Post Matric - KwaZulu-Natal 2022 by Yes Media

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FROM THE ED

STRANGER THINGS THAN MATRIC

eal life is not like your favourite feel-good Netﬂix series, with you as the main character. And neither is matriculating. After 12 years of

exams and classes and social dynamics (and more exams), you’re just jettisoned oﬀ into the universe. Sure, they give you a dance with a DJ and a pretty certiﬁcate, but the message from the school is clear: you’ve been an exemplary student (or not), they say, and we’ve (sort of) enjoyed your company – now go. Set out on your tertiary education journey, whatever form that may take – carpe diem and all that – but don’t come back here unless it’s for a reunion. You’re on your own now, and things are about to get a lot harder. But here’s the thing though … they’re not always right. Post matric doesn’t have to be like a terrifying, lonely trip through

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the vortex in Stranger Things. Yes, in many ways you are entering the “real world” for the ﬁrst time, but the real world is fast approaching a utopia of tech convenience and your access to that is only going to expand. From admissions interviews over Zoom, to smart pens – which allow you to digitally record all your notes via smart software that digitalises your written text (it’s a thing) – tech innovation can be your superpower, if you let it. And in this issue of Post Matric, you’ll get to meet a person at the very forefront of innovation, Lindiwe Matlali, who’s braved the odds and won, and now showing others from all walks of life the

way – through computer science. Discover alternate universes than varsity to enter after matric, nine amazing options for funding your studies, real-time people in their careers, tips on exam prep, and a funny take on coding. It’s time to grab your digital gear, aim towards your true north, and begin your transformation into the best future ‘You’. See you on the ﬂip side!

Olivia Main Editor

A SAMSUNG GALAXY A03 CORE 32GB DUAL SIM Touted as “the big screen with a better view”, its 6.5” HD+ display is perfect for catching up on your latest series, oﬀering visuals that pop with colour on a widescreen interface. With an 8MP camera on the back and a 5MP front-facing snapper, that ‘I can’t even’ moment or selﬁe session is well covered. Add to this its all-day battery life and 2G of RAM, without losing its lightweight, slim body with epic stripe design, and you have a low-key obsession that everybody will want.

HOW TO ENTER:

SMS your name and the name of the school where you got your copy of Post Matric to 079 756 8409. Example: Sipho Nkosi, Victoria Park High School Competition Closes: 21 October 2022 Competition Rules: Only one entry per person will be entered in the draw. The draw will be held by 26 October 2022 and the winner contacted by 28 October 2022, on the number they used to send the sms.

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CONTENTS EDITOR Olivia Main olivia@yesmedia.co.za

FEATURES 10

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

Tech fundi Lindiwe Matlali is inspiring youngsters to reach beyond their barriers, to share in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

CONTRIBUTORS Gavin Dudley, Anne Eadie, Hans Mackenzie Main, Gareth Nisbet

9 WAYS TO FUND YOUR FUTURE With all the ways to nail down funding, there’s nothing stopping you from getting in the game.

PROJECT SALES MANAGER Andy Nicholson andy@yesmedia.co.za

ENTERTAINMENT

ADVERTISING SALES Joy Voss & Cassia Passetti

COMPETITION Grab your chance to win a Samsung Galaxy A03 Core 32GB dual sim smartphone.

GOTTA HAVE GADGETS Trending gadgets to know about.

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ADVICE Get top tips on last minute exam prep.

PUBLISHER Yes! Media CEO Deon Muller

LAST LAUGH Some coding names will make you LOL; others, not so much.

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CAREER JUNCTION

COVER IMAGE Siyanda Mzuku

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.

ROUTE: TO BE CONFIRMED DESTINATION: SUCCESS There are many diﬀerent roads to a successful future. And they don’t have to include varsity!

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Jan Weiss jan@yesmedia.co.za

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

SA’S CHIEF TECH GEEK

Post Matric ISSN number 2074-4412

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Have you ever wondered where products such

What qualification and attributes are

You can get employed as a Miller within the

as Snowflake flour, Snowflake easy mix, Iwisa

important for a career as a Miller?

Milling companies around the country. These

maize meal, Nyala super maize meal, Iwisa

Qualification required to be a Miller:

are companies like Premier FMCG, which is

samp or Iwisa instant breakfast porridge are

• SAGMA Wheat and / or Maize Milling one of the oldest organisations in the Milling

made? Or where the process of producing Blue

Programmes & trade test

business, since its formation in 1820.

Ribbon or BB bread or Iwisa mageu starts?

Millers need to have the following attributes:

The answer is easy – the food production

• Curious mindset with good problem-solving Why Premier?

process for staple foods starts in Milling.

(reasoning) skills • Ability to operate in a pressurized environment

Why consider a career in the Milling industry? Wheat and flour have strategic significance in ensuring food security, fighting hunger, and preventing malnutrition. The process of converting raw material to consumable products happens

proud experience specializing in the art of

• Ability to function in a team and work under Milling and Baking. The company has created minimal supervision

long-lasting relationships with fellow brands

• Enjoy working with mechanical systems / such as Blue Ribbon, BB, Iwisa, Snowflake, Nyala, technically inclined • Process orientation & process improvements

within the Milling industry. Milling is the start of the essential food

Premier FMCG has more than 200 years of

etc. The company currently has an expansive international presence in countries like Mozambique, Eswatini and Lesotho.

What is the best advice for someone looking

production value chain - basic staple food items

to move into a career as a Miller?

The Miller Apprenticeship Programme

such as maize meal, samp, bread, soup powder,

You will not start your career in Milling as a Miller,

at Premier

pasta, cereals, and many more come from

but as an apprentice, learning on the job whilst

As part of its continued drive to develop

Milling. Although the industry has various career

having to work shifts, over weekends and on

people, Premier offers a Miller apprenticeship

paths that one can pursue, we will be focusing

public holidays. Formal theoretical training as

programme, to assist candidates that are

on what it means to be a Miller.

well as workplace experience and exposure is

interested to not only qualify as Millers, but

crucial to get you to the point of being able to

also gain the necessary workplace exposure

function as a Miller.

and experience to successfully launch their

Why is a career as a Miller something to consider?

Your development journey will start off as a

careers within the Milling Industry.

Being a Miller leads to experiencing the pride of

Miller Apprentice, leading to you qualifying as a

making a daily contribution to ensuring world

Miller and working as a Shift Miller before you

runs over a period of 2 to 3 years, requiring

food security. A Miller is therefore someone that

will be able to fill the position of a Head Miller.

candidates to complete their theoretical

actively partakes in the production of quality

Each of these phases in your career require

training (SAGMA programme & trade) and

food products that are distributed to consumers

you to gain knowledge, experience and exposure.

on-the-job training experience. There are

worldwide.

It is therefore not a quick process, and you will

Milling experts in each designated Premier

be required to put in the time and discretionary

Mill, and they impart their knowledge and

effort to move through the different phases.

experience to all candidates throughout the

What does a Miller do? A career in Milling is ideal for someone with a

As a Miller (in training or otherwise), you will

The Miller apprenticeship programme

apprenticeship programme.

curious and learning mindset, who likes to

always have multiple challenges to deal with and

overcome challenges daily and wants to contribute

there will be no time to get bored. Things will get

If you want to become part of the dynamic

to the food value chain. Daily activities include:

tough, but in the end the fulfillment is worth it.

Premier team and would like to start your development journey to become a qualified

• Ensuring superior quality end products are produced.

What are the employment opportunities

• Effective and efficient running of the plant for Millers in South Africa? through process and technology optimisation.

Milling is part of the critical and scarce skills

Miller, please visit our website (career page) and look out for our Miller Apprenticeship opportunities: www.premierfmcg.com

• Ensuring that the teams are doing what classification in South Africa. Employment they should to consistently deliver quality end opportunities are therefore available to qualified, products.

PremierFMCG.indd 1

experienced and driven individuals.

6/29/22 6:29 PM

TOP IN TECH

UNDER ARMOUR FLOW VELOCITI WIND 2 LIFESMART COLOLIGHT

Using a special cushioning material in the midsole means these shoes can shed all the rubber on the outsole, keeping them just 236g light. Along with half a dozen other design innovations, these running shoes also contain a Bluetooth chip that can track your steps, cadence, distance and more, displayed on the MapMyRun app. The uppers are woven with reinforcement strips in the places where they do the most good for your movement. R3500

Liven up your living space with these LED-ﬁlled hexagons, which can be connected together as a smart light sculpture. From the companion app you can create dozens of patterns and colour sequences that pulse through the hexagons at your chosen speed and brightness. The internal mic allows you to set it to respond to your music, or you can control it with Google Assistant. R1000

GOTTA HAVE Trendy gadgets for the digital lifestyle

SAMSUNG SMART MONITOR M5 For those living in single rooms and smaller apartments this monitor cleverly combines work and play in one device. It's a large 27-inch HD monitor, so you can work in comfort with your PC plugged in or connected wirelessly. But it's also equipped with Wi-Fi, so it works like a TV connecting directly to the net for streaming Netﬂix, YouTube, DSTV and more. Simply download your favourite movie and music streaming apps from Samsung's app store and chill. R5200

ACER SWIFT 1

GIZZU 8800MAH DUAL UPS Working on a laptop lessens the irritation of loadshedding, but without the Internet both work and play are a struggle. This box works like a big powerbank to keep both your Wi-Fi router and your ﬁbre point fully powered up for hours at a time. It comes with a range of adapters to ﬁt every kind of router. R1000

Our choice for the best cheap laptop in SA, this model sports the latest fanless Celeron processor (great for saving battery and lowering weight), is a mere 1.4cm thin and weighs just 1.3kg. With only 4GB of RAM you won’t be doing any serious gaming, but the decent 250GB SSD drive means it doesn’t feel sluggish. It has a 14-inch screen, Wi-Fi 6 and backlit keys for typing in darkened auditoriums. R7000

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

SA’S CHIEF TECH GEEK

Tech is the road to success. Meet the person making sure each and every South African knows that By Hans Mackenzie Main

he chat was scheduled for 11:00. By 11:05, I was still the only participant in the Zoom meeting titled, Interview with Lindiwe Matlali. I checked my phone to make sure the time on the device corresponded with the time on my desktop’s clock. Sure enough, in the world of smartphones it was also 11:05. I checked the note I’d made – handwritten in pen on a piece of paper stuck to my actual desktop – to make sure I had it right. Conﬁrmed again: ‘Interview with Lindiwe Matlali, founder of Africa Teen Geeks, at 11:00’, it read. I felt a little confused, but then it occurred to me that a person who’d spoken at the World Economic Forum in Davos probably has a lot going on. And then there’s being interviewed by the BBC, which probably also takes time, and accepting the Commonwealth Point of Light recognition awarded from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an event that could eat up one’s whole day. And then, at 11:06, Zoom informed me that a second participant had logged on. I soon found out what caused the delay. “I rely on my diary a lot,” the ﬁrst African to win the German Global Digital Female Leader award informed me. “If you want to talk to me, make sure it’s in my diary.” Now, the diary Lindiwe referred to is probably not made of paper and cardboard. Most likely, it’s an intricate combination of code and ingenuity which would have automatically scheduled our interview had I known how to prompt it to do so.

