Public Sector Leaders | July 2024 by Topco Media

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

An interview with Michelle Phillips CEO, Transnet

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Health tips and advice Leading with purpose

LEADING BRANDS IN AFRICA

Which are the top brands in Africa? How do local brands fare vs international?

CORPORATE WELLNESS

17-18

JULY 2024

The Maslow Hotel, Sandton

22 | Business lessons from Madiba Four leaders exemplifying Madiba

26 | How to celebrate Nelson Mandela Day

What you can do to honour Madiba

30 | Government of National Unity

New Cabinet prioritising economic growth

32 | Bheki Nxumalo

Transforming Eskom to address SA’s energy needs

34 | Public Procurement Bill

Effective implementation is vital to the success of the legislation, explains Paul Vos

36 | Top brands in Africa

A dive into the best loved local and international brands

38 | MV Logos Hope

The library on waters visits Cape Town, spreading literacy across the seas

40 | National Arts Festival

Celebrating creativity in the festivals 50th year

52 | Corporate Wellness

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Is your health at risk? Sue Ramauthar has some tips

58 | Staying warm this winter

5 tips on how to fight the winter chills

10 | Addressing the Nation

Electricity milestone gives us encouragement to do more

| Cover Story

INSETA CEO, Gugu Mkhize: Leading with purpose 28 | Women in Leadership Interview with Michelle Phillips, Transnet CEO 42 | Trailblazer Dr Imitaz Sooliman, Gift of Givers 44 | In Other News

Rhinos relocated to Greater Kruger area as part of rewilding initiative

46 | SA Sporting Action

Highlights from July and what look out for in August

50 | Regional Focus

KwaZulu-Natal: Weathering the storms 54 | Legal Matters

Mediation and arbitration in the workplace

56 | Financial Fitness

SARS and tax breaks: Make the most of your benefits this tax season

60 | Upcoming Events

July calendar of commemorative events

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Discover the latest trends, success stories, and thought leadership in our 23rd edition of Impumelelo Top Empowerment

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the July edition of Public Sector Leaders (PSL)

In his letter to the nation, penned on 8 July, President Cyril Ramaphosa took the opportunity to focus on the suspension of load shedding for 100 days and what this means for the country:

“We have seen real progress in the implementation of the Energy Action Plan, which we initiated in July 2022, and are now witnessing some of the results of the cooperation between government, business and other social partners. Thanks to the diligent implementation by Eskom of its Generation Operational Recovery Plan as well as a stepped

up maintenance schedule, there has been a marked improvement in the performance of the power stations that produce the bulk of South Africa’s electricity.” –H.E. Ramaphosa

Our front cover icon this month is Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) CEO, Gugu Mkhize. We asked her about her most memorable moments during her tenure at the helm of INSETA:

“Coming up with strategies and programmes that change the lives of people is really what would be my main highlight - seeing a life change when someone graduates - that for me is really why we exist here.”

In this July edition of PSL we celebrate our revered human rights champion and globally renowned leader, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela and pay tribute to him and his example to humanity with a number of articles, including a guide to some of the meaningful ways you can celebrate his birthday on July 18.

Continuing on the great humanitarian trajectory, our Trailblazer is none other than Dr Imtiaz Sooliman who heads up the Gift of the Givers. Dr Sooliman is internationally renowned for assisting those who are the most vulnerable and in greatest need. Since its inception in 1992, the organisation has been responsible for the delivery of life-saving goods and on-the-ground support for innumerable people, collectively valued at some R4.5-billion, in more than 45 countries across the globe, including South Africa.

Our Woman in Leadership this month is Michelle Phillips CEO of Transnet; we spoke to Michelle to find out what her plans and priorities are for this all-important role:

EDITOR’S LETTER

BY FIONA WAKELIN

"I really want Transnet to be everything it can be for this country. I want to see it remain sustainable and make a contribution as a stateowned asset. It's so fundamental to the growth of the economy and South Africa.”

A good news story in our Other News regular slot is the rewilding of the endangered members of our precious natural heritage – we take a look at rhinos being relocated to the Greater Kruger area. Continuing with reasons to celebrate, we zoom in on some of the amazing artists and artworks taking centre stage at the National Arts Festival this year. And if you are wondering about SARS and the tax season, w is here with some tips and advice in the Financial Fitness section.

Have you ever wondered which are brands leading the way in Africa –wonder no more with our article that takes a dive into the best loved local and international brands which are taking our continent by storm.

Public Sector Leaders is known for celebrating South African success stories and this month we have started with what we are planning to be an addition to our regular features – SA Sporting Action.

A July edition would not be complete with a look at the new GNU and the ministers who have been allocated to the current portfolios.

From all of us at Public Sector Leaders, we hope you enjoy the read.

FIONA WAKELIN | GROUP EDITOR

BY FIONA WAKELIN

Electricity milestone gives us encouragement to do more

In his letter to the nation penned on July 8, His Excellency focused on the 100 days since South Africa last experienced load shedding - the longest continuous period since 2020cautioning us to celebrate the milestone whilst remaining aware that our electricity system remains vulnerable.

“Thanks to the diligent implementation by Eskom of its Generation Operational Recovery Plan as well as a stepped up maintenance schedule, there has been a marked improvement in the performance of the power stations that produce the bulk of South Africa’s electricity.

“Eskom last week successfully commissioned Unit 5 at the Kusile power station, adding an additional 800 MW to the grid. This follows the power utility’s work to return three units at Kusile to service ahead of schedule.” H.E. Ramaphosa

This improvement in the reliability of power supply has been a relief for households and businesses alike. President Ramaphosa referenced the latest consumer confidence index compiled by the Bureau

for Economic Research (BER) which found that the suspension of load shedding was a factor that contributed towards increased consumer confidence in the second quarter of this year. This improvement has a knock-on effect on the national economy.

Further cause for optimism is that steelmaker ArcelorMittal has announced that it will not go ahead with plans to close its operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging, listing improvements in the country’s electricity and logistics situations as among the factors behind its decision.

In April the South African Reserve Bank noted that “as electricity supply improves gradually, underpinned by the ongoing private investment in renewable energy generation and increased maintenance by Eskom”, South Africa’s near and medium-term outlook for growth is set to increase.

“We are committed to continue and complete the far-reaching structural reforms we started during the sixth administration to resolve the immediate electricity supply challenges and lay the groundwork for energy security into the future. These reforms included the removal of the licensing threshold for new power generation projects, tax incentives for rooftop solar, opening more bid windows for renewable energy projects, and improving Eskom’s operational viability.

“The latest milestone reached in the structural reform journey is the commencement of trading last week of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTSA), which will own and operate the country’s national electricity transmission system. This forms part of the reforms we have been driving to establish an electricity market that will enable competition, secure supply and revolutionise the energy sector.

“As the Government of National Unity begins its work, we will sustain this momentum. By focusing on the broader picture and by scaling up what has already been achieved, we are in a far better position to achieve the task we have set ourselves: to end load shedding and achieve an energy-secure future. We have reached 100 days without load shedding by working together.

“This should encourage us to redouble our efforts and to strengthen the collaboration between all stakeholders in both the public and private sectors,” –President Ramaphosa. economy that benefits all South Africans,” H.E. Ramaphosa.

COVER STORY: INSETA

BY FIONA WAKELIN AND KOKETSO MAMABOLO

GUGU MKHIZE

Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority CEO

Leading with purpose

INSETA is a training and skills development authority entrusted with the responsibility of driving skills development in the insurance industry. This is accomplished through a number of pillars: firstly, research and Innovation which provides intelligence on the skills required for the current and future of the insurance industry - the trends and the changes that are taking place. Secondly the delivery of learning programmes which entail learnerships, internships and skills programmes for unemployed youth as well as workers in the insurance industry and small businesses. The third pillar is quality assurance, which includes the accreditation process as well as the test certification of all the INSETA programmes.

Recently, together with 4 other SETAs, INSETA launched its first high impact rural programme in the North West in partnership with Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Traditional Authority - a project for 1 200 young people intended to provide skills in insurance,

digital skills, fibre processing and manufacturing skills, agriculture and wholesale & retail skills.

Public Sector Leaders met with INSETA CEO, Gugu Mkhize to find out more about the training authority and what she is passionate about. We started out by asking what winning the Standard Bank Top Women Public Sector Award means to the training authority.

We are grateful for the accolade from Standard Bank Top Women because we believe that the work we do not only has an impact in the insurance industry. It is humbling to be recognised for our role as a skills development authority. On a daily basis we impact countless young people, workers in the sector and the industry through our programmes. The sustainability of the industry hinges on the in structured investment current and future skills.

BY FIONA WAKELIN AND KOKETSO MAMABOLO

HIGHLIGHTS OF A 20-YEAR CAREER

My leadership journey was fasttracked more than a decade ago when I assumed management and senior roles. Having worked in 7 organisations, I am glad that having started from the bottom, my career progressed organically, and I dare say that I was mentored by the very best leaders. My journey has been characterised by resilience, learning and determination to realise the impact of any role that I occupied.

At INSETA, one of the programmes we initiated won an award - the Insurance Sector Student Fund, which we established to assist young people that come from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and lack of access to funds for studying at university or higher education institutions. It is an innovative programme which was conceptualised in 2021 and has attracted 15 industry partners. This co-funded programme with the insurance industry is a game changer for promoting transformation. Its focus is funding workers in the sector, the unemployed youth in scarce and critical skills. It has also allowed unemployed beneficiaries to progress from bursaries to internships or graduate development programme into employment.

The funding is then split between us so that we can fund these unemployed young people and then immediately after that, place them in an internship programme within the same organisation that has provided funding, with the hope that when they complete their internship, they will be absorbed into full time employment. So, there's a clear cut career path for them. It's a joint investment that the SETA and industry are making so that young people are given the opportunity that they require, based on scarce and critical skills.

Implementing strategies and programmes that change the lives of our programme beneficiaries is

my main highlight! - seeing a life change when someone graduates, or completes our programmes and mostly, secures employment! - that for me is our “realised mission”.

THE GREATEST CHALLENGES?

We have worked tirelessly to transition from a manual organisation into automation and that came with challenges of implementing new systems and change management internally and externally. As a response strategy, we have built internal capacity and taken over full control of the systems, and this has contributed to significant improvements in the system. Through collaboration and continuous improvements, we now have fully operational and efficient, which we've been able to develop over the past two to three years.

HOW HAS TECHNOLOGY CHANGED THINGS?

The insurance industry is part of the financial services sector, and a major contributor of the country’s economy. As technology continues to advance the industry from a skills perspective, the alignment between current skills and the industry needs becomes most critical. There is a need to continuously capacitate and train workers in the sector as technology directly affects the current jobs. Therefore, the workforce must acquire new skills, be reskilled, be multiskilled to adapt to these changes.

Historically the jobs that required face-to-face contact, have changed with automation and digitisation of service offerings in the insurance products. As technological advances occur in the industry, consumer needs have also changed which means there ongoing need to capacitate the workforce on technical insurance skills and customer-centric skills for improved client value proposition.

