May 2008

May 2008 sadmin

'ID yourself' kicks off in Cape Town

'ID yourself' kicks off in Cape Town sadmin

YOUTH

“ID YOURSELF” KICKS OFF IN CAPE TOWN

Young South Africans in their teens are reminded that they need to have the green bar-coded ID if they want to start their adult lives successfully.

With an ID document they are able to benefit from the advantages that all South African citizens have. These include access to learning, government support, travel and many other opportunities.

Mobile units

Over the next few months, the department will have mobile units at schools across the country as part of its outreach programme.

All learners of 16 years and older will get help with ID applications, information on the new process of late birth registration, re-issues of documents, and other matters related to getting an ID.

How to apply for an ID

  •  Take two ID photographs and a copy of your birth certificate to your nearest Home Affairs office, or to the mobile unit when it visits your area.
  • You will then have to fill in an application form giving all your personal details.
  • The officer in charge will take your fingerprints and submit your form along with your photographs and a certified copy of your birth certificate.
  • You can now await an SMS from Home Affairs confirming that they have received your application.
  • Remember to keep your receipt! It will enable you to track and trace the progress of your application by SMS. Just send the word ID number to 32551, or call the toll-free number 0800 60 11 90.

 

 

 

 

Late registration

 

 

 

 

If you do not have a birth certificate, ask your parents or relatives to go with you to apply for one. You will need to follow the late registration of birth application process. Your nearest Home Affairs office will help you with this information.

- BuaNews

General

BOOSTING SMALL BUSINESS

BOOSTING SMALL BUSINESS sadmin

BLACK BUSINESS SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

BOOSTING SMALL BUSINESS

One of government's programmes that help black-owned businesses to grow, is the Black Business Supplier Development Programme. It gives grants to black-owned businesses that are making a profit and have been in operation for more than a year.

Many such small business can grow if they advertise their services, but they lack the money to advertise. The programme, run by the Department of Trade and Industry, pays for the marketing (a form of advertising) to make people aware of the businesses.

Service providers

The maximum amount of the grants is R100 000. It may only be used for marketing purposes. This includes branding of the business, buying advertising space, communication programmes, and creating a corporate identity. 

The money is not paid directly to small business owners. It is paid for the services of service providers. These include experts in the marketing field who help businesses create awareness of their goods and services. 

For example, if a business qualifies for the grant, a service provider or experts in the marketing field will find out what the specific marketing needs of the business are. They will then give advice like whether the business should advertise on radio, in newspapers, put posters on street poles, print pamphlets or flyers, or start a website. Service providers also help with other marketing tools, like business cards or training programmes.

Therapy

A small business owner, Tumi Motsamai, said the grant from government has helped his business
to grow. He runs a mobile therapy business, which helps business people to relieve stress through anti-stress massages.
Thanks to the grant, they have been able to start a website, print brochures and business cards, and brand their vehicle. This makes it easier for their customers to find out about them and their services. He said the grant from government has not only helped to create more awareness about the business, but also attracted new customers.

- - Muzi Mkhwanazi

 

 

 


Use heaters sparingly; they use a lot of energy

General

BREAKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT CYCLE

BREAKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT CYCLE sadmin

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

BREAKING THE UNEMPLOYMENT CYCLE

Hundreds of young people in Mpumalanga are get-ting new skills to help them enter the job market. This is due to the provincial government’s Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa) programme and the National Youth Service Programme. 

Training started after 1 000 young people were selected to take part in a special skills development project. They have all passed matric and are between the ages of 18 and 35. 

Youth service

The National Youth Service programme has called on all provinces to train their youth to help government reach Jipsa’s goals of developing skills and speeding up economic growth. In addition, it will break the cycle of unemployment by helping unemployed youth in the provinces to find jobs. 

The training programme is a year-long project that gives the youth a number of practical skills ranging from bricklaying, plastering, mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, welding and electrical work. 

Trainees get help from mentors and supervisors during the course. After completing the courses successfully, they get certificates that are recognised by the Further Education Colleges (FET). 

Joint effort

The Mpumalanga Department of Labour and Department of Public Works are jointly running the provincial programme. The Department of Labour handles the learning part of the programme. Trainees get a monthly wage of R600 while taking part in the programme. 

When they have finished the first part of the programme, they use their skills in the workplace. This practical side of the project is handled by the Department of Public Works. During this phase, trainees get a R1 000 wage.
Many young people who finish matric are unemployable. The contribution of the Department of Public Works and the De-partment of Labour is giving such matriculants much-needed on-the-job experience while they earn some money. This makes it much easier for them to find jobs. Those who are business-minded will leave the project with skills to start their own businesses.

