Post Matric - KwaZulu-Natal 2020

POST MATRIC 2020 | KWAZULU-NATAL

WIN

SAMSUNG GALAXY A2 CORE SMARTPHONE

DESIGN YOUR NEXT PLUS BE INSPIRED • PLAN YOUR ROUTE • FIND FUNDING

CAREER IDEAS INSIDE Visit www.postmatric.co.za for more!

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C A R E E R I DE AS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO KNOW BEFORE APPLYING ONLINE • • •

Applicants must have a valid email address in order to apply online Should you not have a valid email address you can create an email account using www.gmail.com or any other email provider you may prefer All communication from the University regarding your application will be sent via email.

APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SAVED IN THEIR COMPUTER OR CELL PHONES, AND AS SCANNED COPIES OR PICTURES: SOUTH AFRICAN AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

TO SCAN YOUR DOCUMENTS, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE EASY STEPS: STEP 1

Go to APP/Play store on your device (computer or cell phone)

STEP 2

Search and download CamScanner – Scanner

STEP 3

Follow the instructions in the app to scan your documents

STEP 4

Save your scanned documents in your appropriate folder

STEP 5

Upload your scanned documents to their relevant document type before you click submit on your online application

ID Final Grade 11 results for current Grade 12 Learners School leaving certificate / final Grade 12 results (if applicable) Academic record / transcript with certificate of conduct, if you have previously studied at another institution (this may be accompanied by the certificate, if the qualification was completed) SAQA evaluation certificate for Non-South African qualifications (if applicable) * International students please check with the International Office Your application would be considered COMPLETE once you have successfully completed the online application form as well as uploaded all supporting documents!!

You get a student number as soon as your online application is submitted. This is the number that we will identify you with for any communication and enquiries. In short, your student number is your reference number for CUT’s interaction with you.

Bloemfontein 051 507 3911 Welkom 057 910 3618

WIN

A SAMSUNG GALAXY A2 CORE SMARTPHONE This new kid on the block sports an easy-to-use interface and a design that slips into your pocket or bag without a hitch. But the main pro is that it comes with Android Go software, which makes apps like WhatsApp possible to use. Also, selfie-lovers will be glad to hear about its user-friendly 5-megapixel camera. And with 8GB storage and 1GB RAM, keeping your favourite shots close by won’t be an issue.

How to Enter: SMS your name and the name of the school where you got your copy of Post Matric to 072 129 2058.

Example: Sipho Nkosi, Victoria Park High School Competition Closes: 30 November 2020 Competition Rules: Only one entry per person will be entered in the draw.

The draw will be held by 2 December 2020 and the winner contacted by 4 December 2020, on the number they used to send the sms.

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FROM THE ED

LOCKING DOWN 2021 AND BEYOND

T

he last few months have felt unreal, like I’m living in some apocalyptic movie, like Contagion. There’s this invisible enemy warring against us and all the normal rules of life have changed.

It’s all about distance now: social distancing when we step out the door, distance from our friends, distance learning and, for some, even distance from family (for others, too much family time!).

If you were anything like me during hard lockdown, you spent way too much time on your phone messaging and facetiming with friends while watching reruns of your fave series and eating (again, way too much) chocolate.

Okay, so I did run up and down the stairs a few times and volunteer at my local feeding project… but mostly I spent a lot of time wondering, what next?

For me, but also for you.

Thinking back to my Matric year, I remember it also felt like an apocalypse. The world I had known for 12 years was shattered and I had to figure out how to put it back together again: where to live, how to cook, make new friends, whether to study or work (or run for the hills), how to pay for it all.

Oh my, the excitement of newfound freedom and the terror of too many decisions!

But don’t freak out, we’ve got you (not the cooking though). Kicking off with David Tlale, who rose from hardship to design a new life for himself out of nothing.

Then there is expert advice on getting the best of all worlds of learning – contact, distance, blended and hybrid – how to nail funding like a pro, a section on cool careers to explore, and top tips on acing final exams during the pandemic. We’ve even thrown in a few trendy gadgets to keep you on track and entertained.

Virtual high-five. Oops, I mean virtual elbow bump!

Olivia Main EDITOR: POST MATIRC

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C A R E E R I DE AS

CONTENTS EDITOR Olivia Main olivia@yesmedia.co.za

6

ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER Clare Schenk clare@yesmedia.co.za

6 CUT FROM AFRICAN CLOTH A true rags-to-riches story, David Tlale is showing the world that Africa’s diversity and heritage has much to offer within the fashion space through his world-famous designs.

CONTRIBUTORS Hans Mackenzie Main, Dr Felicity Coughlan, Nola Payne, Anne Eadie

10 GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Asking the right questions is the key to coming up with a solid plan for your future In the new normal.

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Jan Weiss jan@yesmedia.co.za PROJECT SALES MANAGER Andy Nicholson andy@yesmedia.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Joy Voss

12 FUNDING: HOW IT’S DONE A step-by-step guide to applying for (and winning) funding the easy way.

12

TEL 021 447 6467 FAX 021 447 6351 EMAIL info@yesmedia.co.za POSTAL ADDRESS PO Box 44383, Claremont 7735, South Africa WEBSITE www.yesmedia.co.za

2 COMPETITION You have to be in it, to win it! Samsung Galaxy A2 Core up for grabs.

24 10 TIPS TO UP YOUR EXAM GAME Get ahead of the game with this expert advice on acing your exams during the pandemic.

CAREER JUNCTION

CEO Deon Muller PRINTED BY CTP Printers

Post Matric ISSN number 2074-4412

ENTERTAINMENT

5 GOTTA HAVE GADGETS We bring you trending gadgets for digital street cred.

PUBLISHER Yes! Media

Post Matric is published by Yes!Media.

All copyright in material appearing in this magazine belongs to Yes! Media and/or the individual contributors. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or Yes! Media. No responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions in the contents of the magazine.

FEATURES

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Occupational therapist Dentist Meteorological technician Finance manager Event manager BI analyst Environmental manager Lecturer Carpenter TEFL teacher Cyber consultant Account executive Makeup artist

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TRENDING TECH

GOTTA HAVE GREAT GADGETS FOR THE DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

BETTY BOOM Bluetooth speakers are for sharing your vibes. These tiny egg-sized speakers deliver decent sound and slip easily into your jeans pocket so you’re always ready to rock. They’re no bass monsters but they do produce a surprisingly large room-filling sound for something so tiny, and you can pair two of them for a bigger soundstage. Another neat feature: tap the power button to snap a photo on your phone. R375

FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 11

LENOVO IDEAPAD C340

The Instax camera line brings back the simple pleasure of instant printed photos to stick on your fridge, in your car and anywhere it spreads joy or gets a laugh. There are no fiddly settings on the camera; just point and shoot, and out slides your photo. This latest model in the Instax range automatically measures your light then balances the flashfor best effect.

For great selfies, the tiny front-facing mirror helps you perfectly frame your shot.

