances.” Silayo is currently studying a Bachelor of Business Administration and Marketing at Mzumbe University in Morogoro and this, alongside her own entrepreneurial experience, has taught her some valuable business lessons. “I have learnt that nothing is easy. Business success requires hard work and determination and you need to keep focused on what you are doing. I have learnt that you also don’t need to do everything yourself. Entrepreneurs should learn to delegate to other people. You

need to have people who can help and advise you. You don’t have to leave all the baggage to yourself.” Her advice to other young Africans aspiring to become entrepreneurs is to become problem solvers in their own communities. “They should try to look at the problems their society is facing and try to think of what can be the solution to the problem. That is how I came up with my idea of making soap with Jatropha oil… My society has a lot of people who are suffering from different skin diseases and the Jatropha soap is one of the soaps that helps in curing different skin diseases.” She also advises young entrepreneurs to be brave enough to try new ideas and

think differently. “You should know that entrepreneurs who are successful right now also faced many problems when they first started out. Entrepreneurship is a process. It’s a process that someone faces and has to go through – from a small stage to a higher stage – without losing hope. Always try to pull up your socks and open yourself up to new ideas. And have the courage to know that you can do it, because all entrepreneurs face the same problems. You are not alone,” she emphasised. “You must also have humility, determination and be able to work hard. All of this will help young entrepreneurs to have a successful business.”

www.africanscholar.co.za

R A L O H C S N A AFRIC

THE

PROFILE

Tevaughnay Van Wyk

THE

AFRICAN SCHOLAR

COMMITTED TO SCULPTING AFRICA’S BUSINESS LEADERS ABSA

OPEN LETTER TO SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH PROFESSOR SHIRLEY ZINN

SYLVESTER CHAUKE

THE

AFRIC AN S CHOL AR

YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETING MAVERICK

LAR O H C S

N A C I R AF

THE

VOLU

ME 04

JAN-M

AR 20

VOLUME 06 JUL-SEP 2013 R24.99

IN SU ACCO PPORT OF UNTIN S G PRAOUND CTICE POW S E POW RING YO E U Love R R IN Life G YOU FUTUR E R CO MMU CARE NITY AND ER OPPOR T Tamuw FINA U N ana ch NCE M ITIES FOR ido M hlanga AJOR ACCO S UNTIN G Kashv eera Chand erjith

SON E SEA CAREERS? IS TH IS TH HANGING FORy LoCcke AL Abb MEDIC EN IN WOM CES aj SCIENena Mahar rave Dr. P

ANITA NDER U e an e s e S e o l Refi A Fa st Ris ing S

tar AN EP OF S ITOME Zipho UCCE SS Sikha khan

SED FOCU MINATION R DEriTREionge Nje UR W YO FOLLOT HEAR

Squire Des

s cces for su omen ger w 1 youn G 10 g IN n T ri N COU Mento D AC

INSI

DE:

C LO

V | LO

ME, IN G

IN N OW

E G M

| iS C

LA HOO

#1 SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR

AND ABOUT SCHOLARS www.africanscholar.co.za

XA A | E

OR M P

TA L

VOLU

ME 05

APR-

JUN 20 13 R24.99

AFRICAN SCHOLAR IS THE

F R IC

It is a youthful and vibrant educational journal aimed at diverse individuals. We unequivocally strive to inform, educate, entertain and inspire African scholars.

Our space is a great platform for a plethora of media solutions to a wide range of organizations.

Tevaughnay Van Wyk

@Soil_Child

PROFILE

Soil Child Clothing www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Careers In Africa

The Talent Gap in Africa:

Challenges to Businesses

ith many markets across Africa in double digit growth, expansion in the continent is high on the agenda of companies around the world. Despite this potential however, Africa faces one big challenge in creating sustainable growth, a talent gap hindering the pace of growth. This is a challenge recognised at the top level, as the 16th Annual Global Survey

www.africanscholar.co.za

conducted by PwC in 2012 of over 1300 CEO’s, highlighted that 82% of African CEO’s view the availability of key skills as a threat to business growth. As human capital is the key to growth in this market, finding the right talent to ensure continued growth for organisations is paramount. Constraints on the availability of local talent possessing the skills and expertise to support businesses in a booming economy will have a major impact on

future growth. Assessing skilled human capital in many African countries is an issue, and many do not have the expertise or experience required by the businesses to fulfil the roles available – the roles that will drive businesses – subsequently resulting in many turning to the pool of available diaspora to ensure business growth. The talent gap widens the higher up the hierarchy of a company you go, with the lack of soft skills and international experience

Careers In Africa

required at a managerial level being the catalyst for companies to seek talent from outside Africa. Although this is one solution to ensure continued growth, it overlooks the fact that the real issues are around developing local talent to meet these organisational requirements. Local talent needs to be supported and developed early on to reach the skill and experience levels required by companies in Africa. Companies need to nurture Africa’s future business leaders from the outset to ensure the talent pool is available to them at a local level. It is inevitable that the levels of growth will slow down if local talent is not managed and developed. What is required is a deeper understanding of the skills needed, and skills specifically that will benefit businesses in the African market, some of which do not currently exist in the local talent pool available. In most cases, a mix of both local and diaspora talent could be the solution – ensuring local talent is exposed to those who have gained international experience in order to share their knowledge and expertise, creating a development agenda within organisations. This is until the levels of

education and work experience available to African talent wishing to stay in their home country are at the standard required by organisations, and therefore more competitive internationally. Alongside this, the cultural knowledge and understanding of the market place that local talent can bring to a company is also essential. Without this deeper level of understanding of a market place, organisations may find growth is not at a level they require as this intrinsic knowledge is invaluable. It must also be taken into consideration that returning diaspora, whilst they may have certain soft skills required to fulfil an organisations requirements, may need support re-integrating back into society. How long they have been away and their level of experience and education could have an adverse effect in terms of embedding themselves easily into the culture and environment of an organisation. The Talent Agenda 2014 Conference organised by Global Career Company is taking place on May 16th in London at the Hilton in Canary Wharf. It aims to cover this increasingly important topic for discussion, and is a unique opportunity to bring together HR Leaders, business leaders and academics