Ongoing

LThis year, no more learners can be taken in, but the programme is ongoing and the next group of learners – from the Mpumalanga province only - will be accepted next year. Young people who are interested in applying to join, are advised to watch out for details in the local newspapers.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi


Close windows and doors when the heater is on to keep the heat inside

Jobs / Vacancies

BUSINESS UNUSUAL- All HANDS ON DECK TO SPEED UP CHANGE

BUSINESS UNUSUAL- All HANDS ON DECK TO SPEED UP CHANGE sadmin

General

Empowering communities through conservation

Empowering communities through conservation sadmin

AFRICA FOUNDATION

EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES THROUGH ONSERVATION

The community of Mduku village is among many who are benefiting from Conservation Corporation Africa. The corporation operates many game reserves and lodges countrywide.

Through its community development programme called Africa Foundation, it has already empowered over 60 000 people by bringing technology, health services and education closer to rural communities. 
The provinces where it operates include Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

 

Community needs

To give back to the community, the foundation, together with the local tribal authorities, identifies community needs relating to health, education, technology and job creation. 

In Mduku, the foundation identified the need for modern communication technology like fax and photocopy machines, as well as access to the Internet. They also saw the need for pre-school centres and clinics, a bursary scheme for further studies, and an art and craft market to sell goods made by the community.

A committee, which includes members of the community and the corporation, co-ordinates the projects.

Pre-schools and clinics

In Mduku, the projects are run by the corporation's local Phinda Game Reserve. They have already built several pre-schools and clinics and are helping community artists to sell their crafts at the lodge. 
They have also turned an abandoned road construction campsite into a computer school, Internet café and health unit. The campsite was donated to the community after the road construction was completed. 
The centre is called Mduku Dev Centre. Dev Centre is short for Digital Eco Village Centre. The idea was taken from Boston in America, where they sold products made in the villages through the Internet.
The centre is fully supported by the local municipality of Hluhluwe and the provincial Department of Health.

Computer training

Africa Foundation Development Manager, Isaac Tembe, said when they took the idea (DevCentre) they focused on what was important in their areas. "We wanted to bridge the technology gap in communities. At Mduku, people used to travel about 40 kilometres to the nearest town just to fax or make photocopies." 

After the Centre was started in 2001, Universal Service Agency donated a computer laboratory with access to the Internet. The computer school has already trained more than 200 people. Some have found jobs at banks and shops as tellers, 
Tembe said.
 

Health unit

During Vuk'uzenzele's visit, the Dev Centre was starting a health unit, which focuses on HIV and Aids issues and healthy eating habits.
Tembe said many people in the community were infected with and affected by HIV and Aids. He said the people knew very little about the disease and how to live with it. "Many are still shy and afraid to disclose and rather prefer to die in hiding," he said.
"With the new health unit, we want to educate people about HIV and Aids and encourage them to test, use condoms, disclose and live positively," he said. This will include healthy eating habits and exercise.
 

– Ndivhuwo Khangale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Use less hot water; Use the stove sparingly

General

FIFA praises 2010 preparations

FIFA praises 2010 preparations sadmin

PROGRESS ON 2010

FIFA PRAISES 2010 PREPARATIONS

FIFA World Cup organisers are very happy with South Africa's preparations for the 2010 World Cup. The world soccer body and the 2010 Local Organising Committee (LOC) had an inspection tour to six of the ten 2010 World Cup stadiums recently. 

The group also looked at progress with other activities in the host cities like accommodation, finance, transport and the environment. They said they were pleased with what the cities had done so far. After the visits, FIFA's head of inspection Ron DelMont said: "We are very impressed with the efforts made in all venues visited and amazed by the level of detail of the preparations."

 

Stadiums

The group visited Johannesburg's Ellis Park stadium, Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Peter Mokaba in Polokwane, Mbombela in Nelspruit and the Mangaung Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
They said the tour also showed them that preparations for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 was going well. They visited four of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 venues and said from what they saw, they were sure that the tournament would be a great success.

Experts

Members of the inspection group were experts in different fields ranging from the technical side of the stadiums, to security, hospitality, media, marketing, TV and information technology.
They carefully looked at the stadium plans and talked to project managers about the progress and changes that needed to be made.

Wildlife

Due to some delays, Mbombela stadium was a few days behind the schedule. But the delegation said it was not a serious problem.
They liked the unusual look of the stadium, which is an example of how modern design can be used to show off the province's rich wildlife. "It is very special and we can hardly wait to see the final touches. I am convinced it will leave a lasting impression with all spectators," DelMont said.

Sharing information

FIFA and the LOC shared a lot of information during the visits, said LOC spokesperson, Tim Modise. "Our relationship with FIFA is growing from strength to strength," he said. The next inspection will be in October this year.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

 


Fix dripping taps. In just one day, a dripping hot water tap wastes enough water to fill a bath

WORLD CUP TO BENEFIT HOSPITALITY BUSINESS
 

Thanks to the 2010 FIFA Hospitality Programme, a lot of business will be given to small companies. This was announced at the start of the Hospitality Programme. The programme will handle services like tickets for suites at the stadiums, accommodation and transport.