Camera R1200 Film R150 (10 shots)

The C340 has everything you want in a notebook, but for a lot less. Budget laptops are usually bulky with dull and grainy screens, and are slow at just about everything, but pay a little more and this touchscreen convertible offers plenty of processing power, a great screen and an SSD drive which starts up in seconds, not minutes, and makes everything fly. It’s just 17mm thick and weighs only 1.6kg, so you’ll be taking this one absolutely everywhere. i5, 4GB RAM, 14” screen, 256GB SSD storage, R12250

SEGWAY DRIFT W1 These futuristic roller skates sport Segway’s trademark self-balancing tech. Each roller has a strong but lightweight magnesium body housing a powerful hub motor that can even carry you up to 12km/h, even up (gentle) inclines. We strongly recommend you practice your turns and maneuvers at home before you flick on your built-in RGB lighting and hit the city streets. R9300 (import)

SKULLCANDY SESH Completely cordless buds – now known as “true wireless” – became more affordable when funky headphone brand Skullcandy hit the shelves. The Sesh buds deliver great sound and fit snugly without looking dorky or feeling like they could go tumbling as you bounce around. Available in half a dozen cool colours, they come with a pocket-friendly carry case which doubles as a charging dock. R1000

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CUT FROM

AFRICAN CLOTH Rising from the dusty streets of Vosloorus to the runways of Paris and New York, David Tlale is Africa's king of fashion showcasing the continent to the world, one garment at a time

By Hans Mackenzie Main

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I N S P I R AT I O N A L P E O P L E

I

t’s 2013 and the tent outside the Lincoln centre in New York is abuzz with production crews prepping the space for the semiannual New York Fashion Week. At the entrance, his mouth only slightly agape, dressed in black, stands a 38-year-old South African. He reads the names on the marquee’s board from top to bottom: Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren.

And there, in among the best of the best is his own: David Tlale. The boy from Vosloorus.

In the early 80s in Vosloorus, a township east of Johannesburg, fashion design wasn’t high on the list of good career choices. In fact, it wasn’t on the list at all. Teacher, engineer, lawyer, accountant – these were the sorts of things matrics were supposed to aspire to.

David Tlale, however, wasn’t interested – not for very long, at least – in the things he was supposed to become.

“I went to register to study auditing at the Tshwane University of Technology,” the royalty of the SA fashion scene says, sitting on a chair fittingly plated in gold with a crown dangling from the back. Auditing, of course, is not the route to fashion stardom and it took a nudge in the right direction for him to find his path. “On the campus I used to see these crazy-looking students always overdressed carrying big portfolios. One day, I stopped one of them saying, ‘Listen, I’m sorry, can I talk to you? What are you studying?’”

The grunge-wearing student told David he was enrolled in a fashion design course – that included subjects like pattern technology, textiles and entrepreneurship – and invited him to a class.

“As I walked in, lo and behold, I knew that this was my calling, that this was where I belonged,” he says. The following year, after securing a study loan on his own, David enrolled at the Vaal University for a BTech in Fashion. He moved in with friends in Sharpeville, from where he walked to the campus to begin with, and graduated best in class four years later.

A life filled with as much success and passion as David’s is not built on knowledge of cutting, designing, sewing and sketching garments alone. The fabric of his childhood was a rich tapestry of church life, Sunday school and boy scouts – all of which, together with the steady influence of his late mom

Joyce, made him into the person he is today.

“In Vosloorus, I was raised with very strong principles of respect, discipline and, especially, respecting your elders,” he says.

“I grew up in Sunday school, and to this day my spiritual journey remains a very important aspect of who I am and where I’m going.”

But Jozi soon came calling and David left Vosloorus at a young age to strike out on his own. Was it not for his spiritual upbringing, he says, he may have lost his way.

“When I moved from home, I started engaging with different characters. Life became hectic and I found myself missing the days of choir practices and prayer meetings.

And I’m, like, this is not me. I had to choose.

Am I going to continue living this hectic life?

Or am I going to become the person I want to become? The person who left Vosloorus to come to the city and build himself.”

Fortunately for fashion, David chose to build himself, and managed to build a world-renowned fashion brand along the way. His label, David Tlale, has its roots firmly planted on the African continent.

His garments, worn and admired across the globe from Hong Kong to Paris to Milan, are inspired by what he has seen and experienced in – among many other places – Mpumalanga, Boksburg and Sharpeville.

His label, David Tlale, has its roots firmly planted on the African continent. His garments, worn and admired across the globe from Hong Kong to Paris to Milan, are inspired by what he has seen and experienced in – among many other places – Mpumalanga, Boksburg and Sharpeville “I always ask, how do I make what we have locally amazing?” he says. “We are not only ‘the Big 5’, you know. We have stories to tell, an amazing heritage. I want people to understand that we are from Africa, that it’s okay to be African and it’s okay to have a diverse cast of models.”

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“I always ask, how do I make what we have locally amazing? We are not only ‘the Big 5’, you know.

We have stories to tell, an amazing heritage. I want people to understand that we are from Africa, that it’s okay to be African and it’s okay to have a diverse cast of models” David has showcased his collections in iconic South African settings such as the SA Mint, on Cape Town’s perennially unfinished bridge,the Bo-Kaap and on Constitution Hill.

Of all of them, however, it was the show on the Nelson Mandela Bridge – the first-ever fashion show on the structure – in 2011 that was the most iconic. With 92 models to celebrate Mandela’s 92nd birthday, including the cast of the iconic soap The Bold and the Beautiful, the show revealed David’s 2011 Autumn/Winter ‘Made in the City’ collection to rapturous reviews.

“Beyond New York, beyond anything else, I feel the Nelson Mandela Bridge show was the defining moment of the David Tlale brand’s journey.” Like all artists who manage to turn their talent into revenue, David has the ability to be both a creative and a savvy businessman.

He speaks of value chains and ways to keep the clothing and textile industries afloat; of government investment to sustain jobs; of resuscitating the mills and factories; of price points and imports. And where others see a dark cloud in the shape of a raging pandemic, David sees a silver lining. As he told his team recently, it all begins in their minds, that they have a choice: either they give in or change how they do things and see things.

A good example of a clear 20/20 optimistic view of the horrible year 2020 has been so far – and proof that David is someone who sees the glass, and the Zoom screen, half full – is his following recommendation and words on how to survive this crisis.

“With all these Zoom meetings, what matters is head to waistline,” he says. “Make sure that you look good. Yes, finances are a shambles.

But we have to keep inspiring ourselves.

Spring is on its way and will bring with it, new life. And when it comes, we have to make sure that we are ready. Because, you know what, it’s okay to still look beautiful.” PM

David’s words of wisdom for budding fashion designers ✄ Fashion is not just about making clothes. You sketch, you cut, you sew, you design, you find fabrics, you create your own fabrics.

✄ It’s okay to have an open mind.

We are the new generation – we can’t just have the same old, same old.

✄ Us South Africans have what it takes to become global brands.

Don’t forget that!

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I N S P I R AT I O N A L P E O P L E

David’s journey 1975 – Born in Vosloorus

2010 – Debuted his Spring/Summer

1994 – Enrolled in the fashion design

collection as part of an African collective at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week

programme at VUT

1998 – Graduated (best student in fashion 2nd, 3rd and 4th year)

1999 to 2001 – Junior lecturer at VUT 2003 – Awarded the coveted Elle New Talent Award at the South African Fashion Week

2005 – Opened his own studio underneath a derelict supermarket in Rosebank and started his label, David Tlale 2006 – Head hunted by the House of Monatic to be the creative director for Carlucci Women 2007 – Selected as one of four South African designers to present at Paris Fashion Week

2012 – Showcased a solo collection at New York Fashion Week – the first South African designer to do so (he went on to showcase five more collections) 2014 – Awarded Designer of the Year at the African Diaspora Awards held in New York City; the African Icon of Hope Award in Nigeria; made the global list of 100 Most Inspiring Africans in London-based New African Magazine; and was featured in TIME Magazine as one of the designers shaping Africa’s fashion landscape 2015 – Headlined the BET Awards Experience 2016 – Made the BET A-List as South Africa’s Style Icon