For all I know, the miracle invention books Lindiwe’s hairdresser appointments automatically and sends her daily planner direct to her digital watch with a distinct notification for urgent matters. And if that’s the case, the chances are very good that the member of the South African Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) wrote the code herself. Hailing from the province of Mpumalanga, Lindiwe Matlali attended secondary school in a town called Belfast. And even though the small rural school offered a limited education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Lindiwe was actively discouraged from studying any of the subjects by a biblically-inspired guidance teacher. “I actually remember him saying to us that we must choose the class with subjects like history and business and economics, because that is the promised land of Canaan where the work is easy. Those who choose maths and science, he said, are stuck in Egypt subjected to a life of slavery and hard work.” To the benefit of the world, Lindiwe bravely ignored the advice of her teachers and pursued her interest. She signed up for STEM subjects, which, she said with gusto, “open many doors” and allow you to “do anything you want at university”. At the time, she was inspired by her brother who studied chemical engineering at the University of Cape Town. But her resolve to go further than what others said she would go was forged many years before.

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From a young age, the grandfather who took her in after her mother passed instilled in her and her siblings that attending school is the surest way to get ahead in life. “He emphasised education. He was raising twelve orphans and we were really poor. One thing he always told us is that if we stay in school, one day we won’t even remember that we are orphans. We could get away with most things, but not going to school was not tolerated. And if you get negative feedback from school, you knew that you were in trouble.” Lindiwe holds degrees and qualifications from the University of Cape Town, Stanford University, the University of Pretoria and Columbia University. Her achievements are made all the more impressive considering that the advice she received at the end of school – having already been told to stay in the land of Canaan where subjects were easier – was to rather apply to a college than to try and get into a university. “The expectation was that I wasn’t smart, which isn’t true,” she told me. “If you’re smart, you mustn’t limit yourself in terms of where you can go.” Founded in 2014, Africa Teen Geeks is one of Africa’s largest computer science NGOs,

impacting over 600 000 children, 10 000 teachers and recruiting 2 000 volunteers. It’s a tech success story with a philanthropic mission to bring science into children’s classrooms – underprivileged children especially, and girls in particular – led by Lindiwe’s belief that no child should be left behind by the tech revolution. Africa Teen Geeks aims to teach children and unemployed youth how to code, exposes them to computer science, and inspires a future generation of technology entrepreneurs and innovators. “Most of the children we work with know of computers, but when they sit down, they touch a computer for the first time,” Lindiwe said, indicating the need for change in terms of equipment. But the shortcomings go deeper than that. According to the CEO of Africa Teen Geeks, the problem starts with exposure. “A lot of kids who come from disadvantaged communities, when they think of success, they think of celebrities because that’s what they see. But you can’t become what you can’t see. So, when we expose them to STEM and the tech field, they think ‘You know what, I can become successful without trying to be a football player or a rap artist’.”

Africa Teen Geeks aims to teach children and unemployed youth how to code, exposes them to computer science, and inspires a future generation

When I asked Lindiwe if she thinks South Africa could produce the next Bill Gates, she told me that she never could understand the fixation of people on achievers abroad when there is so much local talent. “I always say that we don’t have a talent deficit in this country,” she said. “What we have is an opportunity deficit.” Without skipping a beat, she offered an example of a South African who’s scaled the heights of tech. “There is no one more inspirational to a child than Mark Shuttleworth,” she said. “And the reason for that is because he is here. He lives in Cape Town. He may not have had the same challenges as a child from Khayelitsha, but he’s somebody they can relate to because he’s South African.”

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

HOW DO YOU BECOME A CODER? ➜ Get a computer. ➜ Download Python (if you don’t have always-on access to the internet, don’t worry. Once you have Python, it works oﬄine.) ➜ Get as many books on coding as you can. Go to libraries and search online. ➜ And then just code. The way to become a good coder is to code. You have to do it every day to become good at it.

TOP CODING SCHOOLS: ■ CodeSpace Academy – a global education institution that specialises in teaching coding and technology skills. www.codespace.co.za ■ codeX – a full-time, one-year coding programme in Cape Town that trains and places bright young talent as software developers. www.projectcodex.co ■ WeThinkCode_ – a platform for training youth in digital skills to close the skills gap in the digital sector. www.wethinkcode.co.za ■ School of IT – get internationally accredited and recognised in under 3 months. https://schooloﬁt.co.za/ ■ HyperionDev – online coding bootcamps set apart by integrating human-led code review. www.hyperiondev.com

And if further evidence was needed as to SA excellence, I was given a fact that is mostly overlooked on the international tech stage. “One of the ﬁrst self-driving cars was developed in South Africa,” she said. “It was a project at the University of Pretoria in partnership with the Nelson Mandela University in the early 2000s.” With Africa Teen Geeks, Lindiwe and her team want to bring home to government, and speciﬁcally educational institutions, in South Africa that tech is here to stay. “Tech is a necessity now,” she said. “It’s no longer a nice-to-have. We live in a digital

world. Without people learning computer science, we wouldn’t have Zoom, for instance. If you go to a doctor and they check your heart rate, someone had to code the software that enables them to do that.” Indeed, she hopes to inspire a generation that is self-reliant and well equipped to create jobs for themselves; young people who think differently about economic growth and realise that they are the answer to creating the Africa they want and deserve. In addition to running a world-renowned NGO, Lindiwe somehow finds time to code. Having learned the languages behind everything digital, she’s the founder and CEO of Apodytes (Pty) Ltd, an award-winning software development company that specialises in software development and game development, 3D animations, and simulations for training in the defence, transportation, mining, aerospace and education sectors. And coding is much more than the words, numbers and symbols that drive the internet of things, she says, it may very well be your most valuable teacher. “If you are an innovative coder, you are probably going to have a thousand iterations of your work. Your first line of code is unlikely to work. Even your fifth one or your tenth

“We don’t have a talent deﬁcit in this country. What we have is an opportunity deﬁcit”

one or your hundredth one might be unsuccessful. That gives you that mindset of trying until you get it right. If you fail the ﬁrst time, it doesn’t make you a failure. You only become a failure the day you quit.” At the end of our chat, I asked Lindiwe what advice she can give to budding scientists, programmers and mathematicians. Unsurprisingly, the answer I received would serve as advice for Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk as much as it would for a disadvantaged pupil sitting in a classroom in rural Mpumalanga. “Work like your life depends on it, because it does,” she said. “And make sure that you are so consistent that you become so good that it is impossible for people to ignore you. Once you do that, you will be able to succeed.” PM

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THINKING AHEAD

ROUTE: TO BE CONFIRMED DESTINATION: SUCCESS Asking the right questions and mulling over all your options is the way forward. And the answer doesn’t have to be either get a university degree or you’re nothing. Check this out …

eople generally think and talk more about being at school than about what they’re doing in school. But here’s the thing: school is not just a place we go to almost every day for 12 years, it’s also a journey of discovery that gives us the knowhow to go to other places once we write that last word of our Matric exams and run for the closest beach party (or club duvet because … sleep!). So, what direction do you see yourself heading in after school? Now, don’t go getting stuck in the regret trap with questions like ‘has school given me the skills I need?’, ‘how much thought did I really give to my subject choices?’, or ‘have I worked hard enough to get the marks I need?’. What matters now is making the most of the skills and knowledge you have soaked up, to create the scaffolding for your next journey of self-improvement and advancement – within a rapidly changing world – be it via a gap year, further study, in the workplace, or via any of the many roads you have open to you. What we know for sure, is that whatever route or form a career path takes, there is always a universal equation at play: finding a

workable balance between satisfaction and stimulus (where the key is the synthesis of talent and enthusiasm) = successful growth through learning and skills acquisition.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Work – in the job sense – should be a natural extension of who you are, a connection between aptitude (what you’re good at) and desire (what you want to do or be). The reality is that the global pandemic has revealed the potential for innovation in a world where social skills aren’t limited to face-to-face interactions, where virtual interactions are becoming increasingly important and formative, and where good communication and selfregulation skills are cross-disciplinary. In other words, the job boundaries (of old) have become much less distinct. The global trend among enlightened employers is all about quantifying and harnessing “soft skills”, meaning skills that reflect experience rather than formal education. Where does that leave you? Whether or not you’re sitting with a school-leaving certificate that qualifies you for university/college entrance, take a moment to ask yourself these questions:

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THINKING AHEAD

What am I good at? What do I like doing? Where do my talents lie? What makes me happy? What makes me feel fulﬁlled? What gives me a feeling of accomplishment? How well do I know myself? Do I know what I want?