Local Organising Committee (LOC) CEO, Danny Jordaan, said small businesses would benefit as hospitality was not only about big things. It is also about small things like tablecloths, flowers and other decorations for functions. He said all these services would be given to small businesses.

 

MATCH

The Hospitality Programme is run by MATCH. This is a company that offers services like issuing tickets, accommodation and catering to FIFA during the World Cups. 
MATCH Hospitality is the only company worldwide that is allowed to sell special hospitality packages, including services and tickets for every match of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 World Cup. 

Two South African companies joined hands and were appointed as agents for the Hospitality Programme for both the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
 

Important job

The joint venture company is made up of two of South Africa's experienced sports marketing and hospitality groups, CIRCA Hospitality and Warwick Hospitality & Events. The LOC said they were very happy that two South African companies were working together to do this important job. 

MATCH Hospitality said they were pleased to have partners on board who had such long-standing and successful relationships in the area of football marketing.

Tickets

As part of the Hospitality Programme, about 
120 000 tickets will be given away to allow poor people to attend the 2010 matches. The tickets will be paid for by World Cup sponsors.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Replace ordinary light bulbs with energy-saving ones; they last up to 12 times longer

 

MEANING OF SOME WORDS AND TERMS
 

FIFA: FIFA is short for Fédération Internationale de Football Association, which is French for International Federation of Association Football. FIFA is the international managing body of Association Football. Its head office is in Zürich, Switzerland and Sepp Blatter is its president.

 

CAF: Confederation of African Football. CAF manages international football in Africa. They organise soccer events like the Africa Cup of Nations, the CAF Confederations Cup and the African Champions League.

SAFA: South African Football Association. SAFA manages football in South Africa and is a member of FIFA and of CAF.

OC: Short for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee SA. The committee brings together people from the South African Football Association (SAFA), the South African Government, labour and the business community to supervise the important job of organising this great event in our country.

Host cities: These are the nine South African cities where the World Cup matches will be played. They are Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Bloemfontein, Rustenburg and Pretoria. Johannesburg has two World Cup stadiums - Soccer City and Ellis Park.

Host Cities Forum: A combined committee of government representatives and members of the OC. They supervise all aspects of the host cities' preparations and responsibilities.

Fan parks: Public areas where people who don't have tickets for the stadiums can get together to watch matches on huge screens. Several official fan parks are planned in cities and towns all over South Africa.

-Louise van Niekerk


Wrap your geyser in a geyser blanket to keep the water hot for longer, especially in winter

FREE VIEWING - ALL CAN BE PART OF THE PASSION
 

Every South African will be able to watch 2010 FIFA World Cup matches free of charge on SABC television at home or at places that offer public viewing. This will ensure that all football lovers will enjoy the special World Cup mood that will grip the whole world in 2010.

 

SABC

The SABC, which is the official FIFA broadcasting partner, does not need to get a licence to broadcast the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009 or the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars will not have to apply for broadcasting licences as long as they do not charge admission fees or take part in sponsorship activities.

Incredible experience

FIFA said they hoped that with free access to public viewings, all fans in South Africa will be able to enjoy and be part of the "incredible FIFA World Cup experience." It would transform many communities into a hub of football passion during the Confederations Cup and the World Cup.
The LOC plans to educate South Africans about their viewing rights.
They said fans should keep in mind that public viewing areas like bars, clubs and restaurants will not be same as fan parks. The broadcast rights for public viewing areas will differ from that of fan parks.

Hope centres

Anyone who wants to charge an admission fee to broadcast matches to the public will have to apply for a licence from FIFA.
FIFA will donate all money made from such public viewing licences in South Africa to the 20 Football for Hope Centres across Africa. They aim to raise at least $10 million (US dollars) to build the centres.

- - BuaNews


If you fill the kettle, use cold water. Every time you use the hot-water tap it uses energy

General

FUN PAGE

FUN PAGE sadmin


 

When not using your cell phone charger, unplug it from the wall-it still draws power if kept in the wall

General

Health advice - Kick the smoking habit

Health advice - Kick the smoking habit sadmin

HEALTH ADVICE

KICK THE SMOKING HABIT

People always have excuses to start smoking. Some say it’s because all their friends smoke; others say it’s to relieve stress and tension, or because it gives them pleasure and status.

Health risk

Whatever reasons you may have for smoking, the truth is that smoking is a serious health risk. It is addictive and causes diseases that can lead to death. Smoking is one of the major causes of thousands of people dying from heart and lung diseases, as well as cancer every year. What makes it worse, is that a lot of people who have never smoked, die each year from diseases caused by breathing second-hand tobacco smoke.