Top SA fashion courses ❖ Universities of technology offer diplomas and/or degrees in fashion design ❖ The Design School Southern Africa www.designschoolsa.co.za BA in Fashion Design and specialised and Dressmaking short courses ❖ Cape Town College of Fashion Design (CTCFD) www.ctcfd.co.za Certificate in Foundation Fashion Design (1 year), Diploma in Fashion and Garment Technology (2 years) and Diploma in Fashion Design (3 years), with the option to extend to an Advanced Diploma ❖ North West School of Design www.nwsd.co.za Diploma in Fashion Design (3 years), Diploma in Fashion Management and Communications, and part-time courses in Fashion Photography, Pattern and Corset Designing ❖ LISOF www.lisof.co.za Diploma in Fashion (3 years), BA in Fashion (3 years), BA Hons in Fashion (1 year full time or 2 years part time), Higher Certificate in a variety of short courses (18 months of evening classes), and short courses in Make-up, Creative Design, Pattern Design and Garment Construction (6 months, held on Saturdays) ❖ Spero Villioti Elite Design Academy www.sperovillioti.co.za Diploma in Fashion and Bachelor of Fashion (both for 3 years), and 18 short courses ❖ Studio 05 Fashion School www.studio05.co.za Diploma (3 years full time or part time) and short courses in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Fashion Styling, Textile Design, Pattern Construction, Garment Construction and many more ❖ Design Academy of Fashion www.daf-academy.co.za Fashion Diploma (3 years), Higher Certificate in Fashion (1 year), and short courses in Pattern Making and Garment Construction, Illustration and Computer-Aided Design, Styling and Fashion Photography, and Computer-Aided Design 2 (4 to 8 weeks) ❖ Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion www.elizabethgalloway.co.za Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Fashion and short courses such as Introduction to Fashion Design and Textile

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E

GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS The good news is that even in this crazy new normal, there are loads of options for next year and beyond. But you’ve got to know the right questions to ask

I

t’s a totally different world out there compared to six months ago when you started your final year of school.

The Covid-19 lockdown has changed the way we live and learn in ways we wouldn’t have believed back then.

But while much of life is different for this year’s Grade 12s, one thing hasn’t changed – the need for you to decide what your next move will be after Matric is done and dusted.

The process and considerations involved in making those decisions have also changed.

In previous years, you could attend Open Days, visit campuses to speak to student advisors and faculty staff, connect with current and former students, or plan a valuable gap year or work placement.

This physical legwork is no longer an option in the form that it used to be.

The good news, though, is that quality institutions – from universities to TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) colleges – will now be hosting Virtual Open Days, which actually allows you to ‘visit’ more campuses than you

would have before and gives you quicker access to advisors by scheduling online appointments. There are still some institutions which will allow on-campus visits, but by appointment only.

For those of you who aren’t going the study route, although the exploratory gap year is out of the question for now and may be for quite some time to come, you can keep the dream alive by researching the places you would like to travel to or the work experience you would like to gain.

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FOCUS ON THE FUTURE

Taking an online course like TEFL or a course on childcare to kit yourself out if you plan to work while travelling will keep you focussed too.

For now, let’s look at how to choose what to study and where. Here are three factors to keep in mind, from experts Dr Felicity Coughlan and Nola Payne at The Independent Institute of Education:

1) CAN THE INSTITUTION PROVIDE SUPERIOR ONLINE LEARNING? As you may have realised during lockdown learning, a good contact education does not necessarily mean a good online education.

This means that old ideas of what made a good, ‘prestigious’ institution have been turned on their head.

Whether they are a public university or private higher education institution, they must be able to respond to the up and down uncertainty of the environment we live in now without compromising the learning experience.

That ability to switch between methods without warning and without disrupting learning has become a differentiator.

You’re really looking for the best of both worlds option – you still want the campus life experience but you need to know you can get it with the surety that if necessary, the institution can continue to engage you online during periods of closure.

Some of the questions you need to ask to figure out an institution’s competence in terms or their online offering, include: • Does the institution have an online learning platform?

• How does the institution use the platform for teaching and learning?

• How do lecturers teach using the online platform?

• What are students expected to do on the online platform?

• What resources do students need for online learning?

• What are the stats on attendance, submission of assignments and student progress during lockdown?

Obviously, if an institution doesn’t have an online platform, or if their online platform didn’t effectively support the continuation of learning, you should think twice about them being your go-to study option.

Find out what they did for their existing students these past few months, how they assisted those students whose circumstances required additional support,

and whether their students were able to adapt to the new environment.

KNOW YOUR TERMS

2) DOES THE INSTITUTION FOCUS ON WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING?

Contact studies Most of the teaching and learning is done on campus with face-to-face interaction between lecturers and peers.

A focus on work-integrated learning and industry alignment was important in the past, but now it is a game changer.

Given the massive loss of jobs in the wake of Covid-19 and global lockdowns, opportunities are going to be limited in the coming years.

When hiring picks up again, employers will want to be very clear that they are appointing graduates who are able to do the job and not just have paper credentials to show for their time at university. Fewer and fewer students can afford to simply treat their first degree as formative.

This means you should ask institutions how their curricula are connected to the real world of work, how closely they work with industry to ensure you engage with relevant, updated learning material, and how work-integrated learning is incorporated in the curriculum.

The additional benefit of work-integrated learning is that this also provides you with a portfolio of evidence when you graduate, which gives you an additional advantage during the job hunt.

3) IS THE INSTITUTION REGISTERED AND ACCREDITED? One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to ensure an institution is properly registered and accredited.

Bogus colleges and qualifications have been a challenge in South Africa in the past, and that trend is expected to continue, with shameless operators preying on the most vulnerable.

This is why you need to start considering your options now, and not leave your decisions about your future too late, when you might be desperate to further your studies but find yourself with fewer options.

Give yourself enough time to investigate the institutions and qualifications that interest you, so you’ll be in a better position to research them thoroughly, and weed out those which will cost you time and money without giving you the skills and the edge you need in the new world of work. Spend a little time every week working on your higher education checklist.

Start investigating now! PM

Distance studies Most of the teaching and learning requires little to no actual campus contact sessions, but rather is done using electronic platforms.

It also includes what is traditionally called pack and post, where materials are mailed to students, or where it can be downloaded from a student portal.

Blended learning A blend of class learning with some online engagement with the content, the lecturer and peers on a digital platform.

Hybrid learning Classroom and online sessions happen at the same time to give those students who are online, direct person-to-person engagement with those who have opted to be in the physical class.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dr Felicity Coughlan, Director Nola Payne, Head of Faculty: Information and Communications Technology The Independent Institute of Education at www.iie.ac.za

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FUNDING:

HOW IT’S DONE Applying for funding is easier than you think.

Here’s a step-by-step guide

Y

es, applying for funding is a process.

There are forms to fill in, email addresses to verify, codes to remember and boxes to tick. The application process in general – whether you’re applying to secure your future or to adopt a pet – is however, unfortunately, a part of life. Without paperwork – or, more accurately, online data – the world would be a chaotic place to live in. No one would know who qualifies for what – and where to send their funds to set you on your way. So, you have to knuckle down and put the hours in. That bursary or loan is not going to fall from the sky into your lap.

As mentioned, luckily most if not all applications these days are digitally processed and stored. That removes queues from the equation (plus you can apply enjoying a hot cup of coffee). Regardless of the modern conveniences, sitting down and actually doing it can seem daunting.

Here is a list of how-tos to ease your mind.

As you’ll see, the processes have been streamlined to make it as easy as possible for you to have it be known that you are in need of funding to realise your dreams.