FEATURE

to provide an understanding of the challenges businesses face in finding or creating the talent needed to operate and grow internationally. Alex Mugan, Marketing Director at Global Career Company said about the conference: “Rapid growth creates demand in human capital, not just for new talent, but for the delivery of excellence across the field. From inhouse recruiters to consultancies and agencies, this is the reality for anyone operating in Africa. The Talent Agenda 2014 Conference is a long term view of the market place as it stands and where it wants to get to. Assessing and addressing the issues, and creating a blueprint to support businesses in achieving human capital excellence, is critical to the success of all professionals in this space.’ With a packed agenda and a panel of guest speakers from companies such as Exim Bank, Amatheon Agri Holding, Ashridge, Schlumberger and Unilever, Talent Agenda 2014 will lead the discussion on human capital excellence in Africa. There are still a limited number of opportunities to attend so contact Global Career Company for more information on conference@globalcc.net.

www.africanscholar.co.za

CAREERS IN AFRICA RECRUITMENT SUMMITS

The brightest talent meets the biggest brands. T networking, interviews and hiring for opportuni OUR 350+ CLIENTS INCLUDE

Be a pa www.careers 34

www.africanscholar.co.za

Three days of ities across Africa.

art of it sinafrica.com www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Dirane Thato Mosholi

Question & Answer:

Dirane Thato

Mosholi Words By Thabiso Senatla

ell us who you are and your background I am Dirane, a proud Sotho woman and Joburger. I have a simple complexity about me in that I am so simple it may seem complicated to some. I was born in Kimberley but I was brought to Johannesburg and

www.africanscholar.co.za

raised by my father as a baby and I have called Johannesburg home ever since. I studied my law degree at the University of the Witwatersrand and went to a number of schools prior to that. Social issues interest me greatly and I am constantly trying to apply my mind to the social issues within our societies and trying to better myself

based on my conclusions. Briefly give us the nature or scope of your current work. I am a legal advisor to the Bank, designated in Business Banking (Merchant Services and Forex). My job entails ample contract drafting, contractual management, providing legal support to the Fraud area,

providing day to day legal advice to business and liaising with the attorneys we use for litigation purposes. What I do comes with a great level of responsibility and I love that. While others may feel that it is being “thrown into the deep end”, I see it as ample opportunity to learn and grow. The Graduate Programme Experience is handed to graduates, where they are split into teams and engage with various FNB branches during the induction period. Question: How can you describe your interpersonal skills, and how are you planning to create an everlasting and beneficial relationship/bond between yourself, your fellow graduates, the bank managers and the broad staff? The manner in which the Graduate training is set up makes it extremely easy to develop ones interpersonal skills. When I started in the Programme I do not believe this was a skill I initially had. Over time and through my interaction with my fellow graduates and the Branch employees I have learnt the importance of giving as well as opening myself up to knowledge about various backgrounds. The work environment I am in thus makes it easier to exhibit interpersonal skills. What my interactions have taught me is that having the opportunity to work for an establishment with values aligned to mine is exceedingly important because loyalty to ones employer is paramount in building beneficial relationships both inside and outside the workplace. Through my interaction with my colleagues I became motivated and reaffirmed in my ability to contribute to this company and because of that, maintaining relationships is easy. The work ethic and spirit of partnership I experienced and continue to experience from my colleagues is highly beneficial as they have shown me what it means to be a leader (be it from the front, the side or the back) and this was important to me as it helped me realise my purpose as a leader in my own right. All the relationships I have established, will

“

Dirane Thato Mosholi

FEATURE

having the opportunity to work for an establishment with values aligned to mine is exceedingly important because loyalty to ones employer is paramount in building beneficial relationships both inside and outside the workplace.”

- Dirane Thato Mosholi, Legal Advisor, Business Banking, FNB

certainly be easy to maintain due to the culture of sharing of knowledge, not only in the Graduate Programme but within the Bank as a whole. Looking at the “networking” point of view, this question is similar and a follow up of what I have just asked above. During induction, you had a great opportunity to meet with the higher level employees though this program. You were given an edge to connect, and form relationships with those employees, which is really good – as they will give you relevant information about the company. Question: How are you going to use that information, and how are you going to make sure that the information provided adds value in your career path? The interaction with higher level employees is highly important and speaks a lot to the culture at FNB and the message which became exceedingly obvious was that no one is too important for anyone. In as much as the high level employees are willing to teach, they are willing to learn, which is great. The information learnt from those employees is valuable because it made it easier to know what is expected of you in the workplace. It is extremely motivational to know that people who have made their mark in the corporate world are not only normal people but they showed us that their success is attainable, the experience was humbling. It is said that this programme will give you a platform as a graduate to understand that all your work is taken seriously, as innovative solutions have

a chance of being implemented. Question: As a graduate, how innovative are you and which innovative solutions can you bring/ implement which will also help in measuring the success of this initiative? As a young lawyer and graduate I believe one of the most important and undervalued ideals in the workplace is innovation. The law and innovation work together in that with law one has to find creative and analytical solutions to problems, that creativity meant that I could give fresh input and new perspective to situations and perhaps come up with several innovations in the workplace myself, which I have. Creating efficiencies is also an innovation! Within my team we want to be seen as a team which is innovative and finds better ways of doing things and this is a daily work in progress. Systems theory, which deals with communication within an organization says that: “Systems (businesses) must adapt or they perish.” Meaning that organizations and every individual within them must adapt to new environment, in order to learn new things from different people. Question: Each business has its own working environment, which includes its culture and the way in which they do things in general. How will you make sure that you adapt to that business culture with an impression of producing expected results? Fitting into my Business was easy because we have relatively young team and luckily my colleagues are ever ready and willing to teach. In order to fit in and adapt I had to be myself and I had

www.africanscholar.co.za

“

FEATURE

Dirane Thato Mosholi

Communication with ones colleagues and direct superiors is also paramount to determining what is expected of you, I made use of all opportunities to communicate my concerns and all opportunities to exhibit my strengths. Everyone is a different personality and every team has a different culture, it takes a special combination of mature personalities to accept each other as they are. Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change”.