COVER STORY: INSETA

BY FIONA WAKELIN AND KOKETSO MAMABOLO

We have gone through our own journey of and customising our own cloud-based system managing all our data and automating some of our processes to make sure that we make working with us a bit more efficient and easier instead of the red tape of completing forms. However, because we are a state-owned entity, we still have to align ourselves with compliance. So, there are steps you cannot skip but we have managed to make things a little easier for our stakeholders.

IS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTING THE SECTOR?

Most definitely. The insurance industry continually assesses the natural risks and create mitigation solutions and models. The climate change leads to severe weather events, and it affects insurance companies, customers. Each time a natural disaster occurs, insurance companies reassess risk models and cost of the premiums effectively increases. INSETA is currently undertaking research on climate change and its impact in the insurance industry. Furthermore, we have identified some key skills interventions for claims managers, assessors and administrators for drone technology training. This programme will be delivered in partnership with the Transport SETA. This programme is intended to equip those employees working in the claims value chain.

It's important from a skills perspective to implement strategies that are responsive to the challenges confronting the industry by undertaking research, identifying the skills requirements, implementing the skills interventions and monitoring the impact of such interventions.

Our contribution to ESG is through research and innovation; INSETA has three research chairs namely the Wits University, Durban University of Technology and University of KwaZulu-Natal. These institutions support our work by embarking on research that creates the body of knowledge on the environment, sustainability and good governance. The outcomes of the climate change research will immensely benefit the industry to align additional skills requirements.

COVER STORY: INSETA

HOW DOES INSETA CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA?

The unemployment rate is unacceptably high in South Africa, and the balance between the skills supply and demand must be continuously reviewed. It is a fact that our programmes, lead to either employment or selfemployment opportunities. The inclusion of the work-readiness programme in our skills intervention improve the changes of employment. Furthermore, one of our performance indicators is the absorption of learners into employment because we are intentional about training for employment or self-employment.

The collaboration with industry role players, is crucial in this endeavour and we have created the employability programme to drive employment through learning interventions.

The employability programme is a three-year initiative delivered in partnership with 46 insurance companies who have pledged their participation and support. The uniqueness of the employability programme is that it provides guaranteed employment for the beneficiaries.

Moreover, the programmes which INSETA implements

are informed by the industry’s skills forecasts which are aligned to the scarce and critical skills. This is to ensure that the implemented programmes are a close match to the industry’s requirements. We continuously are in pursuit of meaningful skills implementation for broader impact.

WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

Nothing surpasses knowing that I make a difference and contributing positively, whether through my leadership or as a citizen of the country and driving the national mandate of skills development, of which is huge responsibility. I am privileged to work for an organisation that contribute directly to the development of employees in the industry, the youth beneficiaries and businesses we support. Furthermore, to know that our industry stakeholders are as intentional as we are to champion the skills agenda is a true motivator.

AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

Any person whose mission is to make a difference always strives to improve wholistically. The first step is on investing in selfdevelopment in all aspects, which ultimately improves your personal brand currency. I have learnt in my leadership journey that it is difficult to lead others if you can’t lead yourself because selfleadership demands discipline, focus, determination and giving yourself permission to make mistake and learning from them.

In leadership, there are no short cuts, and any investment you make to your growth is always aligned to your future path. There are many leaders, I have crossed paths with who invested their

time and effort to building my career. This means that growth does not occur in isolation, we learn from others, we thrive around likeminded people and we experience leadership through the lenses of other leaders. I am convinced that, surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you propel you to greater heights, because such people always challenge you to become better.

One of the most important things is educating yourself, and by education, I am not talking only about formal qualifications - just being well read, understanding current issues, politics, the environment, social issues and other issues of interest. Everything you are, comes down to, the people who are around you. If you are around people who are pessimistic, negative, they are not going to take you anywhere.

But if you surround yourself with people who inspire you, who ask the right questions, and who are not just agreeing to your viewpoint, you will always be on the right track. You are your own brand ambassador, protect your personal brand.

18 Fricker Road Illovo, Sandton, 2196

Tel: 011 381 8900

ceo@inseta.org.za

http://www.inseta.org.za/

Stay informed about environmental, social, & governance trends, strategies & best practices. Feature in our publication to join us in shaping a better tomorrow.

Take a journey away from short termism and start looking at a better future. Meet the interesting people changing Africa – and the way we work, think and live.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Business lessons from Madiba

As the first democratically elected president of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela will be remembered for his exceptional leadership skills.

Not only was he a remarkable statesman, but he was also a powerful negotiator and visionary – skills he put to use in leading South Africa through the transition into democracy.

Madiba dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom, equality, truth, love, peace and justice.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

In times of crisis, knowing they have a leader who is leading from the front is reassuring for employees, however Madiba taught us that leaders need to know when to step forward and when it is more valuable to allow their team to engage with, and drive, processes.

He summed it up best: “It is better to lead from behind and put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory...You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate the leadership.”

Clicks Group CEO, Bertina Engelbrecht, is an example of a servant leader, who aims to lead the group by combining management expertise with her love for people. She focuses on leading the company with the well-being of employees at the centre of her decisions, creating an inclusive workspace.

“I’m a firm believer that corporations have a responsibility to deliver sound financial performance and to do so in a way that positively impacts all of our stakeholders. Research indicates that today’s generation of employees want to work for organisations that are ethical, with values that resonate with their own,” she says.

He took up his leadership mantle with great humility, leaving behind a legacy that still inspires the world today.

As we celebrate Mandela Month this July, here are four business leadership lessons that can be learnt from the life of Madiba – and examples of leaders who are living these values:

LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER’S DIFFERENCES –TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Madiba believed in creating an environment where we could learn from each other’s differences.

He said: “A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed.”

This is especially important for effective leadership and leaders who are able to listen to others’ opinions and adjust their own are more likely to build inclusive teams and have more effective problem-solving sessions.

Adrian Gore, Founder and CEO of Discovery, has led a company that is constantly evolving its offerings to fit its core purpose of making people healthier. Discovery’s leadership style, deeply entrenched in its purpose and values, guided its response to the many changes in the healthcare field during the pandemic. “At the outset, ’leading’ may have looked different for each individual but is actually underpinned by a common set of values that unites all of our efforts,” - Adrian Gore.

PURPOSE SHOULD BE DRIVEN BY PASSION

Madiba believed in pursuing goals passionately. He spent his life dedicated to pursuing equality for South Africans, which resulted in his spending 27 years incarcerated. Yet, he still continued to fight against the system from his cell, motivating others to take up the liberation struggle. Even after he had joined the democratic government, he advocated for improving living conditions among the millions of previously disadvantaged South Africans.

“Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do,” - Madiba.

But passion is equally important in a business setting. It is the fuel that keeps entrepreneurs and business leaders going – so much so that research has shown that passion is a key predictor of an entrepreneur’s performance and ability to succeed.

University of the Free State Chancellor, Professor Bonang Mohale, combines purposeful living with an attitude of gratitude and generosity. He is committed to creating possibilities for students to develop their full potential. “Servant leadership is about being selfless. You will do whatever is required for the betterment of mankind,” – Bonang Mohale.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILING FORWARD

Every business leader experienced failure. But with the right attitude, these failures can present some of the greatest opportunities for a business. Failure is essential to invention. Without an appetite for risk-taking, a business will never be able to develop breakthrough products and processes. Every failure can offer a way to improve processes and gain valuable market insights. Yet they can be challenging for business leaders on a personal level.

Madiba knew the challenges that failure as a leader brings and chose to focus on how he moved past them.

He said: “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

As a leader, it is essential to embrace failure, as well as a forward-thinking attitude that looks for opportunities in that failure.

Professor Thuli Madonsela holds the Law Trust Research Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University and is the founder of the Thuma Foundation for Democracy Leadership and Literacy. Having previously filled the role of Public Protector, Professor Advocate Madonsela has become a symbol of courage and justice:

“If we commenced each day with the question: How will l improve LIFE IN THIS world today, our actions would be purposedriven and impactful.”

LESSONS FOR US ALL

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons to be learnt from Madiba is that each one of us has the power to create change – in our minds, our homes, our communities and our organisations. He taught us that change is always possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds - and summed up the sentiment best, by saying: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

COMPILATION BY

FIONA WAKELIN

CAPE TOWN - LADLES OF LOVE

MANDELA DAY 2024: 18 JUL 2024

• Your ticket cost is a donation and will provide 40 healthy meals to child in need.

• Your 67 minutes of volunteering with be spent: Making, creating, crafting or packing items to help children grow.

• Choose your time slot and activity and Join us and have fun doing good, for good – you’ll feel good.

MORE INFO

HTTPS://LADLESOFLOVE.ORG.ZA/MANDELA-DAY-2024/

MANDELA DAY WALK & RUN IT IS IN YOUR HANDS

No matter how small your action, Mandela Day is about changing the world for the better, just as Nelson Mandela did every day.

Join us for the Mandela Day Walk & Run 2024 on Saturday, 20 July. You can choose to walk or run 5km, 10km or 21km.

This year, there is a virtual race option. You can now take a step towards eradicating poverty and inequity from wherever you are in the world.

To participate, visit https://www.fundnation. org/nelsonmandela. Donate an amount of your choice and print your virtual race identity number. Wear the number on race day and share your participation via your favourite social media platform.

#MandelaDay2024 #ItIsInYourHands

MANDELA DAY CODING TOURNAMENT

On 18 July 2024, Tangible Africa will once again host its Mandela Day Coding Tournament. After a successful tournament in 2023 seeing 16 000 learners coding in over 70 sites across South Africa and abroad, this year’s slogan is “30 000 learners celebrating 30 years of democracy”.

Tangible Africa is a partnership between Nelson Mandela University’s Computing Sciences Department and the non-profit organisation, Leva Foundation. The project started in 2017 when Byron Batteson developed the Tanks coding app for his honours project. From the outset, the purpose of the app was to introduce learners to coding concepts without the use of computers. Since 2017 the apps Rangers and Boats have also been developed.

“It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farmworkers can become the president of a great nation.” –Nelson Mandela

True to the above sentiment, the project has been introduced to learners coming from the biggest cities to the most remote villages across South Africa and into m any countries across Africa. It uses the concept of Tangible Coding (“you can touch the code with your hands”), where physical tokens, a mobile app and smartphones are used to introduce learners to coding concepts. “For us to reach most learners in Africa, and bridge the digital divide, this lowtech solution is ideal. Coding can be taught without the need of computer laboratories, electricity, and the internet, by teachers who have no conventional programming

JOIN THE MANDELA DAY COMMUNITY

“When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity.” – Nelson Mandela

By giving a little of your time each day to making a change that’s close to your heart or by giving a little of your time to make a difference to the life of someone else, you can start changing the world around you.

There are so many ways to make a difference.

Start with what you are passionate about and where you know your actions will have a lasting impact.

Follow Mandela Day on social media, and when you post, please use #MandelaDay2024 and #ItIsInYourHands

background,” says Prof Jean Greyling, Head of the Computing Sciences Department at Nelson Mandela University.