HOW TO APPLY FOR NSFAS FUNDING

The process to apply for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been revised to allow for applications to be completed in, get this, five minutes.

Here’s what you need to do: • First, secure a place at your university or college of choice.

• You will still have to meet the academic requirements or criteria for a particular public university or TVET college.

• Each university will still set its own fees for

the various programmes of study, which will be covered by the government bursary if you qualify.

• Once you have been offered a place, apply for your university or college bursary online through NSFAS. • NSFAS reserves the right to verify your household income, to ensure that you are eligible for free tertiary education.

• If your funding application is successful, NSFAS will pay your fees directly to the institution where you are enrolled.

• If you fail to secure a place in an institution, register on the Department of Higher Education’s Central Applications Clearing House (CACH) system once you’ve received your matric results. This online application portal will then share your information with all the universities, colleges, private institutions and SETAs that still have space available.

FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT:

• National Student Financial Aid Scheme on 086 006 7327, info@nsfas.org.za or www.nsfas.org.za • Career Centre on 086 999 0123 or www.careerhelp.org.za • Department of Higher Education and Training on 0800 087 2222 or www.dhet.gov.za • National Career Advice Portal on http://ncap.careerhelp.org.za/ • For lists of bursaries available, check out www.bursaries-southafrica.co.za or www.zabursaries.co.za

HOW TO SET UP A NSFAS WALLET

Once your NSFAS funding has been approved, you need to set up an NSFAS Wallet. Here’s how it’s done.

You will need to …

• Have been granted a NSFAS bursary.

NSFAS will then send you a “Welcome” SMS advising you to verify your account.

• Dial *134*176# and enter your ID number to verify and authenticate your account.

• You will receive your password in an SMS, which will give you access to your account.

Never share your password with anyone!

• Once you have received your password, you may access your account by dialling *134*176#.

• You may withdraw cash from participating stores (Shoprite, Usave, Checkers, SPAR, Choppies or Pick n Pay).

• Pay for goods at participating stores (Shoprite, Usave, Checkers, SPAR, Choppies, Pick n Pay, Van Schaik, Nando’s, Romans Pizza, McDonalds, Burger King, Spur, Hungry Lion, Debonairs, RocoMamas and John Dory’s, among others).

• Pay an informal trader for goods using a merchant code (which involves a cellphone to cellphone transaction).

• Students from these institutions receive their allowances through NSFAS Wallet.

HOW TO OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT

Of late, the NSFAS is urging students to open bank accounts to ensure more efficient disbursements of funds from institutions, where applicable.

Going forward, NSFAS is working on a banking model that will eliminate all intermediaries in the disbursement value chain and facilitate direct deposits from NSFAS into student bank accounts. There are many banks out there offering many different accounts.

Many of them have accounts designed especially for students, so look out for those (they have names like Dezign Student

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FUNDING GUIDE

• Use the bursary online application form (if available) or download a copy of the form to complete and submit.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

To land a scholarship, you need to have aboveaverage marks. Below are the requirements and process to apply for a scholarship at a well-known investment firm. The scholarship is for pupils with the intention to study towards a Commerce, Science, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts and Health Science (excluding Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry) degree at WITS, UJ, UCT, NMU, RU, UWC, SU, UP, UFS and UKZN.

Account or MyMO Account or simply Student Account. Really, you can’t miss them).

Here’s how easy it is: • Some bank accounts can be opened online, while others have to be opened in-branch.

• To open an account, all you need is your ID book and proof of residence.

• A bank account is a reliable way to keep your money safe while earning interest.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A BANK LOAN

Asking one or more of the four major banks to cover tuition fees, accommodation and other expenses is actually a breeze.

Each has their own criteria that may differ in terms of the minimum salary of your sponsor and who does not require surety (ie. the form of your parents). Below are Absa’s requirements.

You will need…

• A valid South African ID document or Smart card • Proof of residential address such as a municipal or rates bill • Your last three months’ payslips or bank statements • Proof of study in the form of a final letter of acceptance or proof of registration • Proof of course costs for the year of study (invoices/statements) for: - Tuition fees - Accommodation for full-time students not living with parents or relatives - Text books - Study-related technological devices • For second and subsequent years of study, proof of the previous years’ academic results to ensure student is permitted to continue studies.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A BURSARY This is funding from an academic institution, company or government entity that enables you to start or continue with your tertiary education studies. A bursary is awarded based on an excellent academic record and/ or proven financial need. It usually covers registration and tuition fees, and often includes accommodation and meals, as well as textbooks and stationery. Here's what you need to know. (A note: There is no limitation on the number of bursaries you can apply for. So, it is recommended to complete as many bursary applications as possible in the field of study you are interested in and where you meet the bursary requirements.) You have to: • Be a South African citizen (or South African permanent resident) • Have a strong academic history (some bursaries require good grades in certain subjects – e.g. Maths/Science/Languages) • Have currently been studying or intend to study within a specific field of study which is suitable for the bursary programme • Have currently been studying or you have applied to study at a recognised institution in South Africa • Have a proven financial need. (Often by submitting proof of household income Applicants must ensure they meet all of the eligibility requirements for the bursary to be considered. Once you know which field of study it is you are looking for, then you can begin completing the online bursary application forms: • First, make sure you fulfill the bursary eligibility requirements.

• Ensure you have all the information and documentation to complete the application form.

You will need: • Level 5 (above 60%) in pure mathematics for final Grade 11 results • Level 6 average (above 70%) for final Grade 11 results (excl. Life Orientation) • To complete the National Benchmark test in 2020 • To be under the age of 21 in the year of application • South African Citizenship.

To apply you must: • Submit your application form and supporting documentation online.

• Successful applicant candidates will be invited for an interview.

• Successful interview candidates will be invited to a selection camp.

• Successful camp candidates will receive formal offers.

MORE WAYS TO GET FUNDING

Here’re three more great ways to find financing on the funding road less travelled: • If you’re already working, why not try to get your employer to pay for your studies?

Companies with an annual payroll of more than R500 000 have to pay the South African Revenue Service a skills development levy (1% of their total monthly salary bill) to develop and improve employees’ skills.

• Approach your local municipality, or the provincial or national government department relevant to your studies.

• The Funza Lushaka bursary scheme, for example, is open to teaching students who intend working at a government school.

Visit www.funzalushaka.doe.gov.za/ for more details. PM Sources: https://www.standardbank.co.za/ https://www.absa.co.za/personal/loans/for-mystudies/explore/ https://allbursaries.co.za/ https://www.allangrayorbis.org/entrepreneurshipdevelopment-programmes/fellowship/

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C A R E E R I DE AS

CAREER JUNCTION GET A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR FUTURE CHECK OUT OUR Q&A SECTION FOR THAT FLASH OF INSPIRATION

Visit our website for stacks of career ideas www.postmatric.co.za

THE MORALE BOOSTER WHAT TRAINING HAVE YOU UNDERGONE AND WHERE DID YOU DO IT?

Lesego Mashishi-Matlala OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST LIMITLESS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES PTY LTD

WHY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? As a teenager, I didn’t know what it was about. I was awarded a bursary by the Department of Defense to study it and seized the opportunity. In essence, occupational therapy chose me.

When I discovered that it was about empowering people to function at their full potential with whatever physical, mental or development deficit they may have, I knew that this was the right profession for me.

I completed my four-year Honours Degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Pretoria. I then did a postgraduate course in Functional Capacity Evaluation, offered by Dr Campbell from Occupational Rehabilitation Services Ltd Scotland. I also received training in the Australianbased job fit system and obtained certification in Practical Labour Law from the University of South Africa.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT BEING AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND WHY? The strain placed on our families as occupational therapists. The work we do has a big impact on the client or patient we are servicing.