Smoking also dangerous to your unborn baby and reduces your chances of having babies.

Benefits of stopping

  • Stopping smoking has immediate and long-term benefits.
  • Within 20 minutes of stopping, blood pressure, heart-beat rate and the temperature of the hands and feet returns to normal.
  • Eight to 12 hours later, carbon monoxide and oxygen levels return to normal.
  • Over the following months, blood circulation and lung function improves.
  • One year after stopping, the risk of heart attack is reduced by half.
  • After five years, the risk of lung cancer is halved.
  • Ten years later, the risk of lung cancer is equal to that of non-smoker.
  • Ten years later, the risk of lung cancer is equal to that of non-smoker.

How to stop smoking

The most difficult step to stop smoking is making the final decision. But once you have made up your mind, you must stick with your decision. There are different products to help you kick the habit. Check with your clinic or pharmacy for products. The following tips will also help you:

  • Decide on a specific date to stop smoking.
  • Let family and friends know that you are serious about stopping on that date and ask them to support you.
  • Get rid of cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters the night before you plan to stop.
  • Start smoking less before the date on which you plan to stop.
  • Change the habits that you associate with smoking.
  • Start with a plan to do more exercise like walking or running regularly.
  • Drink a lot of water or soft drinks like fruit juice.
  • Join a support group.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale

Health

KEEPING IT BRIEF

KEEPING IT BRIEF sadmin

KEEPING IT BRIEF

CALL FOR ENTRIES- POWA WOMEN'S WRITING COMPETITION 2008

Entries are now open for the People Opposing Women Abuse’s (POWA) Women’s Writing Competition. The theme for 2008 is: Journeys to Recovery. 

Entries can be submitted in the following categories:

  •  poetry - no longer than 60 lines
  • short stories - no longer than 2 500 words
  • personal essays - no longer than 2 000 words

Many women have been victims of violence in different forms. Survivors of such violence are often forced to flee from where the violence took place to find places of safety. POWA is calling for entries in the three categories describing the survivor’s journey of transformation in the flight from violence into healing. The deadline is Friday, 22 August 2008.

For more information and competition entry forms, contact:
Nehwoh Belinda, Tel: 011 642 4345/6; e-mail: Nehwoh@powa.co.za 

- BuaNews 

Eastern Cape 


The provincial Department of Transport has set aside R3,9 million to start a provincial crime prevention strategy. The funds will be used to start street community programmes that will help make areas safer. The programme will start in Port Elizabeth, and will be rolled out to other parts of the province where village committees will be set up. This will help the department form a partnership between government and civil society to mobilise communities in crime prevention strategies.

- BuaNews
 
Mpumalanga


As part of government’s Imbizo Week in April, farming projects in Bushbuckridge and Marapyane got 11 tractors and 32 power hoes to support new farmers. The department is to provide free diesel for the tractors and hoes until the farming projects can afford to buy their own. About R30 million was spent on equipment, which was bought from China. Some of it was also distributed in the Nkomazi area south of Malelane last year


- BuaNews
 
KwaZulu-Natal


The communities of Tulwane in northern KwaZulu-Natal will no longer have to travel long distances to access government services. This is thanks to a R10 million “one-stop shop” to be built by the Department of Social Development to serve the community. There will be offices for Social Development, Home Affairs, a multi-purpose centre, a community centre, a luncheon club for elderly people and pre-school for local children. Community members will also get job opportunities.

- BuaNews
 
Northern-Cape


The Northern Cape Premier recently met with the Governor of the Kasai Oriental Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to discuss a partnership between the two provinces. It is aimed at strengthening South Africa’s commitment to help the people of the DRC with their post-war problems. It will also focus on reconstruction and development programmes in the province. 


- BuaNews
 

Remember to switch off all lights during the day or when leaving a room

 

General

Letters

Letters sadmin

Protect yourselves

Government is doing a lot to teach people about HIV and Aids. Radio stations, magazines and television programmes are also doing their best to get the message across. There is even a lot of sex education at schools nowadays.

But it looks like we just don’t want to learn. We don’t want to empower ourselves as youths and as a nation on the whole. 
We are always blaming the government. Is it government’s fault that we don’t protect ourselves? Come on sisters and brothers, we can do this together. Let’s learn to protect ourselves. Condoms are free.

- Monica Motshidisi Motaung, Vereeniging, Gauteng

 

We must deal with anger

The issue of what South Africa would become tomorrow is of great importance to all of us, because we all want to see an end to poverty, suffering, rape, violence and abuse. This is a battle we have to win at all costs. We have ended, destroyed and buried apartheid, we can also end and bury these horrific and totally unacceptable social ills.