The first national Coding for Mandela Tournament was hosted in 2022 with a total of 6 000 youth across Africa who were encouraged to code simultaneously on Mandela Day, and the target for 2023 was set at 10 000 participants which was exceeded when 16 000 learners coded at the various sites across the continent.

The same year - in 2023 - the #Coding4Mandela World Championships was launched on 5 December, which saw 55 teams from 21 countries participate in a virtual tournament, across Africa, Europe and North America.

Ryan le Roux, Leva Foundation CEO, said the Tangible Africa story has become an amazing journey of a “South African innovation developed to close the digital divide in Africa, now being eagerly used by teachers in developed countries.”

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Interview

With more than two decades of experience, Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips is ideally placed to help the state-owned enterprise create jobs and add to economic growth. Michelle took over the position in March, bringing extensive technical expertise and institutional memory to the Transnet leadership.

She has managed the SOE’s port terminals and most recently served as the CEO of Transnet Pipelines, a company that manages and operates 3800km of underground, highpressure petroleum and gas pipelines and said that the appointment is a highlight in her career.

"It's a major achievement. It's not necessarily where I was aiming to be in my career, but I was called to serve, and I am always going to answer that call," she said.Simply graduating was a significant step for a young Michelle Phillips, as the first member of her family to complete a university degree.

"I come from very humble beginnings. Matriculating and finishing university for someone who comes from where I do is a major achievement. I always wanted to be a lawyer because I felt it was one way of doing better in life. I felt that if I studied hard enough, I would be able to overcome my circumstances and help others."

As an advocate, Michelle started her career as a forensic investigator at the Special Investigating Unit. She joined Transnet in 2001 as a manager at Transnet National Ports Authority, which is responsible for improving the infrastructure of ports across South Africa.

After joining Transnet, she found herself drawn to the operations side of the company. She first entered operations as a way to "become a better lawyer".

"I realised that law was the opening of a door to other things. In operations, the bug bit, and I felt I could make a better contribution. My legal skills

allowed me to identify problems and solve them," she said.

LEADING AS A WOMAN

Aside from decades of experience, Michelle brings a range pf leadership skills that make her uniquely suited to lead Transnet.

"I'm pretty much a problem solver, a fixer, so to speak. I purely want to be known for the contribution that I may have made in whatever capacity."

Aside from her talents as a problem solver, she brings many other qualities to her leadership positions - a hard worker who is dedicated to inspiring her team.

"I'm probably best in a team. I'm very positive and motivational, so I'm always trying to get people to do their best. And I think my ability to engage people at all levels is a strength. As somebody who does not come from a privileged background, I'm particularly respectful of people because I understand that everybody has a difficult life and most people have problems, so they all have to figure things out," she said.

Ms Phillips dreams of a Transnet that reaches its full potential, adding to the growth of the South African economy.

Michelle added that she believes Transnet has made great strides in terms of transformation, saying that all demographics, races and genders have been welcomed in its ranks.

"When I first was interviewed, I asked about the possibilities and they told me it was endless and that has been my experience," she said.

Sources: Transnet | Daily Maverick | Africa CEO Forum

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSNET

Transnet's roots date back to the 1850s when railway transport was proposed for the harbours in the Cape and Natal. The two rail systems became government property in 1872 and 1877, respectively, linking to the harbours in Durban and Cape Town. This network soon expanded to accommodate the gold rush in the Transvaal Republic.

In 1910, the South African Railways and Harbours Administration (SAR&H) became an arm of the Union government. Its reach expanded during the 1930s with the opening of mainline passenger links and a network of urban and metropolitan train services.

In 1981, the country’s railway, harbour, road transport, aviation and pipeline operations became known as South African Transport Services (SATS), and in 1990 SATS was given company status. The new, limited liability company, representing a vast transport network, was named Transnet SOC Ltd.

Since 1994, Transnet has kept pace with a fast-changing society, dealing with a multitude of challenges in an emerging democracy. Transnet, realising these challenges, has met them head-on by investing heavily in infrastructure and integrating and coordinating programmes within the country.

CABINET APPOINTMENTS

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

New GNU Cabinet Prioritising economic growth

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the new members of the National Executive for the seventh administration, which includes all the parties to the Government of National Unity (GNU).

The eleven parties to the GNU include the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Good Party, Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Freedom Front Plus, United Democratic Movement, Al Jama-ah, Rise Mzansi and the United Africans Transformation.

A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT

President Ramaphosa said certain fundamental principles bind the GNU and will undertake a basic minimum programme of priorities.

"All the parties have made a commitment to respect the Constitution and to promote an accountable and transparent governance, evidence-based policy and decision-making, the professionalisation of the public service, integrity and good governance," he said.

"The incoming government will prioritise rapid, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and the creation of a more just society by tackling poverty and inequality.

"The establishment of the Government of National Unity in its current form is unprecedented in the history of our democracy."

President Ramaphosa was elected to lead the government by the National Assembly on Friday, 14 June, after which he was inaugurated on Wednesday, 19 June.

In establishing the GNU, President Ramaphosa said the parties had considered how to form the new government in a manner that advances the national interest, that gives due consideration to the outcome of the election and makes use of the respective capabilities within each of the parties.

"We have had to consider not only the immediate needs of the country. We have also had to consider the stability, effectiveness and durability of the government we are establishing," he said.

"As a relatively young democracy, we should be proud that we have moved to establish a government comprised of eleven parties within such a short space of time. Through our discussions, we have been able to build consensus on the tasks of government.

"We have shown that there are no problems that are too difficult or too intractable that they cannot be solved through dialogue."

CHANGES TO GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

Along with the appointments, President Ramaphosa has announced several changes to the ministries that make up his cabinet.

“In the course of the sixth democratic administration, we indicated our intention to reduce the number of

portfolios in the National Executive. However, due to the need to ensure that the National Executive is inclusive of all the parties to the Government of National Unity, this has not been possible," he said.

“In some instances, we have considered it necessary to separate certain portfolios to ensure that there is sufficient focus on key issues.

"Among the changes are that the Ministries of Electricity and Energy will be merged, and a separate Ministry of Mineral and Petroleum Resources created. The Ministry of

THE NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

Agriculture will be separated from the Ministry of Land Reform and Rural Development, and the Ministry of Higher Education will be separated from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development will be separated from the Ministry of Correctional Services.

“There will no longer be a Ministry of Public Enterprises. The coordination of the relevant public enterprises will be located in the Presidency during the process of implementing a new shareholder model,” the President said.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition: Parks Tau

Minister of Transport: Barbara Creecy

Minister of Water and Sanitation: Pemmy Majodina

Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities: Sindisiwe Chikunga

Minister of Correctional Services: Pieter Groenewald

Minister of Agriculture: John Steenhuisen

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation: Blade Nzimande

Minister of Human Settlements: Mmamoloko Kubayi

Minister of Public Service and Administration: Mzamo Buthelezi

Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development: Mzwanele Nyhontso

Minister of Basic Education: Siviwe Gwarube

Minister of Finance: Enoch Godongwana

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development: Thembi Nkadimeng

Minister of Small Business Development: Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies: Solly Malatsi

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment: Dion Georg

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources: Gwede Mantashe

Minister of Social Development: Sisisi Tolashe

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Velinkosi Hlabisa

Minister of Health: Aaron Motsoaledi

Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Maropene Ramokgopa

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture: Gayton McKenzi

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans: Angie Motshekga

Minister of Higher Education: Nobuhle Nkabane

Minister of Police: Senzo Mchunu

Minister of Tourism: Patricia De Lille

Deputy President: Paul Mashatile

Minister of Electricity and Energy: Kgosientsho Ramokgopa

Minister of Home Affairs: Leon Schreiber

Minister in the Presidency: Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

South Africans have seen several months' respite from load shedding, in part thanks to the hard work of the head of Eskom’s generation division, Bheki Nxumalo.

Load shedding has been suspended for several months due to sustained generation capacity, adequate emergency reserves, and reduced electricity demand from the grid. The last time South Africa experienced such an extended suspension of load shedding was between December 2021 and February 2022.

Eskom said that its generation performance continues to surpass the winter forecast for this year, which anticipated a likely scenario of unplanned outages at 15 500MW, with load shedding limited to Stage 2.

IMPROVED GENERATION

In April last year, Eskom announced the appointment of Mr Nxumalo as Group Executive Generation. His career in the energy sector spans over 20 years from junior to senior management and executive levels. He is an all-round business leader comfortable in governance, people and technical aspects of the role.

Among his responsibilities is to passionately drive the execution of Eskom's recovery plan while inspiring staff.

Bheki Nxumalo Head of Generation

Prior to this appointment, Mr Nxumalo was the Chief Executive Officer Eskom Enterprise and Eskom Rotek Industries. He has extensive operating, power station management and production experience. He was the Power Station Manager at two of Eskom’s power stations and the General Manager at Kusile Power Station. He also had a brief stint as Group Executive for Generation and Group Capital.

“I am truly honoured to be asked to lead Eskom Generation at this critical time. I literally grew up in Eskom. I strongly believe that Eskom has the technical and managerial capability to turn things around. The majority of Eskom employees are passionate about their work and company. I know that I can count on the support of my colleagues in Exco and the new Eskom board to make this a reality,” said Mr Nxumalo.

Part of the power utility's success in reducing load shedding has been due to a reduction in overall and peak electricity demand compared to previous years. The decline has been driven by increased private rooftop solar generation among households and businesses.

It has also been aided by Eskom’s coal fleet energy availability factor (EAF), which has significantly improved. The EAF shows the portion of Eskom’s total nominal capacity available to provide power over a certain period.

Eskom and electricity minister Kgosienthso Ramokgopa has credited the improvement to the implementation of Eskom’s Generation Recovery Plan, developed by the utility’s board, as well as key appointments such as Mr Nxumalo’s.

A FOCUSED APPROACH

Since his appointment, Mr Nxumalo has reviewed senior posts at Eskom’s plants and power stations, which has resulted in several key leadership changes and a number of plans to address systemic issues affecting the business.

Among the learnings gathered during the process was that six power stations contributed to 70% of Eskom’s unit failures, while five

Source: My Broadband | Eskom | SA News

power stations were performing well. To address this issue, plans were introduced to rapidly improve the six plants whose performance was below par and prioritise the maintenance schedule at these six plants.

As a result of these changes, Eskom has conducted more maintenance in the last year than in the previous three.

As a result, at least five power stations identified for attention and intervention are beginning to show improvement, including Kusile power station in Mpumalanga.

“One of the stations identified was Kusile Power Station, where we were running one unit and it was also not running at full capacity. At Kusile now, we have actually taken

it out of recovery station because it is running exceptionally well, on average above 90% availability," Mr Nxumalo said.

“It shows that we have taken the lessons from Medupi [power station], which has been consistently running at those levels. Kusile has now turned the corner."

Improvements have also been noted at Majuba, Matla, Duvha and Kriel power stations, which are all located in Mpumalanga.

I am truly honoured to be asked to lead Eskom Generation at this critical time. I literally grew up in Eskom. I strongly believe that Eskom has the technical and managerial capability to turn things around.