One often has to sacrifice personal time in order to ensure that deadlines that may affect your client or patient are met, in order to ensure their well-being. This is, at times, overwhelming and not always properly understood.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Establishing my own company, Limitless Occupational Therapy Services, as it gave me the opportunity to explore the profession even more and allowed my creativity to flow, while applying core principles of occupational therapy.

ANY FUTURE GOALS? I would like to see occupational therapy playing a more active and involved role in organisations, assisting with the formulation of employee assistance programmes and employee wellness programmes.

Occupational therapists are experts when it comes to productivity management and disability management in the workplace and we are yet to own the space in the corporate environment.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Yes, definitely. Our approach to patient handling is client centred.

Therefore, the more patients and

conditions you are exposed to, the more developed your skills will be to handle different cases efficiently.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? Vital character traits to possess in the profession of occupational therapy include empathy, care, patience, good social skills, discipline, diligence, and the innate ability to extract the best out of anyone who interacts with you.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Make sure that you gain exposure and experience in all the different facets of occupational therapy.

These include physical and mental rehabilitation, paediatric work, medico-legal work and vocational rehabilitation. This will aid you in making informed decisions as to which field you are best suited for.

YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Rewarding, challenging and fun.

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C A R E E R I DE AS

ADDING VALUE TO LEARNING WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? As a university student, my interests lay more in teaching and developing others. After speaking to a few CAs(SA) who pointed out that I could actually become a lecturer after qualifying as a CA(SA), my interest in becoming a CA(SA) grew.

I started understanding the bigger role that CAs(SA) play not only in different organisations, but within the greater society. That sealed the deal for me.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I started with a three-year undergraduate degree at a SAICA accredited university, studying the theory of accounting and other business and social sciences. I then enrolled for a one-year BCom (Hons) – previously called a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA), now known as a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA).

After that, I entered into a three-

year training programme, called “articles”. I spent my first year at the university as an Academic Trainee. I alsowrote SAICA’s first qualifying exam, previously a Qualifying Exam 1 (QE1) or Board 1, now called the Initial Test of Competence (ITC). The ITC is SAICA’s standard setting exam, written after completing an accredited CTA programme, in order to assess core technical competence. To write the ITC, you need to have already successfully completed the PGDA. I then went on to join an audit firm to complete the rest of my articles. I completed my second and third year of articles at PwC. During my second year, I wrote the second and last qualifying exam, the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC).

The APC is the second part of the qualifying exam, which assesses professional competence. To be eligible, candidates must have passed the ITC, completed 20 months of a registered training

contract and successfully completed a professional programme. Once I had completed all the above, I was eligible to register with SAICA as a CA(SA).

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You need to have perseverance, as the qualification process is long.

Robert Zwane You also need to be passionate CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT [CA(SA)] AND SENIOR EXECUTIVE: about it and be able to think NATIONAL IMPERATIVES critically. You need to have THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE professional scepticism, courage, OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS curiosity, life-long learning and strong ethics. schools and firms to talk about the profession.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Currently, my job involves managing WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST projects. This requires me to engage ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love engaging with students and with my team on matters affecting trainees and getting them to think our Thuthuka Bursary programme differently about their behaviour, and with stakeholders around about culture and ethics. And then, some of our key projects such as a few years down the line, meeting Unite 4 Mzansi, the United Nation’s the same individual, but now they Sustainable Development Goals are a young professional making a and Courageous Conversations. difference in our country.

I also get the opportunity to visit

BRAVE/5655/SAICA/E

SA TOMORROW OMORROW

MAKING ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION POSSIBLE THUTHUKA. FREEING MINDS. FREEING THE NATION.

The Thuthuka Bursary Fund has created over 1 400 qualified CAs(SA) 2 000 prospective CAs(SA) in the pipeline

A cherished goal of SAICA members is to transform our profession to match the demographics of the country, by making access to quality education possible for underprivileged learners. We stand committed to developing more trusted business leaders and industry specialists whose competencies will be ploughed back into our society for the betterment of the nation.

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THE PERFECT SMILE

Chris Pistorius DENTIST PRIVATE PRACTICE

WHY DENTISTRY? I did an aptitude test, which showed that I should study to be a dentist or electrical engineer.

I have a big love for people and that pushed me to choose dentistry between the two.

WHAT DID YOU STUDY? I studied dentistry at Stellenbosch Dental Faculty.

It is a fi ve and a half year degree, so you really have to want to do it.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY My days have a pretty routine setup. My appointment book is mostly full, so I always know who and what is coming next.

But there are usually a few surprise visits, and sometimes an emergency. I also spend a lot of time making people feel comfortable and getting around their anxiety.

So that, plus the huge expense of setting up a private practice left me with a lot of debt. I am (14 years later) only now paying off the last of it.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I enjoy engaging with my clients and helping them. These days we don’t just check your teeth and do fi llings – huge advances in the materials we use and technology we have access to make it possible to create the most beautiful smile in a single visit.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? I aim to change the way people perceive dentistry – one patient at a time.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? I could only study with the help of a student loan.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU? Having my own business and watching it grow over the years.

And it’s still going strong.

“It is possible to create the most beautiful smile in a single visit” IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING? Yes, defi nitely, and maybe even more important. After fi ve and a half years of studying, you are only half way there.

It took me a further fi ve years to really be comfortable in my practice.

IS THERE A PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You have to be a people person, with lots of empathy and patience. It also takes a lot of business skill to run a private practice successfully. You have to be willing to commit a large amount of time and energy (and weekends) to studying and working, if you want to be a really great dentist.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Start out by working with/for another dentist; gather as much hands-on knowledge about dentistry and running a business as you can.

YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Challenging, (but) big rewards.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD ten-month course run by the Regional Training Centre of the South African Weather Service.

The minimum entry requirement is Grade 12, with 50% or more in Mathematics and Physical Science.

Duduzile Dzonzi METEOROLOGICAL TECHNICIAN SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICE

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I was always interested in the weather while growing up, and during my matric year I came across an advertisement that I saw as a great opportunity to follow my dream.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS? I did a National Certificate in Weather Observation, a

“You have to be someone interested in the world around you” IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO WORKING WITH THE WEATHER? One needs to be reliable, have the ability to do routine work carefully and accurately, and be able to work in different environments. You have to be someone interested in the world around you (especially the weather).

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING? Formal training is essential for foundational knowledge, while

experience gained while working takes it to the next level.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB Each shift has a different focus – observing the weather at routine times from the office as well as in the surrounding areas. We have to be aware of expected conditions that might occur, and release upper air balloons to ensure that this information gets through to the forecasters. We also monitor the data being collected by automated stations. On other days we do field work, maintaining or reactivating our remote instruments.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? It is not only office based – you get to travel to the different weather stations under your control. I’m almost always informed about present and near future weather conditions.

WHAT ARE YOU LEAST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT? Working through the holidays (Festive and Easter).

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? Being interviewed for a children’s programme that was aired on national TV weeks later.

YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I’m currently studying a BSc Environmental Management.