There are many challenges in South Africa, but one of the most important is to deal with the trauma inflicted on our society in the past, which has now spilled over from the apartheid days into the present. No one has dealt with the anger, which has led to an increased violent society today. 

Until we deal with our rage, the violent nature of South Africans will not change. If we do, our mindset will change and we will become less violent.

- Tshepo Maki, Kimberley, Northern Cape.

 

Living a nice life

IMost people today think that living a nice life is all about partying and drinking a lot of alcohol. But if we take a look, these are the factors contributing most to poverty, divorce, road accidents, teenage pregnancy and the Aids pandemic. 

I’m not saying that people should not have fun, but if they could just have limits we will see an abundance of developmental changes in our beloved country. Instead of spending R3 000 on liquor, one can just sacrifice 10 per cent of it by doing something good for the poor.

- Lesiba Kekana, Doornfontein

 

Give rather than receive

Why are orphans and poor children regarded as burdens? They also have great desires to succeed in life. By sending just one of those who can’t afford it to go to school or tertiary education, you can change a life and invest in the future. Let us proudly help our brothers and sisters. Together we can stop suicides, crime and poverty. Remember, a giving hand is more blessed than a receiving hand.

- Ntlhangwe Selopyane, Boksburg, Gauteng.

 

Believe in yourself

Some people find it difficult to believe in themselves, because they think there are people who are better than them. There is no one better than anybody else. Even though some people do better things than others, they are not necessarily better people. Don’t give up on yourself even if the pace you are walking seems slower than other people’s. Face the challenges by believing in yourself.

- Maselokela Mashita, Seshego, Limpopo

 

Healthy bodies and minds

To stay competitive in the modern world, today’s youth need to have a good education. It makes me sad that there are still children who have to walk more than 10 kilometres to and from school. Because these kids arrive at school tired and without having had breakfast, they find it difficult to concentrate in class. 

After school, they must do household chores, which prevent them from doing their homework.
It is parents’ and government’s responsibility to ensure that every child in the country has transport to and from schools, and food to eat. 
As the saying goes: “A healthy mind comes from within a healthy body.”

- Kenneth Mokone, Tafelkop, Limpopo

 

Life is precious

Parents, please support your children by fighting HIV and Aids with love. Give them counselling and guidance about unprotected sex. 
Children, don’t mess with your lives - handle it with care. Don’t date a stranger and have unprotected sex. Aids kills. 
You are the future of our country and the leaders of tomorrow. Remember life is precious.

- Eliza Limakatso Thabaneng, Middelburg, Eastern Cape

 

Books and computers

It is with sadness that we watch our children in rural communities destroying their futures. Many children have never seen or heard of a library and don’t know how to handle a computer. They roam the streets after school with nowhere to go and nothing to do, and then we blame them for poor performance. 

Isn’t it time we practice what we preach and get the resources and facilities to all our people to bridge the gap between the cities and the rural areas of the same country?

- Busisiwe Khuzwayo, Gahamstown, Eastern Cape


Wash clothing in cold water rather than hot water; hot water uses a lot of energy

Hang your washing in the sun to dry rather than using a tumble dryer

General

Managing your money

Managing your money sadmin

THERE IS A WAY OUT OF DEBT

The first step a debt counsellor will take is to help you apply for a debt review. You and the counsellor will look at your situation by listing all your debts, as well as your monthly income and expenses. 
Before the counsellor can process your application, you will have to pay a R50 application fee. 

The review process

The National Youth Service programme has called on all provinces to train their youth to help government reach Jipsa’s goals of developing skills and speeding up economic growth. In addition, it will break the cycle of unemployment by helping unemployed youth in the provinces to find jobs. 
The training programme is a year-long project that gives the youth a number of practical skills ranging from bricklaying, plastering, mechanics, carpentry, plumbing, welding and electrical work. 
Trainees get help from mentors and supervisors during the course. After completing the courses successfully, they get certificates that are recognised by the Further Education Colleges (FET). 

Joint effort

  • To apply for a credit review, you have to fill in an application form. You will need copies of your ID, proof of income or salary, three months bank statements, account statements, letters from credit givers demanding payments and all credit agreements.
  • The debt counsellor will list all your monthly expenses like food, clothing, transport and school fees.
  • Within five days, the counsellor will tell your credit givers and credit bureaus that you have applied for a credit review. After that, you may not apply for any credit again until your name has been cleared.
  • If your application is accepted, the credit bureaus will mark your name as a credit review applicant. The credit givers will then stop phoning you or writing letters, and may not take any legal action against you.
  • The counsellor will now help you work out a re-payment plan that you can afford. He or she will re-organise your payments and tell the credit givers how much you can afford to pay. The credit givers must say whether they agree to accept the reduced amount.
  • If they agree, the counsellor will prepare a consent order to be sent to the court to confirm that the credit providers accept the agreement. If they don’t accept the proposal, the counsellor will take them to court where the magistrate must make the final decision.
  • The counsellor will then appoint a payment distribution agency to collect your money for the credit givers every month. This can be done through a debit order at your bank. Counsellors are not allowed to collect money from you for credit givers.
  • Once you have paid all the debt, the debt counsellor will issue a clearance certificate. This will go to the credit bureaus to delete all your records and clear your name.
  • When this has been done, you can start afresh. You may now apply for credit again, but you must do it responsibly.