Where to from here? There’s no formula for deciding what to do with your life, but to make a success of it, the line of work you choose to follow has to be an extension of who you are – you must be (self) driven to pursue it. This is your decision, not your parents’ or your favourite relatives’ choice. You’re going to be the one doing the job! The very nature of work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), is increasingly an exciting blend of entrepreneurialism and being tech-savvy, where both transcend all academic disciplines and favour personal motivation. Access to technology as a platform for learning/personal advancement has become a pre-condition for success, just as ICT proﬁciency is non-negotiable, whether you’re academically or practically inclined. The computer is, among other things, an art tool, so even those who pride themselves on being more artistic and creative have to embrace technology or leave the race.

travel while working on a cruise ship or au pairing for an overseas family; do volunteer work; learn new skills through short courses; or become an apprentice. If you’re a sport fundi, and have the talent, it may pay you to cultivate it. High performing professional sportspeople are among the top earners on the planet. Think of your training as preparation for life. Why shouldn’t a gift for sport fund you, just like a talent for science will prepare others for technology or medicine? You are the custodian of the talent, so it’s all about what you make of it. Study further A great option if you’ve got a clear career path to follow. But also, if you want to explore what you’re interested in. Not all institutions offer all study options, so where you study will depend on your chosen journey. Universities offer degrees and postgraduate qualifications, while Universities of Technology offer higher certificates, diplomas and degrees. At a TVET college, you can do a certificate course for work in technical or vocational fields. To study at a University or University of Technology, you have to pass Grade 12. However, you can start studying at a TVET college with only a Grade 9 pass. Distance learning and online study are increasingly popular. And a good option if you want to earn while you learn. It’s cost-effective and you can choose how long you want to take to complete your course. Whatever you decide, make sure the institution you pick is accredited – ask to see the certificate if you’re unsure. Search their name online for reviews from other students to check their reputation.

Land a job Finding employment straight after school may be necessary, but a word of caution. A salary that looks ‘good’ now may not be enough in a year or two’s time. Carefully consider whether the job offers you growth opportunities for personal and skills development. Go digital There are literally thousands of ways to build a career using social media and other internet applications. Technology is constantly expanding; the world is truly your oyster. Use this unique position to create a platform on which to build a lucrative career. The list of possibilities is as endless as the list of human talents. And different routes can and do lead to the same destination: a successful and happy future. Whether its university, college, technikon, a learnership, on-the-job vocational training, on the sports field or a cruiseship, how you get to where you’re going is simply a reflection of your circumstances, not a measure of your eventual success. PM

For more information, contact: Dr Gareth Nisbet State-registered Career Pathing Practitioner and Careers Guidance Counsellor, specialising in school subject choice/s and university entrance C: 076 965 8039 E: Doc_gn@yahoo.com

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS

Decision-making has the potential to be a time of inspiration – rather than desperation – but it has to be informed and cannot be rushed. There are a whole bunch of career and post matric options, and not all of them involve having to get into varsity. The trick is to ﬁnd your ‘best ﬁt’. Take a look at these: Bridge the gap A gap year is a brilliant way to get to know the world of options out there, and yourself. It makes sense, as long as it promises the constructive use of time, rather than just buying time. Going to work at an international school in a foreign country is a fantastic option, for instance — and one that is sure to lead to unexpected contacts and a range of unprecedented experiences. You could also

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9 WAYS TO FUND YOUR FUTURE OPTIONS ABOUND ON HOW TO FUND YOUR STUDIES

ife is about choices and when it comes to finding the funds for your studies, there are choices aplenty. And that’s great news because covering tuition fees and other essential expenses such as travelling and food (and let’s not forget making all those photocopies of all that interesting learning material) is probably one of the first hurdles you’ll come up against when planning your tertiary education. The options listed here are by no means the only ones. As with all things worthwhile, to get the full picture and cover all your bases will take a bit of work and good old research. If, however, you find the path to future success right here, well then, all the better. With the money issue off your back, you can hunker down and focus on your studies.

OPTION #1: NSFAS FUNDING

NSFAS is a bursary scheme funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training for those who do not have the ﬁnancial means to fund their studies and cannot access bank funding, study loans or bursaries. Take note: The new physical address for the NSFAS Student Centre is 4 Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town City Centre. Here’s how it works: If you come from a family with an income of R350 000 or less, you qualify for a government bursary oﬀered via the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

What does the bursary cover? For University • Accommodation as per the actual costs charged by the university (costs for private accommodation must not exceed costs for university residence) • Transport (up to 40km from institution) R7 500 per annum • Living allowance R15 000 per annum • Book allowances R5 200 per annum • Incidental/personal care allowance R2900 per annum for students in catered residences. For TVET • Accommodation in an urban area R24 000 per annum • Accommodation in a peri-urban area R18 900 per annum

• Accommodation in a rural area R15 750 per annum • Transport (up to 40km from institution) R7 350 per annum • Transport R7 000 per annum • Incidental/personal care allowance R2 900 per annum. In addition to your family income being below R350 000, you qualify if: • You are a SASSA grant recipient • You have a disability and your family’s combined household income is not more than R600 000 per annum • You started studying before 2018 and your family’s household income is not more than R122 000 per annum.

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N A I L T H AT F U N D

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 its 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

OPTION #2: PROJECT MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) provides South Africans from underprivileged backgrounds with funding for tertiary education. However, if a student fails – and considering the myriad of daily challenges they face, which is often a reality – they no longer receive NSFAS support. Professor Venicia McGhie, an academic development practitioner in the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), saw and responded to the needs of these students by founding Project Making a Difference. To date, the project has financially supported more than 500 undergraduate students in the Economic and Management Sciences Faculty at UWC. By 2019, 181 of the 230 students who were supported were promoted to the next year of study.

All students who approach the project for assistance undergo an interview process, which continues throughout their studies to monitor their progress and the level of support needed. The project also adopts a ‘pay-it-forward’ approach, where the academically strong students in the project are called in to assist those who are struggling. Because every student’s needs are different, the project has four categories of financial assistance which could work as a once-off, or ongoing support, with some students requiring more than one category. These are divided into: Category 1: Course readers and study materials Category 2: Monthly or weekly travelling allowance Category 3: Printing and photocopying Category 4: Food and living expenses To apply, visit projectmakingadifference. weebly.com

OPTION #3: 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. To keep receiving the bursary, you will need to maintain a certain level of academic performance while studying. In some cases, this might mean simply passing. In others, you may have to maintain an average of 60% or more. Some bursaries give preference to previously disadvantaged groups.

OPTION #4: A SCHOLARSHIP

A scholarship is similar to a bursary in that it is money for tertiary education that doesn’t need to be repaid. But it is based more on merit – such as artistic, academic or sporting ability – than on financial need. Scholarships can be awarded by universities, government institutions, companies or nonprofit organisations. The Rhodes scholarship, which enables exceptional students to study at England’s Oxford University, is a good example.

OPTION #5: THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FUND

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.

Companies can claim back a portion of the levy to train their own employees through the relevant Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).

OPTION #6: COMPANIES

• Many companies – especially those in the scarce and critical skills sectors, such as mining and engineering – award contract bursaries for studies in a particular field. You will have to pass your subjects (or risk having to repay the grant), and sometimes you’ll have to work for the company for a few years after you graduate. • Companies that award bursaries include: Spoornet, Transnet, Sasol, Absa, Anglo American, Gold Fields, Anglo Platinum, Eskom, Sasol, Iscor, De Beers, Edgars, SA Breweries, Harmony, Mintek, AECI, Engen, Group 5, Murray & Roberts, PPC, the SA Institute of Race Relations, the SA Weather Service, Vodacom and Old Mutual. • Fundi (previously known as Eduloan) is a private credit provider that gives study loans to students whose parents are permanently employed. Visit www.fundi.co.za

OPTION #7: GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

• 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.

OPTION #8: ARRANGE PAYMENT TERMS

If getting hold of the ‘90% of your fees’ is not possible, then another option is to secure a payment agreement with the educational institution that you're studying with. Typically, this could require that you pay a small upfront deposit, and then pay the rest of your fees in monthly instalments over a certain amount of time. These monthly fees might include extra costs compared to paying upfront for your studies, but these monthly amounts could be manageable.

OPTION #9: SUPPORT FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS

And last, but not least, is to approach a friend or family member for a loan. There is always the possibility that family members or friends will offer you a lower ‘interest rate’ or even no interest. The trick is to approach the right person and explain to them how badly you want an education and that you’ll work really hard if they support you. PM

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CAREER JUNCTION GET A GLIMPSE INTO YOUR FUTURE

CHECK OUT OUR Q&A SECTION FOR THAT FLASH OF INSPIRATION

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR LOADS MORE CAREER IDEAS >> www.postmatric.co.za

A MODEL OF GLAMOUR WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE A MODEL? When I was young a relative encouraged me to enter a modeling competition. I received 1st position in my region (North West) and went on to represent my region in Gauteng. Coming from a small town, Rustenburg, representing my province in big cities was a big deal; it sparked my love for modeling. I also love travelling, so when I discovered that I would be travelling for competitions, my passion grew even more. DID YOU TRAIN TO MODEL? No, I had to learn through experience and watching Fashion TV, and looking through magazines. DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY Modeling is seasonal, but when a gig is on it gets hectic! I usually do ramp modeling like fashion weeks and bridal expos, but I also model for magazines in fashion and beauty spreads. A photo shoot

can take hours in cold weather and as a model you must always look on point until the photographer gets the perfect shot. During fashion week, in one day there could be about four to six shows.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I enjoy the glamorous side of it. You get exposed to a sophisticated lifestyle. One day you’re wearing a dress worth R100 000 for a shoot; the next you get an all-expensespaid trip to Cape Town or overseas. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? I don’t like the ridiculous hours waiting the whole day doing nothing until a show starts, or working in freezing cold weather. ANY HURDLES? I had to overcome dealing with rejection, being concerned about my body weight and how to handle jealousy and competition. ANY HIGHLIGHTS? The highlight was when I was

booked for a big campaign in Cape Town for the Italian brand Carpisa during the Soccer World Cup.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? Currently, I oﬀer a modeling masterclass called Ogorgeous to young aspiring models in Rustenburg. I started it with no capital and no business background, so I studied a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. I now have about 16 students in total. My goal is to guide them and educate them about the modeling industry, so they can identify scammers vs legit modeling platforms and choose the right direction. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO MODELING? You need to believe in yourself. It’s the era of Instagram – marketing companies don’t look for tall and skinny anymore but rather for people with a huge following or who are inﬂuencers.

OLE MORAPEDI MODEL ICE MODEL MANAGEMENT � OGORGEOUS MODEL MASTERCLASS (OWNER)

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOULD-BE MODELS? Do the research and educate yourself. Be respectful, be on time and always follow instructions. Get a degree so you have something to fall back on when there are no gigs. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Glamorous and cut-throat.