It would be amazing to have a career someday that includes both weather and environmental issues.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN THE METEOROLOGICAL FIELD? Be open to learning new things always; it really does get easier with time.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Informative • Exciting • Fulfilling

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C A R E E R I DE AS

NUMBERS WHIZZ WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ACCOUNTING? I’ve always believed that numbers tell a story, and have always been fascinated with predicting a company’s direction and future by merely looking at numbers; that in itself demonstrates the noble art of strategic intuition and insight. This profession to me is the most flexible since as an accountant, one can work in any organisation.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I did my training at KPMG Inc, where I started as a tax consultant in 1998. I then did three years of articles. Upon completing my articles I became a management consultant, until I decided to leave the organisation in 2004. I also completed the ACCA professional qualification, so I am a proud member of ACCA.

WHAT VALUES DOES AN ACCOUNTANT REQUIRE? Integrity and objectivity are amongst the necessary values, both in and out of the offi ce.

EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING Experience is equally important as formal training since it gives you a sense of the real world.

Experience also provides an indepth understanding of how different work strategies are implemented in achieving the organisation’s objectives.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I start every day with a reflection of the day before, and end every day with preparation for the next.

For me what matters most is to keep my team fired up to achieve all the tasks ahead of us. My main focus is to ensure that 80% of what we do in a day is directly contributing towards achieving all the organisation’s strategic objectives, with 20% routine work.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY? When I see another school or house or hospital built for the poor, or another tar road laid, then I know I’ve played a part in ensuring that happened as part of my responsibility in administering South Africa’s taxes.

WHICH ASPECTS ARE YOU LEAST KEEN ON? I am not a fan of routine work and am easily bored when doing the same thing over and over. Luckily, routine work is at a minimum.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST CAREER HIGHLIGHT AS OF THIS DAY? Having worked for organisations in both the private and public sector, I have been exposed to many industries. The most exciting thing is the strategic role that finance plays in all these organisations to ensure that the company achieves its vision. I’ve found it fascinating to put to test

Manenzhe Manenzhe SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICES

several strategies across companies during the economic meltdown, from cost savings to learning six sigma methodologies.

ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGSTERS STARTING OUT AS ACCOUNTANTS? Being an accountant starts as a dream, but it takes hard work and determination to make it come true.

If you really want to be an accountant, you need to start by believing in yourself. Then, if you have the right discipline, nothing will stop you.

MASTER PLAN WHAT GOT YOU INTO EVENT MANAGEMENT? My dreams of being a ‘party planner’ all started when I was 12 years old; I attended a wedding that blew my mind. I couldn’t believe the décor, flowers, food and the way everybody and every-thing looked so beautiful and elegant.

I made a decision that day that I would do it as a profession.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHERE? I studied at Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK. I completed a 4-year BA (Hons) Degree in Event Management.

Some of my most valuable training was the fi rst year of working.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY There isn’t really a typical day in the events industry. Each day brings on its own challenges and demands. Depending if it’s a build day, event day or break

day, I am on-site with suppliers and clients. In between this, I do the fi nancial aspects of the venue and events, sales and marketing, and client liaison.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I enjoy creating events and the feeling of knowing that a client is happy with what you have created for them. It’s a great achievement.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Sometimes I struggle with the long, exhausting hours!

South Africa team. My responsibility was running the hospitality and ticketing at Ellis Park Stadium.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? My current goal is to turn Avenue into an internationally recognised conference centre and venue within the fi rst two years of opening. It’s a tough goal and the competition is fierce. Technology is always advancing, so it’s important to keep up to date.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? There are many small and large hurdles in the events business.

Every event has its challenges, and not everything goes according to plan. You have to be ready to do crisis management at any point.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Experience is key in the events industry. There are always good and bad experiences in every event, you need to take those experiences and learn from them.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? I was headhunted to work for FIFA for the World Cup 2010

ARE THERE CERTAIN TRAITS YOU NEED IN THIS INDUSTRY? Absolutely, you need to love working with people, but you

Melissa Dee SENIOR EVENT MANAGER CHATTELS INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS / AVENUE

also need to be organised and dedicated to your work.

It’s not always as glamorous at it seems.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Starting off at the bottom allows you to gain good insight into the industry. It also allows you to gain the fundamental organisational and administrative skills. It’s important to try your best to gain valuable exposure to the many different elements of event management.

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ANALYSING THE FUTURE

Michelle Khusu BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ANALYST

WHY THIS PROFESSION? Analytics gives me the opportunity to work with many departments and people within the business/company, including the IT technical people. This then gives me the opportunity to network and also to get to know the ins and outs of the company.

Analytics allows you to see how a company is doing, how it can get better, and where it is going wrong and even wasting money.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO, AND WHERE? I studied a BCom at the University of the Western Cape. Maths is essential for this type of career.

SQL and Excel skills are also very important, and for those who haven’t done much of that at school, there are plenty of cheap and free online courses. One that I recently did was Data Warehousing for Business Intelligence with Coursera.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY A typical day includes creating data analysis for different departments. For example: creating a dashboard for marketing that shows who our clients are in terms of age, how much they spend on our products and where they live.

This would then help marketing in their strategies and plans for which specific client segments to target and when.

IS THERE A PERSONALITY BEST SUITED FOR WORKING IN ANALYTICS? Interpersonal skills are very useful to have because you work with a lot of different people from different backgrounds. Analytics provides a huge amount of stats and information to many of the departments within the organisation. How you interact with people will have an effect on your desired results for your work.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB Trying to understand and meet everyone’s needs! We strive to get to a point where each department can have their own dashboard (automated report with all relevant stats) and access data without asking us or waiting on BI to get the data for them. All we would need to do is to make sure that the data is always refreshed.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART? Job recognition and satisfaction.

You get different challenges each day and you never know what request or project you’re going to be working on. You also get exposed to many other fields such as finance and IT development.

This gives you what is called domain knowledge, which means you know the ins and outs of the business.

ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Learn a programming language or learn SQL for database navigation – it makes life so much easier.

Even if you’re studying towards another career, always have a few technical skills up your sleeve because the workplace is never what you expect it to be and you never just do one thing. Having these skills, on top of your soft skills, will help you grasp the work more quickly, and you will also be a greater asset to any company.

NEXT-GENERATION ENGINEERING

Juarez Amaral Filho, DSc ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER CENTRE FOR BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING RESEARCH (CEBER), DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, UCT

WHY THIS PROFESSION? Actually, I am still building my professional career as a researcher. After I got my Environmental Engineering degree back in Brazil, I worked for a couple of years in the metalwork industry. However, I had much more rewarding experiences as a lab assistant during my undergraduate years, which drew me back into the research fi eld. And still there!

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO, AND WHERE? I spent 17 months on an MSc degree and then four years as a PhD candidate to become a Doctor of Mineral and Environmental Technology.

Both my MSc and PhD certificates are from the Post-graduate Programme in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AT WORK I don’t have a daily routine.

I often meet up with supervisors and students and conduct lab work through planned experiments. I also do literature research/ surveying and experimental planning, and I spend a considerable amount of my time writing projects for funding as well as papers for conferences and peerreview journals.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY? Most of the aspects of researching in academia are great. The opportunity to learn new things every day with a diverse group of students, colleagues and high-level professors is priceless.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Not having a set daily routine can be tricky sometimes.

And you probably have to give up a couple of weekends over the year to meet some last minute deadline.

DIFFICULTIES YOU’VE HAD? Giving up my career in the industry to become a researcher – there is less money in academia, which makes it hard to get your family to support your decision. Also, leaving my home country to try working on my career abroad has been emotionally challenging. And adapting to a new language and a different culture requires a lot of extra effort.

WHAT ARE YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? To keep on researching for innovative solutions to assist the mining sector in addressing the environmental and social issues related to their operations; to help the next generation of engineers see the big picture in terms of sustainable development.