- Ndivhuwo Khangale


Use small kitchen appliances instead on the stove;they use less electricity

Fix or replace faulty appliances;they do not work efficiently and waste energy

General

PROTECT YOUR GOOD NAME

PROTECT YOUR GOOD NAME sadmin

DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR IDENTITY

PROTECT YOUR GOOD NAME

Soccer fever has hit the whole of South Africa. Mr Ndede (not his real name) had promised his children that he would buy a television set so that they could watch soccer together as a family. What he was told when he got to the furniture store really shocked him.

Stealing your name

He could not believe his ears when he was told that he couldn't get credit as he was blacklisted. This has happened even though he always made regular payments on his accounts. He never bought the goods at the store that accused him of not paying and led to his blacklisting. Mr Ndede was a victim of identity theft.

It could happen to you too if you lose your ID book or if it is stolen. The person who finds your ID or steals it could pretend to be you and steal your good name. 
He or she could even steal goods and services by applying for credit in your name and when these are not paid for, your good name for credit is affected. Some people have also been victims of marriage scams. They found out that they had been married without their knowledge.

Keep documents safe

It is important to protect yourself against this type of crime by protecting your identity document, driver's licence, passport and personal information.

Some useful tips

The following tips may help to prevent identity theft:

  • Keep your ID, passport and driver's licence in a safe place
  • Before you give any personal information, find out how it will be used and if the information will be kept confidential.
  • When you fill in personal details on documents, make sure the company you are dealing with is legal.
  • Keep a record of your accounts and follow up if they do not arrive on time.
  • Guard your mail from theft. Remove post from your letterbox after it has been delivered. If you go away from home, ask a neighbour to collect your post for you.
  • Carry only necessary information in your handbag, briefcase, wallet or purse and guard your ID book, credit card and bank cards
  • Do not give personal information on the phone, through the post or over the Internet, unless you have started the contact or know the people you are dealing with.
  • Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Tear or shred documents like credit applications, bank statements and receipts.
  • Give your ID only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identification, when possible.

What to do if your ID is lost or stolen

Report the theft of your ID at your nearest police station immediately and get a case number. Police stations are open 24 hours every day, so you don't have to wait for office hours. 
You should also contact the SA Fraud Prevention Service hotline 0860 10 1248, or go to the website and ask them to register your case. You will be given a protective registration number to quote when applying for credit in future.

- Capt Tshifhiwa Tshikhudo, SA Police Service


Use candles instead of electric lights where possible

Safety and Security

REACHING GOALS BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

REACHING GOALS BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES sadmin

EMPOWERING THE DISABLED

REACHING GOALS BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

Thanks to government's policy of equal rights for disabled people in the workplace, the South African Post Office employs 742 people with disabilities out of its total of about 16 000 permanent workers. Recently, 13 blind and partially sighted people got jobs at the Post Office.

Call Centre

Some of the blind people are working in the customer call centre and some in the administrative section. After being trained as call-centre agents at the South African National Council for the Blind, they got on-the-job training at the Post Office.

Those who work at the call centre are responsible for answering customers' questions and helping to sort out problems.
To help some of the blind workers do their jobs, the Post Office bought special computer technology. A computer programme known as JAWS was put into the computers of the totally blind workers. The tool reads out all the information on the computer screen. 

A programme cal-led Zoomtec, was put into the computers of partially sighted workers. It enlarges the size of the items on the computer screen, 
All the blind, as well as partially sighted workers, also get special headphones. These enable them to listen to the caller and the computer at the same time.
 

Confidence

One of the blind workers, Lazarus Muthimba, says this job has changed his life. "I have realised that I can do the same things normal people do. I'm doing the same job and I am never left behind. This opportunity has built my confidence," he said.
Muthimba, who has completed a degree in Communication Science, said he has been searching for a job for the past three years. "I sometimes felt that companies were discriminating against me because I told them in my CV that I am blind. Maybe they thought they would get into trouble if they employed someone like me who might not be able to do the job," he said.