- Dirane Thato Mosholi, Legal Advisor, Business Banking, FNB to be willing to learn and assist where I could. No task was too small but I also had to make sure that I was catering to my personal growth. Communication with ones colleagues and direct superiors is also paramount to determining what is expected of you, I made use of all opportunities to communicate my concerns and all opportunities to exhibit my strengths. Everyone is a different personality and every team has a different culture, it takes a special combination of mature personalities to accept each other as they are. “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change” Each graduate gets an opportunity to meet with the “Big Bosses,” it is said… and this is an amazing aspect/

opportunity of joining the FNB Graduate Program. Question: What question can you think of that you may ask those executives, what is it that you want to learn from them and what is it that you can offer in order for them to learn from you as well?

www.africanscholar.co.za

The questions I had for the executives were: • What is the potential for growth • Is there room for growth • Are black females appropriately represented in executives positions • What holds females back in the workplace • What holds black females back in the workplace • What is the benefit of the organization to the ordinary employees • How do you get to where you are It is said that, by choosing FNB as an employer, already you have afforded yourself the opportunity of having an idea of different segments of the bank. Question: What are your aspirations about this opportunity, how are you finding it and how are you willing to grow in moving forward? Having the opportunity to exposure to different areas of the Bank is exciting as personal growth is promoted, ones knowledge of the banking sector is broadened and so is the level of expertise which can be provided. I would personally prefer to remain in my segment until I feel that I have learnt all I can learn and made a substantial impact. I am looking forward to gaining expertise in another area in the near future. The graduate programme is done in groups. The top3 innovations are awarded prizes which ranges from an

overseas trip to Paris, Cape Town and Sun City, and many more in addition. Question: What is your view on this, is it serving as a motivation for you to work hard? Different things motivated me to work hard during the Graduate project and the top prize was a great pusher! Unfortunately there could only be one winner. In having a concise look at aspects around this programme, which includes: Induction, Banking Channels Projects, Working in the Business Units, Meeting the CEO’s, Training, Networking and so on – just to mention a few. Question: What is your motivation, just leave us with an inspirational/ motivational quote… what would you like to say to those that have an interest to take part in the upcoming graduate programme? A big part of why I joined FNB and have elected to remain here is due to the work culture and atmosphere which is an open culture promoting growth and self sufficiency. It is important to be in a work environment that challenges you and provides opportunities for growth. To those that have interest in applying to the Bank, have faith in yourself and apply. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain! The Graduate Programme is highly beneficial as they give one the tools to survive in a highly complex business environment and because FNB is the most innovative bank in the World, we’re always striving for bigger and better which means as an employee, you can only want bigger and better for yourself. One of my favourite writers, Iyanla Vanzant, has been quoted saying: “We cannot draw to ourselves more than what we think we are worth”. Believe that you are worth everything you set your heart and mind to, I do!

Dirane Thato Mosholi

FEATURE

www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Nedbank Property Finance Academy

Future Leader:

Front: Graeme Jay (Programme Director: Wits Enterprise), Pravashni Govender, Craig Jacobsen, Portia Muyunda (Head: Human Resource, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance), Taahira Amod, Graciousness Mashila, Prof Dave Root ((Head of School: Construction Economics & Management, Wits University Enterprise), Justine Bennet (Head: Learning and Organisational Development - NCPF) Second: Michelle Smart (Manager: Learning and Organisational Development - NCPF), Frank Berkeley (ME: Nedbank Corporate Property Finance), Abishek Rama, Calvin Madubanya, Aldo Mostert Back: Cebo Nikelo, Patience Rakgwale, Grace Moloi, Bashnee Naidu, David Ngobeni, Abe Thebyane (Nedbank Group Executive: Human Resources) Dale Rosenberg, Themba Mngadi

ccording to The Adcorp Employment Index for November and December 2013, South Africa’s skills shortage is not being met by the local supply of high-skilled workers. In response, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance has attempted to close this gap with the Nedbank Property Finance Academy facilitated by Wits University Enterprise, which on the 4th of March 2014 saw the graduation of 14 students.

www.africanscholar.co.za

“The Property Finance Academy was initiated in response to the relatively small property industry skills base, with a limited pool of resources in South Africa,” says Frank Berkeley, Managing Executive – Nedbank Corporate Property Finance. “Since its inception in 2008, it has contributed significantly to the up-skilling of the talent within our business,” he adds. In its short history, the Academy has been recognised as an industry leader, and was

Nedbank Property Finance Academy

FEATURE

The Nedbank

Property Finance Academy

Left to Right: 2nd Runner Up: Cebo Nikelo, Top Student : Aldo Mostert, 1st Runner Up: Craig Jacobsen

selected as the winner of the 2010 Finance Sector Award at the Skills Summit Achiever Award. It was acknowledged for displaying exceptional creativity and innovation and for bringing about positive change in the industry. Berkeley adds that the Academy enables staff to acquire the highly technical and specialist skills that are mandatory in the industry, therefore building confidence and raising standards. This results in the transformation of the SA property industry and the ongoing improvement of the banking sector. Each of the 14 graduates from across Gauteng, KwaZuluNatal and the Cape received a Wits Certificate in Property Finance Practice (NQF level 6). “We are proud to be part of a learning culture and pleased to be giving back to the South African property industry. This graduation ceremony is one of the many ways in which Nedbank aims to make a tangible contribution towards accelerating transformation at Nedbank and the property industry,” concludes Berkeley. The Nedbank Academy is a corporate university designed to grow expertise and leadership across every area of the Nedbank group. It is an innovative and integrated approach to learning. The various academies – six in total – have seen about 853 leaders and professionals trained since inception. Nedbank Academies: • • • • • •

