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MEDICAL FUND BONITAS MEDICAL FUND’S TOP WOMEN
MEDICAL FUND BONITAS MEDICAL FUND’S TOP WOMEN
Interview with Mathilda Marais and Mpho Masilela
Bonitas is the second largest open medical scheme in South Africa.
We aim to make quality healthcare accessible to all South Africans and offer a wide range of plans that are simple to understand and easy to use.
Bonitas celebrates 40 years as a private healthcare scheme in South Africa, evolving and expanding its capabilities in response to the needs of a growing membership base.
We have a total of 709 881 beneficiaries and are pleased that we are one of only two medical schemes in South Africa that saw membership growth in the past year.
We are proud to say that, despite the poor economic performance in South Africa, Bonitas, which belongs to the members, is fiscally healthy with a total of R7.3 billion in reserves, a solvency ratio of 36.2% and a R1.3 billion surplus.
We have a rich heritage and solid understanding of the South African private healthcare industry.
We know the rising cost of healthcare is the top concern for our members.
Therefore, our team of experts is constantly looking for innovative ways to reduce costs and increase benefits. We make strategic investments in technology, for example, to ensure lifestyle diseases are identified before they become chronic.
We adjust our wide range of benefit options every year, while keeping it simple and user-friendly.
Bonitas is there for its members, which was demonstrated more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic where several strategies – including free virtual consultations – were introduced to assist our members in terms of care, information, testing and vaccines.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, CEO, newlywed, a young couple with children, retiree or minimum wage earner, we have benefits which will match your needs. We know that we all need peace of mind when it comes to healthcare which is why Bonitas has a plan for you. This is how we fulfil our aim of providing affordable, quality healthcare for all South Africans.
MATHILDA MARAIS General Manager: Governance, Risk and Compliance
Achievements:
• BCom Financial Accounting
• BCom (Hons.) Internal Audit
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA)
• Health Quality Assessment (HQA) – Board Member
• Trustee Development Programme (NQF level 7) – Wits Business School
Gender policies:
• Employment Equity and Transformation Policy
• Employment Equity Plan
• Talent and Succession Management Policy and Framework
• Learning and Development Policy
HOW IS YOUR ORGANISATION IMPLEMENTING GENDER DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORKPLACE?
By empowering and developing women in our organisation, we promote a woman’s sense of selfworth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home and her ability to affect change. To support the process of empowering and developing women within Bonitas, we have a Learning and Development Policy to promote continuous learning and development. Furthermore, Bonitas has a Talent and Succession Management Policy and Framework in place to provide guidance in terms of talent identification and development.
FIVE TIPS ON SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN BUSINESS
• Foster relationships
• Embrace every opportunity
• Continuous learning
• Balance yourself
• Influence with impact
HOW HAS GENDER EMPOWERMENT STRENGTHENED YOUR ORGANISATION?
Bonitas has a lean senior management team given the structure of the Scheme and the current outsourcing model. However, over the past few years, gender empowerment has strengthened the senior management team by creating a balance and by offering unique management and interpersonal skills. Since women typically excel in emotional intelligence and empathy, these leadership styles often strengthen the employee work ethic, employee development, respect amongst employees, critical thinking skills and collaboration. As a women leader within Bonitas, I strive to gain as much experience and influence within my current team structure. In doing this, it is important to promote a healthy worklife balance and exemplify integrity as this sets an example for women behind me.
WHAT ARE YOUR ORGANISATION’S GENDER EQUALITY POLICIES?
Bonitas has an Employment Equity and Transformation Policy, as approved by the Board. Coupled with this Policy is the current Employment Equity (EE) Plan which sets out the EE goals and targets including the measures to retain critical and EE skills. From a management custodian perspective, Bonitas ensures that the required EE goals and targets are achieved through the Scheme’s recruitment processes.
Based on the current workforce profile, more than 50% of the workforce is female. The Scheme also established an EE Committee to oversee compliance with the Employment Equity and Transformation Policy and the EE plan.
HOW ARE YOU INTEGRATING THE DRIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY INTO YOUR ORGANISATION?
One of my key roles is to create an enhanced focus on good corporate governance principles. These include accountability, responsibility, transparency and fairness. By factoring these four key focuses into all aspects of business operations, you can work toward establishing corporate social responsibility. Corporate governance and social responsibility are intrinsically linked, both helping organisations to retain a healthy business balance. The key for successful organisations would be to ensure that the Board practices good governance while having sustainability in mind.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU THINK LEADERS OF THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO NEED?