They can then help future companies/industries conduct their activities according to circular economy and resources conservation principles.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Be patient, persistent and resilient!

DESCRIBE THE WORK THAT YOU DO AS AN ENGINEER IN THREE WORDS Research, Technology and Innovation.

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HEALTH TALK WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I think I always had a passion for research. I seem to think it originated at the age of about 12, when I conducted a research project on the death penalty.

This made the decision to become an academic a natural one, where research is combined with teaching and mentoring students to conduct research.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO I am an epidemiologist, which means I study disease distribution in societies, and factors that influence disease. My current research is on schizophrenia and the factors that influence the onset of schizophrenia. I also teach epidemiology at Stellenbosch University to under-graduate and postgraduate students.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I have five degrees. I studied a Bachelor of Arts degree at the

University of Cape Town (UCT), followed by an honours degree, also at UCT. During this year, I became interested in human language, disability, the human brain and behaviour. I registered for a Master’s in Public Health at UCT, which led to a PhD degree at Stellenbosch University.

The research for my PhD encapsulated the disciplines of health, disability and human behaviour. I also completed a Master’s degree in Epidemiology at Columbia University, New York, which made me more proficient at statistics, a very necessary aspect of research.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I spend most of the day interrogating data, writing research papers alone and collaboratively with colleagues, and thinking up new ideas for research. I also give lectures to students and meet with students about their projects.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I have a passion for research and discovery but also love the interaction with students.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Research can be lonely and difficult at times. It also requires a great deal of organisation and management. New research projects can also be quite daunting.

Dr Sumaya Mall EPIDEMIOLOGIST/LECTURER CENTRE FOR EVIDENCE-BASED HEALTH CARE, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? The mentorship I have received has shaped me as a mentor to my students. I never tell students they can’t achieve something but rather encourage them to achieve their own realistic goals.

ARE THERE CERTAIN TRAITS ONE SHOULD HAVE? Patience is a good quality, and perhaps determination.

FUTURE GOALS? I would like to remain in academia, attract research funding from international bodies, and mentor students from different backgrounds to pursue stimulating and rewarding research careers.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? I would encourage passion for one’s work, resilience, determination, never giving up and discipline.

CARVING YOUR FUTURE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME A CARPENTER AS A TRADE PROFESSION? I worked with my father from a young age. He inspired me with his talent and enthusiasm.

I decided to go further into the field of carpentry because of him.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? In my spare time I make things now and then for around the house, or I do part-time jobs to build more carpentry experience and a name for myself.

DID YOU UNDERGO ANY TRAINING? I have not had any training as a carpenter. Over many years I have worked hard and built up a lot of experience from being involved with different companies and private clients.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB I would describe a typical day as one where nothing goes the way

it should and it feels like a Monday all day. Just kidding :) (though often it does feel like ‘one of those days’).

THE MOST ENJOYABLE ASPECT OF WORKING AS A CARPENTER? The things I like the most about my job is that every day you get to learn something new, explore fresh ideas and be creative about all the different aspects of the work that you’re involved in.

WHAT IS THE THING YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I really don’t like my work coming off second best at the final stages, because I’m very proud of what I create. I also struggle when my work is criticised by my boss or a client.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? Many times when a project has to be done in time to meet a deadline there are delays or snags, which creates a lot of pressure.

I have to work twice as hard to be at my best and to get the job done.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? I’ve been working for seven years in the carpentry industry.

My highlight was working as a junior foreman employed at Katull Construction.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I’d like to have my own business, to let other people work and learn what I have, and to build up experience to improve my skills even further.

“Give it all you’ve got, explore new ideas” EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? Experience is important as it gives you a headstart, whereas formal training is a slower process. You can always learn new things.

Howard Joseph CARPENTER

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO BEING A CARPENTER? I would say personality counts – you must have a strong character and determination.

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Give it all you’ve got, explore new ideas, and learn and take in as much as you can.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Fun, eventful and hardworking.

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A WORLD OF ENGLISH on young lives, and so, it became more than just a teaching job.

Mernette Swartz TEFL TEACHER

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO TEACH ENGLISH? After I fi nished my studies at NWU and worked in the industry for six months as a graphic designer, I decided to explore the world for two years (which ended up being almost nine).

At fi rst, teaching English abroad was just a good option, as it allowed me free weekends and fi nancially I was able to travel a lot. But then it stirred something in my heart; I realised I was having an impact xs

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I did a BA Honours degree at NWU, a BEd with UNISA and TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) training. But actually, getting my foot into any possible door was by far the best training I ever got. I worked in London, the USA and Taiwan, from being an artist, a teacher, waitressing, doing caring, to pouring pints at Twickenham, camera work and just helping out wherever I could.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY A typical day while teaching in Taiwan would start at 8am. By then most of the students had had breakfast at school and were seated in an open space (like our halls) with the help of classroom assistants, also fluent in Mandarin and Asian. I had the “babies” of the school,

ranging from 4-6 years old.

We would sing songs, do colouring in, read, do phonics, write and, most importantly, have conversations. The whole school (including the teachers) would sleep for an hour after lunch – this was a bit weird in the beginning, but amazing, because we taught until 5pm and often had extra tutoring classes in the evening.

I had to get used to, as Asian people are super disciplined and can work for hours on end.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? All of it! Every season in my life has just been one heck of a ride!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT TEACHING? I love the interaction with the students. I love teaching them a new concept and seeing them understand it. Making a difference in a student’s life as a teacher is not only about books and discipline, but about opening up a new world of possibilities and dreams.

ANY ADVICE FOR THOSE STARTING OUT AS TEFL LEARNERS AND TEACHERS? Live for each opportunity.

I’m not saying don’t have plans, but don’t miss what you have today because you are so obsessed with the future.

Love what you are doing, grab every opportunity, travel, spend money on people and things you love, taste weird food, explore and – trust me – eat Ben and Jerry’s ice-cream when you are in London!

ANY HURDLES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? The long hours was something

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Live *(with) *Purpose* Repeat

CURIOUS ABOUT COMPUTERS and strengths in algorithms even more deeply and started training myself in cybersecurity.

HOW DID YOU TRAIN? I studied computer science, but for security and computer hacking in general there is no specific background required.

Keith Makan SOFTWARE INFORMATION SECURITY CONSULTANT IOACTIVE, INC

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? As a child, I took to my parents’ computer with my full curiosity, playing games. When I grew older I started wondering about how they become ‘programmed’ and how this programming works. Later, I realised there was a way to not only build programmes but break them and make them do things they are not supposed to! At university I began to explore the many fl aws

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Clients and research decide how my days go. I could be flying to another country for a security test, security conference talk or to do training. When I’m not travelling, I’m either meeting with clients to discuss results of tests and make sure they understand how to fix and prevent the fl aws we discover, or testing and doing research on how to uncover new vulnerabilities and better ways to detect and prevent old ones.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I have access to the deepest realities of how software works

and, more interestingly, how computers become accessible and how they affect people’s lives. I also get to test software inside a variety of interesting businesses.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Working with people who are not equally as passionate about software and understanding it.

THE HIGHLIGHT? I would be tempted to say when I discovered a bug in some software and it was really dangerous. But honestly, the best moments have been discussing my deepest theories on the future of software and computation with other hackers and thinkers.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Perhaps one day publish some papers in a computer science journal, write my own operating system and contribute to the Linux kernel!

EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? There’s no such thing as formal training for hacking. All of the training is practical, even learning the theory.

WHAT PERSONALITY IS BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? The more personalities involved in security, the better we can understand and communicate with the personalities that depend on our work. Good information security work requires nothing of the people who do it except patience, passion and curiosity.