Leader Manager Human Resources Risk Management Property Finance Retail Banking Business Banking

www.africanscholar.co.za

GLOBAL LEADERS START HERE

Acha Leke Has worked at McKinsey since 1999 in both Johannesburg and Lagos. Partner at the Johannesburg Office, Acha holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford. He was selected as a Global Young Leader in 2009, by The World Economic Forum.

www.mckinsey.co.za 42

www.africanscholar.co.za

OUR YOUTH. OUR FUTURE

CAREER GUIDANCE The Most Important Decision Of Your Life Are you struggling to make a decision on what to do after school? Whether you want to study further? What subject or course? Where to find the money for it? Or how to start looking for a job? Or do you want to start your own business? These decisions are some of the most important ones that you are going to make in your life. It will have a long lasting influence on your life, your future work and your self esteem. At the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) we know that many young people in South Africa struggle to access reliable and up-to-date information upon which to make informed choices about their lives and their futures. If you are one of them, help is at hand. The NYDA can assist you in making your choices: in the Youth Advisory Centres across South Africa, we have experienced Career Guidance practitioners who can sit with you and advise you on your choices, based on a sound assessment of your interests, your personality and your competencies. They can help in choosing your subjects, applying for studies, or for a loan or bursary. Or teach you how to prepare for your first interview. Or offer help in writing a business plan. Just use the voucher below. Whether you are in school or out of school, skilled or unskilled, employed or unemployed, the NYDA will be able to provide your with appropriate guidance. You have to be between 14 and 35 though. For more information, visit our website www.nyda.gov.za or call our call centre on 08600 YOUTH (96884). For addresses of the Youth Advisory Centres, check reverse. TEAR ON THE LINE >>

<< TEAR ON THE LINE

Career Guidance Voucher For a free Career Guidance session at one of the NYDA Youth Advisory Centres. Please take this voucher with you and show upon request. www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

NYDA

President Jacob Zuma launches NYDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund

ver 200 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds can today be counted among thousands who will this year enrol in various institutions of higher learning across the country, thanks to the National Youth Development Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (NYDA) inaugural Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund. Established by the NYDA in late 2013 the R20-million Scholarship Fund was officially launched by President Jacob Zuma at the Sandton Convention Centre in March 2014. During the launch the NYDA also unveiled the first group of beneficiaries of

www.africanscholar.co.za

the Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund provides financial support to young people who have been accepted to pursue full-time degrees in courses that fall within the priority growth sectors and critical and scarce skills areas as outlined in the labour planning frameworks of the country. The Scholarship Fund, which the NYDA is striving to make the biggest on the continent, will benefit deserving South African youth who meet the minimum entry requirements set by the NYDA - youth who have been admitted for study at Universities

NYDA

and Universities of Technology, locally and in some cases internationally. International scholarships will be considered if they have been endorsed by a South African government department or a credible public or private agency. The Scholarship Fund covers 100% costs of the student’s studies, including tuition, books, meals and accommodation. The Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund is in honour of the late struggle icon, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, a young member of Umkhonto Wesizwe who was wrongfully arrested and in 1979, aged 23, executed under apartheid laws. Students who will be considered for the scholarship are those who have been accepted to register in the following fields of study:

• • • • • • • • • • •

ICT Law Tourism Geology Logistics Pharmacy Journalism Agriculture Engineering Development Studies Supply Chain Management

The NYDA has set aside R10-million for the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship while the Department of Higher Education has pledged a further R10-million to go towards this fund. “The vision we have is to grow this

FEATURE

scholarship into a multi-billion fund, the biggest in the continent, opening the doors of learning to our youth and therefore we are making a clarion call to the private sector and public sector to come on board,” said Yershen Pillay, Chairperson of the NYDA. The launch was attended by Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Mduduzi Manana, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, Chief Mahlangu of the amaNdebele and member of the Solomon Mahlangu Family, and scholarship recipients who were accompanied by their parents.

www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Maths & Science

Maths & Science in

South Africa

n South Africa, as in many other countries, there is great concern about the underachievement of especially Grade 12 Mathematics and Physical Sciences learners and, eventually and inevitably, the effect of this challenge on tertiary study on the national economy. Performing well in Mathematics and Physical Sciences at school and at tertiary level university holds the promise of survival not only for individual learners, but indeed for developing countries collectively. Far too many learners in Mathematics and Physical Sciences in particular still underachieve in Grade 12, something that has a far-reaching negative effect on their chances of gaining access to tertiary institutions and choosing a career, designing a successful life and making social contributions. This is unsurprising. Fundamental changes in the workplace across all countries in recent times call for a contemporary response from Mathematics and Physical Sciences teaching theorists and practitioners as well as researchers and learners. An approach

www.africanscholar.co.za

to teaching in learning in Mathematics and Physical Sciences is needed that will enable Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers to equip learners with the necessary skills to respond to these changes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a positive teaching and learning approach in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. In the final instance, Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers and learners alike should exploit change to advance positive career counselling â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the ultimate aim of theory and praxis in the field. The following should be kept in mind when we reflect on teaching and learning in Mathematics and Physical Sciences: (i) To learn by oneself is meaningful. Often, when work makes sense for them, learners will tackle problems that they consider difficult, but they will ask for help when they need it. (ii) The ability to master Mathematics and Physical Sciences content is carried forward from one generation to the

“

The aim is to help many more learners achieve above 70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Achievement of this aim will undoubtedly help them qualify for and successfully complete sought-after study courses at tertiary level.