“With the work that we’ve done, we’ve seen a significant improvement at Majuba in terms of reduction of partial load losses and also trips at that plant. That plant is also running exceptionally well, so is Matla power station as well," said Mr Nxumalo.

“Duvha has been doing exceptionally well, except for the boiler failures but on average, Duvha is on the right track. It is actually performing much better than it was a year ago. Kriel power station is also seeing good improvement."

BY PAUL VOS, GENERAL MANAGER, CIPS SOUTHERN AFRICA

Effective Implementation is vital to the success of public procurement legislation

The Public Procurement Bill marks a pivotal moment in the country’s efforts to reform procurement processes at all government levels. It is vital if South Africa is to truly achieve its economic and social objectives and stimulate economic activity. Careful monitoring, ongoing evaluation, and a willingness to adjust are imperative for its effectiveness. The Chartered Institute for Procurement & Supply (CIPS) welcomes the provisions of the Bill but emphasises that its success hinges on how well it is executed.

ts success will depend heavily on the ability of institutions to adapt to new roles and responsibilities. The Bill, touted as the solution to corruption and wasteful expenditure at a governmental level, is expected to be signed into law soon after being assented to by Parliament recently.

One of the more significant changes introduced by the Bill is the establishment of a centralised Public Procurement Office (PPO), tasked with ensuring compliance, promoting standards, and fostering transparency.

Centralised oversight may lead to more standardised procurement practices, reducing discrepancies and promoting fairness, but it also carries risks.

There is a danger of creating bureaucratic bottlenecks, where the PPO could become a choke point, slowing down procurement processes rather than streamlining them. Over-centralisation may stifle local agencies' ability to tailor procurement strategies to specific needs.

One fundamental challenge public procurement teams face today is the overregulation of the procurement landscape, which not only creates rigidity but also stifles innovation.

There is hope that the legislation will drive economic empowerment through state organs and, more significantly, serve to grow small and medium-sized enterprises, exempted micro-enterprises, beneficial ownership, and black women-owned companies.

Even as acknowledged in Parliament during this election period, Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has served to make only a few citizens wealthy, while the rest of the people of this country suffer from hunger and poverty. Where BEE should have economically empowered the vast majority of our people, public sector spending runs into billions of rand, and our people are not empowered.

Another issue is the repealing of the Preferential Procurement Act through the Public Procurement Bill. Questions must be raised about how the new preferential procurement framework will be rolled out and its intention to align with the BEE Act and B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice.

Despite these concerns, CIPS welcomes sections 28-29 of the Bill, which advocate using technology to modernise procurement. This includes developing an ICT-based procurement system to enhance operational efficiency and accessibility.

Using digital platforms is a no-brainer way to streamline

procurement processes, reduce paperwork, and make opportunities more accessible. Digitisation also has the potential to deliver on the integrity and best practices for all organs of state.

The expectation is that the availability of the correct data, coupled with smart analytics, will lead to the establishment of global framework agreements for homogenous spending categories across government departments.

Its success will depend heavily on the ability of institutions to adapt to new roles and responsibilities.

The Bill, touted as the solution to corruption and wasteful expenditure at a governmental level, is expected to be signed into law soon after being assented to by Parliament recently.

Centralised oversight may lead to more standardised procurement practices, reducing discrepancies and promoting fairness, but it also carries risks.

One fundamental challenge public procurement teams face today is the overregulation of the procurement landscape, which not only creates rigidity but also stifles innovation. There is hope that the legislation will drive economic empowerment through state organs and, more

significantly, serve to grow small and medium-sized enterprises, exempted micro-enterprises, beneficial ownership, and black women-owned companies.

Using digital platforms is a no-brainer way to streamline procurement processes, reduce paperwork, and make opportunities more accessible. Digitisation also has the potential to deliver on the integrity and best practices for all organs of state.

CIPS has identified Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that need to be implemented in the next two years for South Africa to benefit from the legislation:

• The PPO should be established within the National Treasury to perform functions related to the legislation impartially and without fear, favour, or prejudice

• Every procuring institution must establish a procurement function to maintain this Act

• The accounting officer of a procurement institution is responsible for defining procurement needs, implementing an efficient and effective procurement system, and preventing non-compliance by investigating corruption and tampering

• No public office bearer, including an employee of parliament, municipality, or provincial legislature, may submit a bid

• The minister must prescribe measures for the public, civil society, and media to monitor procurement processes with certain limitations

• Suppliers may be debarred on the database for corruption, fraud, collusion, price fixing, breach of confidentiality, or non-performance

• A person who commits an offence receives a fine, imprisonment not exceeding ten years, or both. In addition, the court may also order that the amount of loss incurred by the complainant must be compensated

TOP BRANDS IN AFRICA

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

South African telecommunication brand MTN has retained the position of the most admired African brand on the continent, according to a Brand Africa survey.

The top brand on the continent, for the seventh consecutive year, is Nike.

INTERNATIONAL BRANDS

The 14th annual Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands research and rankings report showed that despite 64% of Africans expressing confidence in the continent, they remain loyal to international brands. Only 14% of African brands held a share of the Top 100 most admired brands in Africa.

The research for the 2024 Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands covered 31 countries across every economic region in the continent, including South Africa. These countries account for as much as 85% of the continent’s GDP and population.

The research is independently conducted by Brand Africa partners of the past 14 years, Geopoll who lead the fieldwork, and Kantar and Brand Leadership, who lead the analysis and rankings.

Which are the top brands in Africa?

African brands, led by MTN, Nigerian conglomerate Dangote, Zambian consumer group Trade Kings, Nigerian telecommunications group Glo, South African media group DStv and Ethiopian Airlines retain their respective positions as the Top 5 most admired African brands.

South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania are the only African nations that make up the 14% share of the Top 100. The remainder is divided up between Europe (37%), North America (28%), and Asia (21%).

Along with Nike, Adidas, Samsung, Coca Cola and Apple all retained their positions for the fifth consecutive year as the Top 5 most admired brands in Africa.

“While the share of African brands remain a disappointing 14%, with Africans overwhelmingly believing that mostly Africa will contribute to a better Africa, as nations continue to create an enabling environment for African entrepreneurs and the AfcFTA opportunity is realised, it’s just a matter of time, but ultimately the share of African brands will increase,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairman of Brand Africa.

LOCALS SHOW LOVE FOR SA BRANDS

The results locally were above the continental average.

The survey found that 68% of South Africans believe in Africa, but only 33% are loyal to South African brands.

While global brands are still favoured, South African breakthrough brand Bathu Shoes emerged as the top South African brand. The brand was established only in 2015.

The survey found that youth-founded brands established in the past decade made an audacious entry among the Top 10, accounting for 40% of the rankings, and upstaging established South African brands. The top brands in South Africa included Maxhosa, Woolworths, and Drip. Maxhosa, the culture-inspired global African luxury knitwear brand is leading the pack among South African brands admired for their strong African identity.

In reflecting on the 30 years of the new democratic SA, Brand Africa and Brand South Africa, the agency responsible for positioning South

Source: Brand Africa

Africa as a preferred investment destination, convened over 30 diverse eminent South Africans who’ve built and/or led some of the most iconic brands in pre- and post-democratic SA to debate and determine the 30 most admired brands, events, ideas and people who have shaped South Africa over the past 30 years.

Kruger National Park, Soweto and Cape Town are among the 30 brands, places, campaigns, events and people.

“The South African rankings and the 30 brands, events, campaigns and people are an insightful lens into the country’s creativity, global African leadership, competitiveness and influence,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, founder and chairman – Brand Africa.

“In particular, the performance of youth-founded brands is an inspiration for the growth of relevant made in South Africa brands and industrialisation.”

Across the continent, South Africa, Nigeria, the United States, China, and Kenya are among the top five countries that are perceived to contribute to a better Africa. African nations account for 64% of the top 50 most admired countries. South Africa, Nigeria, the United States, China, and Kenya are the top 5 countries perceived to contribute to a better Africa.

All members of the newly expanded nine-member BRICS block, except Iran, made the list. The list was dominated by Southern and West Africa, which account for 44% of the top 50 nations that Africans admire globally.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Spreading literacy across the seas

After an eight-year hiatus, the world’s largest floating book has left South Africa's shores to continue its journey across the globe.

The MV Logos Hope spend almost six months visiting South African ports – from Richard's Bay to Cape Town – bringing literature and charitable services to communities. The floating book fair offers over 5,000 titles and provides many visitors with their firstever opportunity to purchase quality literature.

A HOME FOR MILLIONS OF BOOKS

The Logos Hope has welcomed more than 10 million visitors at 238 ports of call in 82 countries and territories. The ship has sailed almost 150 nautical miles. More than 11 million books have been purchased on board.

The ship is part of a German non-profit organisation GBA Ships,

GoodBooks for All, and is run by a crew of around 350 volunteers from over 65 different nationalities. The organisation began serving others with ocean-going ships began in 1970 with the goal of sharing knowledge, help and hope in every port visited.

GBA Ships also operates Doulos Hope. The latest addition to the GBA Ships fleet, Doulos Hope completed a period of refurbishment and entered service in May last year.

The ships spend several weeks in each port of call and open the gangways to hundreds and often thousands of visitors every day. The floating book fairs offer many diverse titles, providing many visitors their first-ever opportunity to choose from a wide range of quality literature.

Logos Hope started life in Rendsburg, in the north of Germany, in 1973 as the car ferry Gustav Vasa with the

company Lion Ferry AB. Following inspections, GBA Ships purchased her in March 2004. After a period of planning and fundraising, extensive renovations began in earnest in the Brodotrogir Shipyard in Trogir, Croatia in June 2005.

A new deck was inserted into the double-height vehicle deck to create space for what is now the Visitor Experience. An additional deck was added towards the aft to accommodate the school for children of families serving on board. A new galley was installed, and the bridge was completely refurbished. Machinery in the engine room was overhauled.

Accommodation sections and community spaces were rebuilt, and air-conditioning, sprinkler and electrical systems were renewed. The Logos Hope was launched into service in February 2009.

MV LOGOS HOPE

An international crew and staff of volunteers from around 60 different countries live and work on the ships, devoting one or more years of their lives to serving on board. The ship people promote literacy and education, cross-cultural cooperation, and social awareness and reflect God’s compassion for the world in the ports and countries they visit.

A COMMUNITY ONBOARD

With around 60 different nationalities represented on board, the Logos Hope community is regarded as a genuine expression of international goodwill and understanding. The crew and staff are all non-salaried volunteers, including many serving in their professional capacity, such as seafarers, engineers, electricians, nurses, teachers and cooks. Sponsorship from friends, family

Source: IOL | GBA Ships

members and civic organisations enables crewmembers to serve on board.

Ship teams go into surrounding areas to provide aid and community care, partnering with local community groups to bring hope to people, whatever their circumstances, culture or background. Among the work they carry out are visits to hospitals, schools, orphanages or prisons. They also supply aid and provide community care to these groups.

Although the main aim of the ship is to serve people in the port communities, those on board also benefit personally during their term of service. A structured training programme, combined with work experience and cross-cultural encounters, provides crewmembers with valuable opportunities to learn new skills and develop character.