Experience

Muthimba said his job at the Post Office was giving him the experience he needed to make progress in his future career. It is serving as a step towards reaching his goal of working in the communications field.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turn off your computer, including the computer screen, when you are not using it

 


 

DREAM HOUSE: A VISION FOR THE BLIND

"Your dream - our vision" is the slogan for Dream House Workshop for the Blind in Pretoria. On seeing the work that is done there, this slogan comes to life. One is surprised at the beautiful items created by blind and disabled people. The furniture and other cane items made by blind workers are so precise that you may think sighted workers made them.
With financial support from government, the Dream House Workshop for the Blind has existed for 79 years. Looking at how many blind and disabled people have benefited from working at Dream House, government has made a very important investment.

 

Fair payment

About 114 people work at Dream House. Most are blind, but some have other disabilities. 

The grant from government helps to create a fair payment system for the workers. It is used to add on to their income. The payment system at the workshop is based on reaching certain performance standards. 
Because of the different kinds of disabilities, all the workers cannot achieve the same standards. For example, partially blind workers can perform above those who are totally blind. Government's grant is used to supplement the wages of workers who are more disabled than others and are unable to earn the minimum wage per day.

Products

The workers gather every day in their large workshop to make a number of different products from cane. When visiting the workshop and watching them work, one is amazed at how the blind workers go about their jobs using only their hands to guide them. 
The products they make include bedroom furniture, bar stools, coffee tables, dining room furniture, television trolleys, children's furniture, lounge chairs, mirrors, stoep furniture, baskets and blinds.

Selling

Dream House managing director, Ms Emmie Boshoff, said they sell their products at the workshop and at other outlets. They make about R14 million per year and the money is shared with their staff.
The workshop started as a charity organisation but they now operate as a business in the true sense of the word. "Being blind or disabled does not mean that life is not worth living and it certainly does not mean that such people cannot earn a living. Their beautiful products are proof that they are also entitled to live better lives," Boshoff said.

 

- - Muzi Mkhwanazi

 

Don't leave appliances on the stand-by setting; switch them off completely at the wall


 

Jobs / Vacancies

ROLE MODELS

ROLE MODELS sadmin

ROLE MODEL

BORN TO BE ENGINEER

I was born to be an engineer,” says Sipho Myanga of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga. A school visit to the OR Tambo International Airport as a young boy was all it took for Myanga to develop an interest in understanding how mechanical things worked. “I was fascinated and impressed by the airplanes. It was just so amazing,” he said. 

Roller coaster

After his visit to the airport, Myanga started building small airplanes using waste materials like old cardboard boxes. He couldn’t get them to fly, but he decided that one day he would invent and build his own machines. 

During a visit to an amusement park, he was fascinated by the roller coaster. He decided to build one using motors from old electrical items. He was very happy when it moved as this was the first time he managed to make something work. At this stage Myanga was only 15 years old. 
 

Hard work

At school, Myanga struggled with science subjects and he had to repeat standard seven as a result. He needed these subjects if he wanted to become an engineer. Hard work and the need to fully understand how things worked in a scientific way helped him to pass. 

Power stations

Apart from focusing on his school work, Myanga also visited science fairs. He watched how other people designed things, which helped him with ideas to invent and build his own machines.

He built two mini power stations, which worked. They only produced enough power to light an electric light bulb, but it helped him to understand how electricity was made. 

Myanga has since come up with a number of ideas on how to solve the country’s electricity problems. But, like all inventors, he wants to test these first before he makes them known. He has also designed and built a bulldozer, which works with a remote control. The machine, which he calls Sigamitha, can be used as a garden tool to move and plough the soil. 

University

After matric, Myanga didn’t have money for further studies and found a job at a call centre. But thanks to his employer, he is now well on his way to becoming an engineer. His employer found out about his talent for science through a newspaper article about him and offered to pay his university fees. He now studies mechanical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Myanga’s word of advice to students who are interested in studying science is “love the subjects, question everything and try to find solutions. Attend science seminars and science gatherings - they strengthen your interest and knowledge.” 

- Muzi Mkhwanazi


Switch off all household appliances at the wall when not in use, especially during peak hours 

Jobs / Vacancies

SAVE ELECTRICITY AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

SAVE ELECTRICITY AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE sadmin

IMBIZO WEEK

SAVE ELECTRICITY AND HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The energy emergency affects all of us. During imbizo meetings in April, government officials talked to communities about the problem and how everyone could help to save energy. 

Leaflets that were handed out gave some energy-saving tips. They also explained that the energy emergency has been caused by a sharp rise in the need for electricity over the last few years. This is because South Africa has experienced fast economic growth. As a result, many more households and businesses now have access to electricity. This means we are using more than what is available.

Light bulbs

Government has plans in place to solve the electricity problem. They include working with industry and Eskom to develop new sources of energy as quickly as possibly, and improving Eskom’s ability to produce electricity. Emergency task teams are dealing with the problem of coal quality and supply in the coal-mining industry.

To help people save energy, government will start giving out free energy-saving light bulbs all over the country from May this year, especially to poor households. 