DPhil (Psychology), DEd (Career Counselling), PhD (Subject Didactics Mathematics) Psychologist (Educational)

next. Learners acquire the syllabus with the help of their parents, siblings, books, the radio, television, and information communication technology-related facilities (such those that John Bransby and his colleagues have developed) and their cultural milieu. (iii) Learning is infinitely more than mere coaching. To the same extent that learners are dependent on their culture for information and counsel (for example, they can only learn to count once they have been taught the names of the figures), to the same extent it is true that they themselves will guide the process of learning. Thus, they decide what they are interested in, when they want to learn or practise something, and when they wish to ask for information. (iv) Problem-solving, problem-centred learning, (social) constructivism and learner involvement during which learners discover, construct or shape their own standard strategies to solve problems, are quite acceptable – as one approach, one way of discovering ‘truths’, in conjunction with other approaches. (v) Discovery or creation in Mathematics and Physical Sciences classrooms and at home and during less formal teaching and learning opportunities need and should not occur in a logical-deductive manner only – classroom discussions (also in a group context), own activity, (class) discussions and independent work can only contribute to the construction of new work. It is evident from what has been said above that a meaningful combination of teaching and learning approaches, and pportunities in particular, shaped by our idiosyncratic circumstances, provide us with our best chance to achieve successful teaching and learning. This is exactly why I regard John and his colleagues’ ground-breaking efforts as so important. Viewed from a different, yet related perspective, it should be said that much has been written about underachievement in Mathematics and Physical Sciences at secondary and tertiary level, and many solutions have been proposed, yet little has been written on the role career counselling can play in helping solve the challenge. This important gap, too, is addressed by John and his colleagues by means of the resources being offered by their website, which should equip Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers and facilitators with the skills to facilitate

Maths & Science

FEATURE

learners’ reflection on their own reflections in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Even though it cannot be expected of teachers in Mathematics and Physical Sciences to become ‘experts’ in counselling, they need to be equipped with at least some basic reflective and narrative counselling skills as well because teaching Mathematics and Physical Sciences is optimised when it addresses the cognitive, affective and conative sides of learners in an integrated manner. Learners in their totality (not only their brain) should be involved in teaching and learning. Teaching at all levels should be underpinned by the knowhow to normalise learners’ multiple experiences, to encourage them and to inspire them during the learning facilitation process. Collaboration between Mathematics and Physical Sciences and life orientation teachers is thus needed to ensure that important information about students is made available to all stakeholders so that they can help students not only achieve in Mathematics and Physical Sciences but, more importantly, listen to and advise themselves regarding the salient elements of choosing a career, designing a successful life and making social contributions. John and his colleagues offer 15 000 pages on their website for free (everything is sponsored by he Actuarial Society of South Africa). This includes the following: The use of laptops, tablets, learner notebooks, computers, tablets and smart phones, either in classrooms or at home; learners using worksheets from which to do classwork and homework; the use of hardware and materials at school and at home; Grade 11 and 12 afternoon and Saturday tutorials; autumn, winter and spring school programmes; and the use of the forum on the website. Invaluable information is provided on study skills for Mathematics and Physical Sciences; on Career Counselling, on past tests and examination papers, as well as on all South African universities. The aim is to help many more learners achieve above 70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. Achievement of this aim will undoubtedly help them qualify for and successfully complete sought-after study courses at tertiary level. Moreover, and more importantly, this will go some way towards helping our country produce more actuaries, engineers, Mathematics and Physical Sciences teachers, doctors, accountants, as well as natural scientists and other professionals for the future. The resource potentially facilitates integrated intervention (integrated assessment and intervention) in Mathematics and Physical Sciences classrooms to make the teaching and learning in these classrooms truly dynamic. In a nutshell: Free access is given to every learner, anywhere in the country to state-of-the art materials that should help them to attain better marks in Mathematics and Physical Sciences. It thus seems that using John and his colleagues’ most useful website can significantly improve learners’ chances of not only achieving at tertiary level but, more importantly, also designing and living successful lives during which they can make important social contributions. I therefore take great pleasure in endorsing this novel and innovative idea without reservation.

www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Massmart

Graduate Programme Pertunia Maila - My Story

My name is Pertunia Maila, I am 25 years old. I am from Limpopo Province, and I was born in a family of three girls. I completed my matric at St Paul’s high school. After my matric I then enrolled at University of Johannesburg in the Faculty of Science to do a National Diploma in Food Technology. After attaining my diploma I enrolled again for a post graduate BTech degree in Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg and graduated on the 06 march 2014. Student life for me was challenging but also fairly fun at the same time. I have learned that in order to make it as a student, one needs extreme discipline and to create

www.africanscholar.co.za

a mutual balance between books and social life. I personally enjoyed my student life and believe that I’ve made it because I grounded and disciplined throughout my studies. I knew what I wanted and would constantly remind myself why I came to varsity and I never in a single day forgotten where I come from. On the 14th January 2013 I joined the Massmart Graduate Development Programme (GDP); what an awesome experience the GDP was. People say the GDP is difficult but I strongly dispute that, for me the GPD just requires one to be focused and to work hard. The GDP was an exciting challenging experience for

me because I joined the Programme only as a Food Technologist; I didn’t know the massive and detailed behind-the-scenes processes involved in the retail sector. I also applied the same principles of discipline in order to successfully complete the entire Programme. The Programme structure encompassed assessments, tests and presentations during the year and I wanted to be one of the best graduates in the group. After successfully completing the GDP I was granted the opportunity to join Makro Alberton as a Food Safety Officer. I am enjoying my job because food safety is one of the major components of Food Technology and I am able to convey my academic knowledge and expertise into the work environment. My academic background and my sincere interest in helping Makro grow fuels my passion to see Makro attain Walmart’s standards of food safety. So far my job has taught me to be patient and to respect others because I am interacting with various departments such as; goods receiving, returns, food floor and perishables. I also deal with in store service providers such as; butchery, fruit & veg, canteen, hot dog café and restaurant. I am so humbled and grateful to have been chosen to be part of the GDP class of 2013 and also for Makro granting me an opportunity to drive food safety in their store to ensure that our customers get products of the highest quality at all times.