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C A R E E R I DE AS

COUNTING ON YOUR FUTURE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? After the introduction to the profession, I did my research, took a psychometric test and found it to be a great match – and also due to a greater chance of securing employment post qualification. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? For the technical training part, I completed my Bachelor of Accounting Sciences Degree (3 years) and my Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy (1 year). For the professional training,I trained at a medium-sized audit firm, as an external auditor for 3 years. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You need to have an analytical mind! Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, during training you will learn to communicate effectively and efficiently.

EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? The chartered accountancy profession is designed in a way that grants you the opportunity to gain formal training before you qualify, which also counts as experience post qualification. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY 09:00-09:30 – Read emails and prepare for the day; 09:30-10:00 – Attend a team meeting; 10:0012:00 – Prepare the financial statements of the funds that are listed on the London Stock Exchange; 12:00-13:00 – Lunch; 13:00-15:00 – Review and authorise payments; 15:00-16:00 – Meet with the board of directors; 16:00-17:00 – Respond to emails from external auditors. WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Seeing my hard work (financial statements) published on the London Stock Exchange for worldwide stakeholders to make decisions.

ANY DISLIKES? When the tasks I do become repetitive. When this happens, I ask for a new challenge. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? The opportunity to work internationally: I have been an external auditor in Dublin, Ireland, and I am currently a senior fund accountant in Jersey, Channel Islands. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I’d like to continue being beneﬁcial to society – as a chartered accountant, I am a business leader and a responsible, ethical citizen. I also have my coaching and mentoring venture that I run after 5pm and over the weekends. My goal is to expand my coaching and mentoring venture and help more varsity students and young professionals with self-leadership, peak academic performance and future-prooﬁng their careers.

ZANELE MADUNA CA(SA) SENIOR FUND ACCOUNTANT BNP PARIBAS, JERSEY CI

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? It can and will be challenging, however, in the words of Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.” DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Challenging, engaging, empowering

GIRLS OPERATING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I studied accounting sciences and really enjoyed accounting as a subject – that’s how I got into the ﬁnance ﬁeld. I ended up in tech and as a co-founder of an ICT organisation because I have always had a passion for helping people who are less fortunate than me. When I got into the tech space, my passion was ignited when I noticed the gender gap within the ICT space, through one of my best friends.

where I get to connect with like-minded women.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I studied accounting sciences at UP and I have done a few online business-related short courses.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? Being a non-technical person in a technical world, while also being an entrepreneur. You can’t really study to become an entrepreneur; you learn with time, and you learn on the ﬂy. Basically, its adapt or die. And being a female in a maledominated industry adds more pressure – imposter syndrome is a real thing! Over the years, I’ve had to ﬁght patriarchy and racism. I believe that women deserve a

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I am in meetings most of the day, as my job is to ﬁnd new partners that will help us to continue to run the programmes we run. I also look after the ﬁnance and operations portfolios of the organisation. Some days I get to attend women in tech events,

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I get to live my passion daily, while also changing people’s lives. There is no better feeling! AND WHAT DO YOU ENJOY LEAST? I don’t like not being able to secure enough funding in order to run our programmes at the scale we want to.

seat at the table, and if there’s no space for us at their table, we must build our own.

“I believe that women deserve a seat at the table” ANY FUTURE GOALS? Expanding our organisation into other African countries. I would really like to see an African ‘Silicon Valley’, where women have taken up the space and leverage their skills to better African countries. I want to create a community, a safe space for young girls and women to thrive and survive as well as learn from each other and pay it forward from one generation to another. IS THERE A CERTAIN TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED (OR NOT SUITED) TO THIS WORK? You need to be passionate and invested in the work that you do in order to thrive and survive.

TINYIKO SIMBINE CFO & COO GIRLCODE

ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGSTERS STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Do your research and plan properly. Don’t give up no matter how many doors close on you. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Life-Changing. Challenging. Fulﬁlling. P O S T M AT R I C 2 0 2 2 | 2 1

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ANCHORS AWAY

ABDUL QADER HENDRICKS NAVIGATION CADET OFFICER SEASPAN SHIP MANAGEMENT

WHY NAVIGATION? From a young age I had a love for aviation and US Navy ﬁghter jets and aircraft carriers. Back then I wanted to pursue a career in aviation or navigation, speciﬁcally on an aircraft carrier. I learnt more about these career paths through my own research, and ultimately decided to enroll myself at a school where I would do two extra subjects to do with the maritime industry as a Grade 10 learner.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I had the advantage of obtaining a bursary from Transnet National Ports Authority to attend school at Simon’s Town High, where I did two extra subjects (Nautical Science and Maritime Economics), which included practical training and training voyages on ships. After I matriculated, I completed one year of my National Diploma in Maritime Studies at CPUT. The second year is required in order to graduate and to become a Chief Navigating Officer or Master Mariner. After first-year, I joined a company to complete my practical sea experience (minimum 12 months). I am currently busy doing my practical at a Canadian-based company called Seaspan Ship Management, and will then write the Deck Officer of the Watch unlimited examination, which will enable me to sail as a Third Navigating Officer onboard ships trading worldwide. I have also completed various STCW courses

and other training at Samtra during the past year or so.

WHAT PERSONALITY IS BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? It’s definitely not for the fainthearted! You should be a strongwilled person who knows what responsibility means, is able to make important decisions and can remain calm under pressure. EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? I believe that experience is one of the most important aspects. Most of your knowledge is gained during your practical time at sea and what you learn practically tends to stay in your memory. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Your primary duties are to keep navigational watches. The watches are divided between Chief, Second and Third Navigating officers, each shift consisting of eight hours per day. As a Third Navigating Officer, I would be in charge of watches (08:00 - 12:00, and 20:00 -

midnight). Other additional responsibilities include the maintenance of life-saving and ﬁre-ﬁghting equipment.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST? I love travelling around the world visiting major cities and meeting people from diverse cultures. YOUR DISLIKES? Spending time away from home. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS? The adrenaline rush that I get when navigating the world’s oceans in traﬃc-congested waters. YOUR FUTURE GOALS? To further my navigation career and to obtain my Class 1 unlimited license (Master Mariner). I would love to work ashore as a Ship Surveyor or Marine Harbour Pilot.

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C A R E E R I DE AS

ENGINEERING A FUTURE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I didn’t necessarily choose this profession; I was lucky enough for it to have chosen me. I had no idea what I was signing up for, but once I got a taste of it, I was hooked! Engineering contains such a vast number of diﬀerent ﬁelds within it, so there is something to learn every day. And you will never know everything … that’s the beauty of it. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHERE DID YOU STUDY? I applied for a learnership programme through Sasol Synfuels and somehow managed to wiggle my way in. Our training was based at the South African Institute of Welding, where I studied various courses over 12 months, including quality Inspectors courses level I & II, non-destructive testing courses, and metallic ultrasonic and radiographic courses. I have also studied corrosion protection and

undertaken in-depth studies of codes and speciﬁcations used in the industry. I have recently qualiﬁed with the American Petroleum Institute as a specialised piping inspector and am currently busy specialising in tank inspection. Two years of practical training was also necessary to complete my studies, which luckily for me took place at Sasol Synfuels, one of the most unique plants in the world.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? Welding inspection requires an enthusiasm to learn new things and rise to challenges. You need to have a solutions-based mindset. As with any career, getting along with peers is very important. EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Experience is essential. As much as theoretical knowledge is good, the place to learn is in the ﬁeld. Older generations have such a wealth of knowledge to impart.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY A typical day on the job includes a review of technical documents and drawings and extends to actual inspection for compliance onsite. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK? Every day there is something new to learn or a new perspective to gain. Mixing new technology with old knowledge is always exciting. Overseeing and endorsing a project from start to end is so satisfying. WHICH ASPECTS DO YOU LIKE LEAST? The demands of long hours, and the areas we work in, which can be quite remote. ANY HIGHLIGHTS? Being involved in some big projects like Sasol Temane in Mozambique, Kusile Power Project and now, the Anglo American Koketso Project with Hatch.

TERSIA LISA BAKER INSPECTOR OF PRESSURISED EQUIPMENT HATCH (CONSULTING ENGINEERING AND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALISTS)

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? To gain experience in all sectors of engineering (mining, petrochemical, power generation) and keep building my international qualiﬁcations. ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Find a mentor! Find the right mentor willing to push your limits. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Technical. Challenging. (Quality) Driven.

PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I enjoyed Lego and using my hands to solve problems from a young age. A career in welding is therefore the perfect ﬁt for me as it’s a very hands-on job and helps with problem solving. I also get to stay active as I move around our company facilities, but also get some oﬃce time – it’s the perfect balance for me.

“The road is long but wide and many paths can be taken for further specialisation”

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I completed an International Institute of Welding (IIW) TIG and Electrode ﬁllet, plate and pipe course at the South African Institute of Welding (SAIW).

After starting my career, I attained an International Welding Specialist Diploma, followed by an International Welding Inspector Diploma, and most recently, an International Welding Technologist Diploma.

activities and skills such as material procurement, overseeing welder qualiﬁcations, welding procedure qualiﬁcation, databook compilation, visual inspections, and quality document audits.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? Enjoying working with people helps to make work more of a pleasure than a pain/hardship.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE THE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? Getting the job done right and on time with zero harm to anyone.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Both work hand in hand. A degreed engineer can learn from a shopﬂoor staﬀ member and vice versa. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB? It starts with a ‘toolbox talk’ about a safety topic for the day. This is followed by a plant focus meeting, discussing breakdowns on the plant. The rest of the day includes a wide variety of

WHICH ASPECTS ARE YOU LEAST ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT? Middle-of-the-night breakdowns on the odd occasion. WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? When I started, I was acknowledged as one of the youngest qualiﬁed welders at the age of 15. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? To become an inspection engineer or third-party inspector.