Visitors often express surprise that people from so many different cultures can live and work together peacefully in such a small space. Crewmembers are unified by their faith and vision to bring knowledge, help and hope to the port communities they serve around the world.

The visitor experience on board includes the deck, which is open for the public to explore, the welcome area, which introduces the vessel through a short movie and interactive displays and an international café.

The books on the ship cover a wide range of subjects, including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, arts, medicine, languages, and faith, at an affordable price. The selection also boasts children’s titles, academic texts, dictionaries, atlases and more.

NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

BY FIONA WAKELIN AND NALEDI MOKOENA

Celebrating creativity at the National Arts Festival 2024

In 2024 the National Arts Festival (NAF) celebrated its 50th year of giving creatives a platform to celebrate the fabric of their talents. This vibrant expression of creativity is one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year, showcasing a diverse range of performances and exhibitions. It took place from 20-30 June and, as usual, was held in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, bringing together thousands of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, directors and producers. Over the decades, it has grown into one of the largest and most significant arts festivals in Africa.

HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR:

Script, design and direction:

THE STRANGER is set in a dystopian contemporary city: humdrum, grinding, materialistic and bigoted. A gifted musician arrives from across the national border; his music is transformational: it unifies people, shifts their priorities, brings the natural world into focus, and reveals an underlying harmony in the universe. Eventually, when his message is deemed threatening to the status quo, he is murdered by a xenophobic mob.

A theatrical masterpiece celebrating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

Experience the Revolutionary Power of “1789".

This is an extraordinary journey into the heart of revolution - the world-renowned play originally brought to life by Ariane Mnouchkine and Théâtre du Soleil featuring the gripping tale of resilience and rebellion in the tumultuous streets of Paris during the French Revolution.

A TRIBUTE TO ARTISTS PASSED BY MANDLA MBOTHWE

Mandla Mbothwe pays homage to the departed with a tribute to the lives of the South African artists we have lost (2020-2024) in his new work Izandi zemilambo yabo kuthi/ the sounds of their rivers in us; commissioned by the Festival to commemorate its 50th anniversary. An installation with sonic activations, the work creates a ritualistic place where past and present converge, brought to life as a sanctuary, reflection and to honour memory and legacy.

Unlimited oozes with the vibrant energy of South African flair and AI, narrating a story of resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of artistic dreams. Hosted at Graeme College, at the heart of the performance is a dancer whose aspirations are abruptly halted by an unforeseen injury. Yet, in the face of this adversity, this production unveils a technological marvel that transcends limitations, igniting the indomitable spirit of creativity.

This jazz songstress serenaded her supporters with her beloved debut album Yellow: The Novel,the celebrated, award-winning sophomore album Inganekwane, and the highly anticipated new release Nomthandazo. She describes her offering drawing inspiration from her real stories and perspectives on discovering her higher self, loss, and love.

UMBHIYOZO WOMCULO' A CELEBRATION OF MUSIC

Established in 2022 by Makhanda-based clarinettist and Rhodes University lecturer Jenny Brand, the Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet brings together professional clarinettists from various regions along the Cape.

The Cape Reeds Clarinet Quintet presents "Umbhiyozo Womculo: A Celebration of Music, took place at the Rhodes music department. This festival premiere is a music concert featuring the quintet. Brand's vision was to create a group that performs exciting works written and commissioned for the clarinet quintet, offering a unique and special chamber music experience.

ZOE MODIGA

A TRIBUTE TO ARTISTS PASSED BY MANDLA MBOTHWE

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THIRD WORLD BUNFIGHT'S, THE STRANGER,

Brett Bailey with the music of Nkosenathi Koela.

1789 BY SIBIKWA ARTS CENTRE

TRAILBLAZER

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman

Gift of the Givers

As a 30-year-old man, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman received a message from his spiritual leader in Istanbul, Turkey.

The spiritual leader, Sufi Sheikh Muhammed Saffer Effendi al Jerrahi, told Dr Sooliman that he would form an organisation called Waqful Waqifin, translated as ‘Gift of the Givers’. This organisation would serve all people of all races, of all religions, of all colours, of all classes, of all political affiliations and of any geographical location.

Dr Sooliman immediately heeded the call and established the Gift of the Givers Foundation, which has provided humanitarian aid to millions worldwide.

INSPIRED TO HELP OTHERS

Dr Sooliman was born in Potchefstroom, in the North West. He started his schooling in his hometown but later moved to Sastri College in Durban. He qualified as a medical doctor at the then-University of Natal Medical School in 1984.

Throughout his life, he has been involved in several associations, religious organisations and school governing bodies as a student, medical doctor and an active member of civil society.

Dr Sooliman gave up his career as a medical doctor to pursue the field of humanitarian aid, which he believes transcends the boundaries of race, religion, culture, class and geography. In 1992, he founded the Gift of the Givers Foundation.

The Gift of the Givers Foundation is the largest disaster response non-governmental organisation of African origin on the continent. The organisation has developed into one of the most respected international humanitarian agencies, being the first such agency to be accredited by Proudly South African.

The Foundation works to alleviate physical and emotional suffering by providing disaster relief, primary healthcare clinics, feeding schemes, water purification and water wells; distributing new blankets, clothing and food parcels; providing bursaries, educational support, toys for the underprivileged, agricultural self-help schemes, job creation, counselling services and drug rehabilitation; and conducting HIV and AIDS, skills development and life-altering workshops.

All of these would not be possible without the dedication, energy and leadership of Dr Sooliman.

"You feel the calling, you feel the need, you see the suffering of man and you want to do something. There's a lot of prayer involved. You've been shown what the right way is; what to do and what not to do. And things are put very clearly in front of you," says Dr Sooliman.

Dr Sooliman has travelled to some of the most desolate, war-torn and disaster-struck areas of the world, heading relief missions. Through his work with Gift of the Givers, he and his teams have responded to the needs of countless people affected by a wide range of natural and man-made disasters, such as floods, famine, tsunamis, earthquakes and wars.

He has facilitated the establishment of hospitals, run clinics, created agricultural schemes, dug wells, built houses, and provided food and shelter to millions.

Dr Sooliman remains driven by the same basic principles that led to his becoming a medical doctor: respect, care, professionalism and dedication. But there is something else that fuels Dr Sooliman’s passion for humanitarianism – the solid belief in the common humanity that unites us.

UNITING PEOPLE WITH A COMMON VISION

The Gift of the Givers Foundation works to unite people, with a common vision, to make a real and telling difference by serving mankind for the ‘Greater Good’.

Assistance is provided unconditionally, assisting the needy, irrespective of human or animal, race, religion, colour, class, political affiliation or geographic location.

The organisation is impartial and apolitical and aims to serve with compassion, kindness and mercy. One of the notable gifts that he organised was the donation of a

well-equipped field hospital first used during the Bosnian War.

In 2003, his organisation became the first in South African history to receive R60-million from the South African Government for humanitarian aid in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape. "I love this country. All people in our country, irrespective of where they come from, have that ubuntu spirit: to give up their own to help somebody else," says Dr Sooliman.

Since its inception in 1992, the organisation has been responsible for the delivery of life-saving goods and on-the-ground support for innumerable people, collectively valued at some R4.5-billion, in more than 45 countries across the globe, including South Africa.

Dr Sooliman has been awarded numerous awards locally and internationally, including the prestigious Global Citizen Award by the international citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Rhino Rewilding

Rhinos relocated to Greater Kruger area as part of rewilding initiative

Agroup of 120 southern white rhinos have been successfully translocated to reserves represented by the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation (GKEPF) in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

The translocation aims to boost the southern white rhino population in the Greater Kruger area is part of African Parks' Rhino Rewild initiative, an ambitious plan to rewild 2,000 southern white rhinos into secure protected areas in Africa over the next ten years.

RETURN TO THE WILD

In September 2023, African Parks purchased the world’s largest captive rhino breeding operation with one main objective: to rewild them all to well-managed and secure protected areas to supplement strategic populations, ultimately helping to derisk the species' future.

“Moving 120 rhino under the Rhino Rewild initiative to GKEPF will augment the existing rhino population in the Greater Kruger and ensure that these rhino are fulfilling their role in their

natural environment, which has been our vision from the start,” says Peter Fearnhead, CEO of African Parks.

“Despite significant pressures, GKEPF members have played a critical role in the conservation of the Greater Kruger landscape, providing an important buffer to the Kruger and we support their commendable progress in protecting rhino populations in their native range.”

GKEPF was established in 2016 and is made up of an alliance of nine private reserves, one provincial park, and one

national park. The foundation aims to service the protection needs of the western and eastern buffers of the Kruger National Park and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier National Park. The rhino translocation comes at a time when poaching rates within GKEPF reserves have significantly declined, indicating the effectiveness of security and anti-poaching measures.

Sharon Haussmann, CEO of GKEPF, said: “The rewilding itself bears testament to the cumulative knowledge, partnerships, and insights of a protracted period of anti-poaching efforts in the Greater Kruger landscape. That the benefits so clearly outweigh the risks presents a significant opportunity for rewarding the efforts of everyone who has remained committed to safeguarding rhino populations amid extremely challenging circumstances over the past 10 to 15 years.”

Mr Fearnhead said that collaboration is at the heart of GKEPF’s mandate.

“The translocated rhino have not be released into the Kruger National Park itself, but into private game reserves along its western boundary. However, the project could not have taken place without consensus, collaboration, and expert inputs from Kruger National Park and South African National Parks (SANParks).

"This strategic placement to private reserves bordering the Kruger National Park strengthens the rhino metapopulation and lays the groundwork for potential future collaboration as the Kruger continues its fight against poaching," - Peter Fearnhead.

SAVING A SPECIES

Southern white rhinos are one of two remaining subspecies of white rhinos.

The other subspecies, the northern white rhino, is functionally extinct and now consists of only two captive females.

The southern white rhino population reached an all-time low of 30 to 40 animals in the 1930s, but due to extensive conservation measures and through an initiative in the 1960s known as ‘Operation Rhino’, they increased to approximately 20,000 individuals by 2010.

However, these gains were quickly lost, as more than 50% of the global population, around 12,000 rhinos, have been poached in the last ten years alone.

Due to the continued poaching of their horns for the illegal wildlife trade and ongoing habitat loss, southern white rhinos are listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List. Eighty percent of the global population is found in South Africa, with other strongholds located in Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, and Zambia, and small populations are now in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Greater Kruger region is an ideal habitat for southern white rhino. The fertile and water-rich grasslands of the selected release areas are ideal for ensuring optimal rhino health and population growth. Through a decade-long collaborative effort to combat rhino poaching, reserves and

stakeholders have developed and shared a wealth of expertise. This has significantly bolstered their ability to proactively and effectively address poaching threats and safeguard the species.

The safety of these translocated rhino is at the forefront for everyone involved in the process.

“The rhino will come in dehorned, which is a very effective way to decrease the poaching risk in this landscape. We're at a point where this risk is well calculated,” says Markus Hofmeyr, wildlife vet and Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund. “This will be the first reintroduction of rhino into this landscape in about 50 years,” he adds.