I recently attended a leadership training course and one of the key takeaways was the importance of building a future-fit organisation, and with future-fit leaders. The building blocks for a future-fit organisation is an organisation with a supportive environment which provides for continuous learning and the development of future-fit leaders. The following are some of the key competencies which will be required of future-fit leaders, given the challenging times and uncertainties we face as organisations and leaders on a daily basis:
• Learn continuously
• Communicate powerfully
• Champion change
• Build relationships
• Develop others
• Think and act innovatively
• Value collaboration and teamwork
• Solve problems and make decisions
• Take responsibility and be accountable
WHICH FEMALE LEADER INSPIRES YOU THE MOST, AND WHY?
During my career at PwC prior to joining the Bonitas team, one of the most inspiring female leaders I worked with was Shirley Machaba, the first female CEO of PwC Southern Africa. Shirley is a leader, who consistently demonstrated professional values and work ethic. Based on her personal and professional values and for being an impactful leader, she made a significant difference in people’s lives and the profession.
MPHO MASILELA Scheme Secretary
Achievements:
• BCom Governance and Administration
Postgraduate Certificates:
• Company Law
• Advanced Company Law
• Governance, Risk and Compliance
Certificate:
• Fundamentals of Project Management
Associate Member:
• Chartered Institute of Business Management
Merit Award:
• Best Team leader CORE First Line Managing Skills Programme
Trustee Development Programme (NQF level 7) – Wits Business School
FIVE TIPS ON SURVIVING AND THRIVING IN BUSINESS
• Adaptability
• Embracing diversity
• Valuing relationships and collaboration
• Embracing Change
• Practicing Self-Care and Mental Health
HOW HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED GENDER DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORKPLACE?
Bonitas’ employment count constitutes a majority of women. Furthermore, the Scheme encourages the participation of women across various job categories and levels of employment. Finally, Bonitas seeks to put in place strategies and programmes to assist women to realise their aspirations in line with the Employment Equity (EE) plan.
HOW HAS GENDER EMPOWERMENT STRENGTHENED YOUR ORGANISATION?
The women constituting the Bonitas Senior Management team have brought in soft skills which include but are not limited to communication skills, conflict resolution, multitasking, compassion and the ability to work under pressure which are much needed for a flourishing and sustainable work environment.
WHAT ARE YOUR ORGANISATION’S GENDER EQUALITY AND BEE RATINGS AND POLICIES?
Bonitas is guided by a Board of Trustees approved Employment Equity and Transformation Policy. Furthermore, the Employment Equity and Transformation Policy is supported by an Employment Equity (EE) Plan which sets out the EE goals and targets including the measures to retain critical and EE skills. The Board, through the relevant Committees, provides oversight to ensure that Executive Management and the Senior Management team achieve the set EE goals and targets, through the Scheme’s recruitment processes, guided by the Recruitment and Selection Policy.
HOW ARE YOU INTEGRATING THE DRIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY INTO YOUR ORGANISATION?
The Scheme’s Secretariat Department, which I head, is constantly seeking innovative and sustainable ways of service delivery. In addition, COVID-19 and the implementation of POPIA have forced the team to consider and embrace the importance of technology driven solutions in service delivery. This includes reducing the number of printed documents for meetings and considering available technological applications to share information with the Board and committees.
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU THINK LEADERS OF THE FUTURE ARE GOING TO NEED?
• Accountability
• Emotional Intelligence
• Technological Intelligence and Savvy
• Mentorship spirit for skills transfer
• Courage
• Flexibility
• Intuition
• Collaboration
• Culturally Intelligent
• Authenticity
• Driven
• Energetic
WHICH FEMALE LEADERS INSPIRE YOU THE MOST, AND WHY?
I am inspired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. She is an intellectual academic achiever who exudes a strong presence, power and composure. Professor Phakeng achieved a BSc in Pure Mathematics at the University of North-West and a MSc in Mathematics Education at the University of the Witwatersrand.
In 2002 she became the first black female South African to obtain a PhD in Mathematics Education. Over and above being an academic achiever, Prof Phakeng has a sense of style