JUSTIN VAN WYK WELDING SUPERVISOR NCP CHLORCHEM KEMPTON PARK

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING IN YOUR CAREER? The road is long but wide and many paths can be taken for further specialisation. Hang in there and try to learn as much as you can. DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS? Rebuild, repair and modify. P O S T M AT R I C 2 0 2 2 | 2 3

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C A R E E R I DE AS

THE FUN POLICE

SERGEANT RENECIA AVONTUUR SECTOR MANAGER SAPS, MOWBRAY

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? It sort of chose me… I wanted to join the army and went to the police station to get my ﬁngerprints done, papers stamped and signed, but one of the sergeants there, who later became a ‘big brother’ / mentor to me, convinced me otherwise. So, I walked out with forms to join the police instead.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? In 2000, I started in Cape Town Central as a community patrol officer and did my basic police training. Two years later I decided to become permanent police and was transferred to Kraaifontein, where I did Crime Prevention and Complaints. But it was too dangerous, so I joined the Canine Unit. I did my Patrol Dog Handler’s course in 2006, and in 2008, my Explosives Dog Handler’s course. I went on to do the Canine Narcotics course in Pretoria. Three years ago I started at Mowbray Police Station as Section Manager. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I start with coffee, check my wall planner, do some admin, then you’ll have a walk in visitor and the day starts to go in all sorts of directions. The homeless people in the area sometimes come in with a tip-off. I brief my trusted colleagues and go on searches, finding things like

stolen property, drugs. My hours are from 7:30am-4pm/12am8pm/10pm-6am. A crime intelligence oﬃcer gives us a pattern analysis once every month and I plan according to that. I decide my hours and I put in my time.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I love the interaction with people. I missed that at the Dog Unit. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? People telling me what to do, and corruption. ANY HURDLES? Getting my job done while getting around corruption. It’s only a tiny handful of corrupt people, so we just have to keep doing what we are doing to stamp it out and serve the community.

commander and then you feel that you’re making a diﬀerence. The police also rewards you with long-service medals every ten years.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I would like to keep doing courses like the next firefighting course and also, the Basic Ambulance Assistance course (paramedic line; three weeks). IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO POLICE WORK? You have to be on a different level of crazy! You must be a strong person; be able to work with the community; you must be level-headed; be able to take a lot of stress, think on your feet and walk away in certain situations.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? When the community thanks you. They send letters of recognition and thanks to you or your station

PLUGGED IN & SWITCHED ON WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHERE DID YOU DO IT? I did an apprenticeship section 28 with ECA and Train All training centre in Cape Town.

ILUNGA JEAN PAUL MUAMBAYI ELECTRICIAN ELECTRO SURGEON

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW THE TRADE AND BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN? I enjoy working with people and prefer being on the road than in an o ﬃ ce. There is always work available for electricians because itʼs one of the most common trades, and there is always a lot of growth potential when you work for a well-known company.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB We mainly work on routine maintenance on electrical work in houses and small buildings – like plug points, light fittings, earth leakages, etc. Every day there is something different and we are always needed. WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO? I enjoy a good team spirit, and when a client is happy with my work, that makes me happy. WHAT ASPECTS OF THE JOB DO YOU LIKE THE LEAST OF ALL? I donʼt like it when sometimes a client thinks that they know what is wrong and overrun my decisions when Iʼm trying to fix

a problem for them, and then in the end realising that I did intend to do the right thing. This is why you really need to have a lot of patience and good social skills!

HAVE THERE BEEN HURDLES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I have found that in this industry you have to keep your focus and be positive because when I started it was not easy. I did not get a lot of help and not many companies wanted to hire me because I hardly had any experience. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR? When I resolve a problem that Iʼm working on by giving such great satisfaction to the ones who are really in need and I can look back and be proud of how much more experience I have gained over the years. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? To ﬁnd myself managing a big electrical company.

"There is always work available for electricians"

HOW DOES EXPERIENCE WEIGH UP AGAINST FORMAL TRAINING? The more experience you get, the better equipped you are mentally and physically. WHAT MAKES A ‘GOOD’ ELECTRICIAN? An electrician needs dedication, passion and a hard working ethos. ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Always be willing to learn and take on new opportunities. Never ever give up! DESCRIBE YOUR WORK IN THREE WORDS Electrifying, Maintenance, Current

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C A R E E R I DE AS

ANALYSING THE FUTURE "Always have a few technical skills up your sleeve"

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.

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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 havenʼt 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. 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.

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. WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR JOB Trying to understand and meet everyoneʼs 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 youʼre 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 youʼre 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.

6/30/22 3:55 AM

UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL RANKS IN THE TOP 2.5% UNIVERSITIES WORLDWIDE

UKZN has been ranked in the top 2.5% universities worldwide. This is according to the 2022-23 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) published on 25 April. The list can be found on the CWUR website: www.cwur.org. According to these rankings, the University is placed 484 out of 19 788 universities worldwide. The Education Ranking is at 497; the Employability Ranking is 361, and the Research Ranking is 475. The rankings place UKZN in 4th spot in Africa and also 4th in South Africa. The University has an overall score of 74.3. Good governance, management of academic talent, research productivity, quality programmes and the high calibre of staff and students contributed to UKZN’s placement in the top 500 of the world’s leading universities. The CWUR publishes the largest academic rankings of global universities. The rankings are unique in that: * Objective indicators are used for all four key pillars underlying the methodology of the ranking (education, employability, faculty, and research) with no reliance on surveys and university data submissions; * Equal emphasis is put on student-related and faculty-related indicators; * 19 788 universities are ranked according to their academic performance. ‘UKZN’s ranking in the top 2.5% of the world’s universities enhances the image, brand and reputation of the University.

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This augurs well for UKZN as students, academics, alumni, funders and global partners want to be associated with high-performing universities with high rankings. Rankings are an independent tool for monitoring performance. They focus on the core functions of universities which include: research, teaching, meaningful community engagement and internationalisation. They assist institutions in measuring their performance and thus selfmonitoring and self-improvement while also fostering healthy competition and best practice among universities,’ said Ms Normah Zondo, UKZN’s Executive Director: Corporate Relations. About the methodology: CWUR uses seven objective and robust indicators grouped into four areas to rank the world’s universities: 1) Education, measured by the number of a university’s alumni who have won major academic distinctions relative to the University’s size (25%). 2) Employability, measured by the number of a University’s alumni who have held top executive positions at the world’s largest companies relative to the University’s size (25%). 3) Faculty, measured by the number of faculty members who have won major academic distinctions (10%). 4) Research: i) Research output, measured by the total number of research articles (10%). ii) High-quality publications, measured by the number of research articles appearing in top-tier journals (10%). iii) Influence, measured by the number of research articles appearing in highly-influential journals (10%). iv) Citations, measured by the number of highly-cited research articles (10%).

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EMPOWERMENT THROUGH FINANCIAL FREEDOM

ADVISORY PARTNER CITADEL

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I have a B.Comm Honours, an MBA, a CFP qualiﬁcation and have also undergone RE training, and have various certiﬁcations across all the asset classes from the South African Institute of Financial Markets (SAIFM). In addition, the role requires ongoing continuous professional development (CPD), so I spend a lot of time attending investment forums, reading, and keeping up to date with what is happening in the markets.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I gain tremendous satisfaction from adding value to my clients’ lives and ensuring that their ﬁnances and investments are as eﬃcient as possible, and in line with their respective lifestyles and ever-changing circumstances. I also really enjoy the fact that the role is both highly personable in that I get to engage with clients regularly, but also has a strong analytical and strategic slant.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY The day starts with me spending time catching up on the markets from the day before. I’m subscribed to several media platforms that cover all noteworthy events. From there, I will reply to emails and check-in with my assistants. I usually see 2-3 clients a day, and then spend the time between meetings rebalancing portfolios, running cashﬂow analyses, and writing up client minutes and investment proposals.

KIRSTEN SMIT

Networking is also important; I spend a considerable amount of time each month attending events, keeping in touch with prospective clients, and looking to build my brand and proﬁle.

I am also proud of the inroads we are making in empowering females in the investment space. I am passionate about spreading the importance of ﬁnancial health and wellness, especially among women.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I really love the fact that every client is diﬀerent and that I get to help them along their respective journeys. I also value the ﬂexibility – I am a mom of four young kids, and it is important to me that I can attend events that are important to them.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You need to be able to engage with others, form trusting relationships, and more than anything, be able to listen. A strong analytical ability also helps.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? While I cannot pin down a speciﬁc highlight, I have found enormous satisfaction in growing my experience and skill set over time. My book (assets under management) has constantly evolved and grown and I’m currently managing over R1 billion worth of assets which, while ﬁnancially rewarding, is also a huge responsibility.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Always be looking to learn. You will never know everything, and the world is changing at a rapid pace, so always seek to upskill yourself.

“I’m passionate about spreading the importance of ﬁnancial health and wellness”

MAKING BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE MORE BEAUTIFUL WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERTAKE? I studied at Cape Town Academy after completing matric. I did a National Diploma in Health and Beauty Therapy and also an international ITEC Diploma in Physiatrics and Aesthetician.

NATALIE CORNELIUS BEAUTY THERAPIST SOOTHE BODY & SKINCARE STUDIO

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a beauty therapist. Knowing that my qualiﬁcations allow me to work anywhere in the world was a deciding factor, as was the fact that it’s a business you can potentially run from home.

WHAT TRAITS SHOULD A BEAUTICIAN HAVE? They should be a patient person, good at listening; someone who enjoys interacting with people. IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING IN YOUR LINE OF WORK? Formal training is very important when starting out, but practise makes perfect. When it comes to starting your own business, experience is essential. It takes time to build good relationships with clients, and knowledge about what’s happening in the industry comes from having long-standing relationships with suppliers.

“Look after your clients and they’ll stay with you for a long time”

DESCRIBE HOW A TYPICAL DAY AS A BEAUTICIAN UNFOLDS My working day starts at about 9am and I see between six and 12 clients a day. It’s tricky juggling treatments and managing the business – throw in two kids and you have a rollercoaster ride. I do enjoy the ride though, every time. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT IT? I really love the fact that every day is diﬀerent and you never know who you might meet. Seeing clients leave my salon happy is very rewarding.