Moving 120 rhino is an enormous undertaking in every way, and has taken, as Ms Haussmann explains, “many, many sleepless nights” – as well as extensive funding.

African Parks is donating the animals to the reserve, with GKEPF donors contributing to the translocation costs and the subsequent ongoing monitoring of the rhino, a critical element for the project's long-term success.

Source: African Parks, Daily Maverick

BY KOKETSO MAMABOLO

They don’t know what we know South Africa’s best in action

“Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie” (They don’t know what we know).

The pugilist poet, Dricus “Stillknocks” Du Plessis, South Africa’s first UFC Champion, found a phrase for the underdogs. The national teams and individual competitors proudly carrying their flags compete against the best in the world despite the odds. For him, and certainly for us all, there’s a will to overcome that’s difficult to describe. It’s Banyana Banyana, The Women’s Netball Team and the Men’s Cricket side being able to hold their heads high in defeat.

to show the next generation what could done.

It’s wheelchair tennis player Kgothatso Montjane making tennis courts around the world her stage. South Africa’s three-time Sportswoman with a Disability of the Year winner continued her stellar run with her third Grand Slam title which she won with partner Yui Kamiji in the Wimbledon Doubles final on the 14th of July, adding to their win at the French Open. Spread across the

a disappointing one point loss in the second test in Durban, there’s a sense that this group of Springboks hasn’t hit sixth gear yet and injection of youth promises to keep their colossal run going into the game against Portugal and the Rugby Championship.

On the same day of the first test match the SA Women’s Hockey side sealed their 2 - 1 series win over France with a convincing 40 win in the final game. They’ll be hoping to take this momentum into the Summer Olympics Games

BY KOKETSO MAMABOLO

SASCOC’S INITIAL OLYMPIC TEAM

Athletics:

Stephen Mokoka, Gerda Steyn, Irvette van Zyl, Cian Oldknow, Akani Simbine, Benjamin Richardson, Luxolo Adams, Wayde van Niekerk, Lythe Pillay, Zakithi Nene, Tshepo Tshite, Adriaan Wildschutt, Marione Fourie, Zeney Geldenhuys, Rogail Josephs, Jovan van Vuuren, Prudence Sekgodiso

Swimming:

Pieter Coetzee, Chad Le Clos, Matthew Sates, Aimee Canny, Tatjana Smith (nee Schoenmaker), Kaylene Corbett, Erin Gallagher, Rebecca Meder, Julia Vincent (Diving)

Canoeing:

Tiffany Koch, Esti Olivier, Hamish Lovemore, Andrew Birkett

Springbok Sevens:

Climbing:

Aniya Holder, Joshua Bruyns, Lauren Mukheibir, Mel Janse van Rensburg

Gymnastics: Caitlin Rooskrantz

Surfing:

Jordy Smith, Matthew McGillivray, Sarah Ann Baum

Surfing:

Jordy Smith, Matthew McGillivray, Sarah Ann Baum

Christie Grobbelaar, Ryan Oosthuizen, Impi Visser, Zain Davids, Quewin Nortje, Tiaan Pretorius, Shaun Williams, Selvyn Davids (captain), Tristan Leyds, Rosko Specman, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Shilton van Wyk, Ronald Brown * (travelling reserve), Katlego Letebele (travelling reserve)

WHAT’S ON IN JULY AND AUGUST

Summer Olympic Games

26 July to 11 August

Paralympics Games

28 August to 8 September

Springboks vs Portugal

20 July

Springboks vs Australia

10 August

Springboks vs Australia

17 August

3 - 5 to 7 August

SA Men’s Cricket vs West Indies 1st Test

Betway Big Easy Tour

REGIONAL FOCUS - KZN

BY NALEDI MOKOENA

KwaZulu-Natal - weathering the storms

Since 2023 the province has been on an economic recovery journey post the devastating floods. According to statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey, last year KwaZulu-Natal recorded the largest employment increase of 152 000 jobs for the third quarter documenting unemployment dropping by a significant 16 percent.

The provincial government has launched the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan, focusing on sustainable water use and improved infrastructure. Through this initiative aging pipelines which were damaged during the floods and collapsed after strenuous years of use due to over populated areas will be renovated, including new reservoirs and the introduction of state of the art water purification systems.

The projected outcome of these systems is to provide reliable clean water supply for both urban and rural areas to assist with poor water sanitation and hygiene, especially people in disadvantaged areas who lack alternatives to cope with water challenges.

HCIF FOUNDATION AND INNOVATION AFRICA COLLABORATE TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER TO COMMUNITIES

HCI Foundation (HCIF) is an NGO which is rooted in South Africa and offers financial and strategic support to other NGOs. The foundation is a corporate investment body originating from holding company Hosken Consolidated Investments, a black empowerment investment company, stemming from the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union.

Recently the HCI offered their assistance to KZN province, in association with Innovation Africaan NGO committed to breaking new ground for rural villages by providing solar water and advanced technology. These entities intervened to provide eight villages in Hluhluwe with safe and clean drinking water, since the launch of a solar-powered borehole water project in August 2023 catered to more than 6700 community members. Since 2008, the NGO delivered clean water and lights to over 5.3 million people across 10 African countries.

Most recently, one of the villages benefiting from this initiative is Izintambane Access to Clean Water Project dedicated to the community on 26 June 2024.

HERE ARE SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT IZINTAMBANE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER PROJECT, ACCORDING TO THE HCI FOUNDATION:

19 000 PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO POTABLE WATER IN 5 VILLAGES

24 PROJECT SPECIALIST EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WERE CREATED

46 COMMUNAL TAPS WILL BE SPREAD ACROSS FIVE VILLAGES

2 PRIMARY SCHOOL AND ONE HIGH SCHOOL WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PROJECT

THERE 35 COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT

UPDATE ON NEW MEMBERS OF THE KZN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Premier - A.T. Ntuli

Economic development – Musa Zondi

Cogta – Thulasizwe Buthelezi

Health – Nomagugu Simelane

Social Development – Mbali Shinga

Public Works – Lucas Meyer

Finance – Francois Rogers

Agriculture – Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa

Transport and human settlements – Siboniso Duma

Education – Sipho Hlomuka

Sports, Arts and Culture – Mntomuhle Khawula

Source: HCI Foundation | eNCA||Innovation Africa | Good Governance Africa | Department of Water and Sanitation

BY SUE RAMAUTHAR

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle? Is your health at risk?

Not moving enough or prioritising movement in your day could be putting your health and well-being at risk. The shift towards a sedentary lifestyle has been rapid and without recognising it, many of us are now feeling the damaging effects of this new way of life. One thing is certain, we move a lot less now than we did just a few decades ago. This shift towards a sedentary lifestyle is driven by several factors including technological advancements in smart phones and entertainment, changes in work culture and urbanisation in transportation.

“From our corporate desk job to binge watching our favourite series on the weekend, and our commutes in the car, we spend a significant portion of our day seated. While this may seem innocuous, prolonged sitting can have serious, negative long-term effects on our health and well-being.

Human bodies were designed to move, and when we ignore this fundamental need and remain sedentary over a long periodwe are creating a body that will over time become stiff, painful and unwell.

story of what decent work looks like in this country. How are our communities working to solve their own problems, which cuts across society and is not just about an intervention?"

With a passionate, nuanced approach, Harambee is working hard to solve one of the country’s biggest challenges.

HOW SITTING AFFECTS MY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

1. Increased risk of chronic diseases: Numerous studies have linked sitting for longer than 4 hours with an increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. When we sit for extended periods, our metabolism slows down, and our body goes into an “autopilot” state. This leads to poor blood sugar control, increased

fat accumulation and can also leave us feeling sluggish and tired through the day. Reduced movement and mobility may even be impacting our focus and productivity at work and general energy levels

2. Musculoskeletal issues: Sitting for hours on end can lead to musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, neck strain, and tight hip flexors. The position of sitting can also contribute to a weaker core. Maintaining a static posture for prolonged periods puts excessive strain on our spine and joints, contributing to discomfort, pain and reduced flexibility.

3. Impact on mental health: Sedentary behaviour has also been associated with poorer mental health outcomes, including increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. The lack of physical activity and reduced social interactions that often accompany prolonged sitting can negatively affect our mood and overall wellbeing.

HOW TO BEAT THE SEDUCTION OF A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE

While sitting maybe unavoidable for many, here are a few quick tips to avoid long periods of sitting and to help us become more intentional with movement:

• Introduce movement breaks: Incorporating short breaks to stand, stretch, and walk around can help counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting by stimulating blood circulation. Aim for a 60 second break after every 60 minutes of sitting.

• Ergonomic workstations: Setting up ergonomically friendly workstations, with adjustable chairs and desks, help promote better posture and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal issues.

• Physical activity: Engaging in regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining overall health and offsetting the effects of prolonged sitting. Brisk walking, playing a sport, dancing or taking up yoga will help increase your opportunities to move.

Sitting has become an integral part of modern life; its excessive and prolonged practice poses significant health risks. By being mindful of our sedentary behaviour and making conscious efforts to incorporate movement into our daily routines, we can mitigate these risks and promote long-term health and well-being.

If you find yourself struggling to move or get into some form of physical activity, you should speak to your healthcare practitioner to help guide you on safe and effective techniques to get yourself moving.

Sue Ramauthar, founder of SuedeWellness, Life Resilience Institute, is a renowned keynote speaker and physiotherapist with over 14 years of experience in the corporate wellness domain.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

Mediation and arbitration in the workplace

Resolving workplace disputes through mediation and arbitration

South African employees have various options to challenge unfair practices in the workplace, from courts to bargaining councils. One organisation protecting employee rights is the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).

The CCMA deals with over 100,000 cases yearly, most relating to allegations of unfairness against employers. Among the issues raised with the CCMA are discrimination, unfair dismissals, retrenchments, the provision of benefits, suspensions, warnings, whistle-blowing and sexual harassment. Around 60% of cases referred to CCMA arbitration are resolved in favour of the employee. The Labour Relations Act makes it very easy for employees to

challenge alleged unfair dismissals and other unfair practices at private or statutory dispute resolution forums. Along with private firms, employees often have access to the dispute-resolution arms of bargaining councils and the Labour Court.

However, one of the most popular bodies for addressing conflict in the workplace is the CCMA.This is the forum to be used by those industries that do not have their own bargaining councils, such as retail, IT, security, financial services, and others.

The CCMA is a statutory body established in terms of Section 112 of the Labour Relations Act, and draws

its legislative mandate principally from Section 23 of the Constitution. It is an independent body that neither belongs nor is affiliated with any political party, trade union or business. The CCMA derives its mandate from the purpose of the Act, which is to “advance economic development, social justice, labour peace and the democratisation of the workplace”.

THE CCMA IS MANDATED TO:

• Conciliate workplace disputes

• Arbitrate certain categories of disputes that remain unresolved after conciliation

• Establish picketing rules in respect of protected strikes and lookouts

• Facilitate the establishment of workplace forums and statutory councils

• Compile and publish information and statistics about its activities

• Consider applications for accreditation and subsidy by bargaining councils and private agencies

• Administer the Essential Services Committee and

• At least every second year, review any rules made in terms of this section.

