7 minute read
THE COMMUNITY SCHEMES OMBUD SERVICE
INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF OMBUD OF THE COMMUNITY SCHEMES OMBUD SERVICE ADVOCATE BOYCE MKHIZE
Q. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT! HOW DO YOU HOPE TO MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO CSOS? Thank you for the congratulatory note on my appointment. I seek to infuse energy, agility, innovation, responsiveness, quality and outstanding customer relationship management in our dealings with our various stakeholders. CSOS is a State-Owned Entity, but I do want to turn it away from the perception that Government is ineffective, inefficient and tardy. This spirit must be modelled first by myself as a Leader and cascade throughout the organisation. Governance of Schemes and resolution of disputes is our key mandate and, therefore, all interventions I seek to bring will be geared towards enhancing best practices and models in these areas, without neglecting the impact of support functions.
Q. RESOLVING ADMINISTRATIVE DISPUTES CAN BE QUITE A DAUNTING TASK. WHY IS THIS SUCH AN IMPORTANT FIELD TO BE IN? Resolving disputes is such an important field because it contributes to peaceful co-existence of individuals living in the communities that we regulate. Nobody wants to live in an environment where there is constant nuisance, bickeringand conflicts.
Q. WHAT ARE THE KEY DRIVERS IN PROVIDING AN IMPARTIAL AND TRANSPARENT SERVICE TO RESOLVE ADMINISTRATIVE DISPUTES IN COMMUNITY SCHEMES?
• Objectivity
• Sound knowledge of legal frameworks and principles
• Appropriate interpretation of law and application to facts
Q. HOW HAS CSOS SUCCESSFULLY MAINTAINED THE RUNNING OF AN INEXPENSIVE AND EFFICIENT SYSTEM FOR ITS CUSTOMERS? By emphasising the importance of conciliating disputes rather than embarking on a fully blown adversarial system of adjudication of disputes. Conciliations provide a quicker, inexpensive and more long lasting solution to disputes as it becomes an agreed upon resolution of the dispute, as opposed to an adjudication orderwhere there is a winner and a loser.
Q. IN WHICH WAYS HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE ORGANISATION, AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THIS? The management of disputes has suffered some setbacks due to restrictions on physical meetings etc. However, we have instituted other alternative means for resolving disputes, such as online or virtual hearings as well as adjudications that are conducted on paper. This has created an environment where disputes do not pile up waiting for physical meetings, but can be resolved speedily through virtual platforms or determinations on paper.
Q. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT YEAR AT CSOS? I would like to see an efficient and effective machinery developed within CSOS for the enhancement of governance of Schemes as well as efficient resolution of disputes. A viable Business Automation Solution must be procured and implemented in order to fast track the registration or onboarding of new Schemes and maintenance of their registrations with CSOS. Our public profile must be enhanced through public campaigns and our performance must increase to at least 80% of our targets. We also need to reverse the qualified audit opinion that we received and move much closer to a clean audit. Our brand should invoke positive feelings of confidence amongst our stakeholders with a highly competentand suitable team of employees.
Company Details
Address: Berkley Office Park, 8 Bauhinia Street, Highveld Techno Park, Centurion, 0169
Tel: 010 593 0533
Web: www.csos.org.za
INTERVIEW WITH THEMBELIHLE MBATHA, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER COMMUNITY SCHEMES OMBUD SERVICE
THEMBELIHLE MBATHA
The CSOS vision is to be a credible, world class regulatory authority for community schemes in South Africa.
The CSOS Act empowers the organisation to help create and facilitate orderly and wellmanaged community schemes. This is carried out by resolving disputes amongst the parties, administration of schemes governance documentation and providing regular training and education to all stakeholders.
Fostering inter-relationships between the CSOS and various community schemes is critical. The CSOS generates its revenue from levies, government grants, interest income and dispute resolutions income. Levies are the major source of revenue for the CSOS. To this end, our mission is to ensure harmonious community schemes by providing regulation, education to all relevant stakeholders and an accessible dispute resolution service in an inclusive manner.
Social responsibility initiatives: On an organisational basis, we provide learnerships and internships through our graduate programmes in line with the skills development initiatives in consultation with DHS within the appropriate frameworks of the CSOS.
On a personal level, I am a founder of our family NPO which is called the Maji -Mbatha Foundation whereby we provide mentorship to young girls and boys from our disadvantaged communities as well as collect donations to provide sanitary towels to young girls from disadvantaged community who miss school because of these monthly circumstances.
For the boys we provide dignity packs – all sanitary needs with the exception of the sanitary towels i.e. self-care product basis such as wash towels, soap, toothpaste etc..
Five tips on surviving andthriving in business:
• Putting together a team that will be able to execute the vision and mission of your business value proposition
• Developing a plan / strategy with clear targets, milestones and timelines
• Being agile and resilient is key to adapting to any changes in the environment in which you operate
• Staying abreast of any new developments within your sector of business
Q HOW HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED GENDER DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORKPLACE? We are yet to embark on gender driven development once we have finalised a process of organisationalredesign.
Q HOW HAS GENDER EMPOWERMENT STRENGTHENED YOUR ORGANISATION? We currently have a workforce that is more female than male however we are working towards having a balanced Executive team, as well and we are hoping to reap the rewards of the focused strategic intents soon through me as a female CFO recently joiningthe CSOS.
Q WHAT ARE YOUR ORGANISATION’S GENDER EQUALITY AND BEE RATINGS AND POLICIES? We are currently in the process of developing our EE plan and the BEErating review is still under way.
Q WHAT ARE THE CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN YOUR SECTOR? As a player in the property / housing regulations sector, we are looking at transformation initiatives whichwill empower women and youth.
Q WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS ARE YOU USING IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO KEEP IN LINE WITH THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (4IR)? We are currently busy with the process of sourcing our Business Automation systems and hope this will yield more productivity within the organisation with seamless integration of all our business processes.
Q HOW ARE YOU USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CREATE MORE BUSINESS? We are currently creating more awareness of the CSOS via twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other websites.
Q WHICH FEMALE LEADERS INSPIRE YOU THE MOST, AND WHY? I am inspired by my Mother, Busisiwe Mjaji. What a resilient single mother she has been throughout my life! A motivator and a pillar of strength. I have learnt the true meaning of resilience and patience through hard work. Another female leader that inspires me is Winnie Mandela, a female leader who led a revolution in recognition of women’s rights and gender equality and also fought for the rights of the oppressed with such courage and resilience really appeals to me, while remaining a mother to her children in the midst of struggle.
It really takes a force to be reckoned with to be all that and more.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
Winner of the 2018 Oliver Empowerment Public Sector Leader Award 2018
Finalist in the CA(SA) Top Under 35 CAs Under 35 National Awards
Finalist for two categories in the Standard Bank Top women awards in 2017 (Top Woman in Female Public Sector Leader Award and Top Young Achiever of the Year in 2019)