WHAT ASPECTS ARE YOU LEAST KEEN ON? Clients can be very demanding, sometimes even unreasonable. I try my best to keep all my clients happy, but there’s always one! WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? If I can add a date, it would be 15 November 2008: the day my salon opened its doors. SHARE SOME FUTURE GOALS I would like to expand my salon, employ more therapists and oﬀer a wider range of treatments. I also want to open a spa in the Karoo. ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Work hard and build up your experience; look after your clients and they’ll stay with you for a long time; work in at least two salons before starting your own business.

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C A R E E R I DE AS

SHAPING RAW TALENT WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? A man that I looked up to growing up was a boilermaker; that is where my love for the profession started. I was fascinated by turning raw steel materials into ﬁnished steel products.

day, received from the drawing oﬃce. I then collect raw materials as per the job speciﬁcation, which may require cutting, shaping, assembling, and welding the steel pieces. I then submit them to the QC department for quality assessment before handing them over for processing.

WHAT IS A BOILERMAKING? Boilermakers are specialised artisans who mark oﬀ and fabricate structural steel and other metal stock to make or repair metal products and structures including boilers and pressure vesselss.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? I really like that there are job opportunities across various industries and sectors.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I was 30 years old when I was selected to participate in a 4-year apprenticeship at John Thompson, a division of ACTOM (Pty) Ltd. I saw the advert for the apprenticeship in the local newspaper. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Arriving at work, a departmental brieﬁng outlines the tasks for the

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? The lack of flexibility and exploring new ways of doing things across the industry. WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? It takes an apprenticeship to enter the industry, because of the required practical element, and there are very few of them offered by companies. I had to drop out of college due to financial constraints and battled to find

employment in the steel fabrication industry.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? Receiving the Best 1st Year Apprentice certificate, Best 2nd Year Apprentice certificate, and Best Overall Performing Apprentice certificate. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Attending further training to upskill myself, so I can join the engineering drawing office.

JOHN THOMPSON, A DIVISION OF ACTOM PTY LTD

IN YOUR LINE OF WORK, IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Most certainly, the relevant work experience assisted me in obtaining the apprenticeship.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Start acquiring work hours in the relevant ﬁeld of work. It all adds up.

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK, OR CERTAIN TRAITS ONE SHOULD HAVE (OR NOT HAVE)? One needs to be decisive, hardworking and physically ﬁt.

WISEMAN BOLITYE BOILERMAKER

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Challenging. Fascinating. Fulﬁlling.

SECURING YOUR CYBERSPACE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? My interest in cybersecurity was sparked by my passion for nature and “securing” our natural landscape. The shifting times as a result of the pandemic has also led to more individuals conducting online transactions, and so, the risk of cyberattacks and therefore the need for cybersecurity professionals increased. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHERE? I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at the University of the Western Cape. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I start my day by checking our Threat Analytics tool to understand how the current threat landscape impacts our organisation. If impacted, I review the necessary security conﬁguration to be implemented and gain an understanding of how these changes will impact

our staﬀ. Based on this impact outcome, we roll out the necessary security controls to mitigate a particular threat.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT? I’m always faced with unique challenges, along with being actively involved in maintaining and improving the company’s security and compliance posture. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Individuals who think that what I do makes life diﬃcult for them, when in fact I’m watching their back and making sure that their accounts or devices don’t become an attack vector. ANY HURDLES? Growing up in the Cape Flats comes with its fair share of hurdles. Navigating your way through all of it can be daunting, but I count myself lucky to have had family always in my corner, supporting me to reach for what they were unable to attain. One of my

greatest achievements is being the ﬁrst in my immediate family to obtain a tertiary education.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? Because the impact of my work is very behind-the-scenes, it always feels good when individuals who catch wind of what I’m doing come over and thank me for the hard work. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Career wise, to transition into a Cybersecurity Engineer and then into a Penetration Tester. EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? Both are very important – as we know, experience comes with practice and your skills will improve over time. However, because the cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, formal training is as important. Whether it is self-orientated or course-orientated, learning is an ongoing part of being in the cybersecurity space.

NASH LEWIS CYBERSECURITY ANALYST

WONGA ONLINE PTY LTD IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? Attention to detail is a must, and ignorance will not count in your favour. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Engage with the industry by following cybersecurity professionals and read reputable blogs daily to keep up to date with the latest cybersecurity threats, trends and advancements. P O S T M AT R I C 2 0 2 2 | 3 1

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The future of work requires graduates that are innovative, entrepreneurial, adaptable, resourceful, responsive, responsible, ethically and socially aware, conﬁdent and effective communicators. Prepare yourself for the future and be ready for opportunities by studying through the University of Mpumalanga.

OUR UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Apply to study for your preferred qualiﬁcation and study with us in 2023.

HIGHER CERTIFICATES

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL SCIENCES

One-year Programme • Higher Certiﬁcate in Information Communication Technology in User Support

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SCIENCES One-year Programme • Higher Certiﬁcate in Event Management

DIPLOMAS

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL SCIENCES

Three-year Programmes • Diploma in Nature Conservation • Diploma in Agriculture • Diploma in Animal Production • Diploma Information Communication Technology in Applications Development

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS SCIENCES Three-year Programme • Diploma in Hospitality Management

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL SCIENCES

Three-year Programmes Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Extension and Rural Resource Management Bachelor of Science (General) Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences Bachelor of Information Communication Technology Four-year Programme Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

FACULTY OF EDUCATION

Four-year Programme • Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase Teaching

FACULTY OF ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS STUDIES Three-year Programmes • Bachelor of Development Studies • Bachelor of Commerce (General) • Bachelor of Administration • Bachelor of Arts (General) • Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

For more information: Tel: +27 13 002 0001 or E-mail: info@ump.ac.za www.ump.ac.za

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C A R E E R I DE AS

CENTRE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO ACADEMIA AS A CAREER PATH? I come from a long tradition of teachers in our family: my paternal grandmother and maternal grandmother and grandfather and both my parents were teachers. Together, my grandparents and parents laid a ﬁrm foundation and instilled in me the importance of education. They encouraged me to focus on the tasks at hand and stay disciplined in all that I do. Therefore, joining academia was a logical step for me.

At present, the University oﬀers a total of 53 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from higher certiﬁcates to doctoral degrees. As a new institution, we plan to continue with the construction of new iconic and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The University currently has three faculties: the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences; Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Sciences; and Faculty of Education. There are plans to introduce the Faculty of Health Sciences.

WHAT MAKES THE UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA ATTRACTIVE TO STUDENTS AS A PLACE TO STUDY? The University of Mpumalanga enrolled the first cohort of students in 2014. It is situated in the scenic Mpumalanga Province and is close to a number of tourist attractions. The University is committed to offering its students a life-changing experience through high quality curricula and co-curricula programmes that promote the principles of excellence, free enquiry and academic integrity. We endeavour to promote the holistic development of students to realise their potential in the full spectrum of cognitive, social, aesthetic, physical and person dimensions in pursuit of democratic citizenship. It is a relatively new university, and therefore, offers students a number of opportunities to contribute to the development of the institution. The strategic direction of the University is informed by it vision to be “An African University leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation”. Students are introduced to diverse knowledge traditions, world views and cultural values, including indigenous knowledge grounded in the African context. The University offers a number of opportunities for students to be innovative and entrepreneurial.

YOUR TOP 5 TIPS ON MAKING IT IN THE WORLD? In order to make it in the world, it is important to (1) be willing to take risks and embrace change, (2) be comfortable in your own skin, with who you are, (3) be able to think outside of the box, (4) be innovative and creative, and (5) have the ability to listen and engage.

WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSITY? My plans for the future of the University as a comprehensive institution are to continue to lay a solid foundation for the development of the institution as a Centre for Academic Excellence. We will continue to add to the programmes oﬀered by the University and include programmes that will contribute to the employability of our graduates. We also plan to continue establishing partnerships with industry, government and higher education institutions nationally and internationally to enhance the experience of our students.

DOES THE UNIVERSITY OFFER ANY COUNSELLING SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS? The University understands the importance of addressing the mental health needs of students for them to succeed in their studies. As a result, the University has a full-time Student Counsellor, who is a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Two sessional psychologists provide additional services to students at the Siyabuswa Campus. The University has contracted the services of a service provider, SYKED, to provide Student Wellness Support Services in the form of online support services, an emergency support line and wellness days. WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT DOES THE UNIVERSITY OFFER? The University offers the Vice-Chancellor Scholarship to 30 academically high performing new students annually. These are students with an APS score of 40 and above. The scholarship covers tuition fees, residence fees, a laptop, a monthly stipend of R1 100 and a personal development programme. The University also assists the students by soliciting bursaries and scholarships for them from a wide range of funders such as the various SETAs. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN ACADEMIA? Women have an important role to play in academia, as members of academic staff, support staff and in leadership and management. They play a critical role as role models for other women and girls to

PROF THOKO MAYEKISO VICE-CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA

“The University is committed to offering its students a life-changing experience through high quality curricula” aspire to occupy such positions themselves. UMP is proud to have a number of women associated with it, such as the Chancellor, Justice Mandisa Maya; Vice-Chancellor, Prof Thoko Mayekiso; Deputy ViceChancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof Shirley Sommers; Executive Director: Human Resources, Dr Loshni Govender; and Dean: Faculty of Education, Prof Hilda Israel. We have put in place a number of development programmes targeting emerging staﬀ at UMP. This includes study abroad opportunities for both staﬀ and students. Ms Vuyelwa Magagula, former SRC President, is currently on a six-month study abroad at the JH JOANNEUM University of Applied Sciences, Graz, Austria.

DOES THE UNIVERSITY OFFER ONLINE LEARNING? The University of Mpumalanga is a contact university. Due to Covid-19, in 2020, the University embarked on online teaching and learning. From the beginning of 2022, we have been oﬀering hybrid tuition, which is a combination of online and in-person teaching and learning. In future, we will explore the possibility of introducing some online modules, especially at the postgraduate level.

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(NOT) LOST IN TRANSLATION University of the North, Potchefstroom, and then an MA in Marketing. And LOTS of reading in both English and Afrikaans.