ANY ADVICE? Your curiosity is your greatest asset in this fi eld: be as vulnerable to your own curiosity as you can.

Analyse and investigate everything.

Also, remember that everything succumbs to the principles of language in computers – they are both profoundly empowered and deeply fl awed because of it.

YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Be very curious!

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C A R E E R I DE AS

COUNTING ON SOLUTIONS WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BECOME AN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE? I chose my profession based on the fact that information technology is innovative and always changing. It changes your point of view from a purely human perspective to more of a customer perspective. I am always learning new things, meeting new partners and customers and, through travel, I get exposed to new cultures and requirements.

WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING, AND WHERE DID YOU DO IT? I studied a BCom (Informatics/ Information Systems) at University of Pretoria, and did an SAP Human Resources Management and Payroll Certifi cation with SAP South Africa, SuccessFactors Training in Germany and Spain, and did Clicksoftware Training in Portugal.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK OR TRAITS YOU SHOULD HAVE (OR NOT HAVE)?

Yes, you must have the skills to manage different personalities and cultures because you deal with customers from different industries and backgrounds.

Confl ict resolution skills are also important – there will always be confl ict situations to manage. Passion, leadership and always being willing to help and assist are good traits to have in this industry.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? No, not all the time, because it’s through mistakes and experience that we learn the best.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB A typical day involves customer meetings, internal meetings,

dealing with escalations with a customer and attending events or user groups.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE? The solutions that I sell make changes in a positive way to citizens within my country. I love dealing with different customers and cultures.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? When customers are unhappy or I am not able to accommodate the expectations of the customer.

At times, the hours can be long.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT TO DATE? Closing the biggest SuccessFactors deal in Africa and being the Rookie of the Year at SAP in 2013.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? To be able to share all my experiences with my customers and any youngsters who come

Mape Modiba SAP SENIOR INDUSTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SAP SOUTH AFRICA

after me; to impart my knowledge.

ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Work hard, be focused and always be willing to learn.

YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Awesome! Amazing! Life Changing!

HEY, GOOD LOOKING WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING? I am a hair and make-up artist and work with different production companies, for magazines, weddings and personal clients. My job is to make up and style the model according to the client brief.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I’ve loved art and cosmetics since childhood. I helped a friend of mine to do make-up on set and discovered that I could make money just by making people look beautiful. That got me thinking and I decided to join a beauty college.

WHERE DID YOU TRAIN? I started with a cosmetology course at Pivot Point in Kenya.

Then moved to South Africa where I studied art directing for Motion Pictures at City Varsity.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I am never in the same place

for long. Some days start early – maybe at the beach for a morning shoot, other days I am on set doing a fashion shoot with a magazine, or shooting a cooking show. I could work for only three hours or for 21 hours depending on the nature of the job.

EXPERIENCE VERSUS FORMAL TRAINING? They say that Picasso did not become great because he was talented but because he put his gift to use every day. It’s the same with this career – experience will get you further.

It is important to go to school and learn the basics, but more important to get out there and work on different faces and with new products.

YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT? My job has taken me to places I never thought of going, and I love meeting different people and seeing their transformation after the makeover. It feels good that my handy work gives them

confidence, it makes me feel like some sort of a healer to the ego!

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? People who have no respect for what you do.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU OVERCOME? There have been many hurdles along the way, especially being a freelancer. There were times when business was slow and I had to face the fact that I wasn’t getting a salary that month. I find the greatest hurdle is myself! I constantly have to battle with my mind and keep pushing myself to continue even when things are tough. I’ve had to train my mind to be positive and keep looking for new opportunities to put myself out there.

WHAT MAKES A ‘GOOD’ MAKE-UP ARTIST? People skills play a huge role.

Make it a point to study people and treat them according to their personality.

Kristeen Kuria MAKE-UP ARTIST Kristeenkuria.com

You need to be patient because you will encounter situations that don’t make you happy. You should also have a good sense of humour, and know the time to talk and time to stop talking. Try to keep your client’s information to yourself.

Respect for people goes a long way.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEWCOMER? Be patient and when work is slow find models to practice on. Information is key, so stay informed. Market yourself to get your name out there.

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EXAM TIPS

10 TIPS TO UP YOUR

EXAM GAME Committed educationalist Anne Eadie, founder of The Answer Series, has been preparing learners for matric success since 1975. Take note...

Y

ou will be known as the class which had the most disrupted matric year in living memory. I’m sure you’re totally over hearing the term Covid-19, so it won’t be the main focus here.

In fact, the sooner you can reduce the amount of headspace you give it, the better. If you’re feeling it’s all hugely unfair, that is normal.

Give that emotion some airtime and then gently show it the door. Otherwise, it will bring you down during your exam prep when what you need most is to be boosted.

These tips may well be the boost you need. But they aren’t just a bunch of nice ideas; they are an action plan. Even if you have a strategy that’s already working for you, it can always do with some refining.

So, grab your notepad, this is for you too.

The Class of 2020 – you – have an amazing opportunity to show the world that you can rise above challenges, and have a clear game plan for your future.

The silver lining to this pandemic is that learners who embrace it, improve their methods of self-study and build momentum on their own, will be winners in the final challenge to reach the finish line flying solo.

Gaining confidence this way is crucial!

Learners with equivalent ability in and knowledge of a subject can achieve vastly different exam results, depending on the confidence factor.

Here are 10 tips to get you exam ready and confident over the next few months:

1.Start today

Now is the time to begin. Taking a proactive approach is key – don't focus on what you haven't done, focus on what you can do, today and in the weeks ahead!

2.Find what works for you

7.Do one thing at a time

3.Plan ahead

8.Practice makes perfect

Routine is important, but there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Figure out what works for you and how to boost your energy levels – maybe it’s a healthy snack, a jog around the block, or even a 20-minute power nap.

Take the time to write down what you need to cover for each subject and map it out in a time-table. It will do great things for your motivation once you see that every slot is important!

4.Don’t study all day

Make sure you schedule time for exercise, for a walk with a friend (while social distancing,of course) or watching an episode of your favourite series (if you can resist the urge for “just one more”).

Getting the balance right and enjoying your time off will make you more productive when you do sit down to study – with no distractions.

Studying past papers is excellent prep for any exam. But working on one topic at a time is the most effective strategy, particularly as you build up your confidence. The Answer Series is a good tool for topic treatment for all subjects, as well as exam practice.

A cliché but true! Try each problem on your own first, no matter how badly you do, before checking the solutions in the study guide. The best way to learn is from your own mistakes – you need to be able to pinpoint them first, and then understand what to do next time.

9.Stay positive

The most important thing is to stay positive until the exams are done and dusted.

It will be tough, but in the end, your results will reflect all the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put in.

10.Have a game plan

Tell your family about your timetable.

Paste it on the wall or send a screenshot to your family as a virtual Do Not Disturb sign. The other bonus is that your parents will stop nagging you about studying when they see you taking responsibility and doing your best.

When exam time finally arrives, use this mini check list to set yourself up for doing your best: - Double check that you’ve got everything you need before you leave home.

- Don't arrive too early and allow yourself to be influenced by panicking friends.

- Plan your time in the exam carefully – allow some time for checking at the end.

6.Take notes

(11.Trust yourself!)

5.Communicate

Don't just read through your work.

Study a section and then write down everything you can remember from it.

Knowing that you're going to do this makes you study in a more logical, alert way.

For more information, visit our website www.theanswer.co.za or contact us at info@theanswerseries.co.za.

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