In KwaZulu-Natal, government has already given about 1,4 million energy-saving light bulbs to disadvantaged communities. 

Using these bulbs has resulted in about 129 megawatt of electricity being saved. This is enough to give power to more than 80 000 households.

Education

More than R1,5 billion will help to feed about 7 million school children this year. Over the next three years, R18 billion will be spent on school buildings and on equipment to make schools safer. Pre-school education will be accessible to even the poorest households. More money will be made available for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and for further education colleges.

Problems

During the Imbizo Week, government officials talked to communities about the problems experienced in KwaZulu-Natal when handing out energy-saving bulbs. These included people not being at home or not knowing what wattage of bulbs they needed. Some people who got low wattage bulbs were unhappy that these were not giving them enough light.

When you decide on what wattage you will need, keep in mind that for rooms that don’t need a lot of light, you can use a 14 watt bulb. For rooms that need more light, you will need a 20 watt bulb.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

 

 

 


When you go on holiday, empty your fridge and switch it off

General

SURVIVING THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES

SURVIVING THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES sadmin

THE COST OF LIVING

SURVIVING THE RISE IN FOOD PRICES

If you are finding that you are spending more money on food than a few months ago, you are not alone. Rising food and fuel prices is a world-wide problem that affects everyone. In the three years since 2005, food prices in South Africa have gone up rapidly. All of us must learn to be more clever and careful when buying food.
 

Greater need

There are different reasons for the rise in food prices. These include the fact that more people, especially in developing countries, are able to buy more food. This means the need for food is greater than what is available. Changing weather patterns, droughts and floods have meant poor grain harvests for the last few years. The political problems in the Middle Eastern countries where our petrol comes from, are causing petrol prices to rise.

Cycles

The South African National Consumer Union says that food price rises usually go in cycles. Producers will act on the greater need and will plant more food, especially grains, which will help the food prices to get back to normal again.

What you can do

In the meantime, the following tips from the National Consumer Union could help you to save on food and make the best of what you can afford.

  • Shop around for cheaper food. Look for specials and marked down items in supermarkets. Watch out for specials in the daily newspapers.
  • Don’t buy what you don’t really need. Buy only what you need and don’t let it spoil.
  • Vegetables are plentiful at the moment because of good rainfall. The price of potatoes has dropped and they are a healthy starch that can be prepared in many delicious ways.
  • When buying bread, check the prices on the shelf. Don’t buy bread that is wrapped and cut. An unwrapped loaf of uncut brown bread should weigh 8oo grams. It has no VAT onit and it is cheaper to produce so it should be about 20 per cent cheaper than wrappedbread.
  • When buying meat, the forequater cuts of beef are usually cheaper and can be cooked in different ways. Avoid expensive cuts. Look out for specials.
  • Use left-over food in other dishes like sauces, gravy and soup.
  • Plant vegetables in your yard. Follow the advice of Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, who called on people to do their own survival farming if they have small pieces of land.
  • Groups like the Food Gardens Foundation and Food and Trees for Africa teach people to plant vegetables on such land.

-Louise van Niekerk.

 


When cooking, wait until the water boils, then reduce the temperature to save energy

General

WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT US?

WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT US? sadmin

ECONOMIC LITERACY

WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT US?

Last year, food prices in South Africa increased by over 10 per cent. The price of a 12,5 kilogram bag of mealie meal, for example, increased from R37 to R49. 

The prices of other basic foods like soya beans, wheat and rice also increased. This was mainly caused by the poor weather conditions in 2006 resulting in food crops failing and by the rise in the petrol price. 

Petrol price

When the petrol price rises, transport costs also rise, and when transport costs rise, the price of many other things go up. This is because goods like food have to be transported all over the country.
Another factor that makes food prices rise, is the growing need for basic foods. The need for food is growing because the country's population is growing. 

There are also more people who are able to buy food because there are more jobs available. In the past five years, about 1,5 million new jobs were created.

Foreign money

South Africa buys oil and petrol from other countries, and those countries decide on the price. In addition, the price of such goods is set against the American dollar. Every day on television and radio the price of a single dollar is given. For example, one dollar now costs around R8. 
When the dollar is weak and the rand is strong, it is cheaper for us to buy those goods. But, if the dollar is strong and the rand is weak, the prices of those goods will be higher.

What we can do

All of us can do something, no matter how small, to lower the negative effects of inflation in our lives. 
You can, for example, start a vegetable garden in your yard to meet some of your food needs. 

To save petrol, government has been advising people to form lift clubs and to use public transport rather than using their own cars. This also saves on household money. In addition, traffic on the roads will be less, which will help people to get to work on time. Lateness reduces productivity in the workplace and is costing the economy millions of rands daily.

- Muzi Mkhwanazi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Shower instead of taking a bath. It can save up to R160 per year

General