ERINA BOTHA TRANSLATOR/WORDSMITH SELF-EMPLOYED AT DREAMLINE

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO BE A TRANSLATOR? I’ve always loved words and reading. I started taking out books from the library next door to my home in the Karoo from age 4 – in English and Afrikaans. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I studied BA Journalism at the

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Read the book, document, advert or copy that needs to be translated into English from Afrikaans, or into Afrikaans from English. Then do the translation, with a good dictionary at hand. Mark the words and phrases I’m not 100% clear on how best to translate and come back to them later. The next day, read the completed translated copy done the previous day, to check if it ﬂows or needs a few more adjustments. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR WORK? Learning about new worlds and new things; reading clever, stimulating, entertaining and/or artistic copy. I also like

ﬁnding the words, phrases and idioms in either English or Afrikaans that will give more people access to the copy.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK? Translating boring copy – like a boring speech.

“A love of both the languages you’re translating into and from, is most important”

ANY HIGHLIGHTS IN YOUR CAREER? The translation of 100 Bible Stories from Afrikaans to English for Lux Verbi (Naspers). Translating South Africa and the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AC by Charles K Robertson from English to Afrikaans for ABC Uitgewers. Translating

from English to Afrikaans: Handbook for Community Guides in Knysna, by Martin Hatchuel.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? Translating BP Frank Retief’s book, God Said “YES” – the story of the early years of St James Church, Kenilworth. IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS FORMAL TRAINING? Yes, it is, but a love of both the languages you’re translating into and from, is most important. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? A person who is self-disciplined and loves reading. ANY ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Read books and magazines in both languages. YOUR JOB IN FOUR WORDS Opening worlds via words.

A GOOD SOLUTION

MAPE MODIBA SAP SENIOR INDUSTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE SAP SOUTH AFRICA

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

“The solutions that I sell make changes in a positive way”

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 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!

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C A R E E R I DE AS

THE PERFECT SMILE 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 ﬁve 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. 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 ﬁllings – 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 HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? I could only study with the help of a student loan. 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’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU? Having my own business and watching it grow over the years. And it’s still going strong. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? I aim to change the way people perceive dentistry – one patient at a time.

IS EXPERIENCE AS IMPORTANT AS TRAINING? Yes, definitely, and maybe even more important. After five and a half years of studying, you are only half way there. It took me a further five 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.

CHRIS PISTORIUS DENTIST PRIVATE PRACTICE

hands-on knowledge about dentistry and running a business as you can.

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

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR LINE OF WORK? Start out by working with/for another dentist; gather as much

NATURE VS NURTURE WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PSYCHIATRY? I like talking to and interacting with a wide variety of people. I like the workings of the brain and understanding how genetics and the environment intersect to create ill health and how we can work with medication and therapy to make people well. I like being at the cutting edge of medicine. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO I am a medical doctor that has specialist training in working with people who have mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia. I use medication and therapy to treat these conditions. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I did a 6-year medical degree at the University of Natal (now UKZN), and then a 4-year specialist degree in psychiatry at the University of Stellenbosch. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I start with ward work (seeing

patients admitted to the clinic) from around 7:15am until around 8:45am. I then start consulting with my outpatients until about 4:30pm, when I do admin and paperwork until about 5:30/6pm.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT IT? I love the interaction with lots of different people and that it’s meaningful interaction. I really get to know people – I have seen some of my patients finish school, go through varsity and start work, others get married and have kids. ANY HURDLES? I had my first child while I was studying and then had three small children while I was in the early stages of my career. It was difficult juggling the needs of my family and the demands of a career. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? I set up the Women’s Mental Health Clinic at Groote Schuur

Hospital – the ﬁrst joint obstetric/ psychiatric clinic providing services to women with mental illness in the public sector.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I want to write more about mental health and translate research ﬁndings into easy-to-read pieces for the average person. EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Experience is very important – you have to know how to read people, as every patient is diﬀerent. There is a saying in medicine: “patients don’t read textbooks”, meaning patients don’t behave like the textbooks say they should and its experience that allows you to understand the true picture. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS JOB? You have to be persistent, methodical and compassionate,

BAVI VYTHILINGUM PSYCHIATRIST SELF-EMPLOYED

but also thick-skinned – people often take out their frustrations on you and you have to know how to shrug it oﬀ.

ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Try to spend some time working in a state hospital where more experienced colleagues can guide you. Keep current with the literature. P O S T M AT R I C 2 0 2 2 | 3 5

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TAPPING INTO THE SOLE apprentice in our Rocksole workshop. I was taught by my grandfather, Kay Jaga, and by my dad, GK Jaga.

RAJESH G. JAGA COBBLER ROCKSOLE SHOE & BAG REPAIRS

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? It is a family business that has been passed down from generation to generation. In this way we can continue to grow our legacy of a successful business in repairs, alterations and adjustment of all leather goods. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO, AND WHERE? I did on-the-job training as an

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL DAY WORKING AS A COBBLER A typical day would involve tending to walk-in customers needing special ﬁttings; prep work for all the departments on the workshop ﬂoor; overseeing quality control of products and services; and, of course, admin. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO? I really enjoy engaging with and serving our customers, and seeing them walk away happy with our work (or wearing it). I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to learn unique trade skills and work with high quality machinery. Also, we have a strong sense of teamwork here at Rocksole, a real feeling

of everyone being part of one big family, and that creates more meaningful around it all.

online website service oﬀering the collection, repair and delivery of customer items.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Nothing!

EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? Yes, deﬁnitely, experience adds huge value to the initial training that you do and allows you to learn how to work faster and more eﬀectively.

WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? It takes time to train people to produce the level of skill in their work that reflects the quality we aim for. It also takes time to build a connection between the different people within the team, so that the process runs more smoothly and efficiently. Stock control has been another hurdle we’ve had to get over. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE? Winning the runner-up position at the Small Business Awards, hosted by Primedia and Cape Talk Radio. ANY FUTURE GOALS? We would like to develop an

IS THERE A PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? On the workshop ﬂoor, skills and teamwork are very important. When it comes to front of shop, it’s knowing how to engage with the customers that takes priority. ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Find a reputable training programme or apprenticeship. Learn how to communicate and work as part of a team. Manage your expectations around customer requirements. And be consistent in the quality of the work you produce.

ILLUSTRATING SANCTUARIES engineer, you want to be an architect.’ I didn’t question his advice any further; I began my studies for the BArch degree a few years later.

TONY KILEY ARCHITECT SELF-EMPLOYED

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE ARCHITECTURE? I went to a friend’s party as an impressionable 17-year-old, and got chatting to an older bloke who was in second-year at the UCT School of Architecture. He wanted to know what I planned to study. I explained in some detail what interested me and that I thought I wanted to be a civil engineer. Having listened quite carefully to me, he said, ‘You don’t want to be an

WHAT TRAINING DID DO? I studied for seven years at UCT, which included working in Cape Town for six months in the fourth year of my studies, and then travelling to the UK and Europe for a further six-month stint. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL WORK DAY My time is split between admin, drawing and visiting buildings. Admin involves dealing with Local Authorities, recording minutes of meetings, writing speciﬁcations, and general items like sending fee accounts (the best part). Drawing involves sitting down at my drawing board to sketch plans and elevations, which in my case, being ‘old school’, is all done by hand. Everything needs to be explained to the builder: stairs,

windows, lighting, etc. must be illustrated. I visit the sites once a week.

build a public building, rather than mostly doing residential houses.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY? I enjoy conceptualising, designing and visiting sites. A bit of good detailing is also fun.

EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? Experience is way more important. I learned most of what I know after my degree – especially about craft and construction itself.

ANYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE? Fighting with Local Authorities and clients who have ﬁxed ideas I know are really bad and won’t result in a good building. WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? Maintaining stamina and enthusiasm to see out years on one project. One needs to stay focused to achieve a good result. WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? Going on my own in 2000. Saying au revoir to the corporate world.

IS THERE A PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? An ability to conceptualise, to draw (by hand) and a good dose of the psychologist in you to both win arguments and solve human relations issues. Charm also goes a long way. ANY ADVICE? Know that you will be in it for the long haul and deﬁnitely visit building sites and architectural studios for a good few days to get a feel for the trade.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? I never want to have to work for anyone ever again. I would like to

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C A R E E R I DE AS

BABY ON BOARD WHY THIS PROFESSION? I have always felt the need to help people. My mother claims it’s because my father kept telling her pregnant stomach that I was going to be a doctor. Once I had started my training in medicine, women’s health appealed to me as a place where I could make a diﬀerence. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO? Being an obstetrician and gynaecologist means that you are still a medical doctor but have specialised in women’s health. Obstetrics concentrates on healthcare for pregnant woman as well as delivering their babies. Gynaecology involves woman’s health for all other conditions that women of all ages may suﬀer from. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I obtained my undergraduate medical degree (MBChB) from the University of Cape Town. I then specialised at the University of Cape Town to obtain my fellowship in Obstetrics and

Gynaecology. This involved working and training at Groote Schuur Hospital and other hospitals like Mowbray Maternity Hospital, New Somerset Hospital, etc.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY Actively consulting women within my consulting rooms, examining them, doing ultrasound scans, discussing treatment plans and prescribing medications. This may include pregnant and nonpregnant women of all ages. I also do operations, including delivering babies via normal birth or Caesarean section or performing gynaecological surgeries. Doing ward rounds, and attending to any emergencies, day or night. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK? The delivery of a healthy baby to a happy couple after seeing them through the entire pregnancy. And improving someone’s pain or suﬀering through treatment or surgeries.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? It is a very hectic time-consuming job, and lately, most patients would rather believe “Dr Google” or their neighbour than your medical expertise, trust and care. ANY HURDLES? It was extremely difficult to bridge the gap (during the apartheid years) between school and university. I am the first in my family to acquire a tertiary education and it was a big financial and psychological hurdle to overcome. EXPERIENCE VS TRAINING? The training is only the framework on which you will build. The answers are not all in the textbook; they are in continuing to learn, practice and be mentored by positive role models. Your experiences will hone your expertise and make you a better healthcare practitioner for your patients’ benefit.

DR MALIKAH VAN DER SCHYFF SPECIALIST OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNAECOLOGIST PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTICE AT MEDICLINIC CONSTANTIABERG

WHO IS BEST SUITED TO THIS WORK? You need to be resilient, have stamina and an excellent support structure. A positive mental attitude is vital, because it is not an easy road at all. ADVICE FOR NEW STUDENTS? Choose a career in healthcare because you have a passion for it, not for the recognition or the accolades or because someone else wants it for you. None of that matters at 3am when you’re swamped with patients and emergencies and on your own.