Massmart

Sdu Mthombeni

etail in a nutshell is about the sale of goods to the end consumer, either for usage or consumption. Being in retail means you find yourself at the end of the supply chain. So a career in Retail, generally speaking would entail monitoring or overseeing the process of buying and selling goods profitably. Theoretically it is a simple concept, but in-between the buying and the selling there are lots of factors to take into consideration. I never thought I would end up in this industry back in high school. I spent my high school year at the Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg boarding school, in the Natal

Midlands. After I obtained my matric, I furthered my studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal Howard College, where I completed my BCom degree. I majored in Economics and Marketing. After the completion of my degree, it made sense to explore the world of business, which is how I developed an interest in retail. I then decided to apply for the Massmart Graduate Development Programme in 2008. I was actually applying for a Buying position within the Company, but due to the lack of experience, the Graduate Programme was recommended to me. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and six years later I am

FEATURE

still here. Upon completion of the Programme, I was placed within the Masscash Division as a Trainee Manager, after which I became a Store Manager designate. During this time I was exposed to the different functions within Store Operations in more detail. I also worked in different stores to experience the different markets, different staff and different leadership. I was extensively exposed to areas such as Goods Receiving, Sales Floor, Liquor, Frontend and Buying. As I was rotating in the various departments, I learned that people are our biggest asset in retail. They have to be nurtured, motivated and developed in order for them to perform optimally. The retail industry is evolving at a fast rate and we are constantly challenged to do more with minimum resources in order to stay ahead of our competitors. The use of technology makes it easier for the exchange and flow of information and has impact on how we conduct business. The arrival of e-commerce in the South African market also adds to the new demands placed on our stores in this ever changing business environment. In the past two years I was exposed more to the overall running of the whole store by doing relief work for store managers. This earned me the opportunity to become a Branch Manager of the Manguzi Cash and Carry, which I am very excited about. I would encourage any aspiring graduates who have a hands-on approach and customer centric approach to apply to the Massmart Graduate Development Programme. It has opened up many career opportunities for me and it can do the same for them.

www.africanscholar.co.za

LIFESTYLE

Roasted Chicken

Extraordinary Marinated and Roasted Chicken, Potatoes, and Chickpeas

Ingredients

out one 15-ounce can) 400 grams chickpeas (ab 800 grams potatoes cloves separated 1 medium head of garlic, thighs For the marinade: n cke chi on, 8 bone in, skin 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 to 3 lemons ar 1 1/2 teaspoon brown sug se nai yon ma 1 tablespoon k 1 tablespoon buttermil (or to your taste) te pas issa 1 teaspoon har Â˝ teaspoon chile flakes te 1 tablespoon tomato pas ce sau soy n poo les tab 1 Salt and pepper to season To finish/serve: whole cumin seeds 2 teaspoons dry-roasted one der leaves and stalks (or ian 80 grams chopped cor small handful) for each urt or tzatziki (or enough 300 milliliters Greek yog us dollop) serving to have a genero drain the chickpeas. The day before, rinse and

Directions

. Give them into 3 inch chunks Peel the potatoes and cut p hel to ave row mic the or so in the lemons 30 seconds

www.africanscholar.co.za

lying a on a flat surface while app release more juice, or roll little pressure. can. e out as much juice as you Slice in half and squeez bowl. m diu me a in er eth ients tog Mix the marinade ingred soning. Taste and adjust the sea lic in a ckpeas, potatoes, and gar chi n, cke chi Place the e out the eez Squ r in the marinade. large freezer bag and pou e that sur ke ma to bit a p it around air and seal the bag. Flo a bowl in or te here. Place on a pla the marinade gets everyw bag the n Tur . day a for marinate and pop in the fridge to t 24 hours. n the fridge over the nex over whenever you ope de, and rina ma n, cke chi t mix the (Alternatively, you can jus ered, in cov l, bow l, and place that other ingredients in a bow .) tes rina ma it nally as the fridge, mixing occasio oven are ready to eat, heat the An hour or so before you and ge frid the m fro the bag to 200Âş C (375Âş F). Remove ugh for a roasting dish large eno tumble the contents into pepper. and salt h wit son out. Sea everything to be spread Remove r. hou 1 h foil and cook for Cover the dish tightly wit the il unt so, or s ute min ther 15 the foil and cook for ano cooked through, and py cris are es ato chicken skin and pot efully little crunchy. Watch car and the chickpeas get a m gooey and fro go not s doe de rina to make sure the ma n and scatter p. Remove from the ove delicious to a burnt cris iander cor seeds and chopped over the roasted cumin leaves. the ek yoghurt or tzatziki on Serve with a dollop of Gre ed. worshipp side, and prepare to be

Chicken Legs

LIFESTYLE

Chicken Legs Ingredients serves 8 Makes one 11-inch tart; s leg For the chicken olive oil -on 8 to 10 chicken legs, skin 1 cup celery, diced ed 1 ½ cup yellow onion, dic ed on a bias slic ly thin s, rot 1 ½ cup car pped 12 to 18 garlic cloves, cho 1 cup dry white wine 2 cups tomato purée water 1 cup vegetable broth or ves lea 2 bay ary, minced 1 1/2 tablespoon rosem salt and f parsley, minced Kosher lea flat n 1 1/2 tablespoo fresh ground pepper

Directions

. Heat sides with salt and pepper Season the chicken on all the oven to 375˚ F. enough medium high heat. Add Place a large sauté over . Add ted coa t jus is tom bot t the olive oil to the pan so tha sides. all wn them generously on the chicken legs and bro ary. Adjust the heat as necess onions to the pan. Season and , ery cel s, Add the carrot brown. per. Let the vegetables them with salt and pep ary. Stir add the garlic and rosem Once the veggies brown tle nes t ran frag once the garlic is the veggies around and nt wa You s. gie veg tably with the the chicken legs comfor ng. n spooni you veggies and chicke hing. let it reduce to almost not and e win ite wh the d Ad scrape to on spo ng use a wooden While the wine is reduci . pan the of tom to the bot up all the good bits stuck a boil, broth. Bring the liquid to ble eta veg and ato Add tom