If you have a labour problem, take steps immediately. In the case of an unfair dismissal dispute, you have only 30 days from the date on which the dispute arose to open a case. With discrimination cases, you have six months.

• To refer a matter to the CCMA, there are several steps to follow:

• Complete a CCMA case referral form, also known as LRA Form 7.11. These forms are available from the CCMA offices, DOL offices and the CCMA website.

• Once the forms have been completed, you must ensure that a copy is delivered to the other party. You must be able to prove that they received a copy.

• You must furnish the CCMA with the referral form and a copy of the proof that the form had been served to the other party, which is also enclosed.

• The CCMA will inform both parties of the date, time, and venue of the first hearing, which is called a conciliation hearing.

• Only the parties, trade union or employer organisation representatives and the CCMA Commissioner will attend the conciliation hearing. The purpose of the hearing is to reach an agreement acceptable to both parties. Legal representation is not allowed.

• If this conciliation process is successful, the employer and employee then sign a contract setting out the terms of their settlement agreement and the matter is then regarded as closed.

• If no agreement is reached, the Commissioner will issue a certificate to that effect. Depending on the nature of the dispute, the case may be referred to the CCMA arbitration or the Labour Court.

• For an arbitration hearing, you have to complete a request for arbitration form, also called LRA Form 7.13. A copy must be served to the other party. Arbitration should be applied within three months from the date the Commissioner issued the certificate.

• The arbitration process will involve evidence, including witnesses and documents, that may be necessary to prove your case. Parties may cross-examine each other. Legal representation may be allowed. The Commissioner will make a final and binding decision, called an arbitration award, within 14 days.

If a party does not comply with the arbitration award, it may be made an order of the Labour Court. The matter will go to the Labour Court instead of arbitration if the dispute relates to multiple retrenchments, strike dismissals, or unfair dismissals. The arbitration or Labour Court hearing would normally take place at a later date.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

SARS and tax breaks

Make the most of your benefits this tax season

This month marks the start of the filing season for provisional and non-provisional taxpayers who must file a tax return. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced 15 July 2024 as the start date.

Auto-assessments for an expanded pool of South African taxpayers will run from 1 July 2024 to 14 July 2024, and SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the tax authority is committed to making filing season for standard taxpayers an invisible process.

“The pool of taxpayers who will be auto-assessed will increase to about 4.8 million this year compared to about 3.8 million taxpayers last year,” SARS said.

Taxpayers are also reminded that while the auto-assessment process offers numerous benefits, it requires due diligence from selected taxpayers. Taxpayers are advised to reconcile the assessment with their tax certificates, bank statements and salary slips.

Taxpayers who are auto-assessed but wish to claim tax rebates must complete their tax return and file it normally.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF TAX BREAKS THAT TAXPAYERS CAN BENEFIT FROM:

1. RETIREMENT ANNUITY

Topping up your retirement annuity as the tax year-end approaches

could allow you to maximise your tax-deductible contributions. The limit is currently up to 27.5% of taxable income with an annual cap of R350 000. The tax deduction applies to the cumulative total of all retirement fund contributions.

This benefit works best with retirement annuities that offer flexibility and ad hoc contributions. This will allow taxpayers to calculate the contributions made towards their retirement funds during the year and to leverage the tax deductibility. Retirement annuities that provide significant tax advantages: investment premiums are tax deductible, dividends and interest are tax-exempt, and no capital gains tax applies to investment growth.

Retirement annuities also effectively reduce tax on death as the funds held in an RA fall outside of the deceased estate.

2. TAX-FREE SAVINGS

Taxpayers can receive some benefits from tax-free savings accounts, as dividends, interest, and capital gains within the investment remain taxfree. However, there is no possibility of claiming tax back on investment premiums. Current legislation allows for annual investments of up to R36 000 in tax-free savings accounts, with a total lifetime contribution capped at R500 000. Keeping track of annual contributions is essential to avoid exceeding the R36 000 limit so as to avoid tax penalties of 40%.

Source: Money Web, Fin 24, Tim Tax

The tax advantages of a tax-free savings account are seen after about 10 years, which means that they are better suited to long-term investing and can be used effectively to supplement one’s retirement savings.

3. MEDICAL CREDITS

Taxpayers can claim deductions for their contributions to medical schemes. The amount you can claim depends on the number of members on your scheme. As the primary medical aid member, you are entitled to a medical tax credit of R364 for the 2024/2025 tax year, and R728 per month for the taxpayer and one dependant. Thereafter, you will receive a tax credit of R246 per month for every other member

registered on the same medical scheme. These credits will be deducted from the tax you are liable to pay, and it is important to obtain a tax certificate from your medical aid provider for tax filing purposes. In addition, taxpayers could claim for out-of-pocket medical expenses. This applies to the portion of medical expenses not covered by their schemes. If you submitted these expenses to your medical aid but they were not covered by the fund, these amounts will appear on your tax certificate. If you did not submit them to your medical aid, you will need to keep a record of these costs for tax purposes.

3. DONATIONS

In terms of the Income Tax Act you can also claim donation deductions against taxable income. However, the deduction is limited to 10% of such taxable income before claiming the donation deduction. This means if your income us R900 000, then the deduction you claim for the donation made is limited to R90 000.

The key to qualifying for this tax deduction is, however, to ensure that you are donating to a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) that is registered as such with Sars. You can request a Section 18A certificate from your PBO at the end of the tax year, which will provide proof of your donations during the course of the tax year. If you have not yet made any charitable donations during this tax year, you can do so by making a once-off contribution of up to 10% of your taxable earnings to a duly registered PBO.

BY JESSIE TAYLOR

5 tips on how to fight the winter chills

The worst days of power outages seem to be behind us with early July marking more than 100 days of no loadshedding. While a lack of power outages make it easier to keep your home warm, rising electricity prices still make traditional heating methods an expensive option with a string of cold fronts that have brought us a winter that’s colder and wetter than usual. Try these tips to keep your home warm, without breaking the bank:

INCREASE YOUR INSULATION

Before investing in any heating system, it’s essential to ensure that your home is well insulated. An insulated room requires half the energy of an uninsulated room. If you are unable to afford to call in a professional to help you insulate

your home, there are still some tricks you can try such as closing doors and windows. Increasing soft furnishings in your home will also improve insulation – consider thicker curtains, rugs and throws to keep your room feeling warmer.

HEAT YOUR SPACE

Traditional heating options like underfloor heating and wallmounted heaters are often ineffective ways to heat your home. However, there are numerous options for space heaters that are budget-friendly for your home, but your priority should be to find an energy-efficient solution. Fan heaters are a good option for smaller spaces as they tend

to draw minimal electricity. If you have an air conditioning unit installed, you could use it to heat up your room in winter. However, this option might see your electricity usage increase. Alternatively, you could invest in a gas heater to reduce your electricity use.

CLEVER COOKING

Winter calls for warm, hearty meals like stews and soups. Not only do these offer a nutritious meal to keep your immune system healthy, they can also become energy savers if you make some changes to your cooking routine. Instead of slowcooking a stew or soup, use a Wonderbag as a non-electric slow

cooker and save your electricity units. Also make sure to cook enough for a few meals, and freeze your leftovers. They will then require reheating rather than see you cooking for hours.

GET THE BEST FROM YOUR GEYSER

While there’s nothing like a nice warm bath to beat the winter chills, that long soak could be costing you – in both water and electricity. One of the biggest electricity drains in a home is your geyser. Combined, the 5.4 million geysers in South African homes and public buildings use more than 12% of the electricity grid’s operational capacity at peak times. But there are ways to reduce your energy consumption.

The simplest solution is switching your geyser off when you don’t need it, or installing a timer. But investing in a thermal cover for your geyser can also keep it warmer for longer, and reduce the amount of energy you use. Finally, switching to showers and only using hot water when really needed will also decrease how much electricity your geyser drains.

BEDROOM BASICS

Instead of investing in space heaters that drain electricity to keep yourself warm at night, try a few targeted approaches to create a warmer bed. Start by loading your bed with warm, weighted blankets and make

use of a hot water bottle to heat it up. Alternatively, you can invest in an electric blanket with a timer, to warm up your bed for a few minutes before you climb into it. This offers a low-energy way to keep yourself warm at night.

Fighting off the winter chill doesn’t need to place a burden on your budget, if you implement a few small changes in your home. To offset your heating costs in winter, you could also make changes around your home that will reduce your electricity consumption on the whole. This could range from installing lowenergy light bulbs, updating to energy-efficient appliances, or installing a solar geyser.

CAN COLD TEMPERATURES MAKE YOU SICK?

Some research has suggested that cold weather can affect the immune system, which in turn affects our ability to fight off colds and infections. This could be because winter brings reduced exposure to the sun, which limits your ability to absorb Vitamin D.

It could also be because blood vessels tend to constrict in colder weather, and this can lead to your respiratory tract receiving fewer white blood cells – the cells that work to fight off infections like influenza and bacterial pneumonia.

In addition, more viruses tend to be more active in cold temperatures and there is research that suggests your immune system may be more sluggish in the cold, compared to higher temperatures.

BY NALEDI MOKOENA

July

1

- 30 11 15

Global Enterprise Agility Month

The start of Global Enterprise Agility Month is aimed at raising awareness about the need for employees and organisations to enhance their adaptability in the ever-changing business landscape.

Global Enterprise Agility Month highlights the importance of employees and enterprises maintaining a genuine purpose while improving their ability to rapidly adapt to evolving environments and customer needs. The pace at which we adapt to changing economic, social, and environmental conditions determines our survival or extinction.

This month brings attention to the discussions and actions we can take to ensure our organisations not only survive but thrive, creating happier employees and customers.

World Population Day

Population is a contentious issue, increasingly so with the inception of climate change. An annual event commemorates the date when the world's population reached 5 billion on July 11, 1987. Today, there are 7.7 billion people globally, and this number is expected to reach 8 billion by 2030.

The UN uses this day to spotlight population-related issues such as family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights. The UN emphasises that discussions about population should center on equality and equal opportunities for all.

World Youth Skills Day

The United Nations (UN) declared this a symbolic day globally, to celebrate the significance of equipping the youth with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship in the workplace.

A collective of schools, youth groups, institutions and labour organisations collaborated to empower generations of young people to be impactful citizens.

According to Statista there is an estimated 67.7 million unemployed youth between the ages of 15 and 24 years worldwide, furthermore facilitating a key focus on teaching technical skills through qualifications, mentorship programmes and empowering entrepreneurs. On this day educators are encouraged to inform students about the various opportunities available to them and how to access them.

Calendar of Commemorative Events

18 Nelson Mandela Day

This symbolic event was officially declared an official UN observance in 2010 and first celebrated on President Mandela’s birthday in 2009. The day aims to inspire everyone to follow in his footsteps by promoting the spirit of Ubuntu, social activism, volunteering, and community service to address urgent social issues.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela became South Africa's first elected black president after spending 27 years in prison for his relentless antiapartheid efforts. Following his release, he played a crucial role in negotiating the end of apartheid and won South Africa's first democratic election.

"Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are”. This reflects President Mandela's 2009 request for people to honour him not by celebrating his birthday but by contributing to their communities.

28 World Nature Conservation Day

World Nature Conservation Day, celebrated annually on 28 July, highlights the significance of preserving a healthy environment and natural resources to ensure a stable society.

One of the key objectives of this day is to protect plants and animals that are threatened with extinction. The celebrations highlight the importance of maintaining all elements of nature, including flora, energy resources, water, soil and air. In addition, this day reinforces the necessity of safeguarding the environment for future generations.

To honour this day, grow plants suitable for the ecosystem around you like planting flowers, vegetables and other food for animals. Furthermore, practising recycling in the workplace or at home may be a way to honour the day.

World Day against Trafficking in Person 30

This year’s global campaign for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is themed Leave no Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking, expanded into action to end child trafficking. Initially the first World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was pronounced on 14 July 2014.

According to the United Nations, children represent a significant percentage of trafficking victims globally with girls being the most vulnerable victims. One in 3 victims of human trafficking globally is a child. Every country is affected by alarming numbers and it is estimated 2.5 million people are trapped in modern day slavery. Raising awareness for human trafficking victims and the protection of their rights contributes to the fight against human trafficking.

BY RAINE ST. CLAIRE

Dynamic Duo Five African Power Couples: Changing Lives and Shaping Futures

The African continent has gained recognition for its talented innovators, influential figures, and as a home to dynamic power couples who are achieving remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields. In this article, we introduce five dynamic African power couples who have not only achieved success in their careers but have also dedicated themselves to philanthropic endeavours, uplifting and empowering individuals and communities across Africa.

Halima Dangote and Suleiman Sani Bello Suleiman Bello and Halima Dangote are known as Nigeria’s most cherished power couple. Halima (40) with an estimated net worth of N500-million, is the daughter of Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest man. Despite their extravagant wedding in 2008, the couple and their two daughters intentionally maintain a private lifestyle. Halima started her career as an Analyst at KPMG. As the current Executive Director of Commercial Operations at Dangote Group and a board member of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, her commitment extends to

fostering economic growth in Nigeria, advocating for women’s empowerment and increasing female representation on corporate boards in Nigeria and Africa. Suleiman, the son of multi-millionaire Sani Bello, holds the position of Executive Director at Equatel Telecoms. With extensive experience in IT & Telecoms, Oil and Gas (Downstream and Upstream), Power and Energy, including hydro power generation, Aviation, logistics, and the Marine sector, he also serves as a Director on various boards. He is a respected member of the British Computer Society (BCS) in the UK and a member of the Nigerian Polo Association.

HALIMA DANGOTE AND SULEIMAN SANI BELLO

Tony and Awele Elumelu

Tony Elumelu (60), a Nigerian billionaire, economist, and philanthropist, is widely recognised as a Nigerian and African banking and finance sector guru. He started his career in the late ‘80s as an ambitious copier salesman and made history as the youngest bank CEO in Nigeria at the age of 34. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a prominent philanthropic initiative, reflects Tony’s belief in the significance of young entrepreneurs and their determination to uplift Africa from poverty. The TEF empowers entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries with a $100-million programme to create one million jobs in a decade. Despite the challenge of receiving thousands of applications, so far 7 520 entrepreneurs, with 68% being female have been accepted.

Awele (59), is an accomplished, beautiful and sophisticated Nigerian business magnate and medical doctor who serves as the African Ambassador for Gavi. She champions African immunisation drives, quality healthcare in Nigeria and is the recipient of the distinguished Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria As the Founder and CEO of Avon Medical, she is a prominent advocate for universal healthcare in Africa, and serves on the Yale Institute for Global Health Advisory Board and is equally passionate about the work of the TEF. Known for her unwavering commitment to privacy, Tony openly attributes Awele as his greatest inspiration. In 2020, TIME recognised Tony as one of Africa’s leading investors and philanthropists, estimating his wealth at $1.98-billion. In August 2023, Tony earned N26-billion & Awele N4-billion from investments in Transcorp Group across Hospitality, Power, and Oil & Gas sectors.

Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa

Strive (62) is a Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist based in London. He is the founder and executive chairman of international technology groups Econet Global and Cassava Technologies. Ranked 12th on Forbes’ 2023 list of African billionaires, and a net worth of $1.9-billion, Strive made history in 2022 as the first black billionaire on the Sunday Times Rich List. Strive entered the telecoms industry in the 90s, but the government’s attempt to prevent him from acquiring a licence to operate his cellular business led to a challenging five-year legal battle that nearly pushed him to bankruptcy. The landmark case that ruled in his favour ended the state monopoly in telecommunications, opening the door to private investment in the African telecom sector.

Tsitsi serves as the Executive Chair and CoFounder of Delta Philanthropies and the Masiyiwa Higherlife Foundation, which focuses on human capital development, thriving communities, and improving education and healthcare access, especially for girls and women. As signatories of the Giving Pledge initiative, the couple is well-known for their philanthropic work, uplifting orphaned and underprivileged children across multiple African countries. They have pledged $100-million to establish a fund that improves the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. Over the past two decades, Strive has used his own fortune to create and support programmes that educate over 40 000 orphans in Africa and provide scholarships to more than 250 000 young Africans. As Chairman Emeritus of AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa), Strive has helped mobilise over US$15-billion in investments for agriculture throughout Africa.

TONY AND AWELE ELUMELU

STRIVE AND TSITSI MASIYIWA

BY RAINE ST.

Mohammed and Saira Dewji

Mohammed (47) ranked 15th is Africa’s youngest billionaire and the sole billionaire from Tanzania with an impressive net worth of $1.5-billion. He owns MeTL Group, a Tanzanian conglomerate with diversified interests across varied sectors. “Mo”, known for his exceptional style, extensive collection of designer suits and fetish for glasses, is considered an exceptionally humble gentleman. Mo has made an impact in the beverage industry with Mo Cola, a competitor to industry giants like Pepsi and Coca Cola. He plans to triple the current production of 1-billion bottles in the next 2 to 3 years by opening factories in other African nations. He also introduced Mo Bomba Energy Drink to compete with Red Bull. In 2016, Mo joined the Giving Pledge and the Mo Dewji Foundation focuses on providing education to underprivileged children in Tanzania, including university-level support.

With agriculture as the foundation of Mo’s business he is poised to become the world’s largest sisal producer. He has invested $50-million in planting extensive hectares of organic tea for export and is also expanding into Mozambique and Rwanda with ventures in macadamia production, maize milling, cashew processing and denim production, and of course, Mo beverages. Saira, who maintains a fiercely private lifestyle, serves as a board member of the Mo Dewji Foundation and Tumaini La Maisha, Tanzania’s only children’s cancer centre. Mo regards Saira as the cornerstone of the much-needed balance in his family life, reminding him of what truly matters beyond wealth and money. Mo’s headline-making near-death kidnapping incident in 2018 shifted his perspective toward philanthropy and impact investing. He co-owns the football club Simba SC and even as he reduces his work hours, his ambition is driven by his ceaseless passion for his endeavours.

Dr. Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe and Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe

Patrice (61), a prominent South African businessman with a net worth of $3.2-billion, ranking 9th on Forbes Africa’s list, was acknowledged as one of the “100 Greatest Living Business Minds” globally. He founded African Rainbow Minerals, a company with interests in various mineral sectors. Holding various corporate boards positions, including Harmony Gold, a leading global gold mining company, he is widely recognised for his leadership and is considered one of South Africa’s top business leaders.

Precious (61) is a highly accomplished South African businesswoman, philanthropist, entrepreneur and one of Africa’s wealthiest women. In 2020, she began her ten-year tenure as Chancellor of the University of Cape Town. Precious founded African Fashion International in 2007 to promote Pan-African fashion designers and has consistently been honoured as Forbes 50 most influential women in Africa. She championed the Gender Responsive Budget Initiative in 2012, advocating for women’s inclusion in national plans and budgets. In 2013, Patrice became the first African to sign the Giving Pledge, and the couple remains dedicated to lifelong philanthropic efforts through the Motsepe Foundation, aimed at alleviating poverty and improving living conditions for marginalised individuals.Patrice, a self-made billionaire, made history by becoming the first black partner at the law firm Bowman Gilfillan in 1994.

MOHAMMED AND SAIRA DEWJI

DR. PATRICE TLHOPANE MOTSEPE AND DR. PRECIOUS MOLOI-MOTSEPE

CLAIRE

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Public Sector Leaders | July 2024

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

LEADING BRANDS IN AFRICA

CREDITS

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the July edition of Public Sector Leaders (PSL)

Electricity milestone gives us encouragement to do more

COVER STORY: INSETA

GUGU MKHIZE

Leading with purpose

HIGHLIGHTS OF A 20-YEAR CAREER

THE GREATEST CHALLENGES?

IS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTING THE SECTOR?

HOW DOES INSETA CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA?

WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

AN INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE

Business lessons from Madiba

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

THE IMPORTANCE OF FAILING FORWARD

LESSONS FOR US ALL

MANDELA DAY CODING TOURNAMENT

JOIN THE MANDELA DAY COMMUNITY

LEADING AS A WOMAN

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TRANSNET

New GNU Cabinet Prioritising economic growth

A UNIFIED GOVERNMENT

CHANGES TO GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

THE NEW NATIONAL EXECUTIVE

IMPROVED GENERATION

Bheki Nxumalo Head of Generation

A FOCUSED APPROACH

Effective Implementation is vital to the success of public procurement legislation

TOP BRANDS IN AFRICA

INTERNATIONAL BRANDS

Which are the top brands in Africa?

Spreading literacy across the seas

A HOME FOR MILLIONS OF BOOKS

A COMMUNITY ONBOARD

Celebrating creativity at the National Arts Festival 2024

HERE’S A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THIS YEAR:

TRAILBLAZER

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman

Gift of the Givers

INSPIRED TO HELP OTHERS

UNITING PEOPLE WITH A COMMON VISION

Rhino Rewilding

Rhinos relocated to Greater Kruger area as part of rewilding initiative

RETURN TO THE WILD

SAVING A SPECIES

SASCOC’S INITIAL OLYMPIC TEAM

WHAT’S ON IN JULY AND AUGUST

REGIONAL FOCUS - KZN

KwaZulu-Natal - weathering the storms

Mediation and arbitration in the workplace

Resolving workplace disputes through mediation and arbitration

SARS and tax breaks

Make the most of your benefits this tax season

2. TAX-FREE SAVINGS

3. MEDICAL CREDITS

3. DONATIONS

5 tips on how to fight the winter chills

HEAT YOUR SPACE

CLEVER COOKING

GET THE BEST FROM YOUR GEYSER

BEDROOM BASICS

CAN COLD TEMPERATURES MAKE YOU SICK?

July

1

Global Enterprise Agility Month

World Population Day

World Youth Skills Day

Calendar of Commemorative Events

18

Nelson Mandela Day

28

World Nature Conservation Day

World Day against Trafficking in Person 30

Dynamic Duo Five African Power Couples: Changing Lives and Shaping Futures

Mohammed and Saira Dewji

Articles inside