THE ART OF CRUISE(SHIP)ING WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LINE OF WORK? I studied Art History at uni and this also oﬀered me the opportunity to realise a life-long dream of travelling the world.

Set-up starts at about 6am and the auction is typically held at noon. After a lunch break, we do the admin for the art sold at the auction and this also goes on until about 11pm.

PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU DO Basically, what we do is sell art aboard cruise ships through direct sales and live art auctions.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? I love literally waking up in a diﬀerent country every day, all while introducing people to something I am passionate about.

WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? All candidates go for a short, two-week sales training course in Miami. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY On port days we only start work when the ship sails away, which can be anywhere from 4-6pm. This means we have most of the day to explore a foreign port. Back onboard, the work involves promoting the art programme until about 11pm. On days when the ship is at sea for the entire day, we host our art auctions.

WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? When you are on duty but there isn’t much work to do. It feels like someone is stealing your time – time that you could use to pursue a hobby or further your skills and knowledge in areas that might further your professional career. WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? I had to force myself out of my shell. I used to be a very shy person, but the environment on cruise ships and sales requires

you to engage with people on a regular basis. Everything else I had to simply take in my stride.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? On a personal level, a highlight has certainly been travelling to 47 countries and the wonderful friendships I made along the way. Professionally, it’s the valuable skills I gained that I will be able to draw on throughout my career. EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Having formal training is certainly more appealing, but not essential. Those who work on cruise ships and the art programme come from many types of backgrounds. IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO WORKING ON A CRUISE SHIP? If you are resilient, then you will do well on ships.

YOLANDE SMIT CRUISE SHIP CREW MEMBER: ART ASSOCIATE PARK WEST GALLERY

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE STARTING OUT? Leave all your expectations of what employment is like on land at home. Living and working on cruise ships is very diﬀerent from working a 9 to 5 on land. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Travel. Friendship. Growth. P O S T M AT R I C 2 0 2 2 | 3 7

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C A R E E R I DE AS

CONSERVING OUR FUTURE a more operational career, like becoming a field ranger or reserve manager. Or you can go into the science side, focusing more on research and data collection.

CORLIE HUGO NATURE GUIDE CONTOUR ENVIRO GROUP

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? I love nature (plants and animals) and wanted to contribute to conserve nature by making it my profession. WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? I have a National Diploma in Nature Conservation and BTech degree from CPUT. The national diploma is a 3-year course and the BTech is 2 years part time. I also have a Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology from UWC. The field of conservation has grown over the years and people now have the option of choosing

IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? If you choose a conservation career in the operational side, you have to be willing to work in different weather conditions – rain, wind, heat. It requires physical work and getting dirty! Do not choose conservation because you don’t want to work with people; people will always be part of conservation and you will end up managing, training, teaching and working directly with people. EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Formal training is very important as conservation has now become a science, using the latest technology, such as drones and software to analyse data. But you

also need practical experience to know how to collect information and respond to certain environmental issues.

DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY AS A NATURE GUIDE Our company is involved in a broad spectrum of conservation-related tasks – we do conservation training, manage alien clearing teams in the field and collect scientific data. I participate in all the above. WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT IT? I can plan a conservation project that will benefit nature as well as humans, execute it and see the results. It is wonderful to teach people about nature and then see how inspired they are after the talks. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK? Humans have a negative impact on nature and the environment, and our actions are destroying the earth. It is sad to see the deterioration of the environment.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? I was fortunate to work with the endangered African penguin for a few years. I loved working in the field with these creatures and trying to save the declining population. ANY FUTURE GOALS? I want to inspire a love for nature in people, so that every person contributes to conservation. ANY ADVICE FOR YOUNGSTERS? Try to complete some form of formal conservation training; these days there are so many options – skills programmes, certificates, diplomas, degrees, etc. But you can also build your practical knowledge by spending time in the field and observing nature. Go for a hike in the mountain or along the beach, you will notice animal tracks, find plant pollinators, and maybe even see a whale. YOUR JOB IN THREE WORDS Love for Nature!!

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EXAM TIPS

MIND OVER MATTER Committed educationalist Anne Eadie, founder of The Answer Series, offers last minute exam wisdom to follow for success With end of year exams on your doorstep, here are some top tips for the ﬁnal push, starting with a strategy for the three days leading up to exams and then tips for the big days:

3-DAY COUNTDOWN ✔

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To stay calm and focused, you need plenty of sleep, quiet chill time and a clear idea of what to expect for each exam. Don’t take your screens to bed with you – rather read a book or meditate or have a bath to relax before turning out the lights. When you sleep, your brain converts facts from shortterm memory to long-term memory. You are far more likely to recall information and remember facts if you get the recommended eight hours of sleep every (or most) night. You’ll also wake up refreshed and ready to slay the day. Don’t overcommit your days – make time for fun or chilling outside of studying, but make sure it’s not going to sap too much of your energy or add any stress to your day. Keep the parties and hook-ups for post-exam celebrations! Take the time to go through past papers and also familiarise yourself with the format of the exam – how long is it? What style of questions will be asked? Which section or topics would you like to tackle ﬁrst? The best way to deal with anxiety is to picture in

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your mind what is going to happen before it happens. Run through it step by step to relieve stress and feel in control of the exam situation. Write down a few positive aﬃrmations you can use on the day to remind yourself that: You’ve got this! Also make a checklist of what to take to the exam venue – stationery, water bottle, any requirements such as a registration number or ID book, a lucky trinket you think will bring you good juju during the exam.

ON THE BIG DAYS

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Make sure that you have plenty of time to get to the venue before the exam begins, so that you don’t have to rush. The last thing you need is a panic situation on the morning of an exam! Eat a healthy breakfast to give you sustained energy – wholegrain cereal, eggs, bacon, oatmeal or sugar-free muesli will do the trick. Sugar and caﬀeine may give you a kick-start but will drop you down after a couple of hours and possibly cause more anxiety and brain fog than you started with. Avoid last minute cramming – if you don’t know your work by now, it isn’t going to solve the problem. It will just make you more anxious, and brains don’t function clearly in that state. Calmly going over important facts for the last time is a good idea though.

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Take a few deeeep, sloooow breaths. And stay away from classmates who stress you out – you don’t want to absorb all that ‘spun out’ energy. You can always catch up with them after the exam to compare notes and experiences. Once you’ve read through the exam paper, or a section of it, start oﬀ slowly with what you know. If you can’t remember the answer or all the details, don’t let it mess with you; just move on to the next question. You can always return to the questions that you have left out at the end.

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Get into the flow of the exam paper. The more you answer, the more your confidence will be boosted, and you’ll feel calm and centred. It’s a positive feedback mechanism. Make sure you leave a few minutes to proofread your work to finish on a strong note – so that when you walk out that door, you can put it all behind you and focus on celebrating your success and freedom. PM

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L AST L AU G H

LOST IN (CODING) TRANSLATION WRITER HANS MACKENZIE MAIN TRIES HIS HAND AT CODING LANGUAGE, BUT JUST CAN’T SEEM TO GET PAST THE NAMES

’m not a coder. I don’t know my loops from my micro: bits, and when it comes to deciphering the library that facilitates the training of machine learning models and neural networks called TensorFlow (I looked all of that up), you will most probably find me curled up in the foetal position under attack from my own overloaded neural networks. But I do like languages and the names of the various coding languages (there are about as many different languages as there are countries in the world) fascinate me. It is as if the geniuses who write code put as much thought into naming their strange dialects as they did in developing them. Having said that, there is a code out there called HTML, which, for my money, is not a proper name for a coding language. The creators of HTML seem to have taken the first four letters of their code as its name. Where is the effort, guys? Where is the love? Names are terms of endearment, are they not? More than that, they speak to the very identity – the very meaning – of the person, place or thing to which they are attached to. A name must be given great thought and attention – it can make or break a person (or a code), reverberating through the ages, an epithet of

utmost and undeniable … I’m getting carried away. My apologies. Without any further ado, here, in a very particular order, are the coding language names I rate the most – and the least. JavaScript is my #1. Writing JavaScript, I imagine a slowly bronzing coder composing row after row of code while lying on a deckchair on a pristine white beach on the spectacular island of Java sipping on a glass of ice-cold Java coffee; the ice cubes making the gentlest of clinking sounds while the waves slowly roll in. GroovyBeans is my #2 all-time favourite name for a coding language. I imagine the room where coders sit to write GroovyBeans to have a disco ball and a small dancefloor where those coders who are stuck can shake loose new ideas to the rhythm of the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive. Sadly, that brings us to the end of my favourite names. For the ones I’m not that crazy about, let’s start with the letters. As mentioned earlier, I find HTML to be a lazy attempt. If you’re going to go to the trouble of writing excellent code, why not have that extra espresso and come up with a fun name for it. HTML doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, either. And while we’re on nonsensical series

of letters, let’s consider CSS. Here it’s as if the techies who came up with what I gather is a smooth coding language (the last S stands for Stylesheets, apparently) didn’t even try to give their creation a bit of an edge. My fourth-least favourite name for a coding language is Assembly Language. Sounds like the work of a teacher’s pet, doesn’t it? Visual Basic is next – the third-least favourite – and here I imagine a class of one-year-olds coding to their hearts content using the easiest language out there. And then there’s Rust, my second-least favourite which, frankly, sounds like a code that’s come to a complete standstill. Drumroll, please. We’ve reached the top of the pile: Python. I can’t imagine learning Python. In fact, I can’t see getting anywhere near it. The language of Python was designed by Guido van Rossum who, going by his photo on Wikipedia, might very well have a terrarium at home with pythons crawling around in it. Its most basic instruction is print(‘Hello, world!’), which is perhaps not all that bad, but, and allow me to stretch my coding legs here, would it not be better to instruct anyone dealing with this code to first find”anti-venom {incupboard, ‘inject’, Immediately} *= survival? Just a thought. PM

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Post Matric - KwaZulu-Natal 2022

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