heated lid, then slide it into the cover with a parchment 1 hour. oven for 45 minutes to For the mashed potatoes , peeled and depending on their size 6 to 8 russet potatoes, cut into 1 inch rounds butter 6 tablespoons unsalted fresh sibly more kosher salt and pos k, mil ole 1/3 cup wh ground white pepper potaoven make the mashed While the chicken is in the and pot e larg a into led potatoes toes. Place the sliced pee da Ad . hes inc 4 by m the to cover add enough cold water . salt her kos of n poo tables l. Once heat and bring it to a boi Place the pot over high boiling m fro pot t to keep the it is boiling reduce the hea over. if they check the potatoes to see After about 15 minutes of one dle mid kitchen knife into the are done by inserting a e don are s one er ato. If the larg of the larger pieces of pot . too be l wil s r one you are assured the smalle the potapierce the potato. Drain ily eas uld sho fe kni The utes to min few them steam for a toes into a colander. Let moisture. rid themselves of excess paddle or a stand mixer with a er mix a r, rice a Then using ken bro or mix the potatoes till attachment either rice, Season the pore. mo e som mix and down. Add the butter pepper. and fresh ground white tatoes with a touch of salt soning. Mix and then taste for sea Add the 1/3 cup of milk. k if the mil re necessary and add mo Adjust the seasoning as make you idy liqu careful as to how potatoes are too stiff. Be ato tom the e aus stiff side bec the potatoes. Error on the on the a lot as they co-mingle up m the sen loo l gravy wil platter. atoes a large platter. Top the pot Plate the potatoes onto ery. cel and ons oni s, n the carrot with the chicken legs the sley. par the on le ink spr and over all Ladle the tomato gravy Serve.

www.africanscholar.co.za

FEATURE

Lebogang Kola

Studietrust Bursary Recipient:

Lebogang Kola Words By Zamabongo Mojalefa

ebogang Kola is from a rural village in the outskirts of Polokwane. She is the daughter of a single mother who is a police officer. Lebogang grew up with her grandmother Sinah, her sibling and cousins. Lebo’s matric results were one of the best in her rural school; she is a leader and mentor to many of the younger learners in her school. She applied for many bursaries that were targeting the best of the best, rural students and other categories, but had negative responses to her application, the majority not even deeming to respond. Lebo put her hope in one application that she had sent through to Studietrust. She had heard about the organisation and how it cared for each student, a true fantasy in South Africa. The envelope eventually arrived with the Studietrust stamp at the back! The expectation, the

www.africanscholar.co.za

excitement, all these emotions fought for supremacy within her. With trembling fingers she tore open the envelope, hope rising within. “We regret to inform you that your bursary application was not successful.” Those words shattered the hope in her heart and she stared out into the village seeing her future, a young girl with a baby on her back, running to catch a taxi to her job as a domestic worker. She refused to be that girl. She refused for her circumstances to determine her future. Her grandmother Sinah softly took her hand and told her they need to go and pray for a miracle. Only God would be able to help them now. With a heavy heart but still obedient to the elderly woman, she wrapped her scarf around her head and they began the long walk to the prayer mountain. During prayers Lebo kept seeing people looking and staring at her, some irritated some amused, maybe

they could see her shame, maybe they could see her disappointment? It’s only when her grandmother poked her in the ribs that she realised her cell phone was ringing in her pocket. “Lebogang, this is Dr Hofmeyr from Studietrust, we would like to congratulate you in securing a partial bursary which will be topped up with a NSFAS loan.” She did not even wait to hear the rest of the sentence and started crying, she ran home to start packing for her new life at the University of Pretoria as a student in BCom Economics. Five years later after a one year internship at Nedbank, Lebo is a personal relationship banker at one of the most prestigious financial institutions in South Africa. Lebogang is one of thousands of students that have benefited not only from the financial administration of Studietrust, but the personal attention given to each student.

Lebogang Kola 40 years after its inception, Studietrust is not only one of the most capable bursary administrators in South Africa, but has maintained its creed through the years, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ” Gal. 6 verse 2. Studietrust is a non-profit, national bursary agency that was founded in 1974 by community members that were responding to the national educational crisis. This agency assists young people to empower themselves through further education and training in the struggle against poverty, ignorance and exploitation. The agency’s founders were not only interested in funding education but the core values of the organisation is poverty alleviation through education. Only when the individual is an economic participant and their efforts benefit the family and the community, is the work of Studietrust done. Lebo is now financially supporting her family and giving back to her community in knowledge and the career mentoring of young girls from her village. As the first member of her family to go to university her life is a measurable impact,

and the funder’s contribution is a higher return on investment. We as Studietrust invest in the professional development of our students in workshops that are held at their campuses to impart development skills. The students are seen by senior mentors twice a year one on one, where they are able to raise concerns around their academics. They can talk about their academic achievements and have someone on the other side who understands (many students have illiterate guardians, who sometimes cannot grasp the importance of academic achievements or failures). The mentors give perspective to panicked students and guidance to those who are seeking career guidance. They also push students to do better and excel academically so that they attract the best job vacancies. Studietrust through the years has secured many corporate funders that believe in the holistic approach to supporting their bursars and thus ensuring that at the end of a qualification, they not only are receiving good graduates but well developed career

FEATURE

literate and innovative individuals. All our students have a give back attitude of living and always striving to pull others up as they climb corporate success ladders. Studietrust funders include the following; AVI Limited, Coronation Fund Managers, Investec Bank, FNB Fund, Standard Bank, Sun International, Pioneer Foods, Sasol Inzalo Foundation, DG Murray Trust, Prudential Portfolio Managers, Sasol Petroleum International, Rand Merchant Bank and individual donors that give of their own personal funds monthly or yearly. Studietrust also works in supporting bursary programs that require a holistic support program for their bursars such as the Industrial Development Corporation. This is when Studietrust delivers a developmental support program to students through peer mentoring, building a community and professional enhancement of students. Here is to another 40 years of building a South Africa of UBUNTU through Studietrust.

