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Free help to resolve financial complaints

If you have a complaint against a financial services provider, such as a bank or an insurance company, and are battling to get it resolved, you can get free help from the Office of the Ombud for Financial Services Providers (FAIS Ombud).

The FAIS Ombud helps to resolve complaints between financial services providers and their customers.

The complaint must relate to a financial service. It will be considered if the financial services provider or someone who represents the company:

Put an end to cyberbullying

As children and teens now have access to technology and the internet, bullying is no longer limited to face-to-face taunting in schoolyards or on street corners.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), cyberbullying occurs when a person uses the internet, email, text messages, instant messaging, social media, online forums, chat rooms or other digital technology to harass, threaten or humiliate another person.

The effects of cyberbullying can be devastating, leaving children feeling hurt, humiliated, angry, depressed and even suicidal.

Steel entrepreneur shows her mettle

Racheal Gaffane has always had an eye for opportunity. As a primary school pupil in Mamelodi, Tshwane, she sold sweets to her fellow schoolmates. 

Today, Gaffane owns and runs Danchi Group, a steel manufacturing business that employs 13 people in Tshwane. 

In 2017, Danchi approached the Gauteng Enterprise Propeller (GEP) to get assistance with starting her steel manufacturing business.

Success flows for water entrepreneur

Richards Bay entrepreneur Nakhokonke Mngadi (34) will always have a market for his product – life-giving water. 

South Africa is a water-scarce country and Richards Bay is one of the areas that face potable water challenges. Mngadi’s business, Vawter Water, purifies water. 

Mngadi says the idea to start this business came to him in 2016 when his city was faced with a water crisis. 

e-Learning programme bridges the digital divide

A partnership between the Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) and Telkom will help bridge the digital divide for learners and teachers in underprivileged communities.

Through the provincial e-learning programme, the Mpumalanga DoE will provide 6 700 teachers with laptops and 55 000 Grade 12 learners with tablets. The devices will be given to quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools in the province, which are situated in disadvantaged communities.

 As the connectivity partner, Telkom will provide free monthly data.

Haemophilia can be treated

Cayden Solomons (5) was diagnosed with a hereditary blood clotting disorder – severe haemophilia A – shortly after birth.

When a person has haemophilia, their blood does not clot properly because it doesn't have enough blood-clotting proteins (factor VIII).

As a result, Cayden bleeds longer than other people. Bleeds can occur internally, in joints and muscles; or externally, from minor cuts, dental procedures or injuries.

Magigwana High School beats the odds

Principal Stanley Mpangana of Magigwana High School in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, is running one of the country’s best schools, despite the many challenges faced by learners.

Magigwana was recognised as the best quintile 1 school nationally at the National Education Excellence Awards recently hosted by the Department of Basic Education. Quintile 1 represents the poorest schools in the country.

Too much salt is bad for you

While everyone needs to eat salt, eating too much of it can cause high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.

Joy Williams, a dietician at Western Cape Clinic Symphony Way Community Day Centre, says salt (sodium) is addictive and some people crave it.

People can also crave salt due to a sodium imbalance, stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, excessive sweating or a medical condition, she adds.

Business management training for entrepreneurs

South African citizens aged 18 to 35 who have a 100% youth-owned business, or would like to start one, can apply for the National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA) grant or voucher programmes.

To receive funding from these programmes, entrepreneurs first have to complete one of the NYDA’s short, three- to six-day business management training courses, which include ‘Generate your Business Idea’, ‘Start your Business’ or ‘Improve your Business’.

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