Make your suede suave, with Plush. Softens. Nourishes. Revives.

www.plush.co.za

www.africanscholar.co.za

REGULAR

LoveLife

A ‘cut’ above the rest

uys! Going under the knife is a scary thought – especially when the D is concerned – but the benefits of circumcision far outweigh the pain. Angelo C Louw explores

You’ve seen the billboards: “Make the Decision: Circumcision”, “Get Free Male Medical Circumcision: The Time is Now” … heck, even religious leaders are pushing for their followers to get cut. Why the sudden push for the nation to circumcise? Well, a recent study headed by French researcher Bertran Auvert conducted in Orange Farm (a township south of Jozi) found that getting cut reduces your chances of contracting HIV by 60%. That means for every 10 uncircumcised guys who get infected, only four circumcised guys will get infected – and

www.africanscholar.co.za

that means that if more people get circumcised less people will contract HIV. But it is very important to remember that even if you have been circumcised, you still need to use a condom every time you have sex to protect yourself from HIV.

But, does it hurt?

“I’ve wanted to do it since high school but I was always scared because people say it’s painful,” said Floyd Maluleke, a 26-yearold from Erumas, Tshwane in South Africa. “But, the pain wasn’t that bad. I was able to walk out and was running about a week later.” Floyd decided to get circumcised because his foreskin made sex very uncomfortable for him. His foreskin was very tight

and erections would hurt. Even though his circumcision took longer to heal than he was led to believe, he says it was one of the best decisions he ever made. “By the eighth week, I was completely used to it,” he said.

How does HIV enter the penis? Auvert said the foreskin is meant to protect the gland of your penis and produces immune cells when it detects any foreign matter – to keep this gland clean. Because HIV replicates through immune cells, you stand a higher chance of getting infected. “When you remove the foreskin, you remove this function, reducing your risk of contracting HIV, but not completely,” he said. Auvert’s first study on the effect of circumcision on HIV infections saw him surveying in Benin, Cameroon, Kenya and Zambia. He found that HIV infections were less prevalent in Cameroon and Benin where more men were circumcised, and HIV infections were higher in Kenya and Zambia where more men were uncircumcised. “Sexual behaviour was consistent – in fact, risky sexual behaviour was higher in Cameroon – yet Cameroon and Benin experienced less HIV infections,” he said.

Dairy of a Circumcised Black Man 07 August 2013: I finally booked for my circumcision. I asked to pay in advance in case I chickened out – but the receptionist said no. 08 August 2013: They said I shouldn’t drink for a while after my circumcision so my best friend and I got stupid drunk tonight. My appointment is at 10am tomorrow. I’m setting my alarm for 7am. 09 August 2013: I woke up at 6am. I lay in bed Googling ‘Circumcisions Gone Wrong’ while my friend lay there passed out. I didn’t find anything bad though. I had a bath and looked at Junior. I thought: You’re never going to look the same. I hope I like you. I didn’t know what pants to wear: Jeans, tracksuit? I settled for my loose green pants and my favourite boxers. I shouldn’t have worn them because blood stains don’t come out easily. Oh well. We got to the doctor’s surgery. The receptionist was actually quite hot. My heart was beating like crazy – it was like I was going for an HIV test. My friend said I was freaking brave! The doctor called me in and said: “Drop your pants.” I said: “Aren’t you going to buy my dinner first?” He didn’t find it funny. The pain wasn’t bad, only the injections were painful. He did the first one and I said: “No, I want to stop”. The doctor said it will only hurt for two seconds and in two seconds I was numb. I walked out like I hadn’t done a thing.

LoveLife

“

REGULAR

I’ve wanted to do it since high school but I was always scared because people say it’s painful. But, the pain wasn’t that bad. I was able to walk out and was running about a week later.” - Floyd Maluleke because that means I’m healing. The doctor said it would take 10 days. He lied. He also said the stitches would dissolve, they didn’t. It came off taking a chuck of excess skin with it. I freaked out! I panicked and went to the doctor. He said it was fine. 3 September 2013: There is just one stitch left. I tried pulling it out but it was SO painful I left it. I looked at Junior and thought: You know what, that’s my D and there’s no going back. 15 September 2013: I tried having sex today. I’m so frustrated! It didn’t work. It was just way too painful. 5 October 2013: It’s still a bit sore, especially when I get hard. They said I’d be better by now. Gosh, it itches all the time! I love how it looks when erect – like a porn star D. 27 October 2013: I was still a bit tender last week, but I’m completely used to it now.

Circumcision DON’Ts • You have the right to safe medical circumcision, exercise it! Don’t let just any Tom … err … Dick or Harry touch play with your life. Go to a clinic or hospital where the circumcision will be done by a trained doctor or nurse. • Don’t have sex until it’s healed. The healing process takes six weeks, during which time you may not have sex or masturbate. If you do, the wound will take longer to heal. • Keep calm and speak to your clinic or doctor. Like with any surgical procedure, there can be problems after a circumcision, but in most cases these are slight. Go and speak to a healthcare professional if things look a bit funny.

21 August 2013: The first stitch came out today. I’m excited

www.africanscholar.co.za

5 REASONS TO JOIN TFG 1. We are AWESOME! 2. We comprise of 17 exciting retail brands 3. Endless career opportunities 4. Great work culture 5. Cutting edge products A SNAPSHOT OF OUR GRAD PROGRAM • Runs for 12 - 18 months • You will receive an excellent coach • Specialized training • Market – related salary package

www.africanscholar.co.za

www.iamme.co.za

www.facebook.com/TFGIAMME

www.africanscholar.co.za

Take your future where you want it to go. Start today. Graduate Opportunities As we set out to shape the future of Barclays, we’re looking to our graduates to be a driving force. So whichever of our programmes you join, you’ll get the freedom and support to make the right kind of impact. Your ideas will inspire us. You’ll build up the skills you’ll need to become a leader for our future. You’ll lay the foundations for a lasting and prosperous career in our global business. And it all starts today. Apply at joinus.barclays.com/africa From April to July 2014.

joinus.barclays.com/africa

Barclays Bankwww.africanscholar.co.za PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England. Registered number 1026167. Registered